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Harmer and Adam Rossington fifties leave Hampshire needing 299 to win in fourth innings

David Hopps27-Jun-2022How to play Simon Harmer on a pitch offering turn and bounce will again be the main topic of conversation at Chelmsford. Harmer soon took the last four Hampshire wickets to fall on the second morning and, as many had imagined he might, returned the best Championship figures this season in the process.His 8 for 46 was the first eight-for in Division One this summer, and also surpassed Dane Paterson’s 8 for 52 for Nottinghamshire against Worcestershire in Division Two. A pitch the colour of a peeled banana should continue to offer plenty of assistance on the third day and, despite signs of defiance, Hampshire’s target of 299 remains a distant dream.How should Hampshire combat Harmer? Limit vertical-bat shots, stay inside the line and, when you do hunt out the leg side do so with vigour and scare the close fielders to death might be one theory. Felix Organ appeared to have done a lot of thinking roughly along those lines and, with 13 overs to survive at the end of the day, his approach was particularly decisive. He swung Harmer for three leg-side sixes, the bowler conceded 30 from six overs and Hampshire closed their 13 overs somewhat enriched at 35 without loss.Dismissals at the start of day two included a reverse sweep (Keith Barker), a top-edged flat bat through cover (James Fuller) and a swing to deep midwicket (Kyle Abbott). Ben Brown, who played well for 38, was unfortunate and conveyed the fact the ball flicked the top of his pad with a meaningful pad bash, followed by an exasperated swing of his arm and spin of his bat.Liam Dawson, as Hampshire’s senior spinner, then responded with a creditable 7 for 68. As well as the first time he had taken 10 wickets in a match, he was also the first spinner to take five or more wickets at Chelmsford other than Harmer since 2014.”You have to cash in on these pitch as you don’t get many that turn off the straight in England,” Dawson said. “Harmer is world-class. Facing him and the bounce he gets is something every spinner wants and he has shown over the years how good he is. It is going to be a tough chase. We are going to have to be brave and take risks against Harmer. It is going to be a fun day. You might see some lads get out playing some big shots but that is better sitting around waiting to get caught around the bat.”Dawson is not a big turner of the ball, but he is a thoughtful bowler and approached every delivery with an air of great care as if he was not just bowling the ball but computing it. Nick Browne met the turning ball as he does swing and seam, with great deliberation, his 33 from 98 balls the most considered innings of the match. Adam Rossington’s 60 from 71 balls, his highest Championship score of the season, was a more pugnacious response from No. 7 after the loss of five early wickets. Harmer, as if to rub it in, then contributed 61 as he mowed regularly and spiritedly to midwicket.Rossington’s sudden move from Northamptonshire on the eve of the season, partly driven by a disagreement with Northants’ coaching staff over fitness regimes, was soon followed by Adam Wheater’s announcement that he would retire his Essex career at the end of the season, since when he has disappeared from view and Rossington is now established behind the stumps. He is a much more assertive batter and his bulk is making him one of the most recognisable figures in the game.It is a safe assumption that Essex did not discuss how to survive Organ with the same focus that Hampshire gave to Harmer. Organ, trying to make his way as an opening batter offering an offspin option, has a tidy first-class record, nonetheless, with his 29 wickets before this game costing under 23 runs.Along with Dawson, he kept Essex’s second innings honest. They had a first-innings lead of 75, knowing that another 150 would make them overwhelming favourites. The spinners were in tandem by the sixth over – perhaps uniquely this season – and, with half of Essex’s side dispatched for 51 just after lunch, the match was still very much alive.Organ took two in two, finding nice dip to beat Alastair Cook on the drive and have him caught at first slip, then seeing Tom Westley caught at short leg, a firm clip into Aneurin Donald’s midriff. Paul Walter, covering up in front of off stump, was trapped lbw on the back foot. Dawson had Dan Lawrence lbw flicking across his front pad. Michael Pepper, who is standing in for the injured Matt Critchley, has had an unrewarding match – after his tentative first-ball dismissal in the first innings, he opted for a reverse sweep and picked out cover. Dawson picked his way through the tail.Down in the furthest reaches of the County Ground, where the view is at its worst, two supporters watched Hampshire’s fielders agitating for wickets as Browne and Rossington began to reclaim Essex’s advantage. Seasoned county supporters, by and large, are not yet in the habit of checking the video replay when a contentious moment occurs. They draw on decades of experience, flavoured by a healthy seasoning of bias. Emotion often trumps facts, as in the real world beyond.So it was that when Browne survived a catch at short leg, Hampshire fielders dancing around, a portly man in a red polo shirt complained “clearly out” from fully 90 metres away, slightly downhill. Next ball, Browne’s defiant innings came to grief as he turned Dawson to backward short leg. “Should have walked the first time,” said the man, a little self-righteously, his faith in some sort of religious intervention confirmed. It would have been surprising if God had had the time to intervene considering that a minority of fundamentalists claim He has been more involved in Roe v Wade than Browne v Dawson.Minutes later, Harmer rode a blow from Abbott which brushed his chest on the way through to the wicketkeeper, Hampshire’s wailing for a wicket again refused. “They’re all cheating now,” said the man, before adding with no sense of irony: “Looked out from here.” All this time, umpires have been standing behind the stumps when clearly a better vantage point has existed all along.

