Journalist Fabrice Hawkins has shared a rather interesting update on Tottenham Hotspur and their pursuit of a star centre-back, involving Fulham's Tosin Adarabioyo.
Who will Spurs sign?
Ange Postecoglou has been backed with a fair few key signings this summer transfer window, with Spurs signing goalkeeper Guglielmo Vicario, young centre-back Ashley Phillips, defender Micky van de Ven, playmaker James Maddison, winger Manor Solomon and striker Alejo Veliz.
The departure of star striker Harry Kane has also handed the club funds to spend on further new additions, and while the club need to offload players first, there is reason to believe Spurs could make more moves before deadline day.
Postecoglou has publicly admitted that his side can strengthen further in certain areas, as relayed by reliable journalist Alasdair Gold, who also believes Spurs have a few tricks up their sleeve from now till the window's closure.
“Postecoglou said that himself in his press conference on Friday he pretty much said how there’s areas in defence, midfield and attack that they can upgrade on as well," said Gold on his YouTube channel (via TBR).
“I would keep an eye on what happens. I kind of get the feeling that Spurs have got a number of deals lined up ready to go if they can get the players out of the squad first.”
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The north Londoners have been linked with a new centre-back and forward options to succeed Harry Kane recently, and Postecoglou is believed to want a "big-name" midfielder if Pierre-Emile Hojbjerg departs (Football Insider).
Defence, though, is perhaps the biggest area they need to reinforce – as last year they conceded a pretty woeful 63 league goals, which is more than any other side above 15th in the table.
Adarabioyo, who has been mentioned as a target this window, is being chased by Ligue 1 side AS Monaco as well as Spurs with reporter Hawkins sharing an interesting update on their pursuit.
The former Man City starlet is apparently being pushed towards Tottenham by his club, who also have a plan up their sleeves to try and sign Eric Dier in an exchange.
"Tosin Adarabioyo wants to sign for Monaco," said Hawkins.
"The central defender has an agreement with ASM Fulham and his coach Marco Silva prefer to sell him to Tottenham and recover Eric Dier."
Dier, who has just one year left on his current Tottenham deal, has been linked with a move away before September 1 with Fulham seemingly looking to take full advantage.
How good is Tosin Adarabioyo?
Fulham's Tosin Adarabioyo
The 25-year-old featured among Fulham's best-performing players per 90 last season, according to WhoScored, all the while averaging their second-highest rate of aerial duels won per match and most clearances per 90.
Adarabioyo has also been called "magnificent" by members of the media, with the colossal 6 foot 5 defender also earning praise for his ball-playing ability.
Read the latest Tottenham transfer news HERE…
"And with Tosin, we know what we expect from him," said Silva to the media (via The Boot Room).
“Of course, quality on the ball in the first build-up, to find the players between the lines. Tosin had a good game and did what we expected.”
The visitors need to find a way to cope with challenges rather than spontaneously combust if they are to keep the T20 series alive
The Preview by Nikhil Kalro21-Dec-20173:21
Dasgupta: India still need a sixth bowling option
Big PictureTrying to get your novel published. Receiving venture capital funding for your business. Getting some sleep after recently becoming a parent. Even getting Steven Smith out. Tough? Try providing context to this series. That too, India have rested some of their stars, with the main focus on the series against South Africa next month, giving the IPL’s best performers a chance to earn a regular place in the T20 squad.But there was still much of the same in Cuttack: India extending their home dominance with their biggest T20 win, and wristspin’s rapidly-improving bid to take over the world. Yuzvendra Chahal and Kuldeep Yadav combined for figures of 8-0-41-6 to skittle Sri Lanka’s batsmen out, again. India’s top five, including MS Dhoni at No. 4, struck brisk cameos in dewy conditions.Sri Lanka’s T20 record (5-8) in 2017 hasn’t been woeful, but it was hard to tell from their performance in Cuttack. On paper the elements for success are abundantly available to them, but they will have to find a way to cope with challenges rather than spontaneously combust.Form guideIndia WWLWL (last five completed