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The January transfer window has been discernibly slow across the park but West Ham United are picking up steam as David Moyes looks to combat a poor start to 2024.

Earlier this week, an exciting loan deal (with an option to buy) was struck with last season's treble-winning Manchester City for centre-midfielder Kalvin Phillips, while chatter has risen since regarding deals for wingers such as FC Nordsjaelland winger Ibrahim Osman and Portuguese ace Jota, seeking an exit from Al-Ittihad.

Phillips will instil composure in the midfield and can take control of matches through his tenacity and technical acumen, but Moyes appears to be targeting further arrivals and has shifted his attention to the German Bundesliga as he identifies the perfect player to come in and complete an exciting January transfer window for the club.

West Ham's January targets

Whether West Ham succeed in tying up a deal for a new winger remains to be seen at this stage but regardless of this endeavour, it would be wise to advance interest in Borussia Monchengladbach midfielder Florian Neuhaus, who could make the leap to England this month.

According to SPORT BILD, the German ace is seeking an exit from his side after becoming disillusioned under head coach Gerardo Seoane.

While there have been tenuous links across Europe, it's understood that there is concrete interest in the Premier League and the Hammers will rival Aston Villa for his services, with a loan move the most probable route this month.

Why West Ham want Florian Neuhaus

Once hailed as a "complete" midfielder who will be a "top-class player for many years to come" by talent scout Jacek Kulig, Neuhaus, aged 26, has served Gladbach well since signing from 1860 Munich back in 2017, making 190 appearances, scoring 25 goals and supplying 26 assists.

Proficient with his gliding movements and spatial awareness, Neuhaus likes to operate between the lines and scan the action as it unfurls before him, picking his moment and moving into free space to latch onto passes and drive into the final third.

This season, he has only started seven times in the Bundesliga but does boast three goals for his labours, also racking up two assists in the DFB Pokal, and would add a dimension to West Ham's side, opening up another offensive angle from the centre of the park.

As per FBref, Neuhaus ranks among the top 5% of midfielders across Europe's top five leagues over the past year for goals scored and shots taken, the top 19% for shot-creating actions, the top 12% for touches in the attacking box and the top 24% for progressive carries per 90.

Jarrod Bowen and Lucas Paqueta have both picked up injuries this month and the latter faces several months on the sidelines in what is a shattering blow for the Irons, and Neuhaus offers the skill set to succeed the Brazilian; on a loan move too, this could be the perfect route for Moyes to delve down.

£13m target now wants to join West Ham but it could be Scamacca 2.0

West Ham have had to wait until late in the window to perform any business.

ByMatt Dawson Jan 24, 2024

Having spent much time with the Foals, perhaps Neuhaus needs a change of scenery to rekindle his best football, and at West Ham, the £66k-per-week star could provide the skills to finish the campaign with a bang, especially given that he's been remarked to play like Barcelona sensation Frenkie de Jong.

How Florian Neuhaus compares to Frenkie de Jong

Neuhaus, it would seem, does need to make a move this month, and with the ten-cap international said by an official Bundesliga player profile to offer immense close control and high-class distribution much like De Jong, it might be a worthwhile venture for Moyes' side, with a defensive aggressivity to boot.

One of the great passers of his generation, De Jong ranks among the top 3% of midfielders for pass completion and the top 1% for passes attempted and progressive passes per 90, even heralded as a "generational genius" by writer Muhammad Butt.

Passing

Key passes

Through balls

Concentration

Aerial duels

Signing for Barcelona in a £65m deal from boyhood club Ajax back in 2019, the Dutchman indeed blends beguiling technique with crisp defensive work, winning 59% of his duels in La Liga this season and averaging 2.3 tackles per game.

The 26-year-old doesn't offer the same level of direct attacking ability as the 5 foot 11 Neuhaus, scoring only 16 times for La Blaugrana across 202 appearances, but is an elite operator in the centre of the park and is crucial to the build-up of many an attacking sequence.

