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Crystal Palace have struggled to score goals this campaign, scoring 25 goals in 22 games so far this season, making them the joint fifth-lowest goalscorers in the Premier League.

This is despite taking 13.9 shots per game (10th most in the division) with their average xG per shot being 0.12.

With their striker options being Jean Philippe Mateta and Eddie Nketiah -who was a big-money signing in the summer – the Eagles could instead look to add goals to their squad behind the striker, aiming to replace the output of Michael Olise who left in the summer window.

Crystal Palace looking at new forwards

According to reports from Italian outlet Firenze Viola in recent days, Crystal Palace have emerged as potential suitors for Botafogo winger, Luiz Henrique.

Transfer Focus

Mega money deals, controversial moves and big-name flops. This is the home of transfer news and opinion across Football FanCast.

Other interested clubs include Fiorentina, who made an offer of around €20m (£16.8m) to Botafogo, but the Brazilian side have not been convinced by this bid.

The reports suggest a fee of around €30m (£25m) would be needed to prise the 24-year-old winger away from the club in the January window. However, it is unknown whether Palace would be willing to meet such an asking price.

Henrique has made 55 appearances since joining Botafogo in 2024, scoring 12 goals and providing six assists.

How Henrique compares to Romain Esse

On Saturday it was confirmed by the Eagles that they had officially signed Romain Esse from Championship side Millwall.

He has made 26 appearances so far this season, scoring five goals, providing one assist and totaling 2,165 minutes played.

Esse is, of course, five years younger than Henrique, and would demand a lower fee, but you would also be gambling on him making the jump from Championship to Premier League football seamlessly. That being said, Henrique has played in LaLiga and the Brazilian Serie A, so he would also be making a change and could potentially struggle with the physicality to begin with.

Goals

0.30

0.21

Assists

0.14

0.04

xG

0.29

0.10

xAG

0.13

0.20

Progressive Carries

2.94

1.65

Progressive Passes

2.66

3.26

Shots Total

2.14

1.38

Key Passes

1.21

1.21

Shot-Creating Actions

3.52

3.13

Successful Take-Ons

2.91

2.28

When comparing the two wide player’s metrics this season, Henrique has much better output, both with goals and assists. However, Esse has shown his ability to create chances for his team, with a higher xAG (expected assisted goals) which could lead to his assist numbers being higher when surrounded by better finishers.

Henrique and Esse both average 1.21 key passes per 90, as well as over three shot-creating actions per 90, showing their ability to create chances. The 24-year-old (Henrique) does offer more potency and goal threat though, having a higher shot-volume to go alongside his higher goals per 90.

The Brazilian was labeled an “absolute sensation” by scout Jacek Kulig, when playing for Brazil in the World Cup qualifiers. The quality of Henrique is clearly huge, but the biggest challenge would be settling into one of/if not the most physical league in the world.

The aim for either one of these players if they both arrived this January would be to replace some of the assets that Palace lost in the summer, specially when one of their jewels in the crown, Michael Olise, left the club. Both players have elements to their game, adding attacking spark, but whether they can provide enough output straight away remains to be seen.

Crystal Palace could land 'the Reading version of Olise' in EFL sensation

Crystal Palace can finally land their Olise replacement with EFL star

ByConnor Holden Jan 16, 2025

Antonio Conte clashed with the Italian press after Scott McTominay inspired Napoli to a huge win in the Serie A title race over Monza.

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Napoli beat Monza 1-0 in Serie AMcTominay scored the winnerConte criticised by Italian press Follow GOAL on WhatsApp! 🟢📱WHAT HAPPENED?

Conte has repeatedly lamented the lack of reinforcements since Napoli sanctioned the January sale of star winger Khvicha Kvaratskhelia to Paris Saint-Germain. The Georgian’s departure left a gaping hole in Napoli’s attack, and Conte has been vocal in pointing out the lack of like-for-like alternatives available to him.

