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Leeds United have submitted an enquiry for a Premier League striker as 49ers Enterprises look to reinforce Daniel Farke’s attacking options in the January transfer window.

Farke gushes over Calvert-Lewin after four goals in four

Farke labelled Dominic Calvert-Lewin “one of the best English strikers in the Premier League” and tipped him for an England call-up after Sunday’s 1-1 Premier League draw at Brentford.

Calvert-Lewin scored for a fourth-consecutive game to continue the feel-good factor around the Yorkshire club, who have now picked up five points in their last three matches.

“I have got such a good relationship with Thomas that I am far away from giving any recommendation,” the German said.

“He will know exactly what he needs to win the World Cup, but it is for each player the same.

“If you deliver with consistency and not just one or two games, or a good week or a good month, this is not enough, but if you deliver with consistency, then each and every manager or coach in the world is aware and will be ready.

“Dominic has proven this before. He has many caps for England and has also a good goal record.

“I think these goals are even more remarkable for a promoted side that can’t play that dominant than sides fighting for the title, so he will have chances to be in the spotlight.

“My relationship with Thomas is so close and he knows if he has any questions, he can call my number and we can speak about it. It always depends on the performances and I think (the) sky is the limit for Dominic.

“He was very unlucky in the last couple of years with injuries, but his quality was never in doubt and his CV speaks for itself.

Worse than Bijol: Farke must drop Leeds dud who made just 29% of his passes

Daniel Farke should drop this Leeds flop who was even worse than Jaka Bijol against Brentford.

1 ByDan Emery 1 day ago

“For me, he is one of the best English strikers in this league. Harry Kane is playing in Germany for Bayern Munich, but in the Premier League, he is definitely one of the best English strikers and he will be a key player for us going forward.”

Leeds are expected to dip into the transfer market in January to find support for the former Everton striker, who has suffered from injury troubles throughout his career.

Leeds make Zirkzee enquiry

According to reports in Italy, where Roma are also watching matters closely, Leeds have submitted an enquiry for Manchester United striker Joshua Zirkzee.

The £105,000-a-week earner has largely been out of favour under Ruben Amorim, but has managed to find the back of the net once in just three starts this season.

The report suggests Leeds have some convincing to do to win the race for his signature, with the 6-cap Netherlands international preferring a move back to Italy, where he thrived with Bologna.

Manchester United legend Lee Sharpe has praised the striker despite his rocky time at Old Trafford, claiming he’s a “real baller” who could develop into a “superstar” if given a fair shake.

Zirkzee is as much of a facilitator as he is a pure goalscorer – he registered seven, nine and four assists in his three league seasons prior to joining United – so he could be the perfect foil to Calvert-Lewin operating as a traditional number nine.

Kent seamer claims maiden five-for under the Canterbury lights as Middlesex sufer dramatic collapse to 54 for 9

Matt Roller at Canterbury25-Jun-20181:33

Nash’s ton gives boost for Notts

ScorecardGrant Stewart, Kent’s burly Western Australian seamer, took five top-order wickets under the Canterbury lights as Middlesex collapsed to 54 for 9 in another setback for their promotion push.Stewart, only playing thanks to the absence of Matt Henry (rested ahead of Saturday’s Royal London Cup final) and Darren Stevens (who struggles to pick up the pink ball), had taken four wickets in as many games in his first-class career to date when he took the new pink ball; two hours later, he had his maiden five-wicket haul.The pink Dukes, thought to hold together better than its Kookaburra equivalent, swung late in the fabled ‘twilight period’ after the sun disappeared behind the Frank Woolley Stand. Stewart jagged the ball back into the left-handers, and moved it sharply away from the right-handers’ edges, ripping the heart out of Middlesex’s top six in their response to Kent’s 241 earlier in the day.Malan questions pink ball policy

Dawid Malan, Middlesex captain, questioned the use of pink Kookaburra ball in Division One and a pink Dukes ball in Division Two, contending that Division Two batsmen potentially faced a much tougher challenge against the swinging ball in twilight.
“I can’t quite understand why the two divisions are using different balls.” he said. “It’s still county cricket and we have guys out here with aspirations to play international cricket, so to have different balls seems strange as we don’t do that in red-ball cricket.
“It doesn’t make a lot of sense. It was doing so much at the end there that we actually did quite well to nick a few.”

