Mason Greenwood’s stunning form at Marseille has convinced Roberto De Zerbi that the forward can become one of Europe’s very best. After a 21-goal debut Ligue 1 campaign, Greenwood has already added goals and assists this season, including an eye-catching display against Real Madrid. Now, all eyes turn to his test against Paris Saint-Germain.
Remember when it felt like very little was happening with Newcastle United in the summer transfer market?
That’s changed. For better or worse, chaos has erupted on Tyneside over the past few weeks, with the £55m signing of Nottingham Forest’s Anthony Elanga the precursor to a flurry of transfer-related activity that has yet to reach an outcome.
Alexander Isak wants to leave the club and sign for Premier League champions Liverpool, who last weekend saw a £110m bid rejected for the Sweden international. However, he has since returned to United’s training facilities, his future uncertain.
Such an offer would have been insulting were it not so blatantly an unsettling tactic, and the gravity of the situation weighs heavily on Eddie Howe, who at least is buddied with Sudarshan Gopaladesikan, United’s new technical director and successor to the contentious Paul Mitchell.
Dealing with the unwanted sale of Isak, arguably the Magpies’ best player, marks a testing start for Gopaladesikan, but he certainly seems to be making the most of a bad situation, pushing full throttle for a fitting replacement.
Newcastle pushing to sign striker
There’s a bleak sense that Isak, 25, will play Premier League football in red for the upcoming season, though his sale to Liverpool, of course, hinges on Newcastle signing a suitable successor at number nine.
And the first-choice target is RB Leipzig’s Benjamin Sesko, with a formal offer already lodged. What comes next is unknown; the Slovenian is assessing his options with Manchester United ready to table a bid of their own.
Should Sesko wind up at Old Trafford, it will feel like yet another blow for the Tynesiders, who have faced their share of rejection across the past few months. That said, there’s an alternative forward who might end up being the better pick.
According to Portuguese journalist Eduardo Burgos, Newcastle have revived their interest in Porto striker Samu Aghehowa, and while they have yet to make an offer, Howe’s transfer coterie have been monitoring him across 2025.
The Liga Portugal giants will hold out for €80m (equating to £68m), putting him in the same ballpark as Sesko.
So then, which one to go for?
Why Newcastle should sign Samu Aghehowa
Aghehowa is a 21-year-old centre-forward who left La Liga and joined Porto from Atletico Madrid in a bargain deal worth €15m (about £13m). The Madrid-based side retained a whopping 50% sell-on clause.
Curiously, Chelsea had agreed a £34m deal for the powerful goalscorer, only for the move to collapse and for him to join Porto for a cheaper fee.
He’ll be grateful for that turn of events, no doubt, for the past year has been one of fundamental development for Aghehowa, whose maiden campaign with the Portuguese giants yielded 27 goals and three assists across 45 matches in all competitions.
As per FBref, the 6 foot 3 powerhouse ranked among the top 14% of strikers across Europe last year for goals scored per 90 (0.71), which certainly bodes well for his future success as a goalscorer at the forefront of the global game.
Newcastle might want to consider raising their interest higher still, as Aghehowa could even turn out to be a better signing than Leipzig’s Sesko.
Sesko is unquestionably a talented forward with prowess lying in his athleticism and power. That said, he’s raw, and there’s no telling as to whether his potential will be reached.
A detractor could argue that Samu plies his trade in Portugal, regarded a division of inferior quality to the Bundesliga. Although it’s clear that the Porto talent has an aptitude for scoring goals on any field of green, for he previously did well in La Liga, netting nine times across 35 games in his breakout term, and bagged six times across last year’s Europa League campaign too.
Samu Aghehowa
Porto / Liga Portugal
30
19
Bradley Barcola
PSG / Ligue 1
34
14
Luca Stassin
St. Etienne / Ligue 1
33
14
Aleksey Batrakov
Loko Moscow / Russian PL
29
14
Emanuel Emegha
Strasbourg / Ligue 1
27
14
Benjamin Sesko
RB Leipzig / Bundesliga
33
13
Aghehowa’s league goals alone placed him above all within or beneath his age bracket across Europe’s major leagues, and that includes Sesko, who has since turned 22.
