All posts by h716a5.icu

Influential Wolves goalkeeper Jose Sa is reportedly a summer transfer target for Aston Villa, according to a fresh rumour regarding his future.

Is Sa a key man for Wolves?

The 30-year-old joined Wanderers from Olympiakos in the summer of 2021, and ever since that point, he has been one of the most important players at the club. He has performed with great consistency and class between the sticks, winning the Supporters Player of the Season award in 2021/22 and shining in all facets of his game.

Sa has made 72 Premier League appearances since arriving, meaning he has almost been an ever-present, and he has proven to be an inspired signing overall. The hope is that he remains at Molineux for the foreseeable future, but there is always a chance that interest in his signature could emerge once any transfer window arrives.

The Portuguese's current Wolves contract expires in the summer of 2026, which does at least put them in a strong bargaining position, but he could feel that a fresh challenge makes sense at this point in his career. A new update suggests that one Premier League rival is already circling, ahead of potential exits of other key players, such as Ruben Neves and Joao Moutinho.

Could Wolves lose Sa to Villa?

According to TuttoMercatoWeb [via Sport Witness], Villa are eyeing up Sa as a direct replacement for Emiliano Martinez this summer, with the Argentine set to "say goodbye". Wolves are believed to value their stopper at €20m (£17.3m), but it remains to be seen if the Villans are willing to spend that amount.

In truth, that sounds like a bargain for Villa, considering what a standout player Sa has been for Wanderers since joining, being hailed as "outstanding" by former defender Andy Thompson. Given his contract situation, Wolves would surely want more money for him, with his performances justifying a higher price tag.

Losing the Portugal international would be a major blow for Wanderers, considering he has arguably been one of the Premier League's most consistent players in his position over the past two seasons, and it wouldn't be easy to find a tailor-made replacement who is at his level.

Unfortunately, the idea of joining Villa could appeal to Sa, though, with Unai Emery coming in and potentially guiding them into Europe, depending on the outcome of Sunday's final-day action in the league. He could see Wolves' Midlands rivals as a step up, in terms of quality, and a chance to find another gear in his career.

Fast bowler Sean Abbott, captain of the National Performance Squad, has been ruled out of the ongoing Quadrangular A-team one day series after fracturing his left ankle, Cricket Australia said on Thursday

ESPNcricinfo staff18-Aug-2016Fast bowler Sean Abbott, captain of the National Performance Squad, has been ruled out of the ongoing Quadrangular A-team one day series after fracturing his left ankle, Cricket Australia said on Thursday.Abbott suffered the injury during the rain-affected match against Australia A on Tuesday. A release from the board stated that the bowler was struck on the ankle off the final ball of the match, and will undergo scans in Sydney to assess the injury. Batsman Matthew Short will captain NPS in the remaining matches of the series.”Sean was struck during Tuesday’s match and suffered some damage to the ankle bone,” Stephen Timms, a Bupa Support Team Physiothrapist, said. “Sean will undergo further scans in Sydney to assess the full extent of the damage and treatment required.”Abbott took two wickets after NPS’ first two matches in the series. Victories in both matches put NPS on top of the table, ahead of Australia A, India A and South Africa A. Their next match is against India A on August 21.

Arsenal are expected to have a busy summer as the Gunners look to strengthen their squad following an agonising end to the 2022/23 season.

There have been many positives for Mikel Arteta’s side to enjoy this campaign, however, a disappointing run of form in the final two months consequently ended hopes of their first Premier League title since 2004.

Lack of squad depth is the main culprit for Arsenal’s downfall, as key injuries in defence made the latter stages of the term increasingly difficult, with no clear match in ability to fall back on in absent areas.

With just one game remaining and attention turning to the summer transfer window, Arsenal have been linked with a host of talent, including a valuable name in the capital city.

What’s the latest on Mason Mount to Arsenal?

As reported by Charles Watts at GOAL last month, the Gunners are reportedly one of the clubs interested in Chelsea midfielder Mason Mount.

The report states that Arsenal were to “hold talks” with the 24-year-old over his uncertain future at Stamford Bridge.

It’s since been claimed by SunSport that the Englishman is expected to leave Chelsea this summer, with both Arsenal and Liverpool tracking his movements with a fee expected to be around the £60m mark.

What could Mason Mount bring to Arsenal?

