Chelsea transfer chiefs are said to be big fans of a young "superstar" abroad, and they think he'll suit Mauricio Pochettino's vision "perfectly".

Chelsea form under Pochettino

Pochettino's side were on a slightly upward trajectory from the end of September; winning three out of a possible three against Brighton, Fulham and Burnley across all competitions. However, their last two games have seen Chelsea take a backward step. They squandered a 2-0 lead to draw 2-2 with Arsenal the weekend before last, and Brentford inflicted a fourth defeat of the season for Pochettino on Saturday.

This comes after the Todd Boehly-lead club spent nearly £400 million on new recruits in the summer transfer window, with Pochettino frankly admitting Chelsea are "far away" from where he wants them to be.

"Far away, to measure, metres, centimetres or kilometres," said Pochettino on Chelsea's 2-0 loss to Brentford.

"We talk about result, we talk about performance, we need to improve, we're still improving. We need to recover our players, the circumstances from the beginning didn't help at the moment to improve in different areas in the way that we want.

"We are at the beginning of a very strong team, the mentality is there, much better than we started. We are happy with how we have evolved from day one but still far away from what we expect from our team and us. We are Chelsea and we know our responsibility is massive and about winning."

There is still plenty of time for the Premier League giants to recover, but Pochettino couldn't have asked for a tougher top-flight test next. Chelsea take on high-flying Tottenham away next Monday, a game which arguably stands out as their most challenging to date.

Chelsea chiefs want to sign Florian Wirtz

There are clearly still holes in this Chelsea team, which may well be resolved by more forrays in the transfer market. Pochettino is keen to sign Ivan Toney from Brentford as he seeks a new striker, for instance, while Chelsea could be tempted by signing Gavi from Barcelona as well.

Now, according to a report by Dean Jones for TEAMtalk, Chelsea are targeting Florian Wirtz too. The German "superstar", as they call him, is lighting up the Bundesliga with Bayer Leverkusen this season. Wirtz has scored two goals and assisted four others in just nine league outings so far this season, and it is believed Blues chiefs are huge admirers.

Those at Chelsea believe the 20-year-old fits "perfectly" into Pochettino's vision and think he could be a major asset for the west Londoners. However, they're not alone in their admiration of Wirtz, as Premier League champions Man City, Arsenal and Tottenham have checked in on the player too.

Florian Wirtz strengths
Dribbling
Key passes
Passing
Through balls
Holding on to the ball

To further back his quality, Leverkusen boss Xabi Alonso has likened Wirtz to Lionel Messi.

“There are good players and there are players who look good on the pitch. The player who looks good does things that are nice, but not necessarily efficient," said Alonso.

“Why is Messi so good? Because he knows how and when to play simple passes. Messi says: ‘You’re in a better position? Here, there you have the ball!’ It’s not always about making the most brilliant move, but the best and smartest. Florian can do that. That’s why he’s so good.”

Tottenham Hotspur return to action this week following the November international break, and Ange Postecoglou will be determined to bounce back after successive defeats in the Premier League.

Despite finishing eighth last term, Spurs have been electric under the Australian's guidance and have fought for top spot against the likes of Manchester City and Arsenal over the opening phase of the campaign, despite losing Harry Kane to Bayern Munich at the end of the summer transfer window.

But calamity struck against Chelsea earlier this month to derail the resounding start, with a 4-1 home defeat inflicted after two dismissals and detrimental injuries to influential signings – Micky van de Ven and James Maddison – presaging a tough task in navigating through the winter period.

Wolverhampton Wanderers' dramatic turnaround in the smouldering embers of the last outing in the English top-flight has indeed cast doubt over the reliability of the squad options, and, as such, it's paramount that reinforcements are secured in January.

Tottenham transfer news – Malick Thiaw

According to a recent report from the Daily Mail, Tottenham are indeed set to prioritise the central defence this winter as Van de Ven faces an extensive spell on the sidelines.

With Eric Dier deemed under-par and set for release in June, the process is only accelerated and AC Milan's Malick Thiaw has been earmarked as a top target.

The report claims that Spurs will maintain their strategy of signing young, talented prospects to grow into first-class Premier League stars, and Thiaw, aged 22, fits the bill.

