All posts by h716a5.icu

Arsenal remain keen on signing a new midfield maestro, to compound their already bolstered engine room with one crowning jewel…

Is Douglas Luiz leaving Aston Villa?

Whilst Declan Rice will likely remain the biggest deal that Gunners boss Mikel Arteta accomplishes this summer, that's not to suggest that others could not prove as imperative on the pitch.

Kai Havertz showcased his usefulness in their Community Shield win, as he occupied space up front in Gabriel Jesus' absence, whilst Jurrien Timber was economical as an inverted left-back.

Read the latest Arsenal transfer news HERE…

However, all of these stars could be usurped should Football Insider's claims be true, as they suggest that Aston Villa are already working on a replacement for Douglas Luiz.

It is noted that the Midlands outfit have begun this process given the fact that both north London sides are reportedly keen on signing the player, who FootballTransfers value at €39.8m (£34m).

How good is Douglas Luiz?

The offensive attributes of the Brazilian in question could provide some much-needed firepower into Arteta's midfield for the coming campaign, to partner his England international who starred most recently as a defensive asset for West Ham United.

Maintaining a 7.19 average rating in the Premier League, the 24-year-old also recorded an 88% pass accuracy and six goal contributions alongside one key pass, 1.7 interceptions and 2.1 tackles per game, via Sofascore.

Only Thomas Partey could equal his tackling proficiency within Arsenal's squad.

To now pair the metronomic, calming yet combative presence with the all-action style of Luiz, and the two could form an instant partnership that allows the two to both push forward at opportune moments, safe in the knowledge that the other will be there to cover.

The 25-year-old's average rating during that term sat at 7.10, with his goal contributions rising to 12, pass accuracy dropping to 86%, whilst also managing 1.2 key passes, 1.1 interceptions and two tackles per game, via Sofascore.

It is clear that the former Manchester City man has that preference towards attacking, but that does not see him shirk his defensive responsibilities – as such, he was lauded by writer Martin Laurence, who suggested he had a truly bright future:

"Realise he conceded the pen (not a foul in my opinion) but Douglas Luiz is just outstanding. He's 22! Will play for one of the biggest clubs in Europe before long. Enjoy him while we can".

To make that move to the Emirates could see him realise his potential even sooner than expected, with all the aforementioned figures certain to skyrocket when surrounded by the endless improved quality on display within their title-chasing outfit.

One of the big issues Arteta faced last season was a lack of depth following poor form or injuries, and with Granit Xhaka now gone, Rice hardly profiles well to offer the goals that would be missed with the Swiss star's absence.

Luiz would not only offer this but also incomparable reliability, given he featured in 40 games across all competitions last campaign.

Should he and Rice hit the ground running as their respective play styles suggest they would, then it could truly provide a frightening foundation for the rest of the Premier League to try and compete with their energy, defensive work rate, creativity and ability to score.

A new logo representing the new governing body was unveiled on Sunday, on the 173rd anniversary of the first international sporting contest between USA and Canada in New York City played in 1844

