All posts by h716a5.icu

After last season's successful top four finish in the Premier League, Newcastle United have been left to balance Champions League football on top of any domestic action. And, so far, Eddie Howe's side have coped fairly well. They sit four points adrift of the Champions League places and have lost just one European game, which came in their recent outing against Borussia Dortmund.

As it turns out, too, that loss came with an even greater blow, with Alexander Isak limping off through injury, leaving Howe with just one striker to call on in the form of Callum Wilson. The injury exposes Newcastle's lack of depth when it comes to attacking options, especially with two wingers now out in the shape of Harvey Barnes and Jacob Murphy, turning their attention towards the January transfer window.

Newcastle transfer news

Now at the end of October, Newcastle's summer business is looking less and less spectacular by the day, with Barnes missing through injury and Sandro Tonali set to serve a ten-month ban. That said, the Magpies have the ideal opportunity to set things right in January, and that could result in the arrival of a new forward, especially after Isak's injury along with Wilson's persistent problems.

The latest Serhou Guirassy transfer news certainly suggests that may be the case. According to The Shields Gazette, the Vfb Stuttgart striker could find himself on Newcastle's shortlist of potential options when the January transfer window swings open. It comes as little surprise to see Guirassy's name mentioned when it comes to a top side, given that he has got off to a blistering start in the Bundesliga this season.

It remains to be seen whether Newcastle decide to make their move for the in-form striker, who will undoubtedly have several admirers when it comes to a potential winter exit – he would definitely solve the Magpies' depth issue, that's for sure.

Serhou Guirassy's stats

To say that the Stuttgart man has enjoyed an incredible start to the campaign would be an understatement. Guirassy's stats show that he is having one of the best goalscoring seasons in the entirety of European football, with his focus firmly fixed on winning the Bundesliga golden boot ahead of the likes of Harry Kane. He has even outperformed Newcastle's Isak and Wilson, as per FBref.

Player

Goals

Assists

Progressive Passes

Serhou Guirassy

14

1

13

Callum Wilson

5

0

2

Alexander Isak

6

0

10

It comes as no shock, then, that Guirassy has been the centre of praise this season, with Seb Stafford-Bloor taking to X to post: "Goals 11, 12 and 13 for Serhou Guirassy this season and now approaching an average of two goals/game. An outrageous hot streak."

The January transfer window can make or break a season, and for Newcastle, it could be the difference between a place in next season's Champions League or what will be a frustrating spot in either the Europa League or Europa Conference League. Guirassy would play a large part in helping the Magpies to avoid the latter, but at this stage, it remains to be seen whether they'll pursue the forward.

Among the plethora of issues at Manchester United this season for manager Erik ten Hag has been the inability to utilise a settled midfield partnership to date, with the frequent chopping and changing in the centre of the park having likely been both a symptom and cause of the club's woes.

While the former Ajax boss largely relied upon an experienced trio of Christian Eriksen, Casemiro and Bruno Fernandes last term, it is only the latter man who has been a regular pick of the three this time around.

In the case of Eriksen, the playmaking Dane has started just six of the club's 11 league games so far, while Casemiro had become something of an issue even before his recent injury setback, with Gary Neville notably suggesting that the Brazilian was "torn to shreds" against Wolverhampton Wanderers on the opening weekend.

In his place, deadline day signing Sofyan Amrabat has thus far yet to convince – having been dubbed "off the pace" by treble winner Peter Schmeichel following the Manchester Derby defeat – while fellow new recruit Mason Mount has failed to score or register an assist in the top-flight amid an underwhelming start to life at Old Trafford.

With the wait still on to see when young Kobbie Mainoo will make his much-anticipated return from injury, one of the few figures who has been a consistent pick in midfield is Scott McTominay, with the Scotland hero having shone for both club and country of late.

Having netted seven times during his nation's Euro 2024 qualifying run, the United academy graduate has also popped up with three league goals for Ten Hag's side this season, including bagging a brace at the death to clinch a vital 2-1 win over Brentford last month.

After looking destined for an exit over the summer, it has been some revival for the 26-year-old, yet whether this renaissance continues over a long-term basis remains to be seen, with journalist Samuel Luckhurst hinting that his future could still be uncertain heading into next year.

With that in mind, it is no surprise that a 'midfield turnover' has been mooted for 2024 – as per Luckhurst – with Everton's Amadou Onana among those who could usurp McTominay, and others, in the Red Devils' squad.

Man United transfer rumours – Amadou Onana

As per a report from talkSPORT earlier this week, United are believed to be among the clubs who have Onana on their 'radar' at present, with the Toffees potentially set to be forced to sell some of their saleable assets amid their ongoing financial woes.

The former Lille man only made the move to Merseyside on a £33m deal back in the summer of 2022, yet the indication is that the Belgian star could be up for grabs if Sean Dyche's side do have to sell.

The 22-year-old was notably mooted for a switch to the Theatre of Dreams over the summer – with a £50m asking price having been suggested – although it remains to be seen what Ten Hag and co would have to fork out, with CIES Football Observatory valuing him at nearer to €30m (£26m).

Either way, the Premier League giants could potentially get their hands on an exciting young talent either in January or next summer, with such a deal likely to help freshen up an undoubtedly ageing midfield department.

