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Clubs up and down the Premier League are set for intriguing summer transfer windows, but Manchester United’s possible business looks to be more intriguing than most teams’.

The Red Devils are firmly on course to return to the Champions League and have been linked with a host of talented players in recent times, which, given their financial muscle, could mean that comings and goings will be commonplace in a few months’ time.

Louis van Gaal has his feet firmly under the Old Trafford table after a shaky start and looks to have settled on a system, which could see players tailored to his plans coming in, rather than big money vanity purchases such as Angel Di Maria.

Of course deadwood will be chopped, too… so here are THREE we at FFC Towers feel United should buy, and THREE they should offload.

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In – Memphis Depay

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This one looks to be turning into a transfer saga already, with both United and Liverpool chasing the PSV Eindhoven sensation.

The Merseysiders appear to be leading the way, but the Red Devils should be seriously looking at getting a deal done, as all the signs point towards him being a top talent and one suited to Old Trafford.

For a start, Louis van Gaal coached him in the Netherlands set-up prior to taking change at United, so he knows his game inside out. Second, he’s netted 21 goals this season for the Dutch champions.

Third, he’s just 21, so he has his best years ahead of him.

Out – Radamel Falcao

Hailed by many as one of the signings of last summer, Falcao has been a disaster at United.

Once prolific, the Colombian has netted paltry four goals in all competitions, with a serious knee injury having robbed him of the explosiveness that made him so feared at Porto and Atletico Madrid.

United are lucky in the fact they are only loaning Falcao, so he should be Monaco’s problem in a few months’ time, but there is the lingering issue surrounding a clause in the deal which could allow United to keep him, which hasn’t been officially rules out yet.

In – Edinson Cavani

His struggles at PSG – competing with Zlatan Ibrahimovic for a striker berth – led many to suggest that the Uruguayan had lost his touch, however, anyone who watched the Parisians knock Chelsea out of the Champions League will testify that he hasn’t.

‘El Matador’ was excellent against the Blues, showing his pace, power and eye for goal in a compete performance, particularly in the first leg at the Parc des Princes.

United have since been linked with a £55m move, and although that’s a lot of cash, Cavani has the talent to lead the line and offer a very different threat than the likes of Wayne Rooney and Robin van Persie.

Out – Robin van Persie

Although the Dutchman wants to stay put, it may be time for Van Persie to be shifted on.

The 31-year-old appears to lack the pace and physicality he once had, while his role in Louis van Gaal’s 4-3-3 looks uncertain with Rooney very much the best option the Dutchman has now.

Bringing in a substantial amount of cash for the ex-Arsenal man is unlikely, but removing his salary and freeing up space in the squad are both positives.

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In – Nicolas Otamendi

Although Man United fans have been screaming for Mats Hummels, Nicolas Otamendi appears to be a genuine top target for LVG.

The Argentine, albeit not as adept on the ball as the Dortmund ace, offers more physicality and leadership from the back, which have both been on show in an impressive Valencia side this season.

United lack a commanding presence at the back, which Otamendi would certainly be able to offer. He can also play at right-back, which is a bonus for LVG.

Out – Rafael

Perhaps the player to have looked most out of his depth during Van Gaal’s tenure, this summer could be the end fir Rafael.

Once such a promising talent, the Brazilian’s shortage of positional awareness, ill-discipline and general lack of development are alarming, and with Antonio Valencia regularly chosen ahead of him to play at right-back, the writing is very much on the wall.

Chris Hughton says his Norwich side must believe they can get a positive result when they travel to Arsenal this weekend.

The Canaries are sure to be up against it at the Emirates when they tackle Arsene Wenger’s top-four chasing side but Hughton wants points from the game to help with his own team’s relegation fight.

“The most important one is the Arsenal game – that’s the next one. And of course we’ve got to go to Arsenal and look to get something there, as we will do in all of these last six games,” he said.

Norwich are currently just four points clear of the relegation zone and take on fellow strugglers Reading, Aston Villa and Stoke among their remaining games, with Hughton insisting they will approach them all with the same plan.

He added: “The fact we are playing the teams around us has a different bearing on it because any points we get are points they don’t get.

“But it’s going to be over these six games, three at home and three away, and our approach to the away games has to be exactly the same as the home games and must give us the opportunity to get something.”

