Michael Beale picked up his second win as Sunderland manager last weekend, but one of the goalscorers on the day was even more overjoyed than the new Black Cats boss come full-time.

Nazariy Rusyn finally broke his goalscoring duck for the second-tier side, taking the Ukrainian summer recruit ten whole games to eventually find the back of the net at the expense of Preston North End on Saturday.

Yet, despite the previously goal-shy striker getting up and running now in a Black Cats strip, Beale could well still be in the market for a striker this month to significantly bolster the attack at the Stadium of Light.

Sunderland transfer latest – new striker search

Sky Sports reporter Keith Downie stated late last month on social media that Sunderland were interested in bringing Jay Stansfield to Wearside, despite the former Exeter City forward still being contracted to Birmingham City on loan away from parent club Fulham.

Sunderland aren't the only club thinking of swooping in for the current Blues sharpshooter though, with Football Insider revealing at the end of December that Championship automatic promotion candidates Ipswich Town had already held preliminary talks with the 21-year-old over a January move.

Excelling with the Grecians in League One and finding it rather easy to find the back of the net in the lower depths of the Championship with Birmingham, Sunderland could well be the natural next destination for Stansfield to test himself at a club vying for promotion to the Premier League.

EFL Championship done deals: Every January 2024 transfer

As the January transfer window closes, FFC has you covered for every in and out involving your club in the EFL Championship.

ByLuke Randall Feb 1, 2024

The Black Cats will hope the added boost of being a talismanic figure up top on arrival would sway the young attacker to join Beale's side over Kieran McKenna's Tractor Boys, Rusyn dropping out of the side completely if this deal came to fruition for Stansfield to strut his stuff.

The stats that show why Stansfield would be a good fit for Sunderland

Stansfield has been a rare silver lining for the downtrodden Blues so far this season, the only slight positive from Wayne Rooney's doomed reign as manager.

Scoring seven times this season – six more than Rusyn has managed – Stansfield has an assuredness and swagger present in his game that would perfectly complement the likes of Jack Clarke and Alex Pritchard and their exuberant creativity.

Those seven goals have come from just 15 shots on target according to FBRef, the 21-year-old maturing into a clinical sharpshooter that Sunderland are in desperate need of.

Stansfield's instant impact at St Andrew's saw Football League World fan pundit Mike Gibbs describe the striker as 'absolutely incredible' earlier this season, the young striker a major fan favourite from the get-go at a downbeat Birmingham.

Stansfield could well fill the void left behind by Ross Stewart as a result, a gap Rusyn has found hard to fill in stark contrast – the apprehensive summer signing only managing ten shots in total this season, with just two going down as on-target efforts.

The current Birmingham man could well be the missing piece of the puzzle for Sunderland in their hunt for promotion, Stansfield a relentless bundle of energy in attack that has been sorely lacking this campaign – rolling his sleeves up when required with 1.41 tackles per 90 minutes over the last year, the 21-year-old not just an out-and-out goalscorer.

With Beale speaking of the possibility that Mason Burstow could be allowed to return to Chelsea after a poor loan spell to date recently, and Rusyn not guaranteed yet to score goals regularly, signing Stansfield – the scorer of 16 EFL goals to date – could be a huge plus for Sunderland when they need a potent striker to step up to the mark in the crunch months to come.

da bet nacional： Liverpool are currently in first place in the Premier League but have returned to the ominous familiarity of a title race against Manchester City, with the slightest slip-up evoking a sense of fatality.

da leao： Last weekend, the reigning champions welcomed back Kevin De Bruyne and the Belgian reminded English football of his prowess with a talismanic performance to turn the tide and snatch victory, scoring off the bench before a stunning scooped ball from deep to allow Oscar Bobb to place a last-gasp winner.

The result means that Liverpool are just two points ahead after 21 matches and now know that anything but victory at the Vitality Stadium against AFC Bournemouth tomorrow afternoon could hand Pep Guardiola's side the opportunity to advance to top spot.

