Pakistan fight back through Shaheen Afridi and Haris Rauf before falling well short

Alagappan Muthu18-Dec-2020

Jacob Duffy picked up three wickets inside the powerplay•Getty Images

Bounce, baby! Bounce! There was a fast-bowling feast at Eden Park. And the batsmen were just not welcome.A rash of mis-hits, screams of annoyance and a flood of wickets suggested Pakistan could not cope with the conditions, where hitting back of a length not only made balls rear up at them, they did so at varying speeds.Watch cricket on ESPN+

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Babar Azam, who was at the ground, would have given a firm (broken) thumbs down as he watched his team struggle without him, slipping to 39 for 5. That couldn’t have been the score stand-in captain Shadab Khan was looking for when he won the toss. But things did improve in the back end of the innings, to such an extent that Pakistan made 102 runs in the last nine overs. That gave their bowlers a total of 153 and they made it look pretty big at the start of the New Zealand chase.Tim Seifert, though, rode the pressure put on him and the rest of his team by a quality attack that was pumped all the way up and produced a half-century that was just about enough to clinch a very tight T20I game.The debutant’s ball
Jacob Duffy had to wait eight years to make it to international cricket and when he did on Friday night, he picked up a wicket with his second ball. That was the first sign that this wasn’t an Eden Park belter. It stopped on the batsman. It kicked up off the surface. It hit high on his bat. And a flick shot, intended to go along the ground through midwicket, ended up a catch at mid-on.Duffy finished with 4 for 33, the best figures by a Black Cap on debut, and the Player-of-the-Match award, which was all a lovely bonus considering all he wanted was “not to get knocked out of the park too often”.Related

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His night could have been even more spectacular but for a stray little finger. In the tenth over, while fielding at deep third man, he ran full tilt to his right and leapt up to intervene with an upper cut from Khan that looked destined for six. The ball stuck in his outstretched right hand, but as he came down, protecting it from touching the ground, just a tiny bit of his other hand – his left hand – brushed against the advertising triangles and ruined what might have been one of the great boundary catches of all time.The captain’s knock
Khan was 9 off 13 at that point. He too was hopping around thanks to the extra bounce on offer, but his shot selection was considerably better than those that had come and gone before him.On a pitch where occasionally the ball didn’t come on to the bat, the flick shot is loaded with danger. Abdullah Shafique and Haider Ali found that out in the worst way. Cross-bat shots are much more useful, but for that, you have to stay in long enough to adjust to the bounce on offer. Mohammad Hafeez didn’t and fell so tamely.But from the ruins of 39 for 5, Khan (42 off 32) and later Faheem Ashraf (31 off 18) counterpunched their way to a total that looked rather unimaginable just a few overs previously. A total that they could defend.Tim Seifert hooks during the course of his half-century•Getty Images

Pure passion
Khan took centre stage again when he produced a ripping catch to dismiss Martin Guptill early and send his bowlers into a state of wicket lust.Haris Rauf was stricken with it. He had a pitch he could turn into his own personal playground. And anyone who entered it, had to deal with nearly 150kph rockets that – once again – were bouncing awkwardly. He took a wicket with his second ball. Devon Conway gone. He then came back to break the most threatening partnership of the New Zealand chase. Glenn Phillips gone. And in the slog, after watching Ashraf put down a simple catch with the equation reading 35 off 27, he knocked over the batsman that benefited from that piece of poor fielding. Mark Chapman gone.Seifert’s greatest trick
New Zealand’s wicketkeeper has so many funky shots that sometimes he feels obliged to play them. Sometimes they go for four. Other times it’s he who goes back to the pavilion.At Eden Park, he concentrated on playing within himself. So much so he produced two of the shots of the game: a straight drive that was nothing more than an extension of defence, and an extra cover drive that kept gaining speed as it travelled to the boundary. Restraint is often the key to success and Seifert found that out just in time to save his team.His dismissal with 44 runs needed off 32 balls put the game back in the balance, but New Zealand have worked on their chasing. Gary Stead has been very particular about it; demanding his players not succumb to pressure and instead, break the runs down into blocks and tick them off. Chapman took that advice to heart. So did Jimmy Neesham and the captain Mitchell Santner as well, who finished the game off with an emphatic six.As good as that must feel, the Pakistan side they beat was a rusty one. Khan even admitted that at the presentation. But they got better as the game went on and given the way they fought, this is going to be one great series.

