All posts by h716a5.icu

Tottenham Hotspur could turn to Inter Milan striker Lisandro Martinez as a potential replacement for Harry Kane if the latter is to depart Hotspur Way this summer, according to talkSPORT reporter Alex Crook.

Is Harry Kane leaving Tottenham Hotspur and could Lisandro Martinez replace him?

According to Sky Sports, Kane expects to stay at Tottenham for another campaign if he is not sold to Bayern Munich before his side's Premier League opener against Brentford on August 13th.

The report states that Bayern Munich plan to improve on their £81.7 offer to Spurs for Kane and a meeting between hierarchies of both clubs has already been held to try and come to a resolution. German giants Bayern Munich plan to offer the England international a five-year contract at the Allianz Arena.

TEAMtalk understand that Saudi Pro League side Al Hilal are also keen on Kane and are mulling over a potential world record bid to land the 30-year-old, which could be in the region of £200 million.

In regard to Martinez, InterLive revealed earlier this year that the Argentina international could emerge as a serious candidate to replace Kane in north London, though he could cost €120 million (£103.6 million) to acquire.

Last term, the £182k-a-week ace, who has an "X-factor", was in fine form for Inter Milan, registering 28 goals ad 11 assists across 57 appearances in all competitions, as per Transfermarkt.

Cited by talkSPORT, football legend Lionel Messi has heaped heavy praise on his international teammate Martinez in the past, stating in an interview: "He's spectacular. “He has impressive qualities. You could tell he was going to be a great player and he is showing that. "He's very strong, really good one on one, scores a lot of goals and in the area he fights with anyone, holds it up, he can turn, scrap to win it all on his own."

Speaking to GIVEMESPORT, journalist Crook has namechecked Martinez alongside a few other elite names around Europe that could replace Kane at Tottenham; however, he believes it may be a difficult sell to any high-profile forward due to Spurs' lack of Champions League involvement.

Crook stated: "Kylian Mbappe was just fanciful and extreme. I think with Dusan Vlahovic if Fabio Paratici is still involved and I think he is in some capacity, could be a possibility.

"Maybe someone like Lautaro Martínez at Inter Milan, although he suggested that he would be quite happy to stay for another season.

"They can't afford Victor Osimhen and I wouldn't have thought he'd want to come and join a non-Champions League team, which is going to be an issue for a few of their targets."

Who else could potentially replace Harry Kane at Tottenham Hotspur?

Rosario Central striker Alejo Veliz could be on his way to Tottenham this summer according to transfer guru Fabrizio Romano, who has recently stated on Twitter X: "Alejo Veliz has agreed personal terms with Tottenham, player wants to join — long term contract in place. Negotiations are underway between clubs — Rosario Central ask to keep Véliz on loan for at least six months."

Juventus striker Dusan Vlahovic could indeed emerge as an option for Spurs and would be available due to his current employers being mired in financial difficulty, according to Football Insider.

Tottenham are reportedly 'considering' Nottingham Forest forward Brennan Johnson as an alternative to Kane, though he would cost in the region of £50 million, as per The Daily Mail.

Brazilian striker Pedro, is another name being contemplated by Spurs in the event that Kane heads to Bayern Munich or elsewhere between now and the close of play, as per The Independent.

The South Africa quick, who has not played since July due to back spasms, is set to turn out for Cobras in a first-class fixture against Dolphins from Monday

