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Tottenham Hotspur are considering a swoop for Galatasaray centre-back Victor Nelsson this summer, with the north London club desperate for some defensive reinforcement.

For the first time since 2009/10, the Lilywhites have failed to reach European competition and will now need to work diligently on the transfer front to ensure that the seasonal misfortune is not replicated next term.

The somewhat shrewd appointment of Ange Postecoglou from Celtic has installed cautious optimism that a grounded coach with an eye-catching philosophy can dispel the malaise.

And his first order of business could be to swoop for Nelsson and provide the Premier League with its latest hot prospect, according to Turkish newspaper Takvim, with the Danish ace's contract containing a €25m (£22m) release clause.

Previous reports have linked Premier League rivals Newcastle United and Serie A giants Napoli and AC Milan to a transfer, while a recent report from Fanatik claims Arsenal could yet swoop, which only emphasises the need to strike swiftly in order to tie up a deal.

Should Tottenham sign Victor Nelsson?

Postecoglou will have his work cut out this summer, but this burgeoning defender could create a foundation from which more prosperous fortunes can be gleaned.

The 24-year-old played 33 times in the Turkish Super Lig this season as Galatasaray revelled in title-winning glory, with Sofascore recording his average match rating at a solid 6.95 as he completed 86% of his passes, averaged one interception, 3.3 clearances per game and succeeded with 65% of his aerial duels.

The ten-cap Denmark international has left the likes of Jacek Kulig waxing lyrical, with the talent scout saying: "Nelsson is a great mix of a pure defender and ball-playing centre-back. He can also play as a defensive midfielder.

"Great defensive skills combined with really good ball skills. The future leader of the Danish defence. Another pearl produced by FC Nordsjælland."

Given Postecoglou's preference to implement a fast-paced and possession-centric system, with centre-halfs expected to be comfortable on the ball, this could set Nelsson up nicely to cement a starting berth in the Lilywhites' team, potentially displacing Eric Dier in the process.

Dier has made 361 appearances for Spurs since signing from Sporting Lisbon for a bargain £4m in 2014 and has been a dynamic presence in north London, though he has been culpable for lacklustre performances this year. One such performance against Bournemouth attracted vast criticism after his poor clearance led to a Cherries goal.

The 49-cap England international matches up to Nelsson's skill set, completing 86% of his passes in the top flight this term, averaging 1.1 interceptions and 3.3 clearances per game, also winning 70% of his aerial duels.

Described as a "Danish lion" by Resit Omer Kukner, one of Cimbom's board members, Nelsson is on the cusp of prominence and will be hoping to earn a move to the Premier League this summer to take the next step in his progress, and at Tottenham, he could be provided with a starring role.

Cheteshwar Pujara has said his centuries in the recent Duleep Trophy, particularly the unbeaten knock of 256, were what he needed to tune up for the Tests against New Zealand

