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Everton could finally be set to solve a long-term problem area of theirs, as they hone in on a top striking target…

Who are Everton signing this summer?

That's according to Italian outlet La Nazione (as relayed by Firenze Viola), who detail the Toffees' continued interest in Salernitana forward Boulaye Dia.

Whilst his €25m (£22m) release clause is noted to have expired this week, his club have slapped a new mouth-watering €40m (£35m) figure on his head and the cash-strapped Merseyside outfit still remain in the race to bring him to Goodison Park.

In fact, the report even states that they have 'come forward' to negotiate a deal this summer, with Neal Maupay a potential makeweight that they could use.

The Italian club were noted as interested in the Frenchman in January, who has struggled to make his mark since joining from Brighton and Hove Albion last summer.

Having already welcomed Ashley Young as their first deal of the window, the Senegalese international could mark the newest addition to follow the freshly-announced Arnaut Danjuma.

How good is Boulaye Dia?

With the persisting injury woes of Dominic Calvert-Lewin having plagued him for a second straight year, the English forward can no longer be relied upon as the sole number nine.

Sean Dyche, as a pragmatic man unwilling to take such a risk, seems to understand that better than any of the recent coaches to have graced the Goodison Park dugout.

As such, Dia would mark a welcome addition to spearhead a new-look front line that now consists of a certain maverick Dutchman at last.

Should these two former Villarreal stars both be welcomed, they could strike up another fine partnership to help fire the famous club to comfortable safety in the same way they aided the Yellow Submarine to the Champions League semi-finals.

After all, Danjuma boasts the necessary danger and creativity to forge plenty of chances for the 26-year-old finisher, who has impressed since moving to Italy. With 16 goals and six assists last season in Serie A, already the forward has showcased his adaptability to switch between leagues.

Just the year prior he had boasted ten goal contributions in LaLiga too, suggesting that the Premier League could be just as easy a conquest.

It was during the 2021/22 campaign that the former AFC Bournemouth dynamo enjoyed his standout year in Spain, recording 16 goals of his own alongside four assists across all competitions. In the league, the 26-year-old would maintain a 6.97 average rating too, buoyed by his 54% dribble success rate and 0.7 key passes per game, via Sofascore.

His dynamism and direct play style would make him a constant threat down either flank, in turn providing space for Dia to work his lethal magic. He managed a prolific 33% goal conversion rate last term in Serie A, which was actually higher than Erling Haaland's in the English top flight.

It is therefore no surprise to see him lauded by many, with journalist Josh Bunting having highlighted a key asset that will undoubtedly have Dyche thrilled:

"Boulaye Dia the key man for Salernitana a goal and two assists so far since joining, a handful to deal with due to his hold up."

With his ability to bring others into play alongside his clinical nature, he could be the man who provides for Danjuma in key areas, later popping up to finish the chances forged by such a dynamic new addition.

Should the Toffees welcome both of these forwards this summer, it poses an exciting prospect for a fanbase starved of any excitement in recent years.

Aston Villa have seen an opening bid for Moussa Diaby rejected by Bayer Leverkusen despite the Frenchman's desire to move to the Premier League, according to Fabrizio Romano.

Is Diaby joining Villa?

Having just completed a deal for Villarreal's Pau Torres – a major coup for the club – Villa are now turning their attention towards another potentially huge signing this summer.

Unai Emery's pulling power is already well documented and it appears some of Europe's best are excited about the prospect of working with the Spanish coach.

One of those is Diaby of Leverkusen who has continually impressed in the Bundesliga after arriving from Paris Saint-Germain in 2019.

The 24-year-old winger, now working under Xabi Alonso at the BayArena, has been linked with a move away from Die Werkself this summer and could be on his way to Villa Park.

According to Romano, Diaby is a "top target" for Villa but the Midlands club have already seen their first proposal rejected outright by Leverkusen.

Speaking on his YouTube channel, Romano claimed: "Moussa Diaby [is] one of the most interesting news of the day because I can confirm that Moussa Diaby is a top target for Aston Villa.

