Glasgow Rangers manager Michael Beale has a lot of work to do this summer if he wants his team to challenge for domestic glory next season.

The Ibrox side have finished trophyless for the first time since 2020, and at a club which demands success every single year, the upcoming summer transfer window will be one of the most important in recent memory.

It’s fair to say that some of Giovanni van Bronckhorst’s signings haven’t exactly worked out, with defender Ben Davies being particularly underwhelming since his move from Liverpool in 2022.

The Englishman looked extremely out of his depth during the Champions League group stage, averaging a Sofascore rating of just 6.23/10 across his three games (the fifth-lowest in the side) as well as losing possession 10.3 times per match, and although he enjoyed a steady run in the side under Beale, he has still made the odd mistake.

Against Celtic last month, his failed clearance led to Kyogo Furuhashi scoring his second of the afternoon and capped a miserable performance from the £27k-per-week dud. Former Ibrox defender Kirk Broadfoot even described him as being “poor” and that he sometimes gets “bullied” – so Beale may look to sign another centre-back this summer.

Could Rangers sign Auston Trusty from Arsenal?

American defender Auston Trusty has been linked with a move to the Ibrox side recently, with a fee of around £2m being mooted in order for him to move north of the border.

The fee shouldn’t be a problem, with Beale potentially moving a few players on in order to generate funds for signings – and Trusty could be a solid addition, especially after enjoying a decent campaign at Birmingham City.

He even won the fans' Player of the Year award for his impressive performances, and across 44 English Championship appearances, he averaged a Sofascore match rating of 6.97, ranking him as the third-best performer in the squad.

The 24-year-old can provide an attacking threat from the back, having scored four goals and grabbed two assists, while also creating three big chances, so this could be an added benefit to Beale.

This doesn’t mean he shirks his defensive responsibilities, however, as he made 2.3 tackles and 4 clearances per game along with winning 6.2 total duels each match – at a success rate of 57% – clearly demonstrating his physicality, which could stand him in good stead if he were to make the switch to Scottish football.

His fellow teammate at Birmingham, George Friend, described Trusty as “incredible” back in October, and for the aforementioned fee of £2m, Beale can lure him to Scotland while having the licence to ditch Davies in the process.

Middlesex’s lead has been trimmed by Yorkshire to four points after a rain-affected round and James Franklin knows that there is still lots of good cricket to play if they are to end their title drought

