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Journalist Pete O’Rourke has delivered a promising update regarding Liverpool ahead of the summer transfer window. 

The lowdown: Crest of a wave

The Reds have pulled off many impressive captures recently and Jurgen Klopp’s contract extension until 2026 was the latest in a long line of recent positives on and off the pitch at Anfield.

With three more major honours still up for grabs and a deal for Klopp already completed, all associated with Liverpool would be forgiven for not getting wrapped up in the hysteria of transfers just yet.

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However, with the summer market fast approaching and links to the likes of AS Monaco star Aurelien Tchouameni already surfacing, it’s expected to be a busy one on Merseyside…

The latest: O’Rourke on Tchouameni

Amidst strong interest from elsewhere, Liverpool have suddenly emerged as the leading contenders for the 22-year-old Frenchman.

Speaking to GiveMeSport, O’Rourke suggested that such a capture would be indicative of the calibre of recruitment at Anfield.

“It would be another big statement signing from Liverpool if they’re able to sign Aurelien Tchouameni from Monaco, he’s a really top young player already playing in the France team as well.

“Lots of clubs have been linked to him, the likes of Manchester City, Manchester United, Chelsea, all the top clubs across Europe. So, if Liverpool were able to sneak in there and lure him to Anfield, it would be a big signing for Jurgen Klopp.”

The verdict: Flexing transfer muscles

Very rarely do Liverpool go head to head with fellow European superpowers in a transfer tussle, more often than not seeking an alternative who transpires to be the better option – see the pursuit of Timo Werner only to land a 21-goal Diogo Jota.

But, in this instance, FSG should back Klopp and indeed Julian Ward to the hilt with everything required to make Tchouameni a Red this summer.

Despite his tender years, the Frenchman is already an eight-cap senior international with 129 domestic outings under his belt, and the combative midfielder would bolster an already formidable midfield department while being young enough to improve further yet.

As for a statement signing, Liverpool’s quadruple pursuit is all the evidence required to prove that the club should be dealing at the very top table this summer.

In other news, expert highlights Liverpool’s revolutionary approach. Read more here.

Tottenham Hotspur could be set for a huge boost in their attempts to land the signing of Joao Palhinha this summer, as the price tag of the Sporting Lisbon star plummets.

The Lowdown: Spurs’ interest in Palhinha

According to a story published by O Jogo last week [via Sport Witness], it was claimed that Antonio Conte’s outfit are currently monitoring the 26-year-old’s situation in Portugal and are eyeing the signing of a player in his midfield position ahead of the upcoming transfer window.

It still looks highly likely that the Lisbon club are planning on selling the 12-cap international at the end of the season, but following a new update, it seems as though Sporting are resigned to the fact that they might have to let him leave for less than they initially wanted.

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The Latest: Huge price reduction

In a fresh article by Correio da Manha (via Sport Witness), it has been reported that Palhinha is at the ‘top of the list’ to depart the Primeira Liga club, with the previous demand of the €40m (£33.5m) price tag now seeming ‘impossible’ to be reached by those interested.

The source added that Sporting are set to reduce the asking fee to €30m (£25.1m), resulting in an appealing price drop of just over £8m.

The Verdict: Get it done

The £23.4m-rated talent has made 36 appearances in all competitions for Ruben Amorim’s side this term, netting three goals in that time (as per Transfermarkt), but he hasn’t had the best campaign, with injuries and suspensions prompting multiple spells out of the team.

As a result, Palhinha has lost his place in the Portugal national team, so it’s little wonder that Sporting have been left with no choice but to decrease their asking price for the 26-year-old.

Nonetheless, having once described as an “aggressive” player by former Sporting and Manchester United winger Nani, the 6 foot 2 maestro could be a worthy prospective capture for Spurs, and now would be the perfect time to make a move for him given the reduction in his asking price.

In other news… a source has made some fresh claims regarding this Tottenham transfer target

A teasing Celtic transfer claim has emerged ahead of the upcoming summer window…

What’s the talk?

Transfer insider Pete O’Rourke has hinted at the club being interested in a deal to sign Bodo/Glimt right winger Ola Solbakken to bolster Ange Postecoglou’s squad for the 2022/23 campaign.

He told This Is Fubol: “Yeah, he’s done well for Bodo/Glimt and obviously Celtic will be well aware of the player having come across him in Europe this season when they knocked Celtic out.