matches, most recent first) Sri Lanka LLLLLIn the spotlightOver the last few years, batting, batsmen and bats have dominated the way cricket has been played. The slower bouncer and the wide yorker briefly tried to break the rhythm. Then came the resurrection of wristspin, especially through its relevance in T20s, pulling the balance back slightly. Kuldeep and Chahal, two practitioners of this skill, have been attacked, but they have found ways to combat it efficiently. Will it continue?BCCIAfter their 2015 World Cup debacle, England’s management and players agreed that they’d wipe the slate clean and try a new approach: all-out attack. It didn’t alter their results in the short term, but they’re now a powerhouse team in limited-overs cricket. It wouldn’t be a bad plan for Sri Lanka to adopt a similar style, and allow their batsmen the freedom to go for it again, even if they are 87 all out again.Team newsWill India wait to win another home series before giving all the members in the squad a chance? Pacer Basil Thampi and the big-hitting Deepak Hooda are likely to be given a chance either way, in this game or the third T20.India (probable): 1 Rohit Sharma (capt), 2 KL Rahul, 3 Shreyas Iyer, 4 Dinesh Karthik, 5 Manish Pandey, 6 MS Dhoni (wk), 7 Hardik Pandya, 8 Kuldeep Yadav, 9 Basil Thampi, 10 Jasprit Bumrah, 11 Yuzvendra Chahal.Sri Lanka could make a few changes too, but for different reasons. With Angelo Mathews and Dasun Shanaka available to bowl, they may choose an extra batsman in place of either of their seamers.Sri Lanka (probable): 1 Niroshan Dickwella (wk), 2 Upul Tharanga, 3 Kusal Perera, 4 Angelo Mathews, 5 Sadeera Samarawickrama, 6 Asela Gunaratne, 7 Dasun Shanaka, 8 Thisara Perera (capt), 9 Akila Dananjaya, 10 Dushmantha Chameera, 11 Nuwan Pradeep.Pitch and conditionsThe surface at the Holkar Stadium is usually a batsman’s dream. With short boundaries and the possibility of dew, there should be plenty of boundaries again. The forecast says there is no chance of rain.Stats and trivia MS Dhoni has scored 244 runs in 11 innings at No. 4 in T20Is, with an average of 61 and a strike rate of 151.55 – his best average and strike-rate in any batting position in T20Is by a significant margin India have won 35 matches across formats in 2017, behind only Australia’s 38 and 35 wins in 2003 and 1999 respectively On the other hand, Sri Lanka have lost 38 of 55 games across formats this year, the most by any team in a calendar year
Tottenham Hotspur are now considering a move for Crystal Palace Eberechi Eze, with journalist Miguel Delaney recently taking to X to provide an update on their pursuit of the winger.
What's the latest Tottenham transfer news?
As we approach the closing stages of the summer transfer window, Spurs could have a very lively deadline day, with bringing in additional attacking reinforcements still on the agenda for Ange Postecoglou, and Brennan Johnson remains a target.
Talks are ongoing with Nottingham Forest, but Delaney has now revealed the deal is expected to "go very late", and it may not get done at all, as the two clubs are still some way apart in terms of agreeing a fee.
Spurs are around £10m off Forest's valuation, which is thought to be around £40m, with Brentford also in the race for the Welshman's signature, although his first choice would be to move to north London.
In the same report, it is detailed that the deal to sign Barcelona's Ansu Fati has now broken down, with the winger now set to join Brighton & Hove Albion, meaning the Lilywhites will have to turn their attentions to other targets, and Eze has emerged as an option.
In an update on X, Delaney has claimed that a deal for Johnson is "still way off", meaning Eze is being "considered", but Crystal Palace's valuation is likely to be an issue, as it is expected to be too high.
Writing for The Independent, the journalist has now claimed that Palace's asking price could be well over £60m, which is why a move for Fati was being considered, although that deal is now off the cards.
On the final day of the summer transfer window, Postecoglou's main aim will be to bring in another wide forward, and he could potentially bring in another full-back, should the right player become available.
Read The Latest Tottenham Transfer News HERE
How many goals has Eberechi Eze scored?
Throughout his professional career up to this point, the 25-year-old has scored a total of 40 goals in 231 appearances, during which time he has also amassed 26 assists, and the 2022-23 campaign was by far his most impressive season to date.
