Tottenham are believed to be readying a "firm move" to sign an "underrated" star this summer, a player who technical director Johan Lange interestingly tried to sign during his days at Aston Villa.

Lange enjoys terrific debut transfer window

All eyes were on the Dane as he geared up for his first transfer window at Spurs last month, especially considering he stepped into the shoes of former transfer chief Fabio Paratici.

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Lange was credited with some astute signings at Villa Park, and his January transfer window at Spurs only further heightened his reputation. Indeed, the official helped to broker a last-minute hijack for teenage sensation Lucas Bergvall, with the north Londoners beating Barcelona to Lange's countryman.

Before Bergvall's signing, Lange also helped to seal deals for defender Radu Dragusin, who joined in a £25 million move from Genoa, and attacking midfielder Timo Werner on loan from RB Leipzig.

Timo Werner

Arrival

Radu Dragusin

Arrival

Lucas Bergvall

Arrival

Djed Spence

Exit (loan)

Eric Dier

Exit (loan)

Ivan Perisic

Exit (loan)

Japhet Tanganga

Exit (loan)

Sergio Reguilon

Exit (loan)

Ashley Phillips

Exit (loan)

Alejo Veliz

Exit (loan)

The Lilywhites shifted deadwood aplenty and saved a lot of money by cutting player salaries as well in what is considered a pretty 10/10 transfer window where Lange is concerned.

It will be interesting to see what Spurs' employees have planned for the summer window, and some reports suggest Barcelona star Raphinha is among the potential Lange targets for later this year.

Tottenham "ready to make a firm move" for Conor Gallagher

Chelsea star Conor Gallagher is a name who supporters will be more than familiar with, as he was heavily linked throughout January and last summer.

The 23-year-old has played a starring role under Mauricio Pochettino this season, and it is believed Chelsea are eager to tie him down with a new contract as a result. However, little progress is being made yet, which gifts Spurs the chance to sign him if both player and club can't agree fresh terms.

That is according to The Telegraph and journalist Matt Law, who claims Tottenham are "ready to make a firm move" for Gallagher this summer if his future remains unresolved.

Lange actually tried to snap up Gallagher "some years ago" when employed at Villa, so it appears the Scandinavian has another chance at getting his man through the door, but this time at N17 if all goes to plan.

Called "very underrated" by members of the media, Chelsea's midfield ace would also count as homegrown.

Manchester City are among the front-runners to sign an "exceptional" world-renowned star this summer, and are confident of beating some big rivals to his signature.

Man City transfer news

Pep Guardiola's side are looking to seal a historic back-to-back treble this season and Sunday's 3-1 win over Manchester United in the Premier League suggests that they are clicking at just the right time. This is a club that refuses to rest on its laurels, however, and once the summer transfer window arrives, Guardiola and Txiki Begiristain will be eyeing up fantastic new signings.

West Ham midfielder Lucas Paqueta has been a long-time target who nearly moved to the Etihad last summer, and it would be a surprise if City weren't back in for him in the coming months, assuming his gambling related charges are cleared.

The Brazilian suits Guardiola's football perfectly, not only because of his elite technical ability, but also due to his work ethic. This season, he has averaged 2.4 tackles per game in the league, for example, which is a better tally than any City player, with Rodri (2.1) leading the way in the current squad.

Aston Villa midfielder Douglas Luiz is also being linked with a move to City this summer, with Guardiola believed to be a big admirer of the Brazilian, who spent two years at the club between 2017 and 2019.

Man City confident of signing superstar

According to a new update from The Daily Star, Manchester City are favourites to sign Bayern Munich starlet Jamal Musiala this summer, along with Liverpool.

The 21-year-old has reportedly rejected Bayern's £150,000-a-week contract offer, instead eyeing a fresh challenge and a move to the Premier League at the end of the current campaign.

Both Liverpool and City are thought to have scouted him a number of times recently, with the rivals locking horns over the signing of one of Europe's premier talents. Chelsea are also in the mix, but the Cityzens are confident of getting their man, who is rated at £80m and will want £200,000 per week.

Musiala vs. Grealish vs. Doku in the league this season

Musiala

Grealish

Doku

Appearances

19

14

19

Goals

7

3

2

Assists

3

1

5

Dribbles per game

3.5

1.0

3.3

Key passes per game

1.5

1.4

1.8

Tackles per game

1.9

0.9

1.5

Musiala is a special young player who has already achieved so much in his short career, winning four Bundesliga titles and one Champions League crown, not to mention being hailed by Michael Owen.

