Arjun Tendulkar, the son of Sachin Tendulkar, has been picked in the India Under-19 squad for two four-day matches in Sri Lanka in July.A left-arm quick, Arjun, had been picked in the Mumbai Under-19 one-day side for the JY Lele invitational tournament in September last year. He also bowled in the nets in the lead-up to the Lord’s Test between England and South Africa in 2017, sending Jonny Bairstow off with an injury scare when he struck him on the toe with a yorker. Arjun also bowled in the India nets during the home series against New Zealand last year.However, he did not find a place in the one-day squad that will play five games against Sri Lanka. The four-day squad will be captained by 18-year-old Delhi wicketkeeper-batsman Anuj Rawat, who had scored two half-centuries, including one on debut, in as many matches for Delhi during the 2017-18 Ranji Trophy.”We are happy on Arjun being selected in Indian under-19 team. It is an important milestone in his cricketing life. Anjali and I will always support Arjun in his choices and pray for his success,” Sachin told The one-day squad will be led by 16-year-old Uttar Pradesh wicketkeeper-batsman Aryan Juyal, who had played two matches in the 50-over Vijay Hazare Trophy earlier this year and was part of the Under-19 World Cup winning team in January.Seventeen-year old left-arm spinner from Gujarat Siddharth Desai was picked in both squads. He also made his first-class debut in the 2017-18 season and was named the Man of the Match in his first two matches, taking nine and eight wickets against Kerala and Haryana respectively. He currently has 29 wickets from five first-class matches and three scalps from as many one-day matches.Atharwa Taide, also picked in both squads, was the captain of the Vidarbha Under-19 team that won the Cooch Behar Trophy earlier this year. He led them to their maiden title with a marathon knock of 320 off 483 balls in the final against Madhya Pradesh.

While Sri Lanka Cricket is in government-imposed limbo, the national selection committee has lobbied the government to appoint Kumar Sangakkara, Mahela Jayawardene, Aravinda de Silva and Roshan Mahanama as cricket consultants for the board.Jayawardene, though, has already announced he is uninterested, citing the ineffectiveness of previous official committees he has been a part of. The others have not yet responded to the request.*The selectors’ request was deftly timed; generally, Sangakkara and Jayawardene are kept at arm’s length by the board – the pair constantly critical of the self-interest they believe is rampant in Sri Lanka’s cricket administration. But with the board temporarily defunct, and with the government now essentially running cricket in the country, the selectors have seen an opening to get them involved in officially shaping the nation’s cricket. Mahanama and de Silva, who also have at times had a strained relationship with SLC’s elected officials, have in the past voiced ideas on how cricket in Sri Lanka might be improved as well.In addition to getting those four on board as general consultants, the selectors have also requested that Muttiah Muralitharan be brought on board as a spin-bowling consultant.Jayawardene’s objection to being part of a consulting committee was down to negative experiences. He tweeted:Previously, Jayawardene had also devised a provincial domestic cricket structure focused on long-term growth, only for that plan to be scrapped when the board headed by Thilanga Sumathipala was voted in.Moreover, there is a question as to whether there is enough time for these proposed consultants to make any tangible impact. Board elections may be held sometime over the next few months, after which – depending on who is voted in – the likes of Jayawardene, Sangakkara and Mahanama may be unwelcome once more. The “special advisory committee” Jayawardene referred to, had submitted official reports to the sports ministry with recommendations on how SLC must be restructured. Little, however, has come of that work.Sports minister Faiszer Mustapha, who was officially informed of the selectors’ requests on Wednesday, initially appeared amenable to the idea of appointing these players in the roles the selectors have suggested. He also said that he would like to see the SLC constitution changed, but had not offered anything concrete on how it should change, or when.*The story was updated with Jayawardene’s response.

Fulham have now been provided with an update on the future of midfielder Joao Palhinha by transfer expert Fabrizio Romano.

Does Joao Palhinha want to leave Fulham?

Palhinha was set to join Bayern Munich at the end of the summer transfer window, with a £60m deal being agreed, however the move collapsed at the final stages, as Fulham were unable to bring in a replacement before the deadline.

The midfielder has expressed his disappointment about the move not going through, saying: "I can’t lie, in football, we all have dreams and those are to play in the Champions League and for the best clubs in the world.

