West Ham United boss David Moyes is reportedly keen to strengthen his squad in January and could have a plausible opportunity to bolster one key position, according to reports.

West Ham updates: Paqueta latest, Soucek talks, Antonio on Ward-Prowse

According to a West Ham contract update on Lucas Paqueta from TEAMtalk, the Hammers are believed to be keen to offer midfielder Lucas Paqueta a new deal to try and stave off interest from Manchester City in his services. Paqueta has been extensively linked with a move to Manchester City over the last few months and had a release clause of £85 million included in his current terms. On the other hand, England international Kalvin Phillips has been touted with a potential switch in the opposite direction and a swap deal involving both players hasn't been ruled out as a possibility by the outlet.

Football Insider have shared a Tomas Soucek transfer update, claiming that the in-form West Ham midfielder is a target for Inter Milan; however, the Hammers are believed to be trying to step up talks to tie the Czechia international to a new contract. Moyes is a huge fan of Soucek and views him as an important member of his squad at the London Stadium. As per the report, the 28-year-old is likely to ask for a wage hike that would align him with the top earners in east London moving forward.

Meanwhile, in conversation with The Footballer’s Football Podcast cited via The Evening Standard, West Ham striker Michail Antonio is still baffled over James Ward Prowse's omission from the England squad by Gareth Southgate. Antonio said:

"I am upset with Southgate. The stats say that Ward-Prowse is doing everything week in week out to play for England so it is mad he has not been picked. I think that when you are playing at your best you should be rewarded and for me that is England. He has been unbelievable. I understand managers like to pick players they trust, but he has got players in there who are not even playing. I do not like that."

James Ward-Prowse statistics 2023/24 – all competitions

Appearances: 10

Goals: 2

Assists: 7

Ward-Prowse's performance breakdown and key statistics: 2023/24 (WhoScored)

Shots per Premier League game: 1.3

Key passes per Premier League game: 2.1

Pass success rate in the Premier League: 90.6%

West Ham transfer update – Guilherme Arana

According to a West Ham transfer update from Spain, Atletico Mineiro left-back Guilherme Arana is someone the Hammers are now determined to formalize their interest in come January after initial reports emerged of a scouting trip over the weekend by Irons' chiefs. They must have liked what they saw because they are reportedly now ready to proceed forward to try and land the Brazil international, who would be allowed to depart from his current employers if they received a suitable offer for his services.

In 2023, Arana has made 20 appearances across all competitions for Atletico Mineiro, registering one assist in the process (Arana statistics – Transfermarkt).

Labelled "spectacular" by former Brazil Under-23 coach Andre Jardine, Arana could help to ease the workload handled by Emerson Palmieri and Aaron Cresswell on the left-hand side of defence if the Hammers can strike a deal to sign the full-back.

Arsenal's youth production has been stellar over their illustrious history, and there is arguably no better environment with which to promote them from Hale End than the current one which Mikel Arteta has cultivated.

However, some of the outstanding academy stars will have a tough task on their hands overtaking the first-team regulars, with Oleksandr Zinchenko one man who could be under threat…

How good is Oleksandr Zinchenko?

Having joined in the summer of 2022 for £32m, the former Manchester City man marked an imperative acquisition for the Gunners, alongside Gabriel Jesus, to help add some stars already embedded within the system and with a winning mentality sure to rub off on the squad.

Arteta outlined the effect his Ukrainian ace instantly had: "First of all, his mentality. He’s used to winning – winning is the only thing and winning in the right way.

"He’s a perfectionist and a really demanding boy, I know him so well, and after that he brings qualities that we didn’t have in the squad. He gives us a different option to play within the role in different spaces, and I’m really happy to have him."

His tactical dexterity has been paramount in pioneering the inverted full-back in the Emirates, with the defender sitting in the top 3% for passes attempted per 90, the top 5% for pass completion per 90, and the top 1% for progressive passes per 90 when compared to other full-backs across Europe, via FBref.

However, in Michal Rosiak, Arteta could be set to unearth an ideal heir to the 26-year-old, who he could mould perfectly in his image.

Who is Michal Rosiak?

