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While fans understandably pay far more attention to the players their respective clubs might sign in the transfer window and the sagas often accompanying them, player exits can provide just as much drama.

Unfortunately for Tottenham Hotspur, they've been on the wrong end of a few major transfers over the years, be that Luka Modrić in the late 2000s, Gareth Bale in 2013 or, most recently, Harry Kane's move to Bayern Munich last summer.

The Englishman is a modern Spurs legend, but after almost a decade with the club, he did what some thought he'd never do and left the Premier League altogether in search of his first major trophy.

The only positive to come from his exit for the Lilywhites was that he earned them one of the biggest transfer fees in their history, although based on recent reports, they could be set to make even more on one of their current stars.

Harry Kane's transfer

When the final agreements were made and the last contracts signed, Kane's transfer cost Bayern an initial £82m, although the add-ons could reportedly see that figure soar past £100m, and based on his performances last season, we wouldn't be surprised if it already has.

Now, that might seem like an awful lot of money for a player who was 30 years old and entering the final year of his contract at the time, but given his incredible form for the seasons prior and his undeniable importance to the Lilywhites, it was probably fair value.

For example, in the season before he left, the England captain scored a whopping 32 goals and provided five assists in 49 appearances for a Spurs team that looked utterly hopeless at times under Antonio Conte.

Appearances

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45

Goals

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44

Assists

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12

Goal Involvements per Match

0.75

1.24

Moreover, when you factor in that he went on to score 44 goals and provide 12 assists in just 45 games for Bayern last season, his transfer fee starts to look very reasonable indeed.

Overall, while it was arguably fair value, Kane's transfer fee was undeniably sizeable.

However, according to recent reports, a player in Postecoglou's squad could dwarf it if he were sold this summer.

Cristian Romero's valuation in 2024

Yes, the player in question is one of Tottenham's co-vice captains, Cristian Romero.

The World Cup winner was reportedly of interest to European giants Real Madrid earlier this summer, but little seemed to come from said interest.

However, according to Paul O'Keefe on the Last Word on Spurs Podcast (via TEAMtalk), Madrid are still keen on the talented centre-back but have been told that they'll need to make a mammoth offer of £150m to secure his services.

If this were to happen, it would instantly be the biggest transfer in the history of the Premier League, and while it's an undeniably ludicrous sum of money, it reflects how important the 26-year-old is to the North Londoners.

Since making his £42m move from Serie A side Atalanta in August 2021, the "incredible" defender, as journalist Alasdair Gold dubbed him, has made 98 appearances for the Lilywhites, in which he's scored six goals and provided one assist.

Appearances

98

Goals

6

Assists

1

Yellow Cards

28

Second Yellows

3

Red Cards

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He's also been described as "the best defender in the world" by Lionel Messi, and if there is a player who knows a thing or two about defenders – and how to embarrass them – it's probably him.

Ultimately, while Bale and Kane are the two most expensive outgoings in Spurs' history, there is a chance, albeit a small one, that Romero could surpass them this summer. That said, Tottenham's plan to dissuade Madrid with an enormous asking price will probably work.

Talks underway: Spurs pushing for "dream" Johnson teammate in £60m star

The impressive goalscorer would be an incredible signing.

1 ByJack Salveson Holmes Aug 7, 2024

Ryan Reynolds and Rob McElhenney have been told why they should be dreaming of promotion again, with Wrexham’s class of 2024-25 no “flash in the pan”.

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Red Dragons flying high in League OneSeeking third successive promotionConfident that form can be maintainedFollow GOAL on WhatsApp! 🟢📱Getty/GOALWHAT HAPPENED?

The Red Dragons have enjoyed a meteoric rise under their Hollywood co-owners. The record books were rewritten when claiming the National League title, before going on to bounce straight through the fourth tier of English football. They are now flying high in League One.

AdvertisementWHAT RATHBONE SAID

With Phil Parkinson’s side moving up to second on the back of a comfortable 3-0 win over Exeter, summer signing Ollie Rathbone has explained why the Welsh outfit expect to be in the mix come May: "It's an exciting place to be, I'm really enjoying it. The table doesn't lie, we're over a third of the way through the season and we're where we are on merit. I don't think it's a flash in the pan. There's no reason we can't continue and see where we are at the end of the season."

