Ruben Amorim says losing the Europa League final would be a big blow but not qualifying for the Champions League may be better for Manchester United.

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Man Utd in Europa League finalAmorim wants trophy winBut makes bold UCL admissionFollow GOAL on WhatsApp! 🟢📱WHAT HAPPENED?

The United head coach believes that if they qualify for Europe's elite competition, by winning the Europa League against Tottenham, it may stunt the club's development as they need more time to gel in training and find their feet.

AdvertisementAFPWHAT AMORIM SAID

When asked if it would help his side in the long-term not to qualify for the Champions League, he said: "That is my feeling, we need more time with the team, we need to arrange a lot of things in Carrington, not thinking game by game by game. Then we have the squad. We proved this year that we need to be a better squad to win European games and then be a better team in the Premier League. [Not winning the final] is going to be really bad, I don’t want to use that as an excuse, and the patience of the fans and you guys next year if we don’t win it is going to be on the limit."

THE BIGGER PICTURE

Despite Amorim's comments, United desperately need to win this competition. One, it will bring them tens of millions in revenue – something they badly need – and two, it will allow them to attract a better calibre of player. Moreover, it will provide more security for Amorim at Old Trafford, with the Portuguese enduring a torrid Premier League season.

AFPWHAT NEXT?

Before United take on Tottenham in the Europa League final next week, Amorim's side are away to Chelsea on Friday in the Premier League.

The three players will link up with the senior squad in Zimbabwe on June 23

Madushka Balasuriya20-Jun-2023Dilshan Madushanka, Dunith Wellalage and Sahan Arachchige are set to link up with the senior squad on June 23, after Sri Lanka Cricket announced that the trio would be flown in to Zimbabwe for the World Cup Qualifiers as “standby options”.The inclusion of Madushanka, a left-armer able to swing the ball at pace, follows impressive recent outings against South Africa A, where he picked up nine wickets across three 50-over games and then another four in a four-day encounter, and comes on the back of him becoming the most expensive signing at $92,000 at the inaugural LPL auction. It also makes sense considering the fragility of Sri Lanka’s seamers. Lahiru Kumara has a recent history of breaking down mid-game, while Dushmantha Chameera’s work load is being carefully managed. This leaves just Kasun Rajitha and the raw Matheesha Pathirana as reliable seam-bowling options.In Wellalage, meanwhile, Sri Lanka cover several bases, with the Under-19 captain a capable left-arm spinner – an option currently missing in the squad – while also offering an extra batting option lower down the order. He is also one of the better fielders in the Lankan setup.As for Arachchige, he was another that sparked a bidding war at the LPL auction, eventually being sold for $28,000. It was an impressive fee for a player that has yet to make his debut for the national side, but the aggressive 27-year-old is highly rated, has recent performances in the bank – three fifties in his last five one-dayers, including two against South Africa A – and looks on the cusp of making the step-up to the international stage.Sri Lanka won their opening game in the World Cup Qualifier against UAE by 175 runs. They next play Oman on June 23 in Bulawayo.

وجه بيب جوارديولا مدرب مانشستر سيتي بعض الرسائل للاعبيه بشأن الموسم الجديد، ويعتقد الإسباني أن فريقه جاهز للمرحلة القادمة بشكل جيد.

ويواجه فريق بيب جوارديولا فريق وولفرهامبتون في اللقاء الافتتاحي في البريميرليج ويسعى مانشستر سيتي لاستعادة لقب الدوري من ليفربول وإنهاء الموسم في صدارة البريميرليج للمرة الخامسة في ستة مواسم.

أقرأ أيضاً.. الركوع مرتين.. قرار مهم من لاعبي الدوري الإنجليزي قبل انطلاق الموسم

وكان مانشستر سيتي قد عزز صفوفه بالتعاقد مع لاعبين مثل تيجاني رايندرز وريان شرقي وريان آيت نوري مما يضيف عمق للفريق.

وسئل بيب جوارديولا عن أفكاره بشأن الموسم الجديد قبل لقاء وولفرهامبتون خلال تدريبات مانشستر سيتي المفتوحة في اكاديمية النادي:” كل موسم هو نفسه ولكن في الوقت نفسه هو مجرد استمرار لما فعلناه على مدار العقد الماضي”.

