While the result of a Sri Lanka-Zimbabwe match would be predictable in normal circumstances, the first ODI may give Zimbabwe a chance to break their drought in Sri Lanka

Andrew Fidel Fernando29-Jun-2017Match FactsJune 30, 2017
Start time: 1000 local (0430GMT)Big PictureNormally the outcome of a Sri Lanka v Zimbabwe match is among the more straightforward to predict. Sri Lanka may not always be among the best one-day nations, but they have in the past been adept at putting away the weaker sides – star players rarely passing up the chance to buff their stats a little.This time, however, Zimbabwe may have an opportunity. Not only has the opposition ventured a green squad, Sri Lanka are also in some turmoil – the head coach having been pushed out by SLC, and their spearhead having been effectively placed on probation. On top of all this, the side was also subjected to uncommonly caustic criticism after their Champions Trophy exit, which was seen to be the result of poor fielding.Zimbabwe, meanwhile, come into the series with the unusual record of having won almost as many matches as they have lost this year – though both of their series so far had been against Associates. They narrowly lost the five-match series against Afghanistan, going into the decider tied 2-all before Afghanistan’s spinners made short work of them in Harare. And though Zimbabwe lost the first match to Scotland in Edinburgh two weeks ago, they romped to a six-wicket victory in the second game, and followed that up with a 2-1 win in a List A series against the Netherlands.Still, despite their depleted state, Sri Lanka will be the more confident side in the approach to the game. Even if things go badly for the junior players, in Lasith Malinga, Angelo Mathews and Upul Tharanga, they will feel they have enough experience to prevail.Form guideSri Lanka LWLWL (completed matches, most recent first)
Zimbabwe WLLWWIn the spotlightLasith Malinga has been at the centre of the fallout from Sri Lanka’s Champions Trophy exit, and will be especially keen to underscore his value to the Sri Lankan team, following a frustrating campaign in England. Zimbabwe are just the kind of opponents he could bounce back against. Though many in Zimbabwe’s XI have played against him before, they will not have faced him at length. And while he’s not as quick as he once was, the yorkers remain accurate, and the slower ball is still difficult to parse.Though he didn’t play in that five-match series against Afghanistan, captain and legspinner Graeme Cremer has recently put together an impressive run of form – taking a five-for in that ODI victory against Scotland, having also claimed 14 wickets in six List A games for the Mid West Rhinos in Zimbabwe’s Pro50 competition. He has not taken a wicket in two previous matches in Sri Lanka, but may perhaps break that duck on a Galle pitch that has traditionally been known to take turn.Kusal Mendis is 28 runs away from becoming the joint second-fastest Sri Lanka batsman to score 1000 ODI runs•Getty ImagesTeam newsAmila Aponso, the left-arm spinner who impressed against Australia last year, was a late addition to Sri Lanka’s squad. With so many young players in the mix, the XI is difficult to predict, but is likely to feature a healthy phalanx of spinners. Danushka Gunathilaka will likely open alongside Niroshan Dickwella, displacing Upul Tharanga to the middle order.Sri Lanka (possible): 1 Niroshan Dickwella (wk), 2 Danushka Gunathilaka, 3 Kusal Mendis, 4 Upul Tharanga, 5 Angelo Mathews (capt.), 6 Asela Gunaratne, 7 Lahiru Madushanka, 8 Dushmantha Chameera, 9 Lakshan Sandakan,10 Akila Dananjaya/Amila Aponso, 11 Lasith MalingaZimabwe have played with an unchanged XI in three consecutive wins against Scotland and the Netherlands. They may opt for that combination again.Zimbabwe (possible): 1 Solomon Mire, 2 Hamilton Masakadza, 3 Craig Ervine, 4 Sean Williams, 5 Sikander Raza, 6 Ryan Burl, 7 Peter Moor (wk), 8 Malcolm Waller, 9 Graeme Cremer (capt.), 10 Tendai Chatara, 11 Chris MpofuPitch and conditionsThe Galle pitch is unlikely to be the snake pit it is in the back end of Test matches, but is likely to take some slow spin. As ever during this time of year, there is a chance of showers in Galle.Stats and trivia Zimbabwe have won two and lost 26 matches against Sri Lanka since 2000. They have never beaten Sri Lanka on the island, in eight attempts.Kusal Mendis needs 28 more runs to complete 1000 in ODI cricket. If he does it in the next innings – his 28th – he will become the joint second-fastest Sri Lankan to the milestone, behind Roy Dias (27).This will be Galle’s first ODI since July 2000.Quotes”We rely heavily on our spinners. If there’s a bit of spin we can exploit that. After the Holland and Scotland tours we found that we have lot of batting depth. We bat all the way up to number ten.”
” Consistency is something we are looking for, and we saw it in the Champions Trophy where we didn’t meddle with the batting order too much. It’s one aspect we are not trying to experiment too much with. We will try and go with the same six to eight batters in the next few months.”

