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Chief executive has year to run on contract but may put family first after pressures in role

George Dobell and Umar Farooq30-Oct-2020Wasim Khan, the PCB chief executive, has admitted he is undecided about his future in the position beyond his initial term.While there is more than a year to run on Wasim’s original three-year contract – it is due to expire in February 2022 – and talks have begun on a new deal, he has asked for time before committing.PCB chairman Ehsan Mani is understood to have suggested another three-year deal, but Wasim has said he is considering all term options. He will provide an answer in February 2021.Taking on the role at a turbulent time, Wasim has enjoyed some success in improving Pakistan’s status as a venue that is safe and welcoming for touring teams.On his watch, this year’s PSL has been played at home in its entirety for the first time, while Test cricket has also returned to the country. His personal relationship with key figures at other boards is understood to have been instrumental in this progress, with South Africa due to tour in January 2021 and Australia and England due to follow in 2022.Hopes also remain high of a short T20 tour by England to Karachi in January 2021, with a couple of first-class counties – Warwickshire and Leicestershire – exploring the possibility of pre-season tours to the country in the coming years. Zimbabwe are currently in Pakistan playing six limited-overs games.ALSO READ: Azhar Ali set to lose Pakistan Test captaincyBut there has also been controversy. There have, for example, been radical changes to the domestic structure – changes foisted upon the administration by the Prime Minister and board patron, Imran Khan – which has reduced the number of teams and resulted in the unemployment of a considerable number of players and coaches.The cull has proven unpopular with players who have, in many cases, seen reductions in their earnings. Recently, Misbah-ul-Haq, Mohammad Hafeez and Azhar Ali met with the Prime Minister to ask for a change, a request that was summarily dismissed.That, as well as a few other board decisions – coupled with a transitionary period in terms of results off the field – has led to some very vocal criticism, focused on Wasim. Plenty of it has revolved around him being an “outsider” with no knowledge of Pakistan culture, as well as his salary.Wasim was born in the UK – he became the first UK-born Muslim of Pakistan origin to play county cricket – to a father who had been born in Pakistan-administered Kashmir.While Wasim describes himself as “relaxed” about such criticism from a personal perspective, he is sensitive to the impact it has had on his family. In particular, he was concerned by the derogatory comments about him that his children have had to hear, partly as a result of which his family have moved back to the their home in Birmingham.”It’s been an eye-opening experience,” Wasim told ESPNcricinfo. “The encouraging thing is that the overwhelming majority of people have been very supportive and understand what we are trying to achieve and that there had to be change.”But there has been a vocal minority that have made life more difficult than it needed to be. Clearly, I have to make a decision that is right for Pakistan cricket but also my family. But it does feel as if we’ve made great progress and I would like to see the job through.”With a year remaining on my contract, the chairman has spoken with me and begun a discussion offering me an extension up to three years. I haven’t decided yet about anything. This is a big decision, I don’t have a straight answer to this. I have to think through and have to speak to my family about it.”I am thoroughly enjoying my job and have achieved a lot,” he added. “There is a five-year strategic plan and Mani saab wants me to execute it. There is a lot of work we have started that needs to be executed. We are about to start working on our 2023 FTP cycle and that will be a major task going forward. We are also going to bid for ICC events so there is an exciting time ahead and I want to consider an extension, but I am not sure about how many years.”The situation is complicated by uncertainty over the future of Mani. The PCB chairman’s tenure is due to end in September 2021 and though he could be appointed for another term, it isn’t certain that he wants to, although he has not confirmed this.There’s been talk of Wasim Akram, who remains close to Imran Khan, as one potential option – Akram is a member of the board’s cricket committee but is also generally busy with a number of broadcast and commercial commitments. With chief executive and chairman required to work together closely, the identify of Mani’s replacement – if one is required – may colour Wasim Khan’s decision.

Jack Grealish, who has welcomed a daughter to the world with long-term partner Sasha Attwood, has explained why he won’t ask Bukayo Saka to babysit.

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City forward now a proud fatherWouldn't trust Arsenal star to babysitKane picked out as most responsibleFollow GOAL on WhatsApp! 🟢📱WHAT HAPPENED?