Amadou Onana's style of play

In a similar vein to McTominay, Onana is an interesting option due to his versatility to feature in a variety of roles across the midfield, as he can line up in front of the back four, in a box-to-box number eight berth, or even as an advanced option behind a centre-forward.

While yet to score so far this term, the Senegal-born giant has impressed with his defensive attributes after averaging 2.5 tackles and recovering 6.5 balls per game from his 11 league appearances – far beyond the record of McTominay, who averages just 1.4 and 3.7 for those same two metrics, respectively, from his nine outings.

That dominant presence is also showcased by the fact that the Everton starlet ranks in the top 5% among those in his position in Europe's top five leagues for aerial duels won per 90, while his United counterpart ranks in just the top 14% in that regard.

For his quality and style in an attacking sense, it is also interesting to note that Onana has earned comparisons to a high profile figure of United's recent past, in the form of Paul Pogba, with former Toffees man Michael Ball having written last season:

'He has got the talent and reminds me a little bit of Pogba in the way he glides around the pitch with a sense of confidence.'

11 games

11 stats

0 goals & assists

4 big chances created

85% pass accuracy rate

2.5 tackles per game

6.5 balls recovered per game

67% total duels won

7.16 average match rating

Stats via Sofascore

A towering figure at 6 foot 4 – similar to the 6 foot 3, Pogba – the Belgian seemingly uses his physical benefits to good effect having been hailed as an "octopus" by teammate Arnaut Danjuma due to his ability to retain possession and keep opponents at bay.

That comparison is one that has long been linked with Pogba, with the current Juventus man having been nicknamed 'Il Polpo' (The Octopus) during his first stint in Turin, while ex-teammate Jesse Lingard also once noted that you "can't get the ball off him" as "he's an octopus".

Paul Pogba's record at Man United

Such a likeness to the World Cup winner may have United supporters sweating regarding the signing of Onana, yet putting aside Pogba's off-field issues – including his frequent desire to depart Old Trafford when at the club – on the pitch he was an undoubted genius when in his pomp.

Be it his remarkable haul of four assists against Leeds United on the opening day of the 2021/22 season, or his breathtaking run under then-interim boss Ole Gunnar Solskjaer – which saw him record 13 goals and nine assists in the league in 2018/19 – there were real standout moments in the Frenchman's spell in red.

While both the club and supporters may have expected more from an £89m investment than a mere League Cup and Europa League triumph, there were glimpses of the world-class talent that Pogba could be, even if not shown over a consistent period.

Of course, the sour end to the 30-year-old's time at the club – in which he was notably booed off against Norwich City in April 2022 – epitomises the polarising status that he holds among supporters, yet on a purely playing basis, the elegant ace could truly sparkle – when he wanted to.

As such, if young Onana is brought into the fold he could perhaps look to emulate the silky style of Pogba, while also adding in his own impressive defensive qualities, thus ensuring that Ten Hag could potentially have an all-round package on his hands.

Perhaps a raid on Goodison in 2024 wouldn't be the worst idea for the Red Devils hierarchy…

Tottenham are now "battling" to keep a player who is "keen to move on" as injuries expose manager Ange Postecoglou's lack of depth in the squad.

Spurs injury list in full

In the last 11 days, Spurs' absentee list has grown to such an extent that it's brought into question their ability to truly contend near the top of the Premier League table. Manor Solomon, Ivan Perisic, Ryan Sessegnon and young goalkeeper Alfie Whiteman were already on the treatment table before killer blows for both Micky van de Ven and James Maddison really gave Postecoglou a problem.

The star summer signings were both hauled off in Tottenham's 4-1 defeat to Chelsea the week before last, with Maddison suffering ankle ligament damage and van de Ven pulling up with a serious hamstring issue. The latter has formed an incredible partnership with Cristian Romero at the heart of Spurs' defence, and his pace is seen as pivotal to Postecoglou's high line. Meanwhile, Maddison's creativity in midfield has been a god-send since his £40 million move from Leicester City.

Tottenham's star duo are both expected to be back in early 2024, by the time January's transfer window will be open, but you could still make a very serious argument that sporting director Johan Lange needs to back the Spurs boss with more options in key areas.

Ahead of a long season, the Lilywhites may not be able to rely on their traditional starting eleven all of the time. Indeed, when Postecoglou's favoured stars aren't available for selection, it is imperative that the Australian has quality alternatives to choose from.

Tottenham now "battling" to keep Hojbjerg

Contrary to recent reports, which stated that Spurs are open to the possibility of selling midfielder Pierre-Emile Hojbjerg in January, TEAMtalk now believe the north Londoners have pulled a U-turn on this decision.

The outlet shares that Tottenham are now "battling" to keep Hojbjerg in January, coming amid their real lack of squad depth. Both Yves Bissouma and Pape Matar Sarr will also be off to the Africa Cup of Nations early next year, which would leave Postecogloiu with just Rodrigo Bentancur and Oliver Skipp as senior options in midfield if Hojbjerg does depart.

The Denmark international, though, is "keen to move on" after only being used sparingly before a succession of Tottenham injuries handed him more game time.