Such is the London-born attacker's importance to Palace, he featured in every single Premier League game over the course of the season, reaching double figures for top-flight goals for the first time in his career, indicating he could now be ready to kick on at a top club.
ebere-eze
Hailed as "fantastic" by members of the media, the Palace star has also been lauded by Roy Hodgson for the work he does tracking back, with his manager saying:
"I don't think you could fault him in any way; I don't think you could fault his defensive work – certainly couldn't fault anything he did on the ball, and of course the goal for me was the icing on the cake."
That said, an asking price of £60m is likely to be prohibitive for Tottenham, so they may be better off trying to negotiate a lower fee for Johnson, with Forest seemingly more open to a sale than Palace.
Dinesh Chandimal, Kusal Mendis and legspinning-allrounder Wanindu Hasaranga also made their return to the 16-man squad for the tri-series in Bangladesh
Andrew Fidel Fernando09-Jan-2018Rookie fast bowler Shehan Madushanka has been picked in Sri Lanka’s 16-man squad for the tri-series in Bangladesh, while the likes of Dinesh Chandimal, Kusal Mendis and legspinning-allrounder Wanindu Hasaranga make their returns.Madushanka, 22, has played only three first-class games and three List A matches, but was picked primarily on the promise of his pace. With Dushmantha Chameera also in the 16, Sri Lanka believe they have two bowlers capable of regularly breaching 140kph. It was new coach Chandika Hathurusingha who took an interest in Madushanka, before suggesting to the selectors that he be groomed with the 2019 World Cup in mind.”He’s got pace and you can’t coach that,” Hathurusingha said. “When we go to the next World Cup, we’ll need about seven or eight fast bowlers who have played at least 15 ODIs each. We’ve chosen Madushanka as a player we might use in the long-term.”Chandimal’s return despite poor form in 2017 is also a long-term move, the selectors and Hathurusingha said. Among the major criticisms of Chandimal is that he bats too slowly in limited-overs cricket, and his dips in form can also be lengthy. Hathurusingha, however, has spoken of helping Chandimal regain the spark and belligerence he had shown in 2010, when he first arrived in international cricket. That aggression has at times been showcased in Tests, but has only rarely been seen in limited-overs cricket, such as when he hit 52 not out off 24 balls in a World Cup match against Australia in Sydney.Mendis returns to the squad on the back of a little domestic form. He hit 177 for Colombo Cricket Club in a first-class match in mid-December. Hathurusingha is understood to have pushed to have him included in the squad as well.Squad: Angelo Mathews (capt), Upul Tharanga, Danushka Gunathilaka, Kusal Mendis, Dinesh Chandimal, Kusal Perera, Thisara Perera, Asela Gunaratne, Niroshan Dickwella, Suranga Lakmal, Nuwan Pradeep, Dushmantha Chameera, Shehan Madushanka, Akila Dananjaya, Lakshan Sandakan, Wanindu Hasaranga.
Leeds United have endured some truly torrid transfer missteps in recent memory, with their financial issues from the early 2000s rivalling some of the blunders made under their newer regimes.
It seems everyone at the club is afraid to learn from the past failures of the historic institution, which has spent just three short seasons in the Premier League ever since their 2004 relegation, nearly 20 years ago now.
The aim of this campaign, and what Daniel Farke will hope to bring back to Elland Road, is top-flight football, and his summer of spending has certainly taken huge strides towards achieving that goal, even if it was one marred by a mass exodus.
No less than 15 of their stars departed, due to the arrogant inclusion of various relegation clauses by the previous ownership, and so for their new German manager it turned into a firefighting exercise as he rushed to plug gaps and replace stars.
With nine acquisitions of his own, he can hardly be faulted, especially considering some of those departures will likely be welcome ones given the lack of impact they had, and how they contributed to yet another relegation.
One such example is Brenden Aaronson, whose exit would likely have been well-received after the torrid first year he endured in English football.
Who is Leeds United's worst-ever signing?
Whilst there are numerous candidates for the worst signing in Leeds' rich history, there is certainly a case to be made for the USA international, who joined for a mouth-watering £24.7m fee in the summer of 2022.