Squad depth is what the Emirates is crying out for, whether that be to increase numbers or to enhance competition between players, having a squad bustling with talent is essential for a team involved in the Champions League.

At just 24-years-old, Mount could be crucial to the Gunners having won the ultimate prize in European football, as well as having gold medals in the FIFA Club World Cup and the UEFA Super Cup.

The Portsmouth-born midfielder was even lauded by Premier League legend Rio Ferdinand who illuminated his talent when describing the attacking midfielder as a “mad player”, when speaking on Vibe with FIVE.

Mount is a particularly competent player on the ball, showcasing his finishing and passing attributes during his time in the Premier League so far, which is echoed by his numbers.

As per FBref, the Englishman ranks in the top 9% of players in his position within Europe’s top five leagues for most progressive passes, averaging 6.04 per 90, showing his desire to move the ball forward to advanced areas.

In an opposing strength, the Chelsea "superstar" – as dubbed by Kalvin Phillips – ranks highly for his exploits off the ball, averaging 2.07 tackles per 90 to highlight his versatility in attacking midfield – as per FBref.

While Martin Odegaard has been formidable for Arsenal this season – scoring 15 league goals – competition is healthy in a squad that wishes to challenge at the top, and the introduction of Mount could gift the Norwegian the essential competition to increase performance.

The two are similar in positional terms, but bring contrasting attributes to the table, as communicated by the Chelsea-man’s ability to track back, with the Arsenal skipper only averaging 1.06 tackles per 90 – as per FBref.

Despite not frequently featuring for Chelsea in their horrendous campaign this term, the Englishman is a player praised by the best in the sport, with Kylian Mbappe heralding him as “superb” in an interview with France Football.

A player that is low on minutes and confidence can break back to their top form in an area that accommodates their style, there is little to doubt that Mount would be a strong fit for Arteta’s plans.

With a new contract not yet accepted in west London, time will tell if the creative player heads northbound to seek a new challenge.

India’s four-Test series against hosts West Indies on slow, low pitches will be as much a test of patience as of skill

The Preview by Sidharth Monga20-Jul-2016Match factsJuly 21-25, 2016
Start time 1000 local (1400 GMT)Big PictureAjinkya Rahane has said it will be the key. R Ashwin has said this series will be all about it. West Indies coach Phil Simmons has said his side will harp on the word throughout the series. All signs so far point to a test of “patience” on what have become quintessential slow and low Caribbean pitches.The physicality of winning a Test in the West Indies, no matter how weak the regional Test side might have become, cannot be overstated. The outfields are heavy, which will mean a lot of running. Over the last 10 years, only Zimbabwe and the UAE have produced runs at a slower clip.This is an uneven contest with the best West Indies players not available through problems with the administration and other lucrative options available, the CPL in this case, which will clash with the Test series. As much as for the bowlers and the batsmen, this will be a test for the watching public of the Caribbean islands; many will be choosing between the modern stadiums sans the character of old hosting attritional Test cricket and the CPL matches full of life in the cooler and colourful evenings.If West Indies can manage to make time a factor with good attritional Test cricket, it could be a fascinating series. Make the Indian bowlers earn every wicket, make their batsmen go uneasy in an attempt to give the bowlers enough time, absorb the punches and land one when India leave themselves open in trying too hard. If it works in Antigua, in Jamaica they could even try to blindside India with a green seamer. At a time when West Indies, the World T20 champions, are on the mend in ODIs and have their own T20 party going on, the Test side will need to tell their fans why they should give them their patience.On the other end will be a side looking to break away from its limited ambition of the past. India have claimed they don’t want to win series 1-0 anymore. They want to win every Test. Their captain has said he won’t entertain tired bowlers in the final sessions of long days. Their new coach is an epitome of relentlessness. They won’t be shy of sacrificing a batsman for an allrounder or a bowler in order to claim 20 wickets. From their two warm-up games in St Kitts, they have realised they will have to stretch every sinew to take 20 wickets: batsmen might have to score quicker, and bowlers will have to peg away for long hours.Form guideWest Indies DLLLL (last five completed matches, most recent first)

