IPL 2021, match highlights: Delhi Capitals vs Rajasthan Royals
Updates, colour and analysis with ESPNcricinfo’s match-day blog
Sreshth Shah15-Apr-2021
Updates, colour and analysis with ESPNcricinfo’s match-day blog
Sreshth Shah15-Apr-2021
Newcastle United’s pursuit to sign Crystal Palace defender Marc Guehi feels as though it has been going on for months on end, with the Magpies yet to agree a deal for the 24-year-old.
With less than two weeks left in the transfer window this summer, Eddie Howe’s side have already had three offers rejected for the England international – as the club try to bolster the backline ahead of the 2024/25 Premier League campaign.
His side have already added defensive reinforcements in the form of Lloyd Kelly, but are still targeting another central defender to avoid the injury crisis which occurred during the previous campaign.
After having three bids turned down, you would think that a deal should be getting closer day by day, but with no agreement yet in place, the Magpies may turn to other alternatives.
One player they could decide to pursue a move for is a talent who has been told he’s free to leave this summer, whilst also available for over half the price of Guehi, who could cost up to £75m.
Newcastle could land £25m talent this summer
According to TEAMtalk, Newcastle still have interest in a move for Chelsea centre-back Trevor Chalobah despite the recent bids for Palace star Guehi in recent days.
He’s previously been on Howe’s shortlist this summer, following his omission from the Blues’ pre-season tour of the US and being forced to train with the club’s under-23 squad.
However, they could face stiff competition from fellow Premier League side Aston Villa for his signature, with Unai Emery’s side also in the race for the 25-year-old, who is said to be available for £25m.
His potential arrival at St James’ Park could be perfect for one player who has already impressed during his time on Tyneside.
Why Chalobah would make Guimaraes unplayable for Newcastle
Bruno Guimaraes has been a pivotal part of the Newcastle squad since his £40m move to the club back in January 2022.
He’s since made over 100 appearances for the Magpies, with last season his best campaign to date, registering seven goals and eight assists – prompting £100m interest from the likes of Arsenal and Manchester City.
The Brazilian still remains at the club despite the transfer rumours, potentially being an integral part of Howe’s side – but he could become unplayable with the arrival of Chalobah, with the Englishman producing some figures in 2023/24 that fall perfectly into the hands of the 26- year-old.
The Chelsea “monster”, as described by talent scout Jacek Kulig, has excelled defensively, winning 1.5 tackles and making 4.8 clearances per 90, but it’s his stats in possession that could allow Guimaraes to take his game to the next level.
Trevoh Chalobah's stats for Chelsea (2023/24)
Statistics (per 90)
Tally
Games played
13
Minutes played
950
Passes attempted
74
Pass accuracy
89%
Progressive passes
2.9
Tackles
1.5
Clearances
4.8
Aerials won
1.8
Stats via FBref
He averaged 74 passes per 90, at a completion rate of 89%, demonstrating how comfortable he is in possession, fitting perfectly into Howe’s system which requires all players to play out from the back.
Chalobah also managed to complete an average of 2.9 progressive passes per 90, showcasing his ability to play through the lines, allowing Guimaraes to gain more opportunities in forward areas, potentially increasing his goal and assist tally this season.
While Guehi undoubtedly remains the club’s main target for the centre-back role, Chalobah would provide an excellent alternative, whilst also costing a significantly lower fee.
His talents in and out of possession would hugely improve Newcastle’s defence unit, but also prove to be a key player in building from the back and creating more opportunities for the players in forward areas, allowing Guimaraes to be unplayable further up the pitch.
Liverpool star Trent Alexander-Arnold is supposedly “officially dating” Instagram model Estelle Behnke following his split from Iris Law.
