Lucas Paqueta to Man City? Pep Guardiola's side eye West Ham star after betting investigation

Manchester City are reportedly still interested in signing Lucas Paqueta after the West Ham star was cleared of spot-fixing.

  • Paqueta nearly joined Man City in 2023
  • Betting allegations scuppered move
  • Interest remains after Brazilian cleared
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  • WHAT HAPPENED?

    The Brazilian was seemingly on the brink of moving to City for £85 million ($112.6m) in 2023 but a Football Association investigation into alleged betting breaches quickly ended that possibility. Two years on, the attacking midfielder has been cleared of those charges and now Globo Esporte claim City are still keeping tabs on the 27-year-old, having never dropped their interest in him.

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    Paqueta, who would have likely been banned for life if found guilty, could be on the move this summer as reports suggest West Ham are open to selling him. Kevin De Bruyne left City earlier this year and, while new recruit Rayan Cherki could be his replacement, Paqueta would add more quality to Guardiola's midfield.

  • DID YOU KNOW?

    The report adds West Ham won't stand in the way of a Paqueta exit, so long as they receive between £50-60m ($66m-79.5m) for the playmaker. Saudi Pro League team Al-Nassr have been linked with the former Lyon man but a return to Brazilian outfit Flamengo is not an option.

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    WHAT NEXT?

    It remains to be seen if Graham Potter's West Ham will receive any bids during the summer transfer window for Paqueta, whose current contract runs until 2027, although the Hammers have an option to extend that for a further year. 

Barcelona's new plan for Marcus Rashford! Hansi Flick sees Man Utd loanee as No.9 option as registration scramble continues

Barcelona reportedly have a new plan for Marcus Rashford, with the Manchester United loanee becoming a No.9 option for Hansi Flick.

  • England international on loan at La Liga giants
  • Signed as an option to operate on either flank
  • Could provide striker cover for Lewandowski
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  • WHAT HAPPENED?

    Having accepted that they did not have the funds required to complete permanent transfers for Luis Diaz or Nico Williams, La Liga's champions found themselves exploring more budget friendly targets.

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    Rashford quickly registered on their radar, with the England international having spent the second half of last season on loan at Aston Villa after tumbling down the pecking order at Old Trafford.

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    Barca viewed him as a wide attacker that can operate on either flank, allowing Brazilian Ballon d’Or contender Raphinha to take a rest when required. According to , Rashford is now viewed as a central striking alternative for Flick.

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    Robert Lewandowski, at 36 years of age, is incapable of playing 60 games a season across all competitions. Ferran Torres is another option to lead the line, but Rashford is – after training and matches during a tour of Asia – now in that conversation.

Seccombe and McKay join Renegades and Stars as high performance managers

Melbourne Renegades have hired Brisbane Heat BBL title-winning coach Wade Seccombe as their new high performance manager while former Australia fast bowler Clint McKay will take over as Melbourne Stars’ equivalent with the two clubs creating the new roles in an attempt to improve their on-field performance.Seccombe coached Heat to their second BBL title earlier this year, having led them to the BBL final the season before, but lost his job as Heat and Queensland coach after a review by Queensland Cricket into the poor performance of the men’s Sheffield Shield team.Related

  • Johan Botha appointed new Brisbane Heat and Queensland coach

  • Decision on Pucovski's future delayed after extended concussion symptoms

  • Josh Brown joins Melbourne Renegades in BBL coup

  • Melbourne Renegades set to part ways with coach David Saker

  • Heat BBL winning coach Wade Seccombe quits after being asked to re-apply for his job

Cricket Victoria had advertised for the two newly created high performance roles that are aligned to each of the BBL teams following several years of underperformance before Seccombe departed from Queensland. Previously, the high performance elements of the two Melbourne BBL clubs including list management, coaching and high performance structures had been handled by the club’s two general managers Blair Crouch (Stars) and James Rosengarten (Renegades) in addition to overseeing the entire commercial operation of their respective clubs.Seccombe will move from Brisbane to Melbourne to take up the full-time role with Renegades later this month.McKay moves from the backroom staff at Stars, where he was the bowling coach, to his new role having previously been involved in Stars’ overseas draft and list strategy. McKay has also been regularly seconded into Australia’s coaching set-up in the past two years as a stand-in white-ball bowling coach when incumbent Daniel Vettori has been rested or promoted as a stand-in head coach.Former Australia fast bowler Clint McKay is Stars new high performance manager•BCCI

