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Tottenham Hotspur were never expected to be active on transfer deadline day with the Lilywhites satisfied that they have everything they need after the big £65m addition of Dominic Solanke.

The striker is already injured and looks set to miss matchweek four of the Premier League but is an exciting signing, alongside the likes of promising Archie Gray and Wilson Odobert.

There may well be a concern that Spurs haven't done enough to improve their starting XI but Ange Postecoglou certainly has an exciting crop of youngsters at his disposal.

So, despite their lack of late activity in the window, they have still been active in some sort of way.

Tottenham's activity on transfer deadline day

There isn't much to report from a Spurs perspective but they have been working behind the scenes on a couple of things

Giovani Lo Celso's exit has finally happened with the midfielder heading back to Spain where he will join former loan side Real Betis.

It's hardly exciting news, but there has been an element of fun attached to the deal. That's because Spurs have sealed a deal that gives them an option to buy Betis star Jhonny Cardoso in the future.

That's according to Fabrizio Romano who provided the information in post on X this Friday evening.

Spurs' answer to Declan Rice

A midfielder, Cardoso is someone who has an exciting future in the game and if Spurs do eventually exercise that option to buy the player, they could well unearth their answer to Arsenal sensation Declan Rice.

The £105m man has been sensational since signing for the Gunners and was named in the PFA Team of the Year for last season. Thus, Spurs surely wouldn't turn their noses at signing a player in a similar mould.

Cardoso, aged just 22, has similar qualities. Those are outlined by analyst Ben Mattinson who once hailed the player, suggesting he is "great at winning aerial duels and progressing play from deep." That certainly sounds like Rice.

The numbers will help us do the talking too. According to FBRef, the Betis star ranks in the top 6% of positionally similar players in Europe for tackles per 90 and the best 1% for interceptions. He's also in the top 4% for aerials won, suggesting his reading of the game – like Rice – is first-class.

Here's how he stacks up when we compare some of those statistics to Arsenal's club-record signing.

Goals

0.07

0.20

Assists

0.14

0.22

Progressive passes

3.04

7.77

Pass success %

84.2%

88.9%

Tackles attempted

3.24

2.32

Successful tackles

1.96

1.42

Blocks

1.35

1.03

Aerials won

2.57

1.09

Successful take-ons

0.74

0.59

So, while Rice evidently contributes more in the final third, there is a layer of similarities to be seen in the defensive phases of play. They are successful with a similar number of tackles and blocks and while Cardoso reigns supreme in the air, they are both highly competent in physical duels.

You've also got a similar number of take-ons there, suggesting they manoeuvre the ball past players at a similar rate.

Spurs wanted to sign a midfielder this summer and although Cardoso isn't one for now, in 2025 they could see their own Rice walking through the halls of the training ground.