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SToK Racecourse has become a fortress for Wrexham, with only two points being dropped on home soil this season, and Rathbone added on the need for high standards to be maintained: "If you want to be successful in this league, you've got to keep going, you can't just have little patches of form and performances. You've really got to build them up and go on runs of winning games and collecting points. Good teams don't lose two in a row, you can't end up going into a dip, and I don't think we've done that at all this season."

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WHAT NEXT?

Wrexham still have seven games to take in before the end of the calendar year, with a gruelling schedule needing to be carefully navigated. Parkinson will take his troops to Lincoln on Tuesday for what promises to be another testing encounter.

No side since IPL 2015 has won their first five IPL games. Can CSK stop RCB from achieving that?

Sreshth Shah24-Apr-2021Big pictureAfter two weeks – barring their most passionate fans – very few people would’ve imagined that Royal Challengers Bangalore and Chennai Super Kings would be at the summit of the IPL 2021 points table. Definitely not after last season. But that’s the beauty of the tournament – you come to expect the unexpected.New purchases Glenn Maxwell and Moeen Ali have been revelations. Devdutt Padikkal and Ruturaj Gaikwad have found their IPL 2020 form again. Two unfancied bowling units are punching above their weight. Simply put, it’s a contest between the two most in-form teams of the season.After a defeat first up, the Super Kings are hunting for their fourth straight win. The Royal Challengers are still unbeaten, and are one victory away to become the first side since Rajasthan Royals in 2015 to start their season 5-0. It’s the perfect position for both sides to be in, but form and confidence are fickle things. One loss can swiftly become two, and when teams start to slide, it can often be a freefall. That’s what captains MS Dhoni and Virat Kohli will be looking to avoid in the afternoon contest.One team has the fireworks to go big, the other has the best batting depth in the tournament. And it’s a contest at the Wankhede, where – bowlers, look away now – both teams scored at over 10 per over in their previous matches. It’s captain cool coming up against captain aggressive. Which one will prevail, fire or ice?Team newsThe Super Kings will still be without the services of the quarantining Jason Behrendorff, who will be available after April 26. The Royal Challengers have their full squad at their disposal.Likely XIsChennai Super Kings 1 Faf du Plessis, 2 Ruturaj Gaikwad, 3 Moeen Ali, 4 Suresh Raina, 5 Ambati Rayudu, 6 Ravindra Jadeja, 7 MS Dhoni (capt, wk), 8 Sam Curran, 9 Shardul Thakur, 10 Lungi Ngidi, 11 Deepak ChaharRoyal Challengers Bangalore 1 Virat Kohli (capt), 2 Devdutt Padikkal, 3 Shahbaz Ahmed, 4 Glenn Maxwell, 5 AB de Villiers (wk), 6 Washington Sundar, 7 Kyle Jamieson, 8 Harshal Patel, 9 Kane Richardson, 10 Yuzvendra Chahal, 11 Mohammad SirajStrategy punt Dhoni could pit Ravindra Jadeja against Maxwell, the Royal Challengers’ X-factor batter. In 11 T20s, Jadeja has dismissed Maxwell five times at an average of 11.6. Kohli could use his two tall overseas pacers Kane Richardson and Kyle Jamieson against the middle order of Moeen, Suresh Raina and Ambati Rayudu for two reasons. One, none of them like the short ball, and secondly, they have feasted on spinners this season. Rayudu’s strike rate against spinners is 170, Moeen’s is 183, Raina’s 189 – the three highest among all IPL 2021 batters. It may need Kohli to rethink his death-overs strategy, however.Stats that matter Five of the first eight games this season have been won by the chasing side. In the same period, the average first-innings score at the ground this season is 180 but the average first-innings winning score is 210. Both sides have the best powerplay bowling numbers. The Super Kings have taken 11 wickets at 16.4 runs per dismissal. The Royal Challengers are second with seven wickets at 25.7. When Chahar takes two or more wickets, the Super Kings have a 75% win rate. When Curran has an economy of under 7.5, the Super Kings have a 75% win rate. Padikkal is the only batter in the world (min. 1000 runs) to have an average of over 40 (45.5) and strike rate of over 140 (146) in T20s. No bowler has taken more wickets than Harshal’s 12 after the first four games to an IPL season. Lasith Malinga has taken 11 twice.

GOAL takes a look at keys to success, players to watch and makes a prediction for the 2024 MLS Cup

MLS Cup is finally here: the championship game that clubs have spent nearly 11 months fighting for has arrived.

