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Delhi’s dropped chances and unclear strategic decisions hurt them on the third day as Vidarbha piled on the runs in Indore

The Report by Vishal Dikshit in Indore31-Dec-2017Akshay Wadkar struck his maiden first-class hundred•PTI

If one had to compile the top cricket surprises of 2017, Vidarbha’s Ranji Trophy campaign would feature fairly high. They continued to impress right until the last day of the year with a solid lower-order performance that gave them an imposing lead of 233 against Delhi, who have slowly been pushed towards the runners-up position.Vidarbha’s ascendancy came with a seventh-wicket stand of 169 runs between wicketkeeper-batsman Akshay Wadkar, who scored his maiden first-class century, and allrounder Aditya Sarwate. Delhi’s showing was marred by dropped catches, a missed stumping and a feeble bowling attack that could do little on a pitch that has started to favour batsmen. Wadkar’s unbeaten innings was later complemented by a barrage of boundaries from Siddhesh Neral (56*) who struck his maiden first-class half-century with four fours and as many sixes.Akshay Wadkar on…

Coming into the squad late in the season: “Initially I wasn’t picked in the team so I performed in the local matches. After scoring two hundreds and three fifties I was picked in the team. Initially I could not perform but in the the quarter-final, we were not in a good position and I like performing under pressure so that’s what I did. I have the confidence for that.”
The pressure after losing Wasim Jaffer: “There was pressure obviously, because we were still trailing and it was important that I stuck around. It was crucial to build a partnership, if we had lost a wicket then we may not have taken a lead.”
Century partnership with Aditya Sarwate: “We share a very good bonding so we know each other’s strengths and weaknesses. We kept communicating especially when one of us felt dicey or in doubt.”
Siddhesh Neral’s attacking shots: “He himself said, ‘I’ll play my shots since I’m hitting well and I have luck with that drop and being caught off a no ball’. He wanted to score today because who knows what will happen tomorrow.”
His plan when he was batting: “We wanted to play the entire day. [Chandrakant Pandit] sir had said ‘play as much as you can and try to stay unbeaten’. I did not even think I’d score a hundred. My only plan was to stay not out and make the team win with my contribution. I also got to score after I settled in and as the match went on.”

The day began with Wasim Jaffer edging the fourth ball into the cordon, but Kunal Chandela dropped it while diving to his left from second slip when the ball was headed straight to first. Vidarbha were still trailing by 89 then. To rub salt into Delhi’s wounds, Jaffer steered a short delivery two balls later to third man for four.Navdeep Saini was extracting pace and reverse swing with the old ball but Delhi captain Rishabh Pant made the mistake of bowling him for too long at a stretch. Saini did account for nightwatchman Aditya Wakhare and later Jaffer (78) too, aided by a poor lbw decision, but to make him bowl eight overs with the old ball and then hand him the new one too proved detrimental. Five balls into his ninth over, Saini walked off.By then, Sarwate was scoring at more than run-a-ball with authoritative drives. A more sedate Wakhare gathered confidence by slapping a short ball from Kulwant Khejroliya down the ground to level the scores and followed it with a cut for four more two balls later. The second chance of the session went down when Sarwate edged left-arm spinner Vikas Mishra to slip where the ball went through Gambhir and the batsman brought up a 62-ball fifty.Siddhesh Neral was ecstatic after getting to fifty•PTI

