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As per Sky Sports Germany, some very interesting transfer news has now come out of Manchester City as the club lay out their summer transfer plans for manager Pep Guardiola.

The Lowdown: Sky Blues eyeing summer moves…

The Sky Blues are reliably reported to be eyeing a striker this summer transfer window with Guardiola himself confirming his belief that City will try to sign one.

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Txiki Begiristain, sporting director of the Premier League champions, reportedly has Borussia Dortmund star Erling Braut Haaland among his list of priority targets.

Meetings have apparently been held with the Norwegian’s super agent, Mino Raiola, but City face major competition for the elite forward as Real Madrid are also contenders for his signature.

Now, as Sky share news, it appears Guardiola, Begiristain and the club are eyeing an alternative whom Citizens will be very familiar with.

The Latest: Sky lift lid on City transfer plan…

According to their information, Man City will now ‘start a new attempt’ to sign Tottenham Hotspur star Harry Kane.

The England international, who was at the centre of four Sky Blue approaches to sign him last summer, is apparently ‘anything but averse’.

Sky reporter Marc Behrenbeck goes on to say that Kane ‘wants to try again to go to Manchester City’ as he pursues a move to Eastlands.

The Verdict: Big claim…

Chairman Daniel Levy and Spurs proved difficult to deal with last year as City ultimately faltered in their attempts to back Guardiola with a world class striker.

Multi-million pound bids were sent Tottenham’s way but to no avail as the English frontrunners, again, improvise without a recognised centre-forward.

Guardiola’s men have thrived with the use of a false-nine system which seemingly gets the very best out of their inter-changing attacking midfielders across City’s forward line.

It remains to be seen where Kane would fit in, depending on whether Begiristain can prise him away from north London, but he has been revered for his link-up play as well as his proficiency in front of goal.

Journalist Matt Law even called the 28-year-old ‘underrated’ while Guardiola himself has never held back in his praise of the 67-cap England star.

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City’s boss has labelled Kane ‘incredible’ but we believe a swoop for Haaland should be prioritised regardless.

The Bundesliga ace’s €75 million (£63m) release clause, which comes into effect in June, is a major incentive to move and his younger age also sees Haaland come as more value for money.

Dortmund’s sensation, scoring 16 goals in just 13 league starts, certainly stands out above all other options.

In other news: Man City re-join race for ‘big-name’ 2020 target as price tag drops by 85%! Find out more here.

Leicestershire have released the 23-year-old seamer Nick Walker from his two-year contract.Walker, who joined the county in 2006 after a successful trial, has decided to follow a career in the City. He took 32 wickets in his 13 first-class appearances for Leicestershire, following his move from Derbyshire, and took a best of 5 for 59 against Somerset.Walker’s decision may in part have been prompted by the recent recruitment of Garnett Kruger and Nadeem Malik to bolster the fast-bowling attack.

Anil Kumble: ‘I can’t change suddenly and become a Jonty Rhodes’ © AFP

Anil Kumble, India’s veteran legspinner, has said that the World Cup would probably be his last one-day tournament, a fact that would be an added incentive for him to do well at the event, starting in the Caribbean from March 13.”It will probably be the last one day series for me and it will be challenging. I hope I will be able to play a much bigger role this time,” Kumble said in a television interview to CNN-IBN. “The World Cup is a tournament everyone looks up to. The last World Cup was good for India, we played really well as a team. We have a very good chance of winning the World Cup.”Kumble, 36, has played in 17 World Cup matches, snaring 28 wickets. Though he was picked only for three games of the 2003 edition, Kumble would have fond memories of the World Cup, having ended as the highest wicket-taker in the 1996 tournament in the sub-continent. He is also India’s leading wicket-taker in both forms of the game – with 334 scalps in ODIS and 547 in Tests – and is expected to play a key role on the sluggish pitches in the West Indies.Kumble defended his current form, despite managing only five wickets in the six games after his return to the one-day side. “It is unfair to judge performance spread over three series on good batting surfaces. You cannot always get 3-4 wickets per match. The main purpose is to restrict runs. I have the experience and hence am not worried.”India’s squad for the World Cup has been termed ‘Dad’s army’ and Greg Chappell, the coach, recently admitted that fielding was the biggest concern ahead of the tournament. Yet, Kumble had a counter: “You can only do what you can as a fielder. We are all safe on the field. I’m not the most athletic. I have been like that ever since I started. I can’t change suddenly and become a Jonty Rhodes. I always put in a 100%. As a unit we have worked hard and we have fielded well.”

