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West Ham United must prioritise signing a replacement for Declan Rice in the heart of their side following his belated switch to Arsenal, but the Hammers are also in need of some upgrades in other positions before the new Premier League season begins.

What is the latest West Ham transfer news?

West Ham received a British record transfer fee for Rice, believed to be in the region of £105m, which will surely now be invested straight back into the squad.

The latest suggestion from The Athletic is that Ajax's Edson Alvarez is a standout midfield target for the Irons, while Real Betis centre-back Luiz Felipe and Strasbourg striker Habib Diallo have also been linked.

They would each bring their own qualities to the London Stadium, but there has been a worrying lack of right-backs linked with David Moyes' side – an area they looked weak in last season.

However, according to Italian outlet Tuttomercatoweb, United are showing an interest in Spezia's Emil Holm. The 23-year-old has three years left to run on his contract, which Capology reports is worth just £4.3k-per-week.

Who is Spezia defender Emil Holm?

West Ham currently have Vladimir Coufal and Ben Johnson on their books in terms of right-backs, with the pair playing 27 and 17 times, respectively in the Premier League last season.

Coufal came in for strong criticism from supporters in the first half of the season for his performances, though he did improve and wrote his name in West Ham folklore when playing a full part in May's Europa Conference League final win over Fiorentina.

Moyes cannot afford to stand still, though, and a replacement in that position must be sought this summer. In Holm, the Hammers could land a player who is clearly in demand, having also been touted as a target for Juventus, Inter Milan, Atalanta and Napoli.

It is clear to see why Holm is so highly regarded, rated as he is in the top 1% of all full-backs across Europe's top five leagues last season for aerial duels won (4.20 per 90), as per FBref, while also being in the top 12% for touches in the opposition penalty box per 90 (2.58)

To give those figures some perspective, Coufal averages 1.69 and 0.88 respectively – the Czech Republic international finding himself in the bottom 27% of full-backs for touches in the opponent's box.

Coufal's strengths lie in the defensive side of the game, such as tackles won per 90 (1.31 v 0.97 for Holm) and interceptions per 90 (1.60 v 0.58), but Moyes could do with a more attack-minded player in that position who is also capable of defending to a high level, much like Holm.

Indeed, The Opta Analyst ranks Holm in the top 6% of defenders across Europe's top five leagues for dribbles attempted and top 18% for chances created, showing his ability to get up the pitch and cause danger.

Described as a "rising star" by podcaster Pontus Wernbloom, it is obvious that West Ham are going to have a battle on their hands if they are to land Holm.

However, if they do manage to see off competition from some of Serie A's biggest names, then Moyes could acquire a notable upgrade on that man Coufal, ensuring that the funds received from Rice's sale are wisely invested.

يستعد فريق مانشستر سيتي لمباراة هامة أمام آرسنال في منافسات الدوري الإنجليزي الممتاز، يوم الأحد المقبل، بعد انتهاء فترة التوقف الدولي.

ويواجه بيب جوارديولا مدرب مانشستر سيتي أزمة إصابات في فريقه قبل المباراة المرتقبة أمام آرسنال.

وتعرض بعض لاعبي مانشستر سيتي للإصابات خلال فترة التوقف الدولي، إثر مشاركتهم مع منتخبات بلادهم.

ووفقًا لصحيفة “ذا صن” البريطانية، هناك شكوك حول مشاركة مدافعي مانشستر سيتي كايل ووكر وجون ستونز ومانويل أكانجي في مواجهة آرسنال.

يشير التقرير أيضًا إلى أن كل من إيدرسون وكيفن دي بروين وجاك جريليش وماتيوس نونيز أيضًا مصدر قلق للمدرب جوارديولا.

اقرأ أيضًا | والد هالاند يظهر في برشلونة ويثير الشكوك بشأن مصير نجله

كما يخضع كايل ووكر لفحص طبي بعد تعرضه لإصابة في أوتار الركبة تعرض لها خلال مشاركته مع إنجلترا أمام البرازيل، ومشاركته أمام آرسنال غير مرجحة.

