Tag Futebol

Paul Pogba's Manchester United career was a strange one to say the least. It's a cautionary yet fascinating tale.

Released by Sir Alex Ferguson when he was a youngster, the Frenchman returned to the club in August 2016 for a world-record fee (at the time) of £89m.

The fact he then left once again on a free transfer in 2022 quite possibly means this is one of the worst business deals we've seen in football. Ahem…Antony might have something to say about that.

The best of Paul Pogba

Pogba was a true showman and each time he stepped on the field was well and truly worth the admission fee.

From long-range screamers to dazzling footwork and silky skills, to the odd dab here and there, he was one of the finest entertainers we've seen in football over the last decade.

Ten years ago, Patrick Vieira once admitted that "I believe that he [Pogba] is a better player than I was at his age" while Zinedine Zidane commented in 2014 that the French star could "become one of the best players ever."

For a whole host of reasons, the now 30-year-old who is back in Turin with Juve, didn't live up to that prophecy. Either way, he is certainly one of the best all-round midfielders to grace European football.

Despite his troubles in England, Pogba still recorded 39 goals and 51 assists in 233 matches; not bad indeed.

Man United's best talent since Pogba

Not many left quite as big a lasting impression on football in the Premier League and indeed in the Serie A as Pogba did.

He is a World Cup winner and no one can ever take that away from the midfield entertainer. Yet, United could well secure the hottest French talent in Europe since Mr Pogba.

Reports over the weekend from Le10Sport, via Sport Witness, claims that United are one of the sides interested in 18-year-old Lille centre-back Leny Yoro.

That said, they will face competition from rivals Manchester City and Liverpool for the teenager's signature. French giants PSG are also believed to be in the race to complete a move that could well cost in the region of £60m.

The report rounds off with the suggestion that all of the interested parties are set to lodge a bid in the summer.

Leny Yoro's style of play

So, why is Yoro such a hot property in 2024? Well, he's one of the finest young defenders in the modern game.

After the young centre-back starred against Montpellier in a 0-0 draw on Sunday, analyst Ben Mattinson took to social media to laud him, comparing him to another French centre-half in Arsenal's William Saliba.

Further described as "one of the most talented young centre-backs in world football" by scout Jacek Kulig, it's clear that Yoro has plenty of talent to be extracted.

He is already starring in Ligue 1, notably ranking particularly highly among defenders in the French top flight for stats associated with a modern ball-playing defender.

Indeed, the teenage sensation sits inside the best 8% of centre-backs in France for pass completion, the top 18% for carries per 90 minutes and the best 21% for successful take-on percentage. Again, consider his age and those stats are rather remarkable.

Yoro is already playing with a layer of composure that defies his age. He might not be the showman that Pogba once was but this is still evidently one of the best French talents to burst onto the scene since the Juventus midfielder.

For a United side lacking progressive defenders, notably Jonny Evans (worst 35% in Europe for carries) and Victor Lindelof (only the best 35% in Europe for carries), the Lille sensation would improve Erik ten Hag's side significantly. Just imagine him with Lisandro Martinez…

AC Milan look set to scupper Arsenal's chances of signing Bologna's Joshua Zirkzee as they are reportedly ready to pay his €40 million release clause.

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Article continues below

Article continues below

• Arsenal linked with Dutchman Zirkzee
• Bologna star wants to stay in Italy
• AC Milan ready to match release clause

• WHAT HAPPENED?

  Arsenal have long been linked with the Dutch forward but Italian journalist Matteo Moretto claims Milan are willing to secure his services for £34m ($44m). He adds the Rossoneri are working to reach an agreement with the 23-year-old and his agent and there is optimism between all parties.

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  THE BIGGER PICTURE

  Zirkzee, who scored 12 goals and bagged seven assists this season for Bologna, reportedly has no desire to leave Serie A and has set his sights on playing Champions League football next season. Whether that is with Bologna or Milan remains to be seen.

• DID YOU KNOW?

  When asked about his future, the former Bayern Munich man said in late May: "At the moment my mind is only in Bologna. I want to recover from the injury, have some nice holidays in the United States with my childhood friends and then we’ll see what happens. I’d choose the best for the club. I will only do what makes sense in my heart. It’s clear that for me it would be wonderful to defend this goal achieved together. What we experienced in Piazza Maggiore was unforgettable."

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  WHAT NEXT?

  Dutch under-21 international Zirkzee, who has been out with a hamstring injury in recent weeks, will step up his recovery in the close season while transfer rumours continue to swirl around him.