ESPNcricinfo staff19-Sep-20161:48

‘A sword always hanging on Pujara’s head’ – Kumble

India batsman Cheteshwar Pujara has said his centuries in the recent Duleep Trophy, particularly the unbeaten knock of 256, were what he needed to tune up for the Tests against New Zealand, which get underway from September 22. Pujara’s performances came shortly after India had dropped him from a Test during the preceding tour of West Indies, to accommodate five bowlers and Rohit Sharma in the XI.Pujara scored 166, 31 and 256 not out for India Blue in the Duleep Trophy, following a disappointing tour of West Indies. The double-century came in the final of the Duleep Trophy and led India Blue to a 355-run win over India Red. The unbeaten 256 was also his 10th first-class double-century, putting him on par with Vijay Hazare, Sunil Gavaskar and Rahul Dravid, among Indian batsmen with the most 200-plus scores. Only Vijay Merchant has more: 11.”I would agree to the fact that the Duleep Trophy double-century was a sort of an innings that I needed before the start of a Test series,” Pujara told the BCCI website. “Actually the 166 that I scored in my first game of the tournament was the turning point. That innings brought in me the confidence. Having said that, I feel I was batting well in West Indies as well, especially in the second game where I scored 46 runs and got run out the moment I was about to accelerate.”I did get disappointed but I never let my confidence down. I knew it was just a matter of time. I am in a positive frame of mind after the Duleep Trophy. Those runs will definitely help me in the upcoming series against New Zealand. I don’t think I need to worry much about my batting now. I just need to stay focused.”Pujara had scored 16 and 46 in the first two Tests against West Indies, before being dropped for the St Lucia Test. He was picked for the fourth Test but rain and a wet outfield meant India did not bat in the draw. At the toss in St Lucia, India captain Virat Kohli had indicated that Pujara’s rate of scoring could have been a factor in his exclusion. India’s coach Anil Kumble, however, was emphatic in his support for Pujara, saying the Saurashtra batsman was important for India’s Test success. Kumble admitted that it was “not good” that a “sword is always hanging on his head.”Pujara said it was difficult to score big runs all the time, but when such occasions occurred, he backed himself to return to the nets and motivate himself to rediscover his form.”It is not easy to score big runs all the time and there will be times when you score a handy 70 or 80 that would be helpful for the team,” he said. “Those knocks might not get appreciated but from the team’s perspective you have done your job. I want to score runs that can help the team’s cause and if I have done that, I will be satisfied.”When I don’t score big, I do get disappointed. At the same time, I have to be realistic to assess the situation and conditions. I need to tell myself that, ‘Look you have tried your best but the runs didn’t come.’ In that case I will always go back to nets and work on my game, improve and tell myself that the next game I am going to get a big one.”The ability to score big runs, Pujara said, had fascinated him from his time as a young player, and he began working on it as early as his Under-14 days. Two of his seven Test hundreds are double-centuries and he has scored three triple-centuries in first-class cricket, one of only two Indian players to do so.”I always had the habit of scoring big runs right from my Under-14 days. From U-14, I continued that habit in my U-19 game and then displayed the same in Ranji Trophy as well, scoring triple-centuries,” he said. “Once I start scoring big runs, I get my natural game back and I am more confident. I have an improved concentration, I am more focused and I see the ball better. I feel once I score big runs or reach a 200-run-mark, I have a different feeling. Scoring runs and scoring big has always fascinated me since childhood.”When I am on a big score, it is there to see that the team has a big score on the board. We as a team believe that if we have an opportunity to put close to 600 runs on the board, then you never allow the opposition to comeback in the game. That is the prime reason why there is stress on converting your hundreds into big hundreds. Personally, I don’t like to get out cheaply and for that matter nobody does. But if I have just reached a hundred, I am in a zone where I understand I can play freely and what pace I have to accelerate.”Pujara also said he enjoyed the pressure that came with batting at No. 3, as it played to his strength of a tight technique.”I wouldn’t say I would look to cement a particular batting position. I obviously love batting at number three and I have batted at the top order right from the beginning in first-class cricket. I have lot of experience playing at No.3,” he said. “Even for the Indian team, I have scored most runs batting at that position. I love batting there because it puts me under a bit of pressure but helps me be responsible. My strength is my technique. If you are technically correct, you can overcome challenges and situations when the ball is moving or turning. When you want to lay a foundation for a big score, the top order has to succeed. I do feel I fit in a good role for that purpose.”

Leeds United have failed to keep their battle against Premier League relegation in their hands after suffering a 3-1 defeat against West Ham United at the London Stadium this afternoon.

The Whites will need to take nothing less than three points from their final fixture against Tottenham Hotspur at Elland Road next weekend, and even so, if Everton secure a victory at Goodison Park against Bournemouth, it won't be enough to save them.

Leeds struggled to deliver on their visit to East London with just 41% possession and fewer shots on target (3 v 9), which was a testament to yet another uninspiring performance from the side.

