All posts by h716a5.icu

Colin Munro and Matt Henry back in the ODI set-up after missing out on Champions Trophy

ESPNcricinfo staff14-Oct-2017Wicketkeeper-batsman Glenn Phillips and legspinner Todd Astle are among the players added to New Zealand’s squad for the upcoming limited-overs series in India. Also in the updated squad are batsmen Colin Munro, George Worker and Henry Nicholls, and fast bowler Matt Henry.These updates to the squad were made following the fourth one-dayer between New Zealand A and India A – the New Zealand selectors had named a truncated squad earlier, and said it would be expanded based on the A-team’s performances in India.While Phillips and Astle have already debuted for New Zealand, neither had played ODI cricket. Phillips impressed with a century in the second one-dayer against India A, and might be asked to take up keeping duties in the XI. Tom Latham, however, remains the frontrunner to replace the retired Luke Ronchi behind the stumps. Astle was the most economical of the New Zealand A bowlers in the one-dayers, his five wickets in three games coming at just over five an over.Munro and Henry are more familiar faces, and could have big roles to fill. Munro is expected to open the innings with Martin Guptill, with coach Mike Hesson specifically having said the side is looking for brisker starts than those provided by the Guptill-Latham combine. “We need to generate a strike-rate at the top,” Hesson had said, adding later in his press conference: “The beauty of Colin is he is a boundary hitter. He doesn’t so much adapt to conditions, he plays one way – batting in the middle order can make that difficult, and he has had success since we moved him up in T20s.” Munro will hope to impress in this new role if indeed given it, and finally firm up a place in the squad – he has been in and out of the 15 this year, playing the home series against Australia but missing the South Africa series, then playing the series in Ireland but being left out of the Champions Trophy squad.Meanwhile with Mitchell McClenaghan opting out of a central contract so he can focus on T20 leagues and having been left out of the squad for this series, there’s an opening on the fast-bowling front which Henry will hope to fill. He had been left out of the Champions Trophy squad himself, so is on the comeback trail.Worker played in the series against Ireland in May, batting at No. 3, but was also not picked Champions Trophy. Hesson hinted that he too might be an option to open in India, should the need arise. Nicholls, who has been captaining New Zealand A in India, is yet to play an ODI in 2017.Ross Taylor and Worker will return to New Zealand after the ODIs, with legspinner Ish Sodhi and the big-hitting Tom Bruce taking their spots in the T20 squad.Gavin Larsen, New Zealand selector and New Zealand A manager, said of the additions: “Todd has been one of the best white-ball players in domestic cricket the last few seasons and he’s backed that up with a strong showing for New Zealand A. Todd brings all-round skill to the squad, quality legspin, is athletic in the field as well as being able to contribute with the bat.”Glenn has made an immediate effect in domestic cricket and has certainly taken his opportunity over here with New Zealand A, including an outstanding 140 not out. Glenn is an option for us with the gloves in both Twenty20s and ODIs, so we feel we have our bases covered with the 15 we’ve picked.”The team will play two warm-up 50-overs games, before the three ODIs kick off on October 22 in Mumbai. The three-T20 series begins on November 1 in Delhi.ODI squad: Kane Williamson (capt), Todd Astle, Trent Boult, Colin de Grandhomme, Martin Guptill, Matt Henry, Tom Latham, Henry Nicholls, Adam Milne, Colin Munro, Glenn Phillips, Mitchell Santner, Tim Southee, Ross Taylor, George WorkerT20 squad: Kane Williamson (capt), Todd Astle, Trent Boult, Tom Bruce, Colin de Grandhomme, Martin Guptill, Matt Henry, Tom Latham, Henry Nicholls, Adam Milne, Colin Munro, Glenn Phillips, Mitchell Santner, Ish Sodhi, Tim Southee

Sunderland are still looking to sign new players in the summer transfer window and it looks as though they are eyeing the addition of a Premier League player.

Do Sunderland need a striker?

The Black Cats have made a disappointing start to their Championship season, having done so well last time around and almost made their way into the playoffs.

Sunderland have started with back-to-back 2-1 defeats in the division, firstly away to at home to Ipswich Town and then to Preston North End on Saturday, suggesting that they could potentially have a tough campaign ahead of them. There was also the small matter of being knocked out of the EFL Cup on penalties against League Two side Crewe Alexandra last weekend, further showing what a tough start it has been.

