Manchester United have an interesting plan in place regarding the future of a "world-class" current player at Old Trafford, according to a fresh transfer update.
Man Utd players set to leave in 2024
The Red Devils continue to have an unpredictable season, with performances and results fluctuating between impressive and woeful, and Wednesday's 3-3 draw away to Galatasaray in the Champions League perhaps summed them up as a team.
It was another poor night at the office for Andre Onana, who twice allowed free-kicks to beat him too easily, and his struggles sum up the lack of impact from United's summer signings. Mason Mount has found it hugely difficult to make an impression, with the Englishman not helped by injuries, while Rasmus Hojlund is yet to score in the Premier League despite his impressive tally in Europe.
The January transfer window will allow Erik ten Hag the opportunity to bring in new signings, but plenty of United players will be out of contract in the near future and we could see somewhat of an overhaul in 2024. The likes of Aaron Wan-Bissaka, Victor Lindelof and Antony Martial all see their deals expire in 2024, while Donny van de Beek is thought to be certain to leave in Janary.
Man Utd make Anthony Martial decision
According to a new report from Football Insider, Manchester United could now trigger Martial's one-year extension but with the intent to then sell him for a fee.
"Man United could now activate Anthony Martial’s one-year contract extension clause and then let him go, sources have told Football Insider. The Red Devils could move to prolong the 27-year-old’s deal in order to protect his value and prevent him leaving for free in 2024."
Ratcliffe may well decide to splash out on a new forward next year, claims the report, and that would involve selling Martial either in January or next summer. This is a decision that would make perfect sense for United, ensuring that they don't simply lose Martial for nothing after splashing out so much on his potential back in 2015.
The Frenchman has always been a big talent at Old Trafford, with former Red Devils striker Robin van Persie even describing him as "world-class" on a talent level, but it feels like the right time to move him on, considering his influence has waned as the years have passed.
Fabrizio Romano adresses Man Utd contact for rapid striker target
He could now be available in January.
ByCharlie Smith Dec 1, 2023
This season, Martial's statistics highlight his lack of playing time, with only three starts coming his way in the Premier League in 2023/24, and while he is still only 27 years of age, he has suffered lots of injuries and arguably isn't the player he once was.
United need to move on from the forward now, bringing in fresh faces who represent the future, so it is now a case of triggering his contract and then receiving as much money for him as possible.
Aston Villa are certainly riding the crest of a wave right now as they secured their sixth Premier League win of the season with a rather straight forward 4-1 thrashing of West Ham United on the weekend.
Unai Emery was clearly just getting started by leading Villa to a seventh-place finish last season and their form during the current campaign ensures they have a realistic chance of securing a top six spot or whisper it quietly, a Champions League berth for next year.
Of course, they will have to maintain this over the course of a whole term while defeating established sides like Manchester United, Arsenal, and Manchester City at some point, but with the way the Spaniard has them playing right now, nothing appears out of the question.
Aston Villa managerUnaiEmery.
Having lured players such as Moussa Diaby, Pau Torres, and Nicolo Zaniolo to the club in a bid to strengthen his squad, and it has worked a charm.
He may not stop there, however, as his meticulous approach suggests there could be a few more arrivals during the January transfer window, and if Villa are still challenging at the top end of the Premier League while progressing in Europe, improving his squad depth could be crucial.
With this in mind, it appears as though the Midlands side are showing interest in a current Paris Saint-Germain midfielder Carlos Soler ahead of the winter window.
Are Aston Villa interested in signing Carlos Soler?
According to a recent report by Le Parisien (via One Football), Emery looks to be keeping tabs on the Spanish ace as the January window fast approaches.
The outlet claimed that PSG manager Luis Enrique is looking to add some more creativity to his side and could be set to bolster this area, yet this would potentially require him to make a few sales in order to accommodate some new arrivals.
Carlos Soler
Brighton and Hove Albion are also showing interest in the 6-foot gem and, having played for PSG and Valencia, his next stop could be the Premier League.
The 26-year-old ace is currently earning around £100k-per-week and this is certainly a wage that Villa could afford, especially when you consider that their highest earner is Boubacar Kamara, who is reportedly taking home £175k-per-week.
According to Football Transfers, Soler is currently valued at €25.6m (£22.3m), although he does have another four years remaining on his current contract, giving Enrique some more flexibility with the fee he could charge prospective buyers.