In the first half, the fight for survival looked very much back on for the west Yorkshire club when Rodrigo found the back of the net in the 17th minute, however, from that moment on it turned into a nightmare.

The Hammers had no trouble getting back into the game, with the defensive quality of Leeds getting worse as the game went on with Declan Rice, Jarrod Bowen and Manuel Lanzini all taking advantage to snatch all three points.

Indeed, it would be unfair to pinpoint the blame on just one individual for increasing the chances of relegation, but Luke Ayling's inability to retain possession or even just accurately pass the ball certainly contributed to the huge pressure Leeds now face.

How did Luke Ayling get on vs West Ham United?

The right-back has been on the entire journey with Leeds from Championship strugglers to the Premier League promotion highs, but his more recent performances this season have dampened his legacy at the club.

The Elland Road faithful are loyal to their team but would expect a player who has been with them on the rollercoaster ride that has been the last few years to put up a fight when needed most.

The £20k-per-week liability – who has been slammed for his lazy "ball-watching" by Sky Sports commentator Andy Hinchliffe this season – lost possession of the ball 20 times, misplaced all eight of his crosses and completed just 67% of his passes in a dismal display with the ball at his feet.

Furthermore, the defender lost 100% of his aerial duels and didn't make a single interception on a torrid afternoon.

The experienced full-back unsurprisingly picked up a terrible 4/10 match rating from Leeds Live's Beren Cross, who said of his display: "He left the team exposed down his flank when they were countered on."

It is clear that no matter what happens when Leeds' fate is sealed next weekend, there needs to be big changes in the squad personnel and adding quality in key areas of the pitch will be absolutely imperative to improve their performances.

With that being said, it will be interesting to see whether Sam Allardyce makes some much-needed tweaks to his team on the final day of the campaign, but either way, Leeds will now have to hope other teams can do them favours in their pursuit of safety.

كشفت صحيفة “آس” الإسبانية عن خطة المدير الفني الحالي لنادي برشلونة، تشافي هيرنانديز، بعد الرحيل عن قلعة “كامب نو” مع نهاية الموسم الحالي.

وكان تشافي قد أعلن قرارًا قبل أيام بالرحيل عن برشلونة بسبب النتائج غير الجيدة في الموسم الحالي، حيث يرى المدرب أنه القرار الأفضل للجميع.

وبحسب الصحفية الشهيرة أن تشافي قرر أن يحصل على راحة سلبية اعتبارًا من الأول من يوليو المقبل ويعتقد المدرب أنه يحتاج إلى تلك الفترة.

اقرأ أيضًا | أنشيلوتي: أتفهم قرار تشافي بالرحيل عن برشلونة.. ومودريتش سيد قراره مع ريال مدريد

ولم يحصل تشافي على أي راحة منذ عام 1998 ما بين كونه لاعب وتحوله كمدرب، حتى يهتم قليلًا بعائلته وخاصة طفليه الصغيرين.

الراحة في الغالب ستكون لمدة موسم كامل كما فعل بيب جوارديولا عندما رحل عن برشلونة، حتى يكون هناك مشروع جيد في الدوريات الأوروبية الكبرى مع نادٍ كبير.

حلم تشافي هو التدريب في الدوري الإنجليزي مع عدم غلق الباب أمام إيطاليا أو ألمانيا، خاصة وأنه كان لديه عرض من بوروسيا دورتموند قبل الالتحاق بنادي برشلونة.

Glasgow Rangers have reportedly made a bid to bring Antalyaspor forward Haji Wright to Ibrox this summer.

What’s the latest Rangers transfer news?

Michael Beale appears to be making transfer plans ahead of his first full season in charge of Rangers. The Gers have been linked with a number of players in recent weeks, with the majority of those targets based in England.

Norwich City midfielder Kieran Dowell has reportedly reached a verbal agreement to move north, whereas an approach has been made for West Brom striker Karlan Grant with the Baggies open to a sale.

