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Former German international Lothar Matthaus has provided his thoughts on Bayern Munich's transfer plans following Jamal Musiala's ankle injury.

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Matthaus provides his two cents on Bayern's transfer plansAdvises his former club on what to do after Musiala setbackSpoke his mind on Bayern's pursuit of Nick WoltemadeFollow GOAL on WhatsApp! 🟢📱WHAT HAPPENED?

Bayern have been in the market to strengthen in their attack following the loss of Leroy Sane, but with Musiala ruled out for several months with a brutal injury, the Bundesliga side are under even more pressure to find at least one new addition before the season kicks off.

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Musiala fractured his fibula during a tussle with Paris Saint-Germain goalkeeper Gianluigi Donnarumma in the Club World Cup quarter-final last weekend, which will keep the attacking midfielder out for around five months. Sane has already joined Turkish giants Galatasaray, while Kingsley Coman has been linked with a move away from the Allianz Arena, too. Furthermore, Thomas Muller has already played his final game for Die Roten, with a move to Major League Soccer beckoning.

One name Bayern have been heavily linked with in recent weeks is Stuttgart superstar Nick Woltemade, with Bayern sporting director Max Eberl admitting that the club would like to sign the 23-year-old. However, his hefty price tag may put a spanner in the works. With the summer transfer window set to be a challenging one for the German champions, Matthaus had some suggestions for Bayern.

WHAT LOTHAR MATTHAUS SAID

In a column for , Matthaus reflected on the impact of Musiala's injury and how it could alter Bayern's plans for the upcoming season.

"Musiala's injury has brought Nick Woltemade's name into play more than ever. Bayern Munich had already expressed interest in the Stuttgart player before Musiala's injury. This hasn't made the transfer any easier or cheaper, as someone is now truly needed in that position. The money is there for Woltemade. Whether he ultimately costs €60 million, €80 million, or €100 million is a matter between FC Bayern and VfB Stuttgart," Matthaus wrote.

"A player like Christopher Nkunku could also play on the wing and in the center. I don't know Bayern Munich's requirements, but I think it would be a very appealing solution to offer Thomas Muller a contract for the next few months. Similar to what I did before my move to New York."

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According to reports from Germany, the deals for Luis Diaz and Woltemade have stalled following Musiala's injury. Bayern are keen on signing a left winger and have turned their attention towards the Liverpool wide man, after their advances for Nico Williams and Kaoru Mitoma were rejected. Rafael Leao was another name on the Bavarians' radar, but AC Milan will not be selling him this summer, with new manager Massimiliano Allegri set to count on the Portuguese international.

Speaking in an interview, Eberl spoke about the likelihood of signing a replacement for the injured Musiala, explaining: "We feel like we don't have to do that much when planning our squad – including for the 2025-26 season. We won't react to every injury and bring in players for that reason. The squad has to be right, and we know that the players will hopefully be back in October or November and then be ready for the end of the first half of the season and the second half."

Olympic involvement could depend on progress towards gender equality in Afghan cricket

Nagraj Gollapudi16-Oct-2023Will the International Olympic Committee (IOC) allow the Afghanistan men’s cricket team to participate at the 2028 Los Angeles Games in the absence of a women’s team? IOC president Thomas Bach has said the governing body will continue to “monitor very closely” how much access and support women receive to play sport in the war-torn country, which has been under the rule of the Taliban since August 2021.The Afghanistan question was put to Bach on Monday at a media briefing in Mumbai, immediately after IOC members voted in favour of T20 cricket featuring at the LA Games in five years. As part of its presentation, LA Local Organising Committee officials had stressed the importance of gender equality to the Games while recommending cricket along with baseball/softball, lacrosse sixes, and flag football as team sports. During its presentation to LA28, the ICC, too, had highlighted inclusivity as a key factor.Afghanistan are the only Full Member country to not have a women’s cricket team, despite it being a key criteria for ICC membership. Afghanistan gained Full Member status in 2017 on the understanding that the country would create pathways for women to play representative cricket. However, cultural sensitivities at the time meant progress was slow. In 2020 the ACB created a pool of 25 contracted female cricketers, but 22 of them moved to Australia after the Taliban takeover.Related

