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Bayern Munich are set to tie two players down to new contracts, with extensions for Dayot Upamecano and rising star Lennart Karl close to completion.

• Upamecano and Karl close to new Bayern contracts
• Centre-back states his intention to stay
• Contract extensions expected to be completed imminently

• WHAT HAPPENED?

  Bayern are close to securing contract extensions for two key players: centre-back Upamecano and attacking prospect Karl. Negotiations with Upamecano have been ongoing for months, with both the player and Bayern hierarchy keen to finalise an agreement that would see him remain beyond his current deal, which is set to expire in June 2026. Meanwhile, talks with 17-year-old Karl are at an advanced stage with Bayern “very confident” of securing his signature for the long term following his impressive form in youth and first-team pre-season matches.

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  WHAT WAS SAID?

  Sporting director Max Eberl confirmed following the 4-0 friendly win against Tottenham Hotspur, saying: “It’s definitely a goal that we want to extend,” referencing their intent over Upamecano during a recent mixed zone. 

  Upamecano himself reiterated after the friendly win: “I’m happy here,” noting ongoing discussions between his agent, Eberl and sporting director Christoph Freund. Eberl further : “It’s looking very good,” highlighting Bayern’s optimism around the 17-year-old’s extension.

• THE BIGGER PICTURE

  Upamecano’s extension would represent another strong statement from Bayern as they continue to lock down their core squad, having already secured Jamal Musiala and Alphonso Davies to long-term deals this year. Under Vincent Kompany, Upamecano was a regular in the starting XI until his season was cut short by injury. Karl, meanwhile, has been prolific in scoring and assisting goals at youth level and made an impact in pre-season matches, notably scoring against Tottenham, after making an appearance at the Club World Cup.

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  WHAT'S NEXT?

  Bayern expect to finalise Upamecano’s extension within weeks, although exact salary terms remain under negotiation, with agreement anticipated to extend to at least 2029. Karl’s renewal could be announced before the end of the week, potentially running through to 2028. The pair are set to play a role in Bayern’s upcoming domestic and European fixtures as the Bundesliga champions prepare for another title challenge.

Stuttgart have turned down an offer from Bayern Munich for the third time this summer, prompting Nick Woltemade's advisor to voice blunt criticism.

• Woltemade's advisor tears into Stuttgart
• Latest offer turned down on Wednesday
• Stuttgart now demanding €75m

• WHAT HAPPENED?

  Woltemade's advisor, Danny Bachmann, was absolutely furious after Stuttgart turned down the latest offer from Bayern. Bachmann confirmed to the media that the Bundesliga champions tabled a bid worth €60 million (£52m/$70m). Stuttgart, in response, have apparently demanded €75m (£65m/$88m) to let the striker leave.

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  THE BIGGER PICTURE

  There seems to be no end in sight in the transfer saga involving Woltemade, Stuttgart and Bayern. After seeing two bids turned down by last season's DFB-Pokal winners — with the second bid worth a reported €50m (£43m/$58m) plus €5m in bonuses — Bayern sporting director Max Eberl confirmed that a deal for the 23-year-old was "off the table." Later on, the Munich outfit were handed a deadline until this Saturday by Stuttgart if they wanted to make another approach for Woltemade. The Bavarians obliged but, as has been the case all summer, Stuttgart's stubbornness has prevented the two German sides from reaching an agreement. 

• WHAT DANNY BACHMANN SAID

  Speaking to the , Bachmann said: "The solution demanded by Mr. [Alexander] Wehrle this week within a questionable deadline was delivered today with the total package from the interested party and the player's side totaling more than €60 million plus a share of the resale.

  "The supervisory board's response regarding a demand of €75 million, which is outside the market, for a player who came on a free transfer but with a lower mid-range salary classification is not only completely unfounded – especially for a domestic transfer – but is in blatant contradiction to the aforementioned agreements.

  "In March 2024 and most recently in mid-June, VfB made a clear commitment to a solution-oriented approach as soon as the next career step is possible. In the fast-paced world of football, such a step would now be possible, becoming the German record champion and a permanent Champions League participant. For an ambitious German international, this is a tremendous opportunity."

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  DID YOU KNOW?