Passing

Through balls

Concentration

Ball interception

Called "sensational" by members of the press (Seb Stafford-Bloor), Postecoglou has said that Hojbjerg is a "very important" player at Tottenham.

"It is obvious someone that has played regularly would have wanted to play more but ultimately our performances have been strong and he has had to bide his time," said Postecoglou on Hojbjerg last month.

"He has also been very important in a lot of the games that we’ve won late or had to shore up late. He has been one of the people who has helped us and it is not like he hasn’t contributed at all. He’s been a really important part for us."

Manchester United’s 2-1 defeat to Nottingham Forest at the weekend was their ninth loss in the Premier League.

This is the same number they suffered in the whole of last season, and Erik ten Hag’s side sits eighth, nine points off fourth.

All confirmed Premier League done deals: January transfer window 2024

With the January transfer window coming towards its conclusion, FFC has all the info for tracking your club’s winter transfer activity.

ByLuke Randall Feb 1, 2024

With that in mind, the former Ajax boss could look to enhance his squad this winter, with outgoings expected and incomings potentially on the cards.

Man Utd transfers latest – Andre

According to a report from Brazilian outlet Trivela earlier this week, Man United are interested in signing Andre, who has been labelled as “one of South America’s biggest jewels” by Football Talent Scout Jacek Kulig.

Other Premier League clubs, such as Fulham and Liverpool, are also monitoring the Brazilian.

It is rumoured that a fee of around £17m could secure the services of the Fluminense star, which could represent something of a bargain, even for a cash-strapped side like United.

Andre’s style of play

Casemiro has been unavailable for United since October, missing 17 matches in the process due to a knock. In truth, his performances before the injury were subpar, with his lack of athleticism and Ten Hag’s lone defensive midfield tactic exposing the 31-year-old, having notably been "torn to shreds" in the defeat to Wolverhampton Wanderers on the opening weekend, according to Gary Neville.

Therefore, it is reported that a move to Saudi Arabia could be on the cards for the former Real Madrid winner.

Although unlikely, United could cash in on their number 18 with the view of investing in Andre as his replacement. The 22-year-old has become a key player for Fluminense, featuring 60 times for the club in 2023 and playing 75% of his matches in a defensive midfield role. The table below gives a concise look at the number 7’s style of play by looking at his statistics from the last year.

Passes completed

76.27

Top 1%

Pass completion % (short, Medium, Long)

96.2%, 97.3%, 79.9%

Top 1%, Top 1%, Top 5%

Passes into the final third

6.63

Top 8%

Touches (Def third)

89.95 (30.39)

Top 2% (Top 1%)

Successful take-ons

1.38

Top 14%

Tackles won

1.50

Top 26%

As you can see, Andre has a completely different profile from Casemiro, with the former being described as a “roaming playmaker” by Jacek Kulig. That is obvious when addressing his stats, such as his ability to complete passes with accuracy regardless of the range. He rarely gives the ball away, but his passes into the final third stat show that he isn’t safe in possession, and he is willing to progress play if the opportunity presents itself, which would give much-needed control to the United side.

Furthermore, the Brazil star plays in Fernando Diniz’s demanding side, which is fluid and willing to play the ball out from the back. Ten Hag also wants to progress to using his goalkeeper Andre Onana in the build-up, and Andre would allow the boss to implement that philosophy, as he is used to playing one touch in his own box. His calmness in possession, ability to evade the press using his quick feet, and awareness are attributes that Casemiro cannot provide.

Andre’s defensive stats aren’t near Casemiro's – who averages 3.03 tackles per 90, for instance – but that is going to be the case when he plays for a side that dominates the ball in almost every game. However, his energy and ability to win duels in the middle of the park make up for that.

Overall, Andre would be an excellent signing for Man United, and he would improve their approach massively, focusing on ball retention and not always forcing the ball forward. The 22-year-old has plenty of room to develop, so the Red Devils would be buying a future gem, not just a player who could improve the team now.

If it’s not United, whoever signs up Andre will be getting themselves a bargain.

A hat-trick for the South African pace bowler Kyle Abbott as evening sunshine flooded across Worcester all but settled the battle of the bottom two

David Hopps at New Road05-Sep-20181:45

Drama at Taunton as Somerset and Lancashire tie

ScorecardA hat-trick for the South African pace bowler Kyle Abbott as evening sunshine flooded across Worcester all but settled the battle of the bottom two in Hampshire’s favour and gave them renewed hopes of salvaging their Division One status, as well as perhaps consigning Worcestershire to yet another relegation in their perpetual up-and-down existence.Abbott admitted last week that he had been struggling for inspiration in his second season at Hampshire after abandoning international cricket to play out his days in county cricket. A tweak to his contract, a few wickets last week at Chelmsford in a match where Hampshire were trounced by an innings, and the uplifting sight of an uneven, seaming Worcester pitch on which 24 wickets tumbled on the second day was all he needed to put the struggles behind him.Abbott returned the first hat-trick for Hampshire since Billy Taylor in 2006: Joe Clarke, the only batsman in the top six to make double figures, fell for 33 as he edged one that kept low; Josh Tongue, advanced in the order in a desperate attempt to keep Ed Barnard until the morning, was yorked; and Barnard then fell lbw to one that cut back markedly, completing a pair in the day. Abbott finished with 5 for 35 with the chance of the last two wickets on the morrow; Worcestershire need a further 128.Years fell from Hampshire’s experienced international attack as the ball seamed past the outside edge, as it has for two days. They scented a victim with every ball. Abbott, a domineering and robust figure again, felt his cares depart, his fellow South African Dale Steyn could imagine a Test career with stories still to tell, and Fidel Edwards made 36 seem no age at all.”I was pretty stoked up” – Abbott

