Everton have been strongly linked with a move for Brian Brobbey this summer, and now a new update has emerged on the club's pursuit of the player.

How much is Brian Brobbey worth?

According to BBC Sport, Everton remain keen on signing the Ajax striker this summer.

As per the report, Sean Dyche still desperately needs attacking reinforcements after a poor Premier League season and it is claimed that deals are still being pursued to sign both Leeds United winger Wilfried Gnonto and Brobbey this summer.

The player is currently valued at £14m, as per Football Transfers.

Who is Brian Brobbey?

It is clear that strengthening the attacking third is a huge priority for the Everton hierarchy ahead of the return to action in the Premier League next month, and it may now become an even bigger urgency after reports this week revealed that Dominic Calvert-Lewin is attracting interest.

It was claimed in the Italian media that AS Roma are keen to replace Tammy Abraham with the Toffees talisman, however, the Daily Mail revealed that Everton have no intentions of letting their striker go this summer.

Indeed, the departures of Anthony Gordon and Richarlison have left Dyche will few quality and experienced options to unleash in his forward line, but there is no denying that Calvert-Lewin has become an unreliable and inconsistent feature at Goodison Park.

Over the last two seasons, the £100k-per-week forward has spent 203 days in recovery for various injury issues and has only managed to play 36 games in all competitions – scoring just seven goals and delivering three assists during that period – which led to concerns from former player Stan Collymore last season:

"These are worrying times for Dominic Calvert-Lewin There’s no denying it – Dominic Calvert-Lewin’s injuries are becoming a major problem."

"Everton and Sean Dyche can’t afford to wait on their main striker to be fit. The position they’re in now means they need someone to be fit, available and performing consistently."

As a result, the signing of Brobbey could present Everton with a golden opportunity to part ways with the injury-prone Englishman, bolster transfer funds and provide Dyche with a trustworthy centre-forward who can contribute consistently.

Over 32 league appearances last season, the 21-year-old – hailed a "great talent" by compatriot and Netherlands teammate Virgil van Dijk – scored 13 goals, registered three assists and created four big chances – an output no Everton player managed to match in all competitions last season, let alone in the Premier League, with top-scorer Dwight McNeil scoring seven.

Not only that, the Dutchman ranks in the top 15% of his positional peers across the leagues most similar to the Eredivisie for shots on goal, pass completion, touches and progressive passes recieved, as per FBref, proving that he is a huge and enviable presence to have in front of goal.

With that being said, it would be a no-brainer for Everton to snap up the services of Brobbey this summer, as he could be a worthy successor to Calvert-Lewin and significantly improve the threat and consistency in the final third.

Aston Villa have had a fair few cult figures grace the club over the previous 20 years, yet has anyone made as big an impact as striker Juan Pablo Angel?

The Colombian frontman joined the club from River Plate back in 2001, costing a club record fee of £9.5m, a staggering amount at the time.

He eventually made 205 appearances in all competitions for the Midlands side and netted an impressive return of 62 goals in that time, including bagging 23 goals in all competitions during the 2003/04 campaign.

Since his departure in 2007, the South American influence has remained at the club, with Unai Emery able to call on the likes of Philippe Coutinho, Emiliano Buendia and Jhon Duran in his bid for success.

The Spaniard could even add to his South American contingent, as Villa have shown interest in Brazilian striker Marcos Leonardo.

Could Aston Villa sign Marcos Leonardo?

According to journalist Gianluca Di Marzio, Villa are one of the teams who have shown interest in the striker during the transfer window.

Nottingham Forest are also keen; however it appears as though AS Roma are the favourites to lure him to Europe.

Read the latest Aston Villa transfer news HERE…

With just a few weeks left of the window, Emery will need to act swiftly in order to secure his signature while swatting away the advances of Roma in the process, with the promising asset believed to be up for grabs for around €15m (£13m).

What could Marcos Leonardo offer Aston Villa?

Aside from Ollie Watkins, no Villa player scored more than seven goals throughout the entirety of the 2022/23 season and with their first Premier League fixture of the new campaign just around the corner, this needs to be rectified.

Leonardo may just have turned 20, yet he has shown a clear goal-scoring instinct during his spell with Brazilian side Santos since making his debut in 2020, scoring 47 goals across 149 games, a decent strike rate.

