All posts by h716a5.icu

Crystal Palace could be set to lose one of their most important players this summer due to a clause in his contract at Selhurst Park, according to Sky Sports reporter Dharmesh Sheth.

Which clubs are keen on signing Michael Olise this window?

According to Football Insider, Crystal Palace could be 'powerless' to stop winger Michael Olise from leaving Selhurst Park this summer due to a £35 million release clause in his current contract at the Eagles, which is set to run until 2026.

Manchester City and Chelsea are both keen on offering the France youth international a fresh challenge in the final weeks of the window and the former are targeting him as a potential replacement for Riyad Mahrez, who has recently completed a move to Saudi Pro League outfit Al-Ahli.

Last term, Olise showed his creative efficiency for Crystal Palace on a consistent basis, registering two goals and 11 assists in 40 appearances across all competitions, as per Transfermarkt.

In conversation with Sky Sports via The Sun, Crystal Palace boss Roy Hodgson admitted that the final decision on Olise's future will be left down to the Hammersmith-born playmaker to determine, as he stated in a recent interview: "No one knows at this moment. If there are clubs desperately preparing a bid and tempting him then he'll decide. I can only wait and see what decision he will make; he knows we want to keep him."

Olise is contracted to Crystal Palace until the summer of 2026 and is believed to earn in the region of £85,000 per week on the books at Selhurst Park, as per Capology.

Speaking to GIVEMESPORT, Sky Sports reporter Sheth thinks that Olise's release clause will indeed signify that he will get the final decision on whether to stay at Crystal Palace or leave his current employers this window.

Sheth stated: “It's a little bit up in the air. Crystal Palace are desperate for him to stay, but I think, as it stands, there is some sort of release clause there. If someone can trigger that release clause, then Crystal Palace might not be able to do anything about keeping Olise or not. It will be down to the player himself. So, I think that's where we stand with City just now.”

What now for Crystal Palace?

According to journalist Alan Nixon on Patreon, Crystal Palace are eyeing a move for Southampton goalkeeper Alex McCarthy as Hodgson looks to add depth to his goalkeeping department.

Leicester City stopper Daniel Iversen is another name that has been earmarked to come in and replace Vicente Guiata, who is refusing to play for the Eagles at present, as per The Daily Mail.

Chelsea youngster Lewis Hall has agreed a new contract at Stamford Bridge which could run until the year 2030 and will spend the 2023/24 campaign on loan at Crystal Palace, as per The Evening Standard.

Hall is capable of playing in central midfield and filling in at left-back and Crystal Palace look to have beaten off competition from Newcastle United to bring in the 18-year-old.

With roads sealed off and huge security convoys, the security arrangements provided to the Sri Lanka team are similar to the protocol followed for a presidential visit

