All posts by h716a5.icu

Tottenham Hotspur's pursuit of greatness has taken them on an almighty rollercoaster of a journey, with it seemingly set to hit its peak under the new leadership of Ange Postecoglou.

The Australian has brought some feel-good spirit back to north London after years without, cultivating an expressive and attacking philosophy that has garnered results in the Premier League too. Although fans are likely aware that the good times will not last forever, they can be forgiven for relishing in such delight for a moment longer.

Especially given the emotional wringer they have been put through by the ownership, who saw such an aggressive shift in the direction they sought to take the club just four years ago.

Seemingly content with Mauricio Pochettino's slow and steady tenure, which had returned them to the top of English football even if he had failed to win a trophy, Daniel Levy's mindset suddenly switched. No longer was he willing to trust the process, and by sacking the Argentine he kickstarted a chain of events that would set the club back years. Jose Mourinho, Nuno Espirito Santo and Antonio Conte all cut forlorn figures on the sidelines before their eventual dismissals, having failed to progress a side that starred in the Champions League final not too long ago.

Jose Mourinho at Spurs, via Transfermarkt

Nuno Espirito Santo at Spurs, via Transfermarkt

Antonio Conte at Spurs, via Transfermarkt

Games Managed

86

17

76

Games Won

45

9

41

Points-per-game average

1.77

1.65

1.78

Trophies Won

0

0

0

Although many will rush to lambast the Italian's tenure, given its recency and explosive nature, it was the legendary Portuguese boss who was the first to fail in N17.

The Chelsea legend tried and failed to turn the Lilywhites into a title-winning outfit, but that was the least of the issues he faced.

How did Jose Mourinho get on at Spurs?

Having been appointed in November 2019, the acquisition of a proven winner such as him marked a coup for Levy, who clearly was prioritising silverware over everything else.

After all, who better to bring trophies to the club than Mourinho, whose trophy cabinet consists of three Premier League titles, two Champions Leagues and various other domestic honours across Spain, Italy and Portugal. Before Spurs, the 60-year-old had won a trophy at every club he managed.

However, his failure was not solely attached to an inability to achieve that goal, although he did lead them to an EFL Cup final which he did not get to oversee.

Turgid, defensive football was a stark contrast from Pochettino's high-octane style, and when it fails to bring results, fans are always bound to become frustrated.

However, in typical Mourinho fashion, he would fall out with a number of his players who clearly did not comply with his teachings. This unsurprisingly raised tensions at the club, making it far from an environment for success.

With the current AS Roma tactician having been dismissed before he was allowed to take them to Wembley in that aforementioned final, it is understandable that he would harbour some distaste towards the outfit that sullied his trophy-winning reputation. He would aim digs at both the club and its chairman in an interview back in May: "I hope the Tottenham fans don't get me wrong but the only club in my career where I don't have still a deep feeling for is Tottenham.

"Probably because the stadium was empty, COVID time. Probably because Mr Levy [Spurs chairman Daniel Levy] didn't let me win a final and win a trophy. But it's the only one, so after that — Porto, Chelsea, Inter, Real Madrid, Manchester United — all the clubs I feel a connection."

However, although it might seem incomparable given all that has been mentioned regarding the struggles faced during his reign, the decision to sell Kyle Walker-Peters is one which goes painfully under the radar given how he has shone since leaving.

How much was Kyle Walker-Peters worth at Spurs?

Having emerged through their academy as a diminutive youngster, his quality never really seemed appreciated in north London despite the maturity he showcased that belied his youth.

Transfermarkt may have documented his steady rise in value that mirrors his growth in prominence, but even then it barely scratches the surface of just how good the 26-year-old was.

Starting at a mere €250k (£214k) in 2017, this rose over a year to a more admirable €3m (£2.6m) before reaching his peak at Spurs when he hit €10m (£8.6m) in the months before his sale. Despite that upward trajectory, the fee they would receive was pitiful looking back on it.

How much did Southampton sign Kyle Walker-Peters for?

Although it might seem like overpaying when viewing the aforementioned valuations, but the £12m that Southampton had to pay for Walker-Peters has marked a terrible piece of business for the selling club.

After all, despite still being so young and already boasting top-flight experience, Mourinho seemed completely uninterested in furthering his development that could have either seen him grow into a mainstay under his tutelage or leave for far more money.

When seeing how the 5 foot 8 ace has grown since moving to St Mary's Stadium, this failure is exacerbated.

What is Kyle Walker-Peters worth now?

Having been an imperative figure for the South Coast club for years now, his value was bound to rise as his exposure to the top level grew.

