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Everton are still keen to sign Newcastle United midfielder Sean Longstaff, according to The Chronicle’s Lee Ryder. 

The lowdown

The Daily Mail’s Craig Hope reported in August that Rafael Benitez was keen on a reunion with Longstaff at Goodison Park. The Spaniard had handed the midfielder his senior debut for Newcastle back in December 2018.

The Magpies slapped a £10m price tag on the midfielder during the summer and he wound up remaining at St James’ Park beyond the transfer deadline, but as it stands, Longstaff will have only six months remaining on his contract when the January transfer window opens, so this could be Newcastle’s last chance to cash in.

The 24-year-old has won plaudits from the likes of Manchester City manager Pep Guardiola, who admitted after a 2-1 defeat to Newcastle in 2019 that his team ‘could not deal’ with Longstaff and his midfield partner Isaac Hayden.

The latest

Ryder wrote in The Chronicle that Longstaff is wanted by Everton and other clubs around Europe ahead of the mid-season transfer window.

He has apparently been open to a new contract, with Newcastle wishing to continue those discussions, but it’s clear that time is running out for him to agree a new deal on Tyneside.

The verdict

What do Longstaff’s numbers look like this season? He has played 11 Premier League games, making eight starts and three substitute appearances (via WhoScored).

In those matches, he has averaged 2.8 tackles, 2.4 accurate long balls and 1.1 clearances. For context, among the Everton squad, only Allan (3.2) has a better tackling average, with the Newcastle midfielder ranking inside the league’s top 20 for that metric.

He could be a solid squad option for the Toffees, particularly as Benitez should be able to get the best out of him having blooded him at St James’ Park.

In other news, many Everton fans slammed this man’s performance v Brentford

Grant Elliott has expressed his keenness to make a bigger contribution with the ball in the second Test against Pakistan in Wellington

Cricinfo staff30-Nov-2009New Zealand allrounder Grant Elliott has expressed his keenness to make a bigger contribution with the ball in the second Test against Pakistan in Wellington. Elliott bowled just two overs in New Zealand’s 32-run win in Dunedin due to his knee injury, leaving Shane Bond, Daniel Vettori, Iain O’Brien and Chris Martin with an additional responsibility to fill in for the fifth bowler.Vettori had admitted the extent of the workload the four bowlers had to bear, in having to bowl out Pakistan twice, was huge. New Zealand can expect the physical demands of winning the next Test to be greater, especially as their bowlers are recovering from injuries. Bond is missing the big toe-nail on his left foot, Vettori is nursing an injured shoulder and O’Brien is awaiting scans on his dislocated finger.”It definitely hurts me not being able to do that (bowl) because you saw how hard the bowlers toiled,” Elliot told . “It’s tendonitis. I’ve just been battling with that a bit. I had it in Wellington but hopefully I can take a load off the bowlers. It’s about (bowling) loads and how the inflammation is at the time. It has good days and bad days.”Eliott has managed just two wickets at an average of 66 in Tests but has bowled more often, and has had more success, in the ODI format, taking 17 wickets at 22.11. While establishing himself as a solid middle-order batsman in limited-overs cricket, Elliott is still fighting for a long-term slot in Tests. “It’s runs and wickets at the end of the day,” he said. “For me, every Test innings I play I’m looking to establish my position and stamp my authority on the game. Hopefully it will be in this Test.”The second Test begins on December 3.

Kumar Sangakkara has cautioned his team against complacency ahead of their opening Super Eights clash

