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Manchester City are expected to receive an approach from Barcelona for Bernardo Silva in the ‘next few days’, according to Spanish newspaper Sport (via Sport Witness).

The lowdown

The Athletic reported on Monday that City are standing in firm in a €100million (£84.1million) valuation for fan favourite Bernardo, who has three years left on his contract after penning an extension back in 2019.

Personal terms shouldn’t be an issue if a bid is accepted however, with the Portuguese maestro having already agreed a four-year deal in principle.

The latest

Major Spanish outlet Sport reported on Sunday (via SW) that Pep Guardiola has left Bernardo on the bench for his side’s first two matches because he could be leaving ‘very soon’.

Silva was the last to leave the field after Saturday’s 4-0 victory over Bournemouth, and this has been viewed as him bidding ‘farewell’.

In a further update on Monday, they now claim that Barcelona will ‘initiate contact’ with the reigning Premier League champions imminently, specifically the next 72 hours

They plan to lower their wage bill to create space for Bernardo, and then make their move.

The verdict

Losing such a talented and versatile cog in Pep’s machine would be a big blow to City’s chances of retaining the Premier League title. His collection of individual honours proves that he’s one of their best players.

He made the PFA Team of the Year in 2018/19 and 2021/22 in recognition of his key contribution to City’s title-winning campaigns. And the 28-year-old has also earned a nomination for this year’s Ballon D’Or.

The problem, however, is that he wants to leave the club, and Guardiola may be reluctant to keep a player who is seemingly dreaming of playing elsewhere.

Newcastle United have not offered Martin Dubravka to Leicester City as part of their bid for James Maddison, according to Craig Hope of The Daily Mail.

The lowdown

The newspaper’s northeast football correspondent reported that Leicester have ‘shown an interest’ in signing the 33-year-old goalkeeper from Newcastle.

On Monday, the Magpies made a second bid for Foxes midfielder Maddison, this time worth in excess of £40m.

The reason that Leicester may be looking at Dubravka is that Kasper Schmeichel is on his way to Nice, with a medical likely to take place in the next 24 to 48 hours (via Sky Sports).

The latest

Hope took to Twitter to inform supporters that, while Leicester are genuinely keen on Dubravka, a cash-plus-player deal is not currently believed to be on the table.

However, he hints that Newcastle could still choose to submit an offer of that nature further down the line, tweeting: “Leicester have shown an interest in NUFC goalkeeper Martin Dubravka but understand he is not yet part of the package for James Maddison. That could change, of course.”

The verdict

What kind of discount could Newcastle receive if they threw Dubravka into the deal?

He turned 33 at the start of this year, and the CIES Football Observatory value him at a maximum of €7m, which equates to £5.9m. That wouldn’t be an enormous saving by any stretch, but it’s potentially worth a try for the Magpies.

That’s because they’ve already signed a goalkeeper in the form of £10m man Nick Pope, which means that the Slovakian is no longer indispensable.

Dubravka, who was dubbed ‘amazing’ by Allan Saint-Maximin, has been an excellent servant for the club, but the Toon’s 2919/20 Player of the Year may view a move to the King Power Stadium as an attractive one if it means that he could be their first-choice ‘keeper to succeed Schmeichel.

Atalanta have revealed their demands for Newcastle target Duvan Zapata, according to local newspaper L’Eco di Bergamo (via Sport Witness).

The lowdown

Newcastle have encountered frustration in their attempts to sign a new striker so far this summer.

They lost out to Paris Saint-Germain in the race to sign Hugo Ekitike from Reims, and West Ham may be about to beat them to Armando Broja of Chelsea (via The Northern Echo).

The Daily Mail’s Craig Hope even reported on Sunday that Eddie Howe was willing to go without a new first-team no. 9 and instead place his faith in Callum Wilson, but the opportunity to sign Zapata may yet change his mind.

The latest

The report states that Atalanta have included Zapata on their list of transferable assets for the summer window.

Now, they ‘wait for moves from England, Newcastle in particular’, as the Magpies sit patiently in pole position.

