Adil Rashid has defended his request to be omitted from Yorkshire’s final County Championship match of the season, against Middlesex at Lord’s starting tomorrow, citing a family illness as an additional reason for his absence.Rashid, whose busy year has included stints with Adelaide Strikers in the Big Bash and a leading role in England’s World T20 campaign in India, asked to be excused from Yorkshire’s potential County Championship decider because he needed to rest ahead of England’s tour of Bangladesh, which gets underway at the end of the month.Yorkshire go into the final round needing victory against the current leaders, Middlesex, to have any chance of securing their third title in a row, and they will have to do so without the services of either Rashid or Jonny Bairstow, who was controversially refused permission by the ECB to take part in the contest.Jason Gillespie, preparing for his final match as Yorkshire coach, told ESPNcricinfo: “It’s obviously frustrating about Rash and I said to him I hope he doesn’t regret the decision he has made. But I fully respect his decision. He has played a lot of cricket and he feels he needs a rest.”However, in a pointed tweet, Yorkshire captain Andrew Gale, who has been known to let his emotions show in the past, posted: “Yes, he wants to rest. That’s his decision. I’ll take 11 lads on the field who will give everything to win.”While the club itself stopped short of criticising their player, who has claimed 32 wickets at 33.84 and 393 runs at 28.07 in ten Championship appearances this season, Yorkshire’s supporters have not been so kind, and in a statement posted on his Twitter account on Monday, Rashid insisted his decision had been influenced by a family member, believed to be his grandmother, being admitted to hospital.”Unfortunately I have not travelled down with the Yorkshire lads this week as one of my closest family members has been very ill and was recently admitted to hospital,” read the statement. “I didn’t feel that I am in a strong enough mental frame of mind to be at my best, although I did make myself available if I was required to play I felt I could be letting the lads down. But coupled with my personal reasons I have also had a heavy period of cricket recently for Yorkshire and England which has been both physically and mentally draining and it is very unfortunate timing.”Family comes first for me and I will be away on England duty this winter with a busy playing schedule. I have been in touch with the Yorkshire players and coaches and I will be wishing the lads all the best this game and I am desperately hoping we can lift the trophy for a 3rd year in a row.”Martyn Moxon, Yorkshire’s director of cricket, sought to move on in , suggesting that illness of a family member had latterly become “a secondary reason”. Moxon said: “Initially it was about him saying he was tired and sore and stiff and so on. As fdar as we are concerned it is the end of the matter… there is no animosity at all.”

Crystal Palace are keen on making Graham Potter their next manager this summer, according to a rumour that has emerged from abroad.

Has Potter had a good season?

The 47-year-old's stock was extremely high early on in the season, as he continued to do a superb job in charge of Brighton, having guided them to a ninth-place finish last term.

Potter's performances at the Amex Stadium eventually earned him a move to Chelsea, with the Englishman taking over from Thomas Tuchel in west London. His time at Stamford Bridge largely ended up being a disaster, however, with a string of bad results and limp displays ultimately leading to his demise later in the campaign.

Since being sacked by the Blues, he has been on the lookout for a new club, with various teams believed to be eyeing him, including Leicester City, whose relegation from the Premier League may have damaged their chances.

With Roy Hodgson potentially on the way out of Selhurst Park after a short and successful stint back at Palace, a vacancy will also appear in south London. It looks as though Potter is the primary managerial target, according to a fresh claim.

Could Palace make move for Potter?

According to Foot Mercato [via Sport Witness], Palace, and by extension chairman Steve Parish, "absolutely" want to bring in Potter during the summer, as they "discuss" his potential appointment. There is no great depth regarding the negotiations in the report, however, so it remains to be seen how clsoe a deal is to being agreed.

The former Brighton and Chelsea boss, who shares the same agency as Jordan Ayew, could be a really exciting new manager for the Eagles next season, even though his recent struggles have damaged his reputation a little.

It is important to remember that the Blues have struggled throughout the season, however, getting through three managers and undergoing new ownership, so it would be unfair to judge Potter too harshly over what went on during his time in charge.

