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Newcastle United are nothing if not resourceful.

Eddie Howe has been under pressure this season, and his side have not been good enough, but two wins on the bounce in the Premier League have lifted the Magpies out of the bottom half, now only five points behind fourth-place Liverpool.

Technical director Ross Wilson is now settled into his seat at St. James’ Park, and it’s unlikely that Newcastle will splurge throughout the month, but there’s undoubtedly a desire to make a shrewd purchase or two if the right chance arrives.

A number of positions have been marked, but depth at full-backs has hamstrung Howe at times this term, so expect some movement there.

Newcastle set sights on new full-back

Lewis Miley has been something of a revelation this season, with the Geordie prospect standing in at right-back on multiple occasions, doing a job for injury-hit Newcastle and receiving Alan Shearer’s endorsement after a standout display against Crystal Palace on Sunday.

Tino Livramento made it off the bench against Palace but has been unconvincing on the fitness front all year. With Kieran Trippier, 35, out of contract at the end of the campaign, it makes sense to move for a new star.

And according to Caught Offside, Newcastle and Aston Villa are prepared to battle for Celta Vigo star Oscar Mingueza’s signature this month, with the versatile defender out of contract at the end of the season.

It would take a small fee of around €10m (about £8m) to convince the La Liga side to sell, but it’s worth stressing they want to keep the 26-year-old, who has been engaged in discussions pertaining to a renewal at the Estadio de Balaidos this term.

Why Newcastle should sign Oscar Mingueza

Mingueza cut his teeth with Barcelona and played a squad role in the first team before signing for Celta Vigo in 2022, where he has since made 121 appearances, scoring seven goals and supplying 12 assists.

The Spain international’s natural aptitude as a defender could see him supersede Miley as Livramento’s understudy, and with Howe’s midfield already jam-packed and targeting additions this year, this could be bad news for the young Toon.

That’s not to say he will be cast aside, but his playing time may be limited at a time when chances have started to pick up. But, as we have seen this season, Newcastle have needed more across a range of positions, and Mingueza could help advance this up-and-down system.

Hailed by analyst Ben Mattinson as an “underrated” player whose versatility means he can cover “the whole backline” effectively, Mingueza would certainly fit the mould that Howe likes, with both Miley and Livramento showcasing impressive tactical dynamism on Tyneside.

Oscar Mingueza – Career Stats by Position

Position

Apps

Goals + Assists

Centre-back

86

2 + 7

Right-back

74

3 + 6

Right midfield

33

2 + 5

Left-back

19

1 + 1

Left midfield

8

1 + 2

Centre-midfield

1

0 + 0

Data via Transfermarkt

There is something Trippier-esque about this wide defender that underlines his ability to promote transitional play, thus aligning with Howe’s identity as a tactician.

Subscribe to the newsletter for transfer insight on Newcastle Explore the thinking behind moves like Newcastle’s interest in Mingueza. Subscribe to the newsletter for focused transfer analysis and tactical breakdowns, plus broader coverage of squad building and player targets.

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As per FBref, the La Masia graduate ranks among the top 4% of positional peers across Europe’s top five leagues over the past year for passes attempted, the top 1% for progressive passes and the top 9% for shot-creating actions per 90, emphasising the dimensions he would add to Howe’s on-the-ball set-up.

Spanish reporter Jacobo Buceta remarked in November that Mingueza is “back in [sic] his best version”, with the wideman’s “brutal” creativity really coming to the fore. Fellow journalist Vicent Burguete described him as a “hell of a player” for his “elegant & complete” skillset. It’s clear to see why he’s coveted, even as Miley makes headway.

If Newcastle wish to leap up a level and begin performing as a side capable of throwing down with anyone across Europe, this is the move Howe and Wilson must make, shrewdly layering the team before grander plans come summer.

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People close to a ‘genuine talent’ have reportedly admitted that Tottenham want to sign him, with the player also in huge demand across Europe.

Tottenham set for cash windfall amid Brennan Johnson sale

The big news coming out of Spurs in the last 48 hours is winger Brennan Johnson’s imminent departure, which comes just over two years after his £47.5 million switch from Nottingham Forest.

Johnson, who finished 24/25 as the Lilywhites’ top goalscorer in all competitions with 18, also scored the Europa League-final winning goal against Man United in May to end their 17-year wait for a major trophy.

Fast-forward to now, and the Wales international is closing in on an exit with Crystal Palace already agreeing a £35 million fee for Johnson prior to January.

However, the south Londoners still aren’t alone in the race, with Everton, Sunderland and Bournemouth all making calls to Spurs and considering moves of their own.

As the race for Johnson heats up, Thomas Frank and co are making recruitment plans of their own as we fast approach 2026.