Mohamed Salah and Wataru Endo are both absent on international duty, while this weekend's clash comes too soon for the returns of Trent Alexander-Arnold, Andrew Robertson and Dominik Szoboszlai.

With this in mind, Jurgen Klopp could make just two changes from the team that beat Fulham in the Carabao Cup a week and a half ago.

1 GK – Alisson

Caoimhin Kelleher deputized between the sticks last time out, in the Carabao Cup, but there's little question over who will get the nod on the south coast.

Alisson is arguably the best goalkeeper in the world and boasts the best save percentage in the Premier League this season, saving his side many a time with jaw-dropping stops and commanding performances.

PL Goalkeepers 23/24: Top Save Percentage

#

Player

Club

Save Percentage

1.

Alisson

Liverpool

77.4%

2.

Alphonse Areola

West Ham United

76.9%

3.

Nick Pope

Newcastle United

73.6%

4.

Bernd Leno

Fulham

73%

5.

Andre Onana

Manchester United

73%

*Sourced via FBref

2 RB – Conor Bradley

Alexander-Arnold may be injured but Liverpool supporters need not fear given the recent emergence of Conor Bradley, who has been hailed for his “eye-catching” displays of late by The Athletic's James Pearce.

The 20-year-old was crowned Bolton Wanderers' Player of the Season last year after helping them back into League One, and having now overcome injury issues that ruled him out for most of the opening half of the 2023/24 term, he is now thriving in Klopp's first-team.

3 CB – Ibrahima Konate

Joel Matip's season-ending ACL injury suffered in December sparked fears that Liverpool's campaign had suffered a detrimental blow, but Ibrahima Konate has stepped up and then some.

Stranding at 6 foot 4, the France international is a monstrous presence in the central defence and has won a whopping 38 duels across his past five appearances in the Premier League.

4 CB – Virgil van Dijk

Virgil van Dijk has been immense since earning the captain's armband in the summer, returning to his iron-clad best in front of Alisson's goal.

Cultured and commanding, the 32-year-old is arguably the best centre-back in the world right now and will be crucial in dominating aerially against imposing and in-form Cherries striker Dominic Solanke.

5 LB – Joe Gomez

Robertson is not yet ready for a return after an extensive injury layoff and Kostas Tsimikas remains sidelined after breaking his collarbone against Arsenal in December, so Joe Gomez will continue to serve at left-back.

The versatile defender was one of the most prominent strugglers in Liverpool's team last season but has enjoyed a resurgence since the summer and has been an invaluable tool amid the Reds' injury issues.

6 DM – Alexis Mac Allister

With Endo competing at the Asia Cup, Alexis Mac Allister should make his first Premier League start in over a month, having recovered from injuring his knee against Sheffield United in December and started last time out against Fulham.

7 CM – Ryan Gravenberch

Liverpool completed their summer business with the £34m deadline day signing of Ryan Gravenberch from Bayern Munich, offering succour and a clean slate for a player who had endured a torrid time with the Bundesliga champions.

He's certainly not the finished product but is undoubtedly bursting with talent, ranking among the top 5% of midfielders across Europe's top five leagues over the past year for shot-creating actions, the top 10% for progressive passes, the top 12% for progressive carries, the top 9% for successful take-ons and the top 11% for blocks per 90, as per FBref.

8 CM – Curtis Jones

Possibly the most underrated player in Liverpool red, Curtis Jones has been in fine fettle over recent matches and must start against the Cherries, with three goals and three assists clinched apiece since the start of December.

9 RW – Diogo Jota

Salah's absence does raise the question as to who is the best fit for deployment on the right wing, and while Harvey Elliott appears the obvious pick, he was more ineffectual than usual last time out – receiving a 6/10 match rating against Fulham by GOAL – and Klopp could opt to field one of his deadliest marksmen.