India WWDWW
Can Marlon Samuels and Darren Bravo step up?•AFPIn the spotlightMan of World T20 final. Averages 44.69 in ODIs since 2013. Yet Marlon Samuels, the most experienced player in the squad, can be considered lucky to be in the playing party. He has gone 10 Test innings without reaching 20, has scored only two hundreds in the last three years, and has averaged 25.14 in the period. His career average of 33.53 is hardly justification for either his talent or persistence over 64 Tests. If Kemar Roach’s dropping is anything to go by, West Indies selectors might be running out of patience and Samuels time. On him and Darren Bravo will rest the biggest responsibility for scoring runs.”I’m sure I’ll have to be as boring as possible in terms of trying to plug away all day long.” <b R Ashwin is not used to being boring. He has already bagged five Man-of-the-series awards in Tests, the joint most by an Indian. He takes a wicket every 52 balls – 46 at home, where he has been at his most effective. He takes a five-for every other Test. If West Indies do manage to hold India off, Ashwin will have to show he can be boring and persistent and, every once in a while, magical.Team newsWest Indies will have a new opener, a new wicketkeeper, a new pace attack and a new spinner from the last time they played a Test. Five men from their last Test XI are not even in this 13-man squad. Expect a debut for Miguel Cummins, Rajendra Chandrika to open alongside Kraigg Brathwaite, and Devendra Bishoo and Shannon Gabriel to make comebacks.West Indies (probable) 1 Kraigg Brathwaite, 2 Rajendra Chandrika, 3 Darren Bravo, 4 Marlon Samuels, 5 Jermaine Blackwood/ Leon Johnson/Roston Chase, 6 Carlos Brathwaite, 7 Shane Dowrich (wk), 8 Jason Holder (capt.), 9 Shanon Gabriel, 10 Miguel Cummins, 11 Devendra BishooIndia go in with a more settled side; seven months since they last played a Test in a different continent. Nobody will bat an eyelid if they retain the XI. Kohli admitted it was tough to choose between Shikhar Dhawan and KL Rahul, although he hinted Dhawan might retain his place. With the pitch expected to be flat, India are likely to continue with five bowlers, but the decision will be whether that fifth bowler should be a spinner, a pure seamer or an allrounder. Kohli has been known to prefer Stuart Binny in the role outside India. Mohammed Shami, who has taken the new ball on each of the three occasions that India have bowled in the warm-ups, should walk right back into the XI after injury kept him out for most of 2015.India(probable): 1 Shikhar Dhawan, 2 M Vijay, 3 Cheteshwar Pujara, 4 Virat Kohli (capt.), 5 Ajinkya Rahane, 6 Wriddhiman Saha (wk), 7 Ravindra Jadeja/Stuart Binny, 8 R Ashwin, 9 Amit Mishra, 10 Ishant Sharma, 11 Mohammed ShamiPitch and conditionsThere was some grass on the surface, but it seemed dry underneath on the eve of the match. Kohli felt that the grass was only to hold the pitch together, and it would behave like an Indian track. The ball might not bounce much, with conditions favouring the batsmen initially.There have been brief, sharp showers on the days leading up to the Test, and more rain is forecast for days three and four. It's hurricane season all over the Caribbean, but Antigua is usually one of the drier islands.Stats and triviaIndia have played 27 limited-overs internationals since their last Test, in December last year. West Indies last played a Test in the first week of 2016, but have played only 13 other international matches since then.R Ashwin has 16 five-wicket hauls in his first 32 Tests, level with Clarrie Grimmett among spinners at the end of their 32nd Test.The five bowlers in the West Indies squad have a combined experience of 111 wickets. R Ashwin and Ishant Sharma have taken more by themselves.The Indian squad has scored 40 Test hundreds to West Indies' 20.Quotes"I'm really happy to be back here. The atmosphere is really good, people like cricket, they support it. I'm really excited to play a Test match here after so long. So is everyone else in the team."
“It’s the first time I’m involved in a series playing four Tests. I think the name of the game is recovery in between Test matches. There’s not much time either. It’s not going to be easy. It’s going to be tough for every member of the squad.”