The Vidarbha lower order wore Delhi down even more in the second session. Even though Wadkar and Sarwate slowed their scoring rate, Pant barely had any bowling options to fall back on with left-arm spinner Manan Sharma down with a knee injury he picked up while fielding. Akash Sudan ran in without much threat, Khejroliya banged in plenty of half-trackers and Mishra kept darting deliveries that were blocked in front of the stumps. Saini returned after lunch but Vidarbha had gone past 350 by then.The extents to which Delhi were stretched was clear in how Nitish Rana stopped bowling medium-pace and turned to offspin. Pant brought on part-time offspinner Dhruv Shorey too to try his luck and Shorey’s third delivery created a chance. Sarwate, on 67, came down and missed a flick but Pant himself failed to execute a sharp stumping. Four overs later, Sarwate, still on 67, was dropped by short leg off Shorey again.Wadkar had overtaken Sarwate by now and Saini had begun to tire again. This made Pant bring back Rana and the change surprisingly worked when Sarwate was caught behind off a flat delivery, with Pant holding on this time. Wadkar stamped his authority further when he stepped out and hit Mishra for a six and a four straight down the ground to celebrate his century in animated fashion.Sarwate’s wicket brought no respite for Delhi. Neral had already smacked Rana for a six before Wadkar’s century and belted more boundaries in the last session by backing away against the pacers for slashes and pulls. After collecting two fours off Khejroliya, he ramped a short delivery to straight third man, and though the fielder held on this time, it was called a no-ball for being the third bouncer of the over.Neral whacked two sixes off Khejroliya and cracked his fourth four to bring up his fifty. Two balls later, he miscued a pull and Khejroliya ran in from long-on for a skier but could not take it cleanly. Like Marvel’s superhero movies that always leave something post credits, Delhi had another problem coming. On 53, Neral pulled Khejroliya and the leading edge was pouched easily by the bowler, but this wasn’t a legal delivery either. Khejroliya had overstepped.Such instances summed up the day for Delhi as Vidarbha amassed 322 runs for the loss of only three wickets.

“The resolution is to agree to implement and support the Lodha Committee reforms along with any modifications that the court might pass,”Abhay Apte, MCA president said

Nagraj Gollapudi05-Dec-2017Maharashtra Cricket Association (MCA) may soon become the fourth member of BCCI to accept the Lodha Committee recommendations. At a managing committee meeting on December 2, the MCA members decided to unanimously adopt the reforms subject to a final stamp of approval at a special general body meeting (SGM) later this month.”The resolution is to agree to implement and support the Lodha Committee reforms along with any modifications that the court might pass,”Abhay Apte, MCA president, told ESPNcricinfo.Vidarbha Cricket Association was the first BCCI member to adopt the Lodha reforms in October 2016, followed by Tripura and Rajasthan. ESPNcricinfo understands that Uttar Pradesh Cricket Association (UPCA), another powerful member of the BCCI, has passed a resolution to adopt the reforms. A formal and final decision is likely to be taken soon.At the MCA managing committee meeting, the 26-member body deliberated on whether it should keep to the status quo or adopt the reforms which have been pending since July 2016. The Supreme Court had ordered the BCCI to change its constitution by including the recommendations by December last year. It had also directed the BCCI members – the state associations – to follow suit and amend their respective constitutions.However, the BCCI office bearers and many state associations have filed pleas in the court challenging its judgement. At the time of the verdict, Ajay Shirke was at the helm as MCA president. He was also serving as BCCI secretary until he was sacked by the court in January 2017 for failing to get the board to accept the Lodha committee’s recommendations.Apte, a senior lawyer, replaced Shirke as the MCA president and has been one of the few voices at BCCI meetings supporting the need for change. Even at MCA, Apte has urged his members to weigh in the long-term repercussions of opposing the Lodha reforms. With the court-appointed Committee of Administrators making it clear that funds would only be disbursed once the states adopt the new constitution, MCA has been feeling quite the strain. Its financial situation has been grim for a long time and Apte urged the members to take a forward-looking step.”Our financial condition is not very good and we would like to overcome that,” he said. “The members have come forward to support the association’s cause. We can’t continue with this status quo, We want to devote time to cricket.”