Cricinfo staff12-Jun-2009Sri Lanka’s two-in-two record from a tough group may have made them one of the favourites for the World Twenty20 but captain Kumar Sangakkara remained cautious ahead of their opening Super Eights clash against Pakistan at Lord’s on Friday.”We’ve got a lot of confidence from the last two games,” Sangakkara said. “You get momentum when you’re winning. But things change quickly in T20. We need to learn from what we have done and start from scratch every game. A five-minute period can change the game’s complexion The Pakistan team is very unpredictable and has been so for years. If you are not ready for that and have a few options, you are in for a nasty surprise.”Sri Lanka’s bowling has been firing so far, with the spin combination of Ajantha Mendis and Muttiah Muralitharan particularly dangerous. “Spin has been our strength for years,” Sangakkara said. “Hopefully, they can keep performing and add new variation to their armoury.”There are a few bowling options. We have [Farveez] Maharoof and [Nuwan] Kulasekara, the No. 1 bowler in ODI cricket. We need to look at the wicket before deciding on that.”The batting particularly pleased Sangakkara, especially Sanath Jayasuriya’s welcome return to form with a masterful innings against West Indies at Trent Bridge on Wednesday. “He [Jayasuriya] can go on as long as he’s fit. It doesn’t matter how old you are. In my view, if you are fit, scoring runs, taking wickets and doing the hard work at training, that’s what we require. We are happy to have the guys who have experience, that counts a lot.”You get a good base so that the others can come and build. The way our guys have been batting is very encouraging. Then again we have got the batting to go on even if we don’t get a good start like against Australia, but a good start is important.”

Former Leeds United striker Noel Whelan has bemoaned Luke Ayling’s injury layoff which will see him miss a chunk of the season.

The Lowdown: Ayling set for injury layoff

The Whites won their first Premier League game of the campaign on Saturday after beating Watford 1-0 at Elland Road, but they had to do it without the 30-year-old.

As noted by Marcelo Bielsa in recent days, the right-back requires knee surgery after being missing since the 1-1 draw at Newcastle United, meaning that he is set for an extended spell on the sidelines.

[freshpress-quiz id=“375277″]

The Latest: Whelan reacts to news

Whelan has bemoaned that news and told Football Insider that Leeds will miss both Ayling’s quality and character on the pitch. He said:

“He’s a character in the changing room he’s a leader in there as well.

“Ayling brings some fun to the changing room, you can see what kind of personality he is.

“It’s the personality that he brings on the field that’s more important. That energy, bursting up and down the right-hand side.

“Defensively as well, covering round, he’s a massive part of the Leeds United defence.

“It’s going to be a sorry blow to miss him. The international break, that’s two weeks that will allow him to recover after the operation.”

[web_stories_embed url=”https://www.footballtransfertavern.com/web-stories/latest-leeds-united-news-18/” title=”Latest Leeds United news!” poster=”” width=”360″ height=”600″ align=”none”]

The Verdict: Big all-round blow for Leeds

As Whelan says, it is the all-round package which makes Ayling such an influential figure and explains why he will be a big miss for Leeds in the coming weeks.

He may not necessarily be the most gifted player in Bielsa’s squad, but he is a leader and also possesses great consistency at right-back, making 198 appearances for the Whites to date. His defensive quality is evident in his match average of 2.2 tackles this season prior to his injury, the third-highest at Elland Road (WhoScored), while he led the way for that metric last term with 2.8 per game.

It also means that youngster Jamie Shackleton may have to continue at right-back for the time being – Stuart Dallas is an option there, too – which is far from ideal with neither of them being a natural in that position.

In other news, Phil Hay has been discussing a boost that Leeds have received. Read more here.

Andrew Strauss is upbeat about England’s prospects not only in South Africa but in the longer run

Osman Samiuddin in Johannesburg23-Sep-2009Days after a resounding 6-1 beating at the hands of Australia, England arrived in South Africa for the Champions Trophy hoping not only to wipe the slate clean, but to begin turning around over a decade of ODI mediocrity.England have lost 13 of their last 20 ODIs and their only wins have come against relatively weaker sides such as West Indies and Ireland. The run includes not only the Australia loss but a fierce 5-0 thumping at the hands of India at the end of last year. But the results are part of a much broader, longer trend of limited overs poverty and disenchantment with the format, stretching back arguably to the 1992 World Cup final, a period when England were last a formidable ODI side.Andrew Strauss was upbeat, however, about his side’s prospects not only in South Africa but in the longer run. Strauss believed a change of environment, and a variety of opponents, will help. “A change in environment can make a big difference actually,” he said. “There is something quite exciting and intoxicating about world events, with all the world’s best players. It’s not difficult to be energised by that. It’s not a long tournament, a bit of a sprint and quite exciting to know if you play well in three games you’re in the semi-final. We can wipe the slate clean to be honest.”It will take some doing not only on current form but also without their two best ODI players. Both Kevin Pietersen and Andrew Flintoff are injury casualties but Strauss believes the opportunity was there for others to step in. “Freddie and KP are two of our best ODI cricketers and wheneveryou lose that it’s hard work. But Freddie has been out quite a lot recently and we are used to that and we’ve got to move on. KP is our best ODI batsmen but it’s a chance for other guys to step up and make a name for themselves.”No decision on Harmison yet for SA tour