  Stuttgart's stance on letting Woltemade leave has only toughened since the second offer from Bayern arrived in July. At the time, Die Schwaben remained adamant on not entertaining any offers less than €65 million (£56m/$75m). Interestingly, they are now demanding €75m for the player.

Pulisic invited pressure, but if he can perform, it might serve as evidence that skipping the Gold Cup was actually the right call

Christian Pulisic is no stranger to pressure. The outside world has put it on his shoulders since he was a kid. From the moment he broke onto the scene, Pulisic has had the weight of American soccer on his shoulders. An introvert at heart, he never really sought it out; it was thrust upon him.

This summer, though, was different. For the first time, Pulisic, willingly or unwillingly, invited that pressure. Now, as the Serie A season begins, he has to answer like never before. For the first time, Pulisic is under pressure of his own making.

All of that stems from this summer. Pulisic's controversial decision to skip out on the Gold Cup prompted a generation-splitting war of words. Former USMNT players accused him and his teammates of being soft. The current squad fired back, with Pulisic barking at those who would question his commitment and Tim Weah accusing those critics of being "evil" and just "cashing checks."

It's overshadowed just about every aspect of the U.S. men's national team one year out from the World Cup and, as the face of the team, Pulisic is facing that heat, fairly or unfairly.

From the start, Pulisic has shown that he doesn't like answering challenges with words. It's what made his PULISIC docuseries on Paramount + – episodes of which continue to add fuel to this fire – so out of character for him. Since he burst onto the scene, Pulisic has been largely uncomfortable with the idea of talking, particularly about himself.

Now, it's all anyone wants to talk about. Pulisic will look to answer the criticism the only way he really knows how, and it turns out it's also the best way to extinguish this particular fire. The face of the USMNT may have to mend some fences, but his best approach is to just play his way through it.

And his ability to do so – or not – will help define the USMNT's road to the 2026 World Cup.

Pulisic made his decision this summer. Whether it was right or wrong remains up for debate. The man himself now has a chance to silence that discussion – or at least turn down the volume. He's put pressure on himself but, if he can perform, it might serve as evidence that he did, ultimately, make the right call this summer.

• AFP
  

  Inviting evil

  Tim Weah has taken some flak for his description of the prior generation that seems so glad to take aim at him and his teammates. "Evil" may have been a step too far, but it does offer some insight into the mindset.

  “I think those guys are chasing checks,” Weah said in a clip posted by “And for me, I just feel like they're really evil, honestly, because they've been players and they know it's like when you're getting bashed and those are the same guys, that'll turn around and shake your hand and try to be friendly with you at the end of the day.”

  The USMNT, of course, has been hit hard for not winning anything of late. Since the 2022 World Cup concluded, it would be hard to argue that this team has taken any significant step forward. The Copa America was a missed opportunity, the Nations League was an embarrassment and the Gold Cup, one without most regulars, featured five straight wins – but then a loss to Mexico in the final. 

  Since taking over as manager from the fired Gregg Berhalter last fall, Mauricio Pochettino has won just nine of 16 matches. But not winning is only part of the issue. The critics – Alexi Lalas, Landon Donovan, Clint Dempsey, Herculez Gomez, Tim Howard, Kasey Keller and others – have been most vocal about simply showing up.

  Pulisic's decision not to play this summer has been discussed ad nauseam. What began as a simple choice to rest turned into a debate about commitment, attitude, entitlement and, more than anything, how much the current players actually care about all of this. Pulisic resents that, and he's fired back against it. He does care, and he's disappointed in anyone who would believe otherwise.

  "It's frustrating," he said. "We haven't had as much success as we like, I think we've had some really incredible moments, but we're out here fighting. I think if people knew what it actually meant to me and what it meant to our team and all the players, they would never question us. Come after whatever you want, you know? Come after my performance, whatever you want to say, but to talk about my commitment? The commitment that I've given to this game? That I've given to my national team for 10 years? 

  "I have paid the price. That's the only thing that starts to get on my nerves. But to be honest, it just fuels me to get back on the field and just shut everyone up and show everyone what I'm about at the end of the day."

  That process began last weekend, and it began with a goal.