West Indies and Pakistan will discuss compensation with the ICC following Zimbabwe’s withdrawal from Test cricket, which leaves both countries short of two-Test series they expected to hold this year.The chief executive of the West Indies cricket board, Roger Braithwaite, told Cricinfo that they are currently weighing up the effect of no longer holding their two-Test series in April, which will impact on the income from television and sponsor rights. “Once all the implications have been assessed we will be speaking to the ICC,” he explained. “We are currently undertaking an internal review into the situation first.”Pakistan are also set to discuss the issue this weekend, as Zimbabwe’s decision means they are missing out on two Tests that had been scheduled for September. “I will be talking to ICC officials in Dubai on Saturday about this latest development which affects us directly,” the Pakistan cricket board director, Saleem Altaf, told Reuters. “We have certain contractual obligations with our television broadcasters and…[they] have sold bundled sponsorship rights for a four-year period. We want to know from the ICC if there are financial liabilities on us, who will fulfill them.”Meanwhile, Braithwaite said that they have already been in discussion with Zimbabwe Cricket regarding the remaining one-day internationals, but could not comment on how the altered schedule would work. However, he added that he was not overly surprised by Zimbabwe’s move to pull out of Test cricket: “It is obviously disappointing, but not a complete shock given the current situation.”India are the main visitors to West Indies during their home season, for four Tests and five ODIs. The tour is not scheduled to finish until early July, well into the rainy season for the Caribbean. But Braithwaite said there is no opportunity to bring the tour forward, even though it would be a bigger money-spinner than five ODIs against Zimbabwe. “There is very little flexibility regarding the India series as they have commitments against England”Braithwaite also confirmed West Indies’ commitment to the Future Tours Programme, but said that they were heavily involved with the discussions over a restructuring of the current five-year cycle. “As with all member counties we are committed to the FTP and are part of the discussions with the ICC about expanding to a 12-year programme – two cycles of six years – rather than the current two cycles of five years.”

Andrew Symonds pads up for his 114th one-day match at Auckland on Saturday© Getty Images

Andrew Symonds loves playing for Australia but believes his heavy one-day load threatens his chances of another Test call-up. A fixture in the limited-overs side, Symonds misses the opportunity for regular first-class action that could help or hinder his case for a third match in the baggy green.”That is the difficult part of playing one-day cricket for Australia only,” Symonds said in the Sydney Morning Herald. “You don’t get to play domestic cricket and try and score big hundreds. It’s not the worst position to be in. I’m happy earning a crust the way I am. It’d be nice to play a bit more four-day cricket.”The Test squad for New Zealand will be named next week and Symonds is an outside chance if Darren Lehmann is dropped for good and Shane Watson remains unavailable with a side strain. “I’d love to have another crack at Test cricket and I feel as though I could do a good job,” he said. “Hopefully I can score a few more runs before this series is out and try and throw my name up there.”Symonds, who has played 113 matches, will have to rely on his one-day form to boost him into contention. Picked ahead of Simon Katich, he played two Tests in Sri Lanka last year and scored 53 runs and took one wicket. Katich is favoured to make the squad while Mike Hussey and Brad Hodge will also be discussed.Some New Zealand batsmen spoke to Gilbert Enoka, the team psychologist, on Wednesday following the two losses and Symonds said the move was worth trying. “Psychologically I’d rather be in our position than theirs, but by no means have we backed off the gas,” he said. “Whatever it takes to win. If they call a psychologist and they knock us over 3-2, it will be the greatest move of all time.”The third match is at Eden Park on Saturday and an Australia win will seal the series.

