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West Ham are battling to sign Ernest Nuamah before the transfer deadline transfer, and a big update has dropped regarding his future.

Who is West Ham target Ernest Nuamah?

The Hammers have had a busy summer to date, experiencing the disappointment of losing captain Declan Rice to Arsenal, but replacing him with some genuine quality.

Edson Alvarez has arrived from Ajax, in what represents an exciting piece of business, while Southampton's James Ward-Prowse also looks like a shrewd acquisition in the middle of the park, too.

The hope is that West Ham's transfer business isn't quite done yet, as they look to give themselves the best possible opportunity to kick on in 2023/24 and build on their fantastic UEFA Europa Conference League success.

One player who could move to the Premier League before the end of the month is Nuamah, who has emerged as an exciting young player for Danish side Nordsjaelland. He has scored 20 goals in just 49 appearances for them, as well as already winning one cap for Ghana, despite his age.

A fresh update has now dropped regarding West Ham's interest in the 19-year-old, with a significant development taking place.

Will West Ham signing Ernest Nuamah?

According to Football Insider, West Ham have now tabled an offer for Nuamah this summer, with the teenager also being tracked by Spurs:

"West Ham have submitted an offer for FC Nordsjaelland star Ernest Nuamah, sources have told Football Insider. The Hammers are in the market for more attacking reinforcements and have made a formal move the 19-year-old winger after shortlisting him as a top target.

"Nuamah’s performances in Denmark’s top division earned rave reviews this season and he is widely regarded as one of the most exciting talents in Europe."

Nuamah, a left-winger who can play on the right or through the middle, looks like a hugely exciting prospect with a big future in the game, with such a prolific goalscoring record for his current club outlining his potential greatly. Flemming Pederson, technical director at Nordsjaelland, has lauded the youngster in the recent past, saying:

"Ernest is first and foremost a dribbler. He is incredibly fast, has a huge acceleration, and a good agility. He is primarily left-footed, but can also use the right. He is a great individualist with tremendous power, who has great potential to also become a skilled team player."

Read the latest West Ham transfer news HERE…

There is no question that Nuamah is still a raw footballer learning his trade, so it would be a surprise if he came in as a regular starter for the Hammers, but he is someone who may well be viewed as a massive part of their future, also proving to be an exciting squad player from the off.

His pace, unpredictability and goal threat could be a really effective weapon for West Ham off the substitutes' bench, at a point when opposition legs are tiring, and it is a signing that would be met with even more happiness if the east Londoners pipped Spurs to his services, as well as the likes of Burnley and Brighton.

The ODI series begins on April 8, five days after the end of the tri-series that also involves Australia and India

ESPNcricinfo staff25-Dec-2017Itinerary

April 8, 1st ODI

April 11, 2nd ODI

April 14, 3rd ODI

England women will play three ODIs in India in April next year, after competing in a T20 tri-series involving the hosts and Australia women.The series begins on April 8, five days after the tri-series final in Mumbai. India women haven’t played ODI cricket since their stellar run to the World Cup final in July, when they narrowly lost to England, but they will have some ODI game time before they meet England again. India will play Australia women in a three-match ODI series in Baroda, which begins on March 12.The venues for the series against England are yet to be announced.

Tottenham Hotspur are "planning to bring in" Torino centre-back Perr Schuurs as reliable news outlet The Times shares an interesting transfer update.

Who will Spurs sign next?

After officially completing deals for goalkeeper Guglielmo Vicario, young centre-back Ashley Phillips, defender Micky van de Ven, playmaker James Maddison, winger Manor Solomon and striker Alejo Veliz, there is still work to do at Spurs.

Ange Postecoglou is in full preparation for the 2023/2024 campaign, having enjoyed a fairly productive pre-season, where Lilywhites supporters caught a fair glimpse of the Austrailian's attack-minded brand of football.

A fair few players impressed during their pre-season, including the likes of Giovani Lo Celso and Ivan Perisic, giving Postecoglou something to ponder with Brentford away looming this Sunday.

He could have a fair idea already of his best starting eleven and general matchday squad, but by the Spurs head coach's own admission, more transfers are need in certain areas.