The January transfer window is nearly at the halfway point and perhaps predictably Liverpool have been quiet, yet to make a move and bolster the ranks despite the swarm of rumours.

Jurgen Klopp's sweeping summer changes have not exactly impeded the transfer kitty but it's rather difficult to secure the right player in the winter, and the German manager will only forge ahead if the right opportunity arises.

First-placed in the Premier League after 20 matches, the restoration of the midfield has been an immense success, though there are still questions over the bulk of the defence, with a transfer expected in 2024.

Liverpool transfer news – Jean-Clair Todibo

According to yesterday's edition of French newspaper Nice-Matin, Liverpool have the 'advantage' over Manchester United, Newcastle United, Tottenham Hotspur and Paris Saint-Germain in the race for Jean-Clair Todibo.

The France international considers Anfield the most attractive destination should he leave OGC Nice, though with a €60m (£52m) price tag, completing a winter deal could prove difficult.

This suits the Reds, however, who could bide their time and strike with full force in the summer.

How Jean-Clair Todibo compares to Ibrahima Konate

In December, veteran Joel Matip ruptured his anterior cruciate ligament against Fulham to heighten the concerns over Liverpool's defensive security.

The Cameroonian is out of contract in June and it was generally accepted that 2024 would focus on the acquisition of a new defender, and Todibo could fit the bill, having been hailed as the "complete package" by talent scout Jacek Kulig.

As per FBref, the Les Aiglons star ranks among the top 15% of centre-backs across Europe's top five leagues over the past year for pass completion and progressive passes, the top 6% for passes attempted, the top 7% for successful take-ons and the top 10% for tackles per 90.

Jean-Clair Todibo: Similar Players

#

Player

Club

1

Lisandro Martinez

Manchester United

2

Dante

OGC Nice

3

Ibrahima Konate

Liverpool

4

Dayot Upamecano

Bayern Munich

5

Malick Thiaw

AC Milan

*Sourced via FBref

Given his similarities to Ibrahima Konate, it's understandable that Klopp is interested in securing his signature, with the 6 foot 4 Liverpool titan ranking among the top 12% of positional peers for passes attempted, the top 17% for progressive passes, the top 16% for successful take-ons and the top 7% for tackles per 90.

The issue that would arise from a deal does centre on the fact that Todibo would demand regular match action, having made his Les Bleus debut last September, and with Virgil van Dijk and Konate already the established pairing, the addition of Todibo could seriously affect the emerging Jarell Quansah.

How a transfer would affect Jarell Quansah

Quansah made his Liverpool debut against Newcastle United earlier this season and has since chalked up 15 senior appearances, scoring once and providing two assists.

Considered a "phenomenal" prospect by vice-captain Trent Alexander Arnold, the 20-year-old looks like a seasoned veteran in the rearguard, ranking among the top 10% of defenders for pass completion, the top 1% for passes attempted and the top 19% for successful take-ons per 90.

Standing at 6 foot 5, he is commanding and composed on the ball too, with a growth that bespeaks his capability as a leading Premier League centre-half in the future.

Should he be demoted back to fourth choice this year, he might find that his game time is limited, and while Todibo is "solid as a rock" – as has been remarked by Kulig, Quansah has a skill set that could match the Frenchman's if he is nurtured and guided.

With a January deal for Todibo unlikely, Quansah will be allowed to continue his development over the coming months, and if he continues to make the improvements then there is every chance that the young colossus will change his manager's mind regarding fresh incoming.

Manchester United went into Anfield as heavy underdogs, hoping to avoid the embarrassment of last season that was the catalyst behind the side's decline, eventually limping over the line and finishing third in the previous campaign.

However, Erik ten Hag managed to guide his side to an important point in the Premier League, keeping a clean sheet in the process to become the first team to shut Liverpool out at their own ground in all competitions this season.

United battled hard to earn a goalless draw and will certainly be the happier of the two sides, with several players putting a shift in, particularly at the back and in midfield.

Kobbie Mainoo's performance in numbers

Manchester United were injury-riddled when travelling to Merseyside, with 11 first-team players absent through injury and suspension, including club captain Bruno Fernandes.

In recent weeks, ten Hag has opted to use Scott McTominay in a midfield two with Sofyan Amrabat, but with Fernandes unavailable, the Dutchman threw McTominay in as the number '10'. As a result, ten Hag made the gutsy decision to throw 18-year-old Kobbie Mainoo in alongside Amrabat. to see if he'd sink or swim.

