San Siro has proven a safe haven for former Blues fleeing the worst-run club in football – and Captain America in particular
In the grand scheme of things, Christian Pulisic’s opener in AC Milan’s predictably facile win over Lecce on Saturday may not have meant much. The Rossoneri have no hope of winning Serie A. Truth be told, with Champions League qualification almost effectively wrapped up, their primary objective at this stage of the domestic season is ensuring that their hated city rivals, Inter, don’t win the league in the derby April 22.
But Pulisic’s goal at the Giuseppe Meazza was nonetheless met by spirited celebrations, by Milan’s players, coaching staff and supporters. Why? Because it was symbolic of his incredible improvement and increased importance as a player since arriving at San Siro last summer. The club’s kit man, Hesham Hassan, even took to social media after the game to point out that the hugely popular Pulisic had once again scored with his ‘weaker’ left foot.
The 25-year-old posted a rapid reply: “Hahaha I always listen!” And who could possibly disagree? After all, Pulisic wouldn’t be enjoying the most satisfying spell of his club career right now if he weren’t such a good listener…
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'Attitude shone through'
Stefano Pioli has done a lot of video calls with prospective signings over the years. Few have ever gone as well as last summer's chat with Pulisic. He was already aware of the American's attributes as a player but, when they spoke, he "sensed something very positive" about his personality too.
"He didn't talk very much, but it was his attitude that shone through," Pioli explained. "He was very eager, curious, and interested in everything I had to say." Pioli had absolutely no doubts that he was dealing with "an exemplary professional", "a hard worker" that would make Milan "stronger".
The call was also key from Pulisic's perspective. He already knew that he had to leave Chelsea to revive a flagging career; leaving the circus at Stamford Bridge was "a no-brainer". The only question was where to go.
Lyon were interested – and offering Chelsea more money – but Pulisic was drawn to Milan. Firstly, there was the club's incredible history. The Rossoneri may have fallen on hard times during the tail end of – and immediately after – Silvio Berlusconi's reign, but they remain one of the biggest clubs in world football. Pulisic was also enamoured with the idea of playing at San Siro, La Scala del Calcio.
Thirdly, and most importantly of all, some familiar faces were urging the versatile attacker to join them in Milan.
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'Bit like Eden Hazard'
Olivier Giroud started the San Siro sales pitch before the 2022-23 campaign had even concluded. He described his former Chelsea team-mate as a "happy kid, good vibes, always smiling". It was about more than having another good character in the dressing room, though. The French forward wanted to be reunited with a player with whom he had flourished on the field.
"My understanding with him was top, a bit like Eden [Hazard], even if I played less with Christian," Giroud told . "He's that kind of player who is very skilful. He can dribble, play the one-two. He knew how to use me on the pitch and vice versa.
"We had good times together and I hope he can get rid of the injuries, get better and get more consistency and more games, because he's a very, very talented player… I think people here would love [if he came to Milan]. He would help us a lot."
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Agent Tomori
Giroud wasn't the only former Blue trying to convince Pulisic to move to Milan either. As the winger's father, Mark, revealed in an interview with the , Fikayo Tomori also "helped Christian a lot" when it came to making up his mind where to go after Chelsea.
Tomori's enthusiasm was also unsurprising. Unlike Giroud, he hadn't played much alongside Pulisic – the centre-back had spent the majority of his time on Chelsea's books out on loan – but he knew all about the benefits of swapping Stamford Bridge for San Siro.
Tomori remains inexplicably underrated by England manager Gareth Southgate – the fact that Harry Maguire will travel to Germany for this summer's Euros ahead of him is a total farce – but he is hugely admired in Milan.
The defender, who was born in Canada but raised in England by his Nigerian parents, initially arrived on loan in January 2021, but his stay was made permanent just six months later for £25 million ($32m). It proved an absolute bargain, with Tomori earning inclusion in the Serie A Team of the Year after playing a pivotal role in Milan ending their 11-year Scudetto drought in his first full season in Italy.
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'He said wonderful things about Milan'
It was inevitable, then, Tomori's transformation not only served as a source of inspiration to Pulisic, but also Ruben Loftus-Cheek. Like Tomori, Loftus-Cheek had come through the youth-team ranks at Chelsea and he had shown serious signs of promise during Maurizio Sarri's spell in charge. However, just like Pulisic, the midfielder's progress was checked by the subsequent – and constant – upheaval at Stamford Bridge, as well as a succession of injuries. Tomori told them both, though, that they could kick-start their careers in Milan.
"When the situation started to evolve, I talked a lot with Fikayo," Loftus-Cheek said. "He said wonderful things about the environment: the team, the city, the fans. Tomori assured me that I'd be at my best in Milan." He wasn't wrong.