De Jong has not played in the Premier League but was fiercely fought for by Manchester United back in 2022 and Barca and the Red Devils had even reached an agreement on a fee for €85m (£70m), though the move was scuppered due to complications with the players' salary and a reluctance to make the move to Old Trafford.

Nonetheless, he's one of the finest midfielders in the business and if West Ham were to secure the services of a player of similar style in Neuhaus – whose rise at Gladbach has been referenced as "incredible" by Gladbach sporting director Nils Schmadtke – Moyes could land the asset that ensures his United squad continue this remarkable chapter in the club's history.

With West Ham enjoying so much glittering success under Moyes' wing throughout the past several years, sealing a swoop for a player such as Neuhaus could be the perfect way to cement the strength of the midfield in a counterbalancing deal with Phillips.

Paqueta's not going to be returning to the grass any time soon and Neuhaus could be the enterprising player to spark success over the crucial next few months for the east London outfit, with continental qualification and silverware very much attainable.

Borussia Dortmund are closing in on the signing of Wolves striker Fabio Silva, with the forward set for a potential debut against Union Berlin.

Dortmund close to completing a move for SilvaPortuguese striker to undergo medical on ThursdayExpected to be in squad vs Union Berlin on SundayFollow GOAL on WhatsApp! 🟢📱WHAT HAPPENED?

According to , Dortmund have wrapped up a deal to sign Silva from Wolves for €22.5 million (£19m/$25m) plus €4m in add-ons, taking the total package close to €27m (£23m/$29m). The Portuguese striker has agreed personal terms and will undergo his medical on Thursday, with Dortmund pushing to have him available for their Bundesliga clash with Union Berlin on Sunday.

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Silva bid farewell to his Wolves team-mates after their Carabao Cup win over West Ham on Tuesday night, having not been included in the squad. Roma and AC Milan had also shown interest, but Dortmund moved quickly to close the transfer. The Black and Yellows have been busy strengthening their attack this summer, with Silva’s arrival coming after the additions of Chelsea pair Carney Chukwuemeka and Aaron Anselmino, Manchester City full-back Yan Couto and Jobe Bellingham from Sunderland.

TELL ME MORE…

The 23-year-old, who cost Wolves a record €40m (£34m/$44m) when he signed from Porto in 2020, has struggled to make an impact in England. However, he rebuilt his confidence during loan spells at Anderlecht, PSV, Rangers and, most recently, Las Palmas, where he scored 10 goals last season. Silva brings both potential and European experience to Dortmund. He has made 72 appearances for Wolves, scoring five goals and providing six assists, but has shown flashes of quality in his loan stints. The forward has also represented Portugal at youth level and made one senior appearance for the national team.

(C)Getty ImagesWHAT NEXT FOR DORTMUND AND SILVA?

Silva is due in Germany on Thursday to complete his medical and final paperwork. If all goes smoothly, he will be registered in time for Dortmund’s Bundesliga fixture against Union Berlin at the weekend.

Glasgow Rangers made their first signing of the winter window before it officially opened, announcing that they had signed Wolverhampton Wanderers forward Fabio Silva on a loan deal until the end of the season at the end of December.

It was a much-needed boost amid a lack of attacking options being available to Philippe Clement and with the January window now in full swing, he will be hoping to add another few players.

Much will depend on the budget he has at his disposal, of course, as former manager Michael Beale splashed the cash rather lavishly during the summer.

If the Belgian manager can move on a couple of players to free up the wage bill, there could be space for another two or three new arrivals and the squad could look a lot different to what it did at the start of the season.

With this in mind, here's a look at what Rangers’ dream starting lineup could be following the end of the January transfer window, if they sign some of their main targets.

Latest Rangers transfer news: Gers want PL teen; Saudi link to midfield ace

Who is Philippe Clement eyeing up in the transfer window ahead of his first full season at Ibrox?

ByRoss Kilvington Jul 9, 2024 1 Gijs Smal

Although strengthening his options in attack remains the main focus for Clement, the situation in the left-back area is changing day by day.

