Manchester United have signed teenagers Samuel Lusale and James Overy.
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The opener isn’t worried about playing in empty stands, and says Pakistan are used to it
Umar Farooq17-Jun-2020
Abid Ali kicked off his Test career with back to back hundreds•AFP
Pakistan will keep a close eye on England’s three-match Test series against West Indies next month. This, according to their opener Abid Ali, will help Pakistan prepare for their own tour of England, which kicks off soon after West Indies’ visit. This will be Abid’s first tour of England, and he is already preparing to cut out some of his shots in conditions that are expected to favour seam bowling.”In a way the series between England and West Indies is going to help us in our preparation,” Abid said. “England didn’t start their domestic season [as a result of the Covid-19 pandemic] and their pitches haven’t been used, so we don’t know what to expect [from the conditions] this time, which is why the West Indies series is important for us to look at.”We can learn a lot, take a lot out of it, and it will also give us a pretty good idea how the conditions will play. This is my first tour with Pakistan but I have played league cricket there for 3-4 years and have some idea. We haven’t played cricket [as a team] for quite some time but [going to England] a month in advance with a very experienced coaching staff and the knowledge from the West Indies series is going to make a big difference in our readiness.”Pakistan last played a Test in February, and a few of the red-ball specialists played competitive cricket during the PSL in March. Since then, all the national and domestic players have been confined to their homes, and while they have worked on their fitness, they have been broadly inactive due to the Covid-19 pandemic. The PCB scrapped plans for a four-week training session in a bio-secure environment, due to a major spike in the coronavirus cases in the country.A 29-man Pakistan touring party with 14 officials will arrive in England on July 1. The tourists will spend five weeks training before playing a series of three Test matches, with the first Test in Manchester from August 5 to 9, and the second and third Tests in Southampton.Abid admitted that three months in lockdown have had some impact on him, mentally, but said he would work on that aspect in England as well as his skills. ESPNcricinfo has learned that Abid lost his uncle to the coronavirus in April. He didn’t attend the funeral to avoid any possible exposure to the virus, and was forced to stay at home and mourn privately. He later took to Twitter to urge people to stay at home and take the coronavirus seriously.Abid Ali drives•AFP
“With the circumstances around coronavirus, it’s mentally tough as we can’t keep our mind of it but we have to adapt ourselves,” Abid said. “It is indeed a challenge playing England in England and with the coronavirus it’s a bit tough as well. But we are professional players, we understand that we have to strengthen our mindset and live with the fact that life is going on. This [coronavirus] is not going away soon so we have to live with it and focus on playing cricket. Once we get back on the ground it will be easy for us to take our thoughts away [from the pandemic]. It’s great that we are touring England, we are confident to start again and we will try hard to give our best.”Abid played nearly 12 years of domestic cricket before getting his chance to play Test cricket at the age of 32. He made an immediate impact, however, with an unbeaten century on debut against Sri Lanka in Rawalpindi and lighting up the historic occasion of Pakistan hosting a Test match for the first time in ten years. He followed up with a 174 in his second Test in Karachi, and currently averages 107 after three Test matches. Earlier in the year, Abid had scored a century on his ODI debut as well – he is the only player to have achieved the feat in both Tests and ODIs.”I made an impressive start by the grace of Allah,” Abid said. “I had a good start but that is in the past now and I want to look ahead. Being a professional player I want to be ready any possible way. Unfortunately we didn’t get to practise outside and missed cricket in these last few months, but I am ready. Over the last one year, the the pressure of expectations has elevated a lot, but then the pressure is everywhere, what important is how you handle it and then how you work on your mental growth.”With bigger opportunities you also work on raising your game to face the best bowlers in the world and prepare yourself. I have individual targets and have made small plans and hope to execute them one by one. I know playing in England is challenging and their bowlers are great but I am watching the ball, not the bowlers. I love to play shots all around [the ground] but it’s not necessary that I am going to play all my shots there. I want to score runs and people like Misbah [ul-Haq, the head coach] and Younis [Khan, the batting coach] in the coaching staff are going to help me to pick my scoring shots.”When asked about the prospect of playing in front of empty stands, Abid pointed to Pakistan’s Tests in the UAE as well as domestic first-class cricket back home – both of which are largely played in front of sparse crowds – and said players still find a way to motivate themselves.”For Pakistan empty stadium doesn’t count, but it may effect England,” he said. “Pakistan played for 10 years in empty stadiums, and even the first-class games we play with zero crowd, so we are used to it. But yes, we have a big following in England that comes to stadiums to support us and we are going to miss them, but it’s beyond our control. Coronavirus has affected everyone everywhere. So for the sake of fans’ own self these are the safety precautions, but they can still watch us on TV.”
