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While stars from England, New Zealand and West Indies feature in this year’s tournament, the likes of Meg Lanning and Ellyse Perry will miss it

Annesha Ghosh25-Apr-2019

The Australian team poses for a selfie•ICC/Getty Images

No players from Australia and South Africa are in the three squads that will take part in the four-match Women’s T20 Challenge, which will be held in Jaipur from May 6 to 11 on the sidelines of the IPL playoffs.South Africa’s players are unavailable because of their home series against Pakistan, which begins on May 6. The surprise, however, is in the absence of Australia’s cricketers. The world leaders in the women’s game, Australia had fielded the largest overseas contingent in last year’s one-off exhibition match, including stars such as Meg Lanning, Megan Schutt, Ellyse Perry, Alyssa Healy and Beth Mooney.Only last month, Cricket Australia’s female high-performance manager Shawn Flegler had told that the board would support Australians participating in any exhibition matches played this year. “It’s a great opportunity for the players, and to see a women’s IPL get off the ground would be a great thing for the game more broadly,” Flegler had said.A report on CA’s website yesterday, headlined “Aussies in frame for women’s IPL games”, suggested the players would take part in the tournament. However, the report also confirmed that Australia’s pre-Ashes camp would begin in Brisbane on May 13, two days after the final of the Jaipur tournament.For the upcoming Indian competition, 39 players, including internationals, have been divided among three teams – Supernovas, Trailblazers, and Velocity. The teams will be led by Harmanpreet Kaur, Smriti Mandhana and Mithali Raj respectively.Some of the top players from England and New Zealand will be present and, unlike last year, when only players from Australia, New Zealand and England made up the overseas contingent, the upcoming edition will feature three West Indians in Stafanie Taylor, Hayley Matthews and Shakera Selman, while Sri Lanka and Bangladesh will be represented by Chamari Atapattu and Jahanara Alam respectively.Current India women head coach WV Raman has been named the coach of Harmanpreet’s Supernovas, while fielding coach Biju George will be in charge of Mandhana’s Trailblazers. Former India women’s captain Mamatha Maben, who had applied for the India women head coach’s position after the exit of Ramesh Powar last year, will coach Raj’s Velocity.Supernovas: Harmanpreet Kaur (c), Anuja Patil, Arundhati Reddy, Jemimah Rodrigues, Mansi Joshi, Poonam Yadav, Priya Punia, Radha Yadav, Taniya Bhatia (wk), Chamari Atapattu*, Lea Tahuhu*, Sophie Devine*, Natalie Sciver*Trailblazers: Smriti Mandhana (c), Bharti Fulmali, Dayalan Hemalatha, Deepti Sharma, Harleen Deol, Jasia Akhtar, Jhulan Goswami, R Kalpana (wk), Rajeshwari Gayakwad, Suzie Bates*, Sophie Ecclestone*, Shakera Selman*, Stafanie Taylor*Velocity: Mithali Raj (c), Devika Vaidya, Ekta Bisht, Komal Zanzad, Shafali Verma, Shikha Pandey, Sushma Verma (wk), Sushri Dibyadarshini, Veda Krishnamurthy, Amelia Kerr*, Danielle Wyatt*, Hayley Matthews*, Jahanara Alam*

The opener says that a spot in the World Cup squad will be “a dream”, but he insists that his focus is much more short-term