Umar Farooq in Lahore29-Oct-20173:05

‘Would love to drive the Sri Lankan team bus again’ – Khalil

The Sri Lanka T20 squad were surrounded by ‘extraordinary’ security arrangements upon their arrival in Lahore on Sunday morning, for the third T20I at the Gaddafi Stadium. This is the first Sri Lanka team to visit Pakistan since the terror attack targeting Sri Lanka’s team bus in Lahore in 2009.The side, which flew in from Abu Dhabi, was escorted to the team hotel in a bomb-proof bus. The routes from the Allama Iqbal Airport in Lahore were virtually sealed off with thousands of armed police deployed along the 14 km route. The streets leading to Mall Road were also deserted as the team was flanked by a large convoy of police commandos. The arrangements were similar to the security protocol followed for a presidential visit.A Sri Lankan security delegation had visited Lahore over the last two days to oversee the arrangements. A full dress rehearsal of the security arrangements from the airport to the hotel to the stadium – involving the Pakistan army, Pakistan’s paramilitary force, the Rangers, and the Punjab police – was also held.”We are prepared to host Sri Lanka team,” Dr Haider Ashraf, Deputy Inspector General (operations) of Punjab Police, told reporters at Gaddafi Stadium. “Under the umbrella of the Punjab government, and with the help of Pakistan army, rangers and intelligence agencies, we are geared up to make this event successful.”I can assure that the entire administration from Punjab government and police is very much professional and competent to handle such event. A Sri Lanka security delegation was here and nobody has so far objected or expressed any dissatisfaction about any of our arrangements. We have adopted all the best international practices and everyone on board is satisfied. International security consultants are also on board. There are four layers of security check points to enter the stadium and Lahore administration has put a shuttle service in place to take fans from the parking area to the stadium gates. There are four parking points covering all direction of the city.”The team that landed in Sunday does not include any player or coach who was present in 2009. Sri Lanka Cricket had announced a new-look T20I squad after several senior players refused to travel to Lahore. Sri Lanka’s regular T20I captain, Upul Tharanga, had pulled out, along with Lasith Malinga, Niroshan Dickwella, Suranga Lakmal and Akila Dananjaya. The team is being captained by Thisara Perera. SLC president Thilanga Sumathipala and sports minister Dayasiri Jayasekara have accompanied the side to Lahore.Sri Lanka’s cricketers were driven to the team hotel in a bomb-proof bus•PCBSunday’s match is yet another attempt by the Pakistan Cricket Board to show the country’s will and capacity to host international cricket, which had stopped for many years following the 2009 terror attack. In March 2009, the Sri Lanka team bus was attacked en route to the Gaddafi Stadium for the third day of the second Test, at the Liberty Roundabout situated 1.5 kilometres from the stadium. Eight people were killed in the attack and a few Sri Lanka players were injured. With teams refusing to tour Pakistan in the aftermath of the attack, the board had to adopt the UAE as its home venue for international cricket.The landscape of the city, however, has changed drastically over the last eight years. The flow of traffic around the Liberty Roundabout has been altered, and the Nishtar Park complex, which houses the Gaddafi Stadium, is now well protected with huge metal gates.In 2015, Zimbabwe became the first Test-playing nation to tour Pakistan since the attack, with a limited-overs series held in Lahore. Despite extensive security measures, a bomb blast occurred 800m away from the Gaddafi Stadium during the second ODI, killing two people. Zimbabwe stayed on and finished the series two days later, but the tour did not lead to a change in the perceptions about security in Pakistan.The next high-profile match in Lahore was the Pakistan Super League final in March 2017. This was followed by a successful tour of the World XI for three T20Is in September, which saw a number of high-profile cricketers turn out. The World XI side was coached by Andy Flower and included five players from South Africa – including Faf du Plessis and Hashim Amla – three from Australia, two from West Indies and one player each from England, Bangladesh, New Zealand and Sri Lanka. The series was officially backed by the ICC, who also hired independent experts to oversee security arrangements. Players were offered US $100,000 to play the series, which spanned five days. It was a key step for the PCB in its efforts to convince teams that Pakistan is ready to host top-flight international cricket.The PCB is now in talks with Cricket West Indies for three T20I matches in November, but the West Indies board has not yet confirmed the series.

Stuart Law has called on West Indies’ batsmen to focus on getting their tempo right as he looks for improvements in the 50-over format

Nagraj Gollapudi26-Sep-2017Stuart Law was keen not get involved in the absence of Ben Stokes and Alex Hales from England’s side for the fourth ODI at The Oval. What Law cared more about was West Indies’ batsmen understanding the simple art of pacing the innings, of playing at the correct “tempo”.What Law wants his batsmen to do is set the right pace in the middle-overs segment, overs 16-40 – a phase where West Indies tended to become stagnant. Numbers expose this weakness: since the 2015 World Cup, West Indies’ average run rate in the middle overs has been 4.98, which is the lowest among all top-eight ranked teams. It has not improved in 2017: a run rate of 4.64 is again the lowest in the middle-overs phase.Pacing an innings has acquired a new meaning, with the best ODI teams scoring at about six runs an over in the middle period, with at least one top-order batsman playing deep into the innings. Virat Kohli, David Warner, Steven Smith, Kane Williamson and Hashim Amla have consistently set the tempo for their respective middle and lower-middle orders to capitalise upon in the death overs.Unfortunately for the West Indies, no top-order batsman has shown the patience and the capability to bat longer. West Indies batsmen have scored just five centuries since the 2015 World Cup in 34 matches, which again is the least among the major teams.Law does not need the numbers to tell him what is wrong and wants West Indies to recalibrate so they can dominate during the World Cup Qualifiers next March. “We are not quite playing at the tempo that suits one-day cricket,” Law said. “We are caught between Test cricket and T20 cricket. Of course we are very good at T20 cricket. We are ever-improving in the Test match arena. This is the arena we need to make sure that we start grabbing hold of and we start understanding, particularly with what we have got coming up early next year [at the World Cup Qualifiers in March].”As an example he cited the Bristol ODI on Sunday, where Chris Gayle powered the West Indies to a robust beginning before the innings floundered equally swiftly, England winning the match with 10.5 overs to spare.”We are either going too hard too early, and not spacing it out over longer period of time,” Law said. “It was pretty evident the other night – we got bowled out with 11 overs to go and we were still up with the rate. Our tempo was pretty good in certain aspects, but we need to improve. We need to make sure that we have two set batsmen going in the last 10-15 overs. If we have got that we can be even more destructive.”If there is one thing West Indies batsmen have excelled at, it is at hitting sixes. They have hit 150 sixes since the last World Cup, which is about a six every 54 balls. Only England and New Zealand have better frequency at clearing the boundary. “We just need a little bit more from the rest of our top order and bit smarter batting through that middle period. We have got the power to hit the sixes. We have got the power to drive it home in the last 10-15 overs.”Throughout this series Law’s message to the squad – both Test and limited-overs – has been to stand up and fight. Get better. Keep repeating the good things. Those are not just empty clichés. Law clearly wants West Indies to be start getting consistent at doing the simple things right in order to become consistent at winning.

