Tag Futebol

The former New Zealand allrounder, who is currently at the Bangladesh Premier League, on the origins of the shortest format and the benefits it has brought

Mohammad Isam10-Nov-2017

From playing Cricket Max as a teenager to being a veteran plying his trade in T20 leagues these days, former New Zealand allrounder James Franklin has had first-hand experience of the shorter format’s transition in the last 20 years.”When I first started my career a wee while ago, Cricket Max was the game and, really, from Cricket Max, T20 cricket evolved,” Franklin said to ESPNcricinfo. “Martin Crowe was the founding father of the short format. T20 wasn’t the game he came up with but he came up with Max Cricket.”It was all double scores going straight, so that was the name of the game; you hit straight because that’s where you get full value for your team. I think it helped New Zealand cricketers come to the fore in terms of T20 cricket as well. We learned how to play the shorter format, which is why I think there are many good T20 players from New Zealand.”Franklin has built himself as a successful Kiwi export in other domestic competitions, particularly in T20s. In his second season for Rajshahi Kings in the BPL, Franklin has so far made 26 not out and 35, on both occasions looking to give his side a final flourish.Having played his last international match in June 2013, Franklin has mostly played through the English summer and also in the T20 leagues back home in New Zealand and, BPL aside, in the IPL, CPL and PSL.He said that adjusting to the team’s needs is one of the keys to being a T20 professional, to be able to understand the direction and dynamics of the group and then applying yourself as needed. It has become easier to fit into teams as he gets older, he said, because of his acquired experience.”You just have to get a feel for the group you come into, and culturally what’s different about each team, trying to grasp and understand the culture of the team and buy into what the captain, coach and the leaders in that team are trying to do.”Now being a more senior player, it is probably a bit easier to fit into a new team environment because you get experience of different teams through your career. I have had bit of experience playing in the subcontinent by playing in the IPL. A big part of my role now is to try to help the younger local players.”Franklin believes T20s can help players overcome two of cricket’s fundamental problems: having a career outside international cricket, and playing better in overseas conditions.”It is a global game now in terms of player movement. A lot of players can have their career now just playing T20s around the world. It is a true international game. I think we are seeing benefits with the skills that the players are being able to show in all conditions. We were used to seeing subcontinent players struggling in Australia or South Africa and vice versa. This is slowly being eradicated because players are spending more time in foreign conditions. They are used to playing on different surfaces so their skills get better. I think that has been the biggest thing to come out of it, I guess, the globalisation of the game of cricket.”Franklin said that the next step in such player movements would be for more subcontinent players to take their talents to South Africa and Australia. “England players were allowed to play in the IPL. They [the ECB] see a benefit to letting them go play, because they learn skills, they are playing in high pressure situations. The next step is obviously for more Bangladeshi, Indian players to go and play in competitions in South Africa and Australia. Then it truly becomes a global game.”

Manchester United are reportedly expected to sign Nice defender Jean-Clair Todibo this summer in a deal worth €30m.

What’s the latest Man United transfer news?

The Red Devils have made two signings so far in Mason Mount and Andre Onana from Chelsea and Inter Milan ahead of Erik ten Hag's second season in charge at Old Trafford.

A third player looks set to be confirmed shortly in forward Rasmus Hojlund. An agreement worth a total of £72m has been reached with Serie A side Atalanta, with the player now in the UK finalising a deal.

It is believed that a transfer for Hojlund could be confirmed around the pre-season friendly against Lens on Saturday at Old Trafford, and attention could soon be on more signings.

Read The Latest Man United Transfer News HERE…

Fabrizio Romano recently said that United’s focus will be on another new midfielder after Hojlund, although he did claim that Todibo is still being monitored after club scouts watched the player back in April.

“I mentioned in April that Man United sent their scouts multiple times to follow both Todibo and Disasi – they’re very attentive to French market.

“Todibo is still being monitored, and we’ll have to wait and see how Man United will act. The priority will be a midfielder for now, so there’s nothing imminent on Todibo.”

It looks as if the club are expected to bring in the defender, though, going off fresh speculation in recent days.

TEAMtalk relayed an update from Spain in the last 48 hours regarding Man United and a move for Todibo. The report claims that the player has given the green light to an Old Trafford move, although Barcelona have been given the option to bring the player back to the Nou Camp.

However, it is the Red Devils who are expected to sign the defender in a deal worth €30m (£25.8m), with Todibo set to fill the void left by Harry Maguire, with an Old Trafford exit thought to be likely.