Peter Della Penna24-Sep-2017In one of the first tangible representations of progress in the reformation of American cricket governance in the wake of USACA’s expulsion at the ICC annual conference in June, ICC Americas has announced that the new governing body being formed to replace USACA will be known as USA Cricket. A new logo representing the new governing body was unveiled on Sunday on the 173rd anniversary of the first international sporting contest between USA and Canada held in New York City on September 24, 1844.”One of the things we really tried to do is build a brand that not only connected with our past and 300 years of cricket in the United States, but also helped paint a picture for what the future of this sport could be,” Eric Parthen, USA project manager for the ICC, told ESPNcricinfo in an interview during the event. “We started the process working with Adrenalin, a company out of Denver that has done some work with the NHL, Phoenix Coyotes, Los Angeles Kings.”The logo process engaged a wider population of people through surveys. Once we got through the survey process, we drove it more internally with Adrenalin, taking the feedback we got both from the [ICC’s USA] advisory groups and from the surveys in the wider population within the cricket community and ultimately used that as the guiding principles for creating this logo.”Unlike the USACA logo, which featured an eagle embedded in a cricket ball, the new USA Cricket logo looks similar to the shield logo of the National Football League (NFL). The logo prominently features a cricket bat, something that was non-existent in the USACA logo and a trait that Parthen feels would help signify a new identity to bridge the gap between mainstream American sports fans and the core cricket membership base of expatriates from South Asia and the Caribbean.”As we want to take this sport mainstream and not just be a sport for the people that are currently playing it or the expats, that bat was the single most identifying factor for cricket within the United States,” Parthen said. “Maybe that’s not true for Australia or England or India, but in the United States, the one thing that mainstream America associates cricket with, is the bat.”So we felt it was an important part and we wanted it to be detailed enough that it didn’t look like a rowing paddle, an oar or a fraternity paddle. We looked at a number of different iterations and we felt this was the bat that had the detail that really looked like the cricket bat. So it’s a prominent feature of the logo but something we feel is pretty important to try to connect the sport to mainstream America.”USA CricketAccording to Parthen, a cricket ball appears in the majority of logos throughout the cricket world. He also noted that the logos of most American sports leagues and teams also include a ball in their logo.”In line with winning the Auty Cup for the first time in 26 years, we felt like this logo needed to be something that’s fresh and unifying in rebuilding and something that everybody could connect with.”Not just connect with the past or the future but embrace the past and look to the future and the goals we have for developing and promoting cricket, the goals we have for creating more competitive teams for competing on the highest stage. We just wanted something that resonated with the American public. If we were going to be relevant to the American people as a sport, we needed an element that clearly defined our game.”The logo’s red, white and blue color scheme is a nod to the American flag while Parthen says the other main characteristic is a single star placed inside the ‘U’ in ‘USA’ which he cites as a symbolic touch for what USA Cricket should represent both on and off the field.”The single star in the U speaks to a couple different things,” Parthen said. “One, through this whole process we’ve tried to be a unifying body. We want this to be a unifying organization so we felt the star speaks to one organization providing that strong leadership and also equally as important this one star represents cricket being one team that’s necessary to be successful.”It’s not a great individual, great bowling, batters are more important than bowlers or vice versa. It takes a full team to win and we felt that star ultimately spoke to the fact that if we’re going to succeed, we need to do it both on the field and off the field working together.”

Tottenham Hotspur could be set to continue their summer spending spree by making a move for Nottingham Forest forward, Brennan Johnson, albeit with the Lilywhites like to face competition for the youngster's signature.

How much would Brennan Johnson cost?

According to the Daily Mail, the north Londoners are seemingly considering whether to make a move for the 22-year-old if they are to lose talisman Harry Kane to Bayern Munich, with the Wales international among those list of potential targets who could replace the England skipper.

The report suggests that the Forest ace would suit the needs of what Ange Postecoglou and co are looking for as he qualifies as a homegrown talent and already has Premier League experience under his belt, having helped his current side to stave off relegation last season.

Read the latest Tottenham transfer news HERE…

As per the piece, the City Ground outfit are likely to demand as much as £50m if they are to sanction a sale this summer, although Spurs will seemingly be hoping to find a 'middle ground' rather than meeting that sizeable asking price.

Those at N17 aren't alone in their interest in the versatile forward, however, with Brentford having only recently seen a £35m bid rejected.

How good is Brennan Johnson?

There may be those scratching their head at the prospect of replacing Kane – who scored 30 league goals last season – with a player who has only played in the top flight for a solitary campaign thus far, although Johnson may help to form part of a fluid forward line alongside the likes of Heung-min Son, rather than directly filling the shoes of the Bayern target as a central striker.

That is the view of the Independent's Miguel Delaney, who previously shared the alterations that could be made if Tottenham's record scorer is to depart: 'Should Spurs sell Kane, the idea would be more to reshape the attack amid Ange Postecoglou’s fluid new style, rather than directly replace the forward. That is seen as virtually impossible.'

Johnson, therefore, could prove to be a dream option for that new-look attack as a player who can feature out wide or through the middle, with the emerging talent having proven himself to be a real "livewire" of late, as per journalist Ciaran Kelly.

In his debut season in the Premier League last time out, the one-time Lincoln City loanee scored eight goals and provided three assists in Forest's battle for survival, having previously been crucial in the club's promotion push after contributing 26 goals and assists in the Championship in the 2021/22 campaign.

That time in the second tier showcased the forward's ability to provide quality service to his teammates as he created 15 big chances in 2021/22, ensuring he could well help to tee up the aforementioned Son where possible next season – with Kane, for reference, creating 14 big chances in the top flight last term.