The two appointments will bring greater alignment between the two BBL clubs and Victoria’s high performance program that is run by Graham Manou.”It is really pleasing to be able to have two people of Clint and Wade’s calibre joining our cricket performance program at Cricket Victoria and working closely with both our Big Bash clubs,” Manou said.”They will play a vital role in the talent management and identification process with a specific focus on T20 skills and potential. They will also be an active part of our existing elite and development programs, putting a renewed emphasis on T20 cricket within our programs.”Previously, the BBL clubs have made list management decisions independent of Victoria’s program. That is likely to change with the two appointments after Nic Maddinson was dropped off Renegades list and then decided to also leave Victoria’s state program to head home to New South Wales. The recruitment of Josh Brown to Renegades and Victoria is an example of how the programs are likely to work together in the future.Seccombe’s first job will be to oversee the recruitment of a new head coach at Renegades after David Saker was sacked with a year to run on his contract. Former Australia players Shane Watson and Cameron White have both been publicly linked to the role without beginning a formal process.

Com direito a golaço, Botafogo perde para o Audax-RJ na estreia pelo Campeonato Carioca

MatériaMais Notícias

Dez anos depois de vencer um gigante do futebol carioca, o Audax repetiu a façanha neste domingo, no Nilton Santos. A equipe derrotou o Botafogo,com time alternativo comandado por Lúcio Flávio,por 1 a 0 na primeira rodada do Campeonato Carioca 2023. O gol do triunfo foi marcado por Higor Leite, que aproveitou o erro na saída de bola alvinegra e acertou uma linda finalização do meio-campo. O Audax não vencia um dos grandes do Rio desde 2013, quando bateu o Flamengo.

+ Confira novidades no mercado da bola

Na próxima rodada, as equipes voltam a campo na quinta-feira, porém em horários diferentes. O Glorioso visitará o Volta Redonda, às 19h30, com a equipe principal comandada por Luís Castro, no Raulino de Oliveira. O Audax joga contra o Vasco, às 21h30, no estádio Luso-Brasileiro.

RelacionadasBotafogoBotafogo empata com Porto Vitória em jogo-treino no Espaço LonierBotafogo14/01/2023BotafogoConheça Facundo Pellistri, atacante cobiçado pelo Botafogo que defendeu o Uruguai na CopaBotafogo12/01/2023BotafogoBotafogo perde para o RB Bragantino e está eliminado da Copinha 2023Botafogo15/01/2023

+ Confira e simule a tabela do Campeonato Carioca

CHANCES INICIAIS
Em sua estreia pelo Cariocão, o Botafogo entrou em campo com o time alternativo e teve sua primeira oportunidade aos 7 minutos. Após cobrança de falta, o goleiro Leandro teve trabalho para espalmar no canto direito. Logo na sequência, Raí cobrou escanteio, mas Lucas Mezenga não acertou em cheio a cabeçada e mandou por cima.

MURALHA AZUL
O Audax, então, revidou em uma oportunidade criada por Valderrama. O jogador recebeu na ponta direita e depois de dividir com Hugo tocou de calcanhar para Emerson Urso. Porém, o atacante dominou no peito, tentou um voleio, mas isolou. Pela esquerda, Hugo foi acionado no Glorioso, avançou até a linha de fundo e rolou para a entrada da área. JP Galvão bateu de chapa, mas Leandro fez uma linda defesa.

GOL DE PLACA
O jogo estava bem disputado com o Botafogo melhor, porém a defesa alvinegra errou na saída de bola. Lucas Mezenga tocou para o meio de campo, mas Higor Leite recuperou a bola. O jogador levantou a cabeça e arriscou do círculo central para fazer um golaço no Nilton Santos e abriu o placar para o Audax.