The LA Galaxy and the New York Red Bulls — two of MLS' most storied clubs, are set to meet Saturday at 4 p.m. ET in a match that renews a coast-to-coast rivalry.

No. 7 RBNY have stormed the Eastern Conference this postseason, upsetting reigning Champions Columbus Crew, crosstown rivals NYCFC and most recently, Orlando City. The Galaxy, meanwhile, have posted dominant victories over the Colorado Rapids and Minnesota United, before narrowly scraping by the Seattle Sounders in the Conference Final last weekend. However, in the victory, they lost star midfielder Riqui Puig to a torn ACL, with the ex-Barcelona starlet out for Saturday's match into the start of 2025.

It's been a thrilling campaign full of ups and downs, twists and turns, all leading up to this moment. The Galaxy host RBNY Saturday afternoon at Dignity Health Sports Park in Carson, California, with a new MLS champion set to be crowned.

For LA, it would be their sixth overall but first since 2014. For RBNY, it would be their first as an organization, with their lone appearance in MLS Cup being a 2008 loss to the Crew. GOAL looks at the keys to the match.

ImagnLA Galaxy

LA's keys to success: Without Puig, they'll need to revamp their midfield options, and play an entirely different game. Mark Delgado will be expected to slot into the midfield in place of the Spaniard, and it will force Marco Reus higher up the pitch, and create a heavy reliance on attacking from wide spaces – with the focus being Gabriel Pec and Joseph Paintsil. If LA can find a way to get their wingers 1v1 with opposition defenders, or even invert them to make runs alongside Reus that Puig would normally make, they could cause an awful lot of trouble for the Red Bulls.

Player to watch: Marco Reus – The former Borussia Dortmund star has not had his yet stateside, and MLS Cup presents him with the perfect opportunity to present himself to the league on the biggest stage possible. Without Puig, he will be more heavily relied on as well, with the 35-year-old pushing into an advanced role in the final-third that will be focused on retaining possession while threading the ball on a needle.

AdvertisementGetty Images SportNew York Red Bulls

RBNY's keys to success: The Red Bulls need to assert their high-tempo press early, and not let the Galaxy control the pace of the match. In the Conference finals, the Sounders found success against LA by winning the middle of the pitch and forcing them to play the long-ball or hit the counter. For the Red Bulls, they will rely heavily on the double-pivot of Daniel Edelman and Felipe Carballo, while Emil Forsberg will play the most crucial role above them in an advanced midfield position.

The Swede will be focused on hold-up play, starting the counter-attack and advancing the ball up the pitch in transition from the midfield to the attack. If RBNY can win the midfield battle early and assert themselves, it could lead to frustration for LA, opening gaps in their defense where the Red Bulls could capitalize.

Player to watch: Dante Vanzeir – the Belgian forward has two goals and one assist this postseason, but was blanked in the Conference Final against Orlando. If RBNY can get a goal out of him on Saturday, it will be an unexpected delight, and only add to their confidence throughout the match.

GOAL prediction

Without Puig available, the Galaxy midfield will struggle to replicate their possession-based tactics, and as a result, the affair will be much closer than many expect. However, with home field advantage, LA will pull out a penalty shootout victory after a 2-2 draw through extra-time.

A brace from Gabriel Pec will see the home side through to the shootout, while the Red Bulls goals will come from John Tolkin and Daniel Edelman. In the shootout, the Galaxy will win 6-5 after seven rounds of penalties.

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Getty Images SportHow to watch

MLS Cup 2024 will be streamed live on MLS Season Pass on Apple TV, with kickoff at 4 p.m. ET Saturday at Dignity Health Sports Park in Carson, California. It will be available on live television as well, with coverage on FOX and FOX Deportes.

Whilst the recent focus has been on replacing both Georginio Rutter and Crysencio Summerville, Leeds United reportedly hold a concrete interest in signing a midfielder who could ease Daniel Farke's Glen Kamara blow.

Leeds transfer news

To say it's not been a great summer for Leeds would be quite an understatement. The Yorkshire club have seen almost every one of their star players head for the exit door amid Premier League interest, with Summerville and Rutter heading to West Ham United and Brighton & Hove Albion in between exits for Archie Gray and Kamara to Tottenham Hotspur and Ligue 1 side Stade Rennes.

Imagine him & Ampadu: Leeds battling to sign £7m "absolute baller"

The Whites are reportedly interested in a swoop to sign the Premier League midfielder.