"People need to see and understand that as well but I also want to say I have all respect and I am really happy to be here as well.

"The move didn’t happen and now I am just focused on Fulham again. I will focus on my work and give everything I can like I have done in the past."

Since then, the 28-year-old has put pen to paper on a new contract, which runs until 2028, with the option for an additional year, and no release clause has been included, meaning the Cottagers hold the bargaining power in any future transfer windows.

The fact the Portugal international has committed to a new deal suggests he is happy at Craven Cottage, but Bayern remain undeterred, and Romano has now indicated the Bundesliga club could make a fresh approach in the next transfer window.

As relayed by CaughtOffside, the transfer expert said: “Joao Palhinha – Fulham are stronger on their position after contract extension, but the new deal was also done to give Joao a better salary until 2024.

“Then we will see in January or June, it will depend on bids and more. Bayern are still interested after coming close to getting the deal done in the summer, but obviously they’re not working on it yet.”

How much did Fulham pay for Joao Palhinha?

The Cottagers signed the former Sporting Lisbon man for just £20m back in the summer of 2022, and they were in line to make a huge profit by selling him to Bayern Munich for £60m in the summer, but fans will undoubtedly be happy he stayed.

The central midfielder was voted Fulham's Player of the Season for 2022-23, with more than half of Whites supporters voting for him, off the back of a fantastic campaign, in which he made 47 more tackles than any other player in the Premier League.

Lauded as "superb" by The Athletic reporter Peter Rutzler, Palhinha had a very promising first season at Craven Cottage, and Marco Silva will now be hoping he can kick on in the ongoing campaign, having put pen to paper on a new long-term deal.

However, if Bayern do come back with a fresh bid in the January transfer window, Fulham will be in an even stronger negotiating position than they were in the summer, indicating they could hold out for a larger fee.

South Africa will continue to trust in their strengths, their coach has said, despite the likelihood of a slow, low turner in the first Test in Galle

Andrew Fidel Fernando08-Jul-2018

AFP

No matter what the pitch looks like, South Africa will play three frontline quicks in Sri Lanka. This is at least what coach Ottis Gibson said, four days out from the first Test in Galle. He probably knows already that Sri Lankan surfaces have recently been so dusty that the home team straps three specialist spinners to the plow, often fielding only one seamer of their own. But no matter. “Our fast bowling has been the bedrock of our success for a long time, and I’m pretty sure we’ll continue with three fast bowlers,” Gibson said. When you look through the names on his roster – Dale Steyn, Kagiso Rabada, Lungi Ngidi, Vernon Philander – you can see why he takes this view.And yet, it is not exactly going to be a fast-bowling party, is it? Sri Lanka have just drawn a seam-dominated Test series in the West Indies, but that was against a less accomplished side. Even if the likes of Shannon Gabriel unlocked a fearsome new gear against Sri Lanka, Sri Lanka’s own fast bowlers got to bowl at a West Indies top order that does not compare favourably with South Africa’s. They are probably not going to risk a pace v pace battle against South Africa, and instead will rely on the strategy that has brought them more success at home: a spin-heavy attack bowling on a low, crumbling surface.The visitors expect this, and in the two-day practice match at the P Sara Oval have got a taster of the kind of track they will encounter in this series. On day one of this match, their quicks bowled 44 overs and managed only one wicket between them. What a drastic change it must be from the surfaces at home, in which they had most recently outgunned Australia’s seam attack. The quicks will have to dig deep here, Gibson said.”Vernon and Dale have played here before, but it’s new for Lungi and for Rabada. It’s good for them to see what it’s going to be like when the Test match starts. It’s not going to be a place like Jo’burg where they see the ball flying through to the keeper. Sometimes it might bounce twice before it gets to the keeper. But then that’s when your strong character comes in, and you have to suck it up, run in, keep trying to hit the deck and be effective.”Of the four quicks, only Steyn is proven in Sri Lanka, averaging an exceptional 24.71, with 21 wickets from four Tests on the island. Vernon Philander, on the other hand, averages more than 70 here, from two Tests in 2014. It is the two young quicks, though, that South Africa hope will challenge Sri Lanka most in this series, but neither has played Tests on the island. Each of Ngidi’s three Tests have come at home. The closest conditions to Sri Lanka Rabada has come across in his Test career, were in India, where he averages 55.50 over three Tests.”The conditions might still shock the young quicks, but we make sure that when we’re talking cricket around the dressing room, and experiences from the guys who have been here before – we let them know early that this is what to expect,” Gibson said. “Don’t expect to see the ball flying through, but understand that you still have to keep running in and bowling at the top of your pace.”The captain might use you in short spells so you can run in and go as hard as you can in those four overs, then go off to have a break and come back. The captain, I imagine, will do what he can to keep everybody fresh. I thought Lungi maintained his pace quite nicely in his three spells in the practice game. His pace was around the same mark all the time, and that was a really good sign for us.”Rabada and Ngidi will undoubtedly look to Steyn for leadership in the series. After all, he had been South Africa’s match-winner in the last Galle Test South Africa played, in which he claimed a ten-wicket match haul. Having been beset by injury over the past two years, however, there have been some doubts over Steyn’s Test-match fitness in the approach to this tour. He was not quite at his best in his 12 overs in the practice match, conceding more than four runs an over, but he still appears assured of a place in the XI in Galle.”I’m happy with where Dale is at, because he was just playing in England,” Gibson said. “He came into the practice match and he looked a little bit rusty, I’m not going to lie. But we’re talking about one of the best fast bowlers of the modern generation. He knows what he needs to do to get himself up for a Test match. We’ve had a little chat already today about what he needs to do for the remainder of the days building up to the Test match. He’ll be good to go by the time the Galle Test comes around.”