"Now that is ambition" – Spurs podcaster loves Romano's deadline day update

The Lilywhites have made their move ahead of time…

ByTom Cunningham Aug 30, 2024

From Balachandhran

Cricinfo25-Feb-2013From Balachandhran. S, India

At its simplest level, sport is about possibilities. We fans dream up spectrums of possibilities. We align ourselves based on these spectrums, pledge our allegiances and set ourselves up for emotional and sometimes even physical reactions based on how things actually turn out. Most times our dreamt up possibilities are restricted by our citizenship – in itself a simple piece of paper, if you think about it.It is perhaps then all for the good that there still exist a few in the realm of sport who make you forget about these restrictions and think only about the sporting possibilities. It takes no special skill to surmise that I am talking about Sachin Ramesh Tendulkar and the possibilities that only he brings to the sport that he adores and so beautifies and typifies – cricket.I lay the blame squarely on Sachin Tendulkar – for making it so hard to write yet another article on his prowess and achievements and landmarks, which show no signs of fading away. Superlatives pale. Praise falls flat and comparisons do not seem to fit, if only because we are finding it harder to find appropriate standards of comparison as time goes on. Cricket’s prolific writing community has driven itself against the wall praising his two decades in the game. It has worked itself into a fury trying to explain to the layman about his passion for the game; his unsurpassed mastery of the art of batting. It has tired of continuously extolling his virtues on and off the field as a champion and a true sportsman. So much so that when you want to write about Tendulkar or his exploits it pays to take some time to think deeply to try and not repeat either yourself or the numerous others who have tried their hand at the same exercise over the years.I have a confession to make. Nothing seemed to suggest itself as exemplary enough. As momentous and unique enough to grace yet another occasion, yet another peerless achievement by the maestro. For a while I was stymied when trying to write about his latest achievement – that of scoring a double century in an ODI contest. Yet another time when he carried his bat through and batted for his team’s entire quota of 50 overs.I have heard it said that emotions tend to illuminate even the darkest paths where the light of reason fizzles out and leaves you alone. This is a case in point. If following sport is in essence a vicarious pursuit into which you throw not yourself but your faiths on individual players and/or teams, then nobody qualifies to be a Vicar quite as much as Tendulkar.The magnitude of emotions, enjoyment and realization he has been able to convey and amplify to millions and maybe even billions of people over the years across borders of nationhood, religion, economic means, caste, creed and colour ensures that it is so. It is not difficult to describe the drives, the cuts, the pulls and the cutest of nudges that he essayed today on his way to the first double-century in one-day internationals. But it would merely be superfluous.His supporters may very well be in the right if they argue that this was always on the cards. A splendorous 175 four months ago had already tantalised his fans. Informed and tempted them about this possibility. And when a summit beckons, Sachin cannot be far behind. He finds a way to the top. And so it was today. 200 not out off just 147 deliveries against the third-ranked side in the world.A successful man cannot have people simply singing praises about him. Ask his detractors. They would point out that the Roop Singh Stadium at Gwalior had short square boundaries, lightning fast outfields and an absolute marble-top of a wicket. And they would be absolutely right. But here is something they might consider. Give a top-class artist a canvas. Give him a room and give him a vista. See what he comes up with. For the art produced thereof we credit the artist himself; not the canvas for its whiteness and blankness. Not the room for the comfort it offered. Not even the vista for its having conveniently presented itself. They are all incidental. Art is transcendental. So too is Tendulkar’s batting.Much has been made of his drive for runs. Of the man’s sheer hunger for putting bat to ball and staying on there at the crease much to the bowlers’ bemusement. Forget the fact that he is largely peerless and matchless. He also appears tireless with the bat in hand when you observe his speed and skill when sprinting up and down the wicket putting pressure on the fielders at 36 years of age. Countless have been the questions posed to him about his desire to play the game and of the day when he wants to hang up his boots.Perhaps they have been posed in an attempt to find out just how long the game will be graced by his presence. The game’s own need of his genius does not however go far when trying to explain his superhuman dedication to the craft of batting and of the sheer determination that has powered him to make several sacrifices in order to be there for his team.In typical Sherlock Holmes fashion, if we eliminate the possibilities one by one it only leaves one last item. That Sachin Tendulkar needs the game just like we mortals need our oxygen, our daily fix of sports and the fount of vicarious joy it promises. That his bat is not an extension of his body as has been often said. Perhaps quite the opposite – that he is an extension of his bat. That his body arranges itself conveniently so that the bat may strike the ball at the most opportune time with optimum speed.All the better for our vicarious enjoyment. That he gives of himself every time through his bat so that we may once again experience the heady breathlessness that sports brings into our lives. So that over the years we all have a bit of Sachin Tendulkar in us. And that he suggests, in the true spirit of Vicar-ship, the existence of sublimation and transcendentalism in sport, also leaving us with the comfort that even after he ceases to perform his superhuman deeds on the cricket pitch he will live on in our minds – fuelling our dreams and defining our spectrums of possibilities.

