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Southampton came close to losing Che Adams over the summer, but whilst he remained beyond the deadline, a reliable journalist has now shared the chances of him leaving in January instead.

Who is trying to sign Che Adams?

Adams left Birmingham City to join the south coast outfit back in 2019. He’s made 155 senior appearances for his current club to date (Transfermarkt – Che Adams transfer history), but the striker was once again the subject of big summer attention in 2023.

In the Premier League, Everton, Wolves, Bournemouth and Crystal Palace were all credited with an interest in the 27-year-old, and whilst a deal failed to come to fruition, there is still a strong possibility that he could be heading for the exit door at the start of next year.

The Scotland international’s deal is set to expire at the end of the season (Southampton contracts), and having established himself as Russell Martin’s second best-performing offensive player so far this term behind Adam Armstrong (WhoScored – Southampton squad statistics), potential suitors will know that a bargain is up for grabs.

According to The Daily Echo’s Alfie House, the centre-forward has been offered fresh terms for a further three years, which includes being handed the status of vice-captain, but having publicly refused to admit whether he will sign it or decide to move onto new pastures, there is cause for concern surrounding his future.

Che Adams transfer update…

Speaking to GiveMeSport, Dean Jones, who is a journalist and transfer insider, delivered a transfer update on Che Adams, who is creating plenty of uncertainty regarding his long-term position at Southampton. He said:

“At the back of every person's mind at Southampton, there will surely be the threat that Che Adams is going to look to leave again in January or, at least, that there will be another offer for him to come in January because we know that he is a player capable of being in the Premier League right now.

"But, at the same time, he owes it to Southampton to be fully focused on this moment and improving so that he can repay what they've given him over the years by allowing him to have this platform."

How much does Che Adams earn?

At Southampton, Adams currently pockets £30k-per-week (Southampton salaries) which he’s more than earned since putting pen to paper, and once again, he’s made another strong start to the 2023/24 Championship season.

The Leicester-born talent has posted five final third involvements (three goals and two assists) in nine games whilst recording 17 shots to date, which is the joint third-highest total behind Adam Armstrong and Carlos Alcaraz (FBRef – Southampton squad statistics).

Furthermore, Martin’s “phenomenon”, as dubbed by former manager Ralph Hasenhuttl, is a versatile operator having been deployed in five different positions across the pitch since the start of his career, including everywhere along the frontline and in attacking midfield, so the thought of losing him in the new year is a huge blow.

Aston Villa have enjoyed a phenomenal start to the 2023/24 campaign and picked up their 12th successive Premier League home wins, stretching back to last term, with a 3-0 win over Luton Town on Sunday.

The Villans are pushing up towards the Champions League places as Unai Emery looks to build on an impressive first season with the Midlands outfit.

Their impressive transfer business over the summer window has allowed them to push on as the likes of Moussa Diaby and Pau Torres have caught the eye since their respective moves to the club.

The French wizard, in particular, has hit the ground running in England with three goals and three assists in ten Premier League appearances for Villa since his switch from Bundesliga side Bayer Leverkusen.

He was brought in for a reported club-record transfer fee of £51.9m and is already starting to show why the Villans and Emery were willing to splash the cash on his services.

The left-footed whiz has showcased his attacking quality on a regular basis but another exciting forward player, who plays on the opposite flank, could have been shining in a Villa shirt this season – Jaden Philogene.

Emery allowed the talented youngster to leave the club on a permanent basis over the summer and it already looks like the Spaniard had a mare with that decision as his performances this season suggest that he is on the way to becoming Jack Grealish 2.0.

The fee Hull paid for Jaden Philogene

The Birmingham Mail reported that Hull City secured the England U21 international's services for a fee within the region of £5m during the summer transfer window.

Two of his former Villa academy teammates were also sold by the club ahead of the 2023/24 campaign as Aaron Ramsey joined Premier League rivals Burnley for £14m and Cameron Archer completed an £18.5m switch to Sheffield United.

Philogene was coming off the back of a season on loan with Cardiff City during the 2022/23 campaign. He racked up four goals and one assist in 25 outings for the Welsh outfit and failed to deliver quality in the final third on a regular basis, which may have contributed to the decision to cash in on him.