And it’s not as if the former Chelsea target hasn’t made his mark against those competing on English shores. After all, he bagged a brace against Man United on the continental stage last year, winning five aerial duels and covering much ground besides.
Given that Newcastle need a striker who will promise goals with consistency, it might be worth switching focus to Aghehowa, who is shaping into quite the formidable focal frontman, sinewy and tall and clinical in the danger area.
Football talent scout Jacek Kulig has remarked in the past that the Spaniard is a “monster in the making”, and with similar strengths in physicality and ball-striking, who could truly argue that Sesko has the higher potential, given that he’s yet to truly announce himself as a prolific marksman?
With 27 goals and seven assists across 64 Bundesliga outings, Sesko has a lot to prove, but he’s a big talent, for sure, and Howe has the tactical nous and interpersonal skills to will him toward elite status.
Just imagine what the acclaimed manager could do with Aghehowa leading his Magpies line.
Another Elanga: Newcastle to reignite interest in "exceptional" £50m titan
The experienced international could boost morale at Newcastle.
ByJack Salveson Holmes Aug 5, 2025
Ingram, Carlson score half-centuries but Glamorgan heading for defeat
ECB Reporters Network24-Aug-2024
File photo: Jack Morley wheels away for Lancashire•Getty Images
Derbyshire are on the brink of ending a five year red ball drought after Jack Morley put Glamorgan in a spin on the third day of the Vitality County Championship match at Derby. The on-loan left arm spinner from Lancashire took 3 for 35 from 20 overs to put Derbyshire on course for a first Championship victory at the County Ground since August 2019.Glamorgan were fighting back at 226 for 4 but they lost three wickets in the space of six balls and closed on 236 for 7, still 25 behind. Colin Ingram and Kiran Carlson scored fifties but Morley and Pat Brown (2 for 50) bowled Derbyshire to the verge of a first Championship win anywhere for 25 months.After rain washed out the morning session, Brown and Zak Chappell started Glamorgan’s decline with three wickets in six overs. Billy Root did not profit from his escape the previous evening, scoring only 13 before he pushed at a ball from Brown he could have left and was caught behind.Brown tempted Ben Kellaway into a loose waft that gave Brooke Guest another victim before Chappell bagged the big wicket of Sam Northeast. The Glamorgan skipper had started purposefully but there was little he could do with a ball that was angled in and straightened enough to get through his defence and pluck out middle stump.A shower held up play for 20 minutes which would have helped keep the bowlers fresh and disrupt the batters concentration but both Carlson and Ingram settled in well after the restart. Carlson was more circumspect after he got away with a big drive early in his innings and Ingram, who scored a century on this ground last season, was quick to pounce on anything short or overpitched.With Anuj Dal off the field, Derbyshire were a bowler down and there was frustration for Brown when Carlson saw an edge loop just over third slip before Ingram was given a life on 25. Brown tempted him into a drive and the edge went low to Guest who could not hang on diving to his left.Ingram reached his 50 off 93 balls the over before tea which arrived with Glamorgan recovering well to get the deficit below three figures. But all the hard work was undone three overs into the final session when Ingram attempted a big slog-sweep at Morley and was bowled to end a stand of 110 from 179 balls.Colin Ingram made a fighting fifty for Glamorgan•Getty Images
Derbyshire thought they had Carlson in the next over, caught behind off David Lloyd, but the umpires ruled correctly that the ball had been played into the ground.Carlson completed his 50 off 125 balls before Derbyshire lost Brown who limped off with what appeared to be an ankle injury four overs into his second spell.Lloyd took over and struck when Chris Cooke tried to drive and was bowled, breaking a stand of 50 from 122 balls. Derbyshire moved a step closer to victory in the next over when Carlson inexplicably gave Morley the charge and was stumped.Timm van der Gugten was lbw first ball and although Mason Crane averted the hat-trick, Glamorgan will need something remarkable on the last day to deny Derbyshire that long-awaited home win.
Tottenham Hotspur will be entering a new era during the 2024/25 campaign, with Thomas Frank the latest manager to try and be a success in North London.
The Dane takes the reins as the Lilywhites’ boss after seven successful years in charge of Brentford, in which he achieved an impressive win percentage of 43%.