Whilst the focus so far this summer has been on signings, with Tim Iroegbunam and Jack Harrison on their way to Everton, the Toffees have been forced to turn their attention towards solving their takeover dilemma yet again.

Everton takeover news

For the entirety of last season, it looked as though 777 Partners could still become the new majority owners of Everton, but they never got the Premier League approval they so desperately needed. In the end, it looks as though that was the correct call, however, with much of 777's portfolio facing financial troubles.

The Miami-based firm lost control of Brazilian club Vasco while Belgian outfit Standard Liege had issues with unpaid players, and everything is pointing towards a bullet dodged for Everton.

777's failure did at least open the door to new investors, however, and there were several parties waiting in line on that front. Crystal Palace's John Textor was reportedly looking to sell his share in the London club at one stage to put together an offer for Everton, whilst Andy Bell and Goerge Downing reportedly tabled an offer alongside MSP Sports Capital. Yet, none of those three options have taken a vital step towards a completed deal.

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Instead, according to Matt Slater and Patrick Boyland of The Athletic, the Friedkin Group has entered a period of exclusivity to buy Everton. The Texas-based AS Roma owners, who won the Europa Conference League in 2022, are led by CEO Dan Friedkin, who is currently worth a reported £4.9bn.

Everton's next step

According to The Athletic, Friedkin, like 777, must now await Premier League approval. For now, the prospective new owners have agreed to clear MSP's, Bell and Downing's £158m loan before turning their attention towards completing the new Bramley-Moor Dock stadium.

Meanwhile, the Friedkin Group will be completing checks of their own now that they're in a period of exclusivity with the Toffees in what they will hope to be a smooth process.

Of course, Everton have been here before – Farhad Moshiri has entered exclusivity only for a deal to fall through. But this time has to be different, the sale must reach completion this summer. Alongside that though, the Friedkin Group must pass the same Premier League owners' and directors' test that 777 failed, which will assess where their funding comes from and whether their three-year plan with Everton is viable.

So, it's not quite a simple route to completion. Completing the purchase of Everton will include several hurdles. 777 fell at the final hurdle, but Friedkin will hope to take the next step that the Miami-based firm failed to take, before their portfolio began to fall around them. With that said, it should be an interesting few weeks at Goodison Park as they edge closer and closer to a takeover at last.

يستعد النادي الأهلي لمواجهة مرتقبة أمام فريق سموحة، اليوم الثلاثاء، في مباراة مؤجلة من الجولة الخامسة من الدوري المصري الممتاز.

ستقام المباراة على أرضية استاد القاهرة الدولي، حيث يسعى كلا الفريقان لتحقيق نتيجة إيجابية.

ويدخل الأهلي المباراة وهو يحتل المركز الثالث في جدول ترتيب الدوري برصيد 12 نقطة، جمعها من 3 انتصارات و 3 تعادلات، دون أن يتلقى أي هزيمة حتى الآن.

على الجانب الآخر، يتواجد فريق سموحة في مركز متأخر نسبيًا، حيث يحتل المركز السابع عشر برصيد 5 نقاط فقط، جمعها من فوز وحيد وتعادلين، في حين تلقى الفريق 3 هزائم.

ومن المتوقع أن تشهد المباراة منافسة قوية بين الفريقين، حيث يسعى الأهلي لتعويض سلسلة نتائجه غير الجيدة والتقدم في جدول الترتيب، بينما يطمح سموحة في تحقيق الفوز لتحسين موقعه والابتعاد عن مراكز الخطر.