ESPNcricinfo presents the plays of the day from the final of the ICC World Twenty20 in Colombo

Abhishek Purohit in Colombo07-Oct-2012The red herring
Sri Lanka’s figures read 3-1-2-1 after three overs of the final. Only one of the two runs had come off the bat, and it was not Chris Gayle’s; he had faced seven deliveries for no runs. Had the scoreboard not been there to scream the truth, no one would have believed it was actually happening.The audacity
Marlon Samuels might as well have been batting at a different venue than the Premadasa, considering he swung six sixes compared to the one the rest of the team managed. The first one was almost as unbelievable as West Indies’ score at the start. A ball after Lasith Malinga had nearly got through Dwayne Bravo’s defence with a sharp yorker, Samuels made room outside leg stump to a full delivery and sent it rocketing high over deep midwicket.The silence
First ball of his spell, and the seventh ball of Sri Lanka’s chase, Ravi Rampaul ripped one into Tillakaratne Dilshan just short of a length. Even as Dilshan shaped up to defend, the ball changed direction alarmingly, and straightened away from the bat to uproot the off stump. Rampaul moved his finger to his lips, as the crowd promptly fell silent.The unlucky moment
The reverse-strokes, reverse-sweeps, reverse-paddles, reverse-pulls, had worked wonderfully for Mahela Jayawardene during the semi-final against Pakistan as he expertly sized up what would suit the difficult pitch. In the final, his attempted reverse-pull off Sunil Narine only lobbed up to backward point.The short-lived resistance
For one over, Nuwan Kulasekara gave the packed Premadasa hope and its voice back. With 66 needed off five overs and three wickets remaining, the crowd had fallen silent. He slogged Rampaul twice over midwicket, cut him behind point and for good measure, thick-edged him past a diving third man. Twenty-two runs came off the over, and Premadasa believed once again, if only for one over.The celebration
When Samuels dismissed Ajantha Mendis, the ninth Sri Lanka wicket to fall, some West Indies fielders rushed to him, and started brushing him all over his body. It appeared as if they were trying to dust Samuels’ clothes. The scene continued for several seconds before they broke away laughing.

Four Tests, three ODIs and 14 T20Is part of a packed home schedule

ESPNcricinfo staff20-Sep-2021India are set to host New Zealand, West Indies, Sri Lanka and South Africa over the next nine months as part of the 2021-22 home season, for a total of four Tests, three ODIs and 14 T20Is spread from November 2021 to June 2022.Stretching a jam-packed home season to June is a rare occurrence considering it is month of extreme heat and the onset of monsoon in different parts of India. But it is a direct consequence of the IPL becoming a 10-team tournament from the 2022 edition as two new franchises will be announced in October by the BCCI.The home series announced were all part of the Future Tours Programme (FTP) for the 2018-23 cycle, but the final schedule has come with one change: Sri Lanka will now play two Tests instead of three, as originally planned, and three T20Is in February-March 2022. The Tests will start on February 25 (Bengaluru) and March 5 (Mohali), and the three T20Is on March 13 (Mohali), March 15 (Dharamsala) and March 18 (Lucknow).The tours of New Zealand and West Indies remain as scheduled.Only three days after the T20 World Cup final on November 14 in Dubai, New Zealand will play the first T20I in Jaipur, followed by two more on November 19 (Ranchi) and 21 (Kolkata), and then the two Tests starting November 25 (Kanpur) and December 3 (Mumbai).ESPNcricinfo LtdWest Indies are slotted to play three ODIs on February 6 (Ahmedabad), February 9 (Jaipur) and February 12 (Kolkata) and as many T20Is, on February 15 (Cuttack), February 18 (Visakhapatnam) and February 20 (Thiruvananthapuram).Only five days after that series ends, Sri Lanka will play the first Test in Bengaluru.South Africa will play five T20Is in June 2022, covering for the ODIs that were abandoned last year because of the Covid-19 pandemic. That three-match series had to be postponed after the first ODI in Dharamsala, which had been abandoned because of rain. The BCCI has now decided to replay that tour as a T20I series on June 9 (Chennai), June 12 (Bengaluru), June 14 (Nagpur), June 17 (Rajkot), and June 19 (Delhi).Between the Sri Lanka and South Africa series, the BCCI will also slot in the IPL, this time with 10 teams, which could further extend the duration of the tournament. Also, soon after New Zealand leave India in December, India are scheduled to tour South Africa for three Tests, three ODIs and four T20Is; that tour will go on from December 17 to January 26, without taking travel and quarantine dates into account.The 14 T20Is and another T20 World Cup in Australia next year mean India’s next T20I captain after Virat Kohli will have his hands full. India will also play another three T20Is, along with as many ODIs, in England next summer.