Recent updates suggest that Ridvan Yilmaz is set to depart the club this month – according to reports in Italy (via Rangers Review) a- nd this has heightened the need for some extra cover in this position.

Borna Barisic is also being linked with a move away from Ibrox, as Dinamo Zagreb could be set to offer the defender a pre-contract deal, while AS Roma and Aston Villa have previously declared their interest in the Croatian.

Clement won't want to lose both ahead of a busy schedule which indicates that he could make a swoop for FC Twente defender Gijs Smal, who is out of contract this summer.

That’s according to reports in the Netherlands (via the Scottish Sun) who claim that the Gers are monitoring Smal ahead of making a potential move for him this month.

The 26-year-old has only played eight times in the Eredivisie this term, yet he currently ranks fifth among the squad for key passes per game (1.5) and sixth for successful dribbles per game (0.6), which indicates that when he has featured, the Dutchman is a positive influence.

Clement could potentially secure him for a knockdown fee this month or wait and pay nothing in the summer, but with the way it is going, he may wish to bring him in sooner rather than later.

2 Million Manhoef

Moving on from the left-back conundrum, the Gers also require another addition out wide and Million Manhoef could be an ideal candidate.

Interest was first shown by the club last month, according to the Scottish Sun, with a fee of £2.5m looking like it would be enough to secure his services this month.

A new update from TEAMtalk has suggested that the Gers could strike a deal in the coming weeks as Vitesse Arnhem – Manhoef’s team – are struggling financially, thus suggesting that they could let him depart in January.

The 22-year-old has scored four goals in 15 league matches for Vitesse – contributing to 33% of his team's total goals in the top flight this season – and he could thrive under Clement at Rangers.

Rangers Journal founder Kai Watson lauded him during his analysis of the winger via X, saying: “The main things that stand out about him are his electrifying pace and confidence on the ball.

“He’s a threat running in behind and also carrying the ball. Much like what Abdallah Sima has provided this season.”

This type of player is exactly what Clement needs to add to his options and while he may have offers from elsewhere, the chance to develop in Scotland and play European football on a consistent basis could be key to securing any sort of deal.

3 Michy Batshuayi

The Light Blues have been linked with a variety of players already since the window has been open, but Batshuayi is perhaps the most surprising, especially with his stature in the game.

According to the Scottish Sun, the Gers have reportedly shown interest in the Belgian forward following news that he looked set to depart Turkish side Fenerbahçe this month.

Cyriel Dessers has scored just nine goals in 30 matches so far during his stint in Scotland and these are hardly the numbers which will power the club to a 56th league title.

Not only that, but the Nigerian forward also lacks composure in the final third, evidenced by the fact that he has missed 11 big chances so far in the league this term, the most by any Rangers player.

Danilo is due to miss the next three months with a knee injury, while Kemar Roofe has only been used sporadically during 2023/24 due to suffering more knocks and niggles, and it could be the end of the road for the 31-year-old.

Clement simply cannot rely on a player who fails to complete 90 minutes on a regular basis and this means a swoop for Batshuayi could be vital.

The former Chelsea gem has not played that often for Fenerbahçe this term, managing just 911 minutes, yet he has found the back of the net on nine occasions, the same number as Dessers.

Not only does the 30-year-old boast a goal ratio of one in every 2.6 club career matches, but the striker has scored 27 goals in just 53 matches for Belgium, including three goals in major tournaments, showcasing his class.

There is no doubt that he would be a fantastic signing and the only stumbling block could be what sort of wages he will be expecting.

If he manages to showcase his true ability in front of goal should a shock move to Rangers occur, Clement could be onto a winner.

The next few weeks could be interesting indeed and if the manager somehow manages to bring another few signings into the club, it could be the boost that they require.

