All posts by h716a5.icu

With the Championship play-offs the likely target for Middlesbrough next season, it looks like Michael Carrick's side are making moves to sign a highly rated midfield talent.

Carrick keen to keep a hold of key players

The big challenge for Middlesbrough will be keeping hold of some of their in-demand stars. Hayden Hackney has earned acclaim for his performances on both the domestic and international stage, with the young midfielder earning a number of caps England's under-21s side.

Given the 22-year-old has previously attracted interest from West Ham, the main question will be whether Boro can retain the services of the Englishman this summer, and if not, how much the club will receive for his sale.

With regard to incomings, this summer's shock move could be a return for Ryan Giles. The left-back spent the 2023/24 season on loan at Hull City and joined the Tigers permanently during this window. Despite this, there is a clear desire for Boro to swoop in and steal the player for themselves.

With Middlesbrough clearly not afraid of poaching from their Championship rivals, the club are now set to make a move for one of the league's best talents.

Boro set to move quickly for Swift

As first reported by Football Insider's Pete O'Rourke, Middlesbrough are poised to make a move for West Brom midfielder John Swift. The midfielder is entering the final year of his contract at The Hawthorns, with the Baggies reportedly willing to cash in on the 29-year-old in order to raise funds for other signings.

Swift made 41 appearances for West Brom in all competitions last season, contributing nine goals and one assist in the process. The midfielder is a player who prides himself on his goalscoring abilities, making him a dangerous asset to almost any side in the division.

Prior to his Hawthorns move, Swift made his name at Reading, where he played 202 games for the Royals. Speaking on the player's quality after a 2-1 victory against Preston North End back in August 2021, former Reading boss Veljko Paunovic was full of praise for Swift, telling the press:

“Swift is super-talented – he showed urgency and wanted to decide the game. It was fantastic execution and vision to play [Lucas] Joao in. Injuries were the main issue for Swift in the past and he has been missed. It’s important to keep him healthy and motivated like he is now.”

Whilst Swift's talent at Championship level cannot be denied, it was once assumed that the midfielder's career would see him become one of the greats of the game.

A product of the illustrious Chelsea academy, Swift caught the eye of the national media after his senior debut for the Blues back in 2014. The Daily Mail dubbed the then-teenager "Chelsea's new Frank Lampard", suggesting that he could go on to emulate the career of the Chelsea and England legend.

Whilst Swift did not go on to have a successful career in the Premier League, there is no denying that he is still among one of the Championship's most talented players and would be a major asset to Carrick's side next season.

Erik ten Hag sent one last rallying cry to his Manchester United players ahead of their Carabao Cup clash with Leicester before being sacked.

Article continues below

Article continues below

Article continues below

Man Utd sack Ten Hag after West Ham defeatDutchman sent one last message to his playersRuben Amorim the favourite to take overFollow GOAL on WhatsApp! 🟢📱WHAT HAPPENED?

Manchester United confirmed Ten Hag had been sacked in the wake of another Premier League defeat. Sunday's 2-1 loss to West Ham left the Red Devils down in 14th place in the table and proved to be the Dutchman's final match in charge with Ruud van Nistelrooy taking interim charge of the club. Van Nistelrooy will now oversee Wednesday's Carabao Cup clash with Leicester City while United try to find a permanent successor to Ten Hag.

AdvertisementGetty Images SportTHE BIGGER PICTURE

Ten Hag delivered Carabao Cup and FA Cup titles during his time at Old Trafford and urged his team to focus on landing more silverware before his exit. The Dutchman felt that winning the Carabao Cup again would make this season a success, despite the team's current Premier League and Europa League struggles, and urged his players to respond to their defeat at West Ham against Leicester on Wednesday night.

WHAT TEN HAG SAID

What Ten Hag said: "It is about trophies. I don’t want to go into this debate again, but I think it is the truth that there are not so many trophies you can win, and if you win a trophy in top football, that is most important. That is what the fans expect and what we expect: to win a trophy. We have had five opportunities [this season]; one we missed, the first Community Shield. But there are still four to go.