He will test again in two days’ time; Paras Mhambrey to step in till then

ESPNcricinfo staff23-Aug-2022

Rahul Dravid, India’s head coach, has tested positive for Covid-19 and is not travelling with the rest of the team that will assemble in Dubai today for the Asia Cup. It is believed Dravid had mild symptoms, which have receded. He will test again in two days’ time. Paras Mhambrey, the bowling coach, will step in till then.A call on whether VVS Laxman – who coached India in Zimbabwe as Dravid took a short break – will join the team in Dubai too will likely be taken only after Dravid takes the test in two days. India’s first match in the Asia Cup will be on August 28 against Pakistan.”Team India Head Coach Rahul Dravid has tested positive for COVID-19 in a routine test conducted ahead of the team’s departure to the UAE for Asia Cup 2022,” a BCCI release said. “Mr. Dravid is under the supervision of the BCCI Medical team and has mild symptoms. He will join the team once he returns with a negative COVID-19 report. The rest of the team will assemble in UAE on 23rd August, 2022.”The Asia Cup is likely to be India’s last tournament before they announce the team for the T20 World Cup in Australia in October-November. In that light, the Asia Cup is an important tournament for the decision-makers to be around. It is believed that 11 or 12 slots in the squad are more or less booked, but the Asia Cup could have a bearing on the last three-four places. India will also be waiting on the fitness of Harshal Patel and Jasprit Bumrah who are at NCA in Bangalore for rehab.

She combined in a third-wicket stand of 135 with Meg Lanning before Megan Schutt claimed her 100th T20I wicket

Andrew McGlashan21-Jul-2022Four times Tahlia McGrath has batted in T20Is, and four times she has been player of the match. Her extraordinary start in the format, having only debuted last October, continued against Ireland in Bready as she and captain Meg Lanning combined to set up a convincing Australia victory.The pair added 135 for the third wicket, a record for Australia, as they overcame a slightly sluggish start against some tight Ireland bowling to pile up 182 which the home side did not come close to challenging.When McGrath was dismissed in the final over it gave her a T20I batting average for the first time – the small matter of 247. She had struck 11 boundaries in her 45-ball stay having arrived in the fifth over when Beth Mooney clubbed a loopy full toss to mid-on after the early dismissal of Alyssa Healy lbw playing across a straight delivery.Australia had been held to 39 for 2 from the powerplay but the eighth over marked a change of gear when Lanning twice picked up Arlene Kelly over the leg side for six. Seven out of the next eight overs went for double figures while overall Australia managed 100 from the second half of their innings.Lanning and McGrath matched each other: the captain’s fifty came from 31 balls with McGrath’s coming off 30 deliveries, having at one stage been 11 from 12 balls.”It was good fun batting with Meg,” McGrath said. If there was one shot I could steal off anyone, it’s that flick off the legs for six. It’s incredible. She was so calm at the crease, she makes things happen so it’s very nice batting with her.”Megan Schutt struck in the first over of the chase when Rebecca Stokell skewed to point and later in the innings would become the second Australian to 100 T20I wickets when she removed Mary Waldron.Jess Jonassen had success in her first over of the tour, getting Gaby Lewis caught at cover, after missing the opening two matches having tested positive for Covid before leaving Australia. Meanwhile, Alana King continued her wicket-taking form with another two scalps.However, Australia’s wide count was again high as they conceded 15 meaning their tally for the three matches is now 47 runs from wides.”I think we’re shaping up really well,” McGrath said. “There’s a little bit of fine tuning to go [like] tidy up our fielding a bit, a few too many extras, but we’re always striving to improve and we’re on the right track.”They have one more match left in the series, against Pakistan on Saturday, which will likely determine who finishes top of the table.