Kyle Abbott (on his hat-trick): “It is the first of my professional career so I was pretty stoked up by it. It was quite surreal really, three different dismissals, which kind of sums up the pitch. Every ball I felt I was going to get a nick through to the keeper or slips, or bowl someone, or have an lbw.
Alan Richardson (Worcestershire bowling coach): “They’ve got a very good attack, three international quick bowlers on a wicket that has probably assisted them the whole way through so it has made it really challenging for our guys. They have been around a long time, highly skilled bowlers, potentially you would say that has been the difference, just that experience.”

It took one ball for Worcestershire’s second-innings task to appear forlorn, Daryl Mitchell, the one batsman to offer concerted resistance first time around, jabbing Abbott to first slip. A hush fell upon New Road; a vital component removed. Steyn picked off Tom Fell and Alex Milton with ease. Brett D’Oliveira was gated by Abbott, Ben Cox edged Edwards’ outswinger to the wicketkeeper and, although he waited for the decision, the umpires were right to send him packing. Hampshire took the extra half-hour only to be thwarted by desperate ninth-wicket resistance and, ultimately, bad light shortly after seven o’clock.Barring third-morning miracles, it suddenly looks dismal for Worcestershire. Elsewhere, Lancashire have salvaged a tie at Taunton and Yorkshire are putting up stubborn resistance at Trent Bridge. Surrey, champions elect, are next in line. Worcestershire’s young side has many admirable qualities, but top-order resilience is not one of them and the retention of Clarke, their prize batting asset, will be much harder if they go down.Worcestershire were slightly off the pace at the start of the day – 68 for 4 in reply to 191 – and to be dismissed for 120 in a further 16.2 overs served to deepen their predicament. Steyn breaking the innings with two wickets in four balls, D’Oliveira and Barnard both edging balls that snaked away.Hampshire’s lead was 71 and, on such a surface, they only needed to stretch it to 200 to feel in charge. To fall to 25 for 4 was not ideal, a reminder of the promise of Worcestershire’s young attack. But the make-up of struggling sides can be curious in late season, the residue of decisions taken to challenge players not at their best, which explains the decisive presence of Tom Alsop at No. 6 and Liam Dawson eye-catchingly low at No. 8, as they compiled 77 in 19 overs. Wayne Parnell’s intervention as he removed both just before tea helped him to 4 for 23 on his home Championship debut but it came too late.Kyle Abbott bowls for Hampshire•Getty ImagesDawson, of course, has pedigree at eight. He made 66 against India in Chennai there in his first Test innings in 2016, the highest debut score ever made by a batsman in that position. But only three Tests followed, plus a sprinkling of limited-over matches. At 28, further England opportunities might follow, but if they don’t, his challenge to achieve personal fulfilment is not dissimilar to that of Abbott.About the time Alsop and Dawson turned this match Hampshire’s way, a ripple of applause for Alsop’s fifty could be heard in the Ladies Pavilion where tea and cake was being dispensed with military efficiency.”Is that a wicket?” a Worcestershire member asked hopefully.”No, it’s a cheese scone, dear,” came the reply.Alan Bennett would have a field day here. But the confused response was understandable considering the surreal conversation that had just taken place. The previous customer had looked at a line of almond slices with slightly different pastry edges and said: “We used to call them strikers, centre backs and midfielders when I was at school.”The realisation that almond slices in at least one Worcester school were named after football, not cricket, perhaps goes some way to explaining Worcestershire’s never-ending challenge in maintaining life in Division One. Time evidently for Worcestershire’s cake bakers to descend upon the public schools and put a stop to it.

Brighton and Hove Albion have been dealt another injury blow to a first-team favourite alongside Solly March, according to an update from Roberto De Zerbi.

What's the latest injury news at Brighton?

The Amex Stadium outfit have Pervis Estupinan, Tariq Lamptey, Julio Enciso and Jakub Moder all out on the sidelines with their own respective injuries, and over the weekend, they were joined in the treatment room by another regular feature on the south coast.

During Saturday’s 2-1 Premier League away defeat to Manchester City, Solly March left the pitch on a stretcher after a knee injury resulted in him experiencing severe pain and being unable to walk, but unfortunately for the boss, he wasn’t the only player to be forced off the field earlier than expected.

At the Etihad, Danny Welbeck also had to depart the grass after sustaining a muscle injury so was replaced by Evan Ferguson after just 16 minutes, which wasn’t great news for the manager, who had to watch his striker walk away from the action prematurely.

So far this season, England’s former international has started seven out of the opening nine fixtures in the top-flight (WhoScored – Welbeck statistics), which highlights how much of an integral member of the squad he is, but if the following update is to be believed, the 32-year-old may face a wait to stage his comeback.