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• A bright start

  Cup goals against lower-division Italian teams are not a panacea. Pulisic's finish last weekend was a start, though. Perhaps, too, it was a sign of things to come.

  Pulisic scored the second of two goals in Milan's Coppa Italia win over Bari, netting his first goal of the season in his side's first competitive game. After receiving the ball from Santi Gimenez, Pulisic pirouetted and picked his corner, placing his shot into the back of the net. There was no emotional celebration, no catharsis; this was business as usual.

  Inside, though, Pulisic certainly felt something. He'd provided the right response to the critics. Yes, the goalposts are still centered around national team performance but, until he next puts on that shirt, all he can do is score goals for Milan. 

  Milan, too, will need him to score goals. Pulisic isn't just facing pressures at home, but also in Italy, where those who follow Milan demand better than what they got last season.

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  The weight of the Rossoneri

  Massimiliano Allegri arrived in Milan, or back in Milan, it should be said, with a reputation. He's a serial Serie A winner, one who has managed some of the best teams this league has seen. He's also done it with a defense-first mindset. What would that mean for Pulisic? How would this look going forward?

  According to reports in Italy, Allegri determined early that Pulisic would be one of his key pieces. Against Bari, playing in Allegri's trademark 3-5-2, Pulisic started up top alongside Rafael Leao, who suffered an injury a few minutes in. In this setup, Pulisic has some measure of freedom. He also has plenty of responsibility to directly lead to goals and goal contributions.

  Pulisic, of course, is no stranger to those. Since moving to Milan in 2023, he's the only Serie A player with 30 goals and 20 assists in all competitions. He hit the double-digit mark in both of his two seasons. Pulisic has been as reliable as he has been prolific for a Milan team that, in truth, has been neither.

  That's the challenge this team faces this season. Pulisic has been great, yes, but he's been great for a poor Milan team. They finished eighth last season, which is why they turned to Allegri in the first place. That is nowhere near good enough for a team of this size and, heading into this Serie A season, there will be a demand for much, much better.

  Pulisic, like all of his teammates, will feel that demand. It'll be normal to him by now. Having played at Borussia Dortmund and Chelsea previously, Pulisic has lived with that demand on the club level since breaking through as a teenager. When he heads back to the USMNT, though, there will be a different type of weight, and different level of scrutiny on games that will be more than just friendlies.

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  USMNT response needed

  Pulisic's next USMNT appearance won't be the most pressure-filled games of his international career. He's played in a World Cup, remember. Copa America games, the CONCACAF Nations League final, vital World Cup qualifiers – Pulisic has faced USMNT pressure before.

  These friendlies, though, will undoubtedly be different. The USMNT will play both Korea and Japan early next month. And with a fanbase divided and all eyes on him, Pulisic will head into camp knowing that there will be expectations to perform.

  That's the challenge that Pochettino has laid out, not just to Pulisic but to every player in the pool. His now-famous "mannequin" quip was a reminder to everyone that he is, in fact, the shot-caller. There are no free rides or passes, no resting on past achievements. Pulisic, like everyone, will have a point to prove.

  “The communication is good with him, just like with any other,” Pochettino said this summer of Pulisic. “I have the same communication with him as with others. I do not prioritize. You can say he’s the best player and, yes, he’s a good player, but he needs to perform. And I’m not going to treat him differently than, say, Diego [Luna]. If he performs well, then he’s the best and he’ll have a place with the national team. But it’s not that players are here because they want to play, or want this or want that.”

  As Pulisic said, his commitment to the national team shouldn't be questioned. In hard moments, he often has been the one to step up dating back to his early days as a teenage star. Now 26, Pulisic is on pace to smash USMNT records before it's all said and done.

  In the here and now, though, his actions have consequences. His decision to skip out on this summer hangs over everything, and it will until he gets back onto the field and proves that he made the right choice.

The 2025-26 season has kicked off with a new look Match of the Day and Gary Lineker has revealed what he thought of the show following his departure.

• Lineker has stepped down as host of show
• New season kicked off on Saturday
• Verdict delivered on new Match of the Day

• WHAT HAPPENED?

  Lineker put his feet up to watch the first Match of the Day of the new season after stepping down as the popular programme's host last season. Mark Chapman took over hosting duties for the opening weekend, while Alan Shearer and Wayne Rooney were on hand to offer some expert analysis.