How good is Carlos Soler?
PSG won the Ligue 1 title last season and with the triumvirate of Neymar, Lionel Messi, and Kylian Mbappe obviously stealing headlines throughout the campaign, scoring 58 goals between them, it was Soler who played the unassuming role in the heart of the midfield.
Across 26 league matches last term, he scored three goals and grabbed three assists while registering ten goal contributions altogether in all competitions and key played a key role in their title triumph.
7
1
38
7
38
12
34
12
37
3
51
4
37
1
35
4
Before PSG however, he was an integral member of the Valencia squad, racking up a rather remarkable 38 goal contributions – 24 goals and 14 assists – across his final two full seasons with the Spanish giants, and it is clear he could give Emery and extra attacking threat from the heart of the midfield.
Over the previous 12 months when compared with positional peers across the Men's Big Five Leagues and European competitions, he currently ranks in the top 1% for non-penalty goals per 90 (0.32), the top 14% for assists per 90 (0.19), and the top 11% for progressive passes received per 90 (4.91).
This indicates that not only does he feature highly for goals and assists, but the midfielder likes to burst forward and receive the ball in dangerous positions on a regular basis.
Could he even be an upgrade on one of Emery’s summer signings? Youri Tielemans has failed to really showcase his true talents since joining Villa.
Is Carlos Soler better than Youri Tielemans?
Since arriving at Villa Park, the Belgian international has failed to start a league match under Emery and currently ranks in a lowly 12th spot for accurate passes per game (11.6), while also ranking 12th for key passes per game (0.2) and 11th for goals and assists(one) which indicate that he hasn’t made the required impact as expected.
In comparison, Soler ranks 15th for accurate passes per game (18.7) across the PSG squad while also ranking 15th for key passes per game (0.6) and seventh for goals and assists (two), and considering how tough it is to stand out at the French giants, he is performing fairly well when called upon.
The Spaniard has also registered more shots per 90 (2.32 vs 0.58) than Tielemans while also having a better pass success rate (87.7% vs 86.9%), taking more touches in the attacking third (64 vs 36) and receiving more progressive passes (13 vs five) per 90, suggesting that Soler has the edge on the Belgian across a wide range of performance metrics.
It is no wonder then that former Valencia star Curro Torres, who coached Soler during his time in the youth academy, praised him back in 2021, saying: “He is the complete midfielder and can act as a 6, 8 or 10; he has power, arrives in the box and can score.
“I know him and I know that he can still bring his game to the next level. He has taken on responsibility in the team too.”
These attributes could be a huge bonus for Emery as he aims to strengthen his side and with Tielemans not quite making an immediate impact following his summer arrival, Soler could see the potential to secure a regular spot in a team who are on the rise.
It would signal yet another statement of intent by the former Arsenal boss if he was able to lure the PSG midfielder to the Midlands, especially given his performances on the continent since making his debut for Valencia during the 2016/17 season.
If Emery wants constant improvement at Villa, he needs to continue his fine record in the transfer market and secure players who are heading to the peak of their powers.
Diaby and Torres fit that bill having joined during the summer and there is no doubt Soler is about to enter his prime years as a footballer, becoming an upgrade on Tielemans in the process, due to the aforementioned statistics.
Chelsea saw the best and worst of striker Nicolas Jackson as he fired in the opening goal against Brentford shortly after missing an open goal.
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Jackson missed embarrassing open goal
Redeemed himself with header
First league goal since December
WHAT HAPPENED?
The Senegal international was ridiculed by fans after he found himself faced with an open goal but managed to send his shot tamely into the defender's path in an embarrassing moment. The attacker managed to redeem himself shortly afterwards, though, when he got on the end of a wonderful Malo Gusto cross and headed into the net. The Chelsea man then went on to 'ssshh' the Brentford fans in his celebration.
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WHAT THE FANS ARE SAYING
Supporters mocked the Blues forward for his initial miss, accusing him of tackling himself and saying that it was easier to score than miss the target.
"Nicolas Jackson is a clown", X user @EbukaMeansGreat wrote, while @Nkunkumehn said Jackson "literally managed to dribble himself".
