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West Ham United are interested in signing Cyle Larin this summer, according to reports…

What’s the word?

Turkish newspaper Sozcu claimed (via Sport Witness) that the Irons are keen to bolster their frontline ahead of a campaign in the Europa League next season and the Besiktas talisman is a player they have been closely monitoring.

It’s claimed that the Super Lig outfit will command around €15m (£12.5m) for the 26-year-old striker, although West Ham are facing competition from West Bromwich Albion, as well as other unnamed Premier League and Championship clubs.

Larin has previously been linked with Leeds United, as per the report, whilst his £28,000-per-week contract isn’t set to expire until 2022.

Shades of Antonio

Hammers boss David Moyes has been longing for a new striker since the turn of the year after the club’s hierarchy sanctioned the exit of Sebastian Haller without finding a viable replacement.

It left the 58-year-old in a tricky spot as he could only call upon an injury-prone Michail Antonio to lead his line, whilst in his absence, the likes of Jarrod Bowen and Jesse Lingard were deployed as makeshift centre-forwards.

Clearly, he needs more options if the east Londoners are to put up a decent fight in Europe next season, on top of ensuring that this campaign was no mere fluke. Moyes could do with another forward in the mould of Antonio, which is where Larin could come in.

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Also capable of playing out wide, the versatile 33-cap Canada international is most devastating through the middle, where he has delivered 23 goals and six assists in all competitions, via Transfermarkt.

Nine of those have come as a striker, playing in that role 16 times, and it is his form which has helped fire the Super Eagles to the Turkish title for the first time since 2016.

Once at Orlando City in Major League Soccer (MLS), Larin earned praise from then-teammate and legendary midfielder Kaka, who tipped him for big things.

“I think Cyle can go far,” Kaka said at an MLS media day, via Goal.com. “Cyle is a very good player and the third season for us will be great, but I think Cyle can play in a big team in Europe as well.”

His national team head coach John Herdman waxed lyrical about his qualities earlier this year, dubbing the 6 foot 2 beast “an absolute predator” who “has that ability”, via Total Soccer Project.

“There’s been real improvement and development in his game,” added Canada captain Atiba Hutchinson. “Not only the goals he’s been scoring, but his work ethic, his understanding of the game. He’s become a lot more tidy as a player.”

Larin earns further comparisons to the current Hammers star as he has a similar mix of explosive pace and brute power, having averaged 2.1 shots and 1.2 dribbles per game in the Super Lig, compared to Antonio’s 2.4 shots and 1.7 dribbles per match.

Moyes could well sign West Ham’s next versatile monster with a swoop for Larin, and at just £12.5m, you’d have to say it would be a snip.

AND in other news, GSB masterclass: West Ham hit gold with £35k-p/w “machine” who’s a “manager’s dream”…

A team from the CBI is likely to question ICC’s finance committeechairman Ehsan Mani when it arrives in London later this week inconnection with investigations into a television telecast rights case

Staff and Agencies18-Jun-2001* CBI likely to meet ICC finance committee chairmanA team from the CBI is likely to question ICC’s finance committeechairman Ehsan Mani when it arrives in London later this week inconnection with investigations into a television telecast rights case.Though there was no official word from CBI, Mani has been quoted inthe Sunday Telegraph as saying that he was available for meeting theCBI team if it so desired.”Nobody has approached me or spoken to me, but obviously if they (CBI)wanted to see me, I’d be happy to meet them,” said Mani, who has beenheading ICC’s finance committee since 1997 and is a hot favourite tobecome the next president of the ICC. In his capacity as chairman ofthe finance committee, Mani played a leading part in the negotiationsof television rights for the inaugural ICC knock-out tournament inDhaka in 1998 which is the subject of CBI’s investigations. The CBIwill use the documents to conduct an audit trail to find out how thetelevision rights were awarded.Negotiations for the 1998 knock-out tournament TV rights began whenthe finance committee delegated responsibility to a sub-group. Maniand former ICC chief Barry Richards opened the sealed bids in Monacoin the presence of the ICC’s solicitors, Simons and Simons.* Assam Cricket Academy launchedSunday, June 17 was a red letter day for the Assam CricketAssociation. It’s ambitious project, the Assam Cricket Academy whichaims to impart coaching to youngsters in the State in the under-19,under-16 and under-14 group, was launched.Gautam Roy, Minister of Sports and Social Welfare and formerpresident of the ACA presided over the inauguration. The inauguralspeech was given by octogenarian Ranji player and founder secretary ofthe ACA Pulin Das. Before this, there was a felicitation function forPulin Das, Gautam Roy, Capt.Robin Bordoloi, MLA, Bolin Bordoloi,Managing Director, Tata Tea and a few other distinguished guests. Theywere all given a traditional memento. All of them spoke on theoccasion and advised the players to be disciplined and dedicated. Mostof the former Ranji players of the city were present.Gautam Roy donated Rs 25,000 to the Academy and made a plea forsponsors to come forward and help the Academy. The Academy wasformally launched by Gautam Roy bowling a ball to Pulin Das. Thenchief coach Kamal Das and the other coaches of the Academy ManojBhagawati, Mukut Das and Rajib Rajbongshi gave a few tips to the 26players present out of around 50 players expected to attend thecoaching.* Zonal cricket academy camp concludesThe 45-day coaching camp at the zonal cricket academy concluded at theVidarbha Cricket Association (VCA) ground in Nagpur on Sunday.In all, 21 players from Madhya Pradesh, Rajasthan and Vidarbha werethe beneficiaries of the camp which imparted advanced coaching, modernphysical training through yoga and swimming.The VCA zonal academy was one of the eight academies set up by theBoard of Control for Cricket in India for young players.