However, he’s demonstrated that he’s able to thrive in the Premier League on a shoestring budget, having the chance to work with larger funds across the capital.
He’s also showcased that he’s able to develop players into top-level talents, with the likes of Bryan Mbeumo and Yoane Wissa both touted with big-money moves away during this window.
Whilst both have been linked with a reunion with their former boss at Spurs, neither are expected to join the club, with numerous other names mentioned during the ongoing window.
The latest on Spurs’ hunt for new additions this summer
Mohammed Kudus is a player who has been hugely on their shortlist this summer, with a £55m agreement having been struck for the West Ham United star, as per The Athletic’s David Ornstein.
Ademola Lookman had been seen as an alternative to the Ghanaian, with the Atalanta star potentially available for £50m after scoring 20 times across all competitions in 2024/25.
However, their attention appears to have turned to Fluminense star Jhon Arias, with the Colombian a player of huge admiration by the hierarchy, according to one Spanish outlet.
They claim that the Lilywhites are set to submit an offer for the 27-year-old in the coming days, currently being valued at around the €25m (£20m) mark by the Brazilian outfit.
It also states that his current employers may find it hard to keep hold of the attacker during this window, after he expressed his desire for a new challenge after impressing at the Club World Cup.
Why Spurs’ £20m target would be a better signing than Eze
Crystal Palace star Eberechi Eze is a player who’s been on Spurs’ radar over the last couple of summers, but no deal has ever been agreed for his services.
The 27-year-old looked as though he could finally join the Lilywhites this window, potentially triggering the £68m release clause in his current contract at Selhurst Park.
However, after registering 26 combined goals and assists last season, competition for his signature has been extremely high, with North London rivals Arsenal also in the race for the England international.
Mikel Arteta’s side now appear to be leading the race to land the attacking midfielder, leading to Frank’s side targeting other reinforcements as a result.
Arias is just one of the players currently in their sights, with the Colombian star possessing a very similar skillset to Eze, both liking to drive forward with the ball at their feet.
The Fluminense star, who’s been labelled “magical” by The Athletic’s Oliver Kay, registered more progressive carries and carries into the final third than Eze per 90, showcasing his ability to get the ball into dangerous areas.
Upon getting into such areas, he posted a higher shot on target accuracy rate, having the ability to finish the attack himself or tee up a teammate – as seen by his higher tally of passes into the final third per 90.
How Arias compares to Eze throughout the 2024/25 season
Statistics (per 90)
Arias
Eze
Games played
27
34
Goals & assists
10
16
Shot on target accuracy
41%
27%
Goals per shot on target
0.3
0.2
Progressive carries
3.6
2.4
Progressive passes
3.5
3.3
Pass accuracy
84%
74%
Passes into final third
3.1
1.7
Carries into final third
2.6
1.6
Aerial success rate
33%
16%
Stats via FBref
His all-round dominance over the Palace star is further reflected in his higher aerial success and pass completion rates, with his skillset providing a real threat to backlines across the Premier League should he join.
Given the difference in stats, it’s evident that Arias would be a superb addition to Frank’s side, handing the Dane the talent and depth he desires in such a department.
The stats are just one selling point, but the fact he’s available for nearly £50m cheaper is another huge factor in any potential move, hopefully able to make a name for himself in North London throughout 2025/26 and beyond.
He's like Mbeumo: Spurs close in on agreement to sign "phenomenal" £65m ace
Spurs could sign a player who’s like Bryan Mbeumo this summer.
ByJack Salveson Holmes Jul 8, 2025
Ange Postecoglou cemented his legacy at Tottenham Hotspur when he led his side to glory in the Europa League last season, ending 17 years of searching for silverware down N17.
However, Spurs’ 17th-place finish in the Premier League pass judgment on Postecoglou’s tenure, ending his time in the dugout after two campaigns that were fraught with setbacks but charged by excitement.
Now, with Thomas Frank at the helm, Tottenham will hope to build on last year’s success and establish themselves as one of the most dangerous clubs in England once again, having sealed their place in the Champions League too.