After Jackson managed to give Chelsea the breakthrough, journalist Kieran Gill gave a fair assessment, saying: "Saw a few sides of Nicolas Jackson in that first half. Tackled himself while trying some stepovers, should’ve scored after rounding the goalkeeper, but ultimately got his goal and celebrated by shushing Brentford supporters."
THE BIGGER PICTURE
The goal Jackson did manage to score is his first in the Premier League since December, though he now has goals in back-to-back games after helping fire his team to a 3-2 win against Leeds in the FA Cup during the week. He now has 11 goals from 26 appearances for Chelsea.
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WHAT NEXT FOR CHELSEA?
Mauricio Pochettino will hope his team can see out the win against Brentford and Jackson will be eager to go on a three-game scoring streak when they come up against Newcastle in the Premier League in their next match on March 11.
Over the course of the decade, India’s not-so-formidable links have gotten progressively stronger
Dileep Premachandran06-Dec-2009A decade ago, India were annihilated 3-0 by an Australian side on the cusp of world domination. Even for a nation that had been bowled out for 42 in a Test and been heavily beaten on other occasions, it was a nadir that said much about the state of their Test game. Prior to that tour, the board secretary’s private thoughts had been leaked, and his prediction of a 3-0 defeat turned out to be uncannily accurate. A few months later, Hansie Cronje’s South Africans became the first touring side to win in India since the days when permed hair was fashionable. From that Mariana-Trench low to this No.1 high, it’s been a long 10-year road.It was interesting to listen to MS Dhoni speak of short-term goals afterwards. Like many of the seniors in his team, he doesn’t lose sleep over the rankings. He’s probably aware that Sri Lanka too could have assumed the mantle with a series win, despite never have won so much as a Test in India, South Africa or Australia. India themselves have series-win boxes left to tick in Australia and South Africa, but for the moment, this achievement will be cause for celebration. After all, it’s not as though India or Sri Lanka devised the ranking system, which affects every team in the same way.Though they may not voice it publically, there’s little doubt that these moments at the summit, no matter how short they prove to be – South Africa can take over with a 2-0 success against England – mean a lot to the seniors who were part of that drubbing in Australia 10 years ago. Soon after Zaheer Khan’s fine morning spell sealed a second successive innings victory and confirmed India’s ascension to No.1, Rahul Dravid said: “Rankings are not something I concern myself with overly, but I believe it’s a good reflection of the kind of cricket we’ve played over the past few years.”If that ill-fated tour of Australia in 1999-2000 taught many players harsh lessons about the game and the rub of the green, then it was the next visit there that really laid the platform for what India have gone on to achieve since. Having overcome improbable odds to thwart Steve Waugh’s quest for Indian glory a couple of years earlier, India went into the series without being overawed or intimidated. With a little more luck on the final day at the SCG, they could even have won.They followed that with a first-ever triumph in Pakistan and their first series victories in the West Indies (2006) and New Zealand (2009) in more than a generation. Zaheer Khan’s sensational bowling and a solid batting display ensured victory in England in 2007, jellybeans and all, and over the past 15 months there have been comfortable home successes against Australia and Sri Lanka, and a epic last-day heist against England.In the new millennium, India have won 40 and lost 27 of their 103 Tests. In the past five years, the win-loss record is 22-10. It goes without saying that it’s been the most successful epoch in India’s cricket history, one that has been shaped by a golden generation and some nearly forgotten fringe players. When asked of the contribution of the seniors, Dhoni pointedly spoke of how “everyone who has played over the past four of five years has played a part”.Some of those men are now just fond memories. Sourav Ganguly and Anil Kumble retired 12 months ago, while John Wright left the coaching job in 2005. All three were major pillars in their own way, as were support staff members like Adrian Le Roux, Andrew Leipus and Greg King.Spare a thought too for the players who have come and gone. How many remember Sanjay Bangar, whose first-day defiance alongside Dravid was so pivotal in India squaring a series at Headingley in 2002? And what of RP Singh, on the honours board at Lord’s in a game that India saved largely because of a tremendous rearguard action from Dhoni?Victory in Pakistan in 2004 would never have been possible without the tireless efforts of Irfan Pathan and L Balaji, with both new ball and old. Even more unexpected was the contribution of M Vijay at the CCI. In for the absent Gautam Gambhir, he was both fluent and solid as Virender Sehwag and India got their second double-century start of the series.As the cliché goes, a team is only as strong as its weakest link. Over the course of the decade, India’s not-so-formidable links have gotten progressively stronger. The fielding will never rival Australia or South Africa, but the catching is invariably safe, and there’s finally a bowling attack capable of taking 20 wickets in most conditions.Zaheer, Sreesanth and Ishant Sharma will make most teams think twice before preparing a green top, and successes at the WACA and the Wanderers have gone a long way to exploding the stereotype of India being poor travellers. If there is a concern, it lies in the waning quality of the spin stocks, though it’s far too early to pass judgement on the likes of Pragyan Ojha and Amit Mishra.
