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Newcastle United are interested in bringing a new centre-back to the club this summer, with rumours circulating over a £50m transfer.

Are Newcastle going to sign a centre-back?

Given their newfound wealth, the Magpies are expected to spend big again this summer, bolstering a squad that finished in the Champions League positions last season and reached the Carabao Cup final.

According to journalist Dean Jones, Newcastle are keen to sign a central defender and are already looking at a host of names at different price points.

Speaking on The Football Terrace YouTube Channel, Jones claimed: "The profile of the centre-back is going to be interesting to see who they actually go for. I'm hearing some of the centre-backs they're linked with and were briefed about are like £10m-£15m. Then I'm suddenly told about another centre-back that's like £50m. So I don't know where they're going to land on that one."

Despite stating that Newcastle are in the hunt for a new defender, and a potentially expensive one at that, Jones didn't give the name of the mystery £50m centre-back.

However, the fact that Eddie Howe wants to strengthen his defensive unit is unsurprising given that Ciaran Clark has already left the club and Jamaal Lascelles is on the radar of Premier League newcomers Luton Town.

Newcastle did boast the equal-best defensive record (level with champions Manchester City) in the league last season, conceding just 33 goals in 38 games, but the extra workload that comes with European football means that regulars Fabian Schar and Sven Botman will need support.

Which defenders might Newcastle sign?

One defender that is set to make a move this summer is Napoli star Kim Min-jae and Newcastle have been linked with the South Korea international in recent weeks. The reported price of a transfer is roughly £42m which would approximately correspond with Jones's £50m statement.

However, it is thought that Bayern Munich are streets ahead in the race for the 26-year-old and have almost snapped up the defender's signature.

Manchester United's Harry Maguire has been touted with a move away from Old Trafford this summer, with the Magpies keen on making a move for the England international according to some sources. Tottenham Hotspur and Aston Villa have also been linked with the 30-year-old who remains the most expensive defender in world football.

Someone who will help out the defence next season is holding midfielder Sandro Tonali. The Italian is set to sign from AC Milan after talks have quickly accelerated over recent days.

Watch more of The Football Terrace HERE!

With it now seemingly a matter of when and not if Brendan Rodgers will be named as the successor to Ange Postecoglou at Celtic, attention can begin to turn to just how the returning boss will alter the current Hoops squad this summer.

The ex-Leicester City boss – who had been out of work since being sacked by the Foxes back in April – will likely be hoping to keep hold of the Old Firm outfit's key men ahead of mounting another domestic and European charge next summer, with midfield maestro Reo Hatate, in particular, having been mooted for a reunion with Postecoglou at Tottenham Hotspur.

As well as attempting to persuade the likes of Hatate and Kyogo Furuhashi – who has been linked with a move to Spurs – to stay in Glasgow, the Northern Irishman may also have a plan to ditch those who he deems surplus to requirements among the first-team ranks, with Stephen Welsh perhaps among those who could well face the axe.

A recent report from Football Insider claimed that the Scottish champions are open to offers for the 23-year-old this summer, with the former Scotland youth international seemingly also keen to secure increased game time elsewhere.

While the young centre-back may be hoping that his standing could be improved with Rodgers in the dugout instead of Postecoglou, the one-time Liverpool boss could pull off the first blinder of his second spell in charge by showing the 6 foot 3 dud the door.

Will Stephen Welsh leave Celtic this summer?

It is seemingly not the first time that Welsh has been linked with a move away from Celtic Park in recent times, with reports back in January 2022 revealing that the club had rejected a loan approach from Serie A side Udinese, while Ligue 1 outfit Toulouse also made an enquiry last summer.

That was followed by further speculation heading into the winter window that the Coatbridge-born brute could be on his way, albeit with Postecoglou and co ultimately opting against sanctioning an exit following the abrupt end of Moritz Jenz' loan spell.

The latter man's exit did not aid Welsh's bid for increased game time, however, as he ultimately ended last season with just four Premiership appearances to his name – all of which came prior to the World Cup break.

The £4.6k-per-week asset notably underwhelmed when he was handed an opportunity to impress, however, having been branded "weak" by pundit Michael Stewart following the shock 2-0 defeat away to St Mirren back in September, while journalist Josh Bunting suggested that both Welsh and Jenz were "all over the place" on the day after getting "bullied" by the likes of Curtis Main and Jonah Ayunga.