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Still only 21, Musiala could be seen as a left-sided attacking option to rival Jack Grealish and Jeremy Doku this summer – he can also excel centrally, as has often been the case this season – potentially proving to be an upgrade on both over time.

A maiden international century from Rachael Haynes was the standout performance in Australia’s 110-run victory in the second ODI against Sri Lanka that put them 2-0 up in the series.Haynes’ 118 off 132 balls formed the cornerstone of Australia’s 8 for 282 although that was a lower total than appeared likely for large parts of the innings, as Sri Lanka fought back at the death. Haynes and Alyssa Healy added 116 in 19.3 overs for the first wicket after which Haynes put on 103 with Meg Lanning (45) but from 1 for 219 the last ten overs brought 6 for 63.Sri Lanka started the chase better than how they did in the opening game. At 1 for 95 in the 23rd over, they had a glimmer of putting some pressure on Australia, but on a slow pitch where it was difficult to force the pace they couldn’t keep up with the required rate. Jess Jonassen took 4 for 31 which included her 100th wicket in ODIs, the fourth Australian to reach that landmark, as Australia secured a record-equalling 17th ODI win on the bounce to match the mark set by Belinda Clark’s team from 1997 to 1999. This win also gave them an unassailable lead in the Women’s Championship.On a surface being used for the second time in three days, Australia batted first and after some early caution were making strong progress through Healy and Haynes. Healy sprinted to her fifty off 44 balls and appeared set for a big score before falling to Sri Lanka captain Shashikala Siriwardene who again bowled her ten overs tidily for 2 for 41.As the pitch continued to wear out Australia weren’t allowed to completely cut loose and Sri Lanka built some pressure as Haynes approached her hundred, which helped account for Lanning when she edged a drive off Achini Kulasuriya. Haynes brought up her century off 120 balls with a cut for four, surpassing her previous highest international score of 98 which she made on Test debut in 2009.However, the last ten overs only brought three further boundaries – a six from Ashleigh Gardner and two fours by Beth Mooney – with Sri Lanka striking regularly.Jonassen provided Australia with the key early breakthrough when Chamari Atapattu top-edged a sweep which was well-judged at deep square by debutant Heather Graham. Anushka Sanjeewani and Harshitha Madavi brought up a second-wicket stand of 70 but it always felt the required rate was out of reach.Nicola Carey broke through and Australia’s spinners kept control of the middle overs. Georgia Wareham was more accurate than the opening match and claimed 2 for 29 from 10 overs. Jonassen’s 100th wicket came trapping Sugandika Kumari lbw sweeping and there was time for Graham to take her first when Kulasuriya chipped up a leading edge.

Manchester United are "very interested" in securing the signing of a highly-rated attacking "weapon" this summer, according to an update from Sky Sports journalist Florian Plettenberg.

Man Utd transfer & ownership news

The Red Devils do feel like a club on the mend at the moment, with Sir Jim Ratcliffe's investment finally confirmed and results improving on the pitch. His 25% ownership has been approved, which is fantastic news for anyone of a United persuasion, as they look to kick on after such a disappointing period in the post-Sir Alex Ferguson era.

There seems to be a real focus on bringing in a sporting director, with Newcastle United ace Dan Ashworth a strong target, and new players are also being linked with moves.

United are believed to have been in contact with Atalanta centre-back Giorgio Scalvini over a summer switch to Old Trafford, as Erik ten Hag looks to improve an ageing back-line that includes Raphael Varane and Harry Maguire. He isn't the only centre-back being looked at, however, and move for Bayern Munich ace Matthijs de Ligt doesn't appear to be out of the question.

In terms of attacking players who could come in, Lille star Jonathan David is reportedly as an option for the Red Devils, having scored 26 goals in just 45 caps for Canada, with a replacement for Anthony Martial required this summer.

Man Utd make contact for Bayern starlet Mathys Tel

Taking to X, Plettenberg claimed that Manchester United have opened talks with young Bayern Munich winger Mathys Tel over a move to Old Trafford, but it may not be easy for them to get their man.

"Excl. News Tel: Manchester United have made contact for the first time and are very interested to sign him in summer! Two more clubs from England have also inquired about him in the last weeks.

