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They all say that you have to play the big matches as if it were just another game. New Zealand might have that covered through their captain Kane Williamson. At the best of the times he is understated and levelled, but when you see that a buzzing phone bothers him more than a question about the perceived lack of ruthlessness in the World Cup final, you know this team is taking it as just another game.When asked about “the time of their lives” in the World Cup last year, having come up short against “ruthless” Australians, and what lessons they took from there, Williamson said: “Australia are a very good cricket side. They beat us. That’s fine. That can happen in cricket.”From our perspective we want to keep improving as a unit. We are not looking too far down the track, of changing personalities or looking to make drastic changes. We just want to keep taking small steps forward as a team. Hope that brings a consistent improvement. Respect the game, you can win, you can lose. T20 is more fickle than any format. Go into the game, play fearless cricket, and play smart cricket as well.”Apart from fearless cricket, New Zealand have played a lot of canny cricket. Their selections, and success thereof in all four matches, have come as a surprise for others, but it is business as usual for Williamson and coach Mike Hesson. “I think in terms of my perspective and our coach they are not surprises to us,” Williamson said. “We are simply trying to pick horses for courses, our best side for the given conditions against the given opposition at that point of time. That certainly won’t change.”The success of New Zealand has been the readiness of replacements whenever they are called upon. Mitchell McClenaghan was called in at the last minute in Dharamsala against Australia, and he ended up as the Man of the Match. Tim Southee and Trent Boult, who have not played any game in this World T20, will be a chance here: David Willey has swung the ball in matches in Delhi. Williamson said he didn’t need to bother about that.”They’re very much ready to go,” Williamson said. “Like I said, we still haven’t decided on our side. We will be looking closely at the conditions and the history I suppose of what the wicket has produced and try and pick up a side.”It doesn’t rule out the importance of the two main spinners, though. “Our spinners have been brilliant on surfaces that have suited spin bowling,” Williamson said. “And perhaps the best track we played on in Mohali, they still played a big part. We’re not quite sure what to expect. A few games have been played on it [the Delhi pitch] recently.”A phone kept buzzing, Williamson kept looking at the media manager, and then he provided the most fun answer when asked about the amount of travel New Zealand have had to undertake in playing all their four league matches at different venues. In Dharamsala they got their first look of the pitch on the day of the match. By comparison England have played only in two venues, both of which are hosting semi-finals.”That’s great,” Williamson said. “We’ve been able to see more of India than most opposition sides. It’s one of those things. Surely it just happened by co-incidence? They guys embraced it, embraced the flights and enjoyed the variety of hotels.”

Fabrizio Romano has revealed that Arsenal are eyeing up midfield sensation Romeo Lavia ahead of a potential summer move.

What's the latest on Arsenal's transfer targets?

Mikel Arteta is clearly in hot pursuit of a central midfielder this summer, with reports that Declan Rice is the club's top target, and this follows a January window where large bids were made for Moises Caicedo.

The league leaders are now also keeping an eye on 19-year-old Lavia, who has impressed for Southampton in his 24 appearances this season.

A young option who can rotate with Thomas Partey, Jorginho and Granit Xhaka is seemingly on the wishlist, and Lavia has earned plaudits from his peers, with ex-teammate Kevin de Bruyne previously describing the Belgian as "very good".

Speaking on his YouTube channel, Romano revealed that whilst Arsenal are keeping an eye on the £25k-per-week star, there is nothing concrete in terms of a move just yet.

He said: "Arsenal are keeping an eye on the player.

"Arsenal are following Romeo Lavia, but at the moment, [there is] still nothing advanced. Arsenal have many options."

Why do Arsenal want a midfielder?

Three of Arsenal's main central midfielders in Xhaka, Partey and Jorginho are all aged 29 or older, and Partey's fitness record is particularly inconsistent.

Arsenal are often reliant on Partey at the base of the Arsenal midfield, with Xhaka and Martin Odegaard pushing forward. Whilst Jorginho has stepped in to great effect at times since his January arrival – including a performance against Aston Villa where he helped create the winning goal – a longer-term rotation option could be of great use.

This could explain the interest in younger talents such as Rice and Caicedo, and Lavia may be viewed as an alternative option to the pair.

However, it remains unclear if Lavia can step into Partey's shoes, even as a rotational option. Partey ranks in the top 5% of midfielders in Europe's top competitions over the past year for progressive passes, with the Ghanaian helping Arsenal build attacks from deep, while Lavia ranks in the bottom 29% in this regard, as per FBref.

Although he is still young, the experience Partey and Jorginho bring to the team may be lacking in someone as raw as Lavia. With just 26 senior appearances to his name in his career, it may be a tough task for him to step into a midfield which could potentially compete for the league title again next season.