Liam Brickhill21-Jan-2019South Africa are wary of a resurgent Pakistan team that cruised to a five-wicket win in the first of five one-day internationals in Port Elizabeth on Saturday.”We know Pakistan is a good one-day outfit,” opener Reeza Hendricks, who contributed 45 to an opening stand of 82 in the first ODI, said. “They’ve been performing really well over the years in one-day cricket, so we’re quite wary and know that they’re a good team. They proved it by beating us in P.E.”Hendricks’ opening partnership with Hashim Amla allowed South Africa to set a platform, but a sluggish track and a committed bowling effort meant the hosts were never able to substantially up the run rate. Hendricks struck at 67.16 during his knock, and after him neither Amla or Rassie van der Dussen were able to raise their strike rates as high as a run a ball. Although David Miller capped the innings with a 12-ball 16, South Africa’s 266 for 2 was not enough to challenge a Pakistan top order that took more risks but completed the chase with five balls to spare.”In our minds, we thought it would be a good score,” Hendricks said. “There were slower conditions in the day, and it did quicken up at night. In our minds, we thought we went about it the right way. The batters that were in the middle felt it was a good score.”We’ve had a good discussion around the PE game, what went wrong and what we can learn from. It’s been those discussions we’ve had, and a good training session today ahead of tomorrow’s game.”With the World Cup five months away, the tournament is providing increasing context to the one-day cricket being played in the interim and every member of South Africa’s squad will see the series against Pakistan as a chance to stake a claim. Rassie van der Dussen made an immediate impact on debut with his 93, but his performance did not come as a surprise to Hendricks, who has shared a dressing room with van der Dussen with the Lions franchise for several seasons.”I was quite proud to see him make his debut and contributing the way he has,” Hendricks said of van der Dussen. “Obviously disappointed that he couldn’t get to his three-figure mark, but at the end of the day he played really well to contribute as well as he did. I’ve played a couple of seasons now with him. I know his capabilities and seen him improve over the years. He showed what he’s about to deserve a spot in the team.”Hendricks admitted that a spot in the World Cup squad would be “a dream” and would mean “a hell of a lot” to him, but he insisted that his focus is much more short-term.”I’m not looking at it like that,” he said. “Yes, the World Cup is around the corner but we’ve got a series on hand now at the moment and this is an opportunity that we get as well. We take it as it comes. Personally, I’m taking it game by game, trying to contribute as well as I can to each game and every opportunity I get, and the rest will take care of itself. I’m not looking too far ahead, or looking who’s around me, because at the end of the day if I don’t get selected I know the player next to me and the guys that are going will do the job, and I back them 100 percent.”Aside from individual aspirations, the remaining nine ODIs scheduled for South Africa before the World Cup also provide an opportunity to fine-tune ‘Vision 2019’, the team’s blueprint for what they believe will bring success at the tournament.”We’re quite close,” Hendricks said. “I think we’re on the right track. We’ve had a good chat in how to go about it and how we’re playing, and as a unit we’re all buying into it. We’re doing good things. There are still a couple of months to try and get it right for the World Cup.”

Jurrien Timber is closing in on a return to fitness at Arsenal, but the defender still has “a few steps to make” before gracing a competitive fixture.

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Full-back signed from Ajax in 2023Injured on opening weekend of seasonHoping to figure again in title raceGetty ImagesWHAT HAPPENED?

The Gunners splashed out £34 million ($42m) when luring the highly-rated Netherlands international away from Ajax in the summer of 2023. The 22-year-old was expected to nail down a regular role for the Premier League giants, but suffered an unfortunate ACL injury on the opening weekend of the 2023-24 season.

AdvertisementWHAT ARTETA SAID ABOUT TIMBER

Timber has taken in a long road to recovery since then, with Mikel Arteta saying when asked to deliver an update on the buccaneering full-back and when he may be seen again: “Still he’s got a few steps to make. He needs to play at least a game with the 23s. We’re going to have an in house game too. He’s done everything in training now it’s about getting him match fit.”

Getty ImagesTHE BIGGER PICTURE

Arsenal will be back in action on Sunday when playing host to Aston Villa. There are suggestions that Gabriel Magalhaes is nursing a knock ahead of that game, with Arteta saying when asked about the Brazilian’s absence from training: “We've got one more day to prepare the match and we'll see if everyone is available.”

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WHAT NEXT FOR ARSENAL?

Arsenal head into a meeting with top-four hopefuls Villa sat top of the Premier League table, but with only goal difference keeping them above Liverpool – while defending champions Manchester City are just one point off the pace with seven games left to take in.

Allrounder will not travel to New Zealand for the three one-dayers in December

ESPNcricinfo staff27-Nov-2018

Pandya likely to play for Baroda

Hardik Pandya won’t be a part of the India A squad for the three one-dayers in New Zealand as he is yet to fully recover from a back injury that he picked up at the Asia Cup in September. Selected in the India A squad last month in a bid to give him game time before the second half of the Test series in Australia, Pandya has now instead been asked to rest and continue regaining strength by the medical staff at the National Cricket Academy in Bengaluru.Pandya’s next competitive fixture is likely to be the sixth-round Ranji Trophy clash for Baroda against Mumbai starting December 14. Meanwhile, the selectors are likely to pick Pandya’s replacement from the four-day squad that is currently on tour, with the third unofficial Test starting November 30 in Whangarei.Pandya last played a first-class match for his state, Baroda, against Gujarat during the 2016-17 Ranji Trophy season.

