All posts by h716a5.icu

Arsenal could be set to secure one of the coups of the summer, with claims imploring the Gunners to save a world-renowned star from his current predicament.

Is Neymar leaving Paris Saint-Germain?

Despite Kylian Mbappe's touted exit from Paris Saint-Germain dominating the headlines, it could be forgotten how Neymar too has suffered from the recent underperformance of the French giants.

The Brazilian is one of the game's finest players and yet a mixture of injuries, unfavourable conditions and a demanding fanbase have left him without proper recognition for his talents.

Now, he could be left all alone in Paris, should his French teammate depart just as Lionel Messi did earlier in the window.

However, he too could seek to push an exit, with Julio Baptista suggesting that the Emirates could mark the perfect place to reignite his career. He told GOAL:

"It’s interesting. I think Neymar is comfortable at PSG, but maybe the best move for him is to create a new atmosphere at a new club – maybe a club that supports him and gives him all the confidence that he needs.

"He doesn’t have that at PSG. The fans don’t like him a lot and maybe it is time to move on and try something different. Why not?

"Arsenal is one of the best clubs in Europe. We know that the last eight or so years, Arsenal have not produced their best or been as competitive. But now, with [Mikel] Arteta, Arsenal have something different. They have started to construct something powerful. Why not?

"Maybe this could be the key. In Brazil we say that you have the house, you have everything, and you just need the key to open it. Maybe Neymar is the key to open and complete everything at Arsenal. He is an incredible player.”

How many goals has Neymar scored in his career?

As one of the most famous stars in world football, his signing would provide far more than just the imperious offensive and creative quality he possesses.

Neymar would encourage countless shirt sales, with his name alone a big enough brand to skyrocket the north London club back to the heights they once occupied.

However, his work on the pitch would surely have Mikel Arteta salivating too, given how he has shone even despite his recent injury woes.

Last season saw him notch 18 goals and assist a further 17 in all competitions, yet only managed 20 appearances in Ligue 1. He has starred in France just as he did with Barcelona, with his final year at the Nou Camp seeing him provide 46 goal contributions in 45 games across all competitions.

Wherever the 31-year-old dynamo goes he will star, and it is for this reason that he would likely even displace the ever-impressive Gabriel Martinelli, at least until age starts to steal his powers from him.

That aforementioned recent campaign is one that goes under the radar, whilst Arteta's own Brazilian 22-year-old notched 15 goals and assisted just five in the league yet received huge praise. He is a keen goalscorer but struggles at times to create, yet Neymar still surpasses him with regard to both facets and that's why he continues to get the nod for their country, Brazil, too.

Perhaps a few years supplementing such a legendary figure could actually help Martinelli in the long run, as what he serves to learn from the serial winner would far surpass any game time he might lose out on.

After all, the former Santos superstar has posted 294 goals and assisted a further 190 across his illustrious career, which has garnered one Champions League and countless domestic honours across Spain and France.

It is no surprise to see the £42m-rated maverick earn widespread praise of his own, with his former boss Christophe Galtier claiming:

"Neymar is world-class. He's one of the best players in the world. Who wouldn't want a player like that in his team? That's all there is to say."

That is a question that could now be posed to Arteta, who would have the unenviable task of choosing between his young star with the world at his feet or the legend of the game who has already conquered the world.

Kraigg Brathwaite and Shai Hope crafted an extraordinary tale for West Indies at Headingley, leading their side to a five-wicket win that helped them draw level in the series