Tottenham Hotspur are looking to the future under Ange Postecoglou. The Lilywhites are far better placed to become one of the Premier League's top sides under the former Celtic boss than they ever were under the likes of Antonio Conte and Jose Mourinho, even after the Australian tasted back-to-back defeats for the first time in the Premier League.
If the Lilywhites can focus their transfer strategy on future stars rather than those already experienced and edging past their peak, then they may stand a chance of ending their long wait for silverware in years to come. Among the players that could help end that wait is one reported January target who a number of Premier League sides are interested in.
Spurs transfer news
Say it quietly, but losing Harry Kane may have been a blessing in disguise in some ways. The record goalscorer's exit gave Spurs the funds to improve their squad in a number of areas rather than just keeping hold of their main man. The likes of James Maddison, Destiny Udogie and Micky van de Ven all came through the door during the summer window and have enjoyed success ever since. Now that the Lilywhites have set the foundation of their side, they can build for the future, which could result in the arrival of one particular January target.
According to TeamTalk, Spurs are interested in Sam Curtis, who has quickly risen up the ranks in Ireland with current club St Patrick's Athletic. If the North London club want to sign the 17-year-old right-back, however, they'll reportedly have to fend off interest from Manchester City, Manchester United, Everton, Newcastle United, Aston Villa, Sheffield United, Hull City and Middlesbrough in what is a busy race for the teenager's signature.
At 17-years-old, Curtis is reportedly closing in on his first senior international cap for Ireland and looks set to be on the move in January, when he will not be short on potential suitors.
Curtis is one for the future
Despite not even reaching 18 as of yet, Curtis has made an impressive 61 senior appearances and has even scored three goals, resulting in the interest of some of English football's best clubs. After helping St Patrick's Athletic to a third place finish in the League of Ireland Premier Division. What's most impressive is the fact that Curtis has played European football, having made two appearances in Europa Conference League qualifying. Every way you look at it, the Irishman is on course to become a star.
If he does choose Spurs as his next destination, the right-back will likely need patience when it comes to getting first-team opportunities. As things stand, the Lilywhites have the likes of Pedro Porro and Emerson Royal ahead of others in the pecking order in Curtis' role. In all likelihood, the teenager will likely find himself in the U21s set-up at the start of his Spurs career, should he make the January switch. With the world at his feet, Curtis seemingly has a decision to make which could entirely enhance the trajectory of his career.
Leeds United were relegated back down to the Championship earlier this year after a three-year stint at the top table of English football.
The Whites enjoyed a couple of seasons of survival before they failed to avoid the drop at the end of the 2022/23 campaign under Sam Allardyce.
They owe plenty of credit to former head coach Marcelo Bielsa, whose brilliance in the dugout helped to lead the club back to the big time with promotion in the 2019/20 season – during his second year at Elland Road.
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Leeds won the Championship title to secure their place in the Premier League for the following term and the Argentine was named the LMA Manager of the Year for his work with the Yorkshire outfit.
Whilst it was a fantastic season that was full of success for the Whites and Bielsa as they earned promotion and a trophy in 2020, the current Uruguay national team boss dodged a disaster during the January transfer window of that campaign; a move for Britt Assombalong.
Were Leeds interested in Britt Assombalonga?
The Mirror reported in January 2020 that the club were interested in a deal to sign Middlesbrough centre-forward Assombalonga to bolster their options at the top end of the pitch.
It was claimed that Bielsa wanted another number nine to compete with and ease the burden on Patrick Bamford, who went on to score 16 league goals that term and proved himself to be a better option than the ex-Watford man would have been.
Leeds striker Patrick Bamford.
The Leeds target had 18 months left to run on his contract on Teeside but the report did not state how much it would have taken for Victor Orta and the Argentine boss to secure his services on a permanent basis.
Middlesbrough signed the forward from Nottingham Forest for £15m in the summer of 2017 and, although it remains unclear, they may have wanted a fair chunk of that back to sanction a move.
Ultimately, Leeds opted against a swoop for Assombalonga and they went through the January transfer window without adding a striker to their squad on a permanent basis.
This turned out to be a blessing for the Whites as the DR Congo international's career has taken a turn for the worse since being linked with a move to Yorkshire in 2020.
Why were Leeds interested in Assombalonga?
Bielsa likely wanted to sign Assombalonga based on his proven track record as a goalscorer for Middlesbrough and Nottingham Forest at Championship level.
The marksman joined Forest from Peterborough in the summer of 2014 after an impressive return of 23 goals and three assists in 43 League One outings for the Posh.