Valued at €30m (£26m) by CIES Football Observatory, the German defender is aggressive and combative and while he is noted to have inferior pace to Van de Ven, he is robust and touted for big things.

Malick Thiaw's style of play

Thiaw signed for AC Milan from Schalke for just €7m (£6m) plus bonuses in August 2022, following the German side's promotion to the Bundesliga.

As per Sofascore, he was instrumental in securing an instantaneous return to the top flight for his beleaguered outfit, winning 61% of his duels and averaging 2.6 tackles and 3.4 clearances per game.

Since arriving in Serie A, he has only nurtured his talents and now looks like a player capable of cementing a place as one of Europe's standouts in the future, having been described as "solid as a rock" by talent scout Jacek Kulig.

#

Player

Club

1

Ibrahima Konate

Liverpool

2

Marc Guehi

Crystal Palace

3

Sinaly Diomande

Lyon

4

Raphael Varane

Manchester United

5

Kevin Danso

RC Lens

*Sourced via FBref

As per FBref, Thiaw ranks among the top 18% of central defenders throughout Europe's top five leagues over the past year for pass completion and the top 19% for tackles per 90, showcasing his natural crispness and tenacity in his defensive application.

Last season, his first in Italy, Thiaw made 20 league appearances and impressed with his ball-playing skills and precision in the tackle, completing 88% of his passes and winning a noteworthy 62% of his duels, also averaging 3.3 clearances each outing.

Given Postecoglou's implementation of a possession-based, energetic and intense system, he really does look like he would slot right in.

As the graph above portrays, he boasts qualities similar to some of the Premier League's most prominent defenders, with the £17k-per-week machine's likeness to Crystal Palace's Marc Guehi likely a defining factor behind Postecoglou's interest.

It's unlikely that the Rossoneri would be willing to let their man go cheaply at the season's midpoint – especially considering the fact that they are currently attempting to close the distance on league leaders Inter Milan and second-placed Juventus.

But should Spurs present an enticing offer, then who knows what could happen…

Why Tottenham should sign Malick Thiaw

To be honest, there are probably easier avenues to delve down this winter but this is actually a testament to Thiaw's ability and the lengths that the Lilywhites are willing to go to to snap him up.

Guehi has been persistently linked with a move to north London over recent months, with 'a well-placed source' revealing that Tottenham wanted to complete a transfer in the summer – as per Football Insider.

It is understood that the Selhurst Park side have set a £60m asking price for their colossus, and while Spurs would love to add him to the fold, such a value just isn't realistic for the January window, especially considering that more than one signing will likely to on the agenda.

Signing for the Eagles from Chelsea for £18m two years ago, Guehi has developed into one of the Premier League's most exciting centre-backs, with Spurs matched in their intrigue by the likes of Arsenal, Manchester City and the Blues – who seemingly regret their decision to offload the 23-year-old.

Guehi ranks among the top 12% of positional peers for successful take-ons per 90, evidencing his physicality and corroborating claims from former England U21 teammate Josef Bursik that he is an "absolute tank".

Given that the 6 foot 4 Thiaw has been dubbed a 'rock' and boasts similarities to Guehi, it seems like the German's signature might be the one to go for, given his Palace counterpart appears to be unattainable.

And with Postecoglou having attempted to secure his signing at Celtic in 2022, to no avail, it's understandable that Spurs might be prioritising his name, as he is a clear favourite and is viewed as someone who naturally fits the manager's system.

While Tottenham's preferred defensive axis of Van de Ven and Romero is as impressive as any throughout the Premier League scene, there is no denying that the thinness of the squad is threatening to ravage the potential of the 2023/24 season.

Look at Manchester City, Liverpool, Arsenal. Do these sides boast just two players capable of cementing a starting spot in the respective squads? Spurs need depth, and Postecoglou will move to sign players fit to enhance the fold in January.

Thiaw fits the profile age-wise, has previously been scouted by Postecoglou and bears a semblance in style to Guehi – such elements can be stirred and melded to form a wonderful concoction, tailor-made for a key role in this exciting Tottenham revolution.

