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Bangladesh’s manager Khaled Mahmud has said that Mushfiqur Rahim has been informed he will play the upcoming Tests against Sri Lanka as a specialist batsman, and has to give up his position as the designated wicketkeeper. This means Liton Das, the other specialist wicketkeeper in the Test squad, will take over the role.Mushfiqur’s wicketkeeping came under focus after he missed plenty of chances during the Afghanistan series last year. In Bangladesh’s last Test, against India in Hyderabad last month, his missed stumping of Wriddhiman Saha cost the team and highlighted his frailties behind the stumps. During the interim, the BCB had said that the matter will be discussed with Mushfiqur, which is what the team management has done ahead of the Test series in Sri Lanka.”The coach [Chandika Hathurusingha] and I have informed Mushfiqur officially [that he will play only as a batsman],” Mahmud told the Bengali daily . “He is the best batsman in the team. He is in such form that we believe he will be able to give more to the team, which is why he will bat at No. 4 and will not be keeping wickets. Mushfiqur has taken the decision positively, which is the best part.”We gave him examples of Kumar Sangakkara and Brendan Taylor whose batting improved as soon as they gave up wicketkeeping in Tests. It is hard to play as wicketkeeper, captain and batsman.”Liton kept wickets in the three Tests he played in 2015, against India and South Africa. The last time Mushfiqur was told to play as a batsman was during the 2016 Asia Cup T20s when he shared the duty with Nurul Hasan during the tournament at home.With Mushfiqur now slated to bat at No. 4 and Liton being confirmed a place in the XI, the team management will now have to decide between Mahmudullah and Sabbir Rahman in the middle order. While Mahmudullah has just struck his first Test fifty after a long gap, Sabbir hasn’t got a big Test score despite a promising start to his career.

Tottenham Hotspur have been "offered" Roma defender Roger Ibanez after Roma sporting director Tiago Pinto's trip to London for talks, according to reports out of Italy.

Who could Spurs sign this summer?

Defensively, Spurs endured a very tough season over 20222023, shipping more goals than any other side in the Premier League above Bournemouth in 15th.

These make for alarming numbers and it's a problem that new manager Ange Postecoglou must attempt to resolve very quickly, especially if they're to qualify for Europe next season.

Luckily for Spurs supporters, all the noises suggest that a central defensive signing or two is certainly on the agenda. Posteocoglou, according to recent reports, has already given the green-light for his side to capture a star defender this summer.

This has lead to links with the likes of Ibanez and Wolves defender Max Kilman, among others, while Tottenham are also on the hunt for a new goalkeeper to replace Hugo Lloris.

Elsewhere, there have been suggestions that Spurs are targeting Leicester City star James Maddison and talks have apparently been opened. Maddison's teammate, Harvey Barnes, is also said to be attracting real interest from the north Londoners.

Going back to the defensive position, there has been an update on their chase for Ibanez of Roma, after claims thar Tottenham are "above all" attempting his signing alongside Atletico Madrid.

Italian newspaper Il Messaggero, via Sport Witness, claim Spurs have now been "offered" Ibanez with London rivals Chelsea handed the same opportunity.

Roma chief Pinto has travelled to London in an attempt to negotiate incomings and outgoings, and during his visit, he has apparently gifted Spurs the chance to go for Ibanez.

His price tag is set at around €30 million (£26m), contrary to previous suggestions that Roma are willing to part company for less.

Who is Roger Ibanez?

Called "outstanding" by members of the press, Ibanez starred for Roma last season, having made more interceptions per 90 than anyone in their squad (WhoScored).

He also ranked in their top two for tackles and clearances per 90, showcasing his true ability, with Mourinho even calling him "untouchable".

"When we went to Seville to face Real Betis earlier this season, the morning of the game I saw him [Ibanez] and thought it was going to be impossible for him to play. And yet he played. He’s one who always fronts up.

“When we win, we all win together. When we lose, we all lose together. For me he is untouchable."

Celtic are now eyeing Francesco Farioli after Ange Postecoglou accepted the Tottenham managerial post.

The Australian was very successful during his time in Scotland, winning five trophies in two years. This season's treble is the highest achievement in his career, but the Celtic board must now replace him before the season starts.

