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Crystal Palace have set their sights on a new target, joining the race to sign a “magnificent” forward, following Eddie Nketiah’s recent setback.

Palace keen on new forward after Nketiah injury blow

Nketiah was unavailable against Fulham, with Oliver Glasner confirming the forward, who had started the three previous league games, has suffered an injury, saying: “Eddie is out for this game, so let’s see for the next game. We don’t know exactly how long it will take [to recover] – we’ll have to take it game by game.

“It’s a little bit his muscle, but we don’t know right now how serious it is. Of course, he’s had a few issues this year, and that’s why we are quite cautious.”

West Ham United had been linked with a move for the striker, but as a result of the injury blow, the deal has been scuppered, and he is seemingly poised to remain at Selhurst Park beyond the end of the January transfer window.

However, the Eagles remain keen on strengthening their options in attacking areas, with a deal for Tottenham Hotspur’s Brennan Johnson now edging closer to completion, while they are also keen on a Ligue 1 forward.

That is according to a report from Football Insider, which states Crystal Palace have now joined the race to sign Paris FC star Ilan Kebbal, who has put in some impressive performances in Ligue 1 this season.

However, Fulham and Sunderland are also credited with an interest in the winger, so there could be competition for his signature from Palace’s Premier League rivals.

At the moment, Kebbal is at AFCON with Algeria, but the Eagles could look to snap him up when he returns, as they are keen on strengthening their attacking options, with Eddie Nketiah set to be sidelined for at least a month.

Related Crystal Palace make approach to sign another Tottenham player with Brennan Johnson

The Eagles could raid their London neighbours.

Posts ByEmilio Galantini "Magnificent" Kebbal catching the eye in Ligue 1

Paris FC returned to Ligue 1 after a 46-year absence this season, and the Algeria international has made a very promising start to life in the top tier, contributing a combined ten goals and assists in his opening 16 games.

Newsletter: Deeper Transfer Insight and Palace Picks Subscribe to our newsletter for deeper transfer coverage: expert analysis of Palace’s targets like Kebbal, comprehensive player profiles, tactical context and the market angles that explain transfer decisions and rival interests.

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Stade Brest’s Hugo Magnetti has also been left impressed by the right-winger’s performances, saying: “Ilan Kebbal is a magnificent ball player but also a very good ball eater. One day he annoyed me, we pushed each other and the referee gave us 2 red cards. It’s after moments like that that he became like a brother.”

That said, while the 27-year-old could be a success at Selhurst Park, he may not be a necessary signing, given that a deal for Johnson is now in place.

Scorecard

	Amjad Ali pulls during his gritty half-century but UAE could only manage a lead of two © ICC

Edgar Schiferli claimed a career-best 5 for 48 on the second day in Sharjah but UAE dented Netherlands’ hopes of qualifying for the Intercontinental Cup final by taking a narrow two-run lead.To stay in the race for a spot in the final, Netherlands really needed to collect the maximum 20 points from this match, but after conceding a lead, only 14 points are now available. However, following the efforts of Schiferli victory is still within reach. The home side looked well placed for a handy advantage on 256 for 5 until Schiferli ran through the tail as the last five wickets fell for 33 runs.UAE had been given a solid base as they replied to Netherlands’ 287 with a opening stand of 69 between two Ali’s – Amjad and Arshad – with Amjad reaching a hardworking 55 from 190 balls. The middle order scored more freely as captain Saqib Ali hit 58 off 73 balls while Khurram Khan and Rashid Khan produced useful innings.Mohammad Kashif and Daan van Bunge claimed two important wickets apiece, but it was Schiferli who produced the most dramatic intervention towards the end of the day. He made short work of the last four wickets, which fell for eight runs, and when he bowled Fahad Alhashmi it completed his first five-wicket haul.Netherlands, who currently lie fourth in the table, will now need to produce a solid batting effort to leave UAE a final-day target.

