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Aston Villa are willing to trigger a release clause to sign Real Mallorca attacker Kang-in Lee this summer.

What’s the latest transfer news on Villa and Lee?

Unai Emery is set to be backed with a ‘huge’ summer budget ahead of his first full season in charge after making just two signings in the January window.

One player who was linked with a move to Villa Park earlier in the year was Lee, with reports suggesting that Villa offered an initial €13.5m for the 22-year-old’s services during the winter window. However, it looks as if the club could now go one step further to sign Lee, who can play as an attacking midfielder or winger.

One Spanish outlet provided an update on Lee’s situation in the last 48 hours, claiming that those from Villa Park are once again interested in his services.

The report states how Villa, and by extension owners NSWE and sporting director Johan Lange, are willing to pay the player’s €18m (£15.8m) release clause to bring him to England this summer. Lee is expected to leave the La Liga side this summer, with Mallorca preparing to ‘make a round deal’.

Should Villa sign Lee?

Lee is a versatile left-footed attacker who was labelled an “outstanding talent” by Valencia academy director Luis Vicente Mateo. The South Korea international now has plenty of experience in Spain, making 61 appearances for former employers Valencia and 65 for Mallorca. In total, Lee has contributed to 16 La Liga goals, and you’d like to think that there is room for improvement on his already impressive game at the age of 22.

As per WhoScored, Lee has been one of Mallorca’s top performers this season and has actually outperformed every Villa player aside from Ollie Watkins. The attacking midfielder has averaged more key passes and dribbles than any Mallorca or Villa attacker per 90 during the current campaign and has picked up more Player of the Match awards than any player from both sides.

Therefore, at €18m, a move to the Midlands could be a shrewd one, with Emery potentially taking Lee’s game to the next level over the coming years. Villa also don’t have an out-and-out attacking midfielder on the books at this moment in time, as per Transfermarkt, so Lee could be the creative spark needed at the club heading into the 2023/24 season, and by the looks of it, a transfer is one to follow closely over the coming months.

Manchester United are reportedly among the clubs who are interested in signing Leicester City playmaker, James Maddison, with the Englishman looking set for a summer exit from the King Power Stadium.

What's the latest on James Maddison's future?

According to The Telegraph, the Red Devils – as well as both Newcastle United and Tottenham Hotspur – are said to be keen on signing the 26-year-old, with the report suggesting that it is now looking 'inevitable' that the former Norwich City man will move on at the end of the season.

The piece adds that the two-cap ace 'is set to be sold' even if the struggling Foxes are able to stave off relegation, with any potential suitor needing to cough up between £45m and £60m if they are to secure his services, with just over a year left to run on the player's current deal.

The Coventry-born gem does appear to have been a long-term target for those at Old Trafford, with Manchester Evening News reporting back in February 2020 that Maddison was the club's 'prime playmaker target' for that forthcoming summer, with the player himself said to have been keen to make the switch.

How would Maddison fit in at Man United?

While the highly-coveted talent is part of a Leicester side that has been desperately underwhelming this season – with a return to the second tier potentially on the cards for the Midlands side – the midfield maestro has still been something of a shining light, with nine goals and seven assists in 25 Premier League games so far this term.

That follows what was a standout 2021/22 campaign for the clinical "magician" – as hailed by Statman Dave – as he contributed 30 goals and assists in 53 games across all fronts, including 20 goal involvements in the top flight alone.

Although Maddison has done much of his damage off the flanks of late, the versatile asset could also slot into Erik ten Hag's side in a creative, midfield berth, ensuring he could represent a potential upgrade on experienced ace, Christian Eriksen.

There's no denying that the latter man has been an astute capture since his free transfer arrival last summer – having racked up two goals and nine assists in 38 appearances to date – although there may be concerns over the 31-year-old's ability to be a long-term solution in midfield, particularly amid his recent, difficult return from injury.

The Denmark international was notably replaced on the hour mark in the FA Cup semi-final clash with Brighton and Hove Albion after being restricted to just 26 touches on the day, while having also 'shook his head in frustration at his own performance' against Aston Villa on Sunday, according to MEN's Samuel Luckhurst.

