All posts by h716a5.icu

A five-wicket win for Surrey in a rain-affected game against Middlesex at Lord’s completed the quarter-final line-up of the Royal London Cup

ESPNcricinfo staff02-Aug-2016A five-wicket win for Surrey in a rain-affected game against Middlesex at Lord’s completed the quarter-final line-up of the Royal London Cup. Surrey, last year’s beaten finalists, sneaked above their London rivals into fourth place in the South Group, securing a last-eight trip to face North Group winners Northamptonshire at Wantage Road.Royal London Cup QFs

Somerset v Worcestershire, Taunton, August 17, 11am

Warwickshire v Essex, Edgbaston, August 17, 11am

Kent v Yorkshire, Canterbury, August 18, 2pm

Northamptonshire v Surrey, Wantage Road, August 18, 1.30pm

Confirmation that Somerset would top the South Group, setting up a quarter-final with Worcestershire at Taunton, came with the abandonment of Essex’s game at Gloucestershire earlier in the day.Essex were then left waiting on results elsewhere to see if they would go through; Kent’s victory at Sussex moved them up to second but Hampshire narrowly failed to beat Somerset, sending Essex to play Warwickshire in the last eight and turning the match at Lord’s into a straight knockout.Kent will host Yorkshire in their quarter-final. Yorkshire had gone into the final round of North Group games on Monday hoping to secure a home fixture but a heavy defeat to Warwickshire at Headingley saw them slip to third.The first two quarter-finals, at Taunton and Edgbaston, will be day games played on August 17; the games at Wantage Road and Canterbury will start in the afternoon on August 18. The semi-final draw sees the winner of Warwickshire v Essex playing either Somerset or Worcestershire, while Kent or Yorkshire will go on to face one of Northants or Surrey, with the ties taking place on August 28-29.

Celtic have another player on their transfer radar it seems, with Hungarian media source Nemzeti Sport reporting that Eduvie Ikoba is a name currently interesting the Scottish side.

Who is Celtic target Eduvie Ikoba?

The striker currently plays for Zalaegerszeg in Hungary but has made quite the impression for the side since his arrival. This campaign, the giant 6 foot 3 forward has produced eleven league goals and one assist for the club in just 27 appearances. In addition to that, the player has also helped his side to win their first-ever trophy, contributing to Hungarian Cup success with two goals and one assist in five games.

Prior to arriving at the club, he played in the USA, the country of his birth, for Black Rock FC. He left to make the move to Hungary but had a short stint away from the side with AS Trencin. Having continued to plunder the goals there – he scored twelve in total during his tenure with the side – he then returned to Zalaegerszeg and has gone from strength-to-strength there.

Now, a chance to make the move to Europe could beckon for Ikoba. According to Hungarian media outlet Nemzeti Sport, both Celtic and Stuttgart are interested in potentially signing the striker this summer, with head of recruitment Mark Lawwell seemingly marking him up as a target for Ange Postecoglou.

It doesn't state that any formal offers or bids have been made yet but it seems as though he is a player that both clubs are keeping an eye on ahead of a potential move.

How much is Eduvie Ikoba worth?

The forward has bagged the goals on a regular basis in Hungary this summer but it hasn't made his value sky high due to the quality of the league. Transfermarkt place the player's value at around the 500,000 Euro mark (£434,000) which suggests that a deal to send him to Scotland might not cost too much. However, Football Observatory's value tool places it at a much higher 5 million Euros (or £4.3m). The real answer could be somewhere in the middle, but judging off these two valuations, a deal might not break the bank for the Scottish Premiership champions.

It would be worth it either way, with the 13 goal striker showcasing this season that he can score goals and lead a line with his current club. If Celtic are after some striking depth, then Ikoba could be worth the risk given Lawwell and Ange's recent record for signings from lesser leagues.

An update has emerged on Newcastle United and their plans to bolster their attacking options in the upcoming summer transfer window…

What's the latest on Arda Guler to Newcastle?

According to Turkish outlet Fotomac, the Magpies are one of the clubs in the race to land Fenerbahce attacking midfielder Arda Guler ahead of the 2023/24 campaign.