The Manchester City forward is now the proud father of baby Mila. Attwood gave birth on September 27, a matter of hours before Grealish lined up in Premier League action against Newcastle. He is now back in the England squad for UEFA Nations League games with Greece and Finland.

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While on international duty, Grealish has been asked by which of his Three Lions team-mates he would trust most to look after the latest addition to his family. The 29-year-old said: “Harry Kane, I think. It's quite a young team so I wouldn't put it on any of the young lads and you know Harry, he's so reliable. One of the oldest lads, so yeah I'd go Harry.”

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Pressed further on who he would look to avoid, Grealish added: “The worst… I'm going to go Saka. Yeah I'm going to go Bukayo. I just reckon he would be sloppy, you know, falling asleep and that.”

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He went on to say of who he would go to for parenting advice: “I'd go with [Jordan] Pickford. [I'm] Quite close with him. You know what actually, I could go with Dec [Declan Rice] as well. Maybe Dec or Jordan. Yeah, one of them two.”

Liverpool manager Arne Slot no doubt paid close attention to Trent Alexander-Arnold's performance in midfield for England on Sunday evening at Euro 2024, with the Reds' vice-captain producing a solid if unspectacular kind of display.

Alexander-Arnold, who has spent the vast majority of his professional career at right back, has long been regarded as one of football's finest ball-plying specialists, with his depth of distribution described as "world-class" by pundit Gary Neville.

It was a stodgy, disjointed collective display from the Three Lions but Alexander-Arnold with several lapses that swirled an inevitable pool of detractors into garbling on about defensive deficiencies.

Minutes played

69'

Touches

60

Accurate passes

37/42 (88%)

Shots taken

3

Key passes

0

Long balls

4/6

Dribble attempts

0/2

Tackles

1

Interceptions

1

Clearances

2

Duels won

2/5

Dribbled past

0x

Error leading to shot

1

This was not the case. The 25-year-old played a decent games and was simply part of a team effort that failed to capture the best of this abundantly talented England team.

Slot will have taken note. Will Alexander-Arnold feature regularly in the middle of the park for the Dutchman, at Anfield? Will Liverpool need to sign a new holding midfielder, an upgrade on Wataru Endo, to slot the Scouse-born superstar into the fray?

Pertinent questions no doubt. But Liverpool might actually find that the crux of the matter lies with the rearguard. Liverpool need to strengthen at the back, and there's a target with a specific type of profile that could see Alexander-Arnold flourish as the oil in the engine room.

Liverpool lining up exciting defender

According to Spanish outlet Mundo Deportivo, Liverpool have seen a €50m (£42m) bid rejected for Lille centre-back Leny Yoro. Real Madrid are also preparing to launch an offensive for the teenager and there is an air of inevitability that he will move to the Spanish capital.

Last week, The Athletic's David Ornstein revealed that Liverpool and Manchester United hold a vested interest in the Frenchman, so the rumours clearly have substance.

Yoro is out of contract in 12 months so Lille will likely be hoping to cash in while they can. If Real opt against paying for him this summer, Liverpool may be in with a real shot for a prodigious talent.

Leny Yoro's 23/24 season in numbers

Yoro broke into the Lille first team during the 2022/23 campaign, starting eight games in Ligue 1. Journalist Zach Lowy declared him to be the latest in a "treasure trove of ballers" derived from Les Dogues' academy – he was right on the money.

His performances have led talent scout Jacek Kulig to describe him as "world-class material", with such command and poise and purpose about him.

Imposing yet limber, the 6 foot 1 talent started the 2023/24 campaign aged 17 but has cemented himself as an indispensable, irrepressible member, starting 30 league matches last term, scoring two goals, keeping 13 clean sheets, completing 92% of his passes, averaging 3.9 ball recoveries and 3.0 clearances per game and succeeding in 63% of his contested duels, as per Sofascore.

Liverpool would make a statement move in bringing him to Anfield, where he would be the linchpin of Slot's backline for years to come, perhaps even being the catalyst for Alexander-Arnold's ceiling-raising success in midfield.

Why Yoro would be perfect for Alexander-Arnold

Yoro would be perfect for Alexander-Arnold. He is an immense talent but he is earning his reputation by provide cover and disengaging from high-octane situations. Somewhat languid but deceptively alert, Yoro is unmatchedly on point with his positioning and spatial awareness, and he's an excellent passer too.