As such, turning to Maddison could potentially represent something of a long-term, midfield upgrade, with the England international's dynamic quality showcased by the fact that he ranks in the top 12% among his European peers for progressive carries and the top 17% for successful take-ons, while Eriksen, by contrast, ranks in just the top 35% and the bottom 19% for those same two metrics, respectively.

Equally, Maddison's innate creativity is showcased by the fact that he ranks in the top 4% for progressive passes received – further rubberstamping his forward-thinking and probing approach – while the current United man ranks in just the top 33% in that regard.

The Leicester sensation also potentially offers more in a defensive sense having averaged 1.6 tackles per game in the league this season, while Eriksen has averaged just 0.6 for that same metric, further proving what a potential upgrade Maddison could be for Ten Hag.

Test wicketkeeper Jonny Bairstow hopes to persuade the selectors to find room for him in England’s white-ball set-up as well

Alan Gardner23-May-2016With two hundreds in his last four Tests, as well as 24 catches in his last three, Jonny Bairstow has seemingly silenced debate about his place in the side. He is not ready to stop there, however, and hopes to persuade the selectors to find room for him in England’s white-ball set-up as well.Bairstow has averaged 46.93 since returning to the Test XI at the expense of his Yorkshire team-mate Gary Ballance during last year’s Ashes, while the hard work he has put into his wicketkeeping looks to be paying off as well. Bairstow took the gloves when Jos Buttler was dropped in the UAE and has now twice claimed nine catches in the match – two shy of the record – during emphatic England wins at the Wanderers and Headingley.While his renaissance was founded on 1108 runs at 92.33 while keeping wicket for Yorkshire as they once again secured the Championship title in 2015, the spark in international cricket came during an ODI against New Zealand last June, when an unbeaten 83 from 60 balls led England to victory in the deciding match of the series at Chester-le-Street.Bairstow has played just three more ODIs and a single T20 since then, with Buttler preferred as England’s limited-overs keeper, but the injury suffered by Ben Stokes at Headingley, which is expected to keep him out for six weeks, as well as James Taylor’s retirement could pave the way for a return during next month’s one-day fixtures with Sri Lanka.”I want to play every format I can. Absolutely,” Bairstow said. “I want to play all forms of cricket for England, that’s an ambition I have. I want to succeed in that. If that opportunity does arise, I don’t see any reason why Jos and I can’t play in the same side. I think that would be an exciting prospect with the likes of Stokesy, Jos and myself in that middle-order.”There are still two more Tests to play before England need worry about their 50-over side and, after his Man of the Match performance on his home ground, Bairstow will return to Chester-le-Street looking to continue the superb form that finally earned him another chance, 18 months after his previous appearance at the back end of the disastrous 2013-14 Ashes tour.”I think it has been the culmination of a few years,” he said. “Being left out of the side isn’t necessarily a very nice thing to have done to you. I think moving forward, you either rest on your laurels or you take it on the chin and crack on. I think you learn a lot about yourself. It’s not necessarily a nice thing to be left out or not do so well in a position that you know you’re capable of doing.”Coming back to Yorkshire for pretty much two years, learning your game, learning about yourself, playing my cricket here in a really great environment and winning trophies has done us and myself a world of good. Form can be taken from you very quickly. It only takes a couple of bits to go wrong and all of a sudden potentially you can be out of form. At this moment in time, I’m feeling good, happy with the way I’m striking the ball and with my movement. Hopefully, that can continue.”Bairstow’s performances at No. 7, from where he helped put on 141 with Alex Hales at Headingley, and continued uncertainty over England’s best batting order – James Vince scored 9 on debut at No. 5 after coming in for Taylor – has led to suggestions he could go up the order. Stokes’ injury means he and Moeen Ali will almost certainly move up a spot for the next couple of Tests and Bairstow remains happy to fill whatever role best meets the team’s needs.”I’ll bat wherever. [No. 5 is] the position I bat for Yorkshire and keep wicket so, if that opportunity comes up, it comes up,” he said. “I’m happy at seven. As we know, the team is pretty balanced with Stokesy at six and Mo at eight and myself at seven. I think that is a really good position to be in, a good balance. The rest, I don’t really want to think about to be honest because at this moment in time, I’m just happy, playing my cricket, seeing the ball, trying to catch the ball.”An uncluttered approach and a drive to keep improving seem to be serving Bairstow well, and after a “very special game” he just wanted to savour the moment. “First Test in England keeping wicket, first hundred in England in the Test side, 25th cap at your home ground in front of your home crowd is a fantastic moment. It’s something I don’t think I’ll ever forget. And to have family and friends here makes it a pretty good week.”I didn’t go on and score big runs in the UAE but I was happy with the way I was playing. South Africa, the way I contributed there with both bat and gloves I was pretty pleased with. And it was important I started this season well. I’m pleased with the way it has gone for Yorkshire and started for England but we know it will be tough for the rest of the series against Sri Lanka and who knows what will happen against Pakistan.”

