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Wilfried Gnonto and Tyler Adams remain part of Leeds United's plans for next season, according to journalist Ryan Taylor

Both players have been linked with moves away from Elland Road following the side's relegation.

Will Gnonto and Adams leave Leeds this summer?

The duo have attracted a lot of interest this summer, but the Yorkshire club remains committed to keeping them at Elland Road.

Adams, who has been hailed as a "leader", has been targeted by Premier League sides Aston Villa and West Ham United this summer, with the USA international impressing last campaign for the Whites. The midfielder has reportedly informed new manager Daniel Farke of his desire to depart this window, however an injury that will keep him ruled out until September has cast doubt over the possibility of it being completed. The report from Football Insider also states that Bundesliga clubs are interested in the former RB Leipzig player, who wants to continue to play at the highest level possible. Should either Aston Villa or West Ham make a move for the 24-year-old, the allure of European football may be a deciding factor.

Gnonto has already been the subject of a bid from a Premier League side, with Merseyside club Everton seeing a £15m offer for the young Italian international rejected by Leeds. The attacker who joined for just £3.8m from Swiss side FC Zurich last summer impressed many with eight goal contributions last season, even attracting interest from current champions Manchester City as well as Arsenal. Unlike a number of other players who have left Elland Road this summer, the former Inter Milan youth product's contract does not contain a relegation clause that allows him to depart this summer, strengthening the Yorkshire side's negotiation position.

Speaking to GIVEMESPORT, journalist Taylor revealed that despite both players being the subjects of interest, Leeds are planning for next season with both players in mind: "I think there is a chance they stay. Certainly Adams and although there's been interest from the likes of Aston Villa and Nottingham Forest, there hasn't really been anything too concrete. Obviously, the Championship season isn't too far away now, I think it's just under two weeks away. So ultimately, I think they are part of the plans at the moment.”

Who will Leeds buy next?

Leeds are looking to attack the transfer market in the next couple of weeks, with the new season on the horizon.

The club have already announced the signing of Welsh international Ethan Ampadu from Chelsea, and are hoping to bring in another central defender in the form of Liverpool player Nat Phillips. The 25-year-old looks set to leave the Reds this summer for a fee of £10m and the Yorkshire side have registered an interest in the Englishman alongside current Dutch champions Feyenoord.

The side are also looking to address the goalkeeping position, with current shot-stopper Illan Meslier expected to leave by the end of the transfer window according to Dean Jones. Leeds have already earmarked a replacement for the Frenchman, with Newcastle keeper Karl Darlow reportedly in "advanced talks" over a move.

Leeds also need to replace Rodrigo, who joined Qatar side Al Rayyan for £3m this summer. Rodrigo was the club's top scorer last season with 15 goals in 35 games across all competitions which will be tough to replace. The main target appears to be Swansea striker Joel Piroe, who is also wanted by Everton and Leicester City, with the Swans wanting £15m to part ways with their striker.

Manchester City are reportedly ‘willing to spend the necessary amount’ to sign Crystal Palace attacker Michael Olise, with a move to the Etihad ‘very probable’.

What’s the latest Man City transfer news?

Pep Guardiola has already brought in a new face this summer with a move for midfielder Mateo Kovacic from Chelsea. The Croatia international looks set to fill the void left by Ilkay Gundogan, and Kovacic is on course to be joined by fellow countryman Josko Gvardiol.

A deal worth around £77.6m has been agreed between City and Leipzig, with the two sides signing all the relative paperwork on Friday. Gvardiol was in Manchester to undergo a medical with the treble winners ahead of the weekend, and it looks as if City’s attention could soon be on a new right-winger after Riyad Mahrez left for Saudi Arabia.

Olise and Rennes’ Jeremy Doku are two names who have been mentioned, with Fabrizio Romano confirming interest from City and Chelsea this week due to the player’s release clause set at around £35m. Another development has now emerged, which appears to show that City are in pole position to sign the Palace attacker.

Sport Witness relayed an update from Tuttomercatoweb regarding Olise in the last 48 hours. They claim that City ‘appear willing’ to trigger the player's release clause as they are ‘prepared to spend the necessary amount’ to sign the player.

Premier League rivals Chelsea have made an approach to the player, but the report states it is ‘very probable’ that Olise ends up at Man City.

