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Lamine Yamal will not be available for the Champions League opener against Newcastle on Thursday, much to the dismay of head coach Hansi Flick. A war of words broke out between the German and the Spanish FA after he criticised the Spanish national team for not looking after Yamal. However, on the bright side, Frenkie de Jong has been named in the matchday squad.

No Yamal, more problems for Barca

Barcelona announced their squad list for the Champions League opener against Newcastle on Thursday. One glaring absence from the squad was Yamal, who has been sidelined due to an injury to his pubic bone which he suffered on international duty with Spain.

AdvertisementGetty Images SportFlick blasts Spanish FA

Ahead of last weekend's La Liga encounter against Valencia, head coach Flick couldn't control his emotions and accused the Spanish national team of not being cautious with Yamal. "Lamine Yamal will not be available. He went with the national team in pain and did not train. They gave him painkillers to play," Flick said. "They had at least a three-goal lead in every match, and he played 73 minutes and 79, and between matches he couldn't train. That is not taking care of the player. I am very sad about this."

However, Flick's words were met with a firm response from the Spanish football federation (RFEF), who reportedly claimed that they had received no information regarding a potential injury from the Catalans.

On Tuesday, reports from Spain indicated that Yamal received a spinal injection to numb the pain experienced by the youngster in the sacroiliac area. Yamal has effectively been ruled out for the rest of September, with reporting that Barca are hoping for the 18-year-old to return for the mega clash against Paris Saint-Germain in the Champions League on October 1.

Boost for Barca upon De Jong's return

De Jong suffered an injury while on international duty with Netherlands and was subsequently sidelined with gluteal discomfort, forcing him to miss the game against Valencia. After a couple of training sessions away from the team, it appears that De Jong is fit enough to contribute in some capacity against the Magpies on Thursday, if not start the match.

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AFPYamal and Barca extra cautious with recovery

Yamal will not be available for this weekend's La Liga encounter against Getafe and next week's visit to newly-promoted Real Oviedo. It is also likely that he will miss next Sunday's clash against Real Sociedad. In the meantime, Yamal is currently receiving daily physiotherapy sessions, alongside personalised strengthening exercises and targeted treatments aimed at accelerating his recovery. 

However, Barcelona remain firm in their stance: no risks will be taken. On the other hand, the club is working to mend its relationship with the RFEF. Sporting director Deco is scheduled to meet with RFEF technical director Aitor Karanka to discuss and clarify communication protocols regarding player fitness.

Whilst also chasing deals to sign both Kiernan Dewsbury-Hall and Tyler Dibling, Everton have now reportedly submitted an offer to sign an in-demand midfielder who’s worth around £17m.

Update on Everton's moves for Dewsbury-Hall and Dibling

After a fairly quiet few weeks, Everton have finally come to life in the transfer market. Just under two weeks until the Premier League campaign gets underway, the Toffees have reportedly set their sights on both Dewsbury-Hall and Dibling.

The Friedkin Group are wasting no time with negotiations, either. According to Fabrizio Romano, Everton have submitted an opening bid to sign Dewsbury-Hall from Chelsea with the Blues open to his exit this month.

Meanwhile, despite already seeing two bids rejected for Dibling, with their second offer reportedly worth around £35m, those at the Hill Dickinson stadium intend to land both of their attacking targets before the window slams shut.

Securing those two additions would suddenly turn Everton’s summer around. Suddenly, their list of incomings would begin to look impressive, having already signed Adam Aznou, Thierno Barry, Carlos Alcaraz and Mark Travers.

Dibling and Dewsbury-Hall would also please David Moyes, who cut a frustrated figure when questioned about incomings during Everton’s pre-season tour of America.

The veteran manager told reporters: “The truth is we’re not getting them over the line at the moment – that’s a fact. We’re not getting a lot of the deals done which we’re hoping to do, so we’re continually reassessing and moving on, while maybe things are not coming to fruition.”