West Indies internationals Kirk Edwards, Sheldon Cottrell and Odean Smith were among the high-profile picks in the 2018-19 Professional Cricket League draft

ESPNcricinfo staff24-May-2018West Indies internationals Kirk Edwards, Sheldon Cottrell and Odean Smith were among the high-profile picks in the 2018-19 Professional Cricket League draft held in the Cricket West Indies headquarters in Antigua.Smith, who made his international debut during West Indies’ tour of Pakistan earlier in the year, was one of two newcomers, along with Joshua Da Silva, to join the Trinidad and Tobago Red Force. Marlon Richards, Isaiah Rajah and Jeremy Solozano completed the five draft picks as T&T built up a squad seeking to put behind their bottom-place finish in the Four-Day Regional Tournament earlier this year.Cottrel, who was released by T&T, was snapped up by Leeward Islands. However, medium-pacer Roshon Primus, who was also released by T&T, found no takers. Primus, who announced his first-class arrival with 6 for 30 on debut, has played 14 first-class games and taken 33 wickets at 25.87. He has also proven to be a handy batsman, with three half-centuries and an average of 23.50. Primus was also signed up by Guyana Amazon Warriors for the 2017 Caribbean Premier League. It’s unclear whether Primus’ name was present in the draft, and if it was why he was not picked. However, he is still eligible for selection, on a play-for-play contract. T&T also retained West Indies middle-order batsman Kyle Hope.Barbados Pride have welcomed the Jamaican fast bowler Marquino Mindley to their 15-man squad to “support the cast of younger bowlers in the team”. Mindley joins a strong pace attack comprising Chemar Holder, Keon Harding and Dominic Drakes, while Justin Greaves and Shamar Springer make up the allrounders list. Barbados also drafted in Kevin Stoute, who captained them in the early stages of the previous season’s first-class tournament. Kenroy Williams, who was released by Barbados, found a new home in Jamaica Scorpions.Windward Volcanoes retained the allrounder Kyle Mayers along with West Indies batsman Kirk Edwards.The assembled squads will take part in the Regional 4 Day Tournament and the Super50, both of which are scheduled to take place later this year. Guyana Jaguars are the current and four-time champions, having won all their titles in successive seasons.Full squads:Guyana Jaguars: Veerasammy Permaul, Leon Johnson, Vishaul Singh, Chandrapaul Hemraj, Gudakesh Motie, Tagenarine Chanderpaul, Keon Joseph, Anthony Bramble. Sherfane Rutherford, Romario Shepherd. Draft picks – Ramaal Lewis, Christopher Barnwell, Tevin Imlach, Ashaya Persaud, Javier SpencerBarbados Pride: Anthony Alleyne, Shamarh Brooks, Jonathan Carter, Dominic Drakes, Justin Greaves, Keon Harding, Chemar Holder, Shayne Moseley, Shamar Springer, Haydn Walsh Jr. Draft picks – Marquino Mindley, Kevin Stoute, Aaron Jones, Tevyn Walcott, Mario RampersaudLeeward Islands Hurricanes: Rahkeem Cornwall, Montcin Hodge, Jahmar Hamilton, Keacy Carty, Jeremiah Louis, Devon Thomas, Terrance Warde, Sheeno Berridge, Akeem Saunders, Ross Powell. Draft Picks – Damion Jacobs, Sheldon Cotterell, Orlando Peters, Nelson Bolan, Jason PetersJamaica Scorpions: Nikita Miller, Assad Fudadin, Derval Green, Chadwick Walton, John Campbell, Brandon King, Paul Palmer Jr, Aldaine Thomas, Andre McCarthy, Fabian Allen. Draft Picks – Oshane Thomas, Reynard Leveridge, Kenroy Williams, Denis Bulli, Steven TaylorWindward Islands Volcanoes: Devon Smith, Shane Shillingford, Kyle Mayers, Obed McCoy, Tyron Theophile, Roland Cato, Audy Alexander, Sherman Lewis, Delorn Johnson, Alick Athanaze. Draft Picks – Kirk Edwards, Ray Jordon, Tarryck Gabriel, Denis Smith, Josh ThomasTrinidad and Tobago Red Force: Kyle Hope, Tion Webster, Yannic Cariah, Amir Jangoo, Denesh Ramdin, Imran Khan, Daniel St Clair, Bryan Charles, Khary Pierre, Jason Mohammed. Draft Picks – Odean Smith, Jeremy Solozano, Marlon Richards, Isaiah Rajah, Joshua Da Silva

