West Ham United look set to make an offer for a £17m left-back after contacting his agents, according to a new report.
West Ham transfer rumours after Guilherme
The Hammers and technical director Tim Steidten have sealed the first signing of the Julen Lopetegui era, with Brazilian teenager Luis Guilherme signing in a big-money move from Palmeiras.
Steidten and co have already moved on to the next possible arrivals at the London Stadium, with a number of players being heavily linked with moves to the capital.
In attack, an offer has reportedly been made for Colombian striker, Jhon Arias, whereas an approach to Celta Vigo attacker Jorgen Strand Larsen has also been made. Meanwhile, there have also been rumours to Chelsea’s Raheem Sterling and links to Juventus’ Matias Soule.
West Ham leading race to sign £30m player compared to Angel Di Maria
There have been talks in London.
ByCharlie Smith Jun 18, 2024
In defence, contacts have started over a move for Wolves centre-back Max Kilman. Luton Town goalkeeper Tim Krul, who is on course to become a free agent in the coming weeks, has also emerged as a surprise target, similar to German defender Mats Hummels following his exit from Borussia Dortmund, with talks held with his agents.
A left-back to provide competition for Emerson Palmieri is also wanted by Lopetegui, and reports have stated that initial contact has been made with Ryan Sessegnon after his departure from Tottenham. Sessegnon isn’t the only left-back target, though, with a Dutch full-back also of interest to those at the London Stadium.
West Ham to make Jayden Oosterwolde offer
The Hammers now look to be keen on signing left-back Jayden Oosterwolde from Fenerbahce. According to Turkish journalist Yagiz Sabuncuoglu, West Ham have made contact with Oosterwolde’s representatives, asking for footage of the player’s performances against Galatasaray last season.
"West Ham United requested 90-minute recordings of Fenerbahce-Galatasaray and Galatasaray-Fenerbahce matches from Jayden Oosterwolde's representative."
Fenerbahce kept clean sheets in both of those games and reports in Turkey, relayed by Sport Witness, say that West Ham will make an ‘official offer’ to sign Oosterwolde next week, with the Turkish giants wanting at least €20m (£17m) for the defender's signature.
Should Lopetegui add Oosterwolde to his backline, then he would be getting a versatile defender. Primarily a left-back who can also play as a centre-back or as a left midfielder, the 23-year-old is at the top of his game with a career-high €13m Transfermarkt valuation.
Oosterwolde, who began his career at FC Twente before joining Parma, has made 48 appearances for Fenerbahce after signing for the club back in January 2023. Fast forward 18 months, and it looks as if a move to England with West Ham could be on the cards, with an offer expected to be made next week.
A valiant effort from Andre Russell with the bat fell just short in the Jamaica Tallawahs’ chase after a sterling spin-bowling display by Mujeeb Ur Rahman and Sandeep Lamichhane in the first innings was neutralised by Chris Green as the Guyana Amazon Warriors battled back after being bowled out for 118 to record a dramatic 14-run win at the Brian Lara Stadium.What seemed a simple target at the innings break turned into a steep uphill climb moments after the start of the reply as Green shocked the Tallawahs top order to leave them reeling at 4 for 3 in the fourth over. The middle order soon went into their shell, culminating in 80 dot balls out of the 120 legal deliveries as the Warriors set a new mark for the lowest total successfully defended in CPL history. Earlier, the start of the match was delayed by ten minutes as a stray cricket ball had been accidentally rolled into the pitch. Fortunately, it was towards the edge and the surface was repaired with a rammer.Mujeeb mixes his speedsThe Afghanistan mystery spinner was too much to handle for the Warriors, dismantling a red-hot start in the powerplay from Brandon King and Chandrapaul Hemraj. After darting in his stock ball close to 100kph, Mujeeb gave it more air and teased King into a slog on a fuller length but the missed swipe resulted in the leg bail being dislodged. Mujeeb then went back to a quicker, skiddier delivery to greet Shimron Hetmyer, who played for the turn when there was none and dragged