After Dewsbury-Hall and Dibling, however, Everton may not be done there in the market. Reports are now suggesting that they’ve submitted an offer to sign a £17m target.

Everton submit opening Lopy offer

As reported by Spanish newspaper MARCA and relayed by Sport Witness, Everton submitted an opening offer to sign Dion Lopy from UD Almeria, but that offer failed to reach the Spanish club’s €20m (£17m) valuation.

Linked with Barcelona, Almeria’s £17m demand should come as no surprise, but even as Everton aim to replace Abdoulaye Doucoure, splashing out such a price to welcome a LaLiga2 midfielder would represent a risky decision.

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If they can get that price down, then Lopy, a Senegal international, could prove to be a shrewd acquisition. As things stand, though, Friedkin may well be better off turning to alternative options.

Of course, if they push on despite Almeria’s £17m demand, then Everton should at least hold an advantage in personal talks with the defensive midfielder this summer.

The 23-year-old is represented by the same agency as long-term Everton star Jordan Pickford – handing the Toffees a relationship to instantly put to good use in negotiations.

As the final month of the transfer window continues, whether it’s Lopy, Dewsbury-Hall or Dibling, it looks destined to be a busy couple of weeks in Merseyside.

Following their dominant start to the Scottish Premiership season, one Celtic target now reportedly wants to complete a move to the Bhoys this summer with negotiations already taking place.

Celtic ease to victory in Scottish League Cup

Of course, it’s not just the Scottish Premiership that Celtic are looking to retain this season. Brendan Rodgers’ side also won the Scottish League Cup last time out and have already taken their first positive step towards winning the trophy once again – defeating Falkirk 4-1 on Friday evening.

Goals from Daizen Maeda, Dane Murray, Alistair Johnston and an own goal from Keelan Adams saw Celtic ease past Falkirk and stretch their unbeaten start to the season in all competitions to three games.

Rogers was left pleased with the way in which his Celtic side secured their place in the next round, telling reporters: “I thought the performance was very, very good from the first whistle,” he said. “You’ve seen the hunger in the team and the intensity in the team.

“The first half we were good with the ball but not so good without it. It gave Falkirk a couple of wee opportunities to break through. We weren’t aggressive enough and tight enough. When we corrected that at half-time, we really dominated the second half.

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“The goals were excellent and I thought we played really, really well. Overall really pleased. A lot of the players who hadn’t played came in and gave great value to the team. We had good variety in attack tonight. We were precise around the box when we needed to be.”

It’s the type of dominance that is likely to attract several targets, and that includes one long-term candidate who now reportedly wants to complete a move to the Scottish champions this summer.

Balikwisha now wants Celtic move

According to Pete O’Rourke of Football Insider, Michel-Ange Balikwisha now wants to complete a move to Celtic this summer after Parkhead chiefs commenced “negotiations” to sign the talented winger earlier on in the window.

A long-term target, the Belgian would likely be a Celtic player already if it wasn’t for his untimely injury last summer. It was undoubtedly a cruel twist that took place 12 months ago, but whether the Bhoys make up for it and finally get their man remains to be seen.

Dubbed “direct” by U23 scout Antonio Mango, Celtic have just a couple of weeks left to get their deal to sign Balikwisha sealed and delivered at long last.

As Thomas Frank prepares for his first season as Tottenham Hotspur manager this campaign, he will want to make an immediate impact and adhere himself to the fanbase.

The Dane has the responsibility of leading the club towards the top end of the Premier League after struggling to impress throughout the 2024/25 campaign.

He will also lead the Lilywhites into the Champions League, needing to have key depth across the squad if they are to be competitive in various competitions.

However, after taking the reins, Frank will unsurprisingly be wanting to make his own impression on the side, needing to make signings who will improve the options at his disposal.

Alongside incomings, outgoings are also needed to allow players not at the level required to move on, handing the manager the funds he needs to sustain their recent European success.

