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Leeds United completed their first signing of the summer transfer window on Tuesday as Joe Rodon officially joined the club on a permanent deal.

The Wales international has put pen to paper on a four-year contract at Elland Road and committed his future to the Whites after spending the 2023/24 campaign on loan from Tottenham Hotspur.

A fee of £10m has reportedly been paid for the towering central defender to ensure that the star titan remains in West Yorkshire for next season and beyond.

Academy graduate Archie Gray has, in a separate transaction, signed for Spurs for a fee in the region of £40m after just one season in the first team for Leeds, which has opened up a gap at right-back and in midfield within the squad.

The summer transfer window still has just under two months left to run and this means that Daniel Farke and his team have plenty of time to dip into the market to find players to plug those gaps.

Leeds United interest in English midfielder

Rodon may not be the only player Leeds sign from Tottenham Hotspur this summer as the Whites are reportedly keen on a deal to sign another talent from the Premier League side.

According to GIVEMESPORT, Farke wants to sign former England U21 international Oliver Skipp from the Lilywhites to bolster his options in midfield.

The report claims that the West Yorkshire outfit want to add him to the squad after signing Rodon from the North London team, particularly after Gray's departure.

It adds that Skipp is a big admirer of the German head coach, as they worked together during Norwich City's title success in the 2020/21 campaign, and that could give them an advantage in this transfer pursuit.

However, GIVEMESPORT reveals that the 23-year-old talent could also attract interest from the Premier League and may be hesitant to drop down to the Championship.

Spurs are also reluctant to allow him to move on from the club as Ange Postecoglou views him as a squad option who could be called upon next season, despite being behind the likes of Rodrigo Bentancur, Yves Bissouma, Pape Matarr Sarr, and potentially Gray now too.

It is now down to Farke and his team to work hard to convince Tottenham to part ways with the English maestro and then to persuade the player to drop down to the second tier to be a part of their attempt to return to the Premier League at the second time of asking.

If the ex-Canaries tactician can get a deal over the line for the right-footed metronome then he could come in as a fantastic partner for Ethan Ampadu.

Ethan Ampadu's debut season at Leeds in numbers

The Whites swooped to sign the defensive midfielder from Premier League side Chelsea on a permanent deal to anchor Farke's midfield last summer.

He started the campaign playing alongside the likes of Gray and Glen Kamara in the middle of the park but was eventually called upon at centre-back during the second half of the season due to Pascal Struijk's absence through injury.

Despite playing in different positions in either half of the term, the Welsh titan remained a consistent and impressive force in the spine of the team as they competed to secure promotion out of the Championship.

23/24 Championship	Ethan Ampadu
Appearances	46
Sofascore rating	7.24
Tackles and interceptions per game	2.9
Ball recoveries per game	6.9
Ground duel success rate	57%
Aerial duel success rate	63%
Stats via Sofascore

As you can see in the table above, the 23-year-old battler provided a fantastic defensive presence for Leeds throughout the campaign with his ability to make tackles, interceptions, and recoveries on a consistent basis.

He was also a monster in duels with opposition players, with a high success rate in physical contests both on the ground and in the air last term, which shows that the Welshman has the quality to dominate matches.

Struijk is due to be back from injury for pre-season and this suggests that he could return to the team alongside Rodon at the start of the campaign, which would then allow Ampadu to return to his favoured midfield role, potentially next to Skipp.

He could be a dream partner for the English midfielder as they are both defensive workhorses who can also provide progressive quality in possession.

Why Leeds should sign Oliver Skipp

Firstly, Ligue 1 side Rennes are reportedly interested in a deal to sign Kamara from the Whites and that would open up a starting spot next to Ampadu in midfield.

Secondly, Skipp is a young player, at the age of 23, with plenty of time left ahead of him to develop and grow, which means that he could be brought in as an immediate starter whilst still having the potential to improve and increase in value moving forward.

The right-footed whiz has racked up 77 Premier League appearances for Spurs, and over 100 outings in all competitions for the club, and showcased his quality in and out of possession last term.

Skipp won 58% of his ground duels and completed an impressive 92% of his attempted passes across 21 appearances in the top-flight last term, which shows that he can dominate players on the deck and retain possession at a fantastic rate at the top level.

The former England youth international, who Farke once hailed as a "perfect" lad, is also a proven performer in the Championship who knows what it takes to earn promotion to the Premier League.

