West Indies batsman who might not have played wins praise from captain for team-oriented approach

ESPNcricinfo staff13-Jul-2020Jermaine Blackwood played the innings of the match to set up West Indies’ win in the first Test against England, but he might not have been in the side had Darren Bravo and Shimron Hetmyer not opted out of the tour.West Indies captain Jason Holder admitted he was “not sure” if Blackwood would have been picked, with the Jamaican having not started a Test since 2017. But he said the batsman, whose 95 took West Indies most of the way towards their 200-run target at the Ageas Bowl, was the “kind of guy you want to step on to a field with”, and praised his team-oriented approach.Blackwood has an excellent record against England, averaging 55.00 from seven Tests, and was selected for the touring party after leading the way in West Indies’ domestic first-class competition. However, his path to a recall was smoothed by the absence of Bravo and Hetmyer, who joined Keemo Paul in declining to travel to the UK over concerns about Covid-19.ALSO READ: Gollapudi: Blackwood writes history in his own way”Not sure, he had an outstanding first-class competition,” Holder said of Blackwood’s case to play. “I’m not going to get into selection but his case was pretty strong to get back into the team, he scored a double-hundred this year in a first-class game. Unfortunately for me I haven’t been able to see him bat but his numbers speak for themselves. He’s no slouch with the bat at this level either in comparison to our players that we’ve got, he’s averaging above 30 and he’s done well for us. I just hope he can kick on and make a few more hundreds.”Five more runs would have given Blackwood only his second Test century (his first came against England in 2015), but he said after the game that personal milestones were a secondary concern and he was just aiming to implement a plan to spend more time at the crease than previously.”I wasn’t thinking about the hundred at no point in time, I was just looking to get the score going and to get the team across the line,” he told Sky Sports.”Once I can go out there and I bat time, bat over 200 balls an innings, even 180, for sure I think I will score runs. I think all the hard work is paying off so far, so once I can go out there and just be my natural self and then just mix it with a bit of patience. I think that will certainly boost me for the next game and right through my career.”Jermaine Blackwood impressed with his second-innings 95•Getty ImagesAsked about Blackwood’s desire to put the team first, Holder said he was the sort of player who wants to “carry everybody on his shoulders”.”Jermaine Blackwood, man. If I had 12 Jermaine Blackwoods, those are the kind of guys you want to step on to a cricket field with. These are team guys, through thick and thin. I’ve played lots of cricket with and lots of cricket against [him], we played all our youth cricket together and played a youth World Cup together, so I know the player.”That’s why when things happen like how they did in the first innings, yeah you’re disappointed, but you can’t put a player like that into his shell. So it’s more about trying to manage him and help him try to understand the different passages of play, where he can be a little bit more collective, where he needs to settle and hang in for a bit before going on the attack again. He is an attacking player, but it’s giving him that confidence and support.”He’s a humble team man, I know when he crosses the line he’ll give it his all. I’m not surprised by the comment he made because he is a team man. Sometimes he feels as though he can carry everybody on his shoulders. He’s that confident of a player.”Blackwood eventually fell driving to mid-off, in much the same manner as he had done in the first innings, when he managed just 12 off 22 balls. Holder was reluctant to curb the attacking style of his No. 6, but urged him to “give yourself a good chance” second time around.”After his first-innings dismissal I said nothing to it. He knew what he had done. And he knew that he’s a better player than what he did in the first innings, so there was no need to talk to him. I thought he was a very crucial guy for us in this run chase. Him and probably John Campbell – these guys when they get going score relatively quickly, and can really swing the tide for us, when they form partnerships, but obviously we lost John [retired hurt] up front.”I just said to Jermaine, give yourself a chance. Give yourself a good chance – see a few balls and then play your game. If you see a ball in your arc and you feel you can put the ball away, put it away, because that’s the way he plays. I don’t like to get into players’ heads and congesting their brains with too much information. They’re all responsible enough, they all know themselves well enough. We’re all just here to help one another. Lots of these guys in the dressing room help me in significant ways.”I don’t need to speak to Jermaine seeing how he got out in the first innings. He knew what he had done wrong – for him it’s just to go and give himself a chance and play the game he knows.”

Sky Sports reporter Kaveh Solhekol has claimed Chelsea have set a deadline for the end of next week to appoint their new boss, with a "high profile" name on their radar alongside fellow top contender Kieran McKenna.

Chelsea managerial candidates linked to replace Pochettino

Despite a fine end to the 2023/2024 Premier League campaign, which saw Chelsea qualify for Europe and finish just five points outside the top four, Mauricio Pochettino was handed his P45.