Mainoo became the youngest player in Man United's history to start against Liverpool at Anfield and looked unfazed throughout.

Speaking after the game, ten Hag admitted that "when you are good enough, you are old enough. He proved that". Furthermore, football agent Liam Canning described the academy product as a "special talent", claiming his performance was "spectacular".

Despite the visitors having merely 31% of the ball throughout the match, the youngster had 30 touches in total, ending the game with an 89% passing accuracy. Additionally, Mainoo made three passes into the final third and won 50% of his tackles and 67% of his ground duels before being replaced with eight minutes of normal time remaining.

It was an outstanding performance from the midfielder with a bright future, but there was one player at the back who was even better than Mainoo.

Raphael Varane's performance in numbers

Manchester United were under the cosh for long periods of the game as Liverpool peppered 34 shots at the visiting team's goal, including 15 from outside the penalty area. However, partnering the experienced Jonny Evans at the back, Raphael Varane put in a superb shift to shut the hosts out.

The World Cup winner, who has reportedly been placed up for sale by ten Hag ahead of the winter transfer window, made 15 clearances, two blocks, three interceptions, and two ball recoveries throughout the match.

In addition, the 30-year-old was monstrous in the air, winning 100% of his duels (4/4) as Liverpool bombarded balls into the box in the hopes of forcing a winning goal, according to FotMob.

Raphael Varane's Stats vs Liverpool
Passing Accuracy %	79
Passes To Final 1/3	3
Aerial Duels Won %	100
Duels Won %	100
Clearances	15
Interceptions	3
Blocks	2
Defensive Actions	20
Ball Recoveries	2
Stats via FotMob

This was just Varane's second start for the Red Devils since the end of October and the Frenchman certainly didn't let his team down, showing great composure at the back against one of the most potent forward lines in England's top-flight.

After the game, respected Man United journalist Andy Mitten even claimed that Varane and Evans as a partnership were better than The Beatles' infamous Liverpudlian duo John Lennon and Paul McCartney.

Varane was one of the main reasons why United managed to pick up a point against their great rivals and has certainly made himself undroppable ahead of the side's visit to West Ham United on Saturday, with Samuel Luckhurst of the Manchester Evening News handing him an 8/10 match rating.

Tottenham manager Ange Postecoglou has apparently identified a "priority" next signing, coming as Spurs seal deals for forward Timo Werner and defender Radu Dragusin.

Spurs complete double January signing

The aforementioned duo arrive at N17 to reinforce Postecoglou's defensive and attacking options, with Postecoglou having pleaded for Spurs to get their business done early in the transfer window.

Tottenham want to sign £20m player after Dragusin as club prepare to sell

He’s turned heads this season.

ByEmilio Galantini Jan 10, 2024

Werner joins the club on a six-month loan with the option to buy at around £14.6 million, while Dragusin will sign for Spurs in a part-exchange deal worth in excess of £26 million (Fabrizio Romano).

The latter's arrival is a particularly welcome boost for Postecoglou. Dragusin will provide much-needed centre-back depth, with Spurs suffering from a real lack of options in the last few months.

Micky van de Ven and Cristian Romero's injuries have even forced the Lilywhites to play both Emerson Royal and Ben Davies as their makeshift pairing on more than one occasion. Postecoglou, before Dragusin's pending move to N17, publicly admitted that Spurs are in dire need of another centre-half.

"I don't put as much stock into the left-sided or right-sided centre-back scenario, we just need another player in that position who can provide some more depth for us and the ability to change it up. It won't matter if it is left-sided or right-sided, it is more the profile and characteristics," he told football.london.

"We didn't go looking for a left-sided centre-back at the start of the year, it just happened that Micky was the perfect centre-back. Even if we had another left-sided one, I still would have signed him. It is about looking at the right profile, the right characteristics and seeing what is available, then going from there."

Postecoglou identifies next "priority" Spurs signing

Attention now turns to whether Tottenham can offload more of their unwanted squad members, like the out-of-favour Eric Dier, or reinforce other key areas. Spurs are believed to be eyeing promising young stars like FC Copenhagen forward Roony Bardghji, while there have been other suggestions that they could look to bring in a first-team midfielder.

That is according to Football Insider, who claim midfield is a "priority" signing area for Postecoglou now. While the Australian is keen to add more quality there, it could depend on Pierre-Emile Hojbjerg and his future at the club.

Hojbjerg has been tipped to leave Tottenham in January, and Football Insider claim his exit remains a possibility if interested clubs can find an agreement. Spurs specifically want to bring in a new midfielder around or under the age of 24, as Postecoglou looks to build a long-term project.