Championship (per 90)	Oliver Skipp (20/21)	Ethan Ampadu (23/24)
Pass accuracy	87.6%	88.1%
Progressive passes	4.86	5.15
Progressive carries	1.63	1.20
Tackles	2.33	1.52
Interceptions	1.17	1.39
Stats via FBRef

As you can see in the table above, Skipp provided a progressive presence in the midfield as Norwich won the second division title with Farke at the helm that term.

His ability to win possession through tackles and interceptions coupled with his quality on the ball makes him a well-rounded midfielder who could star alongside Ampadu, as they are both dominant talents who could boss games for Leeds next season.

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Therefore, Skipp, who has already worked with the manager could hit the ground running, could be a fantastic signing for the club to make after their deal to bring Rodon back.

An intriguing report claims Chelsea have five days to sign an "incredible" forward for just £25 million, due to a unique clause in his contract.

Chelsea targeting new winger for Maresca this summer

After their failed attempt to sign former Crystal Palace star Michael Olise, who eventually joined Bayern Munich instead, it is back to the drawing board for co-sporting directors Laurence Stewart and Paul Winstanley in their search for a new winger.

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Chelsea were in talks over a deal for Olise earlier this summer, and some reports claimed that the likes of Raheem Sterling and Noni Madueke could've been used as makeweights in player-plus-cash bids.

However, with the 22-year-old opting for a move to Germany, the Blues have been forced to identify other targets. New manager Enzo Maresca already has quality to choose from out wide, but it is believed a top priority for the ex-Leicester boss is to bring in a new wide-man who can compete with the likes of Sterling, Madueke and Mykhailo Mudryk.

Player

Rating

Cole Palmer

7.48

Conor Gallagher

7.13

Nicolas Jackson

7.07

Moises Caicedo

6.85

Noni Madueke

6.84

Borussia Dortmund forward Karim Adeyemi is now further up Chelsea's transfer shortlist, with claims emerging this week they're plotting a move for him. Chelsea have held talks with Adeyemi's representatives as they push for a new winger, according to TEAMtalk, and the 22-year-old will cost somewhere around the £25 million mark.

Adeyemi racked up seven goal contributions for Dortmund in all competitions last term, five goals and two assists specifically, but the German did manage a pretty impressive 33 goals and 24 assists across 94 appearances for Red Bull Salzburg.

Chelsea have Rennes starlet Desire Doue on their transfer agenda as well, if a move for Adeyemi fails, but the competition for his signature is fierce with Man Utd, Tottenham, Bayern and Paris Saint-Germain all in the race to sign him (Rudy Galetti).

Now, according to Portuguese newspaper Record, FC Porto starlet Francisco Conceição is another winger Todd Boehly and co are targeting who could cost £25m – but only if the Blues act quickly.

Chelsea have just five days to sign Conceicao for £25 million

The outlet claims, via Sport Witness, that Chelsea are very aware of Conceicao with Stamford Bridge named as one of the possible destinations for him this summer.

Atletico Madrid and RB Leipzig are contenders as well, but perhaps a move to the Premier League would appeal more to the 21-year-old. There is an interesting catch to this story, as it is believed Chelsea have just five days to sign Conceicao for £25 million.

Indeed, the £25m release clause in his contract expires on Monday next week, which will then see his price shoot up to £38 million. The clock is therefore ticking for Boehly and co to do a deal at the cheapest price, and his exploits in Portugal suggest he could be worth the effort.

Conceicao racked up eight goals and eight assists across 43 appearances in all competitions for Porto last term, with Portugal manager Roberto Martinez hailing his "incredible maturity" at Euro 2024 too.

With just one month to go until the start of the new Premier League season, Arsenal have reportedly joined the race to sign a player who could solve their striker problems this summer.

Arsenal transfer news

The current Arsenal side isn't one that needs wholesale changes ahead of the new campaign. The Gunners came close to dethroning Manchester City for a second season running last time but ultimately lost against Pep Guardiola's winning machine. One problem was apparent in that failure amid so many glimpses of world-class potential, and that was the lack of ruthless goalscorer in Mikel Arteta's side.

As talented as Gabriel Jesus is, he is not a forward known for his goalscoring exploits – instead for his work off the ball and linking play. The same can be said for Kai Havertz, who did enjoy a resurgent spell after a difficult start to life in North London but is ultimately not the type of goalscorer that the Gunners lacked in abundance last season. Now looking to solve that problem, those at The Emirates have reportedly joined the race for a La Liga star.

According to reports via Mundo Deportivo, Arsenal have shown their interest in Joao Felix in the last few hours, with the striker looking to complete a move away from Atletico Madrid by the time he has to return to the La Liga club for pre-season duty on July 26. The Portugal forward would be returning to London, having previously spent time on loan at Chelsea.

