Wolverhampton Wanderers have made contact to sign a "clinical" new striker for Gary O’Neil, according to a new report.
Wolves summer signings so far
Back in May, O’Neil admitted that the club may need to sell if they are to spend, saying: “I don’t think there will be money available to us if nobody leaves. If we decided not to sell a big player there may be some bits and pieces we can do. We have some players out on loan that have value and we might be able to do some bits. The club is expected – in the foreseeable future, maybe not long-term future – to be able to fund itself so we need to be able to work with that.”
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Selling a star player is what those at Molineux have done, cashing in on centre-back Max Kilman who joined West Ham in a big-money deal. Those funds have allowed Wolves to complete the permanent signing of Tommy Doyle, who was on loan last season, whereas Rodrigo Gomes and Pedro Lima have also arrived from SC Braga and Sport Recife respectively.
A loan deal for Celta Viga forward Jorgen Strand Larsen has also gone through, which has seen Wolves spend a total of €33m so far, while bringing in €47.5m from Kilman’s move to West Ham (Transfermarkt). Wolves may not be done there, though, with a new report sharing an approach for a fresh attacking target.
Wolves make approach for Middlesbrough striker Emmanuel Latte Lath
According to reports abroad, relayed by Sport Witness, Wolves have made contact over a potential deal for Middlesbrough forward Emmanuel Latte Lath. The report claims that RB Salzburg have made an approach along with Wolves, whereas AS Monaco and Eintracht Frankfurt are also interested.
The 25-year-old made the move to Middlesbrough last summer and enjoyed a brilliant first season in the Championship, scoring 18 goals in 36 appearances in all competitions.
Labelled as “clinical” during the 2023/24 campaign, Latte Lath, an Ivory Coast international, helped Middlesbrough push for a late playoff spot.
Michael Carrick hailed the forward back in March, saying after his late goal against Southampton: “He’s good at that Manu – good in the air. I thought he defended a couple of the corners well too, which proves that.
"That’s 10 (goals) for the season for him which, after a stop-start season because of a couple of injuries, and his first season in what is an intense league that isn't easy to come into, is really positive. It’s a good return. He’s grasping the league and adapting all the time. To get a late goal shows that and is always great in front of your own fans. It’s a great step for him and I’m really happy with him. To put that performance in and keep going for the 90 minutes, I’m delighted for him.”
West Ham United are thought to be readying a new bid to sign a key target, with new manager Julen Lopetegui even willing to make him captain.
West Ham transfer rumours
The Irons and technical director Tim Steidten have already signed two players ahead of Lopetegui’s first campaign in charge, with teenage winger Luis Guilherme joining from Palmeiras and goalkeeper Wes Foderingham arriving on a free transfer following his departure from Sheffield United.
There could still be plenty to come, though, with Steidten recently telling supporters to expect a busy summer. “I can’t tell you specifics, but it will be a busy summer for us for sure. The owner and the board have done a really good job over recent years, so we’re in good shape financially…
“We’re trying to build up the squad. We’re not limiting ourselves to one position – we’re looking at all areas.”
West Ham hold talks to sign £30m Premier League defender alongside Kilman
He could be a really astute summer signing.
ByHenry Jackson Jun 29, 2024
Meanwhile, during Lopetegui’s first press conference as West Ham manager, he added when it came to further incomings: “Of course we are working to improve (the squad). The first thing to highlight is that we’re happy with the players, but of course we’re going to try to improve. We have to work very hard to be ready for the Premier League, and we would like players as soon as possible, but it’s not easy.”
One top target in recent weeks has been Wolverhampton Wanderers defender Max Kilman. The Irons have already had an offer worth around £30m plus add-ons rejected from those at Molineux.
Those at the London Stadium were hoping to seal a deal last week, but as we know, that failed to materialise. They haven’t given up hope, though, with a new update now emerging.
Max Kilman to West Ham latest
According to GiveMeSport, West Ham are poised to make a new offer for Kilman in the coming days after deciding ‘to continue persisting in the hope that their Premier League counterparts will end up choosing to take the cash on offer’.
Max Kilman for Wolves
The report states that Wolves are refusing to lower the demands of their £45m valuation for Kilman, who ‘is aware of being highly-regarded by Lopetegui, and the Spanish tactician has set his sights on making the 27-year-old West Ham's captain for the forthcoming campaign if he ends up getting the green-light to make the switch to east London in the coming weeks’.