Yuvraj boost for Punjab

Yuvraj Singh, who had initially relinquished his spot in the Punjab side to make way for youngsters, has returned to the squad for their clash against Delhi at the Feroz Shah Kotla. In the absence of Yuvraj, Punjab ended up conceding the first-innings lead in both their drawn matches, against Andhra and Madhya Pradesh. Yuvraj is also set to be available for Punjab’s next two matches against Himachal Pradesh (December 6-9) and Tamil Nadu (December 14-17).Yuvraj was released by Kings XI Punjab ahead of the IPL auction in January. He recently featured in Punjab’s Vijay Hazare Trophy campaign, aggregating 264 runs in seven innings, with a best of 96.

Armaan Jaffer vaults into Mumbai squad

Twenty-year-old Armaan Jaffer, the nephew of former India batsman Wasim, has forced his way back into Mumbai’s squad for their next game against Gujarat at home. Armaan earned his spot back with an unbeaten 300 off 367 he scored against Saurashtra in the Under-23 Col CK Nayudu Trophy at Wankhede Stadium nearly ten days ago. His knock, studded with 26 fours and ten sixes, helped Mumbai to an innings-and-230-run victory.Armaan made his first-class debut for Mumbai against Tamil Nadu in October 2016 and played only two more matches that season before being dropped. He missed most of last season because of a knee injury that kept him out of action for more than a year.Mumbai continue to be without Shreyas Iyer who is in New Zealand as part of the A squad for three one-dayers to be played next month.

Vinay back for Karnataka; Binny dropped

Karnataka captain Vinay Kumar, who had missed the team’s previous match against Mumbai in Belgaum because of a neck injury, will return to lead them against Maharashtra in Mysuru. Allrounder Stuart Binny, however, has been dropped after managing only 53 runs in four innings and taking one wicket in two Ranji games this season.

Time is running out for Elgar, Hendricks and Zondo to make their mark, especially now that du Plessis has recovered from injury

The Preview by Liam Brickhill05-Oct-2018

AFP

Big PictureSouth Africa have walked a narrow line between tryouts and continuity in this series, and they are clearly still in phase one of Vision 2019 : experimentation. The first two ODIs against Zimbabwe saw new players in pivotal positions and old players trialled in unfamiliar ones.In both games, stand-in captain JP Duminy had dropped down the order to offer the more inexperienced batsmen in the squad the chance to close games out themselves. Neither opportunity was taken, however, and the hosts slipped to 96 for 5 in the first match and 101 for 7 in the second as the visiting Zimbabwe bowlers exploited conditions heavily weighted in favour of the ball.The early-season pitches have played wildly out of character and this hasn’t been a profitable series for batsmen. Steyn’s fifty is the only one to have been scored from either side, and the South African bowling attack has flattened Zimbabwe’s batsmen in both games, bowling them out for 117 and 78.Steyn has shown he still has serious pace, topping out at around 145kph in the second game – a number all the more terrifying given how badly the pitch was behaving – and Imran Tahir’s series strike rate is an eye-watering 8.2. Add Lungi Ngidi, Kagiso Rabada and Andile Phehlukwayo to the mix, and it will be an achievement if Zimbabwe are even able to last 50 overs on Saturday, given their struggles.South Africa’s attack is settled, and it’s the batting that has yet to come to grips with Vision 2019. South Africa made have it clear all along that they were willing, if a little reluctantly, to sacrifice results for this vision but time is running out for the likes of Dean Elgar, Reeza Hendricks and Khaya Zondo to make their mark, especially now that Faf du Plessis has recovered from the shoulder injury that had kept him out of the first two games. They should at least have a more placid track on which to stage their third audition of the series.Zimbabwe will be hoping that the pressure to perform continues to tell on South Africa’s middle order. They are on a nine-game losing streak, and while their bowlers have been able to put them in strong positions in the last two games, their batting has failed completely.Form guideSouth Africa: WWLLW (Last five completed matches, most recent first)Zimbabwe: LLLLLIn the spotlightSouth Africa’s batting tyros have one more chance to get things right before the series switches format and the hosts settle on their personnel for the trip to Australia at the end of the month. Aiden Markram has got himself in, and then out, in both games and though everyone has shown positive intent, stickability has generally been lacking.Zimbabwe’s batting engine room has completely failed to fire so far. The visitors tend to do well with the bat when the middle order has a cushion, but Solomon Mire has struggled since his return from injury and captain Hamilton Masakadza, like Markram, has done the hard work against the new ball only to give it away. If Masakadza and Mire can lay a platform, the job becomes much easier for everyone following them.AFP