FOGÃO EM CIMA
Após a desvantagem no placar, o Alvinegro teve boas chances para empatar, mas não foi eficiente. Dudu puxou o contra-ataque pela ponta direita e finalizou rente à trave adversária. Três minutos depois, Dudu achou Iago, que driblou o adversário e na linha de fundo cruzou para área, mas a bola foi muito forte. O camisa 7 voltou a dar trabalho ao cruzar em direção ao gol e obrigar Leandro a fazer a defesa em dois tempos.

NÃO VALEU
No fim do primeiro tempo, Lucas Mota tentou o cruzamento e a bola sobrou para Romarinho chutar cruzado para Raphael Lopes apenas empurrar para a rede do Botafogo. Contudo, o árbitro assinalou impedimento na jogada.

SALVADOR DA PÁTRIA
Na volta do intervalo, o Audax levou perigo nos primeiro minutos com uma rápida jogada de contra-ataque.Kaio Cristian cruzou rasteiro para Emerson Urso que teve liberdade para finalizar em direção ao gol. Mas Igo Gabriel fez a defesa. O arqueiro da equipe azul saiu mal após cobrança de escanteio, e Ryan tocou de cabeça por cima. Raphael Lopes salvou em cima da linha e teve calma para afastar o perigo.

NÃO DEU
Com grande atuação, Emerson Urso voltou a incomodar pela direita e achou Raphael Lopes na área. O jogador ficou cara a cara com Igo Gabriel, mas finalizou em cima do arqueiro alvinegro. Lucas Mezenga, então, acertou o lançamento para Luis Phelipe, que matou no peito e tentou encobrir o goleiro, mas mandou para fora. No fim, o Botafogo tentou empatar, mas faltou eficiência e tranquilidade para furar o bloqueio do Audax.

FICHA TÉCNICA

BOTAFOGO 0X1 AUDAX-RJ
Campeonato Carioca 2023
Primeira rodada

Data e horário: 15/01/2023, às 16h (de Brasília)
Local: Nilton Santos, Rio de Janeiro (RJ)
Árbitro: Alexandre Vargas Tavares de Jesus (RJ)
Assistentes: Daniel do Espírito Santo Parro (RJ) e Lilian da Silva Fernandes Bruno (RJ)
Quarto árbitro: João Batista de Arruda (RJ)
Cartões Amarelos: Lucas Mezenga (BOT) / Júnior Lopes, Jackson Caucaia, Clisman e Leandro (AUD)
Cartões Vermelhos: não houve

Gols: Higor Leite (17’/1T) (0-1)

BOTAFOGO (Técnico: Lúcio Flávio)
Igo Gabriel, Ryan, Lucas Mezenga, Henrique Vermudt (Matheus Cabral 15’/2T) e Hugo; Del Piage, JP Galvão (Caio Vitor 27’/2T)e Raí; Iago (Luis Phelipe 13’/2T), Dudu (Joffre 15’/2T)e Bardales (Darius Lewis 38’/2T).

AUDAX-RJ (Técnico: Júnior Lopes)
Leandro, Lucas Motta, Rafael Castro, Thomáz Kayck e Kaio; Keverton, Diego Valderrama (Clisman 20’/2T), Romarinho (Jackson Caucaia 20’/2T) e Higor Leite (Miticov 43’/2T); Raphael Lopes (Pablo Thomaz 43’/2T) e Emerson Urso

Darwin Nunez leaves Liverpool! Reds confirm that Uruguay striker has completed move to Al-Hilal after three years at Anfield following £64m move

Liverpool have confirmed that star striker Darwin Nunez has completed his transfer to Saudi Pro League giants Al-Hilal. Nunez, who was linked with a move away from Anfield since the start of the summer transfer window, has secured a permanent move to Saudi Arabia. The Uruguayan forward, who joined the Reds in 2023 from Benfica for a whopping £64 million ($86m), spent just three years at the Merseyside club.

Nunez leaves LiverpoolSigns for Saudi giants Al-HilalReds could go after Isak after Nunez's departureFollow GOAL on WhatsApp! 🟢📱WHAT HAPPENED?