The latter man did endure something of a dip by his own standards after scoring 'just' ten league goals last season, although the 31-year-old remains an undoubted goal threat having scored 23 top-flight goals the year prior to claim the Golden Boot.

With the South Korean star likely hoping to get back to his best under Postecoglou in the upcoming campaign, having another attacking weapon alongside him to help carry the goalscoring burden could be crucial, hence why Johnson could emerge as a wise investment for those in north London.

Mohammad Amir’s five-for and an unbeaten half-century from Ryan ten Doeschate helped Essex take charge at North Marine Road

David Hopps at North Marine Road06-Aug-20171:14

County Championship round-up: Yorkshire crumble against Essex

Roll up, roll up, for the greatest Seaside Extravaganza in the Land. The start of the 131st Scarborough Festival saw Yorkshire fall quicker at Scarborough than the 10p pieces in the Penny Falls machines that after all these years occasionally tempt holidaymakers into the amusement arcades. Eighteen in the day and, at the end of it all, Essex holding the advantage.If you shove a round of Championship cricket into an otherwise non-stop programme of T20 cricket, don’t be surprised at the outcome.As Yorkshire tumbled to 74 for 9 before lunch, Adam Lyth was the coin that would not drop. He was last out for 68, scoring 63.5% of Yorkshire’s runs off the bat as they scrambled a pitiful 113 in 35.2 overs against the swinging ball. The only other batsman to look secure was Ryan Sidebottom, who helped add 39 for the last wicket in little bother, the most meaningful 8 not out of the season. You can signify a lot with a silent defensive push.Considering their disastrous first session against Mohammad Amir and Jamie Porter, Yorkshire would be relatively content with the position at the close of the first day. Essex’s lead with two wickets remaining was 75, still within range, and even that owed a lot to Ryan ten Doeschate’s unbeaten 61 from 83 balls.Yorkshire lack three England batsmen in Joe Root, Jonny Bairstow and Gary Ballance (lest his detractors forget, not yet dropped by England but injured, although the difference might be nit-picking) and have no overseas batsman on hand. Essex are without two batting rocks in Alastair Cook and Tom Westley. The bowlers could remain on top until the end.Lyth narrowly failed to carry his bat, although the distinction does not particularly interest him. Not like Geoffrey Boycott or the Great Stonewaller of days of yore, Louis Hall. He has managed it a couple of times and at the time didn’t really see what the fuss was about. “I always have to carry it,” he said. But he played late and within himself and drove judiciously. His cover drive against Mohammad Amir to reach 50 was as good as it got for Yorkshire.Twice, he might have fallen. On 28, a T20-style uppercut against Paul Walter was tipped over the bar by Varun Chopa at slip. Walter also surprised him with a languid bouncer on 63 but it fell safely at leg slip.When the ninth Yorkshire wicket fell, a spectator stood in front of the Tea Room, so identified by whitewashed capitals on its tiled roof so large they could be seen from the moon, observed the sun shining on the North York Moors and uttered: “Summat’s up.” Summat was up indeed. This match was billed as Yorkshire’s chance to launch a Championship challenge, but they have lost two of their last three matches and should they lose here, and Somerset start winning, they will start looking at the other end of the table.Mohammad Amir claimed his first five-wicket haul for Essex•Getty ImagesIt possible to discover a couple of contented Yorkshiremen in a 6000-plus crowd at North Marine Road, but as they were Chris Silverwood and Anthony McGrath, coaches of an Essex side standing proudly at the top of Division One, that did not noticeably lift the holiday mood.Yorkshire’s chief tormenter was Amir, a mid-season replacement for Neil Wagner and playing only his second Championship match of the season. The last three wickets rewarded 11 graceful overs with 5 for 18. As the last of them, Lyth, succumbed at first slip eight balls into the afternoon, Amir’s strangled cry of celebration cut through an air of stony silence.Amir struck twice in his new-ball spell. Alex Lees departed to the pavilion with an aggrieved look after an 11-ball duck, but as he could conceivably have been given out lbw or caught at fourth slip off an inside edge, the details didn’t really matter. Tom Kohler-Cadmore was bowled, undone by inswing.But the incursions with the new ball were not just about Amir. Jamie Porter made excellent use of helpful conditions as Yorkshire fell to 25 for 5 by the time bags had been unpacked and requisite layers of clothing decided. Harry Brook, released by England U-19s, pushed hard at one, Jack Leaning edged one that bounced and left him just enough and Tim Bresnan fell lbw second ball.As wickets continued to fall, though, there was something to engage the crowd. With Yorkshire nine down, lunch was delayed for half an hour, as per regulations, in a search for the last wicket. But when the umpires trooped off at 1.30pm, they were curtly instructed on their headsets by the Yorkshire scorer, John Potter, that they were one short of the statutory eight overs and should remain where they were.By the time they retraced their steps, in an atmosphere of confusion, the groundstaff had already pushed their wheelbarrows onto the wicket, and impromptu games of cricket were well under way on the outfield, so much so that one young lad had already scored more than every Yorkshire batsman but Lyth. They were ushered off, at which point a further over of utter inconsequence took place.Silverwood went to chat in the crowd as Essex batted, but as relaxed as he looked, the loss of three wickets before tea underlined Essex would not find things easy. Ravi Bopara pulled the second ball of the evening from Jack Brooks for six, just out of Sidebottom’s reach at long leg, but then pulled a long hop to square leg.Yorkshire hit back again midway through the evening session with three wickets in eight balls. Ben Coad, the most insistent of Yorkshire’s attack, is one fast bowler who will have welcomed the mid-season switch to T20 after an arduous debut season. He ended Adam Wheater’s useful resistance and had James Foster caught at second slip in the 42nd over before Sidebottom removed Paul Walter in the next over.As so often, Essex looked to ten Doeschate. Playing with selective aggression, he did not disappoint.