As per FBref, Yoro ranks among the top 7% of centre-backs across Europe's top five leagues over the past year for pass completion. Now, why is this important vis-a-vis Alexander-Arnold?

Well, for the Three Lions star to silence the doubters and prove himself capable of maintaining a level of supreme technical quality ten or twenty metres away from his usual placement, he will need a rock-solid defence.

Liverpool, despite yielding some of the most athletic and impressive defenders in the Premier League – namely, Virgil van Dijk and Ibrahima Konate – could benefit from a more traditional, basics-to-perfection type titan. Yoro could be that guy.

Yoro does not rank highly for creative metrics. In Ligue 1 last term, the 18-year-old made just 0.1 key passes and 0.3 dribbles on average per game. But that's okay. Promising, even, for the France U21 international would counterbalance the creativity and 'modern' styles of his Liverpool positional peers and ensure that Alexander-Arnold is fed with crisp and unerring support from deep.

Alexander-Arnold's denigrators latch onto a wayward pass, or an errant long ball, and gather such things into a pile to use as the grist of their argument. For such an expressive and unfettered playmaking genius, is it really so perplexing, such a mark of inferiority in the centre of the park, that he should cede possession every once in a while?

Still, for all this, Alexander-Arnold does not have a seat in the pantheon of defensive greats; as per Sofascore, he only won 45% of his contested duels in the Premier League last season.

Also called an "11/10 talent" by Kulig, Yoro would provide a base, a steely, unflappable foundation that would bolster Anfield's rearguard, steel-enforce the hindmost part of Slot's squad.

Journalist and U23 scout Antonio Mango might have said that he sees "Van Dijk in him", but Yoro's skill set is of his own, crafted from within and now developing at a staggering rate.

It goes without saying that Liverpool will make their move if Yoro indeed becomes available. Real Madrid hold most of the cards but the game is certainly not up.

Diaz sold, £216m spent: What Arne Slot's dream Liverpool XI could be

Anfield could boast quite the team come the end of the transfer window.

ByAngus Sinclair Jun 16, 2024

Roma and Italy icon Francesco Totti has hinted that he could come out of retirement at 48 amid interest from some Serie A clubs.

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Totti could return to playing football professionally Announced his retirement in 2017Serie A clubs have shown interest in the Italy legendFollow GOAL on WhatsApp! 🟢📱Getty ImagesWHAT HAPPENED?

The legendary attacker brought the curtain down on his career seven years ago after playing his final game for Roma. However, the former Italy star could come out of retirement at the age of 48 as he claims to have been approached by multiple Serie A clubs.

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Speaking to reporters at a recent event, Totti hinted at a surprise comeback to football as he said: "Some Serie A teams have contacted me. I admit that they made me think a little, a little crazy. It would be difficult, but in life, you never say never.

"There are players who have played many years after the end of their career. It also depends on where you play, with all due respect, but if I were to return to Serie A I would have to train really well."

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Totti has, however, firmly ruled out a move to Roma's arch-rivals Lazio as he told La Gazzetta dello Sport, "Lazio? I wouldn't have even considered it. I'd be ready in two to three months. I'm still playing at 48. Half an hour, twenty minutes. If I had to do something crazy, I'd do it in Italy, not abroad, but it's crazy.

"When you turn the page you never know what awaits you. It wasn't my choice, but in that moment it has to be experienced differently from the context. Maybe that's also why I've had that thing inside me. It's true that there's a beginning and an end to everything."

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WHAT NEXT?

It remains to be seen if Totti decides to return to football and can manage to attain the fitness levels required to pursue the sport professionally again, or if he would ever play for another Serie A club, having spent his entire career on Roma's books.

Rangers have held "discussions" with an exciting young attacking player over a summer move to Ibrox, according to a fresh transfer update.

Rangers transfer news

Philippe Clement will know the importance of a productive summer transfer window, with fine margins ultimately the difference between his side and Celtic in the Scottish Premiership title race last season. The Hoops arguably had a little more squad depth and experience when the crunch period arrived, and the hope is that the Gers learn from that heartbreak.