Danny Welbeck injury update

Speaking during his post-match interview following the weekend's loss to Man City, De Zerbi delivered an injury update on Welbeck and March. As quoted by BBC Sport, he confirmed Welbeck will at the very least miss the Ajax match: "The worst thing today is I think we are losing March for a long time. I'm frustrated, we lost two important players.

"It's tough because we play against Ajax – a crucial game – without [Pervis] Estupinan, [Tariq] Lamptey, March and Welbeck.

"We need more players. We are not used to playing in European competition. We have to find a solution to play and compete in every competition."

How much does Danny Welbeck earn per week?

With the Seagulls, Welbeck currently pockets £55k-per-week (Brighton salaries) which he has more than earned during his time at the club, therefore, it will end up being a huge blow for De Zerbi should he lose the services of his centre-forward for the foreseeable future.

The Longsight-born talent has posted 30 contributions, 20 goals and ten assists, in 99 outings since putting pen to paper (Transfermarkt – Welbeck statistics), form which has previously seen him hailed an “important” first-team player by journalist Josh Bunting.

Furthermore, Welbeck, who is sponsored by Nike, is a versatile operator having been deployed in five different positions over the pitch since the start of his career, including everywhere across the frontline and even as an attacking midfielder, though this is another quality that the head coach will have to cope without having at his disposal should his star be facing a spell on the sidelines.

India’s chief selector MSK Prasad had earlier stated that Dhoni would appear for Jharkhand in the quarter-finals, much like Rohit Sharma for Mumbai

Saurabh Somani13-Oct-2018MS Dhoni will not take part in Jharkhand’s knockout matches for the Vijay Hazare Trophy 2018-19.Jharkhand will play their quarter-final against Maharashtra at the M Chinnaswamy Stadium on Monday, and Dhoni wasn’t present at the first nets the team had, at the adjoining NCA ground, on Saturday. Team members that ESPNcricinfo spoke to on Saturday said they weren’t expecting Dhoni to join the squad.Jharkhand coach Rajiv Kumar said that he had not received any official word about Dhoni joining, but in his opinion, Dhoni wouldn’t have wanted to disturb the team’s combination, especially since he would have been able to play only one match.”He has to go to Hyderabad on October 16 to report for the ODI series,” Kumar said. “Maybe he will come for a day, I don’t know yet what his plan is, but so far, he is not coming. But it may be possible. You know he takes his own decisions. He is saying the boys are doing well, so there is no point coming for just one game and taking somebody’s place.”Jharkhand topped Group C with 32 points from nine matches, to qualify.The semi-finals are scheduled for October 17 and 18, meaning Dhoni would not have been able to take part even if Jharkhand win their match against Maharashtra.It is understood that Dhoni linking up with the Jharkhand team in Chennai was spoken of before he left for the Asia Cup. The Asia Cup concluded on September 28, with India beating Bangladesh in the final. Jharkhand had four league games remaining in Group C after that, with the first one on October 1. They won three of the games, with one abandoned without a ball bowled. Dhoni, however, eventually didn’t join the team.At the press conference after the Indian ODI side had been announced, chief selector MSK Prasad had said that Dhoni would be playing in the Vijay Hazare quarter-final.Dhoni’s decision is rendered more curious given his recent struggles in limited-overs cricket, and questions beginning to be asked about whether he is the right man to be the first-choice wicketkeeper in the 2019 World Cup. In the Asia Cup, he batted four times, scoring 77 runs with an average of 19.25 and a strike rate of 62.09. Overall in 2018, he has batted 10 times in 15 matches, for an average of 28.12 and a strike rate of 67.36. Dhoni’s last first-class match was in the Irani Trophy over a decade ago, while his last List-A game for Jharkhand was in the 2017-18 Vijay Hazare Trophy semi-final against Bengal.However, while Dhoni has decided to stay away, Rohit Sharma will be part of the Mumbai XI that takes on Bihar in the first quarter-final on Sunday. Rohit, who also didn’t join the Mumbai squad during the league stages, has flown down to be part of the first knockout match. A Mumbai team spokesperson confirmed to ESPNcricinfo that if the Indian ODI team had asked players to report by October 16, Rohit would also miss any subsequent knockout matches.

Leeds United dropped down to the Championship earlier this year after three seasons in the Premier League and are now tasked with bouncing back at the first attempt.

German head coach Daniel Farke was brought in to lead the charge, having won two league titles at this level with Norwich, and was backed with a number of signings during the summer transfer window.

The Whites brought in the likes of Ethan Ampadu, Glen Kamara, and Sam Byram, among others, to bolster their squad and splashed the cash to improve their attack with the signing of Joel Piroe from Swansea.

Appearances

11

Goals

Five

Chances created

Six

Pass accuracy

78%

Leeds reportedly paid more than £10m to sign the Dutch marksman from their Championship rivals and he has had a strong start to the campaign, as shown in the table above.

He has scored three more league goals than any of his teammates and his form comes off the back of an impressive return of 19 goals in 43 second division outings for the Swans during the 2022/23 season.

However, the window could have gone differently if the club had brought in one of the targets they reportedly had earlier in the summer – Sory Kaba.

Were Leeds interested in Sory Kaba?

Football League World reported that the Whites had been sending scouts to watch the FC Midtjylland number nine in action for Cardiff City on loan during the 2022/23 campaign.

