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Former Celtic right-back Jeremie Frimpong is attracting significant interest ahead of the summer transfer window.

What’s the talk?

That’s according to a report by German media outlet Sport1, who claim that both Bayern Munich and Borussia Dortmund, as well as some of the bigger clubs in England and Spain, are keeping a very close eye on the Bayer Leverkusen defender ahead of a potential move for the 21-year-old at the end of the season.

The report goes on to state that Leverkusen would demand a fee of at least €30m (£25m) in order to part with the Netherlands U21 international this summer, however, given the fact that Frimpong’s current deal at the BayArena runs until the summer of 2025, the Bundesliga side are not desperate to sell the defender.

Postecoglou will be ruing Frimpong’s sale

While hindsight is a wonderful thing, Peter Lawwell’s decision to sanction the £9.9m sale of Frimpong back in January of 2021 appears as if it is a call that Ange Postecoglou will currently be ruing.

Indeed, the £33m-rated dynamo has proven over his 23 Bundesliga appearances this season that he would have been a key player under the 56-year-old Bhoys boss – scoring one goal, registering six assists and creating three big chances for his teammates, as well as helping his side keep four clean sheets and making an average of 1.3 key passes per game.

Furthermore, while it has been rumoured that Celtic did include a sell-on clause in the £25k-per-week right-back’s transfer to Leverkusen – meaning the Hoops could be in line for a portion of the fee the German side receive for the Dutchman – should Lawwell have held fire on the sale of Frimpong until this coming summer, the Hoops could well have been in line for an injection of cash similar to the one received from the £25m departure of Kieran Tierney.

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As such, Postecoglou will undoubtedly be regretting the club’s decision to part with the 21-year-old – who Simon Rolfes claimed has “huge potential,” Rudi Voller dubbed “lively” and Neil Lennon claimed is “incredible” – prior to his arrival at Parkhead last summer, as not only has the Greek-Australian been deprived of working with an exceptionally talented player but also a potentially summer-defining sale.

In other news: “Massive blow”: Journalist drops concerning Celtic injury claim, fans will be worried

	Retired greats Shane Warne and Glenn McGrath are set to play in the IPL, which will be telecast live in Australia © Getty Images

Every Indian Premier League match will be broadcast live in Australia after the Ten Network bought the rights for five years. Ten is believed to have paid between $10 million and $15 million to show the games, which begin on April 18.The deal provides a challenge to Channel Nine, which has dominated cricket broadcasting in Australia for 30 years. “It is the biggest new cricket competition and the most revolutionary thing that’s happened in world cricket since Kerry Packer started the World Series in the mid-70s,” David White, the Ten Network’s general manager of sport, told the .It was originally anticipated that the IPL Twenty20 matches would be shown on pay television in Australia, if at all, but Ten’s decision means every match will be telecast free to air. The station intends to show the games live, with start times from 9.30pm to 1.30am [AEST] followed by repeats on its high-definition digital channel.Ten has been a long-time broadcaster of motor sports in Australia, and in more recent years Australian rules football, but its lack of cricket experience means it will need to build a commentary team from scratch. Grant Blackley, the network’s chief executive, kept his cards close to his chest when asked if he would attempt to poach any of Nine’s established callers.”You shouldn’t draw any conclusions at this point,” Blackley said. The participation of Australia’s current players in this year’s tournament is still unclear, with the in-doubt Test tour of Pakistan set to clash with the IPL. However, former stars such as Shane Warne, Glenn McGrath and the soon-to-be-retired Adam Gilchrist will take part.

India’s busy season after the World Cup kicks off with a short tour of Bangladesh as the Bangladesh Cricket Board released the itinerary, comprising two Tests and three one-dayers.Should India qualify for the World Cup final on April 28, they have a breather for just eight days before the the scheduled departure for Dhaka on May 7. The one-day series commences on May 10 at the Sher-e-Bangla Stadium in Dhaka, followed by the second match, at the same venue on May 12. Chittagong will host the third one-dayer three days later.India will stay back in Chittaong for the first Test from May 18 and will head back to Dhaka for the final Test, starting May 25. India last toured Bangladesh in 2004, winning the Test series 2-0 and the one-dayers 2-1. The reciprocal tour, however, is yet to happen.ItineraryMay 7 Arrival in Dhaka
May 10 1st ODI, Dhaka
May 12 2nd ODI, Dhaka
May 15 3rd ODI, Chittagong
May 18-22 1st Test, Chittagong
May 25-29 2nd Test, Dhaka

