Liverpool could potentially seal the signing of Khephren Thuram in swift fashion this summer, according to a key update from Sky Sports reporter Dharmesh Sheth.

Do Liverpool still want Thuram this summer?

The £82,000-a-week Nice midfielder has arguably emerged as the Reds' primary midfield target after the arrival of Alexis Mac Allister, as they look to do some major surgery in that area of the pitch.

Rumours of Thuram heading to Liverpool are simply not going away, and with personal terms potentially agreed with him, it is just a case of two clubs reaching an agreement over a transfer fee.

The 22-year-old enjoyed an impressive season for Nice, proving to be an influential presence in the middle of the park by combining technical quality and energy, completing 86.9% of his passes and averaging a 1.5 tackles per match in Ligue 1.

Could Liverpool snap up Thuram quickly?

Speaking to Give Me Sport, Sheth claimed that Liverpool could end up getting a deal over the line for Thuram quickly behind the scenes, as has been the case with some past signings, such as Fabinho and Cody Gakpo:

"Khephren Thuram is another player that they have been interested in, Vega as well. It’ll be one of those that Liverpool will just do behind the scenes, and it will be one of those where, you know, you’ll start getting noises quite late on and once those noises start, the deal will be done pretty quickly. So, I think they know who their targets are."

This isn't the only transfer Liverpool are potentially working on as the Reds are now reported to be pushing ahead with a deal for Dominik Szoboszlai from RB Leipzig.

This is another positive update regarding Thuram's potential move to Liverpool, with supporters' concerns likely to be eased over the signing happening.

Things have gone quiet in the transfer market for the Reds since Mac Allister came in last month, leading to worries about FSG not stumping up the cash for further arrivals, but past transfer business is proof that signings can suddenly be announced from nowhere at Anfield.

As mentioned, that happened with both Fabinho and Cody Gakpo, both of whom's moves were done and dusted in no time after few rumours had emerged, so the hope is that exactly the same happens with Thuram.

If Liverpool failed to snap up the young midfielder at this point it would be a big blow, considering how likely it looks, and it is simply imperative that the right midfield acquisitions come in and boost what was a troubling area for the Reds throughout last season.

Steve O’Keefe took 12 wickets and Steven Smith scored a remarkable century as Australia completed a 333-run win over India in the first Test in Pune