It has already been a strong period since the campaign reached its conclusion, with several quick signings made by Rangers, including Oscar Cortes, Jefte and Connor Barron. It has immediately strengthened the depth and ability at Clement's disposal, but further additions are being mooted, too.

Coventry City midfielder Callum O'Hare enjoyed an impressive 2023/24 season in the Championship, scoring six goals and registering three assists, and he has been linked with a switch to Ibrox this summer. Meanwhile, Flavius Daniliuc has also emerged as a potential addition for the Gers in the approaching weeks and months, with the 23-year-old Salernitana centre-back considered an improvement on Connor Goldson.

Long-term planning is important at Ibrox, too, and a new update suggests that the Scottish giants are eyeing up an exciting talent who could have a big future in the game.

Rangers hold talks with 16-goal ace

According to The Secret Scout on X, Rangers are among a host of clubs who want to sign Middlesbrough striker Ajay Matthews this summer:

"Middlesbrough 18-year-old striker Ajay Matthews set to leave this summer. Some of the clubs that have held discussions and hopeful of signing him include. Celtic, Rangers, Southampton, Brighton, Brentford, Newcastle."

Matthews may be something of an unknown to Rangers supporters, considering he is a young footballer making waves at youth team level, but that's not to say that he couldn't be an excellent signing for Clement.

At just 18, the Middlesbrough ace has outlined his potential with 16 goals in 17 starts for Boro's youth side in 2023/24, showing what a prolific attacking player he is. He has also made two appearances for the first team, going to show that he has been trusted at senior level, despite his tender years.

For now, Matthews would likely go straight into the youth setup at Rangers if he did make the move there, but there is no reason why he couldn't become a regular member of the senior squad if he showcased his quality from the off.

Scotland would still be at the Euros if 14-cap Rangers target started

Scotland suffered yet another case of glorious failure in a major international tournament.

ByRoss Kilvington Jun 24, 2024

If the Gers want to pip Celtic to league title glory next term, it is clear that experienced attacking players will need to be added – Abdallah Sima could possibly make his loan move from Brighton permanent, although that remains to be seen – but the importance of snapping up talented British youngsters should never be ignored.

The last seven games here have all been won by the side batting first, six of them while defending 320-plus

Karthik Krishnaswamy01-Dec-202010:07

Should India replace Yuzvendra Chahal with Kuldeep Yadav?