Mauricio Pochettino has already seen four players arrive at Chelsea during this transfer window, and with a move for Axel Disasi close to completion, it will be another solid signing that the club requires ahead of the season.

Could the Argentinian perhaps make one of the signings of the summer however? As the Blues have been linked with a move for Kylian Mbappe.

Could Chelsea sign Kylian Mbappe?

According to The Daily Record, The Stamford Bridge side are looking to ‘negotiate a cash-plus-player deal’ in order to sign the Frenchman this summer.

PSG accepted a record £257m offer from Saudi Arabian side Al Hilal, however, Mbappe declined to discuss a move and his future continues to look uncertain.

Read the latest Chelsea transfer news HERE…

It’s widely believed that Real Madrid will make an offer for the forward before the end of the transfer window, yet Chelsea may have other ideas.

The 24-year-old is valued at €126.4m (£109m) and it’s likely Pochettino would have to offer a fee around this mark, if not higher, should he try and lure the mercurial forward to the Premier League.

What could Kylian Mbappe offer Chelsea?

Last summer, Manchester City brought Erling Haaland to Manchester City, and the striker went from prolific marksman to global superstar as he helped his side win the treble.

The Norwegian netted a staggering 52 goals in 53 matches, and he was clearly the final piece of the jigsaw that Pep Guardiola needed to take his team to the next level.

Alongside Haaland, Mbappe is arguably one of the biggest commodities in global football, and the Frenchman could improve any team that he joins, especially Chelsea.

Writer Musa Okwonga earmarked him for future success back in 2017, saying: “Mbappé is the best player I have seen at that age since Ronaldo. There is no other footballer of this era who has been so complete so young.”

Since then, he has gone from yet another French talent to megastar, becoming the first teenager since Pele in 1958 to score a World Cup Final goal as France defeated Croatia in 2018 while winning six Ligue 1 titles throughout his career so far.

The Blues scored just 38 Premier League goals last term, and the need for goals is imperative if they are to challenge for honours next season. Mbappe’s 36 goals from 42 appearances across the league and Champions League suggests he could be the answer.

It isn’t just his goal-scoring abilities which could improve Chelsea, as the Frenchman ranks in the top 1% for progressive carries and touches in the opposition penalty area per 90 compared to positional peers while also ranking in the top 3% for successful take ons per 90.

This clearly suggests that he is a menace in the opposition box, taking on defenders with apparent ease, and he could create plenty of opportunities for others to score.

Signing Mbappe would signal a massive statement of intent for Pochettino, especially considering they don’t have Champions League football next season.

If he could pull it off, the Argentinian would bolster his team significantly and sign his own Haaland in the process.

Newcastle United enjoyed a tremendous 2022/23 campaign as they finished fourth in the Premier League to secure a Champions League place.