The Report by Brydon Coverdale25-Feb-2017
Scorecard and ball-by-ball details4:54

Chappell: India should have used feet against O’Keefe

Fortress India has been sacked. Or should that be SOKed? Not since 2012 had India lost a Test at home, and rarely in that stretch of 20 matches had they even been held to a draw. Last time Australia toured India for Tests they were crushed 4-0. They entered this match having lost their past nine Tests in Asia. Not since 2004 and the days of Gilchrist, McGrath and Warne had Australia won a Test in India. Not even Nostradamus could have seen this result coming.Australia not only beat India, they thrashed them. Humiliated them. On a dry, turning pitch that should have suited India’s spinners, Steven Smith scored the only hundred of the match and Steve O’Keefe took as many wickets as R Ashwin and Ravindra Jadeja combined. So many, in fact, that his 12 for 70 were the best figures ever by a visiting spinner in a Test on Indian soil. India were humbled for 105 and 107; never had they scored so few in a home Test loss.The match was over inside three days, Australia the victors by 333 runs. The series is still alive, of course, but India have much to ponder over the next week, ahead of the Bangalore Test. It would be easy to look at the pitch and suggest the toss played a significant role, but that would be unfair to Australia, who outplayed India in all facets of the game, and more than doubled their totals in both innings. In any case, Australia had won all four tosses back in 2013.No, this a was a victory based on outstanding left-arm spin from O’Keefe, whose accuracy and ability to turn some deliveries but not others made him a constant threat; on a remarkable 109 from Smith in the second innings, which some observers said was the best hundred they had seen; on fielding that was not quite flawless but not far off it. And, yes, on what looked from the outside like a mental capitulation from India’s batsmen in both innings.This was the 10th home Test of India’s summer. It would be natural that they might show signs of fatigue, but there are three more Tests in this series. They must find a way to perk up quickly. If they are searching for positives, at least they have two extra days of recuperation ahead of the second Test. They can take little else from this result, their first loss in a home Test since England prevailed in Kolkata in December 2012.That too was a win that featured a defining hundred from the visiting captain, on that occasion Alastair Cook. In Pune, Smith’s 109 – more than the entire India team scored in either of their innings – helped to ensure Australia’s victory. It was his 18th Test hundred, his fifth in consecutive Tests against India, and his first on Indian soil. And, given the pitch and the quality of India’s bowlers, surely his best.He made the most of his luck – dropped three times on the second day – and resumed on the third morning on 59, with Australia’s lead already standing at 298. Already enough, the way India batted. But Smith made sure of it, scored freely on both sides of the wicket, using his feet to India’s spinners, and forging partnerships of consequence with several men in the middle and lower order. When he was finally lbw trying to pull Jadeja, his job was done.Some late slogging from Mitchell Starc, who hit three sixes in his 30 off 31 balls, helped lift Australia to 285 and set India 441 for victory. They would have to break the all-time record for the highest successful chase in Test history in order to keep their unbeaten home streak alive. They never looked like getting close. Within six overs they had lost both their openers and both their reviews, and all of their hope.O’Keefe broke through in his first over when he skidded one on to trap Vijay lbw, and in the next over Nathan Lyon spun one in to strike KL Rahul in line and another lbw was given. Both openers asked for reviews, but neither were successful. It mattered little, for the procession of wickets that followed were all straightforward enough that no reviews would have saved India.The wicket of Virat Kohli embodied India’s uncertainty against O’Keefe: he shouldered arms, confident that the ball would turn away from him, and failed to detect that this one was going on with the arm. Kohli lost his off stump. Ajinkya Rahane followed by driving a catch to cover off O’Keefe, and Ashwin was lbw on review when he pressed forward to O’Keefe and the ball struck pad fractionally before bat.Wriddhiman Saha came and went, also lbw to an O’Keefe skidder, and straight after tea the last remaining top-six batsman, Cheteshwar Pujara, fell in more or less the same way. India kept playing for turn, O’Keefe kept rapping them in front with straight balls. Of course, that is oversimplifying things: he turned enough deliveries to varying degrees that the straight ones became the danger, when the batsmen expected turn that didn’t come.By this stage, O’Keefe had 12 wickets for the match and a realistic chance of overtaking Ian Botham’s 13 as the best bowling by any visiting player in India. Instead, Lyon ran through the remaining three wickets: Jadeja was bowled trying to cut, Ishant Sharma was caught at leg gully, and Jayant Yadav gloved a catch to Matthew Wade to make the result official. A result that nobody saw coming three days earlier.

Newcastle United are considering a swoop to bring Benfica forward Goncalo Ramos to the Premier League, according to reports.

How many goals did Goncalo Ramos score this season?

Ramos is naturally a striker who has played his football at the Estadio da Luz all of his career having graduated from the club’s academy to get promoted to the first-team back in 2020. He’s since gone on to become a regular feature of Roger Schmidt’s side, making 30 starts from 34 Liga Portugal games last season and finding the back of the net 19 times in those outings.

The Portugal international was heavily linked with a move to the northeast last summer when journalist Pedro Sepulveda reported that the Magpies were “interested” in striking a deal for the 22-year-old, which was followed up by O Jogo who claimed that he was still firmly on their radar in January, though once again, a switch failed to materialise.

Fabrizio Romano has hinted that AC Milan midfielder Sandro Tonali could finalise his transfer to Eddie Howe’s side within the next “few days”, and the boss will be hoping that his centre-forward target can follow in his footsteps, now eyeing a third attempt to bring Ramos to St. James’ Park.

Are Newcastle signing Ramos?

According to Football Transfers, Newcastle are “looking at” Ramos as a serious option for the summer as a result of Howe wanting to add to his attacking ranks.

Benfica’s striker, who has a staggering €120m (£103m) release clause, is believed to be “admired” by the recruitment team, and whilst it’s unknown whether an approach will be made in the coming weeks, there’s a chance that “groundwork” could be getting laid behind-the-scenes to go for it in the new year.

