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Ngidi and Phehlukwayo ensured Sri Lanka were restricted to under 250. De Kock and the batsmen did the rest

The Report by Firdose Moonda01-Aug-2018
De Kock stretches out for a sweep•Associated Press

South Africa chased successfully for the second time in the series, and on this occasion under lights, after their bowlers kept Sri Lanka under 250 in an innings that never really got going. As was the case in the first ODI, South Africa’s attack won the match in the first half, when they restricted Sri Lanka to a modest total.The six-man visiting attack was impressive as a collective but South Africa will be particularly pleased with the performance of their two young allrounders, Wiaan Mulder and Andile Phehlukwayo. After conceding 64 runs in six overs on Sunday, they gave away just 71 runs in 16 overs in this innings, and took four wickets between them. Phehlukwayo was impressive at the death with his use of the knuckle ball while Mulder had the best economy rate of the pack: 3.71.Similarly, South Africa will be pleased with the return to form of Hashim Amla and Quinton de Kock, both of whom benefited from a ragged Sri Lankan effort in the field, which only adds to the overall carelessness that has defined the home team so far. Soft dismissals, dropped catches and misfields undermined their quest to level the series and left South Africa one win away from the trophy.Lungi Ngidi caused the early damage with two wickets in two balls in his first over. Upul Tharanga chased a short, wide ball and nicked off while Kusal Mendis fell over a flick and was hit in front of middle stump. Unlike on Sunday, when 11 for 2 became 36 for 5, this time Niroshan Dickwella was on hand to steady Sri Lanka.His intent seemed clear when he chipped Kagiso Radaba over mid-off but it became clearer when he made room for himself to drive a full ball through the covers and then ramped Rabada over the slips. Sri Lanka’s run-rate was at seven after the first six overs and with the new-ball bowlers coming to the end of their opening spells, a major assault could have been on the cards.But Mulder and Phehlukwayo conceded only 24 runs in the seven overs they bowled in tandem and created pressure that led to a wicket, Kusal Perera pulling Phehlukwayo to mid-on.Dickwella survived the squeeze, despite getting struck on the ribs by Mulder – an injury that saw him abandon wicketkeeping duties early in the South African innings and necessitated an x-ray – and welcomed Rabada back for a second spell with a powerful strike through mid-on. He was also severe on the spinners and brought up his fifty off Tabraiz Shamsi, off 58 balls, to record his first half-century since August last year against India at the same venue.Wiaan Mulder had Shehan Jayasuriya feathering behind•Associated Press

Angelo Mathews could afford to operate mostly as a spectator while Dickwella went on the attack and contributed a sedate 24 off 41 balls to their 67-run fourth-wicket partnership. The stand, however, ended when Dickwella bottom-edged a loose ball onto his off stump to gift Phehlukwayo a second wicket.Mathews had to take over the role of aggressor but could not accelerate the run rate past five an over. Mathews brought up 50 off 71 balls and Sri Lanka scored just 51 runs in their last 10 overs, and 28 in the last five, leaving South Africa with a fairly straightforward second-innings task.Still, Sri Lanka had opportunities for early wickets but were either too unlucky or too inept to take them. Hashim Amla was dropped on 4 when he hit the ball straight to midwicket but it popped out of Kusal Perera’s hands. Two balls later, Amla inside-edged Suranga Lakmal onto his pad and the ball could have rolled onto the stumps but settled at Amla’s toes. In the next over, de Kock should have become Kasun Rajitha’s first ODI wicket when he clipped a ball straight to midwicket but Akila Dananjaya made a mess of the chance. Two balls after that, de Kock offered Rajitha a tough chance in his follow-through but the bowler could only deflect it over the umpire. And just to make things worse, fellow debutant Prabath Jayasuriya misfielded at cover to give de Kock his fifth boundary.Sri Lanka managed to hold onto a catch when Amla handed Dananjaya a return catch to depart for a run-a-ball 43 in his most free-flowing innings of the tour so far. De Kock’s form progressed further and two balls after Amla’s dismissal brought up his fifty off 43 balls. The same did not happen for Aiden Markram, whose top score in seven innings on the tour is 19, and was he caught at slip off a Dananjaya legbreak.De Kock’s response was back-to-back boundaries and he looked set for a hundred – especially when Sri Lanka unsuccessfully reviewed for a catch when he was on 77 – but smacked a full ball to Lakmal at midwicket to finally gave Rajitha his first scalp. Du Plessis took over the anchor role and added to his massive six over cow corner off Prabath with a second six off Rajitha, straight down the ground. But du Plessis also fell short a milestone, chipping a return catch to Dananjaya when he was on 49.David Miller gave Lakmal his 100th ODI wicket when he threw his bat at a delivery outside off to edge to slip, which may raise eyebrows about his form. South Africa also lost JP Duminy to a reckless shot, when he sent a catch straight to extra-cover, but they still finished the game with 43 balls to spare. Fittingly, Mulder and Phehlukwayo were there at the end.