FIFA president Gianni Infantino has said he wants Lionel Messi to play at the 2034 World Cup in Saudi Arabia – even though he will be 47 years old.

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• Infantino joked when asked about 2026 World Cup
• 2034 World Cup to be held in Saudi Arabia
• Messi will be 47 in 2034

• WHAT HAPPENED?

  Infantino had been asked whether he believed the Argentine icon would play at the next World Cup in the United States, Canada and Mexico in 2026. The FIFA president replied with humour and suggested he would like to see Messi keep playing until the tournament is held in Saudi Arabia in 2034, even though the Argentina captain would be touching 50.

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• WHAT INFANTINO SAID

  Speaking to Infantino said: "I want Messi in the next World Cup, the one that follows [the centennial tournament in Morocco, Portugal and Spain] and the one in 2034 [in Saudi Arabia] as well. As long as he wants."

• Getty
  

  THE BIGGER PICTURE

  Messi was the star performer at the 2022 World Cup as he dragged his Argentina side to glory and cemented himself alongside the greatest players to play the game. The attacker was mesmerising as he won player of the tournament in Qatar. It is only natural that Infantino, along with the rest of the footballing world, wishes for Messi's greatness to continue forever – no matter how old he gets.

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• WHAT NEXT FOR MESSI?

  Given his age, Messi is unlikely to feature in the 2026 World Cup, let alone the 2034 tournament. Currently playing for Inter Miami, the great forward will return to the MLS next year before playing for Argentina in the Copa America.

The gap at the summit is now up to seven points following Friday's meeting of the top two that saw the Portugal forward cut a frustrated figure

Was that the match that decided the Saudi Pro League title race? In early December, it's likely too early to say, but Al-Hilal's 3-0 win over Al-Nassr means there is now a seven-point gap at the top of the table as we approach the halfway point of the campaign.

That clash between Riyadh's top-two sides headlined another weekend of exciting Pro League action as the rest of the table begins to take shape in the Middle East.

Away from Friday's top-of-the-table clash, Al-Ittihad continued their recovery under new coach Marcelo Gallardo, as they recovered from an injury suffered by star striker Karim Benzema to beat Al-Khaleej 4-2 on Thursday.

That same night, there was a big win for third-placed Al-Ahli, who ran out 6-0 winners on the road at Abha, while surprise package Al-Taawoun remained in touch of the top-three with a comeback win over Al-Shabab on Saturday.

The news was less good for Steven Gerrard and Al-Ettifaq, however, who went down 1-0 to relegation-threatened Al-Akhdoud to maintain the pressure on their English coach.

GOAL breaks down the winners & losers from the latest round of Saudi Pro League action…

Getty ImagesLOSER: Cristiano Ronaldo's title dreams

If Al-Nassr were to become the first team to beat Al-Hilal in the Pro League this season, they needed their talisman Cristiano Ronaldo to step up and lead the way. However, the five-time Ballon d'Or winner struggled to impose himself on the game as he cut a frustrated figure.

Ronaldo struggled with the physicality of Hilal's Saudi international defender Ali Albulayhi (much like Lionel Messi did in the 2022 World Cup) and spent much of the game complaining to Colombian referee Wilmar Rondan as he looked for a decision that would change the complexion of the contest.

As it was, three second-half goals condemned Nassr to their first loss in 21 games, and leaves them facing an uphill task to win the Pro League title as they look to bridge the seven-point gap which has now opened up at the summit.

AdvertisementWINNER: Al-Hilal's Serbian stars

Though it was Neymar who stole the majority of the headlines when it came to Al-Hilal's summer signings, a number of their other new arrivals have stepped up in the absence of the injured Brazilian, and none more so than their Serbian duo, Aleksandar Mitrovic and Sergej Milinkovic-Savic.