Who have Newcastle United signed this summer?

The Magpies have reacted to that success by adding to their playing squad ahead of next season in an attempt to bolster Eddie Howe's options.

Italy international Sandro Tonali, who played his first match earlier this week against Rangers in a friendly, has joined from AC Milan in a £55m deal.

Dan Ashworth is also reportedly set to add Leicester's Harvey Barnes and Southampton's Tino Livramento to the team for a combined £68m.

A central defender could also be on the cards as it was recently reported that the club are interested in signing Crystal Palace star Joachim Andersen.

How good is Joachim Andersen?

The 27-year-old titan's performances for the Eagles last season suggest that he is an excellent Premier League performer who could be a monstrous partner for Sven Botman moving forward.

He is four years younger than Howe's current right-sided centre-back – Fabian Schar – and could be the long-term option in that position.

Despite playing for a Palace team that finished 11th in the table, Andersen averaged a Sofascore rating of 6.98 across 32 outings.

When Newcastle ended the 2021/22 campaign in 11th place, Schar averaged a Sofascore rating of 6.90 over 25 matches. However, that score jumped up to 7.13 in his 36 Premier League outings last season in a thriving Toon team.

The Switzerland international's progression highlights what can happen when you place a player in a better environment, which suggests that Andersen has the potential to be an upgrade on him when you consider his impressive performances in an average Palace side.

He could be a monster alongside Botman at the back due to his ability to dominate opposition attackers at Premier League level.

The colossal Dane won an eye-catching 72% of his aerial battles last term – 5% more than Schar – as the 6 foot 4 tank was able to use his height to his advantage.

In fact, the Eagles titan ranks in the top 16% of centre-backs across the Men's Big Five Leagues and European competitions for aerial duels won per 90 over the last 365 days.

Andersen – once described as "underappreciated" by pundit Robbie Earle – also ranks in the top 1% of his positions peers for clearances made per 90 (6.08), which highlights his impressive defensive instincts and positioning.

Botman, who averaged a Sofascore rating of 6.99, won 66% of his contests in the air as Newcastle's left-sided centre-back throughout the Premier League season just gone.

These statistics show that both players, who play on opposite sides of a central defensive pairing, are dominant defenders who like to compete with attackers to win the majority of their battles.

Therefore, Howe could form a monstrous centre-back duo by signing Andersen – reportedly valued at £50m by his current club – to partner alongside the Netherlands international over the coming seasons.

The Danish brute, who did not make a single error leading to a shot or goal for the opposition last term, could compete with Schar for that right-sided central defensive spot to create strong competition for places.

It seems a pretty safe bet to assume that neither Haseeb Hameed or Jos Buttler will be in the England squad for the first Test against South Africa when it is named at 9am on Sunday