Jon Culley03-Sep-2016Warwickshire 172 and 120 for 4 drew with Middlesex 242 and 267 for 7 dec (Robson 74, Eskinazi 53)
ScorecardSteven Finn has not played since a hamstring injury in the final Test•Getty ImagesMiddlesex remain the Division One leaders but by less of a margin than that with which they began after the weather ultimately left them frustrated at it did Yorkshire.As they seek to stay in front and win the County Championship title for the first time since 1993, Middlesex now lead Yorkshire by four points, down from five, this match called off as a draw after bad light forced the players off following just 56 minutes of action, the first two sessions having been lost to rain.The results mean that the likelihood of the final round of the season, in which Yorkshire have to go to Lord’s, being the deciding round is slightly greater, although if either side is to seize a clear advantage before then it is Yorkshire, with their next two matches at home, who look the more likely.Middlesex are away for their next two, against Nottinghamshire and Lancashire, although their chances there will be boosted by the return to their attack of Steven Finn from injury and fellow seamer Tim Murtagh from international duty. Finn has been out of action since suffering a hamstring injury on the final day of England’s fourth Test defeat to Pakistan three weeks ago.”Having Steven back will be a real boost,” Middlesex captain James Franklin said. “We all know what he can do if he is on song and he is champing at the bit to be back playing cricket and maybe helping us push for the title.”Franklin, who will be leader on the field for the remainder of the campaign with Adam Voges unable to return, admitted the possibility of winning the title is adding an extra buzz in the dressing room but stressed that keeping their advantage would be tough.”I’d be lying if I said there was not talk in the group about the title but we know there are still 72 points available and it is not only about ourselves and Yorkshire, with Somerset still hunting,” he said. “Twelve days is a lot of cricket to be played and every game in this division is tough whether you are playing teams at the bottom of the table or in contention at the top. We know we are going to have to play very good cricket in those 12 days if we are to come out on top.”At Edgbaston, it seemed unlikely any play would be possible as rain teemed down throughout the scheduled morning session, leaving puddles on the outfield. But a dry interlude allowed some intensive mopping up and had the light been good enough the minimum 36 overs left when play began at 3.45pm may well have been bowled, perhaps a few more with spin used at both ends.They had intended to give Warwickshire a burst of Toby Roland-Jones at the start but with the floodlights on they were obliged to bowl off-spinner Ollie Rayner and left-arm spinner Ravi Patel in tandem from the start or risk leaving the field earlier still.In the event, it was debatable whether Middlesex would have been able to claim six more wickets to win the match. Rayner managed to winkle out Chris Wright, the nightwatchman, with the last ball of his fourth over but Ian Bell and Sam Hain used their feet well against the turning ball and had kept their wickets intact for 11.4 overs more when umpires David Millns and Martin Saggers decided the floodlights were providing more illumination than the natural light.Asked whether Middlesex might have given themselves a better chance had they pushed on towards a declaration position more quickly on the third day, captain James Franklin admitted it was a tricky decision.”The overhead conditions made it more difficult on Friday and I think Warwickshire bowled pretty well at us,” he said. “We felt we had to get to a certain point before we could really kick on.”Before that, 240, 250, 260 was well within the realms of Warwickshire and had the weather not come it would have left them a lot of time to get that, so it was a balancing act. In the end the weather had the last word anyway.”Middlesex are the only side to have beaten Yorkshire in the Championship in the last three seasons but Franklin does not believe that record will have any bearing if the meeting at Lord’s on September 20 does turn out to be a winner-takes-all showdown.”I don’t think our record against Yorkshire gives us any kind of advantage,” he said. “They are such a good team and they have proven that in the last two years. Obviously we would back ourselves to beat them but we can’t look too far ahead.”Before that we have two games against Nottinghamshire and Lancashire, which will not be easy. We are in with a shout but we are going to have to play very well.”

An aggravation of the hamstring strain that ruled Nuwan Pradeep out of the last two Tests, now sees him leave the Sri Lanka ODI squad. He was one of only two specialist seamers in the squad, but the selectors have replaced him with middle-order batsman Angelo Perera.Pradeep was seen bowling at good pace in the nets through the back end of the Test series, and was in fact set to play the opening ODI, before aggravating his injury just minutes before the toss on Sunday. That he is in the ODI squad at all is thanks to a spate of injuries to seamers. Pradeep had largely only played Tests until the likes of Lasith Malinga, Dushmantha Chameera and Dhammika Prasad were all ruled out.Perera makes his way into the side after good outings with Sri Lanka A team in England. He scored 35, 30 not out, 35 and 69 in four list A matches against England Lions and Pakistan A. An aggressive right-hand batsman, Perera has also been one of the more consistent performers in domestic cricket over the past few years, maintaining an average of 36.21 and a strike rate of 93 across 78 List A innings. He hit 450 first-class runs at an average of 40.90 in this year’s Premier League Tournament.The selectors had originally selected Perera as cover for batsmen Dinesh Chandimal and Kusal Mendis who took blows to the ribs and fingers respectively. Both those players have been cleared to play on Wednesday however, and, with seamers unlikely to play a major role for Sri Lanka in this series, no fast-bowling replacement has been made for Pradeep.

Manchester United still have plenty left to play for this season with Champions League qualification still in the balance and with an FA Cup final showdown to come with rivals Manchester City, although attention is already turning toward the summer transfer window.

With centre-forward one area that manager Erik ten Hag is seemingly keen to address ahead of next season, there have been reports that the Red Devils are keen on Napoli sensation Victor Osimhen – alongside Tottenham Hotspur's Harry Kane – in order to find a long-term, number nine solution.

Amid the further belief that the former Ajax boss is also hoping to bolster his midfield ranks, the latest suggestion is that United could well have identified one of Osimhen's Serie A-winning teammates as a possible target, in the form of Andre-Frank Zambo Anguissa.

According to a recent report from Napoli Calcio story Live, the Old Trafford outfit – as well as Spurs – are seemingly interested in signing the former Fulham man this summer, with the 27-year-old having only joined his current side on a permanent deal last year, having spent the 2021/22 season on loan in Naples.