Leeds United gambled massively when they dismissed Javi Gracia, as despite the Spaniard bringing an upturn in form upon arriving, they had begun leaking countless goals whilst also losing their characteristic all-action attacking play.

They were a shell of the club that earned them a return to the Premier League, although that is a failure born through years of mismanagement.

In his final five games in charge, they had shipped four goals or more on three separate occasions, failing to win in any of them. However, in handing the reins to Sam Allardyce, their desperation soared to new heights.

The English league stalwart has enjoyed a lengthy career, and to add a club as historic as the Whites to his resume must have been a dream come true. However, it left many questioning whether he had enough time to mastermind such a monumental turnaround that he has become famous for, given that before their loss to Manchester City he had just four league games to play.

With three very tough fixtures now left and points desperately needed, the main thing that the 68-year-old can do is make the players feel comfortable and fit them into a system where they can shine. Also, to progress past Gracia's short and unceremonious tenure, the former Everton boss could at the very least seek to start his best players.

Seeing Wilfried Gnonto waste away on the bench as the club slumps back to the Championship is a travesty, as the Italian will likely be key in any chance they have of avoiding the drop.

How good is Wilfried Gnonto?

Enjoying his debut year in England since his summer move, few could have predicted the influence the 19-year-old would instantly have on the Yorkshire outfit.

The £20k-per-week wizard joined for just £5m but instantly captured the nation's attention with his speed, dynamism and remarkable close control.

However, the fact that he has just 21 appearances in the league this season is baffling, considering this constant danger he provides is backed up by a respectable two goals and four assists. Somehow, the forward has only merited a place on the bench in seven of their last ten league games.

For comparison, as someone seven years his senior and well-versed in the division, Jack Harrison only has five more goal contributions than Gnonto, having played 12 more times.

Given the fear he strikes into any opposition fullback, with pundit Tam McManus branding him a "pocket rocket", his intangible qualities could prove vital in any chance they have against the likes of West Ham United, Tottenham Hotspur and Newcastle United.

Allardyce must focus on revitalising the 10-cap dynamo now, as it could be the difference between playing Premier League or Championship football next season.

Tottenham Hotspur forgotten man Giovani Lo Celso doesn't look likely to have a future in north London come next season, according to journalist Paul Brown.

What's the latest news involving Giovani Lo Celso?

As per The Daily Mail, Aston Villa boss Unai Emery is said to be a known admirer of Lo Celso and is keeping a 'watchful eye' on his situation ahead of the forthcoming transfer window.

The 27-year-old is currently on loan at Villarreal and has been for the last two years and was discussed as a potential target for Emery at Newcastle United back in 2021 when he was linked with the Magpies' job.

Lo Celso joined Spurs back in August 2019 on a season-long loan deal before being signed permanently in 2020 for a fee of £27.2 million, as per BBC Sport.

In 2022/23, the Rosario-born midfielder has featured 24 times for Villarreal in all competitions, registering one goal and three assists, as per Transfermarkt.

Contractually, Lo Celso is bound to Tottenham until the summer of 2025, though it is unclear as of yet what the future will hold for the loanee.

Speaking to Football FanCast, journalist Brown thinks Lo Celso and Spurs will expect to part ways in the upcoming off-season.