How good is Jean-Clair Todibo?

Todibo is 23 years of age and appears to be at the top of his game with a career-high €30m Transfermarkt valuation. The Frenchman made a permanent move to Nice back in 2021 from Barcelona following a loan spell and has gone on to make over 100 appearances for the French side.

An out-and-out centre-back, Todibo has been hailed as “solid as a rock” by football talent scout Jacek Kulig and has even been compared to United's Lisandro Martinez over the past 12 months, as per FBref.

He ranks in the top 3% for ball recoveries and top 5% for tackles won, showing his defensive qualities, and the player has even impressed in possession. Todibo also ranks in the top 5% of centre-backs for successful take-ons, top 4% for carries and top 5% for short passes completed.

Therefore, it looks as if he could be a shrewd addition to rival the likes of Martinez and Raphael Varane in the upcoming campaign and beyond, and should Maguire leave Old Trafford, with West Ham interested, we could see Todibo arrive as his replacement.

Arsenal defender William Saliba has praised Virgil van Dijk insisting that he still watches the Liverpool star as somebody to "learn from".

What's the latest William Saliba news?

It's safe to say the French centre-back made a huge impact for the Gunners last term as he played a key part in helping the club mount a surprise challenge for the Premier League title.

Indeed, Saliba started the first 27 league games of the season for Mikel Arteta and co – losing just three times – before a back injury derailed both his and his club's campaign.

And with Arsenal falling just short without the defender, there will be much hope the 22-year-old can stay fit next term and lead the club to glory.

If he does, he would be following in the footsteps of fellow central defender Van Dijk who, of course, won the division with Liverpool back in 2020.

Since then, however, some feel as though the Dutchman has dropped off a bit. For instance, when the Reds hosted the Gunners at the back end of last season, Van Dijk was slammed in the media "after making key mistakes for both of Arsenal's goals."

And with Liverpool failing to finish in the top four, it's clear that a number of players were not at their best under Jurgen Klopp last term.

Even so, while speaking recently in an interview with the Daily Mail, Saliba was full of praise for Van Dijk, citing him as a source of inspiration even still now despite the player's dip in form.

He said: "I still watch him! I really like his quality in one-against-one, his calmness, his composure and his long balls as well. He has everything and, for me, he was a good defender to learn from… I think he was – for two or three years – the best defender in the world."

On emulating Van Dijk and trying to become the world's best, Saliba added: "Of course I have the quality, but that means nothing.

"You have to work hard to go to this level. So I'm not close to this level but I will give everything to maybe one day become the best defender in the world"

How long is Saliba's new contract?

Of course, Saliba has recently committed his future to Arsenal having signed a new four-year contract earlier on in the summer. It will keep him tied to the club until 2027.

However, it wasn't always clear if he would make it in north London under manager Arteta. Indeed, in the same Daily Mail interview, he noted that he was met with near-silence from his manager after returning from loan.

"I was so excited to do a pre-season with the team and to try to play in the Premier League and the Europa League," Saliba recalled.

"He said hello to me the first day. And then after he didn't speak with me."

The article claims that Arteta was keen to see how the Frenchman would react as a way to gauge his true character.

Saliba responded well. "I told myself to be good on the pitch, to give him a solution, to tell him: Yeah I'm ready," he explained.

"To tell him on the pitch is the better way… I knew one day he'll come to speak to me."

Arteta was reportedly struck within a couple of training sessions and from there on in, the rest is history.

The new BCCI constitution, as per the Lodha Committee’s recommendations, needs to be in place in order for the board elections to take place at the annual general meeting (AGM) scheduled for September. That concern has been raised by the Committee of Administrators (CoA) in its status report submitted in the Supreme Court on Tuesday.The BCCI, and some of its state associations, has opposed adopting the new constitution despite the Supreme Court making it binding in an order on July 18 last year, and in two other orders in January this year. Various state associations also filed litigations to stall progress, and the court is scheduled to resume hearing the issue on July 14.The CoA, in its status report, said the court needed to “ensure” the BCCI adopts the new constitution “well prior” to September, so that the elections are held in line with the Lodha Committee’s recommendations. The CoA also asked the court to give an ultimatum that the state associations must adopt the new constitution by December this year.The states were supposed to have aligned their constitution in line with the Lodha Committee recommendations a year after the BCCI adopted the new constitution. As per the timeline devised by the Lodha Committee, the original deadline given to BCCI to adopt the new constitution was September 30 last year.The CoA argued that because the states had prevented the BCCI from adopting the new constitution – the board needs 3/4ths of its members to be in favour to implement it – they cannot be “permitted to take advantage of the delay”. The CoA wanted the states to adopt the new constitution by December 31, one year and three months after the original deadline. “The new BCCI constitution can only be adopted if this Hon’ble court enforces the same.”In order to expedite the process, the CoA asked the Supreme Court to empower it under Article 142 of the Indian constitution to finalise the text of the new constitution, and direct the Registrar of Societies to give effect to the new constitution immediately after submission.