West Ham United are in desperate need of reinforcements in midfield following the departure of Declan Rice and Manuel Lanzini; now a fresh update has emerged on the club's pursuit of a transfer target.

What's the latest on West Ham's interest in Youssouf Fofana?

According to the Daily Mail, West Ham are stepping up their efforts to sign Monaco midfielder Youssouf Fofana this summer.

As per the report, there are growing frustrations in east London as it is claimed that coach David Moyes and director of football Tim Steidten are not on the same page when it comes to identifying players who can improve the Hammers for next season.

Read the latest West Ham transfer news HERE…

However, the Irons are now set to step up their pursuit of the Ligue 1 midfielder over the coming days and will also make a move for his compatriot Adrien Truffert.

How good is Youssouf Fofana?

West Ham will kick off their 2023/24 Premier League campaign next Saturday with an away clash at AFC Bournemouth, so getting some business done will be imperative in the next few days.

The Hammers sold their most valuable asset in Rice last month for a whopping £105m to Arsenal, so the east Londoners are not short of financial power as they enter the final weeks of the summer transfer window.

Indeed, Moyes' side have been pushed away when approaching targets, with a £40m bid rejected for Conor Gallagher and their Carlos Borges deal hijacked by Ajax earlier this week.

As a result, the signing of Fofana could be a great piece of business for West Ham as they look to strengthen their presence in the centre of the pitch and could even be a better option than Gallagher.

The 24-year-old machine – who has a reported price tag of up to £31m – has been going from strength to strength in the French league and has been one of the stand-out performers in his position over the last 12 months.

As per FBref, Fofana ranks in the top 16% of midfielders in the top five European leagues for progressive passes, progressive carries, successful take-ons and interceptions per 90 minutes, proving that he is a confident ball-winner with strong abilities to progress forward.

When comparing the Monaco midfielder's output to Gallagher's last season, Fofana comfortably outperformed his positional peer in several key attributes including pass completion (81.6% v 81.1%), goal-creating actions per 90 (0.32 v 0.17), successful take-ons (50.5% v 42.6%), percentage of dribblers tackled (51.4% v 27%) and aerial duels won (54.8% v 40.4%).

Not only that, the Frenchman – once hailed "magnificent" by talent scout Jacek Kulig – is versatile in his positioning with the ability to play both central and defensive midfield, something that would be a precious asset to Moyes due to his desperation for quality and depth, particularly in the engine room.

With that being said, it would be a no-brainer for West Ham to secure the services of Fofana this summer, as he could not only provide the Scotsman with the much-needed quality and consistency in midfield next season but would also soften the blow of missing out on Gallagher too.

After a difficult period, 193 for Ben Duckett shows that one of English cricket’s most dynamic talents looks back to his best.