George Dobell at Edgbaston28-Jun-2017
ScorecardIt seems a pretty safe bet to assume that neither Haseeb Hameed or Jos Buttler will be in the England squad for the first Test against South Africa when it is named at 9am on Saturday.Both were in the side the last time England played a Test series – December in India, though Hameed missed the final Test through injury – but, for various reasons, it seems neither will retain their place.Haseeb Hameed has simply not scored enough runs. In 15 first-class innings this season, he has failed to make a 50 and only reached 25three times. He’s been out for a duck four times.By the time the India series finished, it seemed unthinkable that Hameed would not be retained for England’s next Test. But, whetherit’s a case of county bowlers learning how to bowl at him after a successful first season in the game, or whether he is strugglingmentally with the new levels of expectation with which he is confronted, is hard to say. His balance at the crease might also be a factor; his movements certainly don’t seem as sharp as they did in India with a prop onto the front foot perhaps leaving him exposed whenhe has to play back.Butter was promoted to open in the second innings here. It was a tactical decision based upon the hope that he might enjoy the pace ofthe harder ball and also soften it more quickly. Worcestershire enjoyed success with similar tactics against Durham.It was selfless of Buttler to agree to such a ploy. But whether it’s what he needs at this stage of his career is debatable. Rather thanbringing his undisputed white ball skills to play in red (or pink) ball cricket, he might be better served developing his long-form skills.He hasn’t had much chance to do that. Since the end of the 2014 season, he has played just two Championship games and scored 45Championship runs. He has played 15 Tests, it is true, but few learn their trade at the top level without an apprenticeship. It is asking alot of him to do so.It would be understandable if Buttler didn’t continue to pursue a future as a red ball player. He doesn’t need to: his status as a whiteball player – and his earning potential – is strong. If he helps England win a World Cup, he can retire with a proud record.He has always said, however, that he is keen to make it as a Test player and he clearly has the raw ability to do so. But, as JohnLennon put it, life is what happens to you while you’re busy making other plans. And the down side of England’s new prioritisation ofwhite ball cricket – the decision to play in the IPL rather than County Championship; the decision to allocate a window in prime summerto a new-team T20 competition – is that there is simply no time for players like Buttler to learn their red-ball trade. It’s no-one’s fault, it’s just a reflection of the modern world.Haseeb Hameed has done nothing to retain his England place•Getty ImagesAnyway Buttler, having attempted a lavish swipe outside off stump, soon departed to a catch at mid-wicket as he tried to clip one throughthe leg side. And Hameed, who survived a strong leg before shout on 15, was then trapped by a little away swing as he shaped to playthrough mid-wicket and was beaten by one that looked as if it were heading on to his pads, but straightened towards middle and off.Both might have learned a thing or two from Andy Umeed’s innings. While both Hameed and Buttler paid for playing across the line, Umeed played resolutely straight and demonstrated remarkable patience in adding 100 for Warwickshire eighth-wicket with Jeetan Patel.It has emerged – courtesy of Robert Brooke, co-founder of the Association of Cricket Statisticians and Historians – that Umeed’scentury was the second slowest (in terms of minutes; records in terms of balls have only been reliably kept since about 1987) in the history of the County Championship after Jason Gallian’s 453 minute effort for Lancashire against Derbyshire at Blackpool in 1994. It took Umeed 429 minutes to reach three-figures, which was nine minutes slower than WH ‘Billy’ Denton’s 420-minutes century for Northants against Derbyshire in 1914.Warwickshire’s management have been asking for their batsmen to show some fight for a few weeks; in Umeed they found an old-fashioned battler. It is not a fashionable quality, but then nor are good manners or driving on the inside lane on a motorway and those things have value, too.The most fluent batting on day three of this game came from Alex Davies. Driving, cutting and pulling with more freedom than anyoneelse has managed all game, Davies helped Lancashire wipe off the first innings arrears of 48 and gain a lead of 130 going into the final day.But when he fell top-edging an attempted pull and Steven Croft laced another pull to mid-wicket where Umeed took an excellent catch – itseems he can move pretty fast when required – Warwickshire clawed their way into the game once more. If the weather holds, we might yethave a terrific finish here.

Everton target Anthony Elanga is 'veering away' from a move to Goodison Park and will instead keep his 'options open' this summer as he finds himself out of favour at Manchester United, according to transfer insider Dean Jones.

Is Anthony Elanga moving to Everton?

As per BBC Sport, Everton have been interested in Elanga this window and Manchester United are believed to be open to letting him go for a fee in the region of £15-20 million.

Nevertheless, The Daily Mail report that Elanga isn't keen on a move to Goodison Park this summer and has in fact turned down the chance to work under Sean Dyche as he assesses his options.

The outlet claim that Elanga and Everton have held discussions over a potential switch; however, the player has 'ruled out' the possibility of heading to the Toffees over doubts over his suitability as a player to Dyche's tactical framework.

Elanga has previously been linked with Everton and was close to joining the club on loan in January before his move was blocked by Manchester United at the last minute, according to The Manchester Evening News.

Intriguingly, the same publication state that Nottingham Forest have also expressed a desire to try and take Elanga to the City Ground and it is rumoured that Manchester United could half their asking price to £10 million.

And, it now looks as if he is set to join the Nottinghamshire club.

Last term, Elanga, who was hailed as a "quality" player, made 26 appearances in all competitions for Manchester United, registering two assists in total, as per Transfermarkt.

Speaking to Football FanCast, transfer insider Jones doesn't think that Elanga will envisage himself moving to Everton any time soon.

Jones stated: "Elanga looked like he was going to be, not a central figure at Man Utd, but certainly a first-team figure at Man Utd at one stage and he was probably enjoying being part of that trajectory. If he's going to contemplate a move. I think that he'll want to be veering away from the side that has been so much of the game on the back foot and that are going to be relying a lot on set pieces and moments in games rather than dominating them. Maybe he's just trying to keep his options open to make sure that he lands a move that actually suits him, but from an Everton point of view, yeah, I think it'd be quite disappointing as he holds good value in this market."