Hull vice-chairman Tan Kesler has, however, confirmed that the Villans have an interesting buy-back agreement in place with the Championship side.

He confirmed that Villa have the option to buy him back for a fixed fee of £15m but only if the Tigers are promoted to the Premier League. The chief also revealed that his club are able to listen to offers from other teams that are above £15m but Philogene's former side have the first refusal on a deal.

This suggests that there is still wiggle room for other teams to swoop in if Hull are not promoted or if they bid in excess of £15m. It would also be up to the player to decide whether or not he would want to return after being sold over the summer.

The stats that show why selling Philogene may have been a mistake

Philogene's form for club and country throughout the 2023/24 campaign so far suggests that the Villans cashed in on him too quickly as he appears to be on his way to becoming Jack Grealish 2.0.

HITC's Alfie recently lauded him as "special" and claimed that he has the potential to be better than the likes of Andy Robertson, Harry Maguire, and Jarrod Bowen, who had all starred for Hull previously.

This is incredibly high praise when you consider that Bowen has 24 goals and 19 assists since the start of the 2021/22 Premier League campaign, Maguire was bought for £80m by Manchester United from Leicester in 2019, and Robertson has won the top-flight and the Champions League with Liverpool.

The plaudits coming his way are flooding in because of his outstanding performances for Hull and England's U21 side as he has showcased his ability to score and create goals as a right-footed left winger at Championship, as Grealish did before his breakthrough at the top level.

Philogene has contributed with three goals and four assists in nine second tier starts for the Tigers so far this season, to go along with two goals and one assist in two appearances for his country.

The 21-year-old magician has also displayed his ball-carrying ability with 3.2 completed dribbles per game at Championship level, which shows that he can commit and beat opposition players on a regular basis.

Jack Grealish's Championship form for Villa

During his last season in the second division with the club, Grealish produced six goals and six assists in 31 league starts to win promotion under Dean Smith.

As a right-footed left winger, like Philogene, the English forward completed 1.7 dribbles per game as he was able to produce goals, assists, and progressive play in possession with regularity.

Grealish followed that up with 14 goals and 16 assists and at least two dribbles completed per match across the next two Premier League campaigns and that earned him a £100m British record transfer to Manchester City in 2021.

The England international was able to make the step up to the Premier League after his impressive Championship displays as a winger who could score and assist goals whilst also being an impressive dribbler and constant menace to opposition defenders.

The next step for Philogene

In order to follow in Grealish's footsteps and be the next version of the former Villa superstar, Philogene must now remain consistent throughout the rest of this season and continue to provide goals and assists.

The young ace must then showcase his ability in the top-flight, if provided the opportunity to do so, and step up to that level and influence games week-in-week-out with his match-winning potential.

His current form for Hull and England suggests that he is well on the right path to doing just that and that is why Emery had a mare by sanctioning a £5m sale earlier this year.

The best case scenario, if Philogene does develop into the new Grealish, is that Villa buy him back for £15m next summer and that means they would have essentially paid a staggering £10m to send him to the Tigers for one season.

Or, another team could swoop in and convince him to reject a homecoming and he could go on to be a star for another Premier League outfit, or another side in Europe, which is why selling him may have been a mistake.

Federico Redondo's potential Inter Miami debut has been revealed, after the Argentina U23 star saw his visa finally approved.

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Redondo finally sees U.S. visa approvedNow eligible to play for MiamiPotential debut date revealedWHAT HAPPENED?

The 21-year-old midfielder completed a transfer to Miami from Argentinos Jrs last month, linking up with fellow countryman and Albiceleste hero Lionel Messi. However, Redondo's move had been delayed while the necessary paperwork was being processed. But according to reporter Diego Monroig, his visa has been approved and he is now eligible to play. writer Michelle Kaufman echoed those reports, uploading a video of Redondo at Miami's training base.

AdvertisementGettyTHE BIGGER PICTURE

Redondo's visa being approved is good news for Miami fans, as they will finally get an opportunity to see him in action since his transfer was announced almost two weeks ago. According to those reports, the Argentina youth star could make his first Herons appearance against Nashville in the CONCACAF Champions Cup on Thursday. Tata Martino's side automatically qualified for the round of 16 of that tournament thanks to their historic Leagues Cup title in 2023 – which Messi had a huge hand in.