Declan Rice, in contrast, is West Ham's captain, and has experience domestically, in Europe and on the international stage. Arsenal may have more confidence in the Englishman's ability to step in and perform when needed given the vast difference in pedigree between him and Lavia.

Glasgow Rangers head coach Michael Beale could have a busy summer ahead of him with a number of changes potentially on the way during the summer transfer window.

A number of first-team players are out of contract at the end of the current campaign and could need to be replaced heading into the 2023/24 season.

One player who is set to be a free agent later this year is Colombian marksman Alfredo Morelos.

The Ibrox star is reportedly attracting interest from teams in Spain, Italy, and Turkey and is said to be in a ‘stand-off’ with the club over a new deal, which has led to a summer transfer being described as ‘more likely than not’.

Will Rangers need to replace Alfredo Morelos?

Morelos has been a key player yet again for the club this season and has been the first-choice at the top end of the pitch under Beale so far – racking up nine goals and four assists in 23 appearances in the Premiership so far.

The 26-year-old has provided quality in the final third on a regular basis, both in terms of scoring and creating goals, and the Light Blues will need to bring another option in to replace his output if the gem departs this summer.

One player the club are reportedly keen on signing is Montenegro international Nikola Krstovic, who was valued at a staggering £45m by Dunajska Streda in an attempt to ward off interest from teams in the January window.

However, it remains to be seen how open they will be to cashing in on him in the summer and the Gers could look to snap him up as the heir to the current striker’s throne at Ibrox, albeit at a much cheaper price.

Krstovic, who was dubbed a “goal machine” and of a “similar mould” to Morelos by a Football Insider journalist, would come in as a player with the potential to be a dream long-term successor to the Colombia international at the age of 22.

He could be a terrific signing in the immediate term as well for the future, with his room and time to grow and develop, as his form this season in Serbia has been extraordinary.

The prolific youngster has plundered nine goals and six assists in 17 league starts last term.

These statistics show that the marksman, who scored 41 goals in 96 appearances for Zeta Golubovac at the start of his career, is a regular goalscorer who can also create chances for his teammates.

Therefore, Krstovic could be the ideal heir to Morelos at Rangers, if the Colombian striker departs this summer, as he could replace the goalscoring and creative output in the final third if the Montenegro international can adjust to Scottish football.

James Faulkner has signed a two-year T20 deal with Lancashire. The Australia allrounder will return to county cricket next season, having played a vital role in Lancashire’s 2015 NatWest Blast triumph.Faulkner, 27, has played 94 times for his country, predominately in the white-ball formats, and was Man of the Match during the 2015 World Cup final. His stock of left-arm seam and slower balls has also made him a regular performer at the IPL.”I’m absolutely delighted to be returning to play for Lancashire Lightning in the T20 Blast for the next two years,” Faulkner said. “I absolutely loved my time with the club in 2015 and Finals Day at Edgbaston still lives very long in the memory for me.”I’m very excited to come back and work with Glen Chapple and the rest of the squad who are an extremely talented and exciting group of players. Emirates Old Trafford is an amazing place to play cricket and I can’t wait to reunite with the squad next summer. I’m determined to win the T20 Blast trophy back for the club.”Since lifting the trophy for the first time in 2015 – when Faulkner took 25 wickets and scored 302 runs – Lancashire have twice failed to get out of the group stages. Now in his second season as Lancashire’s head coach, Chapple has turned to a proven competitor to try and improve their T20 fortunes.”I’m really pleased to have secured the services of James for the next two years in the T20 Blast. He is a world-class cricketer and he played an important role in our success in 2015 when we won the competition,” Chapple said.”Signing James on a two-year contract gives us some continuity and stability in terms of our T20 overseas player which is what we were looking for so we’re thrilled to bring him back to Emirates Old Trafford. He’s a great individual to have in the dressing room and his experience at international level will really benefit the squad.”Faulkner’s previous experience of playing in England wasn’t all positive, however. He was given a two-year driving ban and fined £10,000 after being caught nearly three times over the alcohol limit, a transgression that also cost him his place in Australia’s limited-overs squads for the 2015 tour.

Arsenal have slowly cultivated one of the best young squads in Europe, marking a magnificent turnaround from the turgid group of players that Unai Emery had inherited.

Much of this transformation can be attributed to Mikel Arteta's cut-throat start to managerial life, as has now brutally terminated the contracts of nine different players during his time in charge.

