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Aston Villa could face a problem in their bid to secure their fifth summer signing, despite Unai Emery’s wishes to bolster his squad in preparation for what’s to come in the 2023/24 calendar.

The Spaniard claimed his first three points of the campaign in match week two, slaying Everton 4-0 at Villa Park to get things back on track after a nightmare Premier League opener that saw a 5-1 defeat and a devastating blow to Tyrone Mings.

While proceedings are back to the usual highs under Emery in the Midlands, there could be some difficulty in his pursuit of one of the club’s rumoured targets, making for a potentially interesting climax to the transfer window.