That lack of physicality has been a theme of the criticism that has fallen the Scotsman's way of late, with pundit Frank McAvennie also stating that the academy graduate needs a loan move to "toughen him up", while also labelling him as someone who "ball watches".

With Rodgers set to inherit a squad that includes the likes of Carl Starfelt, Cameron Carter-Vickers and January arrival Yuki Kobayashi – all of whom have been above Welsh in the pecking order of late – the 50-year-old can then make the decision to send the one-time Greenock Morton loanee packing, either on a temporary basis or permanently.

The WICB has appointed Johnny Grave as its new chief executive

Nagraj Gollapudi09-Jan-2017The WICB has appointed Johnny Grave as its new chief executive. Grave, who is serving his notice period at the Professional Cricketers’ Association in England, where he has been employed as commercial director for the last nine years, will assume the WICB role from February.The position of the WICB CEO was left vacant once Michael Muirhead stepped down on October 14 last year, although he continued in the role until December at the request of the board.Dave Cameron, the WICB president, said in a media release on Monday that Grave was a “unanimous choice” of the interview panel from a shortlist drawn up by global consultant PricewaterhouseCoopers.The WICB stated that among the “top” priorities for Grave would include overseeing $40 million budget of the WICB with “an increased focus on player relations and improved performances on and off the field”. Muirhead’s tenure saw the board turn around its finances but also featured disputes with senior players over pay and selection.”Johnny has a proven track record of success in his career to date and a huge amount of relevant experience and will add exceptional value to the organisation,” Cameron said.Grave, who will be based in Antigua, said he was excited by his next challenge. “I am genuinely excited by the opportunity of improving cricket at all levels within the region and am looking forward to working with the many stakeholders who are committed to the long-term development of West Indies Cricket.”

Manchester United are keen to bolster their midfield this summer; however, Frenkie De Jong is unlikely to move to Old Trafford from Barcelona, journalist Dean Jones has suggested.

What's the latest transfer news involving Frenkie De Jong?

Earlier this year. talkSPORT journalist Alex Crook intimated in his transfer notebook that De Jong has been made one of Manchester United's 'top summer targets' and revealed that Erik Ten Hag would be keen on a reunion with the midfield playmaker he coached at Ajax.

The report states that partnering Casemiro in midfield could appeal to De Jong alongside the prospect of playing in the Champions League with Manchester United.

Of course, Manchester United heavily courted De Jong last year and they even reached an agreement on a deal worth €85 million (£73 million) for the Netherlands international with Barcelona, as per The Athletic.

Nevertheless, no transfer transpired and De Jong formed a key part of Barcelona's first La Liga title triumph since 2019, as per BBC Sport.

Capology understand that De Jong earns around €721,154 (£619,283) on a contract that runs until June 2026 at the Catalan giants.

Writing in his column for GIVEMESPORT, journalist Jones doesn't believe that De Jong will arrive at Old Trafford this summer despite the recurring rumours that he could become a Manchester United player one day.

Jones suggested: "They also need to sort the midfield, where Marcel Sabitzer was on loan last season and Fred and Scott McTominay prepare to have their partnership broken up once and for all. We have seen them make early strides for Mason Mount but look out for the likes of Romeo Lavia. Other players they admire are £230,000-a-week star Leon Goretzka – described as being an "extraordinary" player – Declan Rice and Adrien Rabiot but top target Frenkie De Jong is off limits."

Would Frenkie De Jong be a good signing for Manchester United?

De Jong is a world-class midfielder capable of functioning in a variety of different roles and would be a brilliant signing for Manchester United if any deal was to arise over the next few years.

In 2022/23, the Netherlands international made 43 appearances in all competitions for Barcelona, registering two goals and four assists, as per Transfermarkt.

As per WhoScored, De Jong was rarely wasteful in possession during the season and maintained a pass success rate of 91.4% in La Liga.

The 26-year-old was also a key chance provider for La Blaugrana and amassed 116 shot-creating actions across the campaign, as per FBRef.

