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The brilliance of Newcastle United's exploits on the pitch has become synonymous with the diligence and precision of technical director Dan Ashworth on the transfer front.

Sandro Tonali, Harvey Barnes and Tino Livramento have all joined the first-team fold this summer after the Magpies secured an extraordinary fourth-place finish in the Premier League last term.

With Eddie Howe at the helm, the Toon will feel that they can continue the feat, and indeed started the season off with an emphatic 5-1 victory over Aston Villa.

Howe has recently claimed that he would "love" one more signing, and the central defence is likely to be bolstered.

Who do Newcastle United want to sign?

According to the Daily Mail's Craig Hope, the Tyneside club have compiled a list of possible defensive options this month, with Torino defender Perr Schuurs currently being considered.

Read the latest Newcastle transfer news HERE…

Crystal Palace and Liverpool have registered an interest of late, with the 23-year-old commanding a valuation of €40m (£34m).

How good is Perr Schuurs?

While Fabian Schar has been fantastic since Howe's arrival in 2021, said to have 'gone under the radar' by Harry Redknapp, the 31-year-old has entered the final year of his contract and the club might be looking to introduce a long-term option to partner the imperious Sven Botman in central defence.

Botman arrived last summer from French side Lille for £35m and has truly been exemplary, having been praised for having made a "huge difference" for the Magpies, who complemented their top-four finish with the league's joint-best defence last term, alongside Manchester City.

A no-nonsense, unflinching defender, the Dutchman recorded an average Sofascore rating of 6.99 last season, keeping 11 clean sheets from 36 games, completing 87% of his passes, averaging 3.3 clearances per game and winning a remarkable 67% of his duels.

The 23-year-old has cemented an untouchable starring role at St. James' Park and it is unlikely that will change over the coming years, and he will need a partner; as such, Schuurs could fit the bill.

Schuurs, also 23, is an imposing defender – hailed as a "mountain" by journalist Josh Bunting – and boasts a similar profile to his Dutch compatriot Botman.

The Torino ace recorded an average rating of 6.88 last year in Serie A, completing 88% of his passes and averaging 3.2 clearances per game; very similar numbers to that of Botman.

He also ranks among the top 8% of centre-backs for assists and the top 19% for successful take-ons per 90, as per FBref, indicating that he could contribute effectively to the ball-playing transitions on Tyneside, assuming Schar's role superlatively, with the Swiss titan ranking among the top 6% of positional peers for assists and the top 2% for shot-creating actions per 90.

Therefore, signing Schuurs could prove to enhance the cohesion on Tyneside and provide Botman with a defensive confrere to solidify a rock-solid partnership for years to come.

The compatriots' variegated skills would also increase the multi-dimensional feel of the Newcastle team, ensuring that the ascent to the very top of European football continues.

Zion Suzuki has reportedly rejected the chance to make the move to Manchester United this summer, according to reports.

This comes after the Premier League giants reached an agreement with the goalkeeper's current club Urawa Red Diamonds.

What's the latest on Zion Suzuki to Manchester United?

Manchester United have agreed a deal with Urawa Red Diamonds for Suzuki, and a move seemed likely. According to Manchester Evening News, however, a major problem has emerged as the shot-stopper has rejected the Red Devils in favour of completing a move to join STVV in the Belgian Pro League.

Rejecting United is certainly a bold move, but Suzuki may have made the decision based on potential game time. As per Manchester Evening News, the Manchester club felt as though the goalkeeper needed two more years to make an impact in the Premier League.

Read the latest Man United transfer news HERE…

Erik ten Hag must now search elsewhere to find a back-up to recent summer signing Andre Onana. The former Inter Milan man completed the move for a reported £47.2m this summer.

Suzuki, meanwhile, looks increasingly-likely to complete a move to STVV in the coming weeks.

Who is Zion Suzuki?

The first thing that comes to mind about Suzuki is how bold he is, reportedly turning down a big move to Old Trafford this summer. On the pitch, however, it's no real surprise that the goalkeeper has attracted such interest this summer.

