Brighton set to enter Harvey Elliott transfer race and have secret weapon in bid to land Liverpool star

BRIGHTON are set to enter the race for Harvey Elliott - and have identified the Liverpool star as their key summer target.
The England international's future at Anfield is unclear, and his playing time last season was limited under Arne Slot.
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That's put him on the radar of several clubs in England, and abroad, who are keen to secure the services of a versatile player who can operate in midfield or out wide.
SunSport understands Brighton are now tracking the 22-year-old and see him as a player who can help take them to the next level.
And sources say the presence of James Milner, Liverpool's former vice-captain, could help persuade Elliott to make the switch to the south coast.
Brighton are believed to have funds to spend and would be willing to pay up to £40million for Elliott who is desperate for more first-team football.
The Seagulls are also likely to lose Joao Pedro, who is being linked to Newcastle and Arsenal in a move which would free up additional cash for Brighton to spend on new players.
Reports last week linked Elliott with a move to Nottingham Forest.
But it was claimed he turned down the option of a move to the City Ground, as he felt Forest wouldn't suit his playing style.
There would be no such issue at Brighton, who are renowned for their attacking and open style of play.
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Liverpool fans will be torn over any potential exit of Elliott who continues to be one of Liverpool's brightest young talents.
He demonstrated his versatility and creativity throughout last season's campaign, building on his breakthrough season in the 2022–23 campaign.
'Agent Onana' lures £60m+ Bryan Mbeumo to Man Utd / Everton sign Kyle Walker | Transfers Exposed
Although not a regular starter in every match, Elliott was a key squad player, often coming on as a substitute.
He made 45 appearances across all competitions, contributing four goals and three assists.
Slot is believed to be undecided on Elliott, although sources told the Sun the Dutchman would be unlikely to stand in his way if he wanted to leave and if a deal could be agreed that suited club and player.
Elliott could head for the Anfield exit door along with Jarrell Quansah, who is being linked with a £40million move to Bayer Leverkusen.
The Reds are raising cash to fund a British record transfer fee for Florian Wirtz - the German is set for a medical on Merseyside.
Alexander Isak is also on the radar but Newcastle will demand a fee close to £200million.