He hit the ground running in the Championship with 15 goals and one assist in 29 league matches for the Tricky Trees during his debut campaign at the City Ground, with an average of slightly more than a goal every other game.
Assombalonga then missed a staggering 80 competitive matches with a knee injury between 2014 and 2015 and showed great character to come back and fire home 14 goals in 32 league games during the 2016/17 campaign.
The reliable finisher carried his goalscoring form over to Boro in 2017 with 15 goals and two assists in 44 Championship outings during the 2017/18 season.
That was then followed up by 14 goals in 42 second-tier clashes throughout the following term, as he proved himself to be a consistent scorer at that level over the course of a number of years.
Assombalonga scored six goals and provided two assists in 20 Championship appearances during the first half of the 2019/20 campaign, which led to interest from Leeds in January of that season.
Former Middlesbrough striker Britt Assombalonga.
Eddie Nketiah had spent that time on loan at Elland Road from Arsenal and only found the back of the net three times in 17 league outings before his return to The Emirates at the start of 2020.
The Middlesbrough star's impressive statistics at Championship level suggested that he would have been an excellent addition to compete with Bamford.
Where is Assombalonga now?
The Whites failed to secure a deal for his services and, over three years on from that window, the centre-forward now finds himself playing for Antalyaspor in Turkey.
Assombalonga's decline started in the 2020/21 campaign as the DR Congo international only managed five goals and zero assists in 31 league matches for Middlesbrough.
His poor form for the English side then led to a free transfer to Super Lig team Adana Demirspor in the summer of 2021, where he went on to score 18 goals in 54 appearances in all competitions.
Former Watford striker Britt Assombalonga.
The former Peterborough star joined Watford on a short-term deal at the start of this year and struggled as he scored two goals and failed to provide a single assist in 11 Championship games for the Hornets.
He returned to Turkey to join Antalyaspor this summer and has failed to score or assist a single goal in his first six matches with the club to date.
How much is Assombalonga worth now?
FootballTransfers rates his Expected Transfer Value (xTV) at just €600k (£500k), illustrating how badly the last few years have gone for the former Leeds target.
He has scored two goals in 17 league games in 2023, for Watford and Antalyaspor combined, and is worth a staggering £14.5m less than what Middlesbrough paid for him in 2017.
Whilst it remains to be seen how much Leeds would have had to pay for his services during the January transfer window, there is little doubt that Bielsa dodged a disaster by missing out on Assombalonga.
Leeds striker Patrick Bamford.
His statistics indicate that he would have been a big downgrade on Bamford, who scored 16 Championship goals and then 17 Premier League goals during the 2019/20 and 2020/21 campaigns respectively.
He outscored the Middlesbrough ace in the second tier and then proved himself to be capable of dealing with the rigours of top-flight football.
The former Chelsea prospect's current xTV also sits at €11.7m (£10m), at the age of 30. This suggests that the former England international would not have been usurped by the Whites target, due to his superior goalscoring record and significantly higher market value.
The five-match ODI series that starts in Dambulla is a chance for both Sri Lanka and South Africa to strap in, and start building some form
The Preview by Andrew Fidel Fernando28-Jul-2018Big PictureThe last time these two sides met in bilateral ODIs, South Africa stomped to a 5-0 victory. Sri Lanka were at the start of their shambolic 2017, and South Africa still had AB de Villiers, while Imran Tahir only needed to stare at a Sri Lanka batsman in order to get his wicket.Things are a little different now – mainly for South Africa. They are without de Villiers, who is retired, and are missing Tahir on this trip – the selectors having chosen to give him a break. The core of their batting group has also twice failed against spin over the last few months. Once, in the just-concluded Tests, where Sri Lanka’s spinners uprooted them for embarrassing totals on three different occasions. And also a few months ago, when India’s wristspinners Kuldeep Yadav and Yuzvendra Chahal shared 33 wickets between them in an ODI series that South Africa lost 5-1.Sri Lanka, meanwhile, are yet to convince