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  THE BIGGER PICTURE

  Lineker had been Match of the Day host for 26 years prior to his departure and has now been asked what he thought of Saturday's show. The former England captain, who had previously told the that BBC director of sport Alex Kay-Jelski "wants to change Match of the Day a bit," seemed pretty happy to see that Match of the Day actually looked the same as usual.

• WHAT LINEKER SAID

  He told The Rest is Football podcast: "I mean, I must say I enjoyed it. I went out for dinner then I came home and I got in in time to watch it. I thought it was really good. Chappers did a great job. And despite all… there was a lot of talk that they were going to change things. And I think you know what it's like when you get a new guy in as new head of sport thinking he wants to do this, wants to do that. But in the end, if it ain't broke, don't fix it. And I think that was very much the sensible decision and I thought the programme was great."

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• TELL ME MORE…

  Lineker also admitted he enjoyed watching the show at home and was impressed with Rooney's performance. He added:"It wasn't weird really. I was quite relaxed. I was thinking I haven't got a three-and-a-half hour journey at the end of the show, but no, I really enjoyed watching it. I think that's the first time that I've watched Match of the Day on a Saturday night for… I don't know how many years. 'I don't know how many years because the only time I ever missed the show was if I'd get the odd Saturday off to take a holiday so I'd go somewhere. So it's been so long since I watched it and it's a bloody good show, Match of the Day… it really is.

  "I thought the the programme was great. 'I thought Wayne Rooney did really well as well as yourself Alan, some good analysis in there. It was so nice watching it holding a glass of wine.'"

Former Manchester United assistant Rene Meulensteen has dropped a stinging verdict on Matthijs de Ligt, claiming the Dutch centre-half looks too "heavy". Meulensteen, who worked under Sir Alex Ferguson at Old Trafford, believes De Ligt must urgently rediscover his sharpness if he is to cement himself as the defensive rock United so desperately need.

• Ex-United coach questions De Ligt’s weight
• 'Critical' season for Dutch defender
• Amorim favouring De Ligt for now

• WHAT HAPPENED?

  So far this season, De Ligt has been the preferred man to marshal the centre of United’s three-man defence, flanked by Leny Yoro and Luke Shaw. That reshuffle has left long-serving defender Harry Maguire warming the bench, with the England international omitted from the starting XI in both the 1-0 loss to Arsenal and the 1-1 draw at Fulham.

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  THE BIGGER PICTURE

  De Ligt has shown moments of assurance, but Meulensteen believes the towering defender still has another gear to find. Against Fulham, his lapse in concentration played a part in Emile Smith Rowe’s leveller, costing United what would have been their first win of the campaign.

• WHAT MEULENSTEEN SAID

  Speaking candidly to Meulensteen said: "De Ligt's form is a concern because consistent performances and leadership are not guaranteed week in, week out. He had a significant number of injuries last year and wasn't always a first-choice player for Rubem Amorim.

  “When he first emerged at Ajax, he was a strong athlete, but I believe he has become a little too heavy over time, which hasn't always benefited his game, despite his naturally strong build. This will be a critical season for him."

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• DID YOU KNOW?

  Meulensteen insists stability in defence is vital if United are to rebuild their reputation under Amorim, and that requires more than just physicality.

  "They have so many central defenders to choose from. Consistency is key, especially in the backline to create stability," he said. "Players need to understand each other's movements and react accordingly. Injuries sometimes necessitate chopping and changing, this is definitely a critical season for him. He [De Ligt] is only 26, I thought he was older given all the clubs he's played for. You'd expect him to be the next consistent centre-back for the next four years, easily. We'll see what happens."

Transfer fees are getting ridiculous nowadays, but you can still negotiate your way to a bargain in the market

Alexander Isak for £125 million. Florian Wirtz for £117m. Benjamin Sesko for £73m. Nick Woltemade for £69m. Bryan Mbeumo for £65m. Eberechi Eze for £60m. You get the idea – big money gets you big players.

That's the way the world's going. You generally have to open your wallet to find quality stars – but that's not the only way to get yourself a good deal. There's still room for a bargain here and there. Just because you have lots of cash doesn't mean you necessarily need to blow it all at one.