a cut onto his leg stump to put Mujeeb on a hat trick.Two overs later, Mujeeb was at it again against Nicholas Pooran. To a similar line and length ball with which Hetmyer was dismissed, Pooran played for no turn. But on a delivery that was given more air, it produced more turn and clipped the outside edge of an attempted cut for a catch to be snatched by Glenn Phillips. From 56 for no loss, Mujeeb’s intervention had reduced the Warriors to 67 for 4.Lamichhane brings the Sand-stormThe inability of the Warriors batsmen to handle Lamichhane’s turn resulted in a marvellous display of both economy and wickets, as the Nepal legspinner ended with 2 for 8 from his four overs. The first wicket came with a bit of fortune as Sherfane Rutherford’s attempted cut to a googly that spun far enough out of reach resulted in a thick edge flying to Mujeeb at short third man.Mujeeb Ur Rahman leaps in joy after dismissing Shimron Hetmyer•Getty Images
Lamichhane then fooled Green with a legbreak for his second wicket as the Warriors captain went too far across his stumps and was bowled around his pads to leave the Warriors at 92 for 7. Carlos Brathwaite helped clean up the tail to end with three wickets as the Warriors were bowled out with five balls left unused.Russell left to clean up top-order messGreen has been a galvanising leader in his short time as the Warriors captain and proved it on this occasion with an inspiring opening spell. He struck with the first ball of the Tallawahs’ reply, trapping Chadwick Walton lbw with an arm ball. In the third over, he was aided by an extremely favourable decision from umpire Gregory Brathwaite when Nkrumah Bonner missed a pull to a half-tracker that struck Bonner near the waistline. Debutant left-arm spinner Ashmead Nedd followed up in the next over, gaining extra bounce off his first ball to induce a false cut to point by Phillips, leaving the Tallawahs shell-shocked.By the time Russell arrived in the 13th over it was 48 for 5, soon to be 50 for 6 when Rovman Powell flat-batted a slower bouncer from Naveen-ul-Haq to long-on. Accompanied by Lamichhane and then Fidel Edwards for the rest of the innings, Russell regularly turned down singles as he decided on boundaries or nothing as the way to an increasingly unlikely victory. The strategy almost paid off.With 60 needed from four overs, Russell bashed a pair of boundaries over midwicket and third man off Keemo Paul in an 11-run over. He then began the 18th over tonking Imran Tahir for back-to-back sixes over the leg side before a cut was misfielded at point to provide another boundary. With 32 needed off 12 balls, he creamed a slower ball from Naveen over midwicket again for six before edging an attempted yorker through third man for four.Suddenly, 22 from ten looked very gettable. But Naveen held his nerve, mixing up his pace through the final four balls to hold Russell scoreless, an effort which helped earn him Player-of-the-Match award. Edwards took a single off Paul to begin the final over, but Russell scuffed the next two balls to boundary riders, leaving a Tallawahs victory mathematically impossible barring any extras.
Crystal Palace's final game of the Premier League season perfectly summed up the Oliver Glasner era to date: fast, exciting and terrifying for the opposition.
The Austrian manager has turned what was a lifeless and easy-to-beat team under former boss Roy Hodgson into one of the most dynamic and ruthlessly effective sides in the league, one that has won seven and drawn four of its last 14 games.
Of course, the former Frankfurt boss has been helped by some of the incredible talents in the squad, such as Michael Olise, Eberechi Eze, and Jean Philippe Mateta, but he should also thank Hodgson for signing off on Adam Wharton and another January arrival who has proven himself to be important.
Adam Wharton's impact at Palace
Arriving at the end of the winter window, there was a lot of excitement surrounding the £22m signing of then 19-year-old Wharton from Championship side Blackburn Rovers.
Midfielder Adam Wharton celebrating for Blackburn Rovers.
The "English Cambiasso," as talent scout Jacek Kulig dubbed him, made 51 first-team appearances for Rovers before leaving. In those, he scored four goals and provided five assists, and despite his age, he went straight into the Eagles' midfield.