As the piece outlines, however, the Italian champions are likely to be in a strong bargaining position amid the option of a two-year extension on the player's existing deal – which expires in 2025 – although United are prepared to make an 'important offer' in order to deal a move.

Would Zambo Anguissa be a good signing for Man United?

The 6 foot "monster" – as hailed by journalist Raj Chohan – has certainly warranted such interest due to his vital part in helping Luciano Spalletti's side to Scudetto glory, having scored twice and registered four assists in 33 league starts to date.

The ex-Craven Cottage ace has been particularly impressive as a result of his ball-winning prowess, notably averaging 1.5 tackles and 1.2 interceptions per game in Serie A this term, as well as providing a dominant presence in the air after winning a solid 61% of his aerial duels.

Currently valued at around £26m – according to CIES Football Observatory – the Cameroon international could well prove an ideal alternative to another reported United target in the form of Real Madrid's Federico Valverde, with the Uruguayan star having been linked with a move to the Theatre of Dreams in recent months.

With the 24-year-old unlikely to come cheap – amid reports that his current deal includes a €1bn (£856m) release clause – the signing of Anguissa could be Ten Hag's answer to the Bernabeu ace, with the pair said to share a number of statistical and stylistic similarities, as per FBref.

That likeness is showcased by the duo's ability to drive forward from deep and spark attacks with incisive forward passes, with the £59k-per-week Napoli man having racked up 51 progressive carries and 164 progressive passes, while Valverde has recorded 69 and 145 for the same two metrics, respectively.

To be compared to the latter man – who has also been described as a "monster" by talent scout Jacek Kulig – is an indication of Anguissa's perhaps unsung talent, with Valverde having been hailed as one of the top three players "in the world right now" by teammate Toni Kroos earlier in the season.

For Ten Hag to find his answer to the Madrid man with a move for the Cameroonian ace could well represent a real coup as far United are concerned.

Newcastle United transfer target Harvey Barnes is keen on a move to the club during the summer transfer window, a new update has claimed.

Is Barnes expected to leave Leicester?

The Magpies have been linked with a host of players ahead of what could be a significant summer for them, having been boosted by qualifying for next season's Champions League.

Barnes is one player who has emerged as a potential target, having done his best to help Leicester avoid relegation from the Premier League this season, scoring 12 times in the competition and also registering one assist.

The £40,000-a-week attacker may end up leaving the King Power Stadium at the end of the season, though, alongside Foxes teammate James Maddison, who also appears to be a primary target and is interested in a move to Newcastle, and it looks as though the situation is similar with Barnes.

Could Newcastle sign Barnes?

According to Football Insider, Barnes is "keen on joining Newcastle United if they push hard for his signature this summer". He is thought to be "one of three English creative or attacking midfielders" that the Magpies are eyeing up, with Maddison and Mason Mount the other two players in question.

It is even stated that the one-time capped England international, who shares the same agency as manager Eddie Howe, "will quit Leicester City this summer regardless of whether the Foxes escape relegation on the Premier League final day or not."

Barnes is someone who could be viewed as an eye-catching option for Newcastle this summer, having been a key figure for Leicester over an extended period now, who prior to the final day, scored 44 goals and chipped in with 32 assists in 186 appearances for the club. He was once described as "sensational" by Gary Lineker in 2019, and he could offer the Magpies extra pace and directness in wide areas, often adopting a left-sided role with the ability to either cut inside or go on the outside.

To have stood out for a struggling side like Leicester shows the impact that Barnes could have with better players around him – the same applies to Maddison, too – so there is every chance that he could find an extra gear in a Newcastle shirt, benefiting from the vision of Bruno Guimaraes, and providing for and linking with the likes of Alexander Isak and Callum Wilson in the attacking third.