2 ByDan Emery Aug 21, 2024

In desperate need of attacking reinforcements, the Whites have reportedly turned their attention to the likes of Manuel Benson and Largie Ramazani. The former, of course, knows all about Championship promotion, having played a vital part in Burnley's success during the 2022/23 campaign. Since seeing his Clarets career reach somewhat of a crossroads, the winger could yet help Farke's side secure the same achievement.

Ramazani, meanwhile, looks set to arrive from Spanish side Almeria after Leeds agreed a deal worth €11.7m (£10m) to sign the 23-year-old winger.

As the winger arrives to replace Summerville, he could be joined by a midfield addition. According to Charlie Gordon of The Express, Leeds now have a concrete interest in midfielder Alvyn Sanches, whose valuation has reportedly been dropped to £3m from £4m by Swiss side Lausanne-Sport. Amid competition from Celtic, however, those in Yorkshire may have to act fast if they want to secure his signature.

Just 21 years old, Sanches has shown plenty of potential at Lausanne and may even emerge to become a surprise replacement for Kamara late on in the transfer window.

Sanches could replace Kamara

With the ability to play in an advanced role and a deeper central role, Sanches could be an ideal replacement for Kamara, if his output levels reached the next level. As things stand, he's certainly showing signs of that being the case, having scored twice in five games so far this season.

Rutter, of course, will be a difficult man to replicate after scoring eight goals and assisting as many as 16, but Sanches' potential is something that Leeds could take a gamble on if they want to kill two birds with one stone. Having sold Rutter for £40m, it could also represent wise business if those at Elland Road can land a replacement for Kamara for a deal worth just £3m in the next week or so.

Of course, however, there are a lot of stages left until the Swiss complete a move away from Lausanne, be that to Celtic, Leeds or elsewhere, but he's certainly one to keep an eye on in the late stages.

Liverpool are the only Premier League side that is yet to spend this summer, despite Arne Slot's appointment to the dugout after nearly nine years of illustrious leadership from Jurgen Klopp.

As the window has dragged on, this has sent something of a frisson of fear through Anfield's hungry fanbase, with many seeing a talented squad that showed signs of overcoming Manchester City and Arsenal last season – ultimately falling short.

There is hope that the Reds will click into gear and launch a bid for an impactful addition in the next fortnight, especially with urgency around strengthening the base of midfield, but with Real Sociedad's Martin Zubimendi rejecting Richard Hughes' advances, there is plenty to do.

Should Liverpool sign an alternative this month, it has to be the right player. Luckily, there's a target out there who could be the perfect fit…

Liverpool transfer news

Zubimendi would have been an excellent signing, boasting the dynamic and athletic style to fit right into the focal area of the engine room.

Unfortunately, his Basque-born roots are strong, and pulling him away from San Sebastien is no easy task. Liverpool joined a list of high-profile suitors in failing to convince Zubimendi to leave his boyhood club for pastures new.

Still, the bosses remain hopeful that fresh faces might arrive before September, with one report from earlier in the week suggesting that Liverpool could move for Atalanta's Teun Koopmeiners.

As per Tutto Juve over in Italy, the Anfield side are interested in the Dutchman and could launch a £51m move – incidentally, a figure in the same ballpark as Zubimendi, suggesting such funds could be available.

Tuesday's report states that Liverpool are keen to take advantage of Koopmeiners' uncertain situation with the Europa League champions, for Juventus have been in hot pursuit and the player wants to leave, but the Old Lady are reluctant to meet the €60m (£51m) price tag.

Teun Koopmeiners' 2023/24 season in numbers

Liverpool are comfortably acquainted with Koopmeiners' qualities, with the Netherlands star playing an instrumental role in dispatching Klopp's boys in the Europa League quarter-final last year, en route to silver-laden victory over previously indomitable Bayer Leverkusen in the final.

Minutes played

90'

90'

Goals

0

0

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Shots taken

4

3

Touches

42

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Passes completed

15/20 (75%)

15/23 (65%)

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2

Dribbles completed

2/2

2/2

Tackles won

4

3

Ground duels won

6/11

6/15

The 26-year-old is a dynamic midfielder with a pleasing level of pliability that a tactician like Slot would jump at the chance to make use of.

On that note, Koopmeiners has actually operated under Slot's influence in the past, playing 58 fixtures for his countryman at AZ Alkmaar before signing for Atalanta for a sharp fee of €12m (£10m).