Chelsea chief Boehly now offered £6 million-a-year manager with 11 trophies

He’s highly decorated.

ByEmilio Galantini May 23, 2024

Chelsea announced on Tuesday evening that they had parted company with Pochettino by mutual consent, with co-sporting directors Laurence Stewart and Paul Winstanley now spearheading the pursuit of his successor at Stamford Bridge.

"Laurence Stewart and Paul Winstanley will lead Chelsea's search for a new manager," wrote journalist Ben Jacobs, in a detailed breakdown of how Chelsea will proceed and who are the candidates.

"Prior to Mauricio Pochettino's departure, succession planning had already begun. Clubs do this even if they don't make a change when there is uncertainty (or potential demand in other cases), or a manager is simply on a short-term contract.

Expected to be a fast appointment. Kieran McKenna, Michel, Enzo Maresca and Thomas Frank all discussed. Sebastian Hoeneß is expected to stay at Stuggart (as@FabrizioRomano called), but another name spoken of.

Chelsea 2-1 Bournemouth

Brighton 1-2 Chelsea

Nottingham Forest 2-3 Chelsea

Chelsea 5-0 West Ham

Chelsea 2-0 West Ham

"Eddie Howe appreciated, but no approach to date. Roberto De Zerbi and Ruben Amorim not viewed as likely at this stage. Volume of names shows #CFC have done their diligence allowing to them move quickly. Thomas Tuchel won't be offered a return. Nor will Jose Mourinho, who is currently in Saudi Arabia. As for Pochettino, understand he's happy to go straight back into work. His departure is described as amicable.

"Chelsea's strong end to the season, and form since Boxing Day, plus the young squad he was working with, mean he leaves with plenty of plaudits within the industry."

Ipswich's McKenna is seen as a favourite to replace Pochettino at Chelsea, with some reports claiming the Northern Irishman has given his green-light for the west Londoners to approach him (Nick Purewal).

Chelsea chiefs believe McKenna has the skill set to succeed Pochettino as well, and he fits the criteria of a young, progressive coach.

Chelsea eyeing "high profile" mystery manager alongside McKenna

However, that isn't to say the 38-year-old is in pole position, with there being a few other favoured candidates on an even footing. Chairman Todd Boehly has set a deadline to appoint a new manager by the end of next week, and Sky journalist Solhekol claims that Chelsea are eyeing a "high profile" mystery manager name alongside the likes of McKenna.

"Chelsea expect to appoint a new head coach by the end of next week," wrote Solhekol on X.

"Leading candidates Thomas Frank, Enzo Maresca and Kieran McKenna. A high-profile mystery name also under consideration. New head coach will sign a longer contract than two-year deal Mauricio Pochettino accepted last summer."

Philippe Clement faces arguably his most important six games in charge of Glasgow Rangers as the Premiership season enters its post-split phase.

Five more league games followed by the Scottish Cup final could see Rangers either win a treble or finish the season having lifted only the League Cup.

Back in September – after just three wins in seven league games – being in this current position would have been classified as a success, but it feels as though the Light Blues have wasted their chance in recent weeks.

A dismal defeat to Ross County was sandwiched between draws against Celtic and Dundee which derailed the title challenge, giving their Old Firm rivals the advantage.

Ahead of the clash against St Mirren this afternoon, Clement may need to rejig his starting XI once again due to injury problems affecting his squad.

“Sima will be out, I hope to see him again this season he is very motivated for that,” said the manager during his press conference on Friday afternoon.

“Matondo got a bad tackle against Hearts and is doubtful for the weekend. Ridvan and Jack I expect back in training next week.”

Ultimately, it will be injuries which could cost the Gers another Premiership crown, as far foo many of their key players have been missing for important games.

Sima will be the hardest to replace, but here's a a look at three options that could be considered…

1

The obvious choice

Ross McCausland

During the last few games Sima has featured, he has played on the right wing, which means Clement has a few options available to him who could potentially make his way into the starting XI.

McCausland would certainly be the most obvious choice, considering he is the most natural right-winger in the current squad.

Since making his breakthrough earlier this season, the 20-year-old has featured in 33 matches this season, scoring twice while notching three assists in all competitions.

Ross McCausland in the Premiership for Rangers
Goals	1
Assists	2
Key passes per game	1.4
Big chances created	2
Successful dribbles per game	0.8
Via Sofascore

Clement has nurtured him well, however, taking him out of the firing line when things get heated, which has meant the winger dropped to the bench for the previous five matches.