Dream Rangers starting XI after January – GK – Butland; RB – Tavernier, CB – Goldson, CB – Balogun, – LB – Smal; CM – Lundstram, CM – Raskin; RW – Manhoef, AM – Cantwell, LW – Sima; ST – Batshuayi

A Special Investigation Team has been instituted within Karnataka Police’s Central Crime Branch to probe the allegations of match- and spot-fixing in the tournament

ESPNcricinfo staff22-Nov-2019The 2020 edition of the Karnataka Premier League (KPL), including its player auctions, will not be held until the police completes its investigation of alleged match- and spot-fixing.”We will definitely not conduct the KPL tournament matches till the investigation is completed and the final report from the police comes out,” Vinay Mruthyunjaya, the Karnataka State Cricket Association (KSCA) treasurer, told IANS.”The entire activity regarding the KPL will only start after the investigation is completed,” Mruthyunjaya said. “The next edition of the tournament is around nine months away and hopefully, the investigation should be completed by then.”ALSO READ: KPL – Karnataka cricket’s problem child?Karnataka Police’s Central Crime Branch (CCB) has, meanwhile, set up a Special Investigation Team to investigate the case, in which former Karnataka Ranji players CM Gautam and Abrar Kazi were arrested on November 7. The police are also looking at the possibility of the players being honeytrapped into breaking the law.”Today there are many non-playing cricketers involved [other] than those playing on the field, and it has become a business for them as they travel to Dubai, West Indies and other foreign countries and stay at five-star hotels,” Bhaskar Rao, the Bengaluru Police commissioner, said. “They have also indulged in blackmailing of players through honeytraps. The game has become insignificant and the activities of these betters have only increased.”The Bengaluru Police has also served a notice to the KSCA, seeking extensive information on the various aspects of day-to-day running of the league and the background of players participating in it.ALSO READ: CM Gautam, Abrar Kazi arrested on spot-fixing charges”The police asked for a lot of information pertaining to KPL tournament, teams, scorecards, video footage of all the matches, details of all the players, phone numbers,” Mruthyunjaya said. “We will check up, we did not have any formidable information in this regard. Let me discuss with our officers also.”According to Mruthyunjaya, the KSCA is not privy to the recruitment procedure of cheerleaders, who are suspected to be involved in honey-trapping some of the players.”We would not know; [the] police would be knowing. KSCA never employs cheer girls, the teams employ them,” Mruthyunjaya said.The 2019 edition of the KPL, the first state-run adaptation of the IPL format that began in 2009, was held from August 16-31. The tournament is hosted in the second half of the year, and typically lasts just over two weeks, but has been pushed to three weeks on occasion.

Crystal Palace chairman Steve Parish has insisted that the club are still hopeful of securing Conor Gallagher on a permanent deal this summer, following his impressive loan stint at Selhurst Park.

What’s the word?

Speaking about the midfielder’s long-term plans, Parish revealed that the Eagles are keen to keep the 22-year-old – who recently claimed the club’s player of the year award – beyond the end of the season, despite the suggestion that he will return to parent club Chelsea next term.

Commenting on the three-cap international’s future, the 56-year-old stated that (quotes via The Athletic): “Conor’s future and that decision lies not with us but with him and Chelsea. They’re the people that have to decide. Once they decide what their choice is, they know where we are and what we want. We’re not going to pretend any different but we’ve got to respect them as a football club because he’s their player.

“At the end of the season he goes back to Chelsea and they’ll make their decision. Based on that, we’ll be there and if everybody thinks it’s the right thing for him to come back then we would love it. If it doesn’t work out, we wish him all the best as well”.

He then went on to add that: “Obviously with Conor, we’ve got to see what we can do there. He’s going back and we’ve got to either replace him or see if we can get him back.”

Vieira will be buzzing

Although it remains to be seen whether Thomas Tuchel will wish to include the £22.5m-rated man in his first-team plans at Stamford Bridge next term, it would seem there is hope renewed that the youngster could still be plying his trade in south, rather than west, London, next term.

In truth, it has been a truly standout campaign for the Blues academy graduate this term – having previously spent the second half of last season on loan at West Bromwich Albion – with the midfield starlet providing eight goals and three assists thus far.

Part of a youthful and exciting outfit under Patrick Vieira, Gallagher has thrived as an all-action presence in the centre of the park, showcasing his ability both in and out of possession.