"They signed Pau Torres, very important signing. They are doing a very clear and nice job with Monchi, with Unai Emery, and they submitted a bid for Moussa Diaby. Was not €45m from what I'm hearing, [it was] €35m plus add-ons. This is what they bid from Aston Villa to Bayer Leverkusen.

"Bayer Leverkusen said 'no', they rejected the proposal, but I am told that the conversation is still ongoing between Villa and Leverkusen. So, Moussa Diaby, who for example has been for a long time in the list at Arsenal, is one of the players appreciated. [He's] already said 'yes' to Aston Villa. So, Moussa Diaby wants Premier League football."

It is likely that Villa will return with an improved bid for Diaby with Romano stating that the approximately £30m bid they submitted would not be enough to tempt Leverkusen. With a contract running until 2025, the German side are in no rush to sell one of their star players.

The signings of Torres and Youri Tielemans, the latter on a free transfer, have shown that Villa mean business this summer and are willing to invest in Emery and his squad.

Diaby would be another wonderful addition to a squad needing depth for the Europa Conference League next season, with the right-winger having attracted interest from some of the biggest clubs in Europe in the past.

How good is Diaby?

Another potential superstar spurned by Paris Saint-Germain after coming through the French club's academy, Diaby has been sensational since arriving at Leverkusen.

A right-sided winger desperate to cut in on his favoured left foot, Diaby has managed 49 goals and 48 assists in 172 matches with Die Werkself. Last season the speedster managed 18 combined goals and assists in 33 Bundesliga games, making him one of the division's top contributors.

The nine-cap French international is a menace for opposition left-backs with his direct running, pace and trickery causing defensive headaches. Compared to other wingers and attacking midfielders in the Bundesliga last season, his forward-thinking attitude really stood out.

Diaby was in the top 5% per 90 for progressive carries and the top 10% for carries into the penalty area, as well as sitting in the top 14% for passes and crosses into the box.

His willingness to run at defenders is one of his key strengths and his ability to cut back onto his wand of a left foot and unleash chaos makes him well-suited to the Premier League.

ScorecardDawid Malan finished unbeaten on 125•Getty Images

Middlesex team-mates Steven Finn and Dawid Malan shared the individual honours as England Lions took the lead in their three-match series against South Africa A with a clinical team performance at Trent Bridge.Finn took three wickets in an eight-ball burst and there were two wickets each for Tom Curran, Craig Overton and Liam Dawson as the tourists were dismissed for 268 despite significant contributions from opener Reeza Hendricks, who made 79, and wicketkeeper Heino Kuhn, with 81 not out.Then Malan stroked an unbeaten 125, his third century in nine one-day innings for the Lions, to secure a nine-wicket win with more than nine overs to spare. He faced 110 balls and hit 15 fours and a six.Ben Duckett, who had already taken a spectacular diving catch, gave the Lions reply a flying start with a 43-ball half century. The Northamptonshire left-hander fell lbw to the left-arm wrist spinner Tabraiz Shamsi for 69 in an opening stand of 134 inside 18 overs.But Kent’s Daniel Bell-Drummond, who has been so consistent for the Lions in one-day cricket both in Sri Lanka in the winter and in last summer’s tri-series, joined Malan to maintain the momentum in an unbroken partnership of 135. Bell-Drummond ended with 62 from 76 balls with four fours, the third time in four one-day innings for the Lions he has passed 50.James Vince won the toss and chose to field on a fine Nottingham morning, and it was his early introduction of Dawson’s left-arm spin which broke South Africa’s opening stand. JJ Smuts was bowled swinging across the line at his third ball, and in the next over Overton dismissed the dangerous Theunis de Bruyn courtesy of Ben Foakes’s tumbling low catch to leave the tourists on 42 for 2.Hendricks and Temba Bavuma, who is due to join the senior South Africa squad for their Test tour of England later in the summer, responded with an intelligent third-wicket partnership of 95 for the third wicket.It was Dawson again who made the breakthrough, winning an lbw decision against Hendricks to dismiss the experienced opener for 79 from 73 balls. Again the Lions made it a double strike in the next over, as Tom Curran found some extra bounce to surprise the diminutive Bavuma, and Liam Livingstone caught his top-edged cut running towards the point boundary.That was a good catch but it was eclipsed by Duckett’s effort to dismiss South Africa’s captain Khaya Zondo 10 overs later, one-handed diving full length to his right to give Overton his second wicket. Then Finn took over, trapping Mangaliso Mosehle leg before and seaming the ball away to find the outside edge of first Sisanda Magala, then Shamsi.The Curran brothers, who had shared the new ball, then did likewise with the last two wickets, although they were separated by a stand of 44 between Dane Paterson and Kuhn, a 33-year-old with seven T20 international appearances.Tom Curran earned fine figures of 2 for 39 from his 10 overs, taking his tally of one-day wickets for the Lions to 24 in 12 matches, and Dawson ended with 2 for 41.