Firdose Moonda22-Oct-2017Vernon Philander will make a much-anticipated return to cricket this week, after being named in the Cobras squad for the first-class fixture against Dolphins that starts on Monday.Philander has not played any cricket since July, when he suffered a stomach bug during the third Test against England at The Oval. He was due to turn out in the fourth Test a week later in Manchester but back spasms sidelined him and he has been recovering from the issue since. He was not considered for South Africa’s recently-completed two-Test series against Bangladesh but could put himself into contention for the inaugural four-day, day-night Test against Zimbabwe on Boxing Day.South Africa’s cricketers are not scheduled to play any long-form fixtures in November or the first three weeks of December, a window that was created for the T20 Global League. With that tournament now postponed, the domestic franchise T20 competition is expected to be brought forward and, if fit, Philander will feature for Cobras in that event as well.Another injured quick, Dale Steyn, is also targeting the November matches for a return to action but there is no confirmation on the availability of Morne Morkel, Chris Morris or Wayne Parnell, who are recovering from a side-strain, a back problem and a groin injury respectively. Lungi Ngidi, the young Titans quick, who was not played top-flight since June with a back injury, has been named in the franchise’s four-day squad to play this week.South Africa are currently carrying a long list of walking wounded. Apart from the six bowlers mentioned, David Miller has missed the last two ODIs against Bangladesh with a groin injury and captain Faf du Plessis had to retire hurt in East London after sustaining an acute lower-back strain while batting.The number of niggles would have been a major concern if the T20 Global League had kicked off as planned on November 3. Instead, these players now have additional time to prepare for a heavy international workload from January, when South Africa will host India for three Tests, six ODIs and three T20s, followed by Australia for four Tests.

There seems to have been another development invloving Liverpool and Southampton midfielder Romeo Lavia, according to Ben Jacobs.

The Belgian is the Reds top transfer target at this point in the window.

What is the latest news regarding Romeo Lavia?

The midfielder looks to be edging closer to a St Mary's exit this summer.

The player didn't feature in the Saints opening Championship game, instead being an unused substitute as the South Coast side beat Sheffield Wednesday 2-1, whilst the Belgian international wasn't a part of the squad that lost 3-1 to Gillingham in the second round of the Carabao Cup.

The player is a key target of Jurgen Klopp and Liverpool, who are light in the defensive midfield department after selling both Jordan Henderson and Fabinho to Al Ettifaq and Al Ittihad respectively, leaving the side with just young Stefan Bajcetic for the position, who is currently recovering from a major injury that not only ended his 2022/23 season prematurely, but has also forced him to miss every single one of the Reds pre-season outings.

According to journalist Paul Joyce, the Reds have submitted three offers for the midfielder this window; the first one being £34m plus £4m add ons, the second being £41m and the third being £45m. All the offers were rejected by the Championship side as they hold out for their £50m asking price they set at the beginning of the summer, which they believe that the Reds will meet eventually according to journalist Sacha Tavolieri.

Liverpool have reportedly been unwilling to match that asking price throughout the summer, and are considering alternative targets, with one such target being Fluminense midfielder Andre Trindade.

Speaking to Redmen TV, journalist Jacobs revealed that his understanding is that the Reds have submitted their fourth improved offer, with it "very known now" that Lavia wants to make the switch to Anfield this summer.

He said: "My understanding is that perhaps the media cycle has been a little bit behind on this one which is normal when you have a rejected bid, it tends to suffice and sometimes there is an assumption that the bid went in at the same time as the rejection, and my understanding is that since that third rejected bid, Liverpool have come back in with an improved offer, and naturally because the feeling is that Lavia and 50 million will do the deal and the rejected bid was at 45, there's obviously not much more needed if Liverpool want to get this one over the line, and if they meet the valuation that Southampton are looking for, it is very well known that Lavia wants the move."

Read the latest Liverpool transfer news HERE…

Would Lavia be the right signing for Liverpool?

Lavia would be a really strong pickup for the Merseyside club.

Throughout pre-season, Liverpool have employed a similar system to the one the side used in the final games of last season, and have added two new midfielders in the forms of Alexis Mac Allister arriving from Brighton and Hove Albion for a fee in the region of £35m and Dominik Szoboszlai from German outfit RB Leipzig for a fee in the region of £60m. As it stands, only a left-sided defensive midfielder to partner Trent Alexander-Arnold is needed, with the club playing multiple players in that role throughout the past month, and that is where Lavia would shine.

The 19-year-old would most likely be tasked with being the defensive stalwart for Liverpool which would allow their more attack-minded players the opportunity to get forward and showcase their talents, and that aspect of his game is something he excels at.

Twitter user @SawkurGod posted a graph showcasing the U24 best duel winners in the Premier League last season, and Lavia ranked with some elite company at the very top alongside Declan Rice and Moises Caicedo, both players who could command fees in excess of £100m this summer according to reports.