Instead, the success he enjoyed at Palace's bitter rivals Brighton should be focused on more, considering the eye-catching attacking football he played, how much he got out of his players and the tactical acumen that he often displayed.

Called a 'superb manager' by journalist Melissa Reddy, the 3-4-2-1 coach is somebody who could get the best out of the Eagles' talented attacking players, from Eberechi Eze to Michael Olise, and ensure that more entertaining days lie ahead at Selhurst Park after some poor performances during Patrick Vieira's final few months as manager.

Everton knew that defeat against Wolverhampton Wanderers at Molineux on Saturday afternoon would be detrimental to the club's hopes of preserving Premier League status this season.

Having yet again failed to craft seasonal fortunes capable of ensuring water is trod above the depths of the divisional table, the Toffees will have to wait for the closing day of the 2022/23 season after winning just seven of their 37 games this term.

Prior to the draw against the Old Gold, manager Sean Dyche knew that victory would have secured a place in next year's Premier League season if Leeds United fail to win their forthcoming fixture away against West Ham United tomorrow afternoon, but now, should the Whites achieve that elusive goal, Everton will sink into peril ahead of the final day of the term.

Yerry Mina restored parity at the death and ensured his outfit have avoided defeat in three of the past four matches, lauded as an "absolute colossus" by The Athletic's Patrick Boyland, but it was dynamic midfielder Alex Iwobi who truly stole the show and must be utilised effectively next week against Bournemouth to ensure the drop is avoided.

How did Iwobi perform vs Wolves?

Iwobi signed for Everton for no small sum of £34m in 2019 after being deemed expendable at Arsenal; it's fair to say, he flattered to deceive across his first few seasons on Merseyside.

As per WhoScored, the 26-year-old failed to record an average seasonal rating higher than a lowly 6.58 across his first three years with his current club, with journalist David Prentice even branding him "embarrassing" after a shoddy performance in 2021.

However, a tactical tweak when the outfit were still under the stewardship of Frank Lampard – who was dismissed and replaced by Dyche in January – has shifted the ace into a more central position, having taken to the flanks for his career prior to the shift.

And against Wolves, he once again showed why he is flourishing in his newfound role, as he was unable to add to the nine assists he boasts to his name this year, but produced a robust and reliable display once again.

In Wolverhampton, the £120k-per-week gem recorded a match rating of 7.7 – as per Sofascore – which was the highest of any player competing, and deservedly so, with Boyland hailing him for putting in a "real shift".

Making 58 touches, Iwobi won 83% of his duels, completed 76% of his passes, made one key pass, took four shots, hit the target twice and won his one dribble attempt, while making four interceptions and two tackles.

He embodied the energy and intensity Dyche will demand from his players as they scramble to secure their top-flight status, and with further sustained stellar showings, Iwobi could yet make his biggest contribution against the Cherries next week.

Manchester United look keen on signing Danish striker Rasmus Hojlund this summer as Erik ten Hag aims to bolster his attacking options ahead of next season.

What’s the latest on Rasmus Hojlund to Manchester United?

The Athletic’s Laurie Whitwell wrote on Twitter:

“MUFC hold detailed talks over Atalanta striker Rasmus Hojlund.

“Erik ten Hag ideally wants a young forward plus an experienced one. Hojlund, 20, falls into former category. Frankfurt's Randal Kolo Muani also discussed.”

The striker won't come cheap however, with Serie A side Atalanta demanding “north of £60million at the very least this year" according to journalist Jacque Talbot and this is a figure United could afford, especially as Ten Hag will surely move a few players on this summer.

Could Rasmus Hojlund replace Anthony Martial?

The Red Devils only scored 58 Premier League goals during the 2022/23 campaign, and it’s clear they need much greater attacking options ahead of next term in order to mount a serious title challenge.

Marcus Rashford and Bruno Fernandes scored 17 and eight of these goals respectively, while Anthony Martial scored only six league goals all season and Hojlund could certainly be an upgrade on the Frenchman.