Dubbed like “N’golo Kante with goals” by talkSPORT pundit Tony Cascarino, the £17k-per-week gem seemingly has a boundless energy to impact the game at both ends of the pitch, averaging 2.1 tackles and 0.8 interceptions per game in the top-flight this season.

He also ranks in the top 6% for pressures made among midfielders in Europe’s top five leagues, as well as in the top 7 % for touches in the attacking penalty area and in the top 9% for dribbles completed, with there a plethora of strings to his bow it would seem.

With a top-half finish still within reach this term, Vieira’s men will be hoping to go one better next season and mount an attack on the top-six, with having Gallagher in tow likely to make that dream easier to realise.

IN other news, “Agreement close…”: Ornstein drops huge CPFC update that supporters will love

With only one Test series win in New Zealand this century, captain wants his side to bat longer

George Dobell in Whangarei14-Nov-2019Joe Root has called on England to “be prepared to play some attritional cricket” if they are to enjoy success in New Zealand.Root, England’s Test captain, feels his side must attempt to bat longer and be both more patient and more relentless if they are to enjoy regular success overseas.So while he accepts England may have become used to playing Test cricket “in fast forward” at home, where the balls and the surfaces have combined to produce some dramatic matches, he has urged his team not to “fall into the trap” of thinking that method can bring them success elsewhere. England have won only one Test series in New Zealand this century; that came in 2008.”We have to be prepared to play some attritional cricket at times,” Root said ahead of England’s final warm-up match before the Test series. “We have to try to bat longer. It doesn’t matter how long it takes to get a good score on any given wicket. Time has never really been an issue in Test cricket, especially in the modern game where things naturally move quicker than they have in the past. It would be nice to get used to batting for 120 overs more regularly, especially in the first innings.”And it doesn’t just apply to our batting. It’s with the ball as well. We have to be prepared to go at two an over and build pressure in different ways.”You can fall into the trap when playing in English conditions, as they’ve been in the last couple of years, and get used to Test cricket being played in fast forward.”But it’s not like that everywhere you go. So we’ve got to be prepared to adapt. And if that means doing things slightly differently – whether it’s controlling the rate with the ball, or being prepared to score at two an over for 150 overs, if that’s what it takes to make 400 – then we’ve got to be prepared to do that.”This feels like a significant departure. On the eve of England’s most recent overseas Test series – the defeat against West Indies – Root stated “you don’t win games by batting long periods of time” and as recently as August, England were fielding Jason Roy as one of their opening batsmen.But England’s selection – particularly the selection of a specialist opener, Dom Sibley, instead of Roy at the top of the order – would appear to match the message. And Root was delighted with both Sibley and Zak Crawley’s contribution in the first warm-up game, with both men building an innings cautiously before going on to score centuries.”For two young lads to come in and set the tone for the tour was really pleasing,” Root said. “We set our stall out exactly how we want to template our Test cricket. That first session was obviously going to be the most challenging one for us and I think we only scored at two an over.”But we were only one down at lunch and, as the game progressed, we knew had guys capable of upping the ante if we need to. I thought the template and the tempo of how we went about it was much more how I want to see us play in future.”England captain Joe Root watches play alongside batting coach Graham Thorpe during the tour match between New Zealand XI and England in Whangarei•Getty ImagesThe tempo isn’t the only change, either. Having originally thrust Ollie Pope into Test cricket at No. 4, he will now have an extended opportunity to settle at No. 6. It is where Root started his own Test career and will provide Pope with the best chance to adapt to the demands of Test cricket. In his first spell in the side, he found himself batting earlier in the innings than he had ever experienced when playing for Surrey.”No. 6 is a great place to bat,” Root said. “You’re always trying to find ways of getting guys in positions in which they will be comfortable. Hopefully he takes the chance. We all know what a good player he is; it’s just a question of doing it on the international stage.”None of this means England are suddenly about to start playing dull cricket. With a middle order (No. 4 to No. 7) of Root, Ben Stokes, Pope and Jos Buttler they have the potential to accelerate as bowlers tire, the ball softens and the early life of the pitch fades.But it does mean the top order will be put under less pressure to push on than may have been the case in the past. And that, in turn, means Sibley, who has an unashamedly old-fashioned attitude to batting, can settle into Test cricket without feeling he needs to change his game.”It was really pleasing to see Sibley and Crawley not waver from how they would go about things in their normal county environment,” Root said. “It’s what you always want but you don’t always see it. It was a really good start from those two lads.”How great the influence of Chris Silverwood, the new head coach, on all this is hard to gauge. It may well be that Root has learned from previous experiences and concluded that earlier attempts to take the attack to bowling attacks is simply a bit naïve at Test level. Either way, it appears the pair are, as Root puts it, “on the same page”.”Chris has been around the group for two years so we’ve had a really strong relationship anyway,” Root said. “We’re very much on the same page about how we take this team forward.”Might it also be relevant that the influence of the other selectors would appear to have diminished a little? Again, it’s hard to be certain. But it is worth noting that the team for the final tour match here – which is expected to mirror the team selected for the first Test – has been selected while neither James Taylor or Ed Smith are in New Zealand. This new captain-coach axis knows what it wants and appears less tolerant towards interference than its predecessor. Even before a ball of the series has been bowled, it feels like progress.

