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Adama Traore could be a huge success for Liverpool if he leaves Wolves to join the Reds, according to BBC pundit Noel Whelan.

The Lowdown: Traore linked with Wolves exit

The 25-year-old has been linked with a move to Anfield in the January transfer window, which would provide Jurgen Klopp with extra attacking depth.

Traore’s current Wolves deal expires in the summer of 2023 and there is little sign of him extending his stay at Molineux as things stand.

The Latest: Tipped to shine to Liverpool

Whelan believes that the Spain winger could excel in a Reds shirt, telling Football Insider that the 25-year-old could be similarly influential to superstar Liverpool pair Mohamed Salah and Sadio Mane.

The BBC pundit said:

“He’s a player who can be crucial to winning football matches.

“His pace, his aggression, his direct running – and now his end product, which he’s brushed up after his early days in the Premier League.

“He’s a more complete player now, he can get a cross into the box or a shot off on goal. If you think about it, would he fit into Liverpool’s style of play? Absolutely.

“He can be just as destructive as Salah and Mane in that side.”

The Verdict: Keep hold of him

Losing Traore would be a big blow for Wolves at a time when he is still maturing as a player and should have his best years ahead of him.

As Whelan suggested, the winger is becoming a more polished footballer, winning four Man of the Match awards from WhoScored in just seven Premier League appearances this season. He also has more dribbles per game than any other player in Europe’s major leagues, with a remarkable match average of seven (WhoScored).

That highlights how important he is to Bruno Lage, with his pace arguably the most frightening in the league, giving him a potentially match-winning attribute which Wolves cannot afford to sacrifice too readily.

In other news, Wolves have received a potential boost in their efforts to sign one player. Find out who it is here.

Anil Kumble, the Bangalore Royal Challengers legspinner, feels that this year’s team is “different” from the outfit that finished second last in 2008 and that the “intense” and “spot on” preparations in South Africa have helped immensely. Bangalore opened their IPL campaign with a resounding win on Saturday, dismissing the defending champions Rajasthan Royals for 58.”Let me make it clear that this is a different group and we have set out to achieve something and I daresay the result of our opening match is ample evidence of my claim,” Kumble wrote in his column for the . “I would be the first to admit that a few things were missing last year. But this time our preparation hasn’t just been intense but also spot on. Spending nearly two weeks in Johannesburg and playing as many as five practice matches – two against the local Lions and three among ourselves – gave us a good feel of the local conditions.”Bangalore revamped their squad after last-season’s failure, the most significant additions being Jesse Ryder and a new captain in Kevin Pietersen, who replaced Rahul Dravid. It was Dravid, however, who played the most crucial role in Bangalore’s victory, scoring 66 of 48 balls in testing conditions.”The Twenty20 game may not be for the oldies but as Sachin and Rahul also showed, we can have our days too,” Kumble wrote. “Individually too, Rahul had a point or two to prove. On pitches with bounce and movement, it is technique not flashiness that helps. Believe me, if not for Rahul’s technique, the Rajasthan bowlers would have looked far more effective than they did.”I am also glad to see Rahul among the runs because that means that if any two other batsmen among the likes of Jesse, Ross [Taylor], Kevin and Robin [Uthappa] click, we are looking at setting a serious target. And with our fast bowling looking twice as good while bowling in South Africa, as compared to India, we are on our way.”Kumble also had a successful game against Rajasthan. He picked up 5 for 5 and said he was “intrigued” by his performance. “I am coming off a long break and may have retired but the moment I am back on the cricket field, ball in hand, the feeling is the same as always. And in any format, a five-wicket haul sure makes one feel one is in the thick of things.”Bangalore’s second game is against Chennai Super Kings in Port Elizabeth on Monday.

Anil Kumble has blamed the loss of early wickets as the reason for his team’s 16-run defeat to Mumbai Indians in Port Elizabeth

Cricinfo staff10-May-2009Anil Kumble, the Royal Challengers Bangalore captain, has blamed the loss of early wickets as the reason for his team’s 16-run defeat to Mumbai Indians in Port Elizabeth. Bangalore were in trouble at 58 for 4 chasing 158 and the loss of wickets increased the pressure and the asking rate.Kumble said Rahul Dravid’s run-out for 10 was the turning point in the chase. Dravid turned around for a second run but he failed to make his ground before Lasith Malinga’s throw from long-off reached the bowler.”We lost too many wickets at the start [of the run chase] and probably that was the main reason [for the loss]. That’s what we need to look at seriously,” Kumble said. “I think Rahul’s run-out was crucial. If he was there till the end it was still a good wicket to bat and we could have chased it down.”Kumble felt the loss of wickets only piled the pressure on Boucher who made an unbeaten 48 off 33 balls.”Boucher is someone who played till the end to try and finish the game for us, but unfortunately it was too many runs at the end for him,” Kumble said.The winning captain Sachin Tendulkar praised the contributions of JP Duminy and Ajinkya Rahane, who scored half-centuries and lifted Mumbai to a match-winning total. Mumbai were desperate for a win after three successive defeats and the victory helped them move to No. 6, just ahead of Bangalore.”We needed this victory and all thanks to JP and Ajinkya,” Tendulkar said. “I thought they really batted well till the end. Sanath [Jayasuriya] too did a good job. Our bowlers also bowled well. It was a good all-round performance by the team. It was an all-round performance, batting, bowling and fielding everything was good.”