Thirteen wickets in the match from their leading spinner helped Sri Lanka complete their first whitewash over Australia in Test cricket

The Report by Brydon Coverdale17-Aug-2016
Scorecard and ball-by-ball details3:49

Arnold: Sri Lanka’s best Test series

History was against this Sri Lanka team, so they created their own. Before this series, Sri Lanka had beaten Australia just once – one single Test in 33 years of cricket between the nations. Kumar Sangakkara, perhaps the finest batsman Sri Lanka has ever produced, played 134 Tests and never tasted victory against Australia. Dhananjaya de Silva and Lakshan Sandakan, uncapped a month ago, have now played in three.So too has Rangana Herath, whose grey-tinged hair and cuddly build can trick you into thinking he was born 38 years old. But he was young once. At 21, he sat in the rooms in Kandy and watched his squad-mates beat Australia in 1999, the only previous occasion on which they had managed the feat. Herath had to wait until the next Test in the series to make his debut. Seventeen years later, he has been part of whitewashing Australia.A significant part, in fact, for Herath finished the series as the leading wicket taker, with 28 at 12.75. And never was he more devastating than the final day of the final Test, when he collected 7 for 64 to bowl Sri Lanka to their triumph. Set 324 for victory, Australia briefly dreamed of a consolation win while David Warner was moving briskly to 68. But once he departed the capitulation came quickly, Australia bowled out for 160, defeated by 163 runs.Make no mistake: this series was a complete humiliation for Australia. They arrived in Sri Lanka as the No.1 team in the world, confident of overcoming No.7. Apart from the first day of the series, when they skittled Sri Lanka for 117, Australia were rarely in with a chance. The No.1 ranking is not only gone, but Australia have slipped to third, behind India and Pakistan, while Sri Lanka have moved up to sixth. Australia’s loss in Colombo was their ninth consecutive Test defeat in Asia, a record that augurs exceptionally poorly for their four-Test tour of India early next year.Mitchell Starc was brilliant, finishing with 24 wickets and the best strike-rate of any bowler ever to take 20 wickets in a Test series in Asia. But the batting was deplorable. Only twice in the past hundred years have Australia’s batsmen collectively averaged so few runs in a series of three or more Tests as the 19.86 they averaged in this series. There were good excuses on the other occasions: in 1978-79 Australia were ravaged by World Series Cricket, and in England in 1956, Jim Laker was unplayable on uncovered pitches prepared to suit him.Here there were no such excuses. The pitches turned but were perfectly decent. Sri Lanka’s batting was inconsistent and they gave Australia’s bowlers openings, but always there was someone to step up and rescue the innings: Kusal Mendis in Pallekele and Galle, Dinesh Chandimal and de Silva in the first innings in Colombo and Kaushal Silva in the second. Sri Lanka’s spinners used the conditions well, Australia’s batsmen were often incompetent.But that is for Australia’s management to assess in their post-mortems. Now is the time to celebrate Sri Lanka’s achievement. Only three times previously had they whitewashed any team in a three-match series – Zimbabwe once, Bangladesh once and West Indies once. Surely none of those triumphs can match the feat not only of crushing the No.1 team, but doing so with a developing squad, so soon after the retirements of champions such as Sangakkara and Mahela Jayawardene.That is why it was so satisfying for Sri Lanka that contributions came from newer faces. De Silva, who debuted in Pallekele, led the series run tally with 325 at 65.00. Mendis, with only one first-class century before this campaign, played the innings that effectively determined the course of the series. Sandakan, though rarely needed because the finger-spinners bowled so well, took nine wickets at 23.00.He wasn’t even needed on the final day, such was the annihilation brought on by Herath, with assistance from Dilruwan Perera. When the Test finished with half an hour still to play until tea, it was remarkable to think that Sri Lanka were still batting when the morning began. Angelo Mathews allowed his men nearly five overs to bump the target up to 324, which required Australia to make their highest ever fourth-innings total in Asia.Briefly they had hoped, as Warner played his naturally attacking game and compiled a 77-run opening stand with Shaun Marsh. But once that partnership was broken on the brink of lunch, when Marsh was brilliantly caught at short leg by Mendis off Perera, the last nine wickets tumbled for less than a hundred runs. In fact, from the moment Steven Smith was bowled trying to cut Herath, Australia lost nine for 60 in 18 overs.It was a complete capitulation. Herath straightened one just enough to trap Adam Voges lbw for 1. Warner was bowled around his legs offering no shot to Perera for 68. Moises Henriques, brought in for this match at the expense of Usman Khawaja, added 4 more to the 4 he scored in the first innings, never looking comfortable against the spinners. He was run out when he advanced to Perera, the ball flew off his pad to Mathews at slip, and the captain threw down the stumps.After that it was all Herath. Mitchell Marsh was caught behind off a beautiful turning delivery. Peter Nevill top-edged a sweep and was taken at slip. Starc too skied an attempted slog sweep and the keeper Kusal Perera took a fine running catch. Then Josh Hazlewood was lured just out of his crease and stumped, and Nathan Lyon was lbw sweeping to end the match.Herath was mobbed by his team-mates. Australia were history, and Sri Lanka had created it.