Even with dropping into the Championship, this marks the pinnacle of his value thus far in an impressive career, suggesting that should he help instigate their instant promotion, it could rise even higher.

Despite that, the €25m (£21.4m) attached to his name still marks an impressive figure, and when comparing it to his final value before leaving Spurs, he has actually seen a sharp 75% increase since departing, in relation to that £12m figure. Walker-Peters' form is only set to make such a fee even worse too, as he only goes from strength to strength.

Why is Kyle Walker-Peters worth that much?

Although he may have fallen to relegation with his current club, Walker-Peters remains a true stalwart and the full package, with tactical intelligence, dynamism and technical prowess in abundance.

Having made 125 appearances for the Saints now, the peak of his powers arguably came during the 2021/22 Premier League term, although he is currently shining in the Championship of late too.

Maintaining a 6.85 average rating during the former season, he would create five big chances, maintain an 81% pass accuracy and record 1.8 tackles per game as his side finished 15th in the table, via Sofascore.

During this current campaign however, his 7.32 average rating is far more indicative of his importance to the side even after just five games, with a 91% pass accuracy feeding into his one key pass, 1.6 tackles and 4.8 ball recoveries per game.

A creative threat from full-back, it was no surprise to see him lauded by former boss Ruben Selles, even as they cruised to relegation: "I think Kyle is an extraordinary player. His ability in positions, but also to understand the system we are playing has big value for us. He came from Tottenham in the final of the Champions League that season and played games in it. He’s a player that is very important for us.”

Had Mourinho spared a thought before pulling the trigger on his sale, he could still be starring in north London today.

Reliable journalist Fabrizio Romano has shared an important update on the future of Chelsea goalkeeper Kepa Arrizabalaga amid his current loan spell at Real Madrid.

Who has left Chelsea?

Mauricio Pochettino perhaps oversaw one of the biggest transfer overhauls in the Premier League this summer, with a plethora of players both arriving and departing Stamford Bridge.

Christopher Nkunku, Axel Disasi, Nicolas Jackson, Lesley Ugochukwu, Robert Sanchez, Romeo Lavia, Moises Caicedo and Cole Palmer all put pen to paper on moves to west London before September 1.

Meanwhile, Kalidou Koulibaly, N'Golo Kante, Edouard Mendy, Arrizabalaga, Mateo Kovacic, Mason Mount, Kai Havertz, Christian Pulisic, Ruben Loftus-Cheek, Cesar Azpilicueta, Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang, Ethan Ampadu and Callum Hudson-Odoi all sealed moves the other way.

Chelsea are taking a bit of time to get going under Pochettino, though; winning just one top flight match and drawing another whilst suffering defeats at the hands of West Ham and Nottingham Forest.

Defender Ben Chilwell, speaking after his side's latest 1-0 defeat to Forest, said Chelsea have much to improve upon ahead of a long season.

"Very frustrating result and everyone is very disappointed in the changing room right now," explained Chilwell post-match.

"If you look at the stats we dominated the game, had the possession, but the most important stat is the goals. We lost in that department and lost the game, that is the black and white of it and we need to improve."

There is still work to be done to Bridge, but one player who won't be a part of the project is Arrizabalaga.

The Spaniard, currently on a temporary stint at La Liga giants Real Madrid, is apparently eyeing up a permanent move away from Chelsea next year.

Arrizabalaga has seemingly been replaced by summer signing Sanchez from Brighton, with renowned transfer source Romano sharing a fresh update latest on the former's future.

“Kepa mentioned that his dream is to continue at Real Madrid, and this is the reality," said Romano on his YouTube channel.

“From what I am told, Kepa’s priority is to find another opportunity in 2024. Real Madrid, or another club. He feels that, with Chelsea, something is now broken. This is why the expectation between Chelsea and Kepa is to part ways.”

What happened to Kepa Arrizabalaga?

The 28-year-old signed for Chelsea from Athletic Bilbao in 2018, a transfer which broke the world record for most money spent on a goalkeeper.

Arrizabalaga arrived for £71.6 million, but fast-forward half a decade later, supporters will be looking back on his Chelsea career as a real mixed bag.

The shot-stopper has performed well in parts, though; even earning praise from Blues legend Petr Cech.

“I must touch on Kepa, too," wrote Cech in a column for Chelsea's official website last term (via The Standard).

"He had to fill those big boots while Edou has been away, and he has been brilliant in all those games under even more scrutiny than usual.

“You need a strong team and every person ready to help. The goalkeeping group work so hard together to make sure they are all ready for when the moment comes, so Kepa deserves credit too.”