They would apparently sanction his departure if they were offered somewhere in the region of €25million (£21.3million).

The verdict

Zapata, who joined Atalanta from Sampdoria in January 2020, is an intriguing option.

At 31, he’s at a completely different stage of his career to Ekitike and Broja, but might be able to offer a short-term guarantee of goals, similar to the successful season Salomon Rondon had on Tyneside in 2018-19.

He netted 13 in 32 appearances last season, averaging one every 178 minutes, and 19 in 49 the previous campaign. His overall record for Atalanta stands at an impressive 79 goals in 162 games.

And he can tee up scoring chances for his team-mates too, recording 38 assists during his time in Bergamo.

Zapata, who also scores highly for progressive carries and dribbles (89th percentile), is similar in profile to the likes of Robert Lewandowski, Karim Benzema and Harry Kane, all players who combine imposing physical traits with impressive technical abilities.

Journalist Jacque Talbot thinks it ‘would be a fantastic purchase’ for Howe and the Magpies, and we’re inclined to agree.

Former Premier League striker Kevin Campbell has delivered his reaction to Liverpool defender Joe Gomez signing a new contract. 

The lowdown: Gomez sticking around

The 25-year-old found himself down the centre-back pecking order last season having returned from injury, with Virgil van Dijk, Joel Matip and new arrival Ibrahima Konate dominating the minutes for Jurgen Klopp’s side.

That loss of favouritism led to links with a move away this summer, with Steven Gerrard’s Aston Villa the leading protagonists, but this week Gomez put pen to paper on a lucrative new deal to stay at Anfield until 2027.

Having now put any doubts surrounding his future to bed, one onlooker has had his say on what the future holds for the former Charlton academy prospect…

The latest: Campbell questions contract decision

Speaking to Football Insider, former Everton frontman Campbell suggested that the 11-cap England ace could be making a mistake by staying put as a likely fourth choice.

The talkSPORT pundit said: “Listen, it would be a great deal for Liverpool. I would question Joe Gomez though. At his age, to not be starting… How many games does he start in a season?

“I know Liverpool go for every trophy and he will play some games in the cups but is that really enough? He is an England international. In a World Cup year he should be thinking, ‘I want to be somewhere where I will play so I can get in the England squad.’

“If he feels comfortable and is happy with the opportunities he is getting fair enough. That is up to him. For me, I don’t think he is going to play enough next season.”

The verdict: More to come

Gomez – who was hailed as a ‘special player’ by journalist James Pearce in 2020 – still managed 21 appearances across all competitions for the Reds last season, playing horrendous knee injury.

Although no longer the first choice partner to Van Dijk, this coming season in particular looks set to be a testing one on the schedule, with a World Cup in the middle of the campaign. Therefore, having a depth of options at the 25-year-old’s level could be massive for Klopp in the long-term.

Despite perhaps no longer being the jewel in the crown of the Liverpool backline, as was the case back in 2017/18, Gomez should continue to get enough action to warrant his place in the squad, as he certainly still has an abundance of talent and looks destined to enjoy a long and fruitful career at Anfield.

Whether or not the game-time and indeed form is enough to earn a place in the England ranks for the Qatar tournament in November remains to be seen, but ultimately it could be down to persistent injuries curtailing the progress of top talent as opposed to him being held back by Liverpool.

There has been an intriguing update regarding the future of Aston Villa striker Ollie Watkins…

What’s the word?

Speaking to GIVEMESPORT, talkSPORT reporter Alex Crook has revealed that the Midlands outfit are not planning to part ways with the Englishman this summer, amid reported interest from West Ham United.

The transfer insider has claimed that Villa don’t intend to sell the 26-year-old in the current window and may even opt against bringing in a new centre-forward in order to prioritise other areas: “They’re reasonably well-stocked, aren’t they? They’ve got Ollie Watkins and they’ve got Danny Ings, and they didn’t really seem to find the right solution to get them both into the team.

