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Leeds United have finally started to get the ball rolling ahead of their Championship campaign with a full take-over confirmed and Daniel Farke appointed to take on the challenging head coach role at Elland Road.

Not only that, their recruitment plans and strategy is starting to take some shape; not only in identifying key targets who could improve the team next season but also allowing the players who are not sold on staying to compete in the second tier.

Robin Koch is the first first-team player to make an exit with the defender leaving on a season-long loan to Eintracht Frankfurt in the Bundesliga, whilst a number of others like Jack Harrison, Wilfried Gnonto and Crysencio Summerville have been linked with moves away from the Whites.

As a result, Farke has a huge task on his hands to ensure his team can compete comfortably to earn an instant return to the top flight and whilst the quality of their Premier League-proven stars will be important, it will also be essential to bring in some talent who have experience of the Championship.

One player who has been recently linked with a move to Elland Road is Nottingham Forest's Sam Surridge, a striker who not only has the experience to make an impact in the second tier but is also a youthful prospect that could be a worthy heir to Patrick Bamford.

The Athletic's Leeds reporter Phil Hay has claimed that Leeds are interested in a number of players to fill key roles in the squad next season and Surridge is named as a potential option for the club.

Would Sam Surridge be a good signing for Leeds?

If Leeds can acquire the right players to bolster key positions in the team and retain the services of some of their most important components, there is no reason why the club won't be in contention to follow in Burnley's footsteps to secure automatic promotion next season.

Farke has twice masterminded Championship promotion during his time at Norwich City which puts the west Yorkshire outfit in a great position to achieve their goal.

The signing of Surridge would be a great opportunity for Leeds to bring in a player who has been a huge presence in the league in the past and if he can make a similar impact next season he could easily challenge Bamford for the future spot in the number nine role.

Over 27 appearances last season, the 24-year-old – once hailed "clinical" by journalist Callum Castel – scored three goals and registered two assists and despite being out of favour for the most part, he tallied up a goal contribution every 148 minutes.

In the Championship, the £15k-per-week machine has experience playing in the centre-forward role for Stoke City, Swansea, Bournemouth and of course, Nottingham Forest with 87 appearances, 17 goals and four assists, promoted once due to his efforts through the play-offs with the Tricky Trees in the 2021/22 campaign.

Bamford has struggled to offer a consistent output over the last two seasons with injuries limiting his game-time and an inability to get into a consistent run of form – scoring just 11 times over the most recent two campaigns – so now Surridge could be a competitor for the 29-year-old Leeds striker needs to improve his performances next season.

With that being said, if Leeds can strike up a deal for Surridge it would be a good piece of business for the club and with consistent minutes at Elland Road it could provide Farke with a worthy heir to succeed Bamford in the future.

Ahead of their WCL Division Three tournament in Uganda, head coach Pubudu Dassanayake took the assistance of top Australian coaches to sharpen players’ skills in USA’s bid for promotion to Division Two