وأصيب ستونز خلال تعادل إنجلترا وبلجيكا 2-2 يوم الثلاثاء، وقد عانى اللاعب بالفعل من سلسلة إصابات هذا الموسم.

وأكانجي أصيب خلال تواجده مع منتخب سويسرا، ومشاركته أمام آرسنال مشكوك بها أيضًا، فيما أصيب نونيز مع منتخب البرتغال.

يأتي ذلك في الوقت الذي يستعد فيه مانشستر سيتي لسبع مباريات هامة من الآن وحتى 20 أبريل، بينها أربع مباريات في الدوري الإنجليزي الممتاز، ومباراتي ذهاب وإياب ربع نهائي دوري أبطال أوروبا مع ريال مدريد ونصف كأس الاتحاد الإنجليزي ضد تشيلسي.

كشف مصدر بنادي الزمالك عن آخر التطورات الخاصة بإصابة أحمد سيد زيزو لاعب فريق الكرة وفرص لحاقه بمباراة فيوتشر كأس الكونفدرالية.

ويستعد فريق الكرة بـ الزمالك لمواجهة فيوتشر المقرر لها يوم 31 مارس الجاري في ذهاب دور ربع النهائي لبطولة كأس الكونفدرالية، على أن تقام مباراة العودة بين الفريقين يوم 7 إبريل المقبل.

وعلم “بطولات”، أن أحمد سيد زيزو ما زال يؤدي برنامجه التأهيلي في ظل معاناته من الإصابة بجزع في الرباط الداخلي لكاحل القدم.

طالع | موعد مباراة الزمالك وزد الودية استعداداً لمواجهة فيوتشر في الكونفدرالية

ويؤدي زيزو تدريبات تأهيلية منفردة في صالة الجيم خلال الأيام الماضية، لكن الأمر الإيجابي حدث اليوم، زيزو خاض تدريبات في أرض الملعب وأدى تدريبات تأهيلية خفيفة بالكرة بشكل منفرد.

ويتابع محمد أسامة رئيس الجهاز الطبي بالزمالك حالة زيزو بشكل يومي، ويرى أن هناك تحسنًا ملحوظًا وكبيرًا في موضع الإصابة.

وأما بشأن مدى إمكانية لحاق زيزو بمباراة فيوتشر، فالأمر أصبح يقترب من نسبة الـ80% وقد يشارك ولكن هناك توصية طبية من الجهاز الطبي بألا يشارك زيزو إلا في حالة واحدة، وهو شعور اللاعب بعدم وجود آلام في موضع الإصابة، حينها سيكون جاهزًا.

وبشكل نهائي، هناك اتفاق بين الجهاز الفني والطبي على ألا يتم المغامرة بزيزو إلا لو كان جاهزا بنسبة 100%، ويتوقف الأمر على حالة اللاعب ومدى زوال الآلام من موضع الإصابة.

The search for a more commercially successful Brisbane Test is likely to end the tradition of the Gabba hosting the first Test of the Aussie summer

Daniel Brettig13-Dec-2016

Australia’s cricketers should be prepared to say goodbye to the Gabba as their traditional starting point to summer outside of Ashes series – if the words of the Cricket Australia chief executive James Sutherland are anything to go by.While admitting the team sees the Gabba as a “real stronghold”, Sutherland has hinted strongly that the search for a more commercially successful Brisbane Test is likely to lead to this year’s mid-December time slot being persisted with, more than likely in the day/night configuration to be tried against Pakistan this week. Such a decision would mean the loss of a major competitive advantage for the hosts.In unveiling the schedule for next summer’s Ashes, CA have outlined how that now seems to be the only Test series in which the national team’s preparation is to be kept as ideal as possible, with as many as four Sheffield Shield matches scheduled before the first match at the Gabba. Other summers against less marketable opponents will likely throw up similar issues to those seen this season – at least until proposed league structures for international cricket are approved at ICC level and take effect some time after 2019.CA executive to be spoken to over Brayshaw link