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An ICC working group, lead by deputy chairman Imran Khwaja, has met with Taliban officials to discuss the situation and recommended to the ICC that instead of penalising the ACB, dialogue should continue in the hopes of finding a solution. The ICC board, which met in July, broadly approved that recommendation, maintaining the ultimate aim of helping women play cricket in Afghanistan.The IOC has not yet cleared Afghanistan athletes’ participation for the 2024 Olympics in Paris, and has warned the country’s National Olympic Committee (NOC) it is in danger of suspension if access to sport for females continued to be restricted. That point was reiterated by James Macleod, IOC head of Olympic Solidarity and National Olympic Committee Relations. Macleod has been communicating with the Taliban’s director of physical education and sport, to deal with what he described as a “very complex situation”.”We have had ongoing conversations and discussions with the Afghan government authorities since that regime change,” Macleod told IOC members on Sunday on the first day of the Mumbai session. “And we’ve been insisting on removing existing barriers from the government that hinder women and young girls from accessing sport opportunities in the country. The IOC executive board took a very clear position on this in December 2022, and we have reiterated that position with the government authorities on numerous occasions, including last week, where we met the new Director of Sport and Physical Education to reiterate the IOC’s position on that.”Macleod said the IOC had observed a “tiny change” as Afghanistan female athletes participated in the Asian Games in Hangzhou (China) recently. “There has been some progress, a tiny bit of progress. We witnessed that in the Asian Games in Hangzhou, where the Afghan delegation consisted of 83 athletes, of which 17 were females in three different sports. This also included having a joint male and female flag bearer.”All of the five medals Afghanistan bagged at the Asian Games were won by their male athletes, but the women – all of whom reside overseas – competed in volleyball, athletics and cycling. Macleod said the Afghan women’s performances “are certainly recognised within the country and are greatly appreciated”, which has facilitated conversations with the Taliban.On Monday Bach highlighted the Asian Games example and said it had shown “a significant, if not a majority, of the female representation”, which was encouraging. “So we are keeping a close eye on this. And we have also been encouraged by our member in Afghanistan, Sameera Ashghari, to continue our support for female athletes and their entourage in Afghanistan and for the ones who are not living in Afghanistan. The same request I had from a member of the team of Afghanistan, from a female member, when I met her in Hangzhou at the Asian Games.”Bach pointed out the state of progress and the efforts of the Afghanistan NOC would determine the IOC’s stance on cricket at Los Angeles Olympics. “In this broader context, cricket will be considered. In the end, it must be a decision then about the situation of the NOC, as such, [and] of the representation of the team.”

Meg Lanning skipped the game, and with only two games left for Stars, her immediate future in the sport is uncertain

AAP and ESPNcricinfo staff19-Nov-2023Former Australia captain Meg Lanning has taken an indefinite break from the WBBL, less than two weeks after her retirement from international cricket.Lanning sat out Melbourne Stars’ 15-run win over Brisbane Heat at the Junction Oval in Melbourne on Sunday due to personal reasons. With only two games left and Stars to miss making the finals, Lanning’s immediate future in the sport is uncertain.”She’s taking a few days out for some personal reasons,” Stars coach Jonathan Batty told the Seven Network. “We’re reassured she’s all OK, which is the most important thing, but we’re giving her that time and space and respecting her privacy in what she needs to do.”We’re taking it on a game-by-game basis at the moment and we’ll give her all the time she needs to make that decision but she’s definitely out for the next couple of games.”Lanning has taken numerous breaks from cricket during the last two years, and earlier this month announced she was ending her storied career for Australia, saying she had lost the hunger to perform at international level.Sophie Day, the Player of the Match, was understandably in demand afterwards•Getty ImagesYoung allrounder Annabel Sutherland captained Stars in Lanning’s absence as Heat dropped a second straight match.Opener Maia Bouchier top-scored with 41 in Stars’ 156 for 5, while Amelia Kerr and Nicola Hancock picked up two wickets each for Heat.In the chase, opener Georgia Redmayne, filling in as captain for Jess Jonassen, who was rested due to hamstring soreness, started brightly but left-arm spinner Sophie Day and Sutherland tightened the screws on Heat.Day’s performance took her back to the top of the wicket-taking charts in what has been a breakout season for her.While Kerr and Mignon du Preez were together, Heat had a chance of challenging the target, but they fell in consecutive deliveries – Kerr excellently caught by wicketkeeper Sophie Reid and then du Preez bowled by Day, who was named Player of the Match for her 3 for 16.The defeat is a blow to Heat’s hopes of hosting the final as the table-topping team in the regular season.

Manchester United’s pursuit of Bryan Mbeumo has hit a major roadblock after Brentford received a fresh bid for Yoane Wissa from Nottingham Forest. With the Bees unwilling to sell both of their star forwards this summer, Mbeumo’s proposed move to Old Trafford is now in serious doubt — and the Red Devils may be forced to accelerate talks for the Cameroonian or look elsewhere.

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Brentford receive new bid from Nottingham Forest for WissaMan Utd’s Mbeumo move threatened by Brentford’s transfer stanceBrentford unwilling to sell both Wissa and Mbeumo this summerFollow GOAL on WhatsApp! 🟢📱WHAT HAPPENED?

Manchester United remain keen on signing Mbeumo this summer and have already seen two bids rejected by Brentford. The Red Devils value the Cameroon international highly and were hoping to conclude a deal before their United States pre-season tour. However, a new twist has emerged that could derail their plans to add Mbeumo to Ruben Amorim's squad.