Inzamam terms Mahendra Singh Dhoni’s batting as ‘murderous’ © Getty Images

Inzamam-ul Haq, the Pakistan captain, today described Mahendra Singh Dhoni’s batting as “murderous” and reckoned that he was a player to be watched out for in the 2007 World Cup.The Indian wicketkeeper-batsman scored 219 runs in four innings at a stupendous strike rate of 137 in the just-conclude five-match ODI series, propelling him to number three in the latest ICC rankings among ODI batsmen. “He is [also] safe behind the wickets and can be compared with Adam Gilchrist though the Australian has proved himself as the best after years in commission”, Inzamam told PTI at Lahore.Despite the 4-1 loss to India, Inzamam believed that the Pakistan team has greatly improved over the past two years. “When India came here in 2004, our boys were young and inexperienced. They have since played a lot of cricket in other countries that has given them experience and confidence,” he said.He said that the atmosphere in the Pakistani dressing room too had definitely improved. “When you have confidence the atmosphere in the dressing room also improves”, he added. On venting frustrations in the field, he said, “I control my anger. If someone drops a catch and I get angry, will that catch come back to us? It won’t. Therefore it is better to be cool because that helps in better performance.”Looking back on the series, Inzamam said that India’s batting was undoubtedly their strength. On Suresh Raina, he said: “I did not get a chance to see him because the Indian top order did not let the pressure come on to Raina and the later batsmen. But I always believe that only the best players are picked to represent their countries and therefore Raina must be a good cricketer who will improve with every game. But consistency is the key and it applies to both, Raina as well as the selectors.” He felt Irfan Pathan was fast blossoming into the allrounder India so desperately needed to strike the right balance in one-day cricket.India’s bowlers, though, were quite inexperienced, he added. He also strongly backed Sachin Tendulkar. “He has shown by the way he batted that he is not on the decline. In my view, he is good enough for another four or five years.”He rated Tendulkar as one of the five best batsmen in the world along with Rahul Dravid, Ricky Ponting, Jacques Kallis and Brian Lara. On his own place in the pecking order – with an average of nearly 52 after 107 Tests and about 40 in 356 ODIs – he shrugged it off with a typically nonchalant, “Oh, Inzamam comes way behind them”.

Brian Lara lifts the Champions Trophy aloft in 2004© Getty Images

Ehsan Mani, the chairman of the ICC, suggested that the format of the Champions Trophy was likely to undergo changes in the near future to make the event more interesting. “Essentially, the name suggests what it is meant to be,” Mani said in an impromptu press conference at Eden Gardens, as India closed in on victory against Pakistan in the second Test.”Unfortunately, the last edition in England got diluted because too many weak sides played. We are looking at playing under a new format with only eight teams in the hunt so that we get to watch interesting cricket of a high quality. We are considering having the top five nations and the host nation making the grade directly, with two of the other four Test-playing nations coming through a qualifying competition.”The last tournament, held in late summer in England provided more one-sided matches than competitive ones, with teams such as USA getting thoroughly humiliated by the big guns.Mani also denied that the ICC was putting pressure on the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) with regard to tax exemption for next year’s Champions Trophy, currently allotted to India. “We have asked for tax exemption, there has been no threat from the ICC to the Indian Board,” Mani clarified. “Discussions are still going on with the Indian finance ministry. I met the finance minister too last month. In case there is a problem, Pakistan are ready to play hosts – Pakistan is definitely an alternative.”After the recent triangular series in Australia, Pakistan had made a request for neutral umpires to stand at both ends in one-day internationals, as is the case in Tests, but Mani said it was unlikely that request would be entertained at the moment. “The idea is to have the best umpires officiating. But having two neutral umpires in one-dayers will harm the chances of the domestic umpires coming up. That’s why we will persist with a domestic umpire too in one-day internationals.”Mani also defended umpires, who have come under some fire recently, and said that the ICC had proper systems in place in this regard. “We have remedial exams for umpires every year,” Mani replied. “There is no age limit for retirement for umpires, but we have fitness and other tests too for the umpires. Most importantly, we scrutinise all their decisions regularly. There’s a committee that twice a year checks to see if there is any specific problem with any umpire. That’s how we found that one Sri Lankan umpire repeatedly had problems picking the leg-stump line. We asked him to go back to domestic cricket and sort the issue out.”