“I know West Ham have got an interest in Ollie Watkins, but Villa have no plans to sell him. I don’t know if they’ll go for that superstar striker. I think that central midfield area is more of a priority.”

Manager Steven Gerrard has previously been linked with a move to bring former Liverpool teammate Luis Suarez to the club, while there has been some suggestion that Watkins’ strike partner Danny Ings could be up for sale.

Supporters will love it

That news will come as a huge sigh of relief for the Villa Park faithful, with some sections of support having potentially been concerned that they may lose the former Brentford man this summer, particularly with the Hammers able to offer European football next term.

While not prolific, the £31.5m-rated gem has been a reliable goalscoring presence for the club since joining from the Bees two years ago, having since netted 25 Premier League goals and provided a further seven assists in that time.

That tally includes his haul of 11 top-flight goals in the most recent campaign, ultimately finishing as the club’s top scorer in all competitions, ahead of teammate Ings.

His talent does not just lie in putting the ball in the back of the net, however, with the £44k-per-week speedster proving a real pest for any defence, so often applying pressure on an opposition backline with his willingness to press and get in behind.

That analysis is corroborated by his impressive statistics, as he ranks in the top 25% for pressures made and in the top 7% for blocks made among those in his position across Europe’s top five leagues, with the dynamic striker undoubtedly a vital asset to Gerrard’s side.

Perhaps a more ruthless finisher – such as Suarez – may be needed to help bolster the goal tally next term, although supporters will no doubt be aware of the impact that Watkins does make to the team, with his ability to stretch the opposition allowing the more creative talents behind him room to shine.

Making high-profile signings – as the club have already done – will be needed to help push the Villans further up the table next term, although keeping hold of their current stars, such as Watkins, could also prove invaluable.

IN other news, Gerrard can land AVFC’s next Southgate with move for “outstanding” £120k-p/w warrior

Tottenham Hotspur are now aiming to seal an agreement for one of manager Antonio Conte’s targets with his club ready to cash-in, according to reports.

The Lowdown: Spurs making moves…

Spurs’ summer transfer window looks set to be a busy one with the Lilywhites having already confirmed both Ivan Perisic and Fraser Forster’s signings on Bosman deals.

Reports suggest even more additions could be in the pipeline at Hotspur Way as club chief Fabio Paratici is tasked with backing Conte in the market – coming after their £150 million equity increase.

A Premier League top-four finish and qualification for the Champions League came as an almighty boost for the north Londoners who are now seeking to bolster Conte’s options for his first full season in charge.

The Latest: Spurs aiming to seal agreement…

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Now, according to Football Insider, there has been a very promising development out of Tottenham involving one of Conte’s targets.

Indeed, as per the outlet, Paratici and co are ‘looking to secure an agreement’ for Middlesbrough wing-back Djed Spence after stepping up their chase ‘in recent days’.

Spurs are apparently in advanced talks to sign the 21-year-old with Boro now ‘ready to cash in’.

The Verdict: Big news…

The Englishman’s possible signing will not only help to balance Tottenham’s homegrown quota books, but Spence could also provide an injection of real quality down Conte’s right hand side.

Called an ‘exciting player’ by members of the press (Marc Williams, Basford United head of media), the defender shone on loan at Nottingham Forest over 2021/2022, becoming a mainstay for manager Steve Cooper.

He seriously contributed towards their promotion back to the top flight and finished the campaign as their sixth-best performing player by average match rating (WhoScored).

Spence also delivered the joint-second most crosses per 90 from out wide whilst completing their third-highest rate of successful take-ons (WhoScored) – highlighting his real threat as an overlapping full-back.

Conte will certainly be hoping to get this deal done.

In other news: ‘Being negotiated’ – Club now want their ‘sensational’ international to join Tottenham, find out more here.

West Ham United midfielder Tomas Soucek is set to stay on at the London Stadium this summer, with the Hammers not looking to sell the Czech Republic international.

What’s the story?

That’s according to Sky Sports, who claimed that the 27-year-old is in David Moyes’ plans for the 2022/23 Premier League season.