Despite naturally being a right-back, his ability to also play in midfield arguably makes him the perfect subject to be converted into an inverted full-back, with his attacking exploits last season for the U21s only acting as further support.

The Polish defender was a key cog in their run to the FA Youth Cup final, and would score four goals in that competition whilst also managing a further ten goal contributions in just ten U18s Premier League matches. Academy expert Jeorge Bird would emphasise the former notion, as he took to Twitter to write: "Michal Rosiak, who has been fantastic in this Youth Cup run, opens the scoring with a brilliant free-kick".

As a silky stalwart who is just as comfortable in possession as he is at snatching it back from the opposition, his reward for such blistering form was a first professional contract back in April which marked a huge show of faith in the teenage sensation who was seemingly built for Arteta's system.

It could even be argued that, whilst he may not be as controlling as Zinchenko is in the engine room, his offensive exploits offer a fine makeweight, given the £150k-per-week star has recorded just three goal contributions across 43 appearances, a tally which Rosiak bettered in the FA Youth Cup alone last term.

Although it might seem a tough task to usurp the defender, who acts as a key pillar of Arteta's system, it is clear that the Poland U19 international has the exact skillset to mimic what makes Zinchenko so successful, certain to begin challenging him in the coming years.

Cristiano Ronaldo could soon become a part of one of the biggest film franchises of the modern era, as Fast & Furious star Vin Diesel confirmed on social media that a role has been written for CR7 in the next instalment of the American movie series. Portugal and Al-Nassr superstar Ronaldo, 40, is nearing the end of his playing career and previously announced in April of this year that he was launching his own film studio alongside Matthew Vaughn.

• Ronaldo to feature in Fast & Furious?

  Vin Diesel took to Instagram to upload a photo taken alongside sporting icon Ronaldo, while fuelling speculation of a potential collaboration between the pair as he confirmed that the filmmakers had “written a role for him” to appear in the next Fast & Furious movie.

  The next instalment in the series will be Fast & Furious 11, believed to be called and is billed as the finale to the iconic saga which has been running since 2001. The street racing phenomenon may bring its final offering to screens in 2026 despite recent delays, meaning that time is running out for Ronaldo to become a part of the film in time for its release.

  The 40-year-old Al-Nassr striker has been expanding his off-field empire in preparation for life after football, as one of the biggest and most well-known celebrities on the planet. A pivot into the acting industry as one facet of his future career would come as no surprise, particularly as Ronaldo already announced the launch of his own film studio, UR•MARV, alongside director and producer Vaughn, in April 2025.

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• 'We wrote a role for him…' – Vin Diesel hints at Ronaldo appearance

  Vin Diesel, who plays Dominic Toretto in the Fast & Furious saga, said on Instagram of a possible Ronaldo appearance in the movie franchise: "Everyone asked, would he be in the Fast mythology… I gotta tell you he is a real one. We wrote a role for him… @cristiano."

• Ronaldo's film career could be underway after studio launch

  As mentioned, Ronaldo hit headlines in April 2025 after launching his very own film studio, which was said to be a collaboration between film and sport and involved a leading mind in each field in Ronaldo and well-known British film producer and director Vaughn. The launch also revealed that Ronaldo and Vaughn had already created two films together and were working on a third, with the promise of 'Hollywood stars' to feature in the venture.

  A statement on Ronaldo’s X page read: “Cristiano Ronaldo loves movies; Matthew Vaughn loves sport – and they both love a good story.

  “Both have been disruptive champions at their game and will now combine the world of sport and storytelling through the launch of UR•MARV, an independent joint venture film studio embracing innovative technology, with a nod to tradition.

  “Through UR•MARV, Ronaldo and Vaughn have financed and produced two action films together and are about to start a third in the same series. They look forward to announcing the first release soon.”

  Ronaldo said on the venture: “This is an exciting chapter for me, as I look ahead to new ventures in business.”

  Vaughn, famed for his work on the Kingsman franchise and the X-Men, added: “Cristiano has created stories on the pitch that I could never have written, and I look forward to creating inspiring movies with him – he’s a real-life superhero.”