His manager, Piero Gian Gasperini, hailed his "very versatile" style in the middle of the park, scoring 15 goals and adding seven assists across 51 appearances last season, but a level of roundedness can be observed through his performances, with the underlying numbers confirming as much.

Indeed, as per Sofascore, the left-footed midfielder averaged 1.1 tackles and 4.4 ball recoveries per game in Serie A last year, with his energy and athleticism speaking of a ubiquitous presence that could be perfect for the fluency and forward drive of Slot's Liverpool.

Why Teun Koopmeiners could be perfect for Arne Slot

Creative on the ball, combative off the ball, predatory when moving to strike the ball – he's the complete package alright. Koopmeiners' ability to operate from deep and play the lanes with long, purposeful strokes suggests that he could hold the key to the kind of success Slot so craves.

As per FBref, the £32k-per-week ace ranks among the top 19% of positional peers across Europe's top five leagues over the past year for passes attempted, the top 13% for progressive passes, the top 30% for tackles and the top 4% for clearances per 90.

A high volume of tackles made does not necessarily translate to high-level defending. After all, Zubimendi ranks only among the bottom 38% for tackles per 90 himself (as calculated across the same statistical parameters).

The Spanish Euro 2024 champion, moreover, is not actually the most progressive on the ball, completing just 0.5 key passes per La Liga fixture last year, despite only completing 86% of his passes. Koopmeiners, conversely, averaged 1.8 per match in Italy.

Slot may well have the tactical acumen to fashion Koopmeiners into a deep-lying orchestrator to enable the creative talent of Alexis Mac Allister and Co. Atalanta's influential star would perform the ball-playing duty in a Slot system well, and the prospect of a transfer across the closing weeks of the window must not be discounted.

Described as "one of the most intelligent players in Serie A" by analyst Ben Mattinson, the Netherlands international could even play a sort of double pivot alongside Mac Allister, melding skillsets to create a monstrous dynamic duo.

Liverpool's Argentinian maestro, in fact, completed 3.0 tackles per game last season and showcased first-rate defensive skills when shoehorned into a deeper-lying role than his creative self might have hoped for.

In twine, both players could be excellent, and FSG must seriously consider making their move and bolstering the engine room with another player of high-level quality, ensuring that supporters can swiftly forget about Zubimendi and his bitter rejection of a move to Merseyside.

Koopmeiners' prowess as a multi-functional midfielder might not feel like exactly what Liverpool need but there is a case to be made that his faculty for playing through the lanes and playing with defensive sharpness could be perfect for 'Slot-ball'.

The season ahead is clouded by a mist of uncertainty that hangs in front of Anfield, but with one or two impactful additions, the new era could be successful indeed.

Worth more than Zubimendi: Liverpool hit gold with Klopp's "superstar"

He’s going to be crucial for Slot’s side…

ByAngus Sinclair Aug 16, 2024

England goalkeeper Ellie Roebuck made a stunning comeback from a stroke sustained last year in her first game for Barcelona on Saturday.

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Roebuck started in goal for BarcelonaBlaugrana won 4-1England international thankful for returnFollow GOAL on WhatsApp! 🟢📱WHAT HAPPENED?

Roebuck revealed in March that she had sustained a stroke last year and had been dealing with the repercussions, after going months without playing for Manchester City. The England international, who has won 11 caps for her country, joined Barcelona on a free transfer in the summer after it was confirmed that she would make a full recovery.

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On Saturday, she officially returned to the pitch 19 months after her last appearance at any level, playing in Barca's win over Betis. She was denied a clean sheet in the last minute, however, as Yasmine Zouhir netted a 90th-minute consolation as the Catalan giants won 4-1.

WHAT ROEBUCK SAID

Roebuck wrote on Instagram: "303 days later. The goal was always to play the game I love again and at times it felt impossible but to do it for @fcbfemeni is a dream. It’s been a journey thank you to everyone who’s supported me along the way nothing will ever beat this feeling."

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Barcelona play Hammarby in the Champions League in midweek before a clash with Valencia next weekend. They are currently top of Liga F, having won all 12 of their 12 fixtures thus far.