The Telegraph's Mike McGrath claimed that fellow Championship side Watford were also keen on the centre-forward, who was available for a fee of £2m.

He eventually signed for Las Palmas in a deal that AS reported to be more than €2m (£1.7m), which suggests that the £2m price tag touted by McGrath was an accurate one.

Kaba attracted interest after a fairly prolific spell with Cardiff on loan last term as the towering striker produced eight goals and one assist in 17 Championship games for the Welsh outfit.

However, he only completed 54% of his attempted passes and made 0.6 key passes per game, with two 'big chances' created in total, as the Midtjylland loanee struggled to offer much in general play away from his goals.

His form for Cardiff came after a frustrating first half of the campaign with his parent club. Kaba scored four goals and provided five assists in 27 matches in all competitions, which included two goals in 16 league games in the Danish top-flight.

How many goals has Kaba scored for Las Palmas?

It has turned out that Leeds dodged a bullet with the 28-year-old flop as he has failed to score a single goal in seven league matches for the Spanish side this season and is now even worse than Georginio Rutter in front of goal.

His general play has been an issue for the attacker with Las Palmas this season as the goals have dried up, with zero for the club so far, and he has only made 0.6 key passes per outing and created zero 'big chances', as per Sofascore.

This shows that the experienced forward, who had scored 27 goals in 110 games in all competitions for Midtjylland, has offered very little in the way of creativity or build-up play for his team.

He has also struggled in front of goal with three 'big chances' missed and zero league goals from an xG of 1.13, which shows that the attacker has been wasteful with the opportunities that have fallen his way.

His poor form has earned him a dismal Sofascore rating of 6.50 and this is the 23rd-highest score within their squad, whilst it would also place him 23rd in the Leeds side.

How many goals has Rutter scored this season?

Rutter, on the other hand, has scored two goals in ten Championship games for Leeds as part of an attacking pairing with the aforementioned Piroe, who was signed from Swansea.

The French dynamo had failed to score in 11 Premier League matches for the club last season but has stepped up to offer a significant threat at the top end of the pitch in the second tier.

His goalscoring record is not prolific, yet, but his creativity has been outstanding from a number nine position. Rutter has created a whopping ten 'big chances' and made 2.6 key passes per game for his teammates this term, along with a pass completion rate of 69%.

The 21-year-old ace has averaged a Sofascore rating of 7.18, which is the seventh-highest score within the squad, and this shows that he has stepped up to be a fantastic option for Farke.

Rutter's all-round play is far better than Kaba's in terms of the reliability in possession that he provides alongside his exceptional ability to split open the opposition's defence on a regular basis.

Should Leeds have signed Kaba?

Kaba's statistics for Cardiff last term and Las Palmas this season do not suggest that he would have been able to make the level of impact that the former Hoffenheim man has made on the pitch for Farke's side.

The Guinea international had a rich vein of scoring form with the Welsh team at Championship level but did not show enough in possession alongside his goals and those issues have resurfaced, without the goals to make up for it, in Spain.

Rutter may not be a prolific scorer, as shown by his two goals in ten league matches so far, but he is able to make up for his struggles in that area with his fantastic play on the ball in the build-up.

The 21-year-old maestro is an outstanding talent when it comes to creating chances on a regular basis and he has caught the eye alongside Piroe with a string of terrific displays for Leeds in the Championship.

Therefore, Farke and the club dodged a bullet by avoiding a deal to sign Kaba for £2m during the summer transfer window as his statistics suggest that it would have been a big blunder.

He is not a better option than Piroe or Rutter for one of the two central attacking positions in the manager's 4-2-3-1 system and fans should, therefore, be thankful that Leeds did not bring him in on a permanent basis.

Ed Barnard claimed four wickets as Worcestershire held their nerve on the final day to secure a first Championship win of the season