Who else does Sean Dyche want to bring to Everton?

Renowned transfer expert Fabrizio Romano has detailed that Villarreal forward Arnaut Danjuma is closing in on a move to Everton, stating on Twitter: "Danjuma will undergo medical tests as new Everton player in the next days, it could be weekend — not today. Agreement reached on loan deal from Villarreal until June 2024, as reported earlier. Danjuma has accepted — he already spoke to Sean Dyche. Here we go."

Leeds United forward Wilfried Gnonto is reportedly willing to swap Elland Road for Goodison Park this summer, though a fee is still to be agreed by both parties, as per FootballTransfers.

Ajax striker Brian Brobbey is being lined up as a potential solution to Everton's goalscoring woes and boss Dyche is keen on pushing a move through for the Dutchman, as per Football Insider.

Everton look like they're about to start ramping up their transfer business and it could be an exciting few weeks for Toffees' supporters as new arrivals draw closer.

England ground their way into a dominant position in the first Test of the series on the back of handy contributions from Moeen Ali and Alastair Cook

The Report by Alan Gardner08-Jul-2017
Scorecard and ball-by-ball detailsSouth Africa have not lost a Test at Lord’s since 1960, recording four victories and two draws in six visits post-readmission. That redoubtable record looked set to come under threat over the next two days as England ground their way into a dominant position in the first Test of the series.Inch by inch, Joe Root’s new(ish) England side took control on the third day. Moeen Ali again played a key role with the ball, his impressive personal contribution continuing with a four-wicket haul as South Africa settled for a first-innings deficit of 97; Alastair Cook then passed 50 for the 15th time in a Lord’s Test as England stretched their lead beyond 200 on another hot and hazy afternoon in the capital.The situation would have been trickier still for South Africa had it not been for contrasting half-centuries from Quinton de Kock and Vernon Philander earlier in the day. The majority of Philander’s innings came after he had been struck a painful blow on the hand by James Anderson, although X-rays confirmed he had not suffered a break. He did not return to the field until late in the evening session and was not called on to bowl, although South Africa hope he will be fit to play a full part on Sunday.Cook had missed out in the first innings but was not about to let a second opportunity go begging. South Africa lost both their reviews inside ten overs trying to dislodge him and although he was separated from his opening partner, Keaton Jennings, after an 80-run stand, Gary Ballance helped steer England to the close with the majority of their batting resources intact.At one stage in the evening session, Cook amassed a single run over the course of 40 deliveries, a man perfectly content to embody the statelier virtues of a bygone era amid the carnival of modern batsmanship. The practice of leaving the off side open to try and make Cook drive against Keshav Maharaj’s spin resulted in a brace of well-timed cover drives early on, while another four boundaries were eased behind square on the off side.He was inconvenienced, if not ruffled, by lbw reviews off the bowling of Morne Morkel, whose delivery was shown to have pitched outside leg stump, and Maharaj, who struck him outside the line of off with a sharply spinning ball. Morkel was eventually rewarded for a probing spell after tea as Jennings wafted flat-footed to be caught behind.The sense that South Africa were losing their way on a ground where they have enjoyed much success over the last 25 years was betrayed early on, when Temba Bavuma, who had recorded his seventh Test fifty during the opening exchanges, was dismissed by Moeen. Bavuma began heading off the pitch vaguely towards the gap in the boundary boards by the Warner Stand before realising his mistake and being redirected to the pavilion gate.De Kock was more sure-footed, marking his first Test innings at Lord’s with the second-fastest fifty on the ground, from 36 balls. Alongside Philander’s battling knock, they prevented South Africa’s first innings from being completely subsumed, although there was also a sense of good starts being wasted: of the four South Africa batsman to reach 50, including captain Dean Elgar on the second day, none managed more than Bavuma’s 59.Philander was struck several times during his stay but replied with a few hefty blows off the bat, despite his discomfort. De Kock dominated the scoring during their rapid stand of 66, before Philander helped add another 47 for the last two wickets.Root had turned to his spinners early on and, with the surface hinting at variable bounce and increased turn as it cooked under the sun, they will doubtless have an even greater role to play later in the game. Liam Dawson enjoyed a more successful outing as he and Moeen shared six wickets – only the second time since 1999 that two England spinners had done so in the first innings of a home Test.Kagiso Rabada, South Africa’s nightwatchman, got through the first 40 minutes before nicking Dawson into Jonny Bairstow’s gloves to end a stand of 41 and England made an even bigger breakthrough in the following over when Moeen had Bavuma taken at slip, playing back as a delightfully flighted ball drifted away and then spun in to clip the outside edge.De Kock arrived low in the order, at No. 8, but not low on confidence. Stuart Broad was twice taken for three fours in an over as de Kock, who scored his maiden Test hundred against England last year, set about matching the grand surroundings with an innings of equivalent pomp. Philander, meanwhile, dealt bravely with Anderson from the Pavilion End.Although Broad found shape to beat de Kock’s outside edge in his first over with the second new ball, he was soon sent on to the back foot: Broad’s next three deliveries were dispatched to the rope – clipped off the legs, cut and then driven square. The final over of Broad’s spell saw him receive similar treatment, with the last of de Kock’s three fours in five balls a magisterial, rubber-wristed drive through midwicket.Moeen then replaced Broad from the Nursery End but de Kock got stuck into him, too, twice skipping out to loft the spinner over mid-on to go to his half-century. With the adrenalin still pumping, however, he threw his hands at a drive off Anderson from the ball he faced and was scooped up by the diving Stokes at point.Anderson had bowled almost exclusively to Philander to that point, though his only successes were counted in marks left on his opponent. One kept low, another hit a crack and jacknifed away from the right-hander – worrying signs, perhaps, for the team batting last – and Philander had just been beaten by a similar delivery when he was rapped on the bottom hand by a ball that came back and jumped venomously off a length. Philander grimaced, received some treatment and got back to the job. Come the close, there was more work to do still.