طالع أيضًا | بشير التابعي: الأهلي سيخسر أمام سموحة.. وعلي معلول لن يقدم أي إضافة لهذا السبب

وقد استقر المدير الفني للأهلي، السويسري مارسيل كولر، بنسبة كبيرة على التشكيل الذي سيخوض به المباراة.

من المتوقع أن يعتمد كولر على محمد الشناوي في حراسة المرمى، على الرغم من بعض الانتقادات التي وجهت إليه مؤخرًا.

وفي خط الدفاع، من المتوقع أن يلعب أكرم توفيق في الجانب الأيمن، بينما يتواجد أحمد نبيل كوكا وكريم الدبيس في وسط الملعب. أما في خط الهجوم، فسيعتمد كولر على وسام أبو علي لقيادة خط الهجوم.

تشكيل الأهلي الرسمي أمام سموحة في الدوري المصري  تشكيل الأهلي المتوقع أمام سموحة اليوم بالدوري

حراسة المرمى: محمد الشناوي.

خط الدفاع: يحيى عطية الله، أشرف داري، ياسر إبراهيم، أكرم توفيق.

خط الوسط: مروان عطية، أحمد نبيل كوكا، إمام عاشور، حسين الشحات، كريم الدبيس.

خط الهجوم: وسام أبو علي.

A £15m player could now seal an exit away from Manchester City in the summer transfer window, according to a fresh transfer update.

Man City transfer news

Exciting transfer rumours continue to circulate at the Etihad, with Spain star Dani Olmo reportedly closing in on a move this summer, fresh off the back of a hugely successful Euro 2024 campaign with his country. He ended the tournament as joint-top scorer, having initially been behind Pedri in the pecking order, doing no harm to his reputation whatsoever.

An alternative to Olmo has also reportedly been lined up, with Crystal Palace and England ace Eberechi Eze also seen as an option to come in. The 26-year-old isn't without suitors this summer, however, and the Eagles will find it hard to keep hold of one of their most prized assets.

Adam Wharton's stock has risen greatly this year, having surprisingly made England's Euros squad, and he has been linked with a summer switch to City, too. The 20-year-old looks like a player of huge potential and could be considered a long-term replacement for Rodri in the deep-lying midfield role, even though matching the legendary Spaniard could be extremely difficult.

Then there's Joao Neves, who is also wanted by the likes of Liverpool as well as City, who could cost as much as £105m, having emerged as a massive prospect at Benfica.

£15m Man City player set to leave

According to a new report from Football Insider, Manchester City have "given the green light" for Callum Doyle to leave the club in the current window, valuing him at £15m.

The report also states that "Norwich are in talks" to sign the 20-year-old, with "other Championship clubs" also believed to be interested in snapping him up. It is the Canaries who are "close" to completing a deal, although it doesn't state if it will be a loan or a permanent transfer.

This summer feels like the natural time for Doyle to head out again, with his current contract not expiring until 2027, allowing the club to make good money for him or to gain more experience on loan. Former manager at Coventry City, Mark Robins, has lavished him with praise in the past, making it clear how highly he thinks of him:

"I think he’s a really talented player who has everything he needs to have a brilliant career in the game. Technically he’s very, very good and he’s learning the other bits and pieces. There’s clearly more work to be done and that will determine where he will end up playing the majority of his career. But he’s at a brilliant football club [in Manchester City]. They have great coaches there as well, and have done a great job with him so we have been the beneficiaries of his talents this year."

Callum Doyle's international career

Caps

Goals

England Under-21s

3

1

England Under-20s

6

0

England Under-19s

14

1

England Under-18s

1

0

The aim for Doyle will be to kick on and enjoy a fantastic career, potentially even making the leap to England's senior squad at some point, becoming a key starter in a side and fulfilling his potential.

