Edu Gaspar is eyeing up an Arsenal move for Brazilian left-back Ayrton Lucas this summer as he plans to give Mikel Arteta the tools required to build upon their positive 2022/2023 season.

What’s the latest on Ayrton Lucas to Arsenal?

According to Italian outlet Calciomercato, Arsenal are keen on signing Flamengo defender Lucas this summer in order to strengthen their first team squad, although they could face stiff competition from Juventus.

With full-back Kieran Tierney heavily linked with a move to Newcastle United, Arteta will require someone to replace him as an alternative to Oleksandr Zinchenko and Lucas fits the bill.

The Brazilian isn’t likely to break the bank either as the report states he has a release cause of only €30m (£26m) and this is an attractive option for the Spaniard ahead of next term.

Could Ayrton Lucas replace Kieran Tierney at Arsenal?

Almost all left backs to emerge from Brazil get compared to the legendary figure that is Roberto Carlos, the former Real Madrid defender with thighs like tree trunks, although Lucas, according to journalist Andrew Sousa, has “embodied” Carlos and might Arteta have a reincarnation of the 127-cap hero?

This season in the Brazilian top flight for Flamengo, he averages 1.7 dribbles per game and 1.1 shots per game, suggesting he enjoys getting forward as much as possible, similar to Carlos – who bagged 97 club career goals and 125 assists – during his prime years, while he has even netted three goals.

The 25-year-old may not just replace Tierney in the squad, but he could well be an upgrade on the Scot ahead of a season which will see Arsenal take part in the Champions League group stages for the first time since 2016/2017.

Indeed, Lucas has registered more shots per 90 (1.23 to 0.79), shot-creating actions per 90 (2.09 to 1.36), successful take ons (15 to three), carries into the final third (19 to 12) and touches in the attacking penalty area (18 to 15) across roughly the same number of starts throughout 2022/2023 (8.8 to 8.1 90s).

This certainly suggests that the Brazilian could be a better-attacking option than Tierney, judging by his ability to push into the final third and create plenty of shooting opportunities, increasing his chances of scoring.

For the aforementioned fee of only £26m, Arteta would be signing a proven defender who has won the biggest tournament in South America (Copa Libertadores) while even claiming silverware from his spell at Spartak Moscow, winning the Russian Cup just last year, and he could well be another piece of the jigsaw for Arsenal heading into next term.

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.

GOAL takes a look at what to watch for in these two friendlies against South Africa as the U.S. begins the preparing for the Olympics and beyond

The 2023 World Cup is now over for the United States women's national team. The tournament will be remembered as a failure, but perhaps a failure that served as a reboot point for a program that probably needed it.

But as we enter this first post-World Cup camp, it is fair to say that that reboot is on hold, at least for a little while. The USWNT is a team in transition, yes, but that transition hasn't quite happened yet. Instead, the U.S. has a squad full of World Cup veterans for these two friendlies against South Africa, including two legitimate legends that will be saying goodbye.

These games will serve as the swansongs for Megan Rapinoe and Julie Ertz, two historic figures for this program. They'll be surrounded by many of the players they competed with this summer as they prepare to say goodbye and move onto the next stage.

While those two will get the headlines, though, this camp is about more than just that. The farewells are nice, yes, but there are several new faces in this camp that could be very, very important as the U.S. puts this World Cup behind them and begins looking ahead to the 2024 Olympics, as well as the 2027 World Cup.

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  New coach bounce?

  The Vlatko Andonovski era is over, and the (temporary) Twila Kilgore era is now beginning. Kilgore is serving as the USWNT's interim coach for now as the federation searches for Andonovski's replacement. Technical director Matt Crocker says that U.S. Soccer is hard at work with that task and that a new hire should be in relatively soon, but for now, this is Kilgore's team.

  Kilgore has been with the U.S. Soccer program for some time, having started with the Under-20s before serving as both Andonovski's assistant and U.S. U23s coach. Her tenure in charge may not last long, but it certainly will be interesting.