Despite this, it looks unlikely that De Jong will join Manchester United in the immediate future, putting a reunion between the former Ajax man and Red Devils boss Ten Hag on ice for now.

Trevor Bayliss has suggested he will take a more prominent role in the England dressing room over the final two Tests of the series against India

George Dobell06-Dec-2016Trevor Bayliss has suggested he will take a more prominent role in the England dressing room over the final two Tests of the series against India.Bayliss, England’s head coach, has generally been happy to leave team talks to the captain, Alastair Cook. But he is concerned by what he sees as England’s passive cricket in the last couple of Tests and is keen to encourage the batsmen to play what he sees as the “positive” cricket they demonstrated at the start of the series.While it would be stretching a point to suggest that minor change of approach indicates a rift with Cook, it does seem fair to conclude that Bayliss wants to make certain the team are in no doubt about the way he wants them to play.England scored at well over three an over in the drawn match Rajkot (3.36 in the first innings and 3.44 in the second). But then, in the second innings of the second Test in Visakhapatnam, Cook set the tone by taking 50 overs to put on an opening stand of 75 with Haseeb Hameed as England attempted to bat for the best part of five sessions to seal a draw.But Bayliss clearly feels most of the team’s batsmen are at their best when they are given a clear license to attack and suggested that some indecision had led to their failures in the Mohali Test.”The first three innings of this series we had a nice positive approach to the game and with our mental approach,” Bayliss said. “Probably the last three innings we have got away from that a little bit.”If you look at the batters who scored runs in the first three innings of the Test series they were proactive, trying to be positive which means they will defend well. When the opportunity comes we leave and defend well but when opportunity comes along to attack we take them.”In the last three innings we have changed that mindset so it is more along the lines of survival. And when some of our naturally more positive players try to play that way they were in two minds.”I thought in the last innings of the last Test we gifted them some wickets when I thought we looked to be in two minds. We looked like we were trying to go over the top once or twice but did not really go through with it which meant we were in two minds over whether it was right approach or not.”The message to the guys in last two Tests will be to approach it a bit more like we did in the first Test and maybe the first innings of the second Test when Jonny Bairstow and Ben Stokes got together. That is how they played and it suits the way we played. If you do that it gives you opportunity to put pressure on the opposition. If you don’t do that they put pressure on you, which is what happened in the last two Tests.”Asked whether the captain would be passing that message on to the team, Bayliss replied: “It will be up to me to play a role there. Probably over the last few series Cooky has taken on more of a role there, which has been great. But I think for the coming couple of Tests it is time I stepped up to the mark to just remind them of how we have played when we have played well.”Bayliss also admitted he had never seen Keaton Jennings bat, but will encourage him to play his own way if, as expected, he opens the batting in the fourth Test.”I’ve not seen him bat,” Bayliss said. “I saw Haseeb Hameed bat once, when he got 50, but I have not seen Jennings at all.”It was said the two openers play a defensive role. I don’t see that. To me if they play their natural game they are being positive. If that means they have not got quite as many shots as the other guys that does not mean they are not playing positively. If each individual does that in their own way then it gives you the best opportunity to score runs. The same message will be to Keaton as well. You have been successful playing in a particular way there is no reason to change that.”

Liverpool are creeping towards the latter stages of a deal to bring OGC Nice midfielder Khephren Thuram to Anfield, according to reports.

What's the latest on Khephren Thuram to Liverpool?

A report from Football Transfers claims the Frenchman has 'verbally agreed terms' on a deal with the Anfield side, with manager Jurgen Klopp tracking the player since January.

Such claims are corroborated by the prominent Fabrizio Romano, who took to Twitter on Thursday to state that the Reds have scheduled a fresh round of talks with the Merseyside outfit.

With interest in Thuram believed to be high, as much as €60m (£52m) could be required to prise him away from the French Ligue 1, though such a sum could be worthwhile considering the calibre of his skill set.

What would Khephren Thuram bring to Liverpool?

It cannot be surprising to any avid football fan that Liverpool are undergoing major midfield surgery following a dismal campaign that illuminated the need for change, compounded by the mass exodus – James Milner, Naby Keita and Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain have all left upon the expiry of their contracts, while stricken loanee Arthur has also left the Premier League club.