The “scary quick” sensation – as once described by journalist Sacha Pisani earlier this year – not only has more goals across all competitions this season (15 to nine) than the United striker, but he has also more than double the number of assists (seven to three), albeit he has played 12 games more.

Not only that, but the Dane has also registered more shots on target per 90 (1.34 to 1.1), shot-creating actions per 90 (2.78 to 2.58), touches in the attacking penalty area (124 to 49) and crosses (12 to four), clearly suggesting he’d be way better than Martial for next season, that’s for sure.

Remarkably, the United hitman is still only 27 years old, yet he has never really fulfilled his potential at the Old Trafford side, managing to score over 20 goals across all competitions in just one of his eight seasons in Manchester, a poor showing.

He has just one year remaining on his contract and this summer could be the ideal chance for Ten Hag to cash in on him to raise some funds for signings. Hojlund, meanwhile, is only 20 years of age and there is no doubt that, given the opportunity under the Dutchman, he could thrive in the pressure cooker environment at United next term.

The next few weeks could be very interesting for the Red Devils indeed.

Harry Gurney took six wickets for the first time as Nottinghamshire showed fight at Chester-le-Street with their first division status in peril

ECB Reporters Network31-Aug-2016
ScorecardHarry Gurney helped put Nottinghamshire in command•Getty Images

The first six-wicket haul of Harry Gurney’s first-class career lifted struggling Nottinghamshire’s woes in their Specsavers County Championship match against Durham at Chester-le-Street.The left-arm seamer finished with six for 61 as Durham lost nine wickets in the afternoon session to be all out for 244.Durham quickly reduced Nottinghamshire to 16 for two, but Michael Lumb survived a streaky start to take them to 129 for 2 in partnership with Jake Libby.On a pitch which appeared to encourage attacking cricket, Durham chose to bat and raced to 77 without loss after 14 overs. At that point 33 had come off the previous three, with Keaton Jennings taking 15 off Gurney’s second over, including a six carved over backward point.Mark Stoneman drove Imran Tahir for six over long-on, but with both batsmen on 33 the fun ended when Jennings was lbw on the front foot to a ball from Gurney which swung from outside leg stump.Tahir, on for the 12th over, conceded 37 in eight as Stoneman progressed to 49 and Durham were 115 for 1 at lunch.The rot set in from the second ball on the resumption as Scott Borthwick chased a wide one from Gurney and was caught behind.Stoneman departed with extreme reluctance in the next over, when he tried to clip a Steve Mullaney swinger to leg and was adjudged to have tickled it to Read, who was standing up to the medium pacer.Four wickets had gone down for six runs when two more fell on 121. Jack Burnham pushed forward and edged Gurney behind then Michael Richardson was lbw third ball after surviving a close call off the first.Durham’s plight took a fresh twist when Paul Collingwood was struck amidships by Gurney and went down as though poleaxed.He retired on seven but returned with a runner when two more wickets had fallen and remained unbeaten on 33, the final 12 runs of the innings coming from his two driven sixes off Samit Patel.The left-arm spinner had two for none after two overs as Ireland duo Stuart Poynter and Barry McCarthy surrendered. Poynter played well for 42, only to shoulder arms to one which went straight on, then McCarthy swung across the line and was also bowled.With Jennings in charge of Durham as Collingwood stayed off the field, Nottinghamshire’s reply got off to a rocky start when Graham Onions got one to lift sharply off a length to have Mullaney caught behind.Tom Moores edged Chris Rushworth to second slip and Lumb survived two edges in the same over. One just evaded gully, the other dropped fractionally short of third slip’s right hand.On six he looked fortunate not to be lbw to a ball from Onions which struck him on the back leg. But he continued the day’s stroke-playing theme as a combination of edges and middled shots took him to 50 off 61 balls.He was on 68 at the close with Libby having made a more composed 51, completing an 86-ball half-century by clipping the penultimate delivery through square leg off Rushworth for his third four.