After conceding 63 league goals last season, more than any other English top flight side above 15th in the table, the need for another star defender is there – with Posteocoglou addressing it multiple times over the last week.

Read the latest Tottenham transfer news HERE…

“It's not done yet," said Postecoglou last weekend.

"We need bolstering in that central defensive area. We need defenders who can work in an aggressive formation, defend well & behind them. We'll be looking to bring in a couple in that area in the coming days."

After that comment, the Tottenham boss addressed their need for new defenders again, following their entertaining final pre-season warm up against Barcelona.

"We've to see what happens with outgoings," explained Postecoglou.

"But, the potential is there to bring in one more centre back after van de Ven."

It appears that, depending on certain exits, another central defensive addition is very much on the cards before September 1 – with Serie A ace Schuurs coming as a key target.

That is according to The Times, as their reliable reporters Gary Jacob and Constantin Eckner share an update on Tottenham's links to the Dutchman.

Schuurs, who won multiple league titles during his time at Ajax, has found his way on to Spurs' radar after their capture of van de Ven.

It is believed they're "planning to bring in" the 23-year-old, if they can offload unwanted players, and Torino value their colossus at around £28 million.

There is little said in regard to a possible Spurs bid or how they are plotting to sign Schuurs, but it appears he is the next key target.

How good is Perr Schuurs?

Schuurs made 30 Serie A appearances under Torino boss Ivan Juric last season, all the while making more successful tackles and clearances per 90 than any other member of their squad (WhoScored).

The Netherlands ace is also a brilliant ball-playing defender, having averaged a pretty impressive 88.2% of his passes out from the back over 22/23.

Journalist Josh Bunting, writing on X in late 2022, also branded Schuurs a "mountain" defender for Torino – so the player is not without his credentials.

The fact he is still young at 23 and could be available for just £28m could be a major pull for Tottenham and chairman Daniel Levy.

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.

With 82 ODI wickets in 48 matches, he stands a chance to be the fastest New Zealander to 100 ODI scalps, but it is possible Mitchell McClenaghan may not even take a shot. His request to be released from a central contract to pursue a future in overseas T20 leagues has been accepted by New Zealand Cricket. This was almost a formality after McClenaghan had been picked up by Durban Qalandars in the new Global T20 league in South Africa. McClenaghan expects to play in the Big Bash League, which begins three days after the South African league ends on December 16.While McClenaghan, 31, stays eligible for selection for New Zealand whenever available in the future, it is hard to envisage a time when he won’t be busy playing in the T20 leagues. He has been an integral part of Mumbai Indians in the IPL, St Lucia Stars in the CPL and Middlesex in county cricket. Add two more leagues to his commitments, and the only time he might have left to play for New Zealand is in world events. A precedent of such a return is Daniel Vettori’s participation in the 2015 World Cup.Lockie Ferguson picked up the contract vacated by McClenaghan. New Zealand, top-ranked in T20Is and on No. 5 in ODIs, have a big limited-overs home summer lined up with Test series being cut to two each to make space for more limited-overs cricket. New Zealand are supposed to play 13 bilateral ODIs, six bilateral T20 internationals and a triangular series of T20Is with Australia and England. They will play only four Tests.”Some new playing opportunities have arisen in the past few weeks, which mean my circumstances have changed,” McClenaghan said. “I’m very grateful for the respect, understanding and goodwill which has underpinned my request to be released from my NZC contract. I’ve worked closely with NZC throughout the process, while also making it clear I still harbour ambitions of playing for New Zealand in the future.”The general manager of NZC High Performance, Bryan Stronach, suggested more releases are not unimaginable. “We have to recognise that, as the T20 game matures, specialists will want to explore the different opportunities that become available – and I think Mitch’s case is symptomatic of that,” Stronach said. “This agreement has been reached amicably and mutually; all parties understand the change in Mitch’s circumstances, and he is released from his contract with our best wishes.”Unable to match the offers made by the global leagues, NZC remains flexible in its contracts when a player wants to choose leagues over international cricket. It means McClenaghan could have stuck with his national contract and obtained no-objection certificates whenever he wanted to play in other leagues, but that would mean being available for New Zealand in every small break between his leagues commitment.