The latest on Spurs’ transfer activity this window

Centre-back Cristian Romero has been a name constantly mentioned with a move away from Spurs this summer, with Atlético and Real Madrid both interested in the Argentine.

It’s been reported over recent days that a £60m fee could be enough to prise him away from North London, potentially leaving a huge hole within the side’s backline.

However, the supporters shouldn’t worry, with moves already being made to land other defenders, leading to Castello Lukeba emerging on their shortlist, according to Foot Mercato.

The report claims that Frank’s side have been keen on a move to land the French youngster, who made 31 appearances for RB Leipzig across all competitions in 2024/25.

It also states that the 22-year-old currently has a €90m (£77m) release clause in his contract, but he could be allowed to depart for a lower fee should a deal be negotiated.

Why Spurs’ latest target would be the perfect Romero replacement

Whilst Romero has been a player who has divided opinion during his spell at Spurs, his showing in the Europa League final is evidence of the talent he possesses.

The 27-year-old was handed the Man of the Match award during the historical triumph, and understandably so when delving into his stats from such a performance.

He made 10 clearances, five of which were with his head, along with six duels won, helping the Lilywhites keep a clean sheet and end their near two-decade wait for a piece of silverware.

Losing the Argentine would be a huge blow, leaving Frank with a massive task to replace the star who’s showcased his talent over the last couple of months in North London.

However, a deal for Lukeba would be a superb one, having all the tools to move the club in the right direction and fill the void left should the centre-back depart this window.

When comparing their respective stats from the most recent season, the Frenchman has managed to outperform him in numerous key areas, showcasing why he could be the perfect replacement.

Lukeba, who’s been labelled “one of the best centre-backs” by one writer at The Athletic, has registered more progressive passes and carries per 90 in 2024/25, highlighting the ability he possesses to play out from the back.

Games played

23

18

Minutes played

1577

1416

Progressive passes

4.6

4.5

Progressive carries

1.1

0.7

% of tackles won

71%

70%

Clearances made

4.2

3.6

Blocks made

1.7

1.1

Aerials won

67%

60%

Without the ball, he’s been just as dominant, winning more of the tackles he’s entered, whilst also making more blocks, subsequently handing Frank the defensive quality he needs.

The Leipzig talent has also won more aerial duels and made more clearances per 90, with his tallies nothing short of sensational given his tender age – having the chance to improve further in the years ahead.

Whilst losing Romero would be something no Spurs fan would want this summer, Lukeba is evidence that there are better options out there within the transfer market.

It’s unclear how much the Bundesliga side could command for his services, but if the Argentine does depart North London this summer, a move for the Frenchman must be the priority.

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كشفت تقارير صحفية آخر تطورات مشاركة لامين يامال، لاعب الفريق الأول لكرة القدم بنادي برشلونة أمام نظيره نيوكاسل ضمن منافسات دوري أبطال أوروبا.

ويوجه النادي الإسباني بقيادة مدربه هانز فليك، نظيره نيوكاسل مساء يوم الخميس المقبل، في تمام الساعة العاشرة مساءً بتوقيت القاهرة ومكة المكرمة، على ملعب “جيمس بارك”، في أولى جولات مرحلة الدوري من بطولة دوري أبطال أوروبا.

ووفقًا للأخبار الأخيرة المنتشرة في الساعات الماضية، سيدخل برشلونة المباراة بدون جناحه الشاب المتألق لامين يامال بسبب الإصابة التي عاني منها مع المنتخب الإسباني.

اقرأ أيضًا | حكم مباراة برشلونة ونيوكاسل يونايتد في دوري أبطال أوروبا

صحيفة “موندو ديبورتيفو” أكدت غياب الجناح البالغ من العمر 18 عامًا عن التدريب مع زملائه في الفريق تحت قيادة هانز فليك، في معسكر تيتو فيلانوفا بالمدينة الرياضية خوان جامبر، صباح اليوم، الثلاثاء، وبالتالي مشاركته في أول مباراة لبرشلونة في دوري أبطال أوروبا لموسم 2025-2026 أمر مستبعد تمامًا.

