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Celtic majority shareholder Dermot Desmond and the rest of the board have backed Brendan Rodgers in the summer transfer window so far.

Who have Celtic signed this summer?

The Hoops chiefs have splashed the cash to bring in five new signings for the Northern Irish tactician, who returned to the club last month to replace Ange Postecoglou after the Australian manager's move to Premier League side Tottenham Hotspur.

Australia international Marco Tilio and Norwegian midfielder Odin Thiago Holm were his first two additions and they have since been joined by South Korean duo Hyeok-kyu Kwon and Hyun-jun Yang, alongside Polish central defender Maik Nawrocki.

Whilst there is still just over a month to go until the deadline passes, Rodgers could potentially avoid the need to dip into the market for further reinforcements by utilising the academy set-up.

One player who has caught the eye with his performances for the B-team of later is versatile attacker Bruno Davidson, who could be a dream heir to Daizen Maeda at Parkhead.

How many goals did Bruno Davidson score last season?

The 19-year-old talent scored a respectable six goals in 26 Lowland League matches for the Hoops academy side during the 2022/23 campaign.

He racked up six goals and six assists in 29 domestic outings and has scored once in two league games so far this season for the B-team.

This means that the exciting wizard has recorded a direct goal contribution once every 2.38 domestic clashes on average since the start of last term.

His form caught the eye in Canada last year as journalist Joshua Kloke claimed he was "causing some buzz" due to his dual eligibility to play for the North American side. Despite this, he has only been called up by Scotland at U17 level so far.

The teenage maestro is also yet to be handed his first-team bow by the Bhoys to date and has not been given an opportunity to showcase his talent on the professional stage.

Maeda, who can play anywhere across the front three, produced 11 goals and seven assists in 49 competitive games for Celtic last season, which included eight strikes and five assists in 31 Scottish Premiership outings.

The Japan international was directly involved in a goal every 2.72 appearances on average for the Hoops. He is not a prolific scorer or consistent creator but is able to chip in at the top end of the pitch on a semi-regular basis.

Davidson, who has been deployed on both flanks and through the middle as a number ten, has showcased similar qualities as a versatile winger for the B-team, as shown by his aforementioned statistics.

Of course, there is no guarantee that he will be able to translate his form over to a first-team setting but the potential is there for him to take the next step if Rodgers offers an opportunity.

Davidson's emergence as a senior option would alleviate the need for the club to go into the market to splash out millions on a new attacker, which is why using the academy to unearth talent can be a cost-effective and pleasing way of adding to the squad for supporters who want to see homegrown players flourish.

Centurion Rachel Priest and captain Heather Knight shared the highest stand in the KSL’s brief history

ECB Reporters Network20-Aug-2017Rachel Priest struck a powerful century•Getty ImagesCenturion Rachel Priest and captain Heather Knight led Western Storm to a record-breaking Kia Super League win over Yorkshire Diamonds at York as they chased down 161 to win by 10 wickets with three overs to spare.New Zealander Priest led the way with some fearsome hitting, albeit taking advantage of a bit of luck along the way as the Diamonds spilt a couple of boundary chances.She finished with 106 not out off 65 balls and Knight unbeaten on 48 off 38. The pair shared the highest stand in two seasons of the KSL.A second win from three matches puts Storm level on eight points with the Diamonds in third place with a game in hand in the race to reach Finals Day.Home captain Lauren Winfield, batting in her home city, had earlier posted 58 off 44 balls as England’s World Cup winning hero Anya Shrubsole returned to action following a side injury with 1 for 30 from four overs.Despite the early loss of Sri Lankan Chamari Atapattu, run out by a direct hit at the non-striker’s end from Stefanie Taylor from mid-on, the Diamonds got off to a healthy as another Kiwi Sophie Devine cut loose with 41.Devine hit offspinner Claire Nicholas for two big sixes over long-on and midwicket as the score reached 55 for 1 after five.Devine played on trying to hoist Shrubsole to leg with 75 on the board in the eighth over before Winfield, happy to take few risks, reached 50 off 38 balls in the 16th over as the score reached 132 for 3.The Diamonds then lost four wickets for 19 in the last three overs, the first of which was Winfield bowled by a Davies slower ball, to slip from 141 for 3.Hollie Armitage then dropped a couple of catches at long-on, with Priest on 25 being the most costly.Her 39-ball fifty included two sixes over long-on, the second off compatriot Devine’s first ball in the tenth over as Storm reached halfway at 81 without loss. Fours and sixes continued to come at ease as Yorkshire’s heads dropped.Priest reached her century off 64 balls, the second in KSL history, with 13 fours and three sixes with the penultimate ball of the match.Storm’s next fixture is against Surrey at the Oval on Wednesday, while Yorkshire’s final game comes against Southern Vipers at Arundel on Saturday.