John Buchanan: “The perfect team is the one that keeps wanting to be better day in and day out” © Getty Images

John Buchanan, who has retired from his coaching role, said it was Australia’s destiny to be at the cutting edge of cricket after they had won a third straight World Cup title. Australia’s victory over Sri Lanka by 53 runs meant his players gave Buchanan, 54, a winning send-off in his last game after eight years in charge.Although supervising a gifted side, Buchanan has been credited with extending the team’s horizons. Buchanan, who is set to concentrate on what had been a motivational speaking sideline, had challenged the rest of the world to match Australia’s standards after they beat India in the 2003 World Cup final.But while now reluctant to pass on tips to other nations, Buchanan was clear where the sporting future of Australia lay. “It’s our role always to lead change, to lead new ideas to be right at the cutting edge of cricket or of sport,” he said. “Then it’s up to other countries to try to chase us. In a sense we’re not interested in what other countries have to do, it’s what we still have to do.”India and West Indies are two of the sides looking for a new coach after World Cup failures, but Buchanan said he had no interest in taking charge of another country. “I suppose you can never say never but right at the moment no,” he said. “I feel very loyal to the team that I coach and the players that I’ve worked with. So right at the moment I’m looking to venture into new territory altogether. This sort of role will be a thing of the past for me.”Buchanan said the key to Australia’s enduring success – they are the world’s best Test side and have now gone 29 games unbeaten at the World Cup – began with the players. “Each individual has strived for perfection all the time,” he said. “From a coach’s point of view, that is the perfect team. The perfect team is the one that keeps wanting to be better day in and day out. I’ve been basically a passenger for the last three years or so. I get there [to practice], put the gear out and bring it back in again.”But Ricky Ponting said: “We shouldn’t let the coach get away with that. He’s challenged us all the whole time he’s been in charge of this team. He’s always been overlooked. It’s not an easy thing to do to take over a team that’s already playing good cricket and make it better.”But he’s been able to do that with me and with all of us. Some of that is to do with the players, but a lot of it is also to do with how you’re coached as well.”

Gerard Denton has been a strong performer for the Bushrangers with 33 wickets this season © Getty Images

Gerard Denton’s shock withdrawal with appendicitis has upset Victoria’s preparations for the Pura Cup final against Queensland starting on Friday. Denton had surgery in Melbourne last night after complaining of stomach pain during a training session yesterday.While his team-mates flew to Brisbane for the final, Denton went for scans and a Victoria spokesman said he would remain in hospital for a couple of days. Allan Wise has stepped in as a replacement and Greg Shipperd, the coach, said Denton had been an integral part of the squad and would be missed.”He’s swung the ball, taken wickets consistently, and been a popular member of the team,” Shipperd said. “We wish him a swift recovery, but know that Wise will be a handy replacement should he get the nod in the final XI.” Denton has completed his most successful Pura Cup season after finishing with 33 wickets at 28.15 while Wise has 27 victims at 27.55 in seven games.Victoria have also been forced to deny Mick Lewis is considering a move to Western Australia after reports he talked with the state’s officials about playing at the WACA next summer. “There’s been nothing come to us through the correct channels in relation to asking permission that they’re going to speak to Mick, so it’s pure fabrication,” Shaun Graf, the Victoria spokesman, told . “Mick Lewis is a Victorian, he wants to finish his career in Victoria, and that’s where he’ll stay.”Victoria Jason Arnberger, Lloyd Mash, Brad Hodge, Nick Jewell, David Hussey, Cameron White (capt), Jon Moss, Nathan Pilon (wk), Adam Crosthwaite (wk), Dirk Nannes, Mick Lewis, Shane Harwood, Allan Wise.Queensland Jimmy Maher (capt), Lachlan Stevens, Martin Love, Clinton Perren, Shane Watson, James Hopes, Brendan Nash, Chris Hartley (wk), Andy Bichel, Ashley Noffke, Daniel Doran, Mitchell Johnson.

Cover-up: Shane Warne’s thinning streak gets some added protection © Getty Images

Shane Warne’s regrowth has always been a style issue, but his baldness has forced him to join a campaign to get back his receding hairline. Warne, who is a perennial bottle-blond, has completed replacement treatment from Advanced Hair Studio in a bid to return his locks.”It’s great,” Warne, the Hampshire captain, said. “My hair is growing back and my hair loss has stopped.” While he hopes the program increases his thatch, the exercise also opens up a valuable box of sledges for England during the Test series starting on July 21.Warne told an international video conference from London that he was taking tablets to prevent the hair loss and when asked if they were acceptable under the sport’s drug rules he said: “Do I really need to answer that one? Of course I have. I have checked them all out.” reported that he was also quizzed about ditching his mobile phone, whether he was getting paid more than for his failed quit-smoking campaign with Nicorette, and if having hair was more attractive to women. “You can speculate all you like about that stuff,” Warne said. “The most important thing to me is to re-grow my own hair.”Warne, 35, said being blond was his trademark and he “wanted to feel young again”. He also said he would check out Ricky Ponting’s pate to see if his was thinning. “I’ll have to study him very closely in the change room,” he said. “I might have to pull him aside and have a quiet little word.”Turning on bald patches isn’t foreign for cricketers. The offspinner Greg Matthews led a high-profile “yeah, yeah” promotion and Graham Gooch and Martin Crowe have also endorsed the product. Warne had his first Advance Studio session late in the Australian summer and will use laser therapy and a special thickening shampoo to help his recovery.