Manchester United boss Ruben Amorim has explained why he left Benjamin Sesko on the bench for the third consecutive Premier League game of the season. While Sesko did not start in the 3-2 win over Burnley, the club's first victory of the domestic season, he was introduced in the final 20 minutes as a substitute.

Amorim explained decision to bench SeskoStarted on the bench against Burnley againMan Utd beat Burnley 3-2Follow GOAL on WhatsApp! 🟢📱WHAT HAPPENED?

When United completed the signing of Sesko from RB Leizig for a whopping €75 million (£65m/$85.5m) earlier in the transfer window, many fans would have expected him to play a key role after his acquisition. However, manager Ruben Amorim is yet to deploy the Slovenian forward in his starting lineup in the Premier League.

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Sesko, who played full the full 120 minutes in their Carabao Cup loss to Grimsby Town earlier this week, and took their 10th penalty of a mammoth shootout in what many would deem an abdication of responsibility, was once again benched in their 3-2 win over Burnley, as he missed out on a start for the third consecutive league match. 

WHAT AMORIM SAID

Explaining his decision to keep Sesko on the bench from the start in the league, Amorim said: "But generally I think it's connected. So he finished the game with cramps, really in the limit. That's why we protected Ben from the penalties. And today was that reason also, because Sesko is also a striker, he's an international striker. But I was thinking that Ben, during the pre-season, he didn't do 90 minutes. And he did that, even against a 4 division team, he did that on Wednesday. 

"And with the problem of Cunha, you don't know if that full game in the middle of the week has something to do with the injury today. With the problem with Mason Mount, I was not risking another player, not knowing if they are able to play so many minutes. So everything was connected. The penalty, the game on Wednesday, and the number of minutes that I was thinking to put Ben today."

Getty Images SportWHAT NEXT FOR MANCHESTER UNITED?

The Red Devils will return to action after the international break as they face rivals Manchester City at Ethad Stadium on September 14.

Viktor Gyokeres has admitted that he hit back at trolls by touching his hair as he celebrated his first Arsenal goal against Leeds on Saturday.

Gunners beat Leeds 5-0Gyokeres scored twiceHit back at trolls Follow GOAL on WhatsApp! 🟢📱WHAT HAPPENED?

Gyokeres scored twice against Leeds and appeared to hit back at trolls with his celebration. The Gunners striker ran to the camera after scoring his second, a penalty, and after performing his trademark mask celebration, he cut it short to touch his hair. That appeared to be a message to trolls who claimed he had more touches of his hair than the ball in his debut against Manchester United. 