Leeds United are reportedly showing an interest in making an ambitious move to land RB Leipzig forward, Yussuf Poulsen, with the Elland Road outfit still yet to strengthen their ranks this summer ahead of their return to the Championship.

What are the latest Leeds transfer rumours?

According to journalist Simon Jones for The Mail+, newly-appointed boss Daniel Farke is keen to bolster his centre-forward ranks having been 'discussing' possible striker targets with the club in both Europe and South America.

As per the report, the 70-cap Denmark international is one of the options being considered by the Yorkshire giants, with the 29-year-old – who has spent the last decade with the Bundesliga outfit – having just a year left to run on his existing contract.

As the piece also notes, this search for a new number nine has come with Patrick Bamford seemingly 'ready to leave the club' after enduring an injury-hit last two seasons with the Whites.

Who is Yussuf Poulsen?

While as the above report states, the 6 foot 4 marksman is 'not prolific' – having scored just two league goals last season – he still boasts a wealth of experience for both club and country, having notably won two German Cups during his stint in Leipzig.

Having been part of his current club's rapid rise up through the divisions after joining from Danish side Lyngby in 2013, the towering hitman does boast a respectable tally of 85 goals and 63 assists in 358 games for the Bundesliga side, having also featured on the flanks at times over the years.

As the aforementioned Jones also stated, the major benefit of bringing Poulsen into the fold for Farke would be due to his hard-working nature, having been hailed as a "machine" by his current teammate, Willi Orban.

That willing work ethic has also led to the Copenhagen native receiving praise from former Leipzig boss Alexander Zorniger, who has previously stated: "He always pushes himself beyond his limits, and embodies dynamism, desire, and a willingness to learn. When he can't do anymore, that's when I know he has absolutely nothing left in the tank."

The same can seemingly not be said for Bamford, with the Englishman having repeatedly broken down with injury in recent times, ensuring that he made just 37 Premier League outings across the last two seasons combined – only 25 of which came from the start.

The apparent difference in work ethic between the 29-year-old and Poulsen is evidenced by the fact that the latter man notably ranks in the top 7% among his European peers for tackles made and aerial duels won, as well as in the top 6% for blocks made.

The current Leeds man, by contrast, does not appear to share that desire to defend from the front as he ranks in just the bottom 40% for tackles and only the top 42% for aerial duels won, as well as ranking in just the top 41% for blocks.

With Bamford also hardly proving prolific himself of late – with just six league goals to his name since the start of the 2021/22 campaign, fewer than the Dane has achieved (eight) – it does appear that a fresh start is needed, something that could be hastened by Poulsen's arrival.

As such, the signing of the £66k-per-week ace could no doubt spell bad news for Bamford's future at Elland Road…

Southampton's search for talent to prepare them for the Championship has seemingly led them to Grady Diangana, according to the Express and Star.

What is the latest Southampton transfer news?

There's been plenty of happenings for the Saints since the window opened, both in terms of potential incomings and outgoings too. With the club preparing for life in the second tier, there are bound to be exits of some of their higher-paid players, but that will make room for some sensible recruits in order to try and earn promotion back to the Premier League and build a sustainable squad capable of staying there too.

One name that could be out of the door at the club is Carlos Alcaraz. Having impressed since a mid-season move in 2022/23, Napoli are now ready to take him to Serie A so that he doesn't have to spend a year in the Championship. No bid is on the table yet but the Italians are believed to be keen to do business.

In terms of incomings, it looks like Russell Martin wants to head straight back to his old club Swansea to poach some of their biggest talents. The Saints have been linked with both Ben Cabango and Nathan Wood and could launch a move for one of them this summer – although he will not be signing both of them, so will have to weigh up which name he wants more at Southampton.

Are Southampton signing Grady Diangana?

Now, there is another name on their transfer radar. According to a report from the Express and Star, Grady Diangana is being tracked by the Saints, as well as Leicester and Leeds.