Nepal scrape to four-wicket win after felling UAE for 114; Canada pick up third straight win after Gunasekera’s gritty half-century

The Report by Peter Della Penna11-Feb-2018Gerhard Erasmus’ resilient half-century resurrected a faltering Namibia chase, lifting them from 65 for 7 to a thrilling two-wicket win in their pursuit of 166 against Oman at the Wanderers Sports Club.Oman seemed well on course to victory as Bilal Khan cut through Namibia’s batting order with his maiden List A five-for. But Erasmus and JJ Smit survived the left-armer’s spell of swing bowling, and constructed a 92-run eighth-wicket stand to pump life back into Namibia’s hopes of promotion into the World Cup Qualifier.Oman had been under pressure when they batted as well, falling to 10 for 3 in the fifth over after being sent in in seam-friendly conditions. As he did a day earlier, when Namibia bowled out Kenya for 83, captain Sarel Burger had a minimum of two slips in place for nearly the entire innings.Jatinder Singh ground out a top-score of 29 off 71 balls – one of five 20-plus scores in the innings – to settle Oman’s early nerves, before a late flurry from the lower order hauled them to a modest total.Oman’s fielding was sloppy early on – and it cost them later as well – as several chances went down, allowing Namibia to reach 44 for 1. Lohan Louwrens had been driving Namibia’s chase early, but should have been out for 23 when he was spilled over the third man rope off Bilal for six. Bilal persisted with a short-ball plan until Louwrens was cramped for room and fended a catch behind to end the 12th over. Bilal struck for the second time in the 14th, beating JP Kotze for pace to send his off stump cartwheeling back.Erasmus entered after Nico Davin fell lbw to offspinner Jay Odedra in the 15th over, with the score on 61 for 4, but could only watch helplessly from the non-striker’s end as Bilal took three more wickets in the space of five balls in the 16th over. Craig Williams flashed an edge through to wicketkeeper-captain Sultan Ahmed, Jan Frylinck was beaten for pace to be trapped leg before, and Sarel Burger edged a drive low to first slip.With storm clouds hovering overhead, Namibia were well behind on Duckworth-Lewis, but Erasmus and Smit calmly blocked out the rest of Bilal’s initial eight-over spell. The pitch slowed down as the innings wore on, offering little to Oman’s spinners as Erasmus resurrected the chase with ones and twos. As the target whittled down to less than 50 in the 39th over, Sultan tossed the ball to Aqib Ilyas for his part-time legspin, but Erasmus swept him for four as the 300 fans in attendance sensed a home victory.A crunching pull from Erasmus off Fayyaz Butt in the 47th over brought up his fifty off 95 balls, and brought the equation down to 12 off 21 balls. Kaleemullah conceded just two in the 48th over, before Smit finally buckled in the 49th, pulling Butt to mid-on and leaving Erasmus to get nine off 10 balls with the tail.Three singles put Erasmus on strike with six to get off the final over. Pacer Mohammad Nadeem was tasked with defending it, bowling with the wind at his back. Erasmus then premeditated a scoop to clear fine leg inside the circle, but he didn’t get the desired elevation. The fielder reached up for the chance, but the ball burst through his hands, and had enough momentum to go for four. Another single to fine leg leveled the scores, before No. 10 Bernard Scholtz slapped a single through cover for the winning run.Sompal Kami’s 4 for 30 helped decimate UAE for 114 as Nepal scraped to a four-wicket win in a weather-affected match at United Cricket Field. Following a two-and-a-half-hour delayed start due to a wet outfield from overnight rain, Nepal won a crucial toss with play reduced to 34 overs a side and sent UAE in on a pitch that has heavily favored early seam movement throughout the tournament.Sunday was no different as UAE were behind the eight-ball throughout the match following Sompal’s opening spell. The short but whippy fast bowler struck with the third ball of the match, bowling Ashfaq Ahmed for a golden duck. Two more strikes by Sompal and Karan KC had UAE 25 for 3 in the eighth over before teenage legspinner Sandeep Lamichhane and captain Paras Khadka tore through the middle order to take 3 for 30 and 2 for 20 respectively. Sompal then returned to finish off the tail as UAE were bowled out in 31 overs.Nepal, who had struggled to chase Namibia’s 138 on day one before creeping over the line by one wicket, needed a half-century from Khadka after another top-order collapse saw them slip to 20 for 3 in the seventh over. Khadka counterattacked with five sixes in his 51 off 48 balls. Sompal then helped out with the bat too, smashing a six off his third ball before ending the match with a three to finish unbeaten on 10 off five balls.Opening batsman Ruvindu Gunasekera overcame a thumb injury to produce a gritty 83 off 99 balls and set up Canada’s third straight win of Division Two with a 59-run victory over Kenya at Affies Park.Canada had been coasting early at 58 for 1 after being sent in with Gunasekera leading the way on 38 off 28 balls when he received a blow to the left thumb from medium-pacer Nelson Odhiambo that caused his fingernail to nearly come off. After leaving the field for treatment, he returned at 90 for 3 in the 23rd over and proceeded to anchor the rest of the innings, lasting until the third ball of the 49th over before he was eighth out to a rare hit-wicket dismissal trying to swat Nehemiah Odhiambo.Gunasekera’s innings ensured Canada had plenty to defend against a brittle Kenya batting line-up, who crossed 100 for the first time in three attempts at Division Two but still fell well short of the target. Captain Rakep Patel kept hope alive for a comeback with his 32 off 76 balls, but he was run out attempting to steal a single to short third man off Nikhil Dutta’s offspin; he couldn’t beat Navneet Dhaliwal’s relay to Hamza Tariq behind the stumps, and Kenya were 123 for 8. Dhaliwal also took 3 for 15 in eight overs of part-time medium pace to hasten victory.