England will host Ireland for two ODIs in 2017, in a move described as “an historic stepping stone for Irish cricket”

ESPNcricinfo staff23-Jun-20162:45

Dobell: ECB no longer paying lip service to helping Associates

England will host Ireland for two ODIs in 2017, in a move described as “an historic stepping stone for Irish cricket”. The fixtures, one of which will be at Lord’s, represent the first bilateral series between the sides, as well as the first time they have faced each other in England.Under the previous agreement between the ECB and Cricket Ireland, England played a biennial ODI in Ireland. Next year they will instead host Ireland at Bristol, on May 5, and Lord’s, on May 7, as part of their build-up to the Champions Trophy. The development is a further boost for Ireland as they seek greater engagement with Full Members and a calendar that can help them challenge for World Cup qualification via the ODI rankings.Ireland’s captain William Porterfield, who has led calls for more opportunities for his side, described the series as “absolutely massive”, while Warren Deutrom, Cricket Ireland’s chief executive, thanked the ECB for helping to bring it about. Ireland are also due to host New Zealand and Bangladesh for a six-match triangular series in May 2017.”We would like to extend our sincere thanks to ECB for their support in bringing this series to fruition and, in particular, giving us the opportunity to play a two-match series in England for the first time,” Deutrom said. “Rounding the series off at Lord’s will, of course, make this truly memorable for everyone involved.”We have set out our stall to make cricket a mainstream sport in Ireland and perhaps one measure of that is for the Blarney Army, whether living in Ireland or England, to arrive in their thousands to paint the Home of Cricket green in front of a worldwide TV audience.”England were Ireland’s opponents in their first ODI, in Belfast in 2006, and they have met twice in World Cups but this move signals a greater degree of commitment from the ECB to helping their Associate neighbours. It is understood that part of the decision for England to host the games was in order to save Cricket Ireland the set-up costs.”This series will represent a historic stepping stone in the development of Irish cricket and give further impetus to the growth of the game in Ireland as a whole,” the ECB’s chief executive Tom Harrison said. “There’s always been a friendly local rivalry between Ireland and England on the sporting field and this is a great opportunity for cricket matches between the two countries to enjoy even greater status and profile.”Ireland recently played a two-match series against Sri Lanka and will host Afghanistan and Pakistan this summer, before playing ODIs against South Africa and Australia later in the year. They were added to the ICC ODI rankings last year, giving them a chance to secure automatic qualification for the 2019 World Cup by reaching the top eight, but had struggled to arrange a competitive fixture list.England had previously only played one-off fixtures against Ireland, in Belfast once again in 2009, then at Clontarf, in Dublin, two years later, followed by matches in 2013 and 2015 at Ireland’s new home, Malahide. Ireland’s only win over England came at the 2011 World Cup, when they pulled off the highest successful chase in the competition’s history in Bangalore.”It’s absolutely massive for us to have the opportunity to play against England in a series,” Porterfield said. “What makes it extra special is the fact that one of the games is at Lord’s – where every cricketer dreams of playing.”I’m certain we’ll have a lot of support there from both the Irish living in London and travelling over from Ireland. There’ll be a great atmosphere and it will be one which the team will relish playing in front of.”Teams travelling to play England are also coming over here now to play series too so hopefully that trend will continue. We are getting more and more international fixtures with games against Pakistan, Afghanistan, Australia and South Africa still to come this year, and England, Bangladesh and New Zealand confirmed already for next year.”

Wolverhampton Wanderers are safe from relegation and are reportedly already looking ahead to the summer transfer window as the 2022/23 campaign draws to a close.

When Julen Lopetegui took over in November, Wolves were bottom of the table and in terrible form, but with three games to go the Midlands club sit in 13th with four wins in their last six.

The Spaniard has transformed the squad inherited from Bruno Lage into one that can remain securely in the Premier League, however with still a long way to go in terms of improvement, the former Real Madrid boss has turned his attention to spending in the summer.

Wolves have struggled for goals this season, with their top scorers in all competitions being Daniel Podence and Ruben Neves both on six for the season.

Neither of the two are traditional strikers, highlighting what Lopetegui is missing to get his side firing however, it’s believed that a “prolific striker” is the prime target in the summer – as per Football Insider.

His team’s goal-getting drought could be ended soon, with the club linked to a forward with 22 goals this season.

What is the latest on Viktor Gyokeres to Wolves?

Last week Football Insider’s transfer expert Pete O’Rourke stated that Coventry City striker Viktor Gyokeres is on Lopetegui’s radar.

The 24-year-old talisman is a player that Wolves are “pushing the hardest” to sign, with the report suggesting that his availability relies on the Sky Blues’ promotion status, as the forward is out of contract next summer.

