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While acknowledging that Steven Smith, David Warner and Cameron Bancroft had made “serious mistakes” by ball-tampering in South Africa, the Australian Cricketers Association has questioned the process followed by Cricket Australia in arriving at the sanctions for the players, and whether the severity of the punishments was befitting of the offence.Smith and Warner were banned from international cricket for 12 months by Cricket Australia, and Bancroft for nine. Smith and Bancroft were also banned from leadership positions in Australian cricket for a further 12 months after the end of their ban, while Warner was banned from captaincy positions for life.The ACA said in its statement that while it was right for the players’ mistakes to be sanctioned, there were “a number of glaring and clear anomalies in the process to date which causes the ACA to query the severity and proportionality of the proposed sanctions.”They were as follows:

• The grading and sanctions proposed are considerably higher than the ICC’s grading and sanctions.
• The disproportion between the proposed sanctions and those previously handed down in world cricket for ‘changing the condition of the ball’ – including by Captains of international teams applying artificial substances
• The activation of CA’s Board as a deliberative body on the proposed sanctions
• That public statements by CA to date have not referenced consideration of contextual factors including the environment in South Africa during the series and the impacts on individual players
• The rush to place players before the world’s media last Saturday night without the benefit of considered and coherent advice

The ACA said that it would continue to provide welfare and legal support to the players.Smith, Warner and Bancroft will have the right to challenge CA’s verdicts and also the duration of their penalties via a CA code of behaviour hearing with an independent commissioner, who can also choose whether the hearing is public or private. Players at the hearing will be permitted to call as many witnesses as they like, and also to have legal representation.

Since Nottingham Forest’s promotion to the Premier League ahead of the 2022/23 season, they have gained a reputation for their activity in the transfer windows.

Owner Evangelos Marinakis has overseen a total of 43 signings, some of which have already moved on.

Despite the remarkable number of incomings, the Reds don’t intend to slow down their presence in the market, with another target already being lined up ahead of the winter transfer window.

Who have Forest signed since being promoted?

Of the Reds’ 43 signings, some have stood out more than others.

The likes of Morgan Gibbs-White and Taiwo Awoniyi have since become central to Steve Cooper’s plans since their big-money arrivals last season, while some of the newer faces such as Anthony Elanga and Matt Turner have made early impact at the club.

Jesse Lingard, who joined the club as a free agent last season, was unable to earn himself a contract extension and was subsequently released after an underwhelming spell at the City Ground.

After the departure of star player Brennan Johnson, who joined Tottenham Hotspur on deadline day for £47.5m, Forest are already planning how to spend the money, with Spanish newspaper Estadio Deportivo reporting that Real Betis midfielder Guido Rodriguez is high on their list for the January window.

Who is Guido Rodriguez?

Rodriguez has been playing in Spain for almost four years now, after joining Betis from Mexican outfit Club America in January 2020.

The 29-year-old has been capped 29 times for his native Argentina and featured at the 2022 World Cup as they became world champions.

The Argentine has excelled in Manuel Pellegrini’s side playing in a pivot alongside Portuguese midfielder, William Carvalho, and is best described as a deep-lying playmaker who can also be deployed in a back line of defence.

Rodriguez has been linked with a number of clubs in recent summers, including Barcelona, who would instead go with the cheaper option in Oriol Romeu, while Forest’s previous interest was disregarded by the player.

When questioned on Rodriguez’s potential summer move, Pellegrini stressed his side could not afford to lose another creative outlet, following the departures of several forwards who had already moved on.

As the midfielder enters the final season of his current contract, the report suggests that Betis would prefer to cash in during the January window, which could hand Forest a timely boost on a player that is estimated to be worth £15m by FootballTransfers.

Where could Rodriguez fit in at Forest?

Should Forest be able to tempt the 29-year-old "defensive monster" – as once lauded by analyst Marcus Bring – into a winter move, it would bring a priceless amount of experience into the squad, having racked up nearly 300 senior appearances since his professional debut back in 2014/15.

Rodriguez could be utilised alongside either Orel Mangala or Ryan Yates or among a back three, whilst his relationship with Forest’s new signing and his Argentina teammate, Gonzalo Montiel, can prove extremely useful for Steve Cooper’s side.

The next 12 months will certainly involve movement regarding Rodriguez’ current situation, whether that sees him sign a new deal with the club that brought him into European football or a new experience elsewhere, though Cooper and Forest would be wise to launch a move in the upcoming window to bolster the Reds' engine room substantially.

Manchester United midfielder Donny van De Beek could still be on his way out the door, amid ongoing talks over a move to a Champions League club.

Who did Man United sign in the summer?

Man United strengthened the spine of their team in the summer transfer window, with goalkeeper Andre Onana arriving from Inter Milan, while Jonny Evans and Sergio Reguilon were brought in to bolster Erik ten Hag's defensive options.

Rasmus Hojlund was the Red Devils' marquee signing in attack, and there is good news heading into today's match away against Arsenal, with Ten Hag revealing the striker is fit to play, as the £72m star has recovered from a back injury which delayed his debut.