‘The way he’s been bowling the last 18 months has been outstanding’
Daniel Brettig28-Jul-2020Stuart Broad’s Ashes batting bunny David Warner is still trying to figure out how it was even possible that the paceman was dropped from England’s first Test match of the northern summer, and paid tribute to the 34-year-old as he stood on the brink of 500 wickets.In getting out seven times in 10 innings to Broad in England last year, Warner had a previously respectable record in England scythed down to an embarrassing size. The Australian was left questioning plenty about himself and his game in foreign conditions before he returned home to a typically bountiful home season against Pakistan and New Zealand.Warner admitted to some shock when he saw that Broad was left out for Mark Wood when England played the first Test match since cricket’s return amid the coronavirus pandemic, before the Nottinghamshire seamer was recalled and proved instrumental in securing the hosts victory in the second match of the series and then taking the hosts to the outskirts of another in the decider.”I think they should drop him again, I don’t know why they dropped him for that first game,” Warner laughed. “It’d be nice if I was to play over there again and he wasn’t playing. I saw he got a 50 and he’s taking some batting tips off Shane Warne, which is weird, but the way he bowls, the way he’s been bowling the last 18 months has been outstanding. I don’t know what was the reasoning behind leaving him out of that first Test, but obviously he’s come back and taken a few wickets.”Personally, I think he’s a world-class bowler and the last 18 months he’s really worked hard on pitching the ball up. When I look back on the stats it is probably the first time in his career, he’s actually pitched the ball up in that sort of five to six metres area the bowlers talk about quite a lot. He’s got a hell of a record against left handers as well, and I think the capability of him bringing the ball back off the wicket into the left handers has been another string to his bow.”Bowlers do tend to talk about not meaning to do that off the seam, but if you keep producing the right seam consistently enough, you’re going to get that sideways movement both ways and he’s been able to get that, and it’s not by fluke that he’s had success the past 18 months, he’s worked really hard to get to where he is and credit to him. Hopefully, yeah, I do get another crack against him.”The sequence of dismissals endured by Warner last year was testament to Broad’s ability to improve himself, having previously struggled to find the right lines and lengths with which to challenge the Australian left-hander, either in challenging Australian conditions or even friendlier home environs during the 2013 and 2015 series. Broad made his own disappointment plain during the first Test against the West Indies in Hampshire, but in the final match of the series at Old Trafford, he has returned to a familiar and prolific partnership with James Anderson.”I think when you’ve got two quality bowlers who’ve bowled in partnerships for a long, long time, in the partnership they bowl they don’t leak runs, and that’s the most important thing when we bat in partnerships, we try to get off strike, rotate strike, get bowlers off their lines and lengths,” Warner said. “These guys have the ability to keep those runs restricted, and they bowl a length where in England if you go to drive that length, you’re probably going to nick, but also the length means they’re still hitting the stumps, so you can’t really leave it.”In English conditions they just know how to get wickets and how to not leak runs. I know as well, James Anderson can not take a wicket, but still go for less than two an over. That just shows his experience as well. They’re both not express pace, and to take [nearly 1100] wickets between them as a pair when playing together is exceptional. You just can’t go after them, they don’t take their foot off the pedal and when you’re up against them, you’ve got to think of ways to rotate strike. Otherwise if you give them too many overs at you, they’re going to get you out.”
أعلن القطري يونس علي المدير الفني لـ الريان القطري، عن تشكيل الفريق الرسمي، لمواجهة نظيره الشمال، في إطار منافسات بطولة الدوري القطري.
الريان يواجه الشمال، اليوم الجمعة، على ملعب استاد أحمد بن علي، في إطار الجولة الـ 10 من عمر منافسات الدوري القطري للموسم الحالي 2024-2025.