For things to change for the better, it could be that more signings are required to bolster their squad, giving Tony Mowbray more options and allowing him to shuffle his pack effectively.

In attack, the Black Cats have looked lacking in 2023/24 to date, with star striker Ross Stewart still recovering from a serious Achilles injury picked up earlier in the year. For that reason, another attacking option is required between now and the end of the month, and it looks as though a key target has emerged.

Will Sunderland sign Tom Cannon?

According to reliable journalist Alan Nixon on Patreon [via MOT Leeds News], Sunderland are one of three Championship clubs in the battle to snap up Everton striker Tom Cannon in the current transfer window.

Stoke City are one of the teams in question, looking to boost their own attacking choices, while Leeds United "have also been keeping an eye on developments" regarding the 20-year-old.

Cannon could be just what Sunderland are looking for this summer, in terms of giving Mowbray extra depth and possibly even coming in as a regular without Stewart around.

Admittedly, Everton seem happy to let him go for £8m, which suggests they don't value him greatly, but the drop down from the Premier League to the Championship is big, and the youngster could excel there.

He certainly did a good job on loan at Preston in 2022/23, scoring eight goals in total, and he also has two top-flight appearances to his name which only adds to his experience, not to mention has been described as "incredible" by former West Ham and Norwich City striker Dean Ashton.

Sunderland clearly face stiff competition for Cannon's signature, but the Black Cats are a big club in their own right, and it looks as if a move will be one to watch. If Mowbray sees him as the best option to come in and battle with the club's current options for minutes, he should be trusted, especially with time ticking until the deadline.

Getting a deal over the line as quickly as possible has to be the aim, not only to beat off others in the race to sign Cannon, but also to ensure that a new face is brought in in time for Sunderland's next game, which comes at home to Rotherham United next Saturday.

Tottenham Hotspur continued their preparations for the upcoming Premier League campaign with a convincing 5-1 win over Shakhtar Donetsk at the weekend, with talisman Harry Kane bagging four goals on what could well have been his farewell appearance at N17.

With speculation still rife that the 30-year-old is set to be on his way to German giants, Bayern Munich – despite an agreement having yet to be reached between the two clubs – the England skipper enjoyed a potential perfect send-off with a typically ruthless display in front of goal.

The long-serving centre-forward may not have been the only figure saying his goodbyes during Sunday's clash, however, with Pierre-Emile Hojbjerg also starting in midfield despite reports that the Danish maestro is set to join La Liga side, Atletico Madrid.

Read the latest Tottenham transfer news HERE…

As per Football Insider, the Lilywhites are likely to try and acquire a replacement for the 27-year-old before sanctioning a sale, with manager Ange Postecoglou potentially set to be able to find a perfect option in the form of Hojbjerg's former Southampton teammate, James Ward-Prowse.

How much would Ward-Prowse cost?

According to a recent report from the Daily Star, the north Londoners are potentially ready to hijack West Ham United's move for the England international, with the 28-year-old having been watched by Spurs scouts on numerous occasions at the tail-end of last season.

As per the piece, the Saints are not likely to sell their influential captain 'on the cheap' having already knocked back bids from the Hammers, with the south coast side said to be demanding a fee in the region of £40m.

The Portsmouth-born ace has spent his whole career with his current side and thus is not set to 'push for a transfer', although with Russell Martin's men now plying their trade in the Championship, a move away could be on the cards.

Should Tottenham sign Ward-Prowse?

It would not be the first time that Tottenham have snapped up a stellar talent from Southampton, with chairman Daniel Levy having previously overseen the £10m signing of Gareth Bale from the St Mary's side back in 2007.

While unlike Ward-Prowse, the Welshman was a raw, teenage talent at the time of the move, the explosive forward went on to sparkle over the next few years having made a stellar impact in a Spurs shirt, despite enduring a difficult opening period in which he failed to taste victory in his first 25 Premier League outings.

Having been snapped up following the Saints' failed promotion charge during the 2006/07 campaign, the now-retired superstar would go on to score 72 goals and provide 58 assists in 237 games in all competitions across his two spells at the club, including netting 21 league goals during the 2012/13 season prior to his move to Real Madrid.