  Will Kilgore institute any changes? Will she abandon any of the concepts that, ultimately, led to failure at the World Cup? Or will she know her place as a more transitional coach and simply try to keep things together rather than reinvent things overnight?

  Either way, it'll be intriguing to see someone different at the helm and to find out what that means for a USWNT that is in transition.

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• Getty
  

  A shot of Coffey

  One of the biggest 'what ifs' from the 2023 World Cup centers around Sam Coffey. What would have happened if she wasn't overlooked? How would that midfield have performed with Coffey involved? Well, we'll get a pretty decent look during this window.

  With the bulk of the World Cup squad hanging around, the introduction of Coffey will give us something of a look into what this team could have looked like with the midfielder involved. A No.6 that is capable of disrupting play and moving the ball, the fact that Coffey never got integrated to the team was one of Andonovski's biggest failures.

  She'll now get a chance to prove herself, though, as she looks to make an impression early on the road to 2027.

• Getty
  

  How does Shaw fit?

  One of two uncapped players in the squad, Jaedyn Shaw is a player that should be an intriguing one for the USWNT. She can either play out wide or centrally, making her a dangerous weapon that gives the U.S. tactical flexibility whenever she's in the XI. And she's just 18 years old, so this is all just beginning.

  Shaw was U.S. Soccer's Young Player of the Year last year and already has plenty of NWSL experience under her belt for the San Diego Wave, despite her youth. Talent-wise, she's as promising as it gets, and her positional flexibility make her an even more interesting talent for a USWNT that remains loaded with young attackers.

  With players like Trinity Rodman, Sophia Smith and Alyssa Thompson all just getting started, how does Shaw fit in, especially in a fully-fit squad? Hopefully this camp offers an early idea.

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• Fishel steps up

  To begin her career, Mia Fishel took the road less travelled, and that road has led her right to the USWNT anyway. From UCLA to Tigres and, now, a historic move to Chelsea, Fishel has forged a reputation as a goalscorer. She scored boatloads at Tigres, and it's her ability to put the ball in the back of the net that has her in the USWNT picture.

  However, the U.S. has several other goalscorers around the team. Smith, Alex Morgan and Mallory Swanson (when healthy), all score plenty. So how does Fishel fit? Can she unseat one of the team's regular stars?

  We'll learn the answer to that in the coming years, not the coming days, but Fishel will no doubt be looking to make a good first impression.

A round-up of the Super Sixes games from the Women’s World Cup Qualifiers played on February 15, 2017

ESPNcricinfo staff15-Feb-2017

India began the Super Sixes stage of the Women’s World Cup Qualifier with a comfortable 49-run win against South Africa in Colombo. Mithali Raj and Mona Meshram struck fifties to propel India’s score to 205. In reply, South Africa were bowled out for 156 as fast bowler Shikha Pandey and left-arm spinner Ekta Bisht combined for seven wickets.After India were inserted, opener Deepti Sharma was dismissed in the 12th over for 9 off 38 balls. Meshram and Raj then shared a 96-run stand to set a platform for the end overs. South Africa ensured they kept India in control by picking up regular wickets. India managed to score just 93 runs in the final 20 overs. South Africa were quickly reduced to 8 for 2 in the fifth over, and were always behind the asking rate thereon. Trisha Chetty top-scored with an 81-ball 52. Pandey returned figures of 4 for 34.Eshani Lokusuriyage’s 65 and contributions from the top order ensured Sri Lanka cruised past the target of 213 against Pakistan with five wickets in hand and 14 balls to spare. Nipuni Hansika (37) and Chamari Atapattu (35) set the tone with a 75-run opening stand, before Pakistan hit back with three wickets in the space of eight overs. Prasadani Weerakkody struck 45 off 71 balls and shared an 88-run partnership with Lokusuriyage.Pakistan were helped along to 212 with fifties from Nahida Khan (64) and Javeria Khan (63). The pair shared a 119-run stand off 171 balls. Pakistan, too, lost a cluster of wickets in the end overs, stalling the momentum from the innings. Inoka Ranaweera and Chamari Polgampola added two wickets apiece.File photo – Sharmin Akhter struck five fours during her fifty•IDI/Getty Images

