Rangers are back to square one after dismissing Michael Beale, before hiring former AS Monaco manager Philippe Clement as his replacement. The Gers will be hoping to enjoy far more success under their new manager than they did under Beale, who left the Scottish Premiership without ever really making his mark in the hot seat. As ever, a new manager will likely mean plenty of changes on and off the pitch, especially when the January transfer window opens.
The Scottish giants have already set their sights on an off-field upgrade, who one particular pundit believes is out of their reach, given his recent success at his current club.
Latest Rangers transfer news
Whilst the January transfer window is yet to open, limiting the improvements that Clement and Rangers can make on the pitch, they can at least prepare for it away from the Ibrox turf. And that has reportedly led them to Brighton & Hove Albion head of recruitment Sam Jewell, who they want to appoint as their new technical director. The latest Rangers news, via Fabrizio Romano, stated that Jewell is considering the offer, but is hesitant to step away from Brighton at their highest point in history.
Reacting to the news, Frank McAvennie told Football Insider: “Why would you leave Brighton where you have got free reign to do whatever you want? Whoever comes in at Rangers will be given some money to play with but not as much. I think Rangers have got to stop living in cuckoo land, they are not going to get a guy from Brighton unless there is a problem with him there. Why would he even contemplate leaving Brighton?
“I know Rangers are a big club but you are in the Premier League, you are in Europe, they have got everything going for them and are playing some of their best football.“
Who is Sam Jewell?
Responsible for some of the best recruitment in the Premier League, as backed up by Brighton's rise from relegation battlers to a Europa League team, Jewell would be an incredible addition for Rangers. McAvennie makes a good point, however – Jewell has no real reason to leave The Amex right now, especially for a side who are going through a transition under a new manager. Although he could potentially be a game-changer, the Gers may have to look elsewhere.
It is a positive sign that Rangers are seeking upgrades off the pitch, it must be said. Their recruitment during the summer is yet to work out, with the likes of Cyriel Dessers failing to get off to an impressive start. If they can get the recruitment right, then it could be said that Rangers are already halfway there when it comes to mounting a serious title challenge against Celtic in the Scottish Premiership.
Even if it seems unlikely, only time will tell whether Jewell accepts the offer from Ibrox or not. He seemingly has the world at his feet at Brighton, but Rangers are hardly a small club and consistently make European competitions, perhaps making the offer a surprisingly tempting one for the Seagulls' head of recruitment.
Millie Bright is set to remain sidelined until after April's international break due to an injury setback, informed Chelsea boss Emma Hayes.
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Bright suffering from a knee injuryFresh setback to delay returnNathalie Bjorn also uncertain against West HamGetty ImagesWHAT HAPPENED?
Bright has been out of action since November as she has been grappling with a persistent knee injury that saw her stay out of action in the final two months of the 2022-23 season. Despite her absence, Chelsea have maintained their dominance in the Women's Super League, currently leading the table with 40 points, ahead of their closest rivals Manchester City on goal difference.
AdvertisementWHAT HAYES SAID
"Millie, (will) not (be back) before the international break," Hayes said.
"She had a little setback, little bit of inflammation, she’s had to build a little bit more muscle above her knee, and that muscle work has to be done in the gym.
"Sometimes when you just do it on the pitch [but] you don’t do gym work, you can manage part of the load, (but she) doesn’t have enough muscle definition so she’s working on that in the background and I think that she’ll be ready… I don’t know when she’s gonna be ready but I hope she’ll be after international break."
THE BIGGER PICTURE
In addition to Bright's absence, Chelsea face uncertainty regarding the availability of defender Nathalie Bjorn and striker Mayra Ramirez. Bjorn is considered "50/50" to feature in the upcoming clash against West Ham United following a calf injury, while Ramirez remains in contention after missing the team's last three fixtures.
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Bright can potentially return against Manchester United on April 14 in the FA Women's Cup semifinal. This means that the defender will miss the next three fixtures including the WSL fixture against West Ham, the UEFA Women's Champions League second-leg clash against Ajax and the FA WSL Cup against Arsenal.