وأضاف: “بالطبع نريد أن نحاول تقديم أداء أفضل من الموسم الماضي وخاصة التركيز على الاستمرارية ولن نجد أمامنا السجادة الحمراء”.

وواصل: “كما تعلمون، في كل مرة نبدأ فيها الموسم لا نفكر في عدد الإنجازات التي سنحققها، بل نحاول أسبوع بعد أسبوع وشهر بعد شهر أن نكون أفضل ونطور أدائنا الكروي لأن البداية دائماً ما تكون صعبة”.

وتابع: “لكن إذا كنا في نفس الأجواء والروح التي بدأنا في خلقها في أمريكا خلال كأس العالم للأندية نأمل أن يكون جمهورنا فخور بنا”.

وحول غرفة الملابس في مانشستر سيتي أتم بيب تصريحاته: “الإيجابية موجودة، أنا متأكد تماماً من أنها ستكون جيدة لكنها لن تكون موسم سهل بل ستكون هناك دائماً مشاكل، المهم هو كيفية التغلب على هذه المواقف”.

وأكمل: “أود أن أقول إن هذا النادي نضج في آخر 15 أو 20 عاماً وهو الآن في صدارة كل بطولة نشارك فيها، فلنواصل ذلك والموسم القادم يعتمد على كيفية لعبنا وأدائنا”.

وختم: “في النهاية عندما يبذل الناس روح طيبة ويقاتلون ويركضون ويقدمون أفضل ما لديهم وبعد أن يكون الخصوم دائماً مشاركين، في بعض الأحيان يمكنك أن تفعل أفضل ما لديك ويكون الخصوم أفضل،الأمر يعتمد علينا وهذا ما علينا فعله، نتحدى أنفسنا وهذا هو هدفنا لهذا الموسم”.

MatériaMais Notícias

da brdice： Pela segunda rodada do Grupo 12 da Copa São Paulo de Futebol Júnior, o Corinthians encara o Fast Clube-AM nesta sexta-feira (6), às 21h45, em Araraquara, na Fonte Luminosa. A partida terá transmissão daRede Vida e SporTV.

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da dobrowin： + Confira quem sai, quem fica e as movimentações do Timão no mercado

Na rodada inaugural, o Timãozinho goleou o Zumbi-AL por 4 a 0, com gols de Matheus Araújo, Pedro, Ryan e Jean Marques (contra). Já a equipe do Amazonas foi derrotada pela Ferroviária por 2 a 1.

+ Veja todas as movimentações do futebol brasileiro na nova ferramenta de mercado do LANCE!

Com 10 títulos, o Corinthians é o maior campeão da Copinha, porém o clube alvinegro vive um jejum de seis anos na competição, tendo em vista que o último título veio em 2017, contra o Batatais-SP.

VEJA OS JOGADORES INSCRITOS PELO CORINTHIANS NA COPINHA
Goleiros: Kauê, Igor Eduardo, Felipe Longo e Cadu.
Laterais: Abimael, Vitor Meer, Léo Mana e Caipira.
Zagueiros: Murillo, João Pedro, Renato, Alemão e Vinicius Cressi.
Meio-campistas: Zé Vitor, Matheus Araújo, Riquelme, Ryan, Thomás, Guilherme Biro (*), Pedrinho, Breno Bidon e Gabriel Moscardo.
Atacantes:Arthur Sousa, Kayke, Felipe Augusto, Higor, Wesley, Pedro (*), Juninho e Guilherme Henrique.

* Jogadores convocados para disputar o Sul-Americano Sub-20 pela Seleção Brasileira irão desfalcar a equipe na Copinha

+ Veja tabela e simule os jogos do Paulistão 2023

Da lista, o lateral Léo Mana, o meia Guilherme Biro e os atacantes Wesley, Felipe Augusto e Arthur Sousa já estrearam pela equipe profissional do Timão.

continua após a publicidade

Andile Phehlukwayo and Lizaad Williams have been included as replacements in South Africa’s 15-man squad