Kane Williamson, playing his first match of the season, made an imperious 89 off 51 balls and propelled Sunrisers Hyderabad to their fourth win in four home matches

The Report by Deivarayan Muthu19-Apr-2017
Scorecard and ball-by-ball details3:16

Hogg: Dehi should have batted Morris higher up

Kane Williamson, playing his first match of the season, made an imperious 89 off 51 balls and propelled Sunrisers Hyderabad to their fourth win in four home matches.Williamson was named New Zealand’s T20 international player of the year last month and yet he could not break into Sunrisers’ XI until their sixth game. This was probably because his record in the IPL doesn’t match up to his usual standards. Before today, Williamson had only one six in eight IPL innings. On Wednesday, he hit five times as many on a used pitch to lead Sunrisers to 191 for 4.Delhi Daredevils put up a good fight, led by Shreyas Iyer ‘s riveting 50 off 31 balls with five fours and two sixes. But even he could do little against an equation that eventually read 24 off the last over. Siddharth Kaul was asked to finish the match off but he was smacked for six second ball. The seamer recovered by bowling two dots and getting rid of Angelo Mathews to secure a 15-run win.Dealing with a two-paced pitch
On a track where some balls stopped on the batsmen while others skidded on, run-scoring was not easy. David Warner was dismissed for his first single-digit score in 19 T20 innings as a bouncer from Chris Morris came on slower than he expected. Jayant Yadav’s accurate non-turning offbreaks gave Sunrisers no breathing space at the other end. They managed only 39 for 1 in the first six overs.The enforcer
Williamson, coming in place of Mohammad Nabi, became handy for Sunrisers. After getting set, he smashed back-to-back sixes off Mathews and began changing the pace of the game. Suddenly, Sunrisers had hustled 52 in five overs between the seventh and the 11th.Williamson raised his second IPL fifty off 33 balls and surged into top gear. He took legspinner Amit Mishra for 21 runs off nine balls. He exploited any gap the Daredevils left unprotected. In the ninth over, seeing Zaheer Khan posting his boundary riders on the off side and leaving fine leg up, he walked across his stumps and scooped the ball away.The anchor
Shikhar Dhawan, having hit the first ball of the match for four, was happy in Williamson’s slipstream. Together they put on Sunrisers’ 10th century partnership and the first not involving Warner. Only after the stand was broken did he try something fancy. A full delivery from Mathews in the 18th over was almost helicoptered over the midwicket boundary. Just as he looked set to bat through the innings, Morris dismissed him for 70 off 50 balls. It was Dhawan’s third-highest score for Sunrisers in the IPL.Kane Williamson led the way for Sunrisers Hyderabad•ESPNcricinfo LtdSamson, Nair set Delhi up
Mohammed Siraj, playing his first IPL match, got lucky when Sam Billings chipped a leg-stump half-volley straight to short midwicket. Sanju Samson and Karun Nair, however, showed him no such mercy. Samson picked up a length ball and flicked it with the angle over the long-on boundary, while Nair drove a wide half-volley through the covers. He then reached his first 30-plus score in 15 innings across all formats, since the triple-century in Chennai, when he launched Moises Henriques over long-off for a six. By then, Daredevils were 80 for 1 in nine overs.The slowdown
Sunrisers then prised out two wickets from nowhere. Vijay Shankar, the substitute fielder, speared a flat throw from long-on to run Nair out for 33. Rishabh Pant then wasted his promotion to No. 4, hoicking a Yuvraj Singh full ball from outside off to long-on. Only 18 runs came off the next three overs as the asking rate ballooned past 12. Samson attempted to prick the balloon, but only skewed a slower ball from Siraj to cover.Iyer’s late rearguard
Daredevils’ hope rested in Iyer now and he fanned them with two sixes off legspinner Rashid Khan who ended with 0 for 33 in four overs. Mathews, sent ahead of the in-form Morris, however, laboured to 31 off 23 balls. Ultimately, Morris, who has a strike-rate of 238.7 this season, did not face a single ball.Sunrisers, though, might have been worried when Kaul conceded 13 off the 18th over and later when Iyer carved a reverse-swinging yorker from Bhuvneshwar for a four. But Kaul bounced back in the final over to hand Daredevils their third defeat.