Batting maestro Sachin Tendulkar, troubled with a hamstring strain,skipped the nets as the rest of the Indian team worked out at theHarare Sports club on Wednesday

20-Jun-2001Batting maestro Sachin Tendulkar, troubled with a hamstring strain,skipped the nets as the rest of the Indian team worked out at theHarare Sports club on Wednesday.”I stretched the hamstring when I was chasing the second last ball ofthe Harare Test,” Tendulkar said.Besides Tendulkar, left arm seam bowler Ashish Nehra too stayed out ofthe morning practice session owing to a muscle pull on his rightthigh.However, manager Chetan Chauhan said both Tendulkar and Nehra shouldbe fit for the upcoming triangular one-day tournament.After missing a golden chance to record a rare series win abroad, theIndians now look to make amends by winning the one-day series whichhas West Indies as the third team.The team will play a practice game against Zimbabwe A at the SunriseSports Club in Harare on Friday ahead of their opening match againstZimbabwe here on Sunday.The one-day specialists Virendra Sehwag, Dinesh Mongia, ReetinderSodhi and Harvinder Singh, who joined the team on Tuesday, went flatout in the practice session.Fast bowler Harvinder Singh impressed with his control and movement atthe nets, repeatedly beating batsmen with his bounce and pace with thewhite ball.Debasish Mohanty too appeared keen to book a one-day slot for himselfand bowled impressively.The nets were used to simulate a match situation with batsmen battingat both ends. And to get the team members into the limited oversmould, coach John Wright insisted that the players go for singleswhenever they played a shot.Meanwhile, coloured clothing with the new sponsor’s logo on it arrivedthis afternoon. Chauhan was concerned with the shortage of warmclothing and wanted to ensure there are enough pull-overs with peakwinter just setting in.The four members of the Test squad, Shiv Sunder Das, SadagoppanRamesh, Javagal Srinath and Sairaj Bahutule left for home thismorning.

Hampshire chose a young side for Norwich Union League match

Vic Isaacs12-May-2001Hampshire chose 12 names for Sunday’s Norwich Union League match against Worcestershire, at The Hampshire Rose Bowl.John Stephenson is dropped for the match, which will be a disappointment to him, not to play in his Benefit game. Lawrence Prittipaul returns to the Hampshire side following a successful trial playing for the Second XI at Glamorgan. Both Adi Aymes and Alex Morris are also left out from the successful championship winning side.Derek Kenway takes over the wicket-keeping duties from Adi Aymes.Tim Tremlett, Hampshire’s Director of coaching said, “We are looking to a Youth policy in the Norwich League this season, with players such as Prittipaul, Zac Morris and Jimmy Hamblin all being considered.Hampshire 12: Robin Smith (captain), Neil Johnson, Jason Laney, Derek Kenway (wicket-keeper), Will Kendall, Lawrence Prittipaul, Giles White, Dimitri Mascarenhas, Shaun Udal, Zac Morris, Jimmy Hamblin, Alan Mullally.