ESPNcricinfo staff21-Sep-2023Fast bowlers Anrich Nortje and Sisanda Magala have been ruled out of the 2023 ODI World Cup with injuries. They have been replaced by Andile Phehlukwayo and Lizaad Williams in South Africa’s 15-man squad for the tournament that begins in India on October 5.Nortje has a suspected stress fracture of the back after experiencing spasms during the second ODI against Australia earlier this month. Magala, who played only the third ODI against Australia and went for 1 for 46 in four overs, has a left-knee injury.”It’s hugely disappointing for Anrich and Sisanda to be missing out on the 50-over World Cup,” South Africa’s coach Rob Walter said. “We sympathize in their omission and will continue to provide all the necessary support as they work towards their return to competitive action.”This provides an opportunity for Andile and Lizaad on the global stage. Both players have been part of our winter programs as well as having represented South Africa in the recent white-ball tour against Australia. They offer great skill sets and we’re excited to have them complete the 15-player squad for this year’s World Cup.”Phehlukwayo played in the second and fifth ODIs against Australia. While he did not make much of an impression in the first game, he scored 38 off 19 balls to finish the innings strongly in the series finale and then took 1 for 44. Williams played three of the five matches, taking 3 for 44, 1 for 17 and 0 for 24.Nortje’s absence is a major blow for South Africa as he is their quickest bowler with substantial experience in India, where he plays for Delhi Capitals in the IPL. He played in the Major League Cricket tournament in the USA over the South African winter and was rested for the T20Is against Australia. He was then ruled out of the first ODI but played the second, bowling only five overs before leaving the field. He missed the third game after he was sent for scans and was then ruled out of the series.Magala had not played any cricket since splitting the webbing in his hand at the IPL in early April and was subsequently ruled out of the T20Is against Australia with infrapatellar tendinopathy – pain in the tendon that connects the kneecap to the shin bone. He experienced discomfort in the knee again after playing one ODI against Australia.South Africa leave for India on September 23, and play their warm-up games against Afghanistan on September 29 and New Zealand on October 2. Their first game of the tournament is against Sri Lanka on October 7.

South Africa’s ODI World Cup squad

Temba Bavuma (capt), Gerald Coetzee, Quinton de Kock (wk), Reeza Hendricks, Marco Jansen, Heinrich Klaasen, Keshav Maharaj, Aiden Markram, David Miller, Lungi Ngidi, Andile Phehlukwayo, Kagiso Rabada, Tabraiz Shamsi, Rassie van der Dussen, Lizaad Williams

In the Asia Cup’s group of death, Bangladesh now face a must-win game against Afghanistan

Madushka Balasuriya31-Aug-20231:34

Mahroof: Pleased to see the planning from Samarawickrama and Asalanka

Fifties from Charith Asalanka and Sadeera Samarawickrama saw home a nervy chase in sluggish conditions, as Sri Lanka kicked off their Asia Cup campaign with an ultimately convincing five-wicket win over Bangladesh. The result means Sri Lanka have one foot in the Super 4 stage, while Bangladesh face a must-win tie against Afghanistan.Asalanka, who had come into this game in a lean stretch of form, ended unbeaten on 62 off 92 deliveries, just the kind of gritty knock that was needed on a two-paced Pallekele surface and against a Bangladesh bowling outfit that gave little away.Set a target of just 165, Sri Lanka were in a spot of bother at 43 for 3 when Asalanka joined Samarawickrama in the middle. Before that Dimuth Karanuratne had played all over a full in-ducker from Taskin Ahmed, while Kusal Mendis had been castled a Shakib Al Hasan arm ball. In between Pathum Nissanka had slashed and nicked a short, wide one from Shoriful Islam.Early wickets are crucial when defending a low total, and Bangladesh certainly felt they were in the game at that point, but in Samarawickrama, Sri Lanka had precisely the man they wanted in such a situation.Charith Asalanka and Sadeera Samarawickrama revived the chase after the loss of three early wickets•Getty Images