£52 million forward could be offered to Arsenal as agents hold talks

He’s reached out for talks with the Gunners.

ByEmilio Galantini Jul 13, 2024

A player who is represented by the same agency as Arsenal midfielder Fabio Vieira, Felix may finally bring an end to a nightmare Atletico Madrid spell on a permanent basis this summer. Given that the Spanish giants initially spent a reported £113m, however, it remains to be seen whether the Gunners will be priced out of a move in the next 12 days.

"Versatile" Felix would be a Jesus repeat

If Arsenal are looking for a ruthless goalscorer, then Felix is not their man. Instead, like Jesus, his best work comes when linking the play and away from goalmouth action as the type of player that the North London giants already have in Jesus and Havertz. Adding a third option of that calibre would quickly prove to be needless at The Emirates.

Goals

7

4

Assists

3

5

Expected Goals

8.7

6.3

Key Passes

19

29

Two players who underperformed compared to their expected goals last season, Arsenal must avoid relying on Jesus to lead their line and adding to their problems by welcoming Felix.

Of course, had it not been for Barcelona's financial difficulties, then the Spanish club could have re-signed Felix this summer. Former manager Xavi was full of praise for the Portugal international last season, saying via 90Min: "He is comfortable going from the wing to the inside. He can play as a 9, on the right, but he is less comfortable there. He is versatile, he will give us alternatives and will help us a lot."

Jurgen Klopp's guest appearance for Borussia Dortmund at the Champions League final last weekend signified that, yes, he's gone. Liverpool no longer wield the German's larger-than-life aura in the dugout.

It's understood that Arne Slot will spend a bit of time settling in and assessing his squad before conferring with Michael Edwards, FSG's CEO of Football, and Richard Hughes, Liverpool's sporting director, and swooping for exciting new additions.

It's generally understood that Anfield seeks a central defender and a wide forward above all else, but there are other areas of concern, with the midfield in need of bolstering despite last summer's sweeping changes.

Wataru Endo was assigned to the holding midfield after his surprise arrival from Stuttgart, targetted following defeat to Chelsea in the race for Romeo Lavia and Moises Caicedo, but the 31-year-old is solid if unspectacular and a long-term fix is needed.

As such, Edwards and his team will pounce at any opportunity – and might have found the perfect star to move for.

Liverpool lead the race for top talent

According to Portuguese outlet O Jogo – via the Liverpool Echo – Liverpool are among the contenders to sign Benfica prodigy Joao Neves, with the Reds said to be leading the race alongside Premier League rivals Arsenal, Chelsea and Manchester United.

Bayern Munich and Paris Saint-Germain are also named as suitors but English soil is indeed the 19-year-old's preferred destination at this stage.

Neves is Benfica's prized asset and the Liga Portugal outfit will be reluctant to let him leave for anything less than the value of his release clause, which stands at a staggering £102m.

Joao Neves' style of play

It's a dangerous game overhyping a youngster who has scarcely dipped their toes into the senior scene, but then it's hard to ignore the talent of Neves, who truly has the trappings of a world-class star in the future.

While he's only just completed his breakout year at the Estadio da Luz, Neves is technically impressive, press-resistant and composed, playing with gusto and being rewarded with a key role in Roger Schmidt's squad, playing every minute across Benfica's Champions League group phase and subsequent six fixtures in the Europa League knockout phase.

Moreover, he was utterly breathtaking throughout his side's top-flight campaign, demonstrating his energy and exuberance across his 33 appearances, clinching three goals and one assist.

His performances at this fledgling phase have led analyst Ben Mattinson to gush over the "genuinely so complete" style of play, even declaring that Neves will "become one of the best CMs" – such is his potential.

Sure, Liverpool would have to pay through the nose to sign the young Portuguese, though if FSG want to prove to supporters that ambition has remained intact following Klopp's leave, there wouldn't be many ways to better show as much as beating the opposition to Neves' signature.

How Neves could fit in at Liverpool

Slot will be determined to winnow out any weaknesses in Liverpool's first-team squad. While Endo should remain a part of the pack, it's inconceivable that the Japan international sits as the starring midfield anchor at the dawn of a new era.

This is not to rail against a skill set proven as industrious and capable alongside the likes of Alexis Mac Allister and Dominik Szoboszlai, fellow signings of last summer, but, rather, to underscore the importance of signing a player with the quality to grow into one of the world's best.