ستُقام جلسة التدريب التالية لفريق برشلونة يوم الأربعاء الساعة السادسة مساءً في ملعب سانت جيمس بارك، ومن المقرر أن يعلن فليك عن قائمة اللاعبين المسافرين إلى نيوكاسل صباح اليوم.

بالسبة للاعب خط الوسط فرينكي دي يونج، والذي تعافى من إصابته، شارك في التدريب وسيكون حاضرًا في المباراة التي ستجمع الفريقان الخميس المقبل.

Chelsea are mounting a serious push to sign a “mature” player who’s also a wanted man at Liverpool, with Enzo Maresca looking to shore up a key area of the squad which could be central to a major overhaul.

Maresca’s side are currently in the midst of an intriguing Club World Cup campaign after a long campaign, and they’ll face-off against Portuguese heavyweights Benfica in the last 16 after luckily avoiding Bayern Munich in the next round.

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The CWC is a controversial talking point given the clubs taking part will have precious little rest before the start of preparations for next season, but Chelsea are reportedly determined to win the tournament, especially with the significant prize money on offer for the victors.

Chelsea’s best performers in the Premier League last season

Average match rating

Cole Palmer

7.33

Moises Caicedo

7.02

Enzo Fernández

6.95

Nicolas Jackson

6.88

Noni Madueke

6.82

via WhoScored

They’ve already pocketed £8.8 million in performance-related prize money after winning two of their opening three games, and if they get past Benfica, Chelsea will receive another £10.1 million (Standard Sport) – taking their total windfall from the CWC to nearly £20 million, plus their participation fee.

This kind of cash could do wonders to assist Chelsea’s recruitment drive whilst helping them comfortably avoid the PSR threshold, with Maresca reportedly keen to sign a new centre-back alongside wingers and a striker.

Their backline could look very different by the commencement of 2025/2026 in particular, as journalist Graeme Bailey recently reported. It is apparently very possible Trevoh Chalobah, Tosin Adarabioyo, Benoit Badiashile, Axel Disasi and Renato Veiga could all be sold before deadline day, with Chelsea having their eyes on firmly on Ajax defensive starlet Jorrel Hato, among others.

The versatile centre-back/left-back could upgrade the heart of Maresca’s defence whilst providing adept cover for Marc Cucurella, and he could be available for just £40 million.

Chelsea have held talks with Ajax over signing Hato, according to journalist Simon Phillips, and they’re still very much in pursuit of his signature.

Chelsea "pushing" to sign Jorrel Hato

As per Bailey, speaking to TBR Football in an update, both Arsenal and Liverpool are big fans of the Netherlands international, and Arteta’s side have been following him since his early teens.

However, Chelsea are “pushing hard” for Hato, so it could be the west Londoners who reign supreme in the race for his signature.

“We know that Chelsea are pushing hard to sign Hato and Liverpool still really like him. But I think Arsenal would be annoyed if they didn’t get Hato considering how much work they’ve been putting in,” said Bailey.

“Arsenal have been chasing Hato since he was around 14 or 15 years old, so I think there is a bit of confidence there. They want to sell Zinchenko to make room for Hato and then we still expect Kiwior to go as well.

“There will be plenty of room in that squad for Hato who is able to play a variety of roles.”

England international and ex-Liverpool midfielder Jordan Henderson knows his Ajax teammate very well, calling Hato “very mature” for his age and tipping him for a bright future.

“It’s crazy how young he is, but obviously how mature he looks when he’s on the pitch and also off the pitch,” he told Ajax’s official website, via the Liverpool Echo.

“He’s a very mature person. Works hard. Fantastic player. And yeah, he has a bright future ahead of him, I’m sure.”

There wasn’t a whole lot to celebrate for Arsenal fans this season.