وتنطلق المباراة، في تمام الساعة 3 عصرًا بتوقيت القاهرة، 4 بتوقيت السعودية وقطر، تنقل على قناة الكأس 1 وبي إن سبورت 2.
ويحتل فريق الريان المركز السابع، في ترتيب جدول الدوري القطري، برصيد 10 نقاط، بعد مرور 9 جولات، فاز في 3 وتعادل في مباراة وخسر 5 مواجهات.
وشهدت تشكيل الريان، تواجد الدولي المصري محمود حسن تريزيجيه، أساسيًا بعد عودته من المشاركة مع منتخب مصر الأخير في معسكر نوفمبر الخاص بخوض مباراتي الرأس الأخضر وبوتسوانا.
طالع.. فيديو | تريزيجيه يسجل في خسارة الريان أمام السد بالدوري القطري تشكيل الريان اليوم أمام الشمال في الدوري القطري
حراسة المرمى: فهد يونس.
خط الدفاع: مراد ناجي، حازم أحمد، جوليان دي سارت وديفيد جارسيا.
خط الوسط: عبد العزيز حاتم، محمود حسن تريزيجيه، روجر جيديس ومحمد سراج.
خط الهجوم: أشرف بن شرقي و أندريه أمارو.
Festive atmosphere at the Wanderers can’t disguise South Africa’s flat-lining series prospects
Firdose Moonda at the Wanderers25-Jan-2020
Anrich Nortje gave South Africa a lift on the second morning•Getty Images
It sounded like a party. The Unity Stand was drowned in song that the so-called traditional watchers of the game in this country would not have recognised. The Gwijo Squad – a supporters’ club formed in 2017 who sing Zulu and Xhosa songs – made their first appearance in this series and immediately changed its tone.It didn’t matter that South Africa were conceding the highest 10th-wicket partnership at the Wanderers and allowed England to finish on 400 or that the hosts were 60 for 4 in reply. In fact, it fuelled them. The worse South Africa’s situation got, the louder the Gwijo squad’s messages of hope rang out and the more they intended to inspire. They reserved the loudest for Temba Bavuma, son of this stadium and the only black African player in the XI.“uTemba lo!
Abamaziyo!
Abazange bambona!!
Abazange bambona!!”
Loosely translated (credit to Makhaya Ntini) those lyrics mean: “That’s Temba, and if you didn’t know it before, you will see him now.”When Bavuma drove the first delivery he faced through the covers, teasingly close to the boundary, they erupted into a cheer that belied the seriousness of the situation South Africa, and Bavuma, were in. They’re both chasing the game and they both have massive points to prove.South Africa’s chances of winning the match look increasingly thin, especially as the follow-on target is still 113 runs away. Defeat will mean a third consecutive series loss and may spell the end for captain Faf du Plessis. It was his dismissal – an unlucky one given that he was hit above the knee roll on a pitch renowned for its bounce, but the on-field decision was upheld on umpire’s call – that brought Bavuma to the crease, with a grossly unfair burden.South Africans expect Bavuma to perform, especially after the fracas over him being left out of the second and third Tests, despite having recovered from a hip injury and with his career-best 180 still to come. “In Temba we Trust,” read one banner. But their faith was only repaid for 38 minutes, before Bavuma was caught, low in the slips, by none other than South Africa’s arch-nemesis, Ben Stokes.Only then, did South Africa’s real hero (if anyone in their XI can be given such a lofty title) emerge. Anrich Nortje, whose nightwatchman’s vigils in the first and third Tests earned him the respect his top-order should command, walked out to a hopeless situation.Having dragged South Africa to the edges of an advantage earlier in the day, with his maiden Test-five-for, he was now expected to drag them away from the point of no return. Late in the day. With not so much as an acknowledgement that he was there. Unless you count the lady draped in a South African flag who managed to invade the playing area and make some solid ground towards the crease before security officials caught up with her.In muffled tones, the Gwijo squad continued to sing while the Barmy Army overpowered them with their version of Living on a Prayer (We’re halfway there, five wickets down and all that). It was hardly the reception that Nortje deserved.Faf du Plessis grimaces after dropping a catch•Getty Images