Kilman, on £50,000-a-week in the Midlands, has captained Wolves under Gary O’Neil, and by the looks of things, he could become Hammers skipper over the coming months in what would be a real statement of intent from Lopetegui, with Micah Richards hailing Kilman back in 2022.
“I just liked the way he approached the game today. He’s a left-footed centre-half who plays on the right of a three. He’s played futsal before and that’s why he might be so comfortable on the ball.
"He looks really good in the Premier League. He looks assured, he’s played every minute this season. Everything about his game is mature. He was the one who caught my eye, especially with his body positions. His all-round performance was really good.”
Attention can start to turn towards the start of the 2024/25 campaign for Glasgow Rangers after the Scottish Premiership fixtures were released.
The Light Blues travel away from Ibrox to take on Hearts on the opening day of the season on the third of August and that means that the club have just over a month to get any business they want done before the first match.
Of course, Nils Koppen and Philippe Clement would still have almost a month left after that before the summer transfer window slams shut, but they may want as many signings in as possible before the first game to help them settle into the squad and the tactics.
Hearts
(A)
Motherwell
(H)
Ross County
(H)
Celtic
(A)
Dundee United
(A)
Jefte, Oscar Cortes, Liam Kelly, Connor Barron, and Clinton Nsiala have already been snapped up to bolster the Belgian manager's squad after the Gers only won one trophy – the League Cup – during the 2023/24 campaign.
Rangers are now in the market for experience after landing a number of talented young players – with Cortes, Barron, Nsiala, and Jefte all being 21 or younger.
Rangers expected to sign experienced star
According to RangersReview journalist Jonny McFarlane, Koppen is expected to seal a deal to sign Norwich City central midfielder Kenny McLean this summer.
Speaking on the outlet's YouTube channel on Monday, the reporter claimed that a move for the Scotland international is "in the post" and that a transfer is moving along "nicely".
He added that the 32-year-old maestro is a player "we'll expect to see" at Ibrox for the 2024/25 campaign, with the Light Blues seemingly closing in on a swoop for the Canaries ace.
Norwich midfielder Kenny McLean.
This comes after Football Insider had reported that the two clubs entered into preliminary negotiations at the end of last month to reach an agreement for the ex-Aberdeen man.
That report also stated that the Scottish midfielder is expected to cost a fee within the region of £1m, which comes one year after the Yellows reportedly rejected an offer of £4m from Leeds United.
Interestingly, Football Insider added that Rangers could offer McLean the captaincy of the club immediately if James Tavernier moves on to Saudi Arabia before the end of the window.
The left-footed ace is not the Norwich club captain but donned the armband for the majority of last season in the absence of Grant Hanley under David Wagner.
If Koppen and Clement do, as seemingly expected, sign the Canaries star then he could form an exciting pairing with Mohammed Diomande in the middle of the park.
Mohammed Diomande's attacking potential
The impressive youngster spent the second half of last season on loan from FC Nordsjælland, where he had been managed by McLean's new boss Johannes Hoff Thorup, and caught the eye with his displays in midfield before signing a permanent deal.
In the first half of the campaign, Diomande had produced zero goals, three assists, and 1.1 key passes per game across 13 appearances in the Superliga for the Danish side.
The 22-year-old dynamo then arrived at Ibrox and elevated his attacking game to another level with his fantastic performances in the Premiership.
Appearances
13
Sofascore rating
7.05
Goals
2
Key passes per game
1.5
Assists
0
Ground duel success rate
53%
Aerial duel success rate
40%
As you can see in the table above, the left-footed ace added a goal threat to his arsenal and provided 0.4 more key passes per game than he did in the Superliga.
However, his work out of possession let him down slightly as opposition players were able to dominate him in physical duels in the air, and he only won slightly more than 50% of his battles on the ground.
The Ivory Coast international, therefore, is not a monster when it comes to winning duels and battling against Premiership midfielders, which suggests that Rangers should look to pair him with a midfielder who can offer more of a physical presence next to him.
Why Rangers should sign Kenny McLean
This is why McLean could be a fantastic addition to Clement's squad to bolster the manager's options in the middle of the park as he has the physicality and energy to be the perfect foil for him.
The £25k-per-week Norwich star was described as a "monster" at winning the ball back by the aforementioned McFarlane and that is backed up by his statistics last season.
His performances in the English Championship proved that he has the energy, defensive awareness, and tenacity to consistently break opposition attacks from a midfield position.
Appearances
46
13
Tackles per game
2.0
1.5
Interceptions per game
1.2
0.8
Ball recoveries per game
6.0
4.8
Ground duel success rate
62%
53%
Aerial duel success rate
50%
40%
As you can see in the table above, McLean provided far more for his team out of possession than Diomande did for Rangers, including in physical duels.