All three relegated sides are keeping tabs on the Baggies man ahead of a potential move, but a deal could be hefty. It seems as though West Brom are not too keen to lose the 25-year-old and could demand a substantial fee for the winger, with the Hawthorns outfit feeling they don't need to sell the player for a small fee. If Southampton do like Diangana then, they may have to stump up some decent cash to get a deal done for him this window.

The Baggies player does have a good record at Championship level though. He has been with the club for four seasons and has already featured in 102 second tier games for the side and bagged 14 goals with ten assists. The Englishman then has the ability to produce the goods at this level, racking up a direct contribution roughly every four matches.

There is no doubt of his talent at second tier level either, with Diangana previously receiving praise for his efforts in the Championship. Football journalist Josh Bunting stated that the 25-year-old was "excellent" during the 2022/23 season for example.

He knows how to split open defences in this division then and with Southampton looking to bounce straight back to the Championship, he could be a perfect signing if they do launch a move for the winger, adding a bit of pace and dynamism outwide for Martin's new-look side.

In their most dominant performance on the tour of New Zealand so far, South Africa regained the one-day series lead with the kind of showing that coach Russell Domingo believes typifies their new style of play.It is a brand of cricket built on shared responsibility with new members of the squad as able to contribute as some of the stalwarts. Dwaine Pretorius’ career-best 3 for 5 from 5.2 overs on the back of a maiden half-century in Christchurch is the best example of it.”It’s been a feature of our side’s performances over the last year that the younger players have all come in and put in performances straight away which speaks a lot about where the team is at the moment and the culture of the group,” Domingo said. “It’s always pleasing when some new players are stepping up nor relying on one or two players.”And Pretorius is not the only one. Twenty-year-old Andile Phehlukwayo has emerged as a long-term all-round prospect and in the batting department, Quinton de Kock is one of the leading players in the world.Although AB de Villiers, who became the fastest to 9000 ODI runs, was the man of the moment in Wellington, South Africa’s recent ODI successes have been built on the foundations de Kock has laid. As he did in Test cricket last year, de Kock has reeled off five consecutive fifty-plus scores in ODIs. He has yet to convert one of his three in New Zealand into a century, but Domingo brushed that off as part of the game.”He has got a phenomenal rate of transferring those fifties to hundreds so I’m sure he’d be disappointed he hasn’t got a hundred because he is playing as well as he has ever played. I suppose he would feel a little disappointed in the manner of some of his dismissals. That’s the nature of how he plays.”He is such an aggressive player and I by no means want to curb his natural instinct. He is an x-factor player and some days he is going to get it wrong and that’s okay but on the days he gets it right, he is going to win the game for you. He is still a baby, its hard to believe he is only 24. We’ve had some great players play international cricket for South Africa, who’ve got 10 or 11 hundreds in 200 games. He has got 12 in 77. That’s a phenomenal return for a young player like that.”At this early stage of de Kock’s career, he already lies sixth on South Africa’s ODI century-makers’ list above a big name like Graeme Smith. The former captain played 196 ODIs and scored 10 centuries, de Kock could go on to double or even treble that. Also below de Kock is JP Duminy, who has played 170 ODIs and only has four hundreds to his name, three against Zimbabwe and one against Netherlands.Duminy has not registered three figures in two years, since the 2015 World Cup. In that time, he has managed just four fifties. Although he can cite limited opportunity – Duminy usually bats at No.5, behind players who don’t often leave him with many overs to face – by his own admission, there have been chances wasted.After the Christchurch ODI, where he was given a chance at No 4, Duminy explained he understood he needed to step up. “A lot of us got in but we didn’t take it home for the team. That’s something we need to look at – especially myself, getting in and not taking it home for the team,” he said.He was unable to in Wellington, where he was run-out and his string of low scores – only one over 30 in seven innings – could raise concerns, especially with Farhaan Behardien waiting on the bench.Some pressure for his place may be just what Duminy needs to kickstart a change in fortunes, as it did in Tests. After being dropped last summer during the series against England, Duminy returned with a much improved mindset and scored two important hundreds, in Perth and in Johannesburg, to prove he still has plenty to offer. The upcoming Tests will be another chance for Duminy to build on that progress.Eight members of the Test squad, who are not part of the limited-overs outfit, will arrive in Auckland on Sunday, where they will begin a week-long camp. Batting coach Neil McKenzie and fitness trainer Greg King will break away from the ODI group to oversee the Test players’ preparations. South Africa do not have a warm-up match before the series starts in Dunedin on March 8 but all their players have been in action in the domestic one-day cup.Among them are the two senior seamers, Vernon Philander and Morne Morkel, who are the favourites to make up a pace pack with Kagiso Rabada, although South Africa have three other quicks in reserve. Rabada will be the most worked of all of them, with South Africa well aware of his importance to every XI. Rabada was left out of the Christchurch game with a knee niggle and returned in Wellington and Domingo has explained that its unlikely Rabada will be given time off with the series still on the line.”It’s a fine line between resting players and trying to win series. You’ve got to try and and manage that process quite carefully, particularly for a guy like KG. I read the other day that he bowled 200 overs more than anybody else in the last year. He is only 21,” Domingo said. “But its hard to leave KG out of the next game in Hamilton. He is a seriously good bowler and it’s no coincidence that when he is back in the mix, we look a seriously good side.”