Chelsea have submitted a bid to sign a £70 million striker after manager Enzo Maresca personally welcomed the move, and they've received a reply to their approach.

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The west Londoners have officially confirmed a flurry of early deals, spending around £105 million in total on the signings of defender Tosin Adarabioyo, starlet striker Marc Guiu, youngster Omari Kellyman, midfielder Kiernan Dewsbury-Hall and Brazilian prodigy Estevao Willian.

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Chelsea helped to fund those moves by shaking hands on exits for Hakim Ziyech, Lewis Hall, Omari Hutchinson and Ian Maatsen, who have been sold for around £84 million in total.

Estevao, who is highly-rated but not set to join until 2025, and Guiu could be seen as ones for the future – rather than immediate upgrades to Maresca's first team attacking options.

Therefore, it is believed co-sporting directors Laurence Stewart and Paul Winstanley remain in the market for new senior attackers. Chelsea missed out on a deal for Michael Olise, despite widely reported talks, with the 22-year-old instead joining Vincent Kompany at Bayern Munich.

A new wide player is still possible, though, as Chelsea maintain a rumoured interest in Athletic Bilbao starlet Nico Williams among others. Chelsea are also believed to be in the market for a new striker, with Mauricio Pochettino relying heavily on Cole Palmer for Chelsea's output last term.

Cole Palmer

25

Nicolas Jackson

17

Raheem Sterling

10

Noni Madueke

8

Conor Gallagher

7

Napoli star Victor Osimhen is among Chelsea's striker targets, with the Nigerian said to favour a move to Stamford Bridge as his best possible option. Chelsea chiefs have held internal discussions over Ivan Toney as well, coming after his heroic extra-time assist for Harry Kane against Slovakia in the Last 16 of Euro 2024.

Another striker to be linked quite recently is Atletico Madrid starlet Samu Omorodion. The 20-year-old has just impressed on a season-long loan at Deportivo, scoring nine goals and registering an assist in 36 appearances.

While these numbers don't appear mind-blowing on paper, he is very highly-rated in Spain and viewed as a player with real potential.

"Omorodion is an imposing centre-forward blessed with great physicality, aerial prowess, speed and agility, a combination which has given many experienced defenders nightmares at the start of his career," wrote reporter Tom Olver in The Metro.

"The Spain U21 international has also been praised for his tenacious work ethic and has a reputation for tirelessly pressing his opponents."

Chelsea submit bid for Omorodion after Maresca green light

The Sun have an update on Chelsea's pursuit of the Spaniard, and it is believed Maresca personally welcomes the prospect of him joining the west Londoners as he green-lights a move.

Chelsea have also submitted a £42 million bid for Omorodion, but Atletico have replied by snubbing their approach as the La Liga side hold out for as much as £70 million.

Maresca has made clear he wants another forward to compete with Nicolas Jackson next season, with co-sporting directors Paul Winstanley and Laurence Stewart identifying Omorodion as the ideal profile suited to his style.

Big picture

It’s been exactly nine months since we last saw the New Zealand team in whites. In March earlier this year, Kane Williamson’s side lifted the trophy in Christchurch after beating the then No. 1 Indians 2-0 in the Test series. Now, in December, as the cricketing world adapts to the new normal, Test cricket is back in New Zealand after a round of T20Is last week, against West Indies.