Sam Curran has been called up by England and that could complete a memorable 12 months for the Surrey pair

ESPNcricinfo staff23-Jan-2018Sam Curran could follow his older brother Tom into the England side after winning a call-up for the T20 squad for the triangular tournament against Australia and New Zealand.Curran steps in as a replacement after Joe Root was rested out of the tournament and Ben Stokes announced his arrival in New Zealand would be delayed because of a court appearance in Bristol on February 13 to answer a charge of affray. The T20 triangular takes place from February 3-21.Tom Curran, two years older and a team-mate at Surrey, made his T20I debut against South Africa at Taunton in June and has since gained honours across all three formats. He is also a member of England’s T20 party, inviting the possibility that they could even play in the same England side.Brother Sam, a diminutive, brisk left-armer with the ability to swing the ball, spent the turn of the year developing his T20 game while playing for Auckland in the Burger King Super Smash, and was a permanent fixture in a side that was beaten at the semi-final stage.At 19, he had a reasonable, if not strikingly productive season, claiming nine wickets in as many matches at 32.55 each and conceding 9.15 runs per over. But there were runs, too, 157 of them at 26.16 and an excellent strike rate of 161.85. Nevertheless, his combative qualities as well as his precocious skills have been enough to tempt England to take a look.

Aston Villa are set to have a busy end of the transfer window, as Unai Emery and Monchi prepare to lock down the squad ahead of the tasks ahead in the 2023/24 campaign.

The Villans have already made strong moves in the market, welcoming Pau Torres, Youri Tielemans, Moussa Diaby and Nicolo Zaniolo to the ranks at Villa Park.

With deadline day fast approaching, the Midlands club are braced for change in terms of both incomings and outgoings at Villa Park.

Who could Aston Villa sign this summer?

With three out of the four players captured this summer by Villa, just Torres represents the defensive reinforcements welcomed into Emery’s side.

Considering the injury blow to Tyrone Mings and the questions over the future of Lucas Digne, a number of defenders have been linked to strengthen the back line.

One name that emerged is that of Nuno Tavares, with transfer guru Fabrizio Romano relaying the Villans’ interest in the Arsenal full-back last week, stating that the club are “exploring conditions” for a deal.

With Nottingham Forest closing in on a deal for the Portuguese ace, however, Villa will have to hijack proceedings, as they tried with Jack Harrison, if they are to succeed in their pursuit of the £12m-valued star.

What could Nuno Tavares offer to Aston Villa?

Having been lauded as “outstanding” by former Marseille boss Igor Tudor, the Arsenal outsider could finally find sanctuary in the Premier League away from north London.

Captured by the Gunners back in 2021, the left-back failed to make a significant impact in red and white, which in hindsight worked in favour of his journey, as he was sent on loan to Ligue 1 to develop.

Last term, the versatile defender spent the season on loan with Marseille, where he flourished playing in the progressing left wing-back role under Tudor.

For Villa, the introduction of Tavares could come at the perfect time for Emery, who saw his side impress last time out in the Premier League against Burnley, in which the Spaniard opted for a change in formation.

Moving away from his favoured 4-2-3-1 lineup, the former Arsenal manager decided to utilise his full-backs in a 3-4-2-1 shape, which prevailed as a smart change as right-back Matty Cash scored two goals.

