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Manchester United sprung to life last season under new coach Erik ten Hag, claiming their first silverware in six years by winning the League Cup against Newcastle United before going on to qualify for the Champions League.

His second term hasn’t quite started how he would have anticipated, losing two of his opening four Premier League matches, while none of his big money arrivals have settled in as yet.

The Red Devils splurged £169m during the transfer window on four permanent additions, Mason Mount, Andre Onana, Rasmus Hojlund and Altay Bayinder, yet none have really made an impact thus far.

The Old Trafford side have a notorious history – especially since Sir Alex Ferguson retired in 2013 – of spending big on individuals who have failed to live up to the enormous expectations in Manchester.

The likes of Fred, Jadon Sancho, Harry Maguire and Donny van de Beek arrived at the club with plenty of talent and the chance to take the next step in their careers, yet the quartet flattered to deceive during their time at United and have cost the club millions in wages and transfer fees in the process.

One of the biggest transfer blunders in recent times, however, was that of Ángel Di María, who signed for the club during Louis van Gaal’s reign.

How much did Ángel Di María cost Manchester United?

Following David Moyes’ underwhelming time in charge of the club during the 2013/14 season, the board moved to bring in the Dutchman as his replacement and with a stellar pedigree which included a Champions League crown with Ajax along with numerous league titles across the continent, it looked like an inspired appointment.

With a few days to go until deadline day, United splashed out a then British record transfer fee of £59.7m to sign Di Maria from Real Madrid, and he went on to describe just how much he wanted to work under the former Bayern Munich coach, saying: “I have thoroughly enjoyed my time in Spain and there were a lot of clubs interested in me, but United is the only club that I would have left Real Madrid for.

"Louis van Gaal is a fantastic coach with a proven track record of success and I am impressed by the vision and determination everyone has to get this club back to the top – where it belongs.

“I now just cannot wait to get started."

For such a lavish fee, it looked as though United finally had a player who could take them back to the top of the Premier League, but the move soon turned into a disastrous endeavour.

What happened to Ángel Di María at Manchester United?

The winger had spent the previous four seasons at Madrid, scoring 36 goals and registering a staggering 86 assists over 190 matches, and it was clear that his attacking qualities would make him a dangerous threat from out wide in Van Gaal’s United side.

Unfortunately, it didn’t quite work out for the Argentinian in Manchester. He started only 20 Premier League matches across the whole of the 2014/15 campaign and in total, played just 32 games for the club as they once again failed to mount a challenge for the title or win any of the domestic cups.

A more damming statistic was that he scored just four goals across these games and this works out as roughly £15m per goal for the club in relation to his near £60m transfer fee, a massive sum of money to be wasting.

Di Maria did provide 11 assists in the league, but it couldn’t save the Red Devils from finishing in a lowly fourth spot in the table, 17 points behind champions Chelsea.

His signing, among other big name arrivals, was claimed to be “catastrophic” by Tom McDermott back in 2020 and considering how ineffective he was, while the winger stated that he had a problem with Van Gaal, saying: "These are things that happen and people took it badly. I only had problems with the coach [Louis van Gaal] here."

It’s evident his time in England was a disaster, yet the moment he left, he displayed to the continent just how good a player he was.

Where is Ángel Di María now?

United made a loss on the player, selling him for just £44.3m in 2015 to Paris Saint-Germain to end his nightmare 12-month spell in the Premier League, and he enjoyed more success in the French capital.

Not only did he register 212 goal contributions – 93 goals and 119 assists – for PSG over seven seasons, but the winger also added to his trophy haul, winning five Ligue 1 titles along with a host of domestic cups.

He joined Juventus for a single season before eventually rejoining Benfica for a second spell at the club having first arrived in Portugal back in 2007, and he is slowly approaching the end of his career.

How many times did Ángel Di María play for Argentina?

The 35-year-old has played an impressive 133 times for his country since making his debut in 2008, and although he missed the 2014 World Cup final due to injury, he more than made up for it eight years later in Qatar.

Having scored the winning goal in the 2021 Copa America final, Di Maria also netted against France in the final of the 2022 World Cup, banishing his demons from 2014 and securing Argentina’s first world title for 36 years.

His spell at United will go down in the history books as one of the worst signings the club has made over the previous 20 years, yet perhaps it was a case of right player, wrong time.