Manchester City may find it hard to top last season’s incredible treble success, yet Pep Guardiola is not sitting still ahead of the 2023/24 campaign.

With a Champions League title to defend and the chance to stamp their authority as one of the finest-ever club teams in England, City are seemingly interested in signing Inter Milan midfielder Nicolo Barella.

Are Man City interested in Nicolo Barella?

According to 90min, Guardiola has done work on Barella ahead of a potential move as he looks to bolster his midfield options.

The Italian could cost the club around £69m, per reports in Italy, and a potential switch comes amid the uncertainty surrounding the future of Bernando Silva.

Silva informed Guardiola that he wanted to leave City once the 2022/23 season had finished and with Paris Saint-Germain keen on luring him to France, it certainly appears as though the Spaniard is preparing for life without him.

Will Bernando Silva leave Man City this summer?

Despite this reported interest from PSG, Guardiola has made it clear he wishes to keep the Portuguese star at the Etihad, particularly with the departure of Ilkay Gundogan already this summer.

If he digs his heels in over a move away, however, the club might have no choice but to sell him and this is where a move for Barella would come into play.

The 26-year-old is hitting his peak years and enjoyed a fruitful campaign for Inter Milan, registering 19 goal contributions – nine goals and ten assists – from a central midfield slot as he won the Coppa Italia and Supercoppa Italiana along with reaching the Champions League final.

The eventual 1-0 defeat to City may well have been an audition for Barella and his eye for goal has no doubt grabbed Guardiola’s attention.

How good is Nicola Barella?

He has been lauded as a “genius” by journalist Mike Piellucci previously and there is no doubt the midfielder is going from strength to strength, and not just in goal-scoring terms either.

In Serie A, Barella ranked third in the Inter squad for key passes per game (1.6), while also topping the pile for successful dribbles per game (1.1), demonstrating that not only did he exude his creative juices and create chances for others, but his ability to motor past defenders is also particularly impressive.

In contrast, Silva managed just 0.9 key passes per game for City in the Premier League, ranking him sixth in their squad, while completing just 0.8 successful dribbles per game too, suggesting that Barella would be a more than adequate heir to the 28-year-old should he leave Manchester this summer.

The Italian also registered more non-penalty goals (0.22 to 0.2) and progressive passes (6.62 to 5.37) per 90 than Silva across the previous 365 days, certainly underlining his vast attacking qualities.

There is still plenty of time left in the current transfer window and Silva may well end up staying at the club. Guardiola has clearly been preparing for his departure by looking at Barella and the former Barcelona boss could take the Inter gem to the next level should he move to England.

Stuart Meaker bowled quickly to claim three wickets but Middlesex’s seemingly under par 247 was looking a little better by the close