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Negotiations have resumed between players union, ECB and counties over potential pay cuts
Matt Roller25-Jan-2021James Harris has admitted that the English game still faces “a huge challenge” in the form of the Covid-19 pandemic upon his election to the role of chair at the Professional Cricketers’ Association (PCA), but said that he is confident that he will be able to steer the organisation through choppy waters.The PCA resumed its negotiations with the ECB and the first-class counties on Monday afternoon as they continue to discuss collective solutions including the possibility of further temporary salary cuts, but hopes that with the prospect of a full domestic schedule and fans returning to grounds this summer, such measures will soon no longer be necessary.Harris, the Middlesex seamer, was confirmed as Daryl Mitchell’s successor on Monday, after serving as vice-chair alongside Heather Knight since last June and as Middlesex’s player representative before that, and described his election as a “huge honour” in his first media interaction in the position.ALSO READ: England confirm two-Test New Zealand series for June”I’ve got some big shoes to fill in those of Daryl Mitchell, who has done a brilliant job,” Harris said. “I was always keen if the role came up and thankfully I’ve had the support of lots of my colleagues around the country. It’s great that I can lean on Mitch – he’s got another month in the post and hopefully I can get up to speed and make sure I’m as clued up as I can be.”No doubt, there’s a huge challenge in front of us. Everyone involved in the game did brilliantly last year, playing as much cricket as we did – at the start of last summer, it would have looked a long way off.”It’s about seeing us through to the end of this pandemic [and building on] the work that Daryl did, getting the players’ committee together and coming up with everything that they have to see us through with collective agreements. There may be more of that required, but we hope there isn’t too much more. We want to be as responsible towards the game as we can be, so that we can build as strong a game as possible around the country.”Harris also gave his endorsement for the Hundred, describing it as a “fantastic concept” which will be a “massive showpiece for cricket in this country”. The PCA’s initial response to the Hundred was lukewarm in 2018 when the ECB unveiled its new competition, with concerns raised over the 100-ball format and possible conflicts of interest, but has since thrown its support behind it.”It’s just another part of a cricketer’s career,” Harris said. “Guys will try and make their way into Hundred teams, and it’s going to provide a lot of opportunities for guys in county cricket, perhaps who wouldn’t have necessarily got a look-in at certain times or for younger guys who might get pushed into the first team a bit earlier.”It’s a different concept. It’s exciting. It’s something that’s going to bring a lot of eyes from around the world onto English cricket, which can only be a good thing.”Harris becomes chair at a time when the PCA’s active playing membership is bigger than ever before, with 41 new members following the ratification of women’s domestic contracts at the end of last year. While he admitted that he has “a lot of learning to do across all areas of the game, both men’s and women’s”, Harris said that he had already reached out to Knight – who will continue as vice-chair – and Kate Cross, the England women’s representative in recent days.”I’m going to support everybody as well as I can,” he said. “We’re building up relationships as much as we can already, and it’s a really exciting time in the women’s game as well, having those new members join the PCA and become full-time professionals. It’s a great time for everyone involved in the game whether male or female.”One relationship that Harris will already feel secure in is that with the PCA’s chief executive, Rob Lynch, who was previously Middlesex’s commercial director and chief operating officer, and took over from Tony Irish on a full-time basis in October. Lynch, who had no say in Harris’ election, said that he had been “thrilled” to hear he had been chosen for the post.”I’ve known him for four or five years and he was always one of my favourite guys to work with at Middlesex,” Lynch said. “We have to put some stability inside the PCA which has been one of the challenges over the last couple of years through some changes in leadership at the top. This year is about rebuilding and being clear about our purpose and our role in the game.”Our job is to find the line between playing a responsible stakeholder role and also pushing tooth and nail for the rights that the players have, because we recognise that we’ll need to continue with that we’ve done. We’re all hoping to get back to a more normal set-up as soon as we can.”
The England midfielder scored one and helped create another at Stamford Bridge as Enzo Maresca's side got back to winning ways in the Premier League
Questions were asked of Cole Palmer following Chelsea's loss at Liverpool last time out in the Premier League, but the England midfielder bounced back in sensational fashion to lead the Blues to a 2-1 victory over Newcastle on Sunday.
Palmer thought he had given Enzo Maresca's side an early lead when he latched onto Nicolas Jackson's pass, but his strike was ruled out for offside. However, Chelsea did break the deadlock after 18 minutes as Pedro Neto latched onto Palmer's delicious through-ball and squared for Jackson to tap home.
The Blues were the better side, but found themselves pegged back when Alexander Isak stole in to prod Lewis Hall's left-wing cross into an empty net. However, Palmer stepped up to re-establish the home side's lead two minutes into the second half when he powered a strike past Nick Pope at his near post.
Neto hit the post with a header shortly after, but Chelsea had to work hard to see out the victory, with Reece James and Moises Caicedo both making last-ditch blocks to deny Isak a second equaliser.
GOAL rates Chelsea's players from Stamford Bridge…
Enzo Maresca has admitted that he once watched Liverpool 38 times in a single week to analyse their tactics, ahead of Chelsea's meeting with the Reds.
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Following winger Jack Harrison's agreement to make a return to Everton on loan next season, more Leeds United exits are expected after their failure to clinch promotion from the Championship.
Everton reach agreement to re-sign Harrison on loan from Leeds
The 27-year-old enjoyed a productive spell at Goodison Park last term, helping Sean Dyche's side avoid a drop to England's second tier with three goals and three assists over 29 Premier League outings.
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This form convinced the Toffees to have him back on Merseyside for next campaign, with both Everton and Leeds reaching an agreement for Harrison to rejoin Dyche on another season-long temporary deal.