Diogo Jota has scored nine goals from just 12 starting appearances across all competitions this season, and while he is naturally better placed on the left, his two-footedness and versatility means that he can offer the clinical presence needed to finish off Liverpool's surging runs, hailed as a “pressing monster” by assistant coach Pep Lijnders.

10 LW – Luis Diaz

True enough, six goals and two assists across 26 outings this term is not the best tally in the world, but Luis Diaz has had to navigate through various hurdles in 2023 and has certainly looked brighter in recent weeks.

The Colombian was sensational against Newcastle United in Liverpool's previous Premier League match and made three key passes and succeeded with five dribbles, as per Sofascore, stretching and rending the Magpies' defensive shield.

Is soccer in the Olympics? GOAL brings you everything you need to know about football and the Olympic games

Soccer is one of the most popular sports in the world, with millions of people playing the game across the planet.

Known by many as 'The Beautiful Game', soccer as we know it today was invented in England in 1863. However, non-codified versions are understood to have even older roots stretching back to ancient times, with variations played in China, Greece and elsewhere.

So, given that it is so widespread, is soccer played in the Olympics? GOAL brings you everything you need to know.

• Getty
  

  Is soccer in the Olympics?

  Soccer (or football) is a sport that is contested at the Olympics, with competitions for the men's and women's games.

  Men's soccer has been a part of the Olympics since Paris 1900, featuring at every edition of the Games except for Los Angeles 1932. Women's soccer was first included in the Olympics at Atlanta 1996.

  The rules for women's soccer mirror those of any other senior FIFA international competition, but they vary slightly for the men's soccer competition, with players needing to be aged no more than 23 at the time of the tournament and a maximum of three overage players permitted in a squad.

Advertisement

• Getty
  

  Do professional soccer players play in the Olympics?

  Professional soccer players are permitted to play in the Olympics and some of the biggest names in the sport have graced the tournament.

  Players such as Lionel Messi, Neymar and Pep Guardiola have all won gold medals in the men's tournament, while notable gold medallists in the women's tournament include Megan Rapinoe, Alex Morgan and Julia Grosso.

• Getty
  

  Who has the most Olympic gold medals for soccer?

  Men's soccer

  Hungary and Great Britain are the most successful nations in Olympics men's soccer with three gold-medal-winning teams each. However, their successes all came in the early and mid-20th century – Great Britain's golds were won in 1900, 1908 and 1912, while Hungary's came in 1952, 1964 and 1968.

  Brazil (2016, 2020), Argentina (2004, 2008), Uruguay (1924, 1928) and the Soviet Union (1956, 1988) follow with two gold-medal-winning teams each.

  Women's soccer

  With four gold medals, the United States is the most successful Olympics team in women's soccer history – indeed, all soccer history. The USWNT is a dominant force in the game and won the inaugural women's Olympics soccer tournament in 1996. The USA lost out to Norway in 2000, but secured three consecutive gold medals in 2004, 2008 and 2012.

  As well as Norway, Germany (2016) and Canada (2020) also won Olympic gold medals in soccer.

• Why is men's soccer U23 in the Olympics?

  Men's soccer has been an under-23 competition at the Olympics since Barcelona 1992. As a result, the competition is technically a youth tournament and therefore has a different dynamic to it, despite the allowance of three overage players on each team roster.

  FIFA, the world governing body for soccer, did not want the Olympics to compete with the World Cup as the biggest international soccer competition, so age limits were introduced. No such limits apply in women's soccer at the Olympics.

  As well as age limits, another limiting factor is the fact that clubs are not obliged to release their players to compete in the Olympics. As a result, some of the biggest names in the game will always be absent. For example, France World Cup-winning striker Kylian Mbappe was eager to compete for his country at the 2024 Paris Olympic Games, but his club at the time, Real Madrid, would not allow it.

  Nevertheless, plenty of big-name players have competed in the men's football at the Olympics, with Neymar and Lionel Messi being among them in the past, while former Arsenal striker Alexandre Lacazette was part of the France squad in 2024.