Big pictureAfter two near-identical Australia wins in Sydney, the ODI series shifts to Canberra, but the change in scene may not necessarily bring about a change in template. If the SCG was all about bat first, bat big and win, the Manuka Oval’s ODI history is pretty much just that, on steroids.The last seven games here have all been won by the side batting first, six of them while defending 320-plus totals. The last four first-innings totals here, in chronological order, are 372 for 2, 411 for 4, 348 for 8, and 378 for 5.For all the talk about India’s team balance and the lack of penetration in their bowling, their failure to win the toss so far has also contributed to their results. But even if the coin continues to work against them in Canberra, there is a chance for a little more parity between the sides with David Warner and Pat Cummins missing.Having already wrapped up the series, Australia may have pondered changes anyway. India might make a few too, not least with an eye on managing the workloads of Jasprit Bumrah and Mohammed Shami ahead of the Test series.An opportunity could open up, therefore, for someone to step in and make a statement. India have now lost five ODIs in a row – their last such sequence, back in January 2016, also featured a string of toothless bowling displays in Australia. That sequence ended with a win in their final ODI of that tour, which featured an eye-catching display from a surprise ODI debutant by the name of Bumrah.Form guideAustralia (last five completed matches, most recent first): WWWLW
India: LLLLLIn the spotlightSean Abbott came back into Australia’s squad thanks to his red-hot form in the Sheffield Shield – 14 wickets in three matches at 17.92, and 261 runs at 130.50 including a maiden first-class hundred. Can he carry that form over into white-ball cricket?Virat Kohli with his pace bowling group – Mohammed Shami, Jasprit Bumrah and Hardik Pandya•Getty ImagesHe made bright starts in the first two ODIs but failed to kick on, and that can’t keep happening, especially on flat pitches like these, if Mayank Agarwal wants a long run in India’s ODI side. Currently, he has a strike rate of 103.61 from five ODIs, but a highest score of only 32. This could be his last opportunity in a while to show he can play bigger innings.Team newsWith Warner out, Australia could either swap in D’Arcy Short or Matthew Wade at the top of the order, or push Marnus Labuschagne up the order – he’s volunteered for the role – and hand Cameron Green an ODI debut. Judging by Aaron Finch’s pre-match words, the former option seems likelier. Sean Abbott, who has been in terrific form with ball and bat in the Sheffield Shield, looks set to replace Cummins and play his first ODI since 2014.Australia (possible): 1 Aaron Finch (capt), 2 Matthew Wade/D’Arcy Short, 3 Steven Smith, 4 Marnus Labuschagne, 5 Moises Henriques, 6 Alex Carey (wk), 7 Glenn Maxwell, 8 Sean Abbott, 9 Mitchell Starc, 10 Adam Zampa, 11 Josh Hazlewood.India could hand some of their fringe players a chance with the series already lost, but predicting their XI is never an easy task. Of those who haven’t featured yet, Kuldeep Yadav and Shardul Thakur seem likeliest to get a game.India (possible): 1 Mayank Agarwal, 2 Shikhar Dhawan/Shubman Gill, 3 Virat Kohli (capt), 4 Shreyas Iyer/Manish Pandey/Sanju Samson, 5 KL Rahul (wk), 6 Hardik Pandya, 7 Ravindra Jadeja, 8 Shardul Thakur/Navdeep Saini, 9 & 10 two from Mohammed Shami/Jasprit Bumrah/T Natarajan, 11 Yuzvendra Chahal/Kuldeep YadavPitch and conditionsThe Manuka Oval has one of the flattest batting tracks in Australia, historically, as well as some of the longest boundaries. A warm day is forecast with a high of around 26 degrees Celsius.Stats and triviaOf all grounds to have hosted at least five ODIs in this century, the Manuka Oval has been the fastest-scoring, with an average ODI run rate of 6.36. India won’t have happy memories from their last ODI in Canberra. They were 277 for 1 courtesy centuries from Shikhar Dhawan and Virat Kohli, and needed 72 from 75 to win. But Dhawan’s wicket triggered an incredible collapse, the last nine wickets falling for 46 runs as Kane Richardson ran amok. Kohli needs 23 runs to get to the 12,000 mark in ODIs. If he gets there on Wednesday, he will have reached the landmark in 242 innings. Sachin Tendulkar, the previous quickest to the mark, got there in 300 innings. Mohammed Shami is two wickets away from 150 in ODIs. Quotes”The wicket is so true that it’s got nice pace and bounce in it. And once you get in, you can really cash in. It’s a beautiful outfield. It’s a big ground, so you probably get more value for your shots through the gap. You pick up twos and threes more often than what you do on some smaller grounds. You can start to accumulate quick runs there. On the flip side, if you bowl well early with that extra pace and bounce on the wicket, you can do some damage. Both teams will obviously be looking to use that new ball really well.”

Everton could move to sign a La Liga defender this summer, it has emerged, as Sean Dyche looks to bolster his ranks ahead of the new Premier League season.

Question marks at the back

Having secured Premier League survival despite two separate point deductions last season, Everton are looking to kick on this season. They have already brought in reinforcements, signing Iliman Ndiaye from Marseille after an unsuccessful spell in Ligue 1, while Jack Harrison has returned for another loan spell and Tim Iroegbunam has arrived from Aston Villa to strengthen the midfield.

But there is still plenty of speculation about how the Everton squad could look come the start of the season, with promising centre-back Jarrad Branthwaite at the heart of much of it.

The Englishman has already been the subject of two failed bids from Manchester United, the second of which totalled around £50m and was swiftly rejected.

The Toffees are thought to be holding out for around £70m to let their gem leave, with the 22 year old having appeared 42 times for Sean Dyche's side last season and becoming one of the Premier League's best left-sided defenders in the process.

Most Premier League appearances for Everton 23/24

Jordan Pickford

38

James Tarkowski

38

James Garner

37

Jarrad Branthwaite

35

Dwight McNeil

35

The Times claim that United will return with a third bid for the Everton man, though they are "unwilling to meet" the £70m asking price, which will force Everton to consider lowering their demands or keeping the centre-back. Now, they have been linked with a potential replacement for Branthwaite.