“So it’s definitely somebody that will be on their radar from that I’m sure the Celtic fans will have been impressed what they’ve seen in him as well.”

Postecoglou will be excited

The Hoops head coach will surely be excited by this update as Solbakken would be an excellent addition to his squad this summer.

As O’Rourke explained, Celtic fans – and Postecoglou – will already know what he is capable of. He managed a goal and an assist in his two UEFA Conference League matches against the club earlier this year as his side knocked the Hoops out of the competition.

The winger enjoyed an excellent campaign in Europe for Bodo/Glimt as he produced six goals and two assists in 11 games, averaging a sublime SofaScore rating of 7.40. This shows that he is capable of consistently delivering quality performances at that level – chipping in with goals and assists on a regular basis.

Meanwhile, Josip Juranovic (7.80) was the only Celtic player who averaged a higher rating in the competition than the Norweigan attacker.

Solbakken has also excelled domestically for his team. Since the start of 2021, he has scored seven goals and provided six assists in 29 starts – averaging a rating of 7.18 last year. He averaged 1.7 key passes per game in 2021 as he proven that he can be the go-to creator for his team from out wide.

At the age of 23, he also has the potential to improve. Postecoglou can work with him on the training pitch to help him hone his skills to ensure that he develops in the coming years, which means that he can be an investment for Celtic whilst also being a player who can make an impact in the short term.

Therefore, the head coach will be excited by the club’s interest in Solbakken and will surely be hoping that a deal can be agreed in the coming weeks or months.

AND in other news, Forget Starfelt: “Hopeless” 95-touch Celtic dud was Postecoglou’s real liability today…

Celtic have their final Premiership game of the season this afternoon as the newly-crowned league champions welcome Motherwell to Parkhead.

Wednesday’s 1-1 draw against Dundee United was enough to confirm Ange Postecoglou’s side as the top dogs in Scotland and reclaim the league title.

Looking ahead to today’s showdown against Motherwell, it gives the home supporters one more chance to see their heroes in action before the season ends and celebrate the Premiership triumph.

On the chalkboard

Before the full celebrations can begin, the Hoops and Postecoglou will want to finish the season with another victory.

In terms of the starting XI, one man who didn’t start in midweek but should be in the team on this occasion is Jota.

After replacing James Forrest just after the hour mark at Tannadice, the Portuguese wizard – who was praised by Postecoglou for his “unbelievable” performances earlier in the season – had 25 touches of the ball.

With those touches, the winger completed 10 passes, had two shots at goal and won four of his five duels. This shows just how much of an attacking nuisance he can be for the Bhoys.

Since arriving at the Parkhead club on loan from Benfica, the 23-year-old has scored 12 goals and provided 14 assists in 39 games across all competitions.

To further highlight how deadly he has been for the Hoops, David Turnbull is the only player currently in the Celtic squad with a higher average for shots and crosses per game in the league this season than the Portuguese winger.

In terms of who the forward could replace, the fact that Liel Abada went off with an injury in midweek could pave the way for the 23-year-old to come back in if the Israel winger isn’t fit enough to play.

Also, in addition to being able to terrify Motherwell with his attacking prowess, another reason for Postecoglou to start Jota this afternoon is to give him what could potentially be his final game for the Hoops before he returns to his parent club in Lisbon.

However, this chance to end the season playing in front of the celebrating home fans could also sway the loan star into wanting to stay at the club and sign for Celtic on a permanent basis should Benfica allow it, which would be something extra for the fans to savour at Parkhead.

In other news: Postecoglou must axe wasteful £14.5k-p/w Celtic ace, he’s holding the team back

Former Aston Villa manager Alex McLeish has reacted to the club placing a £50m price tag on Ollie Watkins. 

The lowdown: Big offer needed

This comes following a report from The Guardian claiming that the Villans would demand offers in excess of £50m for the 26-year-old marksman.

Citing a growing interest from West Ham United, it was claimed that the Midlands club ‘could be prepared’ to part ways with Watkins.

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One former occupant of the Villa Park hot seat has now given his verdict on the asking price and indeed the possibility of the club selling a prized asset.

The latest: McLeish welcomes Watkins asking price

Speaking to Football Insider, McLeish insisted that the ‘fantastic’ Watkins is worth every penny of the mooted fee.