Premier League: Ange Postecoglou vs Thomas Frank
#
Ange
Frank
Matches
76
152
Wins
31
54
Draws
11
38
Losses
34
60
Goals scored
138
228
Goals conceded
126
224
Points
104
200
PPG
1.37
1.32
Data via Transfermarkt
Daniel Levy will no doubt be doing some soul-searching after making the contentious call, but in Frank, the Londoners have bagged a manager capable of shaping talented players into shining stars.
The Danish tactician will relish the chance to work with Tottenham’s crew, but he will need to be backed this summer, strengthening the squad with one or two attacking additions.
Spurs lining up attacking signings
Sure, Tottenham need reinforcements across the park, but with Heung-min Son entering the autumn of his career and attracting interest from suitors in the Middle East, fresh recruits are needed.
The 20-year-old Mathys Tel’s loan move has been wrapped up for £30m, which could prove a shrewd deal indeed, but there’s little question that more is needed, both out wide and as support for striker Dominic Solanke.
Looking at the flanks, West Ham United’s Mohammed Kudus is available after a difficult campaign in east London, while L’Equipe have recently reported Lilywhites interest in AS Monaco’s Maghnes Akliouche, who is valued at around €60m (£51m).
Bryan Mbeumo has also been at the centre of talks, and Frank would love nothing more than a reunion with his Brentford talisman. However, the prolific Cameroon international’s preference is to sign for Man United this summer.
No matter, Tottenham appear to have found their dream alternative.
Spurs make contact for Premier League star
The Athletic’s David Ornstein has confirmed that Tottenham have made an official enquiry for Bournemouth winger Antoine Semenyo. However, Daniel Levy has no intention of meeting the £70m asking price.
Man United are also keen but are in the same camp as Spurs, albeit they are leaning toward Mbeumo. With Semenyo thought to be keen on the move to north London, though, this one’s hardly dead in the water.
Saying that, the Cherries are under no pressure to sell after offloading Dean Huijsen and Milos Kerkez.
Why Spurs should sign Antoine Semenyo
Bournemouth signed Semenyo from Bristol City for a smart £10.5m fee in January 2023, and has since gone from strong to stronger under the wing of Andoni Iraola.
Indeed, across the past two Premier League campaigns, the versatile winger has scored 19 goals and provided nine assists, underlaying his output with sharp, dynamic movements and a tenacious defensive attitude.
His completeness suggests Semenyo could even prove an upgrade on Brennan Johnson, 24, who is one of Tottenham’s most prolific players but is guilty of drifting in and out of games, waning at points.
Two seasons into his career down N17, the Welshman posted 18 goals and seven assists last term, the most notable of which was the bundled-in winner to seal the Europa League title.
But he needs to do more across the wider game. As per Sofascore, Johnson averaged just 0.6 dribbles, 2.8 successful duels, and 0.6 key passes over last year’s top-flight season, also creating just four big chances across his 33 appearances (24 of which were starts).
Transfer Focus
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Semenyo, however, is far more complete. Not only did he score 11 goals and add five assists in the league (Johnson’s haul was as follows: 11 goals, three assists), but the forward also averaged 1.9 dribbles, 6.1 duels, and 4.3 ball recoveries per game.
This suggests that the Cherries sensation could offer more to the team with his all-round game on the flank in comparison to Johnson’s limited performances.
Described as a “duel monster” and a “workhorse off the ball” by analyst Ben Mattinson, the Bournemouth man is perfectly aligned with Frank’s vision, especially when considering he plays in a similar fashion to Mbeumo.
Indeed, FBref record the Englishman to be of a statistical likeness to the Bees star, ranked as he was among the top 5% of the Premier League’s attacking midfielders and wingers last year for shots taken, the top 20% for successful take-ons and the top 8% for aerials won per 90.
Antoine Semenyo – Bournemouth Stats by Position
Position
Apps
Goals
Assists
Right winger
46
13
3
Left winger
29
7
5
Centre-forward
6
1
0
Stats via Transfermarkt
Semenyo’s versatility has seen him provide a potent output both on the left and the right wing for Bournemouth, with his teammate Lewis Cook hailing his “aggressive” and “clinical” qualities.
Such praise underlines the Ghana international’s suitability for a place in a Tottenham team hoping to cement themselves among Europe’s elite for years to come while challenging for major honours with a newfound taste for triumph.