Mikel Arteta’s side once again failed to get over the line in the Premier League, and while they progressed further in the Champions League, there was still a feeling at full-time in Paris that they could have reached the final.

With that said, there have been some bright spots, notably the emergence of Ethan Nwaneri, who managed to rack up 11 goal involvements in 37 games, and Bukayo Saka, who produced 26 in 37 appearances despite missing almost four months of action through injury.

So, fans should be excited about recent reports linking the club to a Premier League star who’s been compared to both aces.

Arsenal transfer news

In the last few weeks, Arsenal have been linked with several talented players from the Premier League, like Morgan Rogers and Adam Wharton.

Transfer Focus

Mega money deals, controversial moves and big-name flops. This is the home of transfer news and opinion across Football FanCast.

The former could cost as much as £100m, but has shown an incredible level of attacking quality this season, racking up a tally of 29 goal involvements in 54 games for Aston Villa.

The latter has a reported price tag of at least £80m, and has shown himself to be a quality young midfielder capable of breaking up play and dictating it.

However, as talented as these two are, it would be hard to describe either of them as similar to Saka and Nwaneri, unlike Mohammed Kudus.

Yes, according to a recent report from BBC Sport’s Sami Mokbel, Arsenal are one of several teams interested in the West Ham United star.

The report claims that the Gunners, Chelsea, and several other teams from the continent have all made contact about the versatile forward.

However, on top of having to deal with significant competition, the North Londoners might also have to pay an enormous fee to get their man, as his current deal includes a release clause worth an astounding £120m.

It would be a costly and complicated transfer to get over the line, but given Kudus’ ability, it is one worth fighting for, especially as he’s already been compared to two of the club’s most exciting attackers.

How Kudus compares to Saka and Nwaneri

So, before getting into some of the other reasons Arsenal may want to sign Kudus this summer, it’s important to examine these comparisons to Saka and Nwaneri and where they come from.

Both cases stem from FBref, which compares players in similar positions in the Premier League and then creates a list of the ten most comparable players for each.

In this instance, it was concluded that the teenager was the most similar attacking midfielder or winger to the Ghanaian over the last 365 days, while the Gunners’ talismanic number seven was the third most similar midfielder.

Expected Assisted Goals

0.11

0.12

Shots

2.61

2.41

Passing Accuracy

83.6%

80.5%

Passes into the Final Third

1.60

1.72

Crosses into the Penalty Area

0.52

0.61

Goal-Creating Actions

0.35

0.30

Blocks

0.83

0.81

Aerial Duels Won

0.38

0.40

The best way to understand how these conclusions were reached is by looking at the underlying numbers in which the players rank closely, which, in the case of the North Londoners’ most recent wonderkid, include metrics like expected assisted goals, shots, crosses into the penalty area, passes into the final third and many, many more, all per 90.

For the Gunners’ mercurial number seven, the metrics in which he’s incredibly similar to the Hammers star include things like tackles won, interceptions, goals per shot and shot on target, non-penalty expected goals and successful take-on percentage per 90, suggesting he could be just as dangerous in the right setup.

Non-Penalty Expected Goals

0.24

0.31

Goals per Shot

0.07

0.08

Goals per Shot on Target

0.24

0.23

Crosses into the Penalty Area

0.52

0.63

Tackles Won

0.80

0.78

Interceptions

0.14

0.16

Successful Take-On %

44.2%

45.6%

However, while comparisons to some of the most talented players in Arteta’s squad should already be reason enough to chase the “generational talent,” as dubbed by journalist Gary Al-Smith, there are still others.

For example, while his haul of nine-goal involvements in 35 games this season isn’t much to get too excited about, he showed himself capable of hitting much higher heights last season when he produced 28 goal involvements in 48 appearances.

Finally, according to Sofascore, he completed the second most successful dribbles per game in the Premier League this season, which is just the kind of dynamic direct threat the Gunners could do with – not to mention that he can play all across the frontline.