The Premier League champions announced the departure of their star forward on Saturday. Nunez's transfer to Al-Hilal is now just subject to the player getting international clearance. The official statement from Liverpool read: "Liverpool FC can confirm Darwin Nunez has completed a permanent transfer to Al-Hilal, subject to international clearance. Everybody at the club would like to thank Darwin for his contributions and wish him and his family all the best for the future."

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Nunez's three-year spell at Anfield turned out to be a disappointment, as he managed to score just 25 league goals in 95 appearances. In the 2024-25 campaign, under new manager Arne Slot, the Uruguay international further saw his game time reduced, as he started in only eight Premier League matches, although he had 30 appearances under his belt.

WHAT AL-HILAL SAID

The Saudi giants were delighted to welcome Nunez to their club, who directly joined the squad in their pre-season preparations in Germany. The club's official statement read: "Nunez, 26, has been one of the most prominent players in Europe in recent years. He has represented several clubs, most notably Liverpool, winning the Premier League in 2024/25, the EFL Cup in 2024, and the FA Community Shield in 2022. 

"He also played for Portuguese club Benfica, where he was named the best player of the Portuguese League for the 2021/22 season after finishing as top scorer with 26 goals and four assists. Nunez previously played for Uruguayan side Peñarol, winning the Uruguayan League twice in 2017 and 2018, in addition to representing Spanish club Almería. Internationally, Nunez has represented the Uruguayan national team in 35 matches, scoring 13 goals and delivering three assists. He also played for Uruguay U20 and U22 national teams. Nunez has just joined the squad during the current preseason training camp in Germany."

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Getty Images SportWHAT NEXT FOR LIVERPOOL?

With money coming in for Nunez, the Reds could now launch an improved bid for Alexander Isak as there is a realistic chance that the Swedish forward could head to Liverpool, after Newcastle boss Eddie Howe hinted that the club could allow the player to leave this summer. 

Lamichhane denied US visa for T20 World Cup

The Nepal legspinner’s chances of making the T20 World Cup received a jolt

ESPNcricinfo staff22-May-2024Sandeep Lamichhane’s prospects of making the T20 World Cup 2024 received a jolt after he was denied a US visa. ESPNcricinfo had reported last week that he was in line to be considered for Nepal’s squad for the T20 World Cup, to be played in the USA and the West Indies from June 1, after he had been acquitted of rape charges.”And the @USEmbassyNepal did it again what they did back in 2019, they denied my Visa for the T-20 World Cup happening in USA and West Indies. Unfortunate. I am sorry to all the well wishers of Nepal Cricket,” Lamichhane posted on X (formerly Twitter) on Wednesday.The last date for boards to submit their final squads to the ICC is May 25. ESPNcricinfo tried reaching out to Cricket Association of Nepal (CAN) but is yet to receive a response about their future course of action. Lamichhane had picked up nine wickets in the T20 World Cup Asia Qualifiers last year, the most for Nepal, and that sealed their spot for the tournament proper.Related