AdvertisementGetty Images SportTHE BIGGER PICTURE

The absence of quality has been particularly noticeable in matches where Napoli have struggled to create chances. Though Saturday's game yielded a win through Scott McTominay, the manager pointed to the overall performance as further evidence that the squad lacks the necessary depth and balance to sustain a title challenge. Conte was also seen exchanging heated words with Napoli supporters in the stands after McTominay’s winner, as fans voiced their own opinions from the terraces.

WHAT THE MEDIA SAID

Despite Conte’s complaints, Italian media outlets have challenged his assessment of the squad. notably highlighted the game-changing influence of Giacomo Raspadori, who came off the bench to deliver the decisive assist for McTominay’s goal.

“The link-up between Mathías Olivera and Leonardo Spinazzola didn’t work, and not even Billy Gilmour was convincing,” journalist Sebastiano Vernazza wrote in his player ratings.

“Conte saved himself with Raspadori, the living proof that the reserves are not so bad.”

Getty ImagesWHAT NEXT FOR NAPOLI?

Despite the drama surrounding the win, the result propelled Napoli to the top of the Serie A standings, albeit temporarily. They now sit level on 71 points with Inter, who have a game in hand and face a potentially tricky test away at Bologna on Sunday.

A bite-size breakdown of the key action from day one of the first Test in Brisbane

ESPNcricinfo staff23-Nov-2017The (expected) early blow
Having won the toss, Joe Root was never likely to do anything other than opt to bat – despite sweaty skies in Brisbane. There was nothing as calamitous about England’s start as Steve Harmison’s wide in 2006-07 or Andrew Strauss’ third-ball duck four years later, but it still did not take long for Australia to strike. In his second over, Mitchell Starc got rid of England’s most-experienced batsman, Alastair Cook drawn into nicking to slip. Cue the first bout of night-time nerves: “It was just starting to look like the quietest start to a Gabba Test since 1998-99 … but instead, it’s taken just 16 balls for Australia to make their mark!”The (unexpected) counter
A major focus during the build-up had been on England’s 5-0 whitewashing in 2013-14 and the supposed “scars” that Australia would look to open up. An early score of 2 for 1 (or 1 for 2) hinted at trouble to come, but the promised onslaught from Australia’s fire-breathing quicks failed to materialise. Mark Stoneman and James Vince went into the Test billed as Poms to the slaughter, yet the pair of Ashes debutants made themselves at home at the “Gabbatoir” while adding a 125-run stand for the second wicket. That was better than England’s highest partnership during the 2013-14 series.The watery intervention
Pat Cummins fired a warning shot for the series when he dragged Root across his crease before swinging the ball back to trap him plumb in front (via the help of a review). He called it “the dream wicket” and, coming less than 10 overs from the close, it prevented England from taking the day. But Australia might have enjoyed more success with the old, reversing ball if Vince had not hit it into a puddle beyond the boundary rope shortly after tea. The umpires initially refused to change the ball but eventually did so after its condition deteriorated further – enabling Cummins to strike.The stat
Vince, whose technique was considered by some to be too fragile to succeed at No. 3, enjoyed a control percentage of 92% against pace bowling during his Test-best 83.ESPNcricinfo LtdQuote of the day”If he didn’t know who we were before the game, he probably does now. Reading comments like that gives you the motivation to go out there and make a statement.”What’s next?
Australia had just armed themselves with the new ball when the umpires decided to call a halt due to bad light, having lost their first review (which will no longer be topped up) over a failed lbw appeal against Dawid Malan. That fresh Kookaburra will still be only three deliveries old when Starc resumes in the morning – play will begin half an hour early to make up lost time – with Australia looking to rattle England’s lower order out quickly. That was one of the major advantages they enjoyed over the tourists in 2013-14; Malan, Moeen Ali and Jonny Bairstow will be the batsmen charged with preventing a repeat.

