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He expects the wicketkeeper to bat in the top three of the T20 side even when all players are available

Andrew McGlashan03-Jul-2021

Matthew Wade expects Australia’s wicketkeeper to bat in the top three for the T20I side as he looks to keep hold of the position that is currently his in the build-up to the World Cup in the UAE.Wade has had the gloves since replacing Alex Carey on the England tour last year but has taken various positions in the batting order. Most commonly that has been at the top of the order, where made consecutive half-centuries against India last year including a career-best 80 off 53 balls, and though there remains a natural spot on the tours of West Indies and Bangladesh due to the absences of David Warner and Steven Smith there will be a squeeze for positions should everyone be available for the World Cup.While Wade is the incumbent there are plenty of options in the squad with Josh Philippe, who played as a batter against New Zealand, a potential challenger with Carey is also on the tour.”Think I’ll be one, two or three. Batted three in the last T20 in New Zealand, batted at six in the first T20 against India then I opened next two games. I can bat anywhere, that’s one my strengths, I’ve batted pretty much everywhere for Australia,” Wade said. “Where ever there’s an opportunity I’ll go to but I’d assume Finch, Warner then probably the wicketkeeper will probably be at three if not open. We’ll work it out as we go but I see myself playing in the top of the order if I’m in the team so we’ll wait and see.”Related

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These days Wade, who lost his Cricket Australia contract in April after being dropped from the Test squad after the India series, takes a phlegmatic view to selection issues after an international career that began in 2011 has seen him brought in and out of squads on a regular basis.”Think every time you play for Australia is a bit of an audition, I’ve never really been a cemented player in the team so it’ll be no different going into this tour,” he said. “I’ve played 90-odd one-dayers and every tour I went on a felt like I needed to perform or I wouldn’t be on the next tour.”As I’ve spoken about before I’m in a different place with my life and my cricket, if I get opportunities to play games of cricket again for Australia whether that be one or two games here or 10 and the World Cup, whatever comes my way I’ll take.”It’s about trying to park that, just pushing forward and not sitting on my heels, going out there and playing like I have nothing to lose which I really do. Used to it now for 10 or so years.”ESPNcricinfo Ltd

If the wicketkeeper, whether that be Wade or somebody else, does sit in the top three it would mean Smith, should he be fit for the tournament as he continues to recover from a recurrence of his elbow injury, likely shifting down a spot to No. 4 with Glenn Maxwell potentially at No. 5.Smith’s most common position in the T20 side has been No. 3, where he averages 39.53 from 15 innings with a strike-rate of 141.59, while five innings at No. 4 have brought an average of 20.50 and strike-rate of 103.79.However, Smith told on Friday that he would be willing to sacrifice his place at the T20 World Cup in order to be fully fit for the Ashes which begins in early December.Matthew Wade’s first tour of the Caribbean was back in 2012•Getty Images

“I’d love to be part of the World Cup, for sure, but from my point of view, Test cricket, that’s my main goal – to be right for the Ashes and try to emulate what I’ve done in the last few Ashes series I’ve been involved in,” he said. “If that does mean not partaking in the World Cup, then we’ll have to go down that path, but hopefully we don’t have to go there.”Australia did not train on Friday as hurricane Elsa swept through St Lucia forcing the island into a lockdown. Although the main danger has now passed there have been reports of damage from the storm which could yet impact how much the squad are able to do over the weekend.”We sat by our windows and watched it pass through,” Wade said. “We were lucky, think we only got the edge of it. Was like a Brisbane thunderstorm for a long period of time, high winds and a lot of rain. That will probably impact our lead-up and training in next few days but we battened down the hatches and watched it go by.”I’m not too worried about the preparation. There’s obviously guys who want to get out and hit a lot of balls for those lucky enough to play a bit of subcontinent cricket and in the Caribbean it’s not too much of an issue, we can tap on our experience and that should hold us in good stead.”

Even as Southampton were brushed aside by Manchester United on Saturday, one youngster impressed enough to earn high praise in what was a promising display on an afternoon to forget in the Premier League.