Pace bowlers Stephen John and Junaid Zia brought Pakistan Customs back on track against DHA for a berth in the first-class Patron’s Trophy. Twenty wickets fell on the opening day of the latest round in the Inter-Department Qualifying Tournament.Earlier in the day Customs were bowled out for 161 with Rizwan Saeed taking 6 for 58 and Nasir Khan 4 for 46, but then John and Junaid, bowling on a seamer-friendly pitch, shared ten wickets as DHA were shot out for 80. John took 5 for 20 while Junaid, who was recently adjudged the best player in the Emerging Trophy, took 5 for 46. He now has 31 wickets in the competition. Customs were 22 for 0 at the close stumps, a lead of 101 runs.Before the the match, Customs had 21 points from five matches against DHA’s 27 from four. If Customs secure maximum points in this game, DHA will be awkwardly placed as their last match is against leaders PIA who have already qualified to play in Patron’s Trophy with 36 points from five matches.Debutants Karachi Port Trust needed a winning draw against National Bank to qualify along with ZTBL from Pool C. They went off to a decent start, finishing the day on 221 for 3 off 65.3 overs, with former Pakistan junior captain Maisam Hasnain unbeaten on 86. Former Test opener Shadab Kabir scored 55.In Pool B, the battle for the second qualification spot behind Wapda is on in earnest. KRL and ARL are both locked at 21 points apiece, while PTCL were only three points behind before the start of this round. At stumps on the first day, KRL were in trouble against PTV on 184 for 6 from 47 overs, while PTCL were 135 for 1 in 31 overs against ARL.

The England Under 19 team narrowly won its first warm-up game, in advance ofthe ICC Under 19 World Cup, against South Australia Under 19 in Adelaide today.England batted first and posted 248 for 7 in the allotted 50 overs, Lancashire’s Kyle Hogg top-scoring with 83 not out. South Australia Under19, who looked set to win after reaching 230-3 in the 47th over, eventuallylost by just one run.In a tight finish, in which the hosts lost five wickets, the Australiansneeded three to win off the last two balls but only managed a single to endon 247-8. Kyle Hogg took three wickets for 49 runs in his 10 overs whilePaul McMahon from Nottinghamshire returned the economical figures of 10overs, one wicket for 25 runs.England’s next warm-up game is on Tuesday 8 January against Australia Under19 – the second match against South Australia Under 19 originally plannedfor Sunday 6 January has been cancelled. England will play a total of threewarm-up games against Australia Under 19 before leaving Adelaide for the ICCUnder 19 World Cup in Christchurch, New Zealand, on Sunday 13 January.England: 248 for 7
(Hogg 83 not out, Gordon Muchall 44, Kadeer Ali 31)
South Australia: 247 for 8
(Hogg: 10 overs 3 for 49, McMahon: 10 overs 1 for 25, Samit Patel: 10 overs1 for 38)

Nottinghamshire fought gamely in their one-day match against Zimbabwe before going down by 5 wickets as the tourists warmed up for the forthcoming Tri-Nations Series against England and West Indies.Put in to bat Notts reached 207 before being bowled out in the final over of their innings with opener Guy Welton being the last man out for a splendid 94.Craig Wishart and Guy Whittall got the Zimbabwean reply off to an explosive start as they rattled up 19 runs in the first 3 overs. Wishart in particular looked in fine form until David Lucas, in an expensive opening burst, managed to find the blockhole and bowl him for 16.New batsman Murray Goodwin must have relished the prospect of a return to Trent Bridge having hit a century against England on the ground last month had to play second fiddle for a while. Whittall was dropped by Read on 9 but then set about the bowling crashing Tolley over midwicket for 6 to add to a couple of spanking pulls off Mark Bowen.With the score on 69 Notts picked up their second wicket thanks to a brilliantboundary catch by Usman Afzaal. Goodwin had hit Tolley to deep square leg but diving at full length Afzaal clutched the ball inches from the rope.Whittall’s entertaining knock camc to an end shortly aFterwards following the introduction of Andy Harris into the attack from the Pavilion End. A mistimed pull looped for an easy catch to Chris Read. The tourists were momentarily rocking at 79–3 and their snoring rate dropped alarmingly as Alastair Campbell found himself marooned on 1 for 11 overs.Andy Flower, though, was going along nicely until Richard Stemp trapped him lbw for 26 to make it 114-4. Grant Flower added 13 before being dismissed Giles Haywood’s first over. That brought Neil Johnson to the crease and he rapidly took the contest away from Notts, crashing four boundaries in an over off Richard Stemp on his way to 40 out of a 50 stand with Camphell.Zimbabwe reached their target with more than eight overs to spare.

When it comes to the full-back positions, Celtic haven’t exactly brought in great quality with the Hoops devoid of many first-class options in Ange Postecoglou’s ranks at Parkhead.