So far, the 20-year-old has made 16 appearances for the south Londoners, already providing three assists, and despite seeing the manager change very early on, he's looked like a player who has belonged in the top flight from the word go.
Appearances
51
16
Goals
4
0
Assists
5
3
Goal Involvements per Match
0.17
0.18
When talking about the midfield maestro, Glasner described him as "amazing" and an "excellent football player" who's set for "a fantastic career", which is an opinion hard to argue against when the Blackburn ace already sits in the top 6% of midfielders for tackles and the top 12% for assists, per FBref, which compares players in similar positions throughout Europe's top five leagues.
However, while the "complete midfielder", as described by Kulig, is getting plenty of justified praise, another January signing has been just as integral to Glasner's revolution.
Daniel Muñoz's impact at Palace
Of course, the player in question is the Eagles' other winter signing, Daniel Munoz, who joined the side for around £7m from Belgian side Genk.
The 27-year-old was brought in to replace the ageing and ineffective Nathanial Clyne at right-back, who has just one goal and nine assists to his name in 219 appearances for Palace.
While the Colombian's arrival received less media attention than Wharton's, there was still hope that he'd help inject some more attacking impetus to the side, as he had scored seven goals and provided two assists in his 29 games before moving.
Crystal Palace transfer target Daniel Munoz in action for Colombia.
It did take the Amalfi-born ace a few games to adapt to English football, but since then, he has registered four assists in 16 appearances and even started a majority of his games on the right-hand side of midfield to help maximise his attacking ability.
According to FBref, the Colombian sits in the top 3% of full-backs for tackles, the top 6% for assists, the top 7% for touches in the opposition's penalty area, interceptions, and blocks, the top 9% for aerial duels won, and the top 14% for non-penalty expected goals and assists.
Tackles
3.44
Top 3%
Assists
0.25
Top 6%
Touches in the opposition's penalty area
2.63
Top 7%
Interceptions
1.50
Top 7%
Blocks
1.81
Top 7%
Aerial Duels Won
1.63
Top 9%
Non-Penalty Expected Goals + Assists
0.23
Top 14%
Clearances
2.94
Top 16%
Expected Assists
0.15
Top 17%
Shot-Creating Actions
2.88
Top 17%
Non-Penalty Expected Goals
0.08
Top 20%
Ultimately, the all-action full-back has firmly established himself in Glasner's first team, and his ability to make things happen on the right-hand side will likely see him keep that place for some time to come.
Crystal Palace star is becoming Glasner's best player alongside Olise & Eze
The incredible ace has been in superb form this season.
It was one of those days that had supporters waking with a gnawing sense of unease. Even the most sanguine of Liverpool fans would have feared a fifth slip in as many matches to close Jurgen Klopp's tenure with a whimper.
But, alas, the ship has been steadied and Liverpool dispatched Fulham 3-1 at Craven Cottage in the Premier League to leapfrog Manchester City (who have a game in hand) into second place, behind table-toppers Arsenal only on goal difference.
Liverpool players celebrate
Whether Liverpool complete a staggering title triumph in the weeks to come is unknown, such hopes hang in the balance after some damaging recent results, but the fact remains that Liverpool rebuilt last summer to create a team of great promise and quality once again, and Klopp leaves his legacy in good hands.
Of course, such hands are undetermined right now, with The Athletic's David Ornstein revealing that Ruben Amorim is West Ham United's top target and that a move to Liverpool is unlikely, with the all-knowing journalist quashing widespread belief that he was the frontrunner.
Who the Reds will seek to anoint as helmsman is anyone's guess now, but FSG's new CEO of Football, Michael Edwards, appears to be identifying possible signings to strengthen the squad at the dawn of a new era.
Liverpool eyeing La Liga star
According to prominent French publication L'Equipe, Liverpool are in the hunt for new defenders and have earmarked Real Madrid left-back Ferland Mendy for transfer.
L'Equipe reveal that France international Mendy has already been in contact with the Merseysiders concerning a possible transfer this summer, with Arsenal also keen and the player is understood to have rejected interest from Newcastle United.
Real Madrid defender Ferland Mendy.