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• Getty Images
  

  Ronaldo the movie star could soon be on screens

  Though Ronaldo’s playing career is by no means over, with the 2026 World Cup around the corner and 11 goals in 12 games under his belt for Al-Nassr already this season, a sensational cameo from the great Portuguese in the final Fast & Furious movie could soon become a reality.

  Whether CR7 will have the opportunity to attend shooting for the film in time for its release is another matter, but there is no doubt that a venture into Fast & Furious would be another step in expanding his unmatched global profile yet further.

  It will also make for intriguing viewing whether Ronaldo and Vaughn’s collaborative film series hits screens in the coming years, and what role Ronaldo might play within the films if that is the case. But the launch of Cristiano the movie star could well be underway.

India vs Pakistan

Dubai, 2pm local timeIndia squad: Harmanpreet Kaur (capt), Smriti Mandhana (vice-capt), Yastika Bhatia (wk), Shafali Verma, Deepti Sharma, Jemimah Rodrigues, Richa Ghosh (wk), Pooja Vastrakar, Arundhati Reddy, Renuka Singh, D Hemalatha, Asha Sobhana, Radha Yadav, Shreyanka Patil, S SajanaPakistan squad: Fatima Sana (capt), Aliya Riaz, Diana Baig, Gull Feroza, Iram Javed, Muneeba Ali (wk), Nashra Sandhu, Nida Dar, Omaima Sohail, Sadaf Shamas, Sadia Iqbal, Sidra Amin, Syeda Aroob Shah, Tasmia Rubab, Tuba HassanTournament form guide: On the back of a stunning bowling effort, Pakistan opened the tournament with a 31-run win against Sri Lanka in Sharjah. India, meanwhile, suffered a 58-run loss to New Zealand amid high drama in Dubai.Related

• Harmanpreet & Co left fuming after Amelia Kerr run-out-that-wasn't drama

• Injuries to Zaida James and Stafanie Taylor make bad day worse for West Indies

• Rodrigues challenges India to bounce back from shock New Zealand loss

News brief: In the match against Sri Lanka, medium pacer Diana Baig only bowled one ball before she pulled up with what looked like a calf injury. It is understood that Baig did not train on the eve of the match and that she would be assessed on Sunday ahead of the game. India-Pakistan contests have rather been one-sided in favour of India. India have won five out of the seven matches they’ve played against Pakistan in T20 World Cups, with Pakistan last winning in the 2016 tournament. India have also dominated against them in T20s overall, having won 12 out of 15 games. Regardless, the encounter is expected to draw huge crowds, with over 10,000 tickets reportedly being sold for the game on Sunday.Players to watch: Left-arm spinner Sadia Iqbal is having her best year in T20Is. Among all players at the T20 World Cup, she has taken the most wickets in 2024, with 24 wickets in 15 games. She was impressive in the opener against Sri Lanka as well, taking three middle-order wickets, including that of the top-scorer Nilakshika Silva. She finished with figures of 3 for 17.West Indies will look to bounce back after the big loss to South Africa•ICC/Getty Images

Scotland vs West Indies

Dubai, 6pm local timeScotland squad: Kathryn Bryce (capt), Chloe Abel, Abbi Aitken-Drummond, Olivia Bell, Sarah Bryce (wk), Darcey Carter, Priyanaz Chatterji, Katherine Fraser, Saskia Horley, Lorna Jack, Ailsa Lister, Abtaha Maqsood, Megan McColl, Hannah Rainey, Rachel SlaterWest Indies squad: Hayley Matthews (capt), Aaliyah Alleyne, Shamilia Connell, Deandra Dottin, Shemaine Campbelle (vice-capt, wk), Ashmini Munisar, Afy Fletcher, Stafanie Taylor, Chinelle Henry, Chedean Nation, Qiana Joseph, Zaida James, Karishma Ramharack, Mandy Mangru, Nerissa CraftonTournament guide: In their maiden World Cup appearance, Scotland lost to Bangladesh by 16 runs. West Indies, too, are coming into the match on the back of a big loss, having gone down to South Africa by 10 wickets in Dubai.News brief: West Indies are waiting on injury updates for a couple of key players. Bowler Zaida James suffered a blow to the jaw while fielding off her own bowling, but captain Hayley Matthews said after the game that “she hopefully will be able to be back up for the next match”. Senior allrounder Stafanie Taylor also looked in some discomfort during her knock of 44 not out. It was revealed that she had been troubled by soreness in her knee and that she would undergo an assessment before training on Saturday.Player to watch: Scotland will surely want to use the offspin of Saskia Horley more. Bowling two overs in the match against Bangladesh, she picked up three wickets for just 13 runs having only been brought into the attack in the 18th over. She had quite an impressive run with the bat in the Netherlands ODI tri-series in August and in the match against PNG, she took 4 for 24, bowling her full quota.