Trevor Bayliss has called on CA and the ECB to “get together” to ensure a better standard of preparation for both teams on Ashes tours

George Dobell in Townsville18-Nov-2017Trevor Bayliss has called on CA and the ECB to “get together” to ensure a better standard of preparation for both teams on Ashes tours.Bayliss, the England coach, has stated several times that he would have preferred England to encounter stiffer opposition ahead of the first Test but has been at pains to point out that the situation is not so different for Australia when they visit the UK.As a result, Bayliss has already spoken to Andrew Strauss – the director of England cricket – to suggest that first-class matches against an A team (effectively the national second XI) are written into future Ashes schedules ahead of the first Test, adding that he will speak to Pat Howard (Strauss’s counterpart in Australia) about the matter in the coming days.”Both Australia and England should be getting together and having at least one match against the A team before each series,” Bayliss said. “I’ve already mentioned it to Strauss and I will mention it to Pat Howard when I see him too.There was a certain irony in the timing of Bayliss’ words. While the CA XI that England played in Townsville contained just one man with a first-class century to his name prior to the match – Nick Larkin – by the time it ended, two more young Australian batsmen had maiden first-class hundreds. And as England laboured throughout the final day in taking just one wicket, it became harder to sustain the argument that the opposition was as modest as had first appeared.In truth, though, that was partially the result of an unusually slow, flat wicket which is unlikely to be replicated during the Ashes series. And while the England camp are reluctant to make any public complaint about the preparation they have been provided by CA, there is a sense that both the surfaces and the opposition to this point have left them facing a major change of quality – and specifically pace – when they arrive at the Gabba.Underlining that suspicion – or, depending on your view, paranoia – is the training schedule ahead of the first Test on Thursday. England will train in the afternoon on Tuesday and Wednesday – often teams alternate between morning and afternoon sessions on consecutive days – giving them slightly less time to rest and slightly less exposure to conditions throughout the day.”That was a bone of contention,” Bayliss said. “The home team makes the programme and that’s just the way it is. We will take it on the chin and get on with it.”

The threat of a final-day defeat at Kia Oval, plus signs of a Somerset revival in the west, have put Yorkshire’s top-flight status in jeopardy

Alan Gardner at The Kia Oval14-Sep-20171:31

County Championship Round-up: Yorkshire in strife

Yorkshire were left facing a battle to avoid defeat after three days at The Oval, with their Division One status becoming increasingly imperilled. They were made to follow on for the third time this season after being dismissed for 396 by Surrey, for whom Gareth Batty and Freddie van den Bergh shared six wickets, and reached the close still 139 in arrears.On a surface that has worn slowly but steadily, Surrey’s pair of spinners likely hold the key to victory. Batty soon brought himself on again and, although he could not add to Sam Curran’s initial breakthrough, Yorkshire have a job on their hands if they are to emulate their escape against Hampshire earlier this season, when Gary Ballance’s unbeaten double-hundred secured a draw after following on at the Ageas Bowl.They did at least begin steadily, losing just the wicket of Tom Kohler-Cadmore in the 23 overs remaining of the evening session, as Shaun Marsh and Alex Lees reached stumps unbeaten. With Somerset closing in on victory over Lancashire and Middlesex seeking bonus points from their severely rain-affected fixture at Uxbridge, defeat here would likely leave Yorkshire in the bottom two.Kohler-Cadmore had described the pitch as one he would “love to bat on every week” after play on the second evening and he was quickly given another chance as Yorkshire failed to reach the 443 they required to avert the follow-on. He could only manage 11 this time around before falling lbw and it remains to be seen whether he will keep his place in the side for the visit of bottom club Warwickshire to Headingley next week, with Adam Lyth likely to return and West Indies opener Kraigg Brathwaite set for a debut.For a Yorkshire side that claimed the Championship trophy in 2014 and 2015, before narrowly missing out on three in a row this time last year, this has been a difficult campaign – the first under Andrew Gale as coach. Depleted by England call-ups (they are currently missing Joe Root, Jonny Bairstow, Adil Rashid, Liam Plunkett and David Willey due to the limited-overs series with West Indies), they must now summon some of the grit Gale was famous for as a player if they are to see out the final day.The morning began with van den Bergh, on his Championship debut, picking up where he left off – his spell from the Pavilion End eventually lasting 32 overs before the arrival of the second new ball allowed him a break. Aged 25, van den Burgh has played nine games of senior cricket going back to 2011, but a muscle injury for Amir Virdi meant he won a chance against Yorkshire. He should expect plenty more opportunities to impress on the final day.Van den Bergh certainly made an impact, as he had a hand in each of the first four wickets to fall. Kohler-Cadmore had spooned a catch to point in the final overs of the second day, after an opening stand of 162, and Marsh also failed to go on, stumped for an identical 78 after being lured forward by the slow left-armer.That was in the sixth over of the day, enough to send the first shiver through Yorkshire supporters. The captain, Ballance, then joined Lees, whose unproductive season has seen him drop down to No. 3, in a stand worth 53 but van den Bergh struck again an hour into the session. Lees had accumulated steadily but on 46 connected with a firm sweep that Ryan Patel, at square leg, dived to snatch up one-handed.The loss of Ballance, who had been averaging 91.89 in the Championship coming into this match, was a more debilitating blow. He set off for an ambitious single having pushed towards cover and then could not get back in time as the bowler hared after it and relayed the throw to Ben Foakes behind the stumps. At 243 for 4, the good ship Yorkshire had struck an ice (van den) Bergh.Although the rest of the innings fell away in slow motion, there was a sense of inevitability about it. Jack Leaning helped add another 59 with Andrew Hodd before edging a Curran delivery with the second new ball to Foakes; Hodd and Tim Bresnan then buckled down for 18 overs to put on 41. But with Yorkshire still 100 from the follow-on target, Batty crowbarred out two more: Bresnan taken at slip, then Azeem Rafiq lbw for a three-ball duck.Hodd went on to a fourth fifty of the season but he could not carry Yorkshire as far as they needed. Stuart Meaker made a mess of Steve Patterson’s stumps and Foakes claimed a fourth victim with an excellent diving grab as Curran found Jack Brooks’ outside edge, before Hodd was last out trying to swing Batty into the stands and only finding cover.