The pair shared all three goals in Hilal's win over Al-Nassr on Friday, with Milinkovic-Savic heading in the opener midway through the second half before Mitrovic added some gloss to the scoreline with a late double.

The former Fulham striker has now scored 20 goals in as many games since arriving in Saudi Arabia, including 13 in the Pro League, which puts him just two strikes behind Ronaldo in what has become an intriguing Golden Boot race.

Milinkovic-Savic, meanwhile, insists that he is "not even in my best shape yet", but the way the ex-Lazio star controlled the midfield against Nassr suggested otherwise. With he and Mitrovic in fine form, it's difficult to imagine Hilal throwing away their seven-point advantage at the top of the table.

Getty ImagesLOSER: Karim Benzema

Benzema cannot catch a break this season, it seems. Just as the 2022 Ballon d'Or winner looked primed to finally kickstart his Al-Ittihad career under new manager Gallardo, the striker suffered an injury that, while not serious, is yet another frustrating chapter to add to his Pro League story.

The former France striker limped off after 32 minutes against Al-Khaleej on Thursday and was clearly tearful as he left the pitch just three minutes after doubling his side's lead from the penalty spot in their 4-2 victory.

Fortunately, it seems that he will only be out for around 10 days, though that does put his chances of playing in Ittihad's first-round Club World Cup match against Auckland City on December 12 in jeopardy.

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Getty ImagesWINNER: Marcelo Gallardo

He's only been in charge for three matches, but already the Al-Ittihad fans are chanting the name of their new manager Gallardo. The Argentine has overseen two wins and a draw since replacing Nuno Espirito Santo, but the early signs are that the defending champions are starting to find their best levels once more.

Spirits are high, then, as Ittihad look ahead to the Club World Cup, where they are aiming to at least emulate Al-Hilal's achievement of reaching the final in 2022, where the Saudi side succumbed to Real Madrid in a 5-3 thriller.

Following the recent capture of Mason Mount, Manchester United's focus appears to have shifted toward the signing of a new striker and a new goalkeeper, with Erik ten Hag seemingly intent on strengthening the spine of his time this summer.

With a £50m bid for Atalanta marksman, Rasmus Hojlund believed to be in the works, United are also currently in negotiations with Inter Milan to try and strike a deal for Cameroonian stopper, Andre Onana, having seemingly made an offer of around €50m (£43m) for the 27-year-old.

With doubts remaining over the future of long-serving number one, David De Gea, it would appear that Onana is being lined up to replace the experienced Spaniard in the sticks, having previously worked under Ten Hag at Ajax.

Having been part of the Inter side that reached the Champions League final last season, the 6 foot 3 ace has particularly impressed due to his quality on the ball, having been branded "exceptional" in that regard by Manchester City boss, Pep Guardiola ahead of that European showpiece.

That ball-playing brilliance is evidenced by the fact that the towering gem ranks in the top 11% among his European peers for touches made as a sign of just how comfortable he is in possession, with De Gea, by contrast, ranking in just the bottom 30% in that regard.

The introduction of the Serie A star to Ten Hag's side would then allow the Red Devils to begin to properly play out from the back next term, with club legend Paul Scholes previously stating that De Gea "makes the whole team nervous" when attempting to use his feet.

Onana will, however, need players ahead of him who are also comfortable in possession, hence why the signing of Monaco's Axel Disasi – who is a reported target for the Premier League outfit this summer – could prove to be a perfect fit at the heart of the defence.

How good is Axel Disasi?

The 6 foot 3 centre-back could represent a big upgrade on club captain, Harry Maguire in Ten Hag's defensive ranks, with the latter man having been branded "a walking disaster" by journalist Samuel Luckhurst in recent times, having also been restricted to just eight league starts last term.

The 30-year-old Englishman – who has been linked with a move away from the Theatre of Dreams – has looked rather uncomfortable when attempting to play out of late, notably turning into trouble in the grim Europa League defeat to Sevilla earlier this year.

Disasi, however, should have no such trouble in that regard, with the impressive "hidden gem" – as lauded by talent scout Jacek Kulig – ranking in the top 4% among those in his position in Europe's top five leagues for both progressive passes and progressive carries, showcasing his willingness to initiate attacks from deep.