Though they may not voice it publically, there’s little doubt that these moments at the summit, no matter how short they prove to be mean a lot to the seniors who were part of that drubbing in Australia 10 years ago
Over the next year or two, the No.1 ranking will change hands often. Unlike in the days when Australia, and West Indies before them, ruled the roost, it no longer signifies the best team in the world. For India, greater challenges await, but there’s little use brooding about Australia or South Africa right now. When asked if victory in those climes was essential to be legitimate top dogs, Dhoni said: “Let’s see when we go there. We can’t play them sitting here.”Five years ago, in an interview with the , Sachin Tendulkar spoke of why Australia were the No.1 team in the world. “They deserve that status because they’ve beaten every other country both home and away,” he said. “When we start to win series abroad on a regular basis, then I can say that we are definitely No.2. But right now, there are three or four teams pretty close together. If anyone wants to be the undisputed No.2, they’ll have to start winning wherever they go.”The world has changed since then, and teams can aspire to more than bridesmaid status. Tendulkar and the other weatherbeaten warriors alongside him has done as much as anyone to get India to where they are now. Regardless of what happens over the next few months, it’s something to savour. In a country where both administrators and fans are obsessed with cricket in coloured clothes, whether it be over 50 or 20 overs, the players deserve much credit for keeping their eyes on the red ball. After the horrors of a decade ago, these are the best of times.
Everton haven’t always come out the other side of a summer transfer window with instant hits on the pitch.
Nobody connected to the Premier League giants looks back on the summer of 2021 with much fondness when it comes to the capture of Moise Kean, with the Italian forward only managing to bag a poor four goals for the Toffees in total, before ripping it up back in Serie A.
This is, unfortunately, just part and parcel of being deeply involved in the beautiful game, with plenty of mishaps always possible. However, David Moyes isn’t experiencing that right now.
Instead, the much-loved Scotsman seems to have struck instant gold with most of his pick-ups in the window, with Kiernan Dewsbury-Hall’s positive start to life at the Hill Dickinson Stadium somewhat slipping under the radar.
Dewsbury-Hall's positive start at Everton
This is understandable, too, considering Dewsbury-Hall has been competing for the spotlight with Jack Grealish, who already has a stunning four assists next to his name on Merseyside.
Still, Grealish’s whirlwind introduction at Everton shouldn’t detract from his former Chelsea teammate looking equally revitalised, with the 27-year-old midfielder now looking to be back at his very best.
Indeed, after an ego-bruising experience at Stamford Bridge saw him line up just 13 times for the Blues in the Premier League, it was clear that the ex-Leicester City ace needed a reset, and that has successfully come his way under Moyes’ tutelage.
The hope will be that the Toffees’ number 22 can kick on even more after his bright start, though, with a promising goal and an assist heading his way in league action after creating a high eight big chances.
After all, seven goal contributions had fallen into his lap for the Foxes in the big time previously, despite only experiencing two seasons at the level, with a prolonged stay in the division perhaps getting even more out of the £25m signing in the long run.
Shockingly, however, one of Everton’s flops in the same vein as Kean is now performing with the same confidence Dewsbury-Hall has just obtained, after once being discarded by Carlo Ancelotti for a mere £12m.
The Everton flop now playing like Dewsbury-Hall
Everton fans will have pushed Ancelotti’s reign firmly to one side now, with the Italian showing flashes of promise here and there in the dug-out during his stint at Goodison Park.
Of course, it goes without saying that Ancelotti is an exceptional manager, with a mind-blowing five Champions Leagues in his managerial trophy cabinet, but even the very best are going to struggle if they have some middling duds to try and get a tune out of.