As per O’Rourke, the Midlands club are aiming to 'steal a march' on the other clubs rivalling his signature by getting the deal done early, with his fee reported to be between £15m-£20m should Coventry fail to gain promotion via the play offs.

What could Viktor Gyokeres bring to Wolves?

With 21 goals in the Championship this season, and one in the FA Cup, Gyokeres is a face that defenders in the second division have feared coming up against all season.

Blackburn Rovers defender Dom Hyam was full of praise for the Swede, who is the league’s second-highest scorer this season.

“I don’t think he’s got a ceiling,” Hyam told The Sportsman, adding that the striker’s strengths are “so rare” and believes there is “nothing he’s bad at."

Gaining high praise from an opposing player proves the 24-year-old is one Wolves should be chasing this summer, his statistics support claims and reveal he excels in comparison to the club's current strike options.

While Gyokeres has found the net 20 times more in the league than both Diego Costa and Raul Jimenez combined, his numbers per 90 minutes are outstanding in comparison to Lopetegui’s forwards.

As per FBref, the Swede averages 2.15 successful take-ons per game, with Jimenez scoring a woeful 0.48 and Costa 0.32.

He’s more active in the box too than the duo, registering 7.16 touches in the penalty area per 90, incomparable to Jimenez’s 4.95 and Costa’s 4.41. The Championship star provides an attacking threat more than netting goals and has fared far better than the current options on show at Molineux.

Only time will tell if Wolves can get their man, however, there is no denying the impact the 24-year-old could add to Lopetegui’s attack.

Makhaya Ntini, Zimbabwe’s interim head coach during the home series against India, has lambasted the approach of his batsmen after they collapsed in the second ODI to lose by eight wickets

ESPNcricinfo staff14-Jun-2016Makhaya Ntini, Zimbabwe’s interim head coach during the home series against India, has slammed the approach of his batsmen after they collapsed in the second ODI to lose by eight wickets. Zimbabwe were on course for a competitive score when they were 106 for 3 after 25 overs, but lost their last six wickets for only 20 runs, and eventually conceded the series.”We have experienced players with us. The position that we were in was the perfect position to be in with 25 overs left,” Ntini told . “All of a sudden we lost two wickets, within one over. For me it tells straightaway that I think we never respect a good over.”The over Nitni was referring to was legspinner Yuzvendra Chahal’s fifth over. Despite Chahal conceding 25 runs in his first four overs, MS Dhoni persisted with him in seamer-friendly conditions and the legspinner was soon on a hat-trick by dismissing Sikandar Raza and Elton Chigumbura.”It was a good over where we tried to force matters, that’s where the game changed. They need to learn that if the guy is bowling very well, respect that,” Ntini said. “You have got a lot of time in 50 overs. The players need to have the maturity of being able to read the game and understand the situation. It’s how the Indian team batted. They read the situation, they knew that if there’s a good bowler, they respect that. They waited for the bad ball. We didn’t, we tried to force matters.”While Chigumbura fell lbw to a flighted and accurate delivery, Raza, who scored a scratchy 16 off 41 balls, holed out to long-on after he had struggled to rotate the strike. Zimbabwe rued their approach not only in the 26th over but also in the ones after that. No. 4 Vusi Sibanda was their best batsman on the day and was leading Zimbabwe with his 21st ODI fifty when he saw the two wickets fall. Despite that he heaved against a delivery in Chahal’s next over that pitched well outside off and turned further away and top-edged it for another catch.”It’s a matter of understanding. Have a look at who is bowling very well, try to take singles, frustrate him,” Ntini explained. “But we wanted to hit him for a six where we know that there was a fielder. They put a fielder there. If there’s a fielder, hit it down, get the single. We didn’t do that. We haven’t batted very well, our bowlers are very good but there’s no score that they can defend. Everyone still believes that they can do it. There’s no change in that.”Sibanda also expressed his disappointment at giving his wicket away and admitted he should have taken more responsibility.”It’s obviously disappointing how I threw my wicket away,” Sibanda said. “It was difficult to bat out there in the morning but no excuse. I was in and I should’ve taken more responsibility to take the team through and give our bowlers a decent total to defend. But unfortunately the execution just wasn’t there but it’s part of the game. It’s easy for me to say we’d lost wickets in clusters or other guys who went in didn’t do so well but I think I had the chance to take the team through and I didn’t.”Even though Zimbabwe are playing at home and against a second-string India side, their batsmen have failed to provide any kind of competition so far. The hosts have been bowled out for 168 and 126 in the series with one ODI left and three T20Is to follow.”Yes, this is our own backyard and we should actually do really well in our own backyard,” Sibanda said. “There’s no excuse. The wicket does a bit more in the morning and this is just the matter of us adapting to the conditions on that particular day. If we as batters don’t step up to the plate and do as well as we’d like to do and put up runs on the board, it’s going to be tough for bowlers and defend the total. There’s no excuse, it’s all a disaster. As a senior guy in the team, I shouldn’t be saying that leave it to the other guys.”