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Gyokeres struggled in his first game for the Gunners, but he is now off the mark for Mikel Arteta's side, and at a perfect time; the club face Liverpool next weekend, but they may have to do so without both Bukayo Saka and Martin Odegaard, after they both sustained injuries that led to substitutions against Leeds.

WHAT GYOKERES SAID

Speaking after the game, Gyokeres said: "There's always pressure. I know I'll take my chances sooner or later. Today I took two and we won 5-0."

Asked about whether his celebration was a pointed message to his supporters, he replied: "Might be, yeah!"

Getty ImagesWHAT NEXT?

Arsenal face Liverpool next Sunday before a clash with Nottingham Forest.

Wolves came from 2-0 down to secure a dramatic 2-2 draw against Chelsea at Stamford Bridge in the Premier League this afternoon.

A quickfire brace in the second half from Romelu Lukaku gave the Blues a comfortable lead before Francisco Trincao halved the deficit with 11 minutes to go.

Bruno Lage’s men nicked an unlikely point through captain Conor Coady in the 97th minute to prevent a fourth consecutive defeat and prolong Chelsea’s woes at home.

The point keeps Wolves in the hunt for an unlikely European place, with the West Midlands outfit two points off seventh with three games to go.

Moreover, Lage may now have to hand more opportunities to 22-year-old January signing Chiquinho, who came off of the bench to make a stellar impact today.

Chiquinho saved the day for Wolves

The Portuguese winger played just 19 minutes against Chelsea but set up both of his side’s goals in just his seventh appearance for the Wolves first team.

Along with his assists, Chiquinho – who was previously labelled a “ridiculous talent” by The Athletic’s Tim Spiers – completed six out of seven passes at an 86% accuracy rate and completed three out of four dribbles (75% accuracy) whilst winning 71% of his duels.

While there was little defensive contribution with just one tackle, Lage would’ve brought the youngster on to make an impact in the final third, and the 22-year-old certainly did that.

Given the fact that Wolves hadn’t scored in any of their previous three matches, the Portuguese youngster’s impact was particularly impressive, with the West Midlands side seemingly headed for another defeat before he made his mark.

Having joined in January from Portuguese outfit Estoril for a minimal fee, it seemed as though it would take time for the winger to be integrated into Wolves’ plans.

However, with three under-23 appearances and now seven first-team matches, it appears as though Chiquinho is very much in the Wolves manager’s plans and could prove to be a serious bargain.

Regardless of what is in store for the winger in an Old Gold shirt in the future, he saved the day today against Chelsea.

AND in other news: Lage can finally axe “rubbish” Wolves liability by unleashing the “next Phil Foden”

Chris Jordan struck 12 off three balls and the closed out the Super Over after England and New Zealand had tied again