One notable trait that the wing wizard mastered during his time at White Hart Lane was his dead-ball brilliance, having memorably scored two free-kicks in the same game in a Europa League clash with Lyon back in February 2013.

That is a gift that is certainly shared by "set-piece master", Ward Prowse – as described by broadcaster Maximiliano Bretos – with the Englishman having scored 17 Premier League free-kicks to date, ranking him just behind David Beckham as the most prolific in that regard in the competition's history.

For Spurs to then be able to have another Bale-esque figure who can conjure up moments of magic in the form of Ward-Prowse would be a truly exciting prospect, with the latter man seemingly a "great fit" for the club, according to journalist Pete O'Rourke.

With Levy having reaped the rewards of plucking Bale from the south coast in the past, he could look to repeat that masterclass by signing the experienced Ward-Prowse this summer.

The two batsmen made fifties each and found support from the Hope brothers and Devendra Bishoo to steadily bat Zimbabwe out of the match

The Report by Liam Brickhill in Bulawayo23-Oct-2017Stumps
Live scorecard and ball-by-ball details Getty ImagesWest Indies tightened their grip on day three in Bulawayo, Kraigg Brathwaite’s 86 and Roston Chase’s unbeaten 91 forming the backbone of their 369 for 8. With the Hope brothers and Devendra Bishoo also chipping in with handy runs, West Indies extended their lead to 429 runs by stumps. With two full days remaining, Zimbabwe have a mountain to climb.Where Brathwaite’s batting in the morning was doggedly purposeful, Chase’s in the afternoon was enterprising and, at times, adventurous. Marshalling the lower order, he was in sight of a Test hundred when Bishoo’s dismissal, six short of a maiden first-class half-century, brought the day to a close.It was apparent first thing this morning, with reverse swing, spin and inconsistent bounce available for the bowlers, that batting would not be easy. But Brathwaite soaked up the early pressure, and the patience exhibited by West Indies’ top order stood in stark contrast to Zimbabwe’s jittery effort on Sunday.West Indies may have had cause for some nerves early on as Sean Williams and Kyle Jarvis beat Brathwaite’s outside edge. Jarvis’ fourth delivery of the day elicited a clear puff of dust as it hit the deck, scooting through at shin height, and was a sign of the increasing mischief in this pitch. Yet Zimbabwe did not use the conditions, or Jarvis’ early dismissal of Kyle Hope with an indipper, as well as they could have.Luck played its part: there were multiple half-chances, almosts and what-ifs in the first hour. But Brathwaite was also dropped twice in consecutive overs off Graeme Cremer before lunch, allowing him to continue taking advantage of the bad balls when they came.Shai Hope’s dead-bat defence and steady accumulation held Zimbabwe at bay. Brathwaite soon brought up a solid fifty, off 137 deliveries. Brathwaite had been comfortable shuffling right across his stumps for much of the morning, making the majority of his runs on the leg side off both spin and pace. The tactic eventually got him in trouble, however, and Zimbabwe finally stopped the third wicket partnership at 67 when Sikandar Raza got one to spin in sharply from outside off stump to trap Brathwaite lbw.With West Indies’ lead advancing past 250, Zimbabwe took the new ball and once again both Jarvis and Chris Mpofu extracted inconsistent bounce from a length. Jarvis removed Shai Hope for 44 with a delivery that skidded and nipped back in, but Chase continued picking the right ball to hit, moving into the 30s with a massive hit over long off.At the other end, Zimbabwe continued to chip away. Mirroring his dismissal in the first innings, Jermaine Blackwood was well stumped by Regis Chakabva – the fourth time he has been stumped in his last seven innings. Shane Dowrich took the lead past 300 with a flowing cover drive, before he, too, fell to spin, edging Williams to Masakadza at slip.Chase, looking particularly strong through the covers, raced to fifty from 69 deliveries and captain Jason Holder seemed in even more of a rush. He hit his very first ball – and the first ball after tea – for six over long off, and immediately followed that up with a crashing drive through extra cover. He fell for a 23-ball 24, but Chase held firm and found an able partner in Devendra Bishoo, who swept, pulled and drove gamely as the eighth wicket stand passed fifty in just 74 deliveries.Both batsmen opened up as the lead ballooned beyond 400, and the partnership stretched to 92 – the highest stand of the match – before Bishoo slogged Cremer to deep midwicket, thereby falling one short of his highest Test score and not far from a maiden Test fifty. But with two full days remaining in the Test match, West Indies are set up for a huge win and Zimbabwe have a mountain to climb.