Peter Della Penna25-Apr-2017In a bid to reverse the curse of Division Three, the USA team’s preparations for their upcoming tournament in Uganda have been kicked up a notch with the help of several Australian coaches, including New South Wales assistant Beau Casson. It is a boost that USA players hope will finally get them over the hump and into Division Two for the first time since the ICC began the World Cricket League system in 2007.”It’s been great to tinker with some of the players and make slight technical adjustments, but there’s been a major emphasis on tactical awareness and particularly ‘game sense’ and when to execute certain deliveries depending on what the situation demands,” Casson told ESPNcricinfo during USA’s recent preparation camp in Texas. “That’s an area that I think there’s going to be incredible growth within this playing group because there’s skill there, but being able to identify certain situations in the game is very important.”A lack of tactical nous has been a key reason why USA has failed in three prior attempts to progress out of Division Three despite the talent at their disposal. In 2004, USA was in the top tier of Associates and qualified for that year’s Champions Trophy in England. A 10th place finish at the ICC Trophy in 2005 saw them reclassified into Division Three when the World Cricket League structure was unveiled for 2007, but when the ICC suspended the USA Cricket Association that year, one of the penalties handed down was a relegation from Division Three to Division Five.In their first attempt after gaining back-to-back promotions to move up from Division Five in 2010, USA opened the 2011 WCL Division Three tournament with a thumping seven-wicket win over current ODI nation Hong Kong before a calamitous series of results saw them relegated to Division Four. Back in Division Three in April 2013, they began 3-0 in Bermuda including a big win over current WCL Championship side Nepal before stumbling on the final two days of group play against Uganda and Bermuda. Another confident start against Bermuda at Division Three in 2014 in Malaysia spiraled out of control, resulting in relegation once more.Fresh talent not scarred by the memories of prior Division Three debacles has been drafted into the squad for the Uganda tour, including left-arm spinner Nosthush Kenjige. After a stint training with the Knights franchise in South Africa under coach Nicky Boje earlier this year, Kenjige says the time spent in Texas this month with Casson as well as Tasmania high-performance manager Richard Allanby further elevated his ‘game sense’ to get ready for a crucial tournament.”It’s just been priceless just because the kind of expertise and knowledge that these two coaches have,” Kenjige said. “They’ve played for international sides and they’ve been coaching around the world. So just to have them around and looking at you bowl, and then they’ve also been helping me in different scenarios with the field, with the tactical part of it and also the technical part of the bowling side. So it’s just been gold.”Peter Anderson worked extensively with USA’s wicketkeepers, including this golf ball catching exercise•Peter Della Penna

Fielding expert Trevor Penney is on USA’s staff for Division Three as an assistant coach alongside head coach Pubudu Dassanayake, but former Queensland wicketkeeper and current Cayman Islands coach Peter Anderson was brought to the Texas camp as a consultant specifically to work with USA’s wicketkeepers. Akeem Dodson said the brief time with Anderson was a bonus ahead of Division Three.”That kind of experience, it’s all you’ve been waiting for all your life as a professional athlete,” Dodson said of Anderson. “Not only the drive but the wherewithal to implement his own personality onto the way he teaches things. There’s so many different drills he had put together, things you could tell he did himself and now he’s passing on to you.”One drill Dodson did with Anderson was a rapid reflex exercise in which golf balls were hit from two feet away that needed to be snatched barehanded, then tennis balls, before advancing to cricket balls. The progression is intended to make each step easier for game action.”I didn’t find it too weird,” Dodson said. “I’ve heard golf ball practice is very good for your reflexes because it pings off very fast, then tennis ball for the touch and then those two things going together it makes the cricket ball easier to catch. Going through those progressive drills opens your eyes and you see and feel technically the things you’ve been doing wrong, and by the time you get to the cricket balls you’re not dropping any of them. It’s like you flip a switch.”Meeting him, working with him and having the chance to talk with him, he’s learned from some of the best and been around the best. It’s that kind of people that you want to keep close to you and build off of. The wealth of experience that he comes with is unfathomable almost and just to be able to have him here along with us and working with us is a great pleasure.”Anderson has formerly headed the Afghanistan national academy from 2014 to 2016 and also coached Papua New Guinea at the 2014 World Cup Qualifier where they secured ODI status. He believes, from his observations in Texas, that USA has the squad right now to be a Division One Associate.”They have a lot of talent but they have to go back home and reinforce what they’ve learnt,” Anderson said. “The intensity I’ve seen, I think they’re starting to understand what’s required to go to the next level and I think these guys will climb fairly quickly. They’ve got a good nucleus of players together. The biggest challenge is that it’s such a big place, they have to go back [home] and take ownership to work on their own game.”The talent I’ve seen, it won’t be long before they’re in the top leagues in my opinion. Playing against those teams, the hardest challenge is working their way up the ladder. I’ve coached two of those teams and there’s no doubt they have the talent to be there, it’s just a matter of getting consistency and working hard on their games. I expect them to go to Uganda and do very well and within 18 months I think they’ll challenge Papua New Guinea and some of those other countries.”