Get the MLS Season Pass today!Stream games nowDID YOU KNOW?

Redondo joins a host of compatriots, including Messi, coach Martino and Fecundo Farias, who he replaces after his season-ending ACL injury. Redondo, son of former Real Madrid and AC Milan icon Fernando, will wear the No.55 shirt at Miami.

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Getty ImagesWHAT NEXT FOR REDONDO?

With the young midfielder signed, fit and eligible to play, it remains to be seen whether Martino will include him in his starting line-up to face Nashville on Thursday, or ease him in from the bench.

Since the takeover by a consortium of the Saudi Public Investment Fund, Newcastle United – to their credit – have recruited incredibly shrewdly – welcoming players who played a large part in guiding Eddie Howe's side to a top four finish in the Premier League last season.

Now that they have built those Champions League foundations, however, it is important to keep hold of them, amid likely interest from elsewhere, should a player perform particularly well for the club.

This means that the Magpies would be wise to start offering new contracts to those in the squad who make the biggest difference, which they have already reportedly done when it comes to Bruno Guimaraes, with a deal that could see the new owners go against their own policy.

What's the latest on Bruno Guimaraes' contract?

Even though the midfielder's current contract isn't coming to an end until the summer of 2026, Newcastle are reportedly wasting no time in tying Guimaraes down to a new deal, clearly keen to cement his future at the club. However, it is not a deal that you would usually associate the Magpies' current owners with making.

According to Ben Jacobs, they could go against one of their own policies by including a release clause at the player's request. He told Caught Offside: "Bruno Guimaraes is really close to signing a new Newcastle contract extension that could keep him at the club until 2028. With the European window shut, real progress was made last week.

“Newcastle have always been calm about the situation because Guimaraes is under contract until 2026 as it stands. And Chelsea and Liverpool were both told when they enquired that the Brazilian is not for sale.

“The expectation is that a new deal could have a release clause in it, but interestingly this would go against Newcastle’s policy since PIF took majority control of the club in October 2021.

"Guimaraes will also have to decide if it’s better to agree to one. In theory it would give him wiggle room, but any clause would be in excess of £100m and informed by the packages agreed this summer for both Declan Rice (£105m) and Moises Caicedo (£115m).

“Guimaraes is currently very happy at Newcastle. Although he said during preseason there was some 'doubt' about his contract situation, the Brazilian has not been seeking a move away. This would only change if Newcastle fail to build on last season and ultimately get regular European football.”

How has Bruno Guimaraes performed this season?

As a collective, Newcastle have been fairly poor so far this season, losing three of their four games, which came against Manchester City, Liverpool, and Brighton & Hove Albion. Individually speaking, though, Guimaraes has once again been one of the standouts.

According to FBref, the Brazilian has already made 30 progressive passes this season, as well as six progressive carries. Meanwhile, he's been more than good enough defensively, too, making nine tackles and three blocks.

As Newcastle's fixtures's begin to get easier, those numbers will only increase, and show a player once again playing at the top of his game for the Magpies.

In Savar, Jahurul Islam’s century helped Gazi Group Cricketers beat Prime Bank Cricket Club by seven wickets