Is Ramos a good signing for Newcastle?

Newcastle do already have strong centre-forward options in Callum Wilson and Alexander Isak, but Ramos, dubbed an “outrageous” player by talent scout Jacek Kulig, may have a higher ceiling than both of them, so it would be a massive coup should Howe be able to secure his services either this window or the next.

The Gestifute client posted 26 total goal contributions (19 goals and seven assists) in 30 Liga Portugal appearances last season which not only made him his club’s best-performing offensive player but he also received the division’s Striker of the Year award for 2022/23.

The World Cup participant additionally recorded 98 shots over the course of the campaign which was more than any of his fellow teammates, as per FBRef, so with the prolific threat that he could bring, Ramos joining would undoubtedly strengthen the squad ahead of next season.

Tottenham Hotspur could unveil their new goalkeeper shortly after agreeing personal terms with Empoli titan Guglielmo Vicario, ending speculation over the club's pursuit of a new shot-stopper.

What's the latest on Guglielmo Vicario to Tottenham?

That's according to Fabrizio Romano, who has taken to Twitter to provide a series of updates on the situation, the latest of which claims that a €19m (£17m) official proposal is incoming after personal terms were agreed yesterday.

Signing on a five-year deal, Vicario would likely assume the No 1. role at the club after impressing in Serie A this year; Spurs 'keeper Hugo Lloris is expected to depart this summer and he is clearly viewed as the replacement.

The 26-year-old Italian has been favoured by the Lilywhites hierarchy despite also agreeing terms with Brentford's David Raya, deterred by the £40m asking price.

Should Tottenham sign Guglielmo Vicario?

The 35-year-old Lloris has been a stalwart for Tottenham since signing from Lyon for £12m in 2012, but having made four errors leading to goal this year – the most in the division – and with Tottenham shipping 63 strikes, change is understandably afoot.

And while Raya would have been an impressive appointment after starring with the high-flying Bees in the Premier League over the past several seasons, the shrewder route has been taken and could still bear fruit, with Vicario offering all the promise of a first-rate goalkeeper for years to come.

Hailed as an "extraordinary" talent by revered compatriot Gianluigi Buffon, Vicario recorded an average Sofascore rating of 7.05 as Empoli finished 14th in Serie A, playing 31 matches, keeping seven clean sheets and making 97 saves at a rate of 69%.

As per FBref, the £18k-per-week star also ranks among the top 9% of positional peers throughout Europe's top five leagues over the past 12 months for touches per 90, which underscores his prowess as a ball-playing goalkeeper, something that could fit the philosophy of new Tottenham manager Ange Postecoglou to a tee, having been lauded for bringing "a positive mentality and a fast, attacking style of play" by club chairman Daniel Levy.

It could replicate Spurs' recent success in bringing Cristian Romero over from Italian football, with the no-nonsense centre-back signing from Atalanta for £42m in 2021.

Despite the north London outfit's defensive woes, the Argentine World Cup champion has been hailed as a "Rolls-Royce" by Martin Keown and has earned his stripes through his tenacious grit, ranking among the top 5% of centre-halfs for tackles, the top 17% for successful take-ons and the top 20% for interceptions per 90.

On top of the assurance that a burgeoning goalkeeper would bring, Spurs could continue their trend of fortifying the ranks from Serie A with the signing of Vicario, and it is a transfer that must be concluded swiftly ahead of a campaign of paramount importance.

Cheteshwar Pujara secured the longest occupation ever by an Indian batsman in terms of balls faced as he and Wriddhiman Saha ground Australia’s bowlers into the Ranchi dust on the fourth day