Six-wicket victory at Canterbury in South Group basement battle

ECB Reporters Network24-Jun-2022

The Sussex Sharks’ slim chances of qualifying for the Vitality Blast quarter-finals are over, after they were beaten by six wickets by the Kent Spitfires at Canterbury.Joe Denly hit 58 and Sam Billings was unbeaten on 33 as Kent eventually coasted home with seven balls remaining, to finish on 159 for four.Grant Stewart earlier took 3 for 38 and George Linde two for 14 as Kent restricted Sussex to 158 for seven. Ali Orr made 36 and Harrison Ward 33, but the Sharks failed to kick on after racing to 76 for 1 at the end of eight overs.In a derby billed as “The War of the Wealds”, Kent made an early breakthrough when, having won the toss and chose to bowl, Fred Klaassen had Mohammad Rizwan caught at gully for four with the fourth ball of the innings, but Orr and Ward responded with a rapid partnership of 73.Having endured a brutal debut at home to Gloucestershire on Tuesday night, when his only over went for 26, Jas Singh looked like getting a deserved wicket when Ward skied him to mid on, but Klaassen dropped the catch. and the run rate was threatening to get out of hand until the Spitfires took two wickets in the ninth over. Ward was run out by Ahmad, chasing a non-existent single to point and Qais then caught Tom Alsop for one off George Linde.Orr fell in Linde’s next over, caught at deep backward square by Jack Leaning for 33, and the same fielder caught Ravi Bopara off Qais Ahmad for seven at cow corner.A nonplussed Delray Rawlins was given caught behind off Qais for 28 and Rashid Khan had made just three when he chipped Stewart to Tawanda Muyeye at mid off, before George Garton gave Sussex something to defend with 31 from 15 balls, before he edged the final ball of the innings to Klaassen to hand Stewart his third wicket.Rawlins had Muyeye plumb in front for a duck in the first over of the chase but Henry Crocombe then dropped Cox off Steven Finn when he was on four.Crocombe took his revenge when he tempted Cox into a miscue that was caught by Orr at short fine leg, dismissing him for 18, but Denly batted Kent into a winning position with another explosive innings that included a six off Will Beer that cleared the Frank Woolley stand – for for only the third time in its history. He moved to 50 with a single off Rawlins and then hit Bopara for another six, but edged the next delivery to Brocombe.With Denly gone Billings was left to anchor the chase. He lost Alex Blake was lbw to Khan for six and the boundaries dried up, but managed to keep the scoreboard ticking over with George Linde at the other end, chipping away at the target with ones and twos.Bopara and Khan kept Sussex in it with some tight bowling and Kent still needed 24 from 18 when Finn came on at the Pavilion End, but the former England man was pummelled for 18 runs, including successive fours off the final two balls from Linde.Linde hit the winning run when he edged Beer and Orr couldn’t pull in a difficult, diving catch. The result means Sussex cannot now qualify for the last eight, while the already eliminated champions Kent recorded their third Blast win of the season.

As they continue their unbeaten start on the pitch, Celtic have reportedly started plotting a move to seal a future star after sending their chief scout to watch him in action recently.

Celtic transfer news

How the Bhoys go about improving their current side is a difficult but positive conundrum to crack thanks to their flawless start to the current campaign. Even in the Champions League, the Bhoys remained unfazed, smashing Slovan Bratislava 5-1 to open their European season in style.

Meanwhile, in the Scottish Premiership, the champions remain on course to retain after creating a five-point gap on Old Firm rivals Rangers and instead going head-to-head with new challengers Aberdeen.

With that said, the focus for Celtic should be on the future and ensuring that they only extend their dominance rather than eventually lose out to those around Scotland. And if recent rumours are anything to go by, they intend to do exactly that in the January transfer window.

According to Fotbolldirekt – a media outlet based in Sweden – via Sport Witness, Celtic are beginning to plot a move to sign Bazoumana Toure from Hammarby IF.