This suggests that the Scottish battler would be the perfect partner for the Ivorian star as his sublime defensive work could allow the 22-year-old to push further forward to weave his magic at the top end of the pitch.
Norwich City'sKennyMcLean
The Norwich ace is not limited to just being good off the ball, however, as he ranked within the top 19% of Championship midfielders for progressive passes (6.41) per 90, which shows that the Gers target is a forward-thinking midfielder who constantly looks to find his teammates in advanced positions.
McLean could also be a fantastic signing due to his experience, particularly in the league, as he made over 250 appearances in the Premiership earlier in his career and has racked up over 200 outings for the Yellows since 2018.
This suggests that he would be able to make an immediate impact on the pitch for the Light Blues as he has been there and done it in the Scottish top-flight and in England over the course of a number of years.
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Therefore, the 32-year-old ace could be a fantastic option for the club to bring in as an experienced and defensively impressive partner for Diomande.
Despite the Saudi PIF’s takeover of Newcastle United back in 2021, the club can’t spend as much money as they would’ve hoped due to the Premier League’s PSR rules.
The current owners are one of the richest in world football, but despite the Magpies qualifying for the Champions League a couple of years ago, they are limited as to what they can spend on incomings.
It’s been the opposite with Eddie Howe’s side having to offload numerous talents just to avoid a points deduction during the 2024/25 Premier League campaign.
Yankuba Minteh and Elliot Anderson are just two players who have had to be sacrificed to comply with the rules, but the club are still looking to part ways with multiple other first-team members to allow for more new additions at St James’ Park.
One player in particular could be sold during the transfer window, despite his impressive campaign last season in a year filled with various injury problems to various key squad members.
Newcastle trying to offload four first-team members
According to The Athletic, Newcastle tried to offload Kieran Trippier, Miguel Almiron, Callum Wilson and Sean Longstaff before the PSR deadline on June 30th.
#1
Sean Longstaff
£21m
#2
Miguel Almiron
£17m
#3
Callum Wilson
£11m
#4
Kieran Trippier
£8m
The club will undoubtedly still want to part ways with the quartet, in an attempt to improve the playing squad and try to mount a push for a return to the Champions League places.
Longstaff must be the first to be sacrificed out of the four, with Howe already having more effective options in the middle of the park.
He was a key member of the Magpies squad last season, maintaining his fitness whilst others struggled, featuring in 35 matches, scoring six goals and assisting on two occasions.
However, if the club are to achieve their ambitions of fighting with Europe’s elite, they must be brutal with their departures and invest in players who are able to take them to the next level.
The club could demand a decent fee for Longstaff’s services, especially when considering his current market value as a result of his consistent run in Newcastle’s first-team.
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ByStephan Georgiou Apr 16, 2024 Sean Longstaff’s market value in 2024
The midfielder is a product of the Newcastle academy, with the club potentially able to make a decent profit on the 26-year-old in their battle to prevent a breach of FFP or PSR.
Sean Longstaff
His market value has soared as a result of his run under boss Howe, with Longstaff now valued at £21m as per Transfermarkt.
His subsequent value is higher than the recently departed duo of Minteh and Anderson, with the pair currently valued at £13.5m and £13m respectively by Transfermarkt despite both leaving the club for a combined £68m, fees that are evidently considerably above their actual realistic value.
The fact the Toon were able to secure a £30m fee for a player who didn't play a single competitive minute for them is remarkable. Perhaps Longstaff, therefore, could fetch an even prettier penny? After all, it's very rare that players represent their true value in 2024.
Whilst he’s been an excellent servant for the Magpies since breaking into the first-team, unfortunately, the club have overtaken his level, with Longstaff potentially becoming a victim of success.
Newcastle United midfielder Sean Longstaff.
With Sandro Tonali set to return from his suspension and Joelinton back to full fitness, his game time on Tyneside will undoubtedly be limited next season, so the club need to brutally part ways to raise funds and allow him to gain valuable minutes elsewhere.
Newcastle could land "phenomenal" £35m Anderson upgrade
Celtic brought manager Brendan Rodgers back to Parkhead for a second spell in the dugout last summer after Ange Postecoglou moved down south.
The Northern Irish head coach enjoyed a respectable return to life in Glasgow with a domestic double to show for his efforts in the 2023/24 campaign.