The minimum retainers for the women’s cricket team surpassed the deals recently unveiled for top tier equivalents in soccer and AFL

Daniel Brettig12-Sep-2017Australia’s cricketers are now comfortably the highest paid female athletes in the country, with minimum retainers for the national team and domestic sides outstripping deals recently unveiled for top-tier contracts in soccer and AFL.While 2017 has been a breakthrough year for female athletes across the country through the inaugural AFLW competition and this week’s announcement of a new pay deal for female footballers with the Football Federation of Australia, the terms granted to cricketers under the MoU completed last week have put them well ahead of the rest.Under figures obtained by ESPNcricinfo, the minimum contract for a Cricket Australia-contracted player (minus match payments, prize money and other performance bonuses) will be A$ 72,076 for 2017-18, as opposed to a “tier-one” representative of the Matildas national soccer team on A$ 41,000 a year. Listed players at AFLW clubs earn between A$ 5,000 and A$ 25,000 each.All domestic contracted players – taking part in the WNCL and the WBBL – are entitled to deals worth A$ 25,659 from playing for their states, and a minimum A$ 10,292 (average of A$ 19,926) for playing in the domestic Twenty20 competition. By contrast, W-League soccer players will be paid wages ranging from A$ 10,000 to A$ 20,000.Average wages for international female cricketers – factoring in match fees and performance bonuses plus WBBL retainers – will be around A$ 180,000 this season, rising to A$ 211,000 in 2021-22, the final year of the recently completed MoU. Average wages for domestic-only players will be around A$ 55,000 this season, rising to A$ 58,000 in 2021-22.These figures, reached after a lengthy and often ugly period of negotiation and then dispute between CA and the Australian Cricketers Association, were always likely to be reached as both sides of the argument believed fundamentally in improving the lot of female players, not only by raising their wages but also by including all players in a single MoU for the first time.However the women were caught in the middle of the dispute as all players were left out of contract after the previous MoU expired on June 30, a deadline that passed in the middle of the World Cup contested in England this year – squad members signed short-term deals to enable to stay employed throughout the tournament. Ironically, the few weeks spent without pay for the women echoed the experiences of many in earlier years of their careers, as the vice-captain Alex Blackwell has said.”Women would have to take massive chunks of leave without pay, if not sacrifice their job, to go on tour to play for Australia,” Blackwell said in the ACA’s Onside magazine. “Over my career I have known team-mates of mine who have lost their jobs from being selected for their country and having to say to their employer, ‘I’m away for five weeks’. What would happen if that player got injured two days into the tour, would be that they lose the financial benefit of the tour and be in a really poor and vulnerable position.”This the first time that a female player group has come under an MoU, and for it to be one MoU combined is a historic event. I didn’t always feel like we were respected as well as we could have been in terms of the part we play in growing the game. So, that’s the first thing that this MoU makes me feel; like there has been a switch, and we are now partners in growing the game into something that is bigger and better.”CA has made a concerted effort to be more inclusive in recent years, and one of the battlegrounds of the pay war was the board’s claims that the players association had shown as much willingness to strive for gender equity – a claim the ACA rejected. Its recent strategy document for the next five years made no secret of CA’s desire to attract more women to the game as both fans and players, with major pay increases for female elite players a key part of their approach. The board’s stated goals include to:”Achieve gender equity across Australian Cricket. Develop and accelerate the opportunities for women in all areas and levels of our game. Sustainably grow women and girls’ participation, and make sure they find cricket clubs welcoming and enjoyable places to be. Cricket becomes a viable professional career for talented female athletes, who will be supported by an expansive and structured female pathway. Grow women’s elite cricket and remain number one in all formats. The WBBL becomes the undisputed leader of women’s sporting leagues in the world.”While the WBBL is currently played concurrently with the BBL, CA has flagged plans to move the tournament to a standalone slot in the calendar in October. The men’s and women’s World T20 tournaments to be hosted by Australia in 2020 will be played in separate slots, the women in February-March and the men in October-November.