The report claims that Napoli and Borussia Dortmund are among the other European clubs eyeing the teenager but the Toon Army are said to be leading the charge as it stands.

It is stated that an offer in the region of €20m (£18m) could be on the table from Eddie Howe's side as they attempt to win the race for his signature, although the Turkish giants are not eager to cash in on their prized youngster without a fight.

Who is Arda Guler?

The talented young midfielder is a left-footed senior Turkey international who predominantly plays as either a no.10 or as a right winger.

Magpies sporting director Dan Ashworth could now land the perfect heir to Miguel Almiron by signing Guler as the Fenerbahce star is another player who can use his left foot to cut inside from the right, which then opens space for Kieran Trippier to bomb on from right-back – from where he has created 22 'big chances' in the top-flight.

The 18-year-old wonderkid has averaged a sublime Sofascore rating of 7.44 across 17 appearances in the Super Lig – scoring four goals and creating 1.7 opportunities per match for his teammates.

He has racked up nine goals and nine assists in 46 outings for the club at senior level in all competitions to date, which shows that the gem has quickly adapted to life in the first team by regularly contributing in the final third.

Almiron has scored 11 goals and provided one assist in 31 Premier League matches for Newcastle this term but has only scored twice since the turn of the year and this summer could be the perfect opportunity to bring in his eventual heir.

Guler, who has been lauded as an "elite talent" by talent scout Jacek Kulig, is 11 years younger than the Paraguay international and could come in as the winger's long-term replacement.

Like Almiron, the teenager could line up on the right of the front three and use his left foot an eye for a goal to cause problems by cutting inside, which would then allow Trippier the space to double up and make runs down the flank.

It is now down to Ashworth to beat off competition from Napoli and Dortmund to secure a deal to sign the Turkish phenomenon ahead of next term.

Jerome Jayaratne, the former seam-bowling allrounder, has been appointed the chief operating officer of Sri Lanka Cricket, the board announced through a release on Saturday

ESPNcricinfo staff12-Jun-2016Jerome Jayaratne, the former seam-bowling allrounder, has been appointed the chief operating officer of Sri Lanka Cricket, the board announced through a release on Saturday. Jayaratne will immediately take over in his new role, in which he will supervise several SLC divisions including human resources, marketing, media and IT.Jayaratne is a veteran in cricket administration, having coached and served in varying capacities for over a decade. His first role with SLC was in 2000, and in 2008, he was appointed the board’s head of coaching. Jayaratne had also worked with the ICC, on their global development management team in 2001.In September 2015, following Marvan Atapattu’s resignation, Jayaratne was appointed interim head coach of the Sri Lankan national team. His stint included the home series against West Indies and the tour to New Zealand in December-January. His former long-term job as head of coaching has effectively been dissolved after Simon Willis was appointed high performance manager.Jayaratne is also an accomplished player, having represented the Sri Lanka under-19, with whom he toured Australia in 1984, and Under-23 teams. He ended his first-class career with 391 runs from 22 matches to alongside 34 wickets. He played only three List A games in which he scored 27 runs and took a solitary wicket.

Arsenal have made a "proposal" to Barcelona starlet Ilias Akhomach who looks set to leave as a free agent in June, according to reports out of Spain.

What's the latest Arsenal transfer news?

The Premier League title-chasers could still make history, having waited nearly 20 years for another league crown, but as things stand, Man City are firmly in the driving seat.

Boasting a game in hand and one-point advantage, the race is in Pep Guardiola's hands, and Arsenal have to be perfect to stand any chance of pipping them to top spot.

Mikel Arteta's side have it all to do, but even if they miss out, you can make the strong argument that this has been a simply brilliant season with Champions League football guaranteed.

In the background, sporting director Edu will be working on summer transfer targets ahead of next campaign, with midfield reinforcement thought to be a top priority.

West Ham star Declan Rice, alongside Brighton's Moises Caicedo, have been heavily linked with a move to north London – meanwhile Arteta is also said to want additions further forward.

According to a report by Sport, Barca prodigy and exciting young attacker Akhomach is a player of real interest, with the 19-year-old apparently receiving a "proposal" to join Arsenal.