Vithushan Ehantharajah at Wantage Road05-Sep-20171:37

County Championship Round-up: Duckett dominates Sussex

Northamptonshire 329 for 5 (Duckett 193) v Sussex
The sentiment across Wantage Road was “that’s more like it”, as Ben Duckett walked off sombrely, head down, before raising his bat to those belting out applause from around the ground. The only sign of success was the scoreboard: Northamptonshire were 317 for 4 and that departing man, Duckett, had 193 of them from 200 balls. No one, especially not Sussex, saw this storm coming.Despite the entire first session lost to rain, Duckett’s remarkable innings left Northants on 329 for 5, with batsmen still to come, after just 74.4 overs of play. Sussex must be sick of the sight of him – he came into this match with an average of 111 against them, across five Championship knocks, which include an unbeaten 282 last season – and they will rue a decision to insert Northants after seeing the pitch late because of the morning deluge.Northants, 40 points adrift of the second promotion spot, needed a win against a better-placed Sussex to keep what little thread of hope they have of Division One cricket next year. That may yet still be beyond them. But with Duckett in this form, who really knows.”The main focus was that, when I did get to a hundred, my thought was to kick on. Don’t throw it away,” he said. He did anything but: a return to 2016 type, when he amassed 2,706 runs in all formats, with the lowest of four red-ball hundreds clocking in at 185. This, his third hundred of the season and 13th of his first-class career, was the most Ben Duckett he’s been all year. It was one that keeps him on track for a thousand runs in the season.He admits that picking himself up after a difficult winter has been tough. Lesser men would have taken that period too dearly to heart and opted for a more subdued approach to their batting. No one would have blamed him.There was a coldness to his time with England. Some may chalk it up to “the demands of international cricket”. But the reality is that two ODI half-centuries against Bangladesh, followed by a fine maiden Test fifty in Dhaka – one that should have been match-winning had those around him not folded in a heap – represented a solid start.So to India, where he was moved to No.4 and dropped after the second Test, leaving him to twiddle his thumbs for the best part of a month. In that time, he toiled in the nets, trying to concoct a game suitable for the subcontinent. It proved a deeply frustrating endeavour. He then failed to make the squads for the limited-overs series in India, instead joining the Lions in Sri Lanka, where five one-day knocks reaped just 141 runs.Between the fourth and fifth Test, with India already 2-0 up in the series, Duckett was one of a party of England players to travel to the UAE to break-up a gruelling tour. While there, he met up with his good friend Joe Clarke, the Worcestershire batsman there on duty with the England Lions. “Nothing prepares you for it,” Duckett told Clarke of the scrutiny of international cricket. “The media and everyone start digging into your technique.”Ben Duckett raises his bat on reaching fifty•Getty ImagesSo to see him regain his swagger – aggressively throwing his hands at everything in his half, never shirking a short ball and committing wholeheartedly to reverse sweeps – was something to cherish.Early on, he was calm yet able to punish some wayward bowling from an experienced Sussex attack who should know better. Chris Jordan found himself on the wrong end of some treatment down the ground, as Duckett drove him twice through mid-on to take 10 off his fifth over. A stand of 91 with Rob Newton got the ball rolling before Richard Levi joined him to put on 96 for the third wicket.There was good fortune, no doubt. There always is when you take the swashbuckling route.On 55, he had his head in the clouds at the non-striker’s end when his captain Alex Wakely dropped one into the off side and set off to get himself off the mark. Angus Robson, running around from point, gathered and threw wildly at the striker’s end. By this point, Duckett was a few yards off making his ground and wicketkeeper Ben Brown had made it to the stumps. A deep breath and an under-arm throw, and Duckett finished with 55. He moved to 59 when he edged the ball just in front of Chris Nash at second slip.On 78, he attempted a pull off Robinson that nearly bumped his off stump. The very next ball, he guided audaciously between a wide first slip and a narrow gully. An attempted pull shot followed.A top edge off Jordan took him to 96 before a more deliberate boundary an over later crashed into the advertising boards at midwicket to take him to his century, from 128 balls. At this point, Northamptonshire were 180 for 2, Sussex aware that this was a line-up prone to collapsing when ahead of the game.So when Levi’s accomplished innings ended at the start of the 53rd over on 44, pulling Jofra Archer to Robson on the square-leg fence, the locals began to fear for the worst. Not Duckett, who took 14 runs off the final four balls of Archer’s over, including three fours finding gaps through a fortified leg side.Archer didn’t take too kindly to the treatment and gave Duckett a spray. The next over, Duckett flayed one short ball through midwicket and then, somehow, pulled the next ball back over Archer’s head. A single later and the pair were squaring up, face-to-face. Umpires Ian Blackwell and Richard Kettleborough, to their credit, let it dissipate naturally. It was one of those “not nice to see” moments that everyone loves to see.”I thought that would be mentioned,” he joked, when the tussle was put to him for comment. “I love that. It gets me going, and that was a period when I was getting tired. I was looking to bat till the end of the day and it actually turned it around for me. It was a really good battle.”The extra spice told. A handful of sweeps took Duckett to 150 from 164 balls – the third fifty taking 36 balls and 35 off 17 coming since the fall of Levi. Luke Procter, on Northants debut, was happy to take it in from the other end, rotating the strike as necessary. Nothing sums up their dynamic quite like the breakdown of their 100 stand, brought up when Duckett sidled down the pitch and hit Danny Briggs over the top of extra cover for four: it took exactly 16 overs, with Procter contributing 22 from 49 deliveries.Later that over, he thumped a short delivery back to Briggs, who took a sharp caught-and-bowled. He did not walk off like a man who had flayed 193: “I think the way I walked off there, you would have thought I got nought.”Who knows what this might mean beyond this match and for Duckett’s immediate international prospects. What we can say is that, after a difficult period, one of English cricket’s most dynamic talents looks back to his best.