Take Boli Bolingoli for example. The Belgian full-back was the subject of a rather stern telling off from Neil Lennon when the current pandemic was at its peak.

He visited Spain on an unsanctioned trip, failed to isolate when he came home and as a result, put the entirety of Celtic’s playing and coaching staff at huge risk of the virus.

But then there’s Greg Taylor as well, someone who is rather divisive in Glasgow.

Capable of bursting forward from full-back and delivering a cross, he is arguably the closest thing the Bhoys have had to Kieran Tierney since he departed for Arsenal.

Yet, met with inconsistency and injuries, he’s hardly an ideal long-term heir.

Of course, Josip Juranovic has deputised ably in that position at times since Postecoglou signed him but they didn’t half make a messy situation out of one of their former academy gems, someone who would now be their first choice every week.

That happens to be Aaron Hickey, a player who Celtic let go in his mid-teens to Hearts and then failed to bring back to Paradise in two successive summers.

The Hoops have long been linked with a move to bring him back into the fold but after a £1.5m sale to Serie A side Bologna, his path now looks destined for greater things.

The 19-year-old has been labelled an “exceptional talent” by Daniel Stendel and has even been compared to Sergio Busquets due to his ability to feature in a holding midfield role too.

Yet, it’s on the left-hand side of defence, an area that needs obvious improvement long-term at Celtic, that he’s become a star in.

As a teenager, he has quickly become one of the most promising young defenders in Italy, scoring four times and assisting a strike in 2021/22 so far.

Furthermore, he ranks in the top 1% of full-backs across Europe’s top five leagues over the last year for shot on-target percentage, and in the same 1% for fouls drawn by an opponent per 90 minutes.

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With those stats in mind, it would appear that not only did Celtic lose a tricky defender from their academy, but they have also missed a golden chance to bring him back to Glasgow.

Sadly, any chance of luring him back has now gone as well, with Transfermarkt valuing the Scot at a whopping £11.7m, an increase of 766% on what he was sold for and surely miles out of Postecoglou’s price range.

It’s fair to say they will have plenty of regrets about Hickey.

AND in other news, Forget Jota: Celtic ace with 78 touches today is no longer Parkhead’s “walking joke”…

Premier League Manchester City maintained their 100% start to the season with a comfortable 5-1 win over Norwich at the Etihad Stadium.

Roberto Mancini’s side strolled to all three points against the Canaries to extend their lead at the top to seven points over rivals United who take on Aston Villa in Saturday’s evening kick off. Sergio Aguero grabbed the opener just after the half hour in what proved to be a frustrating first half for the hosts as Paul Lamberts plucky side managed to contain and foil a world class attack that struggled to get going during the first half. After the restart it was a different story with Yaya Toure curling in with further goals coming from Samir Nasri, Mario Balotelli and Adam Johnson with Steve Morison grabbing a consolation for the visitors. Mancini’s men were searching for a seventh consecutive win at the Etihad Stadium but found the opening forty five minutes tough as Norwich put eleven men behind the ball in an effort to quell the threat of City’s multi-million pound forward line.

It worked so well until the 32nd minute for the home side to break the deadlock with Aguero showing great balance and close control to twist and turn away from a sea of Norwich bodies before poking the ball past John Ruddy for his 13th of the season. That weight off City’s shoulders saw them come out for the second half intent on putting Norwich to the sword with Nasri doubling their lead six minutes after the restart in somewhat fortuitous circumstances. The Frenchman saw his seemingly harmless 35-yard-free kick take a wicked bounce in front of Ruddy and skid into the bottom corner of the net to dampen any Norwich hopes of a surprise comeback. It was open season now for the home side and Toure ensured they would score three at home for the sixth time this season curling home from just inside the area.

However the Canaries would go down fighting and snatched themselves a consolation goal via the head of Morison after the Welsh forward beat Gael Clichy to Marc Tierney’s cross to send the ball past Joe Hart. City who would have the final say on proceedings though with substitutes Balotelli and Johnson getting their names on the scoresheet. Firstly, the broody Italian nonchalantly made it 4-1 with two minutes to go knocking the ball in with with his shoulder on the goal line after his initial effort had been saved by Ruddy. Johnson then put the gloss on City’s 12th win of the season finishing superbly from the 15-yards after captain Vincent Kompany’s long pass found him in acres of space which afforded him time to shape himself and roll the ball into the net.

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