anyone that they are a capable ODI side. They won a tri-series featuring Bangladesh and Zimbabwe in January, but were unconvincing in that campaign, and have not played ODIs since. There is also substantial flux in their side, because almost no one contributes consistently, series after series. The trend has been for players to burn hot for a few games, before fading dramatically away. The uncertainty over what the best XI might be is not helped by the suspensions – Dinesh Chandimal and Danushka Gunathilaka are effectively ruled out of the series.If you were to pick favourites for next year’s World Cup, these two teams are unlikely to feature. Others, such as India and England, have already started fine-tuning. Pakistan are running hot. Both South Africa and Sri Lanka, however, have serious catching up to do if they are to launch formidable campaigns in England next year. This series kicks off their World Cup preparation, in earnest; it is a chance for two meandering teams to strap in, and start building some form.Form guideSri Lanka WWWLL (completed matches, most recent first) South Africa LLWLLIn the spotlightFor so long the most frustrating cricketer in Sri Lanka (and this is a crowded field), coaches say Thisara Perera is now a brand-new, self-motivated man. His performances have been better in the last 10 months than in the previous few years, with his batting in particular coming good. That the think tank persisted with him through all those lean series is because Sri Lanka’s selectors know a seam-bowling, big-hitting allrounder will be invaluable in England next year. Given his recent form, big performances are now expected from Thisara.Although he never got past 50, Faf du Plessis appeared the most capable South Africa batsman against spin for the first three innings of the Test series. Despite having missed most of the ODIs against India at home, he had also hit 120 off 112 balls in the only match he played. South Africa’s batting coach has hinted that his team would use this series to trial new players, with the likes of Willem Mulder, Heinrich Klaasen and Reeza Hendricks among those who may get an opportunity. But while that experimenting goes on, South Africa will depend on runs from the senior men – du Plessis and Hashim Amla in particular, who have been part of an ODI series victory in Sri Lanka before.Team newsHeinrich Klaasen picked up a groin strain and sat out the tour match, but is expected to be fit for the first ODI. He may be overlooked in favour of Mulder, however, who was good with bat and ball in the practice game. South Africa may opt for two spinners in Dambulla, in which case Keshav Maharaj and Tabraiz Shamsi may both play.South Africa (possible): 1 Quinton de Kock (wk), 2 Hashim Amla, 3 Faf du Plessis (capt.), 4 Aiden Markram, 5 JP Duminy, 6 David Miller, 7 Willem Mulder, 8 Keshav Maharaj, 9 Andile Phehlukwayo, 10 Kagiso Rabada, 11 Tabraiz ShamsiSri Lanka’s XI is difficult to predict, given the flux. Kusal Perera, Kusal Mendis, Upul Tharanga and Niroshan Dickwella are likely to form the four, although it is hard to say in which order. If they go with double-spin, Akila Dananjaya and Lakshan Sandakan are the likeliest to play. Kasun Rajitha may also be in the mix for an ODI debut.Sri Lanka (possible): 1 Kusal Perera, 2 Niroshan Dickwella (wk), 3 Upul Tharanga, 4 Kusal Mendis, 5 Angelo Mathews (capt.), 6 Dasun Shanaka, 7 Thisara Perera, 8 Akila Dananjaya, 9 Suranga Lakmal, 10 Lakshan Sandakan, 11 Kasun RajithaPitch and conditionsThe tracks in Dambulla have seemingly become more batting friendly over the last couple of years. Chasing teams also appear to have done well, though the sample size is too small for this to be called a trend. There is no rain forecast.Stats and trivia In four ODI innings during that January tri-series in Bangladesh, Thisara struck 134 runs at a strike rate of 154, and an average of 44.66. Of all the places Hashim Amla has batted, it is in Sri Lanka that he has the best average of 70.60, with two centuries to his name. South Africa have won nine of the last 10 ODIs between these sides, having beaten Sri Lanka in the Champions Trophy last year, and having won the 2014 bilateral series in Sri Lanka 2-1.Quotes”We’ll trial a few combinations which we think will be suitable for the World Cup, but it’s a process. It depends on the conditions also and you have to keep winning as well.” “I’d look at the next year leading up to the World Cup as how we can give guys opportunities, who we think will be in that 15-man squad, and as well as equipping them with the skillsets required to win the trophy in England.”