According to journalist Graeme Bailey and TEAMtalk, one man on their radar is AZ Alkmaar sensation Kees Smit.

Tottenham want to sign Kees Smit amid Frenkie de Jong comparison

The 19-year-old has taken Dutch football by storm and is already drawing lofty comparisons, with an unnamed Premier League scout telling TT that he’s the Netherlands’ answer to Adam Wharton and possibly a new Frenkie de Jong.

Bailey also says that people close to Smit’s camp have confirmed that every big club in England is after the teenager, including Spurs, Arsenal, Chelsea, Manchester City, Liverpool and Newcastle.

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With Tottenham targeting Smit for 2026, the mystery scout has also called him a ‘genuine talent’ and one of Dutch football’s most exciting prospects who ‘everyone will be talking about’.

The Eredivisie starlet, according to TEAMtalk, could cost as much as £65 million — ironically a similar fee to de Jong’s Barcelona transfer in 2019.

If not that high, it is believed a minimum £52 million would be required to convince AZ to part with their rising star next year.

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In the last 11 years, Bangladesh have won only three out of nine deciding matches in a bilateral ODI series comprising three or more games. The three wins have come against Zimbabwe in 2005 and 2009, and against West Indies in 2012.The third ODI in Chittagong on Wednesday gives them a chance to add another win to that list – this time against South Africa.After losing to South Africa by eight wickets in the first game, Bangladesh bounced back in the second match with a seven-wicket win. With the three-match series tied 1-1, Bangladesh have a chance to claim their third straight home bilateral series win in 2015 and allrounder Shakib Al Hasan has little doubt about the importance of the occasion.”This is big, no doubt,” Shakib said. “We haven’t achieved such things before. Whenever you go to achieve something you haven’t, then it will obviously seem big. We haven’t beaten South Africa in a series before so that is a big deal.”Every match is important for us. Whenever we get on the field, we think the same but all matches don’t go according to plan. Because this is the series decider, however, it is important. We haven’t lost at home in a long time. So this will be another opportunity for us if we can win this match. I won’t tell you how big a match this is, but this is a very big opportunity for us.”Against Zimbabwe in 2005, Bangladesh were trailing 2-0 in the five-match series before they made a comeback and won the decider by eight wickets. In the three-match series against Zimbabwe in January 2009, they lost the first match but bounced back quite comfortably to win the series 2-1. Against West Indies, they took a 2-0 lead in Khulna before losing the third and fourth games, and the fifth ODI was a tight affair which they won by two wickets.Shakib was a part of two of those turnarounds and it was his bowling that brought Bangladesh back into contention in the current series against South Africa. Shakib stated that his returns of 0 for 30 in the ten overs in the second ODI in Mirpur was his best bowling performance in recent times, which should be encouraging for Bangladesh after he had conceded difficulty in bowling before the Tests against Pakistan in late April. He is only two wickets away from becoming the seventh cricketer – after Sanath Jayasuriya, Shahid Afridi, Jacques Kallis, Abdul Razzaq, Chris Harris and Chris Cairns – to take 200 wickets and score 4000 runs in ODIs.”I think after a long time I bowled quite well in the last match,” Shakib said. “I was satisfied personally. After a long time I think I bowled as I wanted to. If you get rewards, then you will feel good but I am not that disappointed regarding those things. I am happy as long as I can contribute.”I don’t think I have changed much in my bowling. But the opponent’s batsmen don’t charge at me as much as before so in one-dayers it is difficult to get wickets, unless you have a pitch of that kind. I think you also need luck to get wickets. I try to do everything that is in my hands.”Shakib said that the team’s confidence has remained even after contrasting results in the series: “Actually I don’t think our confidence will go down the drain when we lose one match or be sky-high if we win one match. No player thinks that way. All our matches are important. It’s not possible [to win] all the time but I am sure that if we can stick to our processes then it’s possible to do well at home.”

Former Surrey and England one-day captain Adam Hollioake is reported to be about to hold discussions with Essex over playing for them in this year’s Twenty20 Cup, according to a report in today’s Guardian.The move stems from Hollioake’s appearance in a beach-cricket tournament in Australia in January which left Graham Gooch impressed. “I played pretty well and Goochie said I was good enough and young enough to play county cricket again,” Hollioake told The Guardian from his home in Perth. “Later, when he got home, he sent me an email asking if I’d be interested. I am. Nothing has been confirmed yet. We’re still talking. But it’s not the worst idea in the world.”Essex’s chief executive, David East, confirmed to Cricinfo that the talks were taking place. “We have had some initial discussions with Adam and are jointly exploring the possibility of him playing Twenty20 cricket for us.”Hollioake will be in the UK next week to attend a charity event and is expected to chat to Essex officials then. He admitted that he was approached by Nottinghamshire a while back but nothing came of it.