Meanwhile, experienced goalkeeper Jack Butland has been linked with a move to Ibrox as well as young Liverpool midfielder Leighton Clarkson, but it looks as if the club’s search for new signings has now taken them abroad.

According to journalist Salim Manav, Rangers have made a £7m offer for Wright. He adds that the bid includes a 15% sell-on clause, however, Antalyaspor have rejected the proposal and want a fee over €10m (£8.7m).

Who is Wright and why do Rangers want him?

Wright, a USA international, is primarily a centre-forward but can also turn out on either wing when required. The 25-year-old made his move to Antalyaspor permanent last summer, and it has proven to be one that has paid off, with his Transfermarkt valuation rising to a career-high €6m.

He appears to be at the top of his game and has scored an impressive 16 goals in 26 games in all competitions this season, while also scoring an outrageous goal for his country at the World Cup in Qatar last year.

Beale has confirmed that Alfredo Morelos will depart over the coming months, whereas Antonio Colak could also be on the way out of Ibrox this summer. Therefore, you can see why Rangers are on the search for a new marquee attacker ahead of the 2023/24 campaign.

Wright, known for his pace and once labelled as a ‘dangerous striker’ by former Schalke sporting director Horst Heldt, has impressed in Turkey, netting a total of 31 goals in 61 games for his current employers, so he could be a shrewd addition, and it’ll be interesting to see of Rangers make an improved offer following this update.

Wrexham co-owner Rob McElhenney has won even more fans after he took BT Sport to task with a funny online post ahead of the club’s recent match.

What’s the latest Wrexham news?

The Red Dragons managed to secure promotion back into the Football League tonight when they managed to Boreham Wood 3-1.

Opposition player Lee Ndlovu scored inside the first minute but Elliot Lee managed to equalise for Wrexham before Paul Mullin scored twice to secure the 3-1 win.

Ahead of the game, however, BT Sport shared a tweet which showed McElhenney and fellow co-owner and Hollywood A-lister Ryan Reynolds in prominent positions.

Evidently not wanting to take any of the credit away from his players, McElhenney playfully scolded BT for not putting all the focus on the likes of Luke Young, Ollie Palmer, Ben Foster and Mullin.

Indeed, he replied with an edited image to include the four Wrexham stars as he wrote: “Fixed it for you.”

​​​​It seems the club has never been far from the drama in recent times and this was well summed up in their draw away at Barnet last week.

Indeed, defender Callum McFadzean and manager Phil Parkinson were both sent off – which drew plenty of reaction from fans online.

That 0-0 draw left them one point closer to promotion and they completed their task with three points against Boreham Wood tonight.

Regardless of what happened, though, it seems as if their owners are doing things the right way and this was brilliantly summed up by McElhenney’s recent post.

Supporters on Twitter certainly seemed to agree. Here are some of the best reactions…

The praise didn’t stop there…

Everton midfielder Alex Iwobi is believed to be close to signing a new contract, which would be a "big boost" for the Toffees, according to journalist Paul Brown.

Will Alex Iwobi sign a new contract with Everton?

There are conflicting reports about whether Iwobi is set to remain at Goodison Park, with Football Insider last week reporting there has been a breakthrough in talks, following negotiations which took place over a number of weeks. A more recent update from the same source states Everton still remain confident about the midfielder extending his stay, however he is not expected to put pen to paper until the summer, amid concerns about the club being relegated.

Pundit Tam McManus has recently lauded the 26-year-old as a "critical player" for Sean Dyche's side, claiming it's a "no brainer" for the club to offer him a new long-term deal. In an interview with GiveMeSport, Brown has also now commended the decision to offer the £120k-per-week earner fresh terms, in light of his vital contribution to the Merseyside club's attacking output so far this season.

The journalist said: "I think a new contract for Iwobi would be a big boost. He's made a case for Everton's player of the season. Some of his production has tailed away in recent weeks, but I still think he's one of their most dangerous players.

"He seems to unlock defences better than most of his teammates can. If you watch most of the situations that Everton score from, he seems to have been a part of those moves, whether it's the beginning or the end of them."