With Jesse Marsch having narrowly helped his side escape the drop, Andrea Radrizzani sought to back his new coach wholeheartedly by sanctioning key additions, which his creative compatriot spearheaded.
JesseMarsch
However, it was a move that quickly turned sour, despite the 22-year-old having scored in their shock 3-0 demolition of Chelsea just three games into the new season. With his high press stealing the ball off the goalkeeper, he tapped into an empty net and offered a glimpse of the all-action football that the former RB Salzburg boss might bring.
That would be his sole goal throughout the entire league campaign where he featured 36 times, and Marsch would be sacked in February.
Pundit Jon Newsome even sought to outline one particularly terrible showing from the 5 foot 10 dud, speaking to BBC Radio Leeds: "I feel he’s very lightweight. There were a couple of occasions when the ball was there to be won and he actually jumped out of the way. That, for me, is really disappointing."
Although it is a tough task to be named the worst-ever signing in Leeds' history, when players like Jean-Kevin Augustin drained the club having barely played, and Seth Johnson joined for big money only to be ravaged by injuries, Aaronson certainly deserves a mention given he was signed for a huge fee, has disappointed throughout his 58 weeks at the club, and jumped ship at the first opportunity.
What is Brenden Aaronson's salary at Leeds United?
Not only did the previous regime spend big on his initial transfer fee, but they also handed the midfielder a lucrative contract too, tying him down for five years. Given how poor he has been, this already seems like a torrid decision set to financially drain the club for the foreseeable future.
His £45k-per-week deal will see him amass an added £2.3m for every year he spends in Leeds, with his loan deal to Union Berlin offering some brief respite as the German club are reportedly paying his full wages whilst he helps them shine in the Champions League and push for another fine run in the Bundesliga.
brenden-aaronson
It is seldom that players can fail upwards with such magnitude, having left a relegated side to soon face Real Madrid and Napoli in Europe's elite competition.
It remains to be seen whether he will return to Elland Road raring to reignite his career at the club, or seek a permanent move elsewhere. At least, for now, his fiscal burden has been momentarily thwarted.
How much has Brenden Aaronson earned at Leeds?
Given he only spent one year with the club before being one of the first to leave at the start of the summer, the potential money he could have taken has been slightly limited.
That being said, it still marks one of the biggest outlays in the club's history, especially when combining his transfer fee with those aforementioned wages garnered.
In total, Aaronson has snagged Leeds for the best part of £27m, and should he return next summer and refuse to move, that is a figure that could only keep growing.
The hope will be that he can start to pay that frustrating fee back in the coming years with some fine performances, or leave before he does irreparable financial damage to a side that could still be languishing in the Championship next year.
How much has Brenden Aaronson earned in his career?
Given his youth, there has hardly been ample time for the American to gain a significant purse compared to some of the amounts being thrown around lately in the modern game.
Saudi Arabian emergence has distorted what constitutes a normal wage for a player at this level, given they are now reportedly paying N'Golo Kante £86.2m a year, Sadio Mane a further £34m a year, and even former Celtic star Jota £10m a year.
This makes the alleged £7.6m that Aaronson has earned throughout his entire career seem like a tiny sum, with most of that time being spent in his homeland and Austria, hardly the most lucrative leagues.
rob-holding-arsenal-leeds-united-hero-star
Whilst at Philadelphia Union, the American bagged a nominal £1k-per-week salary, and upon moving to RB Salzburg, that increased significantly to £25k-per-week, via Capology..
Now at Leeds, his stuttering form suggests that he perhaps might struggle to continue that upward financial trajectory.
How much do other Leeds United players earn?
For all his weaknesses in the grand scheme of things, his exit, among numerous others, was a much-needed one given they would have been drowning in various lucrative wages following their relegation.
Their highest-earner last season was Rodrigo, who sat on a monstrous £100k-per-week deal, whilst Jack Harrison was close behind on £90k-per-week. It is indicative of their upheaval that neither of these stars are at the club anymore either.
In fact, Aaronson's £45k-per-week wage actually marked only the 11th-highest within the squad last season, which may surprise many given the weight of his transfer fee, via Capology.