Football Talent Scout spoke about Suzuki in their look at the best players in Japan, saying: "Widely considered as one of the most exciting goalkeeping prospects coming out of Japan, however it is across the Pacific in America where most of this hype has been garnered as many supporters of the national team are keen for the Arkansas-born stopper to be called up for the USMNT.

"He is also eligible to play for Ghana and of course Japan, whichever lucky nation calls him up first and secures his name in their nation's goalkeeping ranks has hit the jackpot with a special goalkeeper.

"Zion’s distribution is exceptional, he makes passes which would be talked about for weeks if it were Ederson as seen here.

"Due to his age he is still prone to a few errors as he can sometimes be seen rushing out too early but these characteristics will slowly fade as Zion progresses and matures whilst gaining experience in games. A good alert goalkeeper, Zion’s speed and agility allow him to be both a good shot-stopper and a good distributor of the ball."

That potential looks set to be seen in the Belgian Pro League, rather than at Old Trafford, though, in what will ultimately leave Ten Hag bitterly disappointed.

The Dutchman has, at the very least, welcomed the majority of his summer targets so far in the current window, with Mason Mount making the move from Chelsea, Rasmus Hojlund joining from Atalanta, and Onana making the move from Inter Milan.

So far, United have spent a reported €192m (£166m) so far in the current window, and were willing to add to that with the signing of Suzuki. As per reports, however, it simply wasn't meant to be this time.

Chelsea could be set to secure yet another summer signing as Mauricio Pochettino aims to strengthen his side ahead of the 2023/24 season.

What's the latest on Kudus to Chelsea?

The Stamford Bridge side have been linked recently with a move for Ajax starlet, Mohammed Kudus as Pochettino aims to bolster his attacking options, and new a development has occurred with regard to a potential move.

Journalist Rudy Galetti tweeted: “#Chelsea had first contacts with #Ajax for Mohammed #Kudus.

“Understand that #CFC have verbally agreed the personal terms with the Ghanaian player: now it’s up to clubs to find an agreement.

“Other 2 English teams have showed a concrete interest in him: evolving situation.”

It would be a major statement of intent should they lure the youngster away from Ajax to England, especially considering teams such as Manchester United and Arsenal are showing interest and they have Champions League football to look forward to next term.

The 22-year-old will only cost the Blues around £40m, which given their recent extravagant activity in the transfer market, it could be a bargain.

Could Mohammed Kudus replace Mason Mount?

Attacking midfielder Mason Mount departed Chelsea this summer, joining Manchester United in a deal which could be worth £60m, becoming one of the several players to leave the club.

Since making his debut under Frank Lampard back in 2019, Mount made nearly 200 appearances for the Blues and registered 70 goal contributions in that time period, a solid return.

Last season featured just three goals and six assists across 35 games and with one year left on his deal, Chelsea clearly felt £60m was a decent enough figure to let him depart.

Kudus has all the attributes to replace Mount in the Chelsea squad, and given that he is younger, he has the potential to surpass his achievements.

The Ajax starlet was among one of the finest attacking midfielders when compared to his positional peers over the previous 365 days, ranking in the top 2% for non-penalty goals per 90 (0.55), top 1% for successful take ons per 90 (4.57) and top 4% for touches in the attacking penalty area per 90 (6.27) and this clearly indicates that he is a major threat in the opposition penalty area.

In comparison, Mount registered just 0.13 non-penalty goals, 0.86 successful take ons and 3.32 touches in the attacking penalty area per 90 during the same period, suggesting that Kudus could even be a major upgrade on the Englishman.

Not only did Kudus register six goal contributions in the Champions League last season – four goals and two assists – but he demonstrated his attacking qualities on the biggest stage of them all – the World Cup.

