Everton are interested in signing a “fantastic dribbler” who now wants to leave his club this January, according to a report.
Everton takeover nearing completion ahead of January
The Friedkin Group are now on the verge of completing their takeover of Everton, having received Premier League approval, meaning the new owners could be at the helm by the time the January transfer window begins in just a few weeks time.
With the Toffees currently just three points clear of the bottom three, the new owners may feel that some new reinforcements are needed this winter, and a number of attacking targets have been identified by the current regime, including Corinthians’ Yuri Alberto.
Corinthians striker Yuri Alberto
The Brazilian is considering a move in January, and he could be available for a fee of around £17m, which would make him a relatively affordable option to bolster Sean Dyche’s strike force.
Having scored just 14 league goals this season, Everton may view strengthening their attack as a priority, and it was recently reported that Lyon are now open to selling Ernest Nuamah in order to balance their books this January.
Nuamah wants to leave in January
Now, there has been a new update on Nuamah’s future, with CaughtOffside reporting that Nuamah wants to leave this winter, as he feels he has not received enough game time in Ligue 1 so far this season. A number of clubs are interested in signing the 21-year-old, with Leicester City, Crystal Palace and Fulham also name checked, while European giants AS Roma and Sevilla may also be tempted to make a move.
As it stands, Lyon are holding out for a fee of €25m – €30m (£21m – £25m), but the interested parties are struggling to meet the asking price, meaning they may also consider orchestrating a loan move.
£50,000-a-week Everton player now in active talks over £16.5m January exit
He is in talks over a £16.5m exit.
1 ByHenry Jackson
Although the Ghanaian has mainly been limited to cameo appearances as a substitute so far this season, there are signs that he could be a shrewd acquisition for the Toffees this winter. During his time with FC Nordsjaelland, the youngster received praise for his ability on the ball, as well as his shooting.
The starlet’s dribbling ability is particularly impressive, ranking in the 90th percentile for progressive carries per 90 over the past year, when compared to his positional peers in the top European leagues.
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That said, Nuamah is yet to really prove himself outside of Denmark, meaning it would be risky for the Toffees to shell out £25m this winter, and it could be wise to take him on loan first, should Lyon be open to that arrangement.
The Daily Record recently reported that five Glasgow Rangers players will be allowed to move on from Ibrox before the end of the January transfer window.
Kieran Dowell, Clinton Nsiala, Nedim Bajrami, Danilo, and Rabbi Matondo are all free to leave in the coming weeks on permanent deals, whilst Lyall Cameron could be sent out on loan for the rest of the season.
It is not a surprise to learn that Danny Rohl wants to move on from Dowell, for example, because he has not played a single minute of competitive football since August, having been given a chance by Russell Martin at the start of the campaign.
Rangers in talks to sell flop
On top of Dowell and the other four players mentioned in that Daily Record article earlier this month, another Light Blues flop is on his way out of the club.
Transfer Focus
Mega money deals, controversial moves and big-name flops. This is the home of transfer news and opinion across Football FanCast.
According to Joshua Barrie, Glasgow Rangers are “in talks” with Argentinian outfit Huracan over a deal that would see Oscar Cortes make the move to South America.
The winger, signed by Philippe Clement and Nils Koppen, is currently on loan with Sporting Gijon in Spain, but this move would see that loan cut short so that he can move to Argentina.
Barrie claims that the two clubs are currently in talks over a deal that would be a loan with an option or obligation to buy, which means that they are looking to sell the Colombian forward.
However, it remains to be seen how much money Hurucan are willing to pay at the end of the loan to make the deal permanent in the summer transfer window.
Why Cortes has been a bigger flop than Dowell
With Cortes seemingly now on his way to leaving the club on a permanent basis, it is hard to say anything other than that he has been an even bigger flop than Dowell.
The English midfielder has not been a success at Ibrox. Since signing on a free transfer from Norwich in 2023, he has contributed with two goals and three assists in 38 appearances, per Transfermarkt.