Sachin Tendulkar: dogged by injuries and sleepless nights © Getty Images

Download MP3 (right click and select “save target as”)
Streaming Audio: Real :: WMAIt seems like yesterday – well, maybe last week! – that a 16-year-old kid was charging down the pitch and hitting Abdul Qadir into the crowd. Sachin Tendulkar is 33 now, and as his career enters his last phase, he struggles with injury and a desire to play that simply isn’t matched by his physical fitness. In this interview with Dileep Premachandran, which was conducted for the , he talks about his “desire to get back into action” and “the hunger to go out there and perform.”He tells us of “sleepless nights”, of “nights full of frustration” as he waits to get back into action. He also talks of the vagaries of time, and of how he ignores what the outside world says about him. “I don’t need a newspaper to make me believe that I’ve scored a double-hundred,” he says, remembering the time a journalist asked him during the Sydney Test against Australia in 2004 if he would read the papers the next day.It’s our greatest batsman at his most candid. Listen in!Download MP3 (right click and select “save target as”)
Streaming Audio: Real :: WMA

Injuries continue to plague Australia and a squad of 14 players has been named to prepare for the second Test against Zimbabwe starting in Sydney on Friday. The latest concern is for Darren Lehmann who has suffered an achilles tendon strain.Simon Katich has been included in the squad as cover for Lehmann while Brad Hogg would take Stuart MacGill’s place if MacGill should fail his fitness test. Nathan Brackan has also been included in the squad. With a replacement necessary for Jason Gillespie, Brad Williams would be favoured to make his Test debut.In a worst case scenario with Lehmann and MacGill out of the side and Katich, Hogg and Williams included, with only 53 Tests between them, it would be the least experienced Australian attack for many years.The Australian squad is: Steve Waugh (capt), Ricky Ponting, Andy Bichel, Nathan Bracken, Adam Gilchrist, Matthew Hayden, Brad Hogg, Simon Katich, Justin Langer, Brett Lee, Darren Lehmann, Stuart MacGill, Damien Martyn, Brad Williams.

Guyana 310 and 148 for 8 (Ramdass 60; Smith 4-46) drew with Barbados 395 (Campbell 81, Smith 114; Nagamootoo 5-116)
ScorecardBarbados narrowly missed out on an eighth straight win in the Carib Beer 2004 Cricket Series, but went through to the final against Jamaica as a result of having gained a first-innings lead. Guyana, who started their second innings 85 in arrears, were 148 for 8 when stumps were drawn with Sewnarine Chattergoon and Mahendra Nagamootoo having defied the bowlers in the final stages.Dwayne Smith, later named Man of the Match, captured 4 for 46 from 25 overs, and Fidel Edwards took 3 for 34 as Guyana collapsed in their second innings. But Chattergoon, who came out to bat nursing a sore shoulder, and Nagamootoo did enough to thwart any attempt to go for an outright win.Barbados will now play Jamaica in the final on home turf – the venue has yet to be announced – from March 25 to 28. They have already won the Carib Beer Cup, and are looking to win a second trophy for the season.

Steve Harmison’s place in England’s World Cup squad is in doubt after he twisted his ankle in the field during England’s 19-run win over Sri Lanka at the Adelaide Oval.Harmison, after bowling two overs which cost 27 runs, had just been taken out of the attack when he slipped while fielding at mid-on.”He’s hobbling around but the physio says it hasn’t swollen up too much,which is a good sign,” said the England captain, Nasser Hussain. “He will go for the regulation scans.”Hussain was full of praise for Andrew Caddick, who was made Man of the Match for his four wickets, two of which were taken in a key period near the end of Sri Lanka’s innings.”Andy’s had a really good couple of weeks,” Hussain enthused. “We’ve missedDarren Gough’s experience on this tour but Andy has got his rhythm andconfidence back.”The wicket in Sydney at the Test match helped him regain his confidence. The bounce at Sydney gave him his confidence back and he has always been fit, which means he will always grow as a tour continues whereas others fade away.”I thought it was the best game in the tournament so far. Sri Lanka thought they had it in the bag for a while but we used our brains well. “I think we need a point now to make the final but we’ll play our next game (against Australia in Adelaide) normally and see what we can get from it.”Caddick said: “Things are going well for me at the moment. There’s plenty of rhythm there and I’m getting the ball in the right area.”I’m quite happy to take responsibility but it would be nice for our youngerplayers to pull through and get experience under their belts.”England also had Alec Stewart to thank for another sterling performance with the bat and behind the stumps.”Alec had an excellent game and I thought he should possibly have been man ofthe match, Hussain added. “It was typical of him when in our management meeting yesterday he said he would like to bat at five. If you back yourself that much you bat at five.”Michael Vaughan justified the confidence Hussain showed in his bowling, with seven overs of off-spin at a cost of just 35 and the wicket of Chaminda Vaas.”He bowled well against Sri Lanka at Old Trafford last year and bowls well atleft-handers, tucking them up a bit, and he did well under pressure because it’sthe first time he’s bowled in a long time,” Hussain said.Both captains agreed that the turning point of match was when Sanath Jayasuriya was run out attempting a straightforward single which would have brought him his third ODI hundred in four innings.Kumar Sangakkara obstructed his captain, who was left stranded as Hussain hit the stumps from mid-off.”It was a lot closer than the result and probably the best game of the tournament so far,” Hussain said. “Our coach has told us we don’t hit the stumps enough so it was nice to hit and Sangakkara also did us a favour. That was the turning point because Sanath was playing beautifully.”Jayasuriya said: “It was the crucial thing because I was batting well. The match would have changed if I had been there but unfortunate things happen.”