Vithushan Ehantharajah at Kia Oval28-Aug-2017Stuart Meaker took two wickets in two balls•Getty ImagesA bank holiday crowd filed into the Kia Oval and sunned themselves for 93 overs. Many hit the stronger drinks before midday, safe in the knowledge that only a four-day working week stood before them. All bar a few perambulated during lunch or tea, taking in their historic surroundings. And typically, no one – Surrey or Middlesex fan – left happy.The home fans, satisfied that Middlesex had been bowled out in just over a couple of sessions, were dismayed by losing both their openers by the close. Those who ventured from north London, spiritually if not geographically, felt their experienced batting card should have done a lot better in such favourable conditions.Cricket isn’t played on paper – how amusing would it be if it was? – but when the respective teams were revealed after Middlesex won the toss and elected to bat, it seemed that they held all the aces. The visitors welcomed back Toby-Roland Jones to their ranks after 14 wickets in three Tests for England that has all but assured him of a place in this winter’s Ashes squad.The opportunity to go straight into a game rather than simmer on the sidelines and carry the drinks as Chris Woakes played ahead of him is one he duly took. Two wickets in the dregs of the opening day – debutant Ryan Patel caught superbly by Sam Robson at bat-pad and Rory Burns edging a beauty that nipped away from the left-hander, through to John Simpson – may have tilted the game back to Middlesex. For most of the day, however, a depleted Surrey were on top.Without Tom Curran, whose back is feeling the effects of 237 Championship overs in 11 innings this summer (not to mention his white ball lot), Aaron Finch, who injured his calf in Friday’s T20 Blast quarter-final defeat to Birmingham Bears, and with Mark Stoneman away with England, Surrey were pushed to hand debuts to Patel and Ollie Pope. Yet, with four 19-year-olds in their XI, it was their maturity in the field that allowed them to dismiss Middlesex for 247, with the sun out and a pitch that allowed batsmen to play their shots.Robson did just that. One of the many casualties in England’s haphazard pursuit of an opening partner for Alastair Cook, Robson has been one of the few to return to county cricket and continue on, seemingly unscarred by the experience. Whether that is totally the case, only Robson can tell you, but his game has taken on a free-flowing quality that has not impinged on the resilience that saw him earn his debut call-up. Without wishing to sound churlish – he is much easier on the eye.His third half-century of the season, from 107 balls with eight fours, felt like it would develop into his third century. By that point, Surrey had removed Nick Compton and Stevie Eskinazi during a morning session in which Gareth Batty cycled through six bowlers as both sides tried to get a measure of each other. Then, with Middlesex steady on 131 for 2, Stuart Meaker happened.Bowling as quick as he has done this season, Meaker used the end of the 44th over sear one late into the shin Robson’s off stump before bruising the top of it with his very next delivery, to Paul Stirling. The hat-trick ball, at the start of the 46th, was kept out by John Simpson, who then edged the final ball of the over through a recently vacated third slip.That Meaker was able to concentrate on being the X-Factor bowler, when he might have been required to do some donkey work in the absence of Tom Curran, spoke volumes of those around him. Rikki Clarke’s two wickets – Adam Voges trapped lbw for 40 and James Franklin caught in the cordon – came in frugal spells, eventually seeing him go at an economy rate of under two across 16 overs.Patel’s right-arm seam, usually a sideshow to his classy left-handed batting, only gave away 22 from 11 overs, while the even share of four wickets from 28 overs between offspinners Gareth Batty and Amar Virdi came for just 40 and 38 runs, respectively. Backed up by some solid fielding, such as Scott Borthwick taking two excellent catches at second slip, Surrey could well have called this day their own, even if the last three Middlesex wickets added 84 runs.How things changed when boos scored the final over of the day, with Meaker and Borthwick refusing to run when edges flew past second slip and then through the keeper as Ollie Rayner got his favourite county surface to talk dirty to him. “That’s four runs we could have had,” raged a Surrey fan in the lower deck of the OCS stand. Surrey closed on 26 for 2, Meaker slightly bemused that the crowds who had early roared for him were now wailing against him for doing his job. It summed up an absorbing if slightly baffling day’s play.

After taking Manchester United back into the Premier League's top four last season to qualify for the Champions League, Erik ten Hag will be looking to step things up another level at Old Trafford in the coming campaign.

The Dutchman proved that intent at the very start of the summer, too, as David de Gea left the club as a free agent, making way for Andre Onana, whose ability on the ball should finally welcome the Red Devils into the modern-day era of football.

Ten Hag may not be stopping there, either, with plenty of time left until the transfer window slams shut to turn his side into serious title contenders.

With that said, we've taken a look at how Manchester United could line up next season.

RB: Benjamin Pavard

The right-back spot at Manchester United has never really been filled under Ten Hag, with the Dutchman often switching between Diogo Dalot, and Aaron Wan-Bissaka, depending on what he wants from his fullbacks.

The former Ajax boss could end his selection headache with the signing of Bayern Munich's Benjamin Pavard, however.

According to Sky Sports' Florian Plettenberg, the Red Devils have held talks to sign the defender this summer, with an offer expected soon.