He scored twice in the competition while also succeeding with 3.3 dribbles per game – a success rate of 71% – and the youngster ranked first across the whole Ghana squad for these metrics. It wasn’t enough to prevent them from falling at the first hurdle, however, the world got a glimpse of his outstanding talents.

It’s no wonder that talent scout Jacek Kulig lauded the player as “electric” and should he carry on the form which saw him explode in the Champions League and the World Cup, he could be a stunning success at Chelsea as the man to replace Mount.

A round-up of the NCL matches that concluded on September 25, 2017

Mohammad Isam25-Sep-2017Tier-1Defending champions Khulna Division pummeled Barisal Division by 239 runs at the Sheikh Abu Naser Stadium. The game was set up for the home side by Mahedi Hasan and Tushar Imran who struck centuries before Abdur Razzak’s 25th 5-wicket haul sunk Barisal in the second innings.Batting first, Khulna rode on centuries from Mahedi Hasan and Tushar Imran as they reached 444 in 124.3 overs. Mahedi finished on 177 off 290 balls with 16 fours and two sixes while the veteran Tushar struck 16 fours and a six in his 132 off 196 balls. The pair added 272 runs for the third wicket.Left-arm spinner Monir Hossain took career best figures of 7 for 85 while Tanvir Islam took two wickets.Barisal were bowled out for 258 runs in 80 overs with Al-Amin Hossain and Abdur Razzak taking four wickets each. Nuruzzaman struck his maiden first-class century, remaining unbeaten on 101 off 175 balls with eight hours and three sixes. When he came to bat, Barisal were reeling on 91 for six after which he added 80 runs for the seventh wicket with Rafsan Al Mahmud who made 58.Khulna batted again, reaching 216 for seven in 49 overs to set Barisal a 403-run fourth innings target. Razzak then took five wickets while Moinul Islam picked up three wickets as Barisal were shot out for 163 runs in 61 overs. Fazle Mahmud top scored with 88.Rain allowed only 96.3 overs of play in the Dhaka Division-Rangpur Division match at the Shaheed Chandu Stadium in Bogra. Play was completely abandoned in the first two days before only an hour was possible on the third evening.Resuming on 49 for no loss on the fourth day, Rangpur declared their first innings on 237 for two with fifties for Saymon Ahmed, Jahid Javed, Suhrawadi Shuvo and Nasir Hossain. Saymon and Jahid had retired after reaching their fifties to make way for the other batsmen.The match was called off at 3.32pm after Dhaka had reached 150 for three in 44 overs. Rony Talukdar top scored with 60.Tier-2The match between Dhaka Metropolis and Sylhet was abandoned without a ball being bowled. Rain ruined all four days with play being called off around mid-day every day.On the fourth day, the umpires called off the match at 12.10pm.Rain also had a major hand in Rajshahi where the home side and Chittagong Division were forced to sit out most of their match. But both sides at least got some points out of the contest thanks to clear weather on the final day.Batting first, Chittagong posted 432 runs in 142.5 overs with Yasir Ali Chowdhury top scoring with 94. Irfan Shukkur and Sazzadul Haque also made fifties. Shariful Islam took three wickets.In reply, Rajshahi were bowled out for 415 runs in 118.3 overs that included half-centuries from Jahurul Islam, Junaid Siddique and Farhad Hossain. Mohammad Saifuddin finished on three wickets. There was enough time for Chittagong to bat one over in their second innings before the match ended.

Granit Xhaka's Arsenal career appeared to be heading for a rather unsavoury end when he tossed his armband to the floor in disgust and marched off the Emirates pitch after being substituted.

That, however, was in November 2019. Since that clash against Crystal Palace, Xhaka's revival has been the stuff of legend.

He won't necessarily leave Islington a legend, but he will no doubt be remembered as a cult hero at the club.

Is Granit Xhaka leaving Arsenal?

Last term was his best yet after a move from Borussia Monchengladbach, with the Swiss midfielder scoring nine goals and registering seven assists.

Leaving on a high is the best way of bowing out and indeed he will do just that after moving to Bayer Leverkusen for £21.5m.