كشفت تقارير صحفية إسبانية، أن نادي برشلونة يسعى للتعاقد مع الدولي البرتغالي، رافائيل لياو، لاعب فريق كرة القدم الأول بميلان الإيطالي.

برشلونة لا يزال يعاني من مشاكل مالية، لكن النادي واضح جدًا أنه يجب عليه التوقيع مع نجم بأي حال في الصيف المقبل.

صحيفة “سبورت” الإسبانية، أكدت بأن برشلونة يحاول حاليًا بيع استوديوهات النادي والتي يبلغ دخلها 200 مليون يورو، وهو ما سيفتح الباب أمام تسجيل اللاعبين والدخول في الصفقات.

طالع أيضًا.. برشلونة يسعى لضم لاعب أتلتيكو مدريد في الصيف

وأشارت الصحيفة إلى أن رافائيل لياو أحد الأسماء التي يسعى برشلونة التعاقد معها بجانب ليروي ساني الذي ارتبط بالنادي الكتالوني خلال الموسمين الماضيين.

لياو متردد في التجديد مع ميلان، وينظرون إليه في برشلونة على أنه اللاعب الذي قد يصنع الفارق في المشروع الجديد، مع المدرب الذي سيأتي خلف تشافي.

باريس سان جيرمان يرغب في ضم لياو أيضًا، لكن اللاعب البرتغالي لا ينوي العودة إلى الدوري الفرنسي مجددًا، ويرغب في خوض تجربة بالدوري الإنجليزي أو الإسباني، وبرشلونة يترقب الوضع.

خورخي مينديز وكيل لياو على علاقة جيدة مع إدارة برشلونة، وهو ما يريد النادي الكتالوني استغلاله في حال وافق رافائيل نادال على الانضمام إلى البلوجرانا.

رافائيل لياو لديه عقد حتى 2028 مع ميلان، وهناك شرط جزائي في عقده بقيمة 150 مليون يورو، قابل للتفاوض.

Liverpool are keen on dipping back into the Dutch Eredivisie this summer with the signing of Feyenoord captain Orkun Kokcu as manager Jurgen Klopp prioritises the reconstruction of midfield.

What's the latest on Orkun Kokcu to Liverpool?

As per Football Transfers' Jacque Talbot, Liverpool's recruitment team are 'big admirers' of the 22-year-old Turkey international, who has been on the club's radar since signing Cody Gakpo from PSV for £35m in January.

Contracted until 2025, Feyenoord are thought to be reluctant to sell, but a bid of roughly £40m could force their hand and grant his departure from De Kuip.

There is to be something of a midfield exodus at Anfield this summer, with James Milner, Naby Keita and Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain all leaving at the end of their contracts, while stricken loanee Arthur is also off after an injury-plagued campaign.

Should Liverpool sign Orkun Kokcu?

With Feyenoord securing their first Eredivisie title since 2016 earlier this week, Kokcu's importance to his high-flying outfit simply cannot be understated.

Having played 44 matches across all competitions this term, Kokcu has plundered 12 goals and supplied a further five assists, flourishing as the superlative creative central force in the Netherlands.

As per FBref, the captain and natural "leader" – as hailed by talent scout Jacek Kulig – ranks among the top 5% of midfielders at a similar level for rate of non-penalty goals, the top 1% for shot-creating actions, the top 1% for passes attempted and progressive passes and the top 4% for progressive carries per 90.

Once heralded as "one of the best midfielders in the country" by Jaap Stam, he plays with an all-encompassing scope that belies his age of 22, with Sofascore providing the 20-cap ace with an average league rating of 7.49 this term, averaging 2.6 shots, 2.8 key passes and 1.2 tackles per match, also completing 84% of his total passes.

Should Klopp further his interest in the dynamo, it could spell the end of the Merseyside outfit's pursuit of World Cup winner Alexis Mac Allister, who has been heavily linked with a move away from Brighton & Hove Albion of late.