Heath Streak: stepping down© Getty Images

Heath Streak has resigned as Zimbabwe’s captain. Streak made a series of demands to the Zimbabwean Cricket Union, threatening to quit the game altogether if they were not met: but the ZCU called his bluff, and he has been replaced by Tatenda Taibu with immediate effect.According to the ZCU, Streak presented their board of directors with anultimatum during their quarterly meeting. His demands included the immediate review of the selection panel, to leave a maximum of four selectors who would not be directors or commentators and who should have played first-class or Test cricket.Streak apparently said he had no confidence in the teams being selected, and added that he was under stress as he was doubling up as the players’ representative, and the players were continuously raising grievances to him. Streak had earlier said that he was not happy with the management of the team, or with Geoff Marsh, the coach, saying that he had misrepresented him to the selectors.But the acrimony between Streak and the ZCU became apparant when the ZCU issued a statement claiming that Streak had been sacked and that he had retired “from all forms of cricket”. This was denied by Streak. “I don’t want to say anything until matters have been cleared,” he said. “Things aren’t exactly as they have come out. What has happened so far is not my wish.”Streak, who is still only 30, has played 59 Tests and 183 one-dayers. He has had two stints as Zimbabwe’s captain but, despite the odd success, he was unable to change their fortunes. If indeed he has played his last game for Zimbabwe he will follow other big names, such as Andy Flower, Alistair Campbell and Henry Olonga, out of international cricket.Streak recently signed as one of Warwickshire’s overseas players for the coming county season. It may be that he will be available to play rather more often at Edgbaston than he originally expected.Taibu, the diminutive wicketkeeper, had been Streak’s vice-captain in recent series. He will take charge for Zimbabwe’s home series against Sri Lanka in two weeks’ time, when he will become their first black Test captain. He is not 21 until May 14, and so also stands to become the youngest Test captain of all – the record is currently held by Mansur Ali Khan Pataudi, who was 21 years 77 days old when he first captained India, in 1961-62.

POTCHEFSTROOM, South Africa – Australia’s players were so tense duringthe early stages of the 1999 World Cup they couldn’t breathe … orplay.It was pure torture. The harder they tried, the worse they got, losingto Pakistan and New Zealand and struggling against a bunch ofmodestly-talented bravehearts from Scotland.It’s history, and something of a miracle, that Australia won the title.Those first few games were such an ordeal that Ricky Ponting’s sidevowed to avoid a repeat this time.They wanted to hit the ground running in South Africa, win the first twogames against Pakistan and India to blow off the cobwebs, then enjoythemselves.Mission accomplished.The Australians aren’t living and breathing the World Cup over here. Farfrom it. In fact, when they aren’t playing, or when they are about toface weak opposition like Holland on Thursday, they are being encouragedto let their hair down.Australia’s team hotel in Potchefstroom the last two days has beennoticeable for how many players have been absent.A large gang went to R&R heaven: Sun City. Others went back to thecapital, Johannesburg.Those who did stay in Potchefstroom did laps of the local golf course,swam, played table tennis, played pool, sipped the odd beer – anythingthat didn’t involve cricket, anything that would help clear their heads.It’s all part of a plan to keep the players fresh over a long two-monthtournament, enabling them them to peak at the right times. There’s noneed to be peaking now.The time will come soon enough when the Super Sixes, the semi-final andfinal roll around. There’s an energetic vibe in the camp that wasmissing at the same stage of the Cup four years ago.”I remember us having a very, very tough and hard meeting a couple ofgames in,” said Ponting.”We sat down in Headingley and locked all the doors and just tried toreally get to the bottom of why things were not happening for us.”It was a really open and honest meeting for us, we got everything outbut we haven’t had to do too much of that this time.”Things are going really well and I probably think part of that is thechance we’ve had to – not do our own thing all the time – but we haven’tplaced too much emphasis on this being a big tournament and a World Cup.”We’ve tried to make it a little bit the other way if anything, be alittle bit more low key and just go about our business day in and dayout. The guys are probably responding pretty well to that.”It was built up big-time in ’99 and that’s what we’ve tried to stayaway from. There’s going to be enough excitement and pressure around ongame day anyway to get the guys pumped up, so we’ve deliberately triedto make it as low key as we can.”Australia returned to the nets on the eve of the Holland game withbatteries fully charged.