Of course, Johnson is hardly allergic to playing a definitive role in sealing silverware – just hark back to the Europa League final – but across the wider span of the campaign, Tottenham supporters cannot contest the fact that there was a consistent lack of consistency and fluency that led to the lowly Premier League finish.
Semenyo would change that, dovetailing into Frank’s new Spurs system and rising to become the astute manager’s new version of Mbeumo.
This wouldn’t necessarily relegate Johnson to the backbenches, for the transfer target is competent across both wings, but there’s no doubt that he would add a dimension which his counterpart has yet to unlock in its entirety.
Much depends on whether Levy can whittle down Bournemouth’s hefty £70m fee. If the shrewd businessman can do so, he would strengthen the new Tottenham project and then some.
Dream Son heir: Spurs set to enter bidding war for "generational" £50m star
The talented youngster could be a superstar at Spurs.
ByJack Salveson Holmes Jun 20, 2025
Arsenal have many items on the agenda this summer as new sporting director Andrea Berta looks to back Mikel Arteta with new signings, and one of their key aims is to bring in multiple attacking players.
Arsenal targeting new winger and striker this summer
The transfer window is officially open for business, at least until June 10, with a short break then following before it reopens on June 16 right the way through till September 1.
Arsenal U-turn over signing "powerful" player who "was on the verge" of joining
They’ve now pulled out of the deal.
ByEmilio Galantini Jun 3, 2025
This current mini-window was introduced to allow sides competing in the Club World Cup to register new players before the tournament kicks off, but it applies to all Premier League sides, including Arsenal.
Arsenal are expected to complete a move for Real Sociedad midfielder Martin Zubimendi with a medical scheduled for the Spain international (BBC), so there is every chance that they could officially sign him before June 10, considering how advanced that deal is.
19/20 – winter
£0
20/21 – summer
£81.5m
20/21 – winter
£900k
21/22 – summer
£156.8m
21/22 – winter
£1.8m
22/23 – summer
£121.5m
22/23 – winter
£59m
23/24 – summer
£208m
23/24 – winter
£0
24/25 – summer
£101.5m
24/25 – winter
£0
After Zubimendi, much has been made of the Gunners’ pursuit of a top striker, with Sporting CP’s Viktor Gyokeres and RB Leipzig’s Benjamin Sesko both top of Arsenal’s list of striker targets.
Supporters are especially keen for Berta to acquire a prolific goalscorer – which has long been viewed as the missing piece of Arteta’s jigsaw – following a campaign where they struggled to score many compared to their previous standards.
However, a number nine isn’t the sole focus going forward.
Bukayo Saka’s injury lay-off midway through 2024/2025 brought attention to Arsenal’s need for an alternative on the right-hand side, while there are some questions about the long-term future of Leandro Trossard, who’s about to enter the final 12 months of his contract.
Interestingly, Berta could turn to one of Arteta’s former stars at Man City – £242,000-per-week Bayern Munich winger Leroy Sane.
Arsenal are reliably believed to hold a genuine interest in Sane with his Bayern contract just weeks away from expiring as things stand. The German also recently employed super-agent Pini Zahavi to assist in new contract talks, or find him a new club if needs be.
Arsenal open talks with Leroy Sane's camp over joining
Now, as per Bayern Munich insider Christian Falk, it is believed Arsenal have “started talks” with Zahavi over signing Sane.
The 29-year-old, who bagged 13 goals and six assists in total for Vincent Kompany last season, playing more of a key role towards the back end of 2024/2025, is tempted by the prospect of a move to London.
His family reside in the English capital, so a permanent switch there is appealing to him, with Falk adding that Tottenham are likely to battle with Arsenal for Sane’s services as well.
Sane’s top-level experience, and the fact he could be obtained for no transfer fee, make him a very enticing potential signing for Arsenal.
However, Sane wants a £192,000-per-week base salary, on top of £2.5 million in bonuses and a signing-on fee (Sky and Sport Bild). These were his most recently rumoured demands to stay in Bavaria, so he’ll likely request similar numbers to join Arsenal.
Looking to continue their transfer strategy of welcoming future stars, Chelsea are now reportedly preparing an offer worth £17m to sign a young South American full-back ahead of the summer.