The return of Ben Stokes will not threaten the position of Joe Root in England’s T20 team, according to stand-in head coach Paul Farbrace.Stokes will make his return from a hamstring injury in Durham’s T20 Blast match against Yorkshire at Headingley on July 5. While he will play as a specialist batsman, the England management have decided that, as long as he comes through it unscathed, he will be available for selection for the third T20 against India in Bristol on July 8 as an allrounder.And while Farbrace, who has taken charge of the England side for the T20s against Australia and India (and would appear to be in pole position to assume the role of head coach in September 2019), accepts Stokes’ return “gives the selectors an issue,” he insists he “can’t believe anybody” would drop Root from any England side.”Is Root’s place locked in?” Farbrace asked. “In my mind 100 percent. I can’t believe anybody else in our set up would argue against that.”He is world class in all forms of the game. That innings in Mumbai allowed us to win that fantastic run chase because of his nous. You do need nous and you do need people playing in different ways. There will be times when he is the outstanding player in a T20 game and get us over the line because of his nous and his high level of skill. You do need the best players. The best players adapt and score runs whether it is 20 overs or 50 overs or Test match cricket and he is without doubt one of the finest players in the world.”You do need different style players. You don’t want everybody playing the same way. You will play on wickets sometimes when you are chasing when you need someone who is able to rotate the strike and knock it around and be smart in the middle. And that is the role Joe played at Edgbaston. He could go anywhere from No. 3 to No. 6 and it is nice for us to have that flexibility and that cool, calm head who could go anywhere in the order.”Absolutely Root always plays. You need your best batsman in 50 over and T20 cricket. We saw at Edgbaston that the most exciting stuff is strong, good cricket shots and not just slogging. The balls that people didn’t strike particularly well were the ones where they tried to over hit it.”ESPNcricinfo Ltd
The fact that Root’s position is, in any way, a debating point is a reflection of England’s remarkable strength in depth in white-ball batting. With Jos Buttler, who set a new record for England’s fastest IT20 half-century on Wednesday night, now apparently nailed on as an opening batsmen and Jason Roy, Alex Hales (who almost matched Buttler’s record) and Jonny Bairstow (who hit his first ball for six) pushing for places at the top of the order, something has to give. Root’s strike-rate (129.45), while respectable, is beneath that of Hales (137.82), Roy (136.07), Stokes (136.17) and Eoin Morgan (132.68). Only Bairstow (121.63) has a lower strike-rate than Root but he is probably a better player since returning to the side.But one thing nobody should doubt is that Stokes, when fit, returns. And while some might question Morgan’s position, his influence as captain has been huge. Both players look, for now, automatic selections.”Ben is a three-in-one player,” Farbrace said. “He can bowl and he is the best fielder. You are going to bring him in as soon as he is available. It might mean another shift in your batting order but he’s not a bad bloke to be coming into your team.”It is a great problem to have, really. And as Eoin has said, we are still trying to find the right balance. You could easily argue a couple of others could have had a go as opener and maybe Hales walked to the crease in Edgbaston with a bit of a point to prove. It is a great position to be in.”The plan, for now, would appear to see England use the next 12 months to experiment with the personnel and batting order in T20 cricket. Then, 12 months ahead of the next World T20 in Australia, they will start to define those plans and select a more predictable side with a more predictable batting order.We may also see less rotation of players in T20 cricket as its importance rises again ahead of that global event. Noticeably, there are currently no plans to rest Root, Bairstow, Buttler, Moeen Ali or anyone else who might be involved in the Test squads for any of the ODI or T20 matches against India.All of which will leave the England management with a tricky job. While the competition for places should be helpful, combining that with managing the personal ambitions and egos of individuals while ensuring the team continues to play selfless, fearless cricket could be an issue. But Farbrace, while recognising the issue, is confident it can be handled.”It’s something that you want in your team,” he said. “You want to have competition for places and, when a team is playing as well as it has been, lads want to be a part of it. Not just those in the 11 but those who are in the 15 as well.”There are people who miss out who desperately want to be in that 15 because they know it is a great place to be. The team are playing great cricket and they have a lot of fun doing it. They want to be part of that.”It is a nice problem to have but it is something we do talk a lot about. I have had some good conversations today with players to make sure [they realise] we are trying to experiment and make sure we give ourselves the best chance come 2020 and the next World T20.”
Arsenal goalkeeper Aaron Ramsdale is "going to have to move" in the near future, according to talkSPORT pundit Gabby Agbonlahor.
Is Aaron Ramsdale leaving Arsenal?
Ramsdale's future at the Emirates Stadium was plunged into doubt when Arsenal completed the surprise signing of David Raya in the summer, with the goalkeeper joining on an initial loan from Brentford, although the move is set to be made permanent.
Mikel Arteta started the England international at the beginning of the Premier League season, but he has since made the decision to drop him, with the manager claiming it was for tactical reasons. When asked why he brought Raya into the starting XI, Arteta said:
"Why? Why not?. We have all the qualities in another goalkeeper to do something when something is happening and you want to change momentum. Do it. Now my feeling is to get everybody engaged in the team. They have to play, regardless of the competition. We have to do it."
However, it is unusual for clubs to keep two top goalkeepers in their squad, given that it is difficult to keep them both happy, and Football Insider reports that suitors are lining up to sign the 25-year-old in the January transfer window.
At the moment, the shot-stopper is focused on regaining his place in the starting XI, but Agbonlahor believes he is going to have to leave if he wants to play for England at Euro 2024 next summer. The talkSPORT pundit said:
"I don’t see goalkeepers at Ramsdale’s age accepting being number two.
“He’s going to have to move because Raya will be the number one from now on. Henderson had to move from Man United, and this is the same. It’ll be frustrating for Ramsdale because he hasn’t made any real mistakes in an Arsenal shirt. He’ll be thinking ‘How’s this happened?’