The Report by Andrew McGlashan29-Aug-2017
Scorecard and ball-by-ball detailsIt was one of the great Test matches. Headingley has seen some remarkable final days and West Indies created their own extraordinary tale by chasing down 322 to level the series. Shai Hope achieved what Kraigg Brathwaite narrowly missed, becoming the first batsman to score twin hundreds on the ground in first-class cricket and, at 6.43pm, with the floodlights illuminating the ground almost as much as the day-night Test last week, Hope tucked the ball through square to complete one of the most unexpected redemption stories in the game’s history.Such was the application and skill of West Indies’ batting, anchored by the 144-run third-wicket stand between Brathwaite and Hope that, once they got through the morning session, the prospect of victory was closer than many would accept. There was constantly talk of how quickly it could change, but the collapse never came. At tea, moments after losing Brathwaite for 95, they needed 123 off 35 overs; when Roston Chase was superbly caught by substitute Mason Crane at mid-on, 76 off 19.5 overs.There was a chance with the new ball looming and the light fading that it could still unravel for West Indies, but Chase’s wicket may actually have helped. He was finding the old ball hard to time, and it brought in Jermaine Blackwood who chanced his arm (or batted normally for himself). He clubbed two tension-easing fours before, in brilliantly brazen style, hammering James Anderson’s second ball with the new ball straight for six. He was stumped with two runs needed, but his 41 off 45 balls ensured England never regained a foothold. From losing 19 wickets in a day, to this. Their first win in England since Edgbaston in 2000.Hope brought up his century from 175 balls – the second fifty proving much harder work off 105 deliveries – and on 106, with 37 runs required, he benefited from the 13th drop catch of the match when Alastair Cook at first slip spilled a top-edged cut. The last West Indies batsman to score two centuries in a Test was Kieran Powell, against Bangladesh in 2012, and Hope’s performance – from a man who averaged 19 before this Test – epitomised more than anything the team’s revival. Those who paid £10 to get in witnessed an ‘I-was-there’ moment.It was the second-highest successful chase at the ground behind Bradman’s 1948 Australians, slotting in ahead of England’s final-day hunt against Australia in 2001. Joe Root became the fourth England captain to declare and lose a Test but it was a perfectly reasonable target to set and it needs to be hoped a streak of positiveness isn’t knocked from Root’s mindset. England did not bowl badly, although Chris Woakes wasn’t at his best, on a surface that behaved far better than expected.Missed chances, though, proved costly from early in the day. In the fourth over, Cook had also dropped Brathwaite when he had 4. Another chance came from Brathwaite, on 29, amid bizarre circumstances when he popped a return catch to Broad which burst through the hands and cannoned into the non-striker’s stumps with Kyle Hope well out of his crease. A wicket, but the more valuable one would have been Brathwaite’s, as one of the players with the ability to defy England for long periods. It was 40 overs before he offered another chance, edging Moeen Ali to slip, and by then the groundwork for victory had been laid.Hope’s innings was magnificent. His first boundary was a rifled back-foot straight from a short-of-a-length delivery by Woakes and his fifty came off 70 balls, a slightly quicker rate than Brathwaite and he ensured Root could never dry up the scoring. As in the first session of the second day, it was an examination of both batsman’s techniques against a moving ball and the pair also played Moeen smartly to nullify his threat. After their 246-run partnership in the first innings, it was the first time since Brian Lara and Ramnaresh Sarwan at Colombo in 2000-01 that the same West Indian batsmen had shared two hundred stands in a match.In mid-afternoon, England tried to conjure something with forceful spells from Broad and Ben Stokes, the latter not used until the 47th over of the innings, but both batsmen withstood everything, including a few zipping deliveries from Broad and the occasional ball which jumped off a length. England grew increasingly frustrated, especially Broad who took a kick at one of the followthrough marks which brought a rebuke from umpire S Ravi and may interest the ICC.Eventually it was spin which brought the breakthrough, Brathwaite driving away from his body to give Stokes a catch at slip. England would have had expectations of making further inroads into the middle order, but Hope and Chase sensibly soaked up the pressure after tea as Root gave Anderson an extended 10-over spell either side of the break which gave him precious little time to rest before the new ball.The harder ball zipped under the lights, but also came quicker off the bat – the middle and edges – as it dawned on England that the game had escaped them. With the target closing in Blackwood swung fiercely at Broad, edging a boundary and then clearing third man for six. There was still time for one more dropped catch – Stokes, of all people, shelling Blackwood at deep midwicket – but by then West Indies were all-but home. Lord’s, next week, is one of the more unexpected deciders.