What's the latest Celtic manager news?

According to Italian outlet Il Secolo XIX, via Sport Witness, the Celtic hierarchy has added a new name to their list of candidates to replace Postecoglou following his move to the Premier League to join Spurs.

The 57-year-old could now be replaced by Francesco Farioli, who is currently without a club. His previous clubs include Fatih Kragumruk and Alanyaspor from Turkey, but despite recently being linked heavily with a move to manage Sunderland, he could now take the Parkhead position.

Farioli, described by Il Secolo as an "up-and-coming" manager, is "in the sights" of several clubs, including Celtic. It remains to be seen if they will develop their interest and pursue the Italian coach with an official approach.

Who is Francesco Farioli?

The 2023/24 Scottish Premiership doesn't start until August 5th so Celtic have time on their side, but their new managerial candidate will want as much time as possible to get their squad into fighting shape for the new season.

Having won the treble, Celtic are already in a very strong position to succeed next season. They will, however, want to improve on their Champions League form after being eliminated from the group stages with just two points. Of course, they did have RB Leipzig and current champions Real Madrid in their group.

Farioli is referred to in Italy as "the young De Zerbi" due to the similarities between Brighton's head coach and his own intense high-tempo style, and he has certainly earned this nickname. Both coaches place an emphasis on possession-based attacking football with energetic defending and pressing off the ball. The former Alanyaspor coach admires the likes of De Zerbi, Mikel Arteta and Marcelo Bielsa.

Speaking earlier this year he said: "I see many of the same characteristics at Arsenal compared with that of my own team. I will also mention Marcelo Bielsa in this category because of his values. There is no compromise at all."

Farioli tends to favour a 4-2-3-1 setup, relying on technical players with an instruction to play with bravery, while Hoops fans will love what he's had to say about the Old Firm rivalry: "I will mention the Milan and Rome derby matches in Italy and let me say the Glasgow derby too. I think these games are the best for those stronger feelings."

His age an inexperience certainly make the free agent coach a risk, but he seems to have all the elements to be a part of the new generation of attack-minded managers like De Zerbi.

A round-up of the Ranji Trophy Group B matches played on October 28, 2016

ESPNcricinfo staff28-Oct-2016A century stand for the fourth wicket between centurion Gautam Gambhir and Rishabh Pant helped Delhi finish the second day with a 114-run lead over Odisha in Mohali. Delhi resumed on 43 for no loss, with an overnight deficit of 194, and lost Unmukt Chand (19) in the fourth over of the day, dismissed by Suryakant Pradhan. Delhi captain Gambhir put on 71 for the second wicket with Dhruv Shorey (29) and then joined the 19-year-old Pant (80) to put on 114 in only 117 balls to help Delhi go past Odisha’s 237.With the lead only 18, Dhiraj Singh dismissed Pant, and Gambhir fell seven overs later, three runs short of 150, as Delhi lost three wickets for 28 runs. Milind Kumar and Sumit Narwal steered the lead past 100 with a 56-run seventh-wicket stand, out of which Narwal struck 35 off 30 balls. Dhiraj dismissed him with just under 10 overs left for stumps, before Milind (39) and Manan Sharma saw out the day without further losses. Dhiraj ended the day with figures of 3 for 61, while offspinner Govinda Poddar took 2 for 65.Unbeaten centuries from Robin Uthappa and Karun Nair helped Karnataka regain the impetus against Assam in Mumbai.Karnataka began the day by breaking the overnight stand, as Stuart Binny removed Swarupam Purkayastha for 59. Former Karnataka batsman Amit Verma, who had rescued Assam on the first day, scored 41 of the 57 runs Assam added to their total, remaining unbeaten on 166 as they folded for 325. Legspinner Shreyas Gopal took the last three wickets to finish with 3 for 74. S Aravind didn’t add to his five-for from the first day.In response, Karnataka were in early trouble, losing both openers for ducks, before Uthappa and Nair came together to put on an unbroken 219 to take them to 223 for 2 at stumps. Both were batting on 108.Maharashtra stretched their first-innings total to 461 on the back of half-centuries from Rahul Tripathi and Vishant More, against Rajasthan in Hyderabad. In reply, Rajasthan reached 76 for 2, losing their first two wickets with 29 on the board before Manender Singh (31) and Ashok Menaria (19) took them to stumps without further damage.Naushad Shaikh and Tripathi extended their overnight 63-run stand to 122 before Shaikh fell for 143. Tripathi, who began the day on 18, put on 67 with More before falling five short of his fourth first-class century. More (62) then batted with the tail to score his maiden first-class half-century and take Maharashtra to 461. He was the last batsman dismissed, falling to Pankaj Singh who finished with 4 for 87.Ishank Jaggi’s unbeaten 112 helped Jharkhand declare with a 257-run first-innings lead against Vidarbha in Wayanand.Jharkhand began the day 146 for 1, leading by 41. They lost both their overnight batsmen, Anand Singh and Pratyush Singh, with neither converting their half-centuries into hundreds, before Saurabh Tiwary (45) and Jaggi put on 83 for the fourth wicket. Jaggi went on to score his second consecutive first-class century though he found little support from the lower order. Jharkhand slipped from 272 for 3 to 346 for 8, before they declared at 362 for 8. Medium-pacers Shrikant Wagh and Rajneesh Gurbani and the ambidextrous spinner Akshay Karnewar all finished with two wickets each.Sanjay Ramaswamy and Faiz Fazal played out the last 11 overs of the day as Vidarbha went to stumps 48 for no loss in their second innings.