Everton boast one of the most prolific academies in the entire Premier League, having produced a steady stream of young stars for decades now.

However, few excited in recent memory like Ross Barkley, who seemingly was destined to go to the very top.

How good was Ross Barkley?

Having slowly worked his way into the first team under initially David Moyes and later Roberto Martinez, his true breakthrough year came during the 2013/14 campaign, where he featured 34 times in the number ten spot, scoring six goals.

It marked a fine return for the powerful youngster, who knew exactly how to utilise his tall, gangly frame to retain possession whilst dancing past defenders.

The 29-year-old would swiftly grow into one of the division's brightest prospects, with the 2015/16 term arguably marking his peak, notching 16 league goal contributions, and seemingly living up to the hype that Martinez had built for the former Preston North End loanee: "The power and pace he has combined with that technical ability and ball control makes him special.

"Sometimes you get a really talented footballer that is skilful on the ball, or the powerful and strong (player) that can show that physicality on the pitch. He’s got both."

A towering but tricky midfielder with an eye for a goal and an assist, fans have seemingly never forgiven him for the manner of his £15m Chelsea switch, especially given they could have arguably earned around £50m the summer earlier. However, when he played for the Toffees he was adored.

So, with another similar star emerging in Sean McAllister, perhaps fans could be set to enjoy their next creative star set to dominate the Premier League.

Who is Sean McAllister?

Although he is yet to claim his first senior appearance, the 21-year-old maestro has been posting consistently impressive numbers for the U21s, and could soon be in line for a debut should he maintain his form.

After all, the former U19 Northern Ireland international has just enjoyed a stellar season for the youth sides, where his versatility saw him feature in no less than seven different roles. And yet, despite that uncertainty, he would still post ten goal contributions across just 19 games in all competitions.

Whilst he does not boast the natural physique of Barkley, many have rushed to laud the mindset of the midfield wizard, which has helped him rise to any challenges in his path. In fact, upon signing a new contract last year, Director of Football Kevin Thelwell was keen to praise him: "We are very pleased Sean has signed a new contract.

"Sean has a lot of the key elements you require as a midfielder – technical ability, energy, composure and a strong work-ethic – and we are looking forward to helping him continue to progress.."

It is worth noting that, in the year before his loan spell with the Lilywhites, the current Luton Town man would only record six goal contributions 14 youth clashes. Already McAllister seems ready for that show of faith, to potentially become the answer to their goalscoring prayers and finally start adding some much-needed goals to Sean Dyche's engine room.

New Zealand’s left-arm spinner claimed Fakhar Zaman with his version of the carrom ball, but now he knows everyone is talking about it