GOAL has ranked the 10 best value-for-money deals of the 2025 summer window, paying our dues to the teams who squeezed every penny in transfer talks:

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  10Gabri Veiga (Al-Ahli to Porto, £12m)

  If you cast your mind back to the 2023 summer transfer window, there was a certain Spanish playmaker who dominated the gossip columns. Fresh off a breakout season with Celta Vigo during which he scored 11 goals and provided four assists, Gabri Veiga was expected to join one of Europe's big boys. Barcelona and Chelsea were among the clubs tipped with an interest, which is why it was such a surprise when he opted to move to Saudi side Al-Ahli instead.

  After two seasons in the Middle East, Veiga, who is still only 23, is back in Europe after signing for Portuguese giants Porto at a snip £12m – just over £20m less that what Al-Ahli paid to Celta. With Benfica and Sporting CP dominating Liga Portugal in recent years, he's the sort of player who could help the Dragons become the dominant force in the country again.

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  9Rayan Cherki (Lyon to Manchester City, £32m)

  Sure, Rayan Cherki has endured a mixed start to his Manchester City career, but let's not judge him too quickly in that direction. After all, he's the sort of flair player that will take some time adjusting to the Premier League once he returns to full fitness in the coming months.

  Manchester City's rebuild saw them stump up an initial £32m to sign the French wizard from Lyon as they look to replace the genius of Kevin De Bruyne with a few players rather than like-for-like. The 22-year-old brings with him an ingenuity that has been missing in their recent plight, and his ability to strike a ball on either foot only adds to his unpredictable dribbling.

  There are few Premier League players who can match Cherki when it comes to technical ability. Now, it's about whether he and Pep Guardiola can put his skill to good use.

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  8Cristhian Mosquera (Valencia to Arsenal, £12m)

  Alright, so we just said we shouldn't overreact to a few games into a new season, but holding your own away at Liverpool in place of William Saliba is a hard ask of any centre-back, let alone one who's only 21. That's enough of a reason to think that Cristhian Mosquera represents fantastic value for money.

  Amid Valencia's financial woes, Arsenal were able to muscle their way to the front of the queue and sign the versatile defender for an initial £12m. In this market, it's conceivable to make a significant profit on that even if performances don't live up to the hype.

  Regardless, Mosquera was solid in La Liga last season and with his profile, it's easy to see him further adapting to the rigours of the Premier League too. Whatever you say about Arsenal and their defensive nature nowadays, you have to give it to them that they know what they're doing.

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  7Pervis Estupinan (Brighton to AC Milan, £17m)

  It wasn't too long ago that Pervis Estupinan was in the conversation for one of the Premier League's best left-backs. Such is the value in Brighton's trading model that they decided to move him on for young blood this summer.

  The lucky team on the other end of the deal were AC Milan, who decided to accept an offer from Saudi outfit Al-Hilal for Theo Hernandez. In need of a top-quality replacement, they found Estupinan up for sale and were able to acquire him for £17m, immediately coming in as a standout left-back in Serie A.

  For the first time, the Rossoneri have an Ecuadorian in their ranks, and if he can replicate his performances from the Amex Stadium at San Siro, then he will easily win over the Rossoneri faithful.

Rossoneri set to continue their groundbreaking tradition of having first-team players wear their mothers' maiden names on their match jerseys

• Players will display their maternal surnames on their kits
• San Siro screens and LED displays to feature special Mother's Day graphics
• Initiative supports fundraising campaign for teenage mothers through Fondazione Milan

• AC Milan
  

  WHAT HAPPENED

  AC Milan announced the return of their innovative Mother's Day celebration where players from the men's first team will wear jerseys displaying their mothers' surnames rather than their own during the Serie A match against Bologna on Friday, May 9th. The maternal surnames will feature prominently throughout the matchday experience, appearing in the official lineup announcements, on San Siro's giant screens, and in announcements read by the stadium presenter. AC Milan were the first Italian club to do this initiative last season.

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• WHAT AC MILAN SAID

  The initiative will see Fondazione Milan support 70 teenage mothers via a fundraising campaign.