Southampton pay the penalty against Man Utd

Saints initially got off to a promising start and even earned the chance to take a shock lead when the referee pointed to the spot following Diogo Dalot’s foul on youngster Tyler Dibling. The teenager did superbly to take the Manchester United fullback on before being rewarded for his efforts, only to see Cameron Archer’s attempt saved by Andre Onana just moments later.

The game changed from there. In a flash, United went from celebrating their goalkeeper’s heroics to congratulating summer signing Matthijs de Ligt on his first goal for the club as the Red Devils took the lead. The Dutchman was in the right place at the perfect time to convert Bruno Fernandes’ inch-perfect cross just two minutes after Archer’s penalty miss.

The game was then United’s to lose and they soon took a firm grip on proceedings, coasting to all three points courtesy of goals from Marcus Rashford and Alejandro Garnacho either side of a reckless red card for a disappointed Jack Stephens.

Whilst Manchester United got back on track, Southampton could only extend their winless run to four games, but amid all of that it was Dibling who threatened to steal the headlines.

Dibling dubbed "next best thing"

Whether it’s Gareth Bale, Theo Walcott, Alan Shearer, Matt Le Tissier or Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain, Southampton’s academy has become famous for producing gems and Dibling may well be about to join what is an incredibly impressive list.

Just 18 years old, the winger didn’t look out of place for one second as he continuously charged at Dalot, who quickly found himself out of ideas as to how to stop the teenager. Earning plenty of praise as a result, Statman Dave dubbed Dibling “the next best thing” when speaking about his exciting full debut in the Premier League.

A bright spark as Southampton suffered yet another defeat – their fourth in as many games – Dibling’s standout display may well be a sign of things to come. Whilst the Saints are currently crashing back towards the Championship, the 18-year-old’s future should very much be in the Premier League, such is his clear talent.

For now, however, his focus will be on keeping Southampton afloat and following in a long line of academy graduates to have achieved ultimate success after breaking through the ranks at St Mary’s.

Now in the final few weeks of the summer transfer window, Everton could reportedly be offered the chance to sign a 2023 target in a swap deal for struggling forward Beto.

Everton transfer news

It's been a mixed summer at Goodison Park – perhaps even one some will deem a success in the circumstances – but the transfer window is far from over. The future of Jarrad Branthwaite could still change and the Toffees may yet add further reinforcements, despite their ongoing ownership issues. So far, the Merseyside club have welcomed Iliman Ndiaye, Tim Iroegbunam, Jesper Lindstrom and, most recently, Jake O'Brien.

The young central defender expressed his delight after completing a move to Goodison Park, telling Everton's official website: “I’m buzzing and so happy to have signed for Everton. I've been dreaming of this kind of move in the Premier League, with such a historic club. It's a very exciting move for me.

“Everton is a huge club with a lot of history behind it and there's a big future as well. When the transfer window opened there were other clubs in for me but there was only one club I wanted to go to – it was Everton. They’ve shown the faith in me so now it's my turn to show why on the pitch.”

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Now, the Toffees could follow the arrival of a defender with the arrival of an attacking reinforcement. According to Gazzetta dello Sport, with talks open, Everton could be offered the chance to sign El Bilal Toure in a swap deal for Beto, as Atalanta look to replace Gianluca Scamacca following his ACL injury, in a swap deal which may soon "take off".

Toure, of course, was reportedly the subject of Everton's £34m bid last summer, before a move failed to materialise. A year on from that bid, they may finally get their man.

"Lethal" Toure's injury record is a concern

Given their lack of new owners, Everton are not in a position to get things wrong in the transfer market and signing a player who has had injury concerns in the last year or so represents a risk they may be better off avoiding.

Toure, though still just 22 years old, missed 32 games courtesy of a hamstring injury last season, 13 games for an unknown muscle injury in the season prior for UD Almeria, and 11 games in the 2021/22 campaign through another hamstring injury at Stade Reims. No matter how "lethal" the forward's finishing is, as described by Atalanta BC News, he can't prove that clinical nature when sidelined.