Middlesex’s batsmen came and went in a hurry. First, Sam Robson’s horror season continued. Four years ago last week, the right-hander made his England debut in the Lord’s Test against Sri Lanka; here, he pushed apologetically at a Stewart away-swinger and he failed to pass 20 for the ninth time in 11 innings this campaign.When the umpires took the players off soon after, with the low sun behind Stewart’s arm rendering the ball impossible to see, it looked as though the Canterbury faithful were set for a floodlit farce: the lights were on, but nobody was in the middle.But after the resumption, with the shadows lengthening, Stewart steamed in with menace and purpose. Next to go was Max Holden, stunned that a ball pitched well outside his off stump had fizzed back in, before Dawid Malan – who struggled against the pink ball in England’s day-night Ashes Test last winter – edged a similar delivery to Sean Dickson at slip for a duck. At 19 for 3, Kent were on the charge.Stewart soon had two more. Stevie Eskinazi, the only man to make double-figures in Middlesex’s effort, prodded at a ball which hit the seam, before debutant George Scott was cleaned up. Harry Podmore’s dismissal of Hilton Cartwright was sandwiched between Stewart’s fourth and fifth, and Ivan Thomas skittled James Harris to leave Middlesex reeling at 54 for 7.Calum Haggett got in on the act in the penultimate over, as John Simpson edged through to the keeper, before bowling Ravi Patel with the day’s final ball: the collapse was six wickets for 10 runs, and Kent were in dreamland.The visitors had hoped that last week’s remarkable turnaround at Leicester would prove the catalyst for change in a season that had promised so much and delivered so little; but with the prospect of another day in the heat looming over them, already it will take a monumental effort to save this game.Grant Stewart celebrates his maiden first-class wicket•Getty ImagesFor Kent, the final session completely changed their outlook after they had been frustratingly short of their best for the previous two.In his first Championship appearance of the season, following an underwhelming stint with the Chennai Super Kings and some drinks-carrying for England, Sam Billings won the toss and chose to bat. It looked a poor decision: Tim Murtagh and Harris started well with the new ball, the latter trapping Dickson leg before in the first half-hour.But the innings was one of loose shots, with the in-form pair of Heino Kuhn and Joe Denly both failing to kick on after getting in. Billings himself led the way in this department: after a high-elbow, hold-the-pose drive through extra cover for four before lunch and a kiss-the-surface punch down the ground off Murtagh, the runs dried up for him after the interval.”Go on then,” Murtagh’s fourth-stump line said to the captain, “do something stupid.” Billings duly obliged, and chipped to short cover for 17. Dragging himself off the field to the members’ silence, he could not have envisioned the scene four hours later: Billings barely able to conceal his Chesire-cat grin, as Stewart led the sides off with Kent in complete control.

Josh Sargent continues his incredible form in the Championship as he grabbed his 12th goal of the season in a 5-0 win over Rotherham on Saturday.

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Norwich beat Rotherham 5-0 American forward in fine form Sargent scored the fourth for his side GettyWHAT HAPPENED?

The United States international has been in scorching form this campaign and was once again in the thick of things as the Canaries thrashed Rotherham 5-0 on Saturday afternoon at Carrow Road. Just within a minute of first-half stoppage time, Jack Stacey set him up with a delightful cross from the right flank and the forward stabbed it first time beyond the reach of Viktor Johansson between the sticks.

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Gabriel Sara opened the scoring in the 13th minute and the floodgates opened thereafter. Jacob Sorensen doubled the lead eight minutes later and after the half-hour mark, Borja Sainz made it 3-0. Sargent increased the lead before half-time with a clinical finish Sara took just two minutes to score his second of the night to put the match to bed.