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Nottingham Forest have lodged a fresh offer for Wissa, as per The Athletic, as they look to replace outgoing winger Anthony Elanga. Brentford are reluctant to part ways with both Wissa and Mbeumo in a single summer. If Wissa is sold, Brentford are expected to block Mbeumo’s departure to Manchester United or raise his price further.

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Brentford director Phil Giles recently acknowledged Mbeumo’s popularity in the market but insisted the club is under no pressure to sell. Mbeumo is reportedly open to a Manchester United move but is also content to stay for another year. With Wissa in talks to leave, Brentford could demand well above their current £63 million ($85m) asking price for Mbeumo.

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Manchester United may be forced to act swiftly to close a deal before Brentford green-light Wissa’s transfer. Should Forest succeed in signing Wissa, Mbeumo’s future may remain at the Gtech Community Stadium, and the Red Devils may have to explore alternative attacking targets.

Bayern Munich have reportedly reignited their interest in RB Leipzig star Xavi Simons after missing out on Florian Wirtz and Nico Williams. The Bundesliga giants have made an enquiry about the 22-year-old, who wants to leave Leipzig just six months after joining permanently from Paris Saint-Germain. Die Rekordmeister see the former Barcelona star as a key solution to their attacking shortage.

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Bayern reignite Simons interest after key transfer failuresDutch star scored 11 goals in injury-hit 2024–25 seasonLeipzig yet to begin talks despite player’s desire to leaveFollow GOAL on WhatsApp! 🟢📱WHAT HAPPENED?

Bayern Munich have officially approached RB Leipzig over a possible deal for Simons, according to The Athletic. The 22-year-old has informed Leipzig of his intention to leave this summer despite only joining in January. Though talks have not yet begun, Bayern are weighing their next move following setbacks in the transfer market.

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Simons is seen as a versatile solution after Bayern Munich failed to land Wirtz or Williams, who were the Bavarians' top targets this summer. With Jamal Musiala injured and Leroy Sane and Mathys Tel having left the club, Bayern's attacking depth has thinned. The Dutchman could fill multiple roles in Vincent Kompany's system for the 2025/26 campaign.

DID YOU KNOW?

Injuries limited Simons' playing time last season, but he still recorded 11 goals and eight assists. Across two years in Germany, he has racked up 44 goal contributions in 76 games.

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Bayern are expected to open formal negotiations with Leipzig in the coming days. With the player eager to leave, Bayern could try to strike a deal before pre-season kicks off. Leipzig, however, may demand a fee close to or above the €50 million (£43m) they paid to Paris Saint-Germain in January.

The batter was initially given caught at slip before returning to the crease on another action-packed day

AAP and ESPNcricinfo staff29-Nov-2023Sam Harper’s record-breaking century helped Victoria to a 38-run lead over South Australia on day two of their Sheffield Shield match, but Jake Fraser-McGurk’s maiden first-class hundred rescued the home side after a bizarre reprieve.After belting the third-fastest Shield hundred in history during some early evening fireworks on Tuesday, Harper kept going on Wednesday morning. He was eventually out for 151, the best score of his first-class career, as the visitors were all out for 278.Related

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Victoria were reeling at 29 for 4 before Harper went to work with a masterclass of controlled hitting.But former Victorian batter Fraser-McGurk was not to be outdone, hitting 101 from 106 balls to steer South Australia within distance of the tourists’ total.Fraser-McGurk, who left Victoria at the end of last season, was particularly impressive when you consider the Redbacks were in trouble at 16 for 4.However, he was involved in a strange incident when he had 19 and was initially given caught at slip off spinner Doug Warren. It was clear on replays that he had not hit the ball and, after starting to walk off, umpire Michael Graham-Smith changes his mind and Fraser-McGurk was recalled – to the frustration of his former team-mates.He made the most of it until carving Fergus O’Neill high into the off side shortly after reaching his century. This innings followed his spectacular record-breaking 29-ball Marsh Cup hundred earlier in the season.”I missed it by probably three feet, it spun a fair bit and I think it came off Sam Harper’s glove before Peter Handscomb caught it,” Fraser-McGurk told after play.”Sometimes they [opposition teams] are just like ‘yay’ … and it could have been not a serious appeal, but then the umpire’s starting to nod his head and I was a bit in disbelief. So I started walking off, then seconds later he changes his decision and the Vic boys weren’t too happy with that because they think they had a few unlucky decisions.”