"First of all, we have to do better at our [league] ranking, but I will tell them [the players] that our ranking is not really reflecting our performances and our levels. At the end of the season, we have to get this right. But, of course it is not easy when you have so many setbacks in the start of the season. You have to overcome this. We have to fight back. The confidence will grow. And we are now on the other side where we are disappointed and we have to deal with setbacks. Now we have to find the fuel from setbacks and disappointments.”

ENJOYED THIS STORY?

Add GOAL.com as a preferred source on Google to see more of our reporting

DID YOU KNOW?

Manchester United lost 10 games by a margin of three or more goals in all competitions under Erik ten Hag, twice as many as they suffered under any other Red Devils boss since Sir Alex Ferguson's reign.

Kane Richardson will play his first cricket since the England tour having missed the IPL and series against India

Alex Malcolm10-Dec-2020Melbourne Renegades captain Aaron Finch is fit and available for the Renegades’ first two BBL matches this weekend but could be rested during the tournament in order to spend some time at home.Finch missed Australia’s second T20I against India in Sydney after suffering a minor glute strain in the first match in Canberra last Friday. He returned for Tuesday’s final T20I in Sydney and Renegades coach Michael Klinger confirmed Finch would lead the side in Saturday’s opener against the Perth Scorchers in Hobart.”He’s definitely going to be playing,” Klinger said. “He came into Hobart last night and obviously played the last T20 game for Australia and has been passed fit. He’ll have his hit out tomorrow with us leading into the game so he’s ready to go and he always comes to the Renegades set up with a fantastic attitude.”Finch hasn’t been home to Melbourne since leaving for Australia’s UK tour in August due to international duty and the IPL.ALSO READ: ‘I’m feeling like the luckiest cricketer in the world’ – Noor AhmadThe unusual nature of this season’s BBL means that players will be hubs for at least the first part of the season prior to the new year. The Renegades are keen to allow Finch to head home at some stage which means he could miss a couple of games during the tournament.”There may be periods where we give him time to go home,” Klinger said. “We’re quite lucky in our first period where we’ve got two blocks where we’ve got six-day breaks after our back-to-back games on the 12th and 13th so there may be a period there where we can get Finchy home.”There are complications at the moment with Covid and how many days you can be away and then isolating before you get back into the hub here in Hobart or elsewhere. If there’s an opportunity to give him some time off then we definitely will because I think it will definitely help him but also help us when comes back refreshed.”Experienced paceman Kane Richardson has joined the squad after opting out of the IPL and Australia’s limited-overs series with India in order to remain in Adelaide and spend time with his wife and new-born son.”Kane joined the group two days ago,” Klinger said. “The good thing is he’s had a lot of bowling. He had a good hit out yesterday where he played in a couple of practice games and he’s raring to go on Saturday.”Aaron Finch plays one off the back foot•Getty ImagesThe Renegades haven’t been so fortunate with the availability of their two Afghanistan recruits Mohammad Nabi and Noor Ahmad for the first two games. The pair had their initial flight to Australia cancelled due to the Covid-19 outbreak in Adelaide in November which delayed their arrival to Australia by nine days. As a result, they are still in hotel quarantine and won’t be available this weekend.”They come out of the quarantine on the 15th so they’ll be with us game three,” Klinger said. “It’s certainly exciting to have Nabi with his experience and ability but also such a young raw talent in Noor Ahmad.”I had a good chat with Rashid Khan yesterday when we played the Strikers in a practice game and he speaks so highly as a young player, not only with his skill but also with his control as well. I’m really excited to let him loose, to be honest, and see how he goes. A lot of Australian players have struggled in the past against wristspin so he could have a big impact on the tournament.”Klinger was able to call upon former Gloucestershire team-mate Benny Howell, who was already in Victoria, to come into the squad.”I played with Benny for seven years at Gloucester so I know all the tricks he has and how talented he is,” Klinger said. “He’s been extremely successful in the UK and the Bangladesh Premier League. I’d probably describe him as a shorter version of an Andrew Tye. He’s got all the slower ball, knuckleballs, and he’s a fantastic finisher with the bat as well.”The Renegades won’t have South African legspinner Imran Tahir until the New Year. They are hopeful he will arrive just before Christmas in order to be out of quarantine for at least the five matches and finals if the Renegades qualify. Imad Wasim will join the squad on Boxing Day after Pakistan’s T20I overs series in New Zealand is complete.Nabi’s absence from Saturday’s clash with the Scorchers has opened the door for one of Jake Fraser-McGurk or Mackenzie Harvey to play. The two young batsmen were unavailable last season due to the Under-19 World Cup but Klinger was keen to give one of them an opportunity this week after both had impressed in the Renegades practice matches.