If he arrived a few years later under Jose Mourinho, would the former Madrid star have endured a more productive time in England?

Of course, this is all conjecture and the matter of fact is, Di Maria cost the club a remarkable £15m per goal during his single season for the Old Trafford side and considering how important he had been for the Spanish giants over the previous four seasons, he was a major disappointment.

Even nine years later, United seemingly still haven’t learned their lesson when it comes to big money transfers.

Referee John Brooks had a busy afternoon at St James' Park as he sent off Liverpool defender Virgil van Dijk but also made another big call on the day which he probably got wrong.

What's the latest on Liverpool and VAR?

In the Premier League this weekend, Newcastle United played host to the Reds in what turned out to be a fantastic, yet chaotic, spectacle. Indeed, things were going so well for the Magpies, but ended in complete disaster.

Just 25 minutes into the affair, Trent Alexander-Arnold made a big mistake as he failed to control a pass, allowing Anthony Gordon to run through on goal and make it 1-0 to the home team.

Only three minutes later, club captain Van Dijk was handed a straight red card when his foul on Alexander Isak was adjudged to have prevented a clear goalscoring opportunity.

Read the latest Liverpool transfer news HERE…

Despite having to play well over an hour with just ten men, Liverpool managed to keep the score at 1-0 right up until the 81st minute when substitute Darwin Nunez struck a fine equaliser.

Incredibly, the same man then netted again in the 93rd minute of the game as the Reds completed an unlikely turnaround to pick up all three points on the day, leaving Eddie Howe and his side stunned.

However, one incident early on in the game suggests that Liverpool were actually fortunate to be down to ten men even before Van Dijk's red card. Indeed, as you can see in the image below, Alexander-Arnold cynically raised an arm to prevent Gordon from running away from him.

You can see the incident here via Sky Sports as manager Howe vented his anger on the call after the game, saying: "For me, yes [he should have been sent off]. You don't want to see players sent off but for me, that's a clear red card."

Did Trent Alexander-Arnold deserve a red card vs Newcastle?

The referee spotted the clear foul and gave Newcastle a free-kick but seeing as the English right-back had already been booked, it should have resulted in a red card – and yet, for some reason, Brooks kept his card in his pocket – and VAR couldn't intervene as it wasn't ever going to be a straight red card.

Alexander-Arnold's first yellow card, could be viewed as a little harsh as he was punished for throwing the ball away, but new PGMOL rules want referees to stamp down on behaviour like this so it's no shock that he was booked.

But the second offence was almost certainly a yellow card and it shouldn't matter about what happened on the first booking. We saw a similar incident in a recent Arsenal game when Takehiro Tomiyasu was sent off for picking up a first card for time-wasting, and then a second for a foul not dissimilar to Alexander-Arnold's challenge.

Pundit Jamie Carragher slammed referee Brookes for his decision after the game on Sky Sports (via Metro), saying: "Listen, Trent deserves a yellow card. We know the rules, he throws the ball away, but it’s a really poor decision and the referee makes a rod for his own back."

At the time, Gary Neville added: "He’s lucky. Would Klopp think about substituting him? It’s a cauldron out there. He has sent out Joe Gomez to warm up. I’m not surprised at all. It must be a serious consideration."

Everton have constantly been linked with a move for Leeds United winger Wilfried Gnonto this summer and now they know the amount needed to sign him.

Are Everton signing Wilfried Gnonto?

The 19-year-old's future has been a big talking point the more the summer transfer window has gone on, as he pushes for a move away from Elland Road.

While Gnonto seemingly appeared to be happy at Leeds last season, their relegation from the Premier League to the Championship has changed the situation significantly.

Read the latest Everton transfer news HERE…

The Italian doesn't want to be plying his trade in the second tier of English football over at least the next 12 months, perhaps understandably, and he has made it clear that he wants to move on, even refusing to play for the Whites.

It is Everton who have stood out as the club most likely to acquire Gnonto's signature before deadline day arrives at the end of this month, but Leeds have held firm up until this point. Now, it looks as though the Toffees know precisely how much will be needed to prise him away this summer.

What's the latest on Wilfried Gnonto to Everton?