Davy Klaassen is one of those the well-travelled boss could never quite get on board with, with the Dutchman only going on to make seven forgettable Premier League appearances for the club, before the plug was pulled on his spell in England. Staggeringly, just one solitary assist is all Klaassen could shout about from 16 total appearances for the Toffees.
Everton would then have to stomach a loss when selling him to Werder Bremen in 2020, having forked out a reported £23.6m for his services, only to discard him a year later for far a lower £12m fee.
Klaassen – Eredivisie stats (25/26)
Stat – per 90*
Klaassen
Games played
6
Games started
3
Goals scored
2
Assists
1
Touches*
36.2
Accurate passes*
24.4 (87%)
Total duels won*
3.6
Stats by Sofascore
He has since bounced back from his “complete dud” label at Everton, which was once handed to him by Joey Barton, with his early Eredivisie form for Ajax this season rivalling that of Dewsbury-Hall back in England, with three goal contributions coming his way from just three starts.
That likeness to the Englishman has also been noted by Football Transfers, with the pair deemed to be stylistically and statistically similar players. Indeed, both men appear to be at their best in a creative, advanced midfield berth, with Klaassen rolling back the years in that sense this season.
With 3.6 duels won on average, too, it’s clear that there is life still in the 32-year-old, with the Ajax veteran even going out of his way to state that he feels “right at home in Amsterdam” earlier this year, away from his misadventures elsewhere.
Certain players just suit certain clubs after all, with Klaassen now hopeful he can see out the rest of his up-and-down playing days in the Dutch capital.
For the time being, at least, Dewsbury-Hall will also want to stick it out at Everton, with the Merseyside Derby up next, another occasion where the 27-year-old can hopefully flex his creative prowess for Moyes and Co.
Not Dibling: Moyes may have Everton's next Grealish in "special" talent
Everton have completed a series of exciting signings this summer as Moyes looks to lift the Toffees for good.
Newcastle United have been leagues above the previous standard since Eddie Howe's arrival two years ago, having turned consistent relegation battles into a fight for European football and success on the continental scene.
The PIF takeover has, of course, been crucial to the transformation, but the Magpies are not the only team in England to boast affluent wealth, and the way that the club has matched monetary value with diligence and implementation has been commendable.
Having escaped relegation with some tremendous form in the second half of the 2021/22 season, last year Newcastle transcended their past performances with sustained brilliance across the campaign, finishing fourth in the Premier League ahead of teams such as Liverpool, Tottenham Hotspur, and Chelsea.
And this season, despite a three-match skid in the early phase, the Magpies are currently situated in sixth place and impressing with their performances, four points off Liverpool in fourth.
The new season has seen several exciting additions join the fold, but one former star, Allan Saint-Maximin, now plies his trade elsewhere after being shipped on in July after four years.
Why Newcastle sold Allan Saint-Maximin
Having signed for Newcastle from French side OGC Nice for an initial £16.5m in 2019 with Steve Bruce as the manager, Saint-Maximin established himself as one of the most exciting wingers in the Premier League, praised for his "breathtaking" performances by Sky Sports pundit Gary Neville.
After 124 appearances, Howe made the decision this summer to grant his departure, and when Saudi Arabian side Al Ahli came calling, he was sold for around £23m.
The 26-year-old whiz offered a very distinctive dimension to the Tyneside club but he was not the most consistent of attackers, and given that the electric Anthony Gordon was signed from Everton in January it isclear that Howe had prepared for his exit.
Season
Apps
Goals
Assists
22/23
31
1
5
21/22
37
5
5
20/21
26
3
4
19/20
30
4
7
Statistics sourced via Transfermarkt
As is delineated in the table above, for all of his fleet-footed brilliance, Saint-Maximin never quite chanelled the level of prolificness to cement a starting berth in Howe's expansive, dreamy, vision.
Tricks and weaves from speedsters of Saint-Maximin's ability can threaten the calmest, most immovable of defenders, but there will always come a time when igniting the spark in the final and decisive moment calls for incisive action.
The Frenchman did not marry the facets well enough to win Howe over, and he opted to cash in and replace him with Harvey Barnes, who joined from relegated Leicester City in a £38m deal.
Barnes, while quick and skillful, plays a more direct game and relies on his end product to impress, having scored 13 Premier League goals last season and posting a goal and an assist on his Magpies debut in August.