A major update has emerged on the future of one of Michael Beale's current Glasgow Rangers forwards ahead of the 2023/24 campaign…

What's the latest Rangers transfer news?

According to The 4th Official, the Light Blues have told Fashion Sakala that he is free to find a new club before the end of the summer transfer window.

Beale has reportedly made it clear that the Zambia international's time at Ibrox is over and the attacker will not be part of his plans for the upcoming season.

Read the latest Rangers transfer news HERE…

The outlet states that there is interest from Saudi Arabia, but the 26-year-old foward has already turned down the chance to move there, alongside the likes of Cristiano Ronaldo and Karim Benzema.

However, it remains to be seen whether or not he is willing to change his mind or wait for other options to arise before September's deadline.

How many goals did Fashion Sakala score last season?

The electric whiz plundered 12 goals across 41 appearances for the Scottish giants in all competitions last term and was a reliable attacking threat for Beale.

He produced 12 goals and eight assists in 29 Scottish Premiership outings for Rangers, which works out as a direct goal contribution every 1.45 matches on average.

This came after the 26-year-old sensation managed 12 goals and seven assists in 50 clashes across all competitions during his debut year in Scotland.

New is not always better and the Gers may learn that the hard way as there is little evidence so far to suggest that Brighton & Hove Albion loanee Abdallah Sima will offer more than the £8.3k-per-week gem, which means that Beale is heading for a huge transfer blunder.

The 22-year-old winger provided six goals and two assists in 37 games on loan at Angers in France last season, which came after he failed to score or assist any strikes in four competitive matches for Stoke during the previous campaign.

These statistics show that the summer signing does not have a recent track record of being a reliable option in the final third as a scorer or a creator from out wide.

Sima has gone four appearances without a goal, albeit in pre-season, for Rangers so far, whilst Sakala scored once in three friendlies before being left out of the most recent clash with Hoffenheim on Saturday.

Whilst it is harsh to judge players based on their pre-season form, their respective form aligns with what they have shown in competitive matches over the last two campaigns.

Only Antonio Colak (14) and James Tavernier (16) scored more Premiership goals than Sakala last term.

The Zambian finisher, who was once dubbed a "firework" by ex-Gers full-back Alan Hutton, was one of the club's most reliable scorers and they are now willing to move him on without the guarantee of an excellent replacement.

Sima's goalless pre-season and less-than-outstanding spells in front of goal against Angers and Stoke City do not suggest that he will be able to replace the exceptional contributions that the ex-Oostende star provided.

Therefore, Beale is heading for a significant blunder in the transfer window as his side could lose a significant goal threat unless Sima is able to burst onto the scene and show far more than he has in recent seasons and for the Gers so far.

West Ham United are still on the lookout for Declan Rice's midfield replacement, two weeks on from their captain departing for Arsenal in a British-record deal.

Who are West Ham signing to replace Declan Rice?

David Moyes' side have been linked with countless midfielders in the weeks before and since Rice's exit, namely Fulham's Joao Palhinha, Everton's Amadou Onana and Juventus' Denis Zakaria.

Southampton captain James Ward-Prowse is another name that refuses to go away, even if the England international is not strictly a like-for-like replacement for Rice in terms of their playing style.

According to The Guardian, West Ham are looking to bring in two midfielders with the windfall they received through Rice's sale, and have now stepped up their interest in Ward-Prowse.

How many free-kicks has James Ward-Prowse scored?

Southampton are said to value Ward-Prowse in the region of £40m, which is a large fee on the face of it considering the Saints were relegated to the Championship last season.