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The media there expect a big development to take place soon with Celtic positioning themselves to sign the 18-year-old winger after sending chief scout Joe Lefevre to watch him in action.

Given that Eintracht Frankfurt, Crystal Palace, Bayer Leverkusen and Benfica are all also reportedly interested in Toure, Celtic will undoubtedly have to act fast if they want to secure his signature in a deal that would have to meet Hammerby’s reported €10m (£8m) price tag. A player with plenty of potential, Toure would be joining the Scottish champions at the perfect time, as they go for yet another title.

"Superb" Toure is one for the future

At 18 years old, Toure is already making his mark at Hammerby, with six goals and three assists in just 16 appearances last season. It’s no real surprise that he has attracted such high interest from all around Europe and the Bhoys will simply be hoping to see their sales pitch convince the youngster that Celtic Park is the place to be.

Earning plenty of praise during his recent rise, Toure was dubbed “superb” by Football Talent Scout’s Jacek Kulig.

What is interesting to note is that he can also play on both wings to hand Brendan Rodgers a versatile option within his frontline, should Celtic complete their move in 2025. With years to reach his best form too, the Ivory Coast youngster could quickly turn into an excellent coup.

Former England Test captain posts 147 with Yorkshire still trailing Lancashire by 210 runs

Paul Edwards14-May-2022

Should it be announced that by some miracle Len Hutton ‘in his prime’ would be playing at Headingley tomorrow, one imagines Yorkshire’s ground would not be anything like big enough to accommodate the spectators wanting to watch him bat. If it was further disclosed that Hutton would be facing the bowling of Brian Statham, the crowds from Sheffield, Bradford and elsewhere in the kingdom would have to compete with even more folk coming across the M62. So what might we make of the fact that in today’s common sunshine we saw Joe Root make 147 against a Lancashire attack that included James Anderson? This afternoon, such a sight was familiar; we may see it again tomorrow as Yorkshire look to avoid defeat. But in three summers’ time…?Let us be cautious. Hutton and Statham epitomised their county’s best qualities and combined to wonderful effect on a famous Ashes tour. On top of which, there was an essential integrity about the two men that ennobles their posthumous reputations. Not for nothing was Malcolm Lorimer’s collection of tributes to Statham entitled . Root, though, is only 31 and may have five years of first-class cricket ahead of him. And while Anderson will be 40 in July, it seems clear he will play on as long as he retains both his fitness and his private fire. We cannot yet definitively assess the career of either of our current champions.And now let us not be cautious at all. Much of what we said about Hutton and Statham applies to Root and Anderson. Most critics would agree that over the past five years the pair have been their country’s best cricketers (although Ben Stokes would also be in that frame.) They are fit to be ranked with their predecessors and the only truly surprising aspect about Root’s century today was that it followed his six other first-class innings against Lancashire, in which he had managed a total of 58 runs with a best of 22.Everything else was fond and familiar. There was the unobtrusive accumulation of runs as though he did not want the bowlers to cotton on they were being milked. He got off the mark with a single squeezed backward of square on the leg side off Anderson. He leg-glanced his England colleague for his first four and later cover-drove him twice to the Long Room boundary.Related