Wolverhampton Wanderers have endured a difficult start to the Premier League season as they have only won two of their opening eight matches.

Gary O'Neil was brought in to replace Julen Lopetegui over the summer and the former Bournemouth head coach has lost four of his eight league games in charge of the club so far.

These results have left the Old Gold 14th in the table and four points above the bottom three with 30 outings left to go before the end of the campaign.

Goalscoring has been a problem area for a number of years at Wolves and not much has changed in that regard as they have found the back of the net nine times in eight games.

Daniel Podence

Six

Ruben Neves

Six

Hee-chan Hwang

Three

Adama Traore

Two

Matheus Cunha

Two

Wolves' top-five scorers last season (via WhoScored)

The January transfer window opens in just over two months and that will provide O'Neil with the opportunity to dip into the market to add another attacking option, if their lack of production in front of goal continues between now and then.

One player whom the English boss should look to reignite his interest in is Leicester City ace Kelechi Iheanacho, who could be a big upgrade on Matheus Cunha.

Were Wolves interested in Iheanacho?

Football Insider reported in August that Wolves were keen on a deal to snap up the Nigeria international before the deadline during the summer transfer window.

Iheanacho, who was signed by the Foxes from Manchester City for a reported fee of £25m in 2017, was said to be content at the King Power and that the club needed to persuade him to ditch his current team.

Ultimately, the former Cityzens marksman remained with the Championship side and has been a star within the EFL so far this season.

However, his current contract with Leicester is due to expire at the end of the 2023/24 campaign and this could open the door to a possible move in January.

Unless he puts pen to paper on a new deal before the start of next year, the Foxes will risk losing him for nothing in the summer if they opt against cashing in on the talented ace during the next transfer window.

Therefore, Wolves could swoop in with an offer to ensure that Leicester are compensated for his departure and offer the player a return to the Premier League, eight months faster than he would via promotion with the second-tier outfit.

How many goals has Iheanacho scored this season?

The Nigerian dynamo has scored five goals in all competitions for his club this season and recently scored in a friendly against Saudi Arabia for his country.

Iheanacho has racked up four goals and one assist in six Championship starts for Enzo Maresca's side, and has outperformed his xG by 0.11. He also has a reason to be frustrated with his teammates as they have only scored once from the three 'big chances' that the left-footed whiz has created.

Sofascore rating

7.7

Goals

One

Chances created

Two

Big chances created

One

Dribble success rate

100%

Iheanacho's most recent Leicester performance (via Sofascore)

The ex-Manchester City prospect showcased his talent as a scorer and a creator throughout the 2023/24 campaign so far but that has been expected of him, due to his form at Premier League level in recent seasons.

How many Premier League goals has Iheanacho scored?

He has racked up 42 goals and 28 assists in 196 Premier League matches over the course of his career with City and Leicester combined.

Between the 2020/21 and 2022/23 campaigns, Iheanacho plundered an eye-catching 21 goals and 18 'big chances' created in 40 league starts for the Foxes.

Last term, the 27-year-old whiz scored five goals and provided five assists in 11 top-flight starts, whilst he also produced seven 'big chances' for his teammates at the top end of the pitch.

In fact, Iheanacho ranked within the top 4% of his positional peers at Premier League level for assists (0.40), xAG (0.32), and shot-creating actions (3.59) per 90 last season.

These statistics suggest that the Nigeria international is an exceptional creative threat from a number nine position, who is also able to chip in with goals of his own.