Allegations that Ben Amarfio, Cricket Australia’s executive general manager for communications, digital and marketing, has been seeking job opportunities for his friend James Brayshaw with CA media rights partners will be dealt with “behind closed doors”, the chief executive James Sutherland has said.
Fairfax and News Ltd both reported on Monday that Amarfio had been helping Brayshaw try to renew his contract with the international cricket rights holders Channel Nine – a clear conflict of interest – though Sutherland denied the former Southern Cross-Austereo executive had been acting formally as Brayshaw’s agent; he and the network have now cut ties.
“Look I don’t think it’s right that one of our staff was acting as an agent, but let’s just say they’re things we’ll deal with behind closed doors at Cricket Australia,” Sutherland said. “I don’t think this is the place to be talking about that any further.”

“We’ll definitely keep our options open there. Every summer’s different. I know there are aspects of the 2018-19 summer that are very different to others, that’s just the nature of international cricket,” Sutherland said when asked about keeping the Gabba Test in mid-December. “It’s certainly a possibility we play the Brisbane Test match at a different time in the season.”I want to make that very clear. It was absolutely calculated for us to play the Test match here at this time. We wanted to ensure we gave ourselves the best opportunity to understand the Brisbane market and how we can increase attendances here. There’s a lot of promotion around it, we’ve got fantastic partners in the Queensland government and Brisbane city council, let’s see how this week pans out.”We’re on target to have the highest attendance ever for a non-Ashes Test match at the Gabba this week. We’re looking at around 80,000 and we’re very hopeful we’re on track for that.”Success in home Ashes series is seen as the most pivotal team performance metric for the entirety of CA, especially after the disastrous 2010-11 summer placed considerable heat upon Sutherland and the governing body’s board directors, resulting in the Argus review. To that end, Australia’s players can expect a similar lead-in to the 2013-14 season, albeit with the distraction of an ODI series in India beforehand. That result eased a level of pressure on the top end of CA that has not been matched by this summer’s home series loss to South Africa.”We’re really comfortable with the traditional order, and let’s be honest, this venue is a real stronghold for the Australian team, they love playing here,” Sutherland said. “This is the same order as the 13-14 Ashes summer, which was very successful for the team and in terms of spectator attendance and public interests.”We’ve really wanted to not change anything in that regard, and we’ll have a similar lead-in to the 13-14 summer with something like three or four Shield matches leading into the first Test, which we’re able to do when the Ashes series starts in late November.”The preparation leading into a series of Test cricket will depend from year to year, it’s actually quite difficult when you start a Test series in early November because usually the Australian team will be touring somewhere. But we need to work around that to get the best possible preparation in the circumstances, and for an Ashes series it’s clear with a Test series starting in late November that we’ll be able to get three matches in before the series starts.”Casting his eye over the MOU discussions currently going on between CA and the Australian Cricketers Association, Sutherland said that he was not worried by the prospect of industrial action from the players. “No, I’m not concerned,” he said. “These sorts of negotiations come around every four years or whatever the cycle is and they’re things that need to be worked through behind closed doors in an appropriate fashion.”I don’t think it’s our role to be giving a ball-by-ball commentary on it. We will, with the ACA, work through it and work with the ACA and our players to ensure the game of cricket is stronger and better for whatever the new agreement might be.”There is a lot to talk about and there are some very important issues and in some ways those issues are complex. Every time an agreement like this comes along it is an opportunity to put together a better agreement for all parties and I know that’s what we’re interested in and I know that’s what the ACA is interested in.”Late on Tuesday the ACA chief executive Alistair Nicholson spoke about the past two days of negotiations, indicating there is a long way to go.”Today we were able to clarify that the ACA and CA have a lot of detail to work through with differences in a number of areas,” he said. “With the position that CA have taken in responding to our submission, we will now re-engage with the players and the ACA Executive to gain their feedback on CA’s response.”The players are emphatic that they are partners in the game and will continue to push for one agreement for all cricketers, men and women, national and state.”