Manchester United have reportedly made a formal offer to sign Fenerbahce goalkeeper Altay Bayindir this summer.

Are Man United signing another goalkeeper?

The Red Devils have already brought in Andre Onana from Inter Milan after David de Gea left Old Trafford following the expiration of his contract. Midfielder Mason Mount has also arrived from Chelsea, and Atalanta forward Rasmus Hojlund looks likely to be the next player to sign for Erik ten Hag’s side.

After securing the services of the Denmark international, though, it appears as if the club have some more work to do before the deadline closes on September 1.

Read The Latest Man United Transfer News HERE…

Fabrizio Romano recently claimed that United’s focus will be on signing another new midfielder, although he did say that the club are still monitoring Nice defender Jean-Clair Todibo.

“I mentioned in April that Man United sent their scouts multiple times to follow both Todibo and Disasi – they’re very attentive to French market.

“Todibo is still being monitored, and we’ll have to wait and see how Man United will act. The priority will be a midfielder for now, so there’s nothing imminent on Todibo.”

Another goalkeeper could also be on the agenda alongside a midfielder and defender, though, especially as Dean Henderson has continued to be linked with a return to Nottingham Forest.

Should that materialise, Ten Hag would be left with Tom Heaton and Matej Kovar as alternative options to Onana, something which may need to be addressed.

Reports last month claimed that an offer for Urawa Red Diamonds goalkeeper Zion Suzuki had been knocked back by the Japanese club. There were also rumours at the beginning of July over a United bid for Bayindir, and it looks as if the offer, or a new one, is on the table from Old Trafford chiefs.

Sport Witness relayed an update from CNN Turk regarding United and Bayindir, claiming the Red Devils have started official attempts to sign the 6ft 5 goalkeeper.

It is claimed that despite the goalkeeper having a cheap €6m release clause, a formal offer has been made by United, so those in Manchester may be looking to finalise a deal under that figure.

Who could leave Man United this summer?

There have been plenty of players linked with a move to Old Trafford, and it looks as if Ten Hag will have more than two new players through the door before the end of the month.

However, attentions could soon be on departures, with 13 players up for sale at the start of the summer. Reports suggested that the club were hopeful of raising as much as £100m by moving players on, something which has yet to come to fruition.

Henderson was named as one of the players who could be on the move, should an offer in the region of £20m arrive. If the Englishman does end up leaving on a permanent deal, then Bayindir, valued at €11m by Transfermarkt and a Turkey international, could prove to be a solid replacement, possibly on a cheap deal, making this a transfer to keep an eye on over the coming weeks.

Sethi, the only member in the Board of Governors to file nomination papers, was voted in unopposed

Umar Farooq09-Aug-2017The PCB’s new Board of Governors (BoG) has picked the Prime Minister of Pakistan’s direct nominee Najam Sethi as board chairman for the next three years. Sethi was unanimously elected from within the 10-member BoG as no other member of the BoG filed nomination papers for the post.Sethi’s chances of taking over as chairman were very high after he was named on the PCB’s BoG on July 8 by the then Prime Minister of Pakistan Nawaz Sharif – who was later disqualified by the country’s Supreme Court – as one of two direct nominees along with Ariff Ejaz, a prominent corporate figure. According to the PCB constitution, the chairman has to be elected from among those persons on the BoG.Members present at the BoG meeting where Sethi was elected

Najam Sethi, Ariff Ejaz, Muzamil Hussain (WAPDA), Nauman Dar (HBL), Miftah Ismail (Sui Southern Gas), Mansoor Masood Khan (UBL), Murad Ismail (Quetta), Muhammad Numan Butt (Sialkot), Nadeem Ahmed (Lahore), Amjad Ali Khan (IPC, non-voting member). The FATA representative was not present at the meeting.