DID YOU KNOW?

Sargent's incredible form in front of goal has not gone unnoticed as Brentford have reportedly shown interest in him. The Bees are preparing themselves for life without Ivan Toney – who is on the radar of Arsenal and Chelsea- and Thomas Frank believes that Sargent would fit his style.

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If Sargent continues his fine form until the end of the campaign the proven goalscorer would attract plenty of admiring glances over the coming weeks. However, any potential suitor must be prepared to shell a hefty chunk for the USMNT forward as he has a contract with the Canaries until 2028.

Former Rangers star and BBC pundit Alan Hutton believes that a "tremendous" figure could form part of their next manager's new coaching staff at Ibrox

Michael Beale sacked

The Gers have endured a poor start to this new season and currently sit a pretty big seven points behind Old Firm rivals and Scottish Premiership frontrunners Celtic. Ange Postecoglou dominated the division for two years before departing for Tottenham, and Rangers now threaten letting new Hoops boss Brendan Rodgers replicating the Australian. Losing three league games already, while being subject to boos from their own supporters on multiple occasions, Rangers made the big decision to sack Michael Beale as manager nearly two weeks ago.

Former Teddy Bears midfielder Kevin Thomson, speaking to Sky Sports news after Beale's dismissal, said that the job is an attractive one but the expectation surrounding Ibrox is the greatest he's ever seen. Thomson said:

"When you look at the club and how big it is, I'm pretty sure that all the big-hitters and all the big names will be getting their agents to get on the phone to the Rangers board to make sure they try and stake a claim to get in front of the board to try and prove to them that they could be the next person.

"I'd hate to throw individual names in there because I just think you're almost second-guessing really. But what I would say is it is a prestigious job, it is as good as it gets, a massive club, an opportunity to win silverware. The expectation and demand is bigger than I have ever seen. I think the club are in a good position. There are selling points, they have got a cup semi-final coming up, there is still the Scottish Cup to play for, they are still in Europe."

Reports in the last few weeks have suggested that the likes of Philippe Clement and Kevin Muscat are currently leading contenders to replace Beale, while Nenad Bjelica has apparently thrown his hat into the ring late on.

Rangers news – Steven Davis

Currently taking interim charge, Steven Davis has guided the Gers to a Europa League defeat and 3-0 league win over St. Mirren. The Northern Ireland legend knows Rangers as a club very well, and David Graham, a former employee, has tipped the 38-year-old for great things.

"A professional for over 20 years, he has been a tremendous servant to Rangers over two occasions – including as captain," said Graham to the News Letter.

"I consider Steven a very good friend, a very good family friend," he told the News Letter. His reputation goes before him – he is a Northern Ireland legend. I have joked with him many times he's the greatest ever Ulsterman, but that will be for others to decide."

Now, Hutton has suggested to Football Insider that Davis may well be considered as part of the next Rangers manager's coaching staff. When asked if the midfielder could be back playing, he said:

“You have to factor in his age but he has got a lot of experience, a lot of knowledge to pass on so could he be part of the next coaching staff? I would presume that is the direction he wants to go in when he is finished. It is ultimately down to him and whether he still sees himself playing but if he does I do not think that will be at Rangers.“

Shaun Marsh’s shoulder injury is serious enough for him to miss the rest of the English season with Cricket Australia’s eyes on a Test series against Pakistan in October