Los Blancos welcomed Mendy, who is 28 years old, to the ranks in 2019 after completing a £47m deal with Lyon, and it appears that the different parties feel his journey in Madrid has reached a natural conclusion.
Ferland Mendy's style of play
With rumours mounting surrounding Real Madrid's interest in Bayern Munich speedster Alphonso Davies, it makes sense that Mendy might be on the way out, with his game time sure to diminish upon the Canadian's prospective arrival.
Throughout the duration of his Real Madrid career, Mendy has completed 165 matches, scoring six goals and supplying ten assists, having been described in the past as a "very balanced FB" and an "offensive machine" by Real Madrid content creator Ardit Loconte.
As per Sofascore, Mendy has chalked up 21 appearances in the Spanish top flight this season, completing 94% of his passes, taking 62 touches per fixture, averaging 0.5 key passes and 4.2 ball recoveries per game and succeeding with 56% of his dribbles.
He's not very creative but that's not really his role, instead focusing on his dribbling ability – analyst Raj Chohan has even heralded him as a "1v1 beast" after one performance when pitted against France superstar Kylian Mbappe.
Ferland Mendy: Similar PL Players
#
Player
Club
1.
Trent Alexander-Arnold
Liverpool
2.
Oleksandr Zinchenko
Arsenal
3.
Andy Robertson
Liverpool
4.
Kyle Walker
Manchester City
5.
Nathan Ake
Manchester City
Sourced via Football Transfers
His complete style of play aligns with the attributes of some of the Premier League's finest wide defenders, and while he is considered a similar player to Trent Alexander-Arnold, his playing style is far more similar to that of Andy Robertson, who he may well succeed on Merseyside.
Why Liverpool are interested in Ferland Mendy
Mendy is not one of the galactico-level names at Santiago Bernabeu but he is a shrewd and steady operator at left-back and has been a key component for a side that has picked up the Champions League, two La Liga titles and one Copa del Rey trophy since his arrival.
Real Madrid full-back Ferland Mendy
While there may be similarities to be drawn between Mendy's style of play and Robertson's, he's unquestionably more conservative and crisp in his distribution, ranking among the top 1% of full-backs across Europe's top five leagues over the past. year for pass completion and the top 18% for passes attempted per 90, as per FBref.
Still, the £172k-per-week defender has excelled in the Spanish capital and would bring a welcome layer of protection to the Anfield backline, perhaps even taking Robertson's place as the starting star in his position.
8/10 Liverpool star who was better than Trent has become undroppable
Jurgen Klopp steadied the ship ahead of the final stretch of the PL title race.
By
Angus Sinclair
Apr 22, 2024
Robertson is an elite defender and has been heralded as the "best left-back in the Premier League" by former Everton ace Kevin Kilbane, scoring nine goals and supplying 65 assists across 293 appearances, singing under Klopp in a shrewd £10m deal from Hull City in 2017, right at the start of the club's illustrious chapter.
While he has been afflicted by injuries this season, the 29-year-old has still produced some comparatively successful displays in the Premier League, scoring one goal and adding two assists across 14 starting roles, completing 88% of his passes, averaging 2.6 key passes and 4.3 ball recoveries per game.
Mendy's steely defensive security and secure ball control make him the perfect player to succeed the Scotland international at Liverpool – or perhaps even just serve as a foil to open up a valuable extra dimension for the new manager, whoever that may be.
The 5 foot 10 ace has a wealth of trophy-winning experience from numerous years at Real Madrid and given that he is 28 years old, the time might feel apt to make a change and try his hand in the Premier League.
With electricity in his gait and high-class quality in his work – at both ends of the pitch – Liverpool might be wise to maintain contact with Mendy ahead of a possible summer swoop.
He might just be the perfect new player to ensure that Liverpool keep their place at the forefront of the Premier League next season.
The 2023 MLS Cup finalists will meet again in what should be a tightly-contested contest in Columbus.
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Crew will host LAFC in Leagues Cup finalRapids, Union face off for third placeLeagues Cup final is a rematch of 2023 MLS finalWHAT HAPPENED?