According to Football Insider, Leeds are increasingly likely to accept a £25m bid for the exciting attacker in the coming days and weeks, making the situation clear for Everton:

"Leeds United are privately holding out for a fee of at least £25million before considering selling Everton top target Wilfried Gnonto this summer, sources have told Football Insider. Football Insider revealed on Friday that Everton are the frontrunners to land the 19-year-old – and have seen a £20million bid for his services rejected.

"A well-placed source has told Football Insider that a bid of £25million with a favourable payment structure could soften that stance."

Meanwhile, Fabrizio Romano has said that personal terms on a five-year deal are already agreed with Everton.

This is an encouraging update regarding the Blues' pursuit of Gnonto and it would be foolish for the club not to bid £25m and see what happens, really testing Leeds' resolve in the process.

The teenager is someone who could light up Goodison Park if he seals a summer move there, possessing the rare ability to beat players with ease, not to mention quick feet and end product, having notched six goal contributions (two goals and four assists) in the Premier League last season.

Saturday's 1-0 defeat at home to Fulham perfectly illustrated why a player of Gnonto's ilk may well be required before the end of the transfer window.

Gary Neville has described Gnonto as "absolutely fantastic" in the past, and considering he is still only 19 years of age currently and already an Italy international on a regular basis, he could only improve further as a player as the years go on, in terms of becoming a more polished footballer in his all-round game, cutting out the rawness that understandably exists in his game currently.

Glasgow Rangers made arguably one of their finest-ever signings since returning to the Scottish top flight when they lured Connor Goldson North of the border from Brighton and Hove Albion back in 2018.

The Gers were in the doldrums and although it took a year or two, the Englishman turned into one of the most reliable performers under Steven Gerrard.

He was at the heart of a defence which conceded just 13 Premiership goals during the stunning 2020/21 title-winning season while also leading the team to a Scottish Cup and first European final in 14 years in 2022.

With nearly 300 appearances for the Light Blues, supporters will be hoping he remains at the club for the foreseeable future.

Could Michael Beale repeat their Goldson masterclass by delving into the transfer market and luring another established centre-back from England?

Will Rangers sign a defender?

The Light Blues have been linked with moves for Harry Souttar and Ronnie Edwards recently as Beale aims to bring at least one more defender to Ibrox ahead of a demanding schedule between September and January.

Read the latest Rangers transfer news HERE…

One name who has also been touted for a move is Millwall star Jake Cooper according to Football Insider.

The 28-year-old was actually eyed up by Gerrard in the same summer they brought Goldson to Ibrox, even going as far to submit a £3m bid but obviously, nothing materialised.

Beale may have a better chance than his former mentor as Cooper has entered into the final year of his current contract at the Den.

Could Jake Cooper improve Rangers?

Across four matches so far during the 2023/24 campaign, the Gers have conceded a goal in three of them and there is still some work for Beale to do with regard to improving his defence.

Goldson is the undisputed starter when fit and the fight to take the place next to him is between John Souttar, Leon Balogun and Leon King.

Cooper could certainly arrive and upset the applecart by making a push to be a regular partner for Goldson.

Last season, the 28-year-old started all but one match for Millwall in the Championship, and he made more clearances per game (3.1) and interceptions (1.2) than the whole Rangers squad across these metrics.

Cooper also displayed a solid aerial presence, winning 4.9 aerial duels per game and this was actually higher than Goldson, who won 2.6 per game, suggesting that they could potentially form a solid partnership.

Lions boss Gary Rowett praised the defender in 2022, claiming he was “invaluable” to Millwall and there is no doubt the £10k-per-week titan has outgrown the Championship and is in need of a new challenge.

Goldson has developed into arguably one of the finest defenders in Scotland since arriving at the Light Blues five years ago and there is no reason why Cooper can't improve even further.

Beale will be keeping watch on the player over the next few days and don’t be surprised if he ends up at Ibrox before the window shuts.

Tottenham Hotspur and West Ham are "leading the fight" for Chelsea midfielder Conor Gallagher, and he is "ready" to make a move this summer.

Who will Spurs sign?

Ange Postecoglou will be fairly happy with his side's moves in the transfer window, with Spurs having sealed deals for goalkeeper Guglielmo Vicario, playmaker James Maddison and winger Manor Solomon on a free transfer.

The trio join both Dejan Kulusevski and Pedro Porro in putting pen to paper on permanent moves to north London after their previous loan deals, but reports suggest the Lilywhites could add more new faces.