ESPNcricinfo staff10-Jul-2018Cricket Australia has withdrawn Shaun Marsh from the rest of his county contract with Glamorgan after a scan on his shoulder injury revealed ligament and joint damage which threatens to be the start of another lengthy lay-off.Australia will be anxious for Marsh to regain full fitness in time for their Test tour of the UAE to face Pakistan in October. They will rely on him heavily with Steve Smith, David Warner and Cameron Bancroft still serving lengthy bans for their part in the ball-tampering affair.Glamorgan’s physiotherapist Mark Rausa has been in contact with the Cricket Australia medical team since Marsh injured his shoulder while fielding in Glamorgan’s defeat to Sussex Sharks in the Vitality Blast on Sunday.Having looked at the scan results they have requested Marsh that he returns to Australia on Tuesday for further assessment.Marsh, who had his finest Test campaign in the last Australian summer, scoring two centuries during their Ashes victory, has suffered a string of injuries during his career, including chronic back and hamstring problems. He also required surgery on his left elbow in 2014 that kept him out of action for several months.He was Australia’s best batsmen as they were whitewashed by England in the ODI series last month, scoring two hundreds in five games, but his Glamorgan form has faltered after making a century on Championship debut..Seamer Marchant de Lange is also likely to miss the entire T20 tournament. His hamstring injury has recurred.”Losing Marchant for the rest of the competition and in Shaun’s case, the season, is a big blow,” Glamorgan’s director of cricket, Hugh Morris, said.”As a proven international batsman, Shaun will leave a big hole at the top of the order and we are currently considering our options and are looking at options for replacing him for the rest of the season.”Marchant was one of our best bowlers in the T20 competition last year and is an inspirational character in the dressing room. However, we have a strong bowling line-up and I’m sure we will be able to fill that gap with the players we have available.”

Wolverhampton Wanderers are among a cluster of teams expected to have a tricky season in the bottom half of the table as a poor summer of recruitment has left their squad looking threadbare.

Despite this, the Old Gold managed to pull off a shock 1-0 victory over Manchester City out of the blue while a point in the Midlands derby against Aston Villa has done wonders to paper over the cracks.

Putting their early season struggles behind them, Wolves enter the international break with the bit between their teeth, and unfortunately, that narrative doesn't align with their business in the transfer window.

The Old Gold had to navigate through a myriad of Financial Fair Play (FFP) problems this summer while selling some of their stars to comply with the rules has left them depleted in multiple areas.

Failure to replace the departing talent as well as missing out on their key transfer targets is a tale that Wolves supporters have become all too familiar with in recent times, exemplified by the deal to sign Sven Botman that collapsed in the summer of 2021.

Did Wolves come close to signing Sven Botman?

The centre-back position is an area that Wolves needed to strengthen with Willy Boly and Conor Coady approaching the twilight years of their career with their search for a new star leading them to Sven Botman.

The 21-year-old had just appeared in all but one game for Lille in their title-winning campaign in Ligue 1 and featured in all eight of their Europa League matches, drawing praise from teammate Jose Fonte, with the Portuguese veteran earmarking some of his best attributes.

Fonte said: “He’s tall, he’s considerably fast, he has a great left foot, he gives great balls between the lines and he reads the game very well."

Being exceptional in possession and domineering without is the hallmark of any modern centre-back, and it's clear to see why Wolves were keen to lure him to Molineux, tabling a bid of £25m.

That bid was instantly knocked back by the French giants as they valued the Dutch U21 international at £35m, a fee that Newcastle went on to trigger in the following summer, and he has since gone on to become a revelation at St James' Park.

How much is Sven Botman worth now?

Having experienced Champions League football at Lille, the "outstanding" Botman – as lauded by Paul Merson – arrived in the North East with aspirations of achieving that aim with Newcastle, and the Dutchman helped the Magpies qualify for Europe's elite competition for the first time in two decades.

A centre-back who has the tools to become truly world-class, possessing the physical attributes to bully opposition attackers off the ball, read the game exceptionally well to sniff out danger and be a tackling machine at the heart of Eddie Howe's defence while impressing with his calmness in possession and exquisite passing range, Botman's stellar performances last term drew a glowing admission from Jamie Redknapp.

The former Liverpool midfielder and current pundit said: "Botman at the back, 22, we’ve seen some good centre-backs in this league (but) he’s got the capabilities to be better than them. He’s a real leader of men – what a special player he is.”