Deandra Dottin pitched in with another all-round performance as West Indies women sealed the T20 series against India women with a 31-run win in the second match

ESPNcricinfo staff20-Nov-2016
ScorecardFile photo – Deandra Dottin played a substantial role in West Indies’ win with a rapid 35 and three wickets•WICB Media/Athelstan Bellamy

West Indies Women took an unassailable 2-0 lead in the three-match T20I series after India Women collapsed for 106 in their case of 138 in the second match in Mulapadu.The hosts, having limited West Indies to 137, did not recover from an early batting slump and their innings folded with the loss of six wickets for 33 runs. Only three India batsmen scored more than 15, with captain Harmanpreet Kaur’s 43 the top score. For West Indies, Anisa Mohammed and Deandra Dottin took three wickets each, mopping up the middle and lower order after Shakera Selman and Hayley Matthews had accounted for the openers and No. 4 Veda Krishnamurthy.Earlier Stafanie Taylor’s 47 anchored West Indies after they were put in to bat. Taylor was part of two 48-run partnerships for the third and fourth wickets – with Dottin and Merissa Aguilleira respectively. The Taylor-Dottin stand looked set to lift West Indies to a total higher than their eventual 137, before Taylor and Aguilleira collected 48 runs off the last six overs.

Well, well, well, it looks as though footballing legend Lionel Messi has chosen his next destination and he’ll be heading to MLS to play for David Beckham’s franchise team Inter Miami.

Where will Messi play next season?

The Paris Saint-Germain attacker departed the club earlier this month having just helped his side win Ligue 1. He scored 32 goals and provided 35 assists in 75 games during a two-year spell in France.

In an official statement, he expressed his gratitude saying: “I would like to thank the club, the city of Paris and its people for these two years. I wish you all the best for the future.”

Understandably, there has been much speculation about where exactly he could be playing next season with a return to Barcelona rumoured, while a touted move to Saudi Arabia was also touted.

However, trusted Spanish journalist Guillem Balague has now claimed the 35-year-old will be playing in America next term.

On Twitter, he wrote: “Messi has decided. His destination: Inter Miami.”

What has been the reaction to Messi leaving PSG?

It will be interesting to see how Messi gets on playing outside of Europe at club level for the first time as a senior footballer – having come through the famous La Masia academy in Barcelona.

PSG teammate Neymar certainly seemed sad to see his South American compatriot leaving. Indeed, he wrote on Instagram:

“Brother… it didn’t turn out as we thought but we tried everything. It was a pleasure to share two more years with you.

“Good luck in your new stage and be happy. I love you.”

Others seemed less sad to see the 35-year-old leaving France. For instance, Sergio Aguero’s son, Benjamin, trolled the Ligue 1 side when they announced the departure, saying: “He was too big for you.”

Inter Miami are of course Beckham’s MLS franchise team, so it’s not hard to see why that sort of glamourous foreign club may have appealed to Messi.

However, they aren’t exactly performing so well recently and actually just opted to sack head coach Phill Neville amid a run of just two wins in their last 13 games.

It remains unclear who will be the club’s next permanent manager. Whoever it is, though, it seems they’ll be fortunate enough to coach arguably the greatest-ever footballer.

كشفت تقارير صحفية إسبانية، عن مستجدات حول مستقبل مدافع الفريق الكتالوني برشلونة، رونالد أراوخو، مع النادي الإسباني خلال الفترة المقبلة.

وارتبط رونالد أراوخو بالانتقال إلى صفوف بايرن ميونخ الألماني، وذلك بناءً على رغبة مدرب الفريق البافاري توماس توخيل.