That is in stark contrast to Maguire's record across the last 365 days, as per FBref, with the former Leicester City man ranking in just the bottom 47% for progressive passes and only in the top 19% for progressive carries, having looked ill-suited at times to a more progressive style of play.

Disasi would also offer a benefit to both Onana and United as a whole due to his ability to sniff out danger, showcased by the fact that the Frenchman ranks in the top 14% for interceptions made, while Maguire ranks in just the top 38% for that same metric.

That would suggest that the signing of the 25-year-old – who has been valued at around €50m (£43m) – could be a perfect solution for Ten Hag ahead of next season, helping to hasten the transition towards a more free-flowing style of play.

The freewheeling Pakistan batsman who came to prominence with a matchwinning century against India in the final of the Champions Trophy, is heading to Somerset

David Hopps31-Jul-2017

Fakhar Zaman, the freewheeling Pakistan opening batsman who shot to prominence with a matchwinning century against India in the final of the Champions Trophy at The Oval in June, is returning to England to join Somerset until the end of the season.Zaman gets his chance because Corey Anderson will be returning to New Zealand immediately to undergo treatment for a stress fracture to his back and he will therefore play no further part in Somerset’s NatWest T20 Blast competition. He will also play in four-day Championship matches.Zaman’s brand of hitting will be eagerly awaited in Taunton as they attempt to reach Finals Day in the Blast, but it could have all gone wrong for him in the Champions Trophy final. He was so ill the night before the match that the team doctor kept an eye on him for most of the night and he was caught on 3 off a no-ball by Jasprit Bumrah.Anderson hit 81 on debut for Somerset in defeat against Surrey at Kia Oval, and the county pleaded a stiff back after a flight as the reason he did not bowl. But he did not bowl a ball in his four matches and has now returned home to address the problem.He leaves Somerset in second place in South Group but they have played a game more than many of their rivals.Matt Maynard, Somerset’s director of cricket, said: “It’s disappointing that Corey has had to return to New Zealand, particularly in light of what he has achieved during his short time with us. During his time here Corey has soldiered on bravely and managed his ongoing stress fracture well but now it needs immediate treatment.”We have really enjoyed having him around and he has made a positive contribution both on and off the field at the Club. Hopefully we will see him again in Taunton in the future.”Anderson said: “I am grateful to Somerset for giving me an opportunity to play cricket in England and only sorry that I have been unable to conclude my stay with them. However I hope that at some point in the future when my back problem has been resolved that I will be able to return.”He suffered a double stress fracture two years ago during New Zealand’s Test against England at Lord’s, which caused an eight-month absence from international cricket. Since then, he has only taken more than two wickets in an innings once in international cricket when he returned 3 for 55 against England in Cardiff in June.Zaman has limited T20 experience and, as such, represents a bit of a punt by Somerset. At 27, he has appeared in four ODIs, scoring 252 runs at an average of 63, and has also played in three T20Is in which he averages 13.He will join Somerset as soon as his visa is granted and will be available for selection from then on.Maynard said: “It’s great to have Fakhar joining us and in addition we will have Dean Elgar back for the final three NatWest T20 Blast group stage games.”Elgar, though, will play no more Championship cricket for Somerset as they attempt to make a late escape from relegation. He has to return to South Africa for a camp prior to South Africa’s series against Bangladesh.That leaves Somerset also reliant on Zaman for the remainder of their Championship season. If he treats four-day cricket in the same uninhibited style, Somerset, lying eighth, 30 points from safety with six matches remaining, will not be blocking as they attempt to preserve their Division One future. But he should not be lightly dismissed in this format as a first-class average of 61 testifies.Zaman has been feted in his home town of Katlang since his feat in the Champions Trophy final, and he has attempted to keep his feet on the ground by trusting to the advice from the Pakistan great, Younis Khan, who told him that “fame is only an illusion” and that it could destroy him.He will be famous in the Somerset market town of Taunton if he helps them win the Blast and stay up in the Championship. The sort of fame, however, which very rarely threatens to wreak havoc on a person’s soul.

Arsenal "could reluctantly be forced" to cash in on striker Folarin Balogun with his value at an all-time high, according to journalist Charles Watts.

Who will leave Arsenal this summer?

Following the marquee signings of Germany international winger Kai Havertz, midfielder Declan Rice in a £105 million deal and defender Jurrien Timber from Ajax, the north Londoners need to balance the books.