And Neves is that player. Still a teenager, he's truly demonstrating all of the qualities needed to rival the Rodri's and the Declan Rice's of the Premier League, affectionately dubbed "the little warrior from Seixal" by talent scout Jacek Kulig for his exploits this season.

Matches played

33

29

Matches started

27

20

Touches per game

76.5

54.4

Pass completion

90%

88%

Key passes per game

0.8

0.6

Dribbles per game

1.2

0.3

Recoveries per game

6.4

3.7

Tackles per game

2.0

1.7

Interceptions per game

1.0

0.7

Clearances per game

1.0

1.0

Duels won per game

6.0

3.9

It's rather clear that Neves would mark an upgrade on Endo, effectively eclipsing him across almost every metric when setting league statistics side by side and assessing the data.

And this would only enhance Slot's Liverpool squad. Szoboszlai has not always had the easiest ride on Merseyside after signing from RB Leipzig in a £60m deal last summer, wowing the Kop with his ferocious striking power and robust skills but suffering from injuries, errors and a failure to influence games during the latter phase of the season.

The Hungarian started only once across Liverpool's final six matches led by Klopp and it's surely now crucial that he wins over his new gaffer swiftly, but without the presence of a high-level defensive midfielder, this might be difficult.

But by employing Neves in the Liverpool engine room, Szoboszlai's abundant natural quality would resurface. Indeed, the 23-year-old ranks among the top 8% of midfielders across Europe's top five leagues over the past year for goals, the top 4% for shot-creating actions, the top 16% for progressive passes and the top 3% for progressive carries per 90, as per FBref.

Patently, he's got his strengths. But Szoboszlai also ranks among the bottom 10% for tackles and the bottom 30% for interceptions, so without the ubiquitous presence of a player like Neves, his finest football is nullified.

Especially as Klopp sort of shoehorned him into a position at the heart of the field, differentiating from his more attack-focused deployment when in Germany.

Slot, as luck would have it, likes to play with a No. 10 and this could see Szoboszlai restored and perhaps even improved under the Anfield lights. But Neves would surely still be a necessity, lest Szoboszlai find himself isolated in more offensive territory.

Okay, Liverpool need a defender; Slot wants a nice new winger. But an effective and multi-faceted defensive midfielder is the lifeforce of a top team, and this might be the most important move of the summer for a new-look Liverpool side.

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Dominic Calvert-Lewin and Beto are two strikers who you’d expect to tear up the Premier League and players who should be featuring for a side in the top half of the division.

However, the duo struggled during 2023/24 to produce the form needed to pull Everton further clear of the relegation zone, despite the Toffees’ excellent end to the campaign.

Sean Dyche’s side ended the season 14 points clear of the drop despite receiving a total of eight points deducted for breaching the Premier League’s PSR rules but were desperately lacking goals that would’ve secured the club's safety way before they did.

The forward duo only managed a total of ten league goals between them this season, with Dyche needing to bolster his attacking department over the summer to avoid any further relegation threat during the 2024/25 campaign.

Since the conclusion of the previous season, Everton have been on the lookout for a new frontman, with numerous names catching the eye in their attempts to combat their biggest issue.

Everton’s hunt for a new striker this summer

In recent weeks, Everton have been linked with a £20m move to sign Chelsea striker Armando Broja.

The Albanian forward made 21 appearances in the Premier League for Chelsea and Fulham, scoring just once in the 2-0 win for the Blues against the side he spent the second half of the season on loan at.

They will face competition from the likes of Wolves and Crystal Palace for his signature, but they would be better off signing another striking alternative during the off-season.

A couple of days ago, Graeme Bailey claimed that the Toffees were interested in signing Roma striker Tammy Abraham this summer – a move that would certainly be a huge upgrade on any move for the current Chelsea striker.

They’ve both featured in the Premier League during their career, with Abraham – who has reportedly been valued at £40m – coming out on top over his former teammate, with the pair both coming through the academy at Stamford Bridge.

Games

66

89

Goals

8

26

Assists

2

5

Minutes played

2,802

5,024

Minutes per goal or assist

280

162

Despite his excellent record for the Blues in England’s top-flight, the Englishman has also demonstrated his fantastic abilities in 2023/24, with the 26-year-old heads and tails above the Albanian with his all-round play.

Why Abraham would be a better option than Broja

When comparing the pair on FBref for the 2023/24 season, it’s clear Abraham has produced the better stats despite having limited minutes due to an ACL injury.

The Englishman – who has been hailed in the past as a "goal machine" by academy coach Stephen Elliott – has scored the same number of goals as the Fulham loanee, having featured in 13 games fewer than his former Chelsea teammate.