Being Liverpool's starting defensive midfielder could be a lot of pressure on the Belgian, however, he showed last season that he can perform at a high Premier League level in his 29 league appearances, earning praise from legendary Premier League midfielder Paul Scholes, who stated: "I think he is a player with so much potential and he could potentially go back, but he has settled in so well. He has got a pass in his locker and he is big and strong and likes to defend."

Everton may have been closing on one striker target, but fresh news has suggested they could be set to reinforce that problem area with ample cover at last…

Which club is interested in Patson Daka?

Whilst the last week has been dominated by their pursuit of Youssef Chermiti, Alan Myers has since taken to Twitter to offer a new name that has come of interest to manager Sean Dyche.

The well-respected journalist wrote:

"Everton are interested in signing Leicester City forward Patson Daka, the 24-year-old former Red Bull Salzburg man has scored 9 goals in 53 appearances for the midlands club."

Read the latest Everton transfer news HERE…

Having signed for the Foxes back in 2021, his £23m move had many excited at the prospect of the rapid striker in the Premier League.

However, following their relegation, the Toffees could be set to profit by snagging the forward, who still has three years left on his £75k-per-week deal at the King Power Stadium.

How good is Patson Daka?

Despite struggling since making that switch, the 24-year-old frontman still boasts all the physical assets to thrive in England, with pace, power and clinical finishing in abundance.

Although, the latter characteristic has been somewhat missing after leaving RB Salzburg.

In his final year in Austria, the Zambia star scored 34 times across all competitions, assisting a further 12. His speed left defenders in his wake, yet he had that touch of class to take his time, often always selecting the right decision with regard to finishing or creating.

Journalist Ryan Taylor lauded Leicester's business too after the deal was rumoured, noting:

"Leicester have pulled yet another blinder with Patson Daka: 51 goals in past two seasons in Austrian Bundesliga (59 matches). Jamie Vardy won’t be around forever & not many better long-term replacements out there. Electric pace, ruthless finisher."

To place these physical assets just ahead of Dwight McNeil makes for a frightening prospect for the rest of the division, given the creativity and pinpoint accuracy the former Burnley winger's left foot offers when given space.

Last season saw him score seven and assist a further three in the Premier League alone, coming through one of the club's toughest seasons in recent memory to actually aid their narrow escape from the drop.

The 23-year-old's 7.06 average rating in the league even marked the third-highest of those at the club who featured five or more times, bolstered by his 1.4 key passes and 1.8 tackles per game, via Sofascore.

It is not difficult to imagine the partnership he and Daka could strike up, with the tricky winger sure to benefit from the consistent presence of a true focal point up top.

Not only this, but his speed combined with McNeil's clear desire to defend from the front, could even see more chances forged via their combined relentless press.

Dominic Calvert-Lewin arguably remains the perfect build for a typical Dyche no.9 – boasting height, physicality and fierce pace in behind. There is no doubt that McNeil would thrive with his presence, although his recent injury troubles are suggestive that this is unlikely.

Daka would mark a fine alternative, who could combine to great effect to ensure this campaign is one where safety is achieved far sooner than the final day of the season.

Jeetan Patel, the former New Zealand offspinner, has been named as Warwickshire’s new first-class and one-day captain