Brown told FFC: "They invested quite a lot of money in Lo Celso and seem to have made the decision that it's not going to work out with him. I think Spurs have decided that's it and as soon as they get the right offer, he'll be gone. I'm pretty sure Lo Celso knows that and isn't desperate to try and come back and prove he can still make it work there. If they were to appoint a new manager who loves the guy and sees him as potentially a key part, that might change, but it doesn't look very likely at the moment."

Should Tottenham Hotspur look to offload Giovani Lo Celso in the summer?

If Tottenham are presented with a reasonable offer for Lo Celso from elsewhere, it would make sense for both parties to shake hands and move on as his spell in north London hasn't gone as expected.

Lo Celso has featured 84 times in total for Spurs, scoring eight goals and laying on six assists, as per Transfermarkt; nevertheless, he doesn't look likely to add to his appearance tally any time soon unless something drastic changes.

Prospectively, a new manager could come in and change his mind to stay, though he ended up becoming a spare part under Antonio Conte and it's unlikely to foresee a scenario where he is integrated into the squad.

Looking forward, Spurs should look to recoup at least some of the fee they shelled to acquire the Argentinian and reinvest it back into their squad.

Rohit Sharma and openers Shikhar Dhawan and KL Rahul started the six-week long tour of the West Indies with fifties against West Indies Cricket Board President’s XI in Basseterre, as the Indians accumulated 258 runs in 93 overs

ESPNcricinfo staff10-Jul-2016
ScorecardShikhar Dhawan was one of the three Indians to hit a fifty on the opening day of their tour•AFPRohit Sharma and openers Shikhar Dhawan and KL Rahul started the six-week long tour of the West Indies with fifties against West Indies Cricket Board President’s XI in Basseterre, as the Indians accumulated 258 runs in 93 overs. After captain Virat Kohli chose to bat, Dhawan and Rahul got the Indians off to a strong start with a 93-run stand in 27 overs.Dhawan retired out after his 51, an innings that featured seven fours. Like his opening partner, Rahul, too, retired out shortly after reaching his half-century, at the end of the 35th over.Kohli, however, could not build on his slow start and was caught behind for a 40-ball 14 off left-arm spinner Jomel Warrican, after adding 26 runs for the third wicket with Cheteshwar Pujara. Warrican struck again a few overs later when he bowled Ajinkya Rahane for 5."I think I bowled very well knowing that St Kitts [pitch] suits batting and India was off to a good start as well so to come and pull back [the scoring] and bowl economically and get two wickets was very important for the team,” Warrican said after stumps. “[I was] being patient and consistent, knowing that you couldn’t blast out anyone on this wicket. So the key was to be patient and disciplined and just stick to the basics and that’s what I did. It was just like any other game against an international team, the batting is always strong so my aim was just to bowl wicket to wicket and be consistent, allow them to make the mistakes and that’s what I did."Pujara, the third Indian to retire out, made a patient 34 off 102 balls including five fours. Rohit, who came at No. 6, and wicketkeeper Wriddhiman Saha then combined for a 47-run sixth-wicket stand off 97 balls that took the Indians past 200.After Saha was dismissed for 22, Rohit found able support from Amit Mishra, as they remained unbeaten on 54 and 18 respectively.

Otago Volts have appointed Rob Walter, the former South African conditioning coach, as their head coach for the next two seasons

ESPNcricinfo staff06-Jul-2016Rob Walter has quit his job as coach of the Titans in South Africa to move to New Zealand and coach the Otago Volts instead. Walter, who was also a conditioning coach with the South African national team previously, will begin his two-year term with the New Zealand domestic side in September. He will take over from Nathan King, who had also been a member of South Africa’s support staff between 2009 and 2012.Walter is the third person South African cricket has lost to New Zealand since June. Pete de Wet, chief executive officer of the Dolphins, is going to head Central Districts, and the South African national team logistics manager Riaan Muller took the same job with the New Zealand team.”It was a very tough decision because I have had immense joy,” Walter told ESPNcricinfo. “I felt for my growth as a coach it would be good for me to experience coaching in a different environment. Like any coach, I aspire to coaching a national team and through conversations with various people I could see that in the short-term coaching the Proteas was not going to happen for me. By coaching in New Zealand maybe I can put myself in a better position to do that in the long-term. I can’t say I am leaving for lack of opportunity because I got the Titans job early in my career.”Jacques Faul, the Titans’ chief executive officer, paid glowing tribute to Walter’s work with the South African franchise. “Rob pioneered a new spirit in the Titans cricketing family,” he said. “He has transformed the franchise in many ways. It was evident in the way the franchise batting improved the past two seasons, as our top- and middle-order produced 22 centuries in two seasons. We also improved our consistency in the bowling department.”It is indeed a dark day for Titans cricket to lose a coach of Rob’s stature. We want to pay tribute to his enormous contribution. We wish him and his family well when they embark on a new chapter of his cricketing odyssey in Otago, New Zealand.”Mike Coggan, Otago Cricket’s chief executive, welcomed Walter’s appointment. “We’re thrilled to secure the services of Rob for at least the next two years,” Coggan said. “Rob is highly respected and will certainly add a competitive edge and an entirely new learning environment for the Otago Volts group and our wider staff. His experience and desire is first class.”