It's worth noting too, that Dominic Calvert-Lewin's own injury record is far from ideal, so sacrificing Beto in exchange for another unreliable option on the fitness front would be quite the risk from Everton at this stage.

The winds of change have blown for Liverpool this year, with Arne Slot's budding project seemingly heading in the right direction. Pre-season results must be taken with a pinch of salt but the smoothness of the Dutchman's style's inculcation is promising to say the least.

Having defeated Arsenal 2-1 in an entertaining friendly in Philadelphia, the Reds are starting to prove their ball-playing faculty, and while fans hope to see some activity this summer in the centre of the park, signing a build-up specialist to orchestrate from the base of the midfield and offer competition to Wataru Endo, treatment is needed elsewhere.

Central defence has long been considered an area in need of revamping at Anfield, especially after Joel Matip's contract expired in June, but Jarell Quansah's emergence has eased the need for immediate investment.

The attacking flanks are similarly in need of some added firepower, especially as the lionised Mohamed Salah steps into his final year, and since sporting director Richard Hughes suggested Liverpool could see a "crescendo" in August, FSG seem set to accelerate their interest in the coming weeks.

Liverpool ready to pounce

As per Football Transfers, Liverpool are among the top Premier League clubs interested in signing Pedro Neto this summer, though Tottenham Hotspur currently have the lead in the race.

Title favourites Arsenal and Manchester City are also interested in signing the 24-year-old, who has suffered his share of injury problems in recent years but remains one of the most coveted wingers in English football.

Valued at £60m by Wolverhampton Wanderers, it's generally accepted at Molineux that the Portuguese winger will be sold this summer, and given he is highly effective across both flanks, he could be the perfect addition to a Liverpool side stepping back into the Champions League and indeed a new era.

Why Liverpool could sign Pedro Neto

Neto has been a prominent figure in the Premier League for a number of years now, having signed for Wolves from Serie A side Lazio in an £8m double swoop with Bruno Jordao back in 2019.

He was only 19. Now, a fully-fledged sensation, Neto has established himself as one of Wolves' most talented players in modern history, described as an "incredibly talented and physically very gifted player" by boss Gary O'Neil at the start of the 2023/24 season.

Injuries might have been his enemy but Neto succeeded in levelling up to an elite-level quality last term, notching three goals and 11 assists across 24 fixtures in all competitions, albeit missing two large portions with hamstring injuries.

Slot, like Jurgen Klopp, implements an intense style of football that is birthed from high-octane training sessions, though, unlike his predecessor, the 46-year-old has an exemplary fitness record across his past two clubs: Feyenoord and AZ Alkmaar in the Netherlands.

Neto, moreover, has a lot of experience on the right flank, with his left-footed preference allowing him to drift inside and wreak havoc, evidenced by his ranking among the top 1% of attacking midfielders and wingers in the Premier League last season for assists and the top 9% for progressive carries per 90, as per FBref.

The Portugal international would be a dynamic and versatile option for a healthy attacking fold on Merseyside, and while supporters crave the signing of Anthony Gordon, this might actually be the one to go for.

How Pedro Neto compares to Anthony Gordon

Hailed as a "pace monster" by analyst Ben Mattinson, Neto would add a dimension to Slot's wide play and enhance the overall fluency of a Liverpool side that is already tantalising a successful season.

Gordon was deservedly crowned Newcastle's Player of the Year for 2023/24 after his prolific campaign, scoring 12 goals and supplying 11 assists across all competitions and being praised for taking "it up a level" by pundit Jamie Carragher.

The former Everton player has also hit a career goal contribution rate of 0.28 while on the right, as opposed to 0.40 on the left, so he wouldn't be able to sort out Liverpool's Salah conundrum with the same success as the protean-performing Neto.

Given that Liverpool already yield one of the Premier League's finest left-wingers in Luis Diaz, who has been linked with a move away this summer but seems unlikely to be going anywhere, with no contact pointed Liverpool's way.

And as a further point, while Gordon offered far greater striking output than the Old Gold phenom last season, the underlying numbers suggest that Neto could offer more to the Liverpool first team.