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Telegraph

39 minutes ago

• Telegraph

Tip-toeing assassin Jasprit Bumrah finds fast-bowling perfection

As Jasprit Bumrah strode on to the Headingley turf, the crowd was pregnant with expectation. It was not merely that play was about to resume, with England beginning their innings – but that the ball would be thrust into the hands of one of the most remarkable bowlers in Test match history. The clouds circling Leeds lent Bumrah's preparation an especially ominous quality. With his slingshot action, pace and array of variations, Bumrah does not need conditions to be in his favour to be lethal. But the moisture on the Headingley pitch, the grey conditions overhead and the floodlights amplified the challenge facing England's batsmen. Bumrah's first two warm-ups were in vain: drizzle delayed his first bowl in a first-class game for almost six months. Bumrah's appearances will be rationed this summer which only makes the sight of him standing at the top of his mark, poised to unleash hell, more tantalising. Zak Crawley was tasked with facing Bumrah from 22 yards. Perhaps Crawley hoped that, 168 days since he last bowled in a first-class match, Bumrah would need a few overs to relocate his best. If Crawley entertained this delusion, Bumrah's first delivery – which straightened on an immaculate line just outside off stump – showed otherwise. Now Bumrah circled on to off stump, returning to his spot with the menace of a debt collector door-knocking. His third ball squared up Crawley, and narrowly evaded his edge. His fourth delivery kissed the edge but bounced in front of the slips, earning four scarcely-deserved runs. Crawley then blocked the fifth ball securely enough. From the last ball of his opening over, Bumrah seemed to have mislaid his immaculate line, instead spearing the ball towards leg stump. But as Crawley shaped to play the ball through the on side, the ball leapt up, like a leopard out of a bush, and swung away to claim the edge: fast-bowling perfection, a fusion of swing, seam, bounce and 90mph pace. Jasprit Bumrah has arrived. — Sky Sports Cricket (@SkyCricket) June 21, 2025 For Ben Duckett and Ollie Pope, the challenge in the rest of Bumrah's spell was to do what Crawley had failed to do, and survive. This almost proved too much for Duckett from his first ball against Bumrah, which he poked just short of gully. Three balls later, Bumrah changed his line of attack and unfurled a yorker which struck Duckett's boot. But India's review showed that the ball hit Duckett fractionally outside the line of leg stump. When Duckett is batting with either Crawley or Pope, England have a left and right-handed pair against the new ball, forcing bowlers to adjust their lines. Yet this is rather less advantageous against Bumrah. Indeed, one of the many wonders of Bumrah is his equal potency bowling to left and right-handers alike: absurdly, he averages under 20 against both. Whoever faced Bumrah bowled in his opening spell at Leeds, the sense of foreboding remained. In his third over, Bumrah treated Pope to a near-replica of his dismissal of Crawley, which again seemed to defy geometry as it moved in the air and off the pitch. This time, the batsman's edge bisected third slip and gully and secured an undeserved four runs. The over ended with another edge from Pope, this time bouncing just in front of gully and again going for four. Bumrah's wry grimace spoke of his ill-fortune. When he returned for his fourth over, Shubman Gill vowed that Bumrah should not again suffer the injustice of an edge through the vacant slips going for four. As such, he fortified the slip cordon – which now comprised four slips and a gully. Duckett knew what awaited him: a series of deliveries angled across him, each moving wickedly and testing his famous reticence to leave the ball alone. This time, the edge did land in a fielder's hands, when Duckett slashed the ball to backward point; yet Ravindra Jadeja, one of the world's greatest fielders, shelled a relatively routine chance. When Duckett survived the next over, Bumrah's first spell ended with a haul of 1-21 from five overs: figures can seldom have been more deceptive. By the time Bumrah returned, an over before tea, the afternoon gloom had given way to glorious sunshine. Yet his threat was undimmed. Duckett, already fortuitous against Bumrah earlier, almost edged another venomous delivery, which pitched on the leg stump then curved past his groping edge. Finally, in the fourth over of his spell, Bumrah cramped up Duckett and elicited an inside edge, which crashed into his stumps. Bumrah celebrated with an undemonstrative smile, exuding the air of a man who was not surprised. Then again, nor should Bumrah have been: no one else in Test history, after all, has taken more than 200 wickets at under 20 apiece. This record is even more remarkable as he disproportionately rests against weaker sides. 🎙️ "You need a breakthrough, you go to Bumrah and he delivers." Ben Duckett departs for 62 ❌ — Sky Sports Cricket (@SkyCricket) June 21, 2025 Moving the ball both ways from his exaggerated angle wide of the crease, Bumrah plotted his moves ahead, like Ronnie O'Sullivan constructing a century break. Joe Root was perilously close to edging behind. Pope, who was once the victim of one of Bumrah's most outlandish yorkers, drove at a ball that left him, edging to third slip. This time, Yashasvi Jaiswal spilled the chance. Bumrah covered his face in his Indian cap in his despair. As he trudged back to fine leg, Rishabh Pant ran towards the bowler to console him, apologising for his teammate's failure to match Bumrah's excellence. In the last throes of the day, Gill returned – inevitably – to Bumrah. From his second ball, Pope got an inside edge and scrambled a single to bring up his century; perhaps Bumrah's luck had not changed. But next ball, Root was deceived by a delivery that straightened rather than moved in, and poked the ball to slip: his tenth dismissal to Bumrah in Test cricket. GOT HIM! Jasprit Bumrah gets the BIG wicket of Joe Root ⚡️ — Sky Sports Cricket (@SkyCricket) June 21, 2025 Harry Brook has never previously had the misfortune of facing Bumrah before. In an over and a half at the close, Brook learned just how hazardous batting against Bumrah is. Deliveries by turn nipped in and away; there was a surprise slower ball too. Then, Bumrah showed off his bouncer, cramping up Brook and watching as Mohammed Siraj rushed back from mid on to complete a fine catch. Bumrah raised his arms aloft in elation. Then, he heard the umpire's sickening call: he had overstepped, for the third time in the over, winning Brook a reprieve. A brutal bouncer to end the day, which Brook narrowly ducked inside the line of, emphasised the challenge that awaits England on day three and beyond. England's fear for the rest of the series will be that Bumrah will be just as good but less unlucky. Their only comfort will be that, unlike Australia last winter, they will not have to face Bumrah in all five Tests.

