Tag Futebol

Hibernian suffered the indignity of losing to Andorran side Inter Club d'Escaldes during the second qualifying round of the Europa Conference League, and although they have the home leg to come, manager Lee Johnson needs something to click.

The Easter Road outfit sold Kevin Nisbet to Millwall, and despite adding Adam Le Fondre and Elie Youan to his attacking options, they need another striker.

Will Hibs sign Dylan Vente?

According to reports in The Netherlands (via The Edinburgh Evening News), Hibs are close to securing a move for Roda JC striker Dylan Vente in the coming days.

There was interest from Championship sides Sunderland and Swansea City, while Italian outfits Palermo and Pisa were also keeping tabs on the Dutchman, yet it appears he is set to move to the capital.

By securing £2m from the sale of Nisbet, Johnson is expected to splash £700k of that on Vente according to the Dutch media (via The Edinburgh Evening News) and there is no doubt that another forward is desperately required, especially with the Premiership season less than a week away.

Could Dylan Vente replace Kevin Nisbet at Hibs?

The departure of the former Raith Rovers striker was inevitable, especially considering his success at the club over the previous few seasons.

Since arriving from Dunfermline Athletic in 2020 having netted 18 goals in the second tier, Nisbet took to the Premiership like a duck to water, settling in with ease.

Across 101 matches for Hibs, he scored 39 goals and grabbed 12 assists, and this meant he scored or assisted once every two games for the club.

There is no doubt he will be missed, but if Johnson wishes to improve on the fifth-place finish from last term, he will have to bring someone in who could match Nisbet’s clinical nature. Vente may be the ideal candidate.

The 24-year-old has played in his homeland for his entire career, representing clubs such as Feyenoord, RKC Waalwijk and now Roda, even winning a Dutch Cup and two Super Cup medals during his time in Rotterdam.

His spell at Roda has been the most productive of his career thus far, scoring an impressive 51 goals in just 96 matches, and he shone during the 2022/23 campaign.

Although he was playing in the Dutch second tier, Vente ranked third across the squad for overall Sofascore match rating (7.29), while also finishing top of the pile for goals and assists (27), shots on target per game (1.5) and second for goal frequency (a goal every 160 minutes), suggesting that he was a key attacking outlet for the side.

His figures were so impressive that he would have ranked as Hibs’ joint-best performer alongside Joe Newell while ranking first for goals and assists, shots on target per game and second for scoring frequency, indicating that he would significantly improve the attacking options at the club.

With Johnson needing a win in their upcoming European second-leg encounter, plus a decent start in the league, the former Sunderland boss will be hoping the move for Vente goes through ahead of schedule to help ease the loss of Nisbet.

Scotland and Sussex batsman Matt Machan has announced his retirement on medical advice after a wrist injury

ESPNcricinfo staff28-Jul-2017Matt Machan, the Scotland and Sussex batsman, has announced his retirement from professional cricket, at 26, on medical advice.Machan missed half of last season with a wrist injury – described by Sussex’s head coach Mark Davis as a “repetitive” injury” – and an operation last September failed to bring the solution he had anticipated.Machan said: “It is with great sadness and an extremely heavy heart that I have to announce my retirement. Following medical advice, my long-term health is most important to me and I have to take that into account.”I believe as a batsman I was only just starting to come into my own and it is a real shame that this has been cut short so early as I believe I had so much still to offer Sussex over the next few years.”An aggressive left-handed batsman and offbreak bowler, Machan qualified for Scotland through his Scottish mother in 2012 and made an ODI debut against Afghanistan in Sharjah in 2013. He made his maiden international hundred, against Kenya, a few months later and played a part in Scotland’s 2015 World Cup campaign.Sussex’s director of cricket, Keith Greenfield, said: “Matt has been part of Sussex cricket since he was 10 years of age, and it is sad that we will not see Matt continue to develop and deliver his talent on the pitch because of his wrist injury. His passion for the club has always been clear.”

Sunderland have rightly been praised for the way they have gone about their transfer business so far this summer, but they potentially risk making their first howler in their ongoing pursuit of Croatian forward Matija Frigan.