However, given the situation Klopp is beset with, failing to qualify for the Champions League for the first time in seven seasons and ceding acres of territory to those at the forefront of the division, this is a blessing in disguise and the opportune moment to rekindle the flame has arisen, with the bargain £35m transfer of Alexis Mac Allister already concluded.

Considering the aforementioned departees, Thuram would have the perfect chance to cement a starting berth as the prestigious outfit look to commence a renaissance, having earned praise as the "perfect profile" by journalist Alex Jaquin.

While the midfield and its inability to effectively protect the defence this season has been the crux of Liverpool's demise, Thuram's acquisition could actually bolster the offensive ranks, too, with the new-look frontline exhibiting glimpses of brilliance over the past year but yet to click into top gear.

Mohamed Salah has been as imperious as ever, though, and plundered 30 goals and 16 assists from 51 matches across all competitions, and while he did not start off as emphatically as he would have hoped, 20 of his 31 direct contributions in the top flight occurred after the midpoint and could tantalise further stunning form when Liverpool ostensibly return to prominence next year.

Thuram can aid this and then some; as per FBref, the £15k-per-week machine ranks among the top 6% of midfielders across Europe's top five leagues over the past year for progressive carries, the top 9% for successful take-ons and the top 25% for assists per 90, illustrating his knack at driving forward and creating danger in the final third.

Salah, who ranks among the top 3% of attacking midfielders and wingers for non-penalty goals and the top 1% for touches in the attacking box, can act as both the conduit from which Thuram can latch onto and the dynamic forward to provide a multi-faceted edge to the attack.

Hailed for his "tremendous" abilities by one Anfield Wrap podcaster, Thuram could be the dream signing to both enrich Liverpool's midfield vibrancy and infuse the robustness of the centre with the potency of the attack, and Klopp must throw the kitchen sink at tying up a deal this summer.

Cricket South Africa’s chief executive, Haroon Lorgat, has called on the ICC to clarify the laws around polishing the ball in the wake of the Faf du Plessis case

ESPNcricinfo staff23-Nov-20162:51

Moonda: ‘Relief for South Africa’

Cricket South Africa chief executive Haroon Lorgat has called on the ICC to clarify the rules around polishing the ball, particularly with regard to what constitutes an “artificial substance”, after South Africa’s captain Faf du Plessis was found guilty of ball tampering.A decision has not yet been made on whether du Plessis will appeal the verdict, which resulted in him being fined his entire match fee from the Hobart Test but cleared to play in Adelaide this week. During the Hobart Test, du Plessis shined the ball with saliva while he had a confectionery item in his mouth, which the ICC determined was in contravention of Law 42, which allows players to polish the ball provided no artificial substance is used.”At this stage we’ve advised Faf to reserve his position with regard to the match referee’s finding and wait for the full reasons of his decision before deciding his next step,” Lorgat said in Adelaide on Wednesday. “Very understable, Faf is obviously disappointed by the decision and I can fully understand.”In fairness to both him and the ICC, this is an unprecedented case involving unique issues of policy, science and performance that need to be carefully considered at the highest levels of the game. There are also issues relating to fair and just process, interpretation of the rules, and importantly, the consistent application of the Code of Conduct that needs to be considered.”CSA believes that the Laws of the game do not currently define the term ‘artificial substance’, leaving room for inconsistent application of the rules. For instance, the Laws currently prevent the use of ‘artificial substances’ to polish the ball, yet artificial cotton fibres from playing kit can be used to shine the ball.”Players also regularly chew gum when applying saliva to the ball, or ingest sugary drinks and sweets during short breaks in play before shining the ball. No action is taken in such circumstances by the umpires.””Test match cricket is a competitive sport at the highest level and players and fans deserve certainty around these issues. Integrity and consistent application of the rules are important for everyone. We’ll consult with our legal teams. We want to engage with the ICC in a constructive matter, and we want to deal with this properly.”The Code of Conduct charge was laid by ICC chief executive David Richardson, who is also a qualified lawyer. On Wednesday, Richardson said on Australian television that the ICC “drew the line” because du Plessis’ actions were “pretty obvious”.”Probably in this case in particular, we drew the line,” Richardson told the Nine Network. “We said, ‘we need to charge’ because in our eyes anyway it was pretty obvious that he was using the residue from the sweet directly on the ball.”I think the bottom line is if you want to change the condition of the ball by polishing it, in other words improving it, keeping it, retaining its condition, do so, but don’t use any artificial substance.”