ESPNcricinfo staff10-Mar-2018

Prime Doleshwar Sporting Club rose to the second position in the Dhaka Premier League after their three-run win over Abahani Limited at the Shere Bangla National Stadium. With Abahani needing 10 runs from the last over, Ariful Islam Sobuj offered them some hope with a four and two but off the fifth ball, Arafat Sunny had him caught behind to bowl them out for 229 runs.It was Mohammad Mithun who took Abahani close to Doleshwar’s score, with his 61-ball 60 that had four boundaries and a six. But there were no big partnerships as Abahani lost wickets regularly, until Ariful struck 21 off 15 balls, with two sixes and a four, in the last five overs. Sunny and Farhad Reza took three wickets each.Doleshwar were put in a strong position by a 132-run fourth wicket stand between Fazle Mahmud and Farhad Hossain, both getting out in the sixties. But from 171 for 3, they slipped to 187 for 7, and were later restricted to 232 for 9 in 50 overs. Manan Sharma took four for 44.Solid contributions from the top-order and Mohammad Azim’s four-wicket haul powered Mohammedan Sporting Club to a 38-run win over Shinepukur Cricket Club.Batting first, Mohammedan posted 306 for 6 in 50 overs with Rony adding 95 for the first wicket (regular opener Irfan Shukkur was out injured in the seventh over) Jony Talukdar, his younger brothers. Rony struck five fours and four sixes in his 73-ball 77. Shamsur, who made 60 off 65 balls, then added 88 runs for the third wicket with Raqibul, who chipped in with a 52-ball 55.Saeed added the main fireworks, striking five sixes and two fours in his unbeaten 58 off 25 balls, all of which came in the last 6.2 overs. Mohammad Saifuddin finished with 3 for 55.Shinepukur slipped to 95 for five before Saifuddin and Shuvagata Hom added 74 runs for the sixth wicket. Both made fifties but it wasn’t enough as they were bowled out for 268 in 48.1 overs. Apart from Azim’s four-wicket haul, Taijul took three for 64.Jahurul Islam’s century helped Gazi Group Cricketers beat Prime Bank Cricket Club by seven wickets. More importantly, the win at the BKSP-3 ground took Gazi Group out of the relegation zone. They are now currently in ninth position with eight points.Batting first, Prime Bank posted 257-9 in 50 overs with Yusuf Pathan top scoring with 72. He struck four sixes and as many fours in his 60-ball knock. Offspinner Nayeem Hasan took 4-53.In reply, Jahurul and Asif Ahmed added 121 runs for the third wicket before Jahurul, having made 103 off 113 balls with eight fours and three sixes, retired hurt with cramps. Asif remained unbeaten on 91 off 105 balls with six fours and a six.

An update has emerged on Leicester City and their plans to make further additions to the playing squad before the summer transfer window slams shut today.

What's the latest Leicester transfer news?

Journalist Ben Jacobs has claimed that West Ham United and Wolves are among the teams interested in signing Foxes no.14 Kelechi Iheanacho, who is said to be valued at £20m.

It remains to be seen whether or not any of those three Premier League sides are willing to meet the club's valuation of the Nigeria international but his exit would leave a gap within the group to possibly be filled by a new signing.

According to The72, one striker that is on the club's radar heading into today's race against the clock is Bologna centre-forward Sydney van Hooijdonk.

The report claims that league rivals Southampton and Premier League outfit Crystal Palace are also interested in a deal for the 6 foot 3 talisman, with manager Enzo Maresca seemingly eyeing up a last-gasp swoop for the towering striker.

It's thought the Serie A side are looking for a deal in the region of €10m (£9m), too.

How good is Sydney van Hooijdonk?

Leicester could, therefore, land an instant and dream heir to Iheanacho, should the ex-Manchester City man moves back to the top-flight, by securing a deal for van Hooijdonk as the Dutch ace has the potential to be an upgrade on the 26-year-old forward.

The Bologna gem, who was once lauded as "prolific" by scout Jacek Kulig, spent the 2022/23 campaign on loan with Heerenveen in the Netherlands and caught the eye with his superb Eredivisie performances at the top end of the pitch.

He averaged a superb Sofascore rating of 6.99 across 33 appearances in the Dutch top-flight and racked up an impressive 16 goals and one assist as the talented finisher showcased his ability to find the back of the net on a regular basis.

That form also came after the giant marksman had scored six times in 13 Eredivisie outings during the second half of the 2021/22 season for Heerenveen.

Iheanacho, on the other hand, averaged a Sofascore rating of 6.77 as he produced five goals and five assists in 28 Premier League matches for Leicester last term.

The left-footed whiz has also started the current campaign with zero goals and one assist in four Championship outings for Maresca's team, which shows that he has been in less than prolific form in front of goal over the last 18 months.

Van Hooijdonk, who scored a sensational 35 goals in 41 games for NAC Breda's U19 side earlier in his career, is a player who has the potential to come in as an upgrade on the ex-Cityzens prospect.

His form on loan with Heerenveen over the last couple of seasons suggests that he can be a reliable goalscoring option, which Iheanacho has failed to be for Leicester during the same period.