What players have Sunderland signed?

The Black Cats have so far signed Nectarios Triantis, Luis 'Hemir' Semedo, Jenson Seelt and Jobe Bellingham, with each of those aged 20 or under as the Wearside outfit look towards the future.

However, manager Tony Mowbray has made no secret of his desire to bring in another attacking player after seeing Amad Diallo return to parent club Manchester United, whilst Ross Stewart will miss the start of the new season through injury.

Having missed out on a deal for Coventry-bound Ellis Simms, who impressed on loan at the Stadium of Light in the first half of last season, Sunderland have since switched their focus elsewhere.

According to Croatian outlet Sportske Novosti, the Championship outfit have already had a first bid of £3.4m turned down for Frigan, but they may now return with a follow-up offer.

However, given the possible size of the fee involved, plus the fact that 6 foot 1 forward is untested outside of his homeland, it would surely make sense for Mowbray's men to look elsewhere.

Who is Croatian forward Matija Frigan?

Frigan has made 42 appearances in the Croatian top flight – 27 of those with current club Rijeka and the rest during a spell on loan at Hrvatski Dragovoljac in the 2021/22 campaign.

The 20-year-old frontman scored 13 goals in those 27 outings last season, with that a more-than-adequate return for a player of his age and highlighting that he is undoubtedly a big talent.

However, Football Insider previously reported that it will take an offer of £5.2m to persuade Rijeka – who is also supposedly wanted by Rangers – to cash in, which is a huge sum as far as Sunderland are concerned.

Indeed, it was previously suggested that Sunderland were out of the running to sign Simms from Everton after Ipswich Town tabled a £4m bid earlier in the window.

The Englishman later joined Coventry City in a deal that could climb to £8m.

Frigan would have to be ready to hit the ground for that sort of fee and, while he has scored fairly regularly in the Croatian top flight, that country is ranked behind the likes of Sweden, Israel, Norway and Ukraine in terms of coefficient, giving a clear indication as to the quality of the league.

That is not to say there are no gems out there waiting to be signed at the right price, particularly given the likes of Josko Gvardiol and Luka Sucic have prospered in Europe, but Frigan still only scored at a rate of 0.59 goals per 90 minutes last season, as per FBref.

To give that some perspective, Stewart scored at a rate of 0.86 goals per 90 for Sunderland in the Championship.

Whilst the Croatia U21 international is clearly a talent – a "very interesting" one in the view of football talent scout Jacek Kulig – Sunderland would be better suited to spending their money on a more tried and tested option this window as they look to improve on last season's sixth-place finish.

Everton are interested in signing Leeds United duo Willy Gnonto and Crysencio Summerville this summer, according to a new transfer update.

Are Leeds moving on Gnonto and Summerville this summer?

The Whites were relegated from the Premier League at the expense of the Blues last month, in what proved to be a tense final day of the campaign.

While Everton were able to breathe an enormous sigh of relief, Leeds now have to accept that they could lose a number of top players who don't want to be plying their trade in the Championship moving forward.

Two of those who could easily move on are young attacking pair Gnonto and Summerville, both of whom contributed positively at times last season, showing the potential that they possess.

With Everton looking to do some important transfer business over the next couple of months, it looks as though they could be hoping to raid their relegation rivals from last season.

Are Everton keen on Gnonto and Summerville?

According to The Daily Mail, Gnonto and Summerville and both considered to be Blues targets this summer, as Sean Dyche looks to work his magic, with midfielder Tyler Adams also getting a mention:

"Full-back Rasmus Kristensen is discussing a loan to Roma along with club mate Diego Llorente while Willy Gnonto and Crysencio Summerville are attracting interest from Everton.

"Midfielder Tyler Adams and goalkeeper Illan Meslier are also understood to have drop clauses. As Confidential readers will know, USA international Adams is a target for Brighton, Aston Villa, Everton and Nottingham Forest but West Ham also appreciate the 24-year-old."