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Prabath Jayasuriya and Kamindu Mendis struck twice each as Bangladesh went seven down heading into the final day

Andrew Fidel Fernando02-Apr-2024Sri Lanka continued their march toward a 2-0 series victory on day four, taking seven Bangladesh wickets, as they encountered only pockets of resistance from the opposition. Mominul Haque crossed fifty as Bangladesh strove to bat out almost five-and-a-half sessions to save the match, or hit the record 511 runs they needed to win. Mehidy Hasan Miraz was unbeaten at stumps, but no one else crossed 40 and their biggest partnership was the 61 Litton Das and Shakib Al Hasan put on for the fifth wicket.Spin became a significant weapon for Sri Lanka for the first time in the series, though the Chattogram surface was not taking massive turn yet. It was also not providing substantial seam movement, or pace, or carry, or reverse swing, which the seamers went looking for late in the day. The key for Sri Lanka, largely, was to stay patient and to continue posing various questions of the Bangladesh batters.With so many runs to defend, Dhananjaya de Silva had no qualms keeping catchers in close, and trying unusual lines of attack. The Bangladesh batters could be relied on to eventually succumb. No one lasted more than 74 balls.Prabath Jayasuriya bowled 20 overs and took 2 for 79. Lahiru Kumara also claimed two, and Vishwa Fernando got the wicket of Zakir Hasan, who hit a fifty in the first dig. The surprise for Sri Lanka was the two wickets taken by Kamindu Mendis, who gleaned more turn – if less artfully – than the more experienced spinners (de Silva also sent down seven overs). Kamindu can also bowl left-arm spin, but stuck to offbreaks on this occasion, claiming Shakib as his first Test victim, before also getting Shahadat Hossain out lbw to finish the day with 2 for 22.Earlier in the day, Angelo Mathews had become the last of Sri Lanka’s batters to cross fifty in this match, with the others in the top seven having done so in the first innings. He was out to a spectacular delivery from Shakib, who did not celebrate with notable vigour despite the “timed out” history between the two. Sri Lanka just batted till their lead had breached 500, and gave Bangladesh the last 40 minutes before lunch to see out, which they did unscathed, though the wickets fell soon after.Mahmudul Hasan Joy was the first to go, second over after the break, when he had his middle stump knocked over by a slider from Jayasuriya. Zakir didn’t last long either, offering an edge off Vishwa to first slip. They continued to flounder. Najmul Hossain Shanto, who has had a woeful series, had the top of his off stump rattled by an excellent Kumara delivery, angled in from wide of the crease. Mominul, who has been Bangladesh’s best batter across the Tests, got to an 18th career fifty off 55 deliveries, but top edged a sweep off Jayasuriya immediately after, and was caught at deep square leg.The Shakib-Litton stand provided a break from the wickets. They gathered singles intelligently, and both began to strike confident boundaries, and saw out short-ball barrages from the quicks on a pitch that had lost its pace. But they fell before really making Sri Lanka sweat. Kamindu had Shakib edging to gully with an offbreak that turned more than the batter expected, and Litton toe-edged a Kumara bouncer to the wicketkeeper, as he tried to fetch it from wide outside off.Bangladesh need 243 runs, but perhaps more realistically, need rain to arrive on day five, to save them from what at present seems an inevitable series conclusion. Their last pair who can bat – Mehidy Hasan, and Taijul Islam – were at the crease at stumps.

The 36-year-old pacer was the leading wicket-taker in the 2019 Vitality Blast

Matt Roller08-Jul-2021Derbyshire have re-signed Ravi Rampaul, who was the leading wicket-taker in the 2019 Vitality Blast, for their final three group games in this year’s competition and the duration of the Royal London Cup.Rampaul, the 36-year-old fast bowler, spent the 2018 and 2019 seasons at Derbyshire as a Kolpak registration, but did not return last summer due to restrictions on international travel and finances caused by the Covid-19 pandemic.Over the winter, he was Trinidad and Tobago’s leading wicket-taker in their run to the Regional Super50 domestic competition title and played for Deccan Gladiators in the Abu Dhabi T10. He has since been recruited by Trinbago Knight Riders in the CPL for this season, his first contract in the competition since 2017.Derbyshire are bottom of the Blast’s North Group with three games to spare, and will need to win all three to have a chance of qualifying. They have struggled badly with injuries this season, particularly to their fast bowlers, and have had to recruit Jade Dernbach on a short-term loan from Surrey as cover. Rampaul will be their second overseas player for the run-in alongside Logan van Beek, with Ben McDermott (international duty) and Billy Stanlake (stress fracture) both ruled out before the start of the group stage.They will also be without key three players during the Royal London Cup due to contracts in the Hundred – Matt Critchley, Luis Reece and Leus du Plooy – while Wayne Madsen has been ruled out with a hamstring injury. While Rampaul is unlikely to add cover for their batting ability, he brings experience to a young bowling line-up.Dave Houghton, the club’s director of cricket, said: “It’s a blow for us that we will lose some quality players for the Royal London Cup, but we’re proud of the players who have been selected for the Hundred.”We will get by, and we’ve brought in a top-level bowler to help us out with that. We will put out a competitive side. It’s a great opportunity for some of our players who specialise in white-ball cricket – we have to hope the best will come out of them.”I’ve always felt that we had some unfinished business. Ravi had such a good season in 2019 – he was club player of the year – but we lost him for a year due to the pandemic. Our bowlers have come on leaps and bounds this year, but to have someone of Ravi’s ability and class opening and closing the innings for us, which is something we’ve missed this season, is going to be fantastic.”Rampaul said: “I loved my first spell with Derbyshire and I’m looking forward to getting started again in familiar surroundings. I know most of the players still, and there’s a few new faces who are really exciting young players. If I can help them along in training and in games, I will do that, and hopefully we can get on a roll and challenge for the knockouts.”