The South Africa fast bowler ended his international career at the age of 29, having played only 11 Tests, by signing a Kolpak deal with Hampshire

ESPNcricinfo staff05-Jan-2017Kyle Abbott’s 7 for 29 are the second-best figures in an innings for South Africa on Test debut•Getty Images1. February 2013: Abbott takes 7 for 29 in the first innings against Pakistan in Centurion, and is Player of the Match on Test debut for his nine-wicket haul.He misses the next six Tests South Africa play.2. March 2014: Abbott’s three wickets are the best returns for a South African fast bowler in the Newlands Test against Australia. His workload – 42 overs – is also the heaviest for his team.He misses the next three Tests South Africa play.3. December 2014: Abbott takes 1 for 61 in the match as Dale Steyn and Vernon Philander raze West Indies in Centurion.He misses the next five Tests South Africa play.4. November 2015: Abbott’s fourth Test lasts only a day as rain ruins the match in Bangalore. He bowls six out of 22 overs in India’s first innings, taking 0 for 18.He misses the next Test of the tour of India, in Nagpur.5. December 2015: Abbott takes 5 for 40 in 24.5 overs in India’s first innings in Delhi, and 1 for 47 in 22 in the second.He is picked for South Africa’s next Test.6. December 2015: Abbott bowls 45.4 overs in the Kingsmead Test against England and takes 2 for 128.He misses South Africa’s next two Tests in that series.7. January 2016: Abbott returns figures of 21-9-46-0 in the Centurion Test against England, with Kagiso Radaba emerging as a force with a 13-wicket haul.He misses South Africa’s next three Tests.8. November 2016: Abbott takes 3 for 41 and 6 for 77 in Hobart to bowl South Africa to series victory in Australia.With Steyn injured, Abbott plays South Africa’s next three Tests. It is the first time Abbott is playing successive Tests in a series.9. November 2016: Abbott takes 3 for 49 and 1 for 26 in South Africa’s first day-night Test, at Adelaide Oval.10. December 2016: Abbott claims 3 for 63 and 2 for 38 against Sri Lanka in Port Elizabeth, conceding only 101 runs in 41.5 overs in the match.11. January 2016: Abbott goes wicketless against Sri Lanka after bowling 23 overs in Cape Town.It turns out to be his final Test for South Africa as he confirms he has signed a three-year Kolpak contract with English county Hampshire.

With the January transfer window ticking away and Dominic Solanke sidelined, Tottenham Hotspur are now reportedly working on a deal to sign a forward who has already impressed their scouts.

Tottenham transfer news

The Lilywhites have welcomed just one fresh face in the form of Antonin Kinsky so far this month, and it’s that lack of activity which could quickly come back to bite them in the second half of the season.

Ange Postecoglou hasn’t shied away from his side’s need for reinforcements either, telling reporters as relayed by The Standard last week: “I have daily communication with Johan [Lange, technical director] in particular and he’s trying everything he possibly can to get the help we need.

“I don’t think I’m stating anything other than the obvious and for me to come here and say something else would be disingenuous: this playing group needs help.”

Sat in the depths of the Premier League’s bottom half, the rumours have been coming thick and fast as to the reinforcements that the Lilywhites could turn to this month, including Ajax star Brian Brobbey and now one other attacking option.

According to The Boot Room, Tottenham are now working on a deal to sign Hamza Igamane from Rangers this month after scouts were in attendance to watch the forward score a hat-trick against Hibernian earlier this year and then score once more in a 3-0 victory over Aberdeen.

With the forward hitting his best form at the perfect time, Spurs could yet welcome an ideal solution to their attacking problems as Solanke fights back to fitness in the coming weeks.

Tottenham interested in "decisive" ace who Arsenal are confident of signing

They could battle their North London rivals…

ByTom Cunningham Jan 26, 2025

With just one week left until the transfer window slams shut though, those in North London will have to act quickly if they want to lure Rangers into a January sale and welcome a much-needed fresh face in Postecoglou’s frontline.