ESPNcricinfo staff20-Jan-2018Inspired by watching R Ashwin. Honed in English county cricket. Unfurled against Pakistan in Hamilton. Mitchell Santner’s new delivery, his version of the carrom ball, has been the talk of New Zealand over the last few days.During the fourth one-day international at Seddon Park, Santner defeated Fakhar Zaman, who was well set on 54, when the opener advanced down the pitch and was bowled. Closer inspection revealed Santner had flicked the ball out of his fingers, rather than spinning it in the traditional way for a left-armer, and the delivery gripped to turn the opposite way, from the left-handers leg to off stump.”I’ve been working on a few things and the grip is very similar to Ashwin’s. He used it against us in the Test series over there and I thought ‘yeah, that’s not a bad ball’ so thought I’d give it a crack,” Santner said after New Zealand wrapped up a 5-0 whitewash in Wellington.”I actually used it in county cricket and some of the T20 stuff over there, but on a pitch that suits, it works better because it’s hard to put a lot on it. I am just flicking it out. If there is a little bit of spin, ideally I’d use it a little bit more.”The challenge now for Santner is that everyone is looking for the delivery, which has been termed the “Santner Claw” in New Zealand.”You guys have been analysing it quite a bit now so I might have to put it away,” he joked. “I might have to disguise it a bit more because every time I look up it’s on the big screen. It adds another element to my game. I tend to just work with changes of pace so if one can go the other way it puts a bit of doubt in the batsman’s mind. If you can stay one step ahead, predict what the batsman can do, then it’s ideal.”Santner chipped in with quietly effective performances with the ball during the five one-day internationals: 1 for 34 in Nelson, 1 for 43 in Hamilton (when the carrom ball came out) and then 3 for 40 in Wellington when Pakistan got closest to nipping a victory.He was aided by New Zealand’s quicks having invariably made inroads to leave Pakistan in recovery mode, although at the Basin Reserve responded to his captain’s call to quell a late charge which put New Zealand under a rare spot of pressure. Santner responded with the wickets of Haris Sohail and Shadab Khan, the two half-century makers, before adding Faheem Ashraf”On a holding wicket like that there was more chance for me to get a few wickets and that’s what happened,” he said.New Zealand are unbeaten during their season – 12 victories alongside an abandoned T20 against West Indies – as their attention now turns to the three T20s against Pakistan followed by the marquee part of their summer with the T20 tri-series involving Australia and England before the latter stay for one-day and Test series.”Looking forward to both those series, they are quite big for us,” Santner said. “But first things first it’s the T20s against Pakistan and hopefully we can take the momentum into the tri-series.”

Leeds United, having enjoyed a quieter period in the transfer window, now seem set to spring back into life as Daniel Farke seeks to push hard to bolster his squad…

Who could Leeds United sign this summer?

With Joel Piroe their latest big-name addition, the Dutchman rewarded his new club's faith in the market by firing home on his debut to hand them their first win of the Championship season.

It marks the start of what promises to be a very profitable career at Elland Road, with the ultimate goal of a Premier League return now firmly in their sights.

Read the latest Leeds transfer news HERE…

That aim could be handed another huge boost, with Fabrizio Romano suggesting another star they seem set to sign.

He wrote on Twitter:

"Leeds United have submitted official bid for Glen Kamara. Negotiations now at the final stages with Rangers. #LUFC Deal expected to be completed next week, player has already accepted."

Alternative reports have suggested that the Finland international will cost just £5.5m to pry from the Scottish giants, having agreed personal terms earlier in the week.

How good is Glen Kamara?

This acquisition would mark yet another quality addition to Farke's squad, which seems to finally be improving back to the requisite level to challenge at the right end of the table.

This is especially important given the mass exodus endured already this summer, with three permanent exits giving way to a further seven loan departures, many of which were formerly important first-team members.

Kamara would offer a huge upgrade on many of those though, with his performances in the Scottish Premiership over the years having drawn widespread praise.

Steven Gerrard had predicted such a fine career even after first signing the 27-year-old, claiming back in 2019:

"He looked like a Rangers player and he took that performance into the Kilmarnock game and went up a level again. He’s a terrific footballer in possession, always playing with his head up and looking to connect defence and attack.

"But what pleased me most is what I spoke about when we signed him in terms of how he’ll be out of possession. Will he hunt the ball back, be aggressive, work hard for the team and be a monster in the middle of the park? He showed signs of that against Kilmarnock and potentially he can become a top midfielder."

His performances during the 2021/22 season help to supplement this praise, as a relentless midfield warrior but with a surprising offensive impetus that likens him to Casemiro.

After all, he posted six goal contributions that campaign whilst maintaining a 91% pass accuracy, with his one tackle per game still admirable and helping towards his 7.01 average rating, via Sofascore. He remained a key cog in their success, happy to screen a back four but unafraid to push on and add to their attacks.

Elsewhere, the Brazilian joined Manchester United from Real Madrid last summer in a move that baffled many.

It was expected that the 31-year-old would simply offer some solidity at the base of their engine room, but he instead came to create too, with his debut season allowing him to post a 7.21 average rating. This was a figure massively bolstered by his four goals and three assists, alongside his one key pass and mammoth 3.2 tackles per game, via Sofascore.