The Guardian

an hour ago

• The Guardian

Pope century lifts England after bowlers claw control away from India

A day on from that much-debated decision to bowl first by Ben Stokes and the clouds had started to lift for England. The hosts were still some way from flipping the advantage they had handed India but by stumps, after an earlier fightback with the ball, Ollie Pope's unbeaten 100 had established something akin to a foothold in the contest. Pope came into this Test with questions being asked about his spot at No 3; questions that centred around a poor record against India and Australia and not quelled by that 171 against Zimbabwe. Jacob Bethell, flavour of the month in New Zealand late last year, was breathing down his neck, even if potential, rather than back catalogue, was the driver. And yet as England closed on 209 for three in reply to India's 471 all out – a total derailed by a collapse of seven for 41 – Stokes was grateful to his vice-captain for holding firm in the face of a typically electric display by Jasprit Bumrah. It would be wrong to roll out Graham Gooch's old line about Richard Hadlee – 'World XI at one end, Ilford 2nds at the other' – but when Bumrah was on, the smell of wickets hung in the clammy air. India's remarkable slingshot could easily have had more than his three for 48 from 13 overs, not least the edge that Yashasvi Jaiswal had earlier grassed at slip when Pope was on 60. His day underlined where the crux of this series likely sits but ended with those broad shoulders slunk. Harry Brook, on nought simply tasked with seeing out the final over, was caught playing a wild hook, only for a front-foot no-ball to be called. The Yorkshire faithful could have been forgiven for grumbling about there being 'more brains in a pork pie' – a charge that at least could not be laid at Pope. His one life aside, England's No 3 had been largely equal to his unique challenge of Bumrah and the spikiness of Mohammed Siraj. Emerging after the loss of Zak Crawley sixth ball, and looking in touch from the outset, Pope sent 13 fours cruising along this fast outfield. Pope looked a bit like a local at times, picking up runs behind square as they tend to do in these parts and sealing his ninth Test century before the close. The celebration was one of pent up frustration being released. But he also needed partners, Ben Duckett making a typically punchy 62 in a stand of 122 runs and Joe Root adding 28 in an alliance worth of 80. Both had early reprieves – Duckett dropped on 15, Root overturning an lbw on seven – and both were ultimately Bumrah'd in the end. It was never going to be straightforward, with India's collapse either side of lunch as welcome for England as it was potentially ominous. The clouds had rolled over Headingley to see the Dukes ball start hooping and only made way in the evening. For Josh Tongue this was simply manna from heaven, day one figures of none for 75 from 16 transformed into four for 86 from 20 courtesy of a rapid demolition of the tail. As Stokes joked in his celebrations, Tongue was devouring some rabbit pie here. Although the spark was Shoaib Bashir getting the breakthrough that his performance 24 hours earlier had deserved when Shubman Gill looked to take down the off-spinner on 147 and skewed the ball to deep backward square. Gill and Pant had put on 209 for the fourth wicket, the latter turning his overnight 65 into three figures and celebrating with a superb somersault. Going by the ovation, the locals thought was flippin' marvellous. Sign up to The Spin Subscribe to our cricket newsletter for our writers' thoughts on the biggest stories and a review of the week's action after newsletter promotion Pant sure is an entertainer, his eventual 134 from 178 balls packed with more fun than a day at Disney. And yet for all the tumbling scoops and range hitting into the Western Terrace – 12 fours and six sixes – it was stitched together with watchful defence. This, as much as the mischief, is why only three wicketkeepers – Adam Gilchrist (17), Andy Flower (12) and Les Ames (8) – have scored more than his seven Test centuries. But with an end opened up by Gill's removal at 430 for four, the previously listless England suddenly surged and India's total became the lowest in Test history to contain three centuries. Among the three ducks that made it so was poor Karun Nair, who had spent eight years waiting for a Test recall and chipped his fourth delivery from Stokes to a flying Pope at short cover. It really can be a cruel sport at times. Tongue knows it all too well, of course, the fast bowler back this summer after an 18-month battle with injuries. Reward for this perseverance came with the eventual removal of Pant, a switch to around the wicket messing up the left-hander's calibrations and leading to an odd-looking lbw offering no shot. Jamie Smith, who had earlier missed a stumping off Pant when he was on 124, could also breathe a sigh of relief here. This was possibly surpassed by those from Duckett and Crawley after Tongue gobbled up his rabbit pie and 40 minutes of rain then intervened. Not that conditions improved much after the restart, Bumrah steaming in under lights, squaring up Crawley in his first over, and seeing an edge fly into the cordon. But on this sticky second day Indian hands lost some of their adhesiveness and Pope managed to wriggle England free.