Will Jacks scored a maiden Surrey century in only his third first-team match to add to the sense of feelgood about Surrey’s crop of young stars

ECB Reporters Network23-May-2018
ScorecardVirat Kohli will discover an impressive young team-mate when he arrives in London for his first stint in county cricket next month in the muscular form of teenage all-rounder Will Jacks.Jacks, a 19-year-old allrounder, cracked a sparkling maiden hundred in only his third first-team appearance in to ease Surrey to an emphatic six-wicket Royal London One-day Cup win over Gloucestershire at the Kia Oval.Jacks, who earlier turned his hand to five overs of offspin, hit a majestic 121 with 14 fours and four sixes to dominate a second-wicket partnership with Dean Elgar, the South Africa Test batsman, that added 158 in 25 overs to help Surrey canter to their opening south group win with 27 balls to spare.In pursuit of Gloucestershire’s 282 for 6 at an asking rate of 5.66 an over, Surrey lost mercurial opener Jason Roy to only the fifth ball of the reply. Fresh from a disappointing IPL stint with Delhi Daredevils, Roy drove hard at a wide, swinging length-ball from Craig Miles only to be caught at third man off a thick outside edge.That brought together Jacks and Elgar who raised 50 inside eight overs. Jacks, a tall, Chertsey-born strokemaker, proved the major aggressor cantering to a maiden half-century for his home county from 47 balls and with nine boundaries.The duo raised their century stand in the 17th over with Edgar, despite his vast international experience and having made 140 more List A appearances than his rookie partner, content to play second fiddle.The broad-shouldered Jacks received one let off when on 70 after Chris Dent downed a diving chance at extra cover, but otherwise the England Under-19 batsman remained strong and aggressive, clubbing a brace of sixes against slow left-armer Tom Smith. He then moved to three figures with his third maximum off Smith and removed his helmet to acknowledge the applause for his 86-ball century with 12 fours.Elgar raised his 59-ball 50 but perished soon after when attempting to slog sweep against Benny Howell then, with 98 still required, Jacks’ fun ended after 100 balls when he was caught on the ropes at backward square. He sidled off to a standing ovation, leaving Ben Foakes (50*) to guide Surrey through.Surrey, previously without a win, elected to bowl on a green-tinted pitch and having lost their opening two South Group matches when batting first.The decision paid quick dividends when Sam Curran had George Hankins caught at backward point driving on the up. Fellow opener, left-handed Dent, was then tucked up by Jade Dernbach and, shovelling to leg, spooned one to midwicket as Gloucestershire limped to 46 for 2 from their 10-over Powerplay.With the field spread, Gloucestershire rebuilt as Gareth Roderick and Howell posted 50 within 11 overs before Roderick dragged on against Rikki Clarke.Howell reached the first half-century of the match from 56 balls and with four fours and a six against veteran off-spinner Gareth Batty, yet Burns continued to take pace off the ball by giving stints to Scott Borthwick’s leg-breaks and Jacks’ off-spin.Borthwick struck to remove the dangerous Howell. Having reached 60 with a straight six, Howell drove Borthwick’s next delivery to mid-off to make it 114 for 4 at the mid-point of the innings.
Borthwick enticed Ian Cockbain to work against the spin and chip a comfortable catch to wide mid-on, forcing Jack Taylor and Ryan Higgins into another rebuilding job.Higgins, the former Middlesex all-rounder, scored his first List A 50 off 51 balls, then Taylor reached the milestone from 62 deliveries with a six over mid-wicket as the sixth-wicket pair added 110 in 18.1 overs.In the dash for late runs Taylor heaved a catch to cow corner to gift Curran a second scalp, leaving Higgins to clatter three fours during a Dernbach over on his way to an unbeaten 81 off 70 balls – his highest score in any form of county cricket.