Team newsTabraiz Shamsi is the only member of South Africa’s squad not to have played a game so far, so he could well slot in to the XI along with the returning du Plessis. Imran Tahir has spoken about his excitement at the possibility of playing alongside Shamsi, but conditions will likely impact whether South Africa see fit to pick both wristspinners.South Africa (possible): 1 Dean Elgar, 2 Aiden Markram, 3 Reeza Hendricks/Khaya Zondo, 4 Faf du Plessis (capt), 5 Heinrich Klaasen (wk), 6 JP Duminy (capt), 7 Christiaan Jonker, 8 Andile Phehlukwayo, 9 Dale Steyn, 10 Kagiso Rabada, 11 Tabraiz ShamsiZimbabwe may well give a game to Ryan Murray, who was part of the squad sent to the Africa T20 last month and showed some form with 46 against Northerns and 77 against South West Districts. They, too, may also consider bringing left-arm spinner Wellington Masakadza back into the XI, depending on conditions.Zimbabwe (possible): 1 Hamilton Masakadza (capt), 2 Solomon Mire, 3 Craig Ervine, 4 Brendan Taylor(wk), 5 Sean Williams, 6 Ryan Murray, 7 Elton Chigumbura, 8 Wellington Masakadza/Donald Tiripano, 9 Brandon Mavuta, 10 Kyle Jarvis, 11 Tendai ChataraPitch and conditionsPaarl is about 50 kilometres from the coast, and South Africa’s coastal grounds are not affected by the winter break as those inland are, so the Boland Park strip should be a good one. Winters are wet in the Western Cape and the early-season pitches can hold together a little better. Furthermore, Boland Cricket chief executive James Fortuin has promised a “run-fest” for this game after two low-scoring matches, and the ground has already been used this season for the Africa T20. Those results suggest a good pitch, with the possibility that spin could be important: several teams in the Africa T20 chose to open the bowling with spin at one end when playing in Paarl.Though there has been some rain – and even snow – around in the mountains of the Cape, summer is starting to arrive and Saturday should be warm and dry.Stats and triviaBoland Park in Paarl was the ground at which Wasim Akram became the first man to take 500 ODI wickets.The last time South Africa played here, AB de Villers smashed 176 (his 25th and final ODI ton) and they amassed 353 for 6 against Bangladesh, the highest score on this ground.While there have been three 300-plus scores at this ground, it has also seen spectacular batting collapses. Sri Lanka were bowled out for just 43, pursuing South Africa’s 301 for 8, in 2012, while in 2003 Canada were bowled out for 36 by Sri Lanka, the second lowest ODI score of all time.Quotes”We have spent plenty of time on the pitch, and lots of runs are expected. We are used to big matches and the wicket looks good. We will have a proper one-day wicket.”
“I thought Kimberley was poor, and we thought it would get better coming to Bloem. But we are hoping Paarl is going to be the best one.”

Mohamed Salah’s name has dominated the headlines at Liverpool for so many years, but never as intensely, and as negatively, as in recent days.

The Egypt international’s incendiary interview after Arne Slot’s side blew their advantage and drew at Leeds United has torn at fraying fabric and left Liverpool in dangerous and unknown territory.

The iconic forward, an all-time great on Merseyside and in the Premier League, is facing the very real possibility of leaving Liverpool in January. There is a good chance he has played his last game for the club.

This is a painful situation, to be sure, but Salah is ageing and ostensibly past his prime.

Slot does, however, need to get a tune out of the club’s expensive summer signings, with Florian Wirtz’s struggles a stark representation of the dysfunctional tactical set-up.