Bangladesh Women skittled Ireland Women for 144 and cruised to a seven-wicket win in their first Super Six match at the Colombo Cricket Ground.Jahanara Alam led the way with figures of 3 for 21 after Bangladesh inserted Ireland. She removed Cecelia Joyce and Kim Garth in successive overs to reduce Ireland to 15 for 2 inside nine overs. Panna Ghosh, Rumana Ahmed, Khadija Tul Kubra proceeded to make further inroads into the Ireland line-up. Salma Khatun was also among the wickets as Ireland were bowled out in 47.1 overs. Their major source of resistance came from Clare Shillington and captain Laura Delany, who struck 37 each. Apart from them, only Isobel Joyce passed 20.The Sharmins – Sultana and Akhter – gave Bangladesh a solid start in their chase with a 40-run partnership. The stand ended when Gaby Lewis got rid of Sultana for 22 at the end of the 15th over. Sanjida Islam then fell cheaply, but Akhter ate into target with a half-century before exiting in the 30th over. Fargana Hoque and Rumana eventually sealed the win in the 40th over with an unbroken 39-run stand.

Once the jewel of the club's academy, the winger's career at Stamford Bridge has come to a sad end

It's almost unimaginable now that a club of Bayern Munich's stature would be interested in forgotten Chelsea man Callum Hudson-Odoi, but that was the reality in 2019. A two-year pursuit would culminate in a rejected loan offer that included a whopping £70 million ($90m) obligation to buy, with the Blues steadfast in their resolve to hold on to one of the jewels of their academy.

Two-and-a-half years on, and that resolve has disintegrated – to the extent that Chelsea have negotiated the 22-year-old's exit for less than £10m. Their west London neighbours Fulham lodged a £4m ($5.1m) bid some weeks ago, and now the Blues have accepted an offer from Nottingham Forest that will see the England international leave for an initial £3m ($3.8,m), with another £2m ($2.5m) available in add-ons.

But was has provoked such a sharp decline in Hudson-Odoi's value to his boyhood club? GOAL examines the reasons behind the winger's sad fall from grace…

getty ImagesHis Achilles heel

Niggling fitness issues often hampered Hudson-Odoi in the early years of his senior career, but two much more serious injuries effectively derailed him.

The 2018-19 season had been something of a breakthrough campaign for the then-18-year-old, who had shone in a Europa League campaign that would end in the Blues lifting the trophy. It was in that period that Bayern began to circle, with Chelsea rebuffing a £40m ($51.5m) approach in January 2019 despite a transfer request from the player.

However, having earned a regular Premier League place, an Achilles rupture in April 2019 saw his progress cruelly halted as he was sidelined for five months.

Then, after some strong form in 2020-21 and a second rejected approach from Bayern, his season was brought to an abrupt end by a two-month layoff by a hamstring injury, while his Achilles issues returned in 2022 and led to a nerve issue that left Hudson-Odoi barely able to kick a ball.

Speaking after making his recovery, he said: "It was a weird one. It was a neurological thing where I had a tweaked nerve in my back and it stemmed all the way down through my body, so it then became difficult for me to retain muscle. There was no power really in my legs and everything was like ‘woah’. I was trying to pass the ball 10 yards but I had no power and I couldn’t even do it."

AdvertisementGettyNever fully trusted

Hudson-Odoi's case has never been aided by those recurring injury problems, but he has also never truly nailed down a starting place at Stamford Bridge since his breakthrough five years ago.

Although he was initially given minutes when Thomas Tuchel replaced Frank Lampard as Chelsea head coach in early 2021, those became increasingly infrequent as time went on and he was on the fringes by the start of the 2021-22 campaign.

Speaking about that period last year, he said: "There were times and you think, 'what have I done wrong? Or what am I doing wrong not to be playing?' Sometimes it was difficult and frustrating. You are sitting on the bench or might not even be in the squad and then you're like 'what on earth have I done to deserve that?'

"I train well every day, I give my all in every game, but then I don't get picked. Of course, if there are other players doing well in your position, they should get picked as well, but at the same time, you always want to fight for your position and have a fair chance."