Indeed, Postecoglou will only sanction an exit for the "sensational" Hojbjerg if he's certain to land a replacement for him, making the midfield room a real one to watch at Spurs in the build up to deadline day. Other reports suggest Tottenham have already started to line up options after Dragusin.

Manchester United are already 24 matches into the new season, but they are yet to wake from their pre-season slumber. The Red Devils are currently in sixth place in the Premier League, yet they have been dumped out of the EFL Cup and the Champions League already.

Erik ten Hag’s side lacks a clear identity, and that was on display against Bayern Munich at Old Trafford this week, with the hosts losing 1-0 in a must-win match.

We witnessed that Ten Hag had very few attacking options on the bench to change the game, therefore, he will look for a versatile forward this window to bolster his squad.

Man Utd transfers latest – Mathys Tel

As per Sky Sports reporter Florian Plettenberg via X, Man Utd have inquired about loaning the French attacker, who is worth £26m as per CIES Football Observatory, in an attempt to bolster their attack.

However, both Bayern and Mathys Tel have declined any approaches for the time being, and a move is extremely unlikely.

The reason for this is that the youngster aims to develop his game by learning from the very best, Harry Kane, and he believes he will continue to get more minutes under Thomas Tuchel.

Kane is a notable admirer of the young talent, previously saying: "He’s started the season really well. I like the way he trains. He’s always pushing himself and is fully committed. Every time he came in he made a difference and is very confident."

How Mathys Tel compares to Antony

Tel has previously been described as a “pure talent” by Football Talent Scout Jacek Kulig, and the forward has notably been influential off the bench for Bayern this campaign, contributing to a handful of important late goals already.

Despite only starting four games across all 19 appearances, the 18-year-old has scored six goals and registered three assists, with five of those coming from zero Bundesliga starts.

The Bayern attacker is also extremely versatile, which means he can be counted on in multiple scenarios. He has played as a centre-forward, a left winger, and a right winger this season, with the latter being particularly important to Manchester United.

Indeed, Red Devils winger Antony has failed to live up to his high expectations since joining the club, and after 16 matches this season, he is without a single goal contribution. It is clear that the duo’s profiles differ, with Tel possessing more pace, natural goal-scoring tendencies, and directness.

Below is a table that compares some of their most important stats from the last 365 days across Europe's top five leagues.

Goals

1.06

0.11

Shots total

4.83

3.21

Successful take-ons

3.93

1.71

Touches (Att pen)

10.57

4.06

Carries into penalty area

2.87

1.46

Although his sample size is much smaller, you can see that Tel is far more direct than the Brazilian, using his taller frame and skilful technique to take on opponents and make things happen in a similar way to how Alejandro Garnacho performs on the left. The Frenchman is also a more “exciting” attacker who has a bright future, according to Jacek Kulig.

Antony is also often found on the touchline, which is perfect from a build-up, possessional perspective, but he is rarely found in the box, with his touches in the opponent’s penalty area much lower than Tel’s.

The difference is that in a scenario where the ball is on the left in attack, Antony would look to hold the width, whereas the Bayern star would be looking to get in the box at the far post, in a similar way to how Sadio Mane used to operate at Liverpool.

Overall, Tel would bring more output to the United side than Antony currently does, but there seems to be no movement whatsoever regarding this deal, which means Manchester United may have to turn their attention elsewhere.

Nottingham Forest are set to scout an exciting new player in January, but a reliable journalist has revealed that there are two other clubs who are also looking to bring him to the Premier League.

Nottingham Forest's season so far

Steve Cooper’s side have made an extremely mixed start to the new campaign having won three, drawn four and lost five of their opening 12 games, meaning that they currently find themselves 15th in the top-flight table. The Reds suffering relegation at the end of the season is highly unlikely given the poor start that the three newly-promoted teams, Burnley, Sheffield United and Luton Town have had, but nonetheless, it’s better to be safe than sorry by bringing in fresh faces.

Ahead of January, Evangelos Marinakis will be assessing his options in the market, and he’s set his sights on a potential move for Universitario’s attacking midfielder Piero Quispe, who has made a total of 88 senior appearances across all age levels in his homeland (Transfermarkt – Quispe statistics).

However, Peru’s international was already on the radar of Reds chiefs over the summer alongside Brentford and Brighton and Hove Albion, but with a deal failing to come to fruition before the deadline, the 22-year-old is set to be the subject of a second approach from the Midlands.