The Report by Daniel Brettig19-Mar-2017
Scorecard and ball-by-ball details3:44

Chappell: I see India being 2-1 up

Cheteshwar Pujara secured the longest occupation ever by an Indian batsman in a Test match as he and Wriddhiman Saha ground Australia into the Ranchi dust on the fourth day. The tourists were unable to maintain their shackles on the middle-order pair after a pair of close calls went against them in the morning, leaving India as the only side who can win this match.That fact was underlined by the final eight overs of the day, in which Ravindra Jadeja bowled David Warner through the gate and then followed up by skidding through the nightwatchman Nathan Lyon with the day’s last delivery. Jadeja’s accuracy and variation of spin loom as the gravest threats to Steven Smith’s bedraggled team on day five.In all the Pujara-Saha stand was worth 199, denying Australia a wicket until the evening session when both batsmen fell in pursuit of quick runs to increase India’s lead. Jadeja prolonged the punishment with a rapid fifty, and the tourists were left with eight overs to survive before the close, manoeuvred into a position from which India have already won Test matches at home this season.Patience has always been a strength of Pujara’s, and by surpassing Rahul Dravid as the Indian batsman to spend the longest time batting in a Test, he showed fortitude of a truly rare kind. Saha offered excellent support, opening his shoulders to play attractively against a tiring Australian attack and reaching a deserved century.Pat Cummins, who again bowled with great quality for the tourists and deserved his four wickets, had Saha given out lbw with his first ball of the day, but the wicketkeeper’s referral showed the ball to be missing leg stump by millimetres.Closer to lunch Pujara was given out lbw to a delivery that Lyon straighted down the line of the stumps from around the wicket, but his review showed the ball to be spinning too much and also sliding past leg stump. Steve O’Keefe also came close to a breakthrough when Saha edged a cut shot attempt but the chance was dropped by Matthew Wade.Chances dried up almost entirely in the afternoon as Pujara and Saha went on to a partnership that has redefined the match and possibly the series. Not least by placing a considerable physical strain on Australia’s four-man bowling attack – Glenn Maxwell’s offbreaks were used only sparingly.Pujara’s performance has effectively cancelled out the big hundred made by Australia’s captain Smith, and put India in the ideal position to pressure the tourists on the final day. Saha’s assistance was also vital in frustrating a touring team that had started the day with hopes of quickly rolling up the India tail and setting a fourth-innings target.Cummins had briefly enjoyed the sensation of claiming a fifth wicket of the innings in his return to Test cricket nearly six years after his storied debut against South Africa in Johannesburg. Saha was nowhere near a ball angled into him, and there was some discussion with Pujara before he reviewed. The Australians were floored when ball-tracking showed the ball to be missing leg stump.From there Pujara and Saha accumulated slowly, against bowling that remained disciplined under an overcast sky that compelled the umpires to turn on the stadium floodlights. Pujara’s 150 was a marker of his concentration and temperament against bowling that rarely lapsed into looseness.Lyon was not used until midway through the session, and from around the stumps he appeared to have found a way to winkle out Pujara when the umpire Ian Gould raised his finger in response to the lbw appeal. However Hawk-Eye again went the way of India.Wade’s drop of Saha from O’Keefe on 51 drew an apology from gloveman to bowler, then shortly before the interval Lyon again appealed and then referred, this time for caught behind when Saha essayed a sweep shot. But replays found no evidence of contact and left the Australians having made no progress for their morning’s efforts.Smith took the third new ball soon after play resumed, and once more Cummins produced a series of testing deliveries but was unable to claim the wicket Australia so dearly needed. Instead the hosts forged into the lead while the visitors used up their two decision referrals with a pair of overly optimistic appeals.Pujara’s long-batting milestone was followed by Saha’s approach to within one run of his century at tea. The stand was worth an unbeaten 175 at the break, with two whole sessions elapsing without a single wicket. Another 24 runs were accrued after tea at an increasing rate, including Saha’s century, before Pujara popped a catch to midwicket to hand Lyon his first wicket since day one of the Bengaluru Test.Saha fell in a similar manner, but Jadeja was more successful in taking the attack to the visitors. O’Keefe’s 77 overs were the sixth most ever by an Australian bowler in a Test innings, a tally not surpassed since Jim Higgs against England in 1979. Australia were defeated in that match, and the loss of Warner and Lyon ensures their 2017 descendants now face an almighty struggle to avoid the same fate.

Wolverhampton Wanderers losing Max Kilman this summer would be a 'bizarre' situation amid interest in his services from Napoli, according to journalist Dean Jones.

What's the latest transfer news involving Max Kilman and Napoli?