تعمل إدارة نادي برشلونة على إيجاد بديل للمدير الفني تشافي هيرنانديز، في ظل انتظارهم لقرار نهائي بشأن مصير المدرب.

وتريد إدارة برشلونة بقيادة الرئيس خوان لابورتا، والمدير الرياضي ديكو، أن يستمر تشافي في منصبه.

المدرب يُصر على موقفه بالرحيل، بحسب ما أكد عدة مرات في تصريحات أدلى بها، عقب إعلان قراره الذي كشف عنه في يناير الماضي.

ومن بين الأسماء التي ارتبطت ببرشلونة، هو روبن أموريم، المدير الفني لفريق سبورتنج لشبونة، والمرتبط أيضًا بتدريب ليفربول خلفًا ليورجن كلوب، الذي سيرحل هو الآخر في نهاية الموسم الحالي.

وأوضحت صحيفة “سبورت” الإسبانية، أن أموريم خارج حسابات برشلونة لعدة أسباب، رغم اقتناع ديكو بأسلوب المدرب.

اقرأ أيضًا | ريليفو: لاعبو برشلونة يُلمحون لاستمرار تشافي في قيادة الفريق

يوضح التقرير أن أموريم ليس لديه خبرة كافية، كما أنه يرتبط بعقد مع سبورتنج لشبونة بعقد حتى يونيو 2026 ولديه شرط جزائي بقيمة 20 مليون يورو للأندية خارج البرتغال.

الاضطرار إلى دفع ثمن الشرط الجزائي، يستبعد بشكل نهائي أموريم من تدريب برشلونة بحسب ما أوضح التقرير.

وأتم التقرير موضحًا أن أموريم يقترب أكثر من ليفربول لخلافة كلوب، خاصة وأن تشابي ألونسو الذي رغب النادي الإنجليزي في التعاقد معه، أعلن استمراره مع باير ليفركوزن.

Liverpool have started their midfield rebuild this summer with Alexis Mac Allister and Dominik Szoboszlai joining the Merseyside giants and now a new update has emerged on another potential transfer target.

Is Cheick Doucoure joining Liverpool?

According to Daily Mail journalist Sami Mokbel, Liverpool are now showing "interest" in signing Crystal Palace midfielder Cheick Doucoure.

Mokbel took to Twitter on Wednesday evening to reveal:

"Crystal Palace value Cheick Doucoure between £70m-£80m amid interest from Liverpool. No club-to-club contact as yet but Palace and Doucoure aware of Liverpool’s initial interest."

How good is Cheick Doucoure?

Jurgen Klopp and his sporting director Jorg Schmadtke have been forced to re-evaluate their transfer business this summer, due to the imminent departure of Jordan Henderson and the expected exit of defensive midfielder Fabinho too.

After missing out on Liverpool's first pre-season friendly against Karlsruher SC on Wednesday, it was confirmed by Italian journalist Fabrizio Romano that there is now a full agreement in place for the club captain to make a move to Al-Ettifaq to join fellow former Reds skipper Steven Gerrard – with a transfer fee of around £12m reported.

Brazilian mainstay Fabinho is also destined for a move to the Saudi Pro League too and did not travel with Liverpool at all on their trip across Europe, due to a potential £40m move to Al-Ittihad and has already agreed personal terms with the Saudi Arabian club.

As a result, the signing of Doucoure would be a great piece of business for Liverpool, as he has the Premier League experience and the perfect profile to replace Fabinho in the deep-lying role of the Merseysiders' midfield.

Crystal Palace snapped up the services of the former Lens star for £21m last summer and over his first full season in the top flight has been a stand-out performer despite the south London club's initial struggles over the 38-game campaign.

Over 34 Premier League appearances, the 23-year-old – hailed "combative, intelligent, and consistent" by football talent scout Jacek Kulig – registered three assists, successfully completed 71% of his dribbles and won 54% of his duels combined, proving he is a dominant presence in the centre of the pitch.