Getty ImagesOut of position

Hudson-Odoi was made to suffer under Tuchel in particular. The German tactician's preferred tactical set-up, with three at the back and two inverted attacking midfielders behind a striker, didn't leave much space for a traditional winger who is at his best when hugging the touchline.

Indeed, the academy graduate was often forced to deputise at right wing-back. Although he admitted that playing there helped him improve defensively, he was also open about that not being his preferred role.

Speaking in January 2022, he said: "I’d definitely say I prefer more-attacking positions for myself, as a winger or a No.10 kind of player. Obviously I like to be direct and try to create scoring opportunities for the team, hopefully try to score some myself. Playing in that position I’m more comfortable and I feel more free while playing there as well.

"It’s definitely a different position [wing-back], definitely harder, so I’d say definitely an attacking position is what I prefer."

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Getty ImagesHugely underwhelming loan

Those frustrations likely contributed to the wide man's decision to seek an exit from Stamford Bridge last summer. Having witnessed the success of fellow English youngsters Jadon Sancho and Jude Bellingham in the Bundesliga, he opted for a season-long loan to Bayer Leverkusen. It was a deal that provoked excitement for a potential resurgence in Germany.

However, he was unable to emulate the success of his compatriots. Inconsistent performances saw him lose his place under head coach Xabi Alonso by the turn of the year, and he suffered the ignominy of being hooked at half-time twice in the space of three league appearances.

Speaking in March, Leverkusen's managing director Simon Rolfes called on him to improve: "He has to show consistency, go into dangerous areas and become a goal threat himself. He has to show a lot more presence. He can do a lot more there. He has the technical qualities for it."

However, there was no change in his fortunes as he made just one appearance between March and May.

England Lions were put to the sword by an unbroken stand of 303 on another sweltering day in Dambulla

ESPNcricinfo staff25-Feb-2017Sri Lanka A 333 for 3 (Samarawickrama 177*, Karunaratne 140*) trail England Lions 353 (Livingstone 105, Westley 68, Pushpakumara 8-127) by 20 runs
ScorecardDimuth Karunaratne found form ahead of the Test series against Bangladesh•AFPEngland Lions were put to the sword by an unbroken stand of 303 on the second day in Dambulla. Test opener Dimuth Karunaratne and 21-year-old Sadeera Samarawickrama gorged themselves during the latter two sessions to put Sri Lanka A in control.The Lions had extended their total to 353 and when Sri Lanka A stumbled to 30 for 3 it looked a formidable score. But that changed dramatically as the day wore on, and it was Samarawickrama who led the way to finish unbeaten on a career-best 177 from 219 deliveries.He was given one life, on 90, when Tom Curran could not hold a leading edge off Jack Leach but otherwise it was a dominant performance. It was an expensive day for Leach, who missed the opening game after feeling uncertain about his remodelled action, as he finished with 0 for 76 from 12 overs.For Karunaratne this series is a chance to find some form ahead of the Test series against Bangladesh. He chipped in against South Africa, with scores of 43, 24 and 50 alongside three single-figure innings, but he had not reached 20 in his previous six completed first-class innings which included two failures in the opening match against the Lions.This time he survived the new ball and began to prosper against a tiring Lions attack. By the end of the day he had struck 15 boundaries in his 216-ball stay.The picture looked very different during the morning session. Tom Curran struck in his second over to have Udara Jayasundera, who carried his bat in the second innings of the previous match, caught behind and Ron Chandraguptha went the same way against Toby Roland-Jones.When Ollie Rayner trapped Sandun Weerakkody lbw sweeping the Lions were buoyant, but that proved the last moment of success on what became a day of toil. They are not the first England side to feel that in Asia this season.