Tottenham should take a chance on "rough diamond" Igamane

Whilst Igamane is still far from the finished product, there’s no doubt that he’s shown plenty of potential at Rangers – scoring 13 goals in all competitions which includes his effort against Spurs in the Europa League. Still just 22 years old, Spurs should take a gamble on the young forward who already showed exactly what he can do in front of the travelling Spurs fans earlier this season.

Earning plenty of praise as a result of his form, Rangers boss Philippe Clement told reporters when asked about Igamane, as relayed by The Daily Mail: “I spoke with a lot of people before bringing Hamza in to the club. People in Morocco I knew from before. I’m lucky in that way that people knew him. They said he’s a rough diamond.”

That “rough diamond” is now shining brighter than ever and could yet steal the show in North London if Spurs push on and seal Igamane’s signature before the deadline this month.

Chandimal’s sprint to 10 Test centuries, the end of Mathews’ century drought, and other statistical highlights from the third day of the third Tet

Bharath Seervi04-Dec-2017476- Balls faced by Angelo Mathews and Dinesh Chandimal during their 181-run stand for the fourth wicket. It’s the longest partnership between a visiting pair in India in the last five years, and the second-longest stand for Sri Lanka against India. Overall, this is the longest partnership for any pair at the Kotla, trumping the 433 balls Gautam Gambhir and VVS Laxman faced together against Australia in 2008-09.10- Centuries for Dinesh Chandimal in 80 Test innings: the fastest Sri Lankan to the landmark. The previous quickest was Thilan Samaraweera, who notched up 10 centuries in 82 innings. Kumar Sangakkara took 101 innings for the same.2- Number of Sri Lanka captains to score a century in India. Before Chandimal, only Sangakkara had done so, at the Brabourne Stadium in 2009-10. Chandimal is the first visiting captain in over 30 years to score a century at Feroz Shah Kotla, after Viv Richards in 1987-88.36- Number of innings without a century for Mathews before the one in this Test. Mathews averaged only 27.80 in those 36 innings with six fifties. His last ton was also against India, when they visited Sri Lanka in 2015. Between 2014 and 2015, Mathews hit six centuries in 42 innings.1981- The last instance of two centurions in the same innings for an opposition side at the Kotla. Geoff Boycott and Chris Tavare each made centuries for England then. Chandimal and Mathews’ centuries make it the fifth such instance at the Kotla. This is only the second occasion of Sri Lanka having two centurions in an innings in India.ESPNcricinfo Ltd3- Partnerships to have lasted 400 or more balls for Sri Lanka in the last five years; Chandimal has been involved in all three. He partnered Karunaratne against West Indies in Galle in 2015, and with Dhananjaya de Silva against Australia in Colombo (SSC) last year. The last such partnership, before these three, came in 2011.3- Number of times Chandimal has played innings of 300 or more balls in Tests this year – the highest. Steven Smith, Cheteshwar Pujara and Dimuth Karunaratne have played two such long innings.2009- Last instance of Sri Lanka’s Nos. 4 and 5 both scoring centuries in the same innings, as Chandimal and Mathews did in this match. Mahela Jayawardene and Samaraweera had done it in Galle then.

The stories of the people who worked against a cyclone to try and make the final Test of the series between India and England possible