The 28-year-old boasts plenty of Premier League experience, however, having played 343 times at that level since making his Southampton debut in the competition on the opening day of the 2012/13 season.

Ward-Prowse has also played 11 times for England – though not since last year – and has scored a couple of goals in heavy wins over Andorra and San Marino in 2021.

With nine goals and four assists in a poor Southampton side last season, Ward-Prowse ranks in the top 13% of all midfielders across Europe's top five leagues for goals scored, as per The Analyst.

The Portsmouth native is also in the top 15% for chances created, showing that he is more than capable of doing a job in the Premier League, even if he was captain of a relegated side last time out.

Three of those nine goals were scored via direct free-kicks – the most of any player in the Premier League last season. Indeed, only Manchester United legend David Beckham (18) has scored more than Ward-Prowse in the competition's history.

That ability to both score and pick out a team-mate from set-pieces would be a major asset for Moyes, and would also bring back memories of fan favourite – at the time, at least – Dimitri Payet.

Payet has scored 14 direct free-kicks in his career, as per Transfermarkt, six of those during his 18 months at West Ham.

Indeed, after a run of netting via that method for club and country in 2016, Payet revealed he had stopped practising them on the training ground as there was no way to further improve his technique.

It is not too dissimilar in the case of Ward-Prowse, with former Southampton manager Ralph Hasenhuttl previously hailing the midfielder as a "quality" player whose set-piece prowess was – and is, for now – "such a good weapon" for the Saints.

That is not the only similarity between the two players, either. Taking Payet's only full season at West Ham in 2015/16 and potentially Ward-Prowse's final season with Southampton last time out into account, the pair each scored nine Premier League goals.

The only notable difference is in attitude, with Ward-Prowse very much a team player. While he may not be able to replace Rice on his own, the Englishman can at least bring a bit of the past back to the London Stadium should he arrive.

The team is set to depart for Sri Lanka to play three Tests, five ODIs and a T20I

ESPNcricinfo staff07-Jul-2017Tour schedule

First Test: July 26-30, Galle

Second Test – August 3-7, SSC

Third Test – August 12-16, Pallekele

First ODI: August 20, Dambulla

Second ODI: August 24, Pallekele

Third ODI: August 27, Pallekele

Fourth ODI: August 31, Khettarama

Fifth ODI: September 3, Khettarama

Only T20: September 6, Khettarama

India’s full tour of Sri Lanka, which features three Tests, five ODIs and a T20I, will begin in Galle on July 26, according to an SLC press release.No practice matches have been announced so far, but the internationals themselves go until September 6, when the T20I is scheduled to be played at Khettarama.After the first Test in Galle, the action moves to the SSC in Colombo, before the final Test is set for Pallekele – a venue that has never hosted an India Test. One ODI is scheduled for Dambulla, and two each for Pallekele and Khettarama. No matches are due to be played in Hambantota, which is presently hosting the last three Zimbabwe ODIs.Sri Lanka last hosted India in 2015, though that was only for a Test series, which India won 2-1. Sri Lanka have since slipped in the rankings, sliding to seventh in Tests, eighth in ODIs, and eighth in T20Is, where India are first, third and fourth respectively.

After being on the fortunate end of a washout in their first group game, Australia were denied victory at The Oval, where it began to rain after 16 overs of the chase