Scorecard and ball-by-ball details1:35

‘No foothold for New Zealand after Guptill wicket’

South Africa’s one-day side started in New Zealand as the No. 1 and they will end it there after an oscillating series went their way at a ground that now holds some good memories. There were a few jitters with the bat – there were bound to be, weren’t there? – but after a commanding performance in the field, which sucked the life out of New Zealand’s batting order, a target of 150 gave them breathing space.From the moment that the hero of Hamilton, Martin Guptill, was defeated by Kagiso Rabada there was never any let-up from South Africa with the ball. Rabada was high-class on a surface offering more carry than any other in the series. Imran Tahir, who New Zealand have played well this series, then reeled off the most economical 10-over figures by a South Africa spinner – and the best by any spinner in an ODI in his country – as the innings almost came to a standstill.Andile Phehlukwayo missed the Hamilton match with a minor groin injury and had a significant impact on his return with the wickets of Dean Brownlie and Ross Taylor. South Africa’s ground-fielding also conjured two wickets, including the major scalp of Kane Williamson, as New Zealand’s batting slumped for the second time in the series.But they did not let their unbeaten one-day home record, dating back to South Africa’s visit in 2014, go easily and for a moment mid-chase, another Eden Park classic was not complete fantasy. Jeetan Patel had snaffled two – and had an lbw against Faf du Plessis overturned by DRS – and when AB de Villiers was bounced out by James Neesham – not a dismissal you would have put your house on – South Africa were 88 for 4. But du Plessis, who reached fifty with the winning boundary, and David Miller, ensured against any further drama.It was a superb set-up from Rabada, a sharp bouncer which ensured Guptill had to be wary of planting forward, then a yorker which he tried to advance to but only got in a horrid position with his stumps exposed. As ugly as Hamilton was breathtaking.Williamson and Brownlie weathered the rest of the opening ten overs but a horror few minutes sent the innings into a spiral. It’s a period Brownlie will want to forget. Firstly he decided to chance de Villiers’ fielding at midwicket which left Williamson stranded when the South Africa captain dived and flicked in the blink of an eye. Williamson’s bat got caught in the turf short of the crease, but he would have been short regardless.Three balls later, Brownlie play round a full delivery from Phehlukwayo and almost walked before the finger was raised. Tahir’s first four overs cost just four; eventually overs 10-20 brought 31 for 4. As in Wellington, Phehlukwayo was key to that, bowling wicket-to-wicket at brisk pace, and was rewarded again when Taylor fell across a straight one.Luke Ronchi’s stay was never convincing and he gloved a short ball as he tried to sway out of the line. Neesham, yesterday recalled to the Test squad, had looked as comfortable as any of the top order but for the second time in the series was removed by a short ball from Rabada, although it needed the DRS to confirm the top-edge.The build-up to Mitchell Santner’s demise highlighted South Africa’s suffocating ground fielding. Three consecutive shots from Santner were intercepted sharply in the infield, then the fourth went to JP Duminy at backward point who slid and threw from the ground, hitting directly with Santner nowhere.Tahir, who did not concede anything other than singles, gained his reward against the lower order. In three of the five matches, New Zealand had played him as well as anyone of late – “respect” had been the word used by both sides – but they became almost strokeless this time. The pressure of the occasion, the pitch, or just a good day for him? Only they will know.Such was the swift end to New Zealand’s innings that South Africa batted before the interval. Patel again saw off Quinton de Kock – that change of tactic had worked a treat – and scoring wasn’t easy after the break. Hashim Amla completed a fifty-less series when he drove to cover as did Duminy – the latter far more of a concern – when he drove softly at Patel. Duminy had again been used ahead of de Villiers, but he has regressed during this series.De Villiers has been far and away South Africa’s best batsman and he was eager to finish things himself. He took a six apiece of Patel and Santner but was then surprised by the nip and angled of Neesham’s bouncer, which followed him and took the glove to the keeper. As a single moment it was a superb spectacle, but not enough to open the game for New Zealand.Du Plessis ticked over and for the first time in the series Miller played the type of forceful shots he has become known for. The target hurried into view. The sun had only just set. This time not on South Africa.

Liverpool boss Jurgen Klopp is once again being billed as a candidate to take charge of the German national team following the sacking of Hansi Flick.

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Ex-Bayern boss relieved of his dutiesVoller placed in interim chargeReds manager admired back homeWHAT HAPPENED?