Sidharth Monga in Chennai14-Dec-2016It is little over a year since R Ashwin went in to rescue India’s innings against South Africa in Delhi, while his hometown Chennai was ravaged by flood. His wife was trying unsuccessfully to get in touch with his parents, who were stranded, and he was feeling helpless, away from his beloved city and unable to help in its hour of need.Now, even as Ashwin’s side sealed another emphatic series win, cyclone Vardah hit Chennai, leaving in its wake destruction visible through felled trees, broken houses and uprooted electricity poles. This time, Ashwin and his team help, in their own way.A Test match begins on Friday. We tend to attach too much meaning to sport at times, but the successful hosting of this Test will mean a bit of a return to normalcy. Nothing represents normalcy in Chennai more than getting off at Chepauk train station and walking into MA Chidambaram Stadium for a Test match.Two days out, inside the stadium, the groundstaff works hard to make that happen. Inside the groundsmen’s shed, PR Viswanathan, BCCI’s south zone curator and formerly MA Chidambaram Stadium’s own, directs traffic. In a cart next to him lie two trays full of burning coal that have just been used to dry the pitch. They were kept on stumps so as to not burn the pitch.This is not the most unnatural drying act Viswanathan has overseen. Last year, in Bangalore, he put up a tent and used an actual iron and hair dryer to get the pitch ready during incessant rains. Sanjay Bangar, the India batting coach, will remember how in 2002-03 Viswanathan poured diesel on the bowlers’ run-up and burnt it to make sure it dried out in time for the Test against West Indies. India won by eight wickets.Lockers of the groundstaff at MA Chidambaram stadium•Sidharth Monga/ESPNcricinfoFive years ago, Viswanathan rolled out an admittedly ordinary surface for the Ranji Trophy final between Tamil Nadu and Rajasthan. Rajasthan scored 621 runs, and took away the title. That was the last pitch he prepared at the Chidambaram Stadium. His father played in the first-ever Ranji Trophy match, which ended in one day; he says he will take to his grave the regret of a match that looked good to last 10 days.Of all the gin joints in all the towns, Viswanathan is back at Chidambaram Stadium at a time of crisis. Quite possibly for one last time. He doesn’t want to hang on for too long; he wants youngsters – better trained scientifically – to take over, but what redemption it will be for him if he can stage a successful Test in such trying circumstances.Viswanathan, who was once a seam bowler who spent four matches with the Tamil Nadu squad without making the XI, has the support of a brave and committed groundstaff. They are the people who do all the hard work, he says. The people who come up with improvisations before the chief curator can. The people who sat through the cyclone on Monday to make sure the covers stayed in place.Gates fell, roofs were torn, sight screens were ravaged, bulbs flew out of the flood lights, but these can all be repaired. The playing surface, though, to be protected. The practice pitches were uncovered and the damage was such that they were unfit for training and will allow for only a few throwdowns, if at all, before the match.Thanks to the groundstaff’s bravery through the cyclone, and the modern drainage system, this is not even the biggest crisis Chidambaram stadium has gone through. The sight screens are erected and floodlights repaired through the day.The groundstaff’s shed is an oasis in the harsh Chennai sun. Their 25 lockers are adorned with images and cut-outs of gods and goddesses. A trunk and a rich blue cabinet stand at the other end. Statues and photos of more gods and goddesses sit there. Just before the Visakhapatnam Test earlier in the series, the groundstaff worshipped the pitch. Viswanathan says this groundstaff also does its best and then leaves the rest to the gods. And they carry out their worship at such early hours that you won’t even notice. “You are not in control once the match starts,” he says.Behind the shed, Vairamuthu, in his 50s, guards the deserted practice pitches. The only thing they might now be used for is a fitness test for Stuart Broad; you can bowl on them but batting can be unsafe. During the cyclone, a neighbour’s roof fell onto his house. Some things are more important than a fitness test, but it is also important to get back on your feet. Vairamuthu is on his feet.Baskaran, the cobbler who once fixed MS Dhoni’s pads•Sidharth Monga/ESPNcricinfoNot on his feet is Baskaran the cobbler, who sits cross-legged 50 metres past the Pattabhiraman Gate. Past trees fallen outside. Past the posters of Jayalalithaa handing a yellow flower to friend Sasikala, which have suddenly emerged in the week after the death of the iconic chief minister, a symbol of moving on, of handing over the reins.Baskaran sits on a plastic mat, tattered cricket gloves at one side and his photo with Sachin Tendulkar on the other. He claims to be a specialist in emergency repair on cricket equipment, especially those that need stitching. He began doing this for local matches, and over time he has become almost a dressing room attendant. The last time he was required in an international match was when MS Dhoni’s pads needed a quick fix.After the Test, Baskaran will go back to fixing shoes of the common public, but right now the cyclone and the destruction don’t matter. He is there is his place – maybe 50 metres to the left because of fallen trees.Over at Chemplast Cricket Ground in the IIT Madras campus, Vijay wouldn’t move from his place despite a landfall. He lives in the pavilion-style structure with his three “hounds” – rescued street dogs Andy, Laddoo and Prabhu Deva.Vijay sat in his veranda through the cyclone, looking at the beloved ground he takes care of, safe in the knowledge that there were no trees around it or tall structures that could fall. On Wednesday morning, at around 7am, he received a call from his employers if he could get the ground ready by 4pm. No other cricket ground in the city was available, and England needed one for Broad, who has been out with a foot injury, to run in and a pitch for him to bowl on. Vijay felt this was the least he could do two days before a Test. Perhaps the England team will understand and do without training, but somehow he had to help with the fitness test.Vijay got down to the job, and at 4pm, out came England bowling coach Ottis Gibson and Broad, in a tempo traveller. Andy, Laddoo and Prabhu Deva are on guard as Broad bowls 36 deliveries in his fitness test. They both leave happy, hoping they can get such a damp pitch offering seam and uneven bounce for the Test too. They have been away from home for close to two months, they have not won anything on this tour, which makes you miss friendlier environs even more. Before they leave, though, they – along with the Indian team – have one final act left: help a ravaged city attain a semblance of normalcy.