His efforts in the morning saved South Africa’s blushes after they had looked likely to endure a fourth successive opening session without claiming a wicket. Nortje changed that, during the course of an eight-over spell which injected energy into a limp attack and showed the advantage of proper pace on this pitch. Nortje kept the speedgun north of 145kph on almost every ball and the last delivery of the 48 he bowled in the morning clocked in at 148kph, more than an hour he sent down his first. If you want evidence of commitment and consistency, that’s it.Like most of the attack, Nortje erred with his lengths and was often bowling too short, but unlike them, he produced several threatening deliveries that targeted the body and teased the outside edge. With the old ball, he got Ollie Pope playing on, then Joe Root and Sam Curran in successive deliveries to put South Africa in a position from which they could limit England to something close to the average first-innings score at the Wanderers: 319. Nortje’s 3 for 40 could have changed the game, and his new-ball strike to remove Chris Woakes should have meant the England innings was almost at an end.Instead, it went on for another 8.2 overs as questions over du Plessis’ captaincy mounted. Why were the bowlers persisting with short and wide lengths and lines? Why were there eight fielders on the boundary? Why was Dwaine Pretorius unused in that period? “I really don’t have any answers for you,” a sheepish Nortje said afterwards.ALSO READ: Wood shines with bat and ball to push SA to the brinkNo-one could have expected him to. Although Nortje has leapfrogged Kagiso Rabada to the top of the series wicket-takers’ list, with 16 at 26.68, and in this match, he replaced Rabada as the leader of the attack, he is not the person who should be held to account. Nonetheless, he was the designed representative to address the media, after he was dismissed by the last ball of play. Again, it was not the audience Nortje would have wanted but, as he has already discovered, “you can’t choose”.Those words came in reference to his first five-for being eclipsed by the batting fragility when he would have preferred it to have been taken in a dominant situation, but there are other things Nortje could not choose in this Test. He could not pick his bowling partners, and even though he refused to lay the blame on any of them (“It’s a collective unit. It’s not one or two of us.”) it is obvious that Dane Paterson and Beuran Hendricks would not be first-choice if Kagiso Rabada and Lungi Ngidi were fit. He could not choose the fielding strategy, which seemed misguided, and he could not choose how early he was needed with the bat. Most of all he could not choose where the attention will focus today, and it’s not on him.Maybe for tonight, it’s not even on South Africa’s problems. Minutes after Nortje was dismissed, the Wanderers crowd began making their way to their Saturday nights and the Gwijo squad assembled for one last song and dance which they kept going all the way to the main gate. It sounded like a party. But the scorecard will tell that it really was not.
Leeds United are currently battling to secure automatic promotion back to the Premier League at the first time of asking, following on from their relegation last summer.
The Whites spent three years in the top-flight before they were relegated under Sam Allardyce, who had replaced Javi Gracia towards the end of the 2022/23 campaign, and they then swooped to bring in Daniel Farke to lead them back to glory.
It has been a successful appointment so far as the former Norwich City head coach has led the Yorkshire-based outfit to second in the table as it stands.
Leeds are three points off Leicester City in first place but they are also only one point ahead of Ipswich Town in third, and five ahead of Southampton in fourth, which illustrates how close it is between the four teams most likely to land the two automatic promotion places.
Despite there being no guarantee, at this stage, that the Whites will be playing Premier League football next season, the club are reportedly already looking at targets to bolster their playing squad should they make the step up from the Championship.
According to Turkish outlet Aksam, Farke's side are eyeing up a former Premier League centre-forward to add more firepower to the group in the summer transfer window.
The report claims that Leeds have their eye on Fenerbahce marksman Michy Batshuayi to compete with Patrick Bamford, Mateo Joseph, and Joel Piroe.
It states that the Whites are 'expected' to knock on the door at the end of the season to pursue a move for the Belgium international, who has been in fine form in Turkey in recent seasons.
The 30-year-old number nine's current contract with Fenerbahce is due to expire later this year, which means that the club could be able to snap him up for £0 on a free transfer.
Aksam does not mention any attempt by the Turkish giants to extend his deal before the summer transfer window. However, Transfermarkt claims that there is an option to extend his contract by a further year, which could allow his club to exercise that and then rake in a transfer
fee for his services, should they choose to do so.
At this stage, it remains to be seen what Fenerbahce are going to do about his contractual situation and there is the possibility that Leeds could snap him up for nothing if they do not extend his deal.