According to 90min, Wolves are open to letting Max Kilman go this summer despite rejecting an opening bid of around €35 million (£30 million) for the 26-year-old from Serie A champions Napoli.

The report states that Napoli defender Kim Min-jae is set for Bayern Munich, which looks to have stemmed their interest in taking Kilman, who could be tempted to leave Molineux on a personal level if an agreeable fee arises between both parties.

Sky Sports reporter Mark McAdam via Football Daily gave an update on the state of play surrounding Kilman's future, stating: "The spotlight is on another defender in Max Kilman, they have rejected an offer from Napoli for Kilman; we understand the offer to be around £30m, Wolves value him at £35m plus. So Napoli not far away, they're losing Kim Min-jae to Bayern Munich, so they need to replace him, and they have identified Max Kilman as the one to do that."

As per David Ornstein of The Athletic, Wolves are set to demand £34 million for Kilman as they look to maximise their profit this summer on key assets.

Defensive duo Conor Coady and Nathan Collins have already left the building this window at Molineux to join Leicester City and Brentford, respectively.

Speaking to Football FanCast, journalist Jones has stated his belief that the notion of Kilman leaving the Old Gold is a 'bizarre' prospect for him to comprehend.

He said: "It is a bit of a bizarre bid; I really wouldn't expect them to be looking to do that. Kilman has obviously had interest in the Premier League as well, but the fact that Wolves fans don't seem that fussed about losing him suggests it would be quite a strange transfer."

Should Wolves look to sell Max Kilman this summer?

Wolves find themselves in a strange situation this summer with Financial Fair Play; however, Sky Sports News have reported that the Old Gold are now not in a position where they are desperate to sell players, with their official account on Twitter stating: "Wolves are now under no further financial pressure to sell any more players this summer, following Nathan Collins' £23m move to Brentford."

Nevertheless, Napoli don't seem to be budging in their interest surrounding the talented Englishman, leaving Julen Lopetegui with a big decision to make heading into the new season over whether Kilman is kept or sold.

Last campaign, the 26-year-old was virtually ever-present for his current employers, making 41 appearances in all competitions for his side, as per Transfermarkt.

WhoScored show that Kilman excelled in sniffing out danger in 2022/23, completing an average of 4.4 clearances per match in the Premier League.

It remains to be seen what the future may hold for Kilman as both he and Wolves evaluate his next career steps ahead of 2023/24 commencing.

Arsenal are ready to launch a bid for Southampton star Romeo Lavia after completing their Declan Rice deal, according to reports.

Who are Arsenal signing?

After weeks of protracted negotations, the Gunners are now set to sign Rice, just over a week after they initially agreed a fee in principle with West Ham.

Both Arsenal and the Irons compromised on a £105 million total price (£100m + £5m in add-ons), but much of the talks since then have been regarding payment structure.

In the last 24 hours, there has been an agreement for Arsenal to pay the initial £100m over a 24-month period, with Rice now set for a medical this week ahead of signing a long-term contract.

After that huge boost for manager Mikel Arteta, it is believed the north Londoners are also closing in on a deal for Ajax defender Jurrien Timber, as transfer chief Edu gets to work on backing Arsenal this summer transfer window.

Both players look highly likely to join Kai Havertz at Arsenal, coming after the Germany international put pen to paper on a £65 million move from Chelsea.

This window's outlay could total well over £200 million, but according to reports in the last 48 hours, they certainly aren't done there.

Indeed, Southampton's Lavia is still firmly on their radar, with Arteta's side readying a bid for the 19-year-old who starred at St. Mary's Stadium last season.

That is according to The Times and journalist Tom Allnutt, who claim they're set to make a move for Lavia.

"Arsenal are ready to make a move for the Southampton midfielder Roméo Lavia once the signing of Declan Rice from West Ham United is completed," wrote Allnutt

"Arsenal want to continue their summer spending spree by bidding for Lavia, although they expect to face strong competition from Liverpool for the 19-year-old.

"Chelsea and Manchester United are also interested in Lavia, with Southampton wanting £50 million for the Belgium player."

Who is Romeo Lavia?

Boasting the highest pass accuracy percentage of any Southampton regular, Lavia stood out as one of their best-performers per 90 according to WhoScored.