The rugby side will be led by All Blacks captain Kieran Read while Brendon McCullum and Stephen Fleming will be among the cricketers on show
ESPNcricinfo staff27-Aug-2018The reputation of some of New Zealand’s most well-known cricketers will be on the line in January when they take on a side comprising current and former All Blacks, led by captain Kieran Read, in a charity T20 match in Christchurch.Billed as the Black Clash, the game will take place on January 25 at Hagley Oval with funds raised for the benevolent funds of the rugby and cricket player associations. The idea was put together by former New Zealand captain Stephen Fleming who will act as player-coach of Team Cricket with Brendon McCullum among the names also set to feature.Kyle Mills, the former New Zealand pace bowler, will also be involved along with Grant Elliott, who announced his retirement from all forms of cricket last week, and Luke Ronchi. There could be an interesting tussle to see who has the services of Jeff Wilson, the former dual international who played both rugby and cricket for New Zealand.Team Rugby will be coached by Sir Graham Henry and is expected to include Richie McCaw as well as Beauden and Jordie Barrett and Israel Dagg who were excellent cricketers before opting for the rugby career route. As a schoolboy fast bowler, Dagg impressed the Australians during a net session in Napier in 2005.Read, meanwhile, played age-group cricket for Northern Districts in a team that featured Daniel Flynn, Anton Devcich, and BJ Watling but admitted there would be a few nerves ahead of his comeback”I’m going to be a bit nervous, to be honest,” he told Stuff.co.nz “You lose your hand-eye [co-ordination] pretty quick in this game. I’ll have to get out and hit a few balls to get my eye back in.”The event is based around South Africa’s Nelson Mandela Legacy Cup where the Springboks, the South African Rugby team, take on the Proteas, the national cricket team.”I thought if we had the opportunity with a brand as big as the All Blacks, it would pique my interest,” Fleming told the . “There is almost a bit of romanticism around this one, bringing a game to Christchurch in its rebuild.”We’re putting our reputations on the line here,” he added. “We know just how good the likes of Kieran and his rugby mates are at cricket. They’re exceptional athletes and many of them could have been international cricketers had they chosen another path. So we’re on high alert, that’s for sure.”
The Gunners could lay down a huge marker in the title race on Sunday, with the reigning champions facing an injury crisis
Arsenal are on fire. After picking up maximum points from their last eight games, scoring an astonishing 33 goals and conceding just four along the way, Mikel Arteta's side are by far the most in-form side in the Premier League.
The Gunners will therefore travel to Manchester City on Sunday full of confidence as they chase down a first top-flight crown since 2004, which was certainly not the case the last time the two teams met at the Etihad Stadium. After a run of three successive draws, Arsenal were put to the sword in a humiliating 4-1 away defeat to Pep Guardiola's side last season – a psychological blow from which they would never recover.
City's experience and strength in depth ultimately gave them the edge as they went on to secure their fifth title under Guardiola. Arsenal have bounced back admirably, though, and sit top of the table once again heading into the business end of the campaign, with Liverpool in second on goal difference and City just one point behind in the third.
The stakes couldn't be higher, and this time around, Arteta won't have any valid excuses if Arsenal fall short, especially after a turbulent international break that has significantly weakened the champions.
Getty ImagesPep's worst fears realised
“I will not watch the games,” Guardiola told reporters before seeing a large portion of his squad join up with their countries for March internationals. “I will rest and when they arrive on the Thursday we will see which players survive and not survive. It’s a wish [that everyone is okay]."
Unfortunately, the Catalan coach saw his worst fears realised. During England's 1-0 defeat to Brazil, Kyle Walker limped off the Wembley pitch with a hamstring injury after just 20 minutes, and is now out of the game on Sunday.
John Stones, meanwhile, played the full 90 minutes against Brazil, and was selected to start the Three Lions' next game against Belgium just three days later, only to be forced off in the early stages with an adductor issue. It was the latest in a string of fitness setbacks for Stones, who has only been available to start 11 games for City so far in 2023-24, and is another one who will miss out at the Etihad on the weekend.
City have also been sweating on the condition of Manuel Akanji after he withdrew from the Switzerland squad due to a knock. Akanji has been one of Guardiola's unsung heroes this term, producing consistently brilliant displays in the heart of the defence and when filling in at right-back. It seems, at least, that he will be ready for Sunday.
Even so, Guardiola is facing a serious selection headache at the back. It's not yet certain that No.1 goalkeeper Ederson will play, after pulling out of Brazil's camp with a thigh issue, while the definite absences of both Walker and Stones are a significant blow.
AdvertisementGetty ImagesMental barrier at the Etihad?