Chelsea aiming to spoil Liverpool's title party
Level on points with sixth-place Nottingham Forest, Chelsea are playing host to the Premier League champions at the worst possible time. The Reds will enter Stamford Bridge with the pressure eased, celebrations continuing and fresh from the first of four guard of honours. For Chelsea, meanwhile, this is simply a must-win game.
Manager Enzo Maresca is well aware of the importance of victory this Sunday too, having told reporters in his pre-match press conference: “The mood is good and I’ve said for a few weeks now that it’s a matter of how we manage emotions until the end [of the season].
“When we win games, we are happy and when we don’t win, we’re not happy. But it’ll be a race until the end and we need to manage the emotions. In this moment, the main thing is to watch ourselves and be focused on ourselves. This is the main point. For sure, there are more clubs involved [in the top-five race] but for us, it’s important to stay focused on ourselves.”
Approach made: Chelsea now ready to splash out £60m to sign "amazing" star
He almost joined Arsenal in January…
ByTom Cunningham May 3, 2025
With games against Newcastle United, Manchester United and most importantly, Nottingham Forest on the final day awaiting Chelsea, it is set to be a frantic few weeks for the Blues. Maresca has arguably been handed the toughest games of his tenure at the most crucial stage of the campaign.
On the pitch, securing Champions League football would signal quite the sigh of relief. Away from the action, meanwhile, it would allow those at Stamford Bridge to get to work in the summer transfer window.
Chelsea preparing £17m Wesley offer
According to Caught Offside, Chelsea are now preparing an offer worth €20m (£17m) to sign Wesley from Flamengo, with talks over a deal set to intensify at the Club World Cup – a competition both sides will be competing in this summer.
As things stand, those negotiations will need to reach a breakthrough regarding the defender’s price-tag, given that Flamengo are reportedly holding out for €35m (£35m), rather than the £17m offer that Chelsea are seemingly preparing.
It should come as no surprise to see Chelsea interested in signing Wesley, given how often they’ve set their sights on South American talent throughout BlueCo’s ownership.
The Blues have already sealed the talented Estevao Willian and could now sign Wesley to go alongside the midfielder. Described as “pacy” by South American football expert Nathan Joyes, the right-back is certainly one to keep an eye on.
As the summer transfer window approaches, Rangers have reportedly been boosted by the news that one particular attacking target is now open to completing a move to Ibrox.
Rangers receive transfer boost
It looks set to be a hectic summer at Ibrox, starting with new ownership with the 49ers Group reportedly on their way in the coming months. To say that they’ll have an important first act to make would be a major understatement too, with a new manager needed to take over from interim boss Barry Ferguson.
Whilst the interim boss has impressed at times, recent rumours suggest that Rangers are set to turn their attention towards a more experienced option and could even lure the likes of Marco Rose to Scotland. The German was recently sacked by RB Leipzig as they continued to slip away from Champions League qualification in the Bundesliga, but could be handed an instant return to management by the Gers.
Meanwhile, it could also be a busy summer on the incomings front with a permanent move for Vaclav Cerny already mooted in recent weeks. And the loanee may not be the only attacking star on the way to Ibrox in what could turn into a major boost.
According to Rangers News, Dor Turgeman is now open to joining Rangers this summer and the 49ers could yet swoop in to land a deal worth around £5m in the coming months.
That said, the Maccabi Tel Aviv forward hasn’t exactly hidden his end goal, with reports indicating that he’ll only complete a move to the Scottish giants if he can use them as a stepping stone towards the Premier League.
49ers now well placed to agree move to sign £20m+ Adidas player for Leeds
The 49ers seem key to a deal.
ByCharlie Smith Apr 1, 2025
Unfortunately for Rangers, it is something that Koppen may consider even if that is the case as he looks to transform the Gers’ transfer model into one that signs stars for cheap, builds them up and then sells them on for major profit.
"Quick" Turgeman suits Koppen's plan
Just like Turgeman has made his ambitions no secret, Koppen has been fairly open about his own plan at Rangers – telling reporters as relayed by Rangers News: “You have to let the players go, also because that’s how you attract them, they come with an ambition to go. We cannot force them to stay.
“You have to say to them, come here to be successful and win, but this is not your end station. 80% of these players who move to the club should come with the ambition to go. Ultimately, that is only achieved by winning and progressing so that everyone can benefit – the club and the player.”