He is often everywhere, with pundit Robbie Savage noting back in May:

"When you’re listening to legends like Scholesy [Paul Scholes] and Owen [Hargreaves] speak about him, as a midfield player, I didn’t realise he has that much to his game: the passes round the corner, the goals."

He continued: "So I think he’s been terrific and has offered a lot more than what people thought. You listen to ex-managers and ex-players saying they weren’t sure but I think he’s proved, even Casemiro the captain of Brazil, has proven people wrong in the Premier League.”

In Auguat 2021, even Rangers Review editor Joshua Barrie went to lengths to highlight just how important Kamara was for Gerrard at Ibrox, making subtle references to players like the Red Devils star, among many other Premier League greats.

Both of these defensive midfielders boast an offensive impetus that has proven imperative for their respective teams, with Kamara likely hopeful that he can enjoy a similarly stunning debut season at Elland Road by continuing to emulate the play style of the legendary stopper.

The Bangladesh batsman will also be fined about $25,000 and barred from playing domestic cricket for the next six months as punishment for assaulting a fan during a first-class match

Mohammad Isam01-Jan-2018Bangladesh batsman Sabbir Rahman has been stripped of his BCB central contract as punishment for assaulting a fan during a first-class match. Sabbir has also been fined Tk 20 lakh ($25,000 approx) and barred from playing domestic cricket for the next six months.Sabbir was the first cricketer in Bangladesh to be punished in such a way. He was in Grade B in the BCB’s list of contracted cricketers, earning $30,000 in 2017. By being fined $25,000, he breaks his own record, having been fined Tk 12 lakh ($16,000 approx) for a serious disciplinary breach during the 2016 BPL.Proposal to penalise Tamim for outfield comments

There is a proposal to fine Tamim Iqbal Tk 5 lakh ($6,250 approx) for his outburst against the outfield at the Shere Bangla National Stadium during the BPL. BCB chief Nazmul Hassan said that Tamim could also be warned to exercise caution while speaking to the media in future. A decision on the matter is likely later in the month.

After Comilla Victorians and Rangpur Riders struggled to get past 100 in their game on December 2, Tamim had criticised the pitch and also made a mention of the outfield, which the ICC had given a “poor” rating in September.

BCB president Nazmul Hassan spelled out these punishments after the disciplinary committee’s hearing on Monday. Hassan said the committee’s recommendations to punish Sabbir were “final” – meaning that he approved of them – although the board directors will have to endorse them in a meeting later.The incident took place on December 21, the second day of Rajshahi Division’s National Cricket League game against Dhaka Metropolis. Apart from assaulting the fan, Sabbir also allegedly misbehaved with the match referee after being summoned for investigation.According to the committee’s vice-chairman Sheikh Sohel, Sabbir apologised for his actions during Monday’s hearing. Sohel said Sabbir’s history of disciplinary breaches were kept in mind while deciding the punishment.”We felt that he didn’t learn anything from his past two punishments,” Sohel said. “We have meted out a heavy punishment. He is out of the national contract, which is a huge blow. He is also fined Tk 20 lakh. But this is his last chance. If he has another brush with indiscipline, he will be permanently suspended.”

Daily Express journalist Ryan Taylor has provided an update on Arsenal's pursuit of a forward.

The club seem to be targeting the La Liga market for their new forward.

What is the latest Arsenal transfer news?

Arsenal are looking to make further additions after a strong start to this window.

The Gunners have already signed Kai Havertz from Chelsea for £65m, Jurrien Timber from Ajax for £38m and Declan Rice for a club record £105m from West Ham United. The side are also close to sealing a loan move for Brentford keeper David Raya which would include an option to buy.

Reports are now linking the North London side with a potential move for a forward, with manager Mikel Arteta looking to provide more depth in his attack, namely his wingers in Bukayo Saka and Gabriel Martinelli.

One name linked with a switch is Barcelona wonderkid Ansu Fati. A player who burst onto the scene back in the 2019/20 season for the Blaugrana with eight goals and one assist in 33 games at just 17 years old, his time since has been marred by injury problems that have forced the youngster to miss 84 games in the last three seasons. A versatile option, Fati has played over 100 times for his boyhood club and has recorded 29 goals and 10 assists whilst operating across all three positions in the frontline.