لعب المدرب البرتغالي روي فيتوريا المدير الفني لـ منتخب مصر الأول دور المنقذ لمواطنه فيتور بيريرا من الإقالة من رئاسة لجنة الحكام.

وعلم “بطولات” أن اتحاد الكرة جهز عقود إنهاء التعاقد مع  فيتور بيريرا في مناسبتين سابقتين؛ ولكن تم الإبقاء عليه بعد تدخل من روي فيتوريا.

اقرأ أيضًا.. خاص.. انقسام في اتحاد الكرة حول مصير بيريرا بعد نهاية الموسم

وكان هناك شبه إجماع في مناسبتين على رحيل فيتور بيريرا، وقام اتحاد الكرة بتجهيز العقود بشأن رحيله؛ ولكن تدخل فيتوريا أوقف ذلك القرار ليظل في منصبه.

وأشار “بطولات” في وقت سابق إلى أن هناك اتجاهًا داخل اتحاد الكرة المصري بأن يتم الاستعانة بعنصر مصري لرئاسة لجنة الحكام مع نهاية الموسم الحالي.

وتستمر المحادثات داخل الاتحاد المصري لكرة القدم من أجل حسم مصير بيريرا واتخاذ القرار المناسب.

Manchester United could well be closing in on their first signing of the summer transfer window, following an update in the club's pursuit of Chelsea contract rebel, Mason Mount.

What's the latest on Mount to Man United?

According to journalist Jacob Steinberg, writing on Twitter, the Red Devils are looking "increasingly likely to sign" the England international ahead of next season, with The Athletic's David Ornstein previously reporting that the 24-year-old was "leaning towards" a move to Old Trafford.

Writing in his attached piece for The Guardian, Steinberg revealed that the former Derby County loanee has already agreed personal terms with United regarding a summer switch, with it expected that Erik ten Hag's side will 'win the race' for his signature.

The report suggests that the Carabao Cup winners will have to splash out around £60m if they are to snap up the 36-cap ace in the coming weeks, despite the Portsmouth-born dynamo having just 12 months left to run on his existing deal.

Should Man United sign Mason Mount?

With Ten Hag seemingly eyeing a top-drawer midfield addition this summer, there may be some concern as to whether Mount totally fits the bill, with the Stamford Bridge sensation having typically operated in an attacking midfield role or on the flanks during his time in west London.

That being said, however, the "technical" talent – as recently praised by club legend Gary Neville – does have experience lining up in a number eight berth, having registered 14 goals and ten assists while predominantly featuring in that role during his spell on loan at Eredivisie side, Vitesse Arnhem in 2017/18 – at a time when Ten Hag was reportedly keeping watch at Ajax.

Mount's suitability for that dynamic role can also be shown by the comparisons that have made been between himself and an iconic figure of United's history, with former captain Roy Keane stating in the past that the Three Lions star is "almost like Paul Scholes" as he "plays like a kid on the street' and because "it all comes very easy for him".

That comparison bodes well for the impact that the exciting "game changer" – as hailed by writer Tom Overend – could make at the Theatre of Dreams, with Scholes having been a majestic presence at the heart of the midfield for almost two decades.

Much like Mount, the playmaker-turned-pundit began life in a more advanced role behind the centre-forward, although gradually went on to adopt a more deep-lying role later in his career, going on to be hailed the "the best midfielder of his generation" by Manchester City boss, Pep Guardiola.

Also lauded as "untouchable" by French icon, Zinedine Zidane, Scholes would ultimately rack up 155 goals in 718 appearances for United in all competitions, helping Sir Alex Ferguson's side to 11 league titles, four FA Cups and two Champions League triumphs in that time, among other honours.

One notable facet of the Englishman's game was his ability to make that "killer pass" – as lauded by Sir Bobby Charlton – with Mount also sharing that probing, front-foot approach, as he ranks in the top 7% among those in his position in Europe's top five leagues for progressive passes.