Manchester City fullback Kyle Walker could be "tempted by the possibility" of leaving the club this summer, according to Fabrizio Romano.

The 33-year-old has been at the club since 2017.

What is the latest news regarding Kyle Walker?

Walker is closing in on a move away from the Etihad this summer according to reports.

The Athletic are reporting that the England international has verbally agreed terms with German juggernauts Bayern Munich on a two-year deal. Whilst an agreement between the two sides has not been reached yet, the reported asking price from the current Champions League holders is in the region of £15m.

Current City boss Pep Guardiola has stated that he is determined to keep the fullback, citing his importance for the side and the qualities he brings to the team: "“Kyle is incredibly important for us. He has specific qualities that are so difficult to find out wide. I don’t know what’s going to happen, both clubs are in touch. We will fight for him like I’m sure Bayern will. I don’t know how it will finish.”

Walker has made 254 appearances for the Manchester club since his £50m move in the summer of 2017, registering six goals and 18 assists en route to winning 12 major honours with the club, including five Premier League titles and one Champions League.

There were also reports earlier in the window that Arsenal were interested in signing the former Tottenham Hotspur full-back, however, nothing ultimately materialised regarding that potential move.

Speaking to GIVEMESPORT, Italian journalist Romano revealed that the 78-time-capped England international is "tempted" by the opportunity to join Bayern, with the German side's manager Thomas Tuchel "really pushing" to secure the deal: "Manchester City are really trying their best to keep Kyle Walker, but it's not an easy situation. Also for the player, I can guarantee to you that Walker is tempted by the possibility of joining Bayern Munich. It's a big chance, it's a big contract, and Thomas Tuchel is really pushing to have him."

How can Manchester City replace Kyle Walker?

The Citizens have two real options to replace the 33-year-old should he make the switch to Bavaria.

One option is to delve into the transfer market. The Manchester club are reportedly in talks with Bayern over French international defender Benjamin Pavard however they face stiff competition from local rivals Manchester United as well as Italian giants Juventus. The player is in the final 12 months of his contract at the club, and the German side do not want to lose the 27-year-old on a free transfer next summer so have placed a €30m price tag on the defender. Pavard is set for a reduced role next season following the arrival of Kim Min Jae and the potential arrival of Walker, so may push for a move for more regular first-team football ahead of Euro 2024, and due to both clubs wanting a respective player, a swap deal could be negotiated between the sides which could make City the favourites.

Man City do also have a couple of potential in-house solutions as well. Portuguese full-back Joao Cancelo could be reintroduced into the first-team setup following his six-month loan spell in Munich during the second half of last season following a fallout with boss Guardiola. The player has featured during the side's pre-season tour so far and has even registered an assist. Another in-house option could be giving young Rico Lewis increased minutes next season. The full-back made his mark at City last season, making 23 appearances in all competitions and playing his part in helping the club secure an illustrious treble. Referred to as the clubs "little Phillip Lahm" by Guardiola, the youngster may be ready for an increased role with greater responsibility next season should Walker depart this summer.

Kyle Coetzer smashed a century to set the foundation of a famous Scotland win at The Grange