When comparing Doucoure's output to Fabinho's last season, the Palace powerhouse outperformed his Liverpool positional peer in a number of key attributes including shot-creating actions per 90 (1.98 v 1.85), percentage of dribblers tackled (55.8% v 38.7%) and successful take-ons (71.4% v 46.7%), as per FBref, indicating that he is a more well-rounded asset.

Not only that, the Mali international ranked in the top 20% of his Premier League positional peers last season for successful take-ons, interceptions, ball recoveries, shots blocked and tackles in the defensive third per 90 minutes played, further demonstrating his outstanding ball-winning abilities.

With that being said, if Liverpool can agree on a deal with Palace to sign Doucoure this summer it would be a major addition for Klopp, as it would provide him with a worthy successor to Fabinho who could be the final piece of the puzzle in the club's youthful revolution in midfield.

A round-up of the DPL matches on June 6, 2017 as Gazi Group Cricketers won their first DPL title

ESPNcricinfo staff06-Jun-2017

Gazi Group Cricketers were crowned Dhaka Premier League champions in 2017 despite losing to Prime Doleshwar Sporting Club in their last Super League game by six wickets at the BKSP-3 Ground in Savar. With both these teams and Abahani Limited on 24 points each, the winner was decided through head-to-head matches between the three sides. Gazi Group had won three of those matches while Doleshwar had won two and Abahani one.Top performers of DPL 2017

Highest scorer: Liton Das (Abahani) – 752 runs

Highest score: Raqibul Hasan (Mohammedan) – 190 off 138 v Abahani

Highest wicket-taker: Abu Hider (Gazi Group) – 35 wickets

Best bowling figures: Tanvir Islam (Khelaghar) – 6 for 18 v Partex

This was Gazi Groups’ maiden Dhaka Premier League title while Doleshwar ended runners-up for the third consecutive season. The Gazi Group players had started celebrating their triumph on Monday after Abahani had defeated Sheikh Jamal Dhanmondi Club at the adjacent BKSP-4 Ground.The Gazi-Doleshwar match had originally started on Monday but incessant rain left the outfield wet, so it was continued on Tuesday with Gazi Group on 142 for 5 in 33 overs. They were eventually bowled out for 222 in 49.1 overs with Jahurul Islam top-scoring with a run-a-ball 87 that included seven fours and two sixes. Farhad Reza took three wickets while there was two each for Delwar Hossain, Arafat Sunny and Sharifullah.Later, Puneet Bisht’s unbeaten 89 helped Doleshwar cruise to their target. He struck 11 fours in his 91-ball innings, and added 59 for the fourth wicket with Marshall Ayub and 119 runs for the unbroken fifth wicket with Sharifullah who made 51 off 78 balls. Bisht was later declared the Player of the Match.Prime Bank Cricket Club signed off their campaign with a six-wicket win over Mohammedan Sporting Club in Fatullah.Batting first, Mohammedan were bowled out for 215 in 49.4 overs after resuming the reserve day on 187 for 6 in 43.3 overs. Nazmul Hossain Milon struck a run-a-ball 53 with two sixes and as many fours. Al-Amin Hossain wiped out the tail and finished with 4 for 35.Prime Bank lose two early wickets in the chase, being 24 for 2, before Mehedi Maruf and Rafatullah Mohmand added 78 runs, but Maruf walked off with an injury. He scored 57 off 65 balls with four fours and three sixes. Rafatullah continued, scoring 88 off 129 balls, adding 64 runs for the fourth wicket with Asif Ahmed who finished the chase off with 37 balls to spare.

سيطر التعادل الإيجابي على المباراة المثيرة التي جمعت بين فريقي ريال مدريد ومانشستر سيتي، مساء اليوم في دوري أبطال أوروبا.

واستضاف ملعب “سانتياجو برنابيو” مباراة الفريقين في إطار منافسات ذهاب ربع نهائي دوري أبطال أوروبا، حيث تعادلا بنتيجة 3-3. أهداف مباراة ريال مدريد ومانشستر سيتي

كان مانشستر سيتي قد سجل هدفه الأول في الدقيقة الثانية من عمر الشوط الأول، من ضربة حرة، تحصل عليها عقب خطأ من تشواميني ضد جاك جريليش.