Sussex spun to brink of defeat after doughty fightback

Alan Gardner24-Apr-2021Sussex 221 (Haines 86, Patterson 4-26) and 136 for 6 (Bess 5-33) need another 99 runs to beat Yorkshire 150 and 305 (Ballance 74, Lyth 66, Carson 5-85) Yorkshire’s trip to the south coast proved a restorative experience for England offspinner Dom Bess, as a five-wicket haul on the third afternoon helped push the visitors towards a hard-fought victory. There remained work to do on the final morning, after a day of blustering winds and shifting fortunes, but Bess’ dismissal of George Garton with his final delivery left the Sussex chase precariously placed.Having steadily dragged their way back into this contest, turning an overnight lead of 92 into a fourth-innings target of 235, Yorkshire seemed set to complete the turnaround by reducing the home side to 86 for 5 during the evening session. Ben Brown, Sussex’s doughty captain, bolted together a stand with Garton as the shadows lengthened, only for Bess to cap his day by securing a maiden five-for in Yorkshire whites.On a dry Hove surface, and following success for Sussex’s young offspinner, Jack Carson, Bess quickly became the focus of attention – much as he was for large portions of England’s winter assignments in Sri Lanka and India. He has not had an easy start to the season, going wicketless in Yorshire’s opening two fixtures, and suffered a rib problem while fielding in the first innings of this match, though he was able to bowl through the discomfort.The ease with which David Willey and Duanne Olivier added 51 in 13.2 overs during a last-wicket stand for Yorkshire either side of lunch hinted at some of the life going out of the pitch. But there has been turn throughout, and Bess was soon into the attack after the openers got off to a solid start – much as in each of the three preceding innings of this match – with Tom Haines setting the tempo for Sussex during a 45-run stand.Having started his spell with a maiden to Aaron Thomason, Bess’ seventh delivery was replete with intent: drift into Haines from round the wicket, spin and bounce past the outside edge. Carson had found plenty of grip bowling from the Sea End, and with five left-handers in the Sussex top seven, the sense only increased that this was a golden opportunity for Bess.The breakthrough came in the same over, as Thomason’s attempt to get down the track ended with him being bowled through the gate after a desperate hoy across the line. A second for Bess followed soon after the tea interval, as Tom Clark was lured forward only for some extra bounce to see the ball pop off the splice to silly point. In between times, the lively Haines was caught down the leg side off Jordan Thompson.Dom Bess hadn’t taken a five-for for Yorkshire since leaving Somerset•Getty ImagesWith Joe Root joining the attack from the Cromwell Road End, Hove suddenly became reminiscent of England’s most-recent Test outing in Ahmedabad – albeit you would struggle to squeeze in a 130,000-seater “Modium” between the flats and terraces that flank this ground. Root might have removed Stiaan van Zyl on 21, as a thin edge evaded Adam Lyth at slip, but the Sussex No. 3 became a third victim for Bess in the following over, leaving one that went on with the arm to clip off stump.Bess was now in a groove, and Delray Rawlins was dispatched first ball, a thin edge deflecting off Jonny Tattersall behind the stumps to be taken at slip. Garton saw off the hat-trick delivery, but Bess had 4 for 12 from 13 overs and Yorkshire seemed set to roll through, only for Brown, who edged Root through the hands of Lyth on 11, to battle through to the close and keep his side in contention.Not that Yorkshire will be getting roundly clapped back to the broad acres, should they manage to make it back-to-back wins on the road. “All French people have two jobs, their own and film critic,” said the director Francois Truffaut. Substitute in the words “Yorkshire” and “cricket”, and you might have a fair reflection of how seriously things are taken in the White Rose county. There had been mithering aplenty after Yorkshire were second best to Glamorgan in their opening game of the season, and they have had to come from behind here.A factor in the final analysis might well be the relative experience of these teams. While Yorkshire could draw on the skill and knowhow of six full internationals in their XI, the Sussex side has just two men aged over 30 – van Zyl and Brown – and as many as seven who are 23 or younger. Sussex have had their chances in this game, but too many have slipped by.Related

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Another example came on the third morning. Yorkshire were 254 for 9 and the target still fewer than 200, but Willey and Olivier set themselves against the prevailing wind to produce the second-highest partnership of the innings. The change in momentum was in keeping with a game that has kept all concerned guessing, shifting like the contours of the dunes at the beach.Gary Ballance’s first half-century in any form of the game since August 2019 provided a vital bulwark for Yorkshire, the No. 3 adding stands of 37 with nightwatchman Patterson and 32 with Bess. He fell when padding up ill-advisedly to Carson, bowling from around the wicket, before Ollie Robinson struck twice in as many overs to leave Sussex on the brink of batting again – Thompson smartly held one-handed by Thomason at slip, Bess given out lbw to a nip-backer.Carson had impressed with his control and character in helping to check Yorkshire’s progress on the second evening, laughing at the idea that life for a spinner during an English spring is tough. “It’s nothing to playing in Northern Ireland, as a 13-year-old in short sleeves – it’s absolutely Baltic,” was his swift rejoinder. Although the last-wicket pair kept Sussex waiting beyond a delayed lunch, it was Carson who finished the job, spinning one into Olivier’s pads to secure career-best figures and a second five-for in only his seventh first-class match.