Of course, going on to emulate a figure such as Scholes will prove some task, although the likeness between the pair should well spark much excitement among United supporters as a deal for the Blues ace looks to be ramping up.

Surrey offspinner Gareth Batty has been given the chance for a shock return to Test cricket, more than a decade after his most recent appearance in 2005, after being named in a 17-man squad for next month’s tour of Bangladesh.Batty, who will be 39 by the time the first Test gets underway in Chittagong on October 20, will travel as back-up to England’s frontline spin pairing of Moeen Ali and Adil Rashid, but with five Tests against India following directly on from the Bangladesh leg, he has been given a golden opportunity to add to the 11 wickets he claimed in his previous seven Test appearances.Batty will compete for a spin-bowling berth with his Surrey team-mate Zafar Ansari who might have made his Test debut in the UAE last winter, but for a horrific dislocated thumb that he suffered while fielding at Old Trafford on the very day of his call-up last year. Despite another injury-dogged season, in which he has claimed 22 wickets at 31.40, England’s selectors admire his all-round potential, and he would retain valuable balance in England’s batting ranks if he were offered his opportunity.”Selecting four spinners for the Test matches will give the coaches and captain plenty of options,” James Whitaker, England’s national selector, said. “Alongside Moeen Ali and Adil Rashid, we are excited about the qualities that Zafar Ansari and Gareth Batty bring to the squad. Zafar has great potential both with bat and ball and Gareth’s experience as one of the country’s best slow bowlers and his ability to be effective in subcontinent conditions will be beneficial this winter.”At the top of the order, Lancashire’s Haseeb Hameed has, as widely anticipated, been named in his first Test squad and is the favourite to become Alastair Cook’s latest opening partner – a decision that was aided by Alex Hales’ unavailability due to the security situation in Bangladesh.Aged just 19 and with fewer than 20 first-class games behind him, Haseeb’s selection would, in some ways, constitute a gamble. But he has impressed with his tight technique and unflustered temperament – his director of cricket at Lancashire, Ashley Giles, compares his hatred of losing his wicket as similar to that of Jonathan Trott’s – and England’s head coach, Trevor Bayliss, is understood to have been impressed by the footage he has seen of him in action.”Haseeb Hameed, for someone so young, has had an impressive season in the Specsavers County Championship with Lancashire,” said Whitaker. “He has been a consistent performer and his four centuries, against some of the best bowling attacks in the country are testament to his outstanding temperament and attitude. We feel he fully deserves an opportunity to compete for a place at the top of the order in our Test side.”However, Hameed will face competition for the opening role from Ben Duckett, the Northamptonshire batsman, who is also named in the 17-man squad following a stellar season in which he has amassed more than 2700 runs in all forms of cricket.Duckett may seem more likely to make his mark in the three-match ODI series that gets underway at the start of October, when he is expected to open the batting in Hales’ absence, alongside Jason Roy, with Joe Root also rested from that leg of England’s winter.However, it has also been announced that Alastair Cook, England’s Test captain, will miss England’s two two-day warm-up matches in Bangladesh, scheduled to start on October 14 and October 16, to attend the birth of his second child. Although Cook is planning on flying out a week ahead of the rest of the squad before returning to Bangladesh in time for the first Test in Chittagong, which starts on October 20, his absence from the warm-ups could mean a straight shoot-out between the two newcomers, who can expect to open the batting together.”Ben Duckett merits his call-up to both squads after showing his qualities as an attacking batsman, both in the county game and for the England Lions,” Whitaker said. “Throughout the campaign, he has scored heavily for Northamptonshire in first-class cricket, including two double-hundreds. His 220 not out for the England Lions in a 50-over game against Sri Lanka A earlier this summer was very special and we look forward to seeing Ben continue his development at the highest level in the game.”Jos Buttler, England’s stand-in one-day captain, is back in England’s Test squad for the first time since last winter’s tour of UAE, despite having played a solitary red-ball match in 12 months, and will travel as reserve wicketkeeper to the incumbent, Jonny Bairstow, having seen off the claims of Surrey’s emerging star, Ben Foakes.There is a recall, too, for Durham’s Mark Wood, who underwent ankle surgery after experiencing problems during the Test series against Pakistan last winter, but who has been in scintillating form since his return to action, particularly in white-ball cricket. With his ability to bowl in excess of 90mph, and find reverse swing, he will doubtless prove an asset on the slow pitches of the subcontinent, even though it is unlikely he will feature in all seven of England’s Tests. Steven Finn is also back in the Test squad, having proven his fitness in recent weeks since tweaking a hamstring in the final Test of the summer, at The Oval in August.It has also been announced that Ottis Gibson will stand in for Paul Farbrace as Bayliss’s assistant during the Bangladesh Test series, before returning to their posts for the India leg of the tour. Worcestershire’s director of cricket, Steve Rhodes, will assist the England management for the two Tests in Bangladesh, while the former England ODI captain Paul Collingwood and Andy Hurry, the head coach of the England Under-19s, will link up with the squad for the ODIs.”After a summer of progress at home across all formats, we can expect another test of our credentials this autumn,” Whitaker said. “The challenge we face will be very different and the structure of our squads reflects the conditions we expect to encounter in Bangladesh.”England Test squad for Bangladesh: Alastair Cook (Essex) captain, Moeen Ali (Worcestershire), James Anderson (Lancashire), Zafar Ansari (Surrey), Jonny Bairstow (Yorkshire), Gary Ballance (Yorkshire), Gareth Batty (Surrey), Stuart Broad (Nottinghamshire), Jos Buttler (Lancashire), Ben Duckett (Northamptonshire), Steven Finn (Middlesex), Haseeb Hameed (Lancashire), Adil Rashid (Yorkshire), Joe Root (Yorkshire), Ben Stokes (Durham), Chris Woakes (Warwickshire), Mark Wood (Durham)England ODI squad for Bangladesh: Jos Buttler (Lancashire) captain, Moeen Ali (Worcestershire), Jonny Bairstow (Yorkshire), Jake Ball (Nottinghamshire), Sam Billings (Kent), Liam Dawson (Hampshire), Ben Duckett (Northamptonshire), Liam Plunkett (Yorkshire), Adil Rashid (Yorkshire), Jason Roy (Surrey), Ben Stokes (Durham), James Vince (Hampshire), David Willey (Yorkshire), Chris Woakes (Warwickshire), Mark Wood (Durham)