Celtic duo Callum McGregor and Carl Starfelt have been slammed for their displays as the Hoops fell to a 3-0 defeat at Ibrox in the Old Firm derby.

What did Starfelt and McGregor do at Ibrox?

With the visitors already trailing 2-0, the defender and midfielder were caught out following a calamitous giveaway, and this allowed Fashion Sakala to net the third goal for Rangers.

It was a poor mistake from both players, and sealed their fate on the day as the Champions saw their 28-match unbeaten run come to an end.

Sky Sports commentator Andy Walker singled out both players for giving an easy goal to the hosts, who enjoyed a dominant victory against a rotated Celtic side.

"Credit to the goalscorer, but my word, what a mess from McGregor and Starfelt. It's a gift that secures the win for Rangers," he stated on commentary.

What next for Celtic?

Despite putting in a thoroughly unimpressive performance at the home of their rivals, Celtic will likely not be too dismayed, given that they came into the game with the title secured, and made a number of changes to the lineup.

Starfelt has been a regular starter despite suffering from injuries earlier on in the season, and despite his poor display, will still likely keep his place going forward.

McGregor and Starfelt were both given 6.2 ratings by SofaScore given their role in the third goal, and neither player will have been happy with their showings on the day.

McGregor won just one of his five duels and lost possession five times, whilst Starfelt lost the ball nine times in a difficult afternoon.

The pair both attempted to seize on a loose ball in the Celtic half, and both lost out amidst confusion which allowed Sakala to pounce and eventually finish for the goal.

Celtic have now won the Premiership with just two defeats under their belt at this stage, and with the Scottish Cup final coming up, Ange Postecoglou elected to rotate his squad, with the likes of Kyogo Furuhashi and Daizen Maeda on the bench.

It was a decision that ultimately backfired, but if Celtic do secure victory against Inverness in June, they will secure a dominant domestic treble, having beaten Rangers in the Scottish League Cup final and the FA Cup semi-final.

There has been speculation linking Postecoglou with a move to England, but if he stays at Celtic Park, it seems likely that another season of glory will await the Hoops next season.

Journalist Ben Jacobs has claimed that Newcastle United must secure a top-four finish and then move "fast" if they want to land James Maddison.

What's the latest news on James Maddison and NUFC?

With just four games left to play in the Premier League, the Magpies sit third in the division. They are currently two points above Manchester United (fourth) and three points above Liverpool (fifth).

With that being the case, Champions League football is not quite a guarantee just yet and this will no doubt have an impact on the planning for the summer window.

Indeed, it seems likely that Eddie Howe could be hoping to bring in Leicester City star Maddison but Newcastle will face strong competition for his signature.

For instance, Football Insider has reported that Tottenham Hotspur currently lead the race. But while talking on NUFC Matters, insider Jones outlined how the Magpies can pull off this deal.

The insider explained (42:49): "The sooner Newcastle are mathematically Champions League [qualified], the sooner they can say definitely to Maddison: 'This is the pitch. This is the wage'.

"And I think that will be a factor. And in fairness, I think he knows where Spurs stand. But what we don't know is, is there going to be a surprise suitor? A Manchester City, Liverpool, that type of club, even a Manchester United. They could come in a little bit later.

“So Newcastle will need to do two things. One, get Champions League. Two, move fast. And if they do that they stand a very, very strong chance of landing Maddison.

"But make no mistake, Spurs will be there as well because both of these clubs have been looking at the player for the best part of a year."

Who is James Maddison going to join this summer?

It's little wonder the £110k-p/w man is so in demand. After all, in 27 league games, he has ten goals and nine assists despite playing for a team down at the bottom of the table.