No current Foxes player managed more than five league goals last term and no one has scored more than twice during the current campaign, which suggests that Maresca does not currently have a consistent scorer in his squad.

Therefore, van Hooijdonk could be a superb and much-needed signing to add some firepower to the team as an heir or replacement for Iheanacho before tonight's deadline.

With Manchester United closing in on a deal to sign Altay Bayindir, footage has emerged that won't exactly convince anyone who has doubts about the goalkeeper.

What's the latest Man United transfer news?

The big news for the Red Devils today is that the club could actually be set to be sold to Sheikh Jassim bin Hamad al-Thani, with the Glazers reportedly accepting a £6bn bid that could see a takeover completed by mid-October.

However, this will have an impact on future transfers and for now it seems as though business in some aspects will be a little less eye-catching.

For instance, the Red Devils may soon look to be replacing backup goalkeeper Dean Henderson amid links to Crystal Palace with a pretty unknown quantity.

That is according to The Athletic's David Ornstein, who notes that Erik ten Hag and co will look to replace the potentially departing player with Bayindir of Fenerbahce for around €5m (£4.2m).

Read the latest Man United transfer news HERE…

Backing this up, an image has been shared on social media by journalist Yagiz Sabuncuoglu (via Fabrizio Romano) which shows the player has returned to Istanbul after doing a "medical check" with Manchester United staff in Athens. The Italian journalist added: "Next steps to follow soon."

It's hardly the biggest deal of the summer and many fans in England won't know much, or anything at all, about the 25-year-old shot-stopper.

Worryingly, then, the first impressions aren't exactly great. Indeed, footage on Twitter has gone viral and it doesn't paint the best picture.

As you can see in the compilation, the goalkeeper is repeatedly made a fool of as he makes a catalogue of errors, conceding goal after goal.

Who is Man United transfer target Altay Bayindir?

Bayindir is still only 25 years of age and so has plenty of time to improve in theory. However, his time at Fenerbahce hasn't exactly seen him perform miracles.

After all, in 145 outings for his current club, he has conceded 162 goals and only kept 44 clean sheets (via Transfermarkt).

Even so, his form at times has been solid enough to earn five caps for the Turkey national team, with his last appearance coming nearly a year ago in September 2022.

As per Tom Maston of Goal, however, Bayindir's "stock has fallen pretty dramatically" in Turkey over the past few years. It's explained that an injury in 2021, which required surgery on a shoulder, was the catalyst for his poor form.

Worryingly, it's added that he's consequently lost the support of the Fenerbahce fans and after a mistake during a Super Lig clash with Gaziantep earlier this month, a water bottle was thrown at him from the stands.

Bayindir was said to have "reacted angrily, throwing his hands up in frustration and smashing the ball to the ground in disgust." Even if justifiable, a bad temper isn't exactly a good look and suggests he could struggle to handle the intense pressure of Premier League football.

All in all, it does seem an unusual piece of business for Man United to do. And if the goalkeeper does end up joining the Red Devils, it will certainly be interesting to see how he gets on in a new environment.

Manchester United boss Erik Ten Hag is now looking to accelerate a move for one of his key midfield targets following the Red Devils' lacklustre defeat to Tottenham Hotspur last weekend, according to reports in Italy.

What's the latest transfer news at Manchester United?

90min reported last week that Amrabat's proposed move to Manchester United was at risk of stalling due to their failure to offload squad players to finance the deal. Scott McTominay and Harry Maguire have both been heavily linked with West Ham United this window but to no avail, whereas Donny van de Beek's impending loan move to Real Sociedad has slowed down, with both sides struggling to agree terms to facilitate an exit from Old Trafford for the Netherlands international.

According to a new report however, Manchester United are now speeding up the deal for Fiorentina midfielder Sofyan Amrabat quicker than expected as their humiliation at Tottenham 'moved the cards' with regard to the importance of bringing in another body in midfield.

The update from La Nazione, via Viola News, claims that a proposal between €25-30 million could now arrive for the Morocco international in the next 48 hours from Manchester United. Fiorentina general manager Joe Barone issued a message to players who may be keen to exit the Serie A outfit this summer in the lead-up to their 4-1 victory over Genoa last weekend, stating: "We are always ready for other entries and exits. If there is someone who is not happy, we can satisfy them by the end of the market."