An update has emerged on Rangers manager Steven Gerrard, regarding Newcastle’s interest in his services.

What’s the talk?

According to The Times, the Gers head coach is one of the leading candidates to take over at St. James’ Park, with Steve Bruce on the verge of being relieved of his duties.

The report claims Villarreal’s Unai Emery and Belgium’s Roberto Martinez are the other two names the Premier League side are looking at alongside Gerrard.

Worry

This major update on Newcastle’s manager search will surely leave Rangers fans feeling worried, especially after Gerrard’s recent comments on the situation.

When asked about links to St. James’ Park, Gerrard admitted that he is not a fan of the speculation, but refused to rule out an exit from Ibrox. He said: 

“I don’t react or get involved in any speculation, especially when someone I have the utmost respect for is sitting in that job. Steve is a great character, someone I’ve got a personal relationship with. Sitting in this position, I wouldn’t like people to speculate about my job, so I certainly won’t be getting involved in speculation towards his.

“It’s interesting what’s happening at Newcastle. If anyone deserves a break, it’s the Geordie fans, so I’m sure the excitement levels are very high. Everyone connected in the game is looking on with interest.”

These quotes do not indicate that Gerrard is eager to quit Rangers, but they also do not rule out the possibility of a switch to the English side. This latest report from The Times now appears to amp up the speculation, with the ex-Liverpool man being a ‘leading candidate’ for the role, rather than just another one of the names linked with the job.

Newcastle could, therefore, be seriously interested in prying him away from the Scottish giants. This is why Rangers fans will be worried about what this means for the Liverpudlian’s future, with the Magpies potentially preparing to make a move for him if they pull the plug on Bruce’s time on Tyneside.

Gerrard has won 2.15 points per game on average throughout his time in Glasgow, managing the club in 186 matches to date. He led them to the Scottish Premiership title last term which prevented Celtic from reaching 10-in-a-row and these achievements highlight why supporters have a right to be concerned by rumours surrounding his future, as he has proven himself to be an excellent manager in Scotland.

AND in other news, 100% dribble success: Rangers gem with four key passes stole the show vs Hearts…

يواجه فريق الكرة الأول بنادي الزمالك نظيره سموحة في المباراة القادمة للقلعة البيضاء ببطولة الدوري المصري الممتاز.

الزمالك يلتقي مع سموحة في إطار منافسات الجولة 26 من عمر بطولة الدوري المصري، على ملعب استاد القاهرة.

وكان الزمالك انتصر علي الأهلي، بهدفين لهدف في المباراة النهائية لبطولة كأس مصر لموسم 2021، ليتوج بللقب للمرة 28 في تاريخه. موعد مباراة الزمالك القادمة أمام سموحة في الدوري

الزمالك يلاقي سموحة يوم الأحد الموافق 24 يوليو الجاري، في تمام الساعة 9 مساءً بتوقيت القاهرة.

ويحتل الزمالك صدارة ترتيب الدوري المصري برصيد 57 نقطة، بينما سموحة يتواجد في المركز الخامس برصيد 39 نقطة.

West Bromwich Albion goalkeeper Sam Johnstone could be on his way out of The Hawthorns next summer.

What’s the talk?

That’s according to a report by The Athletic, who claim that Southampton’s priority at the end of the current season will be the signing of a new goalkeeper, with the Premier League side believed to have identified the West Brom shot-stopper as one of their top targets.

The report goes on to state that, despite reports suggesting Albion are planning to offer the 28-year-old a new contract – something which Valerien Ismael has confirmed the club are in talks with the ‘keeper about – as the England international’s current deal at the Championship side is due to expire next summer, there has been no agreement reached at present.

Ismael will be gutted

While the possibility of Johnstone going on to put pen to paper on a new deal with West Brom remains a very real one, it is undeniable that the interest of a Premier League side could well influence the goalkeeper’s decision regarding his future at The Hawthorns, with his potential departure, particularly on a free transfer, sure to leave Ismael gutted.

Indeed, Johnstone was one of the club’s standout performers over his 37 Premier League appearances for Albion last season, with the £7.2m-rated man keeping six clean sheets, as well as making a highly impressive average of 4.5 saves per game.