Reliable transfer journalist Fabrizio Romano has suggested that West Ham could move for a "clinical" striker in the final days of January.

West Ham searching for new centre-forward

Striker Michail Antonio's injury problems, coupled with the lack of a replacement for ex-forward Gianluca Scamacca, has left David Moyes pretty bereft of natural number nine options in his squad.

"Beast" striker very keen to join West Ham in boost for David Moyes

The Irons have been linked with a new forward.

ByEmilio Galantini Jan 25, 2024

Danny Ings has recently returned to the fold after being out of favour for most of the campaign, and arguably put on his best display of the season during West Ham's recent 2-2 draw with Sheffield United.

The Englishman provided an assist for winger Jarrod Bowen and won the Hammers a spot-kick in what was a Man of the Match performance, but West Ham quite simply need alternatives in case injury befalls other key members of the team.

Bowen has played in a makeshift striker role for the vast majority of 2023/2024, and his absence was sorely felt during his recent spell out through injury before returning against the Blades.

Antonio is still yet to return after suffering a setback in his recovery from a knee problem, with attacking midfield ace Lucas Paqueta also out for the next two months.

"Reports suggest that West Ham playmaker Lucas Paqueta could be sidelined for up to two months following an injury setback in the FA Cup on Sunday," wrote Premier Injuries founder Ben Dinnery on X earlier this month.

"Michail Antonio is expected to miss a further 4-6 weeks after reinjuring his knee in training."

As a result, the need for senior attacking additions has been highlighted before Feburary 1, and West Ham are still being linked to striker signings.

West Ham could move for Broja, suggests Fabrizio Romano

One prevalent name is Chelsea's Armando Broja, coming as the Albania international struggles for starting places under Mauricio Pochettino. The Blues are reportedly open to selling, and West Ham have been named as the "likeliest suitor" for Broja by reliable sources like The Athletic.

Now, another respected media figure in Romano has refused to rule out West Ham signing Broja in January, as he explained to GiveMeSport that they've always been huge admirers of the 22-year-old.

"Chelsea are waiting for proposals," said the journalist. "I think there will be some conversations, so let's see what happens.

"West Ham have always been big admirers of the player, and let's see if Wolves will enter the mix because they also had some contacts to understand the conditions of the deal. I think Broja could be one of the names that we mention in the final days of the transfer window."

While Broja hasn't exactly been prolific for Chelsea, he has been elswhere, specifically during a loan spell at Southampton. Newcastle legend Alan Shearer, speaking to Premier League productions (via TEAMtalk), praised the "clinical" forward during his time at St. Mary's.

“Let me tell you, this lad is clinical,” Shearer said. "His goal against Brentford made him the youngest player in Premier League history to score in each of his first four home starts.

“As a striker it’s all about taking chances and scoring goals, so stats like this tell me he can thrive in the Premier League."

Sledging gave batsman ‘extra personal motivation’ in heroic series-squaring innings