When thinking about players that would slot straight into that criteria of players, Turgeman instantly comes to mind. The 21-year-old, who has scored 17 goals in all competitions this season, could add instant firepower at Ibrox before earning the Premier League move that he desires.
Dubbed “quick” and “agile” by The Rangers Journal last summer, the 49ers should make signing Turgeman one of their first priorities when they arrive at the club this summer.
Australia’s most successful domestic coach speaks about his methods and philosophy after signing a new two-year deal with WA and Perth Scorchers
Alex Malcolm29-Feb-2024You’ve had incredible success in the last three seasons. The question now is how do you get better as a coach and how do you take your coaching to the next level with the same group?I think you constantly ask yourself how are you getting better and whether it’s some of the leadership programs that I do or the ability to continue to keep learning on the job with what you do. But also the opportunities to keep trying to experience different environments and working with different players I think is all part of that. With our group itself, it’s a phenomenal group, and I feel very grateful to be in the position that I am to work with this group of players and staff that have brought so much success. But equally, I think every team is constantly in transition and we’re no different.The recent Marsh Cup success is probably a testament to that where I think we used 23 players over the eight games and we saw five debutants as well. Hopefully, not only are we able to continue to bring those high standards, but we’re actually starting to give opportunities to that next generation of West Australian cricketers as well. That’s the exciting bit. I think that’s the big part of why I love my job and why I want to continue to be able to do what I’m doing at the moment.You had an opportunity to coach Australia A last year. Is there some flexibility to take more opportunities like that or get involved in some overseas franchise cricket over the next couple of years alongside coaching WA and Scorchers?There is. Exactly what that looks like we’ll continue to work through but the idea of being able to go and experience different environments and continue my learning away from our setup and hopefully bring some different ideas back with me is something we’ll certainly look to explore and work out what suits best.What have you learned over the last few years about first achieving success and then sustaining it?I think what success provides is belief more than anything. Belief that what you’re doing is working. Belief that the playing group are invested in how the program runs and the way they want to play their cricket. Probably the biggest learning is that…validation might not be the right word, but hopefully, it means that the things that you are trying to implement and put into place are putting you on the right track. From that first season where we won those three trophies, every one of them is incredibly satisfying, but they’ve all been very different and provided different challenges. That’s the art of doing what we do, navigating through those challenges and providing guidance and leadership. But ultimately, I think it’s the underlying belief that has really stood out over those last couple of years.Adam Voges: ‘You can’t do everything yourself and that ability to empower and trust other people to do their job is really important’•Getty ImagesWhat about the evolution of your relationships with the players? Being a domestic coach is different now to when you were a player with so many players coming in and out of the squad at various points of the year due to international and franchise cricket. How do you manage that with the players?We’ve got a big squad. I think we’ve got 31 players, including our CA contracted guys at the moment and trying to have touch-in points with all of them at various times is a challenge in itself. But that transition period of guys coming in and out of our program is something that I’ve tried to refine and tried to make sure that each time they go out or each time they come in it feels like they haven’t left.The communication side of that is really important, to just try and stay in touch with those guys as much as possible. But for all players, give them the clarity that they’re seeking, whether it’s in their role, in selection, in where that improvement lies for each one individually. So that’s been an evolution. Getting better at that side of things is something that I’ve had to work on and certainly haven’t nailed but continues to be part of how I continue to evolve and grow.One of the hardest things for a coach is to take your hands off the reins at times and empower your assistant coaches. What have you learned about that?Beau Casson is a head coach in waiting. Tim Macdonald is a really experienced bowling coach and a couple of our development coaches are great and there’s been transition in that space as well over the six years. Getting those guys to come in and buy into what we’re trying to do, but allow them to do their jobs and to work really closely one-on-one with the players, with their specific skill sets and give them the autonomy and empower them to make decisions at times. Just ultimately trust that you’re backing them to do their jobs really well. I’m incredibly lucky with the support staff that I’ve got and that goes into our SSSM [Sport Science Sport Medicine] group as well, not just our coaching group.What are the things