He has not offered anywhere near enough quality in the final third, hence why he has found himself on the fringes ahead of a January exit, but it must also be recognised that the ex-Canaries star joined on a free.
Cortes, however, was signed for a whopping fee of £4.5m from Lens in the summer of 2025, after an obligation to buy was put in his loan deal in 2024.
The obligation to buy meant that the Gers had to pay £4.5m for a player who had only scored one goal and provided one assist in 16 Scottish Premiership games in 18 months for the club, per Sofascore.
Rangers defender Richard Foster said that Cortes “looked miles off it” when given an opportunity shortly before the loan deal had to be made permanent, and interim boss Barry Ferguson suggested that he needed to up his levels in training to get more game time.
After signing permanently, despite his struggles across his 18-month loan stint, the winger was sent out on loan to Sporting Gijon for the 2025/26 campaign, but he has failed to deliver a goal or an assist in eight appearances in all competitions, per Sofascore.
Rangers career
Dowell
Cortes
Fee
£0
£4.5m
Appearances
38
19
Goals
2
1
Big chances created
4
1
Assists
3
1
Game stats via Sofascore
As you can see in the table above, Cortes and Dowell both look set to permanently end their Rangers careers with fairly dismal statistics, given that they are both attacking players.
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It is the Colombian, however, who looks like the bigger flop and worst signing out of the pair, because he has not offered as much on the pitch, whilst costing a significant fee, rather than joining on a free transfer.
Rangers have only signed eight players for more than £4.5m in their history, including the likes of Ryan Kent, Youssef Chermiti, and Tore Andre Flo, which illustrates how costly the Cortes deal was.
With that in mind, albeit without knowing how much money they could recoup for his services as part of the option to make this potential loan permanent, the 22-year-old dud may have to go down as one of their biggest ever flops.
Rohl can bin Aasgaard by signing £5m gem who'd be a "huge coup" for Rangers
Danny Rohl could drop Thelo Aasgaard from the team with a Rangers swoop for this reported target.
ByDan Emery
The money they paid to sign him, the lack of output on the pitch, and the failed loan before a permanent exit from Ibrox all point to him going down as a huge flop.
Glasgow Rangers made their way through to the play-off round of Champions League qualifiers with a 4-2 win over Viktoria Plzen on aggregate.
The Light Blues traveled away from Ibrox to play the second leg in Czechia on Tuesday night and lost 2-1, but it did not matter in the end thanks to their 3-0 win in Glasgow last week.
Russell Martin will not be happy with the nature of his team’s performance in this match, despite it not mattering overall in the tie, because there were several players who did not play to the best of their ability.
Djeidi Gassama made a lightning fast start to life at Ibrox with four goals in his first five matches, but it is fair to say that this was a step down from what supporters have already gotten used to from the winger.
Djeidi Gassama's performance against Viktoria Plzen
The overall team performance did not help the French forward, it must be said, but the former Sheffield Wednesday man failed to make a positive impact on the match.
In 87 minutes on the pitch, Gassama did not register a single shot on target or create any chances for his teammates, which shows that he offered very little, if anything, in the final third.
However, the 21-year-old talent did win four of his nine duels and completed two of his three attempted dribbles, as per Sofascore. He competed and tried to put himself around for the team, albeit it was coupled with ineffective play in the important part of the pitch.
Performance in Numbers
Want data and stats? Football FanCast’s Performance in Numbers series provides you with the latest match analysis from across Europe.
Whilst Gassama was not at his bes in the final third in a fairly disappointing display, Mohamed Diomande was even worse than him in the middle of the park.
Why Russell Martin must drop Mohamed Diomande
Looking past the League Cup clash with Alloa at the weekend, Martin must ruthlessly drop the Ivorian midfielder from the side to face Club Brugge next Tuesday in the play-off round.