Postecoglou, speaking to the media recently, confirmed that his club are looking to sign a centre-back to shore up a leaky defence which conceded 63 league goals last season.

"That's definitely our intention, absolutely," said Postecoglou when asked about new defenders.

"We've been working on it for a while and we'll definitely try to get it done as quickly as possible."

"I don't think it's any secret about some of the areas we needed to strengthen. Some of it I identified early on. The goalkeeper was one and central defence is another.

"In terms of the other boys, we've got a big squad but my view is I wanted to bring them along and just work with them, get some clarity in my head and give clarity to them."

Wolfsburg's Micky van de Ven, Edmond Tapsoba of Bayer Leverkusen, Fulham's Tosin Adarabioyo, Barcelona defender Clement Lenglet, Galatasary's Victor Nelsson and Juventus defender Gleison Bremer have all been linked to joining for the defensive positions.

Meanwhile, it is also believed that Spurs want to sign a new midfielder to succeed Denmark international Pierre-Emile Hojbjerg, who could well join Atletico Madrid.

Gallagher is a name attracting their serious interest, with London rivals West Ham and Spurs "leading the fight" for his services.

David Moyes' side have already seen a bid rejected for the 23-year-old, so a transfer won't be easy, but it is believed that Gallagher "ready" to leave Stamford Bridge.

Reliable journalist Nizaar Kinsella wrote in The Evening Standard:

"Conor Gallagher is ready to leave Chelsea after being deemed surplus to requirements, with ­Tottenham and West Ham leading the fight for his signature.

"The 23-year-old, who scored in a 4-3 friendly win over Brighton in Philadelphia on Saturday and also in the 5-0 thrashing of Wrexham last week, is being offered to clubs."

How good is Conor Gallagher?

The midfielder struggled to gain consistent starting places for Chelsea last season, making half of his appearances from the bench (WhoScored).

However, Gallagher showcased his true quality on loan at Crystal Palace over 2021/2022, where the player ranked as their best-performing player per 90 whilst chipping in with eight goals and three assists (WhoScored).

Gallagher has also been praised by former Spurs star Jermaine Jenas, who told Match of The Day (via The Sun) that he is a "game-changer" and similar to Chelsea legend Frank Lampard.

“He reminds me a lot of Lampard," said Jenas.

"I think he is a game-changer aswell Conor Gallagher. He’s the type of player that you bring on and he has an impact on the game.

“He presses, gets himself in the box and creates chances. Also, he’s won a World Cup. He was part of the U17 World Cup-winning side so he understands tournament football and I’m pleased for Conor.”

Everton are thought to be pursuing a move to sign Ajax forward Brian Brobbey before the summer transfer deadline, according to the BBC.

What’s the latest Everton transfer news?

The Toffees have brought in two new players ahead of Sean Dyche’s first full season in charge, the first of which was full-back Ashley Young on a free transfer after he left Aston Villa.

Young has been joined at Goodison Park by winger Arnaut Danjuma, who has penned a season-long loan deal from Villarreal, and it appears as if a new forward is next on the agenda for the Toffees.

Almeria striker El Bilal Toure and Leeds United’s Wilfried Gnonto have emerged as potential targets, with Everton thought to be in pole position for the latter. Another player who appears to be of interest is Brobbey, an out-and-out striker sponsored by Nike.

Defender Michael Keane was talking about possible new signings after Tuesday's goalless pre-season draw at Bolton. Relayed by the BBC, he said:

"I don’t think it is easy, but I am sure they will be trying.

"I think that is what the club is aiming to do. I think you could look at the squad and get better in a lot of positions, but we had periods where we struggled for goals."

The report name-checks Toure and Gnonto as possible targets, and they say that the Toffees are continuing to pursue Brobbey.

Who is Brian Brobbey?

Brobbey is 21 years of age and has progressed through Ajax’s academy in recent years. He joined RB Leipzig back in 2021 but returned to Ajax a year later and has made a total of 76 senior appearances for the Dutch side. The forward has scored 27 times and registered seven assists, netting a senior career-best 13 goals in 32 Eredivisie games.

Former Dutch striker Pierre van Hooijdonk has praised the player in recent months, labelling him as “dangerous”.

"Because he is so fast and strong, he was very annoying for the defenders of PSV and dangerous for Ajax. The ball on the post, the ball in front. You can see from those running actions that he is a real striker.”