"Been told: Even though it's not easy for him right now, he still doesn’t want to give up as he wants to become a legend for Bayern. But: If he don’t receive the feeling, that Bayern believe in him in the future, he will consider his options – but a loan is not one of them."

Tel, who can also play through the middle up front, is a player with so much potential, and for that reason it is encouraging to see United looking to snap him up, with a clear emphasis on signing big young talent.

Mathys Tel key career stats	Appearances	Goals
Bayern Munich	55	12
France Under-21s	4	2
France Under-19s	10	5
France Under-18s	11	8
France Under-17s	9	5

The 18-year-old has scored twice and assisted once in seven Bundesliga games this season – he has only started once in the competition – and Bayern manager Thomas Tuchel has lauded his influence from the substitutes' bench, saying: "Mathys has a high impact off the bench. He is a weapon for us at the moment, we know what he can give us. He will also start games this season. He is currently showing that he can assist and score goals. We’re taking it step by step with him. He’s on the right track. We’re happy that he’s here and he’s happy about it too."

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United could admittedly find it hard to persuade Tel to leave Bayern, given his ties with the club, but if they could entice him to come to Manchester, it could be a special piece of business as the years pass, bolstering their wide attacking options in the process.

Arsenal are a club that have turned their fortunes around entirely in recent years.

Mikel Arteta has taken a side that finished eighth twice in a row and turned them into genuine title contenders.

Much of this success has been built off the back of intelligent signings such as Martin Odegaard, Gabriel Martinelli and Gabriel Magalhães.

It's a far cry from the Gunners' poor recruitment of the past, including one signing that earned significantly more than the Brazilian does now.

How much Gabriel earns at Arsenal

Arsenal signed Gabriel from French side LOSC Lille for just £27m in the summer of 2020, and while he wasn't necessarily a name well-known to English fans at the time, he certainly is now.

Despite just arriving at the club, the São Paulo-born titan made his debut in the first Premier League game of the season. He got off to a flyer and scored the club's second goal as they ran out 3-0 winners.

GK – Bernd Leno

CB – Kieran Tierney

CB – Gabriel Magalhães

CB – Rob Holding

RWB – Hector Bellerin

CM – Granit Xhaka

CM – Mohamed Elneny

LWB – Ainsley Maitland-Niles

LW – Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang

RW – Willian

ST – Alexandre Lacazette

It wasn't entirely smooth sailing in that first season, though, as he would make just 32 appearances across all competitions, missing six through injury and spending 21 either on the bench or out of the squad altogether.

However, in the seasons since, his importance has grown massively. He's made 154 appearances for the team, in which he has a remarkable return of 15 goals and one assist, making him the highest-scoring centre-back in the league since he joined.

These consistent performances from Arsenal's defensive "fighter," as he was dubbed by former Lille president Gerard Lopez, resulted in him signing a new contract in October 2022 that increased his £50k-per-week wages to £100k-per-week, and it's hard to say he's not worth it in today's market, especially as the Gunners used to pay someone a lot less effective a lot more money.

How much Danny Welbeck earned at Arsenal

In the dying embers of the 2014 summer transfer window, Arsenal made the shocking move to sign Danny Welbeck from traditional rivals Manchester United for around £16m.

It was a move that left fans and pundits scratching their heads, but with 26 England caps to his name at the time, there was some excitement at the Emirates that he could be the man to lead them back to the title.

His first season in north London was a mixed one, as his return of eight goals and six assists in 34 games was slightly underwhelming, but he scored the winner against United in an FA Cup Quarter Final, a moment fondly remembered by Arsenal fans everywhere.

However, while he was a well-liked player and one who clearly had talent, his final tally of 32 goals and 15 assists in 126 appearances across his five seasons at the club was disappointing, especially considering his wages.

Transfer Fee

£16m

Total Wages

£31m

Total Cost

£47m

Appearances

126

Goals

32

Cost per Goal

£1.5m

Assists

15

Cost per Assist

£3.1m

Goal Involvements

47

Cost per Goal Involvement

£1m

During the first three years of his deal, the Manchester-born forward earned £115k-per-week, which then increased to a whopping £125k-per-week for his final two years at the club, meaning he earned about £31m during his stint in N5.

Combine that with his £16m transfer fee and the former Red Devil cost Arsenal around £1.5m-per-goal, or £1m-per-goal involvement, making it hard to call his time at the club a success.