Nowadays, the highest earners sit at just £70k-per-week, with that aforementioned mass exodus culling the large majority of those lucrative contracts to ease the fiscal pressure they could have been feeling.
Mahmudullah will continue to lead the T20 side in the absence of Shakib, who is yet to recover from the finger injury he sustained during the ODI tri-series in January
Mohammad Isam03-Mar-2018Shakib Al Hasan has been ruled out of Bangladesh’s Nidahas Trophy campaign, as he still hasn’t recovered from his finger injury. Mahmudullah will continue to lead the Bangladesh T20 team in his absence while Liton Das has replaced him in the squad.Shakib injured the little finger on his left hand during the ODI tri-series final on January 27 and missed the Test and T20 series against Sri Lanka last month. He also didn’t play in the Pakistan Super League.Last week the BCB picked a 16-man squad with Mehidy Hasan Miraz as Shakib’s cover as the diagnosis till that point wasn’t encouraging. Shakib also consulted two orthopedists in Bangkok, and it now seems that his recovery will take longer than expected.Liton, meanwhile, has been in good form in the domestic List-A competition. He has scored 386 runs in five innings, including two centuries. In the BPL last year, Liton scored 261 runs in 12 innings at a strike-rate of 124.88. Liton is the third wicketkeeper in the squad, apart from Mushfiqur Rahim and Nurul Hasan.Bangladesh squad: Mahmudullah (capt), Tamim Iqbal, Soumya Sarkar, Imrul Kayes, Mushfiqur Rahim (wk), Sabbir Rahman, Mustafizur Rahman, Rubel Hossain, Taskin Ahmed, Abu Hider, Abu Jayed, Ariful Haque, Nazmul Islam, Nurul Hasan, Mehidy Hasan, Liton Das
Newcastle United return to Premier League action today. That pesky international break is no more and supporters across Europe can look forward to watching their team play once again.
Eddie Howe will be desperate to send St. James' Park into rapture with a convincing performance over Brentford, having lost the past three league matches to Manchester City, Liverpool and Brighton & Hove Albion.
The Magpies are soon to play Champions League football after blitzing into form last season, defying the odds to clinch a top-four finish over the likes of Liverpool, Tottenham Hotspur and Chelsea.
Thomas Frank's Bees are cohesive and solid in their work, but United will feel that the cogs can combine to kickstart their campaign on Tyneside today.
What is the latest Newcastle team news?
Newcastle's worries over the slow start to the campaign have been compounded by a luckless injury record thus far with star centre-back Sven Botman a fitness doubt – having been sidelined since picking up an ankle injury against Liverpool – though there is a possibility he could be included.
Fast-rising midfielder Elliot Anderson also sustained an issue and was forced to withdraw from his maiden call-up to the Scotland international last week, though Howe is equally optimistic that he could feature this evening.
It's a good thing too, with £55m playmaker Sandro Tonali considered a doubt after missing out on Italy's 2-1 win over Ukraine on Tuesday night.
Callum Wilson signed a contract extension this week, but the prolific striker will likely start from the bench once again, with club-record £63m talisman Alexander Isak pushing to add to his two strikes this season.
Should Miguel Almiron start today?
Newcastle's rise over the past 22 months or so has been remarkable, with players such as Joelinton, Fabian Schar and Miguel Almiron finally living up to their potential after languishing for so long.
The latter, Almiron, was particularly destructive last season, especially in the opening phase, scoring 11 goals and supplying two assists in the English top-flight, with nine goals coming in the opening half of the campaign.
So far this term, the Paraguayan has not quite found his feet and has blanked across Newcastle's four Premier League matches so far, starting on each occasion.
Hailed as “sensational” by journalist Josh Bunting last season, Almiron has perhaps seen his purple patch dulled over the past months, and while he still ranks among the top 14% of attacking midfielders and wingers across Europe's top five leagues over the past year for goals per 90 and the top 5% for pass completion, as per FBref, it might be wise, given the Magpies' slow start, to place him on the bench and offer an opportunity for someone else.