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Vastly more frequent were the Bank of England defensive strokes, the controlled hooks, the wristy cut past gully or the tuck to either side of square leg. There were two edges through the slips but neither went to hand. Root’s scoring rate appeared the work of a conjurer: his fifty came off 73 balls and his century off 150.He vastly outscored Harry Duke, whose 40 runs came off 202 balls and with whom Root put on 154 before the Yorkshire keeper was bowled when trying to ramp a ball from Matt Parkinson. That was a sad end to Duke’s innings and utterly at variance with nearly four hours of self-denial. He had played not so much second fiddle as fourth triangle to Root but his efforts were plainly vital to Yorkshire’s huge effort to draw this match. And those endeavours must continue tomorrow. Root’s dismissal, caught at slip by Luke Wells when trying to work Parkinson to leg six overs before the close, has left Yorkshire 60 runs short of avoiding the follow-on.By comparison with his former England captain, Anderson sometimes looked a little out of sorts. He roughed up George Hill with short balls early in the morning session and dismissed him when Hill dishclothed a pull to Dane Vilas at midwicket. Otherwise, the man often seen as the finest new-ball bowler in England’s history frequently seemed discontented, either with a streaky shot or with the slow pitch or with life itself. And of course, he has something of an issue with Root at present. The ex-England skipper was at least complicit in the decision to leave Anderson and Stuart Broad out of the party for the recent tour to the West Indies, which perhaps explains why the Lancashire bowler was unwilling to engage in much chat with his friend. Then a reluctant smile would play about that world-weary face. After all, this was only Rooty and, my God, had they played some cricket together?Lancashire’s other bowlers looked rather bland on this Headingley pitch. But Tom Bailey’s accuracy earned him two more wickets today and Parkinson’s undimmed willingness to wheel away on an unresponsive surface was ultimately rewarded with the wickets of Duke and Root. And the leg-spinner’s removal of Harry Brook may have had an even greater effect on this game.For it is difficult to imagine that cricket can be made to seem much simpler than Brook contrived to do during his 48-minute innings this morning. George Balderson, a fine young player and a useful fourth seamer, was humbled to impotence by five boundaries in two overs. But perhaps it all became too easy; perhaps Brook needed a reminder that it was earth beneath his feet. Instead, he looked to work a fine leggie from Parkinson through midwicket but did not get to the pitch of the hard-spun ball. It turned past his bat and hit the middle stump. Brook was thus dismissed for 41, his first score below fifty in seven first-class innings this season. He currently averages 135 but such statistics sometimes play us false; not in Brook’s case, however. The neutrals who have watched him bat are certain that no cricketer in England is in better form.

da roleta： Following Harry Kane’s exit and Ange Postecoglou’s arrival last summer, Tottenham Hotspur have been undergoing something of a squad rebuild.

da dobrowin： The Australian has seen the likes of Giovani Lo Celso, Emerson Royal and Harry Winks leave the club, while talented stars like James Maddison, Archie Gray and Micky Van de Ven have come in.

However, while the squad is full of talented players who could help the Lilywhites end their extended trophy-drought, some are still not good enough.

In fact, one of those who should be moved on as soon as possible is earning more than Van de ven and Dejan Kulusevski combined.

Kulusevski and Van de Ven's salaries

Kulusevski officially joined Spurs from Juventus on a permanent deal for around £25m last summer after spending the previous 18 months on loan with the club, and while he can be inconsistent at times, he’s easily one of the most technically gifted players in the squad.

The Swedish international has made 101 appearances for the North Londoners since January 2022, in which he’s scored 15 goals and provided 11 assists, equating to an average of a goal involvement every 2.80 games, and in the last couple of matches, he’s been one of the few bright spots in the team.

So, it’s not all that surprising then that the 24-year-old is currently the club’s fifth-highest earner, making £110k-per-week, or a whopping £8.5m-per-year, which is a lot more than star defender Van de Ven.

The Dutchman joined the club last summer for a fee of around £34m from German side Wolfsburg, and to say he’s been a success in the year since would be an understatement.

The 23-year-old has become an integral part of Postecoglou’s ultra-attacking style of football, as, thanks to his lightning-quick pace, he’s capable of maintaining a high line and sprinting back to cover off danger.

However, for as indisputably crucial as he is to the North Londoners, he’s on a comparatively low wage – for a footballer, that is – of just £50k-per-week, which is around £2.6m.

That number is sure to increase over the coming seasons, but it will have to do so substantially to even match the wage of another Tottenham player who is far less important to the team.

Timo Werner's salary

Yes, the player in question is German forward Timo Werner, who first joined the club on a six-month loan spell in January, which, according to Sky Sports, cost the club around £4.3m in fees and wages.

Now, he wasn’t dreadful in those six months, but he wasn’t particularly impressive either, so when it was announced that the club had extended his loan for this season, it was a surprise, especially when it was revealed that they would be paying all of his wages and there was an £8.5m option to buy included.

However, based on the frankly enormous £165k-per-week he is earning, Postecoglou should not take that option, especially after a performance like the one against Coventry City on Wednesday night, in which he failed to register a single shot and was awarded a 2/10 from Spurs writer Alasdair Gold.

So far, when accounting for his wages and the initial fee, the former Chelsea flop has cost the Lilywhites a whopping £7.1m, which, when broken down by his 18 appearances, two goals and three assists, does not make for pretty reading.