ESPNcricinfo staff27-Nov-2017Jeetan Patel, the former New Zealand offspinner, has been named as Warwickshire’s new first-class and one-day captain, with Grant Elliott continuing to lead Birmingham Bears in the NatWest T20 Blast.Patel, 37, joined the club in 2009 and has been their overseas player across all formats since 2012, during which time he has played a part in three domestic trophies, including the County Championship in 2012, the T20 Blast in 2014, and Royal London Cup in 2016.All told, he has taken 353 first-class, 102 List A and 113 T20 wickets for the club and was named as the PCA County Most Valuable Player in both 2014 and 2016 and runner-up in 2017.His appointment comes at a difficult time for Warwickshire, who were relegated from the top flight of the County Championship last season. Ian Bell, the former club captain stood down towards the end of the season following a loss of form, and was initially replaced by his former England team-mate, Jonathan Trott.”We’re thrilled to have Jeetan returning to the club in April as our captain,” said Ashley Giles, Warwickshire’s director of sport. “He’s a true Bear, who has won all three domestic competitions at the club, and sets exceptionally high standards on and off the pitch.”In addition to being one of the best cricketers on the county circuit for several years, Jeetan has played a key role in mentoring our young spin bowlers and we believe that he will be an excellent leader as we continue our transition and build a platform for more success in the future.”Patel said: “I absolutely love playing for Warwickshire and it’s a great honour to return to Edgbaston in 2018 as club captain. When you look at the guys who have captained the club over the years and what they have achieved, it is amazing to go on that list.”It’s all about looking forward now though and working hard with the current group of players to try to create something special for the club and supporters in the years ahead. Last season was a difficult one but every club goes through transitions and the important thing is how people react. The challenge is there for us to rebuild and go again.”As part of that redevelopment, the club have named Dom Sibley as the new vice-captain, following his arrival from Surrey in August. Sibley, 22, made an immediate impact with 191 runs in seven T20 games to help the Bears to the Final of the T20 Blast, and he also scored 310 runs in six County Championship appearances.”Dom made a significant impact after joining the club at a difficult time last season and we saw some real fight and character in the innings that he played,” Giles said. “He’s fitted well into the changing room and by working closer with Jeetan, Grant and the other experienced players, we believe that he can also develop into an excellent leader.”

Manchester United have reportedly made contact over a move for midfielder Ryan Gravenberch, and Fabrizio Romano has shared Bayern Munich’s response.

Are Man United signing Ryan Gravenberch?

The Red Devils and Erik ten Hag have been productive so far this summer by bringing in Mason Mount, Andre Onana and Rasmus Hojlund in three separate big-money deals.

However, the club’s spending spree may not be over just yet, although any further business could depend on any outgoings.

One area of improvement could be on another midfielder, with Fiorentina’s Sofyan Amrabat and Everton’s Amadou Onana just two players who have been heavily linked with an Old Trafford switch.

Ten Hag has previously worked with Amrabat, and Gravenberch has also featured under the United manager after coming through at Ajax. The 21-year-old made all of his Ajax appearances under Ten Hag, and it looks as if a reunion between the pair could be one to keep an eye on in the final weeks of the window.

After recent rumours of a Man United move for Gravenberch, Romano took to X to provide a further update on what he has heard regarding the midfielder’s future.

The transfer expert stated that both Manchester United and Liverpool called, and therefore made contact, to be kept in the loop over Gravenberch’s situation, however, it is believed that the German giants aren’t intending to sell.

“Manchester United and Liverpool called again this week to be informed about Ryan Gravenberch situation.

“Understand Bayern position remains the same as of today — no intention to sell Gravenberch. Both MUFC and LFC remain keen in case of last minute changes.”

Read The Latest Man United Transfer News HERE…

How tall is Ryan Gravenberch?

Gravenberch can play as a central or holding midfielder and stands at 6ft 2. He has come in for plenty of praise during his career so far, with former Bayern boss Julian Nagelsmann saying the player has ‘everything a footballer needs’, pinpointing his ‘fantastic’ dribbling ability.

“He has my complete confidence. He also knows exactly what he needs to fit our style of play perfectly. He has everything a footballer needs. He has a fantastic dribble and can play out under the pressure.

“Ryan is better than most other footballers in Europe his age. You must have patience. This is Bayern Munich. You have to be better than the other players because there is no reason for me not to field the best."

Meanwhile, Brian Tevreden, a coach who promoted Gravenberch to Ajax’s Under 15s team as a 12-year-old, compared the player to both Frank Rijkaard and former United man Paul Pogba due to his height and technical ability.

“Physically, I see Frank in him from back in the day because he’s tall and very strong. But technically, I would say he’s a better version of Pogba in his best days at Juventus, in terms of his technique and his presence on the pitch.”

His versatility and experience at the highest level for Ajax and Bayern Munich could make him a smart signing by the Red Devils to strengthen their midfield options even further, and by the looks of things, United are monitoring the situation.

After missing out on Harry Maguire, it looks as though David Moyes is finally set to strengthen his backline at West Ham United, with an update emerging on Konstantinos Mavropanos.

The Hammers have so far signed just two reinforcements, in the form of James Ward-Prowse and Edson Alvarez. Now, however, they're reportedly securing one more.

What's the latest on Konstantinos Mavropanos to West Ham?