The Report by Mohammad Isam05-Jun-2017Match abandoned

Scorecard and ball-by-ball details2:34

Fleming: Frustrating for everyone but Bangladesh

After being on the fortunate end of a washout in their first group game, Australia were denied victory against Bangladesh at The Oval, where they were firmly in control of a small chase when it began to rain after 16 overs. They needed to play four more overs to ensure a result but the London weather did not allow it.The last action on the field, before the players went off at 6.43 pm, involved Steven Smith simply blocking five deliveries from Mashrafe Mortaza without attempting to score, in the hope of speeding up proceedings to get to 20 overs. Australia would have been well ahead of the par score. The match was eventually called off at 9.18 pm.With two points from two washouts, Australia now have to beat England in their final group game to have a chance of making the semi-finals. Bangladesh, who have only one point after two games, are not yet out of contention either.It had drizzled towards the end of Bangladesh’s innings and there was a small delay in the start of the chase. Australia began it confidently. Aaron Finch and David Warner clubbed a couple of boundaries each and the pace did not flag even after Finch fell lbw to Rubel Hossain. Warner became the fastest Australia to 4000 ODI runs.Bangladesh bowled only one over of spin, not hurrying the over-rate along by using their quicks for 15 overs. As Smith and Warner began a fluent partnership, their race was not against the bowling but the weather, and ultimately it was futile.The weather was fair for much of the first innings but Bangladesh’s batting was not, with the exception of Tamim Iqbal, who waged a lone battle against Australia’s pace battery.His 95 came off 114 balls, and included six fours and three sixes, but Tamim had little support from his team-mates and had to readjust his tempo every time a wicket fell. The first three went in the space of 11 overs – Mushfiqur Rahim did not review his lbw through he had got an inside edge – and Tamim began to rebuild the innings with Shakib. Their partnership had grown to 69 before Shakib was given out lbw to Travis Head; Nigel Llong’s decision appeared spot on despite the batsmen being well down the track.Legspinner Adam Zampa debunked any doubt about his inclusion by taking two wickets in consecutive overs, though Smith brought him into the attack in the 35th over.Mitchell Starc then ripped out the last four Bangladesh wickets in the space of nine balls, including three in one over – Tamim was caught pulling to fine-leg, before Mashrafe Mortaza and Rubel Hossain were bowled by full and fast deliveries. Mustafizur Rahman narrowly survived Starc’s hat-trick ball but Mehedi was clean bowled in the next over.The weather had begun to worsen, though, and the players spent the best part of the evening indoors.

Yesterday we covered reports that Newcastle United transfer target Federico Chiesa would accept a move to St James' Park, and it seems that interest is now more advanced with the player actually leaning towards going to Tyneside.

What is Federico Cheisa's salary?

The Italian is arguably one of the most devastating attacking players in Serie A on his day, combining pace, trickery and end product to great effect. He showcased his brilliance on the international stage at Euro 2020, helping Italy go all the way in the competition after their penalty shootout win over England in the final back in 2021.

Chiesa suffered an injury-plagued season at Juventus, however, managing only six starts and 15 substitute appearances, with just two goals coming his way in the process. It could be that the 25-year-old, who currently earns £149,000 per week at the Serie A giants, is allowed to leave in the current transfer window, which could act as a big boost for Newcastle.

The Magpies were linked with a move for the Italy international earlier this week, with the club seeing him as a potentially stellar signing who can bolster their attacking options and be an immediate upgrade on those currently playing regularly out wide, such as Allan Saint-Maximin and Miguel Almiron.

Will Federico Chiesa join Newcastle?

Now, according to Corriera della Sera [via Sport Witness], Chiesa is "intrigued by Newcastle" after hearing about their interest in him, and is actually tempted to make a fresh start in the Northeast.

He has already turned down a move to Aston Villa, in order to join a team who can promise him Champions League football – something the Magpies can give him, following their superb fourth-place finish in the Premier League last season, as they pipped Liverpool to a place in Europe's most prestigious club competition.

Chiesa really could be a fantastic signing for Newcastle if they can persuade him to make the move to St James' Park, considering what an elite talent he is, hailed as "world-class" and someone who "has all the ability and desire of a great player" by former Italy defender Alessandro Pierini.

At 25, he is right in the middle of his career, gaining lots of experience at the top level but still also having five or six years in and around his peak, making him a long-term acquisition for the Magpies, should they beat others to his signature before the start of the 2023/24 season.