It is vital that fresh attacking blood is added to Everton's squad in the summer transfer window, and in Gnonto and Summerville, they have two strong options to come in and bolster the depth and quality at Dyche's disposal.

It seems unlikely that both will come in, so if push came to shove, Gnonto is arguably the one with the higher ceiling, having already won 11 caps and scored once for Italy. Despite only being 19 years of age, he has been hailed as "really good" by Gary Neville and actually clashed with Seamus Coleman at Goodison Park last season.

Summerville is also a talented young winger in his own right, however, scoring a memorable later winner away to Everton's local rivals Liverpool last season and netting four times in the Premier League in total.

The duo might not yet be the finished article, making them works in progress instead, but if Dyche feels he can get the best out of one of them, or both for that matter, Everton should do all they can to get the business done.

أعلن الاتحاد الدولي لكرة القدم “فيفا” بشكل رسمي، إدراج بطولة العاصمة الإدارية التي تقام في مصر خلال الفترة القادمة، ضمن برنامج سلسلة الفيفا الجديدة.

وكان الاتحاد الدولي لكرة القدم، كشف عن إطلاق مشروع تجريبي لإقامة بطولات دولية خلال شهر مارس في كل توقف دولي للسنوات الزوجية، تضم سلسلة المباريات الودية الدولية أربعة منتخبات وطنية من اتحادات قارية مختلفة، على أن تقام المواجهات في دولة مضيفة واحدة.

وتستضيف مصر، بطولة العاصمة الإدارية أو “كأس عاصمة مصر” من الفترة 22 حتى 26 مارس الجاري بمشاركة منتخبات مصر وتونس وكرواتيا ونيوزيلندا.

طالع | الإعلان عن ملعب مباراة مصر ونيوزيلندا في البطولة الودية الدولية

وتقام البطولة بنظام مباراتين لنصف النهائي والفائزان يلتقيان في المباراة النهائية، حيث مواجهتي النصف النهائي سيكونا بين مصر ونيوزيلندا وكرواتيا ضد تونس، يوم 22 مارس.

والفائزان من المواجهتين يلتقيان في المباراة النهائية يوم 26 مارس، بينما الخاسران يتواجهان في مباراة تحديد المركز الثالث والرابع يوم 25 مارس. بيان الاتحاد الدولي لكرة القدم فيفا بشأن اعتماد بطولة العاصمة الإدارية الودية في مصر ضمن سلسلة فيفا

تم الإعلان عن اختيار مصر لتكون إحدى الدول المستضيفة للنسخة التجريبية من سلسلة فيفا مع إضافة أربعة منتخبات جديدة، بحيث تجري في القاهرة المواجهات الودية التي تجمع بين كرواتيا ومصر وتونس ونيوزيلندا خلال فترة المباريات الدولية بين 22 و26 مارس.

وبموجب قرار اتخذه مجلس فيفا في ديسمبر 2022، تماشياً مع الأهداف الاستراتيجية للعبة العالمية بين عامي 2023 و2027، ستكون سلسلة فيفا عبارة عن مباريات ودية تخوضها منتخبات من اتحادات قارية مختلفة عادة ما لا تكون الفرصة متاحة أمامها لمواجهة بعضها البعض.

والهدف الأساسي من هذه المبادرة الكروية الجديدة، فيتمثل برفع مستوى الاحتكاك الكروي الدولي خارج نطاق المواجهات المحلية المعتادة، وهو ما يُساهم في تطور ملموس لكرة القدم حول العالم، مع العلم أن نسخة 2024 ستكون تجريبية، بينما يجري التحضير لنسخ أخرى تُقام في فترة المباريات الدولية في شهر مارس خلال السنوات الزوجية.

وفي هذه المرحلة الأولية، سيقوم المنظمون باختبار تنسيقات مختلفة على سبيل المثال، ستشهد بطولة العاصمة الإدارية الودية في مصر الفائزين في المباراة الأولى يواجهون بعضهم البعض في المباريات الثانية على التوالي.