Further additions haven't been ruled out this summer, with Southampton starlet Romeo Lavia attracting Mikel Arteta's interest, though outgoings are of the upmost importance right now.

Granit Xhaka has already completed his multi-million pound move to Bayer Leverkusen, with the likes of Thomas Partey and Balogun linked to the exit door also.

The latter player is a curious case after his scintillating season on loan at Reims. The USA forward scored 21 goals in 37 Ligue 1 appearances last campaign, putting a host of clubs on red alert given his Arsenal contract also expires in two seasons.

Journalist Charles Watts, writing on his official website, claims Arsenal could be forced to sell Balogun given he has no intention of going out on loan again and has also showed little willingness to pen fresh terms.

"Arsenal’s academy product scored 22 goals in all competitions in France, sending his reputation through the roof," wrote Watts.

"That has allowed him to go into the transfer window holding all the cards when it comes to taking his next step.

"Balogun is coming off the back of a superb individual campaign. He still has two years left of his deal and he has just agreed to be the poster boy for the United States ahead of their home World Cup in 2026. So his value, both in footballing terms and commercially is sky high."

How good is Folarin Balogun?

The 22-year-old's goal record in France is just one indicator of his quality, with Balogun also attempting more shots at goal per 90 than any other Reims player and ranking among their best-performers overall (WhoScored).

Balogun is a player of serious potential and attacking quality, making him an attractive proposition for any interested side, domestically or abroad, who are in need of a prolific forward.

Arsenal could apparently demand as much as £50 million for the frontman, who Arteta has previously praised for his commitment and bravery as well.

“He’s a boy that has a really clear idea of what he wants to do with his career," said Arteta.

"He’s really ambitious, really committed and really brave.

“When you look at the numbers and what he is doing, it’s just incredible. It’s very rare to see that. But he’s got something special."

ScorecardSean Dickson hit a career-best unbeaten double century and Joe Denly notched his third hundred of the summer as Kent enjoyed a first-day run fest in their Specsavers County Championship match with Northamptonshire in Beckenham.Kent cashed in on a Worsley Bridge Road shirt-front after winning the toss to post 434 for 1 after 96 overs with Dickson and Denly unbeaten on 210 and 143 respectively as Sam Northeast’s promotion-chasers racked up maximum batting bonus points at a canter.The total already represents Kent’s best at this venue, while Dickson’s 210 is his career-best as well as the highest individual score at the ground, beating Ben Duckett’s 207* here last season. Dickson also became the first Kent player in history to post double tons as his first two first-class centuries for the county.In adding an unbroken 305 the pair also moved past the previous second-wicket record of 260 against Northamptonshire set by Arthur Fagg and Frank Woolley at Canterbury in 1934. And, when Denly pulled a short one from Nathan Buck for four in the day’s penultimate over, he raised their 300 stand to beat Kent’s record for any wicket against Northants of 296 set by Ken Hutchings and Frank Woolley at Gravesend in 1908. For good measure, the stand is also a record for any wicket at the ground.As for Northamptonshire, they will look to their ill fortune earlier in the day when they might have dismissed Dickson twice before he had even reached three figures.Dickson, the 25-year-old South African right-hander, joined forces with fellow opener Daniel Bell-Drummond to post 129 either side of lunch – their second-best partnership of the season behind their 172 against Sussex at Tunbridge Wells last month.Bell-Drummond went one short of his 50 soon after lunch when edging a back-foot defensive push to the keeper off Ben Sanderson and it transpired to be the visitors’ sole success of the day.Dickson was on 35 when he survived a concerted shout for lbw against Buck then, with his score on 97, Dickson drove hard at an away swinger from Buck only to be given the benefit of the doubt to another loud appeal for a catch behind the stumps.Sean Dickson converted into his second double century•Getty Images