Former Bayern manager Flick was unceremoniously sacked by the DFB following a humbling 4-1 friendly defeat to Japan. He took in just 25 games at the helm, and was relieved of his duties after winning only 12 of those games and suffering a group stage exit at the 2022 World Cup in Qatar.

AdvertisementGetty ImagesTHE BIGGER PICTURE

There has been talk of an approach being made for Klopp, despite the fact that he is under contract at Anfield through to 2026. The reports that while the charismatic German is of obvious appeal to those in his homeland, there is no desire on his part to break his agreement on Merseyside.

WHAT THEY SAID

Klopp has previously said when quizzed on links to the role with Die Mannschaft: “The job of national coach is and would be a great honour – there's no question about that. The problem that stands in the way of the whole thing is my loyalty. Basically, it's an interesting job. But I don't know yet whether I'll do something completely different after I leave Liverpool. I want to keep my options open.”

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Getty/ GOALWHAT HAPPENS NEXT?

Germany are looking to appoint a new coach who can lead them towards next summer’s European Championship on home soil. Ex-Bayern boss Julian Nagelsmann is considered to be favourite for the role, with Oliver Glasner also in contention as Rudi Voller takes the reins on an interim basis.

Newcastle United have been reported to hold an interest in Leeds United midfielder Brenden Aaronson, but the USMNT international has endured a torrid time in the Premier League this year.

That's following an exclusive from Football League World, who claim that Magpies technical director Dan Ashworth has his eye on Aaronson and his international and Leeds teammate Tyler Adams this summer after the Whites were relegated from the top-flight after three seasons.

The 22-year-old only signed last summer for around £25m and started brightly, but as Leeds' campaign deteriorated so did Aaronson's, and he might be searching for new pastures as the outfit look to recuperate some of the sum paid to RB Salzburg.

Newcastle are in the market for new firepower in the central department after qualifying for the Champions League with a top-four finish, but the main question on supporters' lips would be whether signing the ace would be the most auspicious move to make…

Should Newcastle sign Brendan Aaronson?

Aaronson still has four years left at Elland Road after penning a five-year deal upon signing for the club, but there is every possibility that he will be shipped on as Leeds look to rebuild ahead of mounting a bid for promotion straight back to the top flight.

And while he is clearly a talented playmaker, given Newcastle's newfound stature and breakthrough to European competition, it is unlikely that Howe would be inclined to make the move with the squad's midfield already so robust and reliable.

The 29-cap ace only scored once across the entirety of the 22/23 Premier League season, assisting a further three goals, and was even branded a "lightweight" by pundit Jon Newsome for his anonymous, almost lackadaisical presence on the pitch.

As per Sofascore, the £45k-per-week American recorded a, candidly, woeful average league rating of 6.51, and while he completed 79% of his passes and averaged 1.3 key passes per game, his flimsiness was on full show as he won only 40% of his contested duels and succeeded with 41% of his attempted dribbles.

And given that Magpies outcast Ryan Fraser statistically completed a better season, recording an average rating of 6.71 after playing just eight times all year, it hardly seems to be the most propitious option for the Toon to delve down.

Especially considering the likes of James Maddison and Dominik Szoboszlai have peppered the rumour mill with reports of United's heated interest in their services.

Fraser, while embodying the etymology of the word peripheral under Howe's wing at St. James's Park, won 59% of his duels in the Premier League and at least held his own, something that Aaronson – who reportedly has a relegation clause worth in the region of £25m – has, as illustrated by the aforementioned metrics, failed to do.

Such talents would undoubtedly come at greater cost, but Newcastle have established the foundation for a future laden in success and must now make the right moves to ensure that the good fortunes this year do not falter with the turning of the page, and Aaronson, talented as he may be, is surely not the answer at such a crucial stage in this burgeoning outfit's development as a European superpower.