Leeds United have endured a stuttered start to life in the Championship, as Daniel Farke seeks to navigate the trials and tribulations he inherited after their relegation last season.

First overseeing a rough summer transfer window, coming out the other side relatively unscathed despite some major exits, the German now has the unenviable task of knitting together his side with enough speed to turn them into the title challengers that fans would hope for.

Although, at this point and given the start to the term they endured, being just three points off sixth place marks a fine return, especially given they have enjoyed a clean sheet in each of their last three league fixtures.

Illan Meslier is performing well once again after a torrid last campaign, in which his high-profile blunders arguably played an outstanding role in dooming them to the drop – as he made three errors leading to a goal in the Premier League.

His youth and inexperience reared its ugly head, but there is a quiet understanding that with each year that should lessen. It is a case of trusting the process with the 23-year-old shot-stopper, however there was another Leeds could have enjoyed in the past who likely would still be thriving today.

Potentially, had they kept Kasper Schmeichel and not allowed his easy exit in 2011, they might not have been relegated at all with such a safe pair of hands in the net.

Why did Kasper Schmeichel leave Leeds United?

As son of the legendary Peter Schmeichel, it always seemed like the Denmark international was destined for a bright career. However, despite his father's legacy largely being centred around Manchester United, the current Anderlecht titan would instead start his career with Manchester City, before a stint at Notts County led him to Elland Road.

However, this rivalry proved a step too far for someone so young, as the Whites seemingly could not handle the ties he had to one of their most detested clubs.

The 36-year-old would reveal all on Joe Hart’s YouTube series Gloved: "I remember about three weeks after joining Leeds thinking, ‘What have I done?!’ It was just the wrong club for me at that time. It was very clear, very early on that it was the wrong club for me.

“It was a club where I was not accepted and with my father’s history, it was evident among the fans that they did not approve of that."

He would not solely blame the supporters for the breakdown in relationship, suggesting that from top to bottom the institution gave the impression he was wholly unwanted:

"I just didn’t feel welcome at all at the club, by the whole club, that’s the manager [Simon Grayson] as well. He didn’t give me any kind of confidence. I had a decent season, I thought. I didn’t set the world alight but I had a solid enough season, but I did not enjoy my time there at all. It was a really bad time."

38

13

2.5

6.94

38

10

2.4

6.72

33

8

2.8

6.75

30

8

3.8

6.90

38

15

2.6

6.90

All stats via Sofascore

Leaving for Leicester City, what he would achieve with the Midlands outfit could not possibly have been imagined after departing Yorkshire for a nominal fee, having played just 40 times.

He would become a mainstay as the Foxes made a top-flight return before Leeds, leading them into the Premier League and steering them from relegation. Then, against all the odds, Schmeichel started in every single game as Claudio Ranieri somehow engineered their title charge and subsequent win.