Bizarre scenes at Adelaide Oval as Jake Fraser-McGurk is given out caught, but is allowed to keep batting moments later #SheffieldShield pic.twitter.com/WaDPTGYkt3

— cricket.com.au (@cricketcomau) November 29, 2023

Cameos from Ben Manenti and Liam Scott helped South Australia reach 252, trailing Victoria by just 26.O’Neill continued his breakout season for Victoria, claiming his maiden first-class five-wicket haul by snaring 5 for 28 including removing Test wicketkeeper Alex Carey who behind from round the wicket for 1. Carey had been hoping for some time in the middle ahead of the series against Pakistan.He was given excellent support by evergreen veteran Peter Siddle, who caused significant issues for South Australia’s top-order by taking 3 for 53.In response, Victoria’s second innings got off to a rocky start as they had to negotiate a tricky period before stumps.Test contender Marcus Harris failed for the second time in as many days with the opener out to Wes Agar for 6. However, he will have another chance to impress the selectors when he plays for the Prime Minister’s XI in Canberra next week.

Former Arsenal star Anders Limpar has come to the defence of Noni Madueke after his proposed transfer from Chelsea led to fan scrutiny.

Madueke has received backlash£52m transfer from Chelsea set to go throughLimpar defends MaduekeFollow GOAL on WhatsApp! 🟢📱WHAT HAPPENED?

Former title-winning Gunners winger Limpar has defended 23-year-old Madueke after the young England winger faced considerable backlash from sections of the Arsenal fanbase once reports of a £52 million (€60m/$69.7m) move from Chelsea being close to completion surfaced.

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Criticism towards Madueke and Arsenal for the move was so strong that #NoToMadueke went viral on X, while a petition for the Gunners not to sign the former PSV Eindhoven man was signed over 4,000 times. While it is true that these were largely 'online fans' and not necessarily a true representation of the club, the idea that the Gunners are offering such a large sum of money to a London rival, for a player who may be largely used as back-up, has led to criticism.

WHAT LIMPAR SAID

Limpar said: "It’s never fun when a club signs a player and the fans are not happy with it. I think Noni Madueke is a good player. I think he can fit in Arsenal’s system. It’s just unfortunate to hear that some fans are against him and making his life difficult in a way. I don’t know the background about all the fuss from the fans. It can’t just be that he’s from Chelsea and going to Arsenal. I’m pretty sure of that. It’s sad when fans are making a player’s life difficult."

He added: "If you look at the big clubs: Arsenal, Liverpool, Man City and so on. They want a mega-squad. They want a squad where they can put on 22 players and everybody can play. That’s modern football. To hear about £50 million here, £60 million there, £70 million here, for some players who can’t even play, in my opinion. It’s ridiculous money. But that’s the way it is, in 2025.

"You always have to have backup for your big stars. It is up to Madueke if he can handle the pressure. He’s used to playing and he has to compete for a starting spot with Saka, who is one of the best players in the world. That’s not easy. Madueke has to be patient and take the chances he gets. Playing on the left side, we have Martinelli there, we have Trossard there, even Reiss Nelson. It’s hard for a player to come to a big club with big stars but when pre-season starts, you have to prove yourself to be a starter. It’s always been like that. It’s not set that he’ll be on the bench. He can work his way up to becoming a starter."

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Limpar went on to cite Kai Havertz, a player who signed for Arsenal from Chelsea to considerable backlash and won fans over after a slow start, as an example for Madueke to follow. Madueke is no doubt a young man who believes in his ability and one would hope that this criticism will only light a fire within him to perform even better for his new club. The deal is set to be officially announced in the coming days.

Bangladesh allrounder was found guilty of breaching the anti-corruption code during the 2020-21 season of the Abu Dhabi T10 league

ESPNcricinfo staff16-Jan-2024Bangladesh allrounder Nasir Hossain has been banned from all cricket for two years by the ICC for breaching the Emirates Cricket Board’s Anti-Corruption Code during the 2020-21 Abu Dhabi T10 League. He will be eligible to resume playing international cricket on April 7, 2025.Hossain was one of eight people associated with the Pune Devils franchise who were charged by the ICC in September 2023. He accepted the three charges against him and received a two-year ban, of which six months are suspended.According to the ICC’s Anti-Corruption Unit, the first charge against Hossain was that he “failed to disclose to the Designated Anti-Corruption Official (without unnecessary delay) the receipt of a gift that was offered to him that had a value of over US$750, namely the gift of a new iPhone 12.The second charge was that Hossain “failed to disclose to the Designated Anti-Corruption Official full details of the approach or invitation he received to engage in Corrupt Conduct via the new iPhone 12.”And finally, “he failed or refused, without compelling justification, to cooperate with the Designated Anti-Corruption Official’s investigation in relation to possible Corrupt Conduct under the Code, including (without limitation) failing to provide accurately and completely any information and/or documentation requested by the Designated Anti-Corruption Official (whether as part of a formal Demand pursuant to Article 4.3 or otherwise) as part of such investigation.”Hossain has played 19 Tests, 65 ODIs and 31 T20Is for Bangladesh, and while his last international match was in January 2018, he was playing domestic cricket as recently as May 2023.