Newcastle United have the chance to extend the gap to fifth place to six points with a win in the early kick-off against Leeds United in the Premier League this afternoon.

The Magpies are currently three points ahead of Liverpool in the table and have a game in hand over the Reds, whilst also boasting a better goal difference.

Eddie Howe's side are in the hunt for Champions League qualification and three points against Sam Allardyce's Leeds would go a long way to helping them secure it.

They head into the game off the back of a 2-0 defeat to Arsenal at St. James' Park last weekend and the head coach could make changes to his XI for this match at Elland Road.

Will Allan Saint-Maximin start against Leeds?

Howe must finally unleash Newcastle winger Allan Saint-Maximin from the start against the Whites to offer a direct threat out on the left flank.

The manager opted to deploy two of his traditional number nines against the Gunners by playing Alexander Isak on the left and Callum Wilson through the middle but they did not combine to cause the opposition many problems throughout the game.

Wilson, in particular, put in a disappointing display and the head coach could now ditch the England international from the starting line up. As per Sofascore, the striker completed 38% of his attempted passes, failed in his only dribble attempt, did not register a single shot on goal, and lost five of his six individual duels.

Isak, who has scored ten goals in 13 Premier League starts, could move back into a central position to accommodate bringing Saint-Maximin into the XI.

The exciting Frenchman, who was once hailed as "breathtaking" in a previous clash with Leeds by Sky Sports pundit Gary Neville, started games against Manchester United and West Ham at the beginning of April and registered assists in both outings.

He has racked up one goal and five assists, whilst creating seven 'big chances' for his teammates, in just 11 Premier League starts for the Magpies and this shows that the gem has the quality to be a difference-maker in the final third at this level.

The £70k-per-week "wizard" – as he was once dubbed by journalist Graeme Bailey – has also completed 61% of his attempted dribbles, on 2.1 efforts per game, and has the ability to drive the team up the pitch by taking on opposition defenders and opening up space for others to work in.

Therefore, Howe must unleash Saint-Maximin against Leeds at Elland Road this afternoon and should ditch Wilson from the XI in order to do so.

Victory in Everton's forthcoming Premier League fixture against Wolverhampton Wanderers could be enough to preserve their top-flight status for another year.

The Toffees have been embroiled in woes this term and indeed continue to teeter on the edge of top-flight safety at the closing stages of the campaign, one point and one place ahead of 18th-placed Leeds United after 36 games.

Sean Dyche and co will no doubt be emboldened by the remarkable win on the south coast several weeks ago, dispatching Europe-chasing Brighton & Hove Albion 5-1, and while the match at the Amex preceded a 3-0 defeat to Manchester City at Goodison Park, a win over the Old Gold is very much within Everton's grasp.

While Alex Iwobi has been impressive with his creative flair of late, registering nine assists this season and being lauded as his team's "inspiration" by Henry Winter, thriving winger Dwight McNeil must be given licence to roam down the offensive left flank to ensure the Merseyside outfit have the best chance possible.

How effective could Dwight McNeil be vs Wolves?

Signed from relegated Burnley for £20m last summer, McNeil endured a meek opening to his life on Merseyside after chalking up 147 appearances with the Clarets.