His team secured the Scottish Premiership title and the SFA Cup, with a 1-0 win over Rangers in the final last month, but could now look for the treble, or even more, next season.
Celtic manager Brendan Rodgers watches on.
The summer transfer window officially opened for business earlier this month and Rodgers could find his next Tom Rogic by signing a reported target from Scotland.
Celtic's interest in Premiership talent
Sky Sports journalist Anthony Joseph recently claimed that the Hoops are one of a number of teams interested in snapping up Dundee ace Luke McCowan.
The reporter added that clubs from the MLS and the English Championship are also keeping tabs on him, which suggests that the Scottish giants would face competition for his signature.
He is in the last year of his contract with Dundee and they may have to cash in on him before the window slams shut to avoid losing him on a free transfer next year.
However, it remains to be seen how much the Premiership side would demand for the midfielder, or how much Celtic are prepared to offer for him.
If they do secure a deal for his services, though, then Rodgers could find his new version of Rogic for the Hoops during the 2024/25 campaign.
How Luke McCowan could be Tom Rogic 2.0
Like the Australian star, McCowan is a left-footed central midfielder who could come in and provide quality as a squad player with his ability to score and provide goals from the middle of the park.
Rogic did not play more than 22 league matches in a single season across his three-year tenure with Rodgers but did rack up 105 appearances in all competitions.
In those 105 matches, the left-footed magician chipped in with 24 goals and 20 assists and his best season in the Premiership under the Northern Irish boss was a return of seven goals and five assists in the 2016/17 campaign.
23/24 Premiership
Luke McCowan
Appearances
37
Goals
10
Assists
5
Big chances created
9
Key passes per game
1.6
Stats via Sofascore
As you can see in the table above, the 26-year-old maestro provided a fantastic attacking outlet for his team from a midfield position with 15 direct goal contributions, which could have been more if his teammates had made the most of the 'big chances' that he created, in 37 outings.
McCowan, who writer Kai Watson described as "tenacious", scored ten goals in all competitions for Dundee and seemingly has the quality to come in and provide a goal threat for the Hoops.
He could also be solid out of possession as the Scottish whiz made 2.5 tackles and interceptions per game in the Premiership, to go along with his goals and assists.
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Therefore, Rodgers could land his next Rogic, as a rotation midfielder who can come in and offer quality in attack when needed, by signing McCowan.
O Ceará vive um grande momento na temporada 2021. Após as turbulências com os vices no estadual e regional e a eliminação na Copa Sul-Americana, Guto Ferreira recolocou o time nos trilhos.
+ Veja no aplicativo do LANCE! o resultado dos jogos da rodada
A prova da fase positiva é a classificação do Campeonato Brasileiro, onde a equipe aparece na 7ª colocação e com 10 jogos de invencibilidade.
Agora, a ordem no Vozão é pisar no acelerador e aproveitar o momento positivo para aumentar os números e entrar no G-6 da Libertadores.
Com 22 pontos, o Vozão retorna a campo no fim de semana e o adversário é o Atlético-GO, na Arena Castelão. Para entrar na zona da Liberta, o time de Guto precisa vencer e torcer por tropeço do Athletico.
Vale lembrar, que o Furacão entra em campo no sábado, quando mede forças contra o São Paulo, na Arena da Baixada.
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Leeds United are ready to push to sign another exciting young talent this summer, it has emerged, but will face competition to land him.
Leeds lining up move for Rodon
No matter what happens in the final days of the Championship season, it seems likely that Leeds United will try and keep Joe Rodon on a permanent basis. The Welshman is currently on loan from Tottenham, but has enjoyed an excellent season at Elland Road under the stewardship of Daniel Farke.
Rodon has started 41 games in the Championship this season, helping his side have the second meanest defence in the division behind only champions Leicester City.
Rodon's impressive season
Starts
41
Goals and assists
0
Pass Accuracy
90.8%
Tackles and interceptions per 90
2.4
Blocks per 90
1.16
Fouls per 90
0.45
He is out of contract at parent club Tottenham in 2025, meaning that this summer is the last chance for the Lilywhites to recoup any of the £6m that they shelled out to bring him to north London from Swansea.
And they could be set to profit, with reports revealing that they will ask for a fee of around £10m to part ways with the 26-year-old. A move will be easier should Leeds secure promotion to the Premier League, as it is unlikely that Rodon's performances have gone unnoticed by clubs in the bottom half of the top flight.
However, the Elland Road outfit will be hoping that even if they are to miss out Rodon will still pick them over other interested parties as a result of his success under Farke this season. He isn't going to be the only addition in defence this summer though.