The previous three-year tenure ended when chairman Shaharyar Khan resigned, aged 83, citing personal and health reasons. Ejaz will be his replacement on the BoG, with representatives from the Lahore regions, Quetta, Sialkot, FATA, Peshawar, Islamabad and Rawalpindi. Among the other four members, Water and Power Development Authority and United Bank Limited will retain their seats while Habib Bank Limited and Sui Southern Gas Company Limited have replaced Sui Northern Gas Pipelines Limited and National Bank of Pakistan.”I want to thank the new board of governors who have elected me unanimously today,” Sethi said, after being elected. “It’s a big responsibility on me and with their cooperation we will move forward. Secondly, I want to thank Shaharyar Khan also. It was a very good journey along with him. Lots of people thought there will be a gulf between us, but it never happened and he was a gracious and wonderful man to work with.”There are challenges but the main target is to make domestic cricket much stronger and keep tapping into the talent. The other major issue is that our all hard work will go in vain if we are not able to bring international cricket back to the country. Moreover, I am disappointed with [Pakistan’s progress in] women’s cricket. There are few good ideas and we will look to implement some reforms. We have done a lot of work and doing much more to make this possible .. lots of people are disappointed and I request them to show some patience. There are security issues. One day we decide that a team will come and then something happens. Over the next 2-3 months you will hear some good announcements.”This is Sethi’s second term in charge after the long battle over the leadership of the PCB between Zaka Ashraf and Sethi, which ended in May 2014; there had been multiple leadership changes in the PCB, after Ashraf became the first elected PCB chairman in May 2013.The Islamabad High Court termed those elections “dubious”, and Sethi was put in charge by the government. Ashraf and Sethi were then alternately reappointed and sacked from the post several times, before Sethi eventually filed a written statement before the court that he will not contest elections for the chairman’s post.Sethi, however, remained on the PCB’s BoG and head of the Executive Committee (ExCo) to control cricket affairs in Pakistan. In that period, Sethi was involved in the day-to-day functioning of the PCB and became an influential board member with signing authority. Although the PCB did not reveal the ExCo’s functions, it is understood that the committee holds significant influence in the board.Apart from the ExCo, five other committees – cricket, domestic, HR, Audit, Game Development – were formed with the previous BoG members dissolved with immediate effect. The new committees will be formed with newly inducted members on the Board in due course though Sethi confirmed that the ExCo would disband once and for all during his term as chairman.The entire national coaching staff will remain in charge, he said, with physiotherapist Shaun Hayes the only member whose contract will not be renewed. He will be released with the PCB paying him his salary for the remaining three months of his current contract. The national selection committee led by Inzamam ul Haq will stay in place along with National Cricket Academy director Mudassar Nazar.Sethi, 69, a former caretaker chief minister of Punjab, comes from a journalism background. He has also been a driving force behind the Pakistan Super League.

Leeds United continue to be linked with a man certain to ease the biggest issue emerging from Elland Road of late…

Who are Leeds United signing this summer?

Having already welcomed Ethan Ampadu and Karl Darlow to the club this summer, it could be argued that Daniel Farke has sufficiently bolstered a weak backline.

It seems like the German clearly feels that way too, given how reports are detailing their new pursuit of Swansea City striker Joel Piroe.

Football insider has offered a fresh update, suggesting that it will take a sum of around £20m to tempt the Welsh outfit to part with their star man, who has just one year left on his deal at The Swansea.com Stadium.

Read the latest Leeds transfer news HERE…

They are set to battle with a host of Championship clubs for his signature.

How good is Joel Piroe?

Whilst acquiring the Dutchman would mark outstanding business in its own right, the current injury crisis plaguing Farke's front line is a point of serious concern that makes this move even more important.