As you can see from the table above, Neto is a more creative and more progressive player than Gordon, at least, he performed as such last term. His goalscoring wasn't at the same standard but he also played in a goal-shy Wolves team, tasked as the architect of the playmaking.

And a move to Slot's Liverpool could alter that considerably, for the Anfield outfit created more big chances in the Premier League last year than any of their rivals (with 102).

Wolves, conversely, ranked 16th (with 54), making a telling comment on the importance of Neto's creative input. Newcastle, as an addendum, ranked joint-second with 97 big chances created – one can only imagine the chaos Neto would have wreaked if placed in either of the northern sides.

Liverpool must sign Neto this summer; that is by no means meant to discredit Gordon's exciting skillset, but the Portuguese, when fit and firing, is a force to be reckoned with and would make a marked improvement on the Reds.

Liverpool's 8/10 talent who sank Arsenal can make Slot forget about Gordon

There have been some promising pre-season signs over the pond from Slot’s Reds…

1

By
Angus Sinclair

Aug 1, 2024

It's less than three weeks until the Premier League is back on our screens, and while every team has something to play for over the next ten months or so, it feels like Arsenal have the eyes of the world on them.

After challenging Manchester City for two seasons running, it's starting to feel like it could be third time lucky for Mikel Arteta and his side's quest to end their two-decade title drought.

However, to ensure that happens, Edu Gaspar and Co have to sign the right players over the next few weeks, and while they were able to land Riccardo Calafiori, it looks like they may miss out on Nico Williams.

The Athletic Bilbao winger has been heavily linked with a move to the Emirates over the last month or so, and not securing his services would be disappointing. However, recent reports have linked the club to another winger who could be an even better signing – and no, it's not Federico Chiesa.

Arsenal transfer news

According to a recent update from Sky Sports Germany reporter Florian Plettenberg, Arsenal have maintained their interest in Bayern Munich star Leroy Sané.

Plettenberg has claimed that while the £323k-per-week ace is looking to stay in Germany, progress has not been made in terms of a possible contract extension. This has put the Gunners on alert due to Arteta's strong relationship with the winger.

No price is mentioned in the update, but according to a report earlier this month from Football Transfers, Bayern would be open to negotiations should an offer of around £40m be made.

It wouldn't be a cheap transfer, and the player's desire to remain in Bavaria could complicate it, but if Arteta can work his magic and convince Sane to move to North London this summer, he could be the ideal Williams replacement.

How Sane compares to Williams

So, if Sane really is going to be the winger Arsenal sign instead of Williams, how does he stack up against the youngster?

Unfortunately, when it comes to pure output, as good as he was for Bayern last season, the Spaniard was unreal for Bilbao, racking up 27 goals and assists in 37 games compared to the German's 23 in 42 games.

However, when comparing the pair's underlying numbers from their respective league campaigns last season, things start to look much better for the former Manchester City star.

Non-Penalty Expected Goals + Assists

0.92

0.46

Non-Penalty Goals + Assists

0.80

0.64

Progressive Passes

4.77

2.63

Progressive Carries

5.11

5.70

Shots

3.07

2.23

Shots on Target

1.18

0.76

Passing Accuracy

80.0%

69.9%

Passes into the Penalty Area

1.98

1.91

Key Passes

3.04

1.87

Shot-Creating Actions

6.02

4.81

Goal-Creating Actions

0.76

0.95

Successful Take-Ons

3.92

3.43

For example, while the 22-year-old dynamo wins out in metrics such as goal-creating actions and progressive carries, that is pretty much it.

In contrast, the Essen-born "machine," as former manager Thomas Tuchel dubbed him, comes out ahead in many areas and by quite some way in a few, such as non-penalty expected goals plus assists, actual non-penalty goals plus assists, progressive passes, shots and shots on target, passing accuracy, key passes, passes into the penalty area, shot-creating actions, and successful take-ons, all per 90.

Moreover, in addition to having vastly superior underlying numbers, the 28-year-old has the added advantage of a pre-existing relationship with Arteta and a brilliant one at that.