The Belgium international is one of huge potential, as already explained by Man City boss Pep Guardiola, who admitted that he has been "very impressed" with Lavia's progress on the south coast.

"I am really impressed with what Roméo has done and is doing,” Guardiola said.

"We had, and we have, an incredible opinion about him. We thought to keep him, but maybe he would not [get] enough minutes like he has in Southampton.”

Meanwhile, members of the press have called Lavia a "sensational midfielder", with journalist Sam Tighe even believing the teenager is a "shining star" of Southampton's relegated side.

"I watched every game Roméo Lavia played last season and he was absolutely incredible," explained Tighe.

"A shining star despite playing in terrible circumstances most of the time. Arsenal reportedly advancing on a deal…one to be very excited about."

The former City starlet played 29 league games last season, scoring once and picking up nine yellow cards.

Steven Smith, like his namesake Hannibal Smith, loves it when a plan comes together. And Australia’s plans for this tour of India – a campaign of which Smith is immensely proud regardless of what happens in the final Test in Dharamsala – have been coming together since they were humiliated with a 0-3 defeat in Sri Lanka last year.For Smith, that tour was a wake-up call. Prior to that series Australia had only ever lost a single Test to Sri Lanka; now they lost three in a month. Their run of consecutive Test defeats in Asia had stretched to nine. And so Smith and coach Darren Lehmann needed a new approach, a new resolve, when a four-Test tour of India was on the horizon.A two-week training camp was scheduled in Dubai prior to Australia’s arrival in India, so they could control the types of surface on which they trained, and formulate plans for difficult conditions. Still, it is hard to imagine that even the Australians themselves believed they would dominate the first Test in Pune in quite the way they did, and would remain alive in the series with one Test to play.”I learned a lot out of Sri Lanka when we lost there, just about playing in the subcontinent and leading in the subcontinent,” Smith said in Dharamsala ahead of the fourth Test against India. “I had a reasonable idea before I went to Sri Lanka of how I wanted to do things, how I wanted to do thing a lot differently and didn’t want to over-attack and things like that.”I think you can see it in the way that you have to play here. You can’t attack non-stop. You have to have defensive fields at times and people are going to be critical at that but they’re not the ones out in the middle that have to do the job. I know that if you get a bit defensive on occasions and build a bit of pressure.”Back home when you’re talking about building pressure you talk about maiden overs but here it’s more if you go for two an over it’s pretty good over. It’s very hard to contain the scoreboard. If you’re limiting the boundaries, keeping the runs down and building the pressure that you need it makes a big difference.”As unsexy as such talk of defence and containment can be, Smith’s plans have put him within touching distance of becoming the first Australian captain since Adam Gilchrist in 2004 to lead a series victory in India. That would not have been the case but for some impressive fight from Peter Handscomb and Shaun Marsh on the final day in Ranchi, where they toughed out a draw that felt like a win.”If you look at past sides that have come here recently that day five result we had the other day where we were able to play out the draw, that’s just ended pretty quickly for us on a few occasions where we’ve just rolled over,” Smith said. “Having the fight and willingness to work hard to get the results we’re after, it’s been great from the boys.”I thought the way we fought out that draw was magnificent. I’m sure they [India] would be disappointed that they couldn’t get the result they were after. In that regard I’d rather be in our boat than theirs.”Steven Smith on Matt Renshaw: “For a guy that’s only played a handful of Tests, to go out there and just play his game and back what he’s worked on over the last few weeks has been amazing.”•Associated Press