The youngster has already netted six goals in just 12 league matches during the 2023 season, grabbing two assists also while even creating two big chances and averaging 0.8 key passes per game, suggesting it isn’t only in front of goal where he is effective.

Nathan Joyes lauded the Brazilian as being a “special talent” and judging by his form for Santos, this praise is highly justified.

It isn’t only for his club side where the 20-year-old is showcasing his abilities, as he was one of the bright sparks for Brazil during the recent U20 World Cup.

Leonardo scored five goals in five matches, although it wasn’t enough to power his country to glory, yet he ranked sixth across the whole tournament for overall Sofascore rating (7.44/10), second for goals and fourth for big chances created (three).

It was a stunning competition for the striker, and surely it won't be long before he makes his debut for the senior national side, especially considering his goal-scoring exploits at youth level.

Angel certainly paved the way for more South Americans to take a chance and join Villa and Emery must launch a move for the ‘special’ forward in the hopes of repeating the club's prior centre-forward masterclass from 2001.

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.”

Nottingham Forest have scheduled imminent medical tests to finalise a summer deal for Manchester United star Anthony Elanga, according to reliable journalist Fabrizio Romano.

Who is Anthony Elanga?

Elanga is primarily a left-sided winger who has played his football at Old Trafford for the past eight years having graduated from the club’s academy to get promoted to the first-team fold back in January 2022, as per Transfermarkt, but there’s a chance that he could be on the move during the present window.

During the 2022/23 Premier League season, Erik Ten Hag only handed the 21-year-old five top-flight starts and he was reduced to coming off the bench as a substitute on 11 occasions, via WhoScored, showing how out of favour he is and highlighting that he needs to leave should he want to receive more regular game time elsewhere.

The Telegraph have reported that despite interest from West Ham United and Everton, the Sweden international turned down the chance to join David Moyes’ and Sean Dyche's sides and instead has opted to make the switch to Steve Cooper’s men, with The Athletic revealing that the Reds have had a £15m offer for the attacker accepted in M16.

So far this summer, the Midlands outfit have finalised a permanent deal for Chris Wood who initially joined on loan from Newcastle United and most recently they confirmed the arrival of defender Ola Aina from Torino, and the club’s third recruit could be about to walk through the doors at The City Ground.

Are Nottingham Forest signing Anthony Elanga?

Taking to Twitter, Romano revealed that Nottingham Forest have already agreed with Manchester United for a medical to take place for Elanga, whilst also providing an update on their pursuit of goalkeeper Dean Henderson, who Cooper is keen to secure following his successful loan spell last season.

“Nottingham Forest are insisting on Dean Henderson as negotiations are ongoing with Manchester United after loan bid sent earlier this week. Medical booked for Anthony Elanga after permanent deal agreed on Friday.”

How many goals has Anthony Elanga scored?

Whilst Nottingham Forest will know that Elanga wasn’t given a fair chance to prove what he was capable of last season, the left-winger has racked up a total of 50 goal contributions (30 goals and 20 assists) in 124 appearances since the start of his career, so should he put pen to paper, he could be reborn under Cooper.

The CAA Stellar client can pose a huge threat in the final third having ranked in the 92nd percentile for most attacking touches in the opposition’s penalty area, whilst averaging 3.59 shot-creating actions per top-flight match last term was also impressive even though he was a bit-part player, as per FBRef.

The Malmo native, who has the versatility to operate in five different positions across the pitch, including everywhere across the frontline, also has bags of experience under his belt having previously played in both the Champions and Europa League competitions, so he would be able to instil a much-needed winning mentality and increase the level of performance in the Midlands.

Broadcaster Ralph Dellor, a former editor of Cricinfo, has died aged 69. In a wide and varied 50-year career in cricket, Dellor commentated for the BBC’s programme, authored many books, and coached the Norwegian national team.Dellor began his career in 1970 with BBC local radio, going on to work on and as well as . He also wrote for the , became the ICC’s first media consultant and, more recently, took on the job of “Voice of Lord’s” as MCC’s PA announcer.Widely liked and respected within cricket, he covered numerous other sports and developed a line in after-dinner speaking. Between 1984 and 1988 he was editor of the and in 2000 he won the Jack Fingleton Award as cricket commentator of the year.A keen cricketer and golfer, he was an ECB-accredited coach and led Norway to the European Trophy in 2003, 2005 and 2006.Dellor was director of cricket operations at Cricinfo between 2000 and 2003, which involved commentating on the 2000 Women’s World Cup in New Zealand. He left to set up his own business, Sportsline Media, with Cricinfo colleague Stephen Lamb.Dellor was recently diagnosed with prostate cancer, for which he had been undergoing treatment.