Manchester United will once again cross swords with their big rivals, Manchester City, in the Community Shield on Saturday at Wembley Stadium. The traditional season opener for English clubs will see the two teams meet at the 90,000-seater stadium in North London for the second time in as many games.

Their final game of the last campaign saw the two Mancunian teams face off at Wembley, too, in the FA Cup final. That was a game in which the Red Devils ran out 2-1 winners, thanks to goals from academy graduate pair Alejandro Garnacho and Kobbie Mainoo. Two years prior, the young duo were part of the team that won the FA Youth Cup – some rise.

Mainoo’s breakout season in 2023/24 for the Red Devils saw him play 33 times, and become a crucial part of Erik ten Hag’s midfield. His performances were so impressive that he managed to earn a place in England’s Euro 2024 squad, where he eventually became a starter for the Three Lions, too.

The Red Devils are set to have a few absentees for the game at Wembley on Saturday, with Ten Hag confirming his team news in his pre-match press conference on Friday.

Man Utd team news for Community Shield

United’s Dutch manager, who is about to enter his third season at the helm at Old Trafford despite coming close to the sack last season, confirmed some key team news in his press conference before the season-opening Manchester Derby.

Much of that related to United’s defence, where they have already struggled with injury issues and players returning to the club with a lack of fitness after international tournaments. One of those players is Harry Maguire. Ten Hag explained the former United captain is a "question mark for Saturday" after he missed the end of the preseason tour with injury.

Maguire’s long-term centre-back partner Victor Lindelof could also be a doubt for the game due to injury and is not thought to have not travelled to London. However, it is not only the Swede who has not made the trip. Two of United’s most experienced fullbacks, Luke Shaw and Aaron Wan-Bissaka have also not travelled, as reported by UtdDistrict.

Shaw seems to be having his fitness managed after minimal participation at Euro 2024, which means 17-year-old left-back Harry Amass could make his debut. Wan-Bissaka is days away from a move to West Ham, which could be the reason behind his absence from, the squad.

In other team news for United, new centre-forward Joshua Zirkzee might only make an appearance off the bench against City. That comes after Ten Hag confirmed United will "need time to fit him in" as he adapts to his new club following a transfer from Bologna.

Ten Hag could start Man Utd debutant vs Man City

Another shock move that Ten Hag could pull off ahead of the Community Shield is to start 20-year-old defensive midfielder Toby Collyer. The former Brighton academy player was on the bench at the back end of last season and played a crucial part in every one of the Red Devil’s pre-season games.

Statistics

Arsenal

Real Betis

Liverpool

Minutes

45

28

62

Touches

18

21

40

Passes completed

6/12 (50%)

14/16 (88%)

24/26 (92%)

Long balls completed

1/2

2/2

1/1

Duels won

2/2

1/1

0/6

Tackles won

1/1

N/A

0/1

Interceptions

3

1

1

Given United’s injury issues at centre-back on Saturday, Brazilian midfielder Casemiro could slot in at centre-back, a role he performed seven times last term in the midst of an injury crisis. This could open the door for Collyer to slot into the base of United’s midfield.

The promising youngster could follow in Mainoo’s footsteps and become "Ten Hag’s next youth project" as football analyst H explained on X. He has a lot of impressive attributes which make him an ideal candidate to play in midfield for the Red Devils against City.

United’s number 43 is composed on the ball, acting like a metronome in the centre of the park. Whilst he does not do anything flashy, he does the basics to a very high standard, a desirable trait for Ten Hag’s side.

He is also confident receiving the ball under pressure, able to receive the ball off the back four and then turn away from oncoming defenders in order to progress United forward, which H also points out in his post on X. This is not necessarily a profile United have from a number six in their squad, so it once again makes him important to the Red Devils.

Out of possession, the former Seagulls starlet, who joined in 2022 from the South Coast, is also a good dueller out of possession, largely thanks to his long legs, which can make him an effective ball-winner.

However, H points out in a separate post exactly what makes him such an ideal academy prospect to be promoted to United’s first team. Specifically, that is the midfielder’s impressive "positional, tactical understanding and communication" when at the base of midfield, especially in build-up situations.