There is no doubting his quality though. Among his teammates in the Premiership this season, McCausland currently ranks seventh for key passes per game (1.4) along with ranking ninth for successful dribbles per game (0.8), suggesting that he has taken no time at all integrating with the rest of the first team squad.

With six games left, the Northern Irishman could fill the void left by Sima’s injury and show Clement exactly how much he wants to become a regular starter in the first team ahead of the 2024/25 campaign.

Delivering an impressive performance against St Mirren could be the catalyst for this becoming a reality.

2

The tactical tweak

Todd Cantwell

The Englishman has thrived since being used as a number ten under Clement, going on a run of scoring five league goals in seven games at the turn of the year, and it looked as though the Gers had an ideal creative talent looking to make things click.

He hasn’t scored since a 2-1 win over Aberdeen in February, however, missing a few games due to suffering a hamstring injury a couple of weeks later, which derailed the progress that he had made.

Hailed as a “catalyst” by journalist Josh Bunting following a wonderful spell towards the end of last season, it's fair to say that he hasn’t quite lived up to his billing at times this term.

Against Hearts in the Scottish Cup semi-final last weekend, the 26-year-old delivered arguably his finest performance in weeks, notching two assists as Cyriel Dessers netted twice to send the Gers back to Hampden next month for the final.

Moving him out wide to the right could allow Clement to unleash Lawrence through the middle – where he is usually best – but still have Cantwell present within the team.

The former Norwich City starlet scored against Sparta Prague from the right wing earlier this season and while it may not be his favoured role, due to Sima’s absence, it could potentially be an option for Clement against St Mirren.

3

The wildcard option

Dujon Sterling

Recently, due to Yilmaz’s injury and Borna Barisic’s worrying loss of form, Sterling had been operating as a left-back to good effect.

Against Celtic, the 24-year-old won an impressive ten of his 12 ground duels contested during the contest, along with making one key pass, attempting two dribbles and making four tackles, showing that he can shine wherever Clement deploys him.

Indeed, this season alone, Sterling has played in six positions under the Belgian, including one game as a right-winger.

Chalkboard

Football FanCast's Chalkboard series presents a tactical discussion from around the global game.

That came against Benfica during the first league of the Europa League last 16 clash in Portugal. Not only was it his first start in the position, but Sterling scored his first-ever senior professional goal during what was an excellent performance.

A few weeks earlier, he came off the bench to replace Scott Wright on the flank and did well during the second half, even winning a penalty and making one key pass, showing the manager that he could contribute in an attacking sense too.

The likelihood is, Clement will start Sterling at left-back like he has done for the previous few matches as it is a position he has plenty of experience in.

Should the Belgian go with Barisic, however, this may open up a space for Sterling to be deployed elsewhere, with the right-wing being a realistic option should all else fail.

Whatever team the 50-year-old tactician puts out this afternoon, all he will be expecting is a solid performance and three points, which still gives the Light Blues a chance to win the Premiership.

The last few matches will all be like cup finals and Rangers will need Celtic to drop points, but it has happened before and it will happen again. It promises to be an exciting run-in, that’s for sure.

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By
Ben Browning

Apr 25, 2024

Fiorentina president Rocco Commisso has aimed a subtle jibe at former Viola star Federico Chiesa after seeing him join Liverpool for €12m (£10m/$13m).

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• Forward left Florence in 2020
• Injuries impacted spell with Bianconeri
• Now finds himself at Anfield

• WHAT HAPPENED?

  European Championship winner Chiesa left Florence when linking up with Juventus as part of a €60m (£51m/$67m) transfer back in 2020. He spent four years in Turin, taking in 131 appearances across all competitions, but only registered 32 goals.

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• Getty Images
  

  THE BIGGER PICTURE

  Injuries held the talented forward back at times, preventing him from making the desired impact with the Bianconeri. After entering the final year of his contract, the decision has been made to take on a new challenge in England.

• WHAT COMMISSO SAID

  Commisso has faced criticism from supporters of his club for offloading their most prized assets – with Dusan Vlahovic and Nico Gonzalez also leaving for Juve – but reports him as saying: “Well, what should I do if they [Juventus] are the only team that comes with the money? We made a great deal with Vlahovic, the most important in my five years. And look at Chiesa: I read that he joined Liverpool for €12m. I had sold him for nearly €60m. Who did good business there, the others or Rocco?”

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  DID YOU KNOW?