Why Wirtz has struggled under Slot

It’s fair to say Wirtz has not been good enough this season, far below the standard expected when Liverpool signed the German midfielder for a £116m fee. It’s also fair to say he’s walked into a burning building, making it difficult to shine against the backdrop of the flames.

It is clear that when Liverpool signed Wirtz this summer, they had landed one of the most talented playmakers in the world. It was also clear that Slot planned to reorient Liverpool’s creative supply line after Trent Alexander-Arnold left for Real Madrid.

So many variables have been at play this season, but there is no excuse for the toothless, spineless performances that Liverpool have laboured through this season. Slot has to take responsibility, and he has to get more out of Wirtz, who won the Bundesliga Player of the Year in 2023/24 after steering Bayer Leverkusen to an invincible title.

Wirtz has what it takes to succeed. Claims that he lacks physicality are simply untrue. Moreover, he ranks among the top 6% of positional peers in the Premier League for progressive passes and shot-creating actions per 90, as per FBref, so he needs just a little nudge in the right direction, with an uptick from Liverpool’s wider system too.

Liverpool need results, and they need them quickly.

Liverpool lining up Slot replacement

According to Anfield Index, FSG chiefs Michael Edwards and Richard Hughes have held talks with Como manager Cesc Fabregas as they continue to weigh up Slot’s future.

Fabregas, 38, is one of the brightest young coaches in the world, and he’s enjoyed a stunning start to life in Serie A, his Como side sixth in the standings.

The Spaniard’s expansive, free-flowing brand of football is not too dissimilar from Slot’s own vision, and this suggests he could dovetail into Liverpool’s first team, taking the reins at the season’s midpoint and restoring balance and confidence.

He may also be the perfect coach to give rise to Wirtz’s latent quality.

Why Liverpool should appoint Fabregas

Fabregas is a young and talented coach, but some would understandably have reservations over his youth and inexperience. However, were FSG to make the appointment, they would no doubt reference Arsenal’s meteoric rise under Mikel Arteta’s wing as a yardstick which they could follow.

Fabregas knows the Premier League, having featured 350 times in the division as a player, having scored 50 goals and supplied 117 assists across stints with Arsenal and Chelsea.

Moreover, Fabregas knows a thing or two about playmaking in the Premier League, lauded as a world-class “maestro” by former Chelsea manager Jose Mourinho during his trophy-laden spell at Stamford Bridge.

Truly, he was a “genius” of a footballer, as claimed by former boss Antonio Conte, and he has translated that wealth of footballing knowledge to the coaching scene, with Como playing some slick attacking football this season while maintaining a steely defensive line, for the most part. In the words of one notable analyst on X, he’s “football’s next elite manager.”

This foundation could be perfect for Wirtz, who shares certain tactical tendencies with the rising managerial star. Look at Nico Paz, for example, who has been immense this season ahead of his much-anticipated return to Real Madrid.

Paz, 21, is one of the hottest creative talents in the business, and he has been in fine fettle for Como this season, posting five goals and five assists apiece across 15 matches in all competitions this term.

Like Wirtz, he’s as naturally gifted as they come, but he has also been tasked with defensive responsibilities that have given him a coating of completeness that Fabregas’ tactics would play into Wirtz’s own game.

One thing’s for certain, Liverpool have crumbled under Slot’s wing. After that blistering start at the beginning of last season, the Reds have slowly tapered off, shipping so many goals and losing so many games.

27

Games

52

23

Wins

26

3

Draws

10

1

Losses

16

2.66

PPG

1.69

73

Goals scored

91

27

Goals conceded

69

Liverpool have a whole host of problems that have shown little sign of abating this season, but among the most egregious issues are the woes of Wirtz and Alexander Isak, who look shells of their former selves.

This cannot continue. Changes are needed. While FSG will continue to persist with Slot for the time being, given that Hughes has held preliminary talks with Fabregas (and who knows who else?), we can be sure that the plug will be pulled if improvements are not seen quickly.

Fabregas, with fresh and innovative ideas, could be the shrewd solution.

Sell him before Salah & Konate: FSG must bin Liverpool's "major issue"

Liverpool have collapsed this season, and some tough decisions need to be made.

1 ByAngus Sinclair 3 days ago

A new club have emerged in the race to sign an “excellent” Wolves player permanently in the summer transfer window, according to a fresh claim.