For someone so young to understand the game to such an extent is also a crucial trait to possess. Ten Hag might not worry if he has to slot Collyer straight into the midfield against City, given his understanding of the game and talent in and out of possession.

The Dutchman is certainly not afraid of giving an opportunity to a young midfielder. Last pre-season, United fans saw Mainoo play a key role in the tour of the USA like Collyer did, and only an injury disrupted his path to the first team. They could well be looking at the second coming of the England international in that sense.

In Collyer, United could have their next star academy graduate, and although it would be a baptism of fire, a first-team opportunity against City on Saturday could be the best chance to give him a competitive debut.

Personal terms no issue: Man Utd closing in on their own Amadou Onana

The Red Devils could be set to make a third signing of the summer…

ByRobbie Walls Aug 9, 2024

English football fans cheered in unison as Ollie Watkins fired the Three Lions into their second successive European Championship final on Wednesday night.

Be it the fans of Aston Villa, Manchester City, Shrewsbury Town or West Ham United, England elicited a collective roar of delight, for here is the now tangible prospect of football immortalising itself on this island once again.

West Ham supporters know the taste of silverware, having won the Europa Conference League under David Moyes in 2023, but they will now be seeking more under Julen Lopetegui, who is working effectively with Tim Steidten to bolster the Irons squad ahead of the new era.

Signing a centre-forward is a pressing concern, with Villa Park the host of a top target. No, it's not Watkins, though efforts are being made to bring Jhon Duran to the capital this summer.

West Ham's interest in Jhon Duran

West Ham are desperate to sign a striker and have submitted an offer to Villa for striker Duran, aged 20, to enrich their frontline and bring some invaluable pace and power.

One of Unai Emery's first ports of call in the Midlands was to sign the Colombian, who transferred from Chicago Fire in the USA for £18m in January 2023.

He's not the finished product by any stretch but did score eight times across all competitions last term – a tally that included five Premier League goals despite being handed only three starting berths.

Lions captain John McGinn described the sinewy striker as a "nightmare for defenders", with his explosive and aggressive nature blending against an inborn finishing quality that speaks highly of his future at the top of the game.

Competing against the experience of Michail Antonio, who is now 34 years old but still proved his quality last year with seven goals from 21 Premier League starts, unable to make any more due to injury, Duran could prove to be an excellent addition.

Jarrod Bowen also held down the fort at centre-forward last season and did so with aplomb, but the versatile forward is best suited to life on the wing and must be placed there with the greatest regularity next term to maximise his qualities – of which there are many.

Why Jarrod Bowen is valued so highly

Bowen notched 20 goals across all competitions last season, adding ten assists and even being heralded by Brentford manager Thomas Frank, who gracefully praised his “unplayable" performance against the Bees, scoring a wonderful hat-trick.

1.

Jarrod Bowen

44

20

2.

Mohammed Kudus

45

14

3.

Tomas Soucek

52

10

4.

Lucas Paqueta

43

8

5.

Michail Antonio

32

7

5.

James Ward-Prowse

51

7

Clearly, the England international knows his way around a goal, and after starting as his team's striker for 22 of his 44 fixtures last season, it's unlikely that he will not find himself plying his trade at No. 9 at times under Lopetegui's wing.

Bowen, moreover, ranked among the top 7% of positional peers in the English top flight last year for non-penalty goals scored per 90, as per FBref, underscoring his calibre as an elite finisher.

It is, then, no surprise that the 27-year-old is West Ham's most valuable player by a considerable distance, with Football Transfers' player valuation model marking him with a £54m price tag. The Hammers' second-most valuable player is the electric Mohammed Kudus, who is marked at £41m.

Bowen is more valuable than Duran, who is indeed the subject of a £35m offer from West Ham and was actually close to signing for Chelsea in a £40m package earlier in the transfer window.

Such is Bowen's prowess that he's even tagged with a higher market valuation than the earlier-mentioned Watkins, who might be the talk of the town in England presently but comes in at a price of £46m.