Meanwhile, Liverpool defender Virgil van Dijk has also waxed lyrical over Brobbey in the past 12 months, saying he “has everything”.

“I think he’s a great boy. He is a great talent and basically has everything. He is fast, strong and can finish well.”

He could well be an exciting addition for the Blues due to his impressive displays over the past 12 months. As per FBref, Brobbey ranks in the top 1% of forwards for touches in the penalty area and top 3% for shots on target and non-penalty xG.

Brobbey even has an eye for a pass, ranking in the top 15% for key passes and top 5% for expected assists, so he could help Everton in front of goal both in the short and long run, aiming to surpass a disappointing 34 goals in 38 Premier League games last season.

Sunderland looked like they were close to bringing in Eliezer Mayenda – but a deal is currently being held up, as reported by journalist Santi Aouna.

Who is Eliezer Mayenda?

The 18-year-old currently plays for Sochaux in France and has already burst onto the scene and their first-team picture despite being in his teens. He made his league debut for the Ligue 2 outfit during the 2022/23 season and played 15 times in total for the club, although only one of those appearances was a start.

The striker though did manage to hit the back of the net despite his youth and when you consider he managed only 3.2 lots of 90 minutes, it isn't a bad rate for the youngster.

He's also clearly regarded highly at national team level as well, albeit not with the first-team. Mayenda has represented Spain at youth team level, making his debut for their Under-17 side only last year and playing three times for his country. The centre-forward then is clearly viewed as having some talent, so it's no surprise to see Tony Mowbray and Sunderland weighing up a move.

Are Sunderland signing Eliezer Mayenda?

Now, his performances could have earned him a move to England. According to journalist Santi Aouna, Sunderland have already reached an agreement to bring the 18-year-old to the Championship – but it has currently been put on hold. That is because, despite already sorting out a move for the wonderkid – and with the man himself eager to switch to the Stadium of Light – Sochaux are now holding out for more money.

"Agreement reached between Sochaux and Sunderland for the transfer Eliezer Mayenda," the reporter said.

"But the file is temporarily blocked by the Sochaliens who are now demanding more money. Striker wants to join Sunderland."

It looks as though a move could therefore hinge on whether one of the two clubs can alter their offer or valuation for Mayenda. If Sunderland don't opt to splash more funds, a move could fall through at the last hurdle, which would certainly be frustrating.

It would be a shame for the centre-forward, who seems to want to head to the EFL outfit now. It's unclear how much Sochaux are holding out for, or how much is currently on the table, but Transfermarkt suggest that his value is around the 300,000 Euro mark (or £259,900) and that would be a fairly cheap transfer for someone who is still only young but is already proven in a first-team environment.

There isn't much to go off in terms of what he could offer Sunderland, having only played those 15 league games for Sochaux so far. However, his reserve team stats make for good reading, as he bagged four in 14 in National 3 – Group J for the youth setup.

He clearly knows where the back of the net is then – and more gametime, for a side in Sunderland who do have a young team already, could allow him to prosper if he does move to the Stadium of Light.

Neil Wagner kept bashing the ball into the middle of the wicket and kept getting wickets? What’s not to like?