Arsenal have their own fitness concerns, with Bukayo Saka and Gabriel Magalhaes having left their respective national teams early, but the England forward's knock has been described as "minor" while Brazil are said to have merely taken a "precaution" with their star defender. Both players will still be expected to feature against City, along with Gabriel Martinelli, who has now had the best part of a month to recover from the nasty cut on his foot he sustained during Arsenal's 6-0 romp at Sheffield United.
The Gunners have scored 17 goals across their last three away games, and will be smelling blood against a depleted City. There is, however, still a chance that the thrashing they suffered at the Etihad last April will still be in the back of the players' minds.
A hard-fought 1-0 victory at the Emirates Stadium in the first half of the season went some way towards banishing those demons, but a mental barrier might go up again given Arsenal's miserable recent record in the blue half of Manchester.
You'd have to rewind back all the way to January 2015 for Arsenal's last win at City, as they've posted seven losses and one draw in their last eight trips to the Etihad. As usual, the home crowd will be on their backs right from the first second, with taunts likely to centre around the Gunners potentially 'bottling' the title for a second straight year, and Arteta's men will be in for another long afternoon if they're unable to block out that noise and execute their gameplan.
Getty'Arsenal need to have courage'
The big temptation for Arteta will be to try and hit City on the break, with very few teams having managed to go toe-to-toe with Guardiola's pass masters over the past decade. They've been as strong as ever on home soil this season, unbeaten in 20 games across all competitions, and Arsenal would probably snap your hand off if offered a draw before kick-off.
But City have generally not been quite as dominant as usual. They were genuinely outplayed during a 1-0 loss at Aston Villa in December, and extremely fortunate to leave Anfield with a point after giving up countless chances to Jurgen Klopp's relentless Liverpool in their most recent Premier League outing.
Cracks have shown at the Etihad, too, with Tottenham, Crystal Palace and Chelsea giving City real scares, and Arsenal have the tools to seriously unsettle them. There will also never be a better opportunity for Arteta to complete a league double over Guardiola, or for the Gunners to finally prove they do have what it takes to go all the way.
Former Arsenal full-back Gael Clichy had laid out what he feels will be a winning blueprint for Arteta, telling : "Arsenal need to have the courage to go to their place and say, ‘we are going to be in your face’. I think it would be a terrible mistake for Mikel to try and play on the counter and leave the ball to Manchester City. You must play your own game. Arsenal cannot lose on Sunday. A draw will still keep them ahead of City in the table, but I am not sure a point is enough against a team like City.
"They need to win the title to validate the work they have been doing. The weakness in the Man City team is when they are in possession, they often lose the second ball and can be hurt on transition. Players like Saka and Martinelli can hurt City on the transition. Keeping the ball and using the space in behind could be the key. If there is one team that is capable of going there and getting the points, it is Arsenal."
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(C)Getty ImagesTwo biggest weapons
Arsenal have two huge weapons at their disposal that they didn't have at the same stage last season. William Saliba's injury-enforced absence was undoubtedly the main reason behind the Gunners dramatic collapse, but now he's fully fit for the run-in, and much of the credit for their status as the best defensive side in the Premier League must go to him.
The Frenchman has been the Gunners' answer to Ruben Dias at City and Virgil van Dijk at Liverpool: a strong, powerful and composed centre-back who very rarely comes out second best in one-on-one duels while possessing the technical quality to push his team forward at every opportunity. If he wins his battle with Erling Haaland, Arsenal have a great chance of edging out City on Sunday.
The only man more important than Saliba will be Arsenal's £105 million ($132m) record signing Declan Rice, who has added an extra layer of steel to the team. Rice has made more interceptions and tackles in the Premier League than any other Arsenal player since his arrival from West Ham, while also chipping in with six goals.
Right now, Rodri is perhaps the only holding midfielder in the world who can claim to be better than Rice, and it will be the Arsenal enforcer's job to shut him down. Rodri is City's orchestrator, the driving force behind their success, and also has a knack for popping up with important goals.
Incredibly, Rodri has gone 62 games without experiencing defeat in a City shirt, but Rice is just as influential, and Arsenal will be able to take control if he can keep his Spanish counterpart under wraps. Rice's delivery from dead balls could also prove decisive, with the England international now up to six assists for the campaign after being shifted from set-piece target to taker at the start of 2024.
Ange Postecoglou will be delighted with Tottenham Hotspur's start to the 2023/24 Premier League campaign, but he will know of the rocky road still to traverse ahead of what could be a momentous crescendo to a new chapter.