The former West Indies captain had also served as the head coach of the senior side at the 2019 ODI World Cup

ESPNcricinfo staff15-Jan-2021Floyd Reifer, the former West Indies captain, has been appointed as the head coach of the Under-19 team and will lead the “development of the squad” as they prepare for next year’s Under-19 World Cup at home.Reifer, who played six Tests, eight ODIs and one T20I, has also served as West Indies’ interim head coach during the 2019 World Cup. His other coaching gigs include the UWI Blackbirds, the Combined Campuses and Colleges, the West Indies Emerging Players, and the West Indies A Team. Most recently, Reifer served as West Indies’ batting coach during the team’s tour to England, and was the head coach of the Jamaica Tallawahs in the CPL, where the side reached the semi-finals.”It is great to be coaching the young players of the West Indies and trying to guide them as we prepare for the World Cup at home. I am excited to have already begun the work and I’m sure the young men are also very enthusiastic,” Reifer, a certified Level 3 coach, said in a media release.”We have solid plans. The programme we have in place is science and technology-based and it looks at all aspects of their game, including cricket fundamentals and personal development. It is very intense and based on creating an ‘elite athlete’ with a professional mindset.”We have held meetings with coaches and the territorial boards and they are all happy with the direction we are going.”Reifer will take over the role from Graeme West, who led the team to the title at the 2016 Under-19 World Cup. West will continue to be involved as a High Performance Manager.”I am happy that we have been able to appoint Floyd to lead our Under-19 programme and take the lads through to the World Cup early next year,” Jimmy Adams, CWI’s Director of Cricket, said. “Graeme West will provide valuable support for Floyd in the planning and execution of the programme all the way through to the World Cup next year.”

After clinching a return to the Premier League at the first time of asking, Leicester City are in talks to reunite new manager Steve Cooper with one of his former players.

Foxes on the hunt for new attacking stars

The story that has been attracting the most attention at the King Power Stadium surrounds the Foxes' ongoing pursuit of Matias Soule. A deal for the Juventus winger has been in the works for a number of weeks with the latest development suggesting that Leicester have submitted a bid in the region of £21million for the player.

Leicester could hit gold by selling a star who's worth more than Soule

Leicester City can still win when it comes to selling on this forgotten man.

ByKelan Sarson Jul 24, 2024

Despite the Foxes' clear interest in the player, Soule could be drawn towards extending his stay in Italy with Roma also said to be in talks to sign the player. Recent claims in the press have stated that Soule only wants to join the Serie A side which may throw a spanner in Leicester's transfer plans this summer.

If they cannot get a deal for Soule over the line, Leicester have been looking at deals for other wide players including AC Milan ace Alexis Saelemaekers. The Foxes have reportedly opened negotiations for the Belgian winger who can also operate in the centre of the pitch.

With Leicester clearly not afraid of lining up alternatives to Soule, it looks as if the Foxes have approached a fellow Premier League side about one of their wantaway stars.

Leicester open talks to sign Reiss Nelson

As first reported on the X account of Fabrizio Romano, Leicester City have opened talks with Arsenal over a potential deal to sign Reiss Nelson. Romano claims that the negotiations in question surround an initial loan deal with an obligation to buy the winger further down the line, with the Foxes confident they can persuade the player to join.

Despite spending his entire career at the Emirates, Nelson has never quite managed to cement himself in the Gunners' starting XI, often having to settle for cameos off the bench. The course of the previous season saw the 24-year-old make just 15 appearances in the Premier League, failing to register a goal or assist during this time.

Irrespective of his recent struggles, Nelson is a player who spent his youth career touted as one of England's most promising prospects. Playing his way through the Three Lions' youth set up, the winger became a fixture of the national team, earning praises for his performances.