In the scope of Tavares, the Portuguese whiz could be the perfect addition to Emery’s side should he wish to keep the three at the back formation, with the 23-year-old excelling in an identical role for Marseille.

When deployed at left-back in such formation, the Gunners defender netted six goals in Ligue 1, as well as showcasing his strengths going forward, in which he was hailed for his “fantastic physical capabilities” and “ability to run” by Tudor.

Such praise was supported by his statistics, with FBref highlighting the full-back's average of 3.68 progressive carries and 1.80 passes into the penalty area per 90, suggesting his strengths in attack.

Another area suggestive of his suitability to play in a formation such as the one Emery is trialling is his ability to get into strong positions going forward, communicated by his average of 9.39 progressive passes received per 90 for Marseille.

As per FBref, his average in this area ranked him in the top 4% of full-backs in Ligue 1, showcasing just how much of a menace he can be to defenders when his progressive strengths are exploited.

For Emery, the 23-year-old dynamo could be the perfect addition to integrate into his new approach to play at Villa Park, however, the Spaniard must act fast if he is to secure his signature.

As the transfer window edges closer and closer to slamming shut, Crystal Palace could yet welcome reinforcements this summer.

The Eagles have so far welcomed just two signings, in the form of Jefferson Lerma, and Matheus Franca, whilst losing Wilfried Zaha at the end of last season.

Roy Hodgson's search for fresh faces has now reportedly led him to Manchester United and Dean Henderson.

What's the latest on Dean Henderson to Crystal Palace?

According to The Sun's reliable reporter Alan Nixon, with Vicente Guaita looking likely to depart before the end of the window, Crystal Palace are 'making a shock move' for Henderson.

It initially looked like Henderson could make a switch to Nottingham Forest this summer, before they failed to agree on a deal with Manchester United, who wanted either a transfer fee, or a guarantee that the goalkeeper would make a permanent move with certain clauses.

The Englishman could certainly do with a move, too, with his chances of becoming Manchester United's number one arguably at an all-time low, following the arrival of Andre Onana in the current window.

A move to Palace would see Henderson compete with Sam Johnstone for a place in between the sticks, in what would be a competitive battle. Palace certainly have a decision to make, however, with reported interest in Alex McCarthy and Daniel Iversen, alongside Henderson.

A deal for the Manchester United man could be made easier by the fact that he shares an agent with Palace defender Joachim Andersen, though.

Should Crystal Palace sign Henderson?

Whilst Johnstone is a solid option, competition would be no bad thing at Selhurst Park, and that's certainly what Henderson would offer.

At his best, the former Forest goalkeeper has earned plenty of praise, including from Antonio Conte, who said after Tottenham Hotspurs' game against Forest, via Manchester Evening News:

"I think he didn’t miss penalty, it was a big, big save from the goalkeeper. It was an incredible save."

Statistically speaking, too, Henderson would give Hodgson plenty to think about if he made the move to Palace in the closing days of the summer transfer window.

Last season, as per FBref, the transfer target outperformed Johnstone in certain areas whilst on loan at Forest, making more saves per 90 whilst facing more shots on target, attempting more passes, and completing more defensive actions outside of his penalty area.

Every way you look at it, the battle between Johnstone and Henderson would be an intriguing one to watch, as the 30-year-old attempts to keep his place in between the sticks.

Palace, of course, got off to an ideal start on the opening day of the Premier League season, defeating Sheffield United 1-0, courtesy of Odsonne Edouard's goal, and Johnstone's first clean sheet of the campaign.

The Eagles will hope to use their opening-day victory as the springboard for further success, as they look to maintain their top-flight status even without Zaha.

Henderson knows all about Premier League survival, too, after helping Forest avoid relegation upon their return to the top division. It is the type of experience that he could put to use at Palace, if he makes the move in the remaining days of the summer transfer window.

He made 104 but UAE were bowled out for 195. Then Nepal were cruising the chase at 90 for 3 only to end up 132 all out

