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Chelsea are now ready to secure the services of the Villarreal striker Nicolas Jackson this summer with personal terms already agreed.

How much is Nicolas Jackson worth?

It was a season to forget for the Blues as they were forced to settle for a 12th placed finish in the Premier League as they saw two managers come and go.

Indeed, Thomas Tuchel and Graham Potter saw the wrath of the Chelsea owner Todd Boehly who sacked both managers over the course of the 2022/23 campaign.

Looking ahead to the new campaign, former Tottenham Hotspur boss Mauricio Pochettino has been handed the reins in west London to try and turn around their fortunes.

One of their biggest issues in the 2022/23 season was their ability to find the back of the net with only five other clubs scoring fewer than their return of 38 goals.

But it seems as if Boehly is looking to provide Pochettino with a player to solve those issues in Jackson.

Speaking on his YouTube channel, Fabrizio Romano has claimed the Blues are now ready to pay the 21-year-old's £29.8m release clause:

"And now what's going on guys, we can say that Chelsea have, of course, full agreement with the player. He wants impsed to join Chelsea, this something guaranteed and from what I'm told it's going to be a very long contract. So not a regular five-year deal. But more than this, so long, very long term contract is ready.

"But also important to say that, from what I understand, Chelsea are prepared to trigger and activate the release clause of Nicolas Jackson."

How many goals has Nicolas Jackson scored?

The Senegalese striker enjoyed a profitable campaign in La Liga over the course of the 2022/23 term which saw him return 12 goals and four assists in his 26 appearances (via Transfermarkt).

Jackson endured a hip issue during the middle of the campaign which saw the 21-year-old miss a number of games in La Liga.

However, upon his return, the striker showed some stunning form which has earned him the attention of the likes of Chelsea.

Over his final eight games in the Spanish top flight, Jackson provided a stunning return of nine goals and two assists including a goal on the final day against Atletico Madrid.

However, whether he will be able to convert that form into the Premier League is another matter.

Chelsea have been linked with a sensational summer swoop for the mightily impressive Victor Osimhen who has proven himself in Serie A by netting 26 league goals alone (via Transfermarkt).

Considering Chelsea have also allowed Joao Felix to return to Aleti following the conclusion of his loan deal, it will be intriguing to see whether Boehly looks to provide Pochettino with more firepower throughout the summer.

The USMNT striker has opted to stay in Ligue 1, giving him continuity and comfort, but is that a good thing for him ahead of the Copa America?

Folarin Balogun has finally got his move away from Arsenal. It took nearly the whole summer, but we always knew it was a matter of where and when, not if. After his breakout on loan with Reims last season, someone bigger would come knocking, and we have waited until the final days of the window to find out who that someone would be.

In the end, it was Monaco, who have completed a deal to keep the U.S. men's national team star in Ligue 1, the league he dominated last season despite playing for its 11th-best team. In moving to Monaco, he's certainly moved up the ladder, although he hasn't taken the leap into the unknown it felt like he would at different points this summer.

That, of course, comes with positives and negatives. On the plus side, the task in front of Balogun will be a somewhat familiar one, as a bigger Ligue 1 club will now ask him to simply continue his goalscoring form from last season. On the negative side, though, is the thought that Balogun could have potentially found himself at a new challenge in a new league, one he hasn't already lit up for 20-plus goals so early in his career.

Either way, this move kind of feels like the move before the move, a gradual step up the ladder that allows him to make an even bigger one if he proves last season wasn't a one-off. He'll face some new challenges at Monaco as he looks to break into a significantly better team, but Balogun's new situation seems set up for him to show what made him a rising star in his old one.

GettySummer of rumors

Midway through last season, it became clear that Balogun was going to be a wanted man. With 21 top-flight goals to his name before his 22nd birthday, clubs all over the world took notice. His parent club, Arsenal, was among them, as rumors frequently swirled about his future at the club. Could he unseat Eddie Nketiah as the club's homegrown back-up, or would his future lie away from the Emirates?

In the end, the answer was the latter, and Arsenal were paid a pretty penny for it. The Gunners will collect a massive €40 million (£34m/$43m) fee for the young striker, a significant chunk of money for an academy player who made just 10 first-team appearances for the club.