One person that Nelson really managed to impress was former England manager and current Leicester boss Cooper. Speaking in a press conference back in 2022, Cooper took the opportunity to heap praise on Nelson after he scored twice against his Nottingham Forest side:

“[Reiss Nelson] and I always had a strong relationship. He was a standout player for England U17s. It’s good to see him doing well, I just wish it wasn’t today.”

With the new Leicester boss already a big fan of the player, there is a good chance that Nelson could be lacing up at the King Power by the time the next season begins.

Roberto De Zerbi says he will step down as Marseille's manager if that's what hierarchy desire after a dire home defeat to Auxerre on Friday night.

Article continues below

Article continues below

Article continues below

De Zerbi threatened to leave MarseilleSuffered second consecutive loss at homeGreenwood scored a consolation goal from a penaltyFollow GOAL on WhatsApp! 🟢📱WHAT HAPPENED?

Marseille suffered a second-consecutive poor home loss against the newly-promoted side despite Mason Greenwood finding the back of the net. Auxerre were dominant at Stade Velodrome and took a convincing three-goal lead in the first half. In the second half, the hosts pulled one back when ex-Manchester United man Greenwood scored for the second game in a row from the penalty spot, however, the visitors eventually walked away with all three points.

AdvertisementGetty ImagesTHE BIGGER PICTURE

Former Brighton boss De Zerbi shouldered the blame for Marseille's humiliating defeat in front of their fans in his post-match press conference, claiming he is ready to leave the job if necessary just three months after moving to France from England. Les Phoceens have managed to win just one game out of their five home matches in the 2024-25 campaign as they find themselves six points adrift of league leaders Paris Saint-Germain – whom they lost 3-0 to in their previous game at the Velodrome.

WHAT ROBERTO DE ZERBI SAID

Speaking to reporters, the manager said: "I have to take responsibility for this home defeat. We have difficulties at home, that’s clear. I don’t know if it’s a lack of courage or personality. I came here to play at the Velodrome because I wanted to live the experience. If the problem is me, I’m ready to leave. I’m leaving without the money, I don’t care about the rest. I don’t want to make excuses and talk nonsense. I’m not going to escape, we have to face reality. That’s what I have to do.

"Playing at the Velodrome is a privilege. I have to transfer my passion for football to the players. At PSG, we played with ten men, it’s true. But what I saw with 11 against 11 did not please me. There are performances that are not good at home. Away, we have had good performances, in Toulouse, Montpellier, Nantes."

He added: "We can’t talk about this second place. I have to be able to give, to transmit something. I live for things that transcend football. I repeat, if I’m the problem, I have to leave. Money is nothing to me. It’s the gratification of the work that is important. I don’t have bad things to say about my players. If I leave, I leave my heart, my soul."

ENJOYED THIS STORY?

Add GOAL.com as a preferred source on Google to see more of our reporting

AFPWHAT NEXT FOR MARSEILLE?

The French giants will be back in action after the international break as they face Lens in an important Ligue 1 fixture away from home on November 23.

Says the BCCI is also looking into having “a mental conditioning coach or a mentor” for the women’s team

Sruthi Ravindranath11-Mar-20214:14

Smriti Mandhana: We want to raise our fielding and fitness standards before World Cup