There isn't any further detail on this alleged offer, but he could well be on the move this summer, as his renewal is proving complicated.

Arsenal have also been boosted by Leeds' collapsed move for Akhomach, but they aren't the only elite side who have made an approach.

Both Sevilla and AC Milan are also in the running, making proposals of their own, with this update hinting the teenager's future could be far away from Catelonia.

What could Akhomach bring to Arsenal?

Despite not exactly having the season of his life over 2022/2023, scoring just one goal in 23 league appearances for Barca's youth side, Akhomach still arguably possesses plenty of promise.

Xavi has even handed the Spaniard his first team debut already, in both La Liga and the Copa del Rey, with former Barcelona B manager Francisco Javier García Pimienta tipping Akhomach to be a big success back in 2020.

Pimienta explained (via Sport):

“He’s a cheeky, brave player with a lot of quality, but he’s only 16. We have very young players and we can’t load them with too much responsibility.

“What’s clear is that the academy is bringing through a lot of players and he’s one that we will have in mind this season, for sure.”

Perhaps Akhomach can re-discover his best form in England and working under a manager like Arteta, especially since Barca youth boss Rafa Marquez apparently views the player as expendable.

David Warner has defended his use of thick, lightweight bats, and said he believed flat pitches were a more significant factor in any perceived imbalance between bat and ball

ESPNcricinfo staff08-Jul-20161:55

‘There are pros and cons to using big bats’ – Warner

David Warner has defended his use of thick, lightweight bats, and said he believed flat pitches were a more significant factor in any perceived imbalance between bat and ball in Test cricket.Former Australia captain Ricky Ponting recently argued for greater regulation of bat depth and weight – at present only a bat’s length and width are restricted – in the long form, a call that found support from fast bowler Josh Hazlewood. Ponting will be at the MCC’s World Cricket Committee meeting at Lord’s next week, and he said bat size would be part of the discussion.The Gray Nicolls Kaboom bats used by Warner are notable for the extreme thickness of their edges, but they are made of a lightweight wood that makes them deceptively easy to wield. Warner said there were downsides to using such bats, including the greater likelihood of being caught off a leading edge, and he said the state of pitches had a greater say in determining scores.”If we look around the country, I think the wickets are pretty much dictating,” Warner told reporters in Sydney on Friday. “A lot of batsmen are scoring a lot of runs, there have been a lot of runs scored in the last 12 to 18 months; you can’t specifically come out and say it is the big bats, because everyone around the country and around the world is scoring a lot of runs. In my mind it is a credit to the bat maker.”Ponting argued that restrictions to bat size should only occur in the longer form of the game and thick, lightweight bats should be allowed to remain in one-day and Twenty20 cricket. In those shorter forms, he said, spectators expected to see plenty of boundaries and entertaining batting, but in Test cricket it was more important to ensure the balance between bat and ball was as fair as possible.”If people think that it is becoming an unfair advantage they will speak their opinions, but we are getting bigger and stronger and are capable of using bats that are a bit heavy,” Warner said. “In Test matches I use a smaller bat unless we are playing in the subcontinent, where I use a heavier bat. My bigger bats might be a lot larger than other players’ bats, but it is still the same cleft of wood.”Australia coach Darren Lehmann said the size of bats were just “about right”, but also expressed safety concerns for bowlers at nets.”Where they [the size of bats] are at now, is about right, maybe a little bit less,” Lehmann said. “They will certainly make it stock standard for everyone. The edges are too big on some of the bats.”I see health and safety as a big issue, especially more so in the nets. To be fair, bowlers and net bowlers in the nets are a real worry for us. The way they hit them now, they are stronger athletes – they hit them harder, there is no doubt about that. It [injuries] are going to happen somewhere, hopefully it doesn’t, but you have just got to be mindful of all that.”

West Ham United are ready to check whether Graham Potter would be interested in replacing David Moyes as manager at the end of the season, according to a report from The Telegraph.

What's the latest West Ham manager news?

Journalist Matt Law has recently claimed Moyes may still be in charge next season, and he could give his chances a "huge boost" by winning the Europa Conference League, with the first leg of the semi-final against AZ Alkmaar on Thursday.