These metrics saw the player Sam Allardyce dubbed a “magnificent” talent earn a seasonal SofaScore match rating of 7.03, ranking him as the club’s second-best performer in the top flight last term.

The £28k-per-week ‘keeper has also impressed over his four Championship appearances for the Baggies so far this season, keeping two clean sheets and averaging a SofaScore match rating of 6.83.

As such, it is not a difficult argument to make that losing the services of the 28-year-old for nothing next summer would be something of a disaster for Ismael, as, should Albion go on to secure promotion to the Premier League come next May, losing Johnstone would undoubtedly be a huge blow to the chances of the club remaining a top-flight side upon their return to the top table.

In other news: £2.7m-rated West Brom ace drops worrying injury update, Valerien Ismael will be fuming

After suffering another blow this international break, Tottenham Hotspur boss Nuno Santo may have to turn to an unlikely figure for the very first time this season…

What’s the latest?

Young midfielder Oliver Skipp, who has started all three of Spurs’ opening Premier League games, was forced off with a groin injury in England U21’s victory over Kosovo on Tuesday night.

It adds to the Portuguese’s worst nightmare after Steven Bergwijn also picked up a knock, whilst Heung-min Son is also a doubt for Saturday’s trip to Crystal Palace.

The Lilywhites will definitely be without South American trio Giovani Lo Celso, Davinson Sanchez and Cristian Romero, with the trio in quarantine in Croatia before returning to the UK.

On the Chalkboard

It means Nuno could well be forced into a change in midfield, something he would’ve probably not wanted to do, given Spurs’ unbeaten start to life in the top-flight this season.

With Lo Celso and Skipp potentially both absent, the 47-year-old’s hands may be tied and as such, he could well have to call upon the unseen Tanguy Ndombele for the very first time this season, just a few weeks after he expressed his desire to leave the club.

Nuno doesn’t have many options at his disposal, as a result of these latest setbacks, but the club-record signing has been back in first-team training for the build-up to this encounter.

We’ve seen a mixed bag of form from the 24-year-old dynamo since his arrival in the summer of 2019 – on his day, he’s the most technically gifted at the club and as Joe Hart once described, he can be “unplayable”.

However, these performances have been far and few between, having only contributed eight goals and eight assists across 75 appearances, managing a direct contribution every 267 minutes – or once every three matches.

Spurs need to see a lot more from a player that they invested £55m on and in their desperate time of need, he could be offered a lifeline to get his career in north London back on track.

Whether he rises to the occasion or is even selected remains to be seen, but it would make sense for the £36m-rated midfielder to make his first bow this season at Selhurst Park.

AND in other news, Nuno Santo now left with big Spurs headache as update on £24k-p/w “real asset” emerges…

Shakib Al Hasan’s six-wicket haul helped Bangladesh reach a dominant position at the end of the second day of the first Test in Chittagong

The Bulletin by Peter Burdon18-Oct-2008
Scorecard and ball-by-ball details
How they were out

Shakib Al Hasan sliced through New Zealand’s batting order © AFP
Shakib Al Hasan’s six-wicket haul helped Bangladesh reach a dominant position at the end of the second day of the first Test in Chittagong. The left-arm spinner took 6 for 31 off 24 overs, the best bowling figures for a Bangladesh player against New Zealand; at one stage, he had New Zealand reeling at 100 for 7, but captain Daniel Vettori made an unbeaten 48 to take his team to 155 for 9, still trailing by 90 on the first innings.Vettori had earlier completed his fourth five-for against the hosts to restrict Bangladesh, resuming on 183 for 4. But New Zealand squandered the good work, losing nine wickets in the final three hours of the play. For much of that time they were at serious risk of entering the record books as the team to score the lowest total in the first innings in a Test against Bangladesh.Shakib, whose six previous Tests had brought just three wickets, was the wrecker-in-chief. Most of his deliveries were on a perfect line and length, and enticed the batsmen on to the front foot. What the batsmen found difficult was his change of pace and ability to turn the ball on a slightly deteriorating pitch.Bangladesh’s spinners took charge once their new-ball bowlers bowled a restrictive spell. Openers Jamie How and Aaron Redmond found it difficult to score runs, with few loose balls coming their way, but didn’t seem to be looking for runs either. The first ten overs produced ten scoring shots; the first hour saw the visitors reach 25 without loss.Scoring was even more difficult against the spinners, with New Zealand’s batsmen struggling against the turning ball and adopting a defensive approach. How, Jesse Ryder and Jacob Oram were all caught close-in as fielders surrounded the bat, while Ross Taylor and Redmond were trapped lbw while trying to defend against turning deliveries.As wickets tumbled, a partnership of note was desperately needed. But it never arrived. The best effort was 47 between Daniel Flynn and Brendon McCullum. Both made starts, but neither carried on to post the big score that their team so desperately needed. Flynn was caught behind off Naeem Islam for 19 to give the debutant his first Test scalp. McCullum was deceived by the pace of a delivery from Shakib, spooning the ball down the throat of mid-on.Ironically, it was up to a spin bowler to show any fight in the New Zealand tail. After taking 5 for 59, Vettori looked to possess the frame of mind lacking in his team-mates when he entered the crease after the loss of the sixth wicket. He began sensibly, maintaining his wicket but always looking to make runs, and finished unbeaten on 48.It wasn’t just New Zealand who had problems with spin. A record fifth-wicket stand had given Bangladesh hope after the first day, but they could only push to 245 from 183 for 4. Iain O’Brien deceived Mehrab Hossain jnr, resuming on 79, with a slower delivery. However, it was not until 30 minutes before lunch they collapsed. Vettori ripped through the lower order, and offspinner Jeetan Patel chipped in with two of his own. The only batsman of note was Mushfiqur Rahim, who added 20 to his overnight score of 59 before he became another victim of Vettori.Of the 15 wickets that fell on the day, only one – that of Mehrab, the first in the day – was claimed by a fast bowler. With the cracks on the pitch worsening, New Zealand will need to dismiss the opposition for a low score if they are to avoid becoming the second team to be beaten in a Test by Bangladesh.