The 2024 Leagues Cup final is set after the Columbus Crew and Los Angeles FC booked their tickets to Sunday's deciding contest.
The match will be in Columbus' Lower.com Field and if there's a sense of déjà vu, that's because it's a rematch of a tightly-fought 2023 MLS Cup final held on the same pitch just last December. In last year's match, the Crew edged LAFC in a dramatic 2-1 result.
Both teams are expected to contend once again for multiple MLS trophies this season and are developing a rivalry. Sunday should not disappoint.
AdvertisementUSA TodayTHE BIGGER PICTURE
In the first of Wednesday's semifinals, the Crew proved to be too much for the Union — largely cruising to a 3-1 win. Diego Rossi opened up scoring and responded to the Union's equalizer with Dániel Gazdag by scoring just before the half. Cucho Hernández would put a nail in the coffin scoring just minutes into the second half to ice the contest.
In a display that almost appeared as a message sent, LAFC delivered an emphatic 4-0 rout over the Rapids, who had been widely seen as the Cinderella team of the tournament. Mateusz Bogusz, Kei Kamara, Denis Bouanga and Lewis O'Brien all scored for the home side.
SOCIAL MEDIA FUN
The Rapids might be out of contention for the trophy, but they won the hearts of fans after this funny tweet posted after conceding a fourth goal.
The team ironically went undefeated against Liga MX sides in the tournament while failing to pick up any points against teams from their league.
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WHAT NEXT FOR THE LEAGUES CUP FINALISTS?
Columbus host Los Angeles in Sunday’s final at 7:15 p.m. ET, following the third-place matchup between Colorado and Philadelphia at Subaru Park at 4:30 p.m. ET.
After a decade-plus of mediocre squads and disappointing campaigns, Arsenal are finally back among the big boys in the Premier League.
Mikel Arteta's side came close to winning the title last season and are firmly in the hunt again this year.
The Spaniard has built an imposing squad over the last few years, and a flurry of contract extensions over the last 12 months means they're likely to compete for the foreseeable future.
Takehiro Tomiyasu is the most recent star to commit his future to the club, and while this is great news for him, it could be terrible news for one of his teammates.
Takehiro Tomiyasu's new contract
Arsenal completed the £20m signing of Tomiyasu from Serie A side Bologna in September 2021 to replace the outgoing Hector Bellerin and provide some extra cover at centre-back to boot.
Takehiro Tomiyasu's Arsenal career
Position
Appearances
Right-back
46
Left-Back
17
Centre-Back
1
All stats via Transfermarkt
It was clear what Arteta had in mind for the then-22-year-old, as when speaking to the media after his signing, he described him as "a versatile defender with great defensive qualities, high technical ability and composure on the ball."
In his first season with the club, the Japanese defender made 22 appearances, 19 of which came at right-back and the other two at left-back. Had he not suffered a calf injury in February, he would have certainly made more.
Takehiro-Tomiyasu-Crystal-Palace
The 2022/23 campaign saw the 6 foot 2 titan make 31 appearances, five of them at left-back. This season, the 25-year-old has made 20 appearances, ten of them on the left side of defence.
The Fukuoka-born star might not be the first name on Arsenal's teamsheet, but his versatility, stature, and defensive nous have made him a vital cog in Arteta's machine.
To reflect his importance to the squad, he was rewarded with a new deal earlier this week that'll see him remain in N5 until summer 2026,
Speaking about his extended terms, the full-back stated: "I’m playing for Arsenal and this means I’m playing for Arsenal’s supporters. So that’s why I dedicate my life for this club, and for the supporters. I want to give them something back.”
The Arsenal player who will suffer after Tomiyasu's new deal
As fans celebrate the extension to Tomiyasu's deal – and they should – it might be easy to forget that Arsenal still have another full-back out on loan in Kieran Tierney, who's arguably the only dedicated, out-and-out left-back at the club.
The Scotland international joined the Gunners for around £25m in August 2019 and, over the course of the next four seasons, made 124 appearances, in which he scored five goals and provided 14 assists, playing as a traditional full-back, bombing up and down the byline and whipping in pinpoint crosses.