Ultimately, Kudus would be an excellent signing, and if Arsenal can negotiate a price below that of his release clause, they should absolutely pay it.

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Liverpool owners FSG are considering selling an “outstanding” player in a potential £68m move this summer, according to a new update regarding his future.

Summer departures expected at Liverpool

While much focus is on which players the Reds could sign in the summer transfer window, it could also be a relatively busy period when it comes to departures.

Caoimhin Kelleher looks almost certain to move on to pastures new, for example, with the Republic of Ireland international constantly playing second to fiddle to Alisson. With Giorgi Mamardashvili also coming in from Valencia, his minutes could become even more limited.

Kostas Tsimikas could also possibly move on, as Liverpool target a new left-back, with Andy Robertson then becoming more of a squad player, and Trent Alexander-Arnold is also leaving to join Real Madrid.

In attack, both Darwin Nunez and Diogo Jota may be sweating over their Anfield futures, following disappointing seasons, with the former feeling particularly likely to find a new club. He has flattered to deceive throughout his three years at the club, and this summer feels like the right time to cut ties.

Liverpool could sell Luis Diaz despite Slot admiration

According to Caught Offside, FSG are considering selling Liverpool forward Diaz this summer, amid interest from Saudi Pro League clubs – a £68m price tag is mentioned in the report. The update does also say that Slot would “rather not sell” the Colombian, however, seeing him as an important figure moving forward, unlike Nunez, who is expected to depart.

Diaz may not be perfect, sometimes being criticised for lacking an elite level of end product, but the positives still outweigh the negatives with him, so it would be preferable for Liverpool to retain his services. The 28-year-old has had a good season for the Reds, playing an important role in them winning the Premier League title, scoring 16 goals in all competitions and being hailed by Virgil van Dijk.

“If you watch the game he wasn’t really a No. 9. He played through the middle but he obviously played in midfield as well. It is very difficult for defenders when you don’t play against a direct opponent because there is so much movement. Lucho did it outstanding today again and that is what we need.”

Even if Diaz stays, Liverpool still need to be targeting at least one new attacker – a centre forward and a versatile winger would be ideal – putting more pressure on the £55,000-a-week Colombia international to find another gear.

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If he does end up leaving, it wouldn’t necessarily be a disaster, but Slot is right to value him and may only be fully appreciated after he leaves, both in terms of his quality and work ethic.

Potentially replacing the struggling Andre Onana, Manchester United are now reportedly eyeing a bargain deal to sign a former Newcastle United shot-stopper for Ruben Amorim this summer.

Man Utd targeting Onana replacements

Whilst there was a brief spell at the start of the season that Onana looked to have put any problems in the past, mistakes have since crept back into his game under Amorim, who must replace his goalkeeper. The former Inter Milan man must be part of a ruthless clear-out at Old Trafford, with several names already linked with a summer switch to Manchester United to act as a replacement.

Onana has struggled ever since arriving last season and found himself at the centre of criticism from the likes of Gary Neville following some disappointing displays.

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The Manchester United legend slammed the goalkeeper after he made a mistake against Aston Villa last season, saying: “That was a pathetic passage of play. McGinn’s delivery was awful and then Onana makes a mess of it. Onana is getting on my nerves, slowing the game down and then keeps giving it away. Catch it and stay in your box!”

If recent reports are anything to go by too, Manchester United have seen enough. Recent rumours have even indicated that the Red Devils are interested in bringing David de Gea back to the club in what would be a sensational deal. Of course, it was Onana who initially came in to replace the Spaniard two seasons ago.

Meanwhile, other names such as Mike Maignan have also threatened to steal the headlines. The AC Milan goalkeeper is arguably one of the best in his position and his reported price tag reflects that, sitting at an eye-watering £67m ahead of the summer.

Whether the Red Devils can afford such a deal is the big question. The reality is that they could be forced to turn their focus towards a bargain deal to replace Onana this summer.