Smriti Mandhana has stressed on the need for India Women’s team to know and be informed about their schedule, especially ahead of the next year’s World Cup, and has said that the team is “proactively working” with the BCCI on the matter.With their series against England, Australia, Sri Lanka and West Indies either cancelled or postponed amid the Covid-19 pandemic in the last one year, there was uncertainty around India Women’s return to international cricket. The home series against South Africa, which began on March 7, ended a 364-day period of no international cricket for the side, which was their longest time off the field since 2008.The squads, as well as the tour itinerary, for five ODIs and three T20Is against South Africa were publicly announced only after the team assembled in Lucknow in late February to go into quarantine. After Kerala Cricket Association informed the BCCI about its inability to host the series, the Karnataka Cricket Association was touted to host the games in Bengaluru, but the Uttar Pradesh Cricket Association later said in a release that all eight games would take place at the Ekana Stadium.”It’s very important as a player to know what we’re going to look like for the World Cup,” Mandhana said. “We all are working with the BCCI, they’re really proactive in telling us now what series we will be having for the next one year. I think we’ll have a pretty clear idea in some days. I think as a player, it’s important to know what series you’re going to play next or what the schedule looks like so we can prepare ourselves mentally, physically and even with the skillsets like which bowler you’re going to face in the next two-three months. It gets easy if you know who you’re playing against.”Mandhana said that the team’s focus will be on fielding and fitness for the next one year as they prepare for the 50-over World Cup, scheduled to be played in New Zealand in 2022, admitting that they have been working on it since their runners-up finish at the 2017 ODI World Cup.The South Africa series ended a 364-day period of no international cricket for India Women•BCCI”We’ve come off a really long break so at the moment we’re going out there and trying to play some good cricket,” she said. “But for sure we know that the World Cup is happening in New Zealand. The bowlers look pretty good in the last month and we want to be consistent with bowling. The only thing we’re working on as a team post the 2017 World Cup is fielding. We keep working on our fitness and fielding and that’s the whole plan for the next one year. I think skills can come and go but the fielding and fitness standards are something we want to keep getting higher. In one year, hopefully, we get to a place where we are fielding and running between the wickets really well.”On Monday, the BCCI secretary Jay Shah tweeted that India Women will be playing a Test – their first in six years – against England Women “later this year”. Apart from Shah’s tweet, there has been no official announcement about the Test from either the BCCI or the ECB.Mandhana, who was part of the last two Tests India played – a one-off match against South Africa in Mysore and one against England in Wormsley, both in 2014 – was also not sure when the Test will take place but was excited at the prospect of playing in whites after a long gap.”I’m not sure when the Test match is happening but it has been announced and we all are really excited,” she said. “When we played there last we’ve had really good memories of that Test match. It’s the feeling of putting on whites and going into bat with three slips and a gully, we don’t get to do that much. That feeling as a batter I crave whenever I watch a men’s Test match. It’ll be exciting to go out there after six years and play a Test.”With two other global tournaments scheduled in the women’s calendar in this cycle – the Commonwealth Games in June-July next year followed by the T20 World Cup in 2023 – India are possibly looking at a busy schedule following the year-long hiatus that would also see them spend extended periods in biosecure environments. Mandhana said that talks of having a mental health professional travelling along with the team are ongoing.”At the moment the girls are in very good space because first of all, we’ve come after a long break and everyone’s fresh to go out there and play some good cricket. Definitely, a mental conditioning coach or a mentor could be of use for a lot of girls. I think the BCCI is looking into it and hopefully, we’ll have something going before the World Cup.”

The Blues are pursuing a sixth successive league title and they are in an early pole position to achieve as much after a huge win at Stamford Bridge

When Emma Hayes left Chelsea in the summer, and in came Sonia Bompastor, some thought the winners of the last five Women's Super League titles would be set for something of a transition season. Saturday's 2-0 win over Manchester City, which maintained their 100 per cent record in the league this term through seven games, made that suggestion look particularly silly.

The Blues might have a different manager in the dugout and a few different players out there on the pitch, but they look as inevitable as ever at the moment. They look like the same winning machine that has emerged as the dominant force in English women's football over the last five years and, now, they are in the driving seat to keep that status after taking top spot from the Cityzens.

Every year, the feeling is that Chelsea's dominant spell has to come to an end. Can they really win yet another league title? Last year, Man City looked set to end their reign at the top, going into the final two games of the season in pole position and seeming unlikely to slip up. But stumble they did and Chelsea were right there to pick up the pieces. Give them an opportunity, and they'll take it.

How things will look in this title race come April, only time will tell, but Chelsea were certainly opportunistic on Saturday. City had their chances, and they had them fall to their star striker Khadija Shaw too, but it was the Blues who really capitalised in the big moments and showed the ruthlessness that characterises champions.

It will be another six months or so until this WSL title race is properly decided but, despite some huge summer changes, the holders are doing everything right at the moment as they bid to keep that trophy in the capital for a sixth successive season.

GOAL breaks down the winners & losers from Stamford Bridge…

Getty ImagesWINNER: Maika Hamano

It's never easy to break into a team like Chelsea's as a young player so when the Blues signed Maika Hamano last January, it was understandable that some questioned whether there was a path into the first team for her. However, since being granted big opportunities in the second half of last season by Emma Hayes, the 20-year-old has not looked back, repeatedly shining in vital moments for England's dominant side.