Declan Rice, a slightly more expensive mover at a whopping £105m, will come in as a result, but the Gunners won't stop there in their pursuit of success.

Jurrien Timber is due to arrive from Ajax but it's also thought that a move for Jeremie Frimpong could be on the table, a deal potentially set to be worth in the region of £34m.

His club? Rather coincidentally, Bayer Leverkusen.

How good is Jeremie Frimpong?

Adjusting to English football should not be an arduous task for the right-back, who like Xhaka did all the way back in 2014, could trade the Bundesliga for Premier League life.

Frimpong, however, will arrive more well-known to a British audience.

The Dutchman came through the ranks at Manchester City before moving to Celtic from a young age, where former boss Neil Lennon described him as "one of the best kids I've ever seen at that age."

Since then, the full-back has only gone from strength to strength. The 22-year-old is now one of the best in his position around, particularly when it comes to the offensive side of the game.

As per FBref, he ranks inside the top 10% in his position across Europe's top five leagues for a host of metrics, notably non-penalty goals, shots, assists and progressive carries.

For the latter, he actually sits in the best 1%. That is a theme that regularly appears throughout Frimpong's scout report, as he is in the top 1% for successful take-ons and touches in the attacking penalty area.

Such numbers indicate that he is one of the most offensive full-backs in the game, something that would no doubt benefit Mikel Arteta's side.

Such a rampant threat could also help to ensure Bukayo Saka's performance levels stay the same, if not get better.

Saka has benefited tremendously from his partnership alongside Ben White down the right-hand side.

White isn't a marauder by any stretch of the imagination. He ranks inside the worst 37% for progressive carries as an indication. Yet, his composure is bettered by very few at the club.

Capable of drifting inside but also playing on the overlap to allow Saka to cut in on his favoured left foot, Frimpong could ensure that becomes more of a regular thing.

He is a truly "breathtaking" asset as dubbed by scout Antonio Mango, one whose exploits from right-back could only ensure Saka gets into more favourable positions himself.

Having scored 15 goals and assisted 11 himself, there is little room to get better, but a player such as Frimpong could well ensure that happens swiftly.

White has done little wrong since playing at right-back but he is not the archetypal modern full-back. Frimpong certainly is and his arrival could well be the berth of a right flank to rival the likes of Trent Alexander-Arnold and Mo Salah.

Derbyshire allrounder Shiv Thakor has been arrested following allegations that he indecently exposed himself

George Dobell14-Jul-2017

Derbyshire allrounder Shiv Thakor has been arrested.Thakor, a former England U19 player, was suspended by the club on full pay last week after allegations that he had indecently exposed himself.”The club has been advised that one of our players, Shiv Thakor, has been arrested by police investigating allegations concerning the player when he was not on duty with the club,” Derbyshire said in a statement.”In consultation with the player’s representatives, the player continues to be suspended on full pay pending the outcome of the investigations.For legal reasons, the club is unable to comment further at this stage.”

From Fernando Diniz's potentially game-changing tactics to exciting Premier League transfer targets – the game at the Maracana is not to be missed

During his illustrious playing career, Romario was renowned for speaking his mind. Seemingly, nothing has changed since his subsequent move into the world of politics. Speaking to ahead of Saturday's Copa Libertadores final, the Brazil legend said, "Fluminense should be the team to take home the trophy. As for the Argentines, f*ck those sons of b*tches!" Fair to say that if Boca Juniors boss Jorge Almiron needed any inspiration for his pre-match team talk, Romario has unintentionally provided plenty.

But it's not as if Boca were short on motivation anyway. Winning this tournament always offers 'Eternal Glory', but another victory really would be special for the Buenos Aires outfit, as it would see them equal Independiente's long-standing record of Libertadores triumphs.

For Fluminense and their players, though, this is also a shot at immortality, as the Rio de Janeiro-based outfit have never before lifted the trophy. Even more incredibly, they have a chance to do so in their own stadium – the mythical Maracana.