Batting at No. 4, Samarawickrama took it upon himself to keep the scoreboard ticking. Back-to-back boundaries against Taskin, including a sumptuous cover drive, showed his intent, but the loss of wickets forced him to play more of an accumulator’s role.Once Asalanka joined him, the pair was initially content to nudge around for singles and play out dot balls when necessary, with the scoreboard pressure non-existent. Still, if there was any pressure building up, Samarawickrama released it with a couple of fours off Shakib in the 19th over.The two grafted together 78 before Samarawickrama fell, stumped off Mahedi Hasan, though by this point the chase was well in hand. Dhananjaya de Silva had his stumps disturbed by Shakib a short while after to keep give rise to a few more Sri Lankan nerves, but Dasun Shanaka joined Asalanka at the crease to see home the chase.It was a result where Bangladesh would wonder what could have been, especially seeing as they had failed to bat out the full 50 overs. Only Najmul Hossain Shanto with his valiant 89 showed any resistance against Sri Lanka’s bowlers, who had the rest of the Bangladesh line-up in a stranglehold and bowled them out for 164.Matheesha Pathirana capped his Asia Cup debut with career-best figures of 4 for 32, while the always-excellent Maheesh Theekshana picked up a couple. But it was the pair of Dhananjaya and Dunith Wellalage that provided the platform for Sri Lanka’s strike bowlers to thrive, as the right-arm- and left-arm-spin combo rifled through the middle overs, never allowing the batters to score freely, and most importantly allowing skipper Shanaka to hold back on the reintroduction of both Theekshana and Pathirana.Matheesha Pathirana ended with career-best figures of 4 for 32•Getty Images

This was crucial, as in the absence of the injured Wanindu Hasaranga, Sri Lanka were one strike bowler short. But on this difficult surface, Sri Lanka’s bowlers stuck to good lines and lengths and never really allowed the Bangladesh batters to get on top for any significant length of time.After Theekshana and Dhananjaya had removed openers Tanzid Hasan and Mohammed Naim cheaply, Shakib gloved Pathirana behind in the 11th over to leave Bangladesh reeling at 36 for 3.It was at this point that Bangladesh finally looked to get a foot in the game, with Shanto and Towhid Hridoy putting on a stand of 59, but the pressure that was built up in the middle overs began to tell. Shanaka brought himself on and had an advancing Hridoy lbw, via DRS.Mushfiqur Rahim and Shanto then added 32 for the fifth wicket, but the former fell foul of a textbook ploy – a couple of full deliveries followed by a short one – to hole out to deep third.Once Mushfiqur departed, not a single other Bangladeshi batter was able to keep Shanto company for long as Pathirana and Theekshana ran through the lower order. Apart from Shanto, only Hridoy managed to reach 20, while only two other batters reached double digits.

With the Belgian linked to a MLS move, GOAL US writers debate the best landing spot for the Manchester City star

Kevin De Bruyne gets closer to an MLS move with every headline. There are a few things we know for certain here. The first is that the Belgian will leave Manchester City upon the expiration of his contract at the end of the season. The second is that he has a long-standing interest in playing in MLS.

The third is that some configuration of Chicago Fire, D.C. United, Inter Miami and NYCFC are interested – in some form – of securing his signature. If De Bruyne is playing in the U.S. this summer, he'll likely do so with a club in a sizable and attractive market.

These are all good things from an American point of view. Big names are still necessary for a league that is trying to grow its global footprint. De Bruyne may not be a megastar, but he is one of the finest midfielders to ever grace the game.

Miami reportedly own his MLS discovery rights, but could the Man City star legitimately co-exist with Lionel Messi in South Beach? Morever, Miami’s three designated player spots are already occupied by Messi, Sergio Busquets and Jordi Alba. Chicago now reportedly hold the priority to negotiate with De Bruyne

He will certainly have an impact – good or bad – wherever he plays. But what about the specifics? Where, exactly, should he play? Where would he be an unmitigated disaster? And what impact could have have on the league?

GOAL US writers debate it all in the latest edition of … The Rondo.

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  Which MLS club is the best fit for Kevin De Bruyne?

  Tom Hindle: Unfortunately, it's not Miami. As much as it would be fun to see them continue to farm European stars, it makes absolutely zero sense. The issue is, none of the other three significant links are particularly exciting. NYCFC adds up due to City Group association. Chicago could probably do with some midfield creativity, and they did previously pursue Neymar. And D.C. United are simply thirsty for any big name they can, in theory, get their hands on. Let's go with NYCFC, if only because they've lost a couple of creative presences, and could do with a star man.