It was a tale of two centuries, an exciting game in glorious September sunshine, everything except a Hampshire victory. Their third in a row leaves them a nail biting visit to Derby in their attempt to gain the last promotion spot in Division Two of the National League.Nic Pothas and Simon Katich gave Hampshire a superb start after being invited to bat when losing the toss. The pair put together 144 for the first wicket, the Hawks highest opening stand in the competition for 7 years.Pothas was first to be dismissed when he lofted a catch to deep mid-off, but not before he had struck a run a ball 78 with 10 fours, his highest one-day score for the county. Derek Kenway played a brisk innings of 22 before he too mistimed a drive and was caught.Katich shortly after reaching his century played on to a ball from Paul Weekes, who struck again next ball by having John Crawley bowled to a ball that hardly left the ground.Will Kendall back in the side for the absent John Francis played a cameo innings, sharing a 43 run stand with Dimitri Mascarenhas, including pulling Weekes for six almost falling over in the process. Mascarenhas also struck a six, and Hampshire finished with their highest ever total against Middlesex.On a good Lord’s wicket, Middlesex got off to a flying start, Paul Weekes shared in two speedy stands of 77 with Andrew Strauss and 80 with Chad Keegan, and suddenly 277 did not seem quite enough.Weekes finally fell when Mascarenhas caught him on the long off boundary from the bowling of Prittipaul, and for a while the home side seemed to be getting behind the clock.Owais Shah the young England prospect however brought them to the brink, leaving the Crusaders requiring 9 runs to win off the last over.Mascarenhas who had not been at his best was entrusted with the task of bowling the 45th over. He was immediately pounced on by Shah for a huge six and ensure victory was almost theirs. Shah fell next ball, well caught by Shaun Udal to give Mascarenhas the new Hampshire record of 32 wickets in a NL/SL Season, a record taken from Udal himself.With 3 to win from 4 balls, Dalrymple drove straight to Katich but was dropped and they scampered a single, Joyce then brought the scores level, before a hurried run with the fielders enclosed to save the run, won it for Middlesex and give the Hawks a nervous week.For the statistically conscious Hampshire’s 277 runs was their highest ever losing score, defeating the 276 they scored in a losing cause against Surrey in 1997.

Australian fast bowler Jason Gillespie has been ruled out of the Orange Boxing Day Test match against South Africa at the MCG with an injury to his right shoulder.He will be replaced in the squad by the uncapped Western Australian fast bowler Brad Williams.Gillespie experienced soreness in his shoulder while bowling during the second innings of the first Orange Test match in Adelaide.He responded well to initial treatment, but further examination and bowling after Jason arrived in Melbourne indicated there was still a problem and the decision was taken to pull him out of the match.Jason Gillespie said: “I’m shattered.”I feel I could bowl my first spell okay but I wasn’t completely sure if I could come back after that.”This is such an important Test match and I was keen not to let any of the guys down so it was the sensible decision to step down,” he added.Gillespie underwent scans on Monday afternoon that cleared the South Australian fast bowler of any significant injury.He will remain in Melbourne during the Orange Boxing Day Test match, receiving treatment from Australian team physiotherapist Errol Alcott.A decision on Gillespie’s availability for the Orange Test match in Sydney, starting on 2 January 2002 will be taken in due course.27 year-old Williams took 65 wickets in 23 matches for Victoria before moving to WA for the 1999-2000 season. He captured 50 first-class wickets at 23.02 in his first summer in Perth before injury limited him to three matches in 2000-01, with a return of nine victims at 24.44.This season, in four matches, Williams has taken 17 first-class wickets at 27.24.Brad Williams said: “I found out I’d been called up when my WA team-mate Ryan Campbell came to see me.”He only lives up the street and no-one could get hold of me so he called by to give me the news, the best Christmas present I could ever have.”No words can really describe this. It’s just a dream come true and I almost broke into tears when I heard the news.”I’ve had a few injuries but this just makes all the hard work worthwhile.”I’m really happy with my rhythm at the moment and felt as good as I have for a long while in the ING Cup match against the Bushrangers at the MCG yesterday.”I’ve spoken to Trevor Hohns and he’s told me they’ll decide on the final eleven once I get to Melbourne, but at the moment just being in the twelve is fantastic.”