History, then, beckons for both, but as GOAL outlines, this final is attracting attention all across the world for a myriad of reasons…

• Boca's shootout specialist

  Sergio Romero knew little other than frustration at Manchester United. The goalkeeper spent the majority of his six years at Old Trafford sitting on the bench, featuring just six times in total in the Premier League.

  However, Romero is certainly enjoying his football again, having quickly attained hero status since joining Boca last year – primarily because of his penalty-saving prowess, which is the main reason why the Argentines are in the Libertadores final.

  Indeed, Boca haven't won a single knockout game, drawing all six of their outings in the last 16, quarters and semis. However, they've now won three shootouts in a row thanks to Romero, who has saved six spot-kicks so far, while at the same time keeping five clean sheets – no other goalkeeper has more.

  As a result, the former Argentina international now rather understandably believes that Boca are destined to triumph at the Maracana. "I have faith that things are going to work out for us," Romero says, "that we're going to win it."

  If Boca manage to make it to penalties yet again, you certainly wouldn't back against them – or their shootout specialist.

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  Two very different veterans

  There's no denying that Edinson Cavani will be the most high-profile attacker on the field at the Maracana. The Uruguayan is undoubtedly one of the finest forwards of his generation, having scored goals at club level in Italy, France, England and Spain, and won a Copa America with his country.

  Cavani hasn't quite caught fire since joining Boca at the end of July, but his pedigree cannot be questioned, and it's worth pointing out that one of his three goals to date did come in the second leg of the semi-final against Palmeiras.

  Nonetheless, it is Fluminense's veteran striker who is being touted as the likely match-winner on Saturday – even though many football fans outside of South America are unlikely to have ever heard of him.

  German Cano is the quintessential journeyman, having spent the majority of his career moving from one club to another, often on loan. He never represented Argentina at any age group and, truth be told, many thought he was finished after suffering a serious knee injury at Pachuca in 2015.

  However, Cano says now that "It helped me gain experience, become a better player, work much harder. You learn from those experiences. I’ve enjoyed everything I've been through. I’m older now and, today, I’m in very good form." That's putting it mildly.

  Cano is the Libertadores' top-scorer, having scored as many goals (12) as the entire Boca team – and in fewer games (11). One could also argue that, right now, there is no better first-time finisher in world football, given 25 of his 36 goals in all competitions this season have come without the need for a second touch.

  Cano, then, is buzzing with self-belief going into what is, by some distance, the biggest game of his life. "We know that victory would go down in Fluminense’s history," he said. "It would be really beautiful because it has taken us a long time to get there." It's taken him longer than most, though, and many neutrals are hoping that his inspirational perseverance pays off on Saturday.

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  Liverpool or Arsenal's next No.6?

  Despite long dreaming of a move to Europe, midfielder Andre promised Fernando Diniz in January that he would stay at Fluminense until the end of the 2023 season. Nonetheless, he was sorely tempted to leave when an almost "irrefutable proposal" arrived during the summer from a "club that plays in a big league".

  Andre ultimately stayed put, partly because Fluminense were still in the Copa Libertadores, and partly because it was the "right thing" to do in the circumstances. However, the midfield playmaker also trusted Diniz when the coach told him that if he stayed, his value would increase – and it most certainly has, along with the interest in the 22-year-old's services.

  Indeed, according to the latest reports, Arsenal have now overtaken Liverpool – the club believed to have submitted that big summer bid – in the race to sign Andre during the January transfer window. It's not yet known where he will end up, of course, particularly as other members of Europe's elite are said to have joined the chase. What is clear, though, is that the man that makes Diniz's team tick is almost certain to move on during the winter window.

  Helping Fluminense win a first Libertadores would mean departing with the best wishes and gratitude of everyone connected with the club for agreeing to stay for those extra few months.