Andrew Strauss has said there has no decision made on the future of Steve Harmison. Amid doubts as to whether Harmison would be a part of the touring party to South Africa for a Test series later in the year, Strauss said the selectors had yet to decide on the make-up of the squad.
Harmison was recalled for the Ashes, but was overlooked for a central contract by the ECB earlier this month.
“We haven’t discussed the Test squad at all at this stage,” Strauss said. “Harmison does offer something that other bowlers don’t; he’s definitely got a good chance of being on the tour.
“But we have to look at the whole balance of the side, all that sort of stuff. It would be wrong for me to comment on that at this stage, the selection meeting will be happening after the Champions Trophy.”

Strauss’ own revival in ODIs – he averages over 40 in his last 14 games after a mid-career slump – will be key to any long-term improvement. “Our ODI cricket has been an ongoing concern for a number of years, decades rather than a few years. I’m excited about making strides in ODI cricket and having a real look at what we’ve been doing and how we can improve on what we can do in practice and the middle. It’s a good project to be involved in. These things have to happen and it will take a bit of time to happen. In the meantime I maintain we are capable of beating anyone.”And whatever is to happen will happen mostly with the current crop of players. There will be no wholesale cull, insisted Strauss. “That’s not helpful. These are the guys who have performed consistently in domestic limited overs cricket. There is an incentive to think there is a magiccure lurking somewhere in the counties but the reality is that the cure lies within the group of players and how we approach our cricket. I’ve got a lot of faith in the players we have.”

A number of Wolves supporters have reacted negatively to an impressive clip from Nelson Semedo in training, with Saturday’s trip to Leeds fast approaching.

Bruno Lage’s side are riding on the crest of a wave at the moment, having won their last three Premier League matches in a row.

The victories over Southampton and Newcastle United were pleasing, but the 3-2 triumph at Aston Villa last weekend was particularly memorable.

The hope is that Wolves can continue their good form on Saturday afternoon, as Lage’s men make the trip to 17th-place Leeds United.

Semedo has been a regular this season, starting seven league games, and on Saturday morning the club’s official Twitter account posted a video of him going on a mazy run in training.

Wolves fans react to Semedo clip

Despite the moment of quality, these Wolves fans actually reacted negatively to the clip, urging him to replicate that form in games.

“Now do it in a game son”

Credit: @Akingrandawanda

“Shame he can’t do that in a game”

Credit: @KalliumCayford

“On the other hand poor defending”

Credit: @kingmichael_88

“His reluctance to go past a defender really infuriates me. Thought it might have been a request from Nuno but he’s the same under Bruno too”

Credit: @aliward_96

“If Moutinho was a few yards faster he would have been in trouble”

Credit: @shorey_wolves

“Nelson was dribbling, but Podence (?) scored. So, a half-nelson rather than a full nelson.”

Credit: @HwlinWlf

In other news, some Wolves fans are excited by a rumoured scouting mission that has taken place. Read more here.

Reliable Celtic reporter Kieran Devlin has recently answered a question on Hoops left-back Boli Bolingoli.

The Lowdown: Bolingoli in 2021…

Bolingoli has made just eight appearances during the calendar year, loan with Turkish side Istanbul Basaksehir.

A permanent move away from Celtic Park failed to materialise over the summer, despite links of a return to Turkey with Altay SK.