The Report by Peter Della Penna in Edinburgh15-Jun-2017
Scorecard and ball-by-ball detailsA goose egg, bagel, doughnut, or a duck in cricket. Whatever you want to call it, Scotland had a big fat zero next to their name in the wins column for ODIs against Full Members: no wins, 23 losses since the 1999 World Cup.That dubious record was laid to rest on Thursday.Scotland didn’t get official ODI credit for laying the smackdown on Sri Lanka in a Champions Trophy warm-up last month, but the hosts came out of that match oozing confidence. It showed against Zimbabwe when Kyle Coetzer responded with a top-class century, like he had done against Sri Lanka, to set up a total of 317 for 6 in an eventual 26-run win on DLS Method.Both sides grappled through the first four overs in which Scotland added just four runs. Off the penultimate ball of the fourth over, Richard Ngarava pinged Kyle Coetzer on the side of the helmet with a bouncer. Much like a “heel” attempting a vicious maneuver on a “face” character in a wrestling match, the blow appeared to stir up Coetzer to bring out the full gamut of moves in retaliation.But it was Ngarava’s new-ball partner Tendai Chatara who was at the receiving end of Coetzer’s initial punishment, with a drive over long-on for six sandwiched by three boundaries in a 19-run seventh over. Matthew Cross was not to be left out of the fun at the other end; he pulled Ngarava and played a series of cover drives as part of five boundaries spread across the sixth and eighth overs. Cross struck seven fours in all for 33 off 35 balls before he played on to end a brisk 56-run opening stand.Coetzer brought up his half-century off 44 deliveries, dropkicking his opposite number Graeme Cremer’s legspin over the rope at long-on for six and then through midwicket for four along the way. At the other end, Zimbabwe connected with a few elbow drops to knock over Calum MacLeod, Richie Berrington and Preston Mommsen cheaply.But Coetzer was unmoved, bringing up his second ton in three days. It was Coetzer’s fourth ODI ton overall; he finished with 13 fours and two sixes in his 109 off 101 balls before he was caught at deep midwicket off Sean Williams to make it 215 for 5 in the 40th over.Making 300 is the bare minimum under good conditions at The Grange. With Coetzer gone, it was left to Craig Wallace and Michael Leask to take the act into overdrive, and they did just that. After bringing up 50 in 49 balls, Wallace pulled out a reverse ramp on Chatara in the 47th over to move to his highest ODI score of 58 before eventually holing out to long-on in the 49th.Leask, playing his first ODI since August 2016, stuck to old-school slogging at the other end, clearing the front leg to heave both medium pacers over the leg side boundary. He too finished with a career-best unbeaten 59 off 38 balls. Ngarava also had a career day, but in the wrong direction, ending up with 1 for 96 in 10 overs, the second-worst ODI figures by a Zimbabwean.Con de Lange finished with career-best ODI figures of 5 for 60•Peter Della Penna

Zimbabwe’s reply kept the 500-odd home fans mostly silent in the early part of their 318 chase as Hamilton Masakadza hit two monstrous sixes over long-on, one of which resulted in a ball change. But for the first of several times in the chase, Zimbabwe climbed up the top rope and readied themselves for the finishing move only to slip and fall off the turnbuckle.Masakadza was run-out for 38 when he responded to Solomon Mire’s tight call for a single off Leask, who ran towards short midwicket on his followthrough and relayed the throw to Cross. Craig Ervine was beaten for pace an over later by Chris Sole as a top-edged pull swirled before coming down to Cross.Con de Lange entered in the 18th over and struck five balls later, the first of what would be a maiden five-for in Scotland colors, when Mire’s top-edged sweep carried to Safyaan Sharif at deep square leg to make it 97 for 3. Another run-out came moments before the umpires took players off for thickening showers as Berrington’s spectacular diving stop at backward point created confusion between Williams and Sikandar Raza, with the latter ultimately short of the relay to Cross.The teams sat for 100 minutes before skies cleared and play resumed with Zimbabwe 107 for 4 in 21.3 overs, though set a new target of 299 in 43 overs. Williams made up for his role in Raza’s run-out by producing a series of reverse sweeps for boundaries off de Lange. He brought up his half-century off 49 balls with a boundary. He would go on to make 70 before Berrington dislodged him thanks to a sharp catch by Cross standing up to Berrington’s medium pace. In the same over, Berrington could have had another if not for a tough drop on a return chance to reprieve Malcolm Waller on 8.While de Lange burrowed through Zimbabwe’s middle and lower order at one end, Waller seized on the early evening cross-breeze to launch five sixes. Scotland’s nerves showed in the 38th over when a four and six off by Waller off Sole was followed by a no-ball, with the ensuing free hit smashed for another four. Fifteen had come off three legal deliveries, with Zimbabwe dragging the equation down to 59 off 33. However, they were eight down and Waller began turning down singles in order to protect the tail.With 38 needed off the last three overs, De Lange was brought back again only to be hit for another six down the ground by Waller. But three balls later another slog sweep held up in the wind for Sole to claim Waller at deep square leg for 92 off 62, though it was not without controversy as Scotland took a dramatic “heel” turn of their own. Video footage of the catch appeared to show that Sole’s right foot was on the rope when he completed the catch before quickly dragging it back inside play.For Zimbabwe fans, it will bring back bad memories of the disputed catch taken by John Mooney on the boundary to dismiss Williams on 96 in the 2015 World Cup, a match Ireland eventually won by five runs.Zimbabwe initially protested and Waller stayed at the wicket for nearly a minute before reluctantly walking off. De Lange had five, Zimbabwe were down on the mat for good. Sharif then came back to claim the final wicket to clinch a famous Scotland win.