  Ryan Tolmich: The rumor mill keeps linking him with the Chicago Fire and, yup, that checks out. The Fire seem close to arriving, both on and off the field, and De Bruyne is exactly the type of signing that can take this team forward. He'd have pieces in front of him that are legitimately goal-dangerous and, in many ways, would be a perfect mentor for rising star Brian Gutierrez. Off the field, this is exactly the type of big-time signing this club needs to make a statement locally and nationally, while proving that this ownership group is serious about winning. It all makes so much sense, which is why it's the most likely to happen of any of the options.

  Alex Labidou: Thank goodness, it's not likely to be Miami. The three other teams De Bruyne has been linked with – NYCFC, D.C. and Chicago – are all fighting for the same thing: relevancy. While it would be interesting to see how the Belgian connection between De Bruyne and Christian Benteke would play out, it is more vital for MLS to get a shot in the arm in one of its two biggest markets of Chicago and New York. And those two are really neck and neck. Considering Gregg Berhalter's ties to the USMNT and his former players there, it is probable that he will sign an American star at some point – likely after the World Cup. So this seems a move NYCFC HAVE to make. It's hard to envision where the club is going to find another marketable star. Soccer is almost an afterthought in the Big Apple, despite both teams being among MLS's most successful clubs. KDB wouldn't be a cure-all, but he would be a signal of intent for The Pigeons, who are opening their new stadium in two years.

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  Where would he be the worst fit?

  TH: Miami, which fills me with a deep sadness.

  RT: A word of advice to Miami: don't even think about it. This week's CONCACAF Champions Cup loss exposed just how unbalanced this team is, and bringing in another older midfielder – even one of De Bruyne's quality – would only further unbalance it. The team's entire transfer strategy has centered around Messi's friends and South American journeyman. Ahe while they have signed a few young stars, the club needs to be targeting more of those players. The Herons need more runners anywhere on the field, and De Bruyne isn't that.

  AL: Outside of Miami, the other three clubs would be an excellent fit for the Belgian. That said, D.C. would still be a far cry from contending, even if De Bruyne joins. That club has holes in every position outside of striker and at 33, De Bruyne is likely just an outstanding playmaker at this point. He's never been one to impact a game defensively and he hasn't scored more than 10 goals since 2022. It would be an expensive luxury for D.C., but it is a potential game-changer for the Fire and NYCFC, as both are in the playoff hunt.

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  Will De Bruyne succeed in MLS?

  TH: Honestly, no.MLS is brutally unkind to former Euro stars without legs, and De Bruyne's hamstrings are made of rubber bands at this point. He's immobile in the Premier League, and unless someone can throw a bag at building a roster around him – unlikely – then he might struggle in this league. More Marco Reus than Lionel Messi, at the moment.

  RT: Definitely, but he has to have the right team around him. MLS is one of the remaining few leagues in which a team can carry one or two players defensively, which means De Bruyne can just focus on what he does best: creating. Surround De Bruyne with younger, hungry players and let him ping passes to whichever of them is making the best run. If that's the recipe in place, De Bruyne should thrive while helping take a team from good to great.

  AL: Depends on where he lands. In some ways, this is similar to when Andrea Pirlo came to MLS. The skill was evident for anyone to see, but he was extremely limited in what he could offer when he wasn't on set pieces or threading the needle on key plays. The Premier League is a world apart from MLS, but if there's one similarity between the two leagues, it's the required athleticism to be successful. Miami have struggled recently as teams are punishing them with their pace and physical superiority. If De Bruyne goes to a team at which the midfield can cover for his deficiencies, he will be a success. But if he goes to a situation where he's expected to cover several gaps, he won't. It's that simple.

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  Would he be a 'needle-moving' signing for MLS?

  TH: The good barometer for this is always "Has my mum heard of this player?" She knows the names Messi, Suarez, Beckham, Ibrahimovic and Neymar. Ask her who De Bruyne is, and she will probably be clueless. This is a long-winded way of saying he might hit with the Premier League truthers, but won't bring in any eyes outside of them. Sure, it'll be good for the league, but the star power isn't really there.

  RT: It's not in the Messi-Beckham tier, and it might not be quite in the Zlatan tier, either. But it is just below that. De Bruyne is a big name and, at one point, he was right there among the best players in the world. Personality-wise, though, he doesn't have that star-power charisma that Zlatan has – and it remains to be seen how active he'd be in promoting his club. Still, this is a player that adds gravitas to MLS, even if he doesn't change the game by himself.