West Ham United are reportedly interested in Paris Saint-Germain striker Hugo Ekitike, as David Moyes searches for squad upgrades this summer.

The Scotsman is under pressure to deliver new signings this window after obtaining £105m from the sale of captain Declan Rice, as the Hammers bid to improve on their relegation-threatened 2022/23 campaign.

Could West Ham sign Hugo Ekitike?

As reported by news in France, West Ham are one of the clubs named to have interest in Ekitike, alongside Premier League rivals Nottingham Forest.

The report claims that the 21-year-old ‘attracts the eye’ of the east Londoners, with an exit rumoured from PSG just months after the club secured the permanent signing of the forward.

Signed by PSG for €28.5m (£24.5m) following a loan spell at the club with an obligation to buy from Stade Reims, the youngster could reluctantly be on the move already.

How good is Hugo Ekitike?

After a blistering 2021/22 campaign for Reims, the rising star captured the eye of PSG, however, reports speculate that he could depart this summer with game time not guaranteed and his place in the pecking order in Paris being seemingly low.

While the news is disappointing for Ekitike, who fulfilled a “logical” move to the capital, the 21-year-old could find his path leading to competing in one of the world’s most competitive leagues, as West Ham eye the youngster.

Once lauded as an “absolute talent” by U23 scout Antonio Mango, the striker has already made a name for himself in France, netting 13 Ligue 1 goals and registering eight assists in 51 appearances, via Transfermarkt.

While his game time at PSG was rather limited, making 12 starts out of 25 appearances, the youngster managed to score three times in the league for the Parisians, as well as recording four assists to showcase the impact he can have in the final third.

Building on his 10 goals and four assists the season prior, the striker could be the perfect acquisition for Moyes to target at West Ham, as the Irons weigh up their forward options.

With Gianluca Scamacca’s departure imminent, the Hammers need a presence to fill his boots, as well as a talent that could eventually take the reins from Michail Antonio, who at 33-years-old could soon be nearing the end of his best days.

The Jamaican has one year remaining on his contract, adding to Moyes’ pressures to equip a forward this summer.

In Ekitike, the Scotsman could secure the perfect heir to Antonio, in a player that possesses a similar playing style to the “reliable goalscorer”, as hailed by members of the media.

The 21-year-old has been identified as a ‘dedicated off-ball striker’ by scouting site Scouted Football, a role mirrored by the 33-year-old at the London Stadium as highlighted by his season heat map portrayed last term, via Sofascore.

Averaging 1.48 carries into the final third per 90 last season, the youngster could offer a new dynamic to West Ham’s attack in place of the veteran, who averaged just 0.59 per 90 in this area in the Premier League.

At such an early age, the hungry forward could be an asset as reliable as Antonio for years to come, in a move that could relieve Moyes of his stresses regarding equipping a finisher to his side.

A World XI side, coached by Andy Flower, is set to play three T20s in Lahore after the PCB confirmed the tour