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.

Manchester United could be set to secure one of the signings of the summer, swooping in for a deal that already seemed completed not too long ago.

Is Josko Gvardiol going to Manchester CIiy?

Given that transfer insider Fabrizio Romano uttered his famous "here we go" nearly two weeks ago now, it is a surprise to see that Manchester City's swoop for RB Leipzig defender Josko Gvardiol is yet to be tied up.

Just a day later though, Sky Sports journalist Kaveh Solhekol even went as far as to suggest that the deal is "not close", throwing the move into disrepute.

It seems like Erik ten Hag is seeking to capitalise on this hindrance, as reports in Spain are now suggesting they are one of three new Premier League clubs now battling for the Croatian's signature. All of these sides are said to have submitted bids to tempt the German club to instead sell to them.

Back in April, it was reported that they would command a fee of around £75m to sanction his exit. However, with the increased competition, it is a fee could rise now even higher.

Why is Josko Gvardiol so good?

There are numerous reasons why the 21-year-old colossus is so sought-after, not least his experience that far belies his youth.

Standing at 6 foot 1, the 21-cap Croatia international boasts blistering speed that makes him a physical marvel, but the technical assets to help him thrive in any system.

The left-footed titan has shone for both his current team and his country, having earned the right to take the next step up in his career.

Should that be to join Old Trafford, the youngster could immediately strike up a fine partnership with Lisandro Martinez, as a couple of no-nonsense ball-playing defenders who would be near-impossible to bypass.

After all, the Argentinian ace has enjoyed a fine debut year in English football, brushing aside the fears regarding his height to maintain a 7.12 average rating in the Premier League. This was a figure buoyed by his 87% pass accuracy, 1.2 interceptions, two tackles and 3.6 clearances per game, via Sofascore.

He was a mainstay for a backline that helped David De Gea earn the Golden Glove award.

He is a tough, cut-throat powerhouse of a centre-back, with Ten Hag even outlining this following his £47m move:

"He’s a warrior and I think the fans will admire him. He has an attitude, fighting spirit. He brings aggressiveness in the game, in a good way. I think we need that. But also, he’s also skilful and he can deal with the ball".

His steely presence beside the cultured, powerful and almost regal stature of Gvardiol could provide the perfect blend of attributes to thwart any striker in the division.

Especially when viewing the latter's most recent campaign in the Bundesliga, where he too boasted a 6.94 average rating. With 89% pass accuracy, 89% dribble success and 2.3 clearances per game too, suddenly the reasons behind such a lofty price tag are revealed, as per Sofascore.

The latter figure would have seen him ranked fifth among the Red Devils' squad last season in the league, with a rating that would have made him the second-best performing centre-back only behind Martinez.

FBref further cements his status as one of the game's finest talents, as when compared against other centre-backs across Europe, the former Dinamo Zagreb star ranks in the top 1% for attempted passes per 90, the top 4% for successful take-ons per 90, and the top 18% for progressive passes per 90. He is the quintessential modern-day defender and would thrive beside United's 25-year-old enforcer.

Such form has heralded deserved praise, as one unnamed Head of Sport at a Bundesliga outfit waxed lyrical to former footballer-turned-journalist Jan Aage Fjortoft:

“Gvardiol is an absolute world-class defender. There will be few players in the years to come who can dominate this position like he can.”

His national team boss Zlatko Dalic would go one further, branding the young titan as the "best central defender in the world".

Ten Hag has already bolstered his side sufficiently this summer, yet hijacking the deal in question from their rivals would not only give the fans some much-needed ammunition over the treble-winners but also secure a long-term heir to Raphael Varane who could partner Martinez for the foreseeable future.

They are the perfect blend of poise, power and potential, capable of once again returning the club to the apex of world football.

Leeds United remain in the market to bolster the depth in their squad for their challenging Championship season ahead, and now a new update has emerged on the club's pursuit of a potential target.