Christian Pulisic scored his third goal of the Serie A season to lead AC Milan to a win over Lazio.

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Pulisic scores third goal of seasonMilan top Lazio 2-0Musah impresses as early substitute

The U.S. men's national team star had scored in his first two Milan appearances before making little impact in the next four games as he went in and out of the XI. There was no keeping him quiet on Saturday, though, as the American scored a key goal in the second half to help seal all three points for the Rossoneri.

Pulisic wasn't the only American to impress in the win, with Yunus Musah coming off the bench early to replace the injured Ruben Loftus-Cheek, nearly earning an assist as he set up an Olivier Giroud chance late in the first half.

Getty ImagesWHAT HAPPENED?

It was a highly physical match between the two Serie A sides, and one that was extremely tight until Pulisic's breakthrough goal.

The American's strike came in the 60th minute, with Pulisic finally breaking the deadlock with a fantastic half-volley. Rafael Leao will be credited with the assist, having raced through on the left wing before playing a bouncing cross to the penalty spot. Pulisic was there to finish, striking the ball into the net to score a key early-season goal for Milan.

Pulisic was joined on the scoresheet by Noah Okafor, who came off the bench to score Milan's second goal from another Leao assist. It was the striker's second in as many games as he begins to get going for Milan.

Musah, meanwhile, had some decent game time as he came on in the 29th minute. The American midfielder's fantastic cross to Giroud nearly resulted in a goal just before halftime, but, after an initial save on the Frenchman's first shot, Tijjani Reijnders couldn't quite turn the ball into the back of the net.

AdvertisementGettyTHE BIGGER PICTURE

The focus will be on Pulisic, who is continuing to shine after arriving in Italy. Milan's attack is crowded, albeit not as crowded as Chelsea's and, with a crucial Champions League game looming, Pulisic made the perfect statement to Stefano Pioli.

To be fair, Pioli already seems to be a believer, with the trio of Pulisic, Leao and Giroud seemingly his preferred attack. That trio currently has Milan atop Serie A with that group combining for 10 of Milan's 14 goals in these first seven games.

Pulisic, though, was not named to Milan's starting XI against Newcastle in Europe, with Pioli instead turning to Samuel Chukwueze. Can Pioli leave Pulisic on the bench next week against Dortmund? It'll be tough after this performance.

Musah, meanwhile, also put in a positive performance as he continues to try and play his way into Pioli's starting XI. In addition to his near assist, he had a solid shot on goal in the second half as the ex-Valencia man was highly involved throughout for Milan.

GettyUSMNT IMPACT

Pulisic's role with the USMNT is unquestioned, so, from that perspective, the U.S. are simply glad to see the winger fit, confident and scoring ahead of October's friendlies.