Toffees chase Copa America man

That comes with Paraguayan media revealing that Everton are in the running for 27-year-old centre-back Omar Alderete, who appeared three times at the most recent Copa America and even found the net against Brazil with a thunderous effort.

The defender only joined Getafe permanently last summer, in a deal worth 4m euros, but has gone on to cement himself as a key figure in their defence. He featured 31 times in La Liga as he helped his side out of relegation trouble, and is thought to have caught the eye of several clubs in the process.

One of those is fellow Spanish outfit Sevilla, but Everton are also named among the sides chasing his signature and have made contact to sign the defender.

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ByBen Browning Jul 12, 2024

Alderete only penned his £20k per week deal 12 months ago, and it runs until 2028, meaning that Getafe will demand a reasonable sum for his departure, though no specific fees are mentioned.

With Branthwaite being the only left-footed centre-back in the squad at present, Alderete's arrival could simply be to provide cover for the 22 year-old. At present, Dyche's only centre-back options are first choice pair Branthwaite and James Tarkowski along with Michael Keane and Mason Holgate, who has just returned from loan with Sheffield United and could be set to leave again.

Mainz defender Dominik Kohr has accused the referee of favouring Bayern Munich in their 4-0 loss to the Bavarian giants in the DFB-Pokal on Wednesday.

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Bayern beat Mainz 4-0 in DFB-PokalKohr slammed referee for 'wearing Bayern jersey'May face punishment for commentsFollow GOAL on WhatsApp! 🟢📱WHAT HAPPENED?

Four first-half goals from Bayern, including a Jamal Musiala hat-trick, were enough to put Mainz to the sword and send the visitors through to the third round of the DFB-Pokal. However, plenty of the home team's players were left furious at the officiating in the match and Kohr has gone so far as to accuse the referee of having a Bayern shirt on in a blockbuster interview.

AdvertisementGetty Images SportWHAT KOHR SAID

Speaking after the game, Kohr said to : "The referee had a Bayern shirt on today. We have to say that clearly. Every little call was in Bayern’s favor. The second goal was a clear offside. That’s the Bayern bonus."

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Even if the referee got a few decisions wrong in the game, Bayern were dominant throughout and good value for their win. Vincent Kompany's men boasted 80 per cent possession in the match, along with 15 shots over the course of the game.

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Getty Images SportWHAT NEXT FOR KOHR?

It would not be surprising to see the defender slapped with a punishment of some sort for his outburst. Usually players are fined for such comments but there have been instances where bans have been handed out for extreme cases.

Patel’s lack of game-time a “concern for the selectors,” says coach Stead

ESPNcricinfo staff21-Dec-2020Ajaz Patel has been left out of New Zealand’s Test squad for the upcoming two-match series against Pakistan despite having recovered from a calf injury. New Zealand instead leaned towards the all-round abilities of Mitchell Santner who retained his place in the squad.In the injury-enforced absence of Colin de Grandhomme, Canterbury seam-bowling allrounder Daryl Mitchell too kept his spot but there was no room for Matt Henry who recently returned to action from injury and took a match haul of seven wickets against the touring Pakistan Shaheens earlier this week.New Zealand’s Test squad against Pakistan•ESPNcricinfo LtdKane Williamson will take over captaincy from Tom Latham after he missed the last Test against West Indies in Wellington to be with his partner Sarah Raheem for the birth of their first child.Watch cricket on ESPN+

New Zealand vs Pakistan is available in the US on ESPN+. Subscribe to ESPN+ and tune in to the series

Patel had been identified as a more attacking option, as part of a spin overhaul earlier this year, but his lack of recent game-time worked against him. The 32-year old’s last competitive match was a Plunket Shield fixture for Central Districts in March.”The toughest squad selection was clearly around the spinner,” Gary Stead, the head coach, said in a statement. That basically came down to the balance of the side and with the four-strong pace attack going so nicely, we wanted to have a spinning allrounder as an option for that number seven position.”It’s really unfortunate for Ajaz, who has overcome his calf-injury, but the all-round ability of Mitchell Santner is our preferred option for this series. The fact Ajaz hasn’t been able to have any game-time in the lead-up was also a concern for the selectors.”Williamson’s comeback meant Devon Conway dropped out of the squad while Will Young remained as a reserve batsman.The group is set to assemble in Mount Maunganui on Wednesday ahead of the Boxing Day Test which will start on Saturday. Having already beaten West Indies 2-0 earlier this summer, New Zealand will look for another clean sweep to boost their chances of making the World Test Championship (WTC) final which will be played in June 2021 at Lord’s.”The Test team have played some really good cricket of late and to have an opportunity to push for a World Test Championship final is truly exciting,” Neil Wagner said.The second – and final – Test will be played at the Hagley Oval in Christchurch from January 3 next year.