Meanwhile, no Wolves player managed more than two league assists and no one with at least 20 starts scored more than three goals for the club, as per WhoScored.

How many goals has Cunha scored for Wolves?

Cunha, on the other hand, has scored three goals and provided two assists in 29 appearances for the Old Gold in all competitions since the start of the year.

The Brazil international, who joined from Atletico Madrid on a permanent deal during the summer, spent the first five months of 2023 on loan and contributed with two goals and one 'big chance' created in 11 Premier League starts.

He has followed that up with a less-than-impressive start to the current campaign with one goal and two 'big chances' created in eight league starts for the club.

Cunha does not rank within the top 25% of his positional peers in any of the aforementioned creative statistics that the Leicester star excelled in last season, which suggests that his creativity does not make up for his lack of goal threat.

Should Wolves sign Iheanacho?

Taking their respective statistics into account, O'Neil must reignite his interest in Iheanacho in January as he could provide far more quality as both a scorer and a creator at the top end of the pitch.

The Old Gold should swoop to sign the £90k-per-week gem, who was once dubbed "incredible" by ex-boss Brendan Rodgers, and take advantage of his contract situation in order to bolster their squad for the second half of the campaign.

It remains to be seen how much it would take to snap him up from the Championship side, as he has been a star in the EFL this term, but his form within the top two tiers of English football in recent years suggests that the gem would be a fantastic signing.

O'Neil could improve his Wolves team and add more goals to his attack by bringing Iheanacho in to replace Cunha at the top end of the pitch.

West Ham United and technical director Tim Steidten may "consider cashing in" on an "important player" this winter, according to reports.

West Ham contract news

The east Londoners have sealed a few crucial new contracts in the last fortnight, with the most crucial of them being fresh terms for star winger Jarrod Bowen. The England international is David Moyes' top scorer so far this season and has picked up where he left off, coming after he scored their historic Europa Conference League-winning goal at the back end of last term. Bowen signed a new contract till 2030 recently, pledging his future to West Ham.

The former Hull City star, speaking to West Ham's official website after putting pen to paper, revealed his delight over signing his new long-term deal.

“I’m so pleased to have signed a new long-term contract at West Ham,” he said.

“Everyone knows what this Club means to me, so committing my future until 2030 means so much to me and my family. I’ve loved every minute of my time here. Winning the Europa Conference League in Prague was an amazing moment, scoring the winner in the last minute will be something I’ll cherish forever.

“It’s left us all wanting that feeling again and again – we want to create more memories together, for our fantastic fans, and for this fantastic Football Club.”

Meanwhile, West Ham also tied down highly-rated young teenager Dan Rigge with a new deal too, with the likes of Vladimir Coufal, Pablo Fornals and Tomas Soucek linked with new deals recently as well.

Tomas Soucek contract update

However, as per a recent reported West Ham development, the latter player's talks over fresh terms have stalled somewhat over the last year. As a result, journalist Pete O'Rourke has wrote for Football Insider that West Ham and Steidten may "consider cashing in" on Moyes' "important player". Sharing a Soucek contract update, he's noted that the Irons will look to reignite talks and are keen to keep him, but if a solution cannot be find, they may look to offload in January.

"West Ham are keen to iron out a deal and now Jarrod Bowen has pledged his long-term future, they will look to reignite talks with Soucek," wrote O'Rourke.

"They will step up their efforts imminently as he is still an important player for David Moyes. The Irons will have a decision on Soucek’s future if no progress can be made by January. If offers for the midfielder arrive, they could consider cashing in rather than losing him for free."

Soucek's current deal expires at the end of this season, and losing him would be an arguable blow considering his resurgence lately. The Czech Republic international most recently notched a goal in West Ham's 2-2 draw against Newcastle, prompting praise from Moyes.

"I’m pleased for Tomáš as he is making a good contribution with his goals, as did Mo today who got his first one for us, which was great," said Moyes.

"We have played Tomáš a bit higher in the last couple of games to try and get him near the box. Today was tough because we couldn’t get enough crosses or balls near the edge of their box, but he made it and he got the goal."

Leeds United head coach Daniel Farke enjoyed a busy transfer window ahead of his first season in charge of the club after his arrival earlier this year.