ESPNcricinfo staff14-Nov-2019Ben Stokes says that the extraordinary unbeaten hundred with which he carried England to a one-wicket win over Australia at Headingley this summer was inspired by David Warner’s incessant goading from the slip cordon.In a new book, On Fire, which chronicles his remarkable performances throughout the 2019 season, Stokes recalls how Warner set out to distract him during his unbeaten 135 in the third Test, particularly in the early part of the innings on the third evening of the match, when his only objective was to reach stumps with his wicket intact.With England 1-0 down in the series after their opening defeat at Edgbaston, their hopes of regaining the Ashes appeared to be over when they were bowled out for 67 in their first innings at Headingley, before eventually being set a target of 359 to square the series with two to play.And after arriving at the crease in the final hour of the third day, Stokes ground his way to the close on 2 not out from 50 balls in partnership with Joe Root, as England sought to keep their hopes alive.In a book extract published in the Daily Mirror, Stokes noted how Warner had given the impression of being a reformed character after completing his year-long ban for ball-tampering.However, with Warner in the midst of a terrible run of form that would result in him making 95 runs in ten innings, the lowest return by any opener in a five-Test series, Stokes also suggested that he had reverted to type in a bid to bring out the best in himself.”I had extra personal motivation due to some things that were said to me out on the field on the evening of day three when I was trying to get through to stumps,” Stokes wrote. “A few of the Aussies were being quite chirpy, but in particular David Warner seemed to have his heart set on disrupting me.”He just wouldn’t shut up for most of my time out there. I could accept it from just about any other opponent. Truly. Not from him, though.”The changed man he was adamant he’d become, the one that hardly said boo to a goose and even went as far as claiming he had been re-nicknamed ‘Humble’ by his Australia teammates, had disappeared. Maybe his lack of form in his new guise had persuaded him that he needed to get the bull back?”Warner’s solitary Ashes half-century came in the first innings at Headingley, but second-time around, he was trapped lbw by Stuart Broad for a second-ball duck, one of a record-equalling seven dismissals by Broad in the course of the series.”Although he’d enjoyed a prolific World Cup campaign, he had struggled with the bat at the start of the Ashes and was perhaps turning to his old ways to try to get the best out of himself,” Stokes wrote. “The nice-guy act had done nothing for his runs column.”I muttered ‘Bloody Warner’ a few times as I was getting changed. The more time passed, the more it spurred me on. All kinds of ideas of what I might say to him at the end of the game went through my head. In the end, I vowed to do nothing other than shake his hand and say ‘Well done’ if I could manufacture the situation.”You always shake the hands of every member of the opposing team at the end of a match. But this one would give me the greatest sense of satisfaction.”Stokes went on to square the series in remarkable fashion, adding 76 runs for England’s tenth wicket with Jack Leach, who finished on 1 not out. Australia then won the subsequent Test at Old Trafford to retain the Ashes, but England’s win in the final Test at The Oval ensured the first drawn Ashes series since 1972.

MatériaMais Notícias

da mrbet： Na Arena Pernambuco, jogo de abertura da edição 2021 do Campeonato Pernambucano, o time reserva do Sport venceu de virada o Vera Cruz pelo placar de 3 a 1. O Galo das Tabocas aproveitou que o Leão estava com um time repleto de garotos para mandar no primeiro tempo e abrir o marcador. Mas a molecada do Sport voltou com sangue nos olhos na etapa complementar e virou a partida em 26 minutos.

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da dobrowin： Na próxima rodada, o Sport pega o Salgueiro, na Ilha do Retiro, dia 03 de março. Já o Vera Cruz enfrenta o Vitória-PE, na Arena Pernambuco, dia 07 de março.

A partida

VERA CRUZ VAI PARA CIMA E PRESSIONA O TIME RESERVA DO SPORT
Com o time titular em Curitiba para enfrentar o Athletico-PR na última rodada do Campeonato Brasileiro DA Série A, o Sport mandou a campo uma equipe mesclada de jogadores formados no clube e outros pouco utilizados pelo treinador Jair Ventura.

Como o Vera Cruz não tinha nada com isso, os comandados de Rômulo Oliveira foram com tudo para cima do Leão da Ilha. O Galo das Tabocas era muito superior na partida e teve várias chances para marcar, mas sempre pecava na hora da finalização.

SPORT NÃO SEGURA A PRESSÃO E TOMA O GOL DO VERA CRUZ
O Sport se segurava do jeito que dava, mas a pressão era muito intensa. O gol do Vera Cruz estava maduro e, aos 35 minutos da etapa inicial, acabou saindo. Léo Cotia desceu pelo lado direito e cruzou, o zagueiro Pedrão, do Sport, tentou afastar o perigo e acabou colocando a bola para dentro e marcando o gol contra, 1 a 0 para o Vera Cruz.