For example, he’s cost Daniel Levy and Co £394k-per-appearance, £3.56m-per-goal, £2.36m-per-assist and £1.42m-per-goal-involvement – talk about value for money.

The finances of Timo Werner’s Tottenham Deal

Wages & Fee (Total)

£165k (£7.1m)

Appearances

18

Cost per Appearance

£394k

Goals

2

Cost per Goal

£3.56m

Assists

3

Cost per Assist

£2.36m

Goal Involvements

5

Cost per Goal Involvement

£1.42m

All Stats via Transfermarkt & All Wages via Football FanCast

Ultimately, while the club have signed worse players in the past, it’s impossible to ignore how much Werner has cost in relation to his output, especially as he is on more than Van de Ven and Kulusevski combined. Therefore, Postecoglou should axe him from his starting lineup, and the club should not activate the option to buy.

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Manchester United are keen on signing Nuno Mendes, and their hopes of signing the Paris Saint-Germain star might be boosted by Ruben Amorim.

Article continues below

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• United interested in Portuguese left-back
• Also linked with Davies and Hernandez
• Mendes' deal expires in 2026

• WHAT HAPPENED?

  A new left-back is high on United's list of targets, with Mendes reportedly joined by Rayan Ait-Nouri of Wolves, Chelsea's Ben Chilwell and young prospect Alvaro Carreras of Benfica on the club's shortlist.

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• AFP
  

  THE BIGGER PICTURE

  According to Sky Sport's Florian Plettenberg, Bayern Munich's Alphonso Davies and AC Milan star Theo Hernandez are also being considered. But 22-year-old Mendes retains a 'strong interest' from the Red Devils.

• DID YOU KNOW?

  United's hopes of signing Mendes could be boosted by Amorim's presence. Plettenberg adds that Amorim and Mendes share the same agency, which could give the Old Trafford club an edge over other suitors for the Portugal international.

• Getty Images Sport
  

  WHAT NEXT FOR AMORIM?

  United aren't expected to have a big budget in the upcoming transfer window as Sir Jim Ratcliffe continues to free up some money, so a move for Mendes, who wouldn't come cheap, may have to wait until the summer. Marcus Rashford's expected departure would free up funds to help Amorim improve a squad in need of added spark.

da apostaganha： Wolverhampton Wanderers have conducted shrewd business in the transfer market in recent times, signing players for a cut-price before either making a huge impact on the first team or making the club a tidy profit.

da realsbet： Jean-Ricner Bellegarde is just one example of the former, joining the club in a £12.8m deal last summer, producing many moments of magic, which includes his excellent strike against Nottingham Forest last weekend.

Pedro Neto is another excellent talent who has made the club a lot of money, joining from Lazio for around £18m in 2019, before leaving this summer in a £54m deal – making the club a £36m profit in the process.

Boss Gary O’Neil will be hoping new big-money addition Andre can replicate such deals, after joining for £21m from Brazilian side Fluminense.

He could potentially form an excellent partnership with one player who’s also started after his own move to the Premier League in recent times.

Joao Gomes’ stats for Wolves

During the January window in 2023, Wolves dipped into the South American market to secure the £15m signing of Brazilian ace Joao Gomes from Flamengo, with the youngster flourishing after his move to English football.

Since his transfer, the 23-year-old has cemented himself as a key player in Gary O’Neil’s side, making 52 appearances for the club – scoring on three separate occasions.

His subsequent form has seen interest from the likes of Bayern Munich, Liverpool and Tottenham – an indication of how impressive he’s been since his move to Molineux.

The addition of Andre could allow O’Neil to operate with an all-Brazilian centre-midfielder partnership, with the pair having the talent and potential to thrive together and push the club back towards a top-half finish in 2024/25.

However, despite the recent excellent dealings, they must regret letting go of one player who’s taken his game to another level after leaving the West Midlands two years ago.

Joao Gomes' market value in 2024

After coming through the club’s academy, midfielder Morgan Gibbs-White had huge expectations of being a monster talent at Molineux.

He enjoyed a stellar campaign on loan at Sheffield United during 2021/22, registering 20 goal contributions in his 35 appearances – with a place in the club’s first-team to be expected after such a successful stint.

However, he completed a £25m move to newly promoted Forest – a decision that, two years on, the club may have a "tinge of regret" about, according to journalist Neil Moxley.

