Everton recruitment team like Ndombele

Everton have had a rather quiet transfer window by their standards.

So used to spending significant sums of money in the market, Rafa Benitez has been restricted to making cut-price additions after making the move to Goodison Park.

What’s the word?

Despite limited finances, we could still expect one or two new additions at Everton before the window is up.

The Toffees have regularly been linked with a move for Lazio forward Joaquin Correa but the sheer amount of money they will have to pay makes a deal difficult to envisage.

Everton reporter Patrick Boyland seems to think that a couple of loan deals could be concluded before the deadline.

He was speaking during an Athletic Q&A last weekend after he was questioned about a potential move for Tottenham’s Tanguy Ndombele.

Boyland commented: “They’ve liked him before (they being the recruitment side) but he was obviously out of reach then. The reporting from London seems to suggest he’s available but that Spurs would prefer to recoup some/most of the sizeable transfer fee.

“Everton have looked at midfielders (Longstaff etc) but there’s not much money atm. Maybe a loan or two.”

Intriguing news

It remains to be seen if Spurs are willing to let Ndombele leave but if the Frenchman really isn’t willing to play for Nuno Santo this term, Tottenham could negotiate a loan move that involves a hefty future fee next summer.

That deal would be a difficult one to conclude and would surely be out of the realms of possibility but it’s incredibly intriguing for supporters that Everton are already admirers of him.

If they can wrap up a move for Ndombele then it would be a remarkable piece of business.

Despite his troubled time in north London, the powerful central midfielder is still an enormous talent who can offer plenty to a Premier League side.

He is an incredibly tricky player to deal with, primarily because of his immense strength and ability to carry the ball.

Graceful in possession, Ndombele completed 85.6% of his passes last term while winning 1.2 tackles per match. On top of that, he was successful with 2.2 dribbles a game. That would have seen him top the list of dribblers at Everton last season with Richarlison their highest at 1.8 an outing.

With that in mind, the Spurs gem could offer the Toffees something completely different in the middle of the park.

His attitude is questionable but there is no denying his supreme talent. Just imagine the brute force Everton could build from central areas with him and Abdoulaye Doucoure lining up together.

If the Merseyside outfit is serious about getting back in Europe, this is the type of acquisition they must make. That’s easier said than done, though.

AND in other news, Everton submit bid to sign “formidable” 30-goal wizard, Benitez will be elated…

Leeds: Whites plotting Rob Dickie move

Leeds United and Wolves are thought to be plotting late moves for Queens Park Rangers defender Rob Dickie, according to Football Insider.

The Lowdown: Dickie profiled

Dickie, described as ‘quick’ by former manager Karl Robinson, joined QPR last September.

Since then, the 25-year-old has made 48 appearances under Mark Warburton, three of which have come this season.

The 6 foot 1 centre-back has actually scored in each of his appearances during the current campaign and is currently the best-rated player in the Championship, as per WhoScored.

It appears as if his displays have caught the eye of Leeds officials, who could now launch a move for his services over the coming weeks.

The Latest: Source shares update

Football Insider, who were informed by a recruitment source, shared a story on Tuesday morning.

They suggested that both Leeds and Wolves are monitoring Dickie closely and are weighing up moves late in the window.

QPR are reluctant to part ways with Dickie, however, they are prepared for late interest in their star man.

The Verdict: Avoid

Even though Dickie is currently the best performer in the second-tier according to Whoscored, the Whites are fairly well-stocked at centre-back and have other areas which need strengthening first.

Marcelo Bielsa has four senior centre-backs on the books at Elland Road in Liam Cooper, Diego Llorente, Robin Koch and Pascal Struijk.

Luke Ayling and Kalvin Phillips can also provide cover in that area if needs must, so Leeds should focus on signing a central midfielder and a winger as reported before looking at centre-back additions.

In other news: Leeds winger set for Elland Road exit over the coming weeks. 

Midlands journo drops major Cantwell to Villa claim

Midlands journalist Luke Hatfield can understand why Norwich City have slapped a £40m asking price on Todd Cantwell amid interest from Aston Villa.

Villa have been linked with another raid on Norwich after previously signing Emiliano Buendia from the club.

Cantwell is reportedly seen as a potential replacement for Jack Grealish, who has become the most expensive player in British history by moving to Manchester City for a fee of £100m.

Cantwell enjoyed a superb season in the Championship last term as Norwich won promotion back to the Premier League.

He made 34 appearances in all competitions and scored six goals, while also registering eight assists.

In the top-flight, he has yet to score or register an assist, which could be partly down to the opposition they have faced, having played both Liverpool and Manchester City.

Hatfield does not think that such a fee is overpriced, especially if Villa are willing to pay up, although he has doubts over whether he will end up joining Dean Smith’s side.

He said: “Is it overpriced? I suppose the price or the value for a player is whatever a club is really willing to pay for him.

“But for someone of Todd Cantwell’s quality and potential already, you can understand why Norwich are asking for £40 million.

“I don’t see him going to Villa this summer.”

Celtic: Hoops on brink of Thomas Henry deal

Celtic are on the brink of winning the race for OH Leuven striker Thomas Henry, according to The Scottish Sun.