What's the latest on Leeds' interest in Nat Phillips?

According to journalist and transfer insider Peter O'Rourke, Leeds are preparing a big-money offer to sign Liverpool defender Nat Phillips this summer.

As per a report written for Football Insider, O'Rourke has claimed that the Whites will go back into the market for defensive reinforcements after Liam Cooper suffered an injury blow, with Phillips named alongside Taylor Harwood-Bellis as the prime targets to replace the centre-back during his recovery.

Read the latest Leeds transfer news HERE…

Will Leeds sign Nat Phillips?

There is no doubt that Daniel Farke will be feeling the pressure following a number of injury issues already plaguing his squad at Elland Road, alongside ongoing transfer drama involving Italian winger Wilfried Gnonto and midfielder Tyler Adams.

Crysencio Summerville is out of action with a groin strain, whilst Junior Firpo is still recovering from torn lateral ligaments in his knee and not expected to be back for at least four weeks, as well as a huge blow to Liam Cooper who will be out of action for eight weeks due to a ruptured plantar fascia.

As a result, the signing of Phillips could not be a more urgent for the West Yorkshire club, as his experience of Championship football and quality in the centre-back role would be a major asset to Farke over the upcoming fixtures for Leeds in the second tier.

The Liverpool defender has struggled for game-time at Anfield over his tenure at the club due to the high-quality competition the club boasts with Virgil van Dijk, Joel Matip, Ibrahima Konate and Joe Gomez all ahead of the Bolton-born titan.

Indeed, all has not been lost for Phillips – who has a reported price tag of £10m – as he has taken every opportunity to prove his worth when either leaned on by Jurgen Klopp or during loan spells away from Merseyside, especially during his six-month stint Bournemouth in the 2021/22 season.

Over 17 Championship appearances, the 26-year-old – once hailed "colossal" by journalist Josh Bunting – tallied up an 82% pass completion rate, kept eight clean sheets, successfully completed 50% of his dribbles and won 65% of his duels combined, as well as averaging 76.1 touches and 53.5 accurate passes per game, proving he is a huge and dominant presence on the pitch.

Despite being rarely-seen in the starting eleven under Klopp, the Liverpool boss has waxed lyrical about Phillips' strengths in the past, following an outstanding performance in the Champions League back in 2021:

"Oh my god. What a boy he is, what player he is, what a night it is for him."

"The concentration level he shows now week in week out since he is playing for us is absolutely incredible."

With that being said, if Leeds could secure the services of Phillips it would undoubtedly soften the blow in Cooper's absence, but would also provide Farke with a high quality defender who could be a reliable contributor throughout the season.

Manchester United‘s move to sign Fiorentina midfielder Sofyan Amrabat appears to be advancing, with the player’s agents in the UK, according to Football Insider.

Are Man United signing Sofyan Amrabat?

The Red Devils and Erik ten Hag have already signed a new midfielder this summer in Mason Mount. The England international was the first player through the door at Old Trafford ahead of the 2023/24 season, but he could soon be joined by Amrabat.

Ten Hag has worked alongside Amrabat before at FC Utrecht and reports recently claimed that a £26m agreement was close. However, it is believed that United are actually yet to make a bid for the midfielder, as club officials have been hard at work on the deal for Rasmus Hojlund.

Read The Latest Man United Transfer News HERE…

There has been plenty of noise around Amrabat’s future, especially as he is into the final 12 months of his Fiorentina contract. Talking after a pre-season friendly win against Serie D side Grosseto earlier in the week, Amrabat was coy when asked about his future, saying:

“I don’t know if I’m leaving… maybe I can stay here at Fiorentina. I don’t know, I could remain.”

Despite this, though, it appears as if his agents are now in the UK ahead of a proposed move to the Premier League. Football Insider provided an update regarding Man United’s move for Amrabat on Wednesday lunchtime.

They said that 'talks advance' with the Red Devils, and the player’s representatives have travelled to Manchester. An offer is expected to be made shortly, with Fiorentina wanting around £30m.

How good is Sofyan Amrabat?

Amrabat is 26 years of age and appears to be in his prime with a career-high €30m Transfermarkt valuation. He is primarily a holding midfielder but can also turn out in a slightly further forward central midfield role, so could offer some midfield versatility to Ten Hag’s squad.