Despite generally performing well for the club, the Douglas-born ace was incredibly unlucky with injuries and missed 51 games in those four campaigns. However, by last season, he had lost his place in the starting XI to Oleksandr Zinchenko, who better fit Arteta's playing philosophy.
With just 15 starts to his name in 2022/23, the 39-capped international joined La Liga side Real Sociedad on loan this year for more regular football.
Kieran Tierney's Arsenal career
Season
Club
Games (Starts)
Games Missed Via Injury
Goal Involvements
2019/20
Arsenal
24 (20)
19
5
2020/21
Arsenal
38 (32)
19
7
2021/22
Arsenal
25 (24)
13
5
2022/23
Arsenal
36 (15)
0
3
2023/24
Sociedad
20 (14)
15
2
All Stats via Transfermarkt
However, as things stand, he has started just 14 games for the Basque outfit and has spent two periods on the sidelines with two hamstring problems, missing 15 games, suggesting his injury-riddled days are not yet behind him.
There is a chance the 26-year-old could be reintroduced back into the squad next season. However, with Zinchenko still at the club, Jurrien Timber's arrival in the summer, Jakub Kiwior's fine form, and Tomiyasu's recent contract extension, he would likely come in as fifth choice, which would be absurd for a player on £110k-per-week.
Arsenal should hand a big pay rise to their "monster" star after Ben White
Arsenal announced a contract renewal for Ben White in the week.
By
Matt Dawson
Mar 17, 2024
Therefore, while he has been a popular player for much of his time at the club thanks to his no-nonsense style of play, Arsenal should be looking to move him on in the summer, even if they can only fetch the €10m – £9m – that the CIES Football Observatory values him at. Sadly, it looks as if the Scot has donned the famous red and white for the final time.
This is what Test cricket used to be like, and probably the best approach they could take
George Dobell in Mount Maunganui21-Nov-2019It took 2,000 years to build the Great Wall of China and 1,600 years to build Stonehenge. The Sagrada Familia – started in 1882 – is still not complete. And let’s not even mention Brexit.The point? Sometimes it takes time to build something worthwhile (which is very much not a political statement about Brexit). And sometimes, during that process, you have to be patient.Certainly spectators at the Bay Oval were obliged to be patient on the first day of the series between New Zealand and England. While there were moments during the tenure of Trevor Bayliss when England were accused of reacting to every adversity by playing ever more aggressively – like speeding through fog to get past it – there were moments here when their caution was like deciding to park the car and walk. Joe Root and Joe Denly took 21 balls to get off the mark. Ben Stokes took 15.England spectators, in particular, have probably been spoiled in recent times. Many of their Test wins have been almost impossibly unlikely and, as a consequence, entertaining. Take the victory against Ireland that was achieved despite being bowled out by lunch on the first day. Or the victory against Australia at Leeds that came despite having been bowled out for 67 in their first innings. Even when they are bad – and they were pretty bad in Barbados – they are entertaining. And all those games were just this year.But this is what Test cricket used to be like. And, on a slow wicket, against a disciplined attack this was probably the best approach they could take. So while there were moments – and by moments, think of several hours – with bowlers aiming wide of off stump in the hope of tempting the batsmen and England simply letting the ball sail through, when it seemed the game was in something approaching stalemate, England eventually started to pull away from New Zealand in a final session that realised 120 runs. There had only been 121 in the first two combined.You do wonder what Bayliss, no doubt keeping an eye on scores from his hotel room in the UAE, would have made of it, though. He used to reason that the dangers of such a cautious approach were that it only took a couple of wicket-taking balls and all that work was wasted with little to show for it. And maybe, had Stokes been held at slip on 63, or Rory Burns taken in the slips on 37, Bayliss would have been proved right. But they weren’t and, with Stokes starting to wrestle the initiative away from New Zealand, the day finished with England perhaps slightly the better placed of the two