With the Premier League season having come to a close, the wait goes on to see just who will be named as the new permanent manager at Tottenham Hotspur, despite the Lilywhites having sacked former boss, Antonio Conte just over two months ago.

Since then, the Italian's former assistant, Cristian Stellini has also been dismissed as interim boss, while Ryan Mason was also handed the reins on a short-term basis for the final few weeks of the season, as the north London outfit slipped to a lowly, eighth-place finish to miss out on European qualification.

The hope for supporters would likely have been to see a new long-term coach appointed amid that climax to the season, although chairman Daniel Levy has thus far been unable to nail down a leading option, having missed out on the likes of Julian Nagelsmann and Arne Slot.

At present, the suggestion – according to journalist Dan Kilpatrick – is that the club are set to "step up" their interest in Celtic boss Ange Postecoglou following the Old Firm outfit's Scottish Cup final showdown on Saturday, with the 57-year-old said to have "impressed" Levy and co.

The Greek-Aussie has warranted that interest following his fine work in Glasgow of late, having claimed four domestic honours since the start of the 2021/22 season, while also implementing "beautiful, attacking football", in the words of BT Sport pundit Owen Hargreaves.

That being said, however, as Kilpatrick noted in his piece for the Evening Standard, the former Australia boss 'does not fit the profile of an up-and-coming coach' that Spurs were seemingly keen to acquire, hence the need to potentially consider more youth alternatives for the vacancy.

With that in mind, one such candidate could well have presented himself in the form of Fiorentina head coach, Vincenzo Italiano…

Who is Vincenzo Italiano?

The 45-year-old is an Italian coach who is currently catching the eye as a result of his impressive work in Florence in recent seasons, with the former Spezia man having guided the Serie A side to the Europa Conference League final this term.

Amid that success, reports in Italy have suggested that Italiano is being considered by the Tottenham hierarchy in their bid to find a suitable successor to Conte, having also guided his current side to the final of the Coppa Italia – where they were narrowly beaten by Inter Milan last month.

A more youthful, emerging coach than Postecoglou, the German-born tactician – who favours a 4-3-3 approach – could also be a perfect option due to his apparent likeness to Liverpool's Jurgen Klopp.

That comparison has been made by Italian pundit Riccardo Trevisani, with respected insider stating that Italiano – as well as Monza's Raffaele Palladino – are "are similar to Klopp" and are among the "best from the new batch of Italian coaches".

That similarity bodes well for the impact that the Fiorentina man could make at N17, with Klopp having established himself as a "super coach" – according to Trevisani – who "doesn’t have one single idea and is capable of changing so much".

The German visionary – who also favours a 4-3-3 formation – has enjoyed remarkable success at Anfield since his arrival on Merseyside back in 2015, having guided the Reds to Champions League and Premier League glory, while cementing his place as a truly "great manager", according to Sky Sports pundit Gary Neville.