David Hopps at Taunton15-Apr-2017
Scorecard”I don’t like things messy,” said the girl in the refreshments outlet as she wiped down the surfaces with uncommon zeal. It is fortunate she did not have a view of the cricket. “Messy” barely begins to sum up a second day at Taunton in which 18 wickets fell and a succession of batsmen were in suicidal mood.The upshot is that Essex, 10 for 0 at the close, need another 245 with all their second-wickets intact. It is by no means impossible, because this pitch is far better than the scores suggest, although an Essex victory would require no more of the batting tomfoolery that saw those 18 wickets tumble for 253 runs.Neil Wagner, New Zealand’s adopted South African, was the chief beneficiary of a haphazard day in which his persistent use of the short ball reaped more dividends than he could fairly expect even on a wicket which the batsmen had concluded was two-paced and did not trust as a result. But hell, if it keeps working, keep doing it. As he so often has for New Zealand.Wagner has found little swing in Taunton with his new-ball spells, when he pitches the ball up, but his old-ball tactic of bashing the ball into the middle of the pitch has brought untold joy. His burst of 5 for 17 in 34 balls saw Somerset decline to 124 for 9 before a last-wicket stand of 50 between Craig Overton and Jack Leach restored at least a semblance of responsibility. Wagner returned to end that, drawing Overton into an uppercut to third man, and finished with 6 for 48.Somerset’s batting coach Chris Rogers said; “I think a lot of the batsman will feel they have left a lot of runs out there. However, I do think this wicket is playing tricks. It is two-paced and it has become a bit of a lottery. But still, we could have tried to have seen Wagner off and we will need to address. The last pair valued their wicket and that will be a big lesson for the other guys.”A more pressing question is why Somerset dealt with it in such a ham-fisted fashion. Wagner, as a skiddy left-armer, is difficult to leave when he hammers the ball into a somewhat unreliable surface because of the angle he bowls and the height – or lack of it – he generates, but that barely begins to build a defence.Such tactics – as Wagner himself signalled afterwards – are exhausting and cannot be pursued with success before long. Five overs, 30 balls, 15 balls each, to see him off. Against an Essex side only fielding two frontline pace bowlers. Finally, it seems, the Internet age where nobody can concentrate for longer than two minutes has reached Taunton.Wagner’s assault began with Steve Davies, whose square drive off the back foot flew at catchable height to point. Peter Trego was strangled down the leg-side and, further down the scorecard, the shots got worse. Roelof van der Merwe attempted a one-legged whip and was caught at midwicket and Lewis Gregory top-edged a pull to long leg.That left Jamie Overton. Before lunch, Overton had bounced out Wagner: fast bowler bouncing fast bowler to warn him that fire could be fought with fire. Wagner therefore stepped up his short-ball assault and removed Alastair Cook from slip to strengthen the leg-side with the same intent. Blow me, if Overton did not top-edge a hare-brained pull straight up in the air. Perhaps an early contender for the daftest shot of the season. Utterly self-indulgent. There again, these days there is a lot of it about.Essex had not been much better. Resuming on their overnight total of 60 for 2, they lost eight wickets in barely doubling their score with only Cook providing any real resistance. Even Cook lacked his frolicsome approach of the first evening before he played on, 13 added in an hour to his overnight 39, pushing limply at Gregory.Left-arm spin will play a major part in Somerset’s attempt to win the game on the third day. Leach’s solidity will persuade Somerset that his simplified action – following the ECB analysis that deemed his action as illegal – will gradually pose the same threat that was such a central part of their Championship challenge last season. He took two wickets in Essex’s first innings, bowling Ravi Bopara behind his legs on the sweep in a solid introduction to the season. A simplified action looks as if little go wrong, but what he needs are the bowling figures to follow.Van der Merwe, his fellow slow left-armer, bowled the best deliveries of all, none better than the delivery which turned to strike Adam Wheater’s off stump. Perhaps he could have been further forward, but on a day of such batting inadequacies it would be harsh to complain too much.

Chris Morris has showcased his credentials as South Africa’s No. 7, but will face a new challenge in restricting batsmen on New Zealand’s grounds