La Reppublica, via Viola News, have recently indicated that Liverpool also hold an interest in £31k-a-week earner Amrabat and Jurgen Klopp has had 'telephone contact' with the Huizen-born enforcer.

How good would Amrabat be for United?

At this point in time, it may be a necessity for Manchester United to attract another holding midfielder to Old Trafford after being dominated by Ange Postecoglou's side in the middle of the park last weekend, particularly in the second half of proceedings.

Mason Mount, Casemiro and Bruno Fernandes are yet to gel as a midfield trio and encountered similar problems in their opening-day victory over Wolverhampton Wanderers at home, where the Red Devils fortuitously ran out 1-0 winners thanks to a Raphael Varane header.

Amrabat would help to add some steel in the engine room for Ten Hag and comes with high appraisal indeed, having been labelled as "extraordinary" by former Spain coach Luis Enrique, cited by Football Italia via talkSPORT.

Last campaign, Amrabat was a reliable presence in midfield for Fiorentina, featuring 49 times in all competitions and registering a solitary assist, as per Transfermarkt. At the base of his current employers' midfield, Amrabat has demonstrated his ability to kickstart offensive moves with efficiency, maintaining a pass accuracy of 89.8% in Serie A over the course of 2022/23, according to WhoScored.

Combining his successful tackles and interceptions, the Morocco international made 60 successful contributions for Fiorentina in the Italian top flight alongside 23 blocks, providing real stability in front of his backline, as per FBRef.

Bangladesh captain defends decision to bowl first; says bowlers need to take a hard look at themselves after loss in first Test

Mohammad Isam02-Oct-2017

When asked of his decision to bowl first in Potchefstroom, a decision that baffled many, Mushfiqur Rahim claimed lack of local knowledge as one of the factors that influenced him. The move backfired, with Bangladesh conceding close to 500, and he wasn’t happy with the bowlers. In reality, it was also perhaps a case of having little confidence in his batsman, especially early in the Test against a fiery pace attack on foreign soil.In Bangladesh’s second innings, those fears were realised as they were bowled out for their first sub-100 score since 2007. Mushfiqur said the decision to bowl was taken by consensus, surprising given how tightly the team management controls decision-making.”All of us took this decision [to bowl first],” Mushfiqur said after the 333-run loss. “We didn’t know much about South African wickets, so it was hard for us to predict. We practiced on totally different wickets. On any flat wicket, the help for the bowlers stay for the first two hours. If you think about what will happen in the fourth innings and then get bowled out for 100 in the first innings, it becomes difficult.”I think the second innings was the best time to bat but we still didn’t score 400-500 runs. So you can’t say that had we batted first, we would have scored 500 runs. But yes, had we applied ourselves better on the second or third day, we could have scored more runs.”Mushfiqur was critical of his fast bowlers, saying at least they should have kept the lid of runs even when wickets didn’t come by. But even that wasn’t to be in the first innings as they managed just two wickets across 78 overs.”You can say that we should have batted first on a flat wicket but I didn’t believe our bowlers couldn’t bowl on a flat wicket,” he explained. “At least they could have bowled in the right line and length, if not taking wickets. This skill gets you to play for the national team. Even I could have bowled two balls out of six in the right place. The bowlers disappointed me a lot in the first innings. A team benefits if you can at least contain the runs when you can’t take the wickets.”He didn’t stop there. The work ethic of the fast bowlers was also questioned. “How long will we keep giving this excuse? If they don’t play well, they would be playing five or 10 Tests in 10 years,” he said. “We have to find an alternative if they are not doing well. One has to develop these skills individually. I don’t think anyone can teach you these things.”Our bowling unit hasn’t improved like our batting has over the last five years. They must have the hunger to do well. They can, at least, bowl in the right areas; forget about swinging the ball both ways. You don’t need a coach to help you if you want to do it yourself. You represent your country to bowl five out of six balls in the right place. We have a lot to learn as a bowling unit and for that the bowlers need to show the passion.”In the second innings, the fast bowlers fared slightly better. Mustafizur Rahman picked two wickets, Shafiul Islam had one. Taskin Ahmed, however, went wicketless. Mushfiqur felt Taskin didn’t aim high enough.”If you look at Taskin’s record in the last few Tests, he might have thought he did better on a flat pitch. But it doesn’t mean we bowled well overall. Maybe it is his personal opinion,” he said. “This is where a benchmark comes into the picture because if you are happy with so little, your improvement will stop. Even if you take five or six wickets, there will be room for improvement.”Bowling aside, Mushfiqur was equally disappointed with the final-day meltdown, saying they didn’t show the requisite skill and character they’d developed over the last three years. “It is disappointing,” Mushfiqur said. “I don’t remember the last time we batted like this, to be honest. I knew it wouldn’t have been easy to face their bowlers on the fifth day although the wicket was good. I thought we would at least bat for two sessions today.”There are ways to lose or draw a game, but we didn’t show our skills and character. I am really hurt. I apologise to our nation. But we have another opportunity in the next Test where we need to take a massive step. We have to maintain the respect that we have gained in the last two-three years. Otherwise we can only take humiliation back home.”