Moving house is something that we all dread. It arguably sits right next to running late for a flight on the list of things that can result in things that human beings haven't quite figured out how to deal with in a calm manner yet.

If anyone knows how to move house in an orderly fashion, however, it should be footballers. Such is the frantic nature of the transfer window, players can find themselves on the move within a moment's notice, forced to settle into a new town or, as is often the case, a new country.

With that said, a bit of advice must never go amiss. And that's exactly what Manchester City star Erling Haaland has given new Liverpool man Dominik Szoboszlai.

The duo played for Red Bull Salzburg together, and have clearly remained friends since.

What's the latest on Dominik Szoboszlai and Liverpool

Szoboszlai is Liverpool's biggest signing of the summer so far, arriving for a reported £60m, as the Reds look to rebuild what was a struggling midfield last season.

The 22-year-old joins Alexis Mac Allister on the list of arrivals at Anfield, with Southampton's Romeo Lavia also linked with making the move to Merseyside this summer.

By the end of the window, if Jurgen Klopp has signed three new midfielders, he may consider it a successful transfer window and one which could see his side competing for the league title, or at least finishing in the Premier League top four once again.

Last season, Liverpool finished outside the Champions League places for the first time in a full season under Klopp, and that clearly sent alarm bells, as the German has not messed about this summer, already spending close to £100m.

What did Haaland say to Szoboszlai?

Speaking about his Liverpool move, Szoboszlai revealed the advice that Haaland gave him, telling Nemzeti Sport, via Goal: "We've talked. So much so that Erling Haaland has also advised on finding real estate, and it could very well be that we become neighbours.

"I learned from him that several players live halfway between Manchester and Liverpool in a quiet area where privacy can be preserved, and on Monday I will see what he was talking about, I am very curious. And of course, putting our friendship aside during the Liverpool-Manchester City matches, it will surely be a fantastic experience to play against each other.

"I'll do some training on Monday, I have some paperwork to do, and then look at some potential properties where I'd like to live. Then I have to go to Leipzig, pack up my stuff, say goodbye to my former club, thank everyone for their support, love and encouragement and then to Budapest. But on the 10th at the latest I will be back in Liverpool because on the 11th I will be training for my new team."

Liverpool's first pre-season game takes place against Karsruher in Germany on July 17, in an upcoming fixture which could see Szoboszlai and Mac Allister make their debuts for the Reds.

Newcastle United will be looking to enrich the ranks this summer after sensationally qualifying for the Champions League this year, and have earmarked Galatasaray's Lucas Torreira as an option for transfer.

What's the latest on Lucas Torreira to Newcastle?

That's according to Turkish Football, who claim that Newcastle have joined the race for the tenacious midfielder, who has been valued at around €20m (£17m) by his club, also attracting the attention of Serie A outfits AC Milan and Lazio.

The Lions secured the Uruguayan's signature from Premier League side Arsenal for just €6m (£5m) last summer following a succession of loan spells, and he returned to emphatic form with his displays this year.

Newcastle's midfield was a force to be reckoned with this year but with the return to European competition, securing the signature of such a gritty central midfielder could ensure squad rotation does not squander cohesion or quality.

Should Newcastle sign Lucas Torreira?

The thriving Premier League outfit are on the cusp of sustaining a position among the big boys, with Eddie Howe's stewardship and technical director Dan Ashworth's diligent work on the transfer front combining to orchestrate the ascent.