Jonny Bairstow put England – and his own Test career – back on track with a high-class century on the first day in Colombo

The Report by George Dobell23-Nov-2018Jonny Bairstow put England – and his own Test career – back on track with a high-class century on the first day in Colombo.After Joe Root won the toss for the eighth time in succession in Test cricket – one short of the all-time record for an individual captain – Bairstow made 110 to help England take advantage of first use of a dry track that is expected to offer more help for spinners as the game wears on. It also compensated for a slightly underwhelming display from his colleagues.It had been a tough few weeks for Bairstow. After suffering an ankle injury during the limited-overs section of the tour, he has had to watch on as Ben Foakes was called into the squad as a replacement and seized his chance so well it has become hard to see how Bairstow could reclaim the gloves.There was no recall even after he recovered his fitness. Bairstow was left out of the team for the Pallekele Test and won a recall here only after Sam Curran was ruled out with a side strain.There was a catch, though. The only spot available for Bairstow was at No. 3; a position for which he had never previously showed any enthusiasm and in which he had little experience for Yorkshire.Whatever reservations Bairstow may have had about the role, however, he seized the chance wonderfully well. Easing his first delivery through the covers for four, Bairstow looked completely at home while cutting and sweeping his way to his sixth Test century, and his first batting above No. 6.More significantly, it was England’s first century from No. 3 in two years, and 27 Tests, since Root made one in Rajkot. It would probably be premature to conclude that Bairstow has nailed down the position for the foreseeable – some very different challenges loom back in England, in particular – but he has surely made himself hard to leave out when England pick their side for the first Test in the Caribbean in a couple of months.Perhaps that explained Bairstow’s emotion upon reaching the landmark. Dropping his bat and seeming to roar in the direction of the media centre, Bairstow appeared to feel he had proved his doubters wrong. Or perhaps it was simply relief. This century was made in stifling heat and Bairstow was struggling with cramp long before he reached his landmark.Either way, England were grateful for Bairstow’s contribution. On a good batting track, none of their other batsmen were able to take advantage for long enough to set the imposing first-innings total for which they would have hoped – 400 is probably somewhere around par at this stage.After an impatient Rory Burns was bowled, giving himself a huge amount of room and attempting to cut a delivery that was neither wide enough or short enough for the stroke, Keaton Jennings failed to spot a field change and turned one straight into the hands of leg slip. Root again looked in sparkling form as he added 100 for the third wicket with Bairstow, but when he top-edged a slog-sweep it brought Sri Lanka back into the game.Bairstow added a further 99 with Ben Stokes. After surviving a nervous start, taking 14 balls to get off the mark, Stokes started to find his feet with a series of pulls and sweeps, once skipping down the pitch to drill Dilruwan Perera for a straight six and once heaving him over midwicket.At 235 for 3, England looked set for a total somewhere in excess of 400. But Stokes was drawn into pushing at one that left him from Lakshan Sandakan, which gripped and took his edge, Jos Buttler drilled a return catch to the same bowler and Foakes edged an attempted cut.Sri Lanka may be frustrated, though. Stokes survived a couple of strong lbw appeals before he had scored with replays suggesting the second of them, off Dilruwan, could have been overturned had Sri Lanka had a review available. Similarly, Bairstow could have been given out, on review, on 103.As it was, however, Sri Lanka’s keeper, Niroshan Dickwella, had persuaded his captain to use both reviews within the first session of the day.The first, a caught behind appeal against Bairstow, showed the bat hitting the ground rather than any edge and the second, a leg before appeal against Root, showed the ball hit the pad well outside the line. So Sri Lanka had no reviews left.Dickwella completed a disappointing day when he put down Moeen Ali on 2. Moeen was also dropped at slip by Dimuth Karunaratne off the unfortunate Dilruwan on 17 and reviewed an lbw verdict on 19 which showed the ball passing harmlessly down the leg side.But Bairstow looked solid from the start. With the ball turning little and the surface offering a little more pace than previous ones in the series, Bairstow was able to defend with confidence and put away anything short. At one stage,Sandakan was hit for successive fours – a full toss sweep followed by a long-hop cut – before Malinda Pushpakumara was slog-swept for six.Indeed, on a blisteringly hot day – so warm has it been in Colombo lately that England have foregone their habit of warming-up for the day’s work with a game of football – that Bairstow’s biggest challenge would appear to have been the cramp that started to inhibit him long before he reached his century. It may well have been partially responsible for the hack across the line that ended his fine innings.He had long since proved his point by then, though. Challenged to bat out of position and under pressure, Bairstow had responded with a fine century that has retained his side’s hopes of achieving a first away whitewash (in a series of three matches or more) since 1963 and their first ever in Asia.