Ahead of the Gunners' Champions League clash with Bayern last season, the winger said of the Spaniard, "I made huge improvements under him, he gave that to me. I still keep that in my mind and put that in my game – positioning, how to behave in certain positions. I’m thankful."

This respect and understanding he already has with the manager would surely see him integrate into the team faster and get up to speed with what is asked of him with fewer hiccups along the way.

Ultimately, while Williams is the exciting youngster and is seen by many as the next big thing, Sane is still an incredibly talented winger. His genuinely impressive underlying numbers, combined with his positive relationship with Arteta, would make him an excellent alternative to the Spanish winger, and who knows, he might even be the better signing outright.

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2 ByJack Salveson Holmes Jul 30, 2024

Liverpool defender Ibrahima Konate has come to the defence of his French national teammate Kylian Mbappe after being dropped by Didier Deschamps.

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Konate defends MbappeDeschamps dropped him for upcoming fixturesForward joined Real Madrid in the summerFollow GOAL on WhatsApp! 🟢📱WHAT HAPPENED?

Liverpool centre-back Ibrahima Konate has come to the defence of his France team-mate Kylian Mbappe after the Real Madrid superstar was surprisingly left out of the squad for this month's international games by head coach Didier Deschamps. Mbappe was at the centre of a controversy when he pulled out of the France squad for last month's international break due to injury, only to then travel to Sweden for a short holiday trip instead. French press were all over the Madrid striker following the unfortunate turn of events and Konate has acknowledged that dealing with all the attention cannot be easy for Mbappe.

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Mbappe has had a forgettable 2024 so far and his fortunes are not about to turn around just yet by the looks of it.

After failing to fire Les Bleus to EURO 2024 success, the former Monaco prodigy arrived at Real Madrid to much fanfare in the summer. He was expected to hit the ground running immediately, but has drawn the ire of the Spanish media due to his underwhelming record. A return of eight goals in 16 games have left both the team and its fans wanting for much more from the latest 'Galactico'.

Owing to fitness concerns, Mbappe was left out by Deschamps in the previous international break in October. However, Deschamps confirmed that Mbappe had been snubbed for the upcoming Nations League fixtures this month as he explained it was "better like this."

This incident has raised eyebrows and sparked rumours of a possible rift between France captain Mbappe and his manager Deschamps. Amid all the external noise, however, Konate has the back of Mbappe.

WHAT IBRAHIMA KONATE SAID

“When he is with us, everyone is around him. Mbappe's position in today's world is exceptional. I often tell him: 'I want your level of football, but I don't want your life'," Konate told Canal+.

"Because, frankly, it is difficult to bear having your name everywhere, for everything you do.

"When Mbappe is with us, we know the qualities he has, we know what he has brought to us and we should not be ungrateful for what he has been able to contribute to this French team and the whole world is aware of it.

"He is not here now and it is up to the players who are going to play in his position to do the job, be decisive and allow us to win games. It is the coach who makes his decisions. He is the one who decides whether he wants to call him up or not. I have no say in it."

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GettyWHAT NEXT FOR KYLIAN MBAPPE?

Mbappe's start to life at Real Madrid hasn't gone to plan so far. He is still finding his feet as a No. 9 for the club and has scored just one goal in his last seven outings. However, with the international break ahead, Mbappe will be hoping to work hard in training in the coming weeks and return to his best when Madrid visit Leganes on November 24.

Despite the huge investment from owner Todd Boehly since his takeover in 2022, Chelsea have showcased the need for more signings in numerous key areas.

The defensive unit has struggled at periods during the 2023/24 campaign, highlighted by the need for new additions such as Fulham centre-back Tosin Adarabioyo who arrived at Stamford Bridge on July 1st following his pre-contract agreement.

It’s unlikely that Tosin will be the last defensive reinforcement in London during the upcoming summer transfer window, with new boss Enzo Maresca recently being linked with the likes of Riccardo Calafiori.

However, the Italian is also looking to improve his forward line, with the Blues still lacking that cutting edge, despite star man Cole Palmer registering 22 Premier League goals last term.