As a result, he’s averaged more goals per 90 in Serie A this season than Broja has in the Premier League, doubling the tally the 22-year-old has produced.

The “phenomenal” talent, as dubbed The Premier League Panel's Raj Chohan, has won nearly double the amount of aerial battles compared to Broja, demonstrating his ability to fit into Dyche’s system which heavily relies on players being able to play as a target man and provide an aerial presence.

Games

21

8

Goals

1

1

Goals per 90

0.2

0.4

Percentage of shots on target

15%

50%

Aerials won

30%

55%

Abraham has also managed to get 50% of his shots this season on target, with the current Chelsea man only able to notch up a tally of 15% – a really poor return for a top-level forward.

All things considered, both are options that would undoubtedly improve Dyche’s frontline, but ultimately, Abraham would be a great option for the Toffees and one that could solve their current goalscoring problems.

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ByEthan Lamb Jun 9, 2024

Joe Rodon will have been despondent come full-time at Wembley with how his loan spell with Leeds United was ending, concluding with the bitter disappointment of a Championship play-off final defeat, instead of the script everyone involved with the Whites wanted in the form of promotion.

The Welshman's future back at Tottenham Hotspur remains unsolved, but with Leeds still languishing in the second tier as a result of this latest play-off misery, it could be unlikely that the defender is sanctioned another loan switch back to West Yorkshire or even a permanent move to call Elland Road.

This will understandably be a bitter pill to swallow for everyone connected with the second-tier giants, as Rodon was a brick wall at times last campaign in an intimidating partnership with Ethan Ampadu in the heart of defence.

Rodon managed to collect 17 clean sheets of his own in a Whites side that looked destined to be returning back to the Premier League at one stage, but instead, the 49ers could now be shopping in the loan market once more to bolster their team.

Leeds looking at top youngster

According to journalist Ben Jacobs, Daniel Farke's nearly-men are eyeing up a loan swoop for Chelsea defender Alfie Gilchrist this coming transfer window, who has been handed plenty of first-team opportunities this season at Stamford Bridge.

Making 11 first-team appearances in the league is an impressive number for the 20-year-old to have accumulated, considering this campaign is when he truly began to make waves at a senior level, after years of strictly playing Premier League 2 football for the youth side minus the odd bench call-up every now and then.

He even scored off the bench against Everton after merely two minutes, whilst also playing against Leeds United earlier in the season in an FA Cup 3-2 humdinger in Chelsea's favour that saw the Whites push a youthful Blues team all the way.

Leeds aren't a lone suitor interested in Gilchrist, however, with further interest coming from fellow Championship sides Blackburn Rovers and Preston North End.

Games played

43

Average touches

83.7

Accurate passes per game

66.0 (91%)

Clean sheets

17

Balls recovered per game

4.2

Clearances per game

4.5

Stats by Sofascore

Yet, Leeds' success story with Rodon, with his numbers mightily impressive when taking in the table above, could sway Chelsea into believing a stint in West Yorkshire could be a formative next step for the 20-year-old in his development, who has shown signs of his bright potential this season, even when things haven't been all smooth sailing at the Blues.

Gilchrist's season in numbers

Gilchrist will hope that if his time with Leeds went well, that he could take even bigger strides in the senior mix back at Chelsea, becoming a starter for the club potentially down the line, a dream considering he has been in and around the Blues since 2014 as a child.

Only helping his side pick up one clean sheet from his 11 first-team outings in the Premier League to date in the men's team, with only two of those actually being fully fledged starts, his most promising display in the cut and thrust of the elite division came against Tottenham Hotspur at the start of May when that solitary shut-out was registered.

Shining in a rejuvenated Chelsea side that beat Ange Postecoglou's inconsistent Spurs 2-0, Gilchrist would last 85 mins on the Stamford Bridge turf and made the most of his rare start.

Making a combined nine clearances, interceptions and tackles in the game, the 20-year-old would also only surrender possession seven total times as a composed and smooth passer of the ball from out the back.

Playing all of these games at right-back, with his captain presence for the U21s only exclusively seeing him line up in the heart of defence as opposed to down the flanks, Leeds might well be able to offer him extended periods in his preferred centre-back spot as opposed to filling in gaps back at Chelsea.

Rodon's exit would also mean Leeds are on the hunt for a new partner to shore up the back four centrally alongside Ethan Ampadu, with the former Chelsea youngster presumably crossing paths with Gilchrist once upon a time at his parent club, during his topsy-turvy development in West London, before calling Elland Road home.