وبانضمام مصر إلى هذه النسخة التجريبية، ستشهد نسخة 2024 من سلسلة فيفا مشاركة 24 اتحاداً وطنياً عضواً في فيفا تلعب في خمس وجهات موزعة على ثلاث قارات، بحيث تكون كافة الاتحادات القارية الستة ممثلة.

يذكر أن الدول المستضيفة لنسخة 2024 من سلسلة فيفا: الجزائر وأذربيجان والسعودية (سلسلتان من المباريات)، وسريلانكا، بالإضافة لمصر.

ومن شأن هذه المباريات أن تكون محفزاً للنهوض بأداء المنتخبات من الناحية الفنية وخلق فرص تطوير لم تكن متاحة مسبقاً أمام الاتحادات الوطنية أما التوزيع القاري للمنتخبات المشاركة فهو كالتالي: 9 (أفريقيا)، 5 (آسيا)، 4 (أوروبا)، 3 (أوقيانوسيا)، 2 (أمريكا الشمالية والوسطى والكاريبي)، 1 (أمريكا الجنوبية).

Pinpointing a new midfielder to partner Enzo Fernandez at Chelsea is arguably one of Mauricio Pochettino’s biggest challenges, which he simply must get right.

Getting the perfectly curated protector with a tough-tackling ferocity and keen athleticism is a tricky task.

The club has been incessantly linked to Moises Caicedo, however, Brighton are supposedly demanding around £120m for the Ecuadorian’s services.

Nevertheless, a cheaper, more realistic, and attainable alternative has emerged in the form of Aurélien Tchouaméni, whose signing would be a humongous statement of intent from the West Londoners.

What’s the latest on Aurélien Tchouaméni to Chelsea?

According to reports in Spain, the Blues offered €60m (£51m) for the Frenchman which was immediately rejected, and they are planning an improved bid of €80m (£68m), which will give Real Madrid something to think about.

Although far-fetched and extremely ambitious, the 2021 Champions League winners possess a ludicrously excessive budget, which could be shrewdly sprayed upon this ball-winning machine.

Who can Aurélien Tchouaméni emulate at Chelsea?

The 25-cap international joined the 14-time European Champions last summer for €100m (£86m) and made 50 appearances for Los Blancos.

As per FBref, the former Monaco prodigy has been compared to the current talk of the town, Declan Rice, due to their strikingly similar attributes.

Defensively, both these titans are formidable protectors for their backlines, with Tchouaméni averaging slightly better numbers in most departments as he has more tackles per 90 (2.61 vs 2.17), interceptions per 90 (1.98 vs 1.73), clearances per 90 (1.87 vs 1.59), and aerials won per 90 (1.91 vs 1.02), according to FBref.

The £206k-per-week man also outperforms his positional peers in pass completion (92.9% vs 86.5%), but Rice makes more progressive passes.

Tchouaméni’s compatriot Paul Pogba has lauded the sensation for his quality saying: “Very very good. He's not a boy, he's a man.

“It was a pleasure to play next to him. He brings a lot of energy. A lot of energy, and extraordinary technical and physical quality.”

Indeed, that's a review that could well describe Rice too.

The 22-year-old has started every game for his nation at the 2022 World Cup and scored in the 2-1 quarter-final victory over England.

Sky Sports News chief reporter Kaveh Solhekol has said that Chelsea’s new ownership has targeted the world’s “best young players” and Tchouaméni certainly fits that bill.

The pivot ranks within the best 8% in Europe’s top five leagues among his positional peers for interceptions, pass completion, and clearances per 90.

For the West London outfit to get back to where it belongs, this is exactly the type of scintillating Rice-like signing to reinvigorate the fanbase with a new-found belief that its new setup can take the club forward.

Everton will need to add some quality new additions to avoid another Premier League relegation battle next season and now a new update has emerged on a potential transfer target.

What's the latest on Everton's interest in Harry Maguire?

According to Football Transfers, Everton are one of the clubs interested in securing the signing of Manchester United defender Harry Maguire.

As per the report, Tottenham Hotspur and Aston Villa joining the Toffees in their interest in signing Maguire and will need to pay £35m to snap up his services this summer.