Nepal's Lamichhane denied US visa, will miss T20 World Cup 2024

T20 World Cup: Rohit Paudel to lead experienced Nepal squad

Lamichhane acquitted of rape by Nepal court, to be considered for T20 World Cup

Nepal’s provisional squad is already in the Caribbean and has been training in St Vincent. They will soon travel to the USA for their two warm-ups on May 27 and 30 against Canada and USA respectively, both in Dallas. Their first match in the main event is on June 4 against Netherlands in Dallas.Last week, the Patan High Court in Nepal acquitted Lamichhane of rape because of “a lack of evidence”, allowing him to resume playing cricket with immediate effect. “Since the high court has cleared Sandeep Lamichhane from all the allegations, he is now cleared to play all forms of cricket,” a CAN spokesperson had said then.On January 10, a single-judge bench of the Kathmandu court had found Lamichhane guilty of raping an 18-year-old woman and sentenced him and also fined him approximately USD 2255, ordering him to pay approximately USD 1500 in compensation to the victim. On the following day, CAN suspended him.In early September 2022, Lamichhane, then the Nepal captain, was suspended by CAN for the first time after an arrest warrant was issued against him in Kathmandu over the matter. It followed the news that a complaint against Lamichhane had been lodged in a Kathmandu police station.At the time, Lamichhane was in the West Indies with Jamaica Tallawahs taking part in CPL 2022. The club announced that Lamichhane would be leaving the tournament with immediate effect. Upon landing at the airport in Kathmandu in early October, he had been taken into custody.He returned to the Nepal side in February last year – amid protests from rights groups at home – for a Cricket World Cup League 2 tri-series at home, against Namibia and Scotland, during which opposition players did not greet him before or after the games.Subsequently, he was not considered for Nepal’s squad for the Cricket World Cup League 2 tri-series in Dubai in early 2023, but joined the team later as an injury replacement. He has continued to turn out for Nepal since then, including at the ODI World Cup qualifier in Zimbabwe in June-July last year and the ODI Asia Cup in August-September.

Ali Khan and Monank Patel take USA to historic T20I series win over Bangladesh

It’s the best possible build-up to the T20 World Cup for USA, the co-hosts. For Bangladesh, it’s as bad as it gets

Mohammad Isam23-May-2024

USA bowled out Bangladesh for 138 to make it 2-0•USA Cricket

Ali Khan played the starring role as USA fought their way to a T20I series win over Bangladesh at home, going up 2-0 in the three-match series in Texas on Thursday. His three-wicket haul helped USA to a six-run win in the second game after they had won the first game courtesy Harmeet Singh’s big hitting.USA bowled superbly in the death overs with Ali Khan picking up all his three wickets in that period, while Saurabh Netravalkar took one in the 19th over.On Tuesday, when USA won the first game, it was their first win over a top-ten T20I side. This time, they went one step further. It will be a huge boost for the team ahead of the T20 World Cup next month.For Bangladesh, it’s a cricketing disaster.Related

Chief selector keeps faith in Bangladesh World Cup squad despite series loss to USA

'We are no walkovers' – Harmeet after win against Bangladesh

They couldn’t get the 145-run chase on track from the start. They lost two wickets inside the powerplay before a rush of wickets following a 48-run stand between captain Najmul Hossain Shanto and Towhid Hridoy. Shakib Al Hasan tried to get them home but Ali Khan removed him in the 18th over to get USA back in the game.Rishad Hossain led Bangladesh’s efficient bowling effort after they decided to bowl first. He took 2 for 21, his best and most economical spell in T20Is, while Mustafizur Rahman and Shoriful Islam also took two each. USA captain Monank Patel top scored with 42 while his deputy Aaron Jones got 35, but the home side couldn’t take advantage of a decent powerplay.USA make inroadsIn the chase, Netravalkar gave USA the early breakthrough they wanted defending a smallish total. He caught and bowled Soumya Sarkar, who feebly pushed the fourth ball of the innings back to the bowler. Tanzid Hasan hit a six off Ali Khan, before tickling a boundary off Steven Taylor in the fourth over. Tanzid, however, threw away his good start when he was bowled attempting to pull a delivery from Jessy Singh that wasn’t short enough for the shot.After that, Shanto and Hridoy, who made a fifty in the first game, added 48 runs for the third wicket. Hridoy and Shanto struck Harmeet for a six each in the tenth over, both hitting the ball relatively straight.But Shanto and Hridoy got into a mix-up in the 11th over and Shanto was left stranded in the middle of the pitch. Corey Anderson then bowled Hridoy in the 13th over for 25 off 21 balls before Shadley van Schalkwyk did the same to Mahmudullah in the 15th over.Ali Khan swings it USA’s wayShakib survived a run-out attempt at the start of the 16th over when the point fielder couldn’t hit the stumps even as Shakib struggled to reach the striker’s end. He shook it off by timing two superb fours off Jessy later in the over, first through point and then tickled past third.Bangladesh’s joy, however, was shortlived. Jaker Ali fell to van Schalkwyk before Shakib followed him back next ball. Batting on 30, Shakib chopped an away-going delivery from Ali Khan on to his stumps, leaving the tail to finish the job. Ali Khan then trapped Tanzim Hasan lbw for a duck just one ball later, to put USA well and truly on top.Ali Khan the last-over heroRishad slammed Ali Khan for a one-bounce four at the end of the 18th over to keep Bangladesh in the hunt but Netravalkar bowled Shoriful in the penultimate over. Mustafizur took a single off the last ball of the over, before running a bye at the start of the last over. Rishad struck Ali Khan for a four through long-on but next ball, Ali Khan took his inside edge as he tried to ramp the fast bowler, sparking huge celebrations for USA.Wristspinner Rishad Hossain took two wickets in two balls•USA Cricket