It is unclear whether Everton will cover the entirety of Harrison's £90,000-per-week salary, but if so, it'll be a small financial relief to Leeds who are under some pressure to sell players this summer.
Daniel Farke couldn't quite guide the Whites back to England's top tier, narrowly losing the Championship play-off final to Southampton at Wembley, and it is believed a few stars could follow Harrison out the door.
£15 million midfielder Ilia Gruev is apparently ready to quit Leeds and Champions League finalists Borussia Dortmund have even been tipped to give him a way out of Elland Road.
Appearances
36
Goals
1
Assists
1
Bookings
8
Minutes played
2,347
Crysenio Summerville is being monitored by Premier League teams as well, following the Dutchman's exceptional Championship season. He racked up an impressive 21 goals and 10 assists over 49 appearances in all competitions, alerting a host of elite English teams in their pursuit for top attacking talent.
Another Leeds star who could well attract attention is Wilfried Gnonto. The Italian, who racked up eight goals and three assists in 39 Championship appearances last term, is highly regarded as an exciting talent at 20-years-old.
Gnonto could well leave Leeds United
Journalist Beren Cross, in a line for Leeds Live, writes that Gnonto could well be on the move from Leeds this summer and is likely to attract real interest this summer. The winger is contracted until 2027, so Leeds have some power in negotiations, but it could also be influenced by the player himself and whether he decides to push for a move.
“He’s a great lad, he’s a special player,” said former Leeds caretaker boss Michael Skubala. “He’s a credit to Leeds, he’s a credit to himself and he’s a really nice player to work with.”
Gnonto is apparently valued at around £20-£30 million by Leeds if Farke is to sanction a sale in the coming weeks.
Sunderland are still on the hunt for their next manager, with it feeling like an eternity since they last had a permanent boss in the dugout.
Mike Dodds was only in the Black Cats hot seat on an interim basis, and as the rumour mill continues to churn out names that could be the next permanent boss on Wearside, there seems to be no near ending available yet to bring this ongoing saga to a close.
Whoever does take over the reins from Dodds when an announcement is finally out in the open will have their work cut out, with this dud potentially one for the chopping block straight away, after offering very little for Sunderland this campaign just finished.
Patrick Roberts' season in numbers
Patrick Roberts certainly didn't set the world alight last season for Sunderland, unable to be as dangerous and as penetrative as Jack Clarke was down the wings, with lacklustre performances becoming commonplace from the former Manchester City forward.
Roberts wouldn't even score a single goal in Championship action from 32 appearances tallied up, blown out of the water by his counterpart down the left flank, as Clarke bagged a ridiculous 15 goals.
This could result in Roberts potentially being let go of this summer, with the 27-year-old only providing two assists down the wings as well, which was bettered as a total by Abdoullah Ba who finished his season with four, who could now be the preferred option down Roberts' flank for the long-term.
Plagued with recurring injuries throughout his career too, the time could be right to cut ties with the inconsistent attacker this summer, with a new Sunderland manager coming in and operating with a cut-throat approach to get rid of some frustrating duds who have, arguably, overstayed their welcome in the camp.
23/24
76
0
2
18/19
77
0
1
17/18
113
1
5
16/17
45
11
19
Sourced by Transfermarkt
With his sketchy injury track record easier to swallow when he was on top form during his Celtic days, as can be seen glancing at the table above, the powers that be at the Stadium of Light will also be put off keeping Roberts around based off his excessive wage, which sees him currently rake in nearly double Jobe Bellingham's pay packet.
Roberts' wage at Sunderland
The 27-year-old's position at Sunderland is on even more thin ice when you consider his salary currently sits at a hefty £12.5k-per-week, with other more important first-team performers from last season earning less.
Jobe Bellingham is the most striking example, earning nearly half that of the Sunderland number ten at £6.5k-per-week, despite picking up eight goal contributions last season to Roberts' meagre two, resulting in interested parties from the Premier League now circling for the 18-year-old.
Getting such a high earner off the books in Roberts could mean that the wage bill is readjusted to keep Bellingham at Sunderland for longer, with far more attractive and tantalising offers on the table presumably.
The likes of Trai Hume and Pierre Ekwah will also be clamouring for wage increases, with the duo earning just £3k-per-week each, despite playing more games than Roberts this season just gone, at 47 and 43 appearances respectively.
The next Sunderland boss could, therefore, ruffle a few feathers by ditching Roberts for good, with the 27-year-old becoming a part of the furniture over the last few seasons by amassing 97 games in total.
Yet, fresh off such a forgettable campaign, all sentimentality could be thrown out of the window as the out-of-sorts winger looks for a new club to call home.