Diomande, who was handed a 4/10 player rating – lower than Gassama’s 5/10 – by IbroxNews, struggled with the physicality and intensity of the match in the middle of the park.
Mohamed Diomande
Viktoria Plzen’s players found it far too easy to get the better of him, which helped the home side to assert their dominance on the game, by winning five of their six duels against him, per Sofascore.
Vs Viktoria Plzen
Mohamed Diomande
Minutes
68
Pass accuracy
90%
Ground duels won
1/5
Aerial duels won
0/1
Tackles + interceptions
1
Dribbled past
2x
Stats via Sofascore
As you can see in the table above, Diomande lost 83% of his duels across his 68 minutes on the park, and was dribbled past more times than he made defensive interventions.
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These statistics show that he was a lightweight out of possession in midfield, whilst Lyall Cameron won three of his five duels and Nicolas Raskin won four of his seven battles, and that is why he was even worse than Gassama, who at least put himself about for the team and showed his strength on and off the ball.
Diomande was the weak link in the middle of the park next to his midfield partners, which is why Martin must consider ruthlessly ditching him from the XI when Club Brugge come to Ibrox, as Joe Rothwell is waiting in the wings to take his place next to Cameron and Raskin.
Better signing than Mendy: Rangers line up move to bring £8m star to Ibrox
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ByDan Emery
It is now down to Martin to be ruthless with his decision-making by dropping the left-footed flop from the starting line-up for such a huge match against the Belgian outfit.
Manchester United are now ready to sign a “machine” midfielder this summer, with Ruben Amorim eager to bolster his options in the middle of the park, but a move may only be possible on one condition, according to a report.
Man Utd searching for a midfielder
Given that Casemiro’s days as a Man United player could be numbered, Amorim may be tasked with bringing in a replacement this summer, and a number of potential replacements have been identified.
The likes of Adam Wharton, Hugo Larsson and Joao Gomes are on the shortlist ahead of what is Amorim’s first summer transfer window as United boss, and the manager could have a major rebuilding job on his hands.
A 0-0 draw against rivals Manchester City at the weekend is not the worst result on paper, but it leaves the Red Devils 13th in the Premier League table, having fallen way below expectations, with a Europa League triumph their last chance of having a successful season.
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Winning the Europa League would, of course, grant qualification to the Champions League next season, which could be crucial for Man United’s summer transfer business.
That is according to a report from GiveMeSport, which states Man United are now ready to sign Atalanta midfielder Ederson, should they manage to qualify for next season’s Champions League, with Amorim eager to bring in a midfield partner for Manuel Ugarte.
Man Utd’s upcoming fixtures
Date
Lyon (a)
April 10th
Newcastle United (a)
April 13th
Lyon (h)
April 17th
Wolverhampton Wanderers (h)
April 20th
AFC Bournemouth (a)
April 27th
The Atalanta star has a price tag of around £52m, so he will not come cheap, and the Italian club are determined to keep hold of him, given the level of his performances this season.
A deal would be easier to facilitate if Amorim’s side secure qualification for Europe’s elite competition next season, given the financial benefits provided.
"Machine" Ederson impressing in the Serie A and Europe
Atalanta are in a very strong position to qualify for next season’s Champions League, and the Brazilian has been one of the first names on the team sheet, making 30 Serie A appearances, during which time he has provided three goals and two assists.
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While the 25-year-old is capable of being a threat on the front foot, he is also solid defensively, winning 100% of his tackles and aerial duels against Arsenal earlier this season, in what Statman Dave branded a “top display”.
It is not the first time the maestro has impressed in Europe in recent memory, with football writer Carlo Garganese branding him a “machine” after his performance against Bayer Leverkusen in Atalanta’s Europa League final triumph last season.
As such, Ederson could be a fantastic signing for Man United this summer, at which point it is vital Amorim brings in a midfielder, despite a recent improvement in Casemiro’s performances, with the 33-year-old midfielder making 11 tackles against Man City.