All summer, though, it was unclear which club would win the sweepstakes. Would be Inter or AC Milan? Could it be RB Leipzig? Chelsea, Tottenham and Fulham were among the Premier League teams linked; could the allure of staying in England be too much for other clubs to compete with?

Monaco, though, eventually won out. By signing with Les Rouge et Blanc, Balogun takes a step up the ladder, although it isn't the massive leap many thought he could take.

AdvertisementGettySituation at Monaco

Balogun may have dominated Ligue 1 last season, but he won't just walk into the Monaco XI. The club has a solid group of forwards, headlined by French star Wissam Ben Yedder, the club's talismanic striker.

Ben Yedder, who joined the club in 2019, has 102 goals in 170 games for Monaco, including four in three games to start the Ligue 1 season. It has to be said, though, that the forward is facing potential legal trouble after reportedly being charged with rape, sexual assault and attempted rape. Ben Yedder has denied the allegations and has continued to play.

Aside from Ben Yedder, who is 33, Monaco has young Dutch forward Myron Boadu, who, like Balogun, is just 22. Thus far, he's scored just nine goals in 58 appearances in all competitions, though. You can also add Swiss star Breel Embolo to the mix, but he's set to be out for some time after injuring his ACL in pre-season.

There is competition, for sure, but Monaco didn't spend all of that money on Balogun for no reason. The striker is the club's joint-most expensive signing, after all, alongside James Rodriguez. They didn't sign a bench-warmer, they signed a goalscorer, and that's what they'll expect of him this season.

GettyWhat to expect from Balogun

The most exciting part of this move is that, in theory, it should be seamless. Balogun knows exactly what to expect in Ligue 1 and, having taken a step up in size of club, he'll have better team-mates around him than he ever did at Reims.

He scored one of his goals last season against Monaco, an 87th-minute game-winner back in March, so they'll be plenty familiar with his game. He also scored against fellow powerhouses Paris Saint-Germain and Marseille last season, as even the heavy-hitters weren't immune to Balogun.

Because of that, the transition will be much easier than if he, say, moved to Milan or Leipzig. He knows the league, the stadiums, the defenders… the only thing left to do is simply prove that he can do what he did last season all over again.

Unfortunately, unlike the Milan clubs or Leipzig, Monaco do not offer the prospect of European soccer. There's no Champions League, no Europa League and no Conference League to look forward to. Balogun's big challenge is to get Monaco back to that level after they stumbled in 2022-23.

Can he be a Golden Boot contender in Ligue 1? Why not? He was one last year and, with players like Takumi Minamino and Aleksandr Golovin feeding him, there's no reason to believe he can't be in the mix again this season.

Those are the expectations he laid out for himself with his form last season and, by returning to Ligue 1, Balogun has acknowledged, whether consciously or subconsciously, that he believes that was only the beginning.

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GettyThe USMNT angle

The USMNT's forwards have been snake bitten for the last several years; that's one of the big reasons there's so much hype around Balogun. For the first time in so, so long, the U.S. seemingly has a forward that is of the level, or perhaps better, than his team-mates in this rising generation.

Too often the U.S. has seen strikers have their confidence sapped by poor transfers. Ricardo Pepi's transfer to Augsburg effectively cost him a World Cup spot and it took a loan spell at Groningen for him to find his touch again. Josh Sargent's move to Werder Bremen was a disaster and his first few years at Norwich City weren't much better, even if he is thriving now. Daryl Dike has been cruelly plagued by the injury bug since moving to England, while Jordan Pefok cooled off a bunch after a hot start at Union Berlin.

Because of that, the USMNT should be just fine with this decision by Balogun. For strikers, the most important factors in any move are playing time and confidence, and Balogun should be able to find plenty at Monaco.

A move to a different league or club would have come with unknowns. How would he adjust, on and off the field? How would he fit in the league stylistically? Could he replicate his 2022-23 season? The move to Monaco, though, should remove those doubts. It's a new club in a familiar setting, and that gives Balogun the chance to keep on rolling.

For the USMNT, that is paramount. They can't afford another striker to be crushed by a crisis of confidence. With the Copa America looming, and Balogun still needing good minutes on the international level to adjust to the program, it's key that he comes into every camp happy, healthy and ready to score goals.