As per FBref, the 25-year-old ranks among the top 9% of attacking midfielders and wingers across Europe's top five leagues over the past year for goals scored per 90 to illustrate this fact.
federico-chiesa-harvey-barnes-newcastle-opinion
But injury struck and the Englishman has been ruled out indefinitely after sustaining an ankle issue in September, not scheduled to return for some time yet.
That unwelcome scenario is compounded by the recent shoulder injury to Jacob Murphy, whose industriousness has left him "so important" to Howe's side, according to The Athletic's Chris Waugh; while a timeframe has not yet been provided, Howe has expressed worry over the extent of the injury.
Such unfortunate circumstances inevitably lead to poignancy over the sale of Saint-Maximin, who would be an important component for the injury-stricken Toon at present.
Allan Saint-Maximin's statistics this season
The 5 foot 8 forward has impressed in the Saudi Pro League so far, plundering two goals and assists apiece from nine appearances – all starts – but a cruel twist of fate has recently seen the £226k-per-week phenom suffer minor ligament damage and now he too faces a spell on the sidelines.
As per Sofascore, he has complemented his direct return with some pretty impressive metrics thus far, completing 86% of his passes, taking 2.1 shots and making 1.8 key passes per game, and succeeding with 59% of his frequent dribbles.
Once hailed as a “wing wizard” by 90min's Graeme Bailey, Saint-Maximin is certainly bringing the magic and while he would likely not be the most prolific of members of the St. James' Park squad right now, he boasts core attributes that would allow him to fill in and play a big part.
Ranking among the top 7% of positional peers in the Men's Big Five Leagues and European competitions over the past 365 days for assists, the top 14% for shot-creating actions, the top 20% for progressive passes, and the top 1% for both progressive carries and successful take-ons per 90, he clearly offers the skills requisite for success under a manager such as Howe.
His four direct goal contributions actually surpass that of an ever-present member of the Newcastle squad this season, with Miguel Almiron not quite enjoying his richest vein of goalscoring form this season despite maintaining his impressive work rate and intensity.
Miguel Almiron's statistics this season
Last year, Almiron really came into his own after years of ebbing and flowing from form, and he scored 11 times and supplied four assists, with eight strikes coming in a blistering ten-match period in the Premier League, leading journalist Josh Bunting to remark at his “sensational” rise.
This season, the Paraguayan has scored three times from nine appearances across all competitions, and while he has been impressive, the deluge of injuries now demands an upswing in his cutting edge.
Newcastle United winger Miguel Almiron.
The £60k-per-week ace is among the crispest passers of the ball in his position, ranking among the top 11% of positional peers for pass completion per 90, but his clinical touch has been lacking a bit since last season's vibrant purple patch.
Saint-Maximin, of course, hardly trumps the 29-year-old in output but he is outperforming him this season – with one more goal contribution – and combining both his direct threat with a creative flair; Almiron is only creating 0.4 key passes per game in the Premier League this term.
Whether Howe rues the sale of the former star is questionable, after all, he was the one that permitted his departure, but there is no doubt that Saint-Maximin would be a valuable asset amid the current injury crisis.
West Ham United turn their attention away from the Premier League tonight as they host Serbian side FK TSC Backa Topola at the London Stadium in the Europa League.
What's the latest West Ham team news?
Speaking in his pre-match press conference on Wednesday, manager David Moyes confirmed that there are no fresh injury issues for the Hammers to contend with ahead of this match.
However, defensive midfielder Edson Alvarez is suspended and unavailable for selection after he was sent off against Union Berlin for Ajax in the competition last season.
West Ham are coming into the game off the back of a 3-1 defeat to Manchester City in the Premier League last weekend and the Scottish head coach may look to rotate his squad to offer players an opportunity to impress. One of those may well be Danny Ings.
Will Danny Ings start against Backa Topola?
One player who should be unleashed from the start of this clash is English centre-forward Ings, in order to provide him with a chance to play ahead of Michail Antonio.
The former Southampton star has made four appearances as a substitute in the league so far this season and this Europa League game is the perfect time to bring him in for his first start.
He could strike up an excellent relationship with James Ward-Prowse at the top end of the pitch as their pair already have plenty of experience alongside each other from their time on the south coast.
West Ham striker Danny Ings.