Nottingham Forest set sights on Piero Quispe

According to Christian Martin (via Todo Sport and Sport Witness), Nottingham Forest are expected to send representatives to watch Quispe in January as they consider making a fresh move based on his performances, whilst the Bees and the Seagulls are also set to deploy their chiefs once again.

“We had already reported the polls and from our source we found out that he was on the books of Brighton, Nottingham Forest and Brentford. These last two share scouting reports.

"Wonder Kid, that’s what they call him and mention him as one of the most promising wonder boys. The good foot reminds us of Nolberto Solano. We understand that ‘Nobi’ Solano is sometimes consulted by him, especially Nottingham Forest is looking for a player in that position and we know that in January there will be a new survey from these three clubs.”

Cooper could land a real star in Quispe

According to football talent scout Jacek Kulig, Quispe is naturally an “advanced playmaker”, and he loves to get involved with the action in the final third having posted 19 contributions (11 goals and eight assists) in 88 outings since the start of his career.

The Lima native is also a versatile operator having been deployed in four different positions over the pitch following his arrival on the professional scene, including two roles in the centre of the park and out wide on both the left and right flanks.

Furthermore, Quispie has already had a taste of what it's like to be successful having been crowned Peruvian Champion for 2022/23, so he will possess a much-needed winning mentality which is something that he could pass onto the rest of the squad should he sign a deal at The City Ground.

Bangladesh opener likely to require 10 days to recover from shoulder and toe injuries

Mohammad Isam27-Nov-2018

AFP

Opener Imrul Kayes is out of Bangladesh’s second Test against West Indies in Dhaka with a shoulder injury. The home side didn’t include any player in his place, making it likely that Shadman Islam will have a Test debut.”The physio report says that Imrul has injuries in his shoulder and toe. He will need 10 days for recovery,” chief selector Minhajul Abedin said.Bangladesh’s game of musical chairs in the opening positions will thus continue; they have already employed four different pairs at the top in 2018. Soumya Sarkar’s twin failures in Chattogram will put him under more pressure, not to mention the added responsibility of likely opening with a newcomer.Squad: Shakib Al Hasan (capt), Soumya Sarker, Mohammad Mithun, Mominul Haque, Mushfiqur Rahim, Mahmudullah, Mehidy Hasan Miraz, Mustafizur Rahman, Taijul Islam, Nayeem Hasan, Ariful Haque, Khaled Ahmed, Shadman Islam

Tottenham Hotspur fell to their first Premier League defeat of the season in exceptional circumstances against Chelsea on Monday night, but Ange Postecoglou's side only strengthened their title-challenging credentials.

Two red cards and two injuries made for a miserable night, losing 4-1 to the Blues, but Spurs now sit just one point off Manchester City in first place and have eclipsed expectations following last term's woes.

The club owes the entirety of its budding renaissance to Postecoglou's leadership, taking the reins and guiding Tottenham back to the path after wandering astray last year.

The free-spirited Australian has revived the existing withered crop and fertilised the home ground's grass with impactful additions, and while the emphasis will be on challenging for a spot at the top of the table, it's clear that fresh faces will be needed to fight against forces such as Manchester City, Arsenal and Liverpool.

Tottenham transfer news

According to TEAMtalk, Leicester City face a battle to rebuff interest from Tottenham and Newcastle United who are plotting a bid for tough-tackling midfielder Wilfred Ndidi, a player key to the Foxes' push for promotion this season.

The Championship table-toppers have been immense this season following relegation, and while Leicester are desperate to keep a hold on their star midfielder, the level of suitors will make this difficult.

Further Premier League outfits Aston Villa and Brentford have registered intrigue, while overseas Atletico Madrid and Barcelona monitor the Nigerian's situation in Spain.

The £11m-rated midfielder – as valued by Football Transfers – is out of contract at the end of the season and has so far not agreed to a renewal with Enzo Maresca's side.

Spurs might be tempted to offer a contract and snap him up on a free transfer, but given the throng of attentive parties, it might be prudent to tie up a move swiftly for a cut-price fee.

Wilfred Ndidi's style of play

Leicester signed Ndidi from Belgian side Genk for around £15m in 2017, and he has since made 252 appearances (192 in the Premier League), scoring 14 goals and providing 16 assists, winning the FA Cup and Community Shield under Brendan Rodgers' tutelage.

Typically a defensive midfielder, Ndidi has demonstrated a more creative side to his arsenal this year, ranking among the top 1% of positional peers across divisions similar to the Championship for assists, the top 17% for shot-creating actions, the top 14% for progressive carries and the top 1% for touches in the attacking box per 90, as per FBref.