ESPNcricinfo staff08-Dec-2017
ScorecardGetty ImagesUAE endured seven single-digit scores in Abu Dhabi and made only 195 but they still managed to beat Nepal in a thriller. And here are the highlights: UAE failed to reach 200 despite one of their batsmen scoring a century. It was actually the first of Adnan Mufti’s List A career and his 104 off 89 balls looked to have come in a losing cause until his team-mates swindled seven wickets for 42 runs to bowl Nepal out for 132.Such a conclusion to this game looked fairly implausible with fast bowler Sompal Kami tearing through UAE with his maiden five-wicket haul in List A matches. The score was 39 for 5 when Mufti joined Mohammad Boota (37 off 73) at the crease and together they willed it up to 119. Mufti was 51 then. Another wicket fell in the 43rd over with the score on 140 and that’s when Mufti kicked things up. He hammered Sandeep Lamichhane for two fours and a six. Suddenly his score read 86 off 78. Then he crashed Lalit Bhandari for a four and a six and eventually secured a memorable hundred, off only 87 deliveries.Such an innings tends to add to the adrenaline of the side when they come back to bowl. But Nepal weathered it well and were on course for victory. They were 90 for 3 with opener Gyanendra Malla still at the crease. Legspinner Imran Haider changed that with a double-wicket over. Nepal were 91 for 5. Left-arm spinner Ahmed Raza and fast bowler Mohammad Naveed knocked over three more batsman to yank the score down from 121 for 5 to 122 for 8. Ten runs later, the game was done.
ScorecardKyle Coetzer cuts behind point to move into the 90s•Peter Della PennaKyle Coetzer made 121 off 130 deliveries in Dubai and so dominant was his Scotland team that Kenya couldn’t even match his own score much less aim for a target of 267. Seamer Chris Sole picked up 4 for 24 in 10 overs.Having been put in to bat, Scotland didn’t really have much going for them. Their opening partnership was broken within 10 overs. They were three down halfway through the innings and their run-rate was just over four. But Coetzer was still at the crease and all he needed was a partner. Enter Craig Wallace. The 27-year old put on 87 runs with his captain for the fifth wicket to turn an innings that was stopping and starting into something match-winning. For Kenya, Emmanuel Bundi picked up 3 for 60 and Lucas Oluoch finished with 2 for 34.The chase began with a wicket in the first over, and by the 13th, Kenya were 47 for 6. There were five ducks in the innings and only two of the XI got past 13. New-ball bowlers Safyaan Sharif and Alasdair Evans picked up two wickets each. Spinners Mark Watt and Michael Leask bowled a combined spell of 8-0-27-2.
ScorecardPeter Della PennaOpener Anshuman Rath hit an unbeaten 143 – the highest score by a Hong Kong batsman in ODIs – to underpin his side’s highest total. In pursuit of 324, PNG subsided to 230 all out. The 93-run win meant Hong Kong finished third in the standings with 18 points in 14 matches.After being sent in Hong Kong made a positive start with Jamie Atkinson and Rath adding 84 for the opening partnership. The stand ended in the 19th over when offspinner Asad Vala had Atkinson stumped for 36. Rath, however, was unstoppable: he reached his first fifty off 65 balls and brought up his second off 56 balls. He added 142 for the second wicket with captain Babar Hayat, who struck 89 off 80 balls, before he was stumped, too, in the 43rd over. Nizakat Khan was run out for 1 in the same over and Tanwir Afzal fell four overs later, but Rath stayed firm to propel the total beyond 300.Hong Kong began their defence strongly as well: they reduced PNG to 90 for 6 by the 21st over. Kiplin Dogia and John Reva then counterattacked, adding 61 for the seventh wicket in only 55 balls. Doriga then combined with Alei Nao to add 69 for the ninth wicket, but all it did was to reduce the margin of defeat rather than threaten Hong Kong’s tall score. Ehsan Nawaz, the quick, was the pick of the bowlers for Hong Kong with career-best figures of 4 for 54. Ehsan Khan and Nadeem Ahmed picked up two wickets each to complement him as PNG were bowled out in 42.2 overs.

Manchester United could finally be about to change hands if updates released in the press this week are to be believed, but there is conflicting information emerging from all angles.

What's the latest on the takeover situation at Manchester United?

Last year, the Glazers put Manchester United up for sale and detailed that they were exploring "strategic alternatives for the club" in the hope of being able to "enhance the club’s future growth", as per The Independent.

At the time, the Red Devils' ownership confirmed that they would look into a multitude of options as part of the process, including “new investment into the club, a sale, or other transactions involving the company”.

Two main candidates have emerged to take over Manchester United and bring the Glazers' controversial tenure at Old Trafford to an end, which has of course contributed to periods of regression on and off the pitch for the Premier League giants, particularly in the last decade.

Sheikh Jassim Bin Hamad Al Thani has and his consortium Nine Two Foundation have been heavily involved with all stages of the process and would like to claim outright control at Old Trafford – alongside clearing debt at Manchester United and investing in both the playing staff and club infrastructure – as per The Mirror.