This is someone who has 77 goal involvements (38 goals and 39 assists) in 202 Serie A appearances, not to mention netting five times for Italy, and this level of end product could take Eddie Howe's side up another gear, in terms of the attacking threat they possess, rather than relying too much on the goals of Alexander Isak and Callum Wilson.

A transfer like this would make Premier League rivals sit up and take notice, further suggesting that Newcastle are only heading in the right direction currently, and it could act as a catalyst for other top-quality players joining him at St James' and adding to the rebuild, as the Magpies look to eventually become a genuine league and Champions League force.

Rising Pune Supergiant have won their last three away games, and present a serious threat to Sunrisers Hyderabad’s undefeated home record this season

The Preview by Karthik Krishnaswamy05-May-2017Match factsSunrisers Hyderabad v Rising Pune Supergiant
Hyderabad, May 6, 2017
Start time 1600 local (1030 GMT)3:11

Tait: Big test for Unadkat against Warner & co

Form guide

Sunrisers Hyderabad (fourth): lost to Delhi Daredevils by six wickets, defeated Kolkata Knight Riders by 48 runs, defeated Kings XI Punjab by 26 runs

Rising Pune Supergiant (third): defeated Kolkata Knight Riders by four wickets, defeated Gujarat Lions by five wickets, defeated Royal Challengers Bangalore by 61 runs

Head-to-headThis season: MS Dhoni turned back the clock in a chase of 177, producing a finishing masterclass that earned Rising Pune a four-wicket win at the MCA Stadium.Overall: The two teams have met three times, with Rising Pune winning twice and losing once.In the newsAshish Nehra has been in and out of the Sunrisers line-up, battling neck spasms. On the eve of the game, Sunrisers coach Tom Moody said Nehra could be available for selection. If fit, he should replace either Mohammed Siraj or Siddarth Kaul in their pace attack.Sunrisers picked Deepak Hooda ahead of Bipul Sharma in their last match, against Delhi Daredevils. Hooda did not bat, and Sunrisers ended up hampered by the lack of a genuine sixth-bowling option. With that in mind – and the fact that their wicketkeeper-batsman Naman Ojha has not batted in their last five matches – Sunrisers may recall Bipul and give themselves an additional spin option.Qualification scenarioBoth teams are frontrunners to make the playoffs, but neither is there quite yet. A win for either team will obviously enhance their chances, but even 16 points isn’t quite safe for Rising Pune, as there is still a possibility of up to six teams finishing with 16 or more points (and that holds even if Kings XI lose to Royal Challengers today). Similarly, 15 points won’t be enough for Sunrisers either, as four teams could go past that tally.Sunrisers have a home game against Mumbai Indians, followed by an away one against Gujarat Lions in Kanpur, while Rising Pune play an away game against Daredevils, and finish their campaign at home against Kings XI.Likely XIsSunrisers Hyderabad: 1 David Warner (capt), 2 Shikhar Dhawan, 3 Kane Williamson, 4 Yuvraj Singh, 5 Moises Henriques, 6 Naman Ojha (wk), 7 Deepak Hooda/Bipul Sharma, 8 Rashid Khan, 9 Bhuvneshwar Kumar 10 Siddarth Kaul, 11 Mohammed Siraj/Ashish Nehra.Rising Pune Supergiant: 1 Ajinkya Rahane, 2 Rahul Tripathi, 3 Steven Smith (capt), 4 MS Dhoni, 5 Ben Stokes, 6 Manoj Tiwary, 7 Daniel Christian, 8 Washington Sundar, 9 Shardul Thakur, 10 Jaydev Unadkat, 11 Imran Tahir.Strategy puntBhuvneshwar Kumar has dismissed Ajinkya Rahane six times in the IPL – no other bowler has dismissed him more than three times – while only conceding 64 off 67 balls. Rahane has struggled against Bipul Sharma as well, scoring only 12 off 23 balls against the left-arm spinner. To Rahane’s opening partner, Rahul Tripathi, Bipul has conceded 9 off 11 balls.* A case, therefore, for Sunrisers to open the bowling with Bhuvneshwar and Bipul.Stats that matter Sunrisers are the only team in the tournament to have not lost a home game yet. Rising Pune, however, have won their last three away games, and have beaten the other two teams in the top four – Mumbai Indians and Kolkata Knight Riders – away from home. Sunrisers’ bowling has plateaued after an excellent start to the tournament. In the period coinciding with their first five games, Sunrisers had the second-best average (20.30) and economy rate (8.08) of all the teams. In their next five games, their average (30.55) is second from bottom while only Gujarat Lions and Delhi Daredevils have an economy rate poorer than Sunrisers’ 8.93. Bhuvneshwar Kumar made a sensational start to the season, taking 15 wickets in his first five matches at 7.20 while conceding only 5.40 per over. Since then, he has taken six wickets in five games at an average of 26.16 while conceding 7.85. Wary of his wicket-taking threat, teams have adopted a safety-first strategy against Rashid Khan. The legspinner’s economy rate in his last five matches (6.40) is better than it was in his first five (7.25), but where he took nine wickets in his first five games, he has only taken three in his next five.Moises Henriques has been especially poor in Sunrisers’ last five matches, bowling 12.1 overs while conceding 11.67 per over. Ben Stokes has enjoyed a dramatic turnaround in his death-bowling fortunes. In his first four games, he conceded 11.25 an over in the last five overs – in his next seven matches, that economy rate has dropped to 5.60. Sunrisers have only lost 41 wickets in ten matches, and have the best batting average (43.58) and scoring rate (9.14) of all teams this season. Their top five have averaged 45.97 – the best among all the teams – and scored at a strike rate of 146.00, second only to Kolkata Knight Riders, who have scored at 147.71.*07.40GMT, May 6: The preview had erroneously stated that Bhuvneshwar had not previously bowled to Tripathi. This has been removed.