With the London club targeting a centre-back this summer, VfB Stuttgart's Mavropanos is set to undergo a medical, according to Fabrizio Romano.

The deal itself is reportedly agreed at €20m, plus €5m in add-ons, with 10% of the fee going to Mavropanos' former club and West Ham's rivals, Arsenal.

The Hammers turned to the former Gunner after facing rejection from Manchester United's Maguire. With a deal in place with the Red Devils, it was the England international's decision that reportedly broke the move down.

Moyes looks to have finally got his defender, however, as West Ham look to avoid the chaos of a relegation battle this season, and enjoy the comforts of mid-table, at the very least, instead.

On the opening day of the season, of course, they secured a point against Bournemouth, in what they may see as the foundation to build from in the coming weeks.

Should West Ham sign Konstantinos Mavropanos?

After shipping 55 goals last season – the ninth-worst record in the league – it's fair to say that West Ham needed reinforcements in their backline this summer. And Mavropanos could prove to be an ideal choice.

The defender, who was one of the quickest in the Bundesliga, may have struggled to make his mark when at Arsenal, but ever since switching London for Stuttgart, he has proven exactly why he got the move to the Gunners in the first place. He's earned plenty of praise in the process, too, with former Stuttgart manager Pellegrino Matarazzo saying, via the official Bundesliga website:

"He always shows in training that he can produce magic.

"He's our gladiator – a monster in terms of physique."

Read the latest West Ham transfer news HERE…

Meanwhile, Stuttgart sporting director Sven Mislintat said:

"Dinos is a prototype of everything this team stands for: always working, with a desire to win and to constantly improve.

"And when things aren't going well, he doesn't get negative. He always communicates well with his colleagues, and is always looking forward."

With that said, everything points to the notion that West Ham are getting themselves an excellent addition, and an addition whose speed is a particularly impressive trait.

As per the Bundesliga website, Mavropanos has previously clocked a top speed of 21.79 mph, showing pace that could play a crucial part in the Premier League when asked to keep up with the likes of Erling Haaland, and Mohamed Salah.

From West Ham's perspective, once medicals are done, and the defender is officially presented at the London Stadium, they'll want to get him involved as soon as possible. If the Hammers get the deal done in time, we may well see Mavropanos make his debut against Brighton & Hove Albion next Saturday.

The framework for USA Cricket, American cricket’s new governing body, was cleared not long after USACA was expelled by the ICC in June

Peter Della Penna20-Dec-2017American cricket is a step closer to having a firmer foothold on its administrative future after a final constitution was approved for USA Cricket, the new governing body that is taking over in the wake of USACA’s expulsion at this year’s ICC annual conference.”This is an extremely important development and I would like to thank the Advisory Group for their enormous contribution to the development of this Constitution,” ICC chief executive David Richardson said in a press release. “They have led a process that has been incredibly thorough and we think they have developed a best practice Constitution that gives the new national governing body in USA the best possible chance of success.”The framework for the constitution was cleared not long after USACA was expelled, and contains many of the guidelines which were rejected by USACA that became the final straw before the ICC voted them out in June as the board representing the USA as an Associate Member. Among them are term limits for board members, three independent directors, athlete representatives on the board and an independent chairman. Any proposal to make changes to the constitution will require a two-thirds majority from the wider membership.One new guideline not previously revealed by the ICC’s sustainable foundation advisory group is that the same person cannot run for multiple positions on the board. The scenario played out on numerous occasions at USACA elections, including one instance in which Kenwyn Williams ran for president, vice president and executive secretary. Williams eventually won a spot as executive secretary in 2012 but lasted less than a year in the role.According to the constitution, voting eligibility has fairly liberal guidelines taking into the consideration the fact that a sizeable portion of the cricket-playing community are non-citizens. Voting in elections is open to anyone who is a US citizen, permanent resident or a lawful resident. However, board members must be either US citizens or permanent residents, also known as green card holders.”This is an excellent constitution that reflects the diversity and strength of the USA cricket community,” said Jagan Jagannathan, a member of the sustainable foundation advisory group who has also served as the board chairman of the American Cricket Federation, the rival governing body to USACA. “Of course, cricket operates in a dynamic environment and we have built in mechanisms that enable the constitution to evolve with the growth of the game in the USA under the leadership of the future directors and the membership”.The election process for USA Cricket’s inaugural board is expected to begin in January, with the board seated by April.