Because of that, it's probably for the best that he didn't take some crazy risk. The U.S. will be just fine seeing Balogun light up the French league for another few years, as long as he's able to carry that sort of form right back with him to the international stage.

The Gunners have missed key players all season but have ended a four-year trophy drought and will reach the UWCL final if they win on Monday

When Arsenal visited two-time European champions Wolfsburg in the first leg of their Women's Champions League semi-final last weekend, they did so without Beth Mead, Vivianne Miedema, Leah Williamson, Kim Little, Caitlin Foord and Lina Hurtig.

Due to registration restrictions, the Gunners' bench featured only two senior outfield players, sat alongside two goalkeepers and four academy products – the latter group boasting just 61 minutes of senior competitive experience between them.

And, to make the situation even more complicated, Arsenal were 2-0 down inside 24 minutes.

But this is a team that has been defying the odds all season. They spent the first half of the campaign without their first-choice centre-back duo, Williamson and Rafaelle, but still managed to top a Champions League group that contained the eight-time European champions, Lyon.

The Gunners have been without Mead, the 2022 Ballon d'Or runner-up, and Miedema, the Women's Super League's all-time top scorer, since before Christmas. Yet, they would lift their first major trophy in four years in March, beating Chelsea 3-1 in the Continental Cup final despite conceding within the first 98 seconds.

So, when they went 2-0 down in Germany, they didn't fret. Instead, they picked themselves up, dusted themselves off and pulled the game back to secure a 2-2 result.

On Monday, they welcome Wolfsburg to the Emirates Stadium knowing that a win would take them into the Women's Champions League final for the first time since 2007.

With all the setbacks they've had, just how on earth do they keep doing it?

Getty ImagesRebuilding the attack

One of the biggest tasks Arsenal have faced has been rebuilding their attack.

To lose Mead to an ACL injury in November was a huge blow, especially with the England forward at the peak of her powers. But to see Miedema suffer the same fate just a month later? Devastating. The two most crucial pieces to the Gunners' attack were suddenly out for the season.

A frantic January transfer window saw the club fail in a world-record bid to bring in Manchester United striker Alessia Russo on deadline day – a move that was just never going to happen – but they did make an excellent signing in Victoria Pelova.

With injuries to wingers Foord and Hurtig, Pelova has had to become an integral part of a new-look forward line very quickly and has done so extremely well, with her the best player on the pitch in the draw at Wolfsburg.

Katie McCabe, a versatile option who can play at left-back or on either wing, has had to perform a new role, while Stina Blackstenius has carried the brunt of the goal-scoring burden through the middle. The Swede has had her critics, but her movement is excellent and her work rate cannot be faulted. Both of those strengths allowed her to tap in the crucial equaliser last week.

With two teenage talents and NXGN 2022 finalists, Kathrine Kuhl and Gio, also rotating into that front three, it is a much different attack to the one Arsenal started the season with and, at times, that has showed.

But the fact that the Gunners have scored 35 goals in their 16 games since Christmas is a testament to the way the team has adapted to such change.

AdvertisementGettyStepping up at the back

It's not just been the attack that has had to adapt. Arsenal have been hit by injuries to the back line all season long.

Williamson and Rafaelle, the first-choice centre-back pairing at the start of the season, both missed several months each before Christmas. Left-back Steph Catley has been out for a spell recently, too, meaning McCabe has had to switch between attack and defence.

Then, just days before the semi-final first leg in Wolfsburg, Williamson ruptured her ACL. It was an absolute hammer blow for the club, who had announced the end of captain and star midfielder Kim Little's season earlier that week.

These absences have required others to step up. Jen Beattie, for example, started only her fourth game of the season in Germany, but was immense after an early error.

Arsenal have often changed to a three-at-the-back set up, too, to deal with these injuries. It's not been easy to do. After all, it's a very different system to what Jonas Eidevall's team usually plays and it requires each player to assume a different role that they are not used to.

But with injuries forcing the formation to be more common, the players have started to overcome some of the early challenges – and when they've struggled, like in the first half of that first leg with Wolfsburg, they've shown the character to bounce back.

GettyUsing all their experience

The injuries Arsenal have suffered have been to players with massive amounts of experience, too – the players you'd love to be able to look to during a huge game.