Ireland today completed a 3-0 ‘greenwash’ in their one-day series with Pakistan. Sometimes the scoreboard doesn’t tell the full story, but today at Sydney Parade on Dublin’s south-side it certainly did.After being sent in by Pakistan captain Shaiza Khan, the Irish women setabout re-writing the record books. After the loss of opener O’Leary for 5,Karen Young and Catriona Beggs assisted by some sloppy Pakistani fieldingposted an Irish women’s record second wicket partnership of 182. Beggs wasfinally dismissed for a hard earned 60, while Young, in only her thirdinternational went on to score a national record of 120 runs from only 157balls.After Grealey chipped in with a fine cameo innings of 32 not out Irelandfinished with an impressive 4 for 269 from their 50 overs. This, judgingby Pakistan’s form in the sides’ two previous encounters at Rush (in northCounty Dublin), was going to be a difficult task indeed.Saibh Young made the task more difficult by having Sharmeen Khan caughtbehind by Beggs with the score on 7. Nazia Nazeer and Kiran Baluch thenhad a steadying 45 run stand which gave one the impression that thePakistan team were now using this game as much needed practice for therest of their tour of Ireland and England. The resistance was short-livedhowever, and with Nazeer and Baluch both falling in their 20s the middleorder failed to make any impact. 2/52 quickly became 3/61, 4/72, 5/89 and6/103. Twelve year old Sajjida Shah hit a couple of bright boundariesbefore falling for 10.The final nails in Pakistan’s coffin were nailed in by Barbara McDonald,whose accurate medium pace, which had been economical against the toporder proved un-playable by the tail. Only a whisker away from claiming ahat-trick, McDonald cleaned bowled the last four Pakistani batters inquick succession to finish with impressive figures of 4 wickets for eightruns off 6.4 overs.Ireland won the game by 150 runs.The Pakistan women have a lot of work ahead of them if they are to becompetitive in the four day ‘test’ at College Park in Dublin’s citycentre, starting Sunday.

Speaking to the media before West Ham United’s clash with Liverpool, manager David Moyes has now sent a message to Irons supporters detailing ‘good news’.

The Lowdown: West Ham men out…

Moyes, for the majority of this campaign, has to cope without colossal centre-half Angelo Ogbonna following the Italian’s steady rehabilitation from knee surgery.

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The Hammers have also been without various options at full-back as of late with Vladimir Coufal, Aaron Cresswell, Ryan Fredericks and Arthur Masuaku all missing action recently.

However, sharing news on the latter duo, Moyes has now sent a positive message to supporters before West Ham’s clash with Liverpool this afternoon.

The Latest: Moyes sends message…

Speaking to the press (via whufc.com), the Scotsman claimed that Fredericks and Masuaku are recovering well from their respective injuries.

“Like everybody, we’ve got a few injuries and a few players out, but we’ve also got some coming back as well hopefully. 

“Ryan Fredericks is doing a bit better and so is Arthur [Masuaku]. We’ve got some good news on that side.

“We’ve got a concern about [Tomáš] Souček because of his stitches in his head, so that’s something we’re concerned about, but we’re probably no different from any other Club in the Premier League – we’ve got some injuries.”

The Verdict: Good news…

News of both full-backs ‘doing a bit better’ certainly comes as positive with West Ham now gearing up for the final stretch 2021/2022.

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This run of matches will make or break Moyes’ season as the Irons maintain their Europa League push as well as continue to fight for Champions League qualification.

Moyes will need every option available, especially with the potential for mounting fixtures.

In other news: West Ham now believe they’re in pole position for ‘massive signing’! Find out more here.

	Shoaib Malik is still nursing the ankle injury he suffered during the tour of India © AFP

Shoaib Malik’s ongoing battle with a troublesome ankle means he is still not a certain starter for Pakistan’s first ODI against Zimbabwe in Karachi.Malik, Pakistan’s captain, injured his ankle during a post-match football session after the Delhi Test against India in November. He subsequently sat out the remaining two Tests of the tour and though undergoing rehabilitation since then, he has still not fully recovered. He is currently taking part in a three-day training camp in Lahore as Pakistan prepare for the five-ODI series and he told reporters after the first day that he was feeling better.”My ankle is improving. I have started running and the ankle will get better over the next few days,” he said. “But if I am not 100% fit by the time the first ODI comes round, I will tell the board management.”Observers at the Pakistan camp suggest that the first ODI, on January 21, might be too soon for him. If that is the case then Pakistan will be looking for a temporary captain. Younis Khan, vice-captain in India, stood in when Malik first injured himself, but has in the past been reluctant to take on the role. Other possible options include Mohammad Yousuf and even Misbah-ul-Haq.Pakistan will be without a number of first-choice players during the series, the selectors keen instead to test new faces, particularly in the bowling department. Umar Gul and Shoaib Akhtar are out of the series due to injury – though the latter did make himself available. Mohammad Asif has yet to recover fully from surgery on a long-standing elbow problem.