West Ham United have carried on the momentum gained from the Europa Conference League victory into the current campaign as they remain unbeaten in the Premier League after four matches.

David Moyes is currently riding the crest of a wave result wise and coupled with the fact they have signed talents such as Edson Alvarez, James Ward-Prowse and Mohammed Kudus, everything looks rosy at the London Stadium.

With European football guaranteed until Christmas, the Scot has the chance to enter into West Ham folklore with some more solid results.

It remains to be seen how far this group of players can go, but they did miss out on one exciting move during the summer.

Indeed, the club were reportedly in talks with Paris Saint-Germain forward Hugo Ekitike on deadline day, but a move ultimately didn't go through.

What is Hugo Ekitike good at?

The 21-year-old has made a splash across the Channel for PSG and Stade Reims, netting 15 goals combined for both clubs in only 61 senior appearances, chipping in with eight assists too. Clearly, his potential is limitless.

Although having the great triumvirate of Kylian Mbappe, Lionel Messi and Neymar standing in his way for game time, the young Frenchman still managed to rank fourth across the squad for shots on target per game (0.5) and fifth for goals and assists (seven), suggesting that he impressed when given a chance.

He still has plenty of time to develop and a move to West Ham could have been ideal in the dying embers of the window, yet Moyes already has a wonderful talent waiting in the wings for more opportunities – Divin Mubama.

How good is Divin Mubama?

The 18-year-old has already tasted senior football for the club, making his debut against FCSB in the Europa Conference League group stage and marking it with an assist.

In their last 16 tie against AEK Larnaca, Mubama scored his first goal for the club, drawing praise from journalist Josh Bunting in the process, who said:

”Divin Mubama with his first West Ham senior goal. Has been flying for the youth teams this season but he has a massive future ahead of him. Is quick to adapt into different play styles. Not just a goal-scorer but has that link up play. Protects the ball very smartly for his age.”

Although three years younger than Ekitike, the West Ham gem could surpass his goal tally by the time he reaches 21, especially if he is given more chances by Moyes this term.

The Englishman knows where the goal is, having netted 54 goals across the youth teams in just 85 appearances, a stunning return rate and shows he has plenty of promise to shine on the senior stage.

Compared with the PSG youngster, that is a wonderful tally, as the Frenchman has only found the net 22 times across his elder youth and senior career.

Signing the PSG striker would likely have hindered his chances of success, but with a lack of centre-forward options at the London Stadium, Mubama has a clearer run at making a name for himself.

Mubama is clearly one of the best talents the club have had in years and if he continues on this upward trajectory, he could sparkle under Moyes, even surpassing Ekitike's talents.

Namibia collapsed from 151 for 3 to 193 all out, a spell of play that cost them their game against Canada in the Under-19 World Cup

ESPNcricinfo staff18-Jan-2018
ScorecardArslan Khan and Aran Pathmanabhan played vital hands•International Cricket CouncilNamibia collapsed from 151 for 3 to 193 all out, a spell of play that cost them their game against Canada in the Under-19 World Cup. Having won the toss and opted to bat, they had got themselves into decent position, with each of their top five getting a start. However, by the end of their innings – they were bowled out in 46 overs – the captain Lohan Louwrens’ 38 was the highest score.Left-arm spinner Aran Pathmanathan triggered the flood of wickets when he took out the No. 4 batsman Eben van Wyk in the 34th over. Ten runs and three overs later, offspinner Rommel Shahzad struck and Namibia, once poised to take advantage of the final overs, were nothing short of floundering. Allrounder Akash Gill and new-ball bowler Rishiv Joshi struck in the 41st, 42nd and 43rd overs to leave nothing to chance.A hurting Namibia side began their defence with legspinner Petrus Burger and he sparked hope by dismissing Canada’s openers in successive overs. However, that brought the captain Arslan Khan to the crease and, together with Gill who had taken four wickets earlier in the day, he began repairing the innings. Arslan made 72, Gill struck 52 and Kevin Singh chipped in with a half-century as well to secure Canada their first points in the tournament.