LEÃO DA ILHA VOLTA DIFERENTE DO INTERVALO E VIRA O JOGO EM DEZ MINUTOS
O Sport volta completamente diferente do segundo tempo. Ligados e com a faca entre os dentes, os meninos do Leão da Ilha foram para cima do time do Vera Cruz e fizeram uma blitz tão forte, que conseguiram a virada em dez minutos.
Aos 6 minutos, Elias cruzou, o Ítalo tentou marcar duas vezes para conseguir empurrar a bola para as redes: 1 a 1. Aos 10, Paulinho cobrou escanteio, o goleiro Serginho, do Vera Cruz, que não tinha trabalhado na primeira etapa, falhou feio e a bola acabou entrando. Gol olímpico e a virada do Sport: 2 a 1. Vale destacar que um minuto antes do gol do Sport, Matheus Serra foi expulso por dar um carrinho violento.

SPORT CONTINUA INTENSO E MATA O JOGO
O Leão não se acomodou com a virada e continuou pressionando o Vera Cruz. A pressão logo deu resultado e o gol saiu aos 25. Vinícius Popó invadiu a área e foi derrubado pelo goleiro Serginho: pênalti para o Sport. O próprio Vinícius Popó bateu e marcou: 3 a 1.

O gol enterrou qualquer chance de reação do Vera Cruz. O Sport administrou a vantagem fazendo o tempo passar até o apito do árbitro.

Vera Cruz 1 X 3 Sport
Local: Arena Pernambuco, Recife (PE)
Data-Hora: 24/2/2021 – 19h
Árbitro: Anderson Luis Marques (PE)
Auxiliares: Marcelino Castro de Nazaré (PE) e John Andson Alves Ribeiro (PE)
Público/renda: pagantes/R$
Cartões amarelos: Matheus Serra, Ramires, Serginho (VCR), Renzo, Ítalo, Pedrão e Victor Gabriel (SPT)
Cartões vermelhos: Matheus Serra (VCR)
Gols: Pedrão (contra, aos 35/1ºT), Ítalo (06/2ºT), Paulinho (10/2ºT) e Vinícius Popó (26/2ºT)

Vera Cruz: Serginho; Léo Cotia, Ruan, Matheus Serra e Wendel; Ramires (Índio, aos 23/2ºT), Daniel Santos (Everton Sid, aos 37/2ºT), Vitinho e Romarinho (Manteiga, aos 23/2ºT); Edson Pernambucano (Vitor Leão, aos 16/2ºT) e Pedro Maycon. Técnico: Rômulo Oliveira.

Sport: Carlos Eduardo; Elias Lira (Arielton, 35/2ºT), Pedrão, Renzo (Ryan, 32/2ºT) e Victor Gabriel; Pedro Bartoli (Deyvson, aos 35/2ºT), Ítalo e Marcos Serrato; Pablo Pardal, Paulinho (Matheusinho, aos 23/2ºT) e Vinícius Popó (Igor, 32/2ºT). Técnico: Ricardo Severo.

Leeds United correspondent Phil Hay has admitted that the club are hoping to sign Aberdeen right-back Calvin Ramsay this summer.

The Lowdown: Aberdeen green-light sale

The Whites are on the verge of relegation with just two games remaining but appear to be making a head start when it comes to potential summer signings.

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One of those could be Ramsay, with reports at the end of April claiming Leeds have been granted permission to talk with the Scot as they plot a ‘multi-million pound’ move.

Aberdeen are ready to cash in on the 18-year-old and have green-lighted a possible move to Elland Road to bring in some much-needed funds.

Liverpool have also been name-checked with an interest in the ‘unbelievable’ (Ryan Taylor, Daily Express journalist) full-back, who has made 33 appearances for The Dons this season.

The Latest: Hay’s post

Hay took to Twitter on Friday morning to share a story on The Athletic regarding Ramsay. He said:

“This got a bit lost yesterday but Calvin Ramsay at Aberdeen is one of the players Leeds United hope to sign in the next window.