Newcastle United need to win in the Premier League today. Eddie Howe has to stop the patchy form and use Leicester City’s trip to Tyneside as a springboard for a fresh run of promising form.
St. James’ Park might have tasted an unwelcome defeat by West Ham United three weeks ago, but that result stands as an outlier, with great spirit shown at the start of December to draw 3-3 with imperious Liverpool.
Newcastle: Recent Record vs Leicester
Season
Competition
Result
22/23
Premier League (H)
0-0 draw
22/23
Carabao Cup (H)
2-0 win
22/23
Premier League (A)
3-0 win
21/22
Premier League (H)
2-1 win
21/22
Premier League (A)
4-0 loss
20/21
Premier League (A)
4-2 win
20/21
Premier League (H)
2-1 loss
Stats via Transfermarkt
Luckily, Newcastle boast a pleasing record against Ruud van Nistelrooy’s men across the past several seasons, unbeaten in four fixtures across all competitions.
Of course, there are some injuries that Howe is forced to contend with.
Newcastle injury news
Having made four cameos following an injury-ravaged start to the season, Callum Wilson has picked up a hamstring problem and will be out until well into the new year.
The blow is compounded on the other end of the field, with Nick Pope ruled out for about a month with a minor knee ligament problem.
For both to be unavailable throughout the entirety of Newcastle’s busy festive period is concerning, though midfielder Joe Willock and Lewis Miley are making good progress as they target returns from respective injuries, albeit Saturday comes too soon for the pair.
Lewis Miley scores for Newcastle
Away from the fitness front, Howe might be wise to ring a few changes anyway, with Tino Livramento perhaps worth moving to the bench for this one, with Kieran Trippier stepping in.
Howe must unleash Kieran Trippier
Livramento has started the past eight Premier League matches in succession for Newcastle, not missing a minute. Unfortunately, the 22-year-old hasn’t always enjoyed the finest performances and has suffered in recent games against Liverpool and Brentford.
While Livramento does have his strengths, the England international has averaged only 0.3 crosses per top-flight game this term, as per Sofascore, with a success rate of 20%.
His defending is indeed leaving something to be desired too. After Brentford won 4-2 last weekend, The Northern Echo chalked him down with a 4/10 score, criticising his weak presence on the right flank and embarrassment in being beaten too easily by Kevin Schade for the Bees’ fourth.
Last season, Trippier fizzed in 2.5 crosses per match, and his absence from the starting line-up has clearly had an adverse effect on the Magpies’ creativity, with Newcastle ranked joint-14th for big chances created in 2024/25 (25) after finishing joint-second with 97 last year.
The 34-year-old might be getting on a bit, but he can still inflict damage on a Leicester backline that has shipped 30 goals this season – Wolves and Southampton are the only teams to have conceded more.
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Trippier’s ball-playing ability and experience could see him hold the key to unlocking the shaky Leicester defence and ensuring Howe’s side get back on track. Former England manager Gareth Southgate also called him a “soldier” once, hinting at a determined defensive style that might be called into play against the evergreen Jamie Vardy.
Newcastle's Kieran Trippier
After all, he still ranks among the top 8% of full-backs across Europe’s top five leagues over the past year for assists, the top 4% for shot-creating actions and the top 10% for progressive passes per 90, as per FBref.
Though there are claims that he has been transfer-listed and Newcastle will field January enquiries, it isn’t the new year yet, and United can surely make good use of their captain’s qualities. They certainly need a sprinkle of magic.
0 games in 24/25: Howe can ease Wilson blow by unleashing Newcastle teen
Callum Wilson has picked up a new injury and will be sidelined for several months.
Nottingham Forest’s 2-1 win against West Ham United last night was arguably one of the most crucial results in the 2025/26 Premier League campaign to date.
Sean Dyche’s side came from behind after the break for the first time since promotion, subsequently building a seven-point gap to the Hammers.