The 63-year-old said: “I think it would be normal evolution. That for me is his price.

“I think there’s more to come from him if he can keep growing in confidence. Not that he lacks confidence but if he can keep growing his knowledge of the game and study the best strikers.

“He’s already one of the best strikers in the Premier League. He’s got fantastic pace, he reads the game well, he nearly embarrassed Liverpool the other night with the charge down on the goalkeeper. I like Watkins.”

The verdict: Fair price

If a Premier League rival is going to try and sign Villa’s joint-most valuable asset this summer, the club must hold out for the top end of their asking price in order to move onto the next level themselves.

The £31.5m-valued ace has earned England recognition on seven occasions since arriving at Villa Park,  triggering a contract clause in the process which saw the club’s hierarchy shell out a further £1m to his former clubs Brentford and Exeter.

Watkins ended the campaign with 16 goals and five assists in 40 appearances across all competitions, taking to life in the Premier League with apparent ease, and he should be regarded as an important member of Steven Gerrard’s squad as the manager looks ahead to the 2022/23 season.

However, should bids of more than £50m be forthcoming, those funds would go a long way to improving various parts of the Villa squad, which the board and indeed Gerrard would surely welcome.

In other news: NSWE now close to agreeing deal for another midfielder alongside Coutinho

A head coach will also be appointed alongside the two, Ramiz said in his first press conference as PCB chairman

ESPNcricinfo staff13-Sep-2021Former Australia opener Matthew Hayden and former South Africa seamer Vernon Philander have been added to the Pakistan team’s coaching staff for the upcoming T20 World Cup in the UAE. The new PCB chairman, Ramiz Raja, announced the appointments on Monday, citing the aggression and quality of the players as defining reasons for their hiring.The two former cricketers came as unexpected appointments, and it was not immediately clear what specific roles they would play. Ramiz also said there would be a head coach appointed alongside them, but did not reveal a name.”Matthew Hayden is Australian, and has experience of winning World Cups and was a great player himself,” Ramiz said. “It might be very beneficial to have an Australian occupying the dressing room. And Pakistan, of course, can win the World Cup, they just need to improve their performances an extra 10%. Vernon Philander I know very well, and he understands bowling, and has a great record against Australia.”Hayden and Philander have exceptional credentials as cricketers, but neither has any substantive coaching experience. Philander only retired from international cricket in 2020, and was due to take part in the South African domestic season which begins on September 24 this year. Hayden retired in 2009, and has taken on occasional media work, but his assignment with Pakistan at the World Cup is his first major coaching assignment.Philander linking up with Pakistan ahead of the World Cup is complicated a little, though, by his contract with the Western Province domestic side in South Africa, who he was signed to play for this season. An official at Western Province confirmed to ESPNcricinfo Philander’s contract had been running since May, with the side having paid him since then. WP are expected to issue a statement on the matter in due course. The PCB, however, told ESPNcricinfo WP have given Philander permission to join Pakistan until the end of the T20 World Cup.Misbah-ul-Haq and Waqar Younis stepped down as head coach and bowling coach of the Pakistan team last week. They were replaced by Saqlain Mushtaq and Abdul Razzaq on an interim basis for Pakistan’s home series against New Zealand, which starts later this week. ESPNcricinfo understands that Saqlain is likely to continue as head coach through to the World Cup, and would in that case share coaching duties with Hayden and Philander.

The home side were able to train together for the first time on Monday

AAP14-Sep-2021Teenage tearaway Darcie Brown is confident Australia’s young attack will step up in coming weeks as they prepare to confront India without spearhead Megan Schutt.Schutt, who last month celebrated the birth of her first child with wife Jess, and injured spinner Jess Jonassen are missing the multi-format series that begins next week in Mackay. As a veteran of 142 matches for Australia, Schutt will be undeniably hard to replace.But the squad’s inexperienced fast bowlers, who trained together for the first time on Monday after players from Sydney and Melbourne were released from hotel quarantine in Brisbane, are ready to embrace the challenge.Related