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The format switch shouldn’t be too big a deal for either team playing tomorrow – only three of the players from the New Zealand T20 group are part of the Test squad, while only two West Indies players feature in both the T20I and Test sides.Just six Tests have been played – across two series, involving three teams – in the last eight months, and West Indies have been part of three of those. That’s relatively good prep in these circumstances, although several New Zealand players featured in four rounds of the domestic Plunket Shield recently and both New Zealand and West Indies have played two warm-up games on the sidelines of the T20I series. West Indies were exceptional with the bat in both games – there were three half-centuries, one century, and a double-century against the second-string New Zealand side.In July, West Indies went 1-0 up for the first time in England since 2000. In the last 25 years – since February 1995 – they haven’t won a Test match in New Zealand, losing eight and drawing four. The last time they toured New Zealand, it was Trent Boult and Neil Wagner wreaking havoc, and it might not be too different this time around, at least in terms of pace calling the shots. West Indies have their enforcers too – Shannon Gabriel, who bowled a match-winning spell in Southampton, and Kemar Roach, who toiled endlessly throughout the England series, as the main men. They also have all the preparation they could have asked for – more time in the middle than their opponents, in-form batsmen, and a well-rounded bowling attack.From the point of view of the World Test Championship, the series is a big one for New Zealand, who are currently fourth in terms of percentage points won. A series win could see them displace England at No. 3, while West Indies, who are currently third from bottom, could move up if the results go their way.

Form guide

New Zealand: WWLLL
West Indies: LLWWL

In the spotlight

Will Young, who has been the back-up batsman for a while in the New Zealand side, is all set for his Test debut. The 28-year-old was primed to be part of the Christchurch Test against Bangladesh last year in place of the injured Williamson, but the match was cancelled after the terror attack. He made 64 and 133 against the West Indies A side in the two warm-up matches in Queenstown before scoring a century in the last Plunket Shield round for Central Districts. It’s been quite a long wait for him and he would be looking to make the most of this opportunity.Will Young will make his Test debut in Hamilton•Getty Images

Internet searches for Jermaine Blackwood would have probably spiked after his 95 in the first Test against England in July. He returned to the West Indies side last year on the weight of his first-class performances, after falling out of favour in 2017, and might not have featured in the England series at all had Shimron Hetmyer and Darren Bravo not opted out. Before the pandemic curtailed the West Indies domestic season, he was the tournament’s top scorer with 768 runs in 15 innings for Jamaica. After playing for Jamaica Tallawahs in the CPL, he switched to red-ball mode in no time, slamming a half-century in the second tour game in Queenstown.Kraigg Brathwaite has been unstoppable. Prior to the 246 and 47 he made in the two-warm up matches, he was good in the two Tests against England in June as well, hitting two fifties in four innings. That follows a good run of form in the past year, where he also made 468 runs in eight innings for Barbados in the domestic first-class season.

Team news

Williamson has confirmed that Young would be replacing the injured BJ Watling in the New Zealand line-up. He will open with Tom Latham, while Tom Blundell will take the wicketkeeping gloves and move down the order. Daryl Mitchell, who was named replacement for Colin de Grandhomme could also get a game here. To work around the pace-bowling quartet, New Zealand could bring in left-arm spinner Mitchell Santner – named cover for the injured Ajaz Patel – as head coach Gary Stead earlier said it would be “unusual not to play a spinner in Hamilton”.New Zealand (possible): 1 Tom Latham, 2 Will Young, 3 Kane Williamson (capt), 4 Ross Taylor, 5 Henry Nicholls, 6 Tom Blundell (wk), 7 Mitchell Santner, 8 Kyle Jamieson, 9 Tim Southee, 10 Neil Wagner, 11 Trent BoultThe return of Bravo and Hetmyer, who had opted out of the England tour, would add some solidity in the West Indies’ batting order. The absence of Shai Hope, who was omitted after a poor run in the format, could mean Blackwood could still be part of the side after displaying good form prior to this series.West Indies (possible): 1 John Campbell, 2 Kraigg Brathwaite, 3 Darren Bravo, 4 Shamarh Brooks, 5 Roston Chase, 6 Jermaine Blackwood/ Shimron Hetmyer, 7 Shane Dowrich (wk), 8 Jason Holder (capt), 9 Alzarri Joseph, 10 Kemar Roach, 11 Shannon Gabriel

Pitch and Conditions

The forecast is for a cloudy morning with occasional spells of rain in Hamilton tomorrow.