Liverpool could now be in pole position to complete an audacious swoop for Jarrad Branthwaite after PSV deemed the on-loan ace too expensive.

It would certainly send tremors through the city, with Abel Xavier in 2002 the most recent example of a player moving directly across Merseyside the historic rivals, but that's not to say a deal would be unattainable for Jurgen Klopp's side as he looks to bolster his defence this summer.

In February, a report from the Daily Mail stated that Liverpool – alongside Manchester United and Roma – had sent scouts to watch the Eredivisie star in action after his impressive displays on loan this season.

And now, according to a report from Dutch outlet Eindhovens Dagblad (via Sport Witness), PSV have pulled out of the running to make his transfer permanent, with Marcel Brands, the Eredivisie club’s director of football, saying: “Financially this will be difficult to achieve, I expect.”

PSV had a £15m offer rejected in January but Liverpool boast wealth on a different scale and could look to test Everton's waters with a shock bid over the coming weeks.

Could Liverpool really sign Jarrad Branthwaite?

It certainly seems unlikely on the surface, but although it hasn't happened in a long time, it has indeed not been unheard of for the Reds and Toffees to conduct business in the past.

And it makes sense from a playing perspective; Branthwaite is a towering defender standing at 6 foot 5, and given his natural preference as a left-footed defender, he could provide Virgil van Dijk – who favours his right foot but typically occupies the left side of the centre-defence – with a sturdy alternative.

Having made 37 appearances across all competitions this term, scoring four goals and supplying two assists, the 20-year-old has been hailed as a "great talent" by ex-boss Ruud van Nistelrooy and boasts all the attributes to flourish at the top level as he grows into his skin over the next several years.

As per FBref, the £15k-per-week titan ranks among the top 15% of centre-backs across Men's Next 8 divisions over the past year for goals, the top 24% for assists, the top 25% for progressive passes and the top 26% for rate of interceptions per 90. So while there is clearly room for improvement, he has time on his side to become one of the best in his position.

Described as "skilful" by Carlo Ancelotti, he could replace Joel Matip at Anfield, with the Cameroonian veteran now 31 years old and out of contract on Merseyside in just one year's time.

Despite playing an important role in an illustrious period in Liverpool's history, Matip started just 12 times in the Premier League this term and was an unused substitute for 13 of the last 17 matches of the campaign.

Branded "awful" by CBS reporter Nico Cantor for his dismal displays this term, Matip's time could be up and Branthwaite could provide youthful exuberance as a promising back-up for Klopp's team, growing into the role and perhaps cementing it as his own at some point over the next few seasons.

It might seem unlikely, but this is a deal to keep an eye on; Liverpool will understandably prioritise the bolstering of the midfield, but should the cogs fall into place, Branthwaite could be a shrewd option to enrich the defensive ranks at Anfield.

Arsenal have been linked with a host of players ahead of the transfer window, with the latest news suggesting that the Gunners are eyeing a fellow Premier League ace.

Mikel Arteta will hope to arm his squad with the necessary depth to challenge once more for the league title, after falling short this season to treble-winners Manchester City.

What’s the latest on Timothy Castagne to Arsenal?

As reported by Belgian outlet Het Belang van Limburg – relayed by Sport Witness – Leicester City defender Timothy Castagne has been eyed by Arsenal.

The report runs off the narrative of Belgium’s match-ups against Austria and Estonia, stating that the ties will be a chance for players to show their worth ahead of the transfer window.

It’s suggested that Castagne could have a potential suitor in Arsenal, following his relegation to the Championship with the Foxes.

The full-back is currently valued at £26m as per Football Transfers.

What could Timothy Castagne bring to Arsenal?