Daily Mirror

an hour ago

• Daily Mirror

Marcus Rashford issues Barcelona come-and-get-me plea in clear hint over future

Marcus Rashford has been tight-lipped on his uncertain future so far this summer but now the Manchester United star has broken his silence, hinting at a dream move to Barcelona Marcus Rashford has dropped his biggest hint yet that he wants to join Barcelona. The Manchester United star, 27, appears to have no future at Old Trafford after falling out of favour under Ruben Amorim and being loaned out for the second half of last season. Rashford's brother and agent, Dwaine Maynard, was seen meeting Barca sporting director Deco in Catalunya last month. The England international joined Aston Villa on loan in January but the Premier League club look to have seemingly decided against exercising their option to sign him for £40million. ‌ That's the fee which United are continuing to hold out for and if no buyer is found, he'll return to United for pre-season training and their subsequent tour of the United States. But if Barcelona can work out a deal, Rashford has already given them the green light. ‌ Speaking while on holiday in Marbella, Rashford was asked by Spanish YouTube channel XBuyer whether he wants to play with Barca wonderkid Lamine Yamal in the future. "Yeah, sure. Everybody in the world wants to play with the best," the forward replied. "So hopefully, we'll see..." Continuing to praise Yamal, Rashford said: (Yamal) is gonna be… it's difficult to put into words what he's doing because he's not supposed to be doing it at 16, 17. He's playing at the highest level, I don't think we've seen it. To have his mentality is a skill. "He's not normal to be doing what he does and he will keep improving. (The Ballon d'Or) If you look at it in football ability he has to win, but then you look at Ousmane Dembele, the Champions League." The 27-year-old then sent a message to Barcelona manager Hansi Flick, suggesting that he can be Robert Lewandowski's long-term successor up front. "For me as I've got older, the No.9 position is becoming more comfortable, more natural," Rashford added. Would Marcus Rashford be a success at Barcelona? Give us your prediction in the comments section. ‌ Barca fans will also be take note of his comments about life in Spain. "Spain is nice, it's not too far from home," he continued. "If I'm training over a long period, my family can come for a few days, it's a nice location and good weather." Rashford also revealed how he looked up to former Barcelona forward Thierry Henry during his childhood. He explained: "Henry was comfortable playing off the left and in the middle, he's free flowing. When I was young I always enjoyed watching clips of him." Join our new MAN UTD WhatsApp community and receive your daily dose of Manchester United content from Mirror Football. We also treat our community members to special offers, promotions, and adverts from us and our partners. If you don't like our community, you can check out any time you like. If you're curious, you can read our Privacy Notice.