With the luck on his side, Dickson marched on to a 165-ball 100 with 10 fours and a six then Denly reached the milestone from 132 balls with six fours and three sixes.Northamptonshire tried permutating seven bowlers and delayed taking the second new ball in a desperate bid to curtail the run-rate but, when they finally did take it, their worst fears were realised as Denly cracked it to all parts in a sublime display of driving.Just before the close, Dickson clipped sweetly off his pads against Steven Crook to hit the ropes for a 20th time and raise his double hundred from 280 balls.Northamptonshire skipper Alex Wakely described Kent’s run-fest as his’toughest day in any form of cricket’, adding: “We’ve walked offwith smiles on our faces because we’re not quite sure what we might have done differently or what to say about it. A couple ofopportunities and appeals didn’t go our way early on but apart from that both Denly and Dickson played really well.”I haven’t had a tougher day in cricket than this and can’t remember a day when we’ve only ever picked up one wicket in the three sessions.We’ve been playing some really good cricket of late so I’m going to give Kent the credit they deserve.Dickson needs a further 66 runs on day two to better Matt Walker’s all-time individual record total for the county,He said: “I’m a little bit overwhelmed by it all at the moment if I’m quite honest and feel shattered. The last nine overs were a massive challenge for me out there and I just tried to remember what one old, wise man said to me the once , that ‘double hundreds don’t come your way every day’. I said to Joe that I needed a little energy spurt, a mind switch to get myself across the line to 200 and thankfully I found it from somewhere.”There’s a massive amount of emotion after this for me. I have made four ducks this season at at times it’s been a massive mentalstruggle, but I’ve been hitting balls superbly well of late with no result.”

The 25-year old middle-order batsman has been ruled out of the tournament having hurt her right hand

ESPNcricinfo staff28-Jun-2017Bismah Maroof, Pakistan’s second-most experienced player in ODIs, has been ruled out of the ongoing Women’s World Cup due to a hand injury. She has been replaced in the squad by allrounder Iram Javed.Maroof had hurt herself in the field on Tuesday when England thrashed Pakistan by 107 runs. A capable middle-order batsman – 11 fifties at an average of 26 – her loss has come at a difficult time, with her team at the bottom of the points table with no wins in two matches.Nevertheless, it represented an opportunity for the 25-year old Iram, who has played only seven ODIs since her debut in 2013. She has scored 37 runs and has taken three wickets with her seam bowling. She last played 50-over cricket for Pakistan in November 2016.The ICC’s event technical committee – comprising Geoff Allardice (ICC, chairman), Campbell Jamieson (ICC representative), Steve Elworthy (Tournament Director), Alan Fordham (host representative), Anjum Chopra and Alison Mitchell (both independent nominees) – has approved the change.Pakistan squad: Sana Mir (capt), Asmavia Iqbal, Ayesha Zafar, Diana Baig, Ghulam Fatima, Iram Javed, Javeria Khan, Kainat Imtiaz, Marina Iqbal, Nahida Khan, Nain Abidi, Nashra Sandhu, Sadia Yousuf, Sidra Nawaz (wk), Waheeda Akhtar

Arsenal have been linked with Porto striker Mehdi Taremi; however, he is not 'on the radar' for the time being at the Emirates Stadium, according to transfer insider Dean Jones.

How good is Mehdi Taremi and who has been linked with signing him?

Taremi is a player with a knack of finding the back of the net and enjoyed a masterful campaign for Porto last season, registering 31 goals and 14 assists in 51 appearances across all competitions, as per Transfermarkt.

WhoScored take into account that Taremi was extremely consistent for the Portuguese giants in 2022/23, recording an average match rating of 7.47/10 in Liga Portugal alongside taking on 2.9 shots per game.

His clinical form in front of goal has attracted interest from the Premier League and O Jogo via TEAMtalk have reported that Arsenal and Manchester United among others are keen to secure the £29k-a-week ace's services in the off-season.

The Sun have picked up on a potential hint from Taremi's agent Borna Khoramdel, who is the CEO of Arvand Sport, that he could be on his way to join Manchester United following a post on Instagram that showed a picture of his representative at Old Trafford.

Sky Sport cite that AC Milan are big admirers of Taremi and claim that Porto have lowered their asking price for the Iran international to €20 million (£17.09 million) plus bonuses. Roma and Saudi Pro League outfit Al Hilal are said to be monitoring his situation.

Football Insider mooted back in April that Mikel Arteta could look to bring another striker to north London this window that possesses a different profile to current options Gabriel Jesus and Eddie Nketiah, targeting a physical presence in the frontline.

Nevertheless, transfer insider Jones doesn't think that Arteta will move to bring in an alternative forward to add to his options in the final third.

Speaking to GIVEMESPORT, Jones stated: "Yeah, I mean, Mehdi Taremi is suddenly being linked with a lot of clubs. Whenever that happens, I'm always a little bit cautious about whether he's just being touted around and what the meaning is behind it.