Anthony Gordon should start the opening game of the 2023/24 season, according to Craig Hope.

The winger has impressed for Newcastle United so far this pre-season.

How old is Anthony Gordon?

The 22-year-old is currently enjoying an impressive run of games in his young career.

Following his move from Everton in January for a fee of £45m, Gordon had a disappointing start to life on Tyneside, making 16 appearances and managing just one goal, with arguably his most memorable moment in a Magpies shirt last season being him "fuming" after being subbed off against Brentford in a game where he had come off the bench at half time.

This summer has been a very strong one for the youngster, with the Liverpool-born winger being a crucial player throughout the England U21 Euros campaign, scoring two and assisting one as the national team won their first U21 Euros in over 30 years. Gordon was so impressive throughout that he was named as the Player of the Tournament, with the technical observer panel who awarded him the honour stating: "He played the whole tournament at a high level, scoring two goals and getting one assist."

The player has since joined up with the Magpies on their pre-season tour in America with the PL Summer Series, and has impressed in his limited game time, with journalist Hope awarding rating the winger's performance against Chelsea as an 8/10, stating:

"Another brilliant, purposeful showing. Looks miles ahead of his team-mates for sharpness. Laid on goal for Almiron."

Hope took to his YouTube channel after the game to continue his praise of the winger, stating that he believes the 22-year-old should be one of the first names on the team sheet for the sides opening game of the Premier League season against Aston Villa:

"Gordon just looks super sharp right now and his role in the goal for Almiron, the way he’s burnt past his man in the middle of the park, I’m saying the same things here because the same players are impressing me and deserve that mention and it’s proof that it’s not a one off it’s confirming that what we are seeing is that Anthony Gordon is flying, genuinely is. Again tonight he’s reinforced that for me, Anthony Gordon starts against Aston Villa 100%, in fact he’s almost the first name on the team sheet."

Where will Gordon play?

Gordon has shown throughout his career so far that he is a very versatile option.

The young forward has played across the frontline as well as in attacking midfield according to Transfermarkt, and that flexibility will be vital for a Newcastle team competing in the Champions League for the first time in over 20 years, as it will allow a number of players to be rested knowing that Gordon can not only play in that position but perform well in that position.