To think that Spurs could have their own answer to the ex-Borussia Dortmund man with the appointment of Italiano is certainly intriguing, with the Italian seemingly a figure that Levy should be paying close attention to, alongside Postecoglou.

Tottenham Hotspur's manager search took a fresh turn earlier this week, as Luciano Spalletti emerged as yet another contender linked with the vacant hot seat in north London.

Daniel Levy remains seemingly clueless about who the perfect man to take over from Antonio Conte is, and pressure only seems to be ramping up given it has been nearly two months since the Italian's dismissal and they are no closer to a definitive name.

However, two Italian journalists have now appeared to give credence to this rumour, the first of which saw Ciro Venerato claim they were "concretely interested" before fellow writer Paolo Bargiggia has more recently supported this notion (via Sport Witness).

The 64-year-old coach has earned widespread praise for his work in leading Napoli to their first Serie A title in 33 years, but has a contract due to expire in 2024 after the club opted to extend his current deal.

Such a precarious position has likely piqued the interests of the ever-frugal Levy, who will view this title-winning manager as a potential coup for the silverware-seeking Spurs.

The Italian's philosophy had drawn praise, but it is his work in unearthing talent and developing them into some of the most sought-after assets in Europe that has truly surprised many. Few have been as impressive as the mercurial Khvicha Kvaratskhelia, who played a starring role in that league win.

Should Spalletti make the move, there should be hope that he can reignite Dejan Kulusevski in a similar fashion to how he got the Georgian wonderkid firing.

How has Dejan Kulusevski played this season?

Kvaratskhelia has dominated for the Naples side from his left wing, cutting inside with a casual yet deadly nature onto that wicked right foot. Such composure on the ball striding into space draws visual comparisons with Jack Grealish, but his numbers have far surpassed the England international's.

The 22-year-old boasts 12 goals and 13 assists in just 30 league matches, and even offered a further six goal contributions in just nine Champions League appearances too, via Transfermarkt.

This mastery all came from his perfection of the inverted winger role, which Kulusevski also seeks to employ from the right wing.

However, this season has been a tough one for the Sweden international. Having recorded 13 goal contributions across just half a season last year, expectations were understandably through the roof for the man set to cost just €35m (£30m).

Despite this, as the rest of the team has floundered, so too has the 23-year-old, with just two goals and six assists to his name after 27 appearances.

Journalist Alex Mitton even noted earlier this year that the wide man was "struggling" alongside Heung-min Son, who has since hit a little bit of form, scoring four in his last six.

As for Kulusevski, this drop-off from the last campaign has been stark.

However, when at his best, the £110k-per-week ace too would drive forward with pace, power and grace in the same way Kvaratskhelia has done all season, instead shifting onto an equally-deadly left foot.

Spalletti might be a surprising appointment for the Lilywhites, but he clearly knows how to get the best out of wingers if the talent is there. Last season alone should be enough to prove that he would have plenty to work with.

Arsenal cruised to victory last night, bouncing back from their string of poor results to claim their first Premier League win since early April. Conversely, it marked yet another loss for Frank Lampard's Chelsea team, who have now managed to taste defeat across all of his six games in charge.

It was a game the hosts were expected to win, and thus Mikel Arteta saw fit to slightly rotate his outfit in key areas. Whilst picking his moment carefully, it also showcased the highest level of disrespect, to decide that this home derby against a London rival was an easy enough fixture to do so.

Therefore, the likes of Leandro Trossard, Jorginho and Jakub Kiwior all came into the side, having previously seen their play time limited.

However, it was the latter in particular who showcased his class in front of a packed-out Emirates crowd.

Fresh from their disappointing loss to Manchester City, it might have seemed like the title was slipping away from them. Despite this, the professionalism shown to continue pressing onwards suggests that the fight is not yet done, despite things looking bleak.

What those aforementioned changes did prove was that for all his success this campaign, Arteta's decision to persist with Rob Holding instead of his Polish centre-back could have been the main factor in costing them silverware.

How did Jakub Kiwior play vs Chelsea?