وحصل تشواميني على بطاقة صفراء ستجبره على الغياب عن مباراة الإياب الأسبوع المقبل، في حين نفذ برناردو سيلفا الضربة الحرة، مسجلًا الهدف الأول.

وتمكن إدواردو كامافينجا من تسجيل هدف التعادل لصالح ريال مدريد، في الدقيقة 12، قبل دقيقتين فقط من تسجيل زميله رودريجو الهدف الثاني، معلنًا التقدم لأصحاب الأرض.

وظلت النتيجة كما هي حتى الدقيقة 66، حيث تمكن الفتى الذهبي فيل فودين من تسجيل هدف التعادل لصالح مانشستر سيتي، من تسديدة رائعة من خارج المنطقة، هزت شباك لونين.

وسار جوسكو جفارديول على درب فودين، وهز شباك ريال مدريد من تسديدة صاروخية من خارج المنطقة، في الدقيقة 71، لتصبح النتيجة 3-2.

ولكن الإثارة لم تتوقف، حيث نجح فيدي فالفيردي في تسجيل هدف التعادل لكتيبة كارلو أنشيلوتي في الدقيقة 79.

الجدير بالذكر أن مباراة الإياب ستُقام على ملعب “الاتحاد” يوم الأربعاء 17 أبريل الجاري، ويلتقي الفائز من الفريقين مع الفائز من معركة آرسنال وبايرن ميونخ.

أكد جرانيت تشاكا إن مجيئه إلى باير ليفركوزن والرحيل عن آرسنال كان أحد أفضل القرارات التي اتخذها في حياتته، متحدثًا بعد التتويج بلقب الدوري الألماني.

وبعد 7 سنوات في صفوف آرسنال، انتقل تشاكا إلى ليفركوزن في الصيف الماضي، وسجل السويسري هدفًا في فوز فريقه أمام فيردر بريمن بخماسية دون مقابل.

وتوج باير ليفركوزن بطلاً للدوري الألماني للمرة الأولى في تاريخه، قبل انتهاء البطولة بخمس جولات، ليكسر هيمنة بايرن ميونخ على اللقب والتي استمرت 11 عامًا.

في الموسم الماضي، تصدر آرسنال الدوري الإنجليزي الممتاز معظم فترات الموسم، لكن مانشستر سيتي توج باللقب في النهاية.

وقال تشاكا في تصريحات نشرتها “فرانس 24”: “عندما تبدأ في ركل الكرة لأول مرة وأنت طفل، فإنك تفكر في الألقاب”.

وأضاف: “بعد سبع سنوات في آرسنال، كنا على وشك الفوز باللقب العام الماضي، أنا ممتن جدًا لوجودي هنا وكنت أنتظر هذه اللحظة طويلاً، كان ذلك أحد أفضل القرارت في حياتي”.

اقرأ أيضًا | ألونسو بعد التتويج التاريخي لـ باير ليفركوزن: سعيد بكسر هيمنة بايرن ميونخ والأمر لم ينتهِ

كما تحدث فلوريان فيرتز الذي سجل هاتريك في اللقاء، وقال لاعب خط الوسط البالغ من العمر 20 عامًا:  “في بداية الموسم، لم نكن نتخيل ذلك”.

وأضاف: “جاء هذا الاعتقاد تدريجيًا عندما بدأنا الفوز بالكثير من المباريات بأسلوب لعب مهيمن، قلنا لأنفسنا إننا بإمكاننا تقديم أداء أفضل من مجرد تقديم موسم جيد والتأهل لدوري أبطال أوروبا”.

وجناح ليفركوزن يوناس هوفمان، البالغ 31 عامًا، الذي فاز بالدوري الألماني للمرة الأولى، أفاد: “لا أعرف ما إذا كنت أضحك أم أبكي، لقد دفعنا أنفسنا دائمًا إلى أقصى الحدود، وكان ذلك رائعًا”.