Ings and his compatriot played 88 matches together with the Saints and assisted each other for five goals combined between them in that time.
The 31-year-old marksman has only scored three goals in 26 matches for West Ham in all competitions since his move to the club in January but his form for Southampton in the past suggests that the potential is there for him to be a lethal scorer.
He was once lauded as a "goal machine" by journalist Joe Prince-Wright and the £125k-per-week ace lived up to that tag during his time at St. Mary's as the number nine racked up 46 goals in 100 matches.
Ings plundered an outstanding 34 Premier League goals across the 2019/20 and 2020/21 campaigns for the Saints and Ward-Prowse could help him to rediscover his touch in front of goal.
How many chances has Ward-Prowse created this season?
The England international has enjoyed a terrific start to his Hammers career and has created five chances in four Premier League games so far this season.
Ward-Prowse has provided his teammates with two 'big chances' and assisted three goals – two more than any other player – in that time to go along with his two strikes against Manchester City and Brighton.
West Ham midfielder James Ward-Prowse.
The central midfielder arrived at the London Stadium after he created nine 'big chances' and made 76 key passes across 38 top-flight matches for Southampton last term, which shows that he is capable of splitting open the opposition's defence on a regular basis.
Therefore, Ward-Prowse could be pivotal to ensuring that Ings is able to get back to his best and that is why the pair should both start tonight in this Europa League clash.
The English maestro could provide the former Aston Villa marksman with the service that he needs to get back on the scoresheet and Moyes should unleash them both.
Wongpaka Liengprasert picks up five wickets and then keeps composure with Thailand needing six off the final over to seal a last-ball win
ESPNcricinfo staff09-Jun-2018 ScorecardACCAlready, the 2018 Women’s Asia Cup T20 has thrown up a number of surprises. If Bangladesh, coached by former India wicketkeeper Anju Jain, beating India for the first time was huge, Thailand’s victory over Sri Lanka may herald a new lease of life to women’s cricket in the country. Their four-wicket win off the last ball in Kuala Lumpur on Saturday was their first ever against a Full Member, the result all the more incredible because Thailand don’t even have international status yet and because they were, incidentally, coached by a Sri Lankan, Janak Gamage.Offspinner Wongpaka Liengprasert justified the captain’s call to bowl first by taking 5 for 12 as Sri Lanka were bowled out for 104, of which openers Yasoda Mendis and Anushka Sanjeewani made 54. Eight others recorded single-digit scores in an innings that featured three stumpings and three run-outs. The only other notable contribution came from Oshadi Ranasinghe, who was unbeaten on 20.Liengprasert picked up her first three wickets in successive overs – the 10th, 12th and 14th of the innings. She then removed top scorer Sanjeewani for 32 in the 17th to reduce Sri Lanka to 93 for 7. Sornnarin Tippoch picked up the two other wickets to fall.In three previously completed innings in the tournament, Thailand hadn’t scored more than the 67 for 8 they made in the tournament opener against Pakistan. So to chase down 105 against the four-time runners up was always going to be a tall order.But they started well. The openers put on 43 runs in 7.5 overs, and another 34 were added for the second wicket. When Naruemol Chaiwai fell after updating her top score in the tournament from 20 not out to 43, Thailand were 77 for 2. For most sides, this may have been a cruise, but for an inexperienced outfit not exposed to top-flight cricket, needing 28 off 29 balls, even with eight wickets in hand, wasn’t going to be straightforward.Another wicket fell four deliveries later, in the 16th over, to turn this into a battle of nerves. Nattaya Boochatham, the No. 3, batted till the penultimate over to make 19, before being dismissed.With Thailand needing six off the final over, they lost the wicket of Tippoch, but weren’t going to be denied. Liengprasert, who did all the damage with the ball, kept her composure to make a crucial 13 off 9 balls to clinch a famous win.