This combined tally of 17 direct goal contributions can only be bettered in the Newcastle team by Callum Wilson who has 19 (with 15 goals and four assists).

No doubt, the idea of adding Maddison to the NUFC ranks next season is an exciting prospect for many, but with Spurs lurking it might not be an easy deal to pull off.

However, Tottenham don't look capable of finishing in the top four and it remains unclear who their manager will be next season. And so, with that uncertainty in north London in mind, Newcastle may be able to offer more enticing terms if they can get a deal on the table for the English midfielder in the very near future.

Jurgen Klopp’s Liverpool are among the thickening pool of contenders for Spanish starlet Gabri Veiga’s signature, with the 20-year-old prospect in electrifying form for Celta Vigo this season.

What’s the latest on Veiga to Liverpool?

Having made a resounding dawn to top-flight LaLiga football, Veiga has found himself at the centre of attention from some of Europe’s most distinguished outfits, with Liverpool included.

According to Spanish outlet AS, the Reds are “already talking” to Veiga – who has a €40m (£35m) release clause – though the same can be said for Manchester City, Manchester United and Bayern Munich.

Divisional rivals Barcelona and Real Madrid are ostensibly front-runners in the race, but with the centre of the park pleading for repairs at Anfield this summer, Veiga could find a successful home on Merseyside.

How good is Gabri Veiga?

Last season, Veiga was plying his trade in his homeland’s third footballing tier, scoring nine goals and registering an assist from 31 outings for Vigo’s B team in the Primera Federación.

His exploits would lead to a smattering of chances with the first team; Veiga would play seven times in the league and three times in the Copa del Rey, impressing and making five successive divisional appearances at the end of the term.

Hailed as a “Spanish gem” by transfer guru Fabrizio Romano, Veiga’s prowess sets him on a shelf that towers over the throngs of hopefuls looking to earn a place among the upper echelon of talent in Europe, and Liverpool would benefit immensely from a prodigious offensive-midfielder of his ilk.

In his breakout year with The Sky Blues, the 6 foot menace has defied expectations with his clinical and enterprising performances, scoring nine goals and supplying four assists from only 22 LaLiga starts and earning plaudits for his “intelligent” aura on the grass by his gaffer, Carlos Carvahal.

The one-cap Spain U21 international would certainly be a "dangerous" component for Klopp, as remarked by reporter Euan McTear, as the eccentric German looks to rekindle his side’s flame on Merseyside.

Pumping fresh life back into the midfield is the perfect way to ensure silverware is gleaned once again, and with the emphatic resurgence of Arsenal well-documented this season, Klopp might be wise to take a leaf from Gunners boss Mikel Arteta’s book and emulate the feats of captain Martin Odegaard, who has been dubbed "exceptional" by Manchester City boss Pep Guardiola.

Signed for the north London giants on an initial loan deal from Real Madrid in January 2021, the Norwegian maestro was swiftly snapped up on a £30m permanent transfer in the summer after impressing with his early showings; a precocious youth, Odegaard is growing into his skin at the Emirates after failing to make the mark with Los Blancos, donning the armband and serving as the catalyst for Arteta's title-chasing team.

This season alone, the 49-cap ace has plundered 12 goals and eight assists in the Premier League, while demonstrating the superlative strength of his rounded skill set by ranking inside the top 1% of positional peers across Europe's top five leagues for rate of goals, the top 2% for shot-creating actions, the top 12% for progressive carries and the top 14% for successful take-ons, as per FBref.

With Veiga boasting a remarkable semblance to his 24-year-old confrere, himself ranking among the top 1% of midfielders for rate of goals, the top 11% for progressive carries and the top 5% for successful take-ons, Klopp's Reds could finally have the frontal-thinking cog to whir the engine back into life from the middle.

Liverpool's robust system has been built on the creativity of full-backs Andy Robertson and Trent Alexander-Arnold, and while both marauders offer an auxiliary excellence paralleled by a scant few, maybe it's time for Klopp to veer away from the workmanlike midfield he has built his dynasty upon and open up a new offensive outlet to forge an auspicious future.

Veiga is a relatively untested commodity, but the statistics tend to tell the truth and given the fortunes of Arsenal and City, yielding two of football's greatest attacking midfielders in Odegaard and Kevin De Bruyne, Liverpool would only prosper with the addition of their own force of nature to pull the strings.