USWNT star Kristie Mewis was in a wistful mood as she shared some stunning pictures from a dreamy winter break with fiancée Sam Kerr.
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ESPNcricinfo staff17-Oct-2017Kyle Hope drives through the off side•Getty ImagesKieran Powell (77) and Kyle Hope (61) completed half-centuries in West Indies’ second innings as the visitors had a useful outing in their tour match against Zimbabwe A. After their 126-run second-wicket partnership, West Indies’ middle order notched up useful contributions before allowing their bowlers to have a go at the Zimbabwe A batsmen. In 27 overs bowled by West Indies in the closing stages of the match, they managed to snuff out four top-order wickets before the game ended in a draw.Powell and Hope began the final day on an overnight score of 74 for 1 and both brought up their respective fifties soon after. The Zimbabwe A bowlers failed to dismiss either set batsmen, and both of them chose to retire out instead. That allowed the West Indies middle order to have another bat, and Jermaine Blackwood (25), Shane Dowrich (37) and Shimron Hetmyer (48) took their total to 263 before they chose to declare.Shannon Gabriel then quickly removed the hosts’ opener Brian Chari, before a brief resistance between Chamu Chibhabha (24) and Tarisai Musakanda followed. But Raymon Riefer then removed Musakanda, after which Chibhabha and Ryan Burl returned to the pavilion as well in quick succession. The game ended with Peter Moor (10*) and Richmond Mutumbami (1*) at the crease.
Liverpool are looking to sign two more central midfielders during the summer transfer window, according to a new update regarding the situation.
Are Fabinho and Henderson leaving Liverpool?
The Reds are experiencing a tumultuous summer in their midfield, with huge changes being made, both in terms of incomings and outgoings.
Alexis Mac Allister and Dominik Szoboszlai are two exciting signings who will hopefully improve Liverpool immeasurably, but James Milner, Naby Keita and Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain all left when their respective contracts expired at the end of last month.
It now looks as though Fabinho and Jordan Henderson will also be moving on, however, with the pair both expected to complete moves to Saudi Arabian in the coming days. That would leave the Reds' midfield looking a short of options, so it is clear that more new faces would be required between now and the beginning of the new Premier League campaign.
Will Liverpool sign more midfielders?
According to Football Insider, Liverpool still plan on bringing in another couple of midfielders this summer, as they prepare for life without Fabinho and Henderson:
"Liverpool and manager Jurgen Klopp are keen to add two more midfield signings this summer, sources have told Football Insider. This news comes in the wake of imminent departures for Jordan Henderson and Fabinho to Saudi Arabian clubs."
The report continues: "A well-placed source has told Football Insider that a defensive midfielder is seen as a 'must' – with the impact of Fabinho’s departure set to take its toll on the Merseysiders’ squad."
This is exactly what Liverpool supporters will be wanting to hear, with the imminent exits of both Fabinho and Henderson something that few saw coming. Granted, both were poor last season, but they were still expected to play important squad roles, even if Jurgen Klopp no longer saw them as key starters.
If FSG don't make the money available to bring in tailor-made replacements for the duo this summer, it will simply be unacceptable, and it is absolutely vital that they back Klopp fully this time around, having arguably not provided him enough funds in past transfer windows, such as last year's, when the midfield wasn't added to sufficiently enough.
In terms of potential targets, any two from Romeo Lavia, Khephren Thuram, Manu Kone and Kalvin Phillips possibly makes the most sense, although the latter does turn 28 later this year and suffered an injury-plagued first season at Manchester City, barely even getting a look-in with a team the Reds will be hoping to compete with.
As the report alludes to, signing a proper No.6 in the mould of Fabinho is particularly vital for Liverpool, such is the lack of depth in that department if the Brazilian goes. Lavia is arguably the standout option there, despite still only being 19 years of age.
The Belgian excelled for Southampton last season, despite their relegation to the Championship, averaging 2.1 tackles per game – the second-highest tally in the squad – and had the highest pass completion rate (86.4%) of anyone there to start more than one league game.
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.