How good is Michael Olise?

Olise appears to be going from strength to strength at Selhurst Park, with his Transfermarkt valuation currently standing at a career-high €38m.

The 21-year-old is a left-footed attacker who can play as a right-winger or an attacking midfielder and has made 71 appearances for the Eagles after joining the club back in 2021, contributing to 25 goals.

He has been hailed as a “special talent” by former Palace boss Patrick Vieira, who believes Olise will only get better in time.

"When you look at the last round and this one, he played well. He can score goals, create chances and he is a special talent.

"He will improve and get better as a player. His work ethic every day has been terrific since he has been at the football club."

He appears to be a shrewd target bot in the sort and long run at the Etihad Stadium. City don’t currently have an out-and-out right-winger following the exit of Mahrez, as per Transfermarkt, so Olise would provide Guardiola with a similar option, cutting in field from the right on his favoured left foot.

Olise, as per FBref, has ranked in the top 2% of attacking midfielders and wingers over the last 12 months for crosses, top 5% for dead ball passes and top 7% for assists per 90, showing his creative side.

Due to his age, Olise may only get better and better over the coming years, Vieira previously felt he would do just that, so City could be signing an exciting new wide man for £35m who could then go on to increase his market value in Manchester.

CSA is hoping for Test status for the Boxing Day game against Zimbabwe, as the much-anticipated Test series against India has been reduced to three matches

Firdose Moonda20-Sep-20174:16

Four-day Tests on the cards

India’s tour to South Africa has been cut to three Tests from the original four, but will include an additional ODI, taking the total number of 50-over matches to six along with three T20s. As reported by ESPNcricinfo earlier in the week, India’s tour will begin with a late New Year’s Test which starts from January 5 at Newlands – three days later than the usual start for the festive fixture.Although South Africa have lost out on a Boxing Day Test against India, they host Zimbabwe for a four-day day-night match in Port Elizabeth, starting from December 26. Cricket South Africa is awaiting ICC approval before labelling the Zimbabwe fixture a Test.The confirmation of the India’s tour comes after months of speculation about when the tour would be finalised and whether South Africa would be able to host a 10-Test summer. That will only be possible if the Zimbabwe match is allowed to go ahead as a Test; CSA is confident the ICC will give them the green light at their October meeting in Auckland.For over a decade, the ICC has been hearing the case for four-day Tests and the discussion was taken up in earnest again this year. One of the key reasons for shortening Tests is to be able to save time on a tour and allow for more matches.An insider told ESPNcricinfo that CSA understands if four-day Tests are approved, they will only be played when decided by an MoU between member countries and they are more likely to be played between the so-called younger teams in Test cricket or when a top-tier team plays a lower-ranked opponent. South Africa hope to be pioneers in the format.After that match, they will turn their attention to India, who will arrive in South Africa on December 28, four days after their home series against Sri Lanka ends. India will have a two-day practice match in Paarl on December 30 and 31. India were understood to have wanted two warm-up matches, but there isn’t enough time.”The time constraints faced by India have forced us to reduce the Test matches to three, while increasing white-ball cricket to six ODIs and three T20I matches,” Haroon Lorgat, the CSA CEO, said.Cape Town will host the first Test while venues are yet to be confirmed for the following two. Given the large Indian support base in Durban, Kingsmead is highly likely to host one of the matches which will leave the Wanderers in Johannesburg or SuperSport Park in Centurion to host the remaining Test. While the Wanderers is regarded as South Africa’s home of cricket, SuperSport Park may edge it out because it is the only one of the big five grounds that does not host Australia for a Test in March.

The most pressing concern that remains in the transfer window for Chelsea is to find a suitable and experienced midfield partner for Enzo Fernandez.

The club’s pursuit of Moises Caicedo is becoming increasingly frustrating as a fourth bid of £80m was recently rejected.

However, as well as the Ecuadorian, the Blues are said to be keenly tracking Tyler Adams.

What’s the latest on Tyler Adams to Chelsea?

According to The Athletic's Simon Johnson, the Blues are "expected to step up their interest in" the Leeds United midfielder.

Last week, this outlet revealed that Chelsea were considering the signing of the USMNT international, whose contract in Yorkshire contains a release clause in the region of £20m.