Reliable journalist Fabrizio Romano has revealed that Manchester City have yet to open talks with Alexis Mac Allister over a potential switch to the Etihad Stadium this summer.

Who is signing Alexis Mac Allister this summer?

The Argentina international has impressed in the Premier League this season with Brighton & Hove Albion, helping drag his team into the European spots. With the Seagulls currently sat in sixth, they can put some of their success down to the form of their playmaker. With 33 top-flight outings to his name so far, the player has produced ten goals and two assists – the best rate of his career to date.

Now, he has caught the eye of some of their Premier League rivals. Liverpool have been the most heavily linked with Mac Allister, with several reports suggesting talks have been ongoing over a potential transfer for the player.

However, City had also seemingly entered the race for his signature in recent days, with the club looking to add more talent to their squad this summer. Pep Guardiola already knows that he could face losing Ilkay Gundogan this summer, meaning there could be room for a central incoming.

However, according to reliable journalist Fabrizio Romano, that may not be the case. He reports that whilst Jurgen Klopp's side are edging closer to an agreement, the opposite is the case with the Etihad Stadium outfit. They have yet to make any contact and are actually "not in the race" for his signature "at this stage".

Should Alexis Mac Allister leave Brighton?

The Argentina man has showcased his ability to compete on the big stage plenty of times this campaign, leading to a WhoScored rating of 7.08 for his performances in the top flight – only Solly March has recorded a higher average.

Even for his country, he emerged as one of their standout first-team options, increasing his WhoScored rating to 7.11 when lining up for the South American side during the World Cup, only placing behind Lionel Messi and Angel Di Maria in the process.

In addition, those in the media have heaped praise on the playmaker. Football journalist Josh Bunting called Mac Allister "outstanding" and "ridiculous". It shows how highly thought of he has become, especially in the Premier League, and suggests that a big move beckons for the midfielder.

But it seems as though that big move won't be to Man City unless Pep Guardiola decides to change the state of play and make an official offer for him.