Leeds eye young talent
That comes as Liam Cooper is set to leave the club this summer, with his contract in Yorkshire coming to an end and no move to tie him down to a new one as things stand.
It means that Leeds will need fresh blood in defence, and as per Sport Witness, they have identified PEC Zwolle’s Anselmo García MacNulty as the man to step into the void.
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The 21-year-old has strung together a series of strong performances for his current side, and despite only moving last year he could be on his way again this summer.
Leeds aren't alone in their admiration though, with now Premier League Leicester City also reported to be keeping tabs on him and Enzo Maresca's side potentially having the advantage given that they are in the top flight for certain next season, while Leeds still sweat on their fate.
MacNulty is under contract until 2026 with Zwolle, but could be a cheap addition, with the report claiming he'll fetch a fee of more than the 1 million euros Transfermarkt value him at. However, with just two years left on his deal, he is unlikely to break the bank, and could well be a player to keep an eye on this summer.
After a season of ups and downs, Crystal Palace fans finally have a team playing some genuinely exciting football to enjoy.
New boss Oliver Glasner has overseen three wins in the last four games, and in the 11 matches since his arrival, the Eagles have lost just three times.
The Austrian has rejuvenated several of his players, and the return of the exceptionally talented Michael Olise has only further improved the South Londoner's attack.
However, the one downside to having such a gifted player perform for your team is that they might eventually leave, and based on reports, the Frenchman is still attracting attention from some of the biggest clubs in the country.
That said, if Palace eventually sell the winger for a considerable sum of money, they might already have the perfect replacement in their academy.
Michael Olise's Crystal Palace career
Palace completed the £8m signing of 19-year-old Olise from Reading on 8 July 2021, after a season in which the gifted forward scored seven goals and provided 12 assists in 46 appearances for the then Championship side.
Michael Olise's Crystal Palace Career
Season
2021/22
2022/23
2023/24
Appearances
31
40
16
Goals
4
2
7
Assists
8
11
4
Goal Involvements per Match
0.38
0.32
0.68
All Stats via Transfermarkt
In his first season at Selhurst Park, the France U21 international looked right at home, scoring four goals and providing eight assists in just 31 appearances, meaning that he ended his first campaign averaging a goal involvement every 2.5 games.
The Hammersmith-born dynamo made 40 appearances the following season, scoring two goals and providing 11 assists. This year, he's had to deal with several injury setbacks but has still produced a remarkable return of seven goals and four assists in just 16 games for Palace, which works out to a goal involvement every 1.4 games.
Described as a "simply superb" footballer and someone who is a "joy to watch" by football talent scout Jacek Kulig, it's impossible to deny that Olise has all the skill and ability necessary to reach the very top of the game and so, when he inevitably moves on from Selhurst Park, he could be very expensive to replace, unless Glasner and Co give unleash of the academy's most exciting prospects, that is.
Why Franco Umeh could be the perfect Olise replacement
The academy gem in question is Ireland U19 international Franco Umeh-Chibueze, who joined the Eagle's youth setup in February 2023 from Cork City.
Franco Umeh-Chibueze's Crystal Palace Record
Appearances
29
Goals
15
Assists
4
Goal Involvements per Match
0.65
All Stats via Transfermarkt
Since then, the "exciting talent", as described by journalist Emmanuel Francis, has scored 15 goals and provided four assists in just 29 appearances across the club's various youth sides, meaning he is averaging a goal involvement every 1.5 games despite being just 19 years old.
The promising prospect quickly made his way from the U18s to the U21s and now occasionally trains with the first team. He has made the first team squad on multiple occasions, even getting a run out in the club's friendly with Bodø/Glimt in March.
Described as possessing "blistering pace" by academy manager Gary Issott, the left-footed gem has the most experience playing on the right wing but has proven himself to be adept at playing anywhere across the front three.
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It's certainly too early to think about Umeh being ready to replace the Frenchman this season. Still, if the 22-year-old were to leave Palace in two years or so, then based on the Irishman's trajectory, record at youth level and the way he is spoken about, he could well be the man to step into the fold, thus saving the club an awful lot of money.