Mead won the 2022 Euros at a sold-out Wembley Stadium last summer, as did Williamson. Miedema has also won a home Euros, in 2017, and played in a World Cup final. Rafaelle, meanwhile, captained Brazil to the Copa America title last year.

Having won 21 trophies in four different countries, captain Little epitomises calmness and composure in the biggest moment. Hurtig has played in an Olympic final. Between them, Catley and Foord have come out on top in seven Championship games in Australia.

It has forced the Gunners that have remained to draw on every bit of experience they have, and for new leaders to step up. That is where the qualities of someone like McCabe, the captain of Ireland, or midfielder Lia Walti, the Switzerland skipper, have really come in handy.

Eidevall has even said that he has introduced Beattie, 143 times a Scotland international before her retirement in 2022, specifically for her experience at times.

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(C)Getty ImagesPushing to the limit

But one of the most damning things about Arsenal's injury crisis has been a simple lack of numbers.

That hasn't been helped by the inability to register all of their players for the Champions League. Only three new players could be added to the squad ahead of the knockout rounds, meaning teenager Gio and the experienced Jodie Taylor, signed in March until the end of the season, missed out.

It has demanded more and more of players right at the end of an exhausting season, but they haven't shied away from that.

Even in the defeat to Manchester United earlier this month, having lost Williamson to that massive injury only 11 minutes in, the players absolutely ran themselves into the ground to try and get the result.

"They did everything I could ask them to do in a really, really tough game," Eidevall said after that match. "They stuck together, they stayed positive, they tried to find solutions, they tried to express themselves on the ball. They were there for each other.

"I told them after [the win over Manchester City in early April] I was proud of them, maybe today I am even more proud of them, with the attitude they show. I tried to praise them as much as possible because that was how I felt."

If Arsenal fall short in their bid to reach the Champions League final, the WSL title race or the battle for the European spots, it won't be for a lack of effort.

Tottenham Hotspur have made a formal job offer to Leicester City’s former manager Brendan Rodgers, according to reports.

What's the latest manager news at Spurs?

Back in March, Antonio Conte was sent packing by the hierarchy following his public outburst during a post-match press conference and was replaced by his assistant Cristian Stellini until the end of the season, but even his reign was ended prematurely after the 6-1 Premier League defeat to Newcastle United, so Ryan Mason is now in charge as interim boss before being succeeded by a new long-term appointment over the summer.

BBC Sport played down suggestions that Bayern Munich’s former coach Julian Nagelsmann is one of the candidates being considered and Daniel Levy’s latest blow has come in the form of Feyenoord’s Arne Slot who has ruled himself out of the running and reaffirmed his commitment to seeing out the project in the Eredivisie.

The Lilywhites have since been linked with several names, including Celtic’s Ange Postecoglou and Sporting CP’s Ruben Amorim, but a surprising contender is Rodgers who has been out of work since April having been sacked by Leicester City, and it would appear that he’s already a preferred choice among the board having reportedly been gifted the opportunity to take to the dugout in the capital.

Is Brendan Rodgers joining Spurs?

According to Football Transfers, Tottenham have "formally offered" Rodgers the chance to become the new permanent manager in N17. The Spurs hierarchy are "trying to keep a low profile" by not announcing that they have taken this big step to "avoid any further embarrassment", should the 50-year-old turn them down.

The Northern Irishman is "not a favourite" of Levy, but the rest of the chiefs are "otherwise all for" bringing him on board. Should their new target reject the proposal, it's stated that Graham Potter and Luis Enrique are the two other names on the "shortlist" of options.

Tottenham could be better off appointing someone who already has Premier League experience and Rodgers has plenty of that having taken charge of 312 matches in total, and having also been hailed a “class” character off the pitch by journalist Josh Bunting, he may well prove to be an ideal candidate for Spurs to take a chance on ahead of the 2023/24 term.

The Carnlough-born coach, whose preferred formation is a 4-2-3-1, has a solid track record of facing Spurs having won eight and drawn one of 17 meetings, so if he is able to get a visiting team performing like that, imagine what kind of magic he could work with the calibre of players like Harry Kane and Son Heung-Min at his disposal.

Rodgers, who knows what it takes to compete and be successful at the highest level having secured nine trophies throughout his managerial career, is also a free agent on the market, so no compensation would need to be paid to acquire his services, therefore making this even more of a strong case to end the club's lengthy search for a new manager.