It is claimed that Maguire is desperate for first-team football ahead of Euro 2024 next summer, so is assessing his options with both Premier League and European clubs at present.

Would Harry Maguire be a good signing for Everton?

There is no doubt that the Blues are crying out for some quality in their squad after suffering their second consecutive relegation scrap at the bottom of the table this season.

The Toffees finished 17th with just two points sparing them on the final day from a drop into the Championship for the first time in Premier League history and now Sean Dyche will head into his first summer transfer window at Goodison Park with a number of key areas to address.

Indeed, the signing of prolific forwards will be Everton's highest priority this summer, however, finding a worthy partner to join James Tarkowski to form a dream centre-back partnership would be hugely advantageous in their pursuit of competing more comfortably moving forward.

As a result, the signing of Man United skipper Maguire could be exactly what Dyche needs to bring in a player who has a wealth of Premier League experience and the profile to fit perfectly into the former Burnley boss' footballing philosophy.

Despite finding himself largely out of favour this season at Old Trafford, the England ace still ranks in the top 20% of his positional peers across the top five European leagues for aerial duels won, blocks, touches and progressive carries, outlining his ability as a bullish but modern centre-half.

Not only that, Maguire has tallied up an 87% pass completion rate and successfully completed 67% of his dribbles over 16 top-flight appearances this season, as well as averaging 2.6 clearances, 42.4 touches, and winning 2.4 duels, all while only averaging 49 minutes per game.

The 30-year-old misfit may be having a tough time competing for a starting spot under Erik ten Hag but has still drawn high praise from his Dutch coach after his performance in the Europa League a few months ago:

"He's more dominant and dictating, he's taking more initiative on the training pitch and I think also in the Real Betis game, he showed leadership, especially in those aspects of initiative and dictating of the game."

With that being said, it would be a no-brainer for Everton to strike up a deal to sign Maguire this summer, as the centre-back could bring some great assets and match the quality of Tarkowski in the back-line.

Arsenal suffered a costly dip in form in the latter stages of the 2022/23 campaign, subsequently ending their title hopes.

The Gunners are reportedly weighing up options ahead of the summer transfer window, however, as Mikel Arteta will look to strengthen his squad.

It’s been far from all doom and gloom for the north Londoners, who despite falling short of the title, have confirmed Champions League football for next season, as well as their highest league finish since 2016.

With one game remaining to sign off the campaign, Arsenal are reportedly eyeing another midfielder to add to the team this summer, with the transfer window opening an opportunity for Arteta to build on his squad’s depth.

What’s the latest on Mohammed Kudus to Arsenal?

As reported earlier this week by The Athletic's David Ornstein, Ajax midfielder Mohammed Kudus could be on the move this summer.

The 22-year-old is contracted by the Eredivisie side until 2025, however, rejected the option to extend, making his wishes to depart the club.

Arsenal, along with Manchester United and Newcastle United are among the Premier League representatives that are “tracking” the youngster.

It’s stated that the attacking midfielder could be priced around the £40m mark, with the price possibly changing depending on the clubs showing interest.

What could Mohammed Kudus bring to Arsenal?

Averaging a Sofascore match rating of 7.08 in Eredivisie this season, the Ghanaian places himself within his side’s top ten performers this term.

Described by Manchester United boss Erik ten Hag as having “incredible potential”, the 22-year-old has cemented himself as one of the league’s hottest talents, contributing to 14 goals in 29 appearances – scoring 11 and assisting three – as per Sofascore.

The young midfielder could add further rejuvenation to Arteta’s young squad, particularly in midfield where he could prove to be the perfect partner for Martin Odegaard.

The Arsenal skipper has been formidable this season with 15 league goals to his name and could have a replica to his playing style in Kudus, who has been lauded as “absolutely outstanding” for his technical ability by U23 scout Antonio Mango.

While Arteta tends to line up with Odegaard as a lone attacking midfielder, the Accra-born talent could thrive alongside the Norwegian, should the Spaniard opt to one day integrate formations learnt at Manchester City at the Emirates.