A true fairytale story, it was described by Gary Lineker, who supported them as a youngster: "I saw them in a cup final – lose – that was the closest we ever got to big glory. Won the League Cup a couple of times but this is just something else. This is actually impossible. There were no odds that I would have taken at the start of the season. No odds. You could have given me 10 million to one and I'd have said 'Nah, it's a waste of a quid'."

Adding to such success, Brendan Rodgers would then help them claim an FA Cup too, cementing Schmeichel's legacy as a "#LCFC Legend" in the eyes of BBC broadcaster John Bennett.

Whilst they likely would not have reached the same unparalleled levels that the King Power outfit did with him in goal, Leeds would certainly have benefitted had they put their prejudices aside and placed some faith in the keeper as a young man.

How much did Leicester City sign Kasper Schmeichel for?

It is a testament to the terrible decision-making of Simon Grayson that Schmeichel was allowed to leave at all, let alone for the tiny £1.25m fee paid.

Whilst the manager remains a hero for how he saved them from League One peril, his dismissal came due to a lack of confidence from the hierarchy that he could see out their promotion ambitions.

Perhaps if he had a safe pair of hands to keep a few more clean sheets, he may well have been the man to earn them that top-flight return, that would only come eight years after his sacking.

How much was Kasper Schmeichel worth at his peak?

Although his technical peak inarguably came with Leicester, his value actually reached its highest point after he had departed the King Power Stadium for OGC Nice.

Despite only joining for £1m, which crazily recouped the bulk of the fee they first paid to bring him to the club, that seemingly marked an incredible steal in the eyes of Football Transfers.

As of October 2022, they valued him at €26.2m (£22.7m). Therefore, after departing Elland Road for just £1.25m, his value actually rose by 1716% until last year – albeit with the veteran gem now worth in the region of £9m.

Why was Kasper Schmeichel worth that much?

There are many reasons why Schmeichel's value rose so sharply across his career, with the elite silverware gained unsurprisingly aiding in that venture.

However, it is worth noting that in his prime the shot-stopper was widely regarded as one of the top flight's finest for his role, with former teammate James Maddison noting: "He’s a top goalkeeper, I think he’s in the top three of the Premier League."

Having gone on to play 284 times in the division, keeping an admirable 82 clean sheets for a side predominantly fighting relegation at the start, he truly is a legend of Leicester, and one of Leeds' greatest transfer missteps.

Juventus manager Massimiliano Allegri stands firmly behind Paul Pogba after the Frenchman was handed a four-year sporting ban for doping offences.

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Pogba handed a four-year doping banThe 'B' sample also tested positive Allegri offered support to PogbaGetty WHAT HAPPENED?

The 2018 World Cup winner tested positive for testosterone following Juventus' match against Udinese on August 20, 2023. Pogba's woes deepened when the results of his 'B' sample test also returned positive. Despite the setback, Allegri has voiced unwavering support for the embattled player.

AdvertisementWHAT ALLEGRI SAID

Speaking to reporters ahead of Sunday's clash against Napoli, Allegri said: "I wrote him a message two days ago. On a human level, I'm very sorry, but also from a footballing point of view. This sport is losing an extraordinary and difficult-to-find player who I had the pleasure of coaching. On top of that, Paul is also a very good person."

THE BIGGER PICTURE

In a show of solidarity, Didier Deschamps, manager of the French national team, has also stood by Pogba, asserting his belief in the player's innocence.

"I don't imagine for a single moment that Paul had the intention, the desire, to take drugs. Knowing him well, I know that this is not at all in his state of mind," Deschamps said.

"Just like the judgement announced by the Italian anti-doping tribunal on Thursday, what Paul has experienced these past months has been extremely difficult and I can't be insensitive to his pain, given what he has done with the national team and the relationships that have been formed with the France national team. His situation saddens me and I really hope that things will work out… The presence of an illegal hormone is incontestable."

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DID YOU KNOW?

Pogba and his representatives contested the allegations, presenting their case to Mr. Pierfilippo Laviani, the investigator overseeing the matter. However, they were unsuccessful in demonstrating that the 31-year-old was unaware of the substances he had ingested. This forced the National Anti-Doping Tribunal to slap a four-year ban on the player as recommended by the Anti-Doping Prosecutor’s Office.