Everton have begun the 2024/25 campaign – their final one at Goodison Park – in dreadful fashion. Not only have they lost their opening two games of the Premier League season, but the Toffees have conceded seven goals without reply.

Hardly the start Sean Dyche was aiming for. This may force his hand to make a couple of signings before the summer transfer window closes on Friday evening.

Could this see the manager turn towards La Liga, as he eyes a move for a World Cup winner…

Everton chasing swoop for World Cup winner

According to reports in Spain (via Sport Witness), the Goodison Park side have joined the chase to sign Sevilla defender Gonzalo Montiel.

Another update has come from Argentine journalist Uriel Lugt, who said via X: "Everton and Borussia Dortmund add to the interest in Gonzalo Montiel. There are already talks underway for the full-back to leave Sevilla definitively. Nottingham Forest is also in the bidding."

It certainly looks as though the 27-year-old is keen on leaving Spain. Will it be a temporary deal? Or will the Toffees make a solid proposal to fend off other interest and bring him back to the Premier League?

Player

Club signed from

Jake O'Brien

Lyon

Tim Iroegbunam

Aston Villa

Asmir Begovic

QPR

Jesper Lindstrom

Napoli

Iliman Ndiaye

Marseille

Gonzalo Montiel’s 2023/24 season in numbers

The Argentinian made just one appearance for Sevilla last term before joining Nottingham Forest on a season-long loan deal.

Overall, he made 19 appearances for the club, grabbing three assists, as he eventually worked his way into the Argentinean side for the Copa América, held this summer.

The 5 foot 11 defender, who was hailed as an “animal” by former coach Julen Lopetegui, started just eight times in the top flight, but he did show glimpses of his attacking qualities.

Indeed, the right-back created four chances, averaged 0.6 key passes per game and succeeded with 100% of his dribble attempts, not bad for a player who averaged only 58 minutes per game.

These forward-thinking capabilities could make him a dream signing for Jack Harrison, who has operated on the right wing in Everton’s opening two matches of the season.

The Englishman scored four times and grabbed three assists last season, but this could increase if he has someone like Montiel playing Harrison into better positions, rather than the ageing Ashley Young or Seamus Coleman.

Indeed, when compared to his positional peers in the Premier League last season, Montiel ranked in the top 12% for assists per 90 (0.22), while ranking in the top 7% for tackles, underlining how effective he was bursting forward up and down the right flank.

This could allow Dyche the chance to partner him with Harrison on the right wing, which should ensure plenty of goalscoring chances come from out wide, especially if the duo click together.

The next few days will be mightily important for Dyche, even more so considering the poor start to the season Everton have had.

Another signing or two may just boost the morale at the club heading into September.

Report: Everton eye loan move for "incredible" 4x Footballer of the Year

He would be a high-profile addition for Sean Dyche.

ByHenry Jackson Aug 24, 2024

The forgotten midfielder is on his way to rediscovering his former self after two rotten years and could be the perfect fit for his new coach

Before Ruben Amorim had taken his first Manchester United game he had already become enamoured with one player. "Mason Mount… I have to tell you I love that kid," the Portuguese said in his first interview with United's official website.

And in half an hour in the Czech Republic, it was easy to see why. The Red Devils were heading for a third consecutive defeat after Andre Onana's latest howler against Viktoria Plzen until Mount came on and helped change the game. Rasmus Hojlund naturally grabbed the headlines as he fired United to a first away win under Amorim and a first away victory in Europe for nearly two years.

But Mount was just as crucial to the turnaround and more importantly he showed that he is ready to reignite his stalling career, and perhaps United's season too.

Getty Promising partnership with Hojlund

United had struggled to create any bright moments in a first half in Plzen that was as grim as the cold and dark conditions it was played in. The team had dominated possession but were doing nothing with it and Joshua Zirkzee was particularly wasteful, giving the ball away an astounding 16 times in the first half to the chagrin of Amorim, who did not hide his frustration.