The visitors will need their bowlers to step up to stop India’s batsmen from running away with the game once again

The Preview by Sreshth Shah23-Oct-20186:43

Agarkar: Prefer Kuldeep over Jadeja if India pick two spinners

Big PictureIt may be 17 springs ago, but March 31, 2001 seems like yesterday. It was India v Australia in Indore, and Sachin Tendulkar, in his 259th innings, was on the verge of going where no man had ever ventured.With the score at 77 for 1 and Shane Warne bowling his rippers in Indore, Tendulkar nonchalantly caressed a drive to long-off in the 18th over to collect his 10,000th ODI run. The great man had finally broken his generation’s golden number, and with that created a new yardstick in ODI cricket.Virat Kohli has 9,919 runs in 204 innings. He is on the brink of absolutely pulverising Tendulkar’s record of fastest to five digits. He toyed with the West Indies attack in the first ODI, scoring a 107-ball 140 and there’s no reason why he can’t repeat the performance in the second game as well.Devendra Bishoo and, in particular, Ashley Nurse, don’t look like wicket-takers when India are on defence. And when India are on the attack – then well, the economies of 7.2 and 9 in the first ODI paint a fairly accurate picture. Unlike Yuzvendra Chahal, Kuldeep Yadav or Ravindra Jadeja, who provide control, guile and dot balls in the middle overs, Bishoo and Nurse were milked for runs quite comfortably.Question marks also hover around West Indies’ batting. Yes, they did score 322 in Guwahati, but their batting performance wasn’t optimal. Kieran Powell has a List-A strike rate of 77 since 2013 and Shai Hope’s career List-A strike-rate is under 70. On flat pitches, those numbers will hurt West Indies’ eventual total, irrespective of the solidity they bring at the top. With Shimron Hetmyer, fresh off a century, and Marlon Samuels possessing the ability to keep the run-rate ticking, they could perhaps look to rejig the batting order in a bid to post totals that would actually make India work harder. They are capable of it – with Rovman Powell and Holder to cap their innings off – but they need their top order to do more.And as for India, they will want a solution, once and for all, to the No. 4 to No. 6 conundrum. Even so, since January 2017, they have still won 50% of all ODIs where none of their top three scored a half-century.Form guideIndia WWTWW (most recent first)
West Indies LLWLLIn the spotlightIndia’s pace attack will be what coach Ravi Shastri and Kohli will be looking at. Mohammad Shami went at over 8 per over, while Khaleel Ahmed and Umesh Yadav had economy rates of 6.4. They failed to clean up the tail in Guwahati after their spinners had West Indies eight-down by the 44th over, and allowed Nos. 9 and 10 to add 44 runs. With India set to announce their squad for the final three ODIs after the Visakhapatnam game, this may be the last chance for the pacers to shine.Marlon Samuels loves to play in India. He’s averages 40 in the country and smacked two hundreds the last time he visited in 2014. He’s a big-match player, as two World T20 final Man-of-the-Match awards attest, and with his team trailing 1-0, it is imperative for Samuels to hold fort through the middle overs if West Indies are to level the series.Team newsIndia are unlikely to make any changes to their side, barring the possibility of Kuldeep’s return. The left-arm wristspinner, who was rested in Guwahati, dismissed Hetmyer three times in the Test series and may come in for Jadeja.India (possible): 1 Rohit Sharma, 2 Shikhar Dhawan, 3 Virat Kohli (capt), 4 Ambati Rayudu, 5 Rishabh Pant, 6 MS Dhoni (wk), 7 Ravindra Jadeja/Kuldeep Yadav, 8 Mohammad Shami, 9 Yuzvendra Chahal, 10 Umesh Yadav, 11 Khaleel AhmedWest Indies have the option of using the pace of Alzarri Joseph, Keemo Paul or Obed McCoy – the left-arm quick – in lieu of Nurse’s offspin if they wish to reduce the number of overs bowled by the slower bowlers. Or they may choose to bring in left-arm spinner Fabian Allen for variety. Batting wise, it would be cruel to leave out Chandrapaul Hemraj after just one international outing.West Indies (possible): 1 Chandrapaul Hemraj, 2 Kieran Powell, 3 Shai Hope (wk), 4 Shimron Hetmeyer, 5 Marlon Samuels, 6 Rovman Powell, 7 Jason Holder (capt), 8 Ashley Nurse/Fabian Allen 9 Keemo Paul/Oshane Thomas/Alzarri Joseph, 10 Devendra Bishoo, 11 Kemar RoachPitch and conditionsDew could be a factor since Visakhapatnam straddles India’s eastern coast, so bowling first could be the way to go. Especially considering there’s also a forecast of afternoon showers and, perhaps, a thunderstorm to follow. Pitch-wise, like always, Visakhapatnam is expected to be high scoring.Stats and trivia Shikhar Dhawan is 173 runs away from becoming the fastest Indian to 5,000 ODI runs In seven ODIs at the ground, the team losing the toss has never won the game Rohit Sharma is a solitary shot away from matching Tendulkar’s tally of 195 ODI sixes. Among Indians, only MS Dhoni (217) has moreQuotes