Morgan Gibbs-White's PL stats (2023/24)

Statistics

Tally

Forest rank

Appearances

37

1st

Goals + assists

15

1st

Assists

10

1st

Chances created

74

1st

Big chances created

16

1st

Possession won in final third per 90

0.6

2nd

FotMob rating

7.24

1st

Stats via FotMob

The “incredible” Gibbs-White, as described by former teammate Billy Sharp, received his first senior England call-up last week, a reflection of his impressive form at the City Ground, with the Tricky Trees subsequently demanding around £50m over the summer.

His subsequent value is higher than that of current Wolves star Gomes, who was deemed to be worth over £40m in the recent window, after his own impressive run in the Premier League.

After his achievements under former Wolves boss Nuno Espírito Santo at Forest, it’s understandable that many would regret the departure of the midfielder.

He has the ability to operate in tight attacking areas and create a moment of magic out of nowhere, something which O’Neil’s side often lacks in the final third in recent times.

Whilst they made a huge profit on an academy graduate, his talents would be perfect in the current Wolves, potentially handing them the perfect opportunity to push for a top-half finish this season.

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da betway： Rangers have just under a week remaining to wrap up any late transfer deals they wish to complete, as they eye a deal for a £2m attacker.

da 888casino： Pressure is arguably already on Rangers manager Philippe Clement as the club faces another season without Champions League football, with the Scottish side instead having to settle for the Europa League. The Gers are also expected to challenge Celtic for the league title as well as the cup competitions, but they already find themselves two points behind their rivals.

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Posts ByBrett Worthington Aug 23, 2024 Rangers transfer news

Celtic were comfortably in control last season in terms of the league, so it is no surprise to see that Rangers have been busy in the transfer market this summer, as they eye a big improvement. Not only has Clement been busy bringing new players to the club, ones he hopes can improve the club’s performances and results, but Rangers have also been busy letting players leave.

Rangers' summer signings

Signed from

Mohamed Diomande

Nordsjaelland

Robin Propper

Twente FC

Hamza Igamane

FAR Rabat

Vaclav Cerny

VfL Wolfsburg

Jefte

Fluminense

Connor Barron

Aberdeen

Liam Kelly

Motherwell

Clinton Nsiala

AC Milan U20

It came to light this week that striker Cyriel Dessers was very close to leaving Ibrox, as Rangers and Atlanta United were in discussions over a deal that would have seen the player swap Scotland for the MLS, but in the end, the deal broke down, as Dessers was against the idea.

Apart from the news about Dessers, it has been more about which players Rangers are potentially interested in signing before Friday’s transfer deadline. Fiorentina winger Josip Brekalo is said to be on the Ibrox transfer radar, with the player expected to leave the Serie A side in this transfer window after falling out of favour. The Gers are also said to be eyeing a move to sign young Dundee sensation Sebastian Lochhead, but they are not the only top-flight side chasing his signature.

Meanwhile, it has also been reported by the reliable Fabrizio Romano that the Scottish side have seen a loan bid worth €750k plus Rangers then having the option to buy Kaiky for €7 million, bringing a total package to £6.5 million rejected by Spanish side Almeria.

Clearly, Rangers are still in the market for new players, and they now have their eye on another attacking player.

Rangers eyeing Norwich City’s Abu Kamara

According to Football Scotland, relayed by Ibrox News, Rangers are interested in signing Norwich City winger Abu Kamara. The report states that the 21-year-old could be available for as little as £2 million, but the problem the Scottish side faces is that they would need to sell players first before buying Kamara.

It goes on to add that personal terms for Rangers to sign Kamara would not be an issue, who has now requested to leave the Championship side after not breaking into the first team after his impressive stint at Portsmouth last season.

Kamara has come through the academy at Carrow Road and has impressed with the club’s academy throughout the years. Last season, the young attacker got the opportunity to join Portsmouth on loan, and he took his chance, as he netted eight goals and recorded 10 assists in 46 League One games.

He has since come back to Norwich and played in every game for the club this season, scoring in the EFL Cup, but Kamara is said to want to leave the club in what remains of this transfer window. While at Portsmouth last season, assistant manager Jon Harley heaped huge praise on the winger, labelling him “outstanding” as he played a big role in the club’s promotion campaign.