Take, for example, Harvey Barnes; signed from relegated Leicester City for £39m this summer, Barnes has already posted a goal and assist apiece despite having yet to receive a starting berth, and his incisiveness could be crucial in bypassing a resolute Bees backline, having scored 13 Premier League goals last term despite the Foxes' woes.
Anthony Gordon, who has been in fine fettle this season after winning the 2023 U21 Euros Player of the Tournament after gleaning gold with England, could be deployed on the right to accommodate Barnes.
And if that doesn't please Howe, the industrious Jacob Murphy could earn his first start and first appearance since the opening game of the term, where he set up Barnes' debut goal despite only playing four minutes of action.
Newcastle have not quite clicked this term, yet Botman's potential return will be crucial to restoring the equilibrium, discarding Matt Targett after the left-back stood in against Brighton last time out, producing a poor performance, with the Chronicle's Lee Ryder saying it was "a miserable night capped by late withdrawal" for the Englishman.
Almiron has been immense and a staple of the rise under Howe's stewardship, but the £60k-per-week ace must now be taken from the starting line-up in a move to freshen things up and offer another talented teammate a chance, and it might pay dividends for the Toon as they seek to dismantle Brentford this evening.
He will miss the matches against Kings XI Punjab on Sunday and against Rajasthan Royals on April 20
Deivarayan Muthu12-Apr-20182:45
Dasgupta: Raina is the batting fulcrum of CSK
Hours after Chennai Super Kings lost their home advantage for the rest of the 2018 season, they suffered another blow with Suresh Raina being ruled out of the side’s next two matches because of a calf injury. Raina will miss a Super Kings match for the first time in his career when he won’t appear against Kings XI Punjab in Mohali on Sunday and against Rajasthan Royals in Pune on April 20.Raina had sustained the injury during Super Kings’ successful chase of 203 against Kolkata Knight Riders in their first match at the MA Chidambaram Stadium in nearly three years. Raina needed medical attention on Tuesday after completing a single against Sunil Narine in the 10th over of the chase. He struggled to run between the wickets before eventually holing out for 14 off 12 balls.Raina’s absence further depletes a middle order that is already missing Kedar Jadhav, who had been ruled out of the the tournament with a hamstring injury.However, Faf du Plessis could be available for Sunday’s match as he is recovering from a finger injury and a side strain. M Vijay, who had missed the tournament opener against Mumbai because he was hit in the ribs while training before the match, was available for selection for the match against Knight Riders, according to batting coach Michael Hussey, but was not picked. Raina’s injury could push Vijay to the top and Ambati Rayudu into the middle order.Delhi’s Dhruv Shorey and Kshitiz Sharma and Tamil Nadu’s N Jagadeesan are the uncapped Indian batsmen in the squad. Jadhav’s replacement David Willey “hasn’t joined the squad as his visa process is not complete yet,” a CSK official told ESPNcricinfo. “He will not be available for the Mohali match but could be expected to be available for the Rajasthan match.”Super Kings had also lost New Zealand allrounder Mitchell Santner to injury before the tournament began and have not named a replacement for him yet.
Newcastle United emerged from the San Siro on Tuesday night without nursing a defeat, with AC Milan throwing the kitchen sink at Eddie Howe's outfit but unable to bypass the indomitable Nick Pope's goal.
It was a pleasing result after returning to Europe's elite club competition this year after two decades away, having finished fourth in the Premier League last term – especially considering Paris Saint-Germain and Borussia Dortmund also make up the 'group of death'.
But, once again, the Magpies failed to take full flight, with the Daily Mail's Craig Hope claiming that it's "still not clicking on the whole", and given that the St. James' Park side have won two and lost three of their opening five matches in the Premier League, that's probably a fair assessment.
Newcastle United manager Eddie Howe.
It's important to remember that the season is still in its fledging phase, and that United actually required eight league matches to bag their second victory last term.
Regardless, there are improvements to be made no doubt. And while Howe has largely opted to stick with the formula that gleaned success last term, perhaps it's now time to shake things up and climb up the table.
Who is underperforming for Newcastle?
It's perhaps a disproportionate reaction to suggest that Newcastle are struggling, but there are certainly several members of the squad who have failed to replicate last season's impressive, sustained showings thus far.