Various different names have been thrown into the mix, but in recent days, the club have pondered a move for one talent who’s taken the Premier League by storm in recent years.

Chelsea interested in £51m talent this summer

According to Ben Jacobs on the London is Blue podcast – via Chelsea Chronicle – Chelsea have held internal discussions about the potential signing of Brighton forward Kaoru Mitoma.

The 27-year-old, who has previously been valued at €60m (£51m) earlier this year, featured in 19 matches under Roberto De Zerbi for the Seagulls last season, scoring three and assisting four, as the club featured in European competition for the first time in their history.

Chelsea’s rumoured interest in the Japanese forward is hardly a surprise considering his form since his move to Brighton, registering 25 goal contributions since his debut for the club back in August 2022.

Jacobs also confirmed that there has been no official approach made for the attacker, but that the Blues remain interested in Mitoma, in a move that would break the club’s mould of investing in younger attacking talents for the future.

He previously tormented the Blues during Brighton’s 2-1 win at Stamford Bridge back in 2023, with the ace potentially being a perfect signing for one player in particular.

Why Mitoma would be perfect for Jackson at Chelsea

After joining the club for £29.8m from Villarreal last summer, striker Nicolas Jackson has certainly had his critics during his first campaign in the Premier League.

With Chelsea being such a massive club in England’s top flight, there is always an expectation for a centre-forward to be the main man and deliver the goals for the Blues.

However, the Senegalese ace did manage to score 14 goals in the Premier League last season, finishing the campaign as the club’s second-highest scorer.

He clearly has the ability to be a top-quality striker and, with the added service of potential new addition Mitoma, Jackson could reach the next level and be a success at Stamford Bridge.

The “sensational” Japanese winger, as dubbed by journalist Daniel Hussey, produced 3.9 progressive passes per 90 last season, showcasing his ability to get the ball into forward areas whenever possible.

He also contributed with 6.4 progressive carries for Brighton, a stat that ranked him within the top 2% of all wingers in Europe’s top five leagues during the 2023/24 campaign.

Games played

19

Goals + assists

7

Progressive passes

3.9

Progressive carries

6.4

Successful take-ons

2.1

Assists

0.3

Touches in penalty area

7.2

Mitoma also produced 0.3 assists per 90 for the Seagulls, providing a huge attacking threat in the final third, with Jackson potentially the beneficiary should the 27-year-old move to London this summer.

With the club investing a lot of money in talent for the future, new boss Maresca may potentially want a more senior option in the attacking third to try and propel the Blues back towards the top four.

Mitoma has demonstrated his quality, with his ability to create chances in the final third allowing Jackson to build on his impressive goalscoring tally from 2023/24.

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Tottenham Hotspur have a massive summer ahead of them this year as, following a Premier League season full of ups and downs, they must ensure they bring in the right players to support Ange Postecoglu's vision.

The Australian already has a plethora of talented stars to choose from, such as Son Heung-min, Cristian Romero, and Destiny Udogie, but there are some who should probably be replaced in the coming weeks.

One of them is Richarlison, who, while looking good at points last year, has flattered to deceive in his two campaigns at the club.

So, it's unsurprising that one of the latest players touted for a move to Spurs is a prolific number nine who has been outscoring the Brazilian for years.

Tottenham Hotspur transfer news

According to a recent report from the Guardian, Tottenham are one of several clubs in a 'tussle' for the signature of LOSC Lille ace Jonathan David this summer.

Alongside the Lilywhites, the report names Manchester United, Chelsea and West Ham United as the interested parties.

The extra competition is far from ideal, but the good news is that the Canadian is only set to cost £20m due to his contract expiring next summer.

It could prove challenging to get ahead of the other interested parties, but considering his form in recent years and the reported price tag, Spurs cannot afford to miss out on this transfer, although it could be bad news for Richarlison.

How David compares to Richarlison

So, if Spurs can get ahead of the competition and bring David to North London this summer, his main rival for the out-and-out striker position would be Richarlison, and based on how the pair have played in recent seasons, he is unlikely to struggle in displacing him from the team.