Tour games between English first-class teams and New Zealand, Sri Lanka and Pakistan also scrapped

ESPNcricinfo staff13-Apr-2021India A’s tour of England this summer, which would’ve seen them play against both India and England Lions, has been postponed. Instead, the BCCI will send an inflated squad to “prepare for, and use during” India’s five-Test series against England. The change is keeping in mind the prevailing Covid-19 situation, with the ECB saying the focus is on “delivering the safest possible environment for all international cricket matches scheduled to take place over the summer”.”India’s warm-up schedule will now comprise two intra-squad four-day matches, which will replace the two previously planned four-day fixtures between India Men and India A in July,” the ECB said in a press statement, adding that the decision to tweak the schedule was jointly agreed on between the two boards in question.The changes are not limited to the Indian team’s tour. “Following further discussions with the boards of New Zealand, Sri Lanka and Pakistan it has been agreed to cancel their scheduled men’s tour matches against first-class counties,” the statement said. “New Zealand, Sri Lanka and Pakistan’s men’s teams will instead play intra-squad matches to allow them suitable preparation for their international fixtures this summer.”On rescheduling the India A tour, Tom Harrison, the ECB chief executive, said, “We look forward to welcoming a men’s India A tour at a later date after this summer and when restrictions have eased. It will provide a valuable opportunity for players from both countries to experience high-quality cricket and to showcase the talent within our England Lions team and first-class counties.”The senior India side is scheduled to leave for England shortly after the completion of the ongoing edition of the IPL and, after playing the World Test Championship final against New Zealand in Southampton, take part in a series of five Tests, with the first slotted for Trent Bridge from August 4.

The vice-captain has been a success opening the innings but would be content in the middle order

Andrew McGlashan06-May-2020Australia Women’s vice-captain Rachael Haynes is willing to take on any role asked of her at next year’s ODI World Cup even it means giving up the opening position where she made her maiden century at the start of the last season.In three matches against Sri Lanka, which were the only ODIs Australia played during their summer as they focused on the T20 World Cup, Haynes scored 56, 118 and 63 while opening alongside Alyssa Healy, having initially returned to the team in 2017 in a middle-order capacity after a four-year absence.But whether she retains that role for the World Cup in New Zealand next year – an event that now has some doubt around it due to the Covid-19 pandemic – remains to be seen after national selector Shawn Flegler said he was not wedded to a particular combination at this stage.ALSO READ: Covid-19 crisis could force Australian players to be more self-reliantHaynes has an impressive record in a variety of roles, averaging 37.92 opening the batting and 33.13 at No. 5 where she has batted 17 times in ODIs.”Since I’ve come back into the team, especially in the ODI set-up, I’ve played different roles – had a role at the top of the order alongside Alyssa Healy and also through the middle as well,” Haynes said. “I don’t have my heart set on one position in particular but I certainly feel as a batter that’s what I bring, flexibility in terms of what Matthew [Mott] and Meg [Lanning] would like the line-up to look like.Rachael Haynes celebrates her maiden ODI century•Getty Images