He’s since made two sporadic Celtic appearances under Ange Postecoglou, who decided to start the Belgian in a defeat to Livingston in September and a win over Motherwell earlier this month.

Aside from those fixtures, Bolingoli hasn’t featured in a Scottish Premiership matchday squad, leaving many wondering what’s next for the defender, who is still under contract until 2023.

The Latest: Devlin’s response…

Devlin ran a Q&A on The Athletic on Wednesday prior to the Hoops’ 3-1 win over Hibernian.

He was asked by one Celtic supporter about Bolingoli’s situation, to which he described it as ‘incredibly odd’.

“People I speak to around the club were as surprised – on both occasions – as we all were from afar. Just an incredibly odd situation.”

The Verdict: Ange needs to make a call…

You’d have expected if Postecoglou saw Bolingoli in his Parkhead plans, he would have been a regular in the league following Greg Taylor’s shoulder injury back in September.

However, the Hoops boss has used youngster Adam Montgomery and right-back Josip Juranovic at left-back, with Bolingoli making a couple of appearances in between.

On that basis, it might be wise for Postecoglou to resolve the situation for good by giving the club the green light to move Bolingoli on for good.

Not only would it put to bed the end of his Celtic career, but it would also free up the wage bill, with Bolingoli currently on £15,000-a-week.

In other news: ‘Difficult’ – Injury expert reacts as ‘excellent’ Celtic ace may miss 3 more games. 

Abdur Razzak, Naeem Islam and Syed Rasel will join the Bangladesh team for the three-match ODI series which begins on July 26.

Cricinfo staff18-Jul-2009Bangladesh have made three additions to their team touring West Indies, drafting in left-arm spinner Abdur Razzak, allrounder Naeem Islam and medium-fast bowler Syed Rasel, all standbys for the Test series, for the three-match ODI series which begins on July 26.Razzak is the most experienced of the three, having played 81 ODIs and capturing 111 wickets at 27.90. He had been suspended from bowling in international cricket in December 2008 due to a suspect action, but the ruling was lifted in March. He, alongwith Naeem and Rasel, last represented Bangladesh in the ODI series against South Africa in November 2008.The three players will join the Bangladesh team in Grenada on Monday.

Durham’s chief executive, David Harker, believes that ticket prices may have to fall for future Test series, after his county managed to sell barely half of the seats available for Thursday’s second Test against West Indies at the Riverside

Cricinfo staff12-May-2009Durham’s chief executive, David Harker, believes that ticket prices may have to fall for future Test series, after his county managed to sell barely half of the seats available for Thursday’s second Test against West Indies at the Riverside.The presence of Durham’s local hero, Graham Onions, who starred with a five-wicket haul on debut at Lord’s last week, could yet persuade the fans to make a late appearance, but according to Harker, the revised projection of revenue for the match is only 60% of budget.”Clearly, the tickets are not flying out of the door,” Harker told PA Sport. “Over the course of the five days, we are looking at between 20 and 30,000. It’s not a disaster by any means – we won’t make a loss on this event. But you’d like to be beating budget rather than falling short, particularly in the current climate.”Ticket prices currently range from £30-£35 up to £60, and though the Saturday of the match may still be a sell-out, only 3000 seats have been sold for the first day, despite England being on a high after their three-day victory at Lord’s last week.There are numerous reasons why the match could be less popular than previous fixtures at the ground – a glut of big series this summer with the Ashes and the World Twenty20 also being staged in England, as well as uncertainty surrounding England’s opponents for this series, with West Indies only confirmed as replacements for Sri Lanka and Zimbabwe back in November.”If the game isn’t selling out, you have to wonder why that is,” said Harker. “You have to look at the ticket price and wonder whether maybe we have reached the limit of that.”They are set in conjunction with the ECB, and the challenge is that we have to bid for the games. That bid has the function of deciding the size of ticket price. If the game were to move to looking at lower-priced tickets – which I would certainly support – that has to be reflected in the bidding process as well.”