teams.That’s not just a reflection of the scores, either. It’s a reflection of the amount of work invested by both sides. The New Zealand bowlers, despite their obvious stamina, are human. And there is a quick turnaround – just three days – between games. The miles put in their legs here could yet turn out to be crucial in the coming days. There is every chance they will be pulling their boots on for a fifth session here.Maybe there were times on day one when we witnessed an over-correction from England. Times when it became apparent that they were learning a new approach and times when they got it slightly wrong. Take Root’s innings: he is masterful at rotating the strike; as adept at anyone of nudging and deflecting and picking up singles. Yet here, perhaps wanting to provide an example to his team, he became almost stroke-less and was eventually persuaded into a loose shot.Such moments are inevitable. It doesn’t mean the approach is wrong. It just means England have to get better at the way they execute such plans. Because despite all their patience, three of the wickets that did fall in the day – Burns’, Root’s and Joe Denly’s – all owed a little to frustration. But it’s worth remembering that England tried the Bayliss approach for the best part of five years. It gave them great days and some decent success. But they are the No. 3 side in the Test rankings and, if they want to rise higher, they probably have to show a more sophisticated approach. What we saw here was the start of a new era for England cricket. Nobody should mistake them for the finished article.Several batsmen can feel satisfied with their day’s work. Denly, in particular, may well have done enough to secure his trip to South Africa. This was his fourth half-century in six Test innings and was, perhaps, as assured as any of them. His six off Mitchell Santner, a bit of a luxury player at this stage, was the shot of the day: a perfectly timed lofted drive that he bore plenty of beauty and no brawn.And while Denly and Burns, in particular, may feel they failed to capitalise on the foundations they had built, they can console themselves with the knowledge that they resisted a fine attack and built a strong platform for their team. There’s a lot of work left to do – 400 might be considered par in such conditions – but with Stokes set and more batting to come, England could be quietly satisfied with their first day of Test cricket under Chris Silverwood.
The men’s team is set to play 11 Test matches – all part of the WTC – 20 ODIs and 36 T20Is at home
ESPNcricinfo staff25-Oct-2019The West Indies men’s team is set to play 11 Test matches – all part of the World Test Championship – 20 ODIs and 36 T20Is at home over the next three years. It all begins with Ireland’s arrival in January 2020, and continues with tours by New Zealand and South Africa.The women’s team, meanwhile, will focus on one-day cricket next year, playing 15 matches at home and away to prepare for the next 50-over World Cup in 2021.On Friday, Cricket West Indies announced their home fixtures for the next three years, starting from January 2020 to August 2022. That period will feature the return of Windsor Park, the ground in Dominica that was damaged during Hurricane Maria – New Zealand are scheduled to play an ODI and a T20I there in July.Pending ICC approval, the Brian Lara Cricket Academy in Trinidad is set to become the region’s newest international venue having hosted several Caribbean Premier League matches including the final earlier this month. Sri Lanka are set to play a T20I there in March 2021.Arnos Vale in St Vincent also gets a look in having last hosted West Indies in 2014. Australia are penciled in to play back-to-back T20Is in June 2021 while the Trelawney multi-purpose facility in Jamaica is set to welcome Pakistan in July 2021.The South Africa series next July features five T20Is in the lead up to the World Cup in Australia in October. Two of those matches will take place in Florida.CWI said a more comprehensive schedule would be released at a later date but that their focus was on taking cricket to as many places as possible. “Not only does this provide a full calendar of international fixtures which allows us to better plan and schedule our cricket, but it allows everyone who supports and loves cricket to know when the next big game or tournament is coming,” said Johnny Grave, the board’s CEO.West Indies Men’s schedule for 2020Ireland in West