The failure of Yousuf Youhana in the two tour matches against British Universities and Derbyshire has understandably sent ripples of anxiety in Pakistan’s tour management

Mahmood Ahmad11-May-2001
Yousuf Youhana – the player under vigilance
Photo © CricInfo Ltd
The failure of Yousuf Youhana in the two tour matches against British Universities and Derbyshire has understandably sent ripples of anxiety in Pakistan’s tour management. Being one of the most reliable and compact batsmen in Pakistan’s batting line up, Yousuf is always a `case under study’, a nucleus of attraction before and during every series Pakistan take part in.A series against England, the pioneers of cricket, has always been considered a tough challenge by touring parties; the performance of every player is under strict review, good showings here almost always lead to glory and bad ones often prove harbingers of aborted careers.Shoaib Akhtar is one such example. Since exploding in to the international arena, he had given quite a few eye-catching performances – a five-wicket haul against South Africa at Durban in 1997 and those two express deliveries getting rid of Sachin Tendulkar and Rahul Dravid at Calcutta in 1999 are some of his daring deeds. But the man got worldwide fame and unprecedented adulation only after performing on England soil – during World Cup 1999.
Yousuf Youhana – the backbone of Pakistan middle order
Photo © CricInfo Ltd
So no wonder there’s such strict vigilance over Youhana. The importance of this player in the Pakistan squad can be adjudged from Waqar’s decision to send him to open Pakistan’s second innings against Derbyshire – obviously an attempt on skipper’s part to provide for maximum possible practice to the right-hander. This also indicates how frustrated and panicky a leader can become if one of his most able men is not performing to expectations.Despite all this, Waqar must believe that the man in question is as good as any batsman should be, rather better than most of his contemporaries. His record in test cricket bears witness to his prowess and expertise. Since breaking into international cricket a few years ago, he has maintained a batting average of over 42, having made 2048 runs in 30 matches with the help of 6 hundreds and 12 fifties. So failure in a few games, significant only for providing practice and equipping budding home youngsters with international exposure, should not be a matter of too much anxiety.We all know, and those who don’t, must know that Youhana is a proficient batsman, perfectly capable of lifting his game and rediscovering form at any time. Moreover, it hasn’t been wrongly said that while form is temporary, class is permanent, and Youhana is a class act by any standards.For example, Ricky Ponting’s performance in India can only be termed as bad. The stylish right-hander managed only 17 runs in five test innings, which is highly uncharacteristic of him. Yet Australia persisted with him, obviously because they had unflinching confidence in his abilities. What’s more, he is on the list of players nominated for the coming Ashes.Thus, similar confidence is needed in Youhana’s case if Pakistan want to get the maximum out of him. It doesn’t matter how he fares in side matches. The man is a `big-match player’, and who knows he might well be saving his ammunition for the big match at Lord’s!

Son Heung-min was pictured in tears after the final whistle after Tottenham were beaten in Sunday’s Carabao Cup final.

Aymeric Laporte scored an 82nd-minute winner for Manchester City, extending Spurs’ 13-year wait for a major trophy.

Son is still yet to win a piece of silverware in his professional career.

Why don’t Everton fans like Son?

The South Korea international is far from a popular player on the blue half of Merseyside. Back in November 2019, his challenge on Everton’s Andre Gomes led to a serious ankle injury for the Portuguese midfielder.

He was shown the red card and appeared to be devastated by the incident. Gomes would return to action the following February, having missed 109 days and 17 games.

Spurs promptly appealed the red card and successfully had Martin Atkinson’s decision overturned, meaning that Son escaped a three-match ban.

Twitter fan feed Toffee TV relayed the footage of the tearful Korean at the final whistle at Wembley yesterday, accompanied with a zipper-mouth emoji.

Here’s how Everton fans reacted, with sympathy in short supply.

Everton fans smug amid Son woes

“Hahhaahahahahahahaahahahaahahahahahahahaahahahabahahhaah”

Credit: @emmarc

“He needs to get himself sponsored by some tissue company… never known someone cry so much.”

Credit: @Absentee76

“Is he hoping the result will be overturned if he cries enough?”

Credit: @sunscreemer

“No doubt the powers that be will see these tears and overturn the result”

Credit: @SteRoberts18

“Pray for Son”

Credit: @philliplhayes

“Love it”

Credit: @Tony_willow86

“Drink it in”

Credit: @eveyaus

“This video brings me a great deal of joy. I know it’s petty, but I never want him to have good things.”

Credit: @Philatty

In other news, this on-loan Everton man was hailed for his performance at the weekend.

In an exclusive interview with Transfer Tavern, Dean Windass, who made 402 career appearances, has claimed that former West Ham attacker Marko Arnautovic would be an ideal fit for Crystal Palace.

Arnautovic, who left West Ham in 2019 to join Chinese Super League side Shanghai Port, has been linked with a move back to the Premier League with both West Ham and Palace interested in the 32-year old.

The Austrian enjoyed a relatively successful time in the Premier League with both Stoke City and the Hammers, as he managed to score a combined total of 48 goals for both clubs.