  Pressed on whether he takes any delight in seeing offloaded stars struggle, Commisso added: “No, not at all. They made decisions, and we earned as much money as we could. I wanted Vlahovic to stay, but reaching an agreement with his agent was impossible. Chiesa had already been sold to Juventus when I arrived [in 2019], but I kept him. He wanted to leave, and I promised we’d sell him the following season, but under our conditions.”

News from around the grounds after the first round of Bob Willis Trophy fixtures

Matt Roller06-Aug-2020When counties first started to make live fixed-camera footage of their Championship matches available on their websites several years ago, few around the grounds expected much would come of it.But demand among fans has been huge over recent years, and when the ECB finalised the terms of its new broadcast deal for 2020-24, several counties were delighted to hear that their wish for the strict restrictions previously imposed on them would be lifted.As a result, multi-camera streams were on offer to the public for eight of the nine first-round Bob Willis Trophy fixtures, with Lancashire keeping theirs for members only. The majority are synced up to BBC radio commentary, though Middlesex will hire separate broadcasters for their feed next week with some advertisements between overs. Surrey’s partnership with Facebook has been beneficial, with the club attracting around 200,000 viewers a day and streaming over 13,000 hours of coverage.

| Middlesex Cricket launches new and enhanced live streaming service for 2020 – launching this Saturday at Radlett #OneMiddlesex

— Middlesex Cricket (@Middlesex_CCC) August 6, 2020

A major change this year has been the fact that streams no longer have to appear ‘unlisted’ on YouTube, meaning they are now accessible from club’s profile pages and in search results. Somerset realised how much traffic they were missing out on when a pre-season friendly against Cardiff MCCU (which fell outside the terms of the broadcast deal) attracted thousands of views via search results, with Pakistani fans keen to watch Azhar Ali bat live.”We ticked over 250,000 playbacks over the four days this week,” said Ben Warren, Somerset’s digital executive. “On day three we had 125,000 playbacks and views – we’ve never had that many for a day of red-ball cricket before. We’re still learning on the job – this isn’t quite live broadcasting, but we’ve got the two analyst cams, three fixed cameras around the ground, a slow-mo and a manned camera. It’s a massive jump into a different world.”In particular, Warren is hopeful that if Babar Azam is able to fulfil his T20 Blast contract, the club will see a flood of views similar to the one that forced him to upgrade the server capacity on their website last year. “If he does come, it’s a massive opportunity for us with audiences,” he said.***To lose one Overton may be regarded as a misfortune; to lose both would look like carelessness. So after Jamie’s departure to Surrey on a three-year contract was confirmed last week, it was a major boost for Somerset when twin Craig committed his future to the club on Thursday.The pair shared 14 Glamorgan wickets in a convincing win this week, during which Craig had kept his cards close to his chest about his future at the club. “We’re still in negotiations,” he said. “It’s quite a tricky time.” But despite offers from elsewhere, he has signed a three-year deal which will keep him at the club until 2023.Jamie is currently set to stay at Somerset until the end of the season, but admitted he is approaching cricket on a “game-to-game basis” and did not rule out moving to Surrey on loan before his new deal starts.Overton went on loan to Northants in order to get playing time last season•Getty Images”It’s probably taken me six or seven months to finally decide,” he said. “At times I feel like I’m a little bit down the pecking order here. Going out on loan [to Northants] last year didn’t really help. I want to be playing cricket.”I’m getting to an age where if I don’t play for England in the next three years, then I’m probably not going to, and that’s really what I want to do. I’ve got to be playing week in, week out to prove that I can do it at that level.”***Every team that finished in the bottom five of Division Two last year won their opening game this week, with dramatic run chases pulled off by Derbyshire, who chased 365 against Notts with all of one ball remaining, and Leicestershire, who overhauled their target of 150 in 17 overs with eight balls to spare.Head coach Paul Nixon was understandably delighted, but could not resist a sly dig. “Lancashire didn’t want to come to the Fischer County Ground, and that gave us a little more steel,” he said. “We were disappointed not to play at Grace Road after all the work by so many people put into making our ground ready.”In truth, it was hardly a surprise that Lancashire were reluctant to travel to a city that had been subject to a local lockdown for three weeks – though it will be intriguing to see if they still expect Nottinghamshire to come to Emirates Old Trafford on August 15, after stricter measures were imposed in Greater Manchester last week.***On top of their primary aim, a handful of Ireland players went into their ODI series against England with the prospect of a T20 Blast contract at the back of their minds. As a result of their rise to Test status, Irish players cannot play as locals in county cricket this year, with Paul Stirling already signed up to appear for Northamptonshire in the Blast on an overseas deal.Curtis Campher leaps into his delivery stride•Getty ImagesAnd it seems that at least one man has done enough to interest counties, with Leicestershire understood to be considering breakout star Curtis Campher as a possible replacement if Janneman Malan is unable to join for the Blast. Andy Balbirnie’s nerveless hundred in the third ODI may also have earned him a suitor.***There was general bemusement at New Road when Dieter Klein, Leicestershire’s left-arm seamer, decided to throw the ball back at Lancashire’s Rob Jones in his follow-through despite the fact the batsman had not left his crease. Jones was struck on the left boot and hobbled off towards square leg, with the umpires awarding Lancashire five penalty runs for his troubles, judging Klein’s throw to have been in an “inappropriate and dangerous manner”.