Wolverhampton Wanderers are on the verge of re-signing Matt Doherty in what would be an 'unbelievable' return for the Irishman to Molineux and his addition may push Nelson Semedo out of the club, according to journalist Dean Jones.

Is Matt Doherty set for a return to Wolverhampton Wanderers?

According to TEAMtalk, Doherty is in talks over a dramatic return to Wolves following his release from Atletico Madrid, where he earned £68,000 per week in his short spell, at the end of last season.

The Republic of Ireland international has also had interest in his services from Saudi Arabia and Crystal Palace; however, the Old Gold are now 'closing in' on capturing the right-back and hope that they can officially announce his signature in the near future.

Cited by The Daily Mail, Doherty is represented by Jorge Mendes' Gestifute agency who are believed to have strong links to Wolves, which in turn will increase the chances of any deal happening.

Wolves are conducting their transfer business under strict financial limits and are of the notion that being able to acquire an experienced player with Premier League experience without having to pay a fee represents a savvy piece of recruitment.

Further lending credence to the speculation surrounding Doherty's future, The Athletic have chimed in and indicated that Wolves are in advanced talks to sign the 31-year-old, though no deal has yet been agreed between both parties despite holding 'positive discussions' in the last few days.

In his first stint at Molineux, Doherty became an icon at Wolves and made 302 appearances in all competitions, registering 28 goals and 41 assists, as per Transfermarkt.

Speaking to GIVEMESPORT, journalist Jones has said that Doherty's proposed move to Wolves is 'in motion' while believes his arrival could have an effect on Portuguese right-back Semedo's future at Molineux, as the 29-year-old has been linked with a move to Roma, as per Marca via Roma Press.

Jones stated: "This one is in motion and I’m told it is happening. It’s a great opportunity to sign a good player without a big outlay and obviously that suits Wolves. But at the same time, it is quite an unbelievable story really because I never saw a time when he would return. From his point of view, Doherty is such a driven player, someone who seemed so determined to prove he can make it to the very top of the game, that going back to Wolves has always seemed a bit out of the question.