Read the latest Chelsea transfer news HERE…

Although, renowned transfer guru Fabrizio Romano has also confirmed that any deal for Adams remains separate from Caicedo.

Would Tyler Adams be a good signing for Chelsea?

Leeds endured a miserable campaign that culminated in a bitterly disappointing relegation, but Adams has been tipped to continue his career in the top flight.

From his deep-lying midfield berth, the 36-cap international has evolved as a formidable defensive protector.

Over the last 365 days in Europe’s top five leagues among his positional peers, he ranks within the top 3% for tackles and interceptions per 90, as well as the highest 16% for interceptions per 90.

Adams’ defensive timing and reading of the game is phenomenal and has gloriously developed thanks to his stint with RB Leipzig.

In his ‘My Game in My Words’ feature with The Athletic's John Muller, he said:

“You have to weigh the percentages of your chances to win the ball. I always err on the side that I’m going to win every single ball, so I tend to be aggressive and go for it.

“In the Red Bull DNA, counter-pressing is such an important thing. We try to win the ball as quickly as possible and aren’t afraid to make mistakes because we’re confident in our pressing as a team.”

Coupled with this defensive acumen, Adams is also a commanding pillar of control.

He was the youngster skipper at the Qatar World Cup and his manager Gregg Berhalter praised his influence, saying:

“His leadership has been vital to us from day one. He’s the general, he’s the strategist. He’s the guy that goes out there and leads by example. When he talks, people listen.”

The £55k-per-week machine upheld his prestigious reputation on the pitch, managing 90% pass accuracy and winning 71% of his aerial duels, which also led Berhalter to describe him as “outstanding.”

He possesses the attributes to potentially be an ideal midfield partner for Fernandez.

Despite only joining the Blues in January and making just 22 appearances, the Argentinian recorded the joint-most successful progressive passes (205) during the 2022/23 season.

The Premier League’s record signing also ranks impressively across the continent, sitting within the top 3% for this metric per 90, as well as the top 14% for tackles and blocks per 90.

Fernandez and Adams have emphatically demonstrated their imperious defensive capabilities and could form a devastating midfield pivot.

Both players now head into the upcoming season with English top-flight experience under their belts and could ruthlessly excel under the guidance of Mauricio Pochettino.

Rohit Sharma and Virat Kohli’s second-wicket stand of 230 led India to a total of 337, and New Zealand fell narrowly short of chasing it down despite the heroic efforts of Colin Munro and Tom Latham

The Report by Karthik Krishnaswamy29-Oct-2017
Scorecard and ball-by-ball details1:46