This kind of multi-functionality would be the perfect commodity to strengthen the Tottenham centre, which already boasts exciting options in Yves Bissouma, Pape Matar Sarr and Rodrigo Bentancur.

Strengths

Weaknesses

Interceptions

Concentration

Blocking

Tackling

Short passing

Threat on the counter

*Sourced via WhoScored

A dynamic and energetic player, Ndidi could be a tailor-made arrival for Postecoglou's Tottenham, and while the 53-cap star has struggled with injury over the past few years, he would not be expected to play every minute in London, which actually works out well for all parties involved.

How Wilfred Ndidi would fit in at Tottenham

This season, Ndidi has played 15 times across all competitions for City, plundering three goals and four assists, having created 1.3 key passes per game, completed 79% of his passes in total, and also averaging 1.5 tackles and 3.5 ball recoveries per outing, as per Sofascore.

Such numbers are not the most robust, but that is not to say that he has been performing at a substandard level; far from it.

For example, Spurs' Sarr is averaging 5.6 ball recoveries and 1.1 key passes per game in the league this term, while also completing 90% of his passes in a similar role.

But Ndidi has failed to start more than 20 matches across both of his previous Premier League campaigns, and on an individual level is perhaps benefitting from Leicester's relegation, given that he can rebuild his former vigour against lesser opposition, thriving instead of floundering against the threat of relegation.

Postecoglou would be the perfect manager to bring the midfield "machine” – as he has been dubbed by BBC Sport analyst Raj Chohan – back to his peak, and the £51k-per-week star has more than proved his ability for City in the past.

Still only 26-years-old, Ndidi would also emulate his former teammate James Maddison in making the move to Tottenham, perhaps taking the next level in his development much like the England international, who is an early contender for the Premier League's Player of the Season.

James Maddison's season by numbers

Having lacked a creative midfielder despite scoring 70 goals in the Premier League last season – the fifth-highest total in the division – Tottenham moved swiftly in the summer transfer window to bypass Newcastle United's interest – who were "frontrunners" at one stage – and sign Maddison from Leicester City for £40m.

The Foxes had been relegated after a terrible campaign, but Maddison performed superlatively as his side's playmaker, scoring ten goals and supplying nine assists from just 29 starting appearances in the English top-flight.

Since his summer switch, Maddison has carried over his best attributes and developed them into something greater, homing his craft and now comfortably sitting as one of Europe's finest attacking midfielders, having posted three goals and five assists so far.

Having won the Premier League Player of the Month award for August and has been noted for being "on fire" by Sky Sports pundit Aaron Lennon

As per FBref, Maddison ranks among the top 2% of attacking midfielders and wingers across Europe's top five leagues over the past year for assists, the top 1% for shot-creating actions and the top 5% for progressive passes per 90.

The £170k-per-week maestro has been immense under Postecoglou's management, and Ndidi could be the next to rise to prominence in north London by departing from the King Power Stadium.

In an industrious, deeper role, Ndidi would offer the requisite depth for Postecoglou's illustrious vision, and could rekindle a bond with Maddison that saw the pair glean the FA Cup and Community Shield, enhancing and shaping that pursuit of greener pastures.

Sherman Lewis, the right-arm fast bowler from Windward Islands, has been called up to West Indies’ Test squad for their tour of India in October. Lewis replaces Alzarri Joseph, who has been ruled out as he continues to recover from a stress fracture of the back suffered late last year.Lewis made his first-class debut for Windward Islands in March last year, and made a mark with 30 scalps at 21.66 in the Regional Four Day Tournament. Lewis also toured England with the West Indies A team for matches against India A and England Lions earlier this year. In the first unofficial Test against India at the Kent County Cricket Ground, he took four-wicket hauls in each innings as both teams traded the advantage before West Indies held off India for a draw.The decision to keep Joseph out was made after two fitness assessments, after which the Cricket West Indies medical panel made its recommendation. Joseph’s progress will be monitored at the High Performance Centre at the Coolidge Cricket Ground in Antigua. He did return to limited-overs cricket in the preceding home series against Bangladesh, and was picked in the squad for the second Test of that series but did not play. He did get in four CPL games, though, after that.West Indies face India in two Tests, the first of which begins on October 4 in Rajkot. They will then play five ODIs, before the tour concludes with three T20 internationals. Members of the squad have already begun preparation for the tour with training sessions at the ICC Academy in Dubai.