  “Fondazione Milan will support around 70 teenage mothers through a fundraising campaign in aid of a parenting support programme run at the Spazio Indifesa Hub in the Gallaratese district of Milan. Managed by Terre des Hommes and opened in 2021 with the support of the Foundation, the Hub provides vital services to young mothers in need,” reads the statement posted by AC Milan.

  “A portion of the proceeds from the auction of match-worn shirts and Mascot experiences – generously provided by ComAve, AC Milan’s Global Partner and Shopping Experience Platform Partner – will go towards the fundraiser. Purchases of items from the Club’s new Women’s Collection made in physical and online stores between Friday, May 9, and Sunday, May 11, as well as tickets to the Mondo Milan Museum during the AC Milan vs Bologna matchday, will also contribute to the cause through a share of the proceeds. Some children from the Spazio Indifesa programme will also have the unique opportunity to walk onto the pitch with the players ahead of Friday’s match.”

• THE BIGGER PICTURE

  The jersey tradition brings attention to the Constitutional Court ruling no. 131 of 2022, which declared the automatic assignment of only the father's surname to newborns discriminatory, giving Italian parents equal opportunities in naming their children. Despite this legislative change, public awareness has remained low across Italy. By utilizing the massive platform of Serie A football, Milan are leveraging sport's cultural influence to highlight an important advancement in gender equality.

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  WHAT’S NEXT?

  The Mother's Day celebration will commence with the Serie A match against Bologna on Friday and continue throughout the weekend. Special invitations to watch from the VIP Lounge will be reserved for mother-and-child Rossoneri pairs, while children from the Spazio Indifesa program will have the unique opportunity to walk onto the pitch with players before kickoff.

Liverpool are in advanced talks to sign Bayer Leverkusen full-back Jeremie Frimpong in the summer transfer window.

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• Liverpool closing in on Frimpong
• In talks with Leverkusen over player's release clause
• Reds have identified Frimpong as Trent's replacement

• WHAT HAPPENED?

  Per , Liverpool are in advanced talks with Bayer Leverkusen over the transfer of their star full-back Jeremie Frimpong in the summer transfer window. The Reds are now discussing the player's €35 million (£29m/$39m) release clause structure with the former German champions and have also initiated talks witht he player's camp. Frimpong is said to be keen on joining the Merseyside club.

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  THE BIGGER PICTURE

  Ever since Trent Alexander-Arnold formally announced he will depart Anfield at the end of the 2024-25 season, the Reds have been in search of a quality defender to replace the English right-back. earlier reported that, other than Frimpong, they also have their eyes on AS Monaco's Vanderson.

• DID YOU KNOW?

  Alexander-Arnold did not make Arne Slot's starting lineup against Arsenal last week as the Dutch coach fielded Conor Bradley in the right-back role. The Dutchman had even compared Bradley to one of the best right-backs in the world, Paris Saint-Germain's Achraf Hakimi.

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  WHAT NEXT FOR LIVERPOOL?

  The Reds will be back in action on May 19 as they take on Brighton away from home in their penultimate match of the 2024-25 campaign.

Ruben Amorim insisted that Manchester United youngsters "will have space in our team" after stitching a comeback win against Hong Kong.

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• Man Utd sealed a 3-1 win over Hong Kong
• Chido Obi & Ayden Heaven were on the scoresheet
• Amorim impressed with the teenagers in his squad

• WHAT HAPPENED?

  United ended their post-season adventure in Asia on a high, staging a comeback to defeat Hong Kong 3-1 in their final exhibition match. Teenage striker Chido Obi grabbed the headlines with a pair of goals, before Ayden Heaven added a late third to seal the win. After a disappointing 1-0 loss to ASEAN All-Stars in Malaysia's capital, Kuala Lumpur, the result ensured that United concluded their financially lucrative Asian tour on a positive note, with promising glimpses into the club’s future.

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  THE BIGGER PICTURE

  Amorim was especially impressed with midfielder Jim Thwaites, who made an impact after coming off the bench. However, despite the positive display, the manager made it clear that performing well in friendlies is just one part of the development journey. The true test lies in whether these players can sustain their level and handle the demands of life in the Premier League.