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The 18-year-old Brown made her international debut earlier this year in New Zealand, while fellow quicks Stella Campbell and Maitlan Brown are both uncapped.Young guns Tayla Vlaeminck, who was ruled out of the 2020 T20 World Cup on the eve of the tournament because a foot injury, and Annabel Sutherland are also new-ball options for the hosts.”Everyone is keen to show what they’ve got,” Darcie Brown said. “It is sad that Schutter isn’t there but it’s going to give a fair few opportunities to everyone else, which is exciting – and she really wants to see everyone play well.”I think there will be lots of opportunities, with girls coming out of quarantine, management of workloads and stuff like that. I’ve still got lots to learn, I’ll be asking a few questions.”The carrot of World Cup selection is in front of Brown and team-mates, who next week will seek to continue Australia’s record 24-game ODI winning streak.Australia face India and England in a busy home summer, with captain Meg Lanning and coach Matthew Mott keen to shore up plans for their ODI World Cup campaign that begins in March.”Everyone wants to be in that squad,” Brown said, having received her cap from Schutt in New Zealand. “For now it’s about worrying about this India series, trying to enjoy it as much as I can.”Brown added the mentorship of Schutt and former Test quick Ryan Harris, who served as the squad’s bowling coach earlier this year, had helped her become a more consistent bowler.

The PNG captain also called Kiplin Doriga’s lower-order rearguard ‘the blueprint of what we expect from him’

Mohammad Isam21-Oct-2021Papua New Guinea will understandably leave Muscat crestfallen, after bowing out winless from the T20 World Cup. After their 84-run loss to Bangladesh, their captain Assad Vala embodied their frustrations and spoke about where they will need to improve when they are back home.”I am proud that we are here but I wouldn’t say we achieved,” Vala said. “We wanted to win games here. Not to make up the numbers. Losing all three games is pretty disappointing. If we could play our best cricket, we would have given ourselves the chance. We were up and down. We have to find out how to get the best out of ourselves.”When asked what the team would leave the T20 World Cup with, Vala picked their fielding out as a positive but said there was a lot of room for improvement with bat and ball.

Watch highlights on ESPN+

If you’re in the USA, watch the Bangladesh vs PNG highlights in English here and in Hindi here

“We need to be better,” he said. “Batsmen need to score consistently. Bowlers have to execute well under pressure. Fielding improved in the three games but we can be better there as well.”There’s a lot of learnings but we were not good enough. I think especially our batting really let us down. No one put their hands up, especially myself and the senior players.”On Thursday, PNG bowled contained Bangladesh to 113 for 4 over their first 15 overs, but leaked 68 runs in the last five. Then their chase of 182 fell apart from the start – they stumbled to 29 for 7 before being bowled out for 97.”We believed we could win if we had a good start. It has been costing us,” Vala said. “We have been losing too many wickets in the powerplay. It is hard to come back from it.”I think we haven’t played a complete match. We started well in this match, but we went for 63 in the last five overs. Our bowlers couldn’t perform under pressure.”Kiplin Doriga’s unbeaten 46 got PNG up to their eventual total of 97, and ensured they batted on until midway through the final over. “I think he played really well,” Vala said. “He pulled us out and got us to 97 runs.”He has been really good in the last two games. We need him to keep working hard and be more consistent. It is the blueprint of what we expect from him.”Vala said the legacy of this side, the first from PNG to play in a World Cup, would be the influx of more children into the game.”There are a lot of kids playing these days. If we can have more juniors coming through the system, we will have more depth. I am really proud of the effort of the boys, but the best is yet to come. We have learned a lot from this tournament.”

The left-armer should form a strong pace attack with Kane Richardson and James Pattinson

ESPNcricinfo staff03-Nov-2021Reece Topley, the England left-armer, has signed with Melbourne Renegades as their first overseas player for the BBL.Topley, who has played 13 ODIs and six T20Is, is currently a reserve at the T20 World Cup and could be elevated to England’s main squad should Tymal Mills’ injury rule him out of the tournament.He fought his way back into England contention in late 2020 after stress fractures of the lower back. His most recent appearances were in the ODI series against India in March.”I was out in Melbourne the year [the Renegades] won it, I was at the game as well and I’ve got incredible memories from that night,” he said. “I know quite a lot of the guys already so I look forward to seeing some old friends and meeting some new guys as well.”I like to bowl in those pressure scenarios, I like to try to close out games or take wickets with the new ball. I really embrace that challenge and look forward to taking on whatever role I’m given.”Topley should form a potent pace attack alongside Kane Richardson and James Pattinson. They have finished last in consecutive seasons after winning the title in 2018-19.”We’re rapt to secure Reece and are really excited about what he bring to our team,” David Saker, Renegades’ head coach, said. “He is an experienced bowler who offers the ability to swing the ball up front in the powerplay and to bowl in pressure situations at the death. We believe Reece adds a real point of difference as a tall left-arm fast bowler that will complement our pace attack.”The BBL is due to start on December 5 and is currently scheduled as a full home-and-away season although ongoing border restrictions may force changes to the fixture list.Renegades squad Aaron Finch (capt), Cameron Boyce, Zak Evans, Jake Fraser-McGurk, Sam Harper, Marcus Harris, Mackenzie Harvey, Josh Lalor, Nic Maddinson, Shaun Marsh, James Pattinson, Mitchell Perry, Jack Prestwidge, Kane Richardson, Will Sutherland, Reece Topley