Tom Verducci: The Red Sox traded Rafael Devers under duress and paid down none of his contract, which limited his value. So why trade him? When you sign someone to a 10-year, $313.5 million contract, that’s the kind of commitment to consider the player “the face of the franchise.” And your face of the franchise should set a culture that young players can emulate.

Not playing first base or third base when starters go down at those positions—positions in the spectrum of your defensive prowess, not moving from infield to outfield or corner to middle—is certainly Devers’s right. But it’s also the club's right to expect more. Taking pregame grounders at shortstop last week was just another layer of weirdness to what became a parlor game of guessing Raffy’s mindset.

The Red Sox are not faultless. Owner John Henry, GM Craig Breslow and manager Alex Cora failed to get out in front of potential problems when it came to communicating. But nothing they did changed the fact that the team was in transition to a new, young core and Devers's intransigence was an obstacle. He should be happier in San Francisco after losing faith in the Boston front office.

The Giants are the winners of this deal today because they added an impact hitter in his prime without disrupting the major league team. Their pitching depth made Jordan Hicks and Kyle Harrison superfluous. The Giants have not had a left-handed hitter hit 30 home runs since Barry Bonds in 2004, and none other than Bonds since Will Clark 38 years ago. They must pay Devers, a full-time DH when Matt Chapman gets off the IL, $250 million over eight and a half years. That’s a worry for another day. His contract already doesn’t look so bad after the money paid to Juan Soto and Vlad Guerrero Jr.

Will Laws: This deal is being widely compared to the Red Sox’s disastrous trade of Mookie Betts in 2020. But I’d be shocked if this deal ages nearly as poorly as that one has. Yes, that’s setting a low bar. But Devers has never been the sort of player Betts is and his contract very well could’ve turned into an albatross long before it expires in 2033.

Devers has been a top-15 player this season in terms of offensive value, according to FanGraphs. But he’s 35th in terms of fWAR largely due to his poor baserunning and lack of defensive value. Devers has never finished in the top 10 of American League MVP voting. Betts has seven top-10 MVP placements. Betts likewise has seven seasons where he’s been more valuable by bWAR than Devers was in his best season—and that was back in 2019, the year of the juiced ball. And let’s not forget that while Devers refused to pick his glove back up in his team’s time of need after being slated as Boston’s full-time designated hitter before this season—which he was well within his rights to do—Betts has not only been willing to play multiple positions for the Dodgers over the last several years but has excelled at doing so.