The German tactician was brought in after the Whites were relegated from the Premier League after three years at the top level and is tasked with helping them to return at the first time of asking.

Who did Leeds sign this summer?

He was backed by the board throughout the summer in an attempt to give him the best possible chance of a strong start to life in the Championship.

Jaidon Anthony, Joel Piroe, Joe Rodon, Karl Darlow, Glen Kamara, Djed Spence, Ilia Gruev, Ethan Ampadu, and Sam Byram all came in to bolster the squad.

These new signings have helped Leeds to fifth place in the division as it stands, after 11 matches, but there could be more business to come at the start of next year.

Leeds chief executive Angus Kinnear recently revealed that funds could be available to Farke to use in the upcoming January transfer window, with loan or permanent deals possibly on the cards for the German head coach if needed.

It was recently suggested by LeedsLive that the club could improve their squad by adding a natural number ten to complement their current options, as they stated that supporters were keen to see one brought in over the summer.

With this in mind, Farke must reignite his interest in Burnley midfielder Josh Brownhill to bring him in as a dream alternative to Joel Piroe in that position.

Were Leeds interested in Josh Brownhill?

TEAMtalk reported over the summer that the Whites were keen on a deal to sign the former Bristol City star from the newly promoted club.

Wolverhampton Wanderers, Everton, Leicester City, and Middlesbrough were also said to be interested in the English maestro after his impressive performances at Championship level last term.

Burnley were, ultimately, able to keep hold of the midfield ace but there could be an opportunity for Leeds, or one of the other clubs eyeing him up, to sign the gem in January.

His current contract at Turf Moor is due to expire at the end of the season and this means that clubs from outside of England will be able to negotiate a pre-contract deal with him at the start of next year.

Due to this, the Clarets could be forced to consider offers from the likes of Leeds, and others, in January in order to avoid the possibility of him leaving for nothing in the summer.

Burnley are also 18th in the Premier League as it stands and the prospect of joining a club that could be on the way up to the top-flight could be an attractive proposition for Brownhill, rather than facing a possible relegation back to the second tier with his current side.

How did Brownhill perform last season?

The £45k-per-week ace was an outstanding performer at Championship level last term as his performances resulted in him being named as a contender for the PFA Players' Player of the Year.

He was also included in the PFA Team of the Year for the second division, and these accolades suggest that the Leeds target was one of the best midfielders within the league throughout the 2022/23 campaign.

Brownhill made an impact at both ends of the pitch as he showcased his ability to be a difference-maker within the opposition's third whilst also being able to make vital contributions to cut out attacks for the other team.

Defensively, the 27-year-old whiz made 3.1 tackles and interceptions per game and won 50% of his duels over the course of his 41 league appearances.

Only Ethan Ampadu (2.3) has made more tackles per match (2.2) this season for Leeds out of Farke's current crop of midfielders than Brownhill did for the Clarets last term.

The English magician also caught the eye with seven goals and eight assists from an attacking midfield position as he displayed his quality in the final third on a regular basis.

In fact, he ranked within the top 15% of his Championship positional peers for non-penalty goals (0.18) and shot-creating actions (3.70) per 90 respectively. The talented gem also placed within the top 10% for assists (0.20) per 90, which speaks to the significant impact the Burnley star can make at this level.

How many goals has Piroe scored this season?

Piroe, who joined from league rivals Swansea during the summer transfer window, has been utilised as a number ten behind Georginio Rutter this season and has found the back of the net five times thus far.

The Dutch marksman has scored five goals in eight Championship matches for the Whites so far this season and has three more strikes than any of his teammates.

However, the former Swans star does not offer a regular threat as a creator for his fellow attackers. He has only produced 0.6 key passes per match and 11 other players within the squad have averaged more.

In fact, Rutter (2.4) is the only central-based player with more than one key pass per game for Farke's side this season and this suggests that Brownhill, who made 1.8 key passes per outing last term, would be a much-needed addition.

Should Leeds sign Brownhill?

Farke should, therefore, swoop to snap up the "fabulous" – as he was dubbed by Sky Sports pundit Lee Hendrie – midfielder in January.