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• Marcelo's Fluminense fairy tale

  They say everything happens for a reason – Marcelo would likely agree. After leaving Real Madrid a legend last year, the left-back endured such a difficult spell with Olympiacos that he felt compelled to cancel his contract after just five months in Greece.

  However, in February, he was given the chance to go home. "It's difficult to express what this moment means to me," he said after rejoining Fluminense 16 years after leaving. "I've been dreaming of returning to my origins, to the team that trained me and taught me what I know about football."

  Since then, Marcelo has been teaching his team-mates everything he knows about winning major trophies, with the Brazilian now on the verge of becoming only the 15th man in history to win both the Champions League and the Copa Libertadores.

  "I don't think of myself as a renowned player who has lots of titles," he insisted. "What I did in the past has been and gone. I just always think about the now, and now I’m enjoying one of the best moments of my life, playing a final with Fluminense."

  Marcelo may already have plenty of silverware in his trophy cabinet, but few football fans would begrudge one of the modern game's greatest defenders a fairy-tale finish at Fluminense.

The arrival of Lasith Malinga for Mumbai Indians and Shakib Al Hasan for Kolkata Knight Riders highlights the high-profile match between the two teams on Sunday

The Preview by Vishal Dikshit08-Apr-2017Match factsMumbai Indians v Kolkata Knight Riders
Mumbai, April 9, 2017
Start time 2000 local (1430 GMT)
3:01

Hogg: With Lynn opening, KKR very balanced

Head to headLast season: Mumbai Indians won both matches, by the same margin – six wickets – and with the same Man of the Match – Rohit Sharma
Overall: Mumbai have won 13 of the 18 matchesIn the newsMumbai will be buoyed by the arrival of T20 specialist Lasith Malinga, who warmed up for the IPL with a hat-trick against Bangladesh, although in a losing cause. His addition will strengthen an attack that took only three wickets and could not defend 184 against Rising Pune Supergiants in their opening game.However, they will be without batsman Ambati Rayudu, who was stretchered off the field during the first game with a groin injury. Rayudu will be out for at least 10 days, according to Mumbai coach Mahela Jayawardene. Saurabh Tiwary could replace Rayudu.Sri Lanka’s Asela Gunaratne also joined the Mumbai squad, although he will find it tougher to squeeze into the middle order that comprises notable names from both domestic and international cricket. Mumbai, however, might reassess their decision to leave out Harbhajan Singh, their most capped player, from the first game. He might help curb Chris Lynn’s aggression as the batsman strikes more easily against fast bowlers.Kolkata Knight Riders received an international boost too – Shakib Al Hasan joined them after receiving the Man-of-the-Match award by top-scoring and taking three wickets against Sri Lanka. Knight Riders have already changed their prolific opening pair of Gautam Gambhir and Robin Uthappa from last season, by making Lynn open. But, moving from Rajkot to a smaller ground in Mumbai, will they want to play three spinners again? Umesh Yadav’s unavailability will make them look towards Ankit Rajpoot as a domestic pace option.The likely XIsMumbai Indians: 1 Jos Buttler, 2 Parthiv Patel (wk), 3 Rohit Sharma (capt), 4 Saurabh Tiwary, 5 Nitish Rana, 6 Kieron Pollard, 7 Krunal Pandya/Hardik Pandya, 8 Harbhajan Singh, 9 Jasprit Bumrah, 10 Mitchell McClenaghan/Tim Southee, 11 Lasith MalingaKolkata Knight Riders: 1 Gautam Gambhir (capt), 2 Chris Lynn, 3 Robin Uthappa (wk), 4 Manish Pandey, 5 Yusuf Pathan, 6 Suryakumar Yadav, 7 Chris Woakes, 8 Kuldeep Yadav, 9 Sunil Narine, 10 Piyush Chawla/Ankit Rajpoot, 11 Trent BoultAmbati Rayudu had to be carried off the field during the match against Rising Pune Supergiant•BCCI