Rishad strikes after good USA startIn the first half, Taylor and Monank took a bit of time to get going but from the fourth over, the USA opening pair strung together a few boundaries. Taylor struck Tanzim for two fours in the fourth over before he cracked Mustafizur and Shakib for a six each in the following overs.But shortly after finishing the powerplay without any losses, USA lost two big wickets. Rishad floated one through to Taylor, who struck it down wide long-on Tanzid Hasan’s throat. He made 31 off 28 balls with two sixes and three fours. Next ball, Rishad had Andries Gous caught behind for a duck with a beautiful legbreak. He finished with his best T20I figures of 2 for 21 from four overs.Shoriful, Mustafizur join the partyMonank and Jones then added 60 runs for the third wicket but they batted at only 6.42 per over. Jones was more fluent than he was in the previous game, though, hitting Rishad for a six over long-off, but big hits were few and far between in general.After keeping Jones and Monank on a leash for just under ten overs, Bangladesh got their reward in the last four overs. Mustafizur removed Jones for 35 off 34, caught at long-on. Shoriful bowled both Anderson and Monank in the 19th over. And Mustafizur had Harmeet soon after for a duck. But as it turned out, USA had enough on the board.

لاعب برشلونة يغيب عن التدريبات قبل لمواجهة رايو فاليكانو بالدوري الإسباني

نجح الفريق الأول لكرة القدم بنادي برشلونة في تحقيق فوز مهم على حساب ليفانتي بالمباراة التي جمعتهما مساء أمس، السبت، ضمن منافسات الدوري الإسباني.

وقلب برشلونة تأخره وتمكن من الفوز بنتيجة 3/2 على حساب نظيره ليفانتي، ليواصل مشواره نحو الحفاظ على اللقب الذي توج به الموسم الماضي.

ولم يسترح اللاعبون صباح اليوم الأحد، واستكمل برشلونة تدريباته بعقد جلسة تعافي للاعبين الذي شاركوا بالمباراة وغاب عنها المدافع أندرياس كريستنسن.

اقرأ أيضًا | حارس برشلونة يقترب من الرحيل هذا الصيف

وفقًا لصحيفة “موندو ديبورتيفو” الإسبانية، فإن المدافع الدنماركي استيقظ وهو يشعر ببعض التعب وحصل على إذن من المدرب الألماني هانز فليك بعدم المجيء إلى المدينة الرياضية لاستكمال التدريبات.

ولم يفكر كريستنسن الذي ينتهي عقده في عام 2026 في مغادرة النادي طوال الصيف ومن الممكن أن يصبح مفيدًا للغاية للمدرب الألماني بعد رحيل إنيجو مارتينيز إلى النصر السعودي.

سوف يستكمل برشلونة تدريباته يوم الأربعاء استعدادًا لمباراته المقبلة في الدوري، والمقررة يوم الأحد 31 الجاري ضد رايو فاليكانو، في تمام الساعة العاشرة والنصف مساءً بتوقيت القاهرة ومكة المكرمة.

Man Utd told to IGNORE Carlos Baleba and 'break the bank' for Adam Wharton instead by ex-coach as Ruben Amorim seeks midfield reinforcements

Manchester United have been told to turn their attention to Crystal Palace ace Adam Wharton as they look to sign a new midfielder this summer.

Man Utd want a new midfielderTop target is Brighton ace BalebaAmorim urged to go for Wharton insteadFollow GOAL on WhatsApp! 🟢📱WHAT HAPPENED?