Imagine Ethan Ampadu and Gilchrist

Not missing one single game of league action for Leeds, even in the high intensity of the play-offs, Ampadu was arguably even more of an integral cog in Farke's side last season than Rodon was.

After being chucked out on loan all across various unique locations when on the books at Chelsea – with destinations ranging from Leipzig to Spezia to Sheffield – Ampadu will hope he remains fixed in West Yorkshire ahead of an up-in-the-air campaign next time around, even if many of his teammates from last season relocate.

Leeds

54

0

90

Spezia

32

0

86

Venezia

29

3

79

Sheffield United

25

2

84

RB Leipzig

3

0

26

Sourced by Sofascore

Feeling valued at Leeds after a mixture of up-and-down loan stints, Ampadu could be the perfect mentor to Gilchrist – who has gone on to be successful after coming through the youth ranks at Chelsea – and a perfect partner for him to bounce off of as a result.

With Ampadu excelling more in his duo with Rodon in terms of tenacity and energy as a ball-winner, seen in him averaging 6.9 ball recoveries per match, Gilchrist could come in and be as level-headed as Rodon on the ball as a calm and measured operator seen in him averaging an 85% when it comes to passing accuracy per game.

Signing a new deal at Stamford Bridge recently to keep the dream alive he can make the grade at his boyhood employers, the time is right, therefore, for Gilchrist to earn his stripes with a loan move away.

Many stars of past and present in West London have benefitted from short-term moves away, with Conor Gallagher announcing himself to the Premier League on loan at Crystal Palace amongst other examples, even if Ampadu struggled on his own conveyer belt of stints away from Chelsea.

Leeds will just keep their fingers crossed that Gilchrist can be their next Rodon or indeed their new Ampadu, with the "unbelievable" defender as labelled by John Terry, potentially set to arrive at Elland Road.

Leeds make enquiry to sign dream Kalvin Phillips alternative

Leeds United are looking at this midfield talent who has similarities to Southampton star Will Smallbone.

ByKelan Sarson May 30, 2024

“We are determined to pull out all stops to ensure that healing takes place for those who have been wronged”

ESPNcricinfo staff25-Jul-2020

Andile Phehlukwayo and Lungi Ngidi take a knee before the start of the 3TC match•AFP via Getty Images

CSA has made public its plans to tackle alleged racism in cricket in the country, its Transformation Committee announcing a sustainable response strategy project called Cricket for Social Justice and Nation Building (SJN).”The national outcry by cricket fans, the greater South African public and broad stakeholder groups could not be ignored,” CSA said in a statement while talking about the project.The Black Lives Matter (BLM) movement became a part of cricket after Daren Sammy spoke of a “degrading” nickname he had been given in the Sunrisers Hyderabad dressing room, and then moved up a notch when Lungi Ngidi, in response to a question in a press interaction, called for the cricket community in South Africa to “make a stand”. Soon after this, 36 prominent South African players and coaches of colour expressed their support for Ngidi, followed by the likes of Hashim Amla and Faf du Plessis speaking out. It all culminated in South Africa’s elite cricketers – as well as support staffers, CSA officials, and members of the commentary team – taking a knee at Centurion’s SuperSport Park ahead of the 3TC match last Saturday.ALSO READ: Bal – It’s time we South Asians understood that colourism is racismCSA will set up a Transformation Ombudsman responsible for managing complaints while also ensuring that players and fans unite. CSA aims to appoint the ombudsman by August, with Dr Eugenia Kula-Ameyaw, the independent director and transformation chair, tasked with ensuring that the process flows smoothly.”Transformation needs to happen in our lifetime and as the Board we need to fully deliver on that mandate. Having heard what our ex-players shared, my focus as the Transformation Chair was to come up with a solution, hence the Cricket SJN concept,” Kula-Ameyaw said. “I am grateful that the Board supports this initiative. The office of the Transformation Ombudsman is a solid brick that we can use as a foundation to deal with racism and discrimination in cricket.””We are sorry that our cricket players had to endure the emotional hardships that they did; subjugated by their peers along racial lines under our new democracy that enjoined us to embrace reconciliation and inclusivity,” CSA Board chair Chris Nenzani said. “SJN is the first-of-its-kind project meant to rid cricket of apartheid racial discrimination. This is the very important project that all stakeholders must make sure it succeeds for the future sustainability of cricket.”The fortunes of cricket, its players, stakeholders, and fans are not going to be held to ransom by the wayward few who definitely have no place within our ranks,” he added. “We are determined to pull out all stops to ensure that healing takes place for those who have been wronged, and that perpetrators are exposed, sanctioned, and isolated.”The SJN also aims to form a Restoration Fund in order to deal with the opportunity cost due to discrimination as well as “promote and intensify” the diversity, belonging and inclusivity programme implementation.Dr Jacques Faul, the CSA’s acting chief executive, said, “It has been a very challenging time for Cricket South Africa, and we have to acknowledge that what we have heard was not easy to digest. However, I am also encouraged by our plan to address this. We will need the buy-in from all our stakeholders to ensure a racism free future at Cricket South Africa.”We commit that never again shall we be found wanting and will consolidate our efforts to assure an inclusive cricket environment, free of any discrimination, racism or any other ill that negate the gains of the democracy that we fought so hard for.”