Tottenham Hotspur are now set to one of their key players a new contract, and he is keen to stay due to the impact new manager Ange Postecoglou has made at the club, according to a recent report.

What's the latest Tottenham transfer news?

Although the January transfer window is still a long way off, Tottenham have already started to identify potential targets, and they are now eyeing a surprise move for Paris Saint-Germain forward Ousmane Dembele, who has not made the best of starts in France.

However, Spurs will have to do battle for the Frenchman's signature with Arsenal and West Ham United, with their London rivals also being credited with an interest, and they may also have to fend off competition from elsewhere for Brentford's Ivan Toney.

Arsenal and Chelsea have also made it clear they are interested in signing the England international, who is prepared to leave the Bees soon, as he bids to make his return this winter, and Brentford would be willing to sanction his departure for a fee of £60m.

Not only are the Lilywhites keen on new attacking options in January, but they are also looking to tie down one of their key players to a new deal, with Football Insider reporting they are now ready to break their wage structure to offer fresh terms to Son Heung-Min.

Tottenham are set to activate the one-year extension in their captain's contract, prolonging his stay at the club until 2026, and they are then prepared to offer him a bumper new deal, which is likely to include a "huge" pay rise.

Son is now regarded as the main man at Spurs, after Harry Kane opted to move to Bayern Munich in the summer, and they are keen for him to extend his stay in north London, which he is more than happy to do.

The 31-year-old has been particularly impressed with Postecoglou since he arrived from Celtic back in the summer, and he is keen to be a part of the project the manager is implementing at the club, indicating he will be willing to put pen to paper on a new deal.

Is Son Heung-Min staying at Tottenham?

All the signs indicate the forward is willing to sign a new deal, which is very good news for Tottenham, especially considering he was made club captain in the summer, with Postecoglou praising his "leadership qualities."

Not only that, but the South Korea international has been fantastic for Spurs ever since arriving from Bayer Leverkusen ahead of the 2015-16 campaign, and he has now reached the 150-goal mark, after a very impressive start to the Premier League season.

The former Leverkusen man has scored five goals in his opening six league games, most recently impressing against Arsenal in the North London Derby, in which he received an 8.6 Sofascore match rating, the highest of any player.

Having been lauded as "incredible" by members of the media, it is great news that Son is in line for a new deal, and Tottenham will be hoping he is willing to commit his long-term future to the club.

The France forward made headlines after refusing to sit with his team-mates after being replaced against Monaco, but he can have no complaints

There were only four Paris Saint-Germain fans holding up the banner, but its message was clear. The quartet of ultras stood before the industrial brick of the Parc des Princes on Sunday, proudly displaying a piece of fabric with the block text "KM: Vivement LE 30/06." Or, in English, "KM, looking forward to 30/06."

And so has begun another turn in the Kylian Mbappe story, perhaps the sour beginning of what could be a turbulent final chapter, after the Parisian star revealed his intent to leave the club at the end of the season. Mbappe, for his part, has insisted that he will try his utmost to win trophies before his departure, and has always asserted his desire to fight on all fronts as long as he is still clad in the flashy Air Jordan strip of PSG.

That goodwill might not be mutual, though. Since it became clear that Mbappe will not be PSG player next season, his relationships with manager Luis Enrique and sections of the club's fanbase have deteriorated, the early signs of reluctant acceptance steadily fading. Instead, we now have the Parisian poster boy falling out of favour at his hometown club.

And in this messy organisation – one that Mbappe has had de-facto control of for years now – he should know more than anyone that ruthlessness is embedded within the club. He is now, ironically, suffering from the consequences of an environment that he helped cultivate. Luis Enrique, the relentless authoritarian, has every right to phase his soon-to-depart star out of the line-up – and bench him whenever he wants.

• (C)Getty images
  

  The inevitable confirmed

  At first, this all seemed rather civil. The news of Mbappe's pending departure broke inconspicuously, a Thursday mashing of keyboards at laptops all around the world breaking up an already busy news cycle. But there was nothing insidious about the timing. This was not a Wayne-Rooney-esque announcement on the day of a Champions League clash.