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Ultimately, Welbeck was a victim of his injuries, missing 153 games in total during his time at the Emirates, and while he probably wishes it could've gone better, his recent resurgence at Brighton & Hove Albion has reminded the league just how good he can be.

The visitors wrapped up the T20I series 2-0 with one match to go

The Report by Andrew Fidel Fernando07-Oct-2019

Wanindu Hasaranga took three wickets in four balls•AFP

Bhanuka Rajapaksa’s rousing 77 off 48 balls and more finishing fireworks from Dasun Shanaka propelled Sri Lanka to 182 for 6, before the bowlers hurt Pakistan in the Powerplay again and then brought down the middle order once the field had spread.Sri Lanka are not only inexperienced on account of the many withdrawals from this tour, they also have such a poor recent T20I record that they have to go through the qualifiers next year in order to play in the T20 World Cup. And yet, they have now comfortably won a series against the top-ranked T20I side in the world. The margin on this occasion was 35 runs – Pakistan were dismissed by the end of the 19th over.While Rajapaksa had headlined the batting – a 94-run third-wicket stand with Shehan Jayasuriya forming the spine of the innings – Nuwan Pradeep took 4 for 25, first derailing an then wiping out the chase. The most dramatic over of the game was delivered by Wanindu Hasaranga, however, who was hit for six by Ahmed Shehzad and would then take three wickets off the next four balls, including that of Sarfaraz Ahmed, who was batting well until that point.Imad Wasim struck 47 off 29 balls, and put on 75 in the company of Asif Ali, but with the pair having come together with Pakistan at 52 for 5 after eight overs, their efforts always seemed doomed. In the end, the last five wickets fell in the space of 19 balls.Bhanuka Rajapaksa plays a slog sweep•Getty Images

In the previous match, it had taken Rajapaksa a few overs to find his timing, but here he was flying almost from the outset, tickling Wahab Riaz down the leg side for a four in the fourth over, before carving a 149kph Wahab delivery over cover in that same over. He would hit two more sixes before the Powerplay was done – one towering slog-sweep off Imad, and an imperious straight hit off Mohammad Amir. It was thanks largely to him that Sri Lanka leapt to 52 for 2 by the end of the sixth over – Rajapaksa having hit 24 off 11 with the field up.He was measured for a few overs after that, but cut loose again in the 11th over, launching Shadab Khan for successive leg-side sixes, before reaching his half-century off the 31st ball he faced. The most audacious shots of the evening came against Mohammad Hasnain, who was regularly breaching 140kph. Again off successive balls, Rajapaksa made room in the 14th over, and thumped the fast bowler over the off side – the first of those two sixes sailing over deep extra-cover, the second going a little squarer.When he eventually holed out against Shadab, Rajapaksa had six sixes and four fours to his name. He had also made a strong case for inclusion in the XI even when all the regular players are available.In fact, this outfit has done so well in Pakistan, it’s difficult to tell which one the first-choice T20I side is. As had been the case on Saturday, several players made strong contributions towards the victory. Before Shanaka clubbed 27 off 15 to finish the innings, Jayasuriya had made 34 off 28. With the ball, Kasun Rajitha’s tight first spell, in which he claimed the wicket of Fakhar Zaman and conceded only five runs, was vital to keeping Pakistan quiet through the Powerplay.Too many Pakistan players were off their game. Amir went at ten runs an over, while Hasnain and Shadab were almost as expensive, thanks in part to the Rajapaksa sixes. Umar Akmal then collected his second golden duck in a row, getting out lbw in that manic Hasaranga over, immediately after Shehzad had been bowled by a googly. Babar Azam would often be leading Pakistan in tough chases, but even he has picked up two poor scores so far in the series.

أعلن مارسيل كولر المدير الفني لفريق الكرة الأول بالنادي الأهلي، عن تشكيل لاعبيه لمباراة سيراميكا كليوباترا، في إطار مواجهات كأس السوبر المصري 2024.

ويلتقي الأهلي مع سيراميكا كليوباترا، على ملعب استاد محمد بن زايد في إطار مواجهات دور نصف النهائي من مسابقة كأس السوبر المصري للموسم الحالي.