Manchester City are now eyeing a stunning move for Barcelona midfielder Frenkie de Jong, according to a recent report from The Sun.
Which midfielder are Man City signing?
With club captain Ilkay Gundogan putting pen to paper on a move to Barcelona, there is a huge gap in Man City's midfield that needs to be filled, and Declan Rice emerged as a major target, with a £90m bid being tabled earlier this week.
However, the Citizens have now pulled out of the race as they were unwilling to match Arsenal's offer of £105m, and they have now started to run the rule over other targets, including Celta Vigo's Gabri Veiga, as reported by transfer expert Fabrizio Romano.
Veiga is not the only La Liga central midfielder that City have shown an interest in, as The Sun reports they are now mulling over a stunning £90m move for De Jong, who has been linked with a move away from Barcelona for quite some time.
Rivals Manchester United considered the Dutchman a major target a year ago, but he opted to remain at Camp Nou, and the report details that he is still in no major rush to leave Spain.
However, Barca want the central midfielder off the wage books, and they know that City have the money to sign a top-class midfielder, following their pursuit of Rice.
Guardiola tried to sign the 26-year-old in 2019, and the Man City manager remains a fan.
How much does Frenkie de Jong earn?
According to Capology, the former Ajax man rakes in a massive £620k-per-week at Barcelona, so it is no wonder the La Liga club are keen to get him off the wage bill, particularly considering the recent arrival of Gundogan.
Despite Barca's willingness to sanction the departure of the Netherlands international, he is thought of in high regard by manager Xavi, who described him as "spectacular" last season.
The Arkel-born midfielder certainly played his part in Barca's title-winning 2022/23 campaign, making 33 appearances in La Liga, during which time he picked up two goals and four assists.
Over the past year, the maestro has averaged an 89.5% pass-completion rate per 90, which ranks him in the 97th percentile compared to his positional peers, indicating he would be a perfect fit for a Guardiola system.
However, De Jong's attacking output probably does not justify a £90m outlay, particularly if he is seen as a Gundogan replacement, so Man City should initially test the waters with a much lower offer.
For all the talk of West Ham United needing to replace Declan Rice, it may well be that David Moyes is in the market for a second central midfielder this summer.
The Hammers' Europa Conference League success papered over what was a disappointing Premier League campaign that ended with the club finishing six points above the relegation zone, and a facelift of sorts may be required.
What is the latest West Ham United transfer news?
Moyes' side have been linked with an array of players across multiple positions, but it is no surprise that midfield targets are right at the centre of the gossip.
From James Ward-Prowse and Harvey Barnes to Amadou Onana and Kalvin Phillips, there are countless options for West Ham to choose from when it comes to filling the void left by Rice.
But according to Sky Sports Italia journalist Gianluca Di Marzio, United are further down the line in signing another player. It is claimed that negotiations are already in play with Juventus over a move for Denis Zakaria, who will be eager to prove himself in the Premier League after a forgetful spell at Chelsea last season.
Juve are said to be hoping to sell Zakaria this summer, rather than exploring another loan offer with the chance to purchase, with the former Borussia Monchengladbach ace on wages of around £90k a week, according to Capology.
Is Denis Zakaria a good option for West Ham United?
On the basis of last season, West Ham supporters can be forgiven for questioning exactly why their side are interested in bringing in a player who started only five league games for their London rivals.
Quite simply, it did not work out for the Switzerland international at Stamford Bridge. But that is not to say he cannot have a major impact down the road at the London Stadium.
Indeed, if the rumours are to be believed, Zakaria's arrival could spell bad news for Tomas Soucek. Despite his limited playing time over the past 12 months, Zakaria still ranks in the top 5% of midfielders across Europe's top five leagues for pass completion (88.9%), as per FBref.
That compares to a pass-completion percentage of 71.3% for Soucek, which ranks him in the bottom 7% among his positional peers across Europe's elite leagues.
That ability to keep things ticking along in midfield would come in handy for Moyes, but Zakaria is also strong in other areas. Using data from the 2021-22 campaign while with Serie A giants Juventus, the 26-year-old showed he is comfortable getting the ball past an opponent as he averaged 2.13 take-ons per 90 minutes, compared to 0.54 for Soucek last season.