  And there seemed to be an acceptance from everyone involved. Mbappe behaved normally on social media and in interviews. Nasser Al-Khelaifi didn't look happy – how could he be? – but he didn't seem despondent, either. Luis Enrique, characteristically, snapped at a question or two, but that was nothing out of the ordinary. No boos rang down from the Parisian ultras; no insulting comments made the rounds on the internet. Even Mbappe's team-mates resisted the urge to express any ill-will.

  The early vibes were good. Him leaving was inevitable, and everyone seemed to know it.

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  Mbappe benched

  The good times only lasted for about 48 hours, though. On February 17, just two days Mbappe's pending Parisian departure was confirmed, he started on the bench for the Parisians' 2-0 win over Nantes. The official club line was that Mbappe needed a day off after playing all 90 minutes in a taxing Champions League clash with Real Sociedad.

  But Mbappe had failed to start in only one previous game for PSG all season, when he played just 40 minutes against Toulouse after working his way back into the side in the wake of a turbulent summer. Back then, Mbappe was forcing his way back into Luis Enrique's good graces after trying to force his way to Madrid a year earlier than the club had planned. He was unable to play the whole game, largely because he was short of full fitness after sitting out a chunk of pre-season.

  So, February 17 felt more like a warning shot. Mbappe, inevitably, came on and scored – burying an effort to finish off a comfortable victory. Since then, he has started both of PSG's subsequent matches, but lasted just over an hour against Rennes, while against Monaco on Friday, he was replaced at half-time. Mbappe reacted by opting not to sit on the bench with the rest of his team-mates for the second half. Instead, he ascended into the Stade Louis II stands, and took in the rest of the game alongside his mother, Fayza Lamari – making time for a few selfies on his walk up.

  Everything looked calm, but Mbappe is clearly not untouchable anymore.

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  Concerning performances

  Mbappe may feel hard-done by here, and he has every right to. No top-level athlete likes to sit on the bench. However, there still is a nagging feeling that the forward hasn't quite been at his best of late. He has scored just once in last three outings, and that came via a late penalty against Nantes in a game that PSG were already leading.

  His most recent showing against Monaco, in particular, was of some concern. In 45 minutes, Mbappe managed just 29 touches, completed only one dribble, and took one shot – which went off target. His work rate in that contest, too, was lacking, and PSG looked better without him after the break.

  This is, admittedly, a small sample size. Zoom out, and Mbappe is still one of the best in the world. He has scored 31 goals and added seven assists for the Parisians this season. Only Harry Kane and Lautaro Martinez have found the net more in domestic competitions. If this were a normal season – and if Mbappe was to play every minute – he could quite comfortably score 50.

  This, then, may be a short-term stumble in his form. Mbappe, under most circumstances, is too good to bench.

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  Luis Enrique doesn't take any sh*t

  And in a way, Luis Enrique has been awaiting this opportunity. His appointment was an inadvertent stroke of luck for the Parisians. It is unclear how far exactly he was down Al-Khelaifi's long-list for the job, but he was certainly not the man they originally wanted. Luis Enrique is supposed to be too strong-willed for a club like PSG.

  But in the nine months since his hiring, the Spaniard has casually taken on more power. First, he showed Neymar the door. Then, he let Marco Verratti walk. And when Mbappe played a high-profile game of brinksmanship over a Saudi Pro League move, it was Mbappe, not Luis Enrique, who blinked first.

  It's the kind of challenge the Spaniard has publicly relished in the past. He had no problems letting Xavi go at Barcelona, and showed little hesitation in challenging both Neymar and Lionel Messi at Camp Nou when needed.

  Mbappe's departure, then, is the change he has been looking for to implement his Parisian vision. The manager oversaw a busy summer of 12 incomings, pushing for the signature of a glut of emerging young talents. And with Mbappe being fazed out, his new post-galactico PSG wave has crashed into the side. Bradley Barcola, Goncalo Ramos and Lee Kang-In have all been offered more minutes.

  Luis Enrique hinted at it last month: "Sooner or later, we have to that we get used to playing without him. It’s my philosophy to think about what's best for the team. I don’t want to argue. It’s my decision.”