ScorecardAshar Zaidi had a fine night for Essex•Getty Images

Ashar Zaidi starred with both the bat and the ball to boost Essex’s hopes of a quarter-final place – as the visitors edged out Hampshire in a three run thriller.Pakistani Zaidi helped Essex to a healthy 153 for six with a patient 47 before miserly figures of two for 16 halted Hampshire at the Ageas Bowl.Essex are also top of Division Two of the Championship, leading Zaidi to say: “”It is amazing feeling winning four on the bounce and we are taking the momentum into the four day cricket.”Michael Carberry and James Vince, having been set 154 by Essex, took the chase steadily – knowing exactly what they needed and scored on and just above the required run rate.Carberry looked more ready to open himself up, but it was his undoing when he slogged to cow corner, before Tom Alsop was caught and bowl for a duck by Dan Lawrence.Spin slowed dried the runs up with Zaidi impressive, his first over going for just four and his second picking up Liam Dawson – who was driving to extra-cover.But as Zaidi stocked up on dot balls, boundaries flowed off Vince’s bat, on the back of another Test call-up.Vince reached his 19th Blast fifty from 37 balls, but the ball after Sean Ervine teed up to Tom Westley giving Zaidi a deserved second wicket.Shahid Afridi spliced one back to Matthew Quinn and Vince finally departed as he was bowled by Graham Napier.But just as Hampshire looked set for a seventh defeat Lewis McManus provided a fightback with a four and massive maximum in the penultimate over to leave the hosts needing eight from six.Wicket-keeper McManus was caught on the mid-wicket outfield from the second delivery, still seven needed but Ravi Bopara held his nerve – only going for two more runs.Earlier having won the toss, Essex set off at a blistering start reaching 67 by the end of the power play, with every other ball seemingly rushing to the boundary off Jessie Ryder, Kishen Velani and Westley. But for all their heaving they lost Velani in the third over – chipping up to Vince at mid-off.As easy as that catch was for captain Vince, his snaffle to see off Ryder, for 22, was unbelievable – as he gave international teammate Dawson his first of the night by diving full length once the ball had seemingly drifted over him.Dawson, who took three wickets on his England Twenty20 debut on the ground on Tuesday, grabbed the 50th 20-over wicket of his career when the booming Westley picked out Carberry on the point boundary.That quick flurry of wickets and the introduction of spin quelled the run scoring as Zaidi and Ravi Bopara stutter – although the former did smash a six onto the concourse.Zaidi accelerated from that bash, mainly scored on foot, to get within three runs of a third half century in a row but was the victim of a stunning direct hit from boundary rider Carberry and Bopara was caught at deep mid-wicket.Ryan ten Doeschate hammered the final ball to Ervine on the long-on rope to set Hampshire 154 to win – which proved just enough.

Newcastle United hold concrete interest in signing Watford striker Joao Pedro this summer, according to a recent report from Football Insider.

Will Newcastle sign a striker this summer?

Since returning from injury, Alexander Isak has hit a rich vein of form for Newcastle, scoring five goals in his last five Premier League games, though Eddie Howe is still running the rule over new strikers for the summer transfer window.

Marcus Thuram is one target for the Magpies, and they have recently been handed a boost in the race for his signature, as the Borussia Monchengladbach man is said to have rejected a contract offer from Inter Milan.

Goncalo Ramos has also been linked with a move to St James' Park – however, it has now been reported that any potential suitor will now need to fork out €120m (£105m) in order to win the race for the Benfica forward.

There are more affordable options available, however, with Football Insider claiming Newcastle have a concrete interest in signing Watford striker Pedro, who they have tried to sign before.

The Magpies had a £30m offer rejected for the 21-year-old last summer, but they are still said to be keen, and have been closely monitoring him throughout the current campaign.

The starlet is regarded as a top talent, with the versatility required to play in a number of different roles at the top level, and another bid appears to be on the cards this summer.

Would Joao Pedro be a good signing for Newcastle?

After a slow start to life in English football, scoring just three goals in 28 Premier League games during the 2021-22 campaign, the Brazilian is starting to find his feet, albeit in the second tier, emerging as a vital player for Watford.

The marksman is the Hornets' top scorer in all competitions, having scored ten goals so far this season, also weighing in with four assists, which indicates he could be ready to make the step up to the top flight.