Agarkar: India would feel they got out of jail

Elation, after a seventh straight bilateral ODI series win, for India. Heartbreak for a New Zealand side that has been among the best prepared and most tenacious limited-overs teams to visit the country in recent years. Why is this only a three-match series?New Zealand came to Kanpur with a poor record in ODI deciders in India. In each of their three previous attempts, their batting had let them down: they fell short of 200 in both 1995 and 1999 and, on this day last year, imploded to 79 all out.It’s not the proudest record, and on Sunday New Zealand were set quite a task to break their decider duck in India. With Rohit Sharma and Virat Kohli scoring hundreds and becoming the first ODI pair to combine in four double-century stands, India set them 338 to win. They had only completed two bigger successful chases.That set the stage for the two teams to trade punch and counter-punch in a riveting microcosm of the entire series.Colin Munro set things rolling by stepping out and carting the third ball of the innings over the midwicket boundary. The next three balls disappeared for fours, and Bhuvneshwar Kumar – steady, dependable Bhuvneshwar Kumar – was dazed and bemused. Trying to somehow cramp Munro for room with round-the-wicket bouncers, he sent down three wides in his third over, and by the end of his first spell was nursing figures of 0 for 51 in five.But at the other end, Jasprit Bumrah kept things sane, extracting whatever little help a flat Green Park pitch could give him by hitting it hard with maximum backspin or, in the case of his slower offcutter, sidespin. His first spell read 4-0-12-1, Martin Guptill an excellent choice for 50th ODI wicket.Tom Latham prepares to reverse sweep off the back of the bat•Associated PressNew Zealand remained on track, with Munro and Kane Williamson adding 109 for the second wicket and moving the score to 153 for 1 in the 25th over. The counter-punch, this time, came from Yuzvendra Chahal, the only other bowler apart from Bumrah to get something out of the surface. He did this by means of hard-spun legbreaks – one drifted away from Munro and broke back in to bowl him through the gate, the other, dangled slower and wider, forced Williamson to miscue a slog-sweep. New Zealand, suddenly, were 168 for 3.Enter Tom Latham, New Zealand’s most improved and most impressive batsman on this tour. In Mumbai he had swept his way to a match-winning hundred; his innings here was perhaps even better, showcasing not just deftness against spin but also pristine timing against the fast bowlers, particularly square on the off side and off his legs. He dominated a 79-run stand with Ross Taylor, and then added 59, off just 40 balls, with the scrappy and highly effective Henry Nicholls.When Bhuvneshwar, producing the perfect yorker on a day when little else went right for him, ended that stand, New Zealand needed 32 off 19 to win. Not the worst time for your biggest hitter to walk in.Except it wasn’t to be Colin de Grandhomme’s day; his indecision played a part in Latham being run out for 65 off 52, and he didn’t seem to have his hitting gloves on either. With Bhuvneshwar and Bumrah landing a dew-sodden ball there or thereabouts in the closing overs, the target slipped away from New Zealand’s reach. It came down to 15 off the last over, but they were never going to get it against Bumrah in this sort of form.New Zealand could have been chasing significantly more than 338 had their bowlers not pulled India back through the last 10 overs, in which they took five wickets while conceding only 85.Three of those were the result of catches at long-off – a not insignificant detail, for it encapsulated the value of the fifth boundary fielder in the third Powerplay. In the last five overs of the second Powerplay, when mid-off was usually inside the circle, Rohit and Kohli had hit six fours and a six in the arc between deep extra-cover and long-off. India scored 56 in that five-over period, and Kohli and Rohit looked unstoppable.In his 28th match, Jasprit Bumrah became the second fastest Indian to 50 wickets•BCCIBut the relaxation of field restrictions gave New Zealand a bit more control. Rohit and Hardik Pandya fell to Mitchell Santner’s changes of pace and trajectory while going for big hits, while a Tim Southee slower ball undid Kohli’s attempt at clearing long-off. Between the end of the 40th over and Kohli’s dismissal, India had only managed three boundaries. MS Dhoni and Kedar Jadhav manufactured three fours and a six thereafter, and India picked up 35 off the last 20 legal balls of their innings. Those runs would prove quite handy.Rohit and Kohli came together in the seventh over of India’s innings, when Shikhar Dhawan spooned Southee to mid-off, and immediately gave the sense of settling themselves for a long stay.Kohli looked in rare form right from the time he walked in, flicking an off-stump ball to the right of midwicket to get off the mark and then punching Southee through the gap between cover point and extra-cover, but despite this he slipped into a sidekick role, happy to get off strike and watch Rohit do his thing. He did, however, become the fastest player to 9000 runs in one-day cricket.Rohit’s innings contained all the classic Rohit ingredients – the back-foot punches, the front-foot pulls in front of square, the drives down the ground – and also a determination to rectify the mistakes of his previous two innings. He had been out playing across the line in the first two ODIs, and didn’t repeat that mistake here. In the eighth over, for instance, he got a full, middle-and-leg ball from Trent Boult, similar to the one he flicked in the air in Pune, only this time he showed the full face of the bat and picked up four to the left of mid-on.Once he got his eye in, boundaries flowed to all parts. The fifty came up off 52 balls, the hundred off 106, and with Kohli following in his slipstream a total in the 350-370 range looked possible. India didn’t get that far, but they eventually got far enough. Just about.

The circus around Jonny Bairstow’s bizarre “headbutt” greeting to Cameron Bancroft risks destabilising England’s Ashes campaign

George Dobell27-Nov-20172:28

Street Fighter Perth: Rating Bairstow’s headbutt

Whatever Cameron Bancroft envisaged when he imagined the first press conference of his career as a Test cricketer, it surely wasn’t this.His excellent debut, in which he scored 82 not out to help Australia to a 10-wicket victory, was all but forgotten as he was besieged by questions about the incident involving Jonny Bairstow in Perth a month ago.It was, at times, surreal stuff. Asked to define “on a scale of one to 10” what sort of a headbutt he received from Jonny Bairstow, he found himself using the memorable phrase “I’ve actually got the heaviest head in the Western Australia squad; it’s been measured.”A series of England press conferences had brought only more confusion. The more they (Bairstow, Joe Root and an utterly bemused Trevor Bayliss) insisted “we’ve made it quite clear”, the more the truth was shrouded in a fog of vague platitudes that begged more questions than they answered. They might as well have got David Blaine to talk to the media. It was, for the most part, like trying to get a straight answer from a politican.Root rejects Warner punch comparison