Umar Farooq21-Aug-20175:05

Samiuddin: Three or four big names will be a big boost for Pakistan

For the first time in nearly nine years fans in Pakistan may have a season of cricket in their country to look forward to, after the PCB confirmed that the Punjab government had approved a T20 series with a World XI to take place in Lahore. And to the talk of Sri Lanka potentially playing a single T20 from their tour to the UAE in Lahore can be added to the possibility of a three-match T20 series against West Indies in November, also in Lahore.The developments, announced by the new PCB chairman Najam Sethi, in a press conference in Lahore amount to a bumper season of home cricket for a country that has seen only a short visit by Zimbabwe and the final of the Pakistan Super League, featuring a number of foreign players, since March 2009.The Punjab government has promised presidential-level security for the week-long tour by a World XI which will be a 15-man squad comprising players from all top Test-playing countries. The team will be led by Andy Flower as coach and will undergo a seven-day camp in Dubai before travelling to Lahore for three T20s, starting from September 10. An ICC security team is expected to visit Lahore on August 26 and 27.”This is a very big thing,” Sethi said. “September, October and November are big months. It’s a big agenda, we need your prayers and we will open the doors and international teams will come. Pray that we keep our security solid. The Punjab government has given us the signal and preparations are in full swing.”The World XI series has been in discussions ever since the PSL final was held in Lahore in March this year, a result of the efforts of the PCB, including Shaharyar Khan who stepped down as chairman recently, and the ECB president and chairman of the ICC’s Pakistan Task Force Giles Clarke.”Within the next 72 hours I will announce the names of the players [in the World XI],” Sethi said. “I have the names with me but at the moment I can say that all top players from top cricketing nations will tour Pakistan.The World XI team was chosen by the ECB’s director Flower, and the matches will have international status. Though it is not yet clear which players will come, decisions will be taken based on the security report. It is understood that FICA will leave it to players to make individual decisions. The ICC has thrown its support behind the tour, and has been closely involved with the PCB, helping it assemble the security apparatus to FICA’s satisfaction as well as its own, according to PCB chairman Najam Sethi. All the expenses of the tour will be borne by the PCB.The key to Pakistan’s future as a viable host will lie in those three games. If they go off without incident, Sethi said that it will pave the way for more countries to tour. Last week the Sri Lanka Cricket chairman Thilanga Sumathipala revealed that he was eager for Sri Lanka to play a T20 in Lahore as part of their tour.Sethi also said that the PCB was in advanced discussions with Cricket West Indies (CWI) about a series of T20 games in late November in Lahore. This proposed series is the one that was originally supposed to happen earlier this year in March, but the security situation did not allow both boards to move forward at the time.”That tour will be subject to the safe conclusion of ICC World XI team’s three-match series in Lahore in September, and affirmation of manageable security by the ICC-sponsored international security company overseeing the security arrangements of the World XI,” Sethi read out from a statement from CWI.For now, the matches will be confined only to Lahore, the scene incidentally of the attack on the Sri Lankan team in 2009 that moved international cricket away from the country. “I wish we could shift it to Karachi, but so far it’s only in Lahore,” Sethi said. “Those who are coming let them come. I am planning to go to Karachi and will meet with security personnel.”Several countries have refused to tour Pakistan due to security concerns. Zimbabwe and Afghanistan are the only international teams to play in Pakistan since the attack on the Sri Lankan team bus by gunmen in March 2009. That dealt a severe blow to Pakistan’s status as a host nation, with the country losing their share of games in the 2011 World Cup, which was scheduled to be jointly hosted by India, Pakistan, Sri Lanka and Bangladesh.The Zimbabwe series in 2015 finally revived international cricket in the country, but was marred by a bomb blast during the second ODI, 800 metres from the Gaddafi Stadium, which killed two people. Since then, however, the PCB has hosted the 2017 PSL final – which featured a contingent of overseas players including former West Indies captain Darren Sammy – in Lahore on March 5 without major incident.

Chelsea have submitted an offer for RB Leipzig defender Josko Gvardiol in the hope of bringing him to the Premier League, according to fresh reports.

Is Josko Gvardiol leaving RB Leipzig?

The Croatian international still has another four years remaining on his deal at the Red Bull Arena, but after being one of the standout performers for his nation at the 2022 World Cup which saw him play the full 690 minutes of the tournament, he’s been long on the radar of Todd Boehly at Stamford Bridge.

Marc Rose’s centre-back was the subject of a turned down offer from the Blues last year, with Fabrizio Romano revealing when speaking to GiveMeSport:

“They were the first to approach Leipzig last summer because they were pushing for Gvardiol. In the final days of the window, they had a bid rejected. It was €80m [£68m] plus add-ons making it closer to €90m [£77m] to leave the player on loan at Leipzig for one season and then sign him in the summer of 2023. Leipzig said no and they extended his contract.”

Read The Latest Chelsea Transfer News HERE…

During a public interview earlier this year, the 21-year-old admitted that he “really struggled” to come to terms with being denied the chance to complete the move, but if the following update is to be believed, Mauricio Pochettino is planning to take a third bite of the cherry.

Are Chelsea signing Josko Gvardiol?

According to Spanish reports (via Paisley Gates), Chelsea, Liverpool and Manchester United have all submitted offers to sign Gvardiol ahead of the 2023/24 campaign.

The Premier League trio are "pressing" to land the defender and are looking to "take advantage" of the fact that he's not yet joined Manchester City despite there having been a previous agreement in place.

RB Leipzig value their prized asset at €100m (£86m), though it remains to be seen whether any of the three clubs would be willing to pay the desired fee.