Few foresaw the London club's sensational seasonal rise after such a challenging and unsuccessful 2022/23 campaign – a year that saw the dismissal of Antonio Conte, which was the fourth in as many years at the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium.
But despite the sale of star striker Harry Kane, Tottenham are poised for a fruitful year, having soared into a two-point, table-topping lead in the Premier League after ten matches.
Multiple exciting additions have bolstered Postecoglou's vision, though Kane wasn't the only man to make way, with Harry Winks ending a career-long affiliation with Spurs and joining relegated Leicester City in a £10m deal.
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The 5 foot 10 midfielder spent the 2022/23 season out on loan in the Serie A with Sampdoria as Tottenham toiled, receiving praise from journalist Matt Barlow for one "terrific" performance against Inter Milan, starting 19 matches in the league altogether.
It wasn't enough to salvage his Lilywhites career, however, and Leicester presented Winks with an enticing package to spearhead a return to the Premier League from the centre.
Harry Winks' style of play
Perhaps Postecoglou could have found a use for Winks, and perhaps chairman Daniel Levy should have held off on the sale, especially when considering the player's innate passing prowess; simple but effective, he could have been a sturdy metronomic presence to add depth to an aspiring team.
As per FBref, Winks ranks among the top 1% of midfielders across divisions similar to the Championship for pass completion and passes attempted, the top 24% for progressive passes and the top 23% for progressive carries per 90.
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He is, undoubtedly, one of the second tier's superlative ball-playing specialists, and his infusion with Enzo Maresca's system at the King Power Stadium has been absolutely magnificent.
Harry Winks' season at Leicester in numbers
His delightful curling strike against beleaguered Queens Park Rangers last weekend rubber-stamped his stature as the division's leading midfielder this season, though not without merit.
Having started 14 league matches this term, Winks, aged 27, has completed a mega 95% of his passes, made 5.4 ball recoveries per game and succeeded with 67% of his attempted dribbles, as per Sofascore.
In short, it's quite clear that Winks is capable of operating at a level above Leicester's present position, though the Foxes are on an unstoppable charge back to the big time and the former Spurs ace will continue to star at the centre upon their likely promotion.
The ten-cap England international's technical ability would have been perfect for Tottenham's new system, with Postecoglou implementing a swift-flowing style of play with an emphasis on domination through crisp, composed passing football.
Leicester's Harry Winks and Kiernan Dewsbury-Hall.
Yves Bissouma, Pape Sarr and James Maddison have formed a commendable triumvirate in the centre of the park and it's clear at this point that the Tottenham gaffer likes to stick to the same starting team, or thereabouts, to maintain cohesion and intensity.
But nonetheless, Winks would have been a valuable option, offering a distinctive set of skills perfect for the new style, and perhaps if the new manager had had more time to work with him, the confluence in styles would have merged sweetly.
Instead, he was indeed sold, with Oliver Skipp still preferred to offer an industrious alternative in the middle.
How Oliver Skipp compares to Harry Winks
Skipp is still only 23 and has been a solid back-up option over the past few years, though there is a question mark hanging over the decision to let Winks leave – a question mark given credence following the Leicester man's displays this season.
Much like Winks, the £40k-per-week midfielder is a composed distributor and ranks among the top 18% of midfielders across Europe's top five leagues over the past year for pass completion and the top 27% for tackles per 90.
And while he may be four years younger, Skipp doesn't look like he's going to be making the improvements to align with Tottenham's rising collective quality.
Tottenham's Oliver Skipp
As per Sofascore, the 23-year-old completed 87% of his passes across 23 Premier League matches last year – worse than Winks this season.
What the media have said about Oliver Skipp
Despite the numbers above, talkSPORT pundit Perry Groves was left criticising his lack of positivity, claiming that, alongside Pierre Emile Hojbjerg, Spurs have a "double appendix" that "don't do anything."
It's probably justified, then, that Hojbjerg has only started once in the top flight this season – harsh, but the table speaks for itself and it's hardly a good argument to build against Postecoglou, who is thriving at the helm.
In less scathing tones, reporter Alex Crook remarked thatSkipp is "not good enough" for Spursif they want to reach their zenith, though having started just one Premier League match this year the Australian manager seemingly echoes this sentiment.
Tottenham were believed to have been open to cashing in on their academy graduate in the summer, though nothing ultimately materialised and whether this was down to a lack of interest will remain unknown to the masses.