• WHAT AMORIM SAID

  Speaking to the club media after the victory, Amorim said: "I really like the kids. I think Jimmy [Thwaites], in the last 15 minutes, as a midfielder, he wants to play. It doesn't matter how many minutes. These kind of young kids are really important. They will have space in our team."

  The biggest talking point, however, was Chido Obi’s clinical brace. Amorim commended the 19-year-old forward but was quick to remind that scoring goals is only part of the challenge.

  "Of course, it's a good feeling [for Obi to score twice] but he needs to continue to train really hard because the Premier League is a different world," he said. "We have to improve as a team but I'm really pleased with the kids. Ayden proved, in every game for the first team, he is ready to be an option. Of course, he has got to improve. It's important for us to control these kids, to show them to be a professional in Manchester United, it's really hard to maintain the level. He is starting and needs to continue."

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• DID YOU KNOW?

  Although the tour has just wrapped, Amorim revealed his mind is already shifting towards next season’s preparations.

  "Of course, to spend time with my family," he said. "But, like I said in the press conference, I am ready to start the next one. We have a lot to do. A lot to prepare. We have to think of the squad and we are changing building. It needs to be that everything is ready for the new season."

He says England’s attacking cricket has made him focus on restricting batters as well as taking wickets

Shashank Kishore13-Feb-2024India’s left-arm wristspinner Kuldeep Yadav has said he enjoyed his first taste of England’s Bazball approach in Visakhapatnam because it not only created more wicket-taking opportunities but also made bowlers think about restricting batters in Test cricket.”Usually in Tests you’re not used to teams attacking you with this kind of approach [Bazball], but it also involves you a lot more,” Kuldeep said ahead of the third Test against England starting on February 15 in Rajkot. “As a spinner it makes you more focused on how you want to bowl and what your approach is.”Normally when you play Tests, you don’t worry about batters attacking you, you’re only focused on how you want to get them out. But here the approach is different, they’re in attacking mode so you also have to plan how to restrict them. When they play shots, you have those many opportunities to take wickets. It’s interesting. The last game was my first [against Bazball], I enjoyed it a lot, it’s good for cricket.”Related

• India vs England, round three: scores level, stakes high

• Theme for a meme Kuldeep makes Test cricket a lot of fun

• Can India's batters restore the balance of power against England's spinners?

• India's selection puzzle: is there room for both Kuldeep and Axar?

• Rahul ruled out of third Test against England; Padikkal called up

The Visakhapatnam Test was only Kuldeep’s ninth Test since he made his debut in March 2017. It was his first in over 15 months. Kuldeep picked up three of his four wickets in the first innings as India took a 143-run lead that helped them level the five-Test series 1-1.”It’s been good,” Kuldeep said with a smile when asked about finally getting a chance in Test cricket. “Whatever Tests I’ve played, I’ve performed well. I have three five-fors, so yeah it feels good when you see the stats. I’m very happy.”The pitches for the first two Tests of this series have not been rank turners and, if that trend continues in Rajkot, Kuldeep could keep his place in the XI even if Ravindra Jadeja returns. Kuldeep’s accuracy and extra bounce made him more effective than Axar Patel in Visakhapatnam.”Am not sure of my position,” he said when asked about his chances of playing in Rajkot. “If I get the opportunity, I’ll be more than happy. I don’t think too much about whether am playing or not. I just enjoy my day and keep working hard. Combination is such a thing that it matters in a team game. As simple as that.”Kuldeep needed no reminders of his previous Test in Rajkot, where he took a five-for against West Indies in 2018.”It’ll be a batting wicket,” he said when asked about the pitch for the upcoming Test against England. ‘It doesn’t mean there’ll be 700-800 runs scored. It’ll be a good wicket. It won’t be a rank turner, it will be a live wicket, good for cricket.”Why has there been a sudden shift in the nature of pitches for this series?”I haven’t played on rank turners, I don’t know what the approach or thought is, it’s a team management decision,” Kuldeep said. “Obviously everyone wants to watch good cricket. I don’t know if I’ll get an opportunity or not, but whether it’s flat wicket or rank turner, I enjoy it. I think batting is also important, not just spin bowling. Fast bowling comes into the game as well. It’s good for cricket. It’s not like you’ll see rank turners only, but hopefully you’ll see it [laughs].”