That high level of praise is reflected by the fact that Newcastle were the joint-best defence in the league with Manchester City last season as the Magpies only shipped 33 goals and the £90k per-week warrior was at the epicenter of that success.

Although he wasn't the only addition responsible for the Toon's transformation as the signings of Nick Pope and Alexander Isak in the summer while the acquisitions of Kieran Trippier, Bruno Guimaraes and Dan Burn in the January previous all led their assault towards Europe, Botman's influence can't be understated.

How does Sven Botman compare to Max Kilman?

It could be said that Botman is even better than Wolves' current options, namely Max Kilman, the subject of a bid from Napoli last summer.

Indeed, as per FBref, while Kilman prevails in the defensive areas, sitting in the top 5% of centre-backs in Europe for blocks and the best 22% for clearances (Botman ranks top 36% and best 55%), the Dutch titan is a far greater threat offensively and on the ball, registering more touches in the attacking penalty area, a better pass completion rate and a higher level of shots and assists. The very fact he's playing for a Champions League side, of course, also helps his cause.

The 23-year-old – who was previously praised by Paulo Maldini as a "great player" – came into a Newcastle defence that leaked goals for fun in the season prior (62 to be exact) and helped shave nearly half of those off, leaving Wolves wishing it was them benefiting from the star-like qualities of the €50m (£43m) rated star who is destined to become world-class.

Ronald Araujo says he is very happy at Barcelona but his future is in the club's hands, with the Blaugrana reportedly ready to cash in on him.

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Araujo 'very happy' at BarcelonaBlaugrana may cash in on defenderBayern Munich linked with UruguayanWHAT HAPPENED?

While the centre-back has been linked with a move to Bayern Munich, the 25-year-old has repeatedly stressed his desire to stay at the Catalan outfit. However, the Uruguay international admits he may not have a great deal of say over his future, with claiming Barca have decided the 6'4 defender can leave if they receive an offer close to €100 million ($109m/£85.5m).

AdvertisementGetty ImagesWHAT RONALD ARAUJO SAID

After his side's Champions League round of 16 win over Napoli, he told reporters: “My future depends on the club. Everyone knows I’m very happy here at Barca. And I’m very grateful to (manager) Xavi. We are very happy with the qualification, we played a great game at home. The support of our fans was very key from the first minute.”

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Barca's financial struggles are well documented, with the Catalan giants reportedly open to offers for all their top players – and Araujo falls into that mix. It is understood the defender, whose contract expires in 2026, has a €1 billion (£855.6m/$1.1b) release clause and while that will never be met, he could be heading for pastures new this summer.

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While the transfer speculation surrounding Araujo will continue to fester for many weeks and months, in the short-term his Barcelona side travel to Atletico Madrid on Sunday in La Liga in their final match before the March international break.

The India fast bowler has been handed one demerit point and fined 15% of his match fee

ESPNcricinfo staff04-Aug-2018Ishant Sharma has earned a demerit point and a fine of 15% of his match fee for his send-off to Dawid Malan in England’s second innings at Edgbaston. The Level 1 offence violated Article 2.1.7 of ICC’s code of conduct, which relates to “using language, actions or gestures which disparage or which could provoke an aggressive reaction from a batsman upon his/her dismissal during an international match”.As he ran away in celebration after getting Malan caught at gully, Ishant was seen turning towards the departing batsman and yelling out.After the day’s play, Ishant admitted to the offence and accepted the sanction proposed by match referee Jeff Crowe and, as such, there was no need for a formal hearing. The charge was levelled by on-field umpires Aleem Dar and Chris Gaffaney, third umpire Marais Erasmus and fourth umpire Tim Robinson.Level 1 breaches carry a minimum penalty of an official reprimand, and a maximum penalty of 50% of a player’s match fee, and one or two demerit points.

Arsenal's youth production has been stellar over their illustrious history, and there is arguably no better environment with which to promote them from Hale End than the current one which Mikel Arteta has cultivated.