The Scot has almost certainly guided the Hammers to Premier League safety, after the 1-0 victory against Manchester United, but the club's hierarchy could still look at replacing him, with Rafa Benitez reportedly of interest.

The West Ham hierarchy are said to have held talks with Paulo Fonseca, while they were linked with a move for Potter as far back as February, when he was still in charge of Chelsea, and they could now be set to make first contact with the 47-year-old.

According to a report from The Telegraph, the Irons are ready to make a tentative approach to the former Chelsea boss, should they opt to replace their current manager at the end of the season, but it is by no means guaranteed they part ways with the 60-year-old.

The Hammers have not yet ruled out starting next season with Moyes at the helm, despite the fact he has been on the brink of the sack multiple times this season. Failure to get past Alkmaar would put his position in jeopardy, but the former Everton boss is regarded behind-the-scenes as one of West Ham's most successful modern-day managers.

Should West Ham replace Moyes with Potter?

It would feel a little harsh to replace the Irons manager if they go on to win the Conference League, which would grant Europa League qualification for next season, but if they do not, Potter could be an excellent appointment.

Moyes himself has spoken highly of the Englishman, hailing him as an "exceptional manager", and he did a fantastic job at Brighton & Hove Albion, leaving the club in their highest ever position, and laying the groundwork for Roberto De Zerbi.

Of course, it did not work out for the Solihull-born coach at Stamford Bridge, being sacked after six months in charge, but his success at Brighton indicates he would be able to get West Ham competing near the top of the Premier League table once again.

Leeds United are currently scrapping for their lives at the foot of the Premier League table, with the Yorkshire side now just a point above the drop zone following the 1-1 draw with fellow relegation strugglers, Leicester City in midweek.

While there will no doubt have been frustration among those at Elland Road at having conceded late on against the Foxes, the major cause of concern following that stalemate was the injury to summer signing Luis Sinisterra, with the Colombian international having been forced off just minutes after giving the home side the lead on the night.

The Whites' worst fears have since been realised with the former Feyenoord man having been ruled out for the remainder of the campaign with an ankle injury, ensuring he now joins midfield maestro Tyler Adams on the treatment table.

In the case of Sinisterra, this recent blow comes amid what has been an injury-hit debut campaign in Yorkshire for the £21m addition, albeit with the winger having shown flashes of his quality when he has been fit and firing, with seven goals in just 22 games in all competitions this season.

The seven-cap menace had appeared to be a player who could well help to drag Javi Gracia's side to safety having scored three goals in his last five top-flight games, although the survival hopefuls may now need to find another source of attacking inspiration.

Who can replace Sinisterra for Leeds?

The obvious candidate to replace the stricken 23-year-old in the side would be Italian dynamo, Wilfried Gnonto, with the diminutive ace also having impressed during his first season at the club, registering five goal involvements in 19 league games in all competitions this term.

The Italy international may not be the only young prospect who could also provide Gracia and co with further firepower, however, with teenager Sonny Perkins among the academy options who are likely to be pushing for a more prominent role at first-team level.

The exciting 19-year-old – who signed from West Ham United back in July – has thus far been restricted to just three senior outings for his current side since making that summer switch from the London Stadium, albeit while netting late on the FA Cup clash with Cardiff City earlier this year.

That ability to make an impact in the final third was an example of why the versatile forward – who can feature on the flanks or in a centre-forward berth – has been hailed as a "goal machine" by U21's boss, Michael Skubala.

Such glowing praise has undoubtedly been warranted with the London-born ace having bagged 11 goals in just 20 appearances for the club's U21 side this season, after previously providing 12 goals in 23 games at the same age group for the Hammers.

The England U19 youth international will likely have caught the attention of Gracia even further having been on fire in recent weeks, having provided seven goal involvements in his last five Premier League 2 games.

That stellar record is a clear illustration of the undoubted diamond that Leeds have on their hands, with young Perkins potentially set to be the man to help lift the mood at the club, amid this current run of four league games without a win.

Even if the £1.6k-per-week ace is not thrust in from the start over the coming games, he could well help to fill the attacking void left behind by Sinisterra by offering a game-changing option from the bench.