At the World Cup, Gvardiol was dubbed a “gladiator” by journalist Ryan Taylor for his performances for Croatia and that high standard of displays continued into the rest of the season with RB Leipzig, so should he put pen to paper, it would be a massive coup for Pochettino and Chelsea.

The Zagreb native last term averaged 2.3 clearances and 1.4 aerial wins per league game, via WhoScored, alongside winning 17 out of his 23 tackles, highlighting just how much of a rock he can be at the heart of the backline, though he can also be a threat driving forward.

The Bundesliga’s left-footed gem ranked in the 96th percentile for most successful take-ons showing that he loves to bring the ball out from the defence and dribble past his marker, not to mention that he’s scored five goals and provided three assists during his time in Germany.

Finally, Gvardiol, also labelled as "fearless" by former Manchester United star Rio Ferdinand, will already know what it takes to compete and be successful at the highest level having secured five trophies since the start of his career so he could be the perfect candidate to walk through the door and instil a winning mentality in SW6.

West Ham United are reportedly interested in Ajax star Edson Alvarez, as David Moyes exercises his options to replace Declan Rice.

The Hammers gained £105m from the sale of the Englishman, leaving them with a hefty cash exchange and a void to fill in the middle of the park.

A host of talent has been speculated to be on the list of the east Londoners, with star names rumoured to be targeted.

Could West Ham sign Edson Alvarez?

As reported by Football Insider on Sunday, West Ham are ‘confident’ that a deal can be struck to secure the signing of Ajax enforcer Alvarez.

The report claims that talks are ‘ongoing’ regarding the possible transfer of the player, who is ‘interested’ in a move to the Premier League.

Ajax could sell the midfielder for a price in the region of £35m-£40m, in what would be a strong acquisition for the Hammers.

How good is Edson Alvarez?

Captured by the Eredivisie greats from Mexican side America in 2019, the defensive-minded ace has risen up the ranks in Europe, showcasing his versatility.

Hailed as “tenacious” by talent scout Jacek Kulig, the 25-year-old is primarily deployed as a defensive midfielder by Maurice Steijn, with the ability to play at centre-back and full-back as well.

By signing Alvarez, West Ham could equip their side with added quality, in a move that could inspire Moyes’ squad to climb the table and avoid another relegation-threatened season.

There is an abundance of quality in the squad at the London Stadium, however only a number of stars can be relied on consistently to produce moments of magic.

One player of such calibre is Lucas Paqueta, who was signed from Olympique Lyon last summer.

The Brazilian scored five goals and registered seven assists in his first campaign in east London, in what was a trialling first year in a side that battled in the bottom half of the table.

Signing a player of the quality of Alvarez could give the dazzling 25-year-old further freedom to exploit his talent at West Ham, with the Mexican proving to be the perfect outlet for cover in the engine room.

As per FBref, the Ajax ace averaged 2.47 tackles and 3.38 aerial wins per 90 in the Eredivisie last season, flexing his suitability to act as the protector of the defence.

Being able to protect the back line is half of the job for a midfielder, with a strong progressive outlet also required to transition play efficiently.

The 69-capped Mexico international highlighted his perfect balance in the role, averaging 7.76 progressive passes and a monstrous 83.91 attempted passes per 90, via FBref, suggesting how comfortable he is with his distribution.

For Paqueta, the introduction of Alvarez could be pivotal to him unlocking more elements to his game, with protection similar to what he had at Lyon in Thiago Mendes.

Last term, the Brazilian averaged 0.13 non-penalty goals per 90, compared to his 0.30 per 90 in Ligue 1 the campaign prior, where he had the freedom to roam thanks to the combative nature of his midfield partner Mendes.

Moyes could not only replace Rice with the 25-year-old but also prompt the development of other talents in the squad for the overall benefit of his side’s collective form.