This is all just a roundabout way of declaiming Bowen's abundant and vibrant quality. He's an industrious, intelligent and influential forward, wrapped into one unique style of play that has led the likes of Liverpool and Newcastle United to express a vested interest in signing him since the start of last season.

What a player. West Ham must count their lucky stars that Moyes decided to make one of his first moves upon his return to the club the capture of the young and aspiring winger, who signed from Hull City for £22m on deadline day in January 2020.

He's since completed 202 appearances for the club, scoring 60 goals and adding 39 assists. The talisman. It was Bowen who expertly latched onto Lucas Paqueta's threaded pass late on to win the Conference League, sending the Hammers into a frenzy of bliss.

Ultimately, if West Ham ever decided to cash in on their most prized asset, they'd undoubtedly fetch quite the pretty penny. In fact, a recent report commenting on Newcastle's ongoing interest in the winger suggests that the Irons might even obstinately demand a ballpark figure of £100m for his services, considering him alongside erstwhile midfield general Declan Rice, who Arsenal purchased for £105m one year ago.

He's a modern legend at West Ham, and you bet that his market price reflects the calibre of a truly exceptional player. So much has gone right at the outfit over recent years, combining to create the richest spell in its history, but without Bowen's addition at the start of Moyes' tenure, all of the success may well have been null and void.

West Ham submit bid to sign Duran alternative who's better than En-Nesyri

Tim Steidten has made the first move to sign this Euro 2024 sensation.

ByAngus Sinclair Jul 9, 2024

Essex 321 for 8 (Rymell 78, Khushi 77, Wheater 53) beat Sussex 224 (ten Doeschate 4-34) by 97 runsJosh Rymell celebrated his maiden professional half-century as Essex Eagles qualified for the Royal London Cup knockouts with a 97-run victory over Sussex Sharks.Rymell showed maturity beyond his four List A appearances to craft 78 as he put on 115 with Feroze Khushi – who clocked up 77 on the back of a century at Durham last time out.Adam Wheater smashed a quick-fire 53 as the Eagles racked up 321 for 8, which the Sharks never looked like chasing – getting bowled out for 224 with Travis Head top-scoring with 38 in front of a sold-out Cloudfm County Ground, Chelmsford.Essex face Lancashire in their last group game on Thursday; if they lose they’ll play an away quarter-final, if they win and Durham also win they’ll have a home quarter-final, while a victory at Emirates Old Trafford and a Durham defeat to Hampshire will see Eagles progress straight to a home semi-final.Essex, having been put in, lost Alastair Cook and Tom Westley within the first eight overs – bowled and smashed straight at point respectively – before Khushi and Rymell patiently built the foundations of a large total.The 20- and 22-year-olds showed patience and ran hard rather than peppered the boundary for much of their stays – although both the 50 and 100 stands were brought up with sixes off Rymell’s bat, coming in 76 and 127 deliveries respectively.Rymell, who had been promoted to open, reached his maiden half-century in 70 balls but departed for 78 when he was lbw to 78 – ending a 115-run stand.Khushi reached the milestone in one few ball and along with the hard-hitting Paul Walter put on 54 in 39 balls before an Essex wobble.Walter top-edged to fine leg before Ryan ten Doeschate and Khushi were caught in the ring within nine balls of each other.But the Sharks’ fightback didn’t last as Wheater launched an assault of three sixes and three fours to score 53 in 29 balls – his fifty coming after two successive maximums although perished attempting a third, with Simon Harmer lbw soon after.Aron Nijjar teed off with a 16-ball 28 to get the Eagles over 300 and set their highest total of the campaign.The chase began with Ali Orr surviving a regulation drop by Westley on three but chopped Jack Plom on having only added a further seven runs, before skipper Tom Haines edged Plom to slip.Ben Brown slapped spinner Nijjar’s third ball to midwicket and Travis Head was bowled by Harmer – both getting starts but neither managed to settle like Khushi or Rymell.David Wiese exploded with 36 off 20 balls, during a 52-run stand with James Cole, before splicing to midwicket and Oli Carter thrashed out to deep midwicket.Sharks’ inexperienced lower-order couldn’t match Wheater, Walter and Nijjar’s hitting as Coles and Danial Ibrahim were both caught behind.Will Beer was extraordinarily caught by Harmer at mid-on and Archie Lenham was snatched at mid-off – as ten Doeschate returned figures of 4 for 34.