Gordon will face some tough competition for game-time in his natural position off of the left wing, as despite strong reports that Frenchman Allan Saint-Maximin will depart St James Park this summer, Eddie Howe has already brought in his replacement in the form of Harvey Barnes, who despite being relegated with Leicester City last season scored 13 goals and impressed many, earning him his £38m move to Tyneside.

Swedish forward Alexander Isak was also deployed on the left at points last season and impressed with his returns from the position, making him another option in that wide role.

An area where Gordon could get a lot of game time next season is the right wing. Miguel Almiron is the current first-choice option in that position and the Paraguayan enjoyed the finest campaign of his Newcastle career last season with 11 goals and two assists in the Premier League making him the clubs second-highest scorer. Should the 29-year-old struggle to recapture that form however, Gordon may be turned to for that right-wing spot.

The Indian T20I captain became the first woman from her country to be picked in England’s T20 competition

ESPNcricinfo staff27-May-2017

Harmanpreet Kaur is set to become the first Indian to play in the Kia Super League, England’s domestic T20 tournament. The 28-year old was signed up by Surrey Stars for the upcoming season starting in August 2017.Harmanpreet has played 139 international matches, scoring 2915 runs and collecting 34 wickets. She was selected as India’s T20I captain in November 2016 and has been a vital cog in India’s top order across all formats. She already has experience playing franchise T20 cricket, having turned out for Sydney Thunder in the Women’s Big Bash League last year. She made 296 runs at an average of 59.20 in 12 matches but was pulled out during the final stages of the tournament to attend a training camp with the rest of her Indian team-mates. Harmanpreet was adjudged Sydney Thunder’s WBBL Player of the Tournament.The second season of the Kia Super League begins on August 10. It features six teams, with the one finishing on top after the league stage moving through to the final. The second and third placed teams participate in a play-off and the winner moves on to the title clash.

Arsenal have entered pole position to sign Southampton starlet Romeo Lavia at the expense of Chelsea and Liverpool, according to reports.

Who are Arsenal signing this summer?

It's been a window to remember for Gooners so far, with their side already completing a deal for Germany international winger Kai Havertz from Chelsea for £65 million.

The forward will bolster Arsenal's ranks and provide a different dimension in the attacking areas, with manager Mikel Arteta raving over Havertz's versatility and quality.

“Kai is a player of top quality," said Arteta.

"He has great versatility and is an intelligent player. He will bring a huge amount of extra strength to our midfield and variety to our play.

“We welcome Kai and his family to Arsenal Football Club and we are all excited to start working with him when we start pre-season training soon.”

Meanwhile, Arsenal are also believed to be closing in on Ajax defender Jurrien Timber, coming as they finally agree a fee and payment structure for the signing of West Ham star Declan Rice.

The England international is set to join Arteta's side, with renowned transfer journalist Fabrizio Romano giving his famous "here we go".

Lavia, who has been repeatedly linked with a move to the Emirates Stadium, could be next to follow the aforementioned trio.

According to a report by Football Transfers, the 19-year-old would prefer to join Arsenal over both Chelsea and Liverpool.

What's more, Arsenal have got a headstart on their rivals, having been in talks with Lavia's entourage since April. Those discussions have gone very well – gifting them an "edge" in the race to sign him.

They're also able to pay better wages than the likes of Man City, Man Utd, Liverpool, Tottenham and Chelsea this summer, again reinforcing Arsenal's position.

However, agreeing a fee with Southampton may be tricky, as it is believed the Saints want as much as £50 million for the Belgium international.

What's been said about Romeo Lavia?

The teenage sensation has been exceptional since his move from Man City to Southampton last summer, with members of the media describing him as a "shining star" on the south coast.

Former Man United star Paul Scholes is another big admirer, having endorsed Lavia's passing range and physicality in the centre of midfield last year.

"I was surprised when City let him go I think he is good enough potentially, he is only 18-years-old maybe hold him back a bit," explained Scholes.

"He has got a pass in his locker and he is big and strong and likes to defend. He does not want to get forward too much and sits in-front of the back four and sets the play in motion from there.