  AL: No. De Bruyne will certainly elevate whatever team he signs with, and likely will put fans in the stands in that specific market. But will he have the impact of Messi – fans literally paying thousands on resale markets to see him play – or David Beckham, who sold out entire NFL stadiums his first year Unfortunately not. But MLS is a stronger league with De Bruyne playing in the U.S.

Manchester United and Ruben Amorim have suffered a new injury scare, as a “monster” player is set to undergo a test following an injury he picked up against Everton on Saturday.

Man Utd fight back to claim a point at Everton

It looked like it was going to be another disappointing weekend for the Red Devils, as they went 2-0 down to Everton in the first half at Goodison Park. United put on a poor showing in the first half, but changes by Amorim transfored the game in the second half and two quick goals from Bruno Fernandes and Manuel Ugarte meant the points were shared.

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After the game, Amorim claimed his side were “soft” and gave the ball away too many times when not under pressure.

Amorim was also asked what he can do to make his United side more consistent, as that is now no win in their last three league games – the Portuguese is unsure if he can change it.

“I don’t know; if I know, I will change it. Everything we do in the week, we have to do better in the game. In this moment, we need to focus on day by day. We need to survive this season, and then we can think ahead. I don’t want to just say the negative part. In the second half, we were close to win this game.”

Man Utd suffer injury scare as “monster” set to undergo Monday scan

Amorim will have been pleased to see his side fight back to rescue a point on Saturday, but he will now be concerned about one of his key players. According to ESPN reporter Rob Dawson (relayed by mufcmpb on X), Noussair Mazraoui picked up an injury to his knee in the game against the Toffees and is set to undergo tests on Monday.

The 27-year-old went down in the second half of the game but was able to continue a little bit longer before being replaced in the 70th minute by Leny Yoro. It is unclear the severity of Mazraoui’s injury, but he is set to undergo tests before a decision is made on whether he can play against Ipswich Town on Wednesday.

Mazraoui, who has been dubbed a “monster” in the past, has been a key player for United this season, starting 24 Premier League games as well as seven in the Europa League and two in the FA Cup. The defender has failed to appear in just one game this season, and that was in the recent game against Rangers, as he missed the match through injury.

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The versatile defender, who earns £135,000 a week at Old Trafford, would complete what is fast becoming a Tottenham-level injury crisis at United. Amad Diallo is likely out for the season, Kobbie Mainoo will miss several weeks and Lisandro Martinez is facing a long spell on the sidelines with a knee injury of his own, and things wil go from bad to worse if the Moroccan’s scans come back with bad news.

da dobrowin： Tottenham Hotspur are now “in the running” to sign a “freak of nature” midfielder this summer, having conducted scouting missions this season, according to former scout Mick Brown.

Spurs eyeing move for midfielder

da apostaganha： Tottenham’s midfield has looked solid at times when everyone is fully-fit, with the trio of James Maddison, Rodrigo Bentancur and Lucas Bergvall performing well in the recent 1-0 victory against Manchester United in the Premier League.

Maddison bagged the winner in the narrow victory over the Red Devils, which saw the Lilywhites rise to 12th place.

However, Ange Postecoglou clearly feels some additional depth is required, given that the manager has been left short on midfield options at times this season due to the injury crisis he has had to deal with.

Several targets have been identified by Spurs, with the likes of Palmeiras’ Richard Rios and Real Betis’ Johnny Cardoso on the shortlist, and there is now a feeling they are also keen on signing one of the Championship’s stars.

Related Manager stalls new contract after Tottenham express interest in hiring him

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In a recent interview with Football Insider, ex-scout Mick Brown stated Tottenham are one of the clubs keeping a close eye on Sunderland’s Jobe Bellingham, who could leave this summer if the Black Cats receive a big offer.

“Crystal Palace and Tottenham have had scouts watching him this season so they’ll be two of the teams in the running if he is going to leave. So it’ll be up to them to assess whether he’s ready to make that jump.