Bruno Guimaraes is a "world-class" midfielder – as has been said by his teammates – and has been the centrepiece of the club's ascent over the past few years, signing from French side Lyon for £40m in January 2022.
But he has not quite found his finest form this season. He will, of course, but the Brazilian is undoubtedly yet to gel with £55m summer signing Sandro Tonali, with The Chronicle's Lee Ryder acknowledging that argument that the pair "can't play together."
Alexander Isak, £63m club-record signing and focal frontman, is also yet to prove his worth since the summer, blanking across four matches since bagging a brace against Aston Villa in the Premier League opener, with presenter Kev Lawson noting that he needed "hooking" vs Milan.
Dan Burn, towering and versatile defender, has also received his share of criticism of late, but is it justified for a player who has performed with diligence and determination under Howe's stewardship?
How good is Dan Burn?
Signed from Brighton & Hove Albion for £13m in January 2022, Burn has been involved in Newcastle's ambitious new project from the get-go.
A boyhood Magpie, he swiftly asserted himself as an imposing presence in the centre of the defence, instrumental in Newcastle's resurgence in 2021/22, rising from the pit of the Premier League and finishing the campaign with an 11th-placed finish, with 49 points.
Hailed as a "colossus" by Magpies reporter Ciaran Kelly and an "absolute steal" by pundit Frank McAvennie, the 6 foot 6 gem found himself in the unlikely role of left-back, where he would ply his trade for the duration of the 2022/23 season, crucially aiding his side in their Champions League qualification.
As per FBref, the 31-year-old ranks among the top 1% of full-backs across Europe's top five leagues over the past year for aerial wins, the top 7% for clearances and the top 20% for blocks per 90.
A veritable wall in the Toon defence, he has been integral, but he's not exactly the most mobile of defenders, something that has been exposed several times this season.
Indeed, the £55k-per-week ace ranks among the bottom 5% of positional peers for progressive carries and the bottom 12% for successful take-ons per 90, and his lack of energy, while not negating his skill as a solid defender, is something that Howe will have on his mind as he looks to construct a team capable of winning silverware and cementing a spot in the Champions League.
Newcastle boasted the joint-best defence in the Premier League last season (alongside champions Manchester City), dominant and cohesive, but do not look to have the same level of imperiousness at present, and Howe might now be inclined to unleash his prodigious summer signing Tino Livramento, who is yet to start for the St. James' Park side.
Should Newcastle start Tino Livramento?
Livramento spent the lion's share of the 2022/23 campaign out injured, missing 43 matches and watching from the sidelines as Southampton succumbed to relegation after a miserable, disjointed season.
He had previously looked to be some talent, hailed for his "excellent" start to life on the south coast by England manager Gareth Southgate late in 2021, having joined from Chelsea for £5m that past summer.
Making 28 Premier League appearances that year and earning an average Sofascore match rating of 6.85, the 20-year-old completed 79% of his passes, averaged 1.9 tackles, 1.7 clearances and 1.7 interceptions per match, and also succeeded with 62% of his ground duels.
Traditionally a right-back, the energetic starlet – who has been projected to be a "future star" by former teammate Theo Walcott – once scored against Liverpool U21s while playing for Chelsea's development side down the left channel, and there is a sense that his dynamism could be perfect to provide cover for the Magpies on both flanks.
Having completed an initial £32m transfer to Tyneside from Saints this summer, Livramento is clearly a player held in high regard, formerly the winner of Chelsea's Academy Player of the Season in 2021.
Livramento's Strengths, (WhoScored)
Livramento's weaknesses
Dribbling
Ball retention
Interceptions
Concentration
A confident, ebullient marauder, Livramento ranked among the top 2% of full-backs in the Premier League for carry and dribble volume per 90 in 2021/22, while ranking among the top 10% for interceptions and ball recoveries per 90.
A robust, powerful, and multi-functional defender, it's surely time for Howe to provide his precocious 5 foot 11 talent with an opportunity to impress after paying the big bucks for his signature in the summer.
A trip to a raucous Bramall Lane to face Sheffield United is forthcoming in the Premier League, and with Burn's place under threat, Livramento should receive an opportunity to impress on Sunday – especially after the gruelling nature of the recent trip to Italy.