“Out of nowhere, he’s lost his shirt.
“If he’s not playing, and Pickford, Henderson, Johnstone all are – he could miss out on the Euros.”
Will Aaron Ramsdale leave Arsenal?
The Englishman may have a big decision to make in the January transfer window, should he be aiming to start at Euro 2024 next summer, but you'd think that Gareth Southgate is unlikely to select him over Jordan Pickford if he is not even the first-choice for his club.
At this stage, the former AFC Bournemouth man has only been benched for two Premier League games, and he showed his support for Raya by applauding his fellow goalkeeper for a superb save to deny Brennan Johnson in the North London derby.
However, there is a chance the 6 foot 2 'keeper could become unsettled if he has a prolonged spell out of the team, particularly considering his chances of representing his country are on the line.
At the moment, Ramsdale should continue to focus on regaining his place in the starting XI, as displacing Raya, who has been lauded as "excellent" by Arteta, would make a real statement to Southgate.
However, if the "incredible" goalkeeper does not feature regularly before January, then he could consider moving elsewhere, as he may not want to play second fiddle at this stage of his career.
Kagiso Rabada has conceded he should not have got into Steven Smith’s space after dismissing him in the first innings of the Port Elizabeth Test, an action for which he is currently set to miss the remainder of the Test series. He insisted, however, he did not feel any contact when his shoulder brushed Smith’s.Rabada is appealing against his Level 2 sanction on Monday, with the hope of having three of his nine demerit points removed and allow him to play on; how this qualified acceptance of responsibility affects his defense only time will tell.Asked at a sponsor function in Johannesburg whether he had been harshly treated, Rabada was equivocal and said he could see both sides of the argument.”It’s debatable. Some people think so, some people don’t. I take responsibility for what happened. On the video, it looks like I got into the guy’s space, so I shouldn’t have done that. I’ll say 50/50, it’s my fault. I didn’t feel anything in the moment.”Rabada, who expressed regret for his actions in the aftermath of the Test, said that he will rethink his celebrations in future. “I must obey the rules. I do things because I’m passionate. Sometimes, you are bowling against the best players. I guess I shouldn’t really rub it into their faces. It’s a case of still have the passion, but let the batsman be after I get him out.”In the interim, Rabada has reached out to several people, including his father, who have all advised him that he needs to calm down. “Anyone can give you advice on that – it’s emotional, so your parents, a close friend, it’s about managing your emotions and making sure that you follow the rules, not do anything stupid,” he said. “It teaches you about yourself and how you react in certain situations, and what is a better way to react without losing anything. My father has given me advice, short and sweet, he told me to relax and talk with the ball.”Rabada said he would attempt to set a better example in future. “I guess incidents like these are not the best for children to see, because they can be portrayed or perceived in a bad way. It’s to do things, still being yourself, but realising that people can perceive things in a different way.”Dale Steyn, who had told media after the first Test that the demerit points were hampering Rabada’s aggression, said at the same function that Rabada’s age and inexperience have all contributed to his actions, and that in time, he will likely rein it in.”I did think he was a bit tame in the first Test, and felt the handcuffs of those demerit points sitting on him and not being able to say anything or perform the way that he likes to perform. It is going to be fine line going forward for KG.”We also remember he is 22. We all make stupid mistakes when we’re 22. It doesn’t matter how many cricket matches he has played, how many wickets he takes. He is still 22. We can’t be upset about that.”Steyn recalled the time his own indiscretion got him into trouble, and hoped Rabada will learn from his mistakes. “Maybe this needed to happen for him to learn a bit quicker. I did stupid things when I was younger. I spat in the direction of Sulieman Benn. I haven’t done anything since. We all make these mistakes.”
Everton are always one to watch on transfer deadline day and today could be a great opportunity for the club to add some last-minute attacking reinforcements, with a fresh update emerging on a potential target.
What's the latest Everton transfer news?
According to TEAMtalk, Everton have been offered the opportunity to sign West Ham United striker Danny Ings.
As per the report, Sean Dyche is keen to work with Ings again after coaching him at Burnley previously and would be open to the idea of snapping up the forward's services in the dying hours of the transfer window.
It is further noted that Everton are looking to add even more attacking reinforcements, despite sealing a deal for Beto earlier this week.
Will Danny Ings join Everton?
There is no doubt that Ings boasts the Premier League experience and consistency in front of goal to make an instant impact at Goodison Park this season, so it makes perfect sense for Dyche to reunite with the goal machine.