CM: Sofyan Amrabat

After already bolstering their midfield options with the arrival of Mason Mount this summer, Manchester United are close to agreeing a £22m fee with Fiorentina to sign Sofyan Amrabat this summer, according to reports in Italy.

The Morrocon left many impressed with his performances at the 2022 Qatar World Cup, with the Red Devils now reportedly interested in bringing him to Old Trafford this summer.

Back in the Champions League, United could certainly do with the added depth in the middle of the park.

ST: Rasmus Hojlund

One name consistently linked with Manchester United this summer is young Atalanta forward Rasmus Hojlund.

According to Fabrizio Romano, the 20-year-old has agreed personal terms on a five-year deal with the Premier League giants, and the Red Devils are now pushing to get a deal done soon.

Having scored 16 goals, and assisted a further seven in all competitions last season, Hojlund would undoubtedly add extra firepower to United's offensive line next season.

At such a young age, too, the only way is up for the Dane.

ST: Kylian Mbappe

It would feel somewhat fitting, right? If Man United managed to secure the signature of Kylian Mbappe, whilst Erling Haaland stars for local rivals Manchester City. It would be English football's closest answer to Lionel Messi vs Cristiano Ronaldo when the pair were in La Liga.

According to Kaveh Solhekol of Sky Sports, United are one of the interested parties in a potential deal for Mbappe this summer.

The Manchester club are, of course, not the only side interested in making a move for the Frenchman in the current window, however, with Al-Hilal leading the way with their eye-watering €300m (£258.19m) offer, which will be accepted by Paris Saint-Germain, according to Romano.

With a long transfer window ahead, anything could happen, though, with United interested in the PSG forward.

With that said, here's how Manchester United could line up next season:

South Africa were cruising at 113 for 0 in a chase of 207 – a straightforward equation – but against a spirited Pakistan bowling attack, it was anything but

Shashank Kishore25-Jun-2017
Scorecard and ball-by-ball detailsSune Luus roars after Shabnim Ismail hit the winning boundary•International Cricket CouncilSouth Africa had only won four out of 30 ODIs in which they had to chase 200 or more. But victory looked a mere formality on Sunday when Lizelle Lee and Laura Wolvaardt, their openers, put on 113 in chase of 207. Then, out of nowhere, they lost five wickets for 34 runs, three of them to run outs, to induce panic.A cruise had turned into a full-blown collapse with Pakistan gleefully tightening the noose. It came down to the No. 9 batsman Shabnim Ismail, who had a poor day with the ball, conceding 52 off her nine overs for two wickets – expensive when taken into account the low-scoring contest – to introduce the calm back into South Africa’s chase. She hit back-to-back fours to clinch a three-wicket win with an over to spare.Sune Luus contributed 15 valuable runs to an unbroken 30-run stand for the eighth wicket to deliver the knockout blow for Pakistan, who last won a World Cup match in March 2009.All the tension began in the middle overs of the chase. Nashra Sandhu, who took nine wickets in five matches in the qualifying tournament to put Pakistan in the World Cup, bowled with immaculate control, conceding only 32 runs in a single spell of 10 overs. Then, Sadia Yousuf, who dropped a straightforward catch at long-off to reprieve Lee on 46, picked up the big wickets of Chloe Tryon and Mignon du Preez as Pakistan brought themselves back to life.With the equation down to 16 off 12 balls, Sana Mir, the captain who had one over left, punted on Kainat Imtiaz, who had conceded 40 off seven overs until that point. Ayesha Zafar put down a tough chance at mid-off, the ball went to the boundary, South Africa sneaked home and Mir, who had been Pakistan’s most economical bowler with 1 for 27 off nine overs, was left to rue the crucial decision.The trigger for South Africa’s collapse was the run-out of Wolvaardt. The 18-year old, playing her first World Cup game, batted fluently to bring up her fourth half-century in ODIs. But in the 31st over, she was sold a dummy by the new batsman Trisha Chetty. Wolvaardt was more than halfway down the pitch when her partner decided a second run was not on. South Africa, cruising high and happy at 124 for 1 at that stage, suddenly slipped into a hole. They were lucky to have got away.When Pakistan reflect on the game, they’d perhaps point to the crucial 30 runs which they couldn’t get while batting as a reason for not getting in two crucial points. Opener Nahida Khan top scored with 79, the highest individual score for Pakistan in a World Cup, and potentially set them up for a total of at least 230.But poor running and a succession of desperate strokes resulted in a middle-order muddle. Two of their most accomplished batsmen – Bismah Maroof and Nain Abidi – were guilty of these indiscretions; both of them were stumped in an attempt to hit out when the situation demanded a calmer approach. Nahida was forced back into playing the anchor role before she was run-out in the 39th over. Pakistan were clearly far from their best, and still they put on quite a show.