ECB Division 1 (Time Matches)Andover 224 (10pts) (Staddon 65, Whitehouse 45, Hayward 40)
Hungerford 150-5 (9pts)
Match drawnBournemouth 201-8 (11pts) (Webley 63, Warrington 52, Swarbrick 35, King 3-49)
Bashley (Rydal) 130-6 (7pts) (Thurgood 64, Sexton 29, Warren 3-32)
Match drawnBurridge 178-8 (5pts) (Francis 61, Jackson 28, Godwin 25, Hibberd 4-64)
Calmore Sports 180-7 (19pts) (Bailey 51, Motchall 29, Ancell 4-67)
Calmore Sports won by 3 wicketsLiphook and Ripsley 186-9 (6pts) (Tyler 52, Gay 27, Wheatley 25, Lewis 4-30, Loat 4-37)
Havant 187-8 (19pts) (Sears 63, Carson 42, Jansen 3-74)
Havant won by 2 wicketsSouth Wilts 128 (1pt) (Caines 57, Lamb 22, Dibden 4-26, Taylor 3-22, Goldstraw 3-53)
BAT Sports 129-2 (21pts) (Shirazi 51, Kenway 50)
BAT Sports won by 8 wicketsDivision 2 (50 overs)Cove 229-5 (21pts) (Benham 68, Crompton 51, Tomsett 45, Smith 32, Sh Green 4-60)
Easton and Martyr Worthy 193-8 (6pts) (Stone 44, St Green 42, D Birch 33)
Cove won by 36 runs – 49 overs a side gameHambledon 22-0v LymingtonMatch abandoned after 10 oversSparsholt 264-8 (22pts) (Foyle 114, Savage 89, Richards 3-59)
Old Basing 128 (5pts) (Quantock 52, Heyes 3-27)
Sparsholt won by 136 runsTrojans 40 (2pts) (Maru 4-5, Naqeeb 3-7)
Portsmouth 41-5 (19pts) (Donaldson 3-13)
Portsmouth won by 5 wicketsUnited Services 192-9 (17pts) (Barsby 58, Carson 42, Marjoria 4-33)
Old Tauntonians and Romsey 187-6 (7pts) (I Tulk 57, M Trodd 49)
United Services won by 5 runsDivision 3 (50 overs)Alton 145-6 (Chalkley 39, Nash 34, Walsh 3-36)
v United Services
Match abandoned after 38.2 oversBashley (Rydal) II 153 (3pts) (King 51, Stringer 4-26)
(target reduced to 89 in 29 overs)
St Cross Symondians 90-2 (22pts) (Rees 41, Parker 23)
St Cross Symondians won by 8 wicketsHook and Newnham Basics 321-7 (21pts) (Kaminski 100, Lovelock 65, Shaw 50)
Waterlooville 228-9 (8pts) (Slater 41, Langrish 36, Shephard 32, Kaminski 4-42)
Hook & Newnham Basics won by 93 runs – 47 overs a side gameLeckford 180-7 (4pts) (Isherwood 54, Richmond 37, Cattle 28, Wilson 4-26)
(target reduced to 154 in 43 overs)
Hursley Park 155-3 (20pts) (Harris 70, Lowe 47)
Hursley Park won by 7 wicketsLymington II 200 (6pts) (Tapper 77, Jackson 52, Wright 4-50, Heath 3-24)
(target reduced to 137 in 34 overs)
Flamingos 137-4 (22pts) (Latouf 40, Fenigan 23, Manthorpe 21, Follett 3-43)
Flamingos won by 6 wicketsGosport Borough 192-8 (8pts) (Collins 89, Adams 29, L Beck 3-43)
New Milton 196-7 (21pts) (R Beck 62, Watts 42, L Beck 27, Edwards 3-33)
New Milton won by 3 wickets – 42 overs a side gamePaultons 235 (8pts) (Park 76, Waver 35, Richman 31, Mist 4-57)
(target reduced to 221 in 47 overs)
Havant II 221-7 (22pts) (Ward 67, Gover 31, Galliers 30, Mitchell 3-44)
Havant II won by 7 wicketsPurbrook 242-4 (22pts)
Portsmouth II 222 (5pts)
Purbrook won by 20 runsWinchester KS 145 (4pts) (Davies 34, Yates 4-25, Eichler 4-34)
(target reduced to 98 in 27 overs)
Rowledge 99-3 (22pts) (Lloyd 55, Eichler 25)
Rowledge won by 7 wickets – 40 overs a side game

Tottenham Hotspur have been tipped to make a move for Nicolo Zaniolo in the summer transfer window.