Much of the work plied in bringing in fresh faces has been conducted without the concession of a lucrative transfer fee, and Torreira could continue this trend and add another dimension to a team that seemingly hit the mark on each occasion.

Torreira's energy has been illustrated in a bizarre vignette from former Arsenal teammate Sokratis, who said: “When he is off the pitch, he is so calm but when he is on the pitch, it is like ‘Transformers’, he becomes crazy!”

“He works very good, he is small but he is strong enough. I like him very much because he gives everything, he tries to defend every time and when we have players who do this work in front of us, it is very important.

The £75k-per-week gem has been in stellar showing in Turkey this year, and, as per Sofascore, has produced an average rating of 7.09, completing 88% of his passes and averaging 2.8 tackles and 1.3 interceptions per game, also winning 64% of his ground duels.

Such metrics would see him sit first in the Toon side for tackles last term and third for interceptions, highlighting the combative nature he could add at St James' Park.

Signing the 27-year-old would no doubt aid Newcastle's endeavours across multiple competitions and he would prove to be a "fantastic" component – as he has been called by Nigel Winterburn – but it could spell danger for Magpies ace Sean Longstaff.

The homegrown Toon midfielder was a success story on Tyneside last season and he has earned praise as his side's "unsung hero" by Paul Merson.

Having made 33 Premier League appearances this year, the 25-year-old has recorded an average Sofascore rating of 6.74 and while he has completed 83% of his passes, his 1.3 tackles and 0.5 interceptions per game are minnowed by the vibrant output of Torreira.

Longstaff will play a part next year, but Torreira's skill set would leave him in the lurch; this must not deter Howe and co as they seek success unseen in considerable time on Tyneside, and Torreira would only improve the chances of silverware.

Arsenal will be scrambling to replace a fan favourite this summer, but could already be honing in on their top target.

What's the latest on Hakan Calhanoglu to Arsenal?

That's according to reports in Italy, with InterLive.it noting Edu's interest in Inter Milan maestro Hakan Calhanoglu.

Given his impressive form in what has been a hugely successful campaign for the Nerazzurri, the Italian giants are unsurprisingly seeking to tie down the Turkey international until 2027. However, this report notes that they must watch out for the Gunners, who could well make an attempt to bring him to north London.

With a bid of around €40m (£35m) expected, and the report going on to suggest that they will soon launch their first attack to lure him, Simone Inzaghi would struggle to turn down such a hefty sum given the financial troubles of his club.

As Granit Xhaka nears the Emirates exit door too, bidding farewell to his home support yesterday, Calhanoglu could represent a fine replacement who might even surpass what has been an outstanding season for the Swiss general.

How good is Hakan Calhanoglu?

In a term where Inter will finish in the top four, have already won the Coppa Italia and still have a Champions League final to play, the 29-year-old has been ever-present, as a testament to his quality.

Featuring 47 times, the deep-lying playmaker has been the silent conductor of his side all year, popping up with four goals and eight assists too.

Serie A has played host to some mesmeric performances from the former AC Milan magician, and it is this consistency in the league that perhaps gives credence to the suggestion that he would easily surpass Xhaka.

Whilst the 30-year-old notched seven goals and seven assists in the Premier League, he did so at the tip of a box midfield in a role far more offensive than his potential successor.

Just last season saw Calhanoglu surpass these figures, with his seven goals and 13 assists in the league from deep cementing his return to the top of Italian football.

Even back in 2020 saw the creative leader lauded, with his then-manager Stefano Piolo noting: "It’s difficult to always expect two goals but I expect this type of performance. He’s an exceptional guy, he has the qualities to become the protagonist."

Now, with a 7.31 average rating for this term, the £154k-per-week star has also maintained 2.2 key passes and 1.4 tackles per game, alongside an 88% pass accuracy, via Sofascore. All of these attributes, including the rating, surpass Xhaka's numbers in his greatest offensive year in an Arsenal shirt.

Whilst it would take a while to reach the level of cult hero status that the former FC Basel gem has reached in north London, to surpass his performances would go a long way towards immediately endearing Calhanoglu to the fans as well as aiding in Mikel Arteta's next push for the Premier League title.