Speaking on why Arnautovic would be a good player for Palace and how the Austrian would fit into their side, Windass exclusively told The Transfer Tavern:

“I think Palace would be a good fit for him on that right-hand side with Zaha on the left-hand side and it would take the pressure off of him a little bit.

“If he’s available then I think Palace will be looking at someone like him with the way they play, but the problem with him is that on his day he’s unbelievable, but when he isn’t he’s not very good.”

Arnautovic didn’t leave on the best terms with the Hammers back in 2019 as his brother pleaded with West Ham to accept an offer for the striker.

Crystal Palace are currently the league’s sixth-lowest scorers, so whoever their manager is next season will be looking to address their issues in the final third.

In an exclusive interview with Football FanCast, Marlon Harewood, who made 164 appearances for West Ham, has called on his former club to sign more players who want to understand the club, like Tomas Soucek.

Soucek joined the club initially on loan last season before making his move permanent, and he’s become one of West Ham’s best players with an average Premier League WhoScored rating of 7.34 this season.

The Czech Republic midfielder has been linked with moves to both Bayern Munich and Manchester United after his standout performances this season under David Moyes.

Speaking on why players who understand the club are important and how Soucek has that winner’s mentality, Harewood told FFC:

“They need players that want to understand the club like Tomas Soucek, and I can’t speak highly enough of him because he just wants to do well and play football.

“I know him personally and how he is around the training ground, he is just a professional who wants to win. I think that mentality goes around the club, which is what they need at West Ham.”

In recent weeks Moyes has confirmed that the club will have to listen to offers for both Declan Rice and Soucek this summer, although hinted it would have to be for a huge fee.

Qualifying for the Champions League would certainly help keep players like Soucek at West Ham, and despite a loss against Newcastle United last time out they are still well placed in the top flight standings.

A number of Liverpool supporters have been downplaying Jamie Carragher’s claims regarding the Reds signing Erling Haaland this summer.

The Borussia Dortmund striker has emerged as one of the most exciting young players in world football, leading the line superbly for the Bundesliga giants.

Along with Paris Saint-Germain superstar Kylian Mbappe, Haaland arguably looks the most likely player to take on the mantle from Lionel Messi and Cristiano Ronaldo, in terms of being the leading footballer on the planet in the coming years.

The idea of Liverpool signing the 20-year-old is clearly an exciting one, but it doesn’t appear likely, given the vast amount the Reds would have to spend on him, as well as his wages, not to mention they may not be able to offer Champions League football to players this summer.

Someone who believes Haaland would be a great fit at Anfield, however, is Carragher, who told CBS Sports (via Anfield Watch) that Jurgen Klopp’s men play ‘his type of football’.

Liverpool fans react to Carragher’s comments on Haaland

These Liverpool fans weren’t convinced by the Reds legend’s remarks, however, saying it is a move that is hard to see happening.

“Cmon Jamie we are not in a video game”

Credit: @a_malnar_ynwa

“No chance would this signing happen”

Credit: @welshjelly

“Would be great. But it won’t happen”

Credit: @Bookey81

“Are we getting an imminent takeover? Otherwise any talk of Haaland to Liverpool is a waste of time. We make stars to sell them on, not buy them ready made”

Credit: @paulswee25

“No doubt he’d be a stellar signing but there isn’t a hope in hell of us being able to fund it sadly”

Credit: @dylslam24

“Sooner have Mbappe but either one seems an impossible dream right now”

Credit: @shillcock_paul

In other news, some Liverpool fans have been responding to one Reds player’s latest comments. Find out more here.

In an exclusive interview with Football FanCast, Rob Lee, who made 280 Premier League appearances during his career, has had his say on Edinson Cavani’s future amid reports he will look to return to South America this summer.

It has been reported that £210,000-a-week man Cavani is no longer happy at Old Trafford and is eyeing up a move to Boca Juniors so he can be closer to his family after just one season in England.

PSG’s all-time top scorer was brought in on deadline day last summer to provide more experience to a relatively young United attack.

Speaking on what the future holds for Edinson Cavani and what he thinks about the reason for the striker wanting to leave Old Trafford, Lee told FFC.

“With Cavani, I think he’s done well, and the rumours are he wants to go back to South America with his family so that’s fine.”

Cavani has been a valuable asset for the Red Devils this season managing to score six goals in 18 Premier League games.

The Uruguayan’s presence has allowed players such as Marcus Rashford, Anthony Martial and Mason Greenwood to be rested and rotated to avoid burning themselves out.