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There had been uncertainty surrounding Soucek’s future in east London earlier this season, with the Irons not offering the midfielder a new contract after an excellent contribution to the Hammers’ last two campaigns, particularly in 2020/21.

The Czech midfielder still has two years left on his current deal, with the option of extending it by a further year.

West Ham supporters will be buzzing

With West Ham enjoying stellar success over the past two seasons, the form of Soucek has certainly been a major contributing factor.

The 27-year-old has been a kingpin for Moyes’ side, particularly in the 2020/21 season as they secured a top six finish to qualify for the Europa League, with the midfielder playing every single minute in the Premier League whilst scoring ten goals and providing one assist.

This campaign hasn’t been quite as straightforward, with the Czech Republic international scoring half as many top-flight goals whilst making 34 Premier League starts, with the Hammers having to balance domestic and Europa League commitments for the majority of the season.

However, with a seventh-place finish in the top flight alongside reaching the semi-finals of the Europa League, it has been another stellar campaign for West Ham with Soucek a key player – as per WhoScored, he was their third-best performer in the Premier League.

The 27-year-old has formed an excellent partnership alongside Declan Rice in the middle of the park, with the duo protecting the Irons’ defence expertly.

However, there are still major concerns that the Czech maestro won’t be playing alongside the Englishman next term, with Rice the subject of a plethora of links away from the London Stadium this summer.

If the 23-year-old does move on from the club, it will be vital that the Hammers sign a quality replacement to partner Soucek.

The Czech colossus will want to see his decision to stay on in east London rewarded with the club continuing to progress, which would mean that GSB would have to replace Rice adequately if he is to be sold.

Nonetheless, West Ham supporters will be buzzing to see a fan favourite in Soucek stay on at the London Stadium, with the Irons faithful keen to witness another marvellous campaign in 2022/23.

AND in other news: Moyes can unearth West Ham’s own Antoine Griezmann in £12.6m deal for 20 G/A predator 

According to a report from SBI Soccer, Newcastle United could be ready to make a move for Celtic loan sensation Cameron Carter-Vickers this summer. 

The lowdown: Deal to be done

Signed on loan for the duration of the 2021/22 campaign from Tottenham Hotspur, it’s understood the Hoops have an option to buy the 24-year-old this summer.

It would take a reported £10million (£6m initial) to bring Carter-Vickers to Parkhead on a permanent basis following what has been a superb season for the man called the ‘best player in Scotland’ by Chris Sutton.

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However, the deal has become less straightforward in recent weeks as a number of Premier League suitors have emerged…

The latest: Newcastle keen

As per SBI Soccer, newly mega-rich Newcastle United have ‘joined the list’ of clubs interested in the eight-cap USA ace.

It’s claimed that a ‘source close to the player’ has informed the American outlet that Southampton and newly-promoted Fulham are also in the mix to sign the centre-back.

Furthermore, the report states that Carter-Vickers – who was recently praised for his ‘outstanding’ form at Lennoxtown by Bhoys left-back Greg Taylor –  ‘could prove too expensive’ for Celtic.

The verdict: Act fast

Given the ace’s stellar campaign for Ange Postecoglou’s side, it’s perhaps no surprise that there would be interest from beyond Glasgow in the powerful defender.

Overall this season, Carter-Vickers has rated 7.39/10 whilst being part of 16 clean sheets across 31 Scottish Premiership outings, successfully completing 78.5 passes, 4.3 clearances and 5.8 total duels on average per game (Sofascore), conclusive evidence of his importance to the Celtic title charge.

Still just 24 and with strong aerial and passing ability (WhoScored), the American star has what it takes to succeed at the top level and therefore the Celtic hierarchy must attempt to complete the £10million move at the earliest possible juncture.

In other news, journalist makes ‘massive’ claim involving Celtic man. Find out who it is here.