When asked why the £58k-per-week talent was started last night, the Spaniard claimed: "He looked ready, he looked fresh. Better and better every day. He’s got the potential to be great."

That freshness could have been imperative in making up for the key absence William Saliba had been, yet instead the 27-year-old continued to start.

With a 6.5 rating or lower in each of his last five appearances, and the sole 7.0 rating buoyed by a consolation strike, it is clear to see where the Gunners' main problems lie, via Sofascore.

Meanwhile, against the Blues, Kiwior recorded a 7.0 rating in which he showed defensive efficiency combined with comfort on the ball that would have been key in upholding their system.

He would record four clearances, three interceptions, one tackle and one block, yet married this with a 93% pass accuracy too, as per Sofascore.

Had they enjoyed this kind of classy presence at the back in the games with Southampton, West Ham United and maybe even Liverpool, Arsenal would surely have cruised to victory rather than dropped key points.

Whilst the Premier League is likely still out of their reach, Arteta must now see the error of his ways that has cost them dearly.

Kiwior is evidently light years ahead of Holding, and at just 23 years old, is the future of the club. He should have played in his place and perhaps, the Gunners wouldn't have crumbled defensively in the last few weeks.

Chelsea are keen on signing Joao Felix on a permanent deal in the upcoming transfer window.

What’s the latest on Joao Felix staying at Chelsea?

According to reputable journalist Dean Jones, the Blues would “really like” to keep the 23-year-old.

Speaking to GIVEMESPORT, he said:

“It sounds like they really would like to keep him. He’s a brilliant footballer, there is no question about that, and since signing there have definitely been times where he looks like their best player. I just didn’t expect them to be in a position to pursue this as keenly as they are.

"I think they will look to get creative, a straight cash deal at almost £90million is unlikely but there is also a realisation that he could end up elsewhere in the Premier League if they don’t find a way to sign him.

"I’m told he enjoys London and has settled pretty well here. There has been some talk of a second loan mooted, and Arsenal and Man United were both offered him before he joined Chelsea, so it wouldn’t be a huge surprise to see such a deal explored again if necessary at the end of the season."

This followed a report from the Evening Standard, which claimed that the 2021 Champions League winners are to ramp up their efforts to sign the former Benfica prodigy by possibly including Marc Cucurella or Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang in a possible swap deal.

The West London outfit appears to be assessing all the potential options to retain Felix’s Stamford Bridge status. For a player of this phenomenal talent and pedigree, the race for the wantaway Atletico Madrid star is set to be hotly contested.

Why should Chelsea keep Joao Felix?

The attacker has scored three times since his loan move in January, including the final goal in Chelsea’s much-needed victory over Bournemouth, when he stroked the ball into the bottom corner.

This segment was a microcosm in Felix’s insane repertoire of magnificence. The 30-cap international possesses a natural gift that allows him to effortlessly glide around the pitch as a fountain of skill, technique, and trickery.

This is showcased by the fact that the Portuguese ranks in the top 3% in Europe’s top five leagues among his positional peers for progressive carries per 90, as well as the highest 5% and 6% for successful take-ons and progressive passes per 90, as per FBref.

His dribbling ability is clearly frightening and the coveted forward deserves a place in a free-flowing attacking team, where he is the epicentre of the creativity after being restricted in a highly tight and rigid Diego Simeone set-up.

The fourth-most expensive transfer in history has been lauded as “special” by ex-teammate and former Blues striker Alvaro Morata and under Mauricio Pochettino’s tutelage, he could further evolve into an even more devastating asset. The former Tottenham Hotspur boss is thought to be Todd Boehly's no.1 target to take over as manager in the summer, according to Sky Sports.

The area that has been highlighted for improvement is his goal and assist output, but if you assess how the tactile Argentine moulded Christian Eriksen and Dele Alli into two of the league's most potent and productive outlets, the possibilities for the £195k-per-week man seem endless.

With Pochettino at the helm, the aforementioned Spurs duo played 179 times together and jointly contributed to 22 goals, also averaging 1.85 points per game together, via Transfermarkt. This sort of feat could be repeated at Stamford Bridge, with Felix only likely to benefit from such a coach.

As such, Boehly can’t afford to let the technician slip through his hands, especially to a Premier League rival, as he looks to rubber-stamp the club's long-term future on the pitch.