“Liverpool want the 18-year-old too and he’s getting close to make-your-mind-up time.”

The Verdict: End of Ayling?

Should Leeds end up back in the Championship next season, you’d expect that they would have to offer Ramsay regular first-team football for him to choose Elland Road over Anfield.

Therefore, Luke Ayling’s future could be in serious doubt ahead of Jesse Marsch’s first full season in charge. He’ll turn 31 in August and will be into the final 12 months of his Leeds deal.

Cody Drameh would also be an option for Marsch following his impressive loan spell at Cardiff City, and it looks unlikely he’ll leave if the Whites find themselves in the second-tier next season, meaning Ayling may have to make way for the next generation in Ramsay and Drameh.

In other news: Leeds and Orta now planning for the Championship as contact made to sign £5k-p/w flop – opinion. 

West Bromwich Albion have been named as a possible destination for one Premier League attacker who is allowed to leave his club this month.

West Brom's recent form

The Baggies endured a mixed festive period, with two 1-0 wins over Norwich City and Leeds United sandwiched in between 1-0 defeats to Middlesbrough and Swansea City. As a result, Carlos Corberan’s side currently find themselves in fifth place in the Championship, two points clear of Sunderland and three clear of Hull City as they aim for a return to the top flight.

EFL Championship done deals: Every January 2024 transfer

As the January transfer window closes, FFC has you covered for every in and out involving your club in the EFL Championship.

ByLuke Randall Feb 1, 2024

To help the club achieve their top six goal, new additions could be looked into, considering one of their summer signings, loanee Jeremy Sarmiento, has joined rivals Ipswich Town for the second half of the season from Brighton & Hove Albion.

Corberan has since admitted that West Brom will try and sign two new players following Sarmiento’s loan being cut short, saying:

"We are going to replace him and try to replace him making the most of our possibilities. Like we've said before, even before we knew that we would be without Sarmiento, we wanted to add minimum one player. Now, we're going to add two.”

One of those could be a striker, with a report sharing a transfer update on Kieffer Moore.

West Brom linked with Kieffer Moore

According to The Sun in the last 48 hours, Bournemouth are open to letting Moore go this month, with a number of sides mentioned as possible destinations, including West Brom.

Alongside the Baggies, though, Championship rivals Cardiff City, Birmingham City, Middlesbrough, Leeds United, Ipswich Town and Sunderland are also named, with a loan exit looking likely for the Wales international due to his £40,000-a-week wage.

Moore has contributed to 61 goals in the Championship during his career, so could add that proven quality in the second tier and help the Baggies in front of goal. West Brom have scored the joint-fewest goals out of the top eight Championship sides so far, so adding more firepower in attack could be the difference between a top six finish.

Moore was praised by former Cherries boss Scott Parker, who called the 31-year-old a “throwback” striker and an “all round nine”.

“I think Kieffer is probably a little bit of a throwback in that sense. He’s probably a modern day nine in his stature and his profile, he’s mobile, you can get things into him and he can bring players into play. But certainly, he is horrible to play against.”

Parker also added:

“He makes it uncomfortable for you. He can threaten you in behind, in terms of because of his mobileness and he can then come into feet and hold the ball up, make it stick and bring in other players into play as well. So he’s an all round nine.”

A move to the Midlands could be one to watch as the month progresses, but with multiple clubs seemingly keen, those at The Hawthorns may need to make their move relatively quickly if they want to win the race.