Read the latest Everton transfer news HERE…
During his tenure at Turf Moor, the 31-year-old – once hailed a "phenomenal finisher" by pundit Noel Whelan – delivered 43 goals and registered 14 assists over 130 appearances, with a goal contribution every 170 minutes before he parted ways with the Clarets in a move to Liverpool back in 2015.
Since then, Ings has become a highly-rated Premier League goalscorer with stints at Southampton, Aston Villa and now West Ham, where he is now struggling to earn game time with just 24 appearances tallied up in all competitions – averaging just 38 minutes per game since joining the Hammers in January in a deal worth £15m.
The former Burnley boss has always been a huge admirer of the English centre-forward he played a hand in developing as a youngster, and continued to sing his praise when Ings was unstoppable in front of goal for Saints:
"He has really found his fitness and his form. He's playing very, very well.
"[His form is] not a massive surprise to me. He's a good player, there's no two ways about it."
As a result, Dyche could now revive Ings' career by offering him the chance to redeem himself on the blue side of Merseyside which should be an attractive prospect for the striker, especially when considering the improvements Dwight McNeil has made under the manager since the turn of the year.
The Everton winger found himself struggling at Goodison under the management of Frank Lampard, despite the former Chelsea boss signing McNeil in the summer previous.
The 23-year-old scored just twice and delivered one assist before Lampard was sacked in January, however, quickly became a certain starter upon the arrival of his former manager and repaid Dyche's faith by tallying up two assists and five goals over the business end of the campaign, which hugely contributed to Everton's survival in the Premier League.
With that being said, it would be a no-brainer for Ings to join Everton before the transfer window slams shut. Like McNeil was, he is underperforming but Dyche could well get the very best out of him and revive his career in the final third.
An expanded Big Bash League will stretch into mid-February next summer as Cricket Australia seeks to make the finals of the tournament a more significant climax
Daniel Brettig04-Jan-2018
Jos Buttler walks out to bat•Getty Images
An expanded Big Bash League will stretch into mid-February next summer as Cricket Australia seeks to make the finals of the tournament a more significant climax for broadcasters in the looming round of television rights negotiations.James Sutherland, the CA chief executive, said that the governing body had indicated a desire to make a bigger deal of the BBL’s pointy end in early talks with the networks likely to be bidding for the tournament, including the current rights holders Ten, Channels Nine and Seven and also the pay television operator Fox Sports.The BBL is set to grow into a full home-and-away league in 2018-19, meaning the addition of another 14 games to this summer’s schedule, though Sutherland said this would mainly mean an increase in the number of double-headers and shorter breaks between games. What will be different is the movement of the semis and final to the middle of February, meaning the BBL will not have to compete for resources and airtime with the limited-overs portion of the international summer.In 2016-17, for example, Australia played Pakistan in an ODI in Sydney on January 22, the two BBL semi-finals were played on January 24 and 25, another ODI took place on January 26 and then the BBL final was held in Perth on January 28. Sutherland said that CA wanted to push the finals further into February to give them more attention and value, with the national team commonly travelling to an overseas tour by that time of the year.”One of my observations would be that I don’t feel the BBL has reached a proper climax in the past,” Sutherland told ESPNcricinfo. “It’s sort of been hidden in behind [international] one-day cricket and T20 cricket that’s been played at that time, end of January. I think by pushing it out a bit into the middle of February you can reach a climax.”Maybe have a bit of a break between the last round, the semi-finals and the finals, and just build to a climax, have a bit of discussion about who’s playing. At the moment you’ve got an international match being played then it seems like next day is the BBL final. It’s about getting the balance right and starting a cycle with a clear view of what’s happening.”We’ve seen clearly that the BBL and international cricket can co-exist and do at this time of year, particularly through the peak summer period, and then in February as we go into touring in other parts of the world I think the climax of the BBL season can come through the first couple of weeks of February. Ultimately we’ll play more games, it may well mean we play more double-headers, we certainly don’t want to be, by having more rounds, extending the season by a month, that’s not the intention. It’s about finding that balance.”Having not held rights to any cricket played in Australia since the 2012-13 season, Fox Sports is widely expected to factor into any future deals as a way of helping broaden the increasingly weighty asking price of cricket rights. Any deal with either CA or free-to-air networks may involve simulcasting international matches, or gaining the rights to exclusively broadcast a portion of the greater number of BBL games likely to be available.”They’ve always been heavily involved in cricket, but they’ve invested in overseas cricket more so than domestic cricket,” Sutherland said. “They started the BBL the first two years, they’ve supported our domestic one day competition and did a very good job when they were partners there. The question mark now is how much do they want, what do they want and what are they interested in.”While we understand they may be interested, it is then a matter