The Lowdown: Henry profiled

Henry is a French centre-forward who has been with his current employers in Belgium since 2019.

He’s scored 45 goals in 78 appearances for Leuven, with his career tally standing at 67 goals in 173 games.

The 26-year-old is on just €150,000-a-year (£127,000) with Leuven and is at the absolute peak of his powers, with his Transfermarkt valuation standing at a career-high £4.5m.

The Latest: Celtic move

The Scottish Sun ran a story late on Monday evening, suggesting the Hoops are hopeful of securing a big-money deal for Henry.

The report claims that Ange Postecoglou’s side are in pole position to sign the striker, who is viewed as the ideal replacement for Odsonne Edouard.

Leuven are reluctantly willing to cash in on Henry, with a number of clubs keen.

The Verdict: Much-needed

Even though Kyogo Furuhashi netted a hat-trick on the weekend, replacing Edouard, who has been tipped to join Brighton, is crucial, so a move for Henry looks a smart move at first glance.

He’s an out-and-out centre-forward and has just come off the back of his most productive season in front of goal, striking every 132 minutes in the Jupiler Pro League.

The 6 foot 4 striker could be exactly what Postecoglou needs going forward, and it appears as if the Hoops are willing to back the boss to secure Henry’s signature.

In other news: Roma interested in Celtic ace, find out more here. 

Chingoka flies to Dubai for ICC talks

Peter Chingoka, Zimbabwe Cricket’s chairman, will travel to Dubai for talks with David Morgan, the ICC president, after the Zimbabwe board failed to endorse Chingoka’s offer that his country would stay away from ICC centenary celebrations in England next

Cricinfo staff17-Aug-2008Peter Chingoka, Zimbabwe Cricket’s chairman, will travel to Dubai for talks with David Morgan, the ICC president, after the Zimbabwe board failed to endorse Chingoka’s offer that his country would stay away from ICC centenary celebrations in England next summer and the ICC World Twenty20 which follows.Last month, Chingoka told the ICC executive that Zimbabwe would withdraw from the events so as not to force a stand-off in the likely scenario that the British government refused him and his players entry to the country. At the time, it was hailed as a breakthrough which would allow the two events to proceed without the threat of a Zimbabwe ban overshadowing them.However, Cricinfo has learned that the ZC board failed to give Chingoka its backing, and after several meetings he has been instructed to go back to the ICC to clarify a number of issues.Chingoka will travel to Dubai with Tavengwa Mukuhlani, ZC’s vice chairman, and Wilson Manase. It is expected he will meet Morgan as well as Sharad Pawar, the vice-president, and Haroon Lorgat, the ICC’s chief executive.If the ZC contingent fails to get answers to appease their own board then the whole issue of Zimbabwe visiting England in 2009 is likely to resurface. Since the ICC meeting Chingoka has been added to the European Union list of Zimbabweans banned from entering the EU because of their links to the Mugabe regime.

اتحاد الكرة يقرر تغيير ملعب مباراة الأهلي والزمالك في قمة الدوري

أعلن الاتحاد المصري لكرة القدم، عن قراره النهائي بشأن ملعب مباراة الأهلي والزمالك، المقرر إقامتها في منافسات بطولة الدوري المصري الممتاز.

ومن المقرر أن يلتقي الأهلي مع الزمالك، يوم 19 يونيو الجاري، في إطار مواجهات الأسبوع الـ20 من عمر مسابقة الدوري.

ووفقًا لموقع الاتحاد المصري لكرة القدم، تقرر إقامة مباراة القمة بين الأهلي والزمالك يوم 19 يونيو على ملعب استاد القاهرة الدولي.

طالع | اتحاد الكرة يعلن حكم مباراة الأهلي والزمالك في قمة الدوري

وكان من المقرر أن تجري مباراة القمة بين الأهلي والزمالك علي ملعب “الأهلي وي السلام”.

يذكر أن الزمالك يتصدر جدول ترتيب الدوري المصري برصيد 44 نقطة، بعد خوض 20 مباراة، بينمىا يحتل الأهلي المركز الثالث برصيد 37 نقطة من 16 مباراة.

تجدر الإشارة إلي أن مباراة القمة بين الأهلي والزمالك التي أقيمت في الدور الأول من الدوري، انتهت لصالح الأحمر بخمسة أهداف مقابل ثلاثة، وكانت علي استاد القاهرة.

Aston Villa: Joaquin Correa linked

Aston Villa could enter the race to sign Lazio’s Joaquin Correa, according to Il Messaggero (via Sport Witness).

The lowdown

Correa is capable of playing as an attacking midfielder or down the left but last season he was used as a centre forward. In 25 Serie A starts, he scored eight goals and provided three assists (via WhoScored).

Tuttosport have reported that Lazio need to raise up to €30million (£25.4million) in order to register new signings Elseid Hysaj, Felipe Anderson, Dimitrije Kamenović and Luka Romero and fund a move for Bordeaux’s Toma Basic. As such, they are willing to let Correa leave for that fee.