حكم مباراة الأهلي وسيراميكا كليوباترا في كأس السوبر المصري

وشهد تشكيل الأهلي تواجد مصطفى شوبير أساسيًا في حراسة المرمى، مع الدفع بالثلاثي كريم نيدفيد ومحمد مجدي أفشة وطاهر محمد طاهر.

ويدخل الأهلي المباراة طامحًا في الفوز ومصالحة جماهيره وتصحيح المسار، بعد خسارة لقب بطولة كأس السوبر الإفريقي أمام الزمالك في الشهر الماضي.

وكان الأهلي قد نجح في التتويج بلقب النسخة الماضية من بطولة كأس السوبر المصري، ويشارك الموسم الحالي بصفته بطلًا لمسابقة الدوري المصري الممتاز الموسم الماضي.

وسيلاقي المتأهل من مباراة الأهلي وسيراميكا كليوباترا، نادي الزمالك، بعد فوزه على بيراميدز، في مباراة نهائي كأس السوبر المصري. تشكيل الأهلي أمام سيراميكا كليوباترا

حراسة المرمى: مصطفى شوبير.

خط الدفاع: ياسر إبراهيم- رامي ربيعة- عمر كمال- يحيى عطيه الله.

خط الوسط: أكرم توفيق وكريم نيدفيد ومحمد مجدي أفشة.

خط الهجوم: إمام عاشور وبيرسي تاو وطاهر محمد.

India have named their XI with Rohit Sharma as opener and Wriddhiman Saha and R Ashwin in the mix

The Preview by Sidharth Monga01-Oct-20199:26

Agarkar: Was harsh on Ashwin to miss out in the West Indies

Big picture
Remember the first Test between these sides four years ago? South Africa had won the T20I series, Kagiso Rabada had outdone MS Dhoni in an ODI, South Africa had mauled 438 in another, and India took the ultimate gamble going into the Tests. Coach Ravi Shastri admitted later said those were desperate times, and they asked for extreme pitches to restore the confidence of a young team that was being outmuscled at home. The context, the anticipation, India’s coach playing mind games with an announcement that he didn’t mind playing four spinners, South Africa starting off with momentum and confidence, it all made up for a great build-up.Watch cricket on ESPN+

India v South Africa is available in the US on Hotstar and ESPN+. Subscribe to ESPN+ and tune in to the three Tests.

Remember the return tour? South Africa vowing revenge, asking for extreme pitches of their own, India fighting fire with fire, South Africa captain berating his own groundsmen for not being co-operative enough until he got them to co-operate so much that they nearly got the Wanderers banned.Now? Now the talk is about how South Africa have nothing to lose and all to gain. None of that needle or anticipation exists now as South Africa commence their sixth Test series in India. For a long time, South Africa were the gold standard for touring sides, but now the gulf between the two sides in these conditions is so huge that the absence of the best all-format bowler in the world is not even a big headline.ALSO READ: ‘I think if I don’t take wickets even in one innings, my career for India is over’ – Ishant SharmaIndia have since gone on to become competitive in all conditions, and efficient and intimidating at home. South Africa have lost many of the players that made them the threat they were at that time. Since November 2015, R Ashwin and Ravindra Jadeja have taken 256 wickets between them at home at an average of 20.78. Since India lost the home series to England in 2012-13, after which Ashwin-Jadeja became a duo, India have lost just one home Test out of 29.South Africa, a team in turmoil, a team that has only five survivors from that last tour when they used to be competitive away from home, are not being reticent but are merely stating facts when they say they have nothing to lose. Their one improvement over the last squad is Keshav Maharaj, easily a much better Test spinner than the ones that toured the last time. But he won’t be able to pull off miracles on his own. The South Africans will all have to play out of their skins if they are to win even one Test.Form guideIndia WWDWL (last five Tests, most recent first)
South Africa LLWWWIn the spotlightR Ashwin is still an India player. You could be forgiven for thinking he wasn’t: he last played for India last December. Out of limited-overs cricket, he lost his No. 1 spinner title to Jadeja in the West Indies. He will want to have a thing or two to say about it when he finally gets the SG ball in his hand.It is a matter of mild surprise that Faf du Plessis is still here, and that too as a captain. South Africa’s World Cup exit had strong end-of-era feels to it, which the coming months showed was not unfounded. Hashim Amla and Dale Steyn have retired, AB de Villiers remains retired, coaches are gone, politics is still a big factor. As a captain, du Plessis speaks at press conferences more honestly and openly than many others, and his resignation seemed apparent during the World Cup. It wouldn’t have surprised anyone if a worn-down captain had joined the exodus. Instead, he has chosen the cauldron where he will have to lead a young batting line-up. Over to you, Faf. Show us you’ve still got it.3:15