For example, in the last four campaigns, the Lille star, whom Canadian journalist Tony Marinarohas described as "one of the best strikers in the world," has scored 84 goals and provided 18 assists in 183 appearances.

This means that, despite being just 24, he has averaged a goal involvement every 1.79 games for four years.

In contrast, the former Everton man scored 39 goals and provided 16 assists in 139 appearances in the same period, which equates to a goal involvement every 2.52 games.

Unfortunately for the Nova Venécia-born star, he doesn't fare much better when we compare their striker-relevant underlying numbers.

Expected Goals + Assists

0.71

0.70

Goals

0.69

0.62

Assists

0.22

0.21

Progressive Passes

2.71

2.29

Progressive Carries

1.61

1.57

Shots

2.64

3.48

Shots on Target

1.51

1.45

Shot-Creating Actions

2.64

2.05

Goal-Creating Actions

0.31

0.30

Successful Take-Ons

0.51

0.60

Here, the "mind-blowing" Lille star, as dubbed by talent scout Jacek Kulig, comes out ahead in most important metrics, including expected goals and assists, actual goals and assists, progressive passes and carries, shots on target, and both shot and goal-creating actions as well, all per 90.

In his defence, the Lilywhites nine does win out in a couple of metrics such as shots and successful take-ons, but that really is about it.

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Ultimately, while Richarlison is clearly a talented player, he just isn't the striker who is going to propel Spurs back up the table next year and beyond. Therefore, Daniel Levy and Co must be doing all they can to secure the services of David this summer.

Lachlan Stevens is keeping an open mind going into the tournament but knows the squad has an “ace in the pack”

Andrew McGlashan24-Oct-2020

Melbourne teams in the WBBL, the Renegades and Stars, will venture a little into the unknown this weekend when they begin their tournaments having done the majority of their preparation amid strict Covid-19 lockdown in Victoria.Although Victoria-based players, who were not part of the Australia squad for the recent series against New Zealand, have been able to train during Melbourne’s stage 4 restrictions it has been a far from ideal lead-in for the competition that will be staged in a Sydney-based hub over the next five weeks.There have been some protocols other teams have needed to follow, specifically those in Sydney, but far less restrictive than Melbourne over the last three months while the Perth Scorchers, Adelaide Strikers, Hobart Hurricanes and the defending champions Brisbane Heat have largely been able to train as normal in their home states.The teams have all been in Sydney this week so have been able to train at full tilt ahead of starting the competition on Sunday, but Renegades head coach Lachlan Stevens knows it has been a tough build-up.”It’s a really difficult question to answer,” he told ESPNcricinfo about how ready the Victoria-based players would be. “First and foremost we are very grateful to everyone who has gone out of their way and helped us come into the tournament, helped us train before the tournament even though it was with restrictions and a lot of protocols because of what was going on down in Melbourne.”We are all really lucky to be here, both the girls in the Stars and the Renegades teams. It’s certainly been a challenge and I’ve certainly felt for them in that regard so I’m really hoping once they get out there, and I know they will, they compete as hard as they can but it’s been a difficult preparation.”While Stevens expected the will to win to be as strong as usual, he conceded that the pandemic and the challenges of the last seven months brings a different outlook”It’s not that we are not here to try and compete and everyone will be doing their best to win matches,” he said, “but certainly I think you’d be a pretty harsh judge if you walked away from a tournament where everyone was safe and happy expecting any more than that. We want to provide an environment where they can do the very best they can and then whatever comes of that. Priorities have changed a little bit as they have for everyone in the last 12 months.”There will be challenges on the field for the Renegades from the outset with New Zealand pace bowler Lea Tahuhu not set to feature for at least the first half of the competition due to the side injury she picked up against Australia and is doubtful for the whole tournament. Stevens hopes to cover her absence from within the squad rather than dipping into the replacement-player pool that is available.They will also have to contend with missing last season’s leading run-scorer Jess Duffin following her pregnancy, but do have the return of Amy Satterthwaite as captain plus a potent spin attack of Georgia Wareham, Sophie Molineux and Molly Strano.”With Lea and Jess being out they [the spinners] are our ace in the pack,” Stevens said. “If we can get them enough runs on the board to be able to do what they do well, and likewise if we are bowling first hopefully they can take some wickets for us and be restrictive, then it gives us an opportunity in the game. They are certainly holding a large key for how we go about our work over the next few weeks.”Wareham and Molineux were both outstanding in the recent internationals against New Zealand in Brisbane and Strano is the leading wicket-taker in WBBL history with 96 in 72 matches at 17.10. She was a late addition to the T20 World Cup squad after injury to Tayla Vlaeminck, but given the strength of Australia’s resources can’t command a regular place.”She’s just one of the most wonderful team people in the history of cricket,” Stevens said. “She brings energy, enthusiasm and competes as hard as she possibly can every time. And with a smile on her face. I love watching her play.”What she does well is understand where batters’ strengths lie and how she can control them. She reads the play and batters very well and that goes a long way towards her record.”