Coach Anil Kumble has said India’s failure to adapt in Pune cost them the game, and that Ajinkya Rahane’s spot in the team is not in question

Karthik Krishnaswamy in Bengaluru02-Mar-2017Anil Kumble, India’s coach, has put their first-Test defeat down to a failure to adapt to the challenging conditions in Pune rather than anything their opponents did.”Australia are a quality side. All the other touring sides were quality sides too,” Kumble said, when asked if Australia tested India in a way their other oppositions during this home season – New Zealand, England and Bangladesh – didn’t. “I don’t think we played to our potential. And that’s what we’d like to do [in the second Test in Bengaluru].”We’d like to come back into this Test match and play to our potential and not really worry about [the opposition]. I think I did mention in the previous presser, or probably against Bangladesh, someone asked me about the opposition. We only look at what we need to tick. If we keep ticking those boxes, results go our way. And that’s what we’d like to do here.”We didn’t tick those boxes in the last game, and we didn’t win. So we need to tick all those boxes – be it partnerships as a batting unit, partnerships as a bowling unit or taking those catches – all those things are important to win Test matches. That’s what we’ll focus on.”India’s defeat in Pune ended an unbeaten run stretching to 19 Test matches.”You can’t keep winning every game,” Kumble said. “It has to come to an end at some point of time. But as I said, 20 games in the current scenario of Test cricket – it’s quite challenging for any international side to go out there and keep winning. And that’s what this team has been able to do. Across conditions, be it Sri Lanka, India, West Indies. And against quality sides, we’ve won from difficult situations.”We have adapted to various conditions and also various situations. That’s what we didn’t do in the last game. That’s why the result didn’t go our way. That’s why we are looking forward to this game to again start on a winning note.”Ajinkya Rahane has managed just one fifty-plus score in his last nine innings•AFP

In Pune, India played their regular combination of five batsmen, a keeper, and five bowlers. Asked if the magnitude of their defeat there – they were bowled out for 105 and 107 – would necessitate playing an extra batsman, Kumble said India wouldn’t change their thinking based on one result.”No I don’t think so,” he said. “It all depends on what we believe is the right combination to win a Test match. And that’s all we do. If we believe that four bowlers are enough or five bowlers are needed, which five bowlers or which four bowlers, all that depends on what we look at. Our aim is to win every game. That’s the combination we’ll put out there.”Kumble brushed aside suggestions that India might think of leaving out Ajinkya Rahane – who has only passed 50 once in his last nine completed Test innings – for Karun Nair, whose last Test innings was a triple-hundred in Chennai.”I think there’s no question of looking at dropping Rahane,” Kumble said. “He’s scored really well, he’s been extremely successful over the last couple of years. There’s absolutely no question about that. In terms of the team composition, we still haven’t discussed on that. All 16 are available.’We have adapted to various conditions and also various situations. That’s what we didn’t do in the last game’ – Anil Kumble•AFP

“It’s unfortunate that Karun has missed out after he scored that triple-hundred. That’s the way the composition of the team has been where we’ve looked to play five bowlers and you know it’s unfortunate. He came in as a replacement [for the injured Rahane during the series against England]. It’s really nice to have those kind of choices in the team where people have been successful in a group.”And this group has been, like I mentioned before the first Test or even against Bangladesh where Karun couldn’t make it, that’s the beauty about this group where whoever comes in has done really well. Yes, they’ve been left out, there have been times where people have had to be left out because of combinations that we go with. But everyone is available. It’s unfortunate for Karun but he’s one class act and you’ve seen that in the short international opportunities that he’s got.”Kumble grew tetchy when the talk moved to the Pune pitch – which was rated ‘poor’ in match referee Chris Broad’s report. “Can we move on?” he asked. “It’s only 22 yards, it won’t be different here.”When asked if there was any one kind of pitch he did not like to come up against, Kumble said he never dwelled on such questions.”There’s nothing like that,” he said. “I never looked at the pitch. People wrote a lot about my bowling with regard to pitch. Unfortunately as a bowler, or as a captain or as a coach, it never bothered me. Yes, you go there, you look at the pitch, and then come up with what you need to do, what kind of strategies you need with regards to what you read looking at the pitch. That’s about it.”There was a lot of talk during my playing career that he can bowl on one particular pitch. That didn’t really bother me. Nor does it bother me now.”