Sofascore rating

7.00

Appearances

Seven

Goals

One

Key passes per game

1.3

Tackles per game

1.4

His contractual situation and the respective positions of the two clubs suggest that a move could be viable for the Whites if they decide to reignite their interest in his services.

It will, however, be down to Leeds to beat off competition from any other interested parties in order to secure a deal for his services for the second half of the campaign and beyond.

If they can do that then Farke would have a dream alternative to Piroe, as a creative number ten who could thrive in matches where the opposition deploy a low block and need to be carved open.

He could also be used in a central midfield role behind the Dutch forward and use his creativity to produce opportunities for the former Swansea ace and Rutter to find the back of the net.

Olly Stone’s four wickets gave Warwickshire hope but Durham’s ninth-wicket pair refused to budge

ECB Reporters Network07-Sep-20181:22

Warwickshire’s lead cut as Division Two heats up

Warwickshire 310 (Trott 79, McCarthy 4-58) and 199 (Hain 58*, Patel 7-54) drew with Durham 292 (Stone 7-59) and 115 for 8 (Stone 4-37)
ScorecardDurham’s tail dug deep to earn a draw and dent Warwickshire’s promotion hopes on day four of their captivating Specsavers County Championship match at Edgbaston.Set 218 to win from 41 overs, Durham were fancying their chances but four wickets from Olly Stone helped reduce the visitors to 102 for eight with six overs remaining.The Bears intensified their efforts, missing the edge many times, but wicketkeeper Stuart Poynter (9*) and number ten Matt Salisbury (5*) put on a resolute ninth-wicket partnership of 13 runs from 35 balls.It was heartbreak for a home side that remains top but sees their lead reduced to seven points to second placed Kent who beat Northants earlier in the afternoon.With 70 overs lost in the match and Warwickshire’s promotion rivals Sussex and Kent closing in on top spot, there was plenty of urgency from the hosts to engineer a winning opportunity.Starting the day on 28 for one, Ian Bell was the first to go, caught by Graham Clark after wafting at Axar Patel’s first ball for 10, with Dominic Sibley following him shortly after, bowled by Patel for 27 trying to sweep.Jonathan Trott then fell four balls later, edging to Paul Collingwood for 13 off Barry McCarthy, leaving the Bears struggling on 68 for four.A valuable partnership of 89 from 202 balls between Sam Hain and Tim Ambrose who was dropped twice on 10 and 14, edged Warwickshire ahead in the game.But once Ambrose was trapped LBW by Patel, wickets fell at an alarming rate – five in nine overs – as the spinner bulldozed through the tail, once Barry McCarthy removed Keith Barker for five, to chalk up a career-best of 27.4-12-54-7.The 24 year-old bowled his namesake for seven, before getting Chris Wright (15), Stone (0) and Ryan Sidebottom to hole out with the latter dismissal coming via the head of Will Smith at short leg.Durham needed to go at 5.31 an over to reach their target, but they were immediately put on the back foot.Barker trapped Alex Lees lbw for nine, before Wright got Cameron Steel to edge behind for 21, whilst Stone dismissed Smith for eight an over later. Both wickets had come following a bowling change.Stone struck again, Richardson given lbw, putting the visitors on 54 for four and needing another 164 to win from 22.4 overs.An away win now looked heavily unlikely and Warwickshire, who were rotating the seam attack, struck with 21 overs remaining when Stone got Clark to find Hain at deep square for 23.Patel, who was going at a run a ball, was the next to fall trapped LBW by Barker for 22 leaving the experienced Collingwood and Stuart Poynter to see out the final the thirteen overs.But Collingwood was caught by Ambrose for 13 off the bowling of Wright and McCarthy followed when Stone trapped him lbw for two.Warwickshire’s tails were up but Durham’s were a match, defending seven intense overs of pace which saw five slips and no fielder more than 15 yards away from the bat.There’s little time for either side to dust themselves down with Warwickshire heading to Grace Road to face Leicestershire on Monday, whilst Durham return to Chester-le-Street to face third placed Sussex.

Wrexham missed the chance to strengthen their automatic promotion push as they slumped to a 1-0 loss to a dogged Tranmere side at the Racecourse.