The Red Devils have spent big in an attempt to improve their fortunes in 2025-26, with Benjamin Sesko, Bryan Mbeumo and Matheus Cunha joining from RB Leipzig, Brentford and Wolverhampton Wanderers respectively. However, Ruben Amorim's men – who finished 15th in what was their lowest ever Premier League finish in 2024-25 – are still looking to strengthen in the middle of the park before the transfer window shuts on September 1.

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Reports suggest Amorim's preferred target is Brighton and Hove Albion midfielder Carlos Baleba, 21, but an alternative list is being drawn up due to the midfielder's £100 million ($135m) price tag. And according to former United first-team coach Rene Meulensteen, Palace midfielder Wharton should be the name at the top of it.

WHAT MEULENSTEEN SAID

In an interview with CoinPoker, Meulensteen – who spent 12 years at United – said: "Carlos Baleba is promising. But then I think to myself, why don't you buy Adam Wharton? Is everybody blind? Honestly, that boy is one of the best midfielders in England.

"Why are all the top teams not trying to sign him? I would break the bank for him if I was Man Utd, 100%. Because he's miles ahead. He is a young player with good legs and good energy, he is what a team like United needs."

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DID YOU KNOW?

Wharton has received many plaudits since moving to Palace from Blackburn Rovers in 2024, so much so that La Liga giants Real Madrid are also believed to be interested in him. The midfielder has made 44 appearances for Palace, helping them win both the FA Cup and the Community Shield in the last three months.

Gambhir: 'I would love to coach the Indian team'

Gambhir says there is “no bigger honour”, but it’s not clear yet if he has applied for the job

ESPNcricinfo staff02-Jun-2024

The BCCI has contacted Gautam Gambhir for the top job, but it’s not clear if he has applied for it•AFP/Getty Images

Gautam Gambhir “would love to coach India” if he is given the opportunity.Gambhir, fresh from playing a key role – as mentor – in Kolkata Knight Riders’ (KKR) run to the IPL 2024 title, has been contacted by the BCCI for the job after Rahul Dravid’s tenure ends following the conclusion of the ongoing T20 World Cup, though it’s not confirmed whether he has applied for it. The deadline was May 27, a day after the IPL final.”Look, I would love to coach the Indian team. There is no bigger honour. There is no bigger honour than coaching your national team,” Gambhir said during an interaction with children at an event in Abu Dhabi on Sunday. “You are representing 140 crore Indians. And more across the globe as well. And when you represent India, how can it get bigger than that?”Related

Gautam Gambhir unveiled as India's new head coach

'GG has not just been a mentor, he's been a leader in every department'

Gambhir: 'Creating hype' around young players will 'backfire'

It was in response to a question, where a youngster also asked Gambhir how he would help India win a World Cup.”How can I help India win the World Cup – I think it’s not me that will help India win the World Cup, it is 140 crore Indians that will help India win the World Cup,” Gambhir said. “If everyone starts praying for us, and we start playing and representing them, India will win the World Cup. The most important thing is to be fearless and yes, I would love to coach India.”Dravid, it is learned, has communicated to the BCCI his decision not to seek another tenure. VVS Laxman, who had been expected to succeed Dravid, had made himself unavailable last year due to personal reasons.Jay Shah, the BCCI secretary, had hinted that the board wants an Indian to get the job, and is in the process of “identifying individuals who possess a deep understanding of the Indian cricket structure and have risen through the ranks”.Gambhir will have to leave his job at KKR if he ends up as the new India coach due to the BCCI’s conflict of interest rules. He recently told that he wanted to continue working with KKR to make them the most successful IPL franchise in history.Gambhir, 42, has no experience of coaching at international or domestic level, but has been a mentor at two IPL teams: Lucknow Super Giants in IPL 2022 and 2023 – they qualified for the playoffs both times – and KKR in 2024.During a stellar international career, Gambhir was an important part of India’s T20 World Cup win in 2007 and the ODI World Cup win in 2011. He also captained KKR for seven IPL seasons, from 2011 to 2017, during which they won two IPL titles, in 2012 and 2014.

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