Marcus Rashford, meanwhile, looked disinterested. Amorim wasted little time in turning to his bench, swapping Rashford for Hojlund and removing the hapless Zirkzee for Mount. The former Chelsea player had struggled to make an impact when replacing Bruno Fernandes in the recent defeat to Nottingham Forest, but he sparked the resurgence with dynamic and intelligent movement.

In less than half an hour on the pitch he struck up a productive partnership with Hojlund, who chimed much better with a player who wanted to run ahead of him rather than just play passes to his feet. The Danish striker fashioned a good chance for Mount on the overlap in the area but Martin Jedlicka saved his effort from a tricky angle. Mount had been thwarted moments before by Jedlicka in an even better opportunity after being teed up by Amad Diallo.

A goal would have done wonders for his confidence but the positive thing was that Mount was getting in these positions and making United much more dynamic and unpredictable going forward as a result. And it pointed to a future in which Hojlund and Mount can start together, beginning in Sunday's derby at Manchester City.

AdvertisementGetty'He'll do anything you ask'

Amorim is not the first manager to fall head over heels for Mount. The midfielder got a reputation for being a 'teacher's pet' to Frank Lamapard after being a key player for the Chelsea legend at Derby County and then back at Stamford Bridge. "What I'll say about Mason is, you talk about modern players and how the game has changed, he's a throwback to the attitude, the commitment and the quality,” Lampard told the podcast. “The beauty of working with Mason was he gave you so much in terms of his effort every day. Anything you'd ask him to do, he got it. I think any great player has to have that intelligence and desire about them.”

Lampard's successor Thomas Tuchel also took to Mount. Despite dropping him for his first game in charge, Mount became a crucial cog in Tuchel's winning machine, being pivotal to the Champions League triumph in 2021 and contributing to 25 goals in the 2021-22 season.

"It is always a pleasure to work with Mason because he is the kind of guy who comes with a smile on his face to every single training session," the German said in 2022. "It is always 100 per cent in matches, he accepts every challenge and that is why it is so nice to work with him."

Getty Images SportTen Hag's disappointment

It is that attitude which made Erik ten Hag sit up and take notice when he was informed United had the chance to sign Mount for £60 million ($76m) in the summer of 2023. The Dutchman had seen a teenage Mount in action for Vitesse against his Ajax side and had been stunned by his work rate back then. He hailed him as the "complete midfielder" and "multi-functional" in pre-season and talked in-depth about the various positions in which his new signing could play. However, he barely got to use him.

Mount played just 663 minutes in total in his first season, making just five Premier League starts. He had four separate absences, beginning with a hamstring injury in just his second competitive match away to Tottenham, forcing him out for six weeks. In November he then tore his calf, ruling him out for more than four months. He scored his first and to date only goal for United after coming off the bench against Brentford in late March. However, he suffered yet another fitness issue in April and after making his first Premier League start in seven months at Crystal Palace, he picked up a further knock, returning in the 93rd minute of the FA Cup final in May.

"It is really unfortunate, really disappointing for him, but also for us when you have such a class player in your middle and you cannot play him," Ten Hag said in March. "He has had three injuries, as we all know, so he didn’t, at any time, get into a rhythm. But I am sure when he is fit, he will play, he will get into that rhythm and he will contribute to a successful Manchester United."

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GettyHarrowing two years

United are crossing their fingers that he will finally get into that rhythm under Amorim. Ten Hag expressed his bemusement at the player’s persistent problems given his excellent fitness record earlier in his career, but he and United had ignored the fact that Mount’s final campaign with Chelsea was blighted by injuries. He had to have surgery on an abdominal issue in April and it has since been revealed that he played despite the injury to help the team as they went from one crisis to another under Graham Potter and then Lampard when he returned.

Mount is also believed to have been affected mentally by his departure from Chelsea, who prioritised new arrivals when Todd Boehly took over the club in the summer of 2022 instead of tying up Mount’s future. When he left Chelsea, he had recently resolved a long-running legal case relating to being stalked by a TikTok influencer.

It has been a harrowing two years for Mount and he said he began the new season feeling "re-energised, sharp and ready" only to injure his hamstring in the second game of the season at Brighton. Mount pledged to "do everything possible to be back in the best shape and help the team", but on his return to action against Tottenham he banged into Radu Dragusin, leaving the pitch with blood pouring from his head. He did not return to a matchday squad until Amorim’s first game against Ipswich almost two months later.