West Ham United's deal to sign Portuguese international Joao Palhinha from Fulham has "every chance" to get done this summer, claims journalist Alex Crook.

Is Joao Palhinha joining West Ham United?

The Hammers are yet to sign a single player this summer but have already been one of the leading players in arguably the summer's biggest transfer saga, the deal to sell Declan Rice to Arsenal.

Whilst the club would likely have preferred not to lose their talismanic captain, the record £105m should help soften the blow somewhat.

With all that money burning a hole in their pockets, the Irons have turned their attention to signing players, with Fulham's one-man midfield, Palhinha, looking like their primary target.

The 28-year-old joined the Cottagers last summer and has quickly established himself as one of the Premier League's best midfielders and, with that, one of the most sought-after.

According to football reporter Jack Rosser, the east Londoners made an opening bid for the Lisbon-born dynamo worth £40m on July 16, a bid that was swiftly rejected, with talks set to continue.

West Ham are also considering Ajax midfielder Edson Alvarez and Southampton star James Ward Prowse, but the Fulham man remains their "top target", per journalist Alex Crook.

He explained the situation live on air, which was posted to TalkSPORT's YouTube channel:

"This is a worry for Fulham if they do lose him. £40m would very much be the starting figure, and obviously, Fulham will work upwards, but I was told yesterday [Sunday] that there is every chance that this deal gets done.

"Edson Alvarez, another player at Ajax, he's also on their list, so to James Warde Prowse, but as you say, I think at the moment, Palhinha is very much a top target."

How good is Joao Palhinha?

There is no getting around the fact that Palhinha is an excellent player, and when it comes to his specific role in the centre of midfield, he was viewed as one of the more impressive in the Premier League.

The 6 foot 3 titan is a force to be reckoned with in the middle of the park, and there is not a single player in Europe's top five leagues that can compete with him when it comes to making tackles.

That's right, Palhinha was Europe's top tackler last season, and by quite some way, making 147 tackles across his 35 Premier League appearances, and it was this quality that led to teammate Harrison Reed describing him as a "tackling machine" earlier this year.

His underlying statistics just further hammer home how elite he is in his role, with FBref, who compare players in a similar position across Europe's top five leagues, placing him in the top 1% for tackles, the top 8% for aerial duals won, the top 12% for clearances, the top 28% for interceptions and the top 29% for blocks, all per 90.

However, he does lack any attacking threat whatsoever, sitting in the bottom 8% for assists, the bottom 7% for progressive passes, the bottom 2% for progressive carries, and the bottom 1% for shot-creating actions, all per 90.

That's not to say that he wouldn't improve the team's attacking output, though, as in March this year, Sky Sports revealed that without Palhinha in the team, Fulham scored one goal a game and took eight shots whilst facing 16. With him in the side, they scored an average of 1.5 goals a game, took 11.9 shots and faced only 13.1.

So, while he may not directly provide the goals, his presence would allow a team to venture further forward, safe in the knowledge that he was ready to snuff out any potential counterattacks.

If West Ham can get this deal done for anything close to £40m, it could be one of the very best deals of the summer and go a long way in easing the transition away from Rice.