Andrew Umeed battled throughout the day to score 95 runs in 96 overs and keep Warwickshire in the game against Lancashire

George Dobell at Edgbaston27-Jun-2017
Scorecard3:57

Does pink-ball cricket have a future in England?

It took 252 years to build York Minster, 400 years to build Angkor Wat and up to 2000 years to carve the citadel at Petra out of rock, so perhaps, in context, Andrew Umeed’s innings here wasn’t so slow after all. Just one of the slowest in Championship history.According to Robert Brooke, the cricket statistician, in terms of minutes, Umeed’s century exceeded the 420-minute hundred by WH Denton for Northants against Derbyshire in 1914, although at exactly seven hours that calculation sounds suspiciously like an approximation. Umeed’s hundred was raised in 429 minutes, although it is a safe guess he faced fewer balls. Only Jason Gallian, who made a 453-minute hundred for Lancashire against Derbyshire in Blackpool in 1994 has scored a slower Championship century.There was a moment – and by a moment, think a couple of hours – when it seemed Umeed might also register the slowest half-century (this time in terms of balls received) in the history of the County Championship. As it was, he edged one through the hands of Alex Davies to reach the landmark in the 71st over of the Warwickshire innings having faced 220 balls. Billy Godleman’s record – he faced 244 balls on the way to a half-century against Middlesex at Lord’s in 2013 – remains unbeaten.Umeed’s innings was, in its way, a masterful demonstration of patience and restraint. He knows where his off stump is and is clearly perfectly happy to leave and defend all day. Of the two boundaries in his first 50, only one – an off drive against Tom Bailey – was hit in front of square. It kept Warwickshire’s heads above water in this game and annoyed James Anderson enormously. At one stage, a pigeon circled and considered landing on his left shoulder. It could have nested quite comfortably without fear of disturbance. While long-form cricket is played, there will still be value – and an entertainment of sorts – in such batting.But it suggested, not for the first time, that there are limitations to the pink ball. It suggests, as was the case when the ball was trailed in a 2nd XI game here last year, that once it goes soft, the game can become terribly, mind-numbingly, counter-productively, stultifying attritional.There’s a place for attrition, of course. But the purpose of the pink ball is, in part at least, to attract a new audience to the game. And if that new audience – and at present, 45% of ticket sales to the Test here in August against West Indies are customers who have never bought Test tickets to this ground before – is presented with a spectacle like this, it’s a fair bet that few of them will be back.Perhaps, on a different type of surface, those factors might have been mitigated. This pitch, used previously for the Champions Trophy semi-final, was unusually slow and probably exaggerated the pink ball’s limitations. Warwickshire, understandably, were reluctant to risk a grassy pitch against an opposition with Anderson in their line-up but may well have learned from this experience and provide bowlers a bit more assistance for the Test. They certainly won’t utilise a used pitch for that Test and this whole game might reasonably be thought of as an experiment.From what we’ve seen in the pink-ball games so far, it seems safe to make a couple of guarded conclusions. For the first 15 overs or so, the ball appears to swing pretty much the same way as a red ball. It also retains its proud seam position for the full 80 overs, which ensures bowlers have at least something with which to work.But it seems impossible to buff, apparently due to a lack of grease in the leather (more grease would darken it), which limits the opportunities for swing – either conventional or reverse (though there was a little reverse in both innings). Combined with its propensity to lose hardness quite quickly, it means bowlers are pretty much reduced to bowling line and length and batsmen, with little pace with which to work, must wait for the poor ball. Which means, when patient batsmen and disciplined bowlers collide, you have something approaching stalemate.Andrew Umeed scored his second first-class hundred•Getty Images