Joe Root urged onlookers “to be careful” not to equate the Jonny Bairstow incident to the one involving David Warner four years ago.
Root, who was punched by Warner in a Birmingham bar during the 2013 Champions Trophy, insisted the Bairstow incident had been “blown out of proportion” and that there was “nothing there”.
“We need to be careful not to make a big deal out of something that’s not there,” Root said. “I can see why people would think that is similar to the Warner incident on the surface. But these are two very different instances and we have to be very careful that we don’t fall into that trap. These two instances are definitely not the same.
“It’s obviously disappointing that we have given them something to bring up. It’s come up on the first day Australia have had a good day on the field, four weeks later. If it was a big deal it would have come out a lot earlier, and we need to be careful not to make a big deal out of something that’s not there.”
Root also admitted that England were partially responsible in letting the game slip by failing to set a match-defining first-innings total. At 4 for 246, they had the foundation for a large score but instead managed only 302.
“When you get to 250 for four you want to make 400,” Root said. “That was probably the difference between their innings and ours.
“One guy went on and made a big hundred for them – and credit to him, he played exceptionally well – and then we had them seven down and would like to have bowled them out a bit quicker. There were little chances that cost us.”

But Bancroft is an uncomplicated, old-fashioned, straight-talking Aussie. And, without too much fuss, he let the light flood in. Australia won the first Test on and off the field.This, it transpires, is what happened: a few hours after England landed in Perth on October 29, several of the squad went out for drinks. There was no curfew and they were accompanied by security officers.At some stage during the evening, a few members of the England squad and a few members of the Western Australia squad bumped into each other (no pun intended). With mutual friends and shared experiences to discuss, they had a few drinks.Bairstow, like an over-excited puppy, greeted Bancroft with a well-meaning but clearly inappropriate butt which connected with the side of Bancroft’s forehead. While Bancroft was surprised – “It was really weird and random. I expected a handshake or hug, not a headbutt” – he was not offended or threatened. At no stage was the action interpreted as aggressive and the two carried on chatting and drinking.It is a version of events that has, more or less, been accepted by Bairstow.It came to light on Sunday after some dialogue was picked up by stump microphones. The Australia team brought it up in the belief they could disconcert Bairstow when he came out to bat. It worked like a charm, too. He was caught at third man attempting an uppercut.Not for a moment should anyone conclude that the Australian on-field talk represents their genuine belief that Bairstow assaulted anyone. It was, as Steve Smith, admitted a tactic. “We were just trying to get into his head,” Smith said. “And I think it worked.” They didn’t, they insist, intend for it to leak into the media. Though you get the impression they are not too concerned that it did. England’s discomfort will delight them.Wait there, you’re thinking. Bairstow said hello with a headbutt?Well, yes. Not an especially violent one and certainly not one meant to hurt, but yes, he did. In a clumsy, macho, possibly even jet-lagged way, he did. Like a “jock”, as they might say in the US. It is an almost inexplicably strange greeting, it is true. Unless, perhaps, you are a stag.Perhaps you have to know the characters involved to understand. Those who do – the media and players see a lot of each other these days – describe Bairstow as a well-meaning, likeable but perhaps slightly socially awkward fellow. Think of Alan Partridge trying to fit in with “the blokes” in the episode entitled “Watership Alan” (“I had breakfast; didn’t even wash my hands. Cos I’m a bloody bloke”) or James Fleet’s character, Tom, in attempting to emulate the gentle wit of Hugh Grant’s best man’s speech and inadvertently causing great offence (“When Bernard told me he was getting engaged to Lydia I congratulated him because all his other girlfriends were such complete dogs. Although may I say how delighted we are to have so many of them here today”).Nobody involved in this situation – not Bancroft, Bayliss or Bairstow – thinks there was any malice involved. It would be odd if any of the rest of us reached a different conclusion.Bairstow will probably be embarrassed by this episode for some time. “Just don’t say hello to me,” someone shouted at him in mock horror in the hotel lobby on Monday. He greets harder than Audley Harrison hits, after all. But really, apart from providing material for some gentle teasing for years to come (he’ll be the butt of jokes, you would imagine), this incident doesn’t amount to very much. Bairstow, who shook hands with every member of the Australia squad and backroom staff after the match, will not be disciplined and should surely be allowed to move on.Jonny Bairstow explains his side of the story•Getty ImagesThere is a more serious element, though. Bayliss, as laid back an England coach as there has ever been, was clearly seething at the fact such an incident had – albeit briefly – destabilised his team. Within a couple of minutes, he used the words “stupid”, “dumb” and “extra dumb” to describe the off-field behaviour of some of his players in recent times. He couldn’t give a damn what they get up to in their spare time, just so long as they don’t do anything that could, in any way, compromise their on-pitch performance.And, the way he sees it, this episode helped Australia dismiss Bairstow in England’s second innings – he played a poor, flustered shot – and increased the media pressure on his squad. It has fuelled allegations there is a “drinking culture” within the squad – an allegation with which few of those of us who travel with them agree – and increased the level of scrutiny and pressure which will stalk them with its long lens.The result? England may move a step closer to a siege mentality they have done well to avoid in the aftermath of the Stokes incident. They have, until now, continued to mingle and mix and enjoy the many delights of this wonderful country. It would be a shame – a self-defeating shame, probably – if they were to put up the shutters and stop embracing all that life offers here. Month upon month of hotel room living is not the definition of professionalism; it encourages insularity and brooding and staleness. As Bob Dylan put it: too much of nothing makes a man mean.This England side has been admirably open in recent times. They have posed for every selfie and accepted nearly every media request. The culture has been more relaxed, happier and lighter and, surely as a direct consequence, less plagued by the mental health problems that had a significant impact on the 2013-14 Ashes tour. It would be a shame if an odd incident like this – not much more than shaking hands with a girl who expects a kiss on the cheek or knocking over a glass of wine at a wedding – were to spoil it.