Touted at £70m, Liverpool are ostensibly the frontrunners in the race for the Argentinian's signature, though they might find a spanner in the works following recent claims that Mac Allister would only leave the flourishing Seagulls for a move to a team in the Champions League – a competition that might just elude the Reds next term.

Mac Allister has a knack for finding the back of the net himself, clinching 12 goals and two assists from 37 outings for Albion this season, and has been lauded as his team's "golden boy" by content creator Ryan Adsett.

While the Premier League star is one of the hottest commodities on the market right now, £70m is rather steep, and if Liverpool do decide to turn their attentions elsewhere, Kokcu could be the perfect gem to whir the Anfield machine back into life.

With batting getting tougher as the surface wears on, in India, Kane Williamson has said that the first-innings total will be a key area, on the eve of the Indore Test

Sidharth Monga in Indore07-Oct-20163:38

‘We are yet to play our best cricket’ – Williamson

There was good news for New Zealand when Kane Williamson came to address the pre-Test press conference. He still didn’t confirm whether he will play in Indore after missing the Kolkata Test because of illness, but he will be key to one area New Zealand look to set right: first-innings total. In India, you do all your peaceful scoring in the first innings. The second is havoc. You don’t want yourself to be making up ground.”It has shown in the first innings of each Test match that the first innings has been the most vital as batting has got harder as the game has gone on,” Williamson said. “We’ll still need to have another look at the surface here but were are still expecting first innings to be important again.”Apart from preferably winning the toss on a surface that he described as “bare at the ends” and ‘soft”, Williamson will be expected to push that first innings a little further after they had shown a bit of promise at different times.”It is one of those fine lines where there have been some good bits but the good bits haven’t happened for long enough,” Williamson said. “Those 240-250 scores need to be 300-350. In saying that we are still to see this wicket, it might be more or it might be less, we don’t know just yet. But certainly the last two games if we could have pushed up our first-innings total that little bit further, it would have helped us out a huge amount.”This is where India can draw satisfaction. They haven’t let New Zealand run away even when they have had partnerships. India’s captain Virat Kohli said it was crucial to deal well with such periods. “One thing that stands out for me as a learning is how to control a session that’s not going your way,” Kohli said. “When you are taking wickets, you can afford to attack. But when you are not taking wickets, how to stop runs and still maintain enough pressure for you to come in the session and make breakthroughs.”The session when the other team is batting well, you should know how to control runs and at the same time not go negative. There is very thin line, which I think if you maintain more often than not you will come back in the next session and pull things back. That is the biggest learning. Not to go one-dimensional when runs are scored and the other team is batting well.”One of the reasons why India have been able to keep New Zealand in check with just four bowlers is Mohammed Shami’s performance: eight wickets at an average of 21.12. Kohli paid tribute to Shami’s return to fitness. “Shami is someone who’s come back very well,” Kohli said. “He has worked very hard on his fitness as well. You can see he’s able to bowl those five-six over spells now, and he can run in… Bigger momentum and then he can pick up two wickets on any surface. That’s the kind of skill he has, so as captain I feel that he’s a very important bowler for us in this full season and in future as well. But looking at the near future, his fitness and rhythm is very, very important. As you said, he’s a strike bowler and whenever he comes in he makes something regardless of the surface that we’re playing on.”

Liverpool manager Jurgen Klopp is approaching a definitive point in his tenure on Merseyside, and needs to rebuild the midfield after the club fell off their perch this season.

What's the latest on Romeo Lavia to Liverpool?

While many names are being touted, the Reds might find fruit in a bid to secure Southampton star Romeo Lavia's signature, with Football Insider reporting that Liverpool are in a 'four-way race' for the Belgium international.

Indeed, Arsenal, Chelsea and Manchester City are also eyeing a move for the 19-year-old midfielder, though interest from such outfits elsewhere could put Klopp's side in the driving seat to complete a deal.

Signing for Saints from City for £14m last summer, Lavia was subject to a £50m bid that very same window from the Blues, but with his south coast club's relegation this term, that valuation could well have depreciated.

How good is Romeo Lavia?