Norms must be broken for a new generation to fall in love with the game, as the fans at the Bangladesh v Pakistan game showed

Melinda Farrell at Lord's05-Jul-2019It was hard to tell the greens apart at Lord’s. There was the rich emerald green, spattered with luminous red spheres. There was also the rich forest green, with white sickle moons and stars. Suns, stars and moons scattered in a sea of green on a glorious day at the Home of Cricket.There have been a few occasions when Lord’s has shed its formal clothes for more casual gear: recent events that come to mind include the 2017 women’s World Cup final and MCC XI v Afghanistan in the same summer. But it is hard to think of a match that has brought two sets of fans in such large numbers as to turn the historic ground into such a joyful celebration that spilled beyond cricket into a social and cricket occasion of great importance. Pakistan! Bangladesh! Pakistan! Bangladesh! The call and answer was perfect; it swirled around the stands in a rolling wave.WATCH on Hotstar (India only) – How Pakistan beat BangladeshIt took over the catering. Gone was the more traditional British fare and, instead, families chowed down on halal dishes and biriyani followed by , and .It spread to the Members’ Pavilion, where nearly 200 schoolchildren were allowed to sit in the same space as the egg-and-bacon brigade, MCC breaking with tradition for the first time in its 232-year history. Drawn from 14 schools in the district, their excitement at experiencing a World Cup match in one of cricket’s most exclusive environments was palpable; they will not forget this in a hurry.ALSO READ: Dobell – World Cup win can inject fresh (free to) air in English cricketIt reached further as the game started and the news filtered in that, should England qualify for the final at Lord’s, will make the broadcast available on free-to-air television.All through this men’s World Cup, there has been a nagging feeling that it hasn’t had widespread penetration into the general public’s consciousness, that those of us in the middle of it are having a wild time at a fabulous party that’s being held in a soundproofed warehouse.In the Long Room at Lord’s with the world’s best•Getty ImagesAnd yet, here are signs that the game and its caretakers are waking up to the necessity of breaking with norms to welcome those who have not always been top of the VIP guest list.Bangladesh are used to being treated shabbily by boards such as the ECB and Cricket Australia, who either don’t host them for bilateral tours or cancel them after tentative plans have been made. This may be their first ODI at Lord’s, but it is more damning that they have not played a bilateral series in England since 2010 and are not scheduled to visit until at least 2023 under the new Future Tours Programme (in Australia, it’s even worse – they haven’t played a bilateral series there since 2008). But, as they have shown throughout this tournament, they are marvellous guests, bringing a vibrancy and spirit to every match their team plays. They have an exciting and entertaining side boasting the world’s best allrounder and deserve far more opportunities to play in both England and Australia.To know what it means to them, just check out their social media accounts, filled with selfies in front of every iconic Lord’s location. Their fans were doing the same outside, in between playing drums and dancing and filling the Nursery Ground with life and colour. Many have travelled from the USA and Canada – as many do for India, Pakistan and Sri Lanka games – the flight times and costs being less prohibitive than they are for other locations.And what of the children in the Pavilion? They sat and cheered, flags painted on their cheeks. They stood awestruck and laughing in the Long Room as players walked through, giving high-fives, on their way to the field. The smiles, wide throughout the day, widened even further when Kumar Sangakkara got into a seat among them. He will be the president of the MCC from October. Could he, along with all of the members, embrace this idea further: why not make this a regular feature and help a new generation to fall in love with the game?The result of this match did not affect the fortunes of either team; Bangladesh had already been eliminated from the semi-finals’ race, and Pakistan’s slimmest of hopes evaporated when Tamim Iqbal turned the ball behind square leg for a single in the second over.But don’t you dare call this a dead rubber – it wasn’t, strictly speaking, anyway. Lord’s was teeming with life and the game would do well to learn the lessons on offer here today.