Aston Villa are back in action this afternoon, as the Villans face a trip to the City Ground to face Nottingham Forest in the Premier League.

Unai Emery’s side will travel to Trentside in good confidence, being unbeaten in their previous six league games, firing them to just one point outside the top four.

The Villans have netted a monstrous 18 goals in their previous six games, putting them in good stead to challenge Steve Cooper’s side, who are without a win in their previous six.

Aston Villa team news vs Nottingham Forest

During their win against Luton Town last time out in the league, Emery’s side recorded their 12th successive Premier League victory at Villa Park, flexing their dominance on the newly promoted side with 71% of possession.

The Spaniard has got his side ticking to new levels, which could worry Forest, however form can change in one result, and with others on the Midlands side’s tail, a win must be fought for at the City Ground.

In terms of injury news, Emiliano Buendia and Tyrone Mings remain as the long-term absentees, with Jacob Ramsey also expected to be absent as he recovers from a recurring injury to his metatarsal, that he broke in the summer.

Alex Moreno has returned to training and could be included in the matchday squad, handing Emery further room to shuffle around in the defence.

Following the arrivals of five new faces in the transfer window, the manager continues to alternate to distinguish his best XI, however, one summer arrival could be dropped ahead of the Forest clash.

The stats that show Leon Bailey should start against Nottingham Forest

Nicolo Zaniolo has had a difficult time of late, with his issues off the pitch potentially playing a part in his lacklustre start to life at Villa Park.

The Italian made the move from Galatasaray on loan in the summer and is yet to score or assist for the Villans, but Emery continues to stick behind the versatile 24-year-old.

It could now be time for the Spaniard to make a switch in the front line, expelling Zaniolo to the bench to allow Leon Bailey to show his worth from the off, with the Jamaican back to firing after losing his place in the XI.

In his previous three appearances for Villa, the former Bayer Leverkusen star has contributed to four goals, scoring two and assisting two to suggest he’s back to his best amid some competition in the squad.

Emery must reward the forward’s form with a starting place, as Zaniolo continues to adapt to his new surroundings, with his direct playing style destined to cause Forest problems.

The £100k-per-week Jamaican replaced the former Roma ace at half-time in the victory over Luton, suggesting that the manager sees the current form of the winger as an option for a greater threat in the final third.

Once lauded as “electric” by journalist Matt Maher, Bailey could add a refreshed dimension to the match day squad at the City Ground, in a move that would continue to promote healthy competition in the side.

Tottenham have announced that their Premier League game with Nottingham Forest will go ahead as planned after a man was found dead near their stadium.

Article continues below

Article continues below

Article continues below

• Fatal attack in near London
• Investigation now underway
• Sport taking place as planned

• WHAT HAPPENED?

  Police and ambulance services attended a scene at Northumberland Park in the early hours of Sunday morning. They had been alerted to the presence of an individual that had been subjected to a fatal attack.

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  THE BIGGER PICTURE

  The Metropolitan Police has confirmed that a man lost his life in north London as a result of stab wounds. CPR was administered to the person in question, but they were pronounced dead at the scene – with a full investigation into what happened now underway.