A five-run penalty is handed to Leicestershire for this incident with Dieter Klein

Match Centre ➡ https://t.co/pd9c61XXvR pic.twitter.com/WJT2SRCnFW

— Lancashire Cricket (@lancscricket) August 2, 2020

Klein is likely to escape any major sanction, but will have three points added to his disciplinary record. If he makes two more similar breaches in the next two years, he will incur an automatic suspension.***Flats overlooking county grounds have always been premium real estate for diehard cricket fans, but especially so in the world of behind-closed-doors games.

Century for Nick Gubbins. And he’s raised his bat to the six people on the balcony on the flats outside the ground who cheered very loudly when he passed the milestone.

— Elizabeth Ammon (@legsidelizzy) August 1, 2020

At The Oval, Middlesex’s centurion Nick Gubbins acknowledged the handful of supporters sat on the balcony of an adjacent flat when reaching his landmark, while Somerset tweeted that a fan in the retirement flats at deep midwicket had told the umpires to “get on with it” during a rain delay at Taunton.***England’s white-ball players are set to return to county action this week, with Yorkshire confirming that Jonny Bairstow will take the gloves in their next two games as he looks to push his case for a Test recall.There have been some concerns about bowlers’ fitness to play red-ball cricket after focusing on limited-overs skills for several weeks, with Warwickshire asking Henry Brookes to play for his club Knowle and Dorridge last weekend after his return from the Ageas Bowl bubble. Steven Finn, meanwhile, was deemed surplus to requirements for Middlesex’s first game of the season, instead taking 1 for 31 from his seven overs for Hampstead.

Leeds United could be preparing for a Premier League campaign this time next week as they face Southampton in the play-off final at Wembley on Sunday.

The Whites travel to London knowing that they are potentially 90 minutes away from returning to the top-flight of English football at the first time of asking.

Daniel Farke's side swept his former side Norwich City away with ease as they won 4-0 in the semi-finals of the play-offs, and they now must overcome Russell Martin's men at Wembley to claim their place in the top division.

If Leeds do win promotion back to the Premier League, the German head coach will have to make a number of tough decisions with the playing squad to ensure that his group is strong enough to kick on and achieve a successful season.

The upcoming summer transfer window will provide the Whites to bring in new talent to bolster the team, whilst it also allows them to cash in on players they want to move on.

With this in mind, Farke must finally cash in on one player – on more wages per week than Crysencio Summerville – who is now reportedly set for talks over his future at Elland Road in the coming weeks.

Forward set for Leeds exit talks

According to Football Insider, Premier League side Everton are set to hold talks with the club over a deal to sign Jack Harrison on a permanent basis this summer.

The report claims that the two teams will meet to discuss a possible permanent exit from Yorkshire for the English forward after the play-off final on Sunday.

It adds that the former Manchester City winger is keen to remain with Sean Dyche on Merseyside and is 'unlikely' to play for Leeds again, irrespective of the league they are in next season.

The outlet states that Everton have confirmed that Harrison will be returning to Elland Road upon the expiry of his current loan deal, but that a permanent move is still on the cards for the ex-MLS attacker.

There is no mention, however, of how much the Whites would want or the wing wizard, or how much the Toffees are prepared to pay to land his services this summer.

Leeds paid £11m to sign the ace from Manchester City in 2021 and Transfermarkt currently has his market value at £18.8m, which possibly provides an insight into the kind of fee the club could demand.

Farke must now finally cash in on the winger, who the Whites failed to part ways with permanently last summer, this summer and use the funds to reinvest in his squad, whether that is for a Premier League or Championship campaign.

Jack Harrison's career with Leeds in numbers

The young winger initially joined the club on loan from Manchester City in the summer of 2018 and spent three seasons at Elland Road on a temporary basis before his permanent switch in 2021.