Firdose Moonda15-Feb-2017

South Africa allrounder Chris Morris has never played in New Zealand before but one of the first things he saw there made his eyes light up.”I have never seen a boundary that small and that straight before,” Morris said at Eden Park, where the boundary is 55 metres away at its furthest.While not quite in the David Miller mould of targeting the trees, Morris enjoys a bit of big-hitting himself but is perhaps a little more concerned about not being on the receiving end of many, especially as South Africa intensify their search for a new-ball partner for Kagiso Rabada. Morris has already put himself forward as one of the prime candidates after a successful series against Sri Lanka in which he was the third highest wicket-taker, but more importantly had the lowest economy rate.Morris only cost his team 3.73 runs an over, impressive considering bowling coach Charl Langeveldt was particularly harsh on the bowlers being too expensive in the first ten overs. Morris has spent a lot of time on tightening his lines and he is pleased to see it paying off. “It’s been a lot of hard work and I have done a lot of work on my action and consistency. I know it’s been an issue for me in the past so I strive to get consistency and eliminate those boundary balls,” Morris said. “There’s been a lot of work in the nets, looking at my action, how to clean up my action, bowling straight lines and try to change my thinking about how I am going to bowl.”The changes came after Morris spent almost three months sidelined with a knee injury in the early part of the season. He only played one four-day game at franchise level before finding himself back in the international fold. “The biggest thing for me was to see how my body went. I hadn’t played a lot of cricket coming into that Sri Lanka series so I was a little bit nervous but seeing I could get through my ten overs without any niggles quite comfortably was good,” he said. “I tried to keep my pace back in the beginning and not bowl too fast but for me it was very good to get through those games and for my confidence it did a lot, especially in that last game.”Morris took eight wickets, including 4 for 31, in the series against Sri Lanka, but does not expect things to happen quite so easily against New Zealand. “There are some serious players coming from New Zealand. They are a very aggressive, attacking team. They do the basics well and they are quite good at home,” he said.South Africa know that only too well. The last time they were in New Zealand was for the 2015 World Cup semi-final when Eden Park witnessed one of the most nail-biting ODIs in history. AB de Villiers said the team have come with “unfinished business” to complete but not specifically Morris. He is not among the nine members of the touring party who have first-hand memories of that day to banish and he is quite happy to simply enjoy his first experience in a new place.”Fortunately I was not part of those memories. I watched it in South Africa and I was very emotionally attached to it. It was a very emotional day for our fans in South Africa and I am sure there will be a bit of emotion involved for the guys that were here during the World Cup but it adds to the fire of the game. It’s going to be exciting.”

Newcastle United are reportedly in talks to sign Leicester City midfielder James Maddison this summer – a transfer that will only help further unlock the potential of Alexander Isak.

Newcastle United transfer news – will they sign James Maddison?

After suffering relegation from the Premier League with the Foxes last season, Maddison's exit seems a guarantee this summer, given his proven quality at the top level.

With that said, according to Fabrizio Romano, the Magpies will 'insist' on a deal for the England international this week, who is a top target for Eddie Howe.

"Newcastle will insist on James Maddison deal this week as they don’t want a long saga — he’s top target but decision has to be made soon," he tweeted.

The northeast giants may need to act quickly to secure Maddison's signature, however, with Tottenham Hotspur reportedly still interested, with Romano adding:

"Tottenham are also working on player side, still pushing and into the race; no bid was submitted last week despite reports."

A deal for the Leicester man would cost Newcastle in excess of £50m, according to Sky Sports, in what would be their first transfer of the summer window.

How would James Maddison fit into Newcastle United's side?

When you take a look at the current Newcastle midfield, adding Maddison into the middle of the park almost spoils the on-watching fans at St James' Park.

Howe has already got Bruno Guimaraes and a transformed Joelinton at his disposal. Add Maddison into the mix, and you've suddenly got one of the most exciting trios in the Premier League.

Between them last season, they were involved in 37 goals in the last campaign, with Maddison scoring 10 goals and assisting a further nine, Joelinton scoring six and assisting three, and his Brazilian teammate scoring four and assisting five.

Speaking about Maddison back in 2020, then Leicester boss Brendan Rodgers saiD (via Sports Mole):

"He's got immense quality. You saw his right foot at Manchester City, he has that technique with both feet. That was a sensational strike tonight."

Maddison, in particular, can supply and score goals from midfield, as proven in a struggling Leicester side last season.

The former Norwich City "magician" – as lauded by analyst Statman Dave last year – managed nine assists without a potent striker in front of him, too.

As good as Jamie Vardy once was, he was a shadow of his former self for the Foxes last season, scoring just three Premier League goals.

The more you look at it, the more you start to believe that Maddison worked miracles to get nine assists to his name.

If he does make the move to Newcastle, however, then he'll be in assist dreamland.

Not only will he have 18-goal England teammate Callum Wilson to endlessly supply, but an always-improving Isak will also be on hand to tap home any pinpoint passes placed his way.

As per FBref, last season Maddison played 5.47 progressive passes per-90, which was 1.08 more than Joelinton managed. A player with his ability to play such passes should only increase the goals of Isak.

Last season, the Sweden international scored 11 combined goals for both Real Sociedad and Newcastle, with 1.29 shots per 90.

By comparison, with Maddison's progressive passing ability, Leicester striker Kelechi Iheanacho shot 3.04 times per 90.

With that said, it is clear that if the Englishman does make the move to the Magpies this summer, Isak will benefit from his passing range, getting more shots off, and, therefore, have the potential to score more goals.