Following his £60m move to Newcastle United back in the summer of 2022, striker Alexander Isak has excelled at St James’ Park, proving to be worth every penny of his huge transfer fee.

The Swedish international has scored 35 Premier League goals in his 67 appearances for the Magpies, finishing as the club’s top scorer in both of his seasons on Tyneside.

His excellent form hasn’t gone unnoticed, with the likes of Arsenal and Chelsea wanting to prise Eddie Howe’s star man away from Newcastle this summer, but the Magpies are demanding a fee well over the £100m mark.

Isak’s goals have undoubtedly helped propel Newcastle to the Champions League for the first time in 20 years, but the club are still looking to sign another option in forward areas.

Callum Wilson has struggled with his fitness in recent months, failing to make an impact on Howe’s squad, with the Magpies boss wanting another player who could replace the Englishman and form a partnership with Isak in 2024/25.

Newcastle want £40m talent this summer

According to journalist James Nursey, Newcastle are in the race to sign Aston Villa striker Jhon Duran, but face strong interest from other Premier League sides for his signature.

The 20-year-old also has interest from Chelsea and West Ham United, with the latter making three bids already this summer in their attempts to sign a new centre-forward.

Nursey also claims that Unai Emery’s side are holding out for £40m during the transfer window, with the Colombian forward wanting a move away from Villa Park to gain valuable first-team minutes to aid his progression in the Premier League.

Newcastle’s interest in Duran comes after their long-standing admiration for another attacking talent, with the Villa youngster undoubtedly a better option for Eddie Howe’s side.

Why Duran would be a better option than Calvert-Lewin

In recent months, the Magpies have been constantly touted with a move for Everton striker Dominic Calvert-Lewin, as the Toffees look to bolster their PSR position.

The 27-year-old scored seven times in 32 Premier League appearances for Sean Dyche’s outfit, but his side have previously demanded £40m to prise him away from Goodison Park this summer.

Their interest in Calvert-Lewin has dropped in recent times, with the Magpies undoubtedly making the right decision in pursuing a move for the Villa talisman over the Everton number nine.

When comparing the duo on FBref, it’s evident that Duran would be a better option, producing some superior numbers despite featuring for significantly fewer minutes than Calvert-Lewin.

The “phenomenal” Colombian, as dubbed by talent scout Jacek Kulig, may have scored four fewer goals than the Englishman last season, but he averaged a much higher goal per 90 record in the Premier League.

Games

23

32

Minutes played

475

2171

Goals

5

9

Goals per 90

0.95

0.29

Shots

3.8

2.9

Aerials won

63%

49%

Take-on success

40%

33%

He’s also averaged more shots per 90, whilst winning a higher percentage of aerial battles, providing a great option for Howe’s side in various different aspects at the top end of the pitch.

Duran’s first full season in England’s top flight has been a successful one, scoring some crucial goals for Villa in a campaign where they secured a Champions League spot against all the odds, just like Newcastle did back in 2022/23.

Whilst he may be an expensive addition, especially as a potential backup, his move to Tyneside could allow Howe to slightly alter his current system to form a brilliant partnership with Swedish international Isak, utilising his "weapon" of a left foot – as hailed by Kulig.

With Calvert-Lewin also being linked with a move for a similar fee, the Magpies would be making a huge mistake should they look to sign him over Duran, with the Colombian able to build on his impressive campaign and potentially improve further under Howe’s watchful eye at St James’ Park.

Newcastle make approach for "mentality monster" who'd make Isak unplayable

Talks have been held as Eddie Howe considers a swoop.

ByAngus Sinclair Jul 20, 2024