Sunderland are battling Championship rivals Watford for the signing of a prolific 22-year-old this summer, and he could even be available on a free transfer soon.

Sunderland manager & transfer news

The Black Cats are going through a key period at the moment, with the club still looking to find their next manager, after interim boss Mike Dodds stepped down from his role at the end of the season.

A host of names have emerged as options to take charge at the Stadium of Light, including Queen Park Rangers boss Marti Cifuentes, who took charge of the west Londoners last year. Granted, he could only guide his side to 18th in the Championship table, but avoiding relegation was seen as an achievement in itself.

Former AZ Alkmaar manager Pascal Jansen has also emerged as an option for Sunderland this summer, having left the Eredivisie side earlier this year. He prefers a 4-3-3 formation, naturally adopting a defence-minded approach, which may not get Black Cats supporters off their seats.

In terms of potential new signings on the pitch, the Championship side have been linked with a move for Ajax ace Ar'Jany Martha, with the 20-year-old left-back starting eight league games for the Dutch giants in 2023/24, as well as featuring in the Europa League. He is viewed as possibly being their next version of Patrick van Aanholt, who was a successful player in the position for a number of years.

Sunderland battling rivals for prolific winger

According to Valencia Plaza [via Sport Witness], Sunderland are interested in signing Valencia B youngster Declan Frith this summer, with Watford also providing competition for his signature.

The 22-year-old is yet to make his debut for Valencia's first team, which shows why he could eye a move away in the coming weeks and months. It is even claimed that he could be available on a free transfer in July, should the La Liga not trigger a one-year extension to his current deal.

Frith may not be a huge name, but he could be a high potential option to bring in for Sunderland at relatively low cost. The Englishman has impressed for Aston Villa's Under-23s in the past, registering a prolific 15 goal contributions (eight goals and seven assists) in just 24 appearances, and he also played fives time for Chelsea at the same level, showing that he has pedigree as a highly thought of young player.

Moving to Sunderland could be far more beneficial than toiling away for Valencia's B team, and the fact that he could be available for free takes away a large amount of risk when it comes to the Black Cats making a move for him.

New Sunderland boss must sell underperformer who earns more than Bellingham

The next Sunderland manager could well end up ditching this dud finally.

By
Kelan Sarson

Jun 10, 2024

The winger could provide some extra end product at The Stadium of Light after a season in which none of the club's centre-forwards stepped up and forced their way in as the recognised goalscorer.

أسدل قبل قليل الستار على مباريات الجولة الثانية والعشرين من عمر الدوري السعودي للمحترفين “روشن”، والذي شهد.

وحقق فريق الهلال فوزًا كبيرًا على منافسه الخلود بنتيجة 5-1، في المباراة التي جمعت بينهما مساء أمس الثلاثاء على أرضية استاد المملكة أرينا، في إطار لقاءات الجولة 22 من الدوري السعودي.

الهلال يسحق الخلود بخماسية في الدوري السعودي

وبعد الفوز في هذا اللقاء أصبح الهلال يمتلك 51 نقطة في المركز الثاني بجدول ترتيب الدوري السعودي، بعد الفوز بـ16 مباراة والتعادل 3 مرات وتلقى 3 هزائم.

واستكملت المباريات بفوز النصر على الوحدة بهدفين دون رد، ليصل إلى 47 نقطة ويقفز إلى المركز الثالث في جدول ترتيب الدوري.

وتمت المواجهات بفوز ساحق للأهلي على حساب القادسية الذي يقدم نتائج جيدة هذا الموسم برباعية مقابل هدف وحيد.

وتعثر فريق الاتحاد متصدر الترتيب بتعادل إيجابي بهدف لكل فريق أمام نظيره الخليج، في مباراة أقيمت على على ملعب استاد الأمير محمد بن فهد.