Football Scout Jacek Kulig seemingly echoes that view, given that he described the £25k-per-week forward as "one of the Championship's best players" earlier this season, also lauding him as "elegant & skilful".

Over the past year, the attacker ranks in the 99th percentile for successful take-ons per 90, when compared to his positional peers at a similar level, while he also places in the 92nd for aerials won, showcasing his dominance in the air.

It may be difficult for Pedro to immediately break into the Newcastle starting XI given Isak's recent performances; however, he is still very young and could go on to be an important player in a few years' time.

India’s Supreme Court has told the BCCI that it might be inclined to send a few of the recommendations proposed by the Lodha committee back to the three-member panel for review

Nagraj Gollapudi03-Mar-2016

India’s Supreme Court has told the BCCI that it might be inclined to send a few of the recommendations proposed by the Lodha committee back to the three-member panel for review. The two-judge bench, comprising Chief Justice TS Thakur and Justice Ibrahim Kalifullah, did not, specify, however, which recommendations it could ask the committee to review.The court made this observation on Thursday afternoon after hearing the arguments presented by BCCI counsel, KK Venugopal, who said that majority of the recommendations made by the Lodha committee ought to be reconsidered. The court set March 18 as the next date of hearing and has asked the BCCI and state associations to submit audited accounts of the expenses over the past five years through separate affidavits.As reported on Tuesday, the BCCI had expressed its reservations about the recommendations of the report. In an exhaustive affidavit, a copy of which was accessed by ESPNcricinfo, the BCCI listed it was against the following major recommendations proposed by the Lodha committee: one state one vote; drastic reduction on advertisements; inclusion of Comptroller & Auditor General of India’s nominee on managing committee and apex council; representatives of two franchises on the IPL governing council; prohibition on re-appointment for members of managing committee and cooling-off period; prohibition on association of ministers/government servants/persons holding posts in another sports body in honorary capacity; restriction of simultaneously holding office in a state association and the BCCI; age cap of 70 years for an office bearer; formation of players’ association funded by the BCCI; doing away with existing BCCI committees; bringing the board under the Right To Information Act; and legalising betting.The Supreme Court’s sharp retorts

BCCI: Yes Minister. Court: No Minister – The BCCI had also objected to the recommendation that barred ministers from holding a position in the board or in a state association. When the board’s counsel raised this point on Thursday, while pointing out the example of former BCCI president NKP Salve, who was also a government minister, Justic Thakur retorted: “So just because NKP Salve was there, you want every other minister also to be there? You are finding fault with having a nominee of the Comptroller and Auditor General on your governing council, but you don’t mind a minister?” Chief Justice Thakur said.

“At 70, sit at home, watch TV” – The BCCI had also stated in its affidavit that if an office bearer was elected in democratic fashion, then there should not be an age cap of 70 years imposed, as had been recommended by the Lodha committee. “Merely because a person has attained the age of 70 years it does not mean that he ceases to function efficiently,” the BCCI affidavit said. When the BCCI counsel KK Venugopal raised the point, the court told him, “Lawyers like you get better with age, is that so with cricketers too? I don’t know. We feel 70 is a good age for retirement. At 70, they should sit at home and watch cricket on TV.”