• WHAT TOTTENHAM SAID

  Despite the incident occurring in close proximity to Spurs’ home ground, they have announced that a meeting with Forest will take place at 6pm local time. A statement read: "Following an incident in which an individual has lost their life, we are doing everything to accommodate the ongoing Police investigation, which is of the utmost importance. This afternoon's Premier League fixture against Nottingham Forest will go-ahead as scheduled, however the whole of Northumberland Park Road and Vicarage Road, as well as the north end of Worcester Avenue, will remain closed throughout. We shall update supporters as and when we can, and ask for fans to be patient and allow extra travel time. Our thoughts are with the victim’s family and all those affected."

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• WHAT THE POLICE SAID

  Chief Inspector Stephen Johnston-Keay, who polices in Haringey, said: “Our thoughts are with the man who has tragically lost his life. I can assure local people that specialist detectives are investigating and will leave no stone unturned in working to establish what happened to him, and to identify and arrest those responsible. I would like to thank local people for their patience and understanding while we go about this crucial work. If you have information that could help us, no matter how insignificant it may seem, please tell us. You will see officers on the cordons and on patrol and they will be ready to listen to you.”

أعلن المدير الفني لفريق طرابزون سبور، عبد الله أفجي، عن تشكيل اللاعبين الذين سيخوضون مباراة روجومبروك السلوفاكي بـ تصفيات الدوري الأوروبي.

ويواجه طرابزون سبور نظيره روجومبروك في إياب منافسات الجولة الثانية من التصفيات المؤهلة إلى الدوري الأوروبي، على ملعب “بابارا بارك”، في تمام الساعة الثامنة والنصف مساءً بتوقيت القاهرة.

اقرأ ايضاً.. فيديو | “التقييم الأفضل”.. ماذا قدم محمد صلاح في مباراة ليفربول وآرسنال الودية؟

وانتهت مواجهة الذهاب بين الفريقين بفوز الفريق التركي طرابزون سبور بنتيجة 2/0، في اللقاء الذي أقيم على ملعب “روزومبروك”.

ويشهد تشكيل طرابزون سبور تواجد جناح منتخب مصر الأول، محمود حسن تريزيجيه، أساسيًا في مواجهة اليوم. تشكيل طرابزون سبور أمام روجومبروك في الدوري الأوروبي

حراسة المرمى: أجوركان شاكر.

خط الدفاع: إيفرين إلماي، دنسويل، باتيستا مندي، بيدرو مالهيرو.

الوسط: جون لاندسترام، أوزان توفان، كاناك.

خط الهجوم: محمود حسن تريزيجيه، ادين فيسكا، دينيس دراجوس.

📃 Ruzomberok maçı ilk 11’imiz#TSvMFKR@WhiteBit | #YouSetTheLevel pic.twitter.com/oqlNv7busx — Trabzonspor (@Trabzonspor) August 1, 2024

Liverpool are showing genuine interest in completing the signing of a player dubbed the "most underrated player in the Premier League", according to a fresh transfer update this week.

Liverpool transfer news

The Reds have looked like a completely different side to the one that toiled so badly last season, enjoying a promising start to the 2023/24 campaign. The 1-1 draw away to Manchester City was proof that Liverpool are in the mix in the Premier League title race, with new midfielders such as Dominik Szoboszlai, Alexis Mac Allister and Ryan Gravenberch making a noticeable difference.

This still isn't the near-perfect squad that Jurgen Klopp assembled a few years ago, however, with further additions needed to make it truly formidable, whether that be an out-and-out defensive midfielder, another centre-back option or a right-back deputy to Trent Alexander-Arnold.

OGC Nice midfielder Khephren Thuram has again emerged as a Liverpool target, according to a recent report, so it certainly seems as though Klopp may not be done with strengthening his choices in the middle of the park.

Related Liverpool have the funds to hijack "very dangerous" star from major suitors

The other suitors are worried about Liverpool’s interest…

Posts ByHenry Jackson Nov 27, 2023 Liverpool want Douglas Luiz

According to a new update from TEAMtalk, Liverpool are interested in signing Aston Villa midfielder Douglas Luiz, but are not alone in showing an admiration for him.

"Aston Villa’s intentions to hold on to Douglas Luiz will be tested by interest from all of their top four rivals – Man City, Arsenal and Liverpool, TEAMtalk has learned.