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تحدث إبراهيم عادل، لاعب فريق بيراميدز، عن فشل احترافه في الدوري الإسباني إلى نادي خيتافي، خلال فترة الاتتقالات الصيفية الماضية ورفض ناديه رحيله.
وقال عادل في تصريحات تليفزيونية عبر قناة “أون تايم سبورتس”: “لا أريد الظهور الإعلامي، الأفضل التركيز في الملعب، هذا أهم شيء”.
وتابع: “موضوع كان صعبًا، لاعب في سن صغير وأول فرصة له يحترف في أوروبا، وكان عرض من نادي خيتافي فهو جيد جدًا وكنت بعد انتقالي بـ 10 أيام سألعب أمام برشلونة، أحلامي أمامي كانت ستتحقق، أحترم نادي بيراميدز كانوا يرون أن هذا ليس الوقت المناسب للخروج للاحتراف وأحترم قرارهم”.
طالع..بيراميدز يعلن غياب ثنائي الفريق عن مباراة الترجي في دوري أبطال إفريقيا
وتابع: “يجب في كرة القدم أن تضحي بأشياء كثيرة جدًا لكي تصل للذي تريده، تحدثت مع محمد صلاح في موضوع الاحتراف، ولكن محمد النني الذي كان متواجدًا معي في ملف الاحتراف وتحدث مع ممدوح عيد وأبلغني أن هذا ليس الوقت المناسب”.
وأكمل: “كنت أقضي فترة إجازتي، والوقت كان ضيقًا جدًا وسافرت إلى إسبانيا كأني أقضى إجازتي وفي نفس الوقت قريب من مدريد لو الفرصة أتت، وغير صحيح أني تركت فريق بيراميدز في المعسكر، أحترم نادي بيراميدز جدًا ولم يقصروا معي في شيء، كان حزني أنني أريد الاحتراف وهذا حلم لأي لاعب، أريد أكون لاعبًا مختلفًا ومميزًا مثل محمد صلاح وعمر مرموش”.
هل أنت ندمان على الاختيار في الجانب الجماهيري وخصوصًا أنك تلقيت عرضًا من الأهلي؟ أجاب: “لست ندمان على اللعب في نادي كبير، والأهلي نادي كبير، أما الجانب الجماهيري فهو مهم جدًا، فعندما تخوض مباراة في أجواء جماهيرية، وكان حضور الجماهير في الملعب شيئًا رائعًا، أنا أنتظر مباريات المنتخب وأحاول الظهور فيها بشكل جيد والاستمتاع بها في حضور الجمهور”.
وأتم: “محمد النني وزيزو كان لهما دور كبير جدًا فيما وصلنا إليه في الأولمبياد، بعيدًا عن كونهما لاعبين كبار، إلا أن شخصياتهما جميلة، كنت سعيدًا بتواجدهما معنا، وكنت أتمنى أن يكون محمد صلاح معنا في الأولمبياد، سألته قبل البطولة، ولكن كان يبدو أن لديه شيء آخر، أتمنى له التوفيق”.
Facundo Pellistri's torrid Manchester United spell came to an end this summer, and he has explained the reason for his departure.
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Pellistri left United for Greek side PanathinaikosUruguayan played 13 times in Premier LeagueHad three loan spells in four years at UnitedWHAT HAPPENED?
Signed as a promising and exciting young winger from Penarol in Uruguay, there was hope that he could be a future star at Old Trafford but after four years, and three loan spells in Spain, he has had to move elsewhere to progress his career, opting to join Panathinaikos in the summer window.
AdvertisementGettyTHE BIGGER PICTURE
On the whole, Pellistri spent more time playing on loan than he did for his parent club. The 22-year-old made 25 appearances for United, and his final one came in the Community Shield. His lack of awareness allowed Bernardo Silva to creep in and head the equaliser as United went on to lose on penalties. He has now moved to the Greek Super League and will be keen to feel more settled at a football club.
WHAT PELLISTRI SAID
Pellistri said to : "I had made the decision a little before I returned to training. I knew that the ideal thing for my future and at my age was to play, and that I could play in Manchester, but it would be more complicated.
"So, I wasn't going to have the amount of minutes that I want in a year, so we went out to look for different alternatives.
"All the options I considered were from Europe. I didn't receive any proposal from South America, it wasn't that I ruled out that option of returning to South American football."
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Getty ImagesWHAT NEXT FOR PELLISTRI?
The United chapter hasn't completely shut on the youngster because in his contract with Panathinaikos, there is a three-year buy-back clause which means if he does impress at the Greek club he could return. There is also a 45 per cent sell-on clause, so even if he doesn't head back to north-east England, the Uruguayan could still give United a small cash injection.