Man Utd eyeing Freddie Woodman bargain

According to The Sun, Manchester United are now eyeing a bargain deal to sign Freddie Woodman from Preston North End this summer. The former Newcastle shot-stopper is set to become a free agent at the end of the season, which could allow those at Old Trafford to swoop in and land a free transfer.

The 28-year-old has been in excellent form in the Championship this season and may have done enough to earn a move back to the Premier League for the first time since leaving St James’ Park on a permanent deal in 2022. Having kept as many as 17 clean sheets in the current campaign, Woodman is far from the young goalkeeper who struggled to establish himself at Newcastle.

In recent years, Woodman has instead found himself at the centre of praise at Preston, including from Ryan Lowe. The former manager told reporters after the shot-stopper kept his 16th clean sheet of the 2022/23 campaign: “Freddie made some fantastic saves and that’s 16 clean sheets for him now, which is brilliant.

“He’s got a gashed eye and had three or four stitches at half-time, but there was no way we were going to get him off the pitch.”

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Vithushan Ehantharajah14-Jun-2024It was Laurie Evans who broke the news to Ollie Pope that his unbeaten 100 in vain against Sussex last Friday was one short.Surrey’s Vitality Blast captain had arrived early in a chase of 214, lasting the course as they fell 36 runs short for their first defeat of the campaign. With an improbable 38 needed from the final two deliveries, Pope clocked the Kia Oval scoreboards, which showed he was on 99 not out.”It’s probably the one time you can be a bit selfish,” Pope says. “You know – ‘oh go on then, I’ll take the easy single’.” A snick through to the keeper on the bounce brought the run, followed by a sheepish raise of the bat.Related

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• Smith's 87 off 38 sees Surrey down champions Somerset

• Alsop condemns Surrey to first defeat despite unbeaten 99 from Pope

Alas, the scoreboard was wrong. Pope was actually on 98 when he faced the penultimate ball of the innings.”I got back into the changing room and Laurie Evans came up, shook my hand and went, ‘Nice 99 mate, well played!’ I was like, ‘What?!'” It would have been Pope’s first limited-overs century.”It was obviously annoying, but at the same time, we lost the game. If I did get a hundred, we still lose the game. That’s the thing that’s wrong with cricket – people think that one run should make a difference. It’s obviously nice to get those milestones. But when you lose, it doesn’t really matter.”Last Friday’s hiccup aside, Surrey have enjoyed a strong start to the Blast, winning three out of four and sitting third, with Somerset and Sussex above them in a strong South Group. Regular skipper Chris Jordan’s presence at the World Cup – one of three Surrey players in the England squad, along with Will Jacks and Reece Topley – presented Pope, England Test vice-captain, with the opportunity to enhance his leadership CV. He admits the last couple of weeks have been a crash course in captaincy, particularly game management.”It’s been good so far,” Pope says. “The thing for me is that I haven’t really played T20 cricket, so I was a bit behind – not the rules, but I guess just managing it. You forget how hectic and frenetic it can be out there. That first game [against Hampshire] we had to field with five inside the ring for the last over because we were slow between the overs. I felt like I couldn’t go any quicker! So there are a few things like that you need to sharpen up as quickly as you can.”The bowlers have bowled nicely overall, which makes my job easier. The last game [against Sussex] was probably the first time we’ve been put under some real pressure. They played nicely and it’s just trying to find a way to keep your calmness around the group. And also be at peace in T20 cricket that someone might get you. If someone hits the ball you want to bowl for four or six, then you have to be at peace with that.”Despite the new challenges, Pope is glad for the Blast after an uncharacteristically tough start to the County Championship season. Surrey sit top, but Pope is averaging 24.00 from nine innings, a paltry return considering he arrived into the summer boasting an average of 70.31 in first-class cricket for the county. Off the back of a tour of India, which began with a match-winning 196 in the first Test at Hyderabad before falling away to finish with a series total of 315, it was the last thing he wanted.