Stats that matter Among teams that have faced each other at least ten times in the IPL, Mumbai’s 13-5 record against Knight Riders is the best (by win-loss ratio) In the 2016 IPL, spinners struck 16 times at Wankhede Stadium at an average of 20.12 and economy rate of seven, compared to the pacers’ average of 34.30 while taking 26 wickets with an economy rate of 8.52 Rohit Sharma has scored 25.50% of Mumbai’s runs in the eight wins he has featured in against Knight Riders Mumbai have the lowest average (18) for opening stands, using six pairs, since the beginning of 2016. Knight Riders have the best (50), after utilising only two pairs Lendl Simmons, who did not play Mumbai’s first match, has the highest average in the IPL (47.10). As opener, he is only behind Virat Kohli’s average of 58.11. Harbhajan has dismissed a few attacking batsmen as many as four times each in the IPL – Gambhir, Chris Gayle, Manish Pandey, Kevin Pietersen, Suresh Raina and Dwayne Smith

West Indies Under-19 held off Kent by 28 runs in a low-scoring contest at Sir Vivian Richards Stadium to record their first win of the Regional Super50. Sent in to bat, West Indies Under-19 were bowled out for 155 in 46.3 overs. They then spun out Kent for 127 in just 34 overs, with 16-year old left-arm spinner Joshua Bishop taking 4 for 44.Kent were 76 for 2 before Bishop ripped through the middle order. He first dismissed Darren Stevens for 18 in the 18th over, before striking thrice in the 22nd over. Then off the next, Bhaskar Yadram took the first of his three wickets by bowling Matt Coles for a duck, as Kent lost four for three runs to slide from 92 for 3 to 95 for 7.Captain Sam Northeast, who was at the non-striker’s end throughout the mayhem, tried to weather the storm, making 37 before he was ninth man out to Keemo Paul. Yadram then removed tailender Ivan Thomas to end the match with figures of 3 for 6 in five overs, clinching an improbable win.A 59-run second-wicket partnership between Matthew Patrick and Yadram produced the bulk of the runs for West Indies Under-19. Patrick top-scored with 45 off 79 balls while Yadram’s 29 wound up being the third highest total in the match to go along with his three wickets later on in a solid all-round performance.Trinidad & Tobago produced a tremendous fightback to win a thriller by 11 runs over Leeward Islands at Coolidge. Defending 226, they appeared well out of the game after a 115-run opening stand by Leewards captain Kieran Powell and Montcin Hodge. But the wicket of Powell in the 27th over, stumped after being unable to reach a ball dragged wider outside off stump by left-arm spinner Khary Pierre, sparked a slide which resulted in Leewards losing all ten wickets for 100 runs and slump to their first loss of the tournament.Pierre struck in the 31st and 35th overs in identical fashion to remove Nkrumah Bonner and Marlon Samuels, both batsmen skipping down the track to clear mid-on, only to miscue them to Rayad Emrit at long-off. Emrit then struck a crucial blow to remove Hodge for 82, producing an edge behind to Denesh Ramdin on a failed attempt to guide a single to third man. Only two other batsmen made double-digits with 16 extras winding up as the next best contribution outside of the openers.Pierre was named named Man of the Match after finishing with 4 for 40. He induced a leading edge from Jahmar Hamilton for his fourth , and concluded his day with another fine moment at the end of the 46th over, running out Gavin Tonge from long-on with a relay to Ramdin for the ninth wicket with 20 required to win. Shannon Gabriel defeated Jason Campbell’s heave across the line in the 49th over to end the match.Campbell’s efforts with the ball went in vain after he had set up the dramatic second innings, taking 5 for 37 with his left-arm spin in the first innings. Nicholas Alexis made 50 at No. 3 for T&T but Imran Khan’s 45 not out at No. 6 ensured they batted through the 50 overs. Roger Primus fell in the 39th over to make it 151 for 6 and Khan shepherded T&T’s long tail through the final 11 overs before they ended on 226 for 9, which ended up being just enough to secure their third win, putting them just a bonus point behind Leewards for the top spot in Group A.