Maharaj as good as any spinner in the world – du Plessis

Team newsApart from Ashwin, making a comeback after 22 months of international absence is wicketkeeper Wriddhiman Saha. That means Rishabh Pant is out after having scored the first centuries for an India wicketkeeper in England and Australia. The argument is that Saha is more accomplished technically and that will be much more important when it turns at home. Also, Saha has a home Man-of-the-Match award for his batting, so he is no mug on that front either.Rohit Sharma will begin another attempt at resurrecting a stalled Test career as he converts to an opener.India 1 Rohit Sharma, 2 Mayank Agarwal, 3 Cheteshwar Pujara, 4 Virat Kohli (capt), Ajinkya Rahane, 6 Hanuma Vihari, 7 Wriddhiman Saha (wk), 8 R Ashwin, 9 Ravindra Jadeja, 10 Ishant Sharma, 11 Mohammed ShamiFaf du Plessis said South Africa were thinking of playing five bowlers, which might send Quinton de Kock up to No. 6, and Theunis de Bruyn is likely to move up to No. 3.South Africa (probable XI) 1 Aiden Markram, 2 Dean Elgar, 3 Theunis de Bruyn, 4 Faf du Plessis (capt), 5 Temba Bavuma, 6 Quinton de Kock (wk), 7 Vernon Philander, 8 Keshav Maharaj, 9 Kagiso Rabada, 10 Lungi Ngidi/Anrich Nortje/Senuran Muthusamy, 11 Dane PiedtPitch and conditionsCricket, say hello to climate change. Well past the monsoon season, it is still raining in many parts of India, devastatingly so, and the east coast is particularly unpredictable. There is forecast for some interruption on each of the days, and the pitch preparation is bound to be affected as well. It won’t, however, turn into the seaming monster that Eden Gardens became when it rained a lot in the lead-up to the Test against Sri Lanka two years ago. Virat Kohli said it was a typical Vizag pitch, which means slow turn, which South Africa won’t like. However, if there is excessive moisture retained, there could be some vicious turn at the start of the Test as evidenced in Bangalore against Australia in 2016-17.Stats and trivia Jadeja is two away from becoming the tenth Indian to take 200 Test wickets. If he does it in this, his 44th, Test, Jadeja will be the second-fastest Indian to mark, behind Ashwin’s 37 and ahead of Harbhajan Singh’s 46. Maharaj needs six more to become the 17th South Africa bowler to take 100 Test wickets.Quotes
“The credit goes to the team. We laid down a vision in 2015 that we were going to be flexible. We were going to choose sides according to the conditions because we wanted results, we wanted to be successful, we wanted to be at the top of the world. If the team hadn’t bought into it, it can become difficult to play with the intent we have played with.”
“It’s really exciting. It’s something fresh, it’s something new. We have played a lot of Test cricket, but this is the first of its kind. Playing India in any conditions is tough, playing them at home is tougher, so it is a nice challenge, but I am more excited about the World Test Championship. Right now we don’t know if it is a good or a bad system. It is something you have to go through yourself.”