Wolves exit rumours emerge

Wanderers will be looking for plenty of incoming transfer business at the end of the season, but doubts surround the futures of several current players.

Matheus Cunha is the most high-profile Wolves hero who looks the most likely to move on this summer, with the Brazilian far from without suitors. A number of top clubs are keen on snapping him up, and Vitor Pereira will know that he has a battle on his hands to keep hold of him.

Elsewhere, Tommy Doyle has also been linked with leaving Molineux before next season gets underway, with journalist Graeme Bailey explaining the situation: “It seems Doyle is increasingly likely to go. There’s a lot of Championship interest in him, we’re going to see a fair few Championship players go, so there’s plenty of opportunities for quite a few teams [to sign him]. He’ll find a club, he’ll be alright, it’s just he’s not particularly suited to Vitor Pereira’s system, that’s just how it is.”

Fabio Silva is currently out on loan at Las Palmas and seemingly doesn’t have a long-term future, with prevuous suggeston they were ready to sell for £25m. Now, a new update has dropped regarding the Portuguese attacker, having reportedly held talks with Eintracht Frankfurt earlier this week.

"Excellent" £17m Wolves ace in talks to join new club

According to Sky Sports journalist Florian Plettenberg on X, VfL Wolfsburg have now held talks to sign Silva from Wolves this summer, providing competition for Frankfurt. Interestingly, Wolves’ asking price has dropped from £25m to £17m.

This summer definitely feels like the right time for Wolves to sell Silva, even though Stuart McCall hailed him during a loan stint at Scottish Premiership giants Rangers, saying:

“The one thing Silva has done well today, because he’s not been on the ball much, is his movement. It has been excellent. Lovely ball, really nice finish.”

As mentioned, the 22-year-old has been a huge disappointment for Wolves overall, scoring just five goals and registering only six assists in 72 appearances for Wanderers. Given the money they spent on him, that is a dismal return, and while he is still a young player, it is hard to see him ever being good enough for the Premier League.

Ivory Coast star likely to move in summer amid Everton and Wolves interest

Both sides are interested in bringing him to the Premier League.

BySean Markus Clifford Apr 19, 2025

If Wolves could get the £17m that they crave for Silva’s signature this summer, it could end up being seen as good business, even if it is a loss on what they paid Porto for him initially back in 2020.

ESPNcricinfo staff24-Oct-2016Asad Shafiq and Younis Khan got together for an unbeaten third-wicket stand of 63•AFPShafiq, who had resumed on 5, compiled an unbeaten 58, before Pakistan declared on 227 for 2 at the stroke of lunch•AFPSet a target of 456, West Indies lost Leon Johnson in the eighth over, when he gloved an attempted sweep off Yasir Shah onto his stumps•AFPRahat Ali was gifted a wicket when Darren Bravo chased a wide delivery and slashed it straight to backward point•Getty ImagesYasir sent back Marlon Samuels for 23 after accepting a simple return catch•AFPKraigg Brathwaite struck his first half-century in the fourth innings of a Test, before falling lbw to Mohammad Nawaz•Getty ImagesJermaine Blackwood moved on to a brisk, unbeaten 41 to take West Indies to 171 for 4 at stumps – still 285 away from a win•AFP

In a deal that would commence the Graham Potter era with a bang, West Ham United have reportedly been offered the chance to sign “one of the best strikers in the world” at a cut price in the January transfer window.

West Ham transfer news

Bringing Julen Lopetegui’s tenure to an end following defeats at the hands of Liverpool and Manchester City on top of poor results throughout the current campaign, West Ham have since turned towards Potter, who has taken his first job in football since being shown the door at Chelsea in 2023.

Back in the technical area and back in the Premier League, the pressure will be on the former Chelsea boss to avoid a repeat of his Stamford Bridge failure and instead enjoy similar heights to the ones that he took Brighton & Hove Albion to in the past.

Addressing the fans for the first time, Potter told West Ham’s official website: “I am delighted to be here. It was important to me that I waited until a job came along that I felt was right for me, and equally that I was the right fit for the Club I am joining. That is the feeling I have with West Ham United.

“My conversations with the Chairman and the Board have been very positive and constructive, we share the same values of hard work and high energy to create the solid foundations that can produce success, and we are on the same wavelength in terms of what is needed in the short-term and then how we want to move the Club forward in the medium to long term.”