Likened to PSV wonderkid and fellow Arsenal target Xavi Simons, Kudus is just as impressive when it comes to his numbers, averaging a mammoth 4.23 successful take-ons per 90, compared to the Emirates captain’s 1.26 per 90 – as per FBref.

Their slightly differential approaches to play in identical areas of the field could spark a budding duo in attacking midfield, as we see frequently in Pep Guardiola’s set-up with Ilkay Gundogan and Kevin De Bruyne, in a system that is constantly creating.

Squad depth is essential for Arsenal to target this summer, especially with the Champions League being added to their already-bustling schedule next season.

With rivalled interest from the Premier League, only time will tell if Arteta can get his man

Mark Wood bowled Durham to a stunning seven-run victory against Yorkshire in a high-quality match at Edgbaston

The Report by David Hopps20-Aug-2016
ScorecardMark Wood picked up his best T20 haul to put Durham in the final•Getty ImagesMark Wood’s menace got Durham into a NatWest Blast semi-final – and there was no let-up once Finals Day dawned as he bowled Durham to a stunning seven-run victory against Yorkshire in a high-quality match at Edgbaston.Two ankle operations and nagging fears that his season might be over were pushed aside as Wood, once again looking as hostile as any fast bowler in the country, ended Yorkshire’s hopes of a treble with figures of 4 for 25, his best in T20, in three excellent spells delivered to order for Durham’s captain Paul Collingwood.So the Blast final became a contest between two of the most financially stricken countries in the country – Northants and Durham – both of whom have had to rise above their issues and who proved far from bankrupt on the field on a Birmingham day of tormenting heavy showers.Yorkshire’s defeat also came with an injury to David Willey which will concern England ahead of the one-day series against Pakistan. A ferocious return drive from Mark Stoneman in his second over struck him on his left wrist, a technical chance that would have ended the involvement of lesser men. A break must be feared.Unlike in their quarter-final victory against Glamorgan in Cardiff, Yorkshire could easily cover the absence of an overseas player – Travis Head having been summoned by Australia for the one-day series in Sri Lanka – by the influx of three England batsmen: Joe Root, Jonny Bairstow and Gary Ballance.Indeed, by fielding them all their balance was batting heavy, relying on three pace bowlers plus the spin of Azeem Rafiq and Adil Rashid with no seam-bowling cover. With Rashid scheduled to bat at No 10, there was an argument for omitting Ballance, England player or not, for an extra seamer, especially with the weather so grouchy.Such batting insurance, though, looked invaluable the moment that Wood took the new ball for Durham. Fit and fresh, recovered from an injury-disrupted season, the England fast bowler was a hostile proposition.There were nerves around in Yorkshire’s early forays: 30 for 2 with five overs spent. Willey could summon no heroics with the bat, removing his bottom hand as a leg-side swing at Chris Rushworth skied to extra cover. Root’s charge-pull at Rushworth became a comfortable catch in the leg side. “It looked as if I had my hands and feet on backwards – I couldn’t get settled,” Root said. Rushworth had shrewdly nipped in beneath the new-ball stormLeaky first overs from Usman Arshad and Scott Borthwick settled Yorkshire and even though Alex Lees dragged a googly from Borthwick to a pumped-up Ben Stokes at deep midwicket, Yorkshire’s 77 for 3 at halfway gave them a slight edge.But Collingwood, summoned Wood for a third over to devastating effect. He immediately cleaned up Bairstow with an 89mph yorker and then Ballance followed for a second-ball duck as the Durham skipper, 40 years old and carrying several injuries, pulled off a brilliant diving catch to his left at leg gully.With 39 needed off four, Collingwood again hunted wickets. The admirable Rushworth returned to defeat Adam Lyth with a slower ball, caught at backward point for 64 from 42 balls. Jack Leaning, signalling in his stance his long-on intent against Arshad, failed to clear the boundary.The final assault never happened and, with 23 needed from two, Wood struck the stumps of Liam Plunkett and Tim Bresnan in turn to settle the tie.Durham were indebted to Stokes for setting Yorkshire 157. Stokes pulverised the leg side in his muscular 56 from 36 balls, batting at No. 3, until one of his few forays into the off side saw him make room against the offspin of Rafiq and, to his obvious irritation, crack a long hop to Bresnan at cover.Stokes had not played a competitive match since injuring a calf during the second Test against Pakistan almost a month ago and he only had permission to bat with England taking a conservative view ahead of their Royal London one-day series against Pakistan.Yorkshire’s lack of bowling options might have been exposed by Willey’s injury. He does not easily grimace, and continued his spell after painkillers and a defiant slug of water. After leaving the field briefly, he returned to finish his overs – one of the better 0 for 25s of the season – much to the relief of Yorkshire’s captain, Lees, no doubt.By then the persistent squally showers had intensified, giving Willey time to strap an injured wrist which, if worst fears are realised, could rule him out of England’s limited-overs matches against Pakistan, a potential Royal London Cup final (England’s call had already excluded him from next Sunday’s semi-final against Surrey at Headingley) and Yorkshire’s Championship run-in.Durham were 60 for 2 in nine overs at the rain break, the tie evenly poised. Yorkshire could also thank Rafiq for that. Relishing his second coming at Yorkshire, his ambition to bowl his offspin in the Powerplay gives Yorkshire welcome flexibility and he dismissed Keaton Jennings in his first over, well stumped down the leg side by Bairstow, who adjusted superbly to a big flick off the pad. On the resumption, however, he a bungled stumping when Rashid drew Michael Richardson, on 3, down the pitch.Yorkshire were left with an uncomfortable period of spin with a wet ball which skidded on invitingly before the seamers could return for the closing overs. Stokes had no compunction in peppering the leg side, while Richardson hunted the off side until Rashid ended a stand of 72 in 42 balls with an lbw.