Graeme Smith says six weeks preparation needed if men’s tours to Sri Lanka and West Indies are to go ahead
Firdose Moonda31-Mar-2020Cricket South Africa will advertise the positions of convener of selectors, national women’s coach and support staff, men’s under-19 coach and support staff, South Africa A coach and chief medical officer imminently – with current contracts coming to an end on April 30. All the incumbents will be able to apply to continue in their positions.That means Linda Zondi, currently the independent selector but previously the selection convener, Hilton Moreeng and Salieg Nackerdien, women’s head and assistant coach respectively, Lawrence Mahatlane, the under-19 coach, and Shuaib Manjra, the current chief medical officer, could all be replaced. The South Africa A job has been vacant since Russell Domingo left to take up the role with Bangladesh and had been filled by Ashwell Prince, the Cobras coach, and Malibongwe Maketa, the former national assistant coach, in interim capacities this summer with permanent appointment to be made in the next few months.Similarly, acting director of cricket, Graeme Smith, is set to be confirmed in the role, whether or not he needs to take time off to commentate on the IPL. Smith was appointed in December on a short-term deal because of his prior commitment to the IPL and had indicated his desire to sign with CSA on his return. With the IPL start-date uncertain and no international cricket for South Africa until at least June, Smith is ready to continue in his current role and an announcement on his position is expected next week.Zondi and Mahatlane confirmed to ESPNcricinfo that they intend to apply for the convener and under-19 roles respectively while, at the time of writing, Moreeng had not responded to requests for comment. Zondi was South Africa’s convener of selectors from June 2015 until June 2019, when CSA sought to restructure under Thabang Moroe. When Moroe was suspended in December last year, Zondi was reappointed as an independent selector. His role in bringing through the bulk of the current squad and identifying talent such as Kagiso Rabada, Keshav Maharaj and Aiden Markram stand him in good stead for the position in future. Mahatlane, on the other hand, has had a tough time with the under-19 side, who exited at the group stage of the World Cup, hosted in South Africa this year.”It was always going to be the case that positions would be advertised in April when contracts came to an end,” Smith told the media during an online press engagement on Tuesday. “We’re busy drawing up the under-19 and women’s management and coach positions. It’s not stopping any of the people currently in those positions from putting their names into the hat, but those positions will all be advertised.”Smith confirmed that South Africa’s Test captain will be discussed following the appointment of the selection convener and that the women’s game will require increased emphasis with preparations for the 2021 World Cup front and centre of CSA’s agenda. “That is going to be a huge focus going forward especially with the World Cup coming up.”Mignon Du Preez and Dane van Niekerk lead their team in celebration after defeating England•AFP via Getty ImagesThe women’s team reached the semi-finals of the T20 World Cup last month and narrowly missed out on a place in the final in a rain-reduced affair in the knockouts. They also got to the semi-finals of the 2017 ODI World Cup and have been mapping out a seven-year plan since professionalisation in 2014, which is aimed to culminate with success at the 2021 World Cup. Moreeng is a key part of that plan and given the timing of the tournament early next year, and the dearth of cricket expected between now and then, it is not unrealistic to imagine he will be retained, especially as the team qualified for the World Cup with a series to spare.The women’s team were due to host Australia this month but the matches were postponed because of the coronavirus pandemic. They are also scheduled to travel to West Indies and England over the South African winter, but whether those tours go ahead will depend on how soon international travel resumes. Similarly, the men’s team’s tours to Sri Lanka (a white-ball visit scheduled for June) and West Indies (July-August for two Tests and five T20Is) are also hanging in the balance with final calls to be taken in the next two to three months.Smith explained that CSA and the players would like at least six weeks to prepare for tours which means a decision on Sri Lanka will need to be made around the third week of April, and on West Indies by early June. “We need plus-minus six weeks to have our players fully ready for tours. Financially, with stuff like holding flights, around that six-week mark is the time away from the tour when decisions need to be made,” Smith said.Apart from logistics, the six-week period is also necessary to have players match fit, something which is impossible at the moment. South Africa is five days into a 21-day nationwide lockdown which prohibits, amongst other things, outdoor exercise. Players have been given individual training programs to follow at home and Smith emphasised that they need to take charge of their own conditioning. “A lot of it is going to be their own responsibility to maintain those levels through the lockdown,” he said.Meanwhile, South African cricket continues to prepare for a domestic season that will not start for at least another six months. As CSA table the fixtures for franchise and provincial matches, they also provided an assurance that the Mzansi Super League, the T20 tournament which has been played for the past two seasons, will go ahead, although it is not known whether it will be broadcast on the free-to-air provider SABC, as was the case previously, or if CSA have been able to secure a television deal.”We’re still in the final negotiations, but I can confirm that there will be MSL 2020. We’re working through the details and the final contracts. We cannot give too many details other than stating that a third edition of the MSL will take place,” Jacques Faul said.