That continued on Saturday, when Hamano consistently looked the most likely source of a goal for Chelsea, either by finding the back of the net herself or setting up someone else to add the finishing touches. It ultimately ended up being the latter, with her perfectly weighted pass putting Ramirez in behind the Man City defence, with there only one outcome from that point on.

At the start of 2024, Hamano had played just one WSL game for Chelsea and hadn't started in the competition. As the year nears its close, she's now a game-changing player who must start for the English champions and on Saturday, she underlined why.

AdvertisementGetty ImagesLOSER: Khadija Shaw

This game was a tough one for Khadija Shaw, for a number of reasons. Firstly, there was the lack of service she received, especially with no Lauren Hemp out wide to deliver those deadly crosses she so often turns into goals. When she did get the ball in good positions, thanks to errors from Chelsea, she was wasteful, too. There were two gifts presented to her in the first half by the Blues and neither mistake was punished by last season's WSL Golden Boot winner.

Then there was the fact that Shaw probably should've had a penalty just before Chelsea broke the deadlock. Aiming to attack a cross, the Jamaica international was wrestled to the ground by Ramirez and then, to only add to her woes, got caught underneath a jumping Chelsea defender as she fell and got a painful, albeit accidental, stamp for her troubles.

When City visited Chelsea in this fixture last season, it was Shaw's goal that decided the encounter. On this occasion, it just was not her day.

Getty ImagesWINNER: Chelsea

Chelsea already went into this game with a marginal edge in the title race, as they still had a game in hand over Man City despite being a point behind them. However, especially for those that believe in points on the board being more important, that edge became even greater as they usurped their title rivals at the top of the WSL table with this win.

To be crowned champions of England, teams just cannot drop many points. Over the last few seasons, more than 10 over the course of a campaign has often been fatal for most competing for the trophy. By getting three in this game though, and maintaining their 100 per cent start to the season through seven matches, Chelsea continue to leave themselves with a little more margin for error, particularly given City have now dropped five already. It's only November, but the Blues are in the driving seat.

ENJOYED THIS STORY?

Add GOAL.com as a preferred source on Google to see more of our reporting

Getty ImagesLOSER: Lauren Hemp

When the team news came out for this fixture, it felt like Chelsea were handed an immediate advantage by the absence of Hemp. The England winger has arguably been the best player in the WSL through the first two months of the campaign, producing electric form and match-winning moments to put Man City at the top of the table. With Lucy Bronze, who would have been tasked with marking her, often leaving space in behind her to attack as well, had Hemp started, it could've been a situation for her to really thrive in.

However, a knee injury restricted her to a place in the stands as a supporter, not a star player, and not only will that have been difficult for her to come to terms with, it was also tough for her team. The Cityzens lacked real top quality wide play in this game and couldn't really get at Chelsea as a result.

Everton have made a host of signings this summer as Sean Dyche seeks to improve his squad, but despite selling Amadou Onana to Aston Villa in a £50m package, a replacement has yet to be added to the fold.

Tim Iroegbunam joined the Goodison Park side in a £9m transfer last month in a cross-player transaction with the Villans that saw Lewis Dobbin head in the other direction, but the 21-year-old earned just one start under Unai Emery in the Premier League last season.

More is needed in the engine room, and luckily, moves are being made to sign an exciting new player to complete the set.

Everton transfer news

According to a report from Caught Offside earlier this week, Everton have been in contact with the representatives of Habib Diarra, with the 20-year-old midfielder having enjoyed a terrific season with Strasbourg in Ligue 1.

Valued at about €35m (£29m) by the Ligue 1 side, it remains to be seen whether the Merseysiders can meet the fee, though Onana's departure could see the dream realised.

What Habib Diarra would bring to Everton

Diarra has been described as a player with "enormous skills in progression" by one Italian football writer – who had taken note following links to Napoli – and indeed offers the kind of athletic skillset that could prove to be a real asset for Dyche's Blues.

Still in the fledgling phase of his promising career, Diarra has enjoyed two seasons in the thick of the action with Strasbourg and started 28 Ligue 1 matches last year, impressing throughout.