Should Everton offer Alex Iwobi a new contract?

The former Arsenal man has been vital for the Toffees going forward, weighing in with one goal and seven assists in all competitions, recording more goal contributions than any other player in the squad.

It is true that the Nigeria international's form has fizzled out in recent weeks, picking up just one assist in his last ten Premier League matches, however Dyche still clearly views him as an important player, given the game time he has received.

As such, it will be frustrating for Everton that the midfielder may wait until the end of the season before signing a new deal, considering he is still one of the club's most consistent performers, with an average Sofascore match rating of 6.93.

That said, the Toffees have put themselves in a good position to avoid relegation since Dyche's arrival, now sitting two points clear of the bottom three, which could convince Iwobi to make a decision sooner.

Liverpool are interested in signing Gavi from Barcelona, with the Spanish La Liga giants facing uncertainty over the signatures of several first-team stars following their financial struggles.

What’s the latest on Gavi to Liverpool?

According to The Times, Liverpool are joined by Premier League rivals Manchester City in standing to attention following La Blaugrana’s strife, with Gavi possibly becoming available for a free transfer at the end of the campaign as a result of the club being unable to afford to register him.

The prodigy has burst into prominence over the past two years, playing at a level that calls his 18-years-of-age into question, such is the quality of his play.

At the start of the current term, Gavi signed a new long-term deal with his Catalan club, boasting a reported €1bn (£865m) release clause, which appeared to end the Reds’ former interest, but the new revelations mean an audacious swoop could now be forthcoming.

Should Liverpool sign Gavi?

Having made 42 appearances in La Liga and the Champions League last year, scoring two goals and providing six assists, one of football’s brightest diamonds was unearthed, with the phenom already valued at £90m by Football Transfers.

This season, Gavi has been integral in his resurgent side’s success, forging 35 displays and scoring two goals and five assists from his robust central role, with Barcelona currently nine points clear atop the division.

Once hailed as an “erupting volcano” by former Barça boss Luis Enrique, the 17-cap Spaniard certainly brings the fire to his game, ranking among the top 15% of midfielders in Europe's top five leagues for successful take-ons, the top 17% for progressive carries and the top 2% for touches in the attacking box, as per FBref.

Such impressive statistics are an illustration of the prowess laying at the precocious talent’s feet, with an almost intrinsic transitional and combative nature perfectly suited to Klopp’s system.

Indeed, Liverpool have fallen by the wayside this season, languishing in fifth place in the Premier League and facing a Herculean effort in defeating Real Madrid in the Champions League after succumbing to a 5-2 Anfield mauling in the first-leg of their last-16 tie.

Gavi’s dynamism and energy could pay dividends in ensuring a return to former vigour is achieved, mirroring the impact of fellow 18-year-old compatriot Stefan Bajcetic, who is already making waves at Anfield despite his outfit’s turmoil.

Bajcetic has been a revelation, making 19 senior appearances across all competitions this term, scoring one delightful surging goal against Aston Villa, and is now a regular presence in Klopp’s match-day squad.

Dubbed an “incredible prospect” by journalist Tom Barnes, Liverpool’s shining starlet could find the perfect partner in Gavi, who possesses so supreme a skill set that the red half of Merseyside would be roaring in adulation for many years to come.

The cohesive partnership that the Reds could craft in the future by succeeding with a swoop for Gavi is tantalising in its entirety, and Klopp must throw the kitchen sink at securing the maestro's signature.

Klopp might even unearth his own Federico Valverde with a successful swoop, with Gavi listed as a comparative player to Madrid's Uruguayan star on FBref.

Valverde has been a revelation for his outfit over the past several seasons, ranking among the top 8% of positional peers for goals, the top 5% for progressive carries and the top 18% for shot-creating actions per 90, as a market of his Gavi-like qualities.

With Los Blancos manager Carlo Ancelotti dubbing the 24-year-old as "untouchable", the Reds' German boss might be prudent to clinch a coveted gem of his own to turn the tide on the club's fortunes.