Paris Saint-Germain striker Hugo Ekitike has been linked with a switch to Everton this summer and renowned journalist Fabrizio Romano has dropped a key update on the matter.

How old is Hugo Ekitike?

The Frenchman is still just 21 years of age, but is seen as a player with a bright future in the game, having already represented PSG, despite having Lionel Messi, Kylian Mbappe and Neymar around to relegated him to the substitutes' bench.

Ekitike has made 33 appearances for his current club, scoring and assisting four times apiece, but it could still be that he departs this summer, rather than struggling for playing time at the Ligue 1 champions, even though he only actually signed permanently recently, after initially joining on loan last summer.

Everton have emerged as one of the front-runners to sign the youngster during the current transfer window, as they continue to look for attacking reinforcements. Their profligacy in front of goal was once again highlighted in last Saturday's 1-0 defeat at home to Fulham – Neal Maupay missed a number of good chances – and it is imperative that new faces arrive between now and the end of the month.

Up until now, the Blues have failed to reach an agreement with PSG over a move for Ekitike, and a new update doesn't make for great reading for supporters.

Will Everton sign Hugo Ekitike?

Speaking to Give Me Sport, Romano admitted that Everton are looking increasingly unlikely to sign Ekitike this summer, as things stand:

"Yeah, with Hugo Ekitike they tried the loan to buy option but, at the moment, there is still no agreement with Paris Saint-Germain. They wanted at least a €35m package for Ekitike and the bid was way below these numbers. So, at the moment, it’s not something that is easy, so let’s see if Everton will try again, but it’s a complicated dilemma."

It does appear as though Everton's pursuit of Ekitike is running out of a steam a little, and there must come a point when they walk away from him and look to bring in an alternative option instead.

The Blues can't afford to be wasting their time looking to sign players, given the need for attacking quality as soon as possible, so if an agreement can't be reached very soon, it will have to be looked at as one that got away.