The experienced striker could be a shrewd addition for £0, given his career so far, and he could thrive alongside Georginio Rutter, who is a number nine's dream with his consistent creative quality in the number ten position.
The French whiz, who was signed from Hoffenheim for a club-record £35.5m in January 2023, has been in terrific form in the Championship throughout the season so far.
He has been one of Farke's outstanding performers at the top end of the pitch with his ability to unlock opposition defences on a regular basis.
Rutter has produced six goals and 13 assists in 35 Championship matches for the Whites during the 2023/24 campaign, which means that he has averaged a direct goal contribution every 1.84 appearances on average.
As you can see in the chart above, the 21-year-old wizard stacks up well against his positional peers in the second tier in a host of progressive and creative statistics.
He ranks within the top 2% for both goal-creating and shot-creating actions, and the top 1% for assists (0.42) per 90 for Leeds, which shows that the young gem has been one of the best players in the division at creating goalscoring chances for his teammates.
In fact, only Abdul Fatawu (25) of Leicester has created more 'big chances' for his fellow attackers than Rutter (21) in the Championship this season.
These statistics show that there are few better than the Whites star when it comes to splitting open opposition defences to create high-quality opportunities in front of goal.
This is why Rutter could be a dream partner for Batshuayi, or any other forward potentially signed by the club in the summer, as the French magician could provide the striker with plenty of chances to find the back of the net.
The 30-year-old marksman has been around the block and proven himself as a goalscorer in several countries and leagues throughout his career.
He has racked up 182 goals in 457 club appearances in all competitions to date, along with an eye-catching 27 goals in 53 caps for Belgium – more than one every other game on average.
Batshuayi already has experience in English football as he enjoyed spells with Crystal Palace and Chelsea, where he scored a combined 33 goals in 110 appearances.
The Leeds target has spent the last two seasons with Fenerbahce in Turkey and has caught the eye with his impressive goalscoring record.
|
22/23 Super Lig |
Michy Batshuayi |
|---|---|
|
Appearances |
19 |
|
Starts |
16 |
|
Goals |
12 |
|
Big chances missed |
5 |
|
Minutes per goal |
102 |
|
Stats per Sofascore |
|
As you can see in the table above, Batshuayi enjoyed a terrific first season in the Super Lig with a return of 12 goals in 16 starts, which contributed to a tally of 20 goals in 32 appearances in all competitions – including five strikes in five domestic cup outings.
The former Chelsea striker, who was once hailed as "deadly" by journalist Josh Bunting, has followed that up with 20 goals in 35 matches for Fenerbahce this season, which means that he has scored 40 goals in 67 games for the Turkish giants in total.
Interestingly, the attacker has only started one of his 20 Super Lig appearances during the 2023/24 campaign but has still plundered eight league goals in that time, whilst ex-Manchester City star Edin Dzeko has scored 18 goals in 28 starts as the first-choice centre-forward.
Overall, Batshuayi has scored goals in Turkey, England, Germany, with nine goals in 14 matches for Borussia Dortmund, France, with 33 goals in 78 games for Marseille, and for his country.
Leeds have already submitted a bid to sign Connor Roberts upgrade
Leeds United are already planning ahead for summer signings.
By
Kelan Sarson
Mar 14, 2024
Therefore, the possible free agent could be an excellent, cheap, addition to the squad to bolster the forward line and form a fantastic pairing with Rutter in the final third, as he could have the quality to finish the chances that the midfielder creates based on his exceptional scoring rate for Fenerbahce and throughout his career.
Aaron Anselmino will have to travel to the United States to finalise his summer transfer to Chelsea from Boca Juniors.
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Chelsea close to Anselmino signingDefender will have medical in USATeenager to be loaned back to BocaWHAT HAPPENED?
The centre-back is on the verge of joining the Stamford Bridge club in a £17 million ($22m) transfer from Argentine giants Boca. However, he will have to fly to the USA to get the deal over the line, according to Marcos Bonocore, as the Blues are in Atlanta, Georgia to continue their pre-season preparations.
AdvertisementGettyTHE BIGGER PICTURE
The 19-year-old will be one of the most expensive sales in Boca Juniors history when he completes the move. Even though he will undergo his medical and sign a contract in the United States, Anselmino is expected to return to Boca on loan.