Tottenham Hotspur need both a new manager and a whole host of new players, with key decisions in both of these facets falling upon Daniel Levy's lap.

The chairman is without a permanent boss, and with his director of football gone too, his club are a shell of the once profitable and relatively successful organisation they once were.

Of the ever-changing list of potential new head coaches, there are a few standout options amongst the younger, more rogue suggestions. It seems like for Levy the search has culminated in two key names, Luis Enrique and Julian Nagelsmann, both of whom showed an interest in questioning the structural plans of the club.

With these two having their respective upsides and drawbacks, the direction the club will be propelled in hinges on this vital decision. Should the Lilywhites opt for more experience, or a greater risk in youth that could merit a remarkable reward?

In the former, Enrique would bring a wealth of wisdom into the role, having led some of the world's best-ever players for a period.

During his tenures at Barcelona and Spain, the likes of Lionel Messi, Andres Iniesta, Luis Suarez and more all wrought the benefits of a philosophy he would seek to immediately employ in north London.

What could excite the 52-year-old most is the prospect that he could already have an option for his favoured Rodri role, should Levy secure the signing of Franck Kessie, which Spanish media is proposing.

Would Franck Kessie be a success in the Premier League?

As an imposing yet creative midfield powerhouse, already the Ivorian boasts the physical assets to more than compete in England. Writer Sacha Pisani outlined this when he branded the star a "beast".

However, this campaign has been a struggle in maintaining the form he enjoyed at AC Milan, as he has seen limited playtime under Xavi.

During that final season in Italy, the 26-year-old took great care of the ball, yet chipped in with six goals too. His 88% pass accuracy paired well with his 1.3 tackles per game via Sofascore, as the £153k-per-week destroyer was silently imperative in their Serie A title success.

With Rodri of similar importance to Pep Guardiola's philosophy of late, this season he too has upheld similar attributes that every team requires. His 91% pass accuracy and two tackles per game are a slight upgrade on Kessie, yet he has just two goals.

The former Atletico Madrid maestro featured 31 times under Enrique.

Although these two midfielders share differing physical and technical profiles, their play styles are resemblant enough that this boss could utilise them in a similar manner.

Every squad needs a player to do the dirty work and keep the team ticking over. Should Kessie make the move to Spurs, he could be the perfect enforcer to kickstart the Spaniard's north London revolution.