Whilst some of those were relatively inconsequential, as the likes of Willian, Hector Bellerin and Sead Kolasinac all fell fowl of the Spaniard's new policy, the likes of Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang, Mesut Ozil, Shkodran Mustafi and more recently Nicolas Pepe were departures that truly turned heads.

It has clearly been a method that brings results though, with last season's second-place finish their highest in seven years.

Now, a new generation of stars has emerged to take the place of these ageing duds, spearheaded by the likes of Bukayo Saka, Gabriel Martinelli, Declan Rice and William Saliba.

However, there is one talent – a certain Emile Smith Rowe- that has endured one of the toughest years of his short career recently and faces a true battle to recapture his place in this stunning side.

Who is Arsenal's highest-value player?

Whilst the Gunners' 'starboy' in Saka unsurprisingly ranks the highest from within their squad, with a €120m (£103m) valuation, there are some other highly-rated assets who will hope to soon rival the England international.

However, that will be a tough task given how the 22-year-old continues to go from strength to strength, seemingly evolving with each passing year to find new ways to dominate the Premier League.

Given the England Player of the Year has featured in every league game of the last two seasons should outline his importance, made even better by the fact he built on his 18 goal contributions during the 2021/22 term to score 14 and assist 11 most recently.

However, such form will actually make for a frustrating reading for Emile Smith Rowe, who was arguably at a similar level to the trickster, marking just a €25m (£21.4m) disparity between their respective values in 2021.

That gulf has since grown to €85m (£72.7m), with the attacking midfielders' injury having hampered what had been a blistering emergence onto the scene.

Having made his true breakthrough during the 2020/21 season, as he made 20 Premier League appearances and enjoyed his international debut with England, it was the campaign following where the 23-year-old would truly announce himself as one of the division's brightest young stars.

Hitting double figures in the league, Saka's ten goals and two assists saw him lauded by many, with Arteta even noting: "When you want to take the game to the next level, when you become a real important player in such a big club, that should be the only priority and every detail is important and relevant. You have to make him aware of that, you cannot give percentages away that can make big differences and he has changed that.”

"The other night he wasn’t 100 per cent fit but he stepped forward and he wanted to play with a difficult injury that he had. There is no complaining, he is just looking forwards, he is really determined, he has changed the way he is living as well a little bit and some of the habits that he had and he’s been superb.”

However, undergoing groin surgery back in September 2022 among numerous other ailments has set the starlet's progress back significantly, failing to make a league start in the entirety of last term.

Now back and ready to force the issue once again, the hope will be that Smith Rowe can put these frustrations behind him to start raising his value once again.

How much was Emile Smith-Rowe worth three years ago?

Making his Premier League debut in late 2019, it was in the following year that he would begin to establish himself as someone worthy of intrigue.

However, given the England international had done little to warrant widespread interest at the time of his emergence, his €2.7m (£2m) valuation marked a fine if unassuming foundation on which he could build a successful career.

Emery clearly saw potential in him, hence why the Spanish boss threw him into Europa League action first, with his faith having since been repaid despite the current Aston Villa figure having departed the Emirates years ago now.

What is Emile Smith-Rowe's market value now?

It is a testament to Smith Rowe's earlier performances that his value has not declined too much during his spell on the sidelines, which had reached a peak in 2022.

That €40m (£34m) figure, as per Transfermarkt, likely played down just how highly-rated he was around north London, and with that having since dropped to just €35m (£30m) more recently, again it likely does not scratch the surface of Arteta's true valuation of the young English maestro. Despite that, a 1400% increase from that aforementioned initial figure marks truly exceptional growth.

All stats via Transfermarkt

After all, his talents are well-known, with former Liverpool legend and Sky Sports pundit Jamie Carragher having lauded him too: "I always want him to do well, you're urging him on. To watch him in full flow, I've said he's the best player in the Premier League running the ball."

Carragher's colleague Gary Neville would support this notion, again mentioning him in the same bracket as Saka: "He's a breath of fresh air. Him and Saka make you feel joy about football. They still play with that spirit and it's wonderful to watch."

Why is Smith Rowe worth that much?

All of these glowing recommendations and fine figures help to explain why Smith Rowe has garnered such a huge valuation, with his nationality certainly aiding in that being boosted.

However, the praise is always linked back to that impressive 2021/22 season, which remains by far the best of a stop-start career.

Maintaining a 6.92 average rating, his 12 goal contributions helped buoy this figure alongside 0.9 key passes and 1.2 shots per game, via Sofascore.

Should Arteta reintegrate him back into the side soon, which could very well happen given the frustrations surrounding Kai Havertz, and he recaptures this form, that value could soon creep back up towards the levels set by teammate Saka. Either way, they well and truly struck gold by unearthing his talents from Hale End.