"Luiz has been an outstanding performer for Villa this season as Unai Emery’s side have forced themselves into the traditional Champions League places.TEAMtalk has learned that the three clubs above them – Arsenal, Manchester City and Liverpool – all hold genuine levels of interest in the central midfielder. Whilst Villa’s stance is that he is not for sale, their resistance is going to be tested by the time we get to the summer window."

Luiz could be an exceptional signing by Liverpool, with the Brazilian proving to be a huge reason for Villa's outstanding season to date, as they sit fourth in the Premier League table currently. In fact, Luiz's statistics this year are way up – he has scored five goals and chipped in with two assists in 13 league appearances in 2023/24, as well as enjoying an 88.8% pass completion rate and averaging 2.3 tackles per game in the competition.

The 25-year-old has earned massive praise from Sky Sports pundit Paul Merson in recent times, too, with the Arsenal legend saying of him:

"Douglas Luiz is the most underrated player in the Premier League. No-one talks about him. He turns up for Aston Villa week in, week out. He's box to box, he scores goals and passes the ball extremely well. He's just a very good player."

Douglas Luiz in the Premier League so far this season

Total

Goals

5

Assists

2

Pass completion rate

88.8%

Tackles per game

2.3

Luiz could add even more brilliance to Liverpool's midfield, arguably possessing more pace and dynamism than Mac Allister in the deep-lying role, but also being capable of providing quality further up the pitch, as his numbers so far this season show.

It won't be easy for the Reds to get their man, considering the level of interest in him and the fact that Villa will be desperate to keep him, but he should be looked at as a fantastic option.

Shakib Al Hasan will lead Bangladesh in the first Test against West Indies, ending speculation about his finger injury. Shakib returned to training earlier this week after a month-long rehabilitation programme, following complications with the injury that he sustained in January this year.

• IN: Shakib Al Hasan, Soumya Sarkar, Nayeem Hasan

• OUT: Liton Das, Nazmul Hossain Shanto, Abu Jayed, Shafiul Islam, Nazmul Islam

Shakib, Soumya Sarkar and 17-year-old offspinner Nayeem Hasan were the inclusions in the Bangladesh Test squad that was trimmed to 13 players from the 15-man squad that had been named against Zimbabwe. Liton Das, Nazmul Hossain Shanto, Abu Jayed, Shafiul Islam and Nazmul Islam were all dropped.Chief selector Minhajul Abedin said that Shakib was fit but needed game time under his belt, while Soumya was picked to resolve Bangladesh’s Test opening conundrum, with Tamim Iqbal still recovering from a side strain.”He has no physical problems currently, but he is short of match fitness. But since he is a senior player, we think that he is ready,” Minhajul said. “Soumya has done well in the NCL. Our openers have failed in Tests, so we want to give him a chance. Soumya plays fast bowling quite well.”Soumya effectively replaces Liton who showed glimpses of form in ODIs but has struggled in Test cricket this year. Shanto, Jayed, Shafiul and Nazmul have all been dropped, according to Minhajul, because the selectors wanted a smaller Test squad. These players will be playing in the Bangladesh Cricket League, the first-class tournament which is scheduled to begin next week.It is, however, particularly chastening for Jayed, who was Bangladesh’s standout bowler July in the West Indies, but is suddenly behind Khaled Ahmed in the selectors’ pecking order.”[Abu Jayed] Rahi is not really dropped. We may go with one seam bowler, so there’s no point keeping him around the squad. The same goes for [Najmul Hossain] Shanto, Shafiul [Islam] and [Nazmul Islam] Apu,” Minhajul said.Nayeem, who was a surprise choice in the Bangladesh Test squad last January, has been picked this time for topping the wicket-takers’ charts in the NCL, the first-class tournament that concluded last week. Soumya meanwhile last played Tests more than a year ago.Squad: Shakib Al Hasan (capt), Soumya Sarkar, Imrul Kayes, Mohammad Mithun, Mominul Haque, Mushfiqur Rahim, Ariful Haque, Mahmudullah, Mehidy Hasan Miraz, Mustafizur Rahman, Taijul Islam, Syed Khaled Ahmed, Naeem Hasan

The last international break for around four months is finally behind us as Glasgow Rangers return to Premiership action this weekend.