That’s pretty much what we saw on day two at Edgbaston. Once Jonathan Trott had departed, attempting to force across the line having made a half-century, and Ian Bell had nibbled just a little tentatively at a fine ball that left him off the seam, the day became a battle for survival between Umeed and the Lancashire bowlers.The seamers gave him almost nothing to hit. But their attempts to lure him into a rash shot – or even any sort of shot – came to very little. He steered one past point and another just past gully – the uncharitable would call it an edge – but generally was happy to accumulate with a push here and a nudge there. There were no pulls and few drives but, for a man playing for his future and his team’s Division One survival, it was an admirable effort. He produced something similar – a 158-ball innings of 45 – in the pink-ball 2nd XI match here last year.He did give a couple of chances. The first, on 19, looked tough – Davies was unable to cling on to one far to his right off Clark – while the second, on 49, was similar and off Anderson. Anderson left Umeed in no doubt as to how he felt about such an innings.While Tim Ambrose, who reached his 10,000th first-class run when he got off the mark, wafted at a wide one, Sam Hain was brilliantly caught by Anderson – left-handed and ankle height – in his follow through. When Rikki Clarke and Keith Barker were dismissed by successive deliveries, victims of the swing of the second new ball, Umeed sped up. His second fifty took a relatively brisk 111 balls with his century brought up with a delightful back-foot force that would have delighted Joe Root. In all, having resumed on 8 overnight, he scored 95 in 96 overs and goes into day three with power to add. Lancashire, you can be quite sure, are sick of the sight of him.With Jeetan Patel adding some impetus, Warwickshire even managed to claim a second batting bonus point and claw themselves close to parity with Lancashire. If the weather holds – and the forecast is not promising – we might even have an intriguing finish.Meanwhile Haseeb Hameed was forced off the pitch after splitting the webbing between a couple of his fingers – he had two or three stitches and is expected to bat without undue impediment in Lancashire’s second innings – and Chris Woakes returned to training. Woakes had a bat on Monday and, after attempting a gentle bowl, decided he was not quite ready for such rigours. He could, if required, play as a specialist batsman for Warwickshire within a week or so.Warwickshire also announced the signing of Yorkshire allrounder Will Rhodes. He is not likely to be the last of their acquisitions, though they will have more scope for movement at the end of 2018 when over £1m of the annual wage bill will be freed up by players out of contract.

Manchester United are still interested in signing Sofyan Amrabat from Fiorentina this summer but reports of an official bid have been dismissed by Fabrizio Romano.

Is Amrabat joining United?

While not the most glamorous signing of the summer, a deal for Fiorentina's Amrabat would certainly be an excellent piece of business for any side willing to make a move for the defensive midfielder.

Having excelled at the 2022 World Cup with Morocco, helping his nation become the first African team to ever make a semi-final of the competition, Amrabat continued his fine form heading into the second half of a hectic campaign.

Fiorentina reached both the Coppa Italia and Europa Conference League final, losing both 2-1 as their first piece of silverware since the 1996/97 season narrowly evaded them.

Amrabat was crucial to La Viola's success and looks set to finally move onto bigger and better things this summer with a host of Europe's top clubs circling the 26-year-old.

The midfield enforcer has been long linked with Erik ten Hag's Man United and journalist Romano believes that the Red Devils retain a strong interest in him, albeit dismissing any rumours suggesting an official bid has been placed.

Speaking on his YouTube channel, Romano stated: "Also important guys to mention about midfielders – Sofyan Amrabat. Many of you asking me about reports of a bid from Man United. Guys, from what I'm hearing, Man United have not made an official bid for Sofyan Amrabat yet.

"Because as I told you days ago, I told you here on my platforms, Sofyan Amrabat is on the list at Manchester United. They like him, they want to negotiate for Sofyan Amrabat, but they know that Fiorentina want something around €40-35m [£34-30m].

"So, at the moment the priority at Man United is the new striker and then, after the Hojlund deal, they will focus on potentially new midfielder and new centre-back."

He added: "Outgoings are crucial. Man United are convinced that Fred will leave the club and so this could be the first step, and then they can have conversations for Sofyan Amrabat."

Given United are unlikely to move for a midfielder until they have sorted their striker situation, a deal for Amrabat could be some way off.

Fred has been linked with a move to Fulham and such a move could pave the way for Amrabat to make the switch to Old Trafford. Scott McTominay has also been linked away which would free up even more space for the Moroccan in midfield.