DID YOU KNOW?
Anselmino came through the Boca youth academy to make his senior debut in June 2023. He has only made 10 appearances for Diego Martinez's team, but has shown enough promise to convince Chelsea to snap him up.
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GettyWHAT NEXT FOR CHELSEA?
After Anselmino completes his move to Chelsea, he will likely head back to Argentina to resume the current campaign with Boca. The Premier League side, meanwhile, will continue preparing for their friendly against Celtic on Saturday.
Aaron Finch and Lauren Winfield will captain Northern Superchargers in The Hundred next year.Australia white-ball captain Finch, who has has played for seven different teams in the IPL plus Melbourne Renegades in the BBL and had stints at Surrey and Yorkshire, will lead the likes of Ben Stokes, Ben Foakes, Adil Rashid, David Willey and Chris Lynn in the new competition after he was a first-round pick in last month’s player draft for Superchargers head coach Darren Lehmann.Also read: ESPNcricinfo throw down gauntlet for Darren Lehmann at The Hundred mock draft“I think we have an excellent side with a good mixture of quality English cricketers and some match-winning overseas stars and I’m very confident of our chances when The Hundred kicks off next summer,” Finch said.”It’s such an honour to be asked to captain the men’s team. Obviously, I know Darren Lehmann really well and we understand how we both want to go about it. You can’t underestimate the importance of that. I’ve also had some good times up at Yorkshire and I look forward to seeing the fans again.”We’ve got a really great spine with the likes of Adam Lyth, Adil Rashid and David Willey, and they know what it takes to win games of cricket up at Headingley. Then you add in the likes of Mujeeb Ur Rahman and Chris Lynn and it gets pretty exciting. I just can’t wait to meet the guys next summer and have that first net.”Lehmann said: “I think we’ve picked a great team and I’m really excited to see what Aaron and I can do with the group. He is a world-class cricketer and a superb leader.”Winfield, a member of England’s 2017 World Cup-winning side, has previously captained Yorkshire Diamonds in the Kia Super League and she has represented Brisbane Heat, Hobart Hurricanes and Adelaide Strikers in the WBBL. She will play alongside compatriot Linsey Smith and Australian star Alyssa Healy at the Superchargers with women’s head coach Danielle Hazell to fill her squad by May 30.”It’s all very exciting for everyone involved and I can’t wait to get out on the field next year and hopefully help lead the team to success,” Winfield said.”Dani Hazell and I are busy working away to sign up the rest of our team. We want to try and keep a core of players together and add players who we believe can move us forward. It’s a bit like playing Football Manager, trying to fill the teams with the right players and tick the right boxes but I know that the Superchargers are going to be a team that the other sides won’t fancy coming up against.”Hazell said: “Having spent many years playing with Lauren I know she has what it takes to be a great captain for the Superchargers. She’s played and thrived in some of the highest-profile matches and arenas our sport has to offer, which bodes well for the first season of The Hundred and beyond.”
Tottenham Hotspur chiefs believe they can make a "game-changer" signing for around £45 million this summer, according to journalist Ben Jacobs.
Spurs planning to sign new midfielder
Over the last fortnight, there have been plenty of whispers surrounding midfielders who could potentially join Spurs later this year.
Tottenham positioning themselves to sign cheap Frenkie de Jong alternative
The north Londoners want a new midfielder.
ByEmilio Galantini Feb 23, 2024
Indeed, the likes of Frenkie de Jong (Barcelona), Adrien Rabiot (Juventus), James Garner (Everton), Teun Koopmeiners (Atalanta) and Ederson (Atalanta) have all been sporadically mentioned as Tottenham targets for the summer.
Ange Postecoglou, going by these reports, is keen to add more quality and dynamism in the middle of the park. Another midfielder to be repeatedly linked, and ever since the summer of last year, is Chelsea star Conor Gallagher.
The England international, who was just on the losing side of Sunday's EFL Cup final, is still yet to agree a new contract at Chelsea – with his current deal expiring in 2025. This gives Chelsea just two more transfer windows to either sell or agree fresh terms before they're faced with the very real possibility of losing him for free.