Musah, meanwhile, is a player that could be battling for a starting midfield spot if the U.S. does, in fact, move Gio Reyna into a No.10 role.

The bad news for the USMNT is that Tyler Adams is out injured again, robbing the team of their top No.6 heading towards those games against Germany and Ghana. With Musah continuing to take steps forward at Milan, though, he should be ready to step in.

The fact that Pioli turned to Musah instead of ahead of Tommaso Pobega shows that the American midfielder is doing something right. He hasn't yet earned a starting XI spot, but, after his manager hailed him as a "complete player" ahead of this match, he did plenty to prove him right in this one.

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GettyGOAL'S RATINGS

Christian Pulisic (8/10):

Got the crucial goal and was dangerous throughout. Routinely targeted by physical play with few calls from the referee, Pulisic never drifted out of the game and, ultimately, helped decide it with his goal.

Yunus Musah (7/10):

Thrown into a tough situation as an early sub, but he responded well. Passed the ball well, created a few chances and looked comfortable throughout. A positive step.

The Melbourne Renegades kept their chances alive in the BBL with a six-run win that knocked the Adelaide Strikers out

The Report by Geoff Lemon16-Jan-2017
Scorecard and ball-by-ball detailsMarcus Harris reached his fifty off 29 balls•Cricket Australia/Getty Images

Strikers struck off, Renegades surviveThe Melbourne Renegades stayed alive in the sixth edition of the Big Bash League, finally closing out a contest after a couple of thrilling losses, and knocking out the struggling Adelaide Strikers with a six-run win.Asked to bat at the Adelaide Oval, the Renegades set a decent total of 171 for the loss of nine wickets, built around Marcus Harris’ dominant innings of 85. No other batsman really got going, Callum Ferguson the next best with 26, though all of the top five got starts.Ben Laughlin bowled an exceptional spell of 2 for 15 from his four overs, while Michael Neser returned 2 for 14 from three, but the Renegades made up for it by punishing Kieron Pollard, Liam O’Connor, Ish Sodhi and Wes Agar.The final result looked closer on paper than it was in the flesh, the chase effectively extinguished when captain Brad Hodge was out 37 runs short of victory with 20 balls to spare, after little substantial support from the top order. Jono Dean clubbed the Strikers to within some hope of a comeback win, but Thisara Perera finished off with the ball after so famously failing to do so in last week’s record chase against the Hobart Hurricanes.We’ll always have HarrisThe Renegades opener was the difference, and proved his value as a recruit from Western Australia, belting his 85 from 53 deliveries. Six of his shots went to the fence and four cleared it, his moderate start dropping into gear with three consecutive fours off Agar in the third over.He flew past a half-century thanks to a couple of sixes off Pollard in the eighth. Cameron White and Tom Cooper fell around him, but Harris pushed on to within reach of a maiden T20 century in his 20th game.When he fell with the score on 149 and four overs to go, a possible Renegades score of over 200 went begging, as the last six batsmen kept to single figures. In the end, though, Harris alone had been enough.Strikers waste another good chancePeter Nevill is accompanied off the field after being struck in the face by Brad Hodge’s bat•Getty Images