Who are Man United signing?

Now that deals for Mason Mount, Andre Onana and somewhat surprisingly Jonny Evans have been finalised, United are eager, as mentioned by Romano, to add Rasmus Hojlund to their ranks.

The 20-year-old Atalanta forward appears to be the Red Devils' priority but a potential fee of £86m means a deal is not nearing completion at present. Ten Hag is not willing to sanction such an expensive move for a relatively inexperienced player, with United hopeful of reducing La Dea's asking price.

Randal Kolo Muani or Dusan Vlahovic could be alternatives, although both would likely command similarly high transfer fees. However, both strikers offer more top-flight experience to Ten Hag than Hojlund.

There are of course other midfielders on Ten Hag's wishlist, with a bold move for Joshua Kimmich having even been touted, while his Bayern Munich teammate Leon Goretzka is also reportedly being followed by the Red Devils in what would prove to be a similarly difficult transfer to pull off.

West Ham United are reportedly interested in Inter Milan midfielder Hakan Calhanoglu, as David Moyes explores his options this transfer window.

After losing the likes of Manuel Lanzini and Declan Rice, the Hammers will require significant midfield reinforcements this summer, with the finances to welcome new faces thanks to the £105m sale of their captain.

Could West Ham sign Hakan Calhanoglu?

As reported by Italian outlet Calciomercato, relayed by Football365, the Irons are plotting a sensational move for the Turkey international.

The report details that the 29-year-old is being ‘seriously targetted’ by the Premier League side, who could be prepared to pay Inter’s €50m (£43m) asking price.

Read the latest West Ham transfer news HERE…

It’s added that the interest could depend on the future of Lucas Paqueta, who is mentioned by the Italian outlet as being subject to expected interest this summer.

How good is Hakan Calhanoglu?

Hailed as “exceptional” by AC Milan manager Stefano Piolo during his time with the Rossoneri, the midfielder could add a creative swagger to proceedings at the London Stadium.

Raised through the ranks in Germany, the Turkey international has secured 78 caps and 17 goals for his country, as well as recording 106 domestic goals and 122 assists in his recorded career appearances, via Transfermarkt.

The midfielder’s name was introduced to the forefront of the Bundesliga after he rifled in a 41-metre direct free-kick against Borussia Dortmund for Hamburg in 2014.

Despite having innate set-piece strengths, the 29-year-old has been lauded as a “phenomenon” for his efforts in Milan by former international manager Fatih Terim.

Having spent time on either side of the San Siro, Calhanoglu has netted 32 goals and recorded 53 assists in his career in Serie A, making him a strong acquisition for Moyes to chase this summer.

Averaging 4.58 shot-creating actions per 90 over the past year, the Turk is a competent figure to unleash in the final third from the middle of the park, where he ranked in the top 3% of midfielders in Europe’s top five leagues in this area, via FBref.

His numbers accumulated over the past year have seen him compared statistically to Newcastle United new boy and former AC Milan teammate Sandro Tonali, who has been praised as “class” by journalist Jordan Cronin already in the North East.

Tonali’s arrival in England is eagerly anticipated due to his performance in Italy prior to his move to the Magpies, however, Moyes could now identify his answer to the Italian by making a swoop for Calhanoglu.

The former Milan duo have strengths in their distribution, and added an ounce of superiority in the midfield, as highlighted by their averages in Serie A last term.

As per FBref, the Newcastle new-arrival averaged 5.27 progressive passes and 2.06 key passes per 90 for the Rossoneri, while maintaining an average pass completion rate of 75.7% per 90.

The quality of the West Ham target is identifiable when comparing him to the talent of Tonali, with the Turkey international bettering the Italian with an average of 6.55 progressive passes and 2.67 key passes per 90 in Serie A, via FBref.

With an average pass completion rate of 83.2% per 90, the Turk could be the difference between Moyes’ side remaining as relegation candidates or firing up the table to compete at a higher level.

The Scotsman must follow the ambition of Eddie Howe by signing the Serie A ace, who could be the east Londoners answer to Tonali.