MatériaMais Notícias

O Grêmio entra em campo na noite desta quarta-feira, contra o Fluminense, pelo segundo jogo das oitavas de final da Copa do Brasil, no Maracanã. O tricolor pode até perder por um gol de diferença para se classificar à próxima fase da competição. O lateral Bruno Cortez, no entanto, não quer saber de vantagem inicial.

– Temos que esquecer a vantagem e entrar como se estivesse 0 a 0. Sabemos que é complicado enfrentar o Fluminense no Rio, mas esperamos sair classificados. Precisamos jogar com inteligência e postura de time grande – completou o jogador.

Após poupar os titulares contra o Sport, no fim de semana, Renato Portaluppi deve ir com força total contra o tricolor carioca. A equipe deverá ser a mesma que goleou o Zamora (VEN), na última quinta-feira, pela Libertadores. O outro lateral da equipe, Léo Moura, falou sobre a sensação de voltar a jogar no Maracanã, estádio que conhece muito bem.

– Não podemos tomar gol. Nosso time cria bastante e faz gols em quase todos os jogos. Vamos jogar com inteligência, sabendo a hora de segurar e de atacar. Conquistei meus principais títulos no Maracanã. Agora estou voltando com a camisa do Grêmio – concluiu o lateral.

Depois de enfrentar o Fluminense, o Grêmio volta suas atenções para o Brasileirão. A equipe enfrenta o Vasco, no domingo, às 16h, na Arena.

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Liverpool are reportedly interested in a deal to sign Lille midfielder Renato Sanches, with the French champions willing to cash in on the 23-year-old, according to journalist Mohamed Toubache-Ter.

The lowdown

Sanches has been with Lille since 2019, having previously been on the books with Bayern Munich and Benfica earlier in his career.

The Portuguese midfielder has made 60 appearances in total for the French club, which includes 29 in the 2020/21 season as they won the Ligue 1 title. The 23-year-old has two years remaining on his contract, although it remains to be seen whether he sees out that deal with Les Dogues as they begin the defence of their domestic crown.

Former Liverpool defender Jose Enrique has previously claimed that Jurgen Klopp could help Sanches become a world class player in the future, saying: “He’s always been a great player. If I’m not wrong he was named best player of the Under-21 tournament that he was involved in.

“The problem he had is like many young players he had everything too quick and until he settled it took him a few years, but he looks like the type of player that I believe Klopp can help him become a world class player.”

The latest

Liverpool are rumoured to be weighing up a move for Sanches, and Toubache-Ter claims that a fee in the region of €40m to €42m (£33.9m-£35.6m) could be enough to secure a deal.

It’s reported that the Lille board could look to move him on for that fee, although it remains to be seen whether Liverpool are willing to pay that amount for the 23-year-old.

The verdict

This could be a fantastic bit of business by Liverpool this summer as they look to strengthen their midfield options ahead of the new Premier League campaign.

We’ve already seen Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain linked with a loan return to Southampton, which met with opposition from some Liverpool’s supporters as the Reds aren’t exactly blessed with a considerable amount of midfield depth following Georginio Wijnaldum’s summer exit.

However, the Englishman’s departure could pave the way for Sanches to arrive, and it would be a real statement of intent by the Reds if they were to secure a deal to land the Lille maestro’s signature this summer.

In other news, some Liverpool fans had mixed reactions to this potential loan exit from Anfield