Harrison only managed four goals and three assists in 37 matches in the Championship during his debut season under Marcelo Bielsa in the 2018/19 campaign.

However, he followed that up with a return of six goals and eight assists in 46 matches as Leeds won the title and secured promotion up to the Premier League.

The left-footed ace then proved himself to be a useful player for Bielsa and Jesse Marsch in the top-flight over the subsequent three campaigns in the top division.

2020/21

36

8

8

2021/22

35

8

1

2022/23

36

5

7

As you can see in the table above, Harrison regularly chipped in with goals and assists to help the team in the final third, with at least five goals in all three seasons and seven or more assists in two of the three terms.

In the 2022/23 campaign, the 27-year-old winger slightly underperformed in front of goal with five strikes from an xG of 5.45 but also created nine 'big chances' and was only rewarded with seven assists.

However, the Leeds loanee was not able to continue that impressive form over to his spell at Goodison Park this season, as he rarely contributed at the top end of the pitch during his time with Dyche and his men.

Why Leeds should cash in on Jack Harrison

Farke must cash in on the forward for a number of reasons ahead of the 2024/25 campaign; the first one being that any fee brought in would bolster his transfer kitty to make moves of his own.

Secondly, the aforementioned report from Football Insider claimed that Harrison wants to remain at Everton and Leeds should not be entertaining players who do not want to be at the club, as it could cause disruption in the dressing room if there are unhappy duds who would rather be somewhere else.

Thirdly, there may not be a better time for Leeds to cash in on the attacker at the age of 27. He should be in the prime years of his career and may not have much development left to go through, as he is now an experienced player, and selling him now could avoid the risk of his value plummeting.

Finally, his performances on the pitch this season do not suggest that he would be value for money for the Whites to keep hold of, when you consider that he earns more than Summerville.

Per Capology, Harrison is on a whopping £90k-per-week at Everton, which he was also on last term with Leeds, whilst Summerville is said to be on just £15k-per-week.

Appearances

29

43

Goals

3

19

Assists

3

9

Big chances created

5

17

Expected Assists

3.30

12.53

Key passes per game

1.0

2.6

As you can see in the table above, the current Whites attacker enjoyed a sensational regular season in the Championship with a staggering 28 goal involvements.

Whereas, Harrison, who also plays on the left flank, only had six goals and assists combined for Everton, with fewer goals than he managed in every Premier League season he played for Leeds.

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Therefore, Farke must finally cash in on the dud as his performances on the pitch do not suggest that he is worth the supposed wage, particularly in comparison to Summerville, and his desire to remain at Goodison Park makes this a deal that makes sense for all parties involved.

Tottenham Hotspur have generally got their transfer dealings right in recent windows.

Ange Postecoglou has welcomed the likes of Micky van de Ven, Guglielmo Vicario, and James Maddison into the side over the last year, and even January signing Radu Dragusin has looked good when given the chance to play.

However, there have been one or two duds, with former Chelsea man Timo Werner sticking out as a winter move that didn't really improve the side in any meaningful way.

That said, based on recent reports, the Lilywhites could be about to replace the German with another former Blues ace, although this time it may well work out.

Spurs looking at former Chelsea man

According to a recent report from Tottenham Hotspur reporter Paul O'Keefe, Spurs are "looking at" Nottingham Forest's Callum Hudson-Odoi "as a potential summer addition."

O'Keefe has also revealed that it would cost the Lilywhites between £25m and £30m to complete, considerably more than the estimated £5m fee the Tricky Trees paid Chelsea in September.

However, with Werner currently injured and not looking like a great long-term option, signing the Englishman could prove to be a stroke of genius, not to mention the chance to get one over a rival.

How Hudson-Odoi compares to Werner

So, the first order of business is to find out how the two wingers compare to one another, and luckily for Hudson-Odoi, his output has been slightly more impressive this season, while playing for a team who just about staved off relegation.

In his 34 games for Forest he has racked up an admirable haul of eight goals and two assists, whereas in 28 games with both Spurs and RB Leipzig, Werner has only scored four goals and provided four assists.

Appearances

34

28

Goals

8

4

Assists

2

4

Goal Involvements per Match

0.29

0.28

Another comparison that falls in the Englishman's favour is injuries.

While he has had his fair share of problems over the years, he has only missed 21 games since the start of the 21/22 campaign due to injury, whereas the German has missed a massive 36 games in the same period and is currently out with another problem.

Moreover, while signing the Wandsworth-born "sensation", as described by U23 scout Antonio Mango, is certainly a gamble, he's still just 23 years old and, therefore, could still fulfil at least some of the massive potential that saw Bayern Munich lodge a £70m offer for him back in 2020.