The Report by Alan Gardner10-Nov-2019
Super Over It came down to a Super Over. Of course it did. For the second time in a matter of months, New Zealand were cruelly denied at the last by England. It wasn’t quite the high drama of the World Cup final – in fact at times it was more like low farce – but once again Eoin Morgan’s men prevailed following a tie in normal time, claiming the T20I series 3-2 after holding off the home side in a rip-roaring finale.This was a fitting way to decide a series between two teams who just cannot shake one another, although the white-ball players might be happy not to cross paths again for a while. Just as it seemed New Zealand had held their nerve in the final over of a rain-shortened game, from which England needed 16, Chris Jordan popped up to hit his first ball for six and then Jimmy Neesham’s final delivery for four to tie the scores. Neesham was not alone in offering up a rueful smile as the teams prepared for another tie-breaker.It was Jordan, best mate of England’s World Cup Super Over hero, Jofra Archer, who then sealed a slightly more comfortable margin of victory. Defending 17, and having given up a wide from his second ball, Jordan limited New Zealand to a single boundary as Martin Guptill, who led the way earlier in the day with a blistering fifty, was again left out on the middle on the wrong side of the result.Set 147 to win the decider after rumbustious contributions from Guptill, Colin Munro and Tim Seifert, England gave it a hearty crack. But as wickets fell they were left needing 26 from the last two overs, and New Zealand always appeared to be just out of reach. Sam Billings ramped four but Tim Southee limited the damage from the rest of his over; Neesham then stepped up to restrict England to three from his first three balls, as well as taking the wicket of Tom Curran.James Neesham and Sam Billings react as the games goes into a Super Over•Getty ImagesBut Jordan just managed to clear deep point with his first blow, picked up two from the next ball and then flicked a Neesham full toss for four more to leave the teams dead level again. Jonny Bairstow, who fired England’s chase with 47 from 18 balls, and Morgan both struck sixes in the Super Over and this time the result was all but certain by Jordan’s final delivery.England’s requirement was already a demanding one – albeit at the venue for the highest successful chase in T20Is – but losing two wickets in the first seven balls undermined them further still. Tom Banton chipped Trent Boult over long-on but fell lbw next ball, despite confusion surrounding his review as the initial ball-tracking projection seemed to have been produced from the wrong delivery.The returning James Vince was unable to match the impression made by Dawid Malan at No. 3 in the previous T20I – Malan was omitted according to pre-series planning despite his hundred in Napier – as he spooned his second delivery to mid-off, and although Morgan hit Boult for two sixes and a four, his dismissal in the same over via a lofted shot that failed to get beyond the infield saw England fall to 39 for 3 after the Powerplay.As befitted the recent contests between these two sides, England kept coming, however. Bairstow cleared the ropes five times in a belligerent knock and while he and Sam Curran were together at the crease, England were in with a sniff, only for both to be dismissed in the space of consecutive balls.Sam Curran, promoted up the order to No. 5, took Scott Kuggeleijn for two fours and two sixes in four balls as he raced ahead of his partner. Bairstow then struck the first three balls of Ish Sodhi’s only over beyond the ropes between long-off and long-on as England soared to 90 for 3 at just past the halfway mark, needing 57 from 30.It was Neesham, one the main protagonists from that World Cup final, who got the better of Bairstow, inducing a thin edge behind (and an audible expletive from the England opener). Sam Curran was then lured from his crease by Mitchell Santner, with Seifert completing a crucial stumping by millimetres to lift New Zealand, only for Billings and Tom Curran to keep England in touch.With its short straight boundaries, Eden Park is something of a paradise for white-ball power hitters – and a game reduced to 11 overs a side meant no margin of error for the bowlers. Guptill and Munro were into their work immediately, carving and bludgeoning their way to 55 without loss from the three-over Powerplay.England pose with the T20I trophy•Getty ImagesGuptill was the more ruthless, clearing the ropes five times on his way to a 19-ball half-century – his first in international cricket since the opening game of the World Cup, back in June. He set the tone by smearing his second ball over the leg side, as Sam Curran’s opening over cost 17, before twice crashing Tom Curran into the crowd as the next went for 20. Jordan and Adil Rashid were both dispatched into the top tier as New Zealand delivered some payback for the pasting they received on Friday in Napier.With Munro hitting two sixes in his first four balls on the way to 46 off 21, England were scrambling. Only when Rashid and Saqib Mahmood delivered back-to-back single-figure overs did they threaten to pull the scoring rate back, but Seifert’s aggression kept New Zealand in the contention for a total around 150.Rashid broke the opening stand at the start of the sixth over, Guptill miscuing a leg-side heave to pick out the man on the rope. Mahmood then forced a similar error from Colin de Grandhomme. At the end of the seventh over, New Zealand were 95 for 2 but Seifert crunched his third and fifth balls for leg-side sixes to reignite the charge. The final stretch yielded another 51 runs, as England’s attempts to make the batsmen hit square met with only sporadic success. Sam Curran started his second over well, having Munro caught at deep midwicket and following up with two dots – only for Seifert to rattle off 6-6-4 in response.Seifert’s fun was ended by a searing Tom Curran yorker, one ball after another punishing straight hit for six, and Ross Taylor was run out going for a second off the final ball of the innings. It was a challenging target but, once again, England and New Zealand were to prove (almost) inseparable.