Club captain Cesar Azpilicueta has ended his 11-year stay at Stamford Bridge, leaving new Blues boss Mauricio Pochettino with a big decision to make

There was another significant juncture in Chelsea's extraordinary period of upheaval last week, as Cesar Azpilicueta bid farewell to the club after 11 trophy-laden years of loyal service. His departure immediately adds to Mauricio Pochettino's in-tray, with the new head coach now facing a big decision over who should take the armband.

Indeed, the Argentine needs to form a new on-field leadership team altogether, as Jorginho's move to Arsenal in January means the club has lost both its captain and vice-captain in the space of six months. Mateo Kovacic, another player to have worn the armband recently, has also moved on.

Chelsea's unprecedented overhaul of the first-team squad this summer means the options to replace Azpilicueta as skipper are limited, but a few names in particular stand out as candidates…

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  6Enzo Fernandez

  In his brief time at Chelsea, Enzo Fernandez has demonstrated his leadership credentials in his attempts to dictate play from the middle of the park amid relative chaos around him. Indeed, he aspires to be a leader on the pitch, saying in April: "I always dream to be a leader because when I started, I always wanted to be an example."

  His authority was noted by interim manager Frank Lampard, but his thoughts are perhaps an accurate reflection of where the midfielder will sit in Pochettino's thinking: "Enzo is becoming a leader," he said. "But he's 22, I think it's quite difficult for us to talk about that, he'll have to find his way."

  The language barrier is also an issue, with Lampard revealing in May that Enzo "doesn't speak English much at all". Consequently, this feels like an opportunity that will come too soon for the club's record signing.

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  5Ben Chilwell

  A name that will likely be mentioned in despatches in discussions over the club's next club captain and leadership team is Ben Chilwell. Despite only signing in 2020, the 26-year-old suddenly finds himself among the club's longest-serving players.

  A Premier League and Champions League-winner as well as an England international, he has a wealth of experience at the highest level and knows what it means to represent Chelsea through thick and thin, while his disarming, warm character means he is popular among the squad and the fanbase.

  His injury record should be a concern, however, as Pochettino will want his captain to be ever-present. Some will also argue that he is perhaps nice for the job.

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  4Kepa Arrizabalaga

  The notion of Kepa Arrizabalaga even being in contention for the captaincy would have been laughable less than a year ago, but the goalkeeper has battled back to prominence at Stamford Bridge.

  Kepa enjoyed a quietly solid campaign after reclaiming his place between the sticks from now ex-Chelsea stopper Edouard Mendy, and Lampard even handed him the armband for the home game against Brighton at the backend of last season – although that ended in another disappointing defeat.

  He is an outsider for the role, but it has been reported that Pochettino is willing to stick with the Spaniard as his No.1 next season rather than spend on a replacement. That makes him a contender for the captaincy as a vocal presence at the back and one of the longest-serving first-team regulars, despite his shortcomings.

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  3Raheem Sterling

  Raheem Sterling still hasn't even been at Chelsea for a year, but his experience and winning mentality mean he will feature prominently in Pochettino's thoughts as he ponders his decision.

  Sterling has emerged as a natural-born leader, captaining both Manchester City and England in the past and earning the respect of his peers with his exploits both on and off the pitch. His trophy-laden time at the Etihad Stadium means he is comfortably the most decorated player in the Chelsea squad.

  It's a role the player relishes at international level, saying after captaining the Three Lions last year: "It's a great privilege and never in my wildest imagination as a young player coming through did I ever think I would captain England one day, it comes with maturity the manager sees in you, the passion and love I have for the country.

  "I always have this thing where I remember me coming through as a young player and it's nice when senior players put their arms around you, it's a new environment and all we can do is make sure the new ones feel as comfortable as possible."

  The main thing that will count against Sterling is his brief time at Stamford Bridge to date, but don't be surprised to see him in his manager's new leadership team.