During the last break, the Gers were in crisis, having just sacked Michael Beale and the Ibrox hierarchy went on a mad dash to find an appropriate successor.

They announced Philippe Clement just a few weeks later, and it's safe to say, the move has gone swimmingly so far.

The Ibrox faithful shouldn’t get carried away, however, as there have been managers in the past who have enjoyed decent starts before their reigns turned into a disaster (looking at you Giovanni van Bronckhorst) and their feet should remain firmly on the ground.

The performances under the Belgian have been much better than what was served up under Beale and with a League Cup final to contest next month, the Light Blues could secure their first piece of silverware in 18 months.

A tie against Aberdeen in the league is first up, however, and following on from their 2-0 victory over Livingston last time out, Clement could make a few changes ahead of the trip to the north-east.

With that mind, here's how the Gers could lineup this weekend

1 GK – Jack Butland

The ever-present Rangers player has featured in every single match this season and his performances between the sticks have been excellent.

While Beale failed to really improve sections of the squad during the summer, luring Butland from England has proven to be a stroke of genius, and he will start once again versus the Dons.

The 30-year-old has kept eight clean sheets in 12 league ties and another one against Barry Robson’s men could be crucial.

2 RB – James Tavernier

The captain will be leading the side out on Sunday as he aims to maintain their recent excellent form by securing another three points.

Tavernier has scored 11 goals and grabbed three assists – no other Rangers player has more goal contributions – and he would love to add to this tally.

If he leads the Gers to a win, it will give them a major boost heading into the League Cup final against the same opposition in just three weeks.

3 CB – Connor Goldson

Connor Goldson has been solid under Clement so far, starting every match during his tenure, and the club have conceded only three goals in that period.

The defender has been a colossus at the heart of the defence, winning 72% of his total duels so far this season, and if he is in this type of mood, the Aberdeen forwards stand no chance.

4 CB – Leon Balogun

The question is, who will partner Goldson on Sunday? Balogun certainly deserves another start following his impressive display against Livingston a few weeks ago.

The Nigerian won a staggering 13 out of 15 total duels during the tie while also making four clearances and three interceptions to keep Livi at bay.

He may be approaching the end of his career, yet the 35-year-old is still a class act on the pitch when given a chance.

5 LB – Ridvan Yilmaz

Three of his four league starts have come under Clement and the Turkish gem should be given the opportunity to show his worth from the start against Aberdeen.

With the future of Borna Barisic still unclear, Yilmaz is the heir to his throne at left back and the more he plays, the better he will become.

6 CM – John Lundstram

The midfielder has returned to some solid form this campaign, and he will be unleashed in the starting XI for the ninth league game on the trot.

The Englishman has created two big chances and averages 1.1 key passes per game, linking the defence to the attack quite nicely, and he will be looking to prove to Clement that he deserves a contract extension.

7 CM – Jose Cifuentes

The former Los Angeles FC midfielder hasn’t started a match since the 3-0 win over St Mirren at the beginning of October, but three sub appearances in the last four matches indicate that he is ready to start.

This means Ryan Jack is dropped to the bench for the tie against his former team. The Scot has entered into the final year of his deal at the club, but he has been impressive this term.

The Ecuadorian needs game time, however, and once he returns to full fitness, he will be a key asset for Clement.

8 RW – Ross McCausland

The young winger has enjoyed a wonderful few weeks. Firstly, he made his first start for the Light Blues in their win over Livingston, winning a penalty and even scored, but the goal was disallowed.

Then, he made his debut for Northern Ireland during their recent Euro 2024 qualifier against Finland and it could be the beginning of a fine career for the starlet.

9 AM – Todd Cantwell

Often deployed out on the right-hand side this season, Todd Cantwell’s best position is just behind the striker.

Indeed, he scored four goals and grabbed four assists from that position during the second half of the 2022/23 season after he joined the club from Norwich City in January.

He should be unleashed by Clement as, when in top form, Cantwell is able to cause opposition defences plenty of trouble.

10 LW – Abdallah Sima

The on-loan winger has been wonderful this season since arriving in the summer from Brighton and Hove Albion.

He has been a solid attacking threat from the left-hand side, scoring nine goals already and his pace has been a valuable asset.

Expect him to start against the Dons.