Liverpool have found a convincing formula in mixing lucrative acquisitions with shrewd purchases under Klopp's wing, and while acquiring Lavia's signature won't be the cheapest of deals, it certainly could end up being a monumental coup.

In one year, Pep Guardiola's Citizens unlock the option to buy their youth prospect back for £40m due to a clause inserted upon his departure, which leaves the forthcoming transfer window as the apt moment to seize the teenage talent.

Despite Southampton's relegation, Lavia has glimmered this term and impressed over his 35 appearances, with The Athletic's Jacob Tanswell hailing him as "exquisite" for his exploits.

A sturdy and reliable buffer is what Liverpool – namely Liverpool's backline – have been missing this year, and while Fabinho has been integral to Klopp's reign on Merseyside, he has not produced the same results and proclaimed to have "fallen, dramatically, off a proverbial cliff" by journalist Chris Stonadge.

He's not alone, though. The entirety of Liverpool's midfield can be held accountable across the lion's share of the season for failing to effectively protect their defence and consequently inhibiting the squad from achieving their goals.

Virgil van Dijk, so often the unwavering heart of Liverpool's imperious shield, has been displaced from his usual swagger and will be among those at the forefront of the internal demands for a return to stability, a balancing of the side's equilibrium, as he seeks to return to his position as "the best" as he was previously lauded as by Michael Owen.

And indeed, the "monster" of a talent that is Lavia – as praised by Benjt Nurick – could play a big part in this, having completed 86% of his passes, averaged 2.1 tackles and 1.1 interceptions per game this term, as per Sofascore.

He also ranks among the top 4% of midfielders across Europe's top five leagues for rate of blocks per 90, as per FBref, over the past year and could play an invaluable role in preventing opposing strikers from unleashing their shots at Alisson's goal.

This would only alleviate the pressure on Van Dijk and his positional confreres at Anfield, with the Reds' 47 goals shipped in the Premier League this term – far worse off than last year's joint-best record of 26 conceded strikes – diminishing and in turn opening the door of opportunity for greener pastures.

Jurgen Klopp is pushing the Liverpool hierarchy to complete three new signings by the end of June as the German targets a return to the top next season.

After coming ever so close to winning the quadruple in 2022, Liverpool fell off, finishing fifth in the Premier League and failing to win any silverware.

Injuries, fatigue and a lack of high-quality midfield personnel contributed to Liverpool's disappointing season but the transfer window provides an opportunity to develop and improve.

What are Liverpool's summer transfer window plans?

According to Football Insider and journalist Pete O'Rourke, Liverpool hope to complete three signings before players return from holiday for pre-season in order to prepare as well as possible for the 2023/24 season.

The priority this summer is to sign multiple midfielders with Naby Keita, Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain and James Milner all leaving the club. Their contracts are set to expire after the Reds elected not to extend their terms.

Additionally, Klopp wants a centre-back, a right-back and potentially a new backup goalkeeper should Caoimhin Kelleher leave the club as has been speculated.

Promisingly, Alexis Mac Allister is a "top target" and negotiations with Brighton are "at an advanced stage" with Liverpool said to be "increasingly confident" they can reach an agreement for the World Cup champion.

Klopp is pushing the club hierarchy to get deals done as quickly as possible so they can join early enough to be involved in the entirety of pre-season.

How much would signing Alexis Mac Allister cost Liverpool?

Sky Sports report that Brighton want more than £70m for Mac Allister. It's a steep price to pay but Liverpool's midfield options are limited now and there are still a few ageing midfielders at the club despite Milner's impending departure.

Jordan Henderson (32), Thiago (32) and Fabinho (29) are all in the twilight of their careers so Liverpool need to plan their rebuild carefully so as to avoid needing to cull their ranks again in a couple of years.

Liverpool only have themselves to blame after failing to keep their midfield options refreshed. Klopp will be hoping that the club can deliver the talent he needs to return his side to the top of the table.

Not having Champions League football means the Reds will have a smaller budget than they would prefer as well as not having the draw of European nights to offer players.