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Wrexham fall to 1-0 home defeatTranmere's Norris scores early winnerMiss chance to strengthen promotion pushTELL ME MORE

The home side fell behind in the eighth minute when a long ball forward wasn't dealt with and Luke Norris slotted past goalkeeper Arthur Okonkwo. Andy Cannon did well to clear Regan Hendry's header off the line for the hosts shortly after as Tranmere frustrated Phil Parkinson's men in the first half. Despite having the lion's share of possession and 25 shots to Rovers' seven, they failed to test keeper Luke McGee enough – with only four efforts on target – as they stayed third in the League Two table on goal difference, ahead of fourth-placed MK Dons.

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While Tranmere keeper McGee made a superb save to keep out Elliot Lee's deflected effort, he wasn't troubled a great deal, ultimately it was striker Norris who proved the difference with his early goal to sink Wrexham.

Getty ImagesTHE BIG LOSER

Not nearly as cohesive and clinical as they needed to be, Wrexham as a whole were the major losers from this contest. They could have leapfrogged Stockport County into second and kept the chasing pack at bay but now MK Dons are breathing down their neck and Crewe Alexandra are just three points behind.

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WHAT COMES NEXT?

Following this result, promotion-chasing Wrexham travel to relegation-threatened Grimsby Town next weekend, before hosting top of the table Mansfield Town at the Racecourse on March 29 in a crucial clash in League Two.

Arsenal and by extension sporting director Edu Gaspar are working on a "top transfer" and talks are already underway as they prepare an opening bid.

Who will Arsenal sign in January?

There have been some calls for the Gunners to sign a world-class striker for Mikel Arteta, and it is believed that the north Londoners are attempting to oblige. Brentford star Ivan Toney, who scored 20 league goals last season, looks set to be one of the hottest commodities of 2024 when he returns from his gambling ban. The Englishman will make his playing comeback mid-way through January, which would come as perfect timing for Arsenal as they reportedly register their interest.

The likes of Santiago Gimenez (Feyenoord) and Ollie Watkins (Aston Villa) have also been linked with moves to north London, coming after Arsenal didn't bring in a new striker over the summer window. Instead, they signed makeshift option Kai Havertz, leaving both Gabriel Jesus and Eddie Nketiah are the club's only natural striking choices as a result.

Pundit Jermaine Pennant recently spoke of the need to sign Toney in particular, calling him a potentially "fantastic" addition who's a "proven" goalscorer.

“Ivan Toney would be a fantastic signing. He’s a proven goalscorer at Brentford, a great finisher with great work rate and is a brilliant asset to the team. In a team like Arsenal where they can control the game, he would be the absolute perfect fit – he would be like a modern era Ian Wright. I would be shocked if Arsenal didn’t go out and get him this season.”

As well as a new centre-forward, the club have been repeatedly linked with a move for Wolves winger Pedro Neto, who has started the new Premier League season in fine fashion for Gary O'Neill.

Andreas Skov Olsen update

In recent days, there has been a fairly new transfer target to have emerged in Club Brugge star Andreas Skov Olsen. The 23-year-old, who is Brugge's current top goalscorer, also regularly features for Denmark at international level. His fine form has attracted Arsenal's attention, alongside north London rivals Tottenham.

According to a report by Voetbal Krant, sharing the latest Skov Olsen transfer update, he is in the "final months" of his time at Brugge; suggesting that an exit is destined sooner rather than later. After being linked with a move away several times, on this occasion, the interest is "concrete" and looks likely to happen.

Expanding on Arsenal's interest in the player, they claim that "discussions" are ongoing over a "top transfer" for Olsen. The Gunners are apparently "gaining momentum" in their chase for the Dane and are "preparing an opening bid" to prise him away. Talks between all parties are "currently underway", which may be bad news for Tottenham who are also keen on signing Olsen.

Likes to cross

Likes to cut inside

Likes to play long balls

Doesn't dive into tackles

Ange Postegolou's side, as a result, want to "take action" and match Arsenal in the race for him. An "English auction" for Olsen is now possible, with Brugge said to be rubbing their hands.