Jon Culley at New Road23-Jun-20182:01

Kent squash Warwickshire’s hopes of record chase

ScorecardIn reality, the chances of Lancashire reaching their monumental target of 602 to win here were always extremely remote. The fact that no one in the history of first-class cricket has scored more than 541 to win a match in the fourth innings is because, even when the best part of two days are at a team’s disposal, scoring so many runs before the opposition takes 10 wickets is extraordinarily difficult.Yet Glenn Chapple, who has no doubt seen a few potential records fail to materialise over his career, confessed that even he, for a short time at least, while Keaton Jennings and Dane Vilas were making relatively untroubled progress on the final morning, and six wickets were still in hand, allowed himself to contemplate the possibility that history might be made.”There is no point at the start in saying you are going to score 602, it is a ridiculous thing to contemplate,” he said.”Faced with a run chase like that it is just a case of concentrate on your performance, assess what your best chance is of staying in and scoring runs, and ultimately see where that can lead. And I think everyone realised that had Keaton and Dane been able to sustain their partnership into the afternoon it might eventually have become a reality.”But the truth is that we lost the match not because they could not do that but because of two passages of play on the first day.”After having Worcester 81 for 5, we let them score nigh-on 250, which was too many on that pitch. Then after being 77 for 0 ourselves with six or seven overs to go, we ended up five down.”And though we played very well to score nearly 400 in the last innings, when Keaton Jennings set such a fine example of discipline and professional approach, we should not have been four down overnight. So there are things we need to look at.”This is not a story, though, about a Lancashire failure, but about a Worcestershire victory, their first of a frustrating season, achieved moreover with their two leading wicket-takers sidelined, but whose stand-ins – the latest of whom, 19-year-old Pat Brown, is still a student at Worcester University – showed character and resilience on a durable pitch to make sure the winning chance was not wasted.Seeing Brown claim the prized scalp of Jennings, for 177, and Ed Barnard add four more wickets to his first-innings five, gave Brett D’Oliveira, making a successful debut as stand-in captain for the injured Joe Leach, as much pleasure as Daryl Mitchell’s two hundreds and Martin Guptill’s century on debut.”The conditions got better to bat on,” D’Oliveira said. “It did start to get a bit lower towards the end and we got a couple of lbws but overall it was a good wicket and they have some very good players, so it took everything to get those 11 wickets.”Pat Brown getting Keaton Jennings out was crucial, a moment that stands out among several outstanding performances. And Ed – it was a real challenge for him in that second innings and he really did work hard and deserved the rewards he got.”I’m proud of the players. We have been in good positions in a couple of games and haven’t quite done it so it feels good to have rammed home our advantage this time.”They have shown resilience and fight. A couple of years ago at 81 for 5 we might have crumbled but this time we showed we could fight back.”Vilas and Jennings both fell before lunch, Vilas bowled off an inside edge by Barnard, Jennings by one from Brown that kept a shade low and came with added zip too. Jordan Clark and Danny Lamb, whose historic appearance here as a concussion substitute is a footnote not to be forgotten, hinted at grinding out a draw but a double bowling change changed the dynamic in a flash.Ross Whiteley, whose left-arm seamers are only occasionally required, claimed his first Championship wicket for three years when Ben Cox, standing up, took a sharp catch to remove Clark, opening up the tail for Barnard to see off, the last four wickets falling for one run in four overs.

Sam Curran will be England’s third seamer, with Dawid Malan to bat in the middle order while India will confirm their XI on Wednesday