you know now about coaching that you wish you knew when you started?There’s plenty that I didn’t know when I started. I think number one, you can’t do everything yourself and that ability to empower and trust other people to do their job is really important. Over-communication is always way better than a lack of communication. I think they’re two of the really big things. Just understanding what the big things are and focusing time and effort on them. Not sweating on things that ultimately are out of your control. They’re probably the key learnings. It can be a stressful life at times. It can be a lonely life at times. But understanding and learning a couple of those key points is certainly what I’ve been able to do over the last five or six years.Western Australia continues to produce a lot of cricketers for the national side•Getty ImagesWhat is the next phase for a domestic coach in Australia given the way global cricket is trending with the amount of franchise leagues that have developed? Do you think the role is going to change at all and how will it differ from coaching at franchise or international level?I think ultimately our role is still to develop Australian cricketers. Working really closely with that young group coming through is vitally important and then for our senior players, it’s continuing to challenge them but also understanding that they’re playing cricket 12 months of the year, and making good decisions around how do you help them with that, to help them have the careers and the success that they want to have.Understanding that this is often home and they like coming home. I think that’s an important part of it. Just managing those transitions in and out but ultimately trying to have a strong program that helps with development, helps to continue to try and get the best out of these guys and help them have the careers that they want to have. So that’s only going to happen more and more with franchise cricket now.I certainly hope that in 10 years time our main goal is still trying to produce West Australian and Australian cricketers. It’s going to be a balance and that’s going to happen more and more I think.You mentioned challenging senior players. How do you handle those situations now compared to when you started?I always thought there was room for that and that’s one of the biggest things I learned from JL [Justin Langer]. I was a senior player when he came into our program. He opened my eyes up to different ways of training, and different ways of going about things. It’s really easy to leave your senior players alone and let them do their thing. But he probably helped get the best out of me late in my career, and it’s certainly a lesson that I took and continue to take in and they’re often just little small things, but just trying to continue to help guys grow and improve and that’s important for anyone regardless of what stage you are at in your career.This new deal takes you through until 2026. Where do you see your career progressing beyond that?Ultimately I’m really grateful for the job that I’ve got at the moment. I’m really lucky to do what I do. I love it. And that’s a huge part of why I’m continuing. Beyond these two years, I don’t actually know ultimately what that looks like. It’s like a player really. You do the best job that you possibly can and you control what you can control and then if opportunities present themselves beyond that, then that’s great.But if you get too far ahead then maybe you take your eye off what you’re doing at the moment. And I say that to the players all the time, so I’ve got to be able to live that as well, to really just invest in this next little period and really enjoy it as well. I think there’s still some success to come with this group, albeit we’re going to continually look to transition with a pretty senior group.
Sunrisers Hyderabad had a chance to dismiss Rovman Powell when he had scored 18 off 14. They let it slip, and he duly made them pay
S Rajesh05-May-20223:05
What has gone wrong for Sunrisers Hyderabad?
Kane Williamson has had a wretched IPL with the bat so far – his strike rate of 96.1 is the lowest among batters who have faced at least 100 balls this season – but tonight his usually reliable catching let him down too, when he dropped a regulation chance from Rovman Powell in the 15th over of Delhi Capitals’ innings.Capitals had scored 135 for 3 after 14 overs, but Powell hadn’t yet fully got into his stride: he had 18 off 14 at that point. After that chance, though, he went into overdrive, slamming 49 off 20 balls. Five of his six sixes, and all three of his fours, came after that let-off.ESPNcricinfo LtdAccording to ESPNcricinfo’s Luck Index, that dropped chance cost Sunrisers Hyderabad 14 runs, which means had the catch been taken, Capitals would have finished on 193, not 207. This calculation is based on a complex algorithm, which assumes that if Powell were dismissed off that delivery, the 20 extra balls he faced would have gone to the batters who didn’t bat in the innings. In those 20 deliveries, according to the algorithm, Capitals would have scored 35 and not 49.In the end, the margin of defeat was more than 14, but it can be argued that Sunrisers might not have been so desperate for the big hits had the target been 14 runs fewer.Capitals dropped a catch too, when Lalit Yadav missed a tough one at long-off from Nicholas Pooran in the 18th over, but in the context of the match that chance didn’t cost them much: Pooran hit a six off the next ball and was then dismissed, caught at long-on.