Journalist Graham Smyth wrote on Twitter: "Bamford (hamstring) and Rutter (core muscle injury) now doubtful for Cardiff but Farke not yet certain of timescale."

To be without these key attackers for the opening day of the new campaign will be a worry for the new boss, which he will seek to ease before that deadline in just under a week.

Although both struggled last season in the Premier League, at present this would leave them with only youth team strikers to occupy such a role, or else be forced to play someone out of position.

That is where Piroe would come in as a star above all else, likely even the injured pair.

After all, the 23-year-old has shone ever since trading his homeland for England, scoring 22 goals and assisting six in his debut year, before posting a further 21 goal contributions in the league just last season.

Such form unsurprisingly has drawn praise, with Chair of the Swansea City AFC Foundation Andrew Rhodes having predicted something "special" from their new frontman. That has since come to fruition.

Russell Martin would later outline this, detailing his lethal scoring touch as a fine asset in April 2022: "If you wanted it to fall to anyone, it is him, he is so clinical with both feet, and he is a great technician. But the most important thing he has is the right mentality when he gets around the goal.

“He shows composure, he is calm, and he just focuses on his technique, something that all top strikers possess."

Whilst Bamford might have scored 16 during his last Championship campaign, and Rutter boasts immense potential that could thrive under less pressure their new level brings, Piroe would still represent a far more reliable source of goals given he has shone for two consecutive years now.

The former proved himself far from the requisite level last campaign in the top flight, missing 13 big chances as they fell to the drop. Meanwhile, the Frenchman would start just once following his club-record switch in January.

For just £20m, the young finisher would take the goalscoring burden off both of these struggling forwards, hopefully to fire Farke to an instant promotion.

Sabina Park might possibly provide the best batting pitches in the Caribbean, but it has not been the luckiest ground for India. Can the ninth-ranked West Indies pull off a grand upset?

The Preview by Alagappan Muthu05-Jul-2017Match FactsThursday, July 6, 2017
Start time 0900 local (1400 GMT)1:28

‘I’m a proper allrounder’ – Pandya

Big PictureA month ago, the lowest-seeded team went into a world tournament and came away with the championship. Now, in the era of teams cruising to targets of 300-plus, a total of 189 has been successfully defended and a series between the third and the ninth-ranked teams has come to a decider. Ladies and gentlemen, it has finally happened. Miffed at all of us writing it off, and all the talk of little brother T20 taking over the world, fifty-over cricket has decided the time has come to show off the crazy tricks it has up its sleeve. So, Sabina Park, are you ready?Since 2010, three out of nine totals batting first here have exceeded 300. Additionally, during the past seven years, the average run-rate of 5.00 is the highest across venues in the West Indies (minimum nine matches played). Kingston, and it’s fast-paced pitches, offers the best batting conditions in the Caribbean and that plays into India’s hands. (Or not, considering India have only won two out of their seven completed ODIs at the venue).Virat Kohli and his men like to construct their innings organically. They start slowly, build steadily and then only after a certain threshold of overs – in other words, making sure they will not be bowled out – do they vent their anger on the white ball. The first match in North Sound showed this approach in good light, the second not so much. If West Indies’ bowlers can maintain discipline stiflingly enough, things could come to a proper boil. What’s more, they’ve tasted victory – for only the fifth time in their last 20 completed matches – and it was remarkably sweet. Both the captain and coach – Jason Holder and Stuart Law – have already said they want more. Weather permitting, that is.Form guideWest Indies WLLWL (last five completed matches, most recent first)
India LWWLWIn the spotlightFast bowler Kesrick Williams has found great success with his assortment of slower deliveries. With no great pace, he relies on his accuracy and his ability to surprise batsmen with variations. West Indies must have wholehearted trust in his ability to deliver these variations under stress, as they have tended to deploy him in the slog overs.”Our shot selection wasn’t up to the mark,” said Virat Kohli in trying to explain how a veritable artillery of batsmen failed to take down a target of 190. The Indian captain himself has been guilty of that particular error, especially against the short ball in this series. Barring one innings, he has not given himself the time he usually likes to feel comfortable at the crease. Perhaps, with the trophy on the line, he’ll bring out his best.Team newsWest Indies might keep the same team, but they will want their batting line up to be a bit more conscious of scoring runs. In the last five years, and among Full Members, their average of 27.49 and run-rate of 5.13 are only better than Afghanistan, Ireland and Zimbabwe.West Indies (probable): 1 Evin Lewis, 2 Kyle Hope, 3 Shai Hope (wk), 4 Jason Mohammed, 5 Roston Chase, 6 Jason Holder (capt), 7 Rovman Powell, 8 Ashley Nurse, 9 Kesrick Williams, 10 Devendra Bishoo, 11 Alzarri JosephYuvraj Singh was left out of the last ODI in an effort to manage a hamstring niggle. If he is fit again, he might return to the XI. R Ashwin and Bhuvneshwar Kumar were rested on Sunday, perhaps they might come off the bench for the decider.India (probable): 1 Shikhar Dhawan, 2 Ajinkya Rahane, 3 Virat Kohli (capt), 4 Yuvraj Singh/Dinesh Karthik/Rishabh Pant, 5 MS Dhoni (wk), 6 Kedar Jadhav, 7 Hardik Pandya, 8 Kuldeep Yadav, 9 Ravindra Jadeja/R Ashwin, 10 Bhuvneshwar Kumar/ Mohammed Shami, 11 Umesh YadavPitch and conditionsOverhead news: the Kingston weather forecast suggests some rain both on the eve and on the day of the match. Underfoot news: it’s the best surface in the Caribbean.Stats and trivia MS Dhoni has 119 not outs in international cricket. If he can go unbeaten in one more innings, he’ll take the record, from Sri Lanka’s Muttiah Muralitharan West Indies have lost the last six bilateral series against India. Their last victory was at home in 2006, a 4-1 demolition West Indies have won 24 of their 32 ODIs at Sabina Park – including the last nine on the trotQuotes”I don’t count myself as a one-dimensional player. I feel that I should see the scoreboard and play accordingly and that’s how I’m going to learn cricket.”