Scholes' former Old Trafford teammate, Rio Ferdinand, echoed those thoughts also.

"‘He is a young player who can do both sides of the game," said the ex-England defender.

"Equally good defensively but also once he is one the ball he has tremendous feet and can pass it."

أعرب أحمد حسام ميدو، نجم الكرة المصرية السابق، عن تأييده الكامل لتولي حسام حسن وإبراهيم حسن تدريب منتخب مصر، مؤكداً على أن شخصية الفريق كانت مفقودة في الفترة الأخيرة، وأن العميد هو المدرب الوحيد منذ أكثر من 15 سنة الذي يتمسك بقوانين وأعراف كرة القدم.

وقال ميدو في تصريحات عبر برنامجه “الريمونتادا”، على قناة “المحور”: “شخصية منتخب مصر كانت مفقودة، المنتخب كان تائهاً، المدرب الوحيد منذ أكثر من 15 سنة الذي يتمسك بقوانين وأعراف كرة القدم هو حسام حسن”.

وتابع: “سيعيد الناس حول منتخب مصر، وهو من سيعيد للاعبين ثقتهم بأنفسهم، نحن منذ سنوات نُعاني بسبب أن الأندية تُحاول أن توصل للناس بأن النادي أهم من المنتخب، وهذا من 15 أو 20 سنة لم يكن أحد يجرؤ على فعله”.

وأضاف: “لكن بعد حدوث بعض الأحداث، جعل الناس تتجرأ وتعمل على تنمية فكرة إن النادي مصلحته فوق المنتخب، وهذا كان واحد من ضمن الأسباب الرئيسية لابتعاد الجماهير عن المنتخب”.

وواصل: “حسام حسن قال في تصريحاته بأنه لن يمنح الراحة لأي لاعب مع المنتخب لكي يُشارك مع فريقه، قال أنا المنتخب أنا أهم من أي أحد، والمنتخب لا بد أن ينجح، ما قاله هو بداية نجاحه”.

طالع أيضًا | حسام حسن عن إمكانية إراحة لاعبي الأهلي أمام كرواتيا: مصر أهم

واختتم: “بداية نجاح أي مدرب في أي مكان هو إنك لا تسمع لأي أحد، ولا تسمح لأي أحد بأن يفرض عليك رأيه (هو ده المدرب الدكر إللي مش بياكل عيش)، إما أنك جئت لتعمل وتفرض نفسك، أو إنك جئت لتأكل عيش، لكن واحد من ضمن أسباب تأييدي لتولي حسام وإبراهيم تدريب المنتخب هو أنهما سيفعلان الأعراف والأصول”.

ويستعد منتخب مصر لمواجهة نظيره كرواتيا، غدًا الثلاثاء، في نهائي بطولة كأس عاصمة مصر الدولية الودية، بعد فوز الفراعنة على نيوزيلندا في دور نصف النهائي، وتخطي كرواتيا لعقبة تونس بركلات الترجيح.

Aston Villa are in advanced talks to sign West Bromwich Albion midfielder Rico Richards, according to a recent report from Football Insider.

What's the latest Aston Villa transfer news?

Despite having already completed the signing of Youri Tielemans, Villa are keen to bolster their midfield even further, and they have emerged as potential suitors for Villarreal's Alex Baena, who is said to be valued at €50m (£43m).

Leeds United's Tyler Adams is another option for the Villans following the Whites' relegation from the Premier League, however, the likes of Brighton & Hove Albion, Everton and Nottingham Forest have also enquired about his availability.

Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain reportedly "expects" to make the switch to Villa Park this summer after leaving Liverpool, and Unai Emery has now been presented with another opportunity to snap up a midfielder on a free transfer.

According to a report from Football Insider, Villa are in advanced talks to sign Richards, who will be available for free upon the expiration of his contract with West Brom at the end of this month.

Talks have progressed well and Emery's recruitment team are confident of securing a full agreement with the 19-year-old, who primarily plays in advanced midfield, but can also play on either wing and up front.