“We’ve got Ellyse Perry coming back from injury as well and by all accounts she’s tracking really well so that might come into the decision-making as well. From my point of view I’ll certainly fill whatever role Meg and Motty think is best for the team.”Beth Mooney opens alongside Healy in T20Is and added 115 for the first wicket in the T20 World Cup final against India. She averages 35.36 as an ODI opener but 47.89 in the middle-order roles at Nos. 5 and 6. It would appear that Meg Lanning and Perry are locked in for the three and four positions although Perry’s recovery from hamstring surgery may yet leave it tight for the ODI series against New Zealand in September should that go ahead as scheduled.”I don’t think it’s been 100% decided,” Flegler said of the batting order. “Beth Mooney has been unbelievable in domestic cricket and has a great record in T20 internationals for the past few years. Sophie Molineux is another option, we love the left-right combination. I think our No. 3 and No.4 with Meg and Ellyse, depending on when Ellyse comes back we might need to change it up a little.”Most of Australia’s focus last season was on the T20 World Cup, but if the pandemic allows next summer to go ahead as planned, a change of format does not necessarily mean a vast change in thinking.”We’ve had some great success in this format of the game. In terms of a game plan and how we take on that format, it doesn’t change too much,” Haynes said. “We want to make sure we’re nice and attacking and aggressive with bat or ball and take the game on.”That’s been our blueprint over the last couple of years and seen us have an enormous amount of success. So I’d definitely like our team to continue that and push what’s possible in terms of our game, the scores we can put out, and what we can defend as well.”

The tour is significant as it is the first time a Bangladesh team will travel to New Zealand following the Christchurch attacks

ESPNcricinfo staff22-Sep-2019Ahead of the Under-19 World Cup next year, Bangladesh will have an opportunity to gain match time when they play New Zealand in five Youth ODIs. The tour is significant given this will be the first time a Bangladesh team will travel to New Zealand following the terror attacks in Christchurch in March.Back then, members of Bangladesh’s senior side were “about 50 yards from the mosque” – one of two in Christchurch – where a gunman opened fire. They managed to escape through Hagley Park and the tour was called off shortly after.ALSO READ: ‘There’s shooting here, please save us’All the matches on the U-19 tour will be hosted at the Bert Sutcliffe Oval in Lincoln. The matches are scheduled for September 29, October 2, 6, 9 and 13. This series was slated for April, but New Zealand Cricket cancelled the tour at the time. They had felt sending an age-group side to the country affected by the tragedy at that point would be “insensitive and inappropriate”.Bangladesh U-19s, led by Akbar Ali, have had a busy year so far. This tour comes hot on the heels of the Asia Cup in Sri Lanka, where they lost to India by five runs in a low-scoring final.Bangladesh Under-19 squad: Akbar Ali (capt), Tawhid Hridoy, Tanzid Hasan, Parvez Hossain, Shahadat Hossain, Rakibul Hasan, Asadullah Hill Galib, Shoriful Islam, Mrittunjoy Chowdhury, Mahmudul Hasan, Tanzim Hasan, Avishek Das, Shamim Hossain, Anik Sarker, Hasan Morad

South African recruit smashes 88 with the bat, takes three wickets against Middlesex

ECB Reporters Network23-Apr-2019Aiden Markram produced a stunning all-round performance as Hampshire made it three wins from three in the Royal London Cup with a 119-run victory over Middlesex.South African opener Markram, who is warming up for this summer’s World Cup, crashed 88 with the bat off 90 balls to help Hampshire to 301 for 9 before his part-time off-spin gathered 3 for 39.Liam Dawson and Kyle Abbott also posted excellent figures of 3 for 37 and 3 for 36 respectively, as Hampshire won with 80 balls to spare.One-day champions Hampshire have defeated Kent, Glamorgan and Middlesex to leap to the top of the South Group.Middlesex had won the toss and elected to field first under grey skies.In response, Markram’s compatriot Abbott broke through twice in the first five overs of the chase as he had Paul Sterling leg before and then Dawid Malan caught at point by James Fuller.John Simpson and Eoin Morgan rebuilt with a free-flowing 65-run stand for the third wicket. But Markram entered fresh from his fifty earlier on to forge a collapse – with Simpson, Morgan and Nick Gubbins all falling within six overs.Simpson was stumped after some fantastic glovework from Tom Alsop. England one-day skipper Morgan was given extra lives when he offered two difficult chances to Rilee Rossouw on the boundary, before picking out Abbott at short fine leg. Gubbins then cut to Sam Northeast and George Scott was castled by Dawson – leaving Middlesex 121 for 6.Left arm spinner Dawson found Tom Helm skying to Gareth Berg in the ring and then Nathan Sowter caught behind.Abbott claimed his third wicket when Steve Eskinazi picked out Northeast at mid-wicket before Mason Crane wrapped up the win when Tim Murtagh was bowled.Middlesex seamer Helm had led the visitors’ attack with a five-wicket haul on a used pitch – which had played slightly slower than against Glamorgan on FridayAlsop went out at a rate of knots, following his 130 not out against Glamorgan, with three sumptuous cut shots to the boundary. But he fell soon after as he chased a wide delivery from Murtagh and was caught behind, before James Vince handed Helm his first with a steepling top edge.Markram scored a stylish run-a-ball half century in a 58-run stand with Northeast. But Markram and Northeast fell within an over of each other, the former frustratingly misjudging a pull to mid-on and the latter lbw to Nathan Sowter – leaving Hampshire looking below par at 145 for 4.Rossouw and Dawson steadied and accelerated with an 81-run partnership for the fifth wicket, the South African collected his 32nd List A fifty – from 49 balls.Dawson was well caught by Murtagh running around to short fine leg off a top edge before Helm returned to cause carnage. The 24-year-old fast bowler ripped through Rossouw and Berg in consecutive balls before completing a stunning four wickets in eight balls with the scalps of Abbott and James Fuller – the latter having smashed a quick-fire 26.Chris Wood took Hampshire past 300 with a sweetly struck six over square-leg to set their opposition 302 to win.