In contrast, the 57-capped German is now 28 and hasn't scored 20 goals or more in a season since 2019/20, suggesting that while he can still be a helpful player in the squad, he will never be more than that for Postecoglou.

Ultimately, there is undoubtedly an element of risk in spending up to £30m on Hudson-Odoi after his first impressive season in several years, but due to his age profile and the fact that he was seen as the next big thing at one point, it might well be a gamble worth taking, especially as watching a Chelsea wonderkid reach their potential in N17 would be priceless for the Spurs faithful.

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Chelsea's Niamh Charles sustained a serious-looking arm injury just two weeks before the start of the new Women's Super League season.

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Charles left the pitch in tearsSuffers arm injury in friendlyWSL kicks off in less than two weeksWHAT HAPPENED?

Sonia Bompastor has had a positive start to life as Emma Hayes' successor, winning her first three games in pre-season, but in the most recent, a 9-0 win over Feyenoord, Charles had to be substituted after landing awkwardly on her arm. The Blues' defender looked emotional as she walked off the pitch with a makeshift sling.

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Chelsea open the WSL season in 13 days and with the scenes of Charles leaving the pitch, it is a sight that Bompastor did not want to see. Aston Villa are their opponents at Kingsmeadow on Friday 20th, and Charles has been an influential member for the Blues since she arrived from Liverpool in 2020.

DID YOU KNOW?

Charles arrived at Chelsea as an attacker, but she has now reimagined herself as a combative full-back and was one of Hayes' most relied-on players towards the end of her Chelsea career. She had featured in both of the friendly games, which included a tight 1-0 win against Arsenal in USA.

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USA TODAY SportsWHAT NEXT FOR CHARLES?

The severity of the injury has not been announced but time is not on her or Chelsea's side, with less than two weeks until the season kicks-off. If she is unable to battle back from the arm injury, Alejandra Bernabe could be chucked into the deep end after her arrival from Real Sociedad.

Nottingham Forest have another season of Premier League football to look forward to in 2024/25, with Nuno Espírito Santo’s side winning two of their last three matches to secure their top-flight status for a second successive season.

Wins against Burnley and Sheffield United allowed the Reds to secure safety, despite having a four-point deduction earlier in the campaign following a breach of the Premier League’s PSR rules.

However, the deduction inspired the club to get the job done, with Nuno putting his stamp on the side and showcasing some brilliant free-flowing attacking football that has caused some teams no end of problems this season.

Callum Hudson-Odoi and Anthony Elanga’s blistering pace have often been useful for the Reds, with the duo finishing the campaign with 23 goal contributions between them.

In their second successive season back in the Premier League, the club have found it easier to find the back of the net, largely down to one player, with his creativity levels increasing further during 2023/24 following his move to the City Ground back in 2022.

Morgan Gibbs-White’s stats in the PL 2023/24

Over the last 12 months, there’s no role in the midfield or forward line that Morgan Gibbs-White hasn’t featured in – but best of all, he’s looked at home in every one of them.

Whether it’s central midfield, the number ten role or even off the left, he’s excelled producing some excellent numbers for the Reds in the process.

The former Wolverhampton Wanderers man finished the campaign with five goals and ten assists – a superb return for a player leading a club away from any form of relegation threat.

He’s also registered 74 chances created – a tally that is more than double any other Forest player could manage in 2023/24, with Hudson-Odoi taking second spot with just 36.

Gibbs-White's PL stats for Forest 23/24

Statistics

Tally

Rank in Forest squad

Assists

10

1st

Chances created

74

1st

Big chances created

16

1st

Expected assists

6.8

1st

Goals + Assists combined

15

1st

Stats via FotMob

His xG of 6.8 expected assists, which like his chances created is the highest in the squad, demonstrates that he’s exceeded the tally he should be achieving based upon the goals he’s laid off for his teammates.

Gibbs-White has been at the heart of everything for Nuno’s side during the second half of the season, with his market value taking a sharp rise as a result.

Morgan Gibbs-White’s market value in 2024

Nearly two years on from his £25m move to the City Ground from Wolverhampton Wanderers, the 24-year-old has proved a lot of doubters wrong, with his value rising to a respectable £34m, as per Transfermarkt.

His subsequent increase sees him top as the Reds’ most valuable player, overtaking fellow midfielder Ibrahim Sangare, who’s now only worth £27.2m just over eight months after his £30m move to the East Midlands, which has seen him only feature 17 times.