In central midfield, Mason Mount was the main addition, with the former Chelsea man joining in a £55m deal, and Ten Hag will have been pleased to get a deal for Sofyan Amrabat over the line on deadline day, with the Fiorentina midfielder joining on a season-long loan.

Speaking after Amrabat's arrival, Football Director John Murtough said:

“We have tracked Sofyan for a long time, so we are really pleased to bring him to Manchester United. His committed, high-energy approach to the game fits perfectly with the group that we are building here.

“We know that Sofyan’s mentality, dynamism and technical qualities will help the squad as we look to achieve success in all competitions this season.”

With the Morocco international completing a move to Old Trafford, Van de Beek may fall even further down the pecking order, having failed to make a single appearance for United in any competition so far this season.

As such, according to The Daily Mail, the Red Devils remain in talks with Galatasaray over the midfielder, who is deemed surplus to requirements by Ten Hag.

Despite having a £1m loan offer rejected on deadline day, the Turkish club remain keen on the Dutchman, and they are believed to be the front-runners for his signature, although there has been interest from elsewhere.

French side FC Lorient are also keen, as are the 26-year-old's former club, Ajax, but Galatasaray are out in front, as their transfer window does not close for another two weeks.

Is Donny van De Beek leaving Man United?

Given that the 19-time Netherlands international has fallen so far down the pecking order at Man United, it would not be surprising if he is keen to leave, and a move to Galatasaray could allow him to keep playing at a high level.

The Turkish side are in the Champions League group stages, so a move may well appeal to the former Ajax man, and it could be one of the few options he has on the table, considering the transfer window has now closed for much of Europe.

It is a real shame the central midfielder's move to Man United has not worked out, as he is clearly a top player on his day, having been lauded as "sensational" by journalist Antonio Mango just 18 months ago. However, a move away appears to be the best solution for all parties at this stage, and Van de Beek should try and reignite his career with Galatasaray.

Crystal Palace are in loan talks to bring Bayer Leverkusen defender Odilon Kossounou to the Premier League, according to reliable reports.

Who is Odilon Kossounou?

Kossounou is naturally a centre-back who has plied his trade at the BayArena since 2021 having moved there from Club Brugge, and during his two years at the club, he’s so far made a total of 68 appearances to date.

However, the 22-year-old was slightly out of favour under Xabi Alonso last season having been handed just 17 Bundesliga starts out of 34 matches, so he will know that he’ll likely have to make a move elsewhere should he want to receive more regular game time moving forward.

The Ivory Coast international still has another three years remaining on his contract over in Germany, but he appears to have been highlighted as an ideal target by Roy Hodgson who may need to enter the market to find reinforcements in the heart of his defence.

Chelsea are reportedly targeting a summer swoop for Marc Guehi and Newcastle United are believed to be interested in Joachim Andersen so there is a chance that one or both of the duo could depart before the end of the transfer window, and should that be the case, the boss has already set his sights on a potential new recruit.

Are Crystal Palace signing Odilon Kossounou?

According to The Daily Mail, Crystal Palace are “in talks” to sign Kossounou on loan this summer. The Eagles “want” to take on a new centre-back to make sure that they aren’t left with a lack of options and are therefore “trying to negotiate” a temporary switch with an obligation to buy for a fee in the region of £24m.

Bayer Leverkusen’s star is “highly rated” overseas and “would be a welcome addition” for Steve Parish and Dougie Freedman in SE25.

How good is Odilon Kossounou?

Crystal Palace will know that Kossounou wasn’t given a fair chance to prove himself last season, but Hodgson would likely be able to give him the minutes he requires should he put pen to paper, and with a “crazy amount of talent” on offer, as lauded by football scout Jacek Kulig, the centre-back could be a fantastic acquisition.

The Abidjan native averaged 2.3 clearances and 1.3 aerial wins per league game during the previous campaign, via WhoScored, so was a real rock in the middle of the backline, but he is also capable of contributing to efforts in the final third.

Bayer’s 6 foot 3 colossus ranks in the 93rd percentile for progressive carries so loves to push his team up the pitch which, over the course of his career, has resulted in him providing five assists and even scoring one goal himself, as relayed by Transfermarkt.

The Selhurst Park outfit are reportedly in discussions regarding a loan deal for Chelsea left-back Lewis Hall, but Kossounou could be set to follow in his footsteps and walk through the doors alongside him if the above update is to be believed.

Liverpool's transfer window has suddenly exploded into a maelstrom of activity with the 2023/24 Premier League campaign upon us once again.

Alexis Mac Allister and Dominik Szoboszlai were both signed by sporting director Jorg Schmadtke during pre-season as Jurgen Klopp looked to fashion a rebuild, though a mass midfield exodus left question marks over the club's depth and dynamism in the centre.

Remarkable revelations have ensured that Moises Caicedo is set to join the Reds over Chelsea and link back up with former Brighton & Hove Albion teammate Mac Allister, and while this is resounding news for the Anfield side, the defence still needs sharpening.