اقرأ ايضاً.. لجنة المسابقات الإسبانية تعلن عقوبة روكي بعد طرده.. وموقف مدرب جيرونا

وأشارت صحيفة “سبورت” الكتالونية، أن نادي بايرن مُصمم على التعاقد مع أراوخو في الصيف ومستعدون لإقناعه رياضيًا بالمشروع واقتصاديًا بضعف راتبه الذي سيعرضه عليه في برشلونة للتجديد.

ومن المتوقع أن يصل عرض الفريق البافاري لضم المدافع الأوروجوياني حوالي 100 مليون يورو، وأن هذا المبلغ سيكون كافياً لإقناع برشلونة بالموافقة على بيع أراوخو.

وتابعت الصحيفة الإسبانية، أن برشلونة لا يريدون بيع أراوخو ولكن يعتقدون أن التوازن المالي في النادي سيحدث فقط ببيعه دون غيره من اللاعبين لحل مشكلة النادي مادياً. 

Burnley have made an approach to sign Arsenal midfielder Albert Sambi Lokonga, according to Football Insider.

Who is Lokonga?

Lokonga is 23 years of age and is primarily a central midfielder who can also play in a defensive role. Valued at €15m by Transfermarkt, the player has earned one senior cap for Belgium and signed for Arsenal back in 2021.

The Belgian is currently out on loan at Crystal Palace, where he has made nine appearances after joining in January, although he has only started one game since Roy Hodgson returned to Selhurst Park.

Vincent Kompany is a huge fan of the midfielder and previously hailed Lokonga, comparing him to former Manchester City midfielder Yaya Toure.

"I was watching football from different countries, different places. And I saw Sambi play his first game – his first two games – then he got an injury to his knee. "But the first thing I did when I saw Sambi is I went to Mikel and said, 'You've got to watch this guy, he's the new Yaya Toure.’”

Kompany went on to describe Lokonga as a “special” player:

"The point is you need players who are not afraid to have the ball when the going gets tough. As a centre-back, your job stops at a certain point on the ball.

"And you need to be able to give it to people who see the next pass, see the next move, take responsibility, take people on and put that tempo in when there's no tempo in the game anymore. For me, that's what Sambi has that makes him special."

What’s the latest Burnley transfer news?

According to Football Insider reporter Pete O’Rourke, Burnley have made Lokonga a top target ahead of their Premier League return.

The Clarets have moved quickly to open talks over a potential deal, making an approach to sign the midfielder on loan. Lokonga is thought to be happy to head out on loan again next season, however, he would like guarantees over playing time.

Kompany has the likes of Josh Brownhill and Josh Cullen to choose from in central midfield, with the pair ranking among the top performers at Turf Moor this season, as per WhoScored.

However, in terms of squad depth, you could argue that Burnley are fairly light in midfield, with Jack Cork and Samuel Bastien also options. Therefore, bringing in a fifth midfielder in Lokonga, a player who Kompany knows and admires and has Premier League experience, could be a shrewd move as the club look to cement their place back in the top flight.

A career-best 73 from Worcestershire nightwatchman Ed Barnard scuppered Derbyshire;s hopes of a first Championship home win since 2014

ECB Reporters Network23-Jun-2016
ScorecardEd Barnard’s nightwatchman stint saw off Derbyshire•Getty Images