Tim Ludeman and Ben Dunk got the start that should have enabled the Strikers to chase comfortably, with 53 runs from the first six overs. But not for the first time this season, the rest of the innings lost its way. Ludeman holed out, Dunk missed a straight ball from part-time offspinner and part-time Dutchman Cooper, and the slide began.”I’ll just look to be super positive against Perera. Pollard is great against spin, so hopefully that takes some pressure off him.” That was Hodge’s offering to the commentary team during the chase. “We know Perera will be bowling a lot of slower balls, so hopefully we get onto a few.”It was Pollard rather than Hodge who got onto one, a ball that dropped short and sat up. Pollard hammered it out to deep square leg, flying for a flat six. Or that’s what everyone thought had happened, except that a screamer from Callum Ferguson at the boundary intercepted it.Once again it was poor Hodge trying to herd a bunch of kittens across the finish line. That paved the way, though, for a fluke accident that took the shine off the win for the Renegades. As Hodge looked to lift the rate, his bat flew out of his hands after a particularly violent slog sweep, and flew behind the pitch where Peter Nevill stood a few paces back.With the wicketkeeper’s eye on the ball at deep backward square, he didn’t see the bat that then hit him in the side of his face, forcing him to come off with a massive swelling on the right side of his jaw. Perera knocked over Hodge later the same over, while opposing captain Aaron Finch deputised with the gloves.Be the crowd favouriteThe competition for bringing the crowd into the game was split between Harris and Neser. Aside from Neser’s bowling providing a couple of deep catches, he put on a show himself by the fence.First he hung on to one at deep midwicket to dismiss White. Then he dropped Ferguson at long-on, held Perera at long-off, and snared James Pattinson at deep midwicket towards the end of the innings.Harris brought onlookers into the game literally via the last of his sixes from a gorgeous straight hit off New Zealand legspinner Sodhi. A security guard on a camp chair at the boundary wasn’t watching play, and only just responded to the crowd’s calls to yank his head out of the way. Harris tried to send him the next ball as well, but the pull shot hung just inside the rope for Dean to claim.The late season wash-upVery simple. This was a knockout match, even as the second-last of the season for both teams. The Strikers and Renegades went into the game at the bottom of the ladder on four points each, needing to win their last two to match the eight points of the teams currently occupying the finals positions.The Renegades had certainly had the better season on the field, losing twice from the last ball of matches, while the Strikers had struggled. In the end, things went to form, and Red Melbourne stayed in contention.

Essex have added Neil Wagner to their ranks for 2017 as they look to compete on their return to Division One

ESPNcricinfo staff08-Dec-2016

Essex have added Neil Wagner to their ranks for 2017 as they look to compete on their return to Division One. Wagner will fill the main overseas role for the first half of the season, playing Championship and 50-over cricket, before the arrival of Mohammad Amir.Wagner, the New Zealand left-armer, had a successful spell at Lancashire last season, helping them to briefly top the table as he picked up 32 wickets at 29.28. He will add experience to Essex’s attack after the retirements of Graham Napier and David Masters earlier this year.”I really enjoyed my time in England with Lancashire last season, but I am excited about linking up with Essex and building on the team’s success in 2016,” Wagner said. “I want to bring my experience to the team and help us win games. I hope to help the squad get off to a good start in both competitions.”Wagner, who only plays Tests for New Zealand, is expected to be available for all of the Royal London Cup group stage and up to eight Championship matches, depending on when Amir joins up with Essex after the Champions Trophy.Chris Silverwood, the head coach, had been looking to bolster his pace-bowling stocks after losing Napier and Masters, who took 103 wickets between them as Essex claimed the Division Two title. Jamie Porter, 23, has an impressive record but 2017 will be his first taste of Division One cricket, while Essex will hope Matthew Quinn and Matt Dixon continue to develop.”Neil will bring vast experience at the highest level to the club, as well as a skill set that will be valuable in the opening months of the season,” Silverwood said. “He performed excellently for Lancashire last year and is also useful with the bat lower down the order. Hopefully he can help us hit the ground running in 2017.”

India and Tamil Nadu seamer L Balaji will reitre from first-class and List A cricket, but has stated that he will be available for smaller T20 leagues