Manchester United's interest in Napoli striker Victor Osimhen this summer is believed to have cooled, according to a fresh update.

Is Osimhen linked with United?

The 24-year-old enjoyed a memorable season for Napoli, proving to be arguably their star player en route to them winning their first Serie A title since 1990. He scored 26 goals in 32 league appearances, as well as five in as many starts in the Champions League, cementing his reputation as one of Europe's leading strikers.

Osimhen has been constantly linked with a summer move to the Premier League in recent months, with United seen as one of the front-runners, as they look to bring in an elite attacker to lead the line. They aren't alone in showing an interest, however, with Chelsea also eyeing a move for him.

Now, a key update regarding the Nigerian's future has emerged – one that suggests the Red Devils could be set to look at different options moving forward.

What is the current situation with Osimhen?

According to TEAMtalk, United and Chelsea's interest in Osimhen isn't as strong as has otherwise been reported, due to Napoli demanding £150m for his services:

"Manchester United and Chelsea have cooled their interest in Napoli striker Victor Osimhen after the Italian club placed a £150million price tag on his head, TEAMtalk understands.

"United and Chelsea are ready to end their interest in Osimhen due to Napoli’s inflated valuation of him. The Serie A champions have no intention of selling Osimhen as they want to keep him for next season’s title defence and Champions League campaign. This is why they have given him that huge £150m price tag, and the scare tactics seem to have worked exactly as they were intended."

While Osimhen could be an outstanding signing, considering his performances in 2022/23 and the fact that has been called "phenomenal" by Walter Mazzarri in the past, United could be wise to walk away from the deal because of the fee that is being mooted.

It is an enormous amount of money to pay for one player, especially one who has still only had one genuinely world class season in his career, and it would eat up a vast chunk of the Reds' summer transfer budget.

Should Napoli accept a lower offer, it should be all systems go for United, but if not, finding a cheaper alternative makes sense, with Harry Kane a potential option and someone who has been linked with making a switch to Old Trafford.

The Supreme Court of India has directed the BCCI not to distribute funds to its state associations until they comply with the Lodha Committee’s recommendations

Nagraj Gollapudi21-Oct-20165:23

Kalra: Supreme Court giving BCCI as much breathing space as it can

The Supreme Court of India has passed an order that limits the BCCI’s financial freedom and power until the board and its state associations comply with the Lodha Committee’s recommendations.In a 25-page order issued on Friday, the court directed the BCCI not to distribute funds to its state associations until they submit affidavits stating compliance with the recommendations to the court and the Lodha Committee in two weeks. The order was passed by a three-judge bench comprising Chief Justice of India TS Thakur and Justices AM Khanwilkar and DY Chandrachud.The court also asked BCCI president Anurag Thakur and secretary Ajay Shirke to meet the Lodha Committee before November 3. They were required to submit an “affidavit of compliance” in the court by December 3, elaborating on the recommendations already implemented by the BCCI and what it had done to persuade the state associations to adopt the recommendations. The court scheduled the next hearing for December 5.BCCI’s financial wings clipped

The Supreme Court has asked the Lodha Committee to oversee financial transactions undertaken by the board by putting in place the following measures:
♢ Appoint an independent auditor to check the income received and expenditure incurred by the BCCI
♢ Fix a threshold value for BCCI contracts which would be overseen by the auditor from the tender stage
♢ Approve or disapprove BCCI contracts above the threshold value and obtain the advice of the auditors on the fairness of the tendering process
♢ Formulate the terms of engagement and reference for the auditors. The BCCI shall bear the costs, charges and expenses of the auditors