BCCI secretary Anurag Thakur, who signed the affidavit, said that although the Lodha panel had sent the board office bearers an exhaustive questionnaire, it had not consulted the top brass while finalising the recommendations. “During my interaction with the Lodha committee, the committee did not seek my views on the proposed recommendations which ultimately find place in the [Lodha] report,” Thakur wrote.Chief Justice Thakur, however, was unimpressed by that statement. “It was international news that we had formed the Justice Lodha committee to suggest reforms in cricket. The whole world knew it. Now you come to us and say the recommendations were a bolt from the blue for you and you were not consulted… What were you doing? Waiting at the fence for a written invitation?” the Chief Justice told the BCCI’s legal counsel, according to the .On the one-state-one-vote recommendation, the BCCI feared that some states could easily “abuse” their vote, which would encourage corruption. “For instance, the one-country-one-vote system followed by FIFA has resulted in the 2015 FIFA corruption scandal where countries where there is little or no football activity were allegedly bribed by FIFA officials to vote in a particular manner.” To this the bench said: “If this is the first scandal in 50 or 100 years, it is hardly a test on the workability of the policy.”When Venugopal argued that it would disrupt the voting process practised for decades by the BCCI, the court suggested that the state associations should vote by rotation.The BCCI also argued strongly against the presence of a nominee from the CAG’s office on the proposed apex council, saying it was “contrary to law”, since the BCCI constitution does not allow a non-member to sit on the managing committee of the society.Venugopal also said that the ICC rules did not allow government representatives to be part of the Full Member boards and the global body may take the appointment of a CAG representative as government interference and, hence, derecognise the BCCI.The BCCI counsel said the board would accept a CAG nominee in an advisory role without any voting rights. The court, however, did not relent. “You don’t even want the CAG nominee on the outside as your conscience keeper?” Chief Justice Thakur said. “Suppose we ask you to put this nominee on the board, you fear that the ICC will disenfranchise you for complying with an order of the Supreme Court of India to have a person who gives you good advice… surely you don’t grudge good advice, do you?”The BCCI also disagreed with the recommendation to restrict advertisements during a match telecast to drinks and session breaks, instead of advertisements between overs and at the fall of the wicket. The BCCI said such a move would “cripple” its income as the broadcasters would pay a “fraction” of the sum being paid for ODIs while paying nothing for a Test match.According to Anurag Thakur, Star India, the host broadcaster, had apparently sent an e-mail to the BCCI on February 21, seeking “renegotiation of the amounts currently payable by them under the existing contract if advertisements are restricted as recommended.”When Venugopal read out figures accrued as profits from broadcasting revenues that were later disbursed to state associations, the court asked the BCCI and the state associations to file individual accounts for the past five years. “The prominent spirit should be viewer enjoyment. Do you mean that your commerce should overtake the enjoyment of the game?” Chief Justice Thakur asked.In addition to the BCCI, various state units – Mumbai Cricket Association, Maharashtra Cricket Association, Tamil Nadu Cricket Association, Baroda Cricket Association – filed their individual presentations objecting to the Lodha committee report.When prominent lawyer Kapil Sibal, representing the Baroda association, said that his client would want approach the Lodha committee directly to suggest “certain amendments”, Chief Justice Thakur brushed the suggestion aside.”There is no question of you wanting it. We, the Supreme Court, will decide whether we are inclined to send some restricted issues back to the committee for its decision, that too within a limited span of time… Lodha Committee costs a lot of money for BCCI. It is not an easy committee,” the Chief Justice said.

Manchester United remain interested in making a move for West Ham midfielder Declan Rice this summer despite reports to the contrary, according to a fresh transfer update.

The Lowdown: Rice rumours swirling

The England international will be a wanted man at the end of this season, with his current Hammers deal expiring in 2024 and no sign of him extending his stay at the club.

Rice has continued to be a vital player for West Ham this season, starting all 24 of their Premier League matches and averaging 2.1 tackles per game.

United had been linked with a move for the 24-year-old a number of times but a recent report from GiveMeSport claimed Erik ten Hag isn’t keen on signing him.

However, the saga seems to have taken another twist with this latest news…

The Latest: United still keen

According to Football Insider, the Red Devils are in fact ‘still hopeful’ of acquiring Rice’s services this summer, even though he would prefer to ‘stay in London’.

United believe they ‘can still convince’ the West Ham star to join them, with the midfielder described in the report as ‘one of the most sought-after players in world football’.

The Glazers apparently want to blow rival suitors Arsenal away with a monster move – Rice is expected to cost upwards of £100m.

The Verdict: Could be a sensational signing

Rice has already become such a dominant and influential player for England across two major tournaments, winning 39 caps to date, and he could be a fantastic signing for United.

The £60,000-a-week midfielder could complement Casemiro and Bruno Fernandes beautifully, possessing the box-to-box energy that someone like Christian Eriksen can’t provide week in week out.

Not only that, but Rice is someone who has the potential to become world-class in the coming years, with 24 still such a young age in a footballing sense, so United could be signing a future captain and real rising star in the middle of the park.

The price tag is likely to be eye-watering, which isn’t ideal, but with Ten Hag looking to turn his side into an even stronger outfit moving forward, it is hard not to see Rice improving them further, having been described as ‘magnificent’ by journalist Joe Chapman during the 2022 World Cup.