Winks' sale might have meant that there was a reluctance in thinning the crop too much, though one can't help but wonder that the wrong man was let go, especially considering that Skipp is valued at £24m by Football Transfers' valuation model.
Tottenham midfielder Oliver Skipp.
Skipp is a decent squad option and has done a job off the bench for Tottenham this season, though it doesn't look like he will be cementing a prominent role under Postecoglou any time soon.
To be fair, the same could probably be said for Winks, and given Postecoglou's reluctance to change his free-flowing starting line-up unless left with no choice, the 27-year-old would likely be left disgruntled.
But that doesn't mean that he would not have thrived when called upon, and given Spurs' need for a central midfielder it might have been prudent to hold onto the assured passer.
Alas, he is now at the centre of a tremendous campaign with Leicester, with a date with promotion looking increasingly likely; to say that Spurs may rue his sale might be a bit of a stretch, but Winks would undoubtedly play a part and given the unlikely title charge, squad depth really is imperative when reaching the business end.
Roy Keane has advised Manchester United manager Erik ten Hag to resort to old school methods to try and get Marcus Rashford firing again.
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Keane suggests how to get Rashford firing againJokes: 'Give him a kick up the a***'Striker continues to have disappointing season(C)GettyImagesWHAT HAPPENED?
Rashford is continuing to have a hugely disappointing season with United. The striker was accused by Jamie Redknapp of not showing enough effort during the 1-1 draw at Brentford and now former United captain Keane has joined the chorus of criticism against the Red Devils forward.
AdvertisementWHAT KEANE SAID
"I wouldn’t say I’m worried about him, but you look at him and there’s something amiss. The people around him, whether it be family or his manager, who’s on his case every day?" Keane said on the podcast, brought to you by Sky Bet. "Who is giving him an old-fashioned kick up the a*** and saying 'Come on, we need more from you'. If you want to be this leader, and you’re on the big contracts, then there is that responsibility."
Getty ImagesTHE BIGGER PICTURE
Rashford has scored just eight goals this season, a huge drop off compared to his sensational form of the last campaign when he scored 30 times, leading to him being awarded with a bumper new contract. He has also angered the club by missing training hours after being spotted having a tequila-fuelled night out in Belfast.
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DID YOU KNOW?
Former United defender Rio Ferdinand warned Rashford that he was at a crossroads in his career and urged him to knuckle down and make the right decisions. "It’s a pivotal moment in his career now. He’s not a kid anymore. A lot of people look at potential and talent," he said. "There’s a big decision to make for him. From him, he’s got to look at who is around him. I know his family play a big part with him, which is great, but who are the external people around that? Are they the right people, are they enabling him to make excuses for himself behind closed doors, or are they saying 'Look at yourself, and be accountable for what you are doing'? He needs to look at that and own that and make big decisions."
Zimbabwe are having trouble closing out games, according to their head coach, but he’s backing them to deliver in the second ODI against Bangladesh
Mohammad Isam23-Oct-2018Zimbabwe are pinning their hopes on the senior batsmen to get big scores in the second ODI against Bangladesh on Wednesday. The head coach Lalchand Rajput was hopeful that incremental gains made over his tenure, which began on a permanent basis in August 2018, will begin to show soon.Brendan Taylor is a year into his return from retirement. Sean Williams has scored two fifties in four games and even Hamilton Masakadza – who has played all of Zimbabwe’s nine ODIs under Rajput – has scored just one fifty and sports a batting average of 25.88. Elton Chigumbura, who was dropped in the first ODI in Dhaka, has made just 107 runs in six games. Nevertheless, Rajput backed them to come good so that Zimbabwe could close out games better.”It is a long list [of losses] but in the first eight games we didn’t have our players,” he said. “Now the senior players have returned and we are getting closer but not crossing the line. South Africa were 100 for 7 in one game but we couldn’t win. Even in the T20Is. We are getting it together but the day will come soon that we will cross the line.”The senior players have to take responsibility. Masakadza got a hundred in the practice game so hopefully he can convert into the ODIs. BT [Brendon Taylor] is getting starts so hopefully a big score will come. I am sure they also feel they have to get a big score. It is coming, I am sure it is coming very soon.”Zimbabwe had two big moments when they could have taken control of the series opener they played on Sunday. They had Bangladesh at 139 for 6 in the 30th over but couldn’t capitalise, and later, chasing a target of 272, they made little use of a strong start provided by opener Cephas Zhuwao.Another concern for Rajput was the lengths his bowlers hit in the last few overs of the Bangladesh innings. Imrul Kayes and Mohammad Safiuddin were fed a diet of full and good length balls that they could easily slog, helping them score 85 runs off the last 60 balls. And this was after Zimbabwe committed the same mistake against South Africa when they let Dale Steyn score his maiden ODI half-century earlier this month.”We bowled really well in the first 30-35 overs. So we have to look at the death overs,” Rajput said. “We have addressed it so hopefully we will do better in this game.”