The first round of BCL saw Central Zone’s crushing defeat and Mominul Haque’s 344-ball 258

ESPNcricinfo staff12-Jan-2018North Zone crushed Central Zone by nine wickets in the first round of the Bangladesh Cricket League in Sylhet. North Zone took only 12.1 overs to achieve their fourth-innings target of 68.Central Zone had taken a slender lead after posting 336 in the second innings, a marked improvement from being 188 all out in the first. Raqibul Hasan made 105 in little under four hours, having struck 17 fours. He added 114 runs for the sixth wicket with Tanbir Hayder, after which captain Mosharraf Hossain’s 61 helped them avoid an innings-defeat.Ariful Haque added three wickets to his first innings four-wicket haul, while Suhrawadi Shuvo took four wickets in the second innings.North Zone dominated the early part of the game by taking a 269-run lead through their first innings total of 457 for 9. Jahurul Islam made 158 off 244 balls. He added 176 runs for the sixth wicket with Dhiman Ghosh who was dismissed for 93.On the first day, Central Zone had slipped to 77 for 7 before Irfan Sukkur’s half-century rescued them. Shafiul Islam and Subashis Roy took two wickets each.Mominul Haque made 258, his highest first-class score, in East Zone‘s drawn game against South Zone at the BKSP-4 ground in Savar. Arriving at the crease in the 15th over of the first day, Mominul batted a shade over eight hours as he struck 23 fours and three sixes..Riding on his second career double-hundred, East Zone reached 546 runs in just 129.5 overs. Mominul added 233 runs for the sixth wicket with Zakir Hossain, who made 119 – his third first-class century. Zakir struck six fours and four sixes in his 169-ball innings. Abdur Razzak took his most expensive six-wicket haul while Saqlain Sajib picked up three wickets.South Zone were then bowled out for 395 runs in 110.5 overs after centuries from Tushar Imran and Mosaddek Hossain. The pair added 218 runs for the fourth wicket; Tushar reached his 25th first-class ton in the process. Mosaddek, unable to get into the Bangladesh ODI side due to doubts about his eyesight following an infection last year, struck 11 fours and four sixes during his 226-ball 110.East Zone added 93 to their 151-run first-innings lead before the game ended in a draw.

Australia fast bowler John Hastings will undergo surgery on his right knee to repair a tendon his injured during a Sheffield Shield game last week

ESPNcricinfo staff15-Dec-20161:01

John Hastings is currently the second-most successful bowler in ODIs in 2016

Australia fast bowler John Hastings will undergo surgery on his right knee to repair a tendon he injured during a Sheffield Shield game last week.Turning out for his state side, Victoria, against Tasmania, Hastings did “significant” damage to the patella tendon of his right leg, while bowling in the second innings. He had to go off after sending down only 3.1 overs then, and could not bat on the final day.Cricket Australia physio Alex Kountouris said there was no estimated timeframe for Hastings’ recovery yet, but it would likely be a long time before he is fit to play again. “Scans have revealed that John has a significant patella tendon injury and, after being reviewed by a specialist, it was decided that he will require surgery,” Kountouris said. “We expect that John will require a long rehabilitation period after surgery, and we will have a better understanding of his return to play timeframes in the coming weeks.”Hastings, 31, was a regular part of the Australian limited-overs team in 2016 until he was dropped for the Chappell-Hadlee series against New Zealand. He had expressed “shock” at being omitted for those ODIs, having been the overall leading wicket-taker in the format in 2016 (29 wickets at 24.13 from 15 games) at the point when he was dropped. He had topped the list despite missing out Australia’s tri-series in the West Indies due to an ankle injury he picked up in IPL 2016.He had also broken a finger during the fifty-overs Matador Cup in October, but recovered fully to return to the first-class competition for Victoria.Hastings will be replaced by left-arm fast bowler Jackson Coleman in the Melbourne Stars squad for the Big Bash League (BBL).