Zakaria also outperformed Soucek across those respective seasons in terms of carries (32.4 v 17.4) and goal involvement (0.23 goals and assists per 90 v 0.16), though the latter did come out on top for more defensive metrics such as tackles won (1.18 v 0.95) and interceptions (1.69 v 1.36).
As put by former Chelsea player and now BT Sport pundit Joe Cole after Zakaria belatedly made his Blues debut in November's Champions League tie with Dinamo Zagreb, the midfielder looked "excellent" and particularly impressed with his ability to get around the pitch.
Moyes may well have accepted that he will not find a true like-for-like replacement for Rice, with a couple of new players potentially needed to share the workload.
In Zakaria, he can land a player who thrives in many similar areas to outgoing Rice and will prove an upgrade on Soucek in what could yet prove to be an exciting midfield overhaul.
Glasgow Rangers are seemingly edging closer to completing a move for midfielder Jose Cifuentes as Michael Beale’s summer recruitment spree shows no sign of slowing down.
What’s the latest on Jose Cifuentes to Rangers?
The LAFC player looked set to be arriving at Ibrox a few weeks ago, with Fabrizio Romano telling GIVEMESPORT that “the conversation is ongoing with his agents” and that a move looked imminent, with just a fee to arrange between the clubs due to his contract not expiring until December and Beale wanting to sign him this summer.
However, a clearer timeline has emerged, with Ecuadorian source Mr Offsider claiming (via Rangers News) that the Gers will be able to secure Cifuentes’ signature following Ecuador’s final international fixture during this break on 21st June. Beale will therefore be hopeful that a deal will be reached before the month is out.
Could Jose Cifuentes improve Rangers?
Considering his performances for LAFC recently, the 24-year-old would certainly give the Ibrox midfield a boost, especially in an attacking sense.
During the 2022 MLS season, he notched seven goals and grabbed a further six assists from the heart of the midfield while also creating 11 big chances, making 1.3 key passes per game and succeeding with 1.5 of his attempted dribbles each game, showcasing his attacking capabilities. This is something Rangers could certainly do with, especially with a lack of goals coming from their central midfield options last term.
John Lundstram, Glen Kamara, Ryan Jack and Nicolas Raskin scored eight goals between them during the entirety of the 2022/23 season, underlining just how much Beale requires a player who could push forward often and generate plenty of chances.
He could also form a solid midfield partnership with Raskin, as the Belgian can utilise his defensive capabilities in order to give Cifuentes plenty of freedom, knowing that he is doing the dirty work behind him.
Since arriving in January, Raskin was so impressive in the middle of the park that he ranked third in the squad for tackles per game (1.8) and sixth for successful dribbles per game (0.9), and his tenacious nature would be the perfect foil for the Ecuadorian.
Raskin’s key strengths are dribbling and tackling according to WhoScored, while Cifuentes could benefit from his passing ability as the duo would be able to link together well while dictating play for the Ibrox side during matches.
WhoScored also regards dribbling as a strength, and this could give Beale an extra attacking option from deep, while knowing that the space vacated by his movement will be covered by the Belgian could lead to an exciting partnership.
Lauded as being “very dynamic” by LAFC assistant manager Marc Dos Santos, the 5 foot 8 midfielder has shone in America, and the next step is surely to feature in the Champions League, with Rangers being the perfect team in order to continue his journey with.
Crystal Palace are keeping tabs on Steve Biko FC striker Adama Bojang ahead of a potential move to the Premier League, according to reports.
Who is Adama Bojang?
Bojang appears to be an exciting up-and-coming talent who plays his football for Abdoulie Bojang’s side in his homeland and the GFA League First Division, but it’s more so his performances for his country that have been catching the eye of potential suitors from all across Europe.
The Gambia international recently participated at the U20s World Cup in Argentina and reports have claimed that he wants to take these opportunities to put himself in the shop window in the hope of securing a move to a more high-profile club over the summer.