Matt Prior became only the third wicketkeeper to score a hundred on debut, and the fifth batsman to do so at Lord’s

S Rajesh and HR Gopalakrishna18-May-2007Four batsmen managed three-figure scores against a hapless West Indian attack, but the man of the moment was undoubtedly Matt Prior, the 25-year-old debutant wicketkeeper. While the rest of the batsmen scored at a strike rate of less than 60, Prior blasted 126 off a mere 128 balls, a scoring rate of 98.43 per 100 balls.As the table below shows, Prior’s most productive stroke was the pull – he played it 12 times for 36 runs, including eight fours. The drives on either side of the wicket fetched him plenty of runs too.

Prior had little problems in dealing with the good-length stuff – West Indies’ bowlers sent down 93 deliveries around that length, and he scored at more than a run a ball, including 14 fours.

With this hundred, Prior has become only the third wicketkeeper to score a hundred on debut, after two Sri Lankan glovemen – Brendon Kuruppu (201 not out against New Zealand in 1986-87) and Romesh Kaluwitharana (132 not out against Australia in 1992). He also became the fifth batsman to score a hundred on debut at Lord’s – after Harry Graham, John Hampshire, Sourav Ganguly and Andrew Strauss – and needs only five more runs to become the highest scorer on debut here. The record is currently held by Ganguly, who scored 131 in 1996.West Indies, on the other hand, didn’t have much to celebrate in the field. Four of their bowlers conceded more than 100 runs – it’s only the second time this has happened to the West Indians in a Test against England: the only earlier occasion was in Jamaica in 1930, when England amassed 849. The only consolation for West Indies is that with two days of play already done, it’s highly unlikely England will attempt to get anywhere near that total.

Chelsea defender Reece James has been a subject of interest for one of Europe's top clubs, and a report has now revealed whether he is likely to leave in the near future…

Which Chelsea players could leave in January?

Having spent over €1bn (£862m) in the three transfer windows since Todd Boehly took over the club, Chelsea may need to balance the books with some sales in the January transfer window, and there are several players who could be shown the exit door.

Tottenham Hotspur are planning a January swoop for Conor Gallagher's services, although the midfielder is currently happy at Stamford Bridge, and is planning to prove his worth to Mauricio Pochettino and secure a new deal, despite the signings of Romeo Lavia, Moises Caicedo and Lesley Ugochukwu.

The Blues accepted offers for Ian Maatsen and Trevoh Chalobah in the summer transfer window, and while the duo turned down moves elsewhere and plan to fight for their futures at Stamford Bridge, Pochettino's willingness to let them leave indicates they could still depart in January.

Bayern Munich are plotting a new approach for Chalobah, having held a strong interest in the summer transfer window, with Football Insider reporting the 24-year-old may find game time difficult to come by at Chelsea this season.

As reported by Football Insider, there have been fresh links touting James for a move to Real Madrid in recent days, with the Spanish giants said to be long-term admirers of the defender, but the Blues are desperate to keep hold of him.

Club chiefs are hoping the right-back can steer clear of his injury problems and become a key player under Pochettino, off the back of being named club captain earlier in the summer, and they are under no pressure to let him leave anytime soon.

The Englishman signed a fresh six-year contract last year, so he is committed to Chelsea for the long-term future, and the club should be in a strong negotiating position, if Real Madrid's interest materialises.

In the meantime, the 23-year-old remains sidelined with a hamstring injury sustained in the draw against Liverpool on the opening day of the season.

When is Reece James back from injury?

Pochettino has confirmed the club captain is "recovering well", with the manager hopeful that he will play some part before the next international break in October, and his return could be a real boost for the Blues.

The England international could be a perfect fit in Pochettino's 3-4-2-1 system, which has been implemented in every game so far this season, given that he poses a real threat going forward, as highlighted by his performances in the 2021-22 season.

During that campaign, the "unreal" defender weighed in with five goals and nine assists in 26 Premier League appearances, averaging over one goal contribution every other game, showcasing his attacking talent.

Chelsea will be hoping that James can put his injury woes behind him after he recovers from his latest issue, but until then Malo Gusto is likely to remain the first-choice option, having made five appearances in all competitions this season.