The Morocco international helped his country reach the semi-finals of last year’s World Cup in Qatar, and his displays resulted in praise from former England manager Fabio Capello, who compared him to Italian icon Gennaro Gattuso.

"If I have to name one name, besides the well-known Hakim Ziyech and Achraf Hakimi, it would be Amrabat. He is essential for balance and a great runner. I read that he covered more than fourteen kilometres against Spain. I see him as the Gennaro Gattuso of Morocco."

Over the past 12 months, as per FBref, Amrabat has been a top performer on the ball. Compared to his positional peers, the midfielder has ranked in the top 1% for long passes completed, top 2% for medium passes completed and top 8% for passes into the final third.

Therefore, he could be viewed as the perfect player with quality on the ball to rival or possibly play alongside the likes of Casemiro, Mount and Bruno Fernandes across the course of the campaign. A move for Amrabat could also spell the end for players such as Donny van de Beek, Feed and Scott McTominay, with the trio of central midfielders reportedly up for sale this summer.

The ECB has been forced to delay its plans to finalise the commercial terms of the new-team T20 competition after key aspects were rejected by the first-class counties

George Dobell23-Oct-2017The ECB has been forced to delay its plans to finalise the commercial terms of the new-team T20 competition after key aspects were rejected by the first-class counties.The ECB recently circulated a framework agreement for the tournament in the hope it would be signed by now, but feedback from several counties suggested they felt the goalposts had been moved significantly since they agreed to support it. As a consequence, the ECB chairman Colin Graves, wrote to the counties on Friday to reassure them he was “very aware” of the “legitimate questions and concerns” they had raised and to inform them the ECB was “dropping the deadline” for feedback over the agreement to allow a longer period of consultation.That means counties will be asked to tender to host the matches without an accurate idea of the costs or revenues involved.The ECB will distribute tender documents to the counties (and the MCC) on Tuesday for the allocation of major matches from 2020. It will be followed by a presentation period in January – an opportunity for the grounds to show what they can offer – with the allocation set to be announced on February 14. There will, as ever, be significant winners and losers from the announcement with the decision over which clubs will host the new-team T20 competition and the 2023 Ashes series especially intriguing.Central to the delay in agreeing the commercial terms of the new-team T20 competition is a divide between those clubs likely to host it and those that will not. While some of the hosting clubs feel the financial rewards are inadequate, some of the smaller venues are concerned they are too generous and will put their own clubs at a significant long term disadvantage. The current plans would see the hosting clubs receive an annual fee of £150,000 and 30 per-cent of their own gate revenues. The first-class counties have already been guaranteed £1.3m a year each for lending their support to the new competition.Some of the hosting clubs are also uneasy that the ECB’s demand for ‘clean grounds’ during the tournament will incur huge costs and damage their own commercial agreements. A clean ground, as defined by the ICC, means the hosting club cannot use it for games (or, potentially, conferencing purposes) or retain any of its own sponsorship agreements visible in the stadium for the entirety of the tournament. Effectively, therefore, clubs would have to move out of their own grounds for five-weeks in mid-summer. They are also concerned that the offer of 30% of gate revenues is nebulous until the ECB establishes the price of tickets. Previous comments suggest they will be priced low to attract as wide an audience as possible.There are also concerns that new competition will not, in the short term at least, offer the increase of funding to grass roots cricket that was anticipated. While there is an appreciation that the new competition – and a partial return of free-to-air broadcast coverage – will provide the oxygen of publicity the game has long required, it was also initially suggested that 10% of the new-competition revenues would go to grassroots cricket. But the framework agreement makes clear that figure will come from “net revenues”. Many (though not all) insiders do not expect the competition to make a profit in its opening years due to set-up costs, so the benefits to the grass roots game may be less tangible than originally hoped.Managing such expectations may be a recurring theme at the ECB in the coming years. Having secured an impressive-looking broadcast deal – £1.1 billion over five years from 2020 – they have raised hopes for increased funding across the game. They are now finding the demands for that money, not least in terms of player salaries, is going to require careful negotiation and planning.Meanwhile, the ECB hopes to finalise the composition of the board that will run the new-team T20 competition before the end of the year. The board, effectively a subcommittee of the full ECB board, will comprise two directors elected from the county game and five independent directors.