Tottenham chairman Daniel Levy appears ready to take a loss on a senior first-teamer this summer, who will be told that he's free to leave.

Spurs now considering over a dozen player sales before 2024/2025

Reliable media sources, like FA registered intermediary Paul O'Keefe, who regularly breaks Spurs news on X, state that the Lilywhites are now considering sales for over a dozen players when the transfer window reopens.

Tottenham offered £52 million forward signing as agents reach out for talks

Intermediaries have contacted the club.

ByEmilio Galantini May 7, 2024

Indeed, it is believed Spurs chiefs and manager Ange Postecoglou would be willing to part ways with the squad members in question if suitable offers arrive, which highlights the scale of their potential rebuild over these next few years.

While these players aren't named specifically, supporters and critics can hazard a pretty good guess as to who they might be. Indeed, Bryan Gil, Giovani Lo Celso, Troy Parrott, Joe Rodon, Pierre-Emile Hojbjerg, Richarlison, Tanguy Ndombele, Sergio Reguilon, Japhet Tanganga, Manor Solomon and Djed Spence have all been linked with permanent Spurs exits in the last few months, but there are a couple of mystery names who have yet to be mentioned.

O'Keefe's claim falls in line with Postecoglou's latest admission that Tottenham need to implement serious change.

"We need change. Change has to happen," said Postecoglou on the Tottenham project.

Liverpool 4-2 Tottenham

Chelsea 2-0 Tottenham

Tottenham 2-3 Arsenal

Newcastle United 4-0 Tottenham

Tottenham 3-1 Nottingham Forest

"You can’t want to alter your course and expect the same people are going to be on that. It’s just not going to happen. We’ve had two windows and we’ve had some development of players, for sure, but when I say we’ve still got a long way to go, that’s what I’m talking about.

"It’s impossible to say you’re going to have drastic change and yet expect everyone to be on that journey."

The aforementioned crop are sure-fire contenders for Postecoglou's axe, but there now appears to be another exit candidate in defender Emerson Royal. The Brazilian, who's featured 22 times in the league this season, has been filling in for the injured Destiny Udogie at left-back in recent weeks.

Levy ready to take loss as Emerson told he's free to leave Tottenham

According to Football Insider and journalist Wayne Veysey, he could well be sold this summer. Indeed, it is believed Spurs chiefs are set to tell Emerson to find a new club, with Levy ready to take a small loss on the £26 million they paid for his services in 2021.

The north Londoners will apparently accept an offer of around £20 million for the former Real Betis and Barcelona full-back, who was tipped for stardom at Spurs by former Arsenal striker Kevin Campbell when he first signed.

“Let me tell you, this guy is very, very good. He is all action. He is up and down, very quick and loves to attack," said Campbell to Football Insider.

“The way Spurs play, with the full-backs bombing on, he is perfect. He is relentless down the flank because he is an incredibly fit guy. He also has good quality on the ball so I expect him to quickly become a fan favourite there."

The board’s CEO Warren Deutrom lays out the obstacles in hosting matches under the current climate