Stats and trivia

• New Zealand have a 4-0 win-loss record in their last six Tests in Hamilton: they have beaten Sri Lanka, Pakistan, West Indies and Bangladesh, and drawn against South Africa and England. Their last defeat here was in 2012, against South Africa.

Williamson needs 13 runs to become the second batsman, after Ross Taylor, to reach 1000 Test runs at Seddon Park. Williamson has an excellent record here: 987 runs at an average of 75.92. His last six Test innings here have been: 176, 43, 54, 200*, 4, 104*.

Tim Southee needs four wickets to become only the fourth New Zealander to take 50 Test wickets at a venue – he currently has 46 at 22.47 in Hamilton. He will join an elite club that includes Richard Hadlee (50-plus wickets in Christchurch and Wellington), Chris Martin and Daniel Vettori.

Darren Bravo is one of only three West Indies batsmen to score a Test double-century in New Zealand, but his form in this format has nosedived since that 218 in Dunedin seven years ago, a match that splits his career almost perfectly in half. In 28 Tests since that game, he averages 29.98; in 26 Tests till that Dunedin game, he averaged 46.67.

Quotes

“I think it’s a format that we haven’t done well for in a long time and we’re trying to get ourselves back into the higher ends of the table where Test cricket is concerned and because of that initially we want to do that in the Test Championship but at the same time we want to be winners in Test cricket itself.”

“He’s been around the environment for some time without getting his first opportunity so I think that’s also a real positive. He’s an experienced player, has played a lot of first-class cricket and to a very high standard and he deserves that opportunity.”

Lautaro Martinez has been advised to forget about his Ballon d'Or disappointment as Marco Materazzi urged the Inter striker to listen to Lionel Messi.

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Martinez angry over his Ballon d'Or rankingMessi said forward 'deserved the award'Materazzi says 'Messi's words more important'Follow GOAL on WhatsApp! 🟢📱WHAT HAPPENED?

Martinez did not hide his disappointment at his lower than expected placing in the Ballon d'Or rankings this week, calling his seventh-place finish "unfair" as Manchester City star Rodri went on to win the award.

AdvertisementAFPTHE BIGGER PICTURE

Martinez had a wonderful year playing for Inter in Serie A as he scored 27 goals and assisted three more in all competitions, playing a huge part in Inter's league and cup double. He went on to score five times as Argentina won the Copa America in the summer.

More so than Rodri or Vinicius Junior, Messi argued that it was his Argentina team-mate who deserved to take home the award, and those sentiments, Materazzi says, outweigh the honour of winning the Ballon d'Or.

WHAT MATERAZZI SAID

In an interview with , 2006 World Cup winner Materazzi said: "He is undoubtedly top five. You can't complain about Rodri, who won the Champions League and the Euros, or Dani Caravajal. But Lautaro has also won trophies with Inter and Argentina. He's right when he says he expects more. I think the Ballon d'Or doesn't count much. The real value is determined by the clubs with which you win trophies. Lautaro has won the World Cup and two Copa America, the last one as a top scorer. This is what counts."

Materazzi added: "Lautaro must heed Messi's words, because his judgement is more important than the one of the Ballon d'Or jury."

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AFPWHAT NEXT FOR MARTINEZ AND INTER?

Martinez will have to recover from this disappointment quickly, as Inter are set to face Arsenal in the Champions League and Serie A leaders Napoli before the November international break begins. Martinez has five goals and two assists in all competitions so far this campaign, and will want to maintain that form against their upcoming opponents.

Ahead of the 2024/25 Premier League campaign, Newcastle United boss Eddie Howe is working tirelessly to improve his squad to try and bolster the Magpies’ chances of qualifying for the Champions League once again.

His side were plagued with injuries during the previous season, missing out on European football altogether after Manchester United’s FA Cup triumph against Manchester City at Wembley at the end of May.