"I haven't heard too much on this one in terms of Arsenal's genuine interest. As far as I've been told, a forward of this sort of mould isn't really on the radar at this sort of time."

What else is going on at Arsenal this transfer window?

The Gunners have already already secured their first signing in the summer in the form of Kai Havertz, who has moved across London from Chelsea for a fee in the region of £65 million, as per Sky Sports.

West Ham United captain Declan Rice and Ajax defender Jurrien Timber have both underwent medicals at the club and will be officially announced this week, according to The Evening Standard.

Speaking to The Residency quoted by 90min, Arsenal midfielder Jorginho admitted that he has 'no idea' when both deals will be announced.

Southampton star Romeo Lavia is another midfielder that is under consideration from Arteta as he aims to bulk up his midfield, as per The Guardian, signifying that some exciting times may be in store at the Emirates in the next few weeks.

Tottenham Hotspur may "abandon" their pursuit of Micky van de Ven due to issues surrounding the player's price tag at Wolfsburg, according to Ben Jacobs.

Is Van de Ven joining Spurs?

The arrival of Ange Postecoglou in north London has shifted the mood around Hotspur Way.

There is a new and growing optimism around the club and its supporters as Tottenham prepare for a new era under the Australian coach, one which has been buoyed by several summer signings already in James Maddison and Guglielmo Vicario.

Postecoglou's charisma and attitude has endeared him to players and fans wherever he has been, most recently at Celtic, and the 57-year-old will be hoping that the good feeling around Spurs can last well into the new season.

However, if Spurs defend like they did last season, those warm fuzzy feelings will disappear pretty quickly.

Postecoglou's most difficult challenge will be transforming a backline low on confidence and quality and in dire need of reinvigoration. Bringing in a top-quality centre-back would be a great start and a couple of the Bundesliga's finest young prospects have already been linked.

Edmond Tapsoba of Bayer Leverkusen has been considered the priority target, but talks have reportedly advanced for Wolfsburg's Micky van de Ven.

According to journalist Jacobs, however, a deal for the latter could yet be abandoned due to the Dutchman's high valuation, with Spurs looking for a potentially more economical solution to their centre-back problem.

Speaking on The Football Terrace, Jacobs said: "I think Tottenham are looking for a centre-back, we've known this for quite some time. Micky van de Ven is one player that they've been considering and exploring, and price has been a little bit of an issue there.

"So, we know this is a key area because Ange Postecoglou is intent effectively on having ball-playing centre-backs and defenders more generally, but Spurs will abandon their pursuit of Micky van de Ven because of the fact that ultimately price is a problem and they're still looking for value in the market.

"So, that leads the towards, perhaps, Edmond Tapsoba, another one that's been on the list for quite some time. And he's a top target, I think it's fair to say, and the valuation there is somehwere in the region of £40m, some would say £45m. So, they're going to be ones to watch over the coming weeks."

Tapsoba's greater experience at senior level may influence Spurs' decision, with Postecoglou perhaps viewing the Burkina Faso international as a more first-team ready addition.

Jacobs didn't rule out the possibility of Van de Ven still making a move to the Lilywhites from Germany, but it certainly contradicts aforementioned claims that a deal is at a very advanced stage.

How good is Van de Ven?

The 22-year-old arrived at Wolfsburg from Volendam in his home country back in 2021, but only made five appearances in his first season with Die Wolfe as he adjusted to life in the Bundesliga.

Last year was the youngster's breakthrough campaign, featuring 36 times in all competitions and helping Wolfsburg to an eighth-placed finish, missing out on European football to Leverkusen and Eintracht Frankfurt on the final day of the season.

Van de Ven is quick, something perfectly exemplified by a recent clip circulating on social media, and stands at 6ft3 – a formidable combination.

The fact that he is left-footed makes him an even more desirable asset due to the scarcity of top-tier centre-backs who thrive on the left-hand side of defence, while he is also comfortable playing at left-back or as one of three centre-backs in a back five.

Boasting an 87.7% pass accuracy in the league last season, he also ranked in the top 11% for successful take-ons and progressive carries per 90 compared to other Bundesliga centre-backs, showcasing his technical strengths.

If Postecoglou wants a ball-playing, modern centre-back, then he need not look much further than Van de Ven.

Watch more of The Football Terrace HERE!