According to reports, Barca are willing to offload the attacker this summer, and it is claimed that Arsenal are admirers of the player once dubbed "amazing" by former teammate and arguable GOAT of the sport Lionel Messi.

Speaking to GIVEMESPORT, Taylor revealed that Fati and Emiliano Buendia were names looked at by the Gunners, however, in the case of the Spaniard, the high price tag set by the Catalan club may scupper any potential move:

He said: "Buendia had been fantastic in pre-season before the injury, but I think that ship sailed now. Obviously, there was a point when Arsenal tried to get him from Norwich. Fati is one that would fit Arsenal stylistically, but I think Barcelona would be looking for a massive fee for him really. I just can't see Arsenal paying big money for another forward, and I think if they're going to sign anyone else it would probably be a sort of £40 million purchase. Is Fati available for £40 million? He might be but I can't really see that one, unfortunately.”

What next for Arsenal this window?

The North London side are looking to offload a number of players ahead of the transfer deadline on September 1st.

One player who could be departing is Scottish international Kieran Tierney. The defender was a regular starter following his arrival from Celtic in 2019, however, since the arrival of Oleksander Zinchenko from Manchester City in the summer of 2022 game time has been limited, and the arrival of Timber only seems to be further limiting. According to The Telegraph, Real Sociedad are interested in making a move for the player who earlier on in the window attracted the interest of Newcastle United.

Another player who looks set to depart the Emirates this summer is USA international Folarin Balogun. The striker enjoyed a fruitful loan spell at Reims last season in Ligue 1, and has told the club that he doesn't want another loan spell or to be a backup option. West Ham United are reportedly fans of the player and weighing up a move whilst French outfit Monaco saw a verbal offer rejected by the Gunners following their pre-season friendly. The London side are asking for £40m to sell the promising youngster according to reports.

Newcastle United are still interested in Southampton right-back Tino Livramento after seeing an initial advance rebuffed, and could re-enter formal negotiations in the coming days.

What's the latest on Tino Livramento to Newcastle?

That's according to i news, who claim that the Magpies remain in transfer talks for the 20-year-old Englishman after a £30m transfer offer was rejected by Saints earlier this month, with his team demanding £50m.

It is said that there is still a gulf in respective valuations of the player, with Eddie Howe's club likely needing to raise their offer to £40m to see the south coast side part with their precocious talent following relegation from the Premier League this year.

The report underscores Newcastle sporting director Dan Ashworth's emphasis on squad improvement this summer by landing two further incomings to consolidate the return to Champions League football, with the Toon finishing fourth in the English top-flight last term.

Is Tino Livramento a good player?

Kieran Trippier has proved a remarkable signing for Howe's Newcastle project since arriving from Atletico Madrid in a £12m deal in January 2022, earning praise as a "revelation" by talkSPORT pundit Simon Jordan and recording a remarkable average Sofascore rating of 7.61 in the league last season.

However, the England international will be 33-years-old in two months' time and Howe is working aptly in identifying an heir.

Livramento, who was restricted to just two Premier League appearances across the 2022/23 campaign following his recovery from a long-term injury, is now hoping to return to full fitness and could find his comeback well-suited to the role as Trippier's understudy, making the increments to both fitness and form as he ascends to the upper echelon of full-backs in English football, already praised as "excellent" by England manager Gareth Southgate.

Once hailed for his semblance to Premier League legend Gareth Bale by former teammate Theo Walcott, Livramento looks to hold the qualities requisite for success at the zenith of the game, and why not continue his burgeoning rise at a team enjoying their own rise to the fore in Newcastle?

Walcott said:

"Do you know what, he reminds me a little bit of Gareth Bale when he came through as a full-back. That's a big statement of course to compare him to someone like that but just feel like his presence and the way he drives and the pace and the power and it's no surprise that you know what he's going to do."

By utilising his pace, power and surging nature down the right flank, he could effectively contribute to both offensive and defensive sequences, which would aid winger Jacob Murphy in his efforts to succeed next season.

Murphy was a figure shrouded in shadow for much of his time on Tyneside after signing from Norwich City in a £12m move 2017 but played 36 times in the Premier League last season as Howe found good use of his industrious nature and "relentless" work rate – as was dubbed by Chris Waugh – and he now looks an indispensable member of a thriving outfit.