It might just pave the path for a silver-laden future…

Manchester United enjoyed a famous night under the Old Trafford floodlights on Thursday, defeating Barcelona in the Europa League, and this could be the catalyst to truly ignite Erik ten Hag’s revolution at the club.

The 4-3 aggregate victory means that United are still in with a chance of winning four trophies this season, although the Dutchman will be eager to keep any hype to a minimum as he seeks to end the club’s six-year trophy drought on Sunday in the Carabao Cup final.

Despite being 1-0 down at half-time against the La Liga side, Ten Hag introduced Antony for Wout Weghorst, and this alteration in the attacking dynamic changed the game in United’s favour, with the Brazilian’s intensity offering a different threat.

For the Carabao Cup final against Newcastle today, the 22-year-old should be unleashed from the start, as he could pose the Magpies all sorts of trouble.

Will Antony start against Newcastle in the Carabao Cup final?

Although he has experienced some teething problems since his move to the Premier League last summer – notably being dubbed a “YouTube footballer” by talkSPORT host Andy Goldstein – the attacker has still scored six times and registered one assist in all competitions for United, proving that he can offer an effective threat from the wide areas.

He received a Sofascore rating of 7.2/10 against Barcelona despite playing for only 45 minutes and he managed three shots in total, took 28 touches, won two duels and attempted two dribbles, both of which were unsuccessful.

Across four Carabao Cup matches this season, the £200k-per-week winger has averaged 2.5 shots per game while making 0.8 key passes and winning possession 1.5 times per match, proving to Ten Hag that his previous performances in the competition merit a start in the final at Wembley.

Writer Emmanuel Ayamga praised Antony’s display against Nottingham Forest in the semi-finals at the end of January, claiming that the 22-year-old was “superb” that night, and the regular run of outings he has received recently has certainly improved his performances. In three of his last four games, he has received a Sofascore rating of 7.0 or higher, having failed to do so in the four matches prior to that run.

Ten Hag will be looking to field a full-strength team against Newcastle today despite the efforts against Barcelona on Thursday night, and with a trophy at stake, the aim will undoubtedly be to win the League Cup for the sixth time in United’s history.

Starting Antony could go a long way in enhancing Ten Hag’s prospects of winning his first piece of silverware as United manager.

Chelsea manager Graham Potter has been slammed for substituting David Datro Fofana at half-time against Southampton this afternoon.

The Lowdown: Disappointing defeat

The Blues’ poor Premier League form continued this afternoon, coming unstuck against bottom-of-the-table Southampton, in a 1-0 defeat at Stamford Bridge.

A first-half James Ward Prowse free-kick was the difference between the two sides, despite Chelsea dominating possession in the second half, and having more than double the amount of shots compared to their opponents throughout the match.

The Latest: Potter slammed

Taking to Twitter at the end of the opening 45 minutes, journalist Oliver Salt of The Daily Mail brought attention to Potter for his bemusing decision to substitute Fofana – coming after he was chosen to start at striker ahead of the more experienced Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang, who was left out of the squad.

The reporter said: “Fofana one of the only positives of that dire first half and he’s off at half time… Make it make sense”

The Verdict: Strange decision

The 20-year-old was a shining light in a poor team during the first half, recording one shot on target, while also completing two of the three dribbles that he attempted, the joint-highest amount of any Chelsea player.

Fofana also made two key passes over his limited 45 minutes and completed 100% of his passes (SofaScore), adding to the bizarre nature of Potter’s call.

As such, it was a very strange decision from Potter to withdraw him so early on in the game, with other members of the media lauding him as the ‘only positive’ in the team, also praising him for his ‘physical’ attributes.

The games do not get any easier for the Blues, with a trip to Tottenham Hotspur up next, and Fofana’s performance today means that he has surely put down a marker to start the next match, especially considering Aubameyang has just one goal in 11 league games this season.