Vincent Kompany has explained why it's a "luxury" for Bayern Munich to have Chelsea loanee Nicolas Jackson at their disposal. The Belgian coach is pleased with how Jackson is contributing to Bayern's assault on three trophy fronts, but has also confirmed he will be heading to the AFCON with Senegal.

• Jackson slowly adapting to new conditions

  The Senegalese striker joined the German champions on a year-long loan deal for a fee of £14.2m on the summer transfer window deadline day. Initially, Bayern fans were not pleased to see Jackson in their club colours as they were sceptical of his abilities, especially after it was revealed that the deal had a €65 million (£57m) obligation for Bayern to buy the player permanently next summer.

  However, it has now been revealed that the obligation can only be triggered if the ex-Villareal forward starts in at least 40 matches across all competitions for the Bavarian side. So far, the 24-year-old has featured in 17 matches across all competitions, out of which he has started only six and has clocked 525 minutes on the pitch, scoring five goals. 

  While Jackson is not a regular starter under Kompany due to the presence of star attackers like Harry Kane, Luis Diaz and Michael Olise in the club's ranks, the striker has delivered a decent level of performance whenever he has had an opportunity. 

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  'I have a very positive impression of Nicolas'

  Despite not handing him regular starts, Kompany heaped praise on Jackson as he told reporters: "I have a very positive impression of Nicolas. He’s helped us a lot – his goals-per-minute ratio is good. Of course, with Harry Kane up front, you have a bit of competition, and that’s part of the game. So, as a coach, it’s a real luxury to see how Nicolas is handling that. What many people don’t see is what Nicolas does in training and every time he comes on. Against Sporting, I was planning to sub him on, but then Lenny scored, and I had a completely different game plan. Hopefully, he’ll continue to capitalise on the chances he gets."

  Jackson, like many other African footballers from Europe, will be busy with their national team commitments later this month as AFCON 2025 is all set to kick off on December 21. Jackson has been called up by the Senegal national side and Kompany revealed when the striker will leave for Morocco.

  The Belgian coach added: "My understanding is that he will travel after the game against Mainz. We hope he goes as far as possible. Of course, I hope Congo will win the cup, but otherwise I wish him all the best. The importance of this competition for African players shouldn’t be underestimated."

• Will Jackson return to Chelsea?

  Jackson is likely to return to Chelsea next season as he still has to start in 34 matches for the obligation in his contract to get triggered. Bayern would roughly play around 30 more matches across all competitions, which means the Blues can't force the German giants to make the purchase. The only way Jackson can stick around at Bayern is if he shows exceptional form in the second half of the season and wins over Kompany and the club management's trust.  As of now, it seems Jackson will head back to Stamford Bridge next summer.

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  What comes next for Jackson?

  As revealed by Kompany, Jackson's final game for Bayern in 2025 will be against Mainz in the Bundesliga on Sunday. The German champions will then play one more game on December 21 against Heidenheim, before the winter break in Germany kicks in. 

Charlotte FC midfielder Ashley Westwood has been surprised by the "intensity" of MLS since arriving from Burnley FC.

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• Westwood joins Charlotte FC from Burnley in 2023
• Englishman surprised by "intensity" of MLS
• Look ahead at CLT campaign

• WHAT HAPPENED?

  Speaking during media availability at the Coachella Invitational ahead of the 2024 campaign, Westwood revealed that the league surprised him during his inaugural season in MLS. He compared it to the level of the English Championship, noting the intensity might even be higher stateside.

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  WHAT WESTWOOD SAID

  The ex-Clarets star said: "It's an incredible league. It's tough. The traveling you have to get used to, going to different climates. It's not easy. The intensity is a lot like the Championship in England. It's relentless. You've got to be fit."

• THE BIGGER PICTURE

  Westwood made 37 appearances for CLT FC last campaign, scoring three times while playing as a deep-lying midfielder for the MLS side. Ahead of the 2024 season, expectations seem to be higher than ever for the Eastern Conference side, especially with the roster overhaul that saw two Designated Players depart the club this offseason. Argentine striker Enzo Copetti is being touted for a big campaign, with ex-Aston Villa boss Dean Smith now in charge.

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  WHAT NEXT FOR CHALOTTE FC?

  CLT FC open their 2024 campaign on Saturday, February 24 against New York City FC. Until then, they'll be wrapping up their current preseason campaign.

Ajax, Feyenoord and Roma have refuted claims made by Barcelona president Joan Laporta that they are among those willing to join the new Super League.

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Ajax, Feyenoord, & Roma deny Super League involvementJoan Laporta claimed 15 clubs want to joinProject resurfaced after December 2023 court rulng(C)GettyImagesWHAT HAPPENED?