Read the latest Everton transfer news HERE…

Of course, should the situation suddenly change and Everton end up acquiring Ekitike's signature, it could be such an exciting piece of business by the club. Reims manager Oscar Garcia has waxed lyrical about him, saying:

"There is something very special about him. He’s young, and he has the quality to become a very good player. He’s a young man with a lot of quality but also a lot to improve on, but he works hard in training."

This outlines what a big talent Ekitike is, and what a long-term signing he would be for Everton, given his age, so the hope is that there is another twist to come and that the six-time capped France Under-20 international is plying his trade on Merseyside sooner rather than later.

Given he is also keeping wickets, it is possible Bancroft could be included in any one of three ways in the Australian side: as an opener, No. 6 batsman or gloveman

Daniel Brettig13-Nov-2017Getty ImagesCameron Bancroft built a near undeniable case for Ashes selection by adding another innings of real substance to his Sheffield Shield ledger against South Australia at the WACA Ground.Pushed as a candidate by his state coach Justin Langer, Bancroft batted throughout day one to finish on an unbeaten 161, aided by a freewheeling 95 from the Western Australia captain Mitchell Marsh.Given he is also keeping wickets, it is possible Bancroft could be included in any one of three ways in the Australian side: as an opener, No. 6 batsman or gloveman. Either way, he is fitting the definition of “banging the door down” the selectors have been looking for.There were less glad tidings for Shaun Marsh, Hilton Cartwright and the returning Marcus Stoinis. All made starts before being dismissed, Marsh dragging on, Cartwright bowled between bat and pad, and Stoinis caught behind.SA’s bowlers were largely unable to stem the scoring rate, though the wicketkeeper Alex Carey claimed a pair of catches and the recalled Kane Richardson was economical.

Manchester City are preparing a "new bid" for West Ham United attacking midfielder Lucas Paqueta, and a reliable journalist has revealed the sort of offer expected to go in.

How much did West Ham pay for Lucas Paqueta?

The Brazil international first arrived at the London Stadium for a reported £51m from Lyon last summer, and during his debut season in the Premier League, he clocked up a total of 42 appearances, but there’s a chance that he could be on the move after just one term.

Despite still having another four years remaining on his contract, the 25-year-old firmly established himself as David Moyes’ overall second best-performing player behind Declan Rice during the previous campaign with a WhoScored match rating of 6.97, and this form has caught the eye of Pep Guardiola.

The Athletic were the first to report that the Sky Blues were exploring a deal for the E20 talisman, before Fabrizio Romano confirmed that chiefs had seen an opening £70m verbal proposal turned down, but with the player having changed agents to force a move to a bigger club, as per the same outlet, the reigning top-flight champions feel they can pull off a swoop.

Are Man City signing Lucas Paqueta?

Taking to X, Romano revealed that Man City are getting ready to table an improved offer for Paqueta who is pushing to join, and despite West Ham currently standing firm, it's expected that developments will take place should an acceptable fee be proposed. He wrote:

"Understand Man City are preparing new bid for Lucas Paqueta — negotiations will advance with West Ham #MCFC. Paqueta has reached an agreement on personal terms with City and wants the move. Opening £70m bid rejected but City will submit new one."

How good is Lucas Paqueta?

During his time so far at West Ham, Paqueta has posted 12 goal contributions (seven assists and five goals) in 42 appearances and the ability that he has is “mind-boggling” according to his former captain Rice, so should the attacking midfielder put pen to paper, it would be a huge coup for Man City.

Sponsored by Nike, Moyes’ £150k-per-week earner also recorded a total of 52 shots over the course of the campaign which was the third-highest number throughout the whole of his squad, via FBRef, with this positive form also seeing him receive four man-of-the-match awards from WhoScored.

Furthermore, the left-footed gem is a versatile operator having been deployed in six different positions over the grass since the start of his career, including everywhere across the centre and even up top as a striker, so this is another attribute that Guardiola will no doubt be attracted to, hence why he's pursuing him so intensely.

Finally, Paqueta recently had a taste of success having won the Europa Conference League at the end of last season so will know what it takes to be successful and compete for silverware at the highest level, therefore he would be able to match the winning mentality of the squad already at the Etihad.