Arun Venugopal16-Sep-20161:01

Quick Facts: Lakshmipathy Balaji

India and Tamil Nadu seamer L Balaji will retire from first-class and List A cricket, but has said he will be available for smaller T20 leagues.Balaji will meet TNCA president N Srinivasan later this evening to formally announce his retirement. The TNCA, it is learnt, is keen for Balaji to be bowling coach for the 2016-17 domestic season, a role he also fulfilled in the 2015-16 season. Balaji is expected to take a call after discussing the terms of his contract during his meeting with Srinivasan.”I have taken a decision on not playing senior-level cricket any longer in any format. I have asked the TNCA to not pick me for the Tamil Nadu team this season,” he told ESPNcricinfo. “I am still looking to continue playing the smaller leagues, but let’s see how it goes.”Balaji, 34, made his first-class debut for Tamil Nadu in the 2001-02 season, against the Colombo District Cricket Association, and took 37 wickets in his maiden first-class season in India. The following season, he finished as the joint highest wicket-taker in the Ranji Trophy in 2002-03, with 47 dismissals, and went on to make a Test debut in October 2003 against New Zealand in Ahmedabad.Overall, Balaji played 106 first-class matches, taking 330 wickets at an average of 26.10, with 16 five-fors and four ten-wicket hauls. In List A cricket, his record stands at 145 wickets in 100 matches at an average of 29.35. He also captained Tamil Nadu for three seasons – from 2011-12 to 2013-14, with the side reaching the Ranji Trophy final in 2011-12.Balaji picked the spell against Delhi in the Ranji Trophy semifinal in 2002-03 as one of his favourites in his first-class career. Balaji took 5 for 49 in the second innings, and seven in the match, to help Tamil Nadu beat Delhi by 132 runs. “I think I have been part of some very interesting matches,” he said. “I picked up a five-for in the second innings against a team that featured three, four Test players like Gautam Gambhir, Virender Sehwag and Aakash Chopra. My spell of 6 for 24 against Bengal in 2008-09 [Ranji Trophy quarter-final] was also very special.”His last first-class appearance came in the 2014-15 Ranji Trophy final, in which Karnataka beat Tamil Nadu by an innings and 217 runs. Before the 2015-16 season, Balaji was named bowling coach and was also picked as a player, though he did not eventually play any first-class matches in the season. His appearances for Tamil Nadu in 2015-16 were limited to four one-day matches in the Vijay Hazare Trophy.Since then, Balaji has only played in the inaugural Tamil Nadu Premier League T20 tournament, where he has taken eight wickets so far for Albert TUTI Patriots.Balaji played eight Tests between 2003 and 2005, picking up 27 wickets at an average of 37.18. His best performances in Tests came against Pakistan in the 2003-04 and 2004-05 seasons. On the tour of Pakistan in 2004, Balaji took 12 wickets in the three-Test series, including a haul of 7 for 171 in the decisive Rawalpindi Test, which India won to claim the series 2-1.The following year, when Pakistan toured India, Balaji was among the wickets again, ending with 14 wickets in three matches. This included a match haul of nine in the first Test in Mohali, where he also claimed his only five-for in the format.Balaji also played 29 ODIs between November 2002 and August 2005, before suffering a career-threatening stress fracture for which he underwent back surgery. He eventually made a comeback to the Indian side after being picked for the ODIs in Sri Lanka in early 2009, but played only one match in the series.Despite his international career remaining ridden with injuries, Balaji said he was fortunate to having played alongside his childhood heroes. “To play alongside bigger brothers like Zaheer [Khan], Ashish [Nehra], Harbhajan [Singh] and Yuvi [Yuvraj Singh]… they have always been looking after me,” he said. “Also playing with the six legends – Viru [Virender Sehwag ], Sourav [Ganguly], Anil [Kumble] bhai, Sachin Tendulkar, Rahul Dravid and VVS Laxman – was a dream come true.”I am very indebted to my seniors from my state; I have learnt a lot from every cricketer I have played and interacted with. The TNCA has been very supportive, especially when I had a surgery, and N Srinivasan, especially, backed me. Of course, I am indebted to my family, my wife, my sisters, and my friends, without whom I wouldn’t have made this level from being a tennis-ball cricketer.”I have made the physio’s job and the doctor’s job very tough for a few years, so I would like to thank them for helping me come out of a career-threatening injury. I kept them busy for sometime, and in the end made good friends in a different field.”

Liverpool have deployed chiefs to assess Fulham midfielder Joao Palhinha ahead of a potential summer move to Anfield, according to reports.

What's the latest on Palhinha to Liverpool?