All three clubs have publicly distanced themselves from the resurfacing controversial Super League project. Blaugrana chief Laporta listed 15 teams from various countries across Europe that he claimed are ready to join the competition, that could start as soon as next season. They were Barcelona, Real Madrid, Inter, AC Milan, Napoli, Roma, Marseille, Sporting CP, Benfica and Porto, Ajax, Feyenoord, PSV Eindhoven, Club Brugge and Anderlecht, plus "any team in La Liga except Atletico Madrid".

AdvertisementWHAT THE CLUBS SAID

The Ajax Supporters Association contacted the club and relayed the following message: "Inquiries at the club reveal that Ajax never discussed this with Laporta, let alone agreed. Ajax is completely surprised by this unjustified claim."

Feyenoord's short statement read: "Feyenoord is very surprised by reports in international media that the club has agreed to participate in the so-called Super League. This is total nonsense."

Roma issued a slightly longer statement, which read: "As stated publicly a few hours after the European Court of Justice's decision on the Super League case, AS Roma reiterates that it does not support any project related to the so-called Super League. The club also states that it has never changed its position on the matter, nor has it entered into any discussions about taking a different path other than clubs working together through the ECA in strong partnership and collaboration with UEFA and FIFA."

Getty ImagesTHE BIGGER PICTURE

The Super League project was given new life in December 2023 when the European Court of Justice ruled that it was unlawfully blocked first time around by UEFA and FIFA. There are still many hurdles for the organising firm, A22, to clear and it is far from guaranteed to get off the ground. But UEFA is legally obligated to give full and fair consideration to pitches regarding this or any other proposed new competition operating within its realm. Premier League clubs, Atletico Madrid, Inter and Juventus all withdrew from the original 2021 launch, while Bayern Munich and Paris Saint-Germain have never been involved.

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DID YOU KNOW?

Even with last year's court ruling, Premier League clubs will be automatically barred from joining unlicensed competitions – like the first Super League – under conditions to be set by English football's new independent regulator. The Premier League's Owners' Charter from 2022 also stops clubs from being involved in the creation of "new competition formats outside of the Premier League's rules". Both measures were adopted as a result of the events and uproar of 2021.

Madhya Pradesh finished the third day at 47 for 2, still trailing Delhi by 20 runs after they were bowled out for 405

ESPNcricinfo staff09-Dec-2017
ScorecardPrakash ParsekarFifties from opener Kunal Chandela and Himmat Singh, along with handy middle-order contributions from Rishabh Pant and Nitish Rana carried Delhi to a vital first-innings lead against Madhya Pradesh in their quarter-final in Vijayawada. Delhi secured a 67-run lead after they were bowled out for 405 in the 120th over. Madhya Pradesh finished the third day at 47 for 2, trailing Delhi by 20 runs.Ishwar Pandey struck early on the third morning, removing Chandela for 81, after he had added eight runs to his overnight score. Pant (49) and Rana (43) stitched up a 64-run, fourth-wicket stand to stabilise Delhi. Himmat then put Delhi in control of the game with partnerships of 62 with Manan Sharma (28) and 47 with Vikas Tokas (13).Madhya Pradesh gave themselves a chance by toppling over Delhi’s last four wickets for 17 runs. Legspinner Mihir Hirwani led the bowling with figures of 5 for 89, his fifth five-wicket haul in 13 matches.In reply, Madhya Pradesh lost Rajat Patidar early to Tokas before Ankit Dane, the other opener, was run out in the penultimate over of the day for 16. Shubham Sharma and nightwatchman Puneet Datey were unbeaten at stumps.

Former Test batsman Thilan Samaraweera will be Sri Lanka’s batting coach leading up to the 2019 World Cup, SLC president Thilanga Sumathipala has confirmed.The move is expected to be rubber-stamped on Monday, when Samaraweera arrives on the island from Melbourne, where he lives. The following day he will travel with the team to India, where they are set to play three Tests, three ODIs and three T20Is. Samaraweera will have his work cut out on the tour, in shoring up a batting unit low on confidence.While the role of batting coach is officially a first for the 41-year-old former middle-order batsman, he has previously had stints as a batting consultant with other national outfits – with Bangladesh since September last year, and a brief stint with Australia prior to that. He replaces Hashan Tillakaratne, who had taken up the role on a temporary basis in July ahead of India’s visit to Sri Lanka. Tillakaratne will now go back to his role as batting coach of Sri Lanka’s developmental squads.A veteran of 81 Tests, in which he scored 5462 runs at 48.76, Samaraweera retired from international cricket in 2013.