The £35k-per-week gem also ranks among the top 12% of attacking midfielders and wingers across Europe's top five leagues over the past year for progressive carries, the top 16% for touches in the attacking box and the top 17% for progressive passes received, as per FBref.

Effectively, this means that he would be well-placed to thrive with someone such as Livramento behind him, constantly pressing the player further up the pitch and allowing him to drift into promising openings in the danger areas, and Newcastle must now swoop.

Chelsea look set to be ramping up their efforts to lure more talent to Stamford Bridge as Mauricio Pochettino aims to build a team which can challenge for domestic honours during 2023/24.

Having already signed Nicolas Jackson and Christopher Nkunku, a move for Ajax starlet Mohammed Kudus could be next on the cards for the Argentinian as he continues his summer overhaul at the Blues.

How much could Mohammed Kudus cost?

According to The Daily Mail, Chelsea have ‘held talks’ with Kudus over a potential move to the Premier League this summer, although Arsenal and Brighton and Hove Albion may potentially provide stiff competition with regard to securing his signature.

He rejected a contract offer from the Dutch side back in April, expressing his desire to leave the club during the transfer window.

The Ghanaian attacking midfielder has been valued at around £40m, which is a fee that Chelsea could certainly afford, especially since they have raised £219m from player sales already this summer.

What could Mohammed Kudus offer Chelsea?

One of the more highly publicised departures from Stamford Bridge during the transfer window was that of Kai Havertz, with the German international moving to Arsenal for £65m following three seasons at Chelsea.

Although showing glimpses of his talent which convinced the Blues to splash out £71m for him in 2020, including scoring the winner during the 2021 Champions League final, he couldn’t quite live up to expectations in England.

Registering 47 goal contributions – 32 goals and 15 assists – does sound like a decent figure across 139 games, yet he failed to score more than ten league goals in a single campaign during his three seasons at the club, something which he did during his final two years at Bayer Leverkusen.

Kudus could be an excellent heir for the 24-year-old, not only due to his ability to operate in an attacking midfield role, but also because of his positional versatility, being able to play as a centre-forward or on the right wing.

Both players pose a danger in the final third, although Kudus did score more often last term than Havertz (18 to nine), while also grabbing more assists (seven to one) and these aren’t the only attacking metrics in which he held an advantage over the former Chelsea star.

Indeed, the Ajax starlet also registered more shots per 90 (3.09 to 2.61), more shot-creating actions per 90 (3.04 to 2.48) and succeeded with a higher percentage of successful take-ons (59.8% to 34.9%), not only indicating that he was a greater threat in front of goal but that he had more confidence when coming up against opposition defenders.

Former Ajax striker and Dutch legend Marco van Basten praised Kudus after comparing him to current Manchester United winger Antony, saying: "I find Mohammed Kudus a much better football player than Antony. Antony has his skills, but he is confused with the things he is trying to do!

"Kudus has much better technique and he knows what he is doing. Antony may be faster, but Kudus is smarter and more technical. He is much more of a footballer, you can place him anywhere on the pitch, an all-rounder for the team. In fact, I like him much better than Antony. He’s more fun to watch play."

For a fee of £40m, Pochettino could potentially sign one of the bargains of the summer in the 22-year-old gem, while subsequently turning him into an ideal Havertz heir.

West Ham United finally completed the sale of Declan Rice to Arsenal for a club record fee of £105m and manager David Moyes looks set to reinvest this sum into strengthening the team ahead of next season.

Manchester United defender Harry Maguire has caught the eye of the Scot and with a transfer kitty that would make most managers envious, he certainly has the funds to make some big signings this summer.

How much will Harry Maguire cost?

According to The Telegraph, the Hammers look set to test the resolve of the Red Devils by making a bid for the Englishman and with Erik ten Hag stripping him of the captaincy recently, it might be time for him to finally depart Old Trafford and seek pastures new.

United have set their valuation of the defender at £50m and this would represent a big loss from the £80m that they splashed out on him back in 2019, yet it appears as though Ten Hag is keen on moving him on this summer.

With the Irons having money to burn, they may still see £50m as an unrealistic fee, and with just two years left on his current United deal, they may have to bring his asking price down slightly in order to sanction a sale this year.