West Ham make shock contact in race to sign first Potter target this month

He could rediscover his best form under Potter…

By
Tom Cunningham

Jan 9, 2025

With the January transfer window open, meanwhile, the new manager may not have to wait long until he gets his first signing through the door. According to GiveMeSport, West Ham have now been offered the chance to sign Jonathan David at cut price from Lille, who have one final chance to profit from their forward this month before he leaves on a free deal in the summer.

David would be an instant upgrade

Dubbed “one of the best strikers in the world” by podcast host and Canadian football expert Tony Marinaro, there’s no denying that David would be an instant upgrade on West Ham’s current options, having scored as many as 17 goals in 27 appearances throughout the current campaign – more than Jarrod Bowen and Niclas Fullkrug combined.

Still just 24 years old, the Canada international would be an incredible coup for the Hammers. He could solve their goalscoring problems for years to come and finally ease the responsibility on Bowen, who has carried their frontline more than once over the years.

At a cut price too, West Ham should jump at the chance to secure the forward’s signature ahead of the chasing pack waiting to snap it up for free at the end of the campaign.

A Sky Sports panel has given their verdict on Chelsea now targeting a striker capable of scoring “40 goals a season”, with contact made between clubs as manager Enzo Maresca looks to bolster his forward line.

Chelsea could now sign forward as Bayern Munich chase Nkunku deal

Credible media sources report that Chelsea will push to sign a replacement for Christopher Nkunku if he leaves, and that is starting to look like a serious possibility as Bundesliga giants Bayern Munich earmark the Frenchman as a top January transfer target.

Chelsea table January bid to sign "flamboyant" under-£20 million forward

The west Londoners have made their first offer.

ByEmilio Galantini Jan 15, 2025

Nkunku has racked up 13 goals across 28 appearances in all competitions for Chelsea this term, standing out as one of their chief goalscorers, but he’s a bit-part Premier League player under Maresca with the vast majority his strikes coming in cup competitions.

The 27-year-old’s squad status is said to be really frustrating him behind-the-scenes, and Vincent Kompany senses an opportunity to tempt him with a move to Germany.

Wolverhampton Wanderers (home)

January 20

Man City (away)

January 25

West Ham (away)

February 3

Brighton (away)

February 14

Aston Villa (home)

February 22

So much so, that Sky Sports’ Florian Plettenberg reports that Nkunku has already verbally agreed personal terms on a move to Bayern – so this transfer looks like a very serious potential one to watch if Chelsea and the European heavyweights can agree on a fee.

The national press claim Chelsea want around £65 million to sell Nkunku before deadline day, so the Bavarians will have to pay up if they wish to shake hands on a deal with Maresca’s side.

Interestingly, the likes of Fabrizio Romano have stated that the west Londoners are considering a potential swap deal, with versatile Bayern striker Mathys Tel heading the other way.

The 19-year-old has struggled for game time under Kompany this season, and some reports suggest that Tel would be willing to entertain a move to Chelsea this month.

Sky Sports react as Chelsea make contact to sign Mathys Tel

Tel can play as a centre-forward, as well as on either flank, which could make him a very useful option for Maresca, similar to Nkunku. Sky Sports reiterate that Chelsea have made contact with Bayern over a deal for Tel, whilst also giving their verdict on the Frenchman – and it is a glowing one at that.

“They’ve contacted Bayern Munich to ask about the availability of Mathys Tel,” said the panel host on Sky.

When asked about what Chelsea supporters could expect from the teenage sensation, one panel member said: “He’s seen as one of the best young strikers in Europe.

“He can play left-hand side, he can play up front as well, I think he’s got the physical presence to play up front, when you see him play he’s lean, he’s mobile, he’s got good pace, which is why most of his opportunities have come from the left-hand side.

“His problem, I guess, is that Harry Kane is ‘the’ striker given how much Bayern spent on him. Last season, he was a real consistent player coming off the bench for Thomas Tuchel, but this season his opportunities have been stunted a little bit.

“When Julian Nagelsmann was there, he said that he was capable of scoring 40 goals a season, they know how good a player he is and I feel like it might be quite difficult for Chelsea to get him out of Bayern at this stage. But, he’s a player who Chelsea have watched for a little while.”