Lauded as “brilliant” by teammate Jamie Vardy, the Belgian has been a revelation since trading Serie A for the Premier League, signing from Atalanta for £21.5m in 2020.

A flock of players have been linked with moves away from the Foxes following their relegation, with movements starting with Youri Tielemans who has made the switch to Aston Villa.

Arsenal could land themselves added defensive quality in moving for the 27-year-old, in a move that could finally see Cedric Soares depart.

The Portuguese defender went on loan to Fulham in January with his place in Arteta’s squad out of reach, however the 31-year-old only made six appearances at Craven Cottage, failing to make an impact this campaign.

Arsenal are in need of defensive depth, after a double blow to William Saliba and Takehiro Tomiyasu back in March left Arteta with minimal options for quality cover, having a significant impact on the Gunners’ season.

Based upon Castagne’s statistics from this season, and Cedric’s last term at the Emirates, the Belgian could prove to be an upgrade in depth on the out-of-favour right-back.

As per FBref, the £67k-per-week ace averages better than the German-born Portugal international over a range of defensive attributes.

The Leicester defender averaged 2.41 tackles and 1.19 interceptions per 90 this season in the league, as well as winning 51% of his total duels with an average of 4.5 won per game.

Last season, the Arsenal right-back averaged 2.30 tackles and 0.97 interceptions per 90 as per FBref, and won 49% of his total duels with three won per game on average, showing that the Gunners could land a worthy upgrade in the newly relegated gem.

Another area that suggests that Castagne could be a good fit for north London, is his ability to get forward, most prominently identified through his average of progressive passes he received per 90 this campaign with 4.12, via FBref. It's that sort of performance level that's seen him dubbed a "constant threat" by journalist Josh Bunting.

Arsenal whiz Ben White scored 3.65 in this area this season, showing the ability the Belgian has in getting into attacking positions considering the success of the Englishman in the defensive flank role under Arteta.

With no moves made yet ahead of the window, only time will tell if rumours are to be believed, however, the Gunners could finally wave goodbye to Cedric to make way for the FA Cup-winning defender.

Manchester United are believed to be eyeing a move for Bayern Munich defender, Benjamin Pavard, according to the latest reports.

What's the latest on Pavard to Man United?

As per transfer insider, Graeme Bailey, the Red Devils are said to be one of the clubs who are showing an interest in the World Cup-winning ace, with the 27-year-old seemingly intent on a change of scenery with just 12 months left to run on his existing deal in Bavaria.

Writing on Twitter, the respected source stated: "Benjamin Pavard informs Bayern Munich of desire to leave. Man Utd among interested clubs keen on the French star, as @90min_Football revealed back in April. "

In his attached piece for 90min, Bailey – alongside colleague Scott Saunders – revealed that the Old Trafford outfit are said to have already held talks with the player's agent regarding a summer switch, with Erik ten Hag's side said to be seeking cover at both right-back and centre-back.

Who could Pavard replace at Man United?

The signing of the France international – who has been valued at around €20m (£17m) – could seemingly allow United to kill two birds with one stone, due to the 48-cap ace's ability to feature both at full-back and in the centre of defence.

With the Red Devils having only recently tied down Diogo Dalot to a new long-term deal – and with Aaron Wan-Bissaka also reportedly set to stay at the club this summer – it would appear that Pavard would be more needed to provide cover and competition at centre-back, however, particularly with club captain Harry Maguire believed to be on his way out.

Therefore, the former Stuttgart man could prove something of an upgrade on Victor Lindelof in that role, despite the Swede having impressed of late after starting the last nine Premier League games of the season in the absence of Lisandro Martinez.

Not only would Pavard's versatility potentially make him a better option for Ten Hag, but the £84k-per-week machine also appears to offer greater quality in an attacking sense having chipped in with eight goal contributions in all competitions this season, with Lindelof failing to register a single goal or assist.

The Bayern ace also appears to be more adept at playing out from the back as he ranks in the top 1% among his European peers for progressive passes and the top 9% for progressive carries, while the current United man ranks in just the top 41% and the bottom 48% for those same two metrics, respectively.

Perhaps more importantly, however, is Pavard's superior defensive quality as he ended the recent Bundesliga season with a strong average of 2.3 tackles and 1.5 interceptions per game from his 30 outings, with Lindelof averaging just 1.1 for both tackles and interceptions per game from his 20 Premier League appearances.

That would suggest that the signing of the perhaps "underrated" Frenchman – as described by manager, Thomas Tuchel – could provide Ten Hag with a centre-back upgrade for next season.