There’s no hiding that the centre-back spot at Manchester United has arguably been their most vulnerable position this season.

Prior to the first kick off the ball against Wolverhampton Wanderers back in August, the Red Devils had seven options for the role, but that’s not been the case as of late.

Injuries have been the main cause of Erik ten Hag’s downfall, as he’s even been forced to play Casemiro at the back due to a lack of options – reports now indicating that the Dutchman will be sacked no matter the outcome of Saturday's FA Cup final.

With that in mind, it’s vital that Sir Jim Ratcliffe signs a new centre back this summer to help kickstart what could be a new era under a new manager, and he’s already eyeing one up who could replace Raphael Varane.

Man United's search for a new defender

According to reports from Argentina – as per Planet Boca Juniors – Man United 'are willing to do anything' to sign highly-rated Aaron Anselmino.

The report mentions that the Red Devils have been monitoring his progress for months, and 'it would not be strange for [them] to make an offer' – a deal that could make him the first addition post-Ten Hag.

The defender has recently signed a new contract at Boca Juniors, extending his stay at the club until 2028.

In order to acquire the young Argentine, a fee in the region of £21m is said to be enough, which could prove to be a bargain in years to come.

Anselmino could be United’s Martinez clone

Since arriving from Ajax with Ten Hag, Lisandro Martinez has quickly become a fan favourite who’s a vital cog in the Man United side.

Unfortunately, his absence this season through injury has been catastrophic, hence why United ended the campaign with a -1 goal difference.

The number six missed an astonishing 36 games through injury this campaign, starting just eight Premier League matches. But his influence is unquestionable, with United not losing in any of his last seven appearances.

However, the Argentine could soon be playing alongside his clone, Anselmino, who has plenty of similarities to the 26-year-old.

Touches

75

45

Passes completed

59

36

Pass accuracy

94%

92%

Clearances

4

2

Tackles

1

1

Duels won

6/7

2/2

Anselmino has barely featured for Boca since breaking through into the first team, with a hamstring injury holding his progress up.

However, the teen’s performance in the Copa Sudamericana against Trinidense proves just how “special” he truly is, as dubbed by analyst Ben Mattinson.

The first aspect of the 19-year-old’s game that stands out is his immense technical ability, which saw him produce 59 passes with an accuracy of 94% while also taking 75 touches.

United’s World Cup winner is also known for his ability on the ball, as proven by his 45 touches and 92% pass accuracy against Brighton & Hove Albion, but the similarities don’t end there.

The right-footed prospect is also an extremely proactive defender who has great “timed aggression, positioning, and anticipation,” as per Ben Mattinson, which certainly sounds like Martinez.

Yet, unlike the former Newell’s Old Boys academy ace, Anselmino stands at 6-foot-1, which means he could become the perfect partner for his Argentine counterpart in the future, given his aerial dominance, which helped him score the winner in his most recent outing.

Overall, with Varane leaving the club, this summer provides the perfect opportunity to bring in a youthful talent like Anselmino, and he could just lock down the right centre-back role at United for the foreseeable future.

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