A career-best 73 from nightwatchman Ed Barnard helped Worcestershire save the Division Two match against Derbyshire at the 3aaa County Ground, Derby.Barnard and fellow former England Under-19 team mate Joe Clarke, who made 63, shared a third wicket stand of 146 to rescue the visitors after Brett D’Oliveira had gone in the first over of the day.Will Davis removed them both but Alexei Kervezee made 41, and Tom Kohler-Cadmore 48 in 40 overs as Worcestershire closed on 294 for 6 , denying Derbyshire a first home Championship win since the end of the 2014 season.The day had started so well for Derbyshire with Tony Palladino striking with the sixth ball of the morning when D’Oliveira played across the line and was lbw without a run added.But that was the last success until 13 overs into the afternoon session as Barnard and Clarke played with impressive judgement and maturity to raise Worcestershire’s hopes of saving the game.Derbyshire used seven bowlers but could not break the concentration of the two 20-year-old’s whose approach and application was an example to some of the senior batsmen.Barnard completed the second first-class 50 of his career before lunch and the pair had been together for nearly 44 overs when Derbyshire finally broke the stand.Will Davis was rewarded for an aggressive spell from the Racecourse End when he tempted Clarke into a mistimed pull which ended in the hands of midwicket and Barnard’s admirable innings ended when he was succoured into taking on another short ball.If Alexei Kervezee had been taken down the legside off Davis on 13, Worcestershire would have been 188 for 5 but it was another 25 overs before Derbyshire broke the fifth wicket stand.The second new ball was always likely to be Derbyshire’s last chance and Ben Cotton broke through when Kervezee tried to play the ball off his hip and this time Tom Poynton made no mistake.The light was murky enough for the floodlights to be switched on but Kohler-Cadmore dug in and although he edged a big drive at Chesney Hughes with seven overs left, Ross Whiteley faced 59 balls to finally close the door on his former team.Derbyshire captain Billy Godleman said: “I’m really proud, other than the first couple of hours on the opening day it was a very flat and slow wicket so for us to have taken 16 wickets having made them follow-on and bowled 120 overs plus on the trot is an exceptional effort.”We’ve played a lot of four day cricket this year where we’ve been either fighting to stay in the game or losing the game so to be playing on the last day and to be in charge and dominating definitely gives us a lot of confidence going into the game against Kent.”

Newcastle United's sole focus at present will be on securing what would be a remarkable top-four finish come May, although the Magpies hierarchy will also have one eye on the upcoming summer transfer window, with further additions set to be made in order to help the club kick on even further.

As manager Eddie Howe himself previously revealed, the Tynesiders have different budget plans in place depending on where they finish in the table over the coming weeks, with the lucrative benefit of securing Champions League football undoubtedly the ultimate goal.

One man who the northeast side are already seemingly targetting ahead of next season is Crystal Palace sensation, Wilfried Zaha, with the Daily Star reporting that both the St James' Park outfit and West Ham United are the frontrunners in the race for the 30-year-old's signature.

The former Manchester United man – who is currently sidelined with a groin injury – could well still sign an extension at Selhurst Park with just a matter of weeks left to run on his existing deal, albeit with the report suggesting that the Ivory Coast international will be 'open to offers' amid that Premier League interest.

Would Zaha be a good signing for Newcastle?

The signing of the long-serving Eagles talisman would appear to be an attractive prospect for Howe and co due to his proven ability in England's top-flight, having scored 67 goals and registered 29 assists in 302 Premier League games in the competition to date.

That being said, however, the £130k-per-week man has endured a far more underwhelming campaign this time around for the relegation-threatened outfit, having scored just six goals and provided only two assists in the league, prior to his injury setback.

Such below-par form may be of concern to those back on Tyneside, as too may be Zaha's apparent likeness to Man United enigma, Antony, with the pair said to share a number of statistical and stylistic similarities, according to FBref.

That comparison between the two fleet-footed wingers is showcased by their creative flair with the Palace man having racked up 70 progressive carries and 60 progressive passes so far this season in the league, with the Red Devils dynamo has recorded 78 progressive carries and 58 progressive passes.

That likeness is also further showcased by the duo's potential inconsistency, with Antony having been branded "frustrating" by talkSPORT pundit Gabby Agbonlahor, while Zaha has been described previously as something of a "maverick" who "plays by himself", according to Liverpool legend, John Barnes.

Such a comparison is not altogether flattering as the Old Trafford wizard has only scored three league goals himself in his debut campaign at the Theatre of Dreams, having made a mixed start to life at the club after signing from Ajax on an £86m deal last summer.

For Newcastle to be able to land their answer to the Brazilian, in the form of Zaha, without having to pay a transfer fee could prove an astute move, although Howe may have to consider the wisdom of bringing in a potentially unreliable and individualistic talent to his attacking ranks.