Arsenal are set to make a move for a "strong" star admired by Man City boss Pep Guardiola as manager Mikel Arteta tweaks his January plans.
Thomas Partey injury hands Arteta a problem
The north Londoners will reportedly be without Thomas Partey for an extended period after the Ghanaian underwent a specialist procedure, with reliable journalist Fabrizio Romano claiming that Arteta's side will dip into the transfer market for a new midfielder as a result.
Partey could also depart Arsenal in the winter window, as reports suggest that the former Atletico Madrid star has told his club that he's open to leaving. The 30-year-old's absence would leave just Jorginho, the rarely-selected Mohamed Elneny and summer signing Declan Rice as Arteta's senior defensive midfield options.
In terms of who could come in and replace Partey, one player who's been regularly linked is Aston Villa star Douglas Luiz. The Brazilian has been subject to intense Arsenal interest before, as they did attempt a coup to sign him in 2022 which came to no avail.
Meanwhile, rumours in the press have claimed Arsenal could move for Arthur Veremeeren as another option, with Real Madrid superstar Aurelien Tchouameni on Arteta's radar for 2024 too.
Arsenal "set" to move for Luiz
According to Football Transfers, Arsenal are now "set" to move for Luiz in particular when the January transfer window reopens.
There has even already been contact made for the 25-year-old ahead of this swoop, but Villa look set to dig their heels in. Unai Emery's side have apparently told Arsenal that it will take an "extraordinary" fee to convince them to do a deal, and they must be able to source a replacement as well.
Aston Villa midfielderDouglas Luiz.
Nevertheless, it is claimed that Arsenal will chance their luck and push for the South American anyway.
Douglas Luiz's excellent form
Luiz has been one of Villa's star players so far this season, ranking as their second-best performing player overall behind striker Ollie Watkins according to statistical site WhoScored.
The midfield general has five goals and an assist to his name already, starting all 11 of Villa's league matches as one of Emery's most crucial assets.
Man City boss Pep Guardiola is also a known fan of Luiz's, calling him a "strong" player and "lovely guy" all the way back in 2021.
Manchester City manager PepGuardiola
"He’s a guy who plays all of the minute," said Guardiola after Villa played City in 2021. "He’s an important player for Aston Villa. A guy who’s clever with the ball, so physically strong. He’s a lovely, lovely guy."
Meanwhile, Sky pundit Paul Merson more recently branded Luiz one of the most underrated players in England.
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(via WhoScored)
“As I said last week, Douglas Luiz is the most underrated midfielder in the Premier League currently,” said Merson. The lad can do it all and shows up every week; it’s not hard to see why Arsenal wanted him earlier this year.”
Providing goals, assists and a tenacious playing style, he could be perfect to shore up Arteta's options, but it will be a hard transfer to pull off.
Tottenham are reportedly "ready" to make a bid for one club's key player, and he could be an alternative to star summer signing James Maddison.
Maddison injury exposes lack of Spurs depth
Spurs' 4-1 loss to Chelsea two weeks ago not only marked manager Ange Postecoglou's first league loss since taking charge, but also exposed his side's glaring lack of depth behind their traditional starting eleven. Both Maddison and star defender Micky van de Ven were taken off with serious injuries, later being ruled out until 2024 in what was a significant blow for the Lilywhites.
For the rest of this year, Postecoglou will have to cope without the creativity of Maddison and pace of van de Ven, with both seen as crucial to the way Spurs want to play on the foot.
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In their last game before this international break, a 2-1 loss to Wolves at Molineux, Pierre-Emile Hojbjerg slotted in Maddison's place with Eric Dier stepping into van de Ven's usual spot alongside Ben Davies in central defence.
It's fair to say all three of the aforementioned didn't have the same impact. While both van de Ven and Maddison will return in January, when the transfer window is open for business, it could be imperative for Spurs to bring in some better alternatives to their star men in case of unforeseen lengthy absences – whether in the winter or later next year.