of how that fits with everything else. Clearly the observation I’d make right now is that cricket’s blessed to have all of our valuable content on free-to-air television and two partners in Nine and Ten who do it in their own special way and both attract huge audiences and are extremely professional and care a lot about their production of cricket. We’re in a really good position, hopefully the product is still sought after by them and others as well.”Another question for CA is how its expanding digital project sits in the next round of deals. Nine’s current agreement with the governing body included an A$40 million component to pay for its digital arm, and Sutherland said he was open to CA setting up its own production house for broadcasts after the fashion of the BCCI and also Tennis Australia’s management of the Australian Open. He also floated the possibility of more direct-to-consumer streaming packages coming into the picture.”One option there is where we become a production house and produce it all, BCCI does some of that for international cricket but not the IPL. Tennis do their own production for the Australian Open. We could become the production and then sell the feed to the different broadcasters,” Sutherland said. “That’s one option but you can then take it to the next level where you actually do the production and then you sell the option over the top direct to customer. Is it foreseeable? The first step is more foreseeable than the second one, the second one depends on how the market plays out.”But if you think about the way the world’s changing, the Netflixes and the Googles, Facebook and what they’re doing, it’s probably a more likely scenario that they come in and take a greater interest and investment in sport, and offer the over-the-top service by the game. Instead of buying a movie you buy a game, or have a subscription where you can login to a channel, MLB TV style. That’s a really good example, we unashamedly monitor very closely what MLB has done and continues to do in terms of diversifying its offering to fans, creating different layers and levels.”
West Ham United are interested in strengthening their squad with yet another midfielder.
Who have West Ham already signed?
The Hammers have already signed Edson Alvarez and James Ward-Prowse, but Lucas Paqueta wants to join Manchester City, and Flynn Downes is set to join Southampton on loan.
As a result, there could still be room for one or two more new faces in the Irons side.
Indeed, according to Express Sport, the east Londoners are exploring the possibility of signing a third midfielder in the summer window, with one Burnley man touted as a possible option.
Read the latest West Ham transfer news HERE…
The outlet revealed that West Ham have held ‘initial discussions’ over a permanent deal for 27-year-old Josh Brownhill, who captained the Clarets to Premier League promotion last term.
Several unnamed clubs are also keenly tracking Brownhill, but West Ham’s added incentive of Europa League football is thought to ‘give them the edge’ in the race for the Englishman.
What are Josh Brownhill's best qualities?
Brownhill has been at Burnley since 2020, but last season was undoubtedly his brightest, serving as a simple explanation for West Ham’s interest.
In August 2022, manager Vincent Kompany predicted the former Bristol City man to have a hugely influential campaign, saying: “Keeping Brownhill this season was crucial and he was ready for the responsibility to become a key player.
“I still see some growth in his game. I don’t want to talk him up too far but he can be one of the players of the Championship if he stays on this road this season.”
Brownhill emphatically supported the Belgian’s praise with a glittering season of consistency. He started 41 Championship games and ranked highest in the squad for a number of metrics including the most assists (8), most tackles per game (2.2), and the most key passes per game (1.8).
The wonderfully accomplished nature of his play has blessed the 5 foot 11 engine with a formidable reputation.
Josh-Brownhill
Wolverhampton Wanderers legend has showered the all-rounder in praise, describing him as a “top-class” player.
Brownhill clearly demonstrated that he is comfortably above the required level in the Championship and would be a useful option in a Premier League side. This has been recognised by West Ham, who are undergoing a notable midfield overhaul as they attempt to compensate for the loss of Declan Rice and the impending departure of Paqueta.
One West Ham midfielder who is definitely staying is Tomas Soucek. On Tuesday, it was confirmed that Czech has signed a new four-year deal at the London Stadium, keeping him at West Ham until the summer of 2027.
However, his form and usefulness will create question marks over his value to the team.
Ultimately, for the 60-cap international this boils down to his contributions to offensive sequences of play. Since joining West Ham, he has become renowned for his physicality, height, and heading ability and in the 2020/21 season he managed to net ten Premier League goals.
However, particularly last term, his attacking influence has deteriorated, as the 6 foot 4 mountain notched just two goals.
Unfortunately for the player, he is unable to cover for this with any kind of technical ability, as he dismally ranks within the lowest 6% in Europe’s top five leagues among his positional peers for pass completion per 90, progressive passes per 90, and progressive carries per 90.
Although he sits within the best 26% for tackles and is a major contributor to the defensive effort, Brownhill’s tackling from last season, coupled with his 15 goal involvements, show that he is able to match and outperform Soucek in these areas, whilst also offering infinitely more agility and athleticism.
The addition of Brownhill could create a selection headache for David Moyes by offering an attractive new avenue of play.