However, it was a far from convincing display from the Reds, subsequently highlighting the need for investment across the squad before the end of the summer window.
Despite netting twice, none of the goals scored were from open play, with Dyche’s men having to rely on a looping header from Nicolas Dominguez and a penalty from Morgan Gibbs-White.
The attacking department is in dire need of investment in the coming weeks, which has led the recruitment team to identify numerous potential options to help bolster the first-team ranks.
Nottingham Forest in talks to land European powerhouse
Over recent days, Forest have made their intentions clear that they want to land a new centre-forward before the end of the winter, subsequently leading to rumours over a move for Jorgen Strand Larsen.
The Norwegian international, who currently plays for Wolves, has struggled for consistent form in the Premier League this campaign, as seen by his tally of just one goal in 18 appearances.
However, Rob Edwards’ side are still demanding a fee in the region of £40m for the 25-year-old this window, with Everton and Newcastle United two other sides keen to land his signature.
Strand Larsen isn’t the only forward currently in the hierarchy’s sight at present, with Napoli star Lorenzo Lucca another player being pursued to improve the number nine situation.
According to Gianluca Di Marzio, the Reds have reached out to the Serie A outfit in recent hours to see if a deal can be agreed for the Italian international.
The report states that a deal could be tricky to complete at present, with the 25-year-old currently on loan in Naples, with a deal set to be made permanent in the summer.
However, after just 40 minutes of action since the start of November, a break in the deal could be agreed, which could see the 6’7 striker move to the City Ground.
Why Lucca would be Forest’s best striker since Wood
The striker situation at Forest is certainly an alarming one at present, but all the issues have become apparent after the injury suffered to talisman Chris Wood.
The New Zealand international catapulted the Reds to European football for the first time in a generation last season, after netting 20 league goals and breaking the club’s all-time Premier League goalscoring record.
He was even handed a new two-year contract to reflect his importance to the side, but it’s safe to say his 2025/26 campaign has been a disaster to date.
Wood scored twice on the opening day against Brentford, but has only managed seven appearances since, with his last appearance coming back in mid-October.
As a result, Dyche has been forced to use alternative options, with Igor Jesus the man he’s turned to lead the line since his arrival three months ago.
The Brazilian has only netted one league goal in 2025/26 and is currently on an eight-goal scoreless run – showcasing the lack of goals currently available in the squad.
As for Taiwo Awoniyi, it’s evident he’s no longer the man to provide the goods in the Premier League, with the Nigerian enduring an even longer drought than his teammate.
His last top-flight strike came against Wolves in January 2025, with his last effort coming 12 months ago, a run of 28 matches without a league goal.
Arnaud Kalimuendo was one of the marquee signings in the summer, as he joined in a £26m deal from Rennes after netting 18 times across all competitions last campaign.
However, he’s been restricted to just 89 league minutes, scoring twice in the Europa League, but he now looks set to join German side Eintracht Frankfurt on loan for the rest of the season.
Such reasons have led the Reds to a potential move for Lucca, but it appears as though such a deal isn’t a popular one with the fanbase – based on his visible numbers.
The 25-year-old has only scored one goal in 14 league outings this campaign, but it’s safe to say such a figure doesn’t tell the whole story about his talents.
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The Italian netted 14 goals in just 36 appearances for Udinese in 2024/25, a tally which earned him his subsequent move to Napoli during the recent summer window.
However, despite his disappointing return this season, his underlying figures showcase the talent he possesses, with many of which handing Dyche the striker he’s missed in Wood’s absence.
Lucca, who’s been dubbed a “clinical finisher” by talent scout Jacek Kulig, has posted a 39% shot on target rate in Serie A this season – a tally higher than any of the aforementioned strikers.