Why was Harry Maguire stripped of the captaincy at Manchester United?

Throughout the entirety of the 2022/23 campaign, Maguire started a grand total of 16 matches, which included just eight in the Premier League as Ten Hag preferred a defensive duo of Lisandro Martinez and Raphael Varane.

Being stripped of the captaincy will now surely accelerate his exit from the club and Moyes could offer him regular game time, while forging a solid partnership alongside Nayef Aguerd at the heart of his defence.

The Moroccan international endured a stop-start season, primarily due to suffering a serious ankle injury in pre-season, yet he still ranked second for accurate passes per game (33.3) across the whole West Ham squad in the league, as well as third for overall rating as per Sofascore.

He also provided an unlikely goal threat, ranking in the top 6% compared to positional peers across Europe’s big five leagues for non-penalty goals per 90 (0.11).

Maguire could slot in alongside him and offer a more physical presence which would combine well with Aguerd’s solid passing ability.

The Englishman ranked in the top 12% across the big five European leagues for aerials won per 90 (3.01) and the top 11% for blocks per 90 (1.66) which suggests he is a titan at the back, especially with WhoScored stating that his major strength is aerial duels.

Former teammate David De Gea once hailed Maguire as “fantastic” just earlier this year and despite looking out of his depth at the club on certain occasions, he could still offer plenty to West Ham, who conceded 55 goals last term, certainly not the worst total, but it was four more than the previous season, suggesting they need some improvement at the back to move back into the top half.

The next few weeks could be very interesting indeed and Moyes will be confident of luring Maguire to the club.

Liverpool have "spoken to" Chelsea defender Levi Colwill's camp about a summer move, however the Blues have reiterated he is not for sale, and they are set to offer him a long-term contract, according to journalist Felix Johnston.

Is Levi Colwill leaving Chelsea this summer?

There have been reports that Chelsea have already offered Colwill a long-term contract, however he is yet to put pen to paper, and remains open to a move to Brighton & Hove Albion, where he impressed on loan during the 2022-23 campaign.

The Blues have already rejected a bid of £30m for the defender, such is their intention to keep him, and they are set to hand him assurances over his first-team involvement next season, with Mauricio Pochettino planning to make him his first-choice left-sided centre-back.

Despite Chelsea's reluctance to part ways with the 20-year-old, there is growing interest in his services, with Manchester City recently being named as potential suitors in a report from The Evening Standard, which also name-checks Liverpool.

The Reds have been tracking the former Brighton loanee for quite some time, and there are now reports they have made their first move to secure his signature.

Chelsea journalist Felix Johnston recently took to Twitter to provide an update on Liverpool's pursuit of the youngster, saying: "Understand despite being told Colwill is not for sale, Liverpool have spoken to Levi Colwill’s camp again, stating even at a record price they would be interested.

"He’s one reason they haven’t signed a CB. Liverpool also enquired to Chelsea directly. Chelsea reiterated he is not for sale & will offer him a long term contract, but will have to be within new wage structure. Colwill will talk with Poch after U21 Euros. Southgate told Levi he wants to start him at Euro 2024, but he has to be a regular starter this season."

What position does Levi Colwill play?

The Englishman has predominantly featured at centre-back throughout his career so far, however he is also capable of playing at left-back on occasion, having made seven appearances in that area of the pitch, so could be perfect on the left of a back three if Jurgen Klopp adjusts his system to push Trent Alexander-Arnold higher up.

Last season was the young centre-back's breakthrough year in the Premier League, making 17 appearances for Brighton, and he impressed considerably, particularly in the air, averaging 2.6 aerials won per game, the highest amount in the Seagulls squad.

In May, the England U21s international was hailed as "astonishing" for his performance against Arsenal, with his passing ability being branded "incredible", and he ranks in the 99th percentile for passes attempted per 90 over the past year, when compared to his positional peers.

At the moment, Chelsea seemingly have no plans to sell the £15k-per-week defender, however he is open to leaving, and he would surely consider a move to Liverpool, if Klopp gave him assurances over playing time.

Colwill could be an excellent addition for Liverpool, having already proven himself in the Premier League at just 20-years-old, and Klopp will be hoping Chelsea begin to soften their stance as the transfer window goes on.