In terms of who they've been linked with, Genoa star Albert Gudmundsson is a target for Tottenham, while in defence it has been reported that Spurs hold a serious interest in Lloyd Kelly of Bournemouth.
Tottenham "ready" to bid for Cristante
The north Londoners, according to a report by Italian newspaper Il Messaggero (via TUTTOmercatoWEB), have another versatile new target in their sights.
Indeed, it is believed Spurs are ready to bid for Bryan Cristante, who is actually "indispensable" for Roma. Managed by former Tottenham boss Jose Mourinho, the Italy international can play in a variety of positions – including central defence, midfield and Maddison's role as a playmaker.
His Serie A performances have apparently attracted attention from sporting director Johan Lange and co at the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium. Spurs are even "willing to put" £26 million on the table in a bid to secure Cristante's signature, and this offer is seen as one which Roma couldn't say no to.
The 28-year-old has started 12 league games for Mourinho's side this season, bagging two goals and two assists, all while ranking as the second-best overall performer in Roma's squad according to WhoScored. The club's sporting director, Tiago Pinto, heaped praise on the "underrated" Cristante in an interview.
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“Bryan is a great professional, and a great man,” said Pinto.
“He is one of the most important players in the squad not only for what he does on the pitch, but also for what he represents for the club and for the locker room. He is a player who is sometimes a little underrated but as you said he is always there and plays well and covers all positions at all times.”
Fast bowler heads for Lions tour of UAE with a chance to prove he possesses the pace and the skill to trouble the best
Jon Culley07-Nov-2018Jamie Overton believes he’s ready to become one of the best fast bowlers in the world, after learning to bowl within himself until the time is right to go full throttle.Overton, 24, has been on England’s radar ever since word began to filter out from Taunton that here was a bowler who could bowl in excess of 90mph. He made his first senior squad as a 19-year-old in 2013 but five years later that first England cap is proving elusive.He was touted for the 2017-18 Ashes squad, only for his twin brother Craig to get the call-up instead. There was a lobby of support for him to be part of the current England tour of Sri Lanka, but the selectors instead chose Warwickshire’s own 90mph bowler, Olly Stone.Instead, along with brother Craig and their Somerset teammate Dom Bess, he is heading for the United Arab Emirates for the England Lions series against Pakistan A, which opens with a four-day match in Abu Dhabi on November 18 and also involves five 50-over matches and two T20s.It comes after a domestic summer in which not only did he avoid the serious back injuries that blighted his 2016 and 2017 seasons, but in which he also made what he feels is a significant breakthrough.”I know that with my pace I have an an opportunity that some other bowlers don’t have,” he said. “Being able to bowl at 90mph-plus gives you an edge, definitely, although pace is not the be-all and end-all and if you can’t bowl with control and hit the right areas you aren’t going to scare anyone.”But I feel I have made a bit of a breakthrough these last six months. I’ve altered my action a bit to reduce the stress on my body without losing too much pace.”And I have learned that while I can produce those 90mph-plus deliveries, you don’t need to bowl max out all the time.”I was looking at Mitchell Starc last winter. He would have spells where he was only bowling 83-84-85mph but with skills. Then he would crank up to 89-90mph when he wanted to.”You can settle in, do your skilful work and still go for no runs but take wickets, but when you need to, or when you’ve taken a couple of wickets and you feel there is a chance of getting some more quickly, then you can fire and potentially go through a side.”Overton cited a match against Yorkshire at Headingley in August as a moment he felt his skills were all coming together. Somerset won by 224 runs after dismissing the home side for 194 on the last day.”We were really toiling before lunch and picked up only one wicket,” he said. “But when I came on after lunch it just clicked and I was able to bowl fast but I had control and a good rhythm.” He finished with 4 for 24 from 14.3 overs.”It is just trying to find those moments consistently,” he said. “I feel like when I am at my best I’m probably one of the best bowlers in the world.”I need to work more on my control. Until now I have felt so much more comfortable bowling around the wicket than over, so I’m trying to alter my action so it feels the same bowling over and around, so that I feel I can be equally effective against left-handers and right-handers.”I’m also learning to read the game better, so that I can recognise when to just sit in and when to try something.”I grew up watching Freddie [Flintoff] and he would always look like he was controlling the game and when they needed something to happen he would always make something happen.”That was what got me into the game, watching him playing and making things happen for England. That has to be what I’m aiming for, to be a bowler who is able to do that.”