Leeds United could be set to hand Daniel Farke a new man to spearhead his reign, who bears a striking resemblance to an old star of his…

Who is Yussef Poulsen?

The latest on that proposed move came early last week, as it was reported that the Whites were interested in a swoop for RB Leipzig's Yussuf Poulsen.

Standing at 6 foot 4, the hulking striker has endured a largely profligate career but boasts a stunning work rate that could make him an asset to a new-look side.

Having kickstarted his tenure in his homeland, the 29-year-old moved to Germany in 2013 and has never looked back. He has been a mainstay throughout the Red Bull revolution of the club, starting when they were in the third tier and progressing up into the Bundesliga.

He could now be set to finally depart, moving to Elland Road to help earn another promotion. The speedster has just one year left on his £66k-per-week deal.

Farke will likely notice the physical similarities the lanky front-man shares with Alexander Isak, who the German boss managed briefly during his time with Borussia Dortmund's reserve team.

How many goals did Alexander Isak score last season?

Both of these men have come a long way since their paths last crossed, as the coach has since led Norwich City to two Championship promotions, whilst the Sweden international has become Newcastle United's record purchase, joining from Real Sociedad.

Last year marked his first in English football, with the gangly forward acclimatising to its physicality well. He would notch 10 goals in just 22 Premier League appearances, impressing through what was an injury-hit campaign.

Although he likely is a far more technically-superior asset, given he has also starred from the wing, Poulsen has also shown a similar turn of pace to rival this dynamism, clocking a 21.2 mph top speed in the Bundesliga just five years ago. That has since dropped to a still-strong 18.95 mph.

However, his 23-year-old counterpart showcases that youthful exuberance well, given how the 6 foot 4 Magpies ace ranks against other strikers across Europe. He sits in the top 7% for successful take-ons per 90, whilst also being in the top 5% for blocks made per 90, via FBref.

It is such solid defensive work rate that truly brings the two even closer together, with the RB Leipzig man having been lauded by teammate Willi Orban for such a tireless attitude: "With or without the ball he's a machine. And he does an incredible amount of work for us."

Boasting 68 caps for his country too, the experience he would bring to Yorkshire would be phenomenal.

Not to mention that he does know where the back of the net is, although he might not find it with as much regularity as he would like.

Just last season saw him score just four goals in all competitions, and the year before a further six in the Bundesliga alone. However, it is his mere physicality that would prove to be a huge asset, especially in a league as physically demanding as the Championship.

Although their time together was short-lived, Farke could still seek to reimagine his relationship with Isak by signing Poulsen this summer.