The RCB head coach didn’t think the bowlers did too badly in their first game apart from the spell to Narine, and is not too keen to change his team’s game plan just yet
Varun Shetty12-Apr-20184:11
Dasgupta: Important to have at least six bowling options in T20s
Royal Challengers Bangalore were blindsided in their opening match against Kolkata Knight Riders, but they won’t be straying too much from their plan. At least not this early in the season, according to head coach Daniel Vettori, who said captain Virat Kohli will continue to bat at No. 3 and that a sixth bowling option is not on their minds on the eve of their first home fixture against Kings XI Punjab on Friday.”You have to be flexible,” said Vettori. “The reason we wanted Brendon [McCullum] and Quinton [de Kock] at the top is that they’re so dynamic and [we felt] Virat and AB [de Villiers] can take over. That was the thinking. We’ve obviously got Quinton’s all-round game. He’s a keeper as well and Brendon did a great job in the first game. So at this stage, that’s the plan, but it could change.”The plan did seem to work against KKR, where both McCullum and de Villiers made scores in the forties around a struggling Kohli. But a freakish over from Nitish Rana had de Villiers and Kohli falling off consecutive balls and Royal Challengers’ inexperienced middle order was forced to play a steadying job.”There’s always a lot of little things when you’re analysing a T20 game. If I were to pinpoint two things, it’d be losing those two wickets and the way we bowled to [Sunil] Narine,” Vettori said.Narine’s 17-ball fifty was his second Powerplay assault against Royal Challengers in as many games, following last year’s fixture where he had equalled Yusuf Pathan’s 15-ball fifty, which was an IPL record for the fastest fifty at the time. While that performance was symptomatic of a long-term bowling depth issue, Royal Challengers would not have expected a repeat this year. Particularly after an auction where they believed to have put together, as Kohli said to the media recently, their most balanced line-up of all time.Perhaps even more damaging was the fact that their spinners, Yuzvendra Chahal and Washington Sundar, were taken for plenty during the Powerplay – a phase where they’ve both carved good reputations for themselves in the IPL. It meant the pressure fell on the fast bowlers, one of whom was debutant Kulwant Khejroliya, who couldn’t wrest the game back in Royal Challengers’ favour. But Vettori didn’t think the bowlers did too badly apart from the spell to Narine, and he wasn’t too stressed about having a sixth bowling option, a view batsman Mandeep Singh had endorsed in the post-match conference last week.”There’s five bowlers there. Kulwant’s new to the team but we backed him because of his performances coming in, in the T20 format,” Vettori said. “We look at it more like an opportunity for five bowlers to do their job rather than wait for someone to fail and then the sixth bowler picks up [from there].”If the pitch at the Chinnaswamy Stadium is consistent with the slow turners that were produced last year, five bowlers would be enough. Even on the conditions front, Vettori seems confident.”I think the reflection after last season was that the pitch wasn’t what we’re used to. But two teams played on it and the other team won more often than not. So we don’t want to use the pitch as an excuse. We need to be adaptable and I suppose that was part of the selection criteria at the auction. [We bought] players who could perform in any conditions, not only on a 200 or 220 type of wicket. So we think we’ve got a group of guys who can really adapt to any conditions.”
The former captain said his security detail had discharged their weapons in order to protect him from a mob that was intent on killing him
Andrew Fidel Fernando29-Oct-2018Former captain Arjuna Ranatunga was arrested after he was involved in a shooting that killed one and injured two others in Colombo on Sunday, during Sri Lanka’s unfolding political crisis. He has since been swiftly produced before the Colombo magistrate, and was subsequently released on bail.Ranatunga had said his security detail had discharged their weapons in order to protect him from a mob that was intent on killing him, at the Ceylon Petroleum Corporation (CPC) offices. He had to be extracted later from the premises by Special Task Force – elite police – officers.But after almost 24 hours of pressure from a CPC trade union, which had threatened a fuel strike, Ranatunga was arrested on Monday afternoon.Ranatunga, who was the country’s Minister for the Development of Petroleum Resources, said he was attempting to retrieve belongings from the CPC offices, when it was surrounded by a mob aligned with the opposite political party. “They came to kill me – I state this responsibly – and you can check the CCTV footage,” Ranatunga said following the clash. “For the first time, I feared for my life. I thought of my children and my family.”After Ranatunga was dressed in a helmet and camouflage, and escorted from the premises by the Special Task Force, dozens of regular police were deployed in order to pacify a still-agitated crowd.The three wounded had been taken to hospital but the news of one of the men, aged 34, succumbing to his injuries prompted a demand over Ranatunga’s arrest from the trade union.Ranatunga first stood for office in 2001, and has held various cabinet portfolios since. He is a member of the United National Party, whose leader, Ranil Wickramasinghe, is in the midst of the ongoing political wrangle.