Referee David Coote and his VAR team may have made a big mistake in the most recent Arsenal draw after missing a Declan Rice handball.

What's the latest on VAR and Arsenal?

The Gunners were unable to hold on to a two-goal lead for the second time in as many games as they drew 2-2 with West Ham United on Sunday.

Indeed, Mikel Arteta saw his side score twice inside the first ten minutes through Gabriel Jesus and Martin Odegaard only to then concede two in the remainder of the game.

First, Said Benrahma netted a penalty to change the atmosphere at the London Stadium, before Jarrod Bowen netted an equaliser shortly after Bukayo Saka missed a penalty.

However, if we go back to the first goal scored by West Ham, it appears Rice uses his hand to win the ball off Thomas Partey in the build-up to the goal.

Indeed, as seen in this footage, and this image, there is plenty of evidence online to suggest VAR could have denied the goal.

Did Rice use his hand against Arsenal?

Arsenal midfielder Partey was too relaxed when picking up the ball on the edge of his box and Rice did well to close him down. The ball then quickly fell to Lucas Paqueta who was fouled and so referee Coote pointed to the spot.

However, as the image above shows, West Ham certainly wouldn't have won the ball back in such a way without the use of Rices' hand.

VAR did check the incident but deemed that it wasn't enough to overturn the penalty decision – a call that will no doubt have Arsenal fans feeling pretty exasperated.

Journalist Jack Holmes slammed Partey for his "looseness" on the ball during the passage of play but did point out that it "probably" was "a handball" from the West Ham midfielder.

These two dropped points will no doubt be hugely disappointing for the Gunners, as their lead at the top of the table over Manchester City has now diminished to just four points.

When speaking to BBC Sport after the match, Arteta didn't blame the handball but rather slammed his team for being sloppy, saying: "We started incredibly well, dominated the game, dominated the pitch, and scored two beautiful goals. After that, we made a huge mistake; not to continue playing, to score the third and the fourth.

"We started keeping the ball and giving sloppy passes away. We allowed them [West Ham] transition moments, and did not dominate the direct play. And then it's game on. If you concede the goals that we conceded, the first one and the second one, and on top of that you don't score a penalty, in this league you are in big trouble."

Aston Villa are eyeing a summer move for Rangers striker Alfredo Morelos, who could be available on a free transfer this summer, according to a report from TEAMtalk.

Will Alfredo Morelos leave Rangers in the summer?

Former Rangers man Neil Murray is adamant that Morelos will be on the move this summer, telling PLZ: "I think that it's an absolute guarantee that he won't sign again for Rangers. He will be finding a new club somewhere.” (via Daily Record)

The Colombian's £33k-per-week deal is set to expire in May, but despite Murray's comments, there is seemingly still a chance he could remain at Ibrox, as it has been reported he would be happy to stay, due to his love for the club, but time is running out.

Turkish Super Lig side Konyaspor were said to be exploring the opportunity to sign the forward back in February, and he is now attracting the interest of a whole host of Premier League clubs, according to a report from TEAMtalk.

Crystal Palace's interest appears to be the most advanced at this point, with the Eagles ready to make an offer for the former HJK Helsinki man, however, they are not the only English side in the mix.

The likes of Villa, Everton and Wolves also hold an interest in the 26-year-old, and signing him is deemed a relatively low-risk move, given that he will be available on a free transfer.

Would Alfredo Morelos be a good signing for Aston Villa?

The centre-forward has reached double figures for goals in the Scottish Premiership in each of his last five seasons, and he is on track to do so again this term, weighing in with nine goals up to this point, also bagging six assists.

During his time north of the border, the Cerete-born marksman has emerged as one of the Scottish Premiership's top players, with journalist Andrew Dickson calling him "terrific" and lauding him for "bullying entire defences on a regular basis."

His performances in Scotland do not necessarily mean Morelos would be a guaranteed success in the Premier League, but he has proven himself as a regular goalscorer at Rangers and has earned the opportunity to move to a club like Villa.

The fact that the Rangers striker is available on a free transfer makes this deal all the more worthwhile, and Unai Emery should continue to monitor his availability between now and the summer.