Lorenzo Lucca – Serie A stats (2025/26)
Statistics (per 90)
Tally
Games played
14
Goals scored
1
Shot on target accuracy
39%
Pass accuracy
80%
Key passes
0.8
Take-on success
67%
Carries into opposition box
0.9
Aerials won
47%
Fouls won
2.7
Stats via FBref
He’s also completed 80% of the passes he’s attempted, whilst notching 0.8 key passes per 90 – subsequently having the tools to provide a superb link-up option between the midfield and frontline.
Despite his huge frame, the Napoli star has still managed to complete 67% of the take-ons he’s attempted to date, which could make him a real handful for the opposition.
However, his greatest asset is his aerial ability with his 47% success rate in the air handing the manager the focal point he’s craved in recent weeks.
Whilst a deal for Lucca may not be a popular one at present, there’s no denying there is a player in there – as seen with his incredible goalscoring tally last campaign.
If he can replicate such numbers in the East Midlands, along with his underlying stats from 2025/26, there’s no reason why he can’t be the man to secure survival for Forest come the end of May.
Dream Kalimuendo replacement: Nottingham Forest open talks to sign £40m star
Nottingham Forest have already identified a replacement for the outgoing Arnaud Kalimuendo this January.
Arsenal have submitted a £52 million bid to sign a Real Madrid star and have even offered him a ‘leading role’ in the side, according to a new report.
Arteta vows to consider January signings for Arsenal
While sporting director Andrea Berta splashed around £270 million on eight major signings for the Gunners last summer, Mikel Arteta has still strongly suggested that they could be active this month.
The Spaniard, after coping with a lot of injuries again this term, has consistently found himself short of options in key areas and has therefore refused to rule out business mid-season.
Surprise claims from the last week have revealed that Berta and co may well raid the Bernabeu for fresh talent, no matter how unattainable they seem right now.
CaughtOffside reported before the New Year that Arsenal still hold an interest in Real playmaker Arda Güler, who they view as an “Odegarrd-style” signing on a potential loan-to-buy deal.
However, given the Turkey international has now established himself as a mainstay player under Xabi Alonso, it is highly unlikely Florentino Perez would green-light such a move.
A far more likely Real player to be available this month is Rodrygo, following numerous reports that the Brazil international could depart Madrid in search of more game time.
The 24-year-old, who Arsenal held talks over signing last May, was starting to play more regularly before the Christmas La Liga break – racking up a brace against Sevilla and a goal against Alaves just before their holiday.
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ByAngus Sinclair
However, he’s still been in and out of the side far more likely than he’d have hoped, with media sources claiming that Rodrygo is desperate to leave Madrid and Arsenal are ‘most likely’ to sign him.
Now, a fresh update has provided some more key information on the Gunners’ interest.
Arsenal submit £52 million bid to sign Real Madrid star Rodrygo
According to a report from Spain, Arsenal have emerged as serious contenders to land Rodrygo after matching a £52 million offer from Saudi Arabian giants Al-Hilal for his signature.
Arteta’s side apparently view him as the missing piece in their team, offering him a ‘leading role’ and the opportunity to spearhead their attack.
Madrid have apparently received identical proposals worth approximately £52m from both suitors, forcing Perez to seriously consider selling a player who has slipped down the pecking order.
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Arteta has identified the versatile attacker as someone capable of operating across both flanks while providing a genuine goal threat, with Rodrygo guaranteed playing time and the chance to remain competing at European football’s highest level.
Al-Hilal’s proposal includes substantially superior wages alongside their transfer fee, creating a serious financial temptation for Rodrygo’s representatives.
The final decision will largely depend on Rodrygo’s personal preference, according to this report, but he isn’t expected to make a call on this until the summer window, so a January transfer is seen as unlikely at this stage.
The £280,000-per-week winger bagged 14 goals and 11 assists for Real last term, with Jude Bellingham notably calling him their most ‘gifted’ and ‘underrated’ player.
Arsenal now lining up £57m Bundesliga star as possible Hincapie replacement
Arsenal have a promising defender targeted as an alternative.