However, it will give the Magpies a great opportunity to return to their best with a more manageable fixture congestion that could prevent a repeat of any injury problems the club were ruined by over the last 12 months.

The lack of squad depth on Tyneside was desperately highlighted, often relying on youngsters Elliot Anderson and Lewis Miley to fill the voids left by the injured first-team stars.

One particular area Howe needs reinforcements in is the forward line, with Miguel Almiron potentially moving to Saudi Arabia leaving the Magpies even shorter in attacking areas.

Newcastle’s attempts to sign a new attacker this summer

The club have scouted far and wide to find a suitable player who can make an instant impact on the first team at St James’ Park, but are yet to have any breakthrough in their attempts.

However, journalist Ben Jacobs confirmed the club still have multiple players on their shortlist, with West Ham United star Jarrod Bowen and Anthony Elanga both on Howe’s radar for this summer transfer window.

The Magpies previously attempted to secure a deal with Nuno Espírito Santo’s side in a swap deal for the departed Anderson in an attempt to prevent a PSR punishment from the Premier League this season.

However, Forest rejected the offer, but the club still remain interested in a move for the former Manchester United attacker, who only cost the Reds £15m last summer.

A deal for Bowen would undoubtedly be a more expensive one, with Julen Lopetegui’s side holding out for a fee in the region of £100m to part ways with the 27-year-old.

Howe’s side have previously been credited with interest in one other attacker, who would be a much cheaper alternative to the aforementioned pair, whilst also providing more quality and increasing the club’s chances of securing a Champions League spot.

A better option than Elanga & Bowen

A couple of years ago, Italian winger Federico Chiesa lit up the Euros, starring as his nation broke English hearts at Wembley.

However, fast forward three years, and the 26-year-old has struggled to regain his form following his serious knee injury, with new boss Thiago Motta making the attacker free to leave should anyone pay £21m for his services.

A couple of months ago, he was linked with a move to Tyneside, with Howe needing to reignite interest in the forward given his stats in Serie A during 2023/24.

When comparing the “world-class” Chiesa, as described by journalist Zach Lowy, to Bowen and Elanga, it’s clear the Juventus talent would be a better addition, especially when factoring in his bargain price tag.

Whilst contributing with fewer combined goals and assists in 2023/24, he’s dominated the pair in numerous other key areas that would improve Howe’s side.

Games

33

34

36

Goals + assists

11

22

14

Shots per 90

3

2.5

2

Progressive carries

111

90

98

Progressive passes

70

52

49

Successful take-ons

35

34

28

The Italian ace has averaged more shots per 90, whilst also completing more progressive carries and passes, demonstrating his ability to drive with the ball and find a key pass that could allow players such as Alexander Isak to reach the next level.

He’s also completed more take-ons, showcasing his ability and desire to beat the opposition, something which Bowen and Elanga simply can’t match.

Given Newcastle’s recent scare with the Premier League’s PSR rules, they will have to continue operating in a shrewd manner to prevent a potential breach next season.

Chiesa would allow the club to do just that, providing a cheaper alternative to the other transfer targets in the final third, whilst adding needed flair and quality to Howe’s forward line.

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The summer transfer window officially opened for business earlier this month and the focus will, understandably, be on who Celtic could sign to bolster their squad ahead of the 2024/25 campaign.

Brendan Rodgers secured two domestic trophies in his first year back at Parkhead, winning the Scottish Premiership title and the SFA Cup, but is still looking to improve his side.

The Hoops have been linked with moves for Bournemouth goalkeeper Mark Travers, Brondby striker Mathias Kvistgaarden, and Dundee star Luke McCowan, among others.

However, Rodgers could also strengthen his squad by unleashing some of the talented young players who were out on loan last season, and there is one such prospect who could be the manager's own version of Yaya Toure.

Yaya Toure's style of play

The former Manchester City and Barcelona star was an incredibly powerful box-to-box midfielder who could provide quality in and out of possession.