Tom Bailey’s superb opening salvo had home side struggling at 7 for 3

ECB Reporters Network supported by Rothesay06-Apr-2025Middlesex 260 and 288 for 6 (Holden 135*, Geddes 74, Bailey 3-47) lead Lancashire 359 (Harris 138, Jennings 55, Jones 40) by 186 runsMax Holden’s sixth first-class hundred led a Middlesex fightback on day three at Lord’s to set up the prospect of an exciting finish against Division Two title favourites Lancashire.The Cambridge-born left-hander followed up his half-century of the first innings with an unbeaten 135 to rescue his side from the havoc of 7 for 3 in the wake of Tom Bailey’s superb three-wicket opening salvo.Holden shared stands of 106 with Ryan Higgins (43) and 163 with debutante Ben Geddes (74) as the hosts reached 288 for 6 at stumps.Bailey couldn’t add to his pre-lunch heroics, but late wickets with the second new ball gave the visitors the edge once more ahead of day four.All this unfolded after Lancashire added just six to their overnight first-innings score to be bowled out for 359, Saturday’s centurion Marcus Harris last to go for 138, Zafar Gohar finishing with 4 for 79.It was only two seasons ago Middlesex found themselves 4 for 4 in the first game of the season with the top four all dismissed without scoring and while this wasn’t quite as calamitous, Bailey’s new-ball spell still caused much scrambling on of pads in the home dressing-room.Nathan Fernandes looked nervous from the get-go and Bailey soon lured him into fencing at one he should have left alone, allowing wicketkeeper Matty Hurst to gobble up the chance.If Fernandes was culpable, then Sam Robson was undone by a super piece of bowling, Bailey squaring up the former England opener and rapping him on the pad. Any hope it would be considered too high was quickly dashed as umpire Surendiran Shanmugan sent him on his way.Two balls later, 7 for 2 became 7 for 3 as Leus du Ploy slashed wildly at a ball around fifth stump giving Hurst his second catch in a matter of minutes. Bailey had taken 3 for 2 in 15 balls, leaving the hosts staring at the prospect of defeat inside three days.Calm heads were required and for the second time in the match it was former England Lions batter Holden who was first to raise his hand, employing a mix of studious defence with drives caressed through the covers and savage square cuts.Six such boundaries carried him past 50 and there would be seven more on the way to three figures, reached in style with an on-drive back past the stumps to the pavilion rope.Fightbacks of course need co-conspirators and not for the first time, Ryan Higgins was first to come to the left-hander’s assistance. A classy pull shot in front of square got the allrounder moving and he then dispatched Luke Wells deliveries to the fence twice in the same over.Bailey returned immediately after lunch as a game of patience unfolded, the two batters resisting his second surge and a miserly spell from Will Williams to raise the 100 partnership.It required a jaffer from George Balderson to castle Higgins with the hosts 14 in front, but Geddes, a young player hailed this week by Richard Johnson as a player with a ‘high ceiling’, came in to take the baton and after a shaky start he too blossomed, an off-drive through midwicket the pick of his early boundaries.By tea the lead had swollen to 72 and the pair showed greater intent after the resumption to move the stand to 100 and beyond.Geddes reached his half-century with five fours, before falling to the second new ball, though replays suggested he hadn’t made contact with the delivery which found its way to Hurst’s gloves.Nightwatcher Blake Cullen also perished before stumps, but Holden remains to try and steer Middlesex to a defendable total on day four.