While the Indian Cricket League and ECB continue to spar, there is encouraging news for Mushtaq Ahmed, who has received a second No Objection Certificate (NOC) from the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB).It comes as a surprise: earlier this month the PCB had said that they would withdraw Mushtaq’s first NOC, which would have prevented him from playing for Sussex due to his ICL involvement. But with this second certificate, it seems increasingly likely that Mushtaq’s county career should continue. For the time being, at least.”We’ve provided the ECB with a second certificate, which we received onMonday, and we are just waiting for everything to be formalised,” said Gus MacKay, the Sussex chief executive. “We don’t foresee a problem.”In Mushtaq’s favour – certainly in the eyes of the PCB – was his delay in playing for his ICL side, the Lahore Badshahs, which seems to have helped in his bid for a second NOC. Yorkshire, though, are still waiting on Rana Naved-ul-Hasan who has already played for Lahore.
The investigations into the murder of Bob Woolmer, the late Pakistan coach, are reported to have reached a significant breakthrough with a likely suspect being identified through footage from the hotel security camera. According to a report in the UK-based , detectives from Scotland Yard and a team of 30 officers studied the digitally-enhanced footage and the suspect was understood to be a male, though police were unable to confirm his identity.”The cleaned-up images from London show at least one individual of considerable interest to the inquiry,” a source close to the investigation told the paper. “The time of the footage and its location mean that this individual must be considered a suspect. Further work is being done on statements given by individuals to look at any inconsistencies. It is good progress.”Woolmer was found dead in his hotel room in Jamaica on March 18, a day after Pakistan’s loss to Ireland, and though the cause of death was determined, the authorities had struggled to develop lasting leads in the murder case. There was speculation that Woolmer may have been poisoned first before being strangled, as a toxicology report stated that samples taken from his blood, stomach and urine had shown the presence of a foreign substance.An inquest into the murder was scheduled for April 23 but had to be postponed owing to ‘significant developments’ into the case. Twenty witnesses were due to provide evidence but a statement from the Jamaican justice ministry on Thursday said the hearing would be postponed following advice from the coroner.
Distractions come in all shapes and sizes, as both England and Sri Lanka have been discovering on the eve of the first Test at Lord’s. While Sri Lanka’s preparations have been undermined first by some untimely criticism from the chairman of selectors, Ashantha de Mel, and latterly by the impending return of their veteran opener, Sanath Jayasuriya, England have a more intangible problem. They just can’t lay the Ashes to rest.Admittedly, it is the nicer problem to have. England’s first home Test after the summer before is set to take place almost eight months to the day after the Ashes triumph at The Oval last year, and for England’s stand-in captain, Andrew Flintoff, enough is enough. “There’s still an excitement about cricket and people are still talking about last year,” he told reporters on the eve of the game, “but at some point we’ve got to move on, and that’s going to be tomorrow morning.”Lord’s in the spring sunshine is a living, breathing metaphor for rebirth and renewal, with the smell of cut grass and the verdant greenery leaving you in no doubt that summer is round the corner. And when England take the field tomorrow, with a team comprising at least four men who’ve never played in a home Test before, they’ll have no option but to accept that the future is, in fact, the present.One of those new faces seems certain to be Sajid Mahmood, the Lancastrian paceman who endured a tough baptism in a one-day defeat against New Zealand two years ago, before re-emerging with mixed success against India this winter. “I’m sure he’ll have a few nerves jangling about,” said Flintoff, “but he’s a laid-back lad and he’ll get on with it. He’s quick, tall and gets bounce as well, so there’s definitely a good future for him.”England have delayed naming their team until they’ve taken one last look at a pitch that Flintoff imagined would be a good, flat batting deck, but with Alastair Cook already guaranteed his place at No. 3 ahead of Ian Bell, the final name seems a straight choice between the spinner Monty Panesar, and the extra seamer, Jon Lewis, who destroyed the Sri Lankans with nine wickets for England A at Worcester last week.