In particular, Smith has been thrilled with the work of the young opening batsman Matt Renshaw in this series, in what is his first exposure to cricket in the subcontinent. Renshaw will turn 21 during the Dharamsala Test but has outperformed most other batsmen in the series – only Smith and Cheteshwar Pujara from either side have faced more deliveries this series than Renshaw.”I’ve been really impressed with Renshaw,” Smith said. “For a guy who’s never been here before it’s almost a different game when you get out to the middle and you see guys around the bat and crusty wicket, things like that, and that can get to players, players who have played for a long period of time.”For a guy that’s only played a handful of Tests, to go out there and just play his game and back what he’s worked on over the last few weeks has been amazing. I think a lot of the guys, the more senior players, have taken a bit out of the way he’s done things having only been a youngster and not been here before. That’s been really good.”The teams enter the final Test with the series locked at 1-1, meaning the winner in Dharamsala’s inaugural Test will claim the Border-Gavaskar Trophy – and in the unlikely event of a draw, Australia will retain it as the current holders. Smith said that although much hard work remained over the next few days, he was proud of his men regardless of the final outcome of the series.”We all know that this is one of the toughest places to come to play as an Australian team,” he said. “Regardless of what happens in this last Test match I think the way we’ve played has been a credit to each and every individual here. We’ve played some very good cricket. We probably did a couple of things wrong in Bangalore where we could have wrapped up there series or had a two-nil lead. The cricket we’ve played has been really good.”Right now we’re in a good position. We’ve got to play well this week and hopefully win the series here but we’ll do that by doing the things that we’ve done well in this series so far and just doing it for just a little bit longer. I’m not worried about the result as such … It’s obviously a relatively young side and this team could be together for a very long time.”

كشفت تقارير صحفية إسبانية، موقف فريق كرة القدم الأول بنادي برشلونة، من عودة المدافع إريك جارسيا، بعد نهاية فترة إعارته مع جيرونا.

إريك جارسيا وصل إلى برشلونة في عام 2020 وكان أساسيًا بجانب جيرارد بيكيه، لكن الأمور لم تسير على ما يرام مع مدافع مانشستر سيتي السابق، واضطر للخروج معارًا في الصيف الماضي.

طالع أيضًا.. لجنة استئناف إسبانيا تُعلن موقف تشافي النهائي من الإيقاف مع برشلونة

تمكن جارسيا من التألق مع جيرونا تحت قيادة ميتشيل، وينافس على لقب الدوري الإسباني هذا الموسم، مع إمكانية كبيرة للمشاركة في دوري أبطال أوروبا لأول مرة في تاريخ النادي الكتالوني.

صحيفة “ماركا” الإسبانية، أكدت أن موقف اللاعب من العودة إلى برشلونة سيكون صعبًا للغاية، لأن البلوجرانا لديه 8 مدافعين، في ظل تطور كوبارسي واعتماد تشافي عليه.

بغض النظر عن موقف تشافي، الذي من المفترض أن يرحل بنهاية الموسم. الإدارة الرياضية بقيادة ديكو المدير الرياضي، لا تفكر في عودة اللاعب صاحب الـ24 عامًا، ويريدون الاستفادة المالية من بيعه بشكل نهائي لـ جيرونا.

وفي ظل تألق أراوخو وإينييجو مارتينيز وكذلك جوليس كوندي، مع تصعيد كوبارسي، واحتمالية بقاء كريستنسن، أصبحت فرص اللاعب الإسباني في العودة صعبة جدًا.

The T20I series to begin Pakistan’s tour of West Indies has been extended from two to four matches, beginning in Barbados on March 26

ESPNcricinfo staff04-Mar-2017

Pakistan’s tour of West Indies has been extended by two T20Is with a total of four now scheduled between Barbados and Trinidad & Tobago to kick off the start of Pakistan’s seven-week tour of the Caribbean. The additional fixtures have also caused a shift in dates for the first of the originally scheduled pair of T20Is.The tour itinerary originally comprised two T20Is, three ODIs and three Tests starting with a T20I in Trinidad & Tobago on March 31. The tour will now begin in Barbados on March 26 with the first of the now four T20Is. The other additional T20I will then take place on March 30 in Trinidad while the third T20I is pushed back to April 1.The WICB had looked into possibly staging both of the additional T20Is in Lauderhill, Florida on March 25 and 26 and according to an ESPNcricinfo source, a deposit was placed with stadium officials at the Central Broward Regional Park to reserve the facility for those two dates. However, the source indicated that there were concerns over the ability of Pakistan’s squad to get US visas processed on short notice and the decision was made to schedule the additional T20Is inside the Caribbean.This is only the second time a four-match T20I series has been scheduled between Full Members. The first took place between Bangladesh and Zimbabwe at Khulna in January 2016.