The 34-year old has made just four Test appearances since January 2017, his last one being the first Test in October 2018 against Australia in Dubai

ESPNcricinfo staff12-Sep-2019

Wahab Riaz struggled for rhythm•Getty Images

Pakistan fast bowler Wahab Riaz has decided to take an indefinite break from red-ball cricket in order to focus on limited-overs formats. He has also withdrawn from the Quaid-e-Azam Trophy, just two days before the start of the tournament, where he was set to represent his domestic side Southern Punjab.Wahab, who made his Test debut for Pakistan in 2010 and has played 27 Tests, also added he wanted to focus on regaining fitness levels required for the longer format. Since January 2018, the 34-year-old has played only five red-ball matches, one Test and four first-class games.Wahab was also absent from Southern Punjab’s camp in Lahore, where the side was preparing for their opening game against Central Punjab.”After reviewing my past couple of years’ performances in red-ball cricket and the upcoming limited-overs cricket, I have decided to take time off from first-class cricket,” Wahab said. “During this period, I will like to focus on 50-over and 20-over cricket, and continue to access my fitness for the longer version of the game. At a stage I feel I cannot only return but also perform with the red-ball, I would make myself available. “The PCB had been trying to convince me to pursue my career with red-ball, but today I met them to convey my decision. I am grateful for their understanding and support.”Wahab was the casualty of former coach Mickey Arthur’s drive towards a high-performance culture within the Pakistan squad, where he was criticised for his work ethic, with Arthur even saying he had not won them a game in two years. After being ignored for the tour of Ireland and England in 2018, Wahab played in the Dubai Test against Australia where he finished wicketless. But just a year after Arthur seemingly signalled the end of his career, Wahab was added to their World Cup squad, nearly two years after his last ODI. He finished 11 wickets in eight games in the tournament.But now, with this break and him missing the first-class season, his Test chances appear slim. Pakistan, in the next 12 months, are scheduled to host two Tests against Sri Lanka, two against Bangladesh, and play away series in Australia and England.Wahab was earlier handed out a category B central contract, but it is understood he is likely to be demoted in due course following this announcement.

Chelsea have been heavily linked with a move for AS Roma forward Paulo Dybala this month, and Fabrizio Romano has now provided a new update on the situation.

Chelsea eyeing Dybala move

The Blues, Todd Boehly and Mauricio Pochettino are after a new striker as a top target this month and have been linked with a number of forwards.

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Recently, it has been claimed that those at Stamford Bridge, alongside Premier League rivals Aston Villa and Newcastle, have made contact with the attacker’s agent ahead of a possible move. Noises from Italy suggested ‘that times are tense at AS Roma, because his €13m (£11.1m) release clause for foreign clubs will expire on January 15th’.

Chelsea will therefore have to act fast if they are to secure a possible bargain move for the Argentina international, however, it looks as if there is a transfer twist, with Romano sharing what he knows about Dybala’s immediate future.

Fabrizio Romano shares Dybala transfer latest

Talking to CaughtOffside in his Thursday Daily Briefing column, Romano said that despite rumours to Chelsea, he sees Dybala, who he called “top quality”, staying at Roma ahead of his release clause deadline, with “nothing happening as of now”.

“Despite rumours about Chelsea, I see Dybala staying at Roma as things stand. I have no updates, there’s nothing happening as of now and his release clause will expire in four days…so, it looks difficult and unlikely. I think Chelsea need a striker more than a top quality all-round attacking player like Dybala.”

Chelsea still have time to make a cut-price move for the 30-year-old, but as Romano claims, the Blues may be better off targeting more of a number nine instead of a versatile attacker like Dybala. The Roma man can play as a second striker, centre-forward, winger or attacking midfielder, so would provide plenty of versatility for Pochettino, whereas someone like Victor Osimhen could be a better option, albeit more expensive.

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The Napoli striker, who has a £100m release clause, is reportedly open to a move to Stamford Bridge and his entourage have had “positive” talks with Blues co-owner Behdad Eghbali.

An out-and-out striker, Osimhen enjoyed a career-best season in front of goal last year, and although over £90m more expensive than Dybala, Chelsea could be getting better value for money in the long run when it comes to the Nigeria international, who is still just 25 years of age.

A short-term deal for Dybala could still be one to watch, but by the looks of things following Romano’s latest claim, nothing is in the pipeline as of yet, leaving Chelsea unusually quiet in a transfer window at this moment in time.