What’s the talk?

That’s according to Virtus Entella sporting director Matteo Superbi, who claimed in a recent interview with Calciomercato (via Sport Witness) that the Serie A side could be tempted into selling the 22-year-old this summer.

Superbi went on to state that, despite the Italy international having suffered a number of injury setbacks in his career, the likes of Tottenham, Manchester United, Manchester City and Juventus would all be interested in a move for the versatile winger – for whom Roma could demand a figure of around €50m (£42.5m).

Speaking about Zaniolo’s future, the 53-year-old said: “I think a [player born in] ’99 of that level could be worth €50m; I don’t think I’m saying the wrong thing. It will be more a choice of Roma, who will decide what to do with Zaniolo – but that’s the value.

“I wouldn’t be surprised if he was bought by a top English team; the real unknown is that despite being very young, he has already had two major operations. I wish him well and that he has given his all in terms of injuries.

“Nicolo has excellent technique but great physicality. The ball is in Mourinho’s court and Roma’s court. I wouldn’t be surprised if there were clubs like Juve, Tottenham or Manchester interested. It’s still an investment for big teams.”

Forget Dybala

While it is true that, despite clearly possessing an enormous amount of ability, Zaniolo’s career has started to stagnate at the Stadio Olimpico somewhat, should Antonio Conte believe he can be the manager to help the 22-year-old go on to fulfil his undoubted potential, the Italian would be a fantastic signing for Spurs.

Indeed, after making a €4.5m (£3.8m) move to Roma back in 2018, the £29.7m-rated forward went on to score four goals and provide three assists over his 27 Serie A appearances in 2018/19, before following this campaign up with returns of six goals and two assists over 26 league outings in 2019/20.

This level of performance led to the youngster being showered with considerable praise, none less so than from Giallorossi legend Francesco Totti, who said of the attacker back in 2018: “Zaniolo is explosive and he plays with an unusual ease. If he continues this way he could become a great player.”

However, a cruciate ligament rupture saw the £75k-per-week Italian miss the entirety of Roma’s 2020/21 campaign, with Zaniolo only returning to the pitch at the beginning of this season.

And, despite still struggling with the odd injury here and there, the player who Mourinho claimed “there are few out there with this amount of potential” has started to show glimpses of his talent over his 23 Serie A appearances in the current campaign, scoring two goals, providing two assists and creating three big chances for his teammates, as well as completing an average of two dribbles per game – the joint fifth-most of any player in the top flight of Italian football.

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As such, while Spurs have been heavily linked with a move for another Serie A sensation in the form of Paulo Dybala in recent weeks, it would appear extremely advisable for Conte to first consider a move for the Roma starlet this summer.

Indeed, not only would Zaniolo’s impressive positional versatility make him a much better fit for the 52-year-old manager’s system at Spurs, but the fact the nine-time capped international is six years Dybala’s junior also means he is a player with a much higher ceiling, not to mention a much more sellable asset further down the line.

AND in other news: Conte could unearth a £100m-rated talent in THFC sensation who can “always turn it on”

	Tim Southee, the 19-year-old bowling sensation, may be in line to win a central contract with New Zealand Cricket © Getty Images

New Zealand Cricket (NZC) is expected to fill up two spots in its list of centrally contracted players – which fell vacant after Lou Vincent and Shane Bond joined the unofficial Indian Cricket League – before June.Justin Vaughan, the NZC chief executive, said Bond’s contract had been offered to another player while no replacement had been found for Vincent yet.”Shane’s contract has been offered to a player but I haven’t heard whether that player has accepted it yet,” Vaughan told . “[About] Lou’s contract, we are working through the process for that at the moment but a decision is probably about a week away.”Iain O’Brien, the right-arm fast-medium bowler, is likely to be named in place of Bond, the newspaper suggested, while Tim Southee – who took 17 wickets and was the Player of the Tournament at the recent Under-19 World Cup – and opening batsman Matthew Bell have been marked as the candidates to replace Vincent.Meanwhile, Richard Hadlee, currently New Zealand’s convenor of selectors, will be involved in handing out the 20 central contracts and in selecting the squad for the tour of England – which begins late next month – despite his announcement last week that he would step down as a selector.John Wright, the former India coach and currently high performance manager of NZC, is tipped to take over the role from Hadlee, who has served as a selector for eight years. However, Hadlee is likely to be replaced only later this year.