Liverpool's interest in Paris Saint-Germain and Italy maestro Marco Verratti is a worry for Atletico Madrid's efforts to sign him, according to a transfer update from Spain.

How much does Marco Verratti earn?

The Italian has enjoyed a fantastic career for both club and country, winning countless trophies and arguably standing out as one of the best midfielders of his generation.

Verratti has won an incredible nine Ligue 1 titles during his time with PSG, as well as tasting Euro 2020 glory with Italy, and he has always caught the eye with his ability to dictate a game and keep possession in tight areas in the middle of the park.

The 30-year-old, who currently earns £238,000 per week, only signed a new deal with the French giants back in December, keeping him at the club until the summer of 2026 in the process. Despite this, it could be that he leaves before the 2023/24 season gets underway, with his future up in the air.

With Liverpool very much on the lookout for new signings in the middle of the park, following the exits of so many players this summer, they have been linked with interest in Verratti, and it now seems their watchful eye is causing doubts in Spain.

Could Liverpool sign Marco Verratti?

According to Marca, Atletico Madrid are trying to sign the Italy star but could struggle to due to interest from England, namely Liverpool, who are looking to replace both Fabinho and Jordan Henderson.

PSG are looking for as much as £60m for Verratti, despite his age, so it remains to be seen if the Reds would be willing to pay that amount for the 30-year-old, but the report believes their presence is a "stumbling block" for Los Rojiblancos.

There is no question that the midfielder is a fantastic footballer who has undoubted experience and pedigree down the years, with Neymar once saying of his teammate:

"I knew Verratti was an excellent player, but I didn't realise he was so spectacular. He's a genius. He's one of the best midfielders I've played with, along with Xavi Hernandez and Iniesta."

For all of Verratti's brilliance as a player, though, it would make little sense in Liverpool signing him, given his age and the fact that he is so similar in style to Thiago. He is also similarly injury-prone, so it would feel like an expensive risk when the Reds have to be bringing in younger options who can cover ground and provide the dynamism that the likes of Fabinho and Henderson once did in their prime.

Frankly, it would be a big surprise if Liverpool ended up making a move for him – the only way it would make any sense is if Thiago also left this summer – and they should instead be turning their attention to options of youthful exuberance like Romeo Lavia, Cheick Doucoure and Khephren Thuram.

While Alexis Mac Allister and Dominik Szoboszlai have already come in as excellent No.8 options, it is vital that the No.6 position is also filled, so that has to be the main area of focus between now and the end of the summer transfer window, as well as bringing in a left-footed centre-back to add more balance to the defence.