Mark Wood looks set to remain with the England squad for the rest of the Ashes tour after impressing in the warm-up match in Perth

George Dobell at Richardson Park10-Dec-2017
ScorecardMark Wood struck twice in the morning•Getty ImagesMark Wood looks set to remain with the England squad for the rest of the Ashes tour after impressing in the warm-up match in Perth.Wood, currently a member of the England Lions squad, bowled with good pace on the second day of the match. As long as he suffers no reaction in the coming days, the team management hope he will stay with the full squad for the remainder of the Ashes series. While the decision is subject to ratification from ECB officials in London, and Wood might not officially be added to the squad, he is likely to travel to Melbourne and Sydney and could come into selection contention before the end of the series.His inclusion is likely to come too late for him to be considered for the Perth Test, which starts on Thursday. Every indication from the team management suggests England will name an unchanged side for that match, with Wood still reasoning he is at about 90% pace and in need of more overs. He may gain some of them for the Lions in the coming days but, on the evidence of the performance in the warm-up match, he and Tom Curran may well have leapfrogged an out-of-sorts Jake Ball for Test selection.Wood’s bowling was the high point of another trying day as England’s bowlers were thrashed around Richardson Park in Perth by the Cricket Australia XI.Never been to Richardson Park? It’s pretty, for sure. Tree-lined and verdant. But imagine pouring every insect you’ve ever seen into a heated oven. And then imagine climbing in after them. That’s pretty much how it feels. Flies congregate in great numbers to revel in its charms. They must come from miles around to enjoy it. But you suspect few of the England team will look back on it with much fondness.Maybe a sobering day was what they required. But as Travis Dean, a man with a reputation as something of a grafter and currently without a BBL deal, belted a 68-ball century and helped put on 152 in 21 overs for the first wicket, there seemed every chance England might slip to an embarrassing defeat after a series of declarations set up a fourth-innings run chase. Set 294 in 37 overs, the CA XI appeared to be cruising to victory before Curran’s limited-overs skills – his control, his variations and his calm head – ensured they eventually fell 25 runs short and England emerged with a far-from-straightforward draw.It was another dispiriting day for them. Still smarting from the latest self-inflicted wound – the silliness of players pouring drinks on one another just as the team management were urging them to do everything they could to distance themselves from anything that might be construed as adding to the drinking culture – they saw some of their second-string bowlers take ferocious punishment.The spinners suffered most. Jack Leach and Mason Crane conceded 173 from their combined 18.5 overs with Leach – who conceded more than a hundred from his 9.5 overs – only gaining respite when the ball had to be fetched from neighbouring gardens and roads. Yes, the boundary was short and yes, the pitch was flat. But this was all a bit Kerrigan-esque for a prospective England spinner. It won’t have enhanced his prospects, despite taking four wickets as well.Wood, at least, provided reason for some cheer for the decent contingent of England supporters in attendance. He claimed two wickets early on the second morning of the match as Jake Doran, a 21-year-old who is in Tasmania’s Shield side, top-edged a second successive bouncer, before he went wide of the crease and surprised Dean, a member of the Victoria Shield side, with his pace and bounce in bowling him off the elbow. Dean later rated his pace as “right up there” despite the sluggish surface.Wood might have had a couple of wickets early in the CA XI’s second innings, too. But first Dan Lawrence, at slip, put down a straightforward chance offered by William Bosisto before another one just eluded leg gully.In between times, the CA XI declared their first innings 163 behind and gave England 20 overs of batting in order to set a target. While Keaton Jennings, edging one angled across him, failed Moeen Ali looked in fine touch as he struck a quick 47 and Gary Ballance – something of the forgotten man on this tour – made an unbeaten 45 before England’s declaration.If England thought they were going to enjoy a gentle workout as the match ebbed away, they were soon made to think again. Dean, inventive and powerful, thumped 16 fours and two sixes as the last couple of hours proved torrid for England.Crane struggled with his length, Leach lacked the pace or variation to stop batsmen driving him over extra cover and had Ball been asked to hone his long-hop, he would have had an excellent day. Were it not for Curran, gaining just enough movement from a surface that seemed benign for everyone else, CA XI may well have achieved a memorable victory.The improvement in Wood ensured the game was not an entirely wasted exercise for England. And the cameos from Liam Livingstone, who looks an extravagant talent, and to a lesser extent Joe Clarke were also encouraging. But the failure of any of the batsmen to make the significant scores for which they have been asked and the failure of the spinners to suggest any alternative to Moeen was a little disappointing.