Sri Lanka’s unique approach to learning and playing cricket has certainly given them an edge over their opponents in this tournament

George Binoy at Trent Bridge16-Jun-2009Cricket lovers everywhere haven’t had enough of Tillakaratne Dilshan’s audacious scoop over the wicketkeeper yet and they are already being treated to a second unconventional shot from another Sri Lankan batsman. Taking a cue from Andrew Symonds, Mahela Jayawardene played a reverse-sweep with the back of his bat against Jacob Oram during the Super Eights match versus New Zealand at Trent Bridge. He bent down low, got into position to play the shot, and just when we expected him to switch his bat around, he simply let the ball go off the back, placing it fine enough to beat the man at short third man.”It’s something I have been trying for a while,” Jayawardene said. “I have actually been trying to hit the reverse-sweep with the other side of the bat but found it a bit difficult to time it, sometimes it’s a bit quick for me and I get top edges. This is something I’ve worked with Trevor [Bayliss] on. He was saying that [John] Dyson used to do that in Australia. He used to tap it with the other side because he couldn’t sweep.”A lot of teams bring third man up these days and I thought I’ll give it a go. It was the last over so I had nothing to lose and everything to gain. Hopefully it will keep working.”Jayawardene’s back-bat paddle is the latest of several innovations the Sri Lankans have unleashed on their opponents during the World Twenty20. Dilshan dropped jaws when he got to his fifty in Sri Lanka’s first match against Australia by moving across his stumps, bending low to get under the ball, and scooping it right over the wicketkeeper’s head. It wasn’t a one-off for he replicated that shot with success against every team apart from New Zealand who, according to Daniel Vettori, had made plans to prevent Dilshan from playing that shot. When Dilshan was asked how he conceived of such a shot which, if mis-timed, could send the ball straight on to his face, his answer was simple. “You can’t place a fielder behind the wicketkeeper,” he said.It’s not just the Sri Lankan batsmen, though, who’ve showed off new tricks in England. Lasith Malinga has developed a delivery that is the polar opposite of his stock ball, the searing, toe-crushing yorker. Just when batsmen are preparing to get their boots out of the way, and their bats down in time to protect their stumps, Malinga unleashes a slower full toss which swerves away from the right-hander and often flattens the stumps. Brad Haddin was his first unsuspecting victim and Malinga used the slower full toss repeatedly against New Zealand today as well. He bowled four in an over, forcing Aaron Redmond to chip one of them straight to square leg.These innovations, Jayawardene said, were not developed on a whim but were part of Sri Lanka’s plan to stay ahead of their competition in a game that is constantly evolving. “What we’ve realised as a team is that if we are going to move up a level we have to come up with different things,” Jayawardene said. “A lot of people analyse you. What our guys are trying to do is keep one step ahead. Sometimes it works, sometimes it doesn’t. But as long as the attitude and the confidence is there to do that I think it will help you in the long run.”The Sri Lankan team, unlike most others, does not have many homogenous cricketers. They’ve produced a succession of players with unorthodox styles who have amazed audiences with their unique brand of cricket. Jayawardene indicated that the system which produced Sanath Jayasuriya, Muttiah Muralitharan, Malinga and Mendis was likely to churn out more never-seen-before type of players.”Kids pick up a ball and start playing and they try to do different things,” Jayawardene said. “Over the last ten years we’ve seen the way Sanath bats, so kids have seen people doing different things and are trying to imitate those things and find their own flair.”The coaches don’t try to change many things. They just let the player progress through the system and then fine tune him later. When Ajantha came to the academy, he didn’t have control over many things but Ruwan Kalpage helped him work on his deliveries. Within six months he was fine.”Sri Lanka’s unique approach to learning and playing cricket has certainly given them an edge over their opponents in this tournament. Vettori, for instance, said that New Zealand had come prepared for Dilshan’s scoop but “certainly didn’t expect Mahela to use the back of the bat”. He tipped Sri Lanka and South Africa as favourites to make the final, and said it would be an amazing match between two teams who “play the game at different ends of the spectrum”: South Africa’s discipline and skill pitted against Sri Lanka’s unorthodox magic.