“From a Sunderland point of view, knowing the way the owners want to operate, I think if they get a huge bid for him then they’ll let him go.“

Amid links to Arsenal last month, the Sunderland star was thought to have a price tag of £20m, but the asking price could theoretically rise if he continues to impress over the course of the next few months.

Bellingham emerging as key player for Sunderland

The Black Cats are pushing for promotion to the Premier League this season, and the 19-year-old has established himself as a key player, making 28 appearances in the Championship, during which time he has picked up four goals and three assists.

Not only is the teenager a threat going forward, but he has also done a stellar job defensively over the past year, ranking in the 90th percentile for aerials won and the 87th percentile for clearances, when compared to his positional peers playing at a similar level.

Fellow Sunderland midfielder Dan Neil has lauded his teammate in the past, saying: “He’s an absolute freak of nature, physically. I have never seen a 17-year-old that size. Technically, he is a top, top, player as well.”

As such, it is exciting news that Tottenham could be in the race to sign Bellingham in the summer, and they should continue to monitor his performances between now and the end of the season.

Durham 433 for 8 (Lees 195, Clark 82) lead Gloucestershire 316 by 117 runsAlex Lees gave the England selectors a gentle nudge after scoring his third century in as many innings to guide Durham into a strong position against Gloucestershire in their LV= Insurance County Championship clash.Lees anchored the innings with a flawless knock of 195, posting his highest score as a Durham player since his move to Seat Unique Riverside in 2018. Graham Clark provided the perfect complement with 82 as the two shared a stand worth 195 after the hosts were reduced to 109 for four in reply to Gloucestershire’s 316.The two batters rebuilt the innings and propelled Durham ahead in the game, having skittled the visitors’ tail within the first half-hour of day two. It allowed Brydon Carse to tee off late in the day to push the hosts into a 117-run lead at the close with two first-innings wickets remaining.Resuming on 280 for six, Gloucestershire put their foot down before the arrival of the new ball. Zafar Gohar smashed three boundaries off Carse’s first over, while Josh Shaw cleared the rope with a huge strike over long-on against Parkinson to earn a second batting bonus point.Durham answered fire with fire as Carse responded with a hostile spell to make the breakthrough. Shaw could only glove behind to Robinson down the leg-side and the next ball was too good for Matt Taylor. Zaman Akhter survived the hat-trick ball and another barrage from Carse before the arrival of the new ball.Ben Raine then wrapped up the innings within three deliveries with the new Kookaburra in hand by bowling Gohar and pinning Dominic Goodman lbw, securing maximum bowling points for the hosts.Shaw made quick inroads for the visitors to remove Michael Jones, but Lees responded by taking the attack to the Gloucestershire bowlers. The left-hander shared a stand worth 67 with Scott Borthwick before the Durham captain picked out substitute fielder Jack Taylor as he aimed to clear the short boundary, presenting Shaw with his second wicket.Lees worked his way to his fifty from only 56 balls, but Durham had issues at the other end when David Bedingham emulated his captain’s dismissal falling three balls before the lunch break. Ollie Robinson continued the procession after the interval as fell caught and bowled to Goodman, leaving Durham in trouble at 109 for four after losing three wickets for 32.The home side required patience at the crease and Lees duly delivered without taking any risks on his march to three figures. He showed composure in a slow grind through the nineties before bringing up his third hundred of the term after striking Gohar straight down the ground to the fence.Clark offered a useful foil at the other end to support the former England opener. After a period of consolidation, the two batters upped the ante and cranked up the pressure on the Gloucestershire bowlers.James Bracey turned to a variety of options, but could not stop the onslaught from the fifth-wicket stand, especially from Lees who powered his way to his highest score of the season by passing 150 with three-straight pulls to the boundary against Akhter.Ben Charlesworth took the ball in the 70th over and finally broke the stand for 195 when Clark drilled the ball straight to Chris Dent at short mid-wicket, falling narrowly short of a deserved century. Carse and Lees guided the hosts to their third batting bonus point before the new ball.Matt Taylor found his rhythm from the off with the new ball to end Lees’ brilliant knock for 195 and then Raine first ball to give the visitors hope of skittling the hosts late in the day. But, Carse stamped his authority in the final hour, reaching fifty from 45 balls and smashing three sixes in the process, ensuring Durham ended the evening in command closing in on maximum batting points.