ويتصدر فريق الاتحاد جدول ترتيب الدوري السعودي برصيد 56 نقطة، جمعها من الفوز في 18 انتصار والتعادل مرتين وتلقى هزيمتين. جدول ترتيب الدوري السعودي

1- الاتحاد – 56 نقطة

2- الهلال – 51 نقطة

3- النصر – 47 نقطة

4- القادسية – 47 نقطة

5- الأهلي – 44 نقطة

6- الشباب – 36 نقطة

7- الاتفاق – 31 نقطة

8- الرياض – 29 نقطة

9- الخليج – 29 نقطة

10- التعاون – 28 نقطة

11- الخلود – 25 نقطة

12- ضمك – 24 نقطة

13- العروبة – 23 نقطة

14- الفيحاء – 20 نقطة

15- الفتح – 19 نقطة

16- الرائد – 17 نقطة

17- الأخدود – 16 نقطة

18- الوحدة – 13 نقطة

يمكنكم متابعة ترتيب الدوري السعودي محدث باستمرار من هنا 

The Social Justice and Nation-Building (SJN) hearings will run till July 23, with 58 submissions to be heard

Firdose Moonda05-Jul-2021

Cricket South Africa’s Social Justice and Nation-Building (SJN) hearings on racial discrimination in the game began on Monday and will run until July 23, with 58 submissions set to be heard. In his opening address, SJN ombudsman Advocate Dumisa Ntsebeza confirmed he had received 11 submissions from what he termed “scene-setters,” including administrators and officials, 23 from players past and present, and 24 from cricket unions and other interested parties. Ntsebeza will submit a report to CSA before September 30 with recommendations to prevent future instances of prejudice.Related

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The hearings were initially due to be held in May but were postponed after concerns about the process were raised by, among others, David Becker, who acts as counsel for CSA’s director of cricket Graeme Smith and anti-corruption chief Louis Cole, and because Ntzebeza was otherwise engaged at the African Human Rights Court in Tanzania. The SJN Project was initiated by CSA’s former board, who resigned in October last year, but has been picked up by the new board which was appointed last month, and hope to use the SJN as a springboard for introspection and change.”CSA fully supports the SJN initiative. We regard it as one of the most important and significant projects to be undertaken in the 30 years of our existence as a unified cricket body,” Lawson Naidoo, CSA board chair, said in his address at the opening of the hearings on Tuesday morning. “The start of these hearing provides a key reset moment for CSA and cricket in general, an opportunity to address the past failures.”Ntsebeza acknowledged that his task is to guide the process of “truth and truth-telling, healing and reconciliation in cricket,” and quoted James Baldwin in explaining the pressing need for South Africa, a country governed by legalised racial segregation until 1994, to address the social issues of the past. “Not everything that is faced can be changed, but nothing can be changed until it’s faced,” Ntsebeza said. “This is a quote from James Baldwin, which speaks to the purpose the SJN Project.”The hearings will include testimonies from those who have suffered racial discrimination, either by written statement on affidavit or oral statement under oath and any implicated person or party will be given notice and afforded an opportunity to respond. The terms of reference of the SJN allow for Ntsebeza to ask for cross-examination at his own discretion and do not require him to resolve any disputes of fact. “The SJN proceedings are not a criminal enquiry and as a result, I will use the civil standard of proof in making my findings. I will make findings based on a balance of probabilities, provided that where a factual dispute cannot be resolved without cross-examination, I may either allow cross-examination, limited cross-examination, or record the factual dispute without resolving it,” Ntzebeza said.CSA will not be involved at any stage of the proceedings, apart from providing administrative and technical assistance.”Our role as the board is to be good listeners, with an open mind and without preconceived ideas. We have much to learn from this, which will inform our future strategy and interventions,” Naidoo said. “It is not the intention of the board of CSA to comment publicly during the ongoing process of these hearings, on the evidence that will emerge. Instead, we will allow the process to take its course without our comment and then consider the ombudsman’s report when it is provided to the board at the end of September. This approach will protect the independence, autonomy and integrity of this project.”No former players are scheduled to appear this week but cricket historian and former Western Province CEO Andre Odendaal, former sports minister Ngconde Balfour and researcher Dr Mary Ann Dove, who completed doctoral work into socio-ecological factors in talent development, are all on the list to testify. All hearings will be available to the public, via a YouTube channel.