However, some of the outstanding academy stars will have a tough task on their hands overtaking the first-team regulars, with Oleksandr Zinchenko one man who could be under threat…

How good is Oleksandr Zinchenko?

Having joined in the summer of 2022 for £32m, the former Manchester City man marked an imperative acquisition for the Gunners, alongside Gabriel Jesus, to help add some stars already embedded within the system and with a winning mentality sure to rub off on the squad.

Arteta outlined the effect his Ukrainian ace instantly had: "First of all, his mentality. He’s used to winning – winning is the only thing and winning in the right way.

"He’s a perfectionist and a really demanding boy, I know him so well, and after that he brings qualities that we didn’t have in the squad. He gives us a different option to play within the role in different spaces, and I’m really happy to have him."

His tactical dexterity has been paramount in pioneering the inverted full-back in the Emirates, with the defender sitting in the top 3% for passes attempted per 90, the top 5% for pass completion per 90, and the top 1% for progressive passes per 90 when compared to other full-backs across Europe, via FBref.

However, in Michal Rosiak, Arteta could be set to unearth an ideal heir to the 26-year-old, who he could mould perfectly in his image.

Who is Michal Rosiak?

Despite naturally being a right-back, his ability to also play in midfield arguably makes him the perfect subject to be converted into an inverted full-back, with his attacking exploits last season for the U21s only acting as further support.

The Polish defender was a key cog in their run to the FA Youth Cup final, and would score four goals in that competition whilst also managing a further ten goal contributions in just ten U18s Premier League matches. Academy expert Jeorge Bird would emphasise the former notion, as he took to Twitter to write: "Michal Rosiak, who has been fantastic in this Youth Cup run, opens the scoring with a brilliant free-kick".

As a silky stalwart who is just as comfortable in possession as he is at snatching it back from the opposition, his reward for such blistering form was a first professional contract back in April which marked a huge show of faith in the teenage sensation who was seemingly built for Arteta's system.

It could even be argued that, whilst he may not be as controlling as Zinchenko is in the engine room, his offensive exploits offer a fine makeweight, given the £150k-per-week star has recorded just three goal contributions across 43 appearances, a tally which Rosiak bettered in the FA Youth Cup alone last term.

Although it might seem a tough task to usurp the defender, who acts as a key pillar of Arteta's system, it is clear that the Poland U19 international has the exact skillset to mimic what makes Zinchenko so successful, certain to begin challenging him in the coming years.

Chelsea legend Eden Hazard says that he does not regret retiring from football and claims he loved his time at Real Madrid.

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Hazard doesn't regret retiring earlyEnjoyed his time at Real MadridScored seven goals in four seasons with Los BlancosWHAT HAPPENED?

Hazard had a nightmare few years with Real Madrid, scoring just seven goals before leaving the club at the end of the 2022-23 season, a year before his contract was due to expire. He attracted criticism for being out of shape and was plagued with multiple injuries. Yet the former Belgium international claims that he did not regret joining Los Blancos as it was his dream to play under his idol Zinedine Zidane.

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In an exclusive interview with , the ex-winger said: "It was my dream. I can tell you it was my dream even if the story was not that good with injuries and this and that. When I look back, and you can see some pictures of me wearing the white Real Madrid shirt, it makes me proud."

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A few months after leaving the Spanish club, the 33-year-old announced his retirement from professional football despite having offers from the Saudi Pro League and MLS.

When asked if he could have played for a little longer, the former Blues star said: "Good question. I think so, but I decided playing football was over because I had a lot of injuries, and I have no regrets."

He added: "I enjoy it a lot. I miss my football a bit, especially being with the lads in the dressing room, but I can do what I want now. I have kids and a family. I can go to Belgium to see my family, brothers and parents. I can do a lot of things."

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Getty ImagesWHAT NEXT FOR EDEN HAZARD?

The Belgian is set to return to Chelsea in June to compete in the Soccer Aid charity match at Stamford Bridge. The fixture, that's played annually, features a mixture of former England footballers, various celebrities and influencers and famous foreign players from the past.