The South Africa captain has defended his leadership skills, and admitted that a “very poor batting performance” cost them a spot in the semi-finals of the Champions Trophy

Firdose Moonda at The Oval11-Jun-2017AB de Villiers “absolutely” wants to lead South Africa in the 2019 World Cup despite being part of another failed campaign in an ICC event because he thinks he can be the man to oversee a change in South Africa’s fortunes.”Because I’m a good captain. And I can take this team forward. I can take us to win a World Cup, I believe,” de Villiers said, after the defeat against India at The Oval. “I believed the same thing over here in this tournament and the last one here but that’s what I believe. I love doing it.”De Villiers has captained South Africa’s limited-overs’ sides since 2011 and while he gave up the T20 reins in 2013, he remains the ODI skipper. Overall, he has played in 13 ICC events, dating back to the Champions Trophy in 2006, and captained in five but his first-hand knowledge of South Africa’s litany of unsuccessful attempts to take home a trophy has not provided him with any answers to explain why they have yet to come out on top.”We’ve covered all the bases. There’s no doubt about that,” he said. “We’ve had camp after camp. And we’ve worked really, really hard on the nets, and we back each other, we trust each other, and for some reason, things like that just keep happening.”Although de Villiers admitted that it was a “very poor batting performance” that saw South Africa slip from 76 without loss to 191 all out against India, he denied that they panicked.”I felt the team was pretty composed today. I don’t think we lost it there with composure. A few errors of judgement, a few mistakes out there cost us badly today,” he said. “It’s not going to do with composure in my eyes. I felt pretty calm with the team all the time. We played some good shots and then just a couple of bad, errors of judgement out there cost us.”And he did not attribute those mistake to any mental bogey-men but mused that maybe the nature of multi-team tournaments demanded too much of South Africa. “It wasn’t a mental thing. We just didn’t play well,” he said. “Tournaments are a little bit different. You play different teams all the time on different venues, so it’s a big challenge. No one said it’s going to be easy. But we do come up short for some reason in tournaments like this, and it is pretty sad.”I can’t explain to you exactly what happens. I think you saw it out there today. It was just a very poor batting performance. It has nothing to do with the energy or the intensity or the belief in the team. We felt we had a great chance today. We came here to win the game of cricket. And then we just unraveled as a side out there.”The manner of that unraveling – the speed and the shot selection and the sheer stun-value of three run-outs by one of the most athletic teams on the international circuit — is what disappointed de Villiers most. “The way we lost was the most disappointing part of it. We were really in a good position there with the batting end early on, and through soft dismissals we lost our way and that was the part for me that hurt the most,” he said.Pain is something South Africa, and de Villiers, have experienced a lot of. At the moment it is preventing him from being able to form a clear picture of where things went wrong and how they can be done better next time, when he intends to lead again.”I’m not thinking about the next one now,” he said. “We just sort of want to go get through this hurt now, because it’s hurting quite bad. I’ve not thought about what we are going to think about our next tournament.De Villiers would not be drawn into discussing whether he thinks anything should change before the next competition, except his own insistence that he will remain captain. Pushed on whether he saw a need for “more radical shake-up” de Villiers said: “That’s a question that can only be answered by people who are in control of making radical decisions. That’s not my decision. We’ll have to wait and see what people out there want to decide or whoever is in control of making those kind of decisions. I don’t think we are a bad cricket team.”They’re not. South Africa came into this event ranked No.1 in the world. For that reason, perhaps, de Villiers does not think that they getting further away from eventually winning an event. “I must be very honest with you – not a lot of people believe me but I feel it’s pretty close. I don’t think it feels far away,” he said. “It’s very difficult to say that after a performance like this, but that’s what I believe in my heart. I believe we’re the very close unit. There’s more than enough talent, and we’ve just got to get it right when it matters most.”