Tottenham Hotspur may have just been handed a potential boost in their reported interest in making Luis Enrique their new manager.

Who could Spurs hire as Conte's replacement?

The north London club's season is in serious danger of coming off the tracks over the coming week with three huge Premier League games on the horizon.

Spurs face a trip to Newcastle United on the weekend, which is then followed by a midweek clash against Manchester United and then a visit to Liverpool next Sunday.

On the back of their recent results against some of the league's struggling sides, these games would appear to be must-wins for the Lilywhites if they want to land a spot inside the top four.

However, the search for a new permanent manager goes on in the background as they face competition from the likes of Chelsea.

It is believed the two London clubs hold very similar shortlists for their vacancies in the dugout with one of the potential candidates being Enrique.

However, speaking on his YouTube channel, Fabrizio Romano has suggested Spurs may have now been handed a free run at landing the former Barcelona and Spain manager:

(1:05) "Nothing is over yet. But what we can say about Luis Enrique is an important update saying that at the moment what is the internal feeling of Chelsea is that Chelsea have cooled their interest in Luis Enrique as the head coach for the next season. It's not over yet, but at the moment the feeling is absolutely different."

Can Levy ignore the clamour for Pochettino?

The potential appointment of Enrique would see Spurs hire a manager who would arrive with an impressive record of winning trophies over the years.

However, there is an evident desire among a large section of the north London faithful to see their former manager, Mauricio Pochettino, return to N17.

The fans have been heard singing the Argentine's name from the stands and it will be interesting to see whether that does influence the club's decision.

It is believed Pochettino is not currently in the thinking of the board but if the results continue to disappoint, it is likely those chants will only increase in volume.

Enrique is a manager who has held talks with Chelsea and is believed to have wanted the job at Stamford Bridge sot there could well be the concern Spurs are viewed as his next best option.

Having said that, the results are not improving in north London and the club are in danger of plummeting down the table over the remaining games of the season.

Not only could Champions League football quickly exit the frame, but European football altogether may be lost with some of the sides below them showing seriously impressive form.

And you do have to question how appealing the job in north London would become if there was not European football on offer at all.

Tottenham Hotspur are 'advancing' in negotiations to sign defender Clement Lenglet on a permanent deal, according to reports.

What's the latest Spurs transfer news?

Despite still being without a manager since Antonio Conte's departure last month, with interim boss Cristian Stellini taking charge in the meantime, there have been some transfer rumours circulating in the press. Indeed, perhaps the most notable name to have been linked with a move to north London is Leicester City star James Maddison.

Reports in the last fortnight have claimed that Spurs are firmly in the race to sign Maddison alongside Newcastle, with the Lilywhites even holding an edge and being in pole position as things stand – at least according to Football Insider.

Another position thought to be high on Tottenham's agenda to strengthen is centre-back with the likes of Marc Guehi (Crystal Palace) among those to have been tipped with a possible N17 move. This is despite the apparent wish of Spurs to tie down defender Eric Dier with a new deal.

Now, as per a report by Spanish news outlet Sport, it appears chairman Daniel Levy is aiming to complete another in-house deal as his side wish to take Lenglet on a permanent deal.

According to the outlet, Spurs are 'already advancing in the negotiations' to sign the Frenchman permanently – even despite not inserting any obligation or option to buy in the loan deal. The total sum of this transfer could amount to around €14 million (£12m).

Barcelona apparently have a good amount of this deal 'amortized' and are 'about to sell' Lenglet – with the report stating in it's headline that the player is 'trapped' at Tottenham.

Should Spurs sign Lenglet permanently?

The 27-year-old's time at Spurs has been a bit of a mixed bag. On the one hand, he ranks among their best-performers in terms of tackles made per 90 and clearances in the Premier League – all whilst completing 87.3% of his passes out from the back (WhoScored).

He's also been praised as a defender with 'quality' by members of the press, yet some sub-par showings have equally resulted in pundits like Jamie O'Hara calling him an 'imposter'.

This news that Barca are willing to offload him for £12m is perhaps an indicator of how much the La Liga side want him off their books, and it remains to be seen whether Lenglet can truly discover his very best form in England.