Devers is a fearsome slugger, and the Red Sox are now worse than they were Sunday morning. This should also be an excellent deal for the Giants, who have long needed an infusion of power into their lineup. But Boston boasts a wealth of hitting talent and a pitching staff in need of some reinforcements, and now has the opportunity to spend the $245 million or so it still owed Devers elsewhere.

Former Red Sox chief baseball officer Chaim Bloom was forced by team ownership to trade Betts and never did enough to improve the roster to fill the void left by the former MVP’s departure. He was fired after the 2023 season as a result.

Bloom’s successor, Craig Breslow, just acquired the Giants’ former top prospect, 23-year-old pitcher Kyle Harrison, as part of the return for Devers, as well as pitcher Jordan Hicks and San Francisco’s No. 2 prospect in outfielder James Tibbs III. It’s not enough to make up for the loss of Devers, but it’s a start. Let’s see if Breslow uses some of his newfound payroll space to further upgrade Boston’s pitching staff this season before prematurely sentencing him to the same fate as Bloom.

Bengaluru’s M Chinnaswamy Stadium, with its short boundaries, is a spinner’s nightmare. But for Chahal, it’s a ground where he thrives

Alagappan Muthu27-Sep-20172:45

‘I never look at the name of the batsman while bowling’ – Chahal

Amit Mishra is bowling to MS Dhoni. It is an optional training session. With the series won, the No. 1 ranking secured, dominance established and a sprinkle of rain in the air, Wednesday afternoon is about having a bit of fun before India have to wrap things up. Balls go flying into the second tier of the stands. Even the car to be awarded to the Man of the Series, parked on a pedestal beyond the boundary, gets a proper tonking. This is the plight of spinners at the M Chinnaswamy stadium. Yet there is one spinner who has made his name here.Yuzvendra Chahal was bought by Royal Challengers Bangalore in 2014 for INR 10 lakh (approx USD 16,000). At the time, he had 18 wickets from 22 T20s, with only one IPL match. Three years later, he is an indispensable part of the franchise, and is building a very strong case to be kept as a frontline option for India in international cricket.Chahal’s success so far has come from his ability to read a situation. He doesn’t really turn the ball too much, sometimes it seems like he doesn’t even want to. He is accurate, though, which could be a consequence of his action. His arm at the point of release is often at 90 degrees whereas most legspinners try to avoid the perpendicular to get the ball to rip past a right-hander’s outside edge. He has a googly which has served him quite well. But his greatest strength is his temperament, and proof of that has been his performance at his home ground.Well, he’s from Haryana, but Chahal has played much more cricket for Royal Challengers, in a stadium where his style of bowling is not meant to do well. The Chinnaswamy has racked up 870 sixes in the IPL, which is by far the record. Wankhede Stadium comes in second with a count of 657. So imagine how he must feel when he looks up from his run-up and sees boundaries that are just about 60 yards away.Yuzvendra Chahal celebrates the wicket of Suresh Raina•BCCIThen again, he was at least in the middle as a team’s first-choice spinner and that hasn’t happened very often for Chahal. His first-class career is stuck at 27 matches, despite a debut eight years ago, because he has had to compete for a spot with Amit Mishra, who, considering his stints as captain of Haryana, couldn’t be dropped and because of that the second-in-line was a fingerspinner like Jayant Yadav.Royal Challengers looked past that and gave him the responsibility. Chahal responded by taking 41 wickets from 28 innings at Chinnaswamy. He is the most successful T20 bowler at this ground and among the top 10 there is only one other spinner – Piyush Chawla with 12 strikes in 12 innings.”It’s always about giving my best for the team that I play,” Chahal said. “Also, whenever I bowl, I never look at the name of the batsman I am bowling to – even if I am playing club matches, inter-matches or the IPL, I bowl only to my strengths and that gives me a lot of confidence too. If you see, Bangalore is a small ground but I have got a lot of wickets here.”Doing well at franchise level doesn’t always mean a player is ready for the step up though. But Chahal, in the 10 ODIs since his debut in 2016, has only once gone wicketless. And in this series against Australia, he has been the captain’s preferred weapon against Glenn Maxwell. When he won the head-to-head a third time in a row, Chahal celebrated by gesturing how he had out-thought the batsman.”I don’t bowl at the stumps to him,” he said. “That is his strong area. So I always look to bowl outside off stump and vary my pace. I know that if I have bowled 2-3 dots, then he will look to step out to me but that delivery – where I pitch it and how it beats him – that has to be perfect.”Those are the kind of wickets that makes a bowler smile when sitting alone at an airport on travel day while his box-office friendly colleagues are hounded for selfies. But Chahal won’t mind. He’s got work to do. Finally, he’s got work to do.