Preview by Andrew Miller31-Jul-2018Big PictureSeven years ago, at the start of another Indian Test tour of England, another notable Test landmark was reached. It will be England’s 1000th Test at Edgbaston on Wednesday; at Lord’s in the first Test of the 2011 series, it was the 2000th Test all told.Such landmarks can be trite, but every now and then they can have a galvanising effect too. That 2011 Test proved to be an epic, life-affirming affair, lit up by queues all down the Wellington Road on the final morning, as fans piled in for the chance to witness a grandstand finish, and maybe even (or not, as it transpired) a 100th hundred for the inimitable Sachin Tendulkar.The ECB, and Edgbaston, can but pray that this week’s Test will be amplified by its additional layer of history. Ticket sales for the much of the series have been sluggish, undermined no doubt by an England team that may include three players – Alastair Cook, James Anderson and Stuart Broad – who have contributed to more than a tenth of that English Test history, but which is currently performing at a similar fraction of its potential.In theory, everything this summer ought to have been building towards this climax. The logic of the India itinerary certainly implied that the Tests would be the biggest deal – with the T20Is and ODIs loaded into the top half of the tour before clearing the calendar for a full five-Test showdown. And yet, India chose to reduce their solitary warm-up at Chelmsford from four days to three, while England’s non-white-ball players have been hampered by a lack of Championship cricket in which to fine-tune their own preparations.In particular, the new-ball veterans, Anderson and Broad, are about to be asked to go from 0 to 100 in double-quick time. Having both played a solitary county fixture in the whole of July, they are now embarking on an itinerary of five Tests in six weeks, an ask that even an arch-combatant such as Broad has admitted he may struggle to complete without factoring in rest and rotation.It’s a state of affairs that will surely alarm the ECB, who have been banking on the windfalls from this bumper summer to replenish their coffers, and who must be wondering, if not India, then who can keep the crowds coming through the turnstiles for Test cricket?That’s not to say, however, that the status of the series has been diminished before it has begun. The era of the Big Three was consigned to the ICC’s official history books some time ago, but the sentiments that drove that agenda continue to hold sway in on-field engagements. England v India has taken its time to catch up with India v Australia as one of Test cricket’s blue riband battles, and it hasn’t yet produced the sort of see-sawing contest that would lift it alongside the Ashes in the public’s affections. But in terms of spice and animosity, there’s history aplenty between these teams, and scope in the coming weeks for so many additional plotlines.Virat Kohli himself gave short shrift to the notion that his team are favourites, but either way this is looking like India’s best-drilled squad for a tour of England since 2007, when Rahul Dravid’s team emerged as 1-0 victors in a three-Test series, having shed their previous reticence in a gripping tussle under Sourav Ganguly five years earlier.The more recent trips in 2011 and 2014 showed promise in the early exchanges, not least at Lord’s four years ago when Ishant Sharma pushed Cook to the brink of resignation by sealing a remarkable win. But by the end of both series, the captain MS Dhoni had the air of a man who no longer needed the hassle as India’s shortcomings against the moving ball pushed him into reverse.One thing you can be pretty sure of in 2018 – there will be no retreat under Kohli, a man on a mission to cement his own place as one of the sport’s all-time great cricketers. He has no material need to push himself any more than he already does, but like Tendulkar and Dravid before him, he recognises that Test cricket, even in its habitual state of flux, remains the format by which you book your place in the pantheon. If he can inspire a few of England’s own flatlining stars to match his resolve, we could yet be in for the classic that the format so desperately needs.Graphic: Adil Rashid will play his first Test for England since December 2016•ESPNcricinfo LtdForm guideEngland WLDLL
India WWLLDIn the spotlightJames Anderson v Virat Kohli is England v India in microcosm. Two giants of the game, drawn together once more to add another chapter to a storied rivalry. It would be grossly simplistic to say that the winner of this duel will decide the fate of this Test, and ultimately the series, but no two men are more fundamental to the fortunes of their teams.Kohli’s performance in England in 2014 – 134 runs in five Tests – remains a stain on his otherwise spotless world-class record, but his desire for retribution could not be more plain. Had it not been for an injury sustained at the IPL, he would have warmed up for this tour with a county stint with Surrey, but he’s had ample sighters in the course of India’s month-long build-up, including the limited-overs series, and no Indian captain since Ganguly has been more expressive in his desire for victory. His massive haul of 655 runs 109.16 on home soil paved the way for India’s 4-0 win in their last encounter with England in 2016-17.Anderson turned 36 on Monday, and while age is but a number, it’s still a pretty large one for a fast bowler who has been around the block for his 540 wickets over the course of a 15-year career. The economy of his run-up, allied to the magic in his wrist, means that there are no questions about his enduring quality – in many respects he is better now than ever before – but the challenge of five Tests in six weeks will require careful management, especially given his recent history of shoulder trouble. Anderson defied injury to rush himself back for the latter stages of that 2016-17 tour – to no great avail, he claimed four wickets at 53.5 in the last three Tests. But that willingness to put himself back in the frame showed how fiercely his fires still burn, as did his rather churlish end-of-series comments about Kohli’s record in England. The subtext was clear, but whether he’ll find his usual prodigious swing in the midst of England’s heatwave is another matter.Team newsAdil Rashid’s recall to the Test squad spawned a chapter of Yorkshire in-fighting not seen since Geoff Boycott was in his pomp – and Boycott himself hasn’t been shy on the subject either – but he will now be making his first Test appearance since December 2016. A grassy deck and a slight easing in the Saharan heat of this most atypical of English summers dissuaded England from fielding two spinners at Edgbaston for the first time since 1993, although Moeen Ali might have been considered ahead of Dawid Malan as a batsman. After playing his part in the series leveller against Pakistan, Sam Curran’s left-arm line complements the veteran pairing of James Anderson and Stuart Broad.England 1 Alastair Cook, 2 Keaton Jennings, 3 Joe Root (capt), 4 Dawid Malan, 5 Jonny Bairstow (wk), 6 Ben Stokes, 7 Jos Buttler, 8 Adil Rashid, 9 Sam Curran, 10 Stuart Broad, 11 James Anderson.Kuldeep Yadav’s potential inclusion persuaded England to recruit a trio of club left-armers to replicate his unusual angles in the nets this week. But with R Ashwin a shoo-in, Ravi Jadeja’s established qualities are the likelier second-spin option if India decide to stick to their strengths rather than lean on the extra seamer in Mohammad Shami. Shikhar Dhawan’s place at the top of the order is under pressure following his pair at Essex last week. KL Rahul is itching for an opening, and might well open alongside Murali Vijay.India 1 Shikhar Dhawan/KL Rahul, 2 Murali Vijay, 3 Cheteshwar Pujara, 4 Virat Kohli (capt), 5 Ajinkya Rahane, 6 Dinesh Karthik (wk), 7 R Ashwin, 8 Hardik Pandya, 9 Ravindra Jadeja/Mohammed Shami, 10 Ishant Sharma, 11 Umesh YadavPitch and conditionsIt has taken some diligent input from the Edgbaston groundstaff – and several million litres of water – to keep their wicket from turning to a dustbowl in the midst of an improbable English heatwave. And they have succeeded against the odds, but presumably in keeping with their brief from the ECB, in producing a wicket that looks markedly similar to those from the 2015 Ashes and 2016 Pakistan series. And seamers dominated in both of those games.Stats and Trivia After playing each of his first ten Tests overseas, Rashid is set to make his home Test debut, and play for the first time as a solitary spinner. Jos Buttler has been promoted to England’s vice-captain after just two matches of his Test comeback. He takes over from James Anderson, who in turn stepped up after Ben Stokes missed the Ashes. India’s last visit to Edgbaston was one that they’d rather forget. Alastair Cook’s highest Test score of 294 was more than the visitors made in either innings, as they slumped to defeat by an innings and 242 runs.Quotes”Looking at the surface, we’ve decided we only want to go with one spinner, and that’s going to be Adil. With the amount of right-handers in what we think is going to be India’s team, he gives us a very attacking option.” Joe Root explains the thinking as Rashid’s Test recall is confirmed.“You need professionalism more than feeling like an underdog or starting as a favourite. That is something we want to do as a team: we want to be consistent and professional.” Virat Kohli is focussed only on on-field matters