"If you look for a knock-on effect for a potential arrival of Doherty, then it is probably to see what happens with Semedo. He was the only player looking to start at right-back and Roma have already shown interest in him."

Will Wolverhampton Wanderers be able to effectively strengthen this summer?

Wolves manager Julen Lopetegui spoke out earlier this year about monetary problems at the club due to Financial Fair Play regulations and urged the Old Gold to 'solve' the mess they were in or risk finding it 'very difficult' to compete in the Premier League.

Nevertheless, following their sale of Nathan Collins to Brentford for £23 million this window, Sky Sports journalist Rob Dorsett via Football Daily revealed that Wolves are no longer under financial pressure to sell players this summer, in a major boost for the West Midlands outfit.

Bristol City starlet Alex Scott has emerged as a target for Wolves this summer as they plot an improvement on last campaign; however, any deal would cost in the region of £25 million, according to The Athletic's Steve Madeley.

According to The Daily Mail, Juventus midfielder Arthur Melo has been identified as another potential arrival at Molineux and they are considering offering him a shot at redemption in the Premier League following a torrid spell at Liverpool, signifying that movement regarding incomings at Wolves may begin shortly.

Liverpool manager Jurgen Klopp has been backed by the board so far this summer as the club have brought in two new midfield recruits to bolster the squad.

Alexis Mac Allister joined from fellow Premier League side Brighton & Hove Albion last month and Hungary international Dominik Szoboszlai arrived from RB Leipzig last weekend.

The attacking midfielder has signed a five-year contract with the Reds for a fee of around £60m, after two-and-a-half years in the Bundesliga.

Upon his arrival, the 22-year-old ace said: “[A] really historic club, really good players, good coach, everything is good. For me it was perfect to make the next step in a club like this. The fans, the stadium, everything is really good.”

He may not be the last midfield signing for Klopp's side, though, and one player who has been linked with a switch to Anfield this summer is Atalanta star Teun Koopmeiners, with his valuation said to be around €40m (£35m).

What is Teun Koopmeiners' style of play?

The Netherlands international is a left-footed maestro with the ability to score goals on a regular basis from midfield, whilst also being able to create chances for his teammates, something could make him an unstoppable partner for Szoboszlai.

He averaged a Sofascore rating of 7.19 across 32 Serie A appearances last season and contributed with an eye-catching ten goals, to go along with his four assists. To put that into context, no Reds midfielder managed more than three Premier League goals.

This suggests that the Dutch sensation, who Feyenoord U21 coach Keon Stam hailed as "dominant", could be a huge upgrade on the manager's current attacking options in that position.

As for Liverpool's new number eight, he is a terrific right-footed player who has the quality to score and create goals from the middle of the park, as he proved in the German top-flight last season.

Szoboszlai averaged a Sofascore rating of 7.42 over 31 Bundesliga outings as the Hungarian wizard chipped in with six goals and eight assists.

He created 14 'big chances' to go alongside his 2.3 key passes per match, with no Liverpool player producing more than 1.9 chances created per outing, indicating that the former Leipzig man will be an outstanding threat for Klopp on the ball.

Koopmeiners ranks among the top 5% of players in his position in the Men's Big Five Leagues and European competitions over the last 365 days for shot-creating actions per 90 (4.16), while Szoboszlai is situated in the top 9% – with 5.09 – of attacking midfielders and wingers within the same statistic.

This shows that both players are exceptional creators, while their aforementioned form last season shows they are also terrific scorers, who could cause huge problems for opposition defences next term.

Therefore, they could be an unstoppable pairing in midfield for Liverpool, with Szoboszlai on the right and Koopmeiners on the left, due to their exceptional attacking quality.

That's a thought that should well excite supporters with the likes of Mo Salah and Darwin Nunez set to be inundated with more more opportunities in front of goal.