Nottingham Forest's highest-valued players

Player

Market value

Morgan Gibbs-White

£34m

Ibrahim Sangare

£27.2m

Taiwo Awoniyi

£23.8m

Danilo

£23.8m

Murillo

£21.2m

Stats via Transfermarkt

There’s no surprise that after the campaign he’s had for Forest, Gibbs-White is being linked with numerous clubs with a move away from the City Ground during the off-season.

Newcastle United and Tottenham Hotspur are just two of the sides previously credited with an interest in luring him away from the Reds, but it would take a bid of at least £50m for the club to part ways with their star man.

The “unbelievable” talent, as described by writer Nathan Joyes, has been exceptional for the club since promotion, being a real spearhead in the attempts to avoid relegation – often proving to be the difference with his creativity.

It’s not outrageous to say that he’s simply irreplaceable for Forest, with the board and Nuno needing to stand firm in the window to avoid allowing him to depart for pastures new ahead of the 2024/25 season.

Related Nottingham Forest could also lose £80k-a-week hero alongside Gibbs-White

What a blow this would be for Nuno Espirito Santo.

Posts ByHenry Jackson May 24, 2024

يستعد فريق الكرة الأول بنادي أهلي جدة السعودي لاستكمال مشواره ببطولة دوري أبطال آسيا وذلك بمواجهة استقلال طهران الإيراني، ضمن منافسات دوري أبطال آسيا (النخبة).

المباراة من المقرر إقامتها على ملعب استاد مدينة الملك عبدالله الرياضية، ضمن منافسات الجولة السادسة لمرحلة الدوري بالبطولة القارية.

ويخوض الأهلي مباراته وهو حاسمًا الصعود من مرحلة الدوري، إذ يحتل صدارة ترتيب المجموعة برصيد 15 نقطة حصدهم من 5 انتصارات، محققًا العلامة الكاملة.

رياض محرز يقود الأهلي للفوز على الوحدة في الدوري السعودي

أما فريق استقلال طهران فيأتي في المركز السابع في جدول الترتيب برصيد 4 نقاط حصدهم من فوز وتعادل فيما نال 3 خسائر.

وتقام مباريات مرحلة الدوري بمشاركة 24 ناديًا موزعين على منطقتي الغرب والشرق، حيث يتواجد في مجموعة الغرب كل من (الهلال السعودي- الأهلي السعودي- النصر السعودي- السد القطري- الوصل الإماراتي-الغرافة القطري- الريان القطري- استقلال طهران الإيراني- بيرسبوليس الإيراني- باختاكور الأوزبكستاني- الشرطة العراقي- والعين الإماراتي).

فيما يتنافس في المجموعة الأخرى أندية شرق آسيا، إذ تقام منافسات مرحلة الدوري في الفترة من 16 سبتمبر 2024 وحتى 19 فبراير 2025.

وتُلعب المنافسات بحيث يتقابل كل فريق مع ثمانية أندية مختلفة، بواقع 4 مباريات على أرضه، و4 مباريات خارج ملعبه.

وتتأهل أفضل ثمانية فرق في كل مجموعة إلى دور الـ16 ببطولة دوري أبطال آسيا، المقرر إقامة مبارياته في شهر مارس 2025. 

وبداية من دور ربع النهائي وحتى المباراة النهائية ستقام البطولة بنظام البطولة المجمعة (التأهل من مباراة واحدة)، في المملكة العربية السعودية، وذلك خلال الفترة من 25 أبريل وحتى 4 مايو 2025. موعد مباراة الأهلي واستقلال طهران في دوري أبطال آسيا

وتنطلق مباراة الأهلي واستقلال طهران في تمام الساعة السادسة مساءً بتوقيت مصر والسابعة بتوقيت السعودية. القنوات الناقلة لمباراة الأهلي واستقلال طهران اليوم

ومن المنظر أن تذاع المباراة عبر فضائية SSC EXTRA1 HD  وbeIN sports AFC 2 وأبوظبي الرياضي آسيا 2 والكأس 11HD. معلقي مباراة الأهلي واستقلال طهران

وينقل أحداث وفعاليات المباراة عبر قناة SSC  كل من أحمد النفيسة ومشاري القرني، وعبر BEIN sports أحمد البلوشي، أما على فضائية أبو ظبي ينقل المباراة المعلق بلال علام، بجانب سمير المعيرفي عبر فضائية الكأس.

ويُمكنكم متابعة أحداث مباريات اليوم لحظة بلحظة من مركز المباريات من هنــــا.