To begin with, the youngster could join the likes of Louie Barry and Aaron Ramsey in the under-21 setup at Villa Park.

Who is Rico Richards?

The starlet has come through the ranks at West Bromwich Albion, making a total of 52 appearances in the Premier League 2, during which time he has registered a respectable six goals and eight assists.

After impressing at youth level, the Englishman was handed one appearance in the Championship last season, though that ten-minute cameo is the only experience he has of first-team football.

As such, the midfielder is likely to be some way off competing for a starting place at Villa Park, but he has certainly caught the eye in the youth setup, being hailed as "splendid" by journalist Joe Chapman after a quality display against Arsenal.

Villa are now in the privileged position of being able to attract top-quality young players, and there is every indication the West Brom youngster is in that bracket, recording nine goal contributions in 19 Premier League 2 games last season.

Given that Richards is available on a free transfer, it is a very low-risk signing, and it is exciting news that a deal is edging closer to completion.

Newcastle United will have to make RB Leipzig playmaker Dominik Szoboszlai one of their more lucrative signings in history if they are to procure his signature this summer.

That's according to Chronicle Live, who claim that Toon technical director Dan Ashworth has reservations over the Hungarian captain's €70m (£60m) release clause.

Despite this, Szoboszlai is a prime target for Eddie Howe's side after captivating supporters in the German Bundesliga with his superlative performances, blending his goalscoring prowess with creative ingenuity to wreak havoc on German defences.

Previous claims from Sky Sports stated that the Magpies have sent scouts to observe the 22-year-old in action on multiple occasions over recent weeks, and with Premier League rivals such as Arsenal and Liverpool also mulling over issuing a swoop for the gem, Newcastle must swiftly decide whether they are prepared to pay such a large sum, though it would likely be money well spent for one of Europe's most prodigious midfielders in the business.

Should Newcastle sign Dominik Szoboszlai?

Described as a "generational talent" by journalist Marcel Moeller, Szoboszlai is a prolific playmaker and has played a definitive role in Leipzig's third-place finish and DFB Pokal triumph this season, scoring ten goals and assisting a further 13 from 46 matches across all competitions.

The 30-cap international ranks among the top 15% of attacking midfielders and wingers across Europe's top five leagues over the past year for rate of assists, the top 9% for shot-creating actions, the top 5% for passes attempted and the top 13% for progressive passes per 90, as per FBref.

Stellar stuff. But perhaps more tantalising is the player's defensive attitude, ranking among the top 11% for blocks and the top 13% for clearances per 90, which could not only enhance his own prospects but those of the aces around him.

Take £40m powerhouse Bruno Guimaraes, for example; the 25-year-old Brazilian has been sensational since arriving on English shores from Lyon in January 2022, scoring ten goals and supplying six assists from 57 outings and being hailed as "world-class" by teammate Dan Burn

A truly spectacular and all-embracing dynamo, the £120k-per-week South American ranks among the top 20% of midfielders for rate of assists, the top 13% for shot-creating actions, and the top 13% for progressive passes and successful take-ons per 90.

He sits deeper than Szoboszlai, however, and boasts defensive acumen of his own in winning 57% of his duels and making an average of 2.4 tackles and 1.1 interceptions in the Premier League this term, as per Sofascore.

By merging this dynamism across different facets of the Toon centre, there will be an increase in the flow of creativity, control and resilience, only enhancing the thriving squad.

Newcastle have been extraordinary in climbing from 11th place to fourth in the Premier League, and now offer the enticing prospect to Szoboszlai of slotting in as the playmaking centrepiece to Howe's system as the club now readies itself for sustained challenges for European football and silverware season upon season.

The Tyneside outfit's seasonal success has been steeped in diligence and cohesion, and Guimaraes is an embodiment of this. Szoboszlai, while primarily a direct threat, has evidenced through his play that he can work tirelessly across multiple facets of the pitch and as such, could be a devastating tool for Howe to wield, slotting into an industrious midfield with aplomb.