Due to this, Klopp might be inclined to act on the murmurings this summer and forge ahead with a move for Crystal Palace's Marc Guehi.

What's the latest on Marc Guehi to Liverpool?

According to The Athletic, the 23-year-old is on Liverpool's radar having been linked on numerous occasions recently, though he would likely command a ballpark fee of £50m.

Read the latest Liverpool transfer news HERE…

He is right-footed, which is not ideal considering Klopp is searching for a left-sided defender, but he can play across both sides of the backline and would be a credit to the robustness and resolve of the Liverpool defence.

How good is Marc Guehi?

Schmadtke has had his work cut out this summer after Liverpool failed to qualify for the Champions League this year, but the club are making moves for an instantaneous return to premium continental competition.

However, after shipping 47 goals last season after conceding just 26 across the 2021/22 campaign – when Manchester City pipped the Reds to the Premier League title – it's clear that a new addition could be beneficial.

Guehi could be that man; Virgil van Dijk and Ibrahima Konate form Liverpool's starting defensive duo with each player fit, but Joe Gomez and Joel Matip have been questioned all too often of late for their poor defensive displays.

It is that latter name, Matip, that Guehi could be brought in to replace, with the Cameroonian defender entering the final year of his contract and being branded "awful" by CBS reporter Nico Cantor.

Guehi, meanwhile, has been heralded as an "absolute tank" by goalkeeper and former England U21 teammate Josef Bursik, and has now chalked up 82 appearances for the Eagles after signing from Chelsea for £18m in 2021.

Averaging 41 matches across his two campaigns at Selhurst Park, Guehi is not relentless with his defensive output, rather, an astute reader of the game; with a calculated gaze, he peruses the flow of the match and uses his first-rate positioning to snuff out danger before assuredly threading the ball forward.

As per FBref, the four-cap star ranks among the top 19% of centre-backs in Europe's top five leagues for successful take-ons per 90, which means that he is adept at beating opponents with the ball at his feet, utilising his pace and power.

He also recorded an average Sofascore match rating of 6.94 last term, impressing with his composure, completing 85% of his passes, making 3.6 clearances per game and succeeding in an impressive 68% of his ground duels.

The £50k-per-week titan would emulate Matip's forward-driving nature, something that the 32-year-old does with aplomb and ranks among the top 1% of his positional peers for progressive carries per 90.

He would also provide some renewed zeal and perhaps, just maybe, revitalise Klopp's backline and provide that extra cog needed to whir the machine right back into life and send the club toward illustrious success once again.

Cameron Steel and Tom Latham scored centuries as Durham took full advantage of batting first against a severely-depleted Leicestershire attack

ECB Reporters Network06-Aug-2017Durham 324 for 4 (Steel 145*, Latham 124) v LeicestershireTom Latham made a century on his Championship debut for Durham•Getty Images

Cameron Steel and Tom Latham scored centuries as Durham took full advantage of batting first against a severely depleted Leicestershire attack in their Specsavers County Championship clash.New Zealand international Latham became the sixth Durham batsman to score a century for the county on debut against another county as the visitors ended day one of the Division Two match on 324 for 4. The 25-year-old left-hander gave one chance, on 69, steering a short delivery from Neil Dexter high to backward point, where Gavin Griffiths could not hold the ball two-handed above his head.Having survived, Latham made no further mistakes before bringing up his century off 144 balls with a six pulled over midwicket, courtesy of a long-hop from occasional offspinner Colin Ackermann. By that stage Latham and Steel, who was himself dropped on 50, had already brought up Durham’s highest partnership of the season, as well as setting a new opening partnership record for their county against Leicestershire.Latham also brought up the Durham 200 with a six, again pulled off Ackermann, but on 124 feathered a catch behind off Neil Dexter, who on his return from injury was comfortably the pick of the Foxes bowlers.With seamers Clint McKay, Matt Pillans, Ben Raine, Zak Chappell and Richard Jones, as well as top run-scorer Mark Cosgrove, all unavailable, Leicestershire drafted trialist Ajmal Shahzad into the XI. However, the former Yorkshire, Notts and Sussex paceman did little to convince those watching he might be worthy of a long-term playing contract.Having been put down by Harry Dearden, Steel went on to bring up his century off 242 balls, hitting 10 fours in a hard-working effort, but having looked distinctly ragged during the afternoon, Leicestershire fought back well after tea.Latham’s dismissal was the first of three wickets to fall in the space of 19 runs: Jack Burnham gave left-arm spinner Callum Parkinson the charge, heaved, missed and was stumped by several yards, and then Graham Clark top-edged a Dieter Klein bouncer to Shahzad at long leg.Steel and Paul Collingwood then added 56 for the fourth wicket, though Steel was again fortunate to be dropped by Aadil Ali on 129, at backward point off Shahzad. Shortly before the close Collingwood unaccountably padded up to a Klein delivery that would have hit middle stump. Steel, however, remained unbeaten, and at the close of play had left his previous highest first-class score, 128 against Northamptonshire earlier this season, well behind him.