In another significant decision, the court asked the Lodha Committee to appoint an independent auditor to verify the BCCI’s accounts. The Lodha Committee was also asked to set a “threshold value” for various contracts the BCCI enters into, and all contracts in excess of that amount would need the committee’s approval. The next major contract for the board is the IPL broadcast deal, set to be finalised on October 25.”I’ve always maintained that we have the highest respect for judiciary. We have welcomed the Lodha Committee recommendations, we more than welcome them because we have nothing to hide,” Thakur told after the order came out. “I’m very optimistic in my approach and I am sure some of the issues that we have requested for a re-look will be addressed. We are not fighting against anyone. All I have been saying is that there is confusion regarding certain recommendations. I am sure a dialogue can be had in the interest of the game.”Friday’s order is the second one issued this week by the court, after an interim order on October 17 in response to the Lodha Committee’s status report, which had recommended that the BCCI office bearers be “superseded” and a panel of administrators be appointed because the board was impeding the implementation of the court-approved recommendations.In its order the court noted that there was “substance in the status report”. It also said the BCCI was in “breach” of the July 18 court order that had approved the majority of recommendations in the Lodha Committee’s report and asked the board and states to implement them in four to six months. “Implementation of the final judgment of this Court dated 18 July 2016 has prima facie been impeded by the intransigence of BCCI and its office bearers,” the court order said.The court said that “at this stage” it was refraining from approving the Lodha Committee’s suggestion to supersede the BCCI office bearers because the board had said in a submission to the court that “it would make every genuine effort to persuade the state associations” to comply with the recommendations.The BCCI’s position had been that it could not implement the Lodha Committee’s recommendations without a majority of its state associations agreeing to do so. The key recommendations the board said the states were reluctant to accept were the one-state-one-vote policy, the age cap of 70 for administrators, and the limit of three, three-year terms with cooling-off periods in between for office bearers.The court order put the states under pressure to comply by cutting off their funding. “The BCCI shall forthwith cease and desist from making any disbursement of funds for any purpose whatsoever to any state association until and unless the state association concerned adopts a resolution undertaking to implement the recommendations of the Committee as accepted by this Court in its judgment dated 18 July,” the court order said. A state was to receive funds from the BCCI only after the resolution, signed by its president, was submitted to the committee and the court.The court said it had taken cognisance of the argument raised by the board’s legal counsel Kapil Sibal, who had said the BCCI would “demonstrate” to the Lodha Committee how it had already fulfilled some of the recommendations. The court asked the committee to verify whether there had been “full compliance”.

Glasgow Rangers ended their 2022/23 campaign with a 3-0 win over St Mirren last weekend in the Scottish Premiership and the focus must now turn to the upcoming summer transfer window.

Michael Beale ended his first season in charge of the Light Blues without a trophy to show for his efforts and should be aiming to improve his squad in the coming weeks to ensure that his side is competing for major honours next term.

According to Monday's edition of The Scottish Daily Mail [via Ibrox News], one player the club are interested in snapping up is Cremonese attacker Cyriel Dessers.

Who is Cyriel Dessers?

He is a 28-year-old Nigerian striker who has been playing his football in the top-flight of Italian football this season and could come in as a big upgrade on current Gers ace Antonio Colak.

The Croatian centre-forward, who has been touted with a possible exit from Ibrox this summer, scored three goals and assisted one in 11 Premiership appearances after Beale arrived during the break for the 2022 World Cup. He also managed one strike in four cup appearances in 2023.

These statistics show that the ex-PAOK man has struggled under the English boss as the dynamo has rarely found the back of the net and offered little in the way of creativity for his teammates.

Whereas, Dessers has the potential to come in and offer far more than the 29-year-old in the final third based on his form over the last two seasons.

Back in April, journalist Josh Bunting hailed the ace as an "excellent" signing for Cremonese and described him as being "awkward" for defenders to play against due to his strength, as the marksman plundered six goals and two assists in 19 starts in the Serie A.

This comes after the finisher enjoyed an exceptional campaign on loan at Feyenoord in the Netherlands. He racked up 19 goals and three assists in 16 starts across the Eredivisie and Europa Conference League combined, which shows that the Nigerian international has the quality to be a prolific scorer for his side, in comparison to Colak's struggles at the top end of the pitch this year.

The £19k-per-week star has proven himself in a major European league, in Italy, and on the continental stage, for Feyenoord, and this indicates that the gem would be able to handle the switch to Ibrox, given that the talent has already adapted to multiple competitions and countries.

Therefore, Dessers could come in as a big upgrade on Colak by offering far more quality in front of goal on a regular basis, which could, in turn, improve Beale's squad next term.