Legendary countryman Juan Sebastian Veron has actually urged him to remain in Serie A, where’s been ‘crushing it’ (via Goal) – high praise indeed.

Villa have already spent more than £95million on four new signings, but Jack Grealish’s move to Manchester City has put them back in the black (via Transfermarkt).

The latest

The report states that Villa Park is a possible destination for Correa, though there’s competition from Premier League rivals Everton and Leicester City.

The player’s agent is said to be hard at work to arrange a route out of the Italian capital.

The verdict

Do Villa really need Correa? Well his versatility would make him a good asset, but you could argue the funds would be better spent elsewhere.

The likes of Danny Ings, Ollie Watkins and Emiliano Buendia appear to block Correa’s path into the starting line-up.

There is a potential gap on the left-hand side, but Todd Cantwell would be better suited to that role.

It might be the case that Correa’s representatives have made an approach to Villa, rather than the other way around.

In other news, fans react to Gregg Evans’ Danny Ings claim. 

Internationals to take the field for Rashid match

There will be up to nine internationals taking part in the Umer and Burhan Rashid Memorial Match on Friday 13 September

Sussex CCC Media Release05-Sep-2002There will be up to nine internationals taking part in the Umer and Burhan Rashid Memorial Match on Friday 13 September.The two teams will be made up from the following players:SUSSEXANGUSFRASER XIChris Adams- England
Tony Dodemaide- Australia and SussexMurray Goodwin- Zimbabwe
Phil Simmons- West Indies Richard Montgomerie
Mike Gatting- England and MiddlesexTony Cottey
Angus Fraser- England and MiddlesexTim Ambrose
GladstoneSmall – England and WarwickshireRobin Martin-Jenkins
Adam Hollioake- England and Surrey *Matthew PriorDave Smith- England and SussexMark DavisMike Roseberry-Middlesex and DurhamJason LewryWasim Khan- Warwickshire, Sussex and DerbyshireWill HouseRajesh Rao- Middlesex and Sussex Mark RobinsonRepresentativesfrom Middlesex LeagueA popular addition to the Sussex team will be Sultan Rashid, the fifteen-year-old brother of Umer and Burhan. Sultan will be wearing Umer’s number 17 for the match.* Adam Hollioake could be a late addition and his decision to play will depend on Surrey’s position in the Championship.The match will commence at 6.30pm with the Prime Minister of Grenada, Dr Keith Mitchell, bowling the first ball.Ray Julian will be umpiring alongside Sussex sponsor, Ian Cameron (a club umpire).Gates open 4pm, welcome 6pm match starts 6.30pm. All donations welcome to the Umer Rashid Memorial Fund at the County Ground, Hove.

SAFC dealt further Jones transfer blow

Sunderland have been dealt a further blow in their bid to bring Jordan Jones back to the Stadium of Light this summer.

What’s the talk?

That’s according to a report by Football League World, who claim that Ipswich Town have moved ahead of Sunderland in the race for the Glasgow Rangers winger, with Wigan Athletic also thought to be keen on a move for the 26-year-old.

An earlier report had already claimed that the Black Cats could struggle to get a deal over the line for their former loanee, as Steven Gerrard is hoping to move Jones on permanently this summer, with Lee Johnson’s side looking unlikely to be able to afford Gers’ asking price for the forward.

Big miss

With Jones being one of Sunderland’s stand out performers during his loan spell at the club last season, missing out on the winger’s signing this summer would be a devastating blow for Johnson.

Indeed, over his 20 League One appearances for the Mackems last term – with only 12 of these coming as starts – the £540k-rated man bagged three goals, provided four assists and created two big chances for his teammates, as well as taking an average of 1.6 shots and making 1.9 key passes per game.

These metrics saw the player Steven Gerrard dubbed a “real threat” earn a highly impressive average SofaScore match rating of 7.08, ranking him as Johnson’s fifth-best player in the third tier of English football.

As such, should Kyril Louis-Dreyfus be unable to secure the signing of the 26-year-old once again this summer, it would be a huge opportunity missed for the Black Cats, with the owner having to turn his attention regarding attacking additions in the summer transfer market elsewhere.

Furthermore, should Jones go on to sign for one of Sunderland’s likely promotion rivals in Ipswich or Wigan, the possibility of the winger’s goals having a direct impact on the Mackems’ promotion chances would seem very real indeed.

In other news: Alan Nixon drops two-word Sunderland transfer update that will have fans buzzing

Second XI Trophy Results – 25 June 2002

Milton Keynes: Northamptonshire 288-9 (DE Paynter 141) Leicestershire 242-8 (RJ Cunliffe 79, AS Wright 62) Northamptonshire won by 46 runs

CricInfo26-Jun-2002Bristol:
Somerset 220-8 (PD Trego 53)
Gloucestershire 222-6 (CG Taylor 83, MGN Windows 54)
Gloucestershire win by four wicketsRiverside:
Durham 177
Nottinghamshire 178-1
Nottinghamshire win by nine wicketsMilton Keynes:
Northamptonshire 288-9 (DE Paynter 141)
Leicestershire 242-8 (RJ Cunliffe 79, AS Wright 62)
Northamptonshire won by 46 runs

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