Joe Clarke guided Worcestershire to safety at Cheltenham as their director of cricket Steve Rhodes raged that Gloucestershire “wanted it all ways”

Paul Edwards at Cheltenham12-Jul-2017
ScorecardJoe Clarke’s quality prevented a Worcestershire slump•Getty Images”Ten to five,” said Stuart Cummings at twenty past twelve and we all knew what the ECB’s Cricket Liaison Officer meant. Once most of the third day of this game had been lost and any collusion between the teams ruled out, an agreed draw at the earliest opportunity always seemed the likeliest outcome. Yet we reached our destination by a circuitous route, tarrying to admire each of the Slaughters rather than taking the M4 to Tedium New Town. There was no agreement on the draw at all until ten to six, when nine overs remained to be bowled and the shadows were generous on the College Ground. And even after the result was agreed, there was concord about damn all else.Worcestershire’s players began this day disgruntled that Phil Mustard would not enter into negotiations yet ended it grateful to take five points for a draw. Presented with the notional challenge of scoring 370 in 51 overs, the visitors had collapsed to 47 for 4 but finished on 155 for 5. Their anger remained fresh and keen when the post-match beers were being sunk. It was expressed by the county’s director of cricket, Steve Rhodes, who voiced his disappointment that Gloucestershire had rejected all offers to set up a run-chase.”We were extremely disappointed that there was not going to be a situation where we could fix up some sort of reasonable game for the crowd that turned up and for the two groups of players,” said Rhodes. “It seemed as though Gloucestershire wanted it all ways. They wanted to get as many runs as they could, quickly in the end after a boring start, and then try to bowl us out in a short space of time. Perhaps they are now ruing the fact that they didn’t have another hour at us and it may be something they consider next time. If they had given us 70 overs to bat, we might have had a real problem hanging on for a draw.”Given the difficulties Worcestershire had encountered, home supporters were reluctant to criticise their side’s tactics. Had it not been for Joe Clarke, who came within seven runs of scoring his third championship hundred in five innings, the visitors may well have been leaving Cheltenham only eight points clear of third-placed Kent instead of 13. Even as it stands, the race for the promotion places in Division Two actively involves half the ten clubs.Clarke hit 15 boundaries in his 93 not out but what was rather more impressive was the security of his defence when facing the 80 other balls in his innings. Certainly this was in notable contrast to the porous techniques exhibited by the rest of Worcestershire’s top order.The visitors lost Brett D’Oliveira and Tom Fell in their first three overs, both batsmen being leg before to the left-arm seamer, David Payne, when playing across the line. Daryl Mitchell and George Rhodes were then bowled by Liam Norwell, Mitchell when playing down the wrong line, Rhodes when playing no shot at all. Ben Cox put on 63 runs in nine overs with Clarke before being leg before on the back leg to Kieron Noema-Barnett. It was left to Ross Whiteley to bat out another 16 overs before Phil Mustard offered the draw and the post-match brouhaha could get under way.In truth, Worcestershire’s players had been irritated with Gloucestershire in general and Chris Dent in particular since the opening half-hour of the day. John Hastings and Josh Tongue made their displeasure plain with a series of short deliveries to Dent, and Leach supported his bowlers by posting six slips and a gully when the left-handed Dent faced Hastings. Indeed, the Gloucestershire opener took something of a battering and received a painful blow on his forearm from Tongue.Dent, though, is made of gritty stuff and withstood this trial by fire. He played the straight balls, avoided the wide ones and wore a few on his body when the moment demanded it. Will Tavaré was the first Gloucestershire batsmen dismissed when he was hit on the knee roll by Ed Barnard and departed unhappily for 32. Dent reached his fifty off 143 balls, hitting three boundaries in six balls immediately prior to reaching that landmark. As if to acknowledge that the temper of the exchanges had changed, Leach brought on the spinners, although a need to raise his team’s over-rate from -2 may have been the captain’s prime motivation in doing so.That change was expensive. The 20 overs bowled by Brett D’Oliveira and George Rhodes either side of lunch and they cost 142 runs. Dent took 43 balls over his second fifty and reached his century with a sweep for four off Rhodes. It was a remarkable and well-earned transformation for the batsman who had been ducking and weaving in the first hour of the day. Gareth Roderick also tucked in merrily, making 81 off 95 balls before being bowled having a pre-declaration swipe at Tongue.Dent returned to the college pavilion – a building modelled on a 19th century Indian railway station, so they say, – with 135 runs against his name. It had been a most valiant innings yet its full value was at that point unclear. As things turned out, Dent’s unbeaten century did not set up Gloucestershire’s third victory of the season. Instead it was the prelude to a disharmony which hardly seemed fitting as the evening sunlight dappled the hills above Prestbury and one savoured the wonderful discovery that there is a cricket club in Adlestrop