On the other hand, Sir Jim Ratcliffe and his firm INEOS have also been in contention to acquire custody of Manchester United and are proposing a majority takeover that would allow two of the Glazers, Joel and Avram, to hold minority stakeholding positions in the club moving forward. Ratcliffe has also promised to wipe out the Red Devils' debt and either renovate or reconstruct Old Trafford.

Despite the uncertainty over the future of Manchester United, Erik Ten Hag has still been busy in the transfer market, bringing in Mason Mount, Rasmus Hojlund and Andre Onana for considerable sums of money, as per Transfermarkt.

Who will win the takeover battle at Manchester United?

According to The Sun, Sheikh Jassim looks to have won the fight to take over at Manchester United for £6 billion and could enter office at Old Trafford as early as mid-October.

An official announcement may take place next week according to their report while Jassim and his associates are doing their 'due diligence' regarding Manchester United before being installed at the expense of the much-maligned Glazer family.

100% of the club will fall into the hands of Sheikh Jassim and company, while the Qatari businessman will not take any dividend payments from the Red Devils, which is a practice the Glazers have engaged in since taking control in 2005.

However, Sky Sports have since claimed virtually the total opposite, claiming on Twitter less than 24 hours later: "Sources close to the Qatari bid believe the process has stalled amid concerns that the Glazer family are not sure they want to sell the club."

Sheikh Jassim has made five separate bids to try and succeed the Glazers at Old Trafford and could look to prioritise renovating Carrington and Old Trafford alongside clearing debts at the club that have reached levels of nearly £1 billion, as per Sky Sports.

Of course, Manchester United have been affected by Financial Fair Play issues this year and are also struggling to complete the rest of their summer business unless player sales are solicited, which are two problems that could be completely wiped out once new ownership arrives in the North West, but it remains to be seen which source is closer to the truth.

A Michael Klinger special lifted the hosts to the top of the BBL points table, after completing a six-wicket win against Sydney Sixers

The Report by Daniel Brettig01-Jan-2018
Scorecard and ball-by-ball detailsMichael Klinger’s composure ensured Perth Scorchers broke fresh ground with the highest successful chase in their history, to consign the Sydney Sixers to a fourth consecutive defeat and vault over Adelaide Strikers to the top of the Big Bash League table. The hosts had appeared to be in considerable trouble when they staggered to 2 for 35 after the Powerplay following the Sixers’ total of 167, but Klinger refused to panic, and took the Scorchers home with help from Ashton Turner and a cameo from the debutant Tim David.The Sixers made a decent fist of their innings after being sent in, as the makeshift opener Peter Nevill, Jordan Silk and Sam Billings were particularly effective. But there was grim news for Steve O’Keefe when he suffered a suspected serious leg injury in the field, robbing the captain Johan Botha of one of his most economical options. The Sixers are now on the brink of an early elimination from the tournament.Michael Klinger flicks into the leg side•Getty ImagesAccidental openerDaniel Hughes has accompanied Jason Roy to the middle in both the Sixers’ matches so far, but a muscle strain in the warm-ups meant that the left-hander was ruled out and replaced at the top by Peter Nevill. Not a noted power hitter, Nevill instead likes to use the pace on the ball, and another swift WACA surface gave him his chance.Helpful, too, was Jhye Richardson, who offered up some generous width early in his spell, including one no ball that Nevill cut cleanly to the backward point boundary. The subsequent free hit was fuller and sliced through the same region to the boundary. Altogether, Nevill would get five fours in an innings that covered not only for Hughes but also for Roy’s exit to a contentious lbw decision – the ball appeared to have pitched outside leg stump before rapping his front leg.Even contributionsThe Scorchers pride themselves on possessing a mean bowling and fielding unit, one that is very capable of taking wickets through economy, but also through penetration. This night, however, the Sixers were able to gain a foothold in the match by establishing partnerships throughout their innings. Once Nic Maddinson followed Nevill back to the pavilion for another handy score, Silk and Billings were able to pull together a stand of 56 in 39 deliveries, before Silk and Ben Dwarshuis hustled 30 more off the final 13 balls of the innings.A curious subplot of the Scorchers’ approach was the captain Adam Voges’ choice to bowl himself alongside James Muirhead to split the duties of the hosts’ fifth bowler. Muirhead has been on a rocky journey since representing Australia in 2014, and started this season in the St Kilda second-grade team in Melbourne Premier cricket. Muirhead, however, bowled well in his two overs at the WACA Ground but a hamstring strain forced Voges to bowl the remaining two. The Sixers captain conceded 23 off those 12 balls, but Muirhead can expect a full four-over stint next time out.Injury upsets SixersTo say O’Keefe has an benighted record with injury would be to understate his misfortune over the years, never more so than the hamstring strain he suffered midway through the Kandy Test against Sri Lanka in 2016 when he had looked like Australia’s most dangerous bowler. He had bowled three tidy overs for 20 runs in Perth when he slipped at short fine leg, felt a “crack” and immediately sought treatment in the dressing rooms, never to return. A fracture is suspected.The injury gave the Sixers captain Botha a difficult choice in terms of finding the extra over, and his choice of a like-for-like option in the shape of Maddinson’s occasional left-arm spinners was to be punished for 14 runs by Turner and Klinger. Botha himself elected to only bowl one over for the night, as Klinger steadily carried the game away from the visitors.Klinger comes throughIt had been a matter of serious doubt whether Klinger would play any part at all for the Scorchers this season after finding out that his wife, Cindy, had been diagnosed with cancer. But he has so far been available for all fixtures and demonstrated a rare level of composure and skill to guide the Scorchers’ chase of a larger total than what they have commonly needed to.Starting steadily, Klinger rolled into gear with a pair of boundaries through the off side from the bowling of Dwarshuis in the fourth over of the chase, but did not panic as the Scorchers managed only a modest 2 for 35 from the Powerplay. Showcasing the skills built over nearly 20 years in first-class ranks, he scored freely around the ground, and with a hat-trick of boundaries from Sean Abbott in the 18th over, Klinger appeared to have settled the matter.Though Klinger was to be dismissed in the penultimate over – when trying to hoist Daniel Sams into the crowd beyond wide long-on – Klinger was able to watch as Voges and the debutant David eked out the winning runs – none more vital than David’s straight six from Sams’ final delivery when 15 runs were still required from seven. When Abbott started the final over with five wides, the Scorchers were all but home, and the Sixers all but out of contention. Voges then finished it off with a top-edged six over Nevill to move back to first.