For all that England start as overwhelming favourites, to go into the match without a recognised spinner would be a huge gamble. As Mahela Jayawardene, Sri Lanka’s captain, pointed out, visiting sides have a tendency to raise their game whenever they visit Lord’s. In three separate visits since 1984, five Sri Lankan batsmen have added their names to the dressing-room honours board, including Jayawardene himself, who led a Sri Lankan run-fest in 2002 with 107 out of a towering total of 555 for 8.Only three of England’s players were around to witness that performance, but seeing as they were the key triumvirate of Flintoff, Marcus Trescothick and Matthew Hoggard, it’s a safe bet that their team-mates will be guarded against complacency. Hoggard endured a particularly torrid time, disappearing for 160 runs in 39 overs. Four years later, however, he stands on the brink of becoming the ninth England cricketer to take 200 Test wickets.”It would be fantastic to join an elite group of Englishmen,” said Hoggard, whose own Test debut also came at Lord’s, a gripping two-wicket victory over West Indies in 2000. The identity of his new-ball partner has yet to be confirmed – but it won’t be Steve Harmison, whose return to competitive action for Durham against Middlesex has been postponed because his wife has gone into labour.”I don’t think you’ll find a like-for-like replacement for Steve Harmison,” added Flintoff, as if to underline both England’s loss in this match, as well as the burden on his and Hoggard’s shoulders. Between them they have taken 97% (364 out of 372) of the wickets shared by England’s anticipated attack.As ever, Flintoff was his cheery phlegmatic self as he fronted up for the cameras. “I don’t think you can put the England captaincy and burden in the same sentence,” he reiterated when asked about the workload that has been forced upon him in the absence of Michael Vaughan.And besides, he still seemed a little starstruck after performing a duet with Elton John at his benefit dinner in Battersea the night before. “It was fantastic, something special for everyone there – though not me singing!” he said of his duet to the strains of Rocket Man. “But now I’m getting back to what I know best, playing cricket.”If only it were so simple for Sri Lanka, however. A desperately destabilising week shows no sign of abating, and the arrival of Jayasuriya midway through the match will only complicate matters further. However, their coach Tom Moody denied that the off-field issues had been a distraction. “We’re at Lord’s, we’ve had a couple of very good days of preparation, and we’re blessed with good weather,” he shrugged. “We’ll just concentrate on our game, and if we perform consistently, we’re sure we’ll be where we want to be after the fifth day.”Any side with Muttiah Muralitharan and Chaminda Vaas in their bowling attack cannot afford to be taken lightly, however, and for Murali, who has 611 wickets to his name but none as yet at Lord’s, the urge for a command performance in what is likely to be his first and last Test at the ground will be overwhelming.”I’m not the best one to ask!” joked Flintoff when asked what tips he had passed on to England’s youngsters. “Murali’s tricky, but he’s a great bloke as well. I’ll pass on advice, but when you face him, you’ve got to figure it out for yourself. Against someone as good as him, you just have to think on your feet.”England (probable) 1 Marcus Trescothick, 2 Andrew Strauss, 3 Alastair Cook, 4 Kevin Pietersen, 5 Paul Collingwood, 6 Andrew Flintoff (capt), 7 Geraint Jones (wk), 8 Liam Plunkett, 9 Sajid Mahmood, 10 Matthew Hoggard, 11 Monty Panesar.Sri Lanka (probable) 1 Michael Vandort, 2 Upul Tharanga, 3 Kumar Sangakkara (wk), 4 Mahela Jayawardene (capt), 5 Tillakaratne Dilshan, 6 Thilan Samaraweera, 7 Farvez Maharoof, 8 Chaminda Vaas, 9 Nuwan Zoysa, 10 Muttiah Muralitharan, 11 Lasith Malinga.