“I’ve had some good runs, good innings and then periods like the back end of India. If I can get an early score, can I back that up in the next game and the game after that? It’s about being ruthless”Ollie Pope on his Test form

“Coming back from India, I was like, ‘Right, have a couple weeks off and get stuck into the county stuff’. There was always this expectation for me to just go and score runs week in and week out. And then when I don’t, it’s like, ‘Why is this happening?'””I had a couple of low scores early, made a sixty [63 against Worcestershire] and a forty [44 against Warwickshire] and just struggled to get going. It has been kind of frustrating, but at the same time I think it’s quite a nice time for this T20 block to come. You can go and express yourself; you can hit balls, strong shots on the up, pick up length quickly and hit good pull shots. Sometimes, playing county cricket, it can feel like every ball is around the knee roll. It’s a great challenge but freeing up can help my red-ball game as well.”It speaks to how strong India finished the Test series, moving on from Hyderabad emphatically to triumph 4-1, that Pope’s memories of his century – one that drew rave reviews from many, including India head coach Rahul Dravid – are minimal, to a point.”It wasn’t until I got back and people were like ‘well done in India’ that I was like, ‘oh yeah – thanks!’ I’ve got high expectations of myself so I was disappointed with how the rest of the series went.”Hyderabad, he says, will always have a special place in his heart, the best feeling he has had in Test cricket, though he has not watched the innings back. But the fits and starts that followed – two 23s, a 39, three single-figure scores, including two ducks, then 11 and 19 in the final Test – still irk. Three dismissals in particular.”The last two [in Dharamsala] were annoying because I felt good on a good pitch. I ran past Kuldeep and top-edged a sweep off Ashwin. The other was my first innings [in Ranchi, the fourth Test], where I ran down the wicket when it was nipping around a bit. Somehow DRS said it was out, but, again, the shot I wasn’t too happy with after. Everything I’ve worked on over the last few years is trusting my defence, which I didn’t do.England’s tour of India ended on a low note for Pope•Gareth Copley/Getty”You get a few good balls – you always do – but there were dismissals where I’m thinking, ‘Why did I do that?’ They’re the learnings I can take. You become a better player by learning from those mistakes.”The summer is an opportune time to channel those frustrations. Pope will play the remainder of Surrey’s Blast matches in this block ahead of the return of the County Championship at the end of June. He will play away to Worcestershire, starting June 23, before missing the next round ahead of the first of three West Indies Tests, at Lord’s on July 10. Three more Tests against Sri Lanka follow, before tours of Pakistan and New Zealand before the year is out.Though England’s batting remains largely settled, they are likely to broach the prospect of a new wicketkeeper in a bid for more consistency after Jonny Bairstow and Ben Foakes shared duties over the last two years. Pope’s Surrey team-mate Jamie Smith has been touted as an option, likewise Lancashire’s Phil Salt, who has been in impressive T20 form.But what of Pope, who has fulfilled the role for England on three occasions? Would he be game? He laughs when the option is put to him. The last time he kept wicket was the second Test of the Pakistan tour at the end of 2022 – one of only eight times he has done so in a first-class match.”I’d do whatever is required from me,” he answers diplomatically. “Me as a keeper, I’ve always been a keeper, but batting at three over the last two years back in the Test team, that’s been my focus.”My volume of keeping hasn’t been up to what it should be. I’ve not been able to train much with it. I’d never say no to anything like that, but it’d mean I’d have to get my keeping gloves and dust them off. I’m not sure. I’ve not kept in a good while but if that’s the case, it’ll be crack on and work hard.”The No. 3 position he has assumed since Ben Stokes took the captaincy in 2022 is going well – averaging 41.75, set against a career Test average of 34.04 – even if he does want to adopt a more bloody-minded streak. That, at this juncture, remains his primary focus.”I’d like to keep making it my own and churn more consistently in that spot. I’ve had some good runs, good innings and then periods like the back end of India. If I can get an early score, can I back that up in the next game and the game after that? It’s about being ruthless.”