The Reds are known to be in the market for a few new central-midfield additions during the upcoming window, with four players in that position set to be out of contract and therefore likely to be on their way out, and Palhinha has been identified as a possible candidate.

The Portugal international only arrived at Craven Cottage back in July, but has taken the Premier League by storm, as in his 31 appearances to date, has quickly become Marco Silva’s best-performing defensive player with a match rating of 6.99, as per WhoScored.

GiveMeSport reports that Jurgen Klopp had his eyes on the SW6 talisman even before he joined the Whites, so has clearly been a long-term admirer of his target, though a deal won’t be easy to complete with another four years still to run on his contract at Craven Cottage.

According to Football Insider, Liverpool have “sent scouts” to monitor Palhinha on several occasions as they weigh up making an official approach ahead of the 2023/24 term. The Merseyside outfit have a “strong relationship” with his agency, Gestifute, which is owned by Jorge Mendes – the same agent who also acts for Fabinho, Diogo Jota and Darwin Nunez. The Reds are hoping to bring in “multiple” midfielders at the end of the season as the boss plots a huge overhaul and the £50k-per-week talent is one of the names on his list of options.

Would Palhinha be a good signing for Liverpool?

Palhinha may not be as high-profile a player as the likes of Borussia Dortmund’s Jude Bellingham and Chelsea’s Mason Mount, who Liverpool have also been linked with, but the man dubbed an “artist” by journalist Josh Bunting, could be a fantastic acquisition at Anfield.

The 6 foot 3 ace is naturally a defensive midfielder, as displayed by him ranking in the 99th percentile for tackles – making 105 this season alone, winning 60 in total, which is higher than any of his fellow teammates, as per FBRef.

The Lisbon native is also capable of contributing to his side’s efforts in the final third having scored four goals since joining, with this form at both ends of the pitch. And perhaps more importantly, his influence on the Fulham team is stark.

Indeed, Fulham have lost every game he has not featured in this season, such is his impact in midfield. Therefore, whilst his price tag remains to be seen, we think there is enough evidence for FSG to splash the cash to secure his services later in the summer.

ESPN journalist Luis Miguel Echegaray has been left in disbelief as Chelsea cool their interest in former Barcelona boss Luis Enrique.

What’s the latest on Enrique to Chelsea?

The 52-year-old has been on Todd Boehly’s radar since the west Londoners opted to dismiss former manager Graham Potter at the start of April.

Enrique is also reliably believed to have even flown to England for talks with Chelsea recently, coming as the club step up their pursuit of a new manager.

Frank Lampard has been placed in temporary charge until the end of the Premier League campaign, a tenure which has gone disastrously thus far with still no victory since taking the hot seat.

Out of the Champions League and with zero chance of clinching silverware, it’s back to the drawing board for Boehly with managers high on the agenda.

Enrique was thought to be among the primary contenders to take over at Chelsea alongside former Bayern Munich boss Julian Nagelsmann, with the latter sacked unceremoniously despite leading his former club to a Champions League quarter-final.

Now, though, according to a report by The Telegraph, Chelsea have apparently cooled their interest in Enrique – with the Champions League winner not among Boehly’s main contenders for the role.

Reacting to this news, Echegaray has been left surprised – explaining that Enrique could be ‘perfect’ for the job.

Taking to social media, he explained:

Instead of the former Spain boss, it is believed that Nagelsmann and former Spurs manager Mauricio Pochettino are set for further talks and Boehly has even already been ‘impressed’ with the latter coach.

Should Chelsea turn away?

Enrique has plenty of credentials and arguably far more than some other names to have been linked.

Indeed, the former Celta Vigo boss holds multiple league titles alongside a Champions League winners medal – all while encouraging a possession-based, attack-minded style of football.

His status as a free agent stands out as yet another incentive for Chelsea to make a move for him, so The Telegraph’s update does indeed come as a surprising one.

Perhaps it was Enrique’s lack of experience in England which ultimately lead to this decision, but one way or another, some supporters will be disappointed.