His strength on and off the ball coupled with his terrific surging runs and fantastic end product in the final third made him a menace to Premier League teams for many years.

Toure racked up 80 goals and 37 assists in 316 appearances throughout his time in England with the Cityzens, which is an average of one goal contribution every 2.7 games.

The 6 foot 2 titan also won 2.3 tackles and interceptions per game throughout his career at club and international level – showing that he was also willing to get stuck in to win possession back for his side.

Who Celtic could make their own Yaya Toure

21-year-old midfielder Bosun Lawal could be unearthed as Rodgers' own version of the retired Ivorian star by unleashing him in the first-team next season.

Like Toure, the Ireland international stands at an imposing 6 foot 2 in the middle of the park and Omer Riza, one of his former coaches at Watford, described him as a "powerful" talent who has the qualities to be "like" the former Premier League sensation.

His form at the base of Fleetwood's midfield in League One last season backs that claim up as the towering colossus showcased his quality in and out of possession.

Starts

40

Goals

6

Goals from outside the box

3

Assists

2

Big chances created

6

As you can see in the table above, Lawal provided an attacking threat from the middle of the park with six goals and six 'big chances' created in 40 matches, with half of his strikes coming from outside of the box.

In the clips above, you can see that Toure was also partial to a goal from distance and the Irish ace could offer a similarly exciting presence on the edge of the box.

Lawal also made 2.5 tackles and interceptions per game, 0.2 more per game than the retired legend averaged in his career, and provided a dominant force in midfield.

He won 54% of his duels on the deck and a staggering 74% of his aerial battles, which shows that opposition players rarely got the better of him in physical contests.

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If the 21-year-old colossus can carry his exceptional form in League One over to the Scottish Premiership next season then he could become Rodgers' own version of Yaya Toure in midfield with his qualities on and off the ball, as well as his physically imposing presence.

Mikel Arteta's Arsenal have been told their crunch Premier League clash with Liverpool is already a "must-win" game.

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• Arsenal host Liverpool at Emirates
• Third host first in Premier League
• Told Gunners "must win" this one

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• WHAT HAPPENED?

  Ahead of Arsenal's home fixture against early pace-setters Liverpool, Reds legend Graeme Souness believes this match could have huge ramifications on the Premier League title race – just eight games into the season. An away win would take Arne Slot's men seven points clear of the Gunners and the Scot believes that could be terminal for the north London side.

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  WHAT GRAEME SOUNESS SAID

  He said in a column for the Daily Mail: "We are only eight games into the season, but this already feels like a 'must-win' for Arsenal. It is certainly a bigger game for them than it is Liverpool, in terms of how it impacts their season and their immediate welfare. Lose and they will be seven points behind their opponents and almost certainly six behind Manchester City, who host Southampton on Saturday. Given the fine margins of recent seasons in the title race, that would feel like a big lead to give two excellent rivals. With that there will be talk of their challenge taking a serious dent, and the pressure on the games after — trips to Newcastle and Chelsea — will be huge. A defeat on Sunday would take some recovering from, and they would have to win some very big matches to get people believing again. I'm not sure how some of their players would handle that. But that is the price on the ticket if you're a big player at a big club — deal with it! And the best way to do that? It's very simple: go and beat Liverpool."

• THE BIGGER PICTURE

  Arsenal lost their first game of the Premier League season with a 2-0 loss to Bournemouth last time out. They will be without the suspended William Saliba, the injured Martin Odegaard and Bukayo Saka may be unavailable, too. They are seeking their first league title since 2004 and if they want to reclaim that prize, winning games like the Liverpool one may be key.

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  WHAT NEXT?

  After this tantalising encounter between two Premier League heavyweights, Arsenal round off October with a trip to Championship side Preston North End in the last 16 of the Carabao Cup while Liverpool meet Brighton the same evening.