West Ham United will have to stand firm in the coming weeks if they want to keep one of their star players as Manchester City "will bid again", claims transfers expert Fabrizio Romano.

West Ham United news – what is the latest?

It hasn't been the window that West Ham fans would've hoped for following their historic win in the Europa Conference League final just two months ago.

Instead of welcoming in a swath of new faces to help them push on, climb the league table, and maybe have a good go at challenging for the Europa League, they sold the club captain and talisman Declan Rice to cross-city rivals Arsenal, floundered around looking for targets and struggled to sign those they identified.

That said, things have started looking up in recent days with the arrival of Southampton captain James Ward-Prowse and the exciting acquisition of Mexican international Edson Alvarez.

Read the latest West Ham United transfer news HERE…

These three players should help the East Londoners genuinely improve this year; however, the efforts of treble-winning City to sign their most dynamic midfielder Paqueta over recent weeks has somewhat dampened the excitement of new arrivals.

According to the Daily Mail, the Premier League champions have already seen an offer worth £60m rising to £70m rejected by the Irons, with the London side only willing to sell their star should they receive an offer close to the player's £85m release clause that'll come into effect next year.

While that is obviously a lot of money, with City's seemingly endless resources, it's not a hard valuation to reach, and according to transfers expert Fabrizio Romano, they will "100%" come back in with another offer for the Brazilian.

He provided an update on the situation on his YouTube channel, saying:

"City keep working on the Lucas Paqueta deal, because City will bid again for Paqueta, 100% I can guarantee to you."

How good is Lucas Paqueta?

Despite the Rio de Janeiro-born dynamo only arriving in the league last summer from Ligue 1 side Lyon in a deal worth £51m, he has already left quite the impression on fans, managers, and players alike.

His former captain Rice was full of praise for his quality and skill earlier this summer, telling the Evening Standard: "He's incredible, honestly, he's absolutely incredible."

In his 27 league starts last year, the £150,000-a-week man scored four goals, provided three assists, took 1.9 shots per game, maintained a passing accuracy of 80.2%, won four Man-of-the-Match awards and averaged a match rating of 6.97, per WhoScored.

His underlying numbers are also fantastic and suggest that were he given a chance to play for a genuinely dominant side like City, he could quickly become one of the league's most deadly midfielders.

According to FBref, which compares players in a similar position across Europe's top five leagues, the "spectacular" star sits in the top 1% for tackles and blocks, the top 5% for clearances, the top 6% for aerial duals, the top 7% for progressive passes, and the top 16% for attempted passes, all per 90.

The Hammers faithful can only hope that David Moyes and Co are able to keep a hold of Paqueta for these final three weeks, but that might be easier said than done with the immense financial muscle at the disposal of Pep Guardiola's side.