Rangers' wait to bring in Danilo from Feyenoord will have to go on it seems, with the Daily Record, via Ibrox News reporting that he will only be allowed to leave when a suitable replacement is found.

How many goals has Danilo scored?

The 24-year-old is coming into this summer transfer window off the back of a successful campaign with Feyenoord. Not only did the Dutch side claim the Eredivisie title, but the striker himself was a regular on the scoresheet. He had ten goals to his name in just 14 starts, with a further three assists to boot.

Whilst he did actually appear in a total of 34 league games – meaning most of his action came from off the bench – his total number of 90 minutes played stood at 14.8. It means he ended the campaign with a goal contribution rate of 0.88 per 90 – almost one or the other in every fixture he featured in.

It's not the first time that the Brazilian has flourished either. Before joining up with his current club, he hit 31 league goals in 39 starts for Jong Ajax, producing a similar rate to what he is at now. He was unable to feature much for the Ajax first-team though, appearing 14 times with only one start, but still bagged two goals and an assist. His prolificness doesn't stop there either – at FC Twente, he plundered a further 17 goals in 31 league starts.

Are Rangers signing Danilo?

Danilo then is a player that certainly knows where the back of the net is, and has proven as much with every team he has featured for to date. He is yet to venture away from the Netherlands for his gametime though – and that could be about to change this summer.

That's because Rangers have been desperately trying to sort out a transfer for him, with Michael Beale a big fan of the attacker. Recently, reports stated the Scottish Premiership outfit had even lodged a new bid for his services.

However, according to a report from the Daily Record, via Ibrox News, the Gers may have a wait on their hands to sign the Brazilian. That's because his current side Feyenoord are not willing to part with the 24-year-old until they have brought in an adequate replacement.

It seems they don't want to leave a gap in their own frontline and will not do business for the striker until they have managed to find a new signing. It did seem as though that was about to happen – the Netherlands club were set to sign Emanuel Emegha – but with that deal collapsing, the wait will now continue for Danilo to head to Scotland.

If the Gers can land the attacker this summer, then it could really help them take the fight to Celtic for the Scottish Premiership title. He has a proven track record of finding the back of the net when he has got onto the field and if he can find regular gametime with the club, he could be a real force for the side. They just need to get a deal over the line now for the Brazilian.

Tottenham Hotspur are "set to start" club-to-club talks "soon" for Bayer Leverkusen star Edmond Tapsoba, according to reports.

Who have Spurs signed this summer?

Spurs and new manager Ange Postecoglou have been very busy so far this summer transfer window, having already sealed the signings of goalkeeper Guglielmo Vicario, England international James Maddison and winger Manor Solomon on a free transfer.

The trio are set to bolster Tottenham's options for the 2023/2024 season, with Postecoglou seeming particularly excited about the prospect of linking up with Maddison and Vicario.

“It’s not just about the talent they bring as footballers," explained the Spurs manager recently.

"It’s what they bring as people as well because we are going to play football that requires a certain type of personality and character.

“Both those guys have got it in abundance. I could hear it in their voices when I spoke to them. I had a couple of chats with both of them before we signed them and I knew that they were the right types to bring into the dressing room."

Following on from those signings, it is believed Tottenham are chasing a new centre-back or two as they seek to strengthen a fragile defence – one which conceded 63 league goals last season.

Wolfsburg's Micky van de Ven is reported to be edging closer to joining Spurs, but reports suggest the north Londoners could make more than one signing in that position.

Tapsoba, who was undroppable for Leverkusen last season, is among the options being considered by Tottenham with journalist Sacha Tavolieri claiming talks over personal terms have been held in London.

The Burkina Faso international's representatives have been in London for contract discussions and Tavolieri sayus club-to-club talks are set to start imminently.

"Edmond Tapsoba's representatives were in London this weekend in order to discuss the personal terms with Tottenham," said the reporter on Twitter.

"I understand the meet-up was constructive and that talks are progressing 'significantly' as – for example – the salary of the B04 player has already been discussed.

"There are still points to fix but it goes on the good way about all parties involved. THFC now set to start talks soon with Bayer Leverkusen."

How good is Edmond Tapsoba?

Leverkusen apparently want around £43 million for their star regular, but as per the numbers, he could well be worth it.