ESPNcricinfo picks six players to watch out for in this year’s CPL, which begins from August 4

Deivarayan Muthu03-Aug-20171:31

‘Kesrick is a workaholic’ – Nixon

Kesrick Williams (Jamaica Tallawahs)A member of the Coast Guard in St Vincent, Williams has kept batsmen wary for the past two years. His tally of 17 wickets last season, including an incredible triple-wicket maiden for Jamaica Tallawahs against St Kitts & Nevis Patriots, earned him a call-up to the West Indies T20 squad. He impressed immediately, claiming 2 for 15 on debut against Pakistan in Abu Dhabi in September 2016. Later that year, he was part of the Rajshahi Kings side that finished runners-up in the Bangladesh Premier League.More recently, in his second ODI, Williams denied MS Dhoni at the death and helped West Indies defend 189 with his assortment of variations. He is currently the second-highest wicket-taker in T20Is this year with 14 wickets in eight matches at an economy rate of 6.69. His celebratory antics – the selfiebration run and the page flipper – have made him a popular character, too.Ronsford Beaton (Trinbago Knight Riders)A tall quick with a smooth action, Beaton can consistently hit speeds north of 140kph and bowl accurate yorkers in the slog overs. He was called up to the West Indies squad for the T20Is against Afghanistan at home, but did not get a game. While sheer pace is his calling card, he also has a cool head. In 2014, two nights after conceding a last-ball six in a heartbreaking loss against Trinidad & Tobago Red Steel, he bowled a nerveless last over to stun centurion Dwayne Smith and Barbados Tridents. A strong showing in this CPL could put him on the radar for West Indies’ limited-overs series against England in September.Rahkeem Cornwall (St Lucia Stars)At 6 feet, 5 inches, Cornwall towers imposingly over most team-mates and opponents alike. His frame may have attracted the inevitable comments, but he has mighty shots to match. Ask the visiting English side against whom he hit 59 off 61 balls, including six fours and three sixes, in a practice match in February 2017.His offspin is more decent than deadly. He topped the wickets charts in West Indies A’s unofficial Tests in Sri Lanka last year, grabbing 23 wickets in three matches at 19.82. He was also consistent in West Indies’ domestic 50-over competition, the Regional Super50, scoring 252 runs at 50.40 to add to 10 wickets at an economy rate of 3.63. His all-round consistency hasn’t missed the eyes of chief selector Courtney Browne but he conceded Cornwall’s “conditioning” was a hindrance to higher honours.Rahkeem Cornwall stands out in more ways than one on a cricket field•Getty ImagesShadab Khan (Trinbago Knight Riders)All of 18, Shadab already boats an enviable CV: Champions Trophy winner, the toast of the PSL, and the backing of captain Sarfraz Ahmed and former captain Wasim Akram, who had worked with him in the PSL. He has a deceptive wrong’un, and his unorthodox bowling action – he shapes up somewhat like an offspinner – only makes it tougher for batsmen to pick it. He has already had a taste of the Caribbean pitches, having taken 10 wickets for 75 runs in his first four T20Is this year. His partnership with Sunil Narine in the Trinbago line-up forms an engaging subplot in the tournament. Good luck to the batsmen.Jesse Ryder (St Lucia Stars )Remember New Zealand’s wild child, whose international career has been blighted by a spate of off-field problems? He last played for the country in January 2014. His chances of playing for New Zealand again look grim, but a CPL gig, which follows a stint in the Hong Kong Twenty20 Blitz, gives him an opportunity to show the rest of the T20 world that he still has those powerful short-arm jabs and wristy pick-up shots. Ryder has also been named in New Zealand’s squad for the Indoor Cricket World Cup, which begins in September this year in Dubai.Steven Taylor (Guyana Amazon Warriors)
Born to Jamaican immigrants and raised in South Florida, Taylor is a bruising opening batsman who lays claim to USA’s two centuries in T20 cricket. In 2015, he became the first player from America to secure a CPL deal when he was signed up Barbados Tridents, coached by his former USA coach Robin Singh. Chances have been limited for Taylor in the CPL, but an injury to Chris Lynn might brighten up his prospects this season and push him closer in his pursuit of representing West Indies. He comes into the tournament, having scored 264 runs at a strike-rate of 93.61 in the Regional Super50 for Jamaica. That he has another string in his bow – offspin – makes him a valuable asset in T20s.