Aston Villa secured a top eight spot in the Champions League group stage, automatically putting them into the final 16 of the competition along with Liverpool, Barcelona, Arsenal, Inter Milan, Atlético Madrid, Bayer Leverkusen and Lille.

Morgan Rogers netted a hattrick against Celtic in their 4-2 victory to seal the three points needed to secure eighth spot, putting the Englishman on ten goals in all competitions this campaign, having also provided five assists.

With Jhon Duran set to be sold, Unai Emery could be armed with extra transfer kitty heading into the final days of the window, where he could obtain the perfect partner in crime for Rogers.

Latest Aston Villa transfer news

According to reports from Fabrizio Romano, Aston Villa have been in touch with Chelsea over not just Axel Disasi, but also Joao Felix.

Transfer Focus

However, the deal will depend on what Chelsea decide to do with Felix, which could be determined by their own business at the top end of the pitch.

With Duran on his way to Al Nassr for €77m (£54.4m) deal with add-ons, Emery’s side could have a busy final few days of the window, as they look to not only replace Duran, but use the funds to improve the squad ahead of a big second half of the season.

Felix has made 20 appearances for the Blues this season since joining in the summer, scoring seven goals, providing two assists and totalling 947 minutes played.

The 25-year-old can play a variety of positions across the front line, including attacking midfield, left-wing and even as a centre-forward.

Why Felix could shine with Rogers

By bringing another versatile forward to the club, Emery would have the capacity to play both Felix and Rogers alongside each other, two players who excel in creativity in the pockets/half spaces, can link play, arrive in the box and offer goal threat.

Stats (per 90 mins)

Felix

Rogers

Goals

0.67

0.34

Assists

0.17

0.17

xG

0.54

0.22

xAG

0.24

0.22

Progressive Carries

5.12

3.39

Progressive Passes

6.34

3.90

Shots Total

4.83

1.99

Key Passes

1.46

1.52

Shot-Creating Actions

4.39

3.43

Successful Take-Ons

2.44

2.45

When comparing the two players’ metrics this season, you can see how closely they rank in key areas, completing very similar key passes per 90, very similar take-on numbers and both offering output.

Felix has offered more in terms of progressive numbers and shot volume this season, but many of his minutes have also come in the UEFA Conference League against an overall lower standard, compared to Rogers in the Premier League and Champions League.

Felix is someone in the footballing sphere who has been labelled an “immense” talent by many experts, including Alex Barker (EuroExpert on X).

However, since his big-money move to Atlético Madrid from Benfica, coaches have struggled to get the best of him, usually due to his best work being done in tandem with a centre-forward to play off of, in something of a front two.

This is why Emery could fully unlock the potential of Felix, playing him behind a striker such as Ollie Watkins, moving Rogers over to the left, who can then drift inside alongside Felix, creating an excellent attacking triangle where Felix has the freedom to roam and do his best work.

With Duran seemingly out the door, snapping up the Chelsea man could represent the perfect attacking replacement.

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