AB de Villiers played another cameo as the hosts chased down 101 with six wickets in hand
The Report by Brydon Coverdale12-Mar-2018 Scorecard and ball-by-ball detailsThe hardest job on day four in Port Elizabeth was not chasing 101 for victory. Through the majesty of AB de Villiers, South Africa did that with ease and levelled the series 1-1. No, the most difficult task was assigned to whoever chose the Man of the Match. Would it be de Villiers, whose unbeaten 126 in the first innings was not only a game-changer but one of the most impressive knocks in recent history, and whose run-a-ball 28 in the second innings helped seal the win? Or would it be Kagiso Rabada, whose 11-wicket haul was irresistible to watch and completely blunted Australia’s batting?Certainly it was Rabada who lit up the morning session at St George’s Park. South Africa began the day clearly in the stronger position, but Australia were 41 runs ahead and still had five wickets in hand. If they let Australia’s lower order off the hook, South Africa could have been faced with a tricky chase of 200-plus. The key seemed to be Mitchell Marsh, the last member of Australia’s top six, who was unbeaten on 39 at the start of play. Rabada didn’t even let Marsh survive an over. He nipped one back in to Marsh, at speed, to find the gap and rattle his stumps.Rabada followed by having Pat Cummins caught by Theunis de Bruyn at gully for 5, and he added Mitchell Starc, who was caught behind for 1. Rabada finished with match figures of 11 for 150, and he became just the third South African to achieve a ten-wicket Test haul on at least four occasions. For perspective, the others are Dale Steyn, whose five ten-wicket hauls have come in 86 Tests, and Makhaya Ntini, whose 101-Test career brought four ten-fors. Rabada has four in just his 28th Test. He is still only 22 years old. This is a young man who could be absolutely anything.Perhaps a caveat is needed to the earlier statement. There was one other task on day four that might have been even harder than determining the Man of the Match. This job fell to match referee Jeff Crowe, who had to decide whether Rabada would be suspended for the remainder of the series for his shoulder bump with Steven Smith during Australia’s first innings. In isolation, the incident would not be worthy of a ban, but Rabada’s bank of demerit points changes that. After a hearing on day three, Crowe chose to defer his verdict for 24 hours.Kagiso Rabada celebrates a wicket with his team-mates•Associated PressAustralia’s innings finished with Nathan Lyon being caught behind off Lungi Ngidi for 5 and Josh Hazlewood caught at deep midwicket off Keshav Maharaj for 17. Tim Paine remained unbeaten on 28 in Australia’s 239, and their lead of 100 was never likely to be truly competitive. One of the major concerns for Australia as they head to the third Test in Cape Town is that not a single Australian batsman has scored a century so far in this series. South Africa, by comparison, have had hundreds in each Test – from Aiden Markram in Durban and de Villiers in Port Elizabeth.Australia had the chance to snap up Markram for 7 in this chase, but his edge off Hazlewood was put down at first slip by Mitchell Marsh, hardly a promising start for a team needing a miracle to avoid defeat. Wickets did fall, but not enough. Dean Elgar was caught and bowled by Lyon off a leading edge for 5, in a near carbon-copy of his dismissal in the first innings in Durban, and Markram was caught at second slip by Smith off Hazlewood for 21, but all that did was bring de Villiers to the crease.Australia’s minor sniff was snuffed out by the aggression of de Villiers, who struck four fours and one six during his 28 off 26 balls, and his 49-run stand with Hashim Amla delivered South Africa to within 20 runs of victory. Both men fell – Amla caught behind off Cummins for 27 and de Villiers caught at short-leg off Lyon – but Faf du Plessis and de Bruyn steered South Africa home with no further loss, a cover-driven boundary from de Bruyn confirming the six-wicket win.The teams will head to Cape Town for the third Test with South Africa looking in the stronger form, but potentially without their strike bowler Rabada, who is far and away on top of the series wicket tally with 15 at 16.80. Whether they are the same threat without him remains to be seen. And, just for the record, in the race to be Man of the Match, Rabada beat de Villiers by a nose.