Matt Roller15-Apr-2020Cricket Ireland chief executive Warren Deutrom has conceded that there is a “high risk” that home series against New Zealand and Pakistan this summer will fall victim to the coronavirus pandemic.The start of the Irish season has already been pushed back to the end of May, meaning that Bangladesh’s scheduled tour for three ODIs and four T20Is has been postponed, and with international travel severely limited as things stand, it is possible that Ireland will not play a single home fixture this summer.New Zealand are due to play three ODIs and three T20Is from June 19, while Pakistan are scheduled to play two T20Is in July in between series in the Netherlands and England.”We’re all going to have to take a pragmatic approach – we just don’t know what’s going to happen even if sport does get back up and running in June,” Deutrom said. “With regards to international cricket, we remain in a wait-and-see holding pattern. Clearly, there is a high risk that our men’s home series against New Zealand and Pakistan… may be postponed if government restrictions remain in place.”Of course, some of the challenge we face in trying to bring some degree of certainty are no different to any other sport with international opposition – for example attaining visas for visiting teams and their support staff may not be possible as the Department of Foreign Affairs and the UK Foreign Office are currently not processing visa applications.”In addition, each country will take the advice of their home government, so teams may not even be in a position to travel to Europe. More specific to our situation, both New Zealand and Pakistan are visiting multiple countries on their tours, so that adds an extra layer of complexity. Then there are more logistical issues such as hotel and international flight bookings, the movement and staffing of broadcast facilities, and complying with the restrictions that may still exist around large group gatherings.”Two weeks ago, NZC chief executive David White indicated that the tour to Ireland, Scotland, the Netherlands and the Caribbean was “most unlikely”, while PCB chairman Ehsan Mani told the board’s podcast this week that “preparation for the tour might become an issue if this keeps going the way it is.””It will also depend to a large degree on what the situation is like in England and Ireland,” Mani said. “If those series are disrupted, it will have a lot of impact. [The national boards] will also obviously have a huge financial impact. To reschedule those [tours] to fit into a future FTP will become a big challenge.”Irish cricket faces a further obstacle in that it has no permanent stadium, and relies heavily on temporary infrastructure at home fixtures. “Not only does this extend our lead-times for series preparation,” Deutrom said, “but also – at this time of crisis – we are aware that there is a shortage of temporary or portable infrastructure on the market as most is understandably in use by [Irish and Northern Irish health services].”The groundsman at Malahide – the ground near Dublin due to host both fixtures against Pakistan – has been temporarily repatriated to England by the local club, and Deutrom has previously indicated Cricket Ireland would monitor its readiness to host international cricket once restrictions are lifted.Deutrom also confirmed that the board has taken measures to preserve jobs and “to buffer the organisation through at least the next two months” with revenue shortfalls expected through loss of broadcast and sponsorship revenue. All non-playing staff have taken a 20% wage cut for April and May, while Deutrom himself will take a 25% cut for the rest of the calendar year.Centrally-contracted players have not been asked to take a cut on their retainer, on account of the losses already incurred due to the absence of match fees. “To ask them to take a further cut to their base remuneration… would be unreasonable,” Deutrom said.It remains to be seen how well-equipped Cricket Ireland is to deal with the crisis financially, with the annual report for 2019 due to be published within the next few weeks. The board’s 2018 accounts showed that cash reserves had been depleted to just €13,470 (14,700 USD approx), with the achievement of Test status leading to vastly increased costs, while Mani has warned that many boards will “feel the pinch” of the crisis, not least if the T20 World Cup is postponed.

Her 67 with the bat and 3 for 34 with the ball helped WA beat NSW, who had won 20 of the previous 23 finals

The Report by Alex Malcolm16-Feb-2020

Nicole Bolton was outstanding with bat and ball•Getty Images

A superb all-round display from Nicole Bolton took Western Australia to their first Women’s National Cricket League title with a 42-run win over New South Wales at North Sydney Oval.WA were playing just their third final, while NSW had won 20 of the 23 editions of the tournament held since it began in 1996-97. But Bolton produced a calm and composed 67 to help the visitors to a competitive total of 231 before taking 3 for 34 with the ball to help bowl NSW out for 189 and claim Player of the Match. Bolton was also named Player of the Tournament having topped the run-scoring with 436 runs at 48.44, including five half-centuries in nine matches. She took the third-most wickets in the tournament claiming 16 scalps at 19.43.Fellow offspinner Emma King and Heather Graham also took three wickets each.WA were in early trouble at 2 for 8 after winning the toss and electing to bat. Rene Farrell, in her last professional match, took the key wickets of Chloe Piparo and Graham in her first two overs. But Bolton shared three consecutive 50-plus run partnerships with Ashley Day, Mathilda Carmichael, and Megan Banting to put WA in the ascendency before Farrell returned and forced Bolton to chop on.Stella Campbell also picked up three wickets but WA’s tail was able to keep the scoreboard moving at five per over to put up a challenging total.NSW started the chase superbly with Rachel Trenaman and Maddy Darke racing to 62 without loss in the 13th over. But Graham trapped Trenaman in front for 37 and then the spinners got to work. Bolton took a sharp return chance to remove Darke for 36 and then King strangled the middle-order. She took three wickets in six overs including the prized scalp of teenage prodigy Phoebe Litchfield for just 3.NSW never got close as Bolton and Graham returned to ice the game.