Only goalkeeper Lukas Hradecky played more Bundesliga minutes than Tapsoba last season, with the defender ranking just behind centre-back partner Jonathan Tah for clearances made per 90 (WhoScored).

Xabi Alonso clearly views the 24-year-old as an indispendable member of his starting eleven with the Bundesliga website even comparing him to Jerome Boateng.

They wrote:

"The legendary Bayern Munich defender, who made 364 appearances across 11 seasons for the Bavarian giants, was as cool and calm as it gets both on the ball and in the tackle while he was also famed for his pinpoint long passing that set up many an attack for the record champions. Tapsoba has similar traits and such is his eagerness to start forward thrusts, he has often been referred to as a defensive playmaker."

A round-up of the Dhaka Premier League matches held on April 21, 2017

Mohammad Isam21-Apr-2017Prime Bank Cricket Club rode on Sabbir Rahman’s unbeaten 78 to beat Mohammedan Sporting Club by seven wickets in a rain-curtailed contest at the KSOA Stadium in Fatullah. Sabbir hit four fours and five sixes in his 75-ball knock to help Prime Bank overhaul the target with 13.2 overs to spare.The game, interrupted by rain after Mohammedan had batted for 19 overs, was reduced to 41 overs a side. Only Tamim Iqbal, who had notched up 157 in the previous match, kept Mohammedan’s innings alive with a patient knock of 46. But Al-Amin, spearheaded Prime Bank’s attack with a five-wicket haul to bowl out Mohameddan for 142 in 36.1 overs. The offspinner bowled six overs with figures of 5 for 25 – including the scalp of Tamim – and earned his second five-for in List A cricket.Prime Bank’s target was adjusted to 149 in 41 overs and in reply, they lost their openers Soumya Sarkar (2) and Mehedi Maruf (7) within the first five overs of their innings. But Sabbir anchored his side’s chase with a match-winning knock. He added 97 unbroken runs for the fourth wicket with Taibur Rahman, who chipped in with an unbeaten 50-ball 42.Steered by Amit Majumder’s maiden List-A century, Khelaghar Samaj Kallyan Samity crushed Partex Sporting Club by 77 runs in the battle of the newly-promoted sides at the BKSP-4 Ground in Savar. The margin of victory is likely to hold Khelaghar in good stead when the net run-rate comes into play later in the competition.Put in to bat, Khelaghar posted 288 for 8 in 50 overs. Majumder and Nazmus Sadat added 133 runs for the fifth wicket, with the latter hitting 79 off 51 balls, including six sixes and two fours. Majumder hit nine fours and three sixes during his 85-ball 101.Chasing 289, Partex hardly challenged Khelaghar’s bowling attack as they folded for 211 all in 45.1 overs. Sadiqur Rahman, Tanvir Islam and Ariful Islam took three wickets apiece while Robiul Islam Robi picked up one to hand Khelaghar their first win in the Dhaka Premier League this year.Kalabagan Krira Chakra also registered their maiden victory in the competition this year, defeating Victoria Sporting Club by ten runs at the BKSP-3 Ground in Savar.Having lost the toss, Kalabagan posted 259 for 6 in 50 overs courtesy half centuries from Mehrab Hossain jnr (63), Tushar Imran (56) and Muktar Ali (52). Mehrab and Tushar added 96 for the third wicket, before Tushar added 57 for the fourth wicket with Tasamul Haque(44).Muktar, who took charge of Kalabagan’s innings thereafter, hit four sixes and two fours in his 27-ball knock.Victoria suffered an early jolt in their innings – losing opener Abu Sayeem in the third over – and subsequently collapsed to 61 for 4 in the 19th over. Nasiruddin Faruque, however, held the chase together with his 84-ball 58 that included six fours and a six. After he fell to Nabil Samad, Shafiul Hayet and Moinul Islam put together 109 runs for the sixth wicket. Hayet made 64 off 81 balls – studded with six fours and two sixes – while Moinul top-scored with 75 off 57 balls.Once Kalabagan removed him in the 47th over, Victoria’s chase fell apart. With 30 runs needed off 20 deliveries, none of the last four batsmen in the lower order could get into double figures. Abul Hasan, Muktar and Hamilton Masakadza took two wickets each to limit Victoria to 249 for 9 in 50 overs.