IndiesJanuary 4: 50-over warm-up match – Three Ws Oval, Barbados January 7: 1st ODI – Kensington Oval, Barbados January 9: 2nd ODI – Kensington Oval, Barbados January 12: 3rd ODI – Grenada National Stadium, Grenada January 15: 1st T20I – Grenada National Stadium, Grenada January 18: 2nd T20I – Warner Park, St Kitts January 19: 3rd T20I – Warner Park, St Kitts West Indies in England (Wisden Trophy)June 4-8: 1st Test – The Oval, London June 12-16: 2nd Test – Edgbaston, Birmingham June 25-29: 3rd Test – Lords, London New Zealand in West IndiesJuly 8: 1st ODI – Sir Vivian Richards Cricket Ground, Antigua July 10: 2nd ODI – Sir Vivian Richards Cricket Ground, Antigua July 13: 3rd ODI – Windsor Park, Dominica July 15: 1st T20I – Windsor Park, Dominica July 18: 2nd T20I – Guyana National Stadium, Guyana July 19: 3rd T20I – Guyana National Stadium, Guyana South Africa in West IndiesJuly 15-19: Warm-up match – Brian Lara Cricket Academy, Trinidad July 23-27: 1st Test – Queen’s Park Oval, Trinidad July 31 to August 4: 2nd Test – Daren Sammy Stadium, St Lucia August 8: 1st T20I – Broward County Stadium, USA August 9: 2nd T20I – Broward County Stadium, USA August 12: 3rd T20I – Sabina Park, Jamaica August 15: 4th T20I – Sabina Park, Jamaica August 16: 5th T20I – Sabina Park, Jamaica
With the arrival of Sir Jim Ratcliffe as part owner meaning that the chequebook will likely be open this summer, Manchester United have already started scouting a player to fix a problem area at Old Trafford.
Man United's search for a midfielder
Owing to a mix of injuries and poor performances, Erik ten Hag has been forced to deploy a rotating cast of players to occupy the middle of the park during the Premier League season.
Decision made with £250,000-a-week Man United set to leave Old Trafford
He may not play for the club again.
ByHenry Jackson Feb 25, 2024
With Bruno Fernandes taking up a position further up the pitch, the two holding midfield spots have yet to be claimed by one particular player. Scott McTominay has featured the most in this position in regard to minutes played. However, it is clear that the Scotsman is not Ten Hag's first choice in this area.
Scott McTominay
12
1293
Casemiro
13
997
Kobbie Mainoo
12
947
Sofyan Amrabat
7
619
Christian Eriksen
9
887
The most impressive of the midfield crop has been 18-year-old Kobbie Mainoo. With thirteen starts already this season, the youngster has clearly impressed however, the club will be weary of putting too much pressure on someone just starting their career.
Manchester United's Kobbie Mainoo.
With this in mind, there is no wonder why United have already started scouting for the man they think can be the future of the midfield at Old Trafford.
United scout Belgian youngster
According to Het Nieuwsblad (as per Sport Witness), Man United are interested in 21-year-old midfielder Mandela Keita. Currently on loan at Belgian outfit Royal Antwerp, it is suggested that the Manchester club have scouted him "several times" in recent months, and even contacted the player's agent for information.
Keita was on the radar of multiple English clubs in January with both West Ham and Aston Villa showing an interest in the player. With neither side striking a deal during the window, it appears that United have now seen it as their opportunity to secure the services of the player.
Mandela Keita
Since joining Antwerp on loan last January, Keita has shone as a tough tackling midfielder who is able to pass the ball and progress play. Standing at 5'10, the defensive midfielder combines agility and strength to offer a flexible presence at the base of midfield.
Passes Attempted
62.54
93
Pass Completion Percentage
89.3%
99
Successful Take-ons
1.17
78
Progressive Passes
5.90
72
Tackles
2.89
80
Interceptions
2.03
92
As the table shows, Keita is a defensive powerhouse with a progressive streak in his play. Whilst rarely on the scoresheet, the Belgian cannot be ruled out on the attacking front with his goals coming from powerful runs from the midfield.
It was his versatility that saw the 21-year-old given his first Belgium call up in October 2023. Head coach Domenico Tedesco said of Keita's inclusion: “We need some physicality in the centre for these two opponents, therefore we have decided for Mandela”.
With United's frailties in midfield well documented, bringing Keita to Old Trafford would give Ten Hag a player who can make an instant impact whilst still having a bright future ahead of him.