Hampshire have pulled off a coup for the 2020 County Championship season after signing Nathan Lyon on a red-ball contract that, international commitments pending, ought to keep him at the club for the entirety of the campaign.Lyon, who toured with Australia this summer as part of their World Cup and Ashes squads, is arguably the finest offspinner to have represented his country, and certainly the most prolific, having claimed 363 Test wickets in 91 appearances – second among all Australian spinners only to the great Shane Warne.His 20 wickets in this summer’s Ashes included nine wickets in a matchwinning display in the first Test at Edgbaston (his 6 for 49 sealed victory in the second innings), and in the course of a 2-2 series that ensured that Australia retained the Ashes, he went past Dennis Lillee’s tally of 355 Test wickets to sit behind only Warne and Glenn McGrath in Australia’s all-time list.”I very much look forward to playing with Hampshire in next year’s County Championship,” said Lyon. “It is a fabulous opportunity to be involved with a leading county who have had a long and successful relationship with Australian cricketers.”One of those Australians, of course, is none other than Warne, who was Hampshire’s captain in the early 2000s and who still has a stand named after him at the ground.”I love playing cricket in England and no doubt will enjoy the 2020 summer with the Hampshire players, coaches, members and supporters,” Lyon added. “We will all be focused on winning the County Championship in 2020 – I can’t wait.”Lyon will play at Hampshire under the captaincy of James Vince – whom he faced on the England tour of Australia in 2017-18 – and will form part of an incisive attack led by Fidel Edwards and Kyle Abbott, the former South African quick whose 17 wickets at the Ageas Bowl in September did so much to derail Somerset’s bid for their maiden Championship title.He will slot into a Hampshire squad that already features four home-grown spinners, among them Liam Dawson, who was an unused member of England’s victorious World Cup squad, and Mason Crane, the legspinner who made his Test debut against Australia at Sydney in January 2018. Lyon has had one previous stint in county cricket, when he turned out for Worcestershire for four matches in 2017.Hampshire Director of Cricket, Giles White said: “Nathan is a really high-class spinner and we identified him in the summer as someone who would be a great addition to our Championship side. He has a real appetite for county cricket and is keen to be a part of what we’re trying to do here, so we’re delighted to secure his signature and we can’t wait to have him on board next summer.”

Arsenal are absolutely flying at the moment.

Mikel Arteta's side are top of the Premier League thanks to an unbelievable run of victories, and after Tuesday's dramatic win over Porto, they're into the quarter-finals of the Champions League as well.

The north Londoners have been in such brilliant form of late that it's impossible to single one player out, making team selection pretty straightforward for Arteta.

Bar any injuries or players needing a rest, the Spaniard can pick the same XI in the knowledge that they'll perform, which is great for him and the fans, but not for a certain player on the bench who used to be a regular starter.

Why Zinchenko could lose his place in the team

Yes, the player in question is Ukrainian Oleksandr Zinchenko.

The skilful full-back joined the Gunners from Manchester City in July 2022 for just £30m and immediately became an integral part of the side that came agonisingly close to lifting the title last season, making 33 appearances across all competitions.

Appearances

56

Goals

2

Assists

4

Goal Involvements per Match

0.10

Average Points per Game

2.09

The 27-year-old's ability to seamlessly invert into the middle of the park and help the Gunners control possession was an essential aspect of how Arteta wanted his team to play, and at that, he is excellent. However, there's a drawback to the Radomyshl-born ace's game, which is his defensive fragilities.

It was a flaw on full display when the Gunners travelled to Anfield last season and this season, as the Reds' equaliser in both games came directly from his mistakes.

Even in his short cameo against Porto, the defensive "liability", as Gary Neville once dubbed him, made several errors that invited more pressure upon the hosts, which led to football.london's Kaya Kaynak awarding him a 5/10 on the night and writing that 'he gave Porto a bit of a chance.'

If this had been last season, a lack of genuine alternatives would have left Zinchenko relatively safe in his position regardless of his suspect defending, but the recent form of one of his teammates and the imminent return of two others have put his place in the XI in real jeopardy.

The players who could replace Zinchenko

So, the first player who looks ready to replace the Ukrainian in the XI is Polish international Jakub Kiwior.

The former Spezia man came into the team during half-time against Liverpool when Zinchenko came off injured and has looked at home ever since.

In the six games he has started since, the 24-year-old has helped keep three clean sheets, provided two assists and scored one goal while looking far more defensively astute than the man he replaced.

If he maintains his form, the Tychy-born star will likely keep his place in the team beyond the game at the Etihad, but Takehiro Tomiyasu and Jurrien Timber could also stake a claim for the position should he falter.

Appearances at Left-Back

27

19

10

Goals

2

0

0

Assists

5

0

1

Average Points per Game

1.81

2.16

2.40

The former has already played 17 games for the Gunners in that position and, like Kiwior, can bring some extra physicality to the role due to being 6 foot 2.

On the other hand, Timber has only played as a left-back ten times in his career. Still, two of those appearances came for Arsenal before he suffered his devastating ACL injury, suggesting that Arteta sees him in that position in the long term.

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Ultimately, while Zinchenko does offer the Londoners an extra body in midfield, it would appear as if his defensive failings are becoming increasingly hard to ignore for the manager and as he is already struggling to win back his place from one of his teammates, it could be game over when the other two are back to full fitness.