Former West Indies fast bowler, Wes Hall and Anguillian bank executive, Val Banks are likely to become the next president and vice president of the West Indies Cricket Board (WICB).The WICB yesterday confirmed that Hall and Banks were the only nominees to fill the vacant posts of president and vice president of the regional body; this, in accordance with Article 92 of the WICB’s Memorandum of Association.The nomination of Hall, who is also a former chairman of selectors was supported by both the Barbados Cricket Association and the Trinidad and Tobago Cricket Board of Control.Meanwhile, Banks’ nomination was supported by the Leeward Islands Cricket Association and the Barbados Cricket Association.Election for the two top posts in West Indies cricket will take place on 21 July when the WICB convenes a special general meeting at the Savannah Hotel in Barbados.The positions of president and vice-president became vacant after Jamaican lawyer Pat Rousseau and Antiguan business executive Clarvis Joseph resigned at a meeting of the WICB directors in Barbados earlier this month.The elevation of Hall and Banks to the two top positions in West Indies cricket is likely to be a formality since the Memorandum of Association (Article 92) clearly states: “No person shall be eligible for election to the office of President or Vice President at any meeting of Members unless, not less than thirty days before the date appointed for the meeting of Members at which the election of the President or Vice President is due to be considered, there shall have been left at the office of the Secretary of the Board a nomination in writing, signed by two Full Members accompanied by a notice in writing signed by the nominee of his willingness to serve if elected.”

Crystal Palace face an uncertain managerial future after contract negotiations with Oliver Glasner reached a critical juncture this week.

Fabrizio Romano revealed in his latest YouTube video that the manager has made a final decision regarding his future at the club after extensive discussions and negotiations spanning several months.

The well-respected transfer journalist confirmed that talks between both parties have been ongoing for a while, without reaching any breakthrough that would secure the coach’s services beyond 2026.

Romano explained that the manager has been carefully weighing up aspects like the Palace’s project direction, long-term vision and ambitions for sustained growth at the highest level

The reporter also claims that, after plenty of thinking, Glasner has elected not to sign a new deal.

Since arriving at Selhust Park, Glasner has transformed the club into genuine European contenders while delivering their first major trophy in the club’s 120-year history with a memorable FA Cup final victory over Man City in May.

His remarkable achievement in guiding the Eagles to silverware represents the pinnacle of success for a club that had previously never won a single major trophy.

The Austrian followed up that historic triumph by securing another piece of silverware when Palace defeated Liverpool on penalties in the Community Shield in August.

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His performance over the past 18 months have attracted admiring glances from numerous clubs across Europe who view him as one of the continent’s most talented young managers.

That is according to TEAMtalk and journalist Graeme Bailey, who report that Palace are now in the process of identifying replacements for Glasner.

Crystal Palace eye Strasbourg boss Liam Rosenior

One name that features prominently on Palace’s shortlist of potential successors is Strasbourg manager Liam Rosenior, who has impressed during his time in charge of the French club.

However, the 40-year-old also appears on Chelsea’s radar as BlueCo consider their own succession planning should Enzo Maresca depart Stamford Bridge at some point in the near future.

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Palace are believed to be real admirers of Rosenior following his exceptional time in Ligue 1, where he guided them to Europe last season and briedly had them contending with PSG near the top of the table this term.

The former Hull City boss has been lavished with praise for his development of players as well, with European football expert Andy Brassell calling him ‘exceptional’ in this regard.

Unfortunately, BlueCo hold almost all the cards here unless Rosenior pushes to leave Strasbourg, so Chelsea will be overwhelming favourites to hire the boss if they decide to replace Maresca with him.

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