As per FBref, he ranks among the top 17% of central midfielders across Europe's top five leagues over the past year for progressive carries and the top 11% for successful take-ons per 90, highlighting his burgeoning ball-carrying quality.

Matches played

31

Matches started

28

Goals

3

Assists

1

Pass completion

86%

Tackles per game

1.0

Ball recoveries per game

3.6

Dribbles per game

1.1

Duels won per game

3.8

He also completed 61% of his above-listed dribbles last term, highlighting a sharp, accurate ability that could be used to penetrate Premier League backlines with emphatic effect.

More versatile than Onana, Diarra doesn't offer the same kind of tough-tackling expertise that has led the Belgian sensation to be hailed as a "monster duel-winner" by analyst Raj Chohan, but his rounded arsenal could complement the defensive qualities of Idrissa Gueye at the base of the midfield spectacularly.

His graceful style could prove to be an upgrade that would define Everton's engine room with a greater sense of roundedness; after all, Onana wasn't exactly a mainstay within Dyche's set-up, benched on eight occasions throughout the top-flight campaign.

A beast in the making, the 5 foot 11 talent could be the perfect addition to an Everton side that has exhibited stability and coherence (on the pitch, at least), pumping in some extra dynamism to ensure that the Toffees don't get stuck this year.

Bad news for Beto: Everton battling to land £42k-p/w "monster"

He’s previously been touted with a move to Goodison Park.

ByEthan Lamb Jul 31, 2024

Azam confirmed that there had been disagreements with Mohammad Wasim over the squads for Africa

Umar Farooq19-Mar-2021Babar Azam has backed returning opening batsman Sharjeel Khan to deliver despite concerns over his fitness, which the Pakistan captain agreed is “not great”. He insisted, however, that Khan remains a match-winner, which is why he is a part of the side.”He can’t be Shadab [Khan] at once but still you need to carry him,” Azam said. “I agree his fitness isn’t great but we will bring him up to the mark. His form right now can help us and he is one of the best openers. I have played with him in Karachi Kings and he can take away the pressure and totally change the game.”We are working on his fitness and you will see a difference. I never asked for him in ODIs but for T20 cricket, which is a short format, you can adjust.”Khan returned to the domestic circuit last year after serving a 24-month ban for his role in the PSL spot-fixing scandal of 2017. His selection to the T20I side for the tour of Africa – South Africa and Zimbabwe – was largely based on his form in the PSL, though, which included a century against Islamabad United. He was the third-highest scorer in this year’s unfinished PSL, behind Mohammad Rizwan and Azam, but at a booming strike rate of 170.94, which was well ahead of the other two.While Khan’s bulk has come for scrutiny, chief selector Mohammad Wasim has said on record that Pakistan was altering the benchmarks for fitness, making it less stringent to make room for skillful players.ESPNcricinfo LtdKhan was a promising talent for Pakistan before his ban. He played 25 ODIs, 15 T20Is, and one Test and in that time built a reputation for being a hard-hitting batsman. But Pakistan did well without him when he was absent too, soaring to the top spot in T20I cricket, though they have slipped from there since.The change of heart on fitness marked something of a U-turn from the PCB, as earlier head coach Misbah-ul-Haq and chief executive Wasim Khan were less open to selecting players whose fitness was wanting. Azam, the Pakistan captain in all three formats, is less ideologically inflexible on fitness, and is open to bringing in players who provide value in other ways.”I don’t know why there is an impression that his fitness isn’t good enough,” Azam said when asked specifically about Khan, and his fielding. “He played four-day cricket, a one-day tournament, and the PSL as well so I don’t think there is an issue. He is a match-winner and we are focusing on his fitness as well. In fielding he is great and there isn’t an issue so he is very much part of the squad and we have to back him for the good.”ESPNcricinfo understands Azam wasn’t happy with certain aspects of selection and he confirmed there were differences with the chief selector. “I think if these things remain in the meeting room that should be good,” he said. “When there are debates, they are good for the team. Agreement and disagreement are natural processes it happens when we talk.”But we have to keep it in the room. This isn’t my team, it’s our team. I understand the selection protocols and my role is to play the best possible XI and utilise the players we have.”Pakistan play three ODIs and four T20Is against South Africa before moving to Zimbabwe, where they are scheduled to play two Test matches and three T20Is.