The 23-year-old has recently grown into his skin under Dyche's wing, having now played 155 matches with the 51-year-old at the helm for Everton and Burnley.

Indeed, the £25k-per-week phenom has scored seven goals and provided three assists from 26 starting displays in the Premier League this term, having failed to score more than three times in a single league season at Turf Moor – and blanking as his previous club sank into the second tier last year.

It's worth noting that five of his seven league goals of the campaign have come in the latter half of the term and after the appointment of Dyche, which only further illustrates the growing influence that the gaffer is having on his burgeoning flanker.

His defensive aptitude is not to be sniffed at either, with FBref ranking him among the top 8% of attacking midfielders and wingers across Europe's top five leagues over the past year for tackles, the top 7% for interceptions, the top 1% for blocks and the top 2% for clearances per 90, which could prove to be invaluable in the phases of the forthcoming match where the home side's advances must be rebuffed.

He recorded an incredible match rating of 9.9 from Sofascore after scoring twice and supplying a further assist, as well as winning nine of his 13 ground duels and making three key passes. Hailed as "magnificent" by scout Ryan Williams after his recent masterclass against Albion, McNeil could wreak havoc against Wolves right-back Nelson Semedo, who has not been in the best of form of late.

Indeed, the 29-year-old Portuguese has failed to register a match rating of at least 7.0 across any of his past six encounters, was shambolic during the 6-0 defeat to Brighton several weeks ago as recorded a lowly 6.0 rating and won just four of his eight ground duels, with the Express & Star handing him a 3/10 rating and haranguing his 'very poor' performance.

With McNeil in such fine fettle, misery could be exacerbated at Molineux on Saturday afternoon, with the wily winger surely crucial to securing a victory that could cement Everton's roots in the Premier League for another year.

Liverpool are in advanced negotiations for Brighton midfielder Alexis Mac Allister, as Jurgen Klopp is closing in on the first step of an extensive rebuild.

What’s the latest on Alexis Mac Allister to Liverpool?

According to transfer guru Fabrizio Romano, the Reds are closing in on a deal for the 24-year-old, who is described as one of their “priority targets” alongside Mason Mount.

The journalist had previously tweeted that the Merseyside outfit were close to full agreement on personal terms with the player and club just waiting to finalise the final details.

It has been revealed that there’s no fixed clause in his current contract, but it has been suggested it could take more than £70m for the move to happen.

Why should Liverpool sign Alexis Mac Allister?

The £50k-per-week gem has been on the south coast since 2019, but in the last year, he has deservedly enjoyed a phenomenal rise in prominence and popularity.

He has made 39 appearances in all competitions and registered 15 goal involvements for the Seagulls this campaign and has been an integral component of a side that secured Europa League qualification thanks to a 1-1 draw with recently crowned Premier League champions Manchester City yesterday evening.

The 16-cap international, whose current contract expires in 2025, has received this vast admiration thanks to his indispensable role in his nation’s World Cup triumph last year having played in six of the seven tournament games for the eventual winners.

The Argentine provided for Ángel Di María in his team’s second goal in the final against France, to become immortalised in his country’s folklore.

From a deep-lying playmaker role, Mac Allister has been in impeccable form – showcased by the fact that he ranks in the top 19% in Europe’s top five leagues among his positional peers for progressive carries per 90, the highest 17% for shot-creating actions per 90, and the best 16% for successful take-ons per 90.

He represents an upgrade to Naby Keita, who is to depart Liverpool this summer after five years at the club.

Previously labelled as the "complete midfielder" by Jurgen Klopp, the former RB Leipzig man, but his time in England has been blighted by injury and inconsistency.

As per The Athletic, the Reds have played 277 competitive matches since his arrival, but he’s only featured in 129 of them, which equates to 47%.

This season, he has only made eight top-flight outings for Liverpool and has shockingly registered just the 25th-highest rating within the whole squad, according to WhoScored.

Compared to Liverpool's priority target, he also ranks poorly, as he sat inside the top 41% of Premier League players last term for successful take-ons, demonstrating he is dispossessed easily and lacks composure.

Meanwhile, Mac Allister, who has been hailed as a "magician" by Danny Welbeck, embodies reliability and consistency and would be a welcome replacement for Keita at Anfield.