Back in April, The Daily Mail first credited the Eagles, and by extension chairman Steve Parish and sporting director Dougie Freedman, with an interest in the 19-year-old and suggested that they could look to sign him and then send him straight back out on a loan to further his development, and it sounds like Roy Hodgson is still very much hatching a plan to bring him to Selhurst Park.
Are Crystal Palace signing Bojang?
According to The Evening Standard, Bojang is being “monitored” by Crystal Palace and Chelsea, whilst Wolverhampton Wanderers have also joined the race alongside an “unnamed” fourth potential suitor in the Premier League. The SE25 outfit are “keeping a close eye” on the forward who is additionally grabbing the attention of Ligue 1 sides Eintracht Frankfurt and Lens, so this could be one to watch in the weeks and months ahead.
Should Crystal Palace sign Bojang?
Crystal Palace will know that Bojang is still in the very early stages of his development so sending him out on loan rather than throwing him straight into the first-team would be a more sensible option, but regardless, he could be a massively exciting signing for the future of the club.
Steve Biko’s “complete” striker, as lauded by talent scout Jacek Kulig, has clocked up a mightily impressive seven goal contributions (six goals and one assist) in nine international appearances since bursting onto the scene with Gambia's youth side so is already making a great name for himself.
Standing at 6 foot 3, the centre-forward could also be an ideal target man in the final third, providing a real focal point for his fellow teammates when it comes to getting on the end of long balls and set pieces, and there’s no doubt that he’s got a promising career ahead of him.
Folarin Balogun appears destined to leave Arsenal in the summer transfer window, but how much will he cost and will the Gunners regret selling him?
The United States international striker has attracted interest from across Europe after hitting 21 goals on loan at Ligue 1 side Reims last season. He remains under contract at Emirates Stadium, but is expected to take on a new challenge outside of north London.
He would face competition from the likes of Gabriel Jesus and Eddie Nketiah at Arsenal in 2023-24, with Mikel Arteta having plenty of attacking options at his disposal. With that in mind, a big-money sale may be sanctioned for Balogun.
What will he eventually go for? Will he make the Gunners live to regret their decision to let him go and should they look to include a buy-back option in any deal? GOAL put those questions and more to former Arsenal star Ray Parlour.
Tottenham Hotspur saw their hopes of Champions League qualification disappear following their defeat at Aston Villa, and Cristian Romero has been singled out for particular criticism for his performance.
How did Romero play at Villa Park?
The Argentina international was one of many poor performers as goals from Jacob Ramsey and Douglas Luiz confined Spurs to yet another defeat.
The £42m centre-back was reckless yet again, making three fouls, one of which directly led to Luiz's free-kick goal. The 25-year-old also lost the ball eight times, lost four of his six ground duels and received a yellow card as per SofaScore.
In his post-match ratings for Football.London, journalist Alasdair Gold awarded Romero a low three out of ten rating for his display, bemoaning his lack of composure.
"Went flying in the build-up to Villa's opener and left himself out of position," he stated.
"Made a good tackle in the box on Ramsey early in the second half. Made the late tackle that handed Villa the free-kick Luiz scored from and another late lunge earned him a yellow card. Last week he was excellent, today he was back to reckless."
What next for Spurs?
The defeat at Villa Park sealed the Lilywhites' fate as it confirmed that they would not qualify for the Champions League next season, and they have now gone nine away league games without a win.
The club is in chaos on and off the pitch, with no sporting director or permanent manager in sight for next season, and Harry Kane's future up in the air.
Kane dispatched a late penalty to pull one back for the visitors, his 29th goal of the season, and he has been linked with a move away with just one year left on his contract.
Romero was one of many poor performers for Spurs, who have a busy summer ahead as they look to strengthen the squad to be able to compete for a top-four place again, but the uncertainty at executive level means that business could be difficult.
The lack of Champions League football could also mean they struggle to attract top-quality players in the window, and this summer could end disastrously if they are unable to find a manager and a strategy to deal with the issue of Kane whilst strengthening other areas of the team.
Today's defeat came at the hands of Unai Emery's Villa, who could still overtake them in the table before the end of the season, and the difference in mood at both clubs is stark.