Crystal Palace 1-3 Chelsea
8.78
Tottenham 1-4 Chelsea
8.22
Chelsea 3-0 Luton
7.90
Chelsea 2-0 Sheffield United
7.80
Burnley 1-4 Chelsea
7.22
Gallagher has played a starring role under Mauricio Pochettino this season, making 24 league appearances whilst chipping in with four assists and two goals. The 24-year-old's overall performances have pushed him into contention for a spot in Gareth Southgate's Euro 2024 squad, with Spurs remaining very keen.
Fabrizio Romano has previously stated that Postecoglou is a big admirer of the "game-changer" (Jermaine Jenas), with reporter Jacobs sharing an update on Tottenham's interest to GiveMeSport.
Tottenham believe they could sign Gallagher for £45m
As per Jacobs, Tottenham feel that they could sign Gallagher for as little as £45 million if he hasn't signed a new deal, regardless of the midfielder's status as a mainstay for Pochettino.
"Tottenham appreciate the player [James Garner], but there's nothing advanced at this stage," said the journalist.
"Conor Gallagher, is perhaps the more likely target. I also think that if Gallagher doesn't sign a new Chelsea deal, and nothing is advanced, the package that Tottenham may be able to offer will be a little bit less. I'm sure that Chelsea will point towards Mason Mount and say, he had a year left on his contract, and was a £60m total package to Manchester United, and Gallagher is in better form. So they may hold out for that £55m to £60m valuation. But I think that Tottenham feel that by the time the summer comes, if Gallagher has not signed a new deal, he may be available for close to £45m to £50m. Whereas last summer, they thought that that was £5m or £10m too much. This coming summer, they may believe that's pretty decent value given Gallagher's form."
West Ham United have been eyeing one "creative" manager for a long time, and it is believed that he's open to making a move to England.
West Ham exploring Moyes alternatives amid dwindling contract
Current head coach David Moyes finds himself under fire once again, following a winless start to 2024 which has seen the Hammers slide further down the league table.
Pundit makes "very serious" claim as £15m star could make West Ham move
The Irons are said to really want him.
ByEmilio Galantini Feb 22, 2024
Heavy defeats to the likes of Arsenal and Man United certainly haven't helped Moyes' case either, with the Scotsman front and centre to backlash from some supporters who believe he's taken them as far as they can.
West Ham won their first major trophy in nearly 40 years under Moyes last term, lifting the UEFA Europa Conference League title in Prague, but flirted with relegation to the Championship domestically.
14th
22/23
6th
21/22
7th
20/21
16th
19/20
Their league form hasn't been great since the summer of 2022, with Moyes also nearly getting sacked by West Ham last year as well. As the 60-year-old's contract looks set to expire at the end of this season as things stand, it is widely reported that West Ham are considering alternative managerial options to Moyes.
“I can confirm that the club are looking at alternative options,” stated club insider ExWHUemployee this week.
"Tim Steidten is the man heavily involved and leading the potential drive to replace Moyes, should he depart. There have been various names mentioned in the press, however at this stage its very early, with the club still hoping David Moyes turns the situation around. The club though are, and rightly so, planning ahead should the manager depart.”
A few names have been linked with the potentially vacant post already, but one standout name is Bayern Munich boss Thomas Tuchel, who is now confirmed to be leaving this summer after the Bundesliga club's announcement.
The 50-year-old, who won a Champions League title as head coach of Chelsea in 2021, hasn't exactly had the best time in Bavaria as they fall far behind Bayer Leverkusen in the race for a Bundesliga title.
If Tuchel's side miss out on the German top-flight crown, it will be for the first time since Borussia Dortmund pipped them to the title in 2012.
Tuchel open to English move as West Ham hold "long-standing" interest
According to The Daily Mail and journalist Sami Mokbel this week, West Ham hold a "long-standing" interest in Tuchel, and it is believed the German is open to making a move back to England.
However, the Hammers may not be the only side in pursuit of a new head coach this summer, with the likes of Liverpool also named as potential contenders for Tuchel.
The former PSG boss is an elite name, and Man City's Pep Guardiola has previously lavished him with praise.
"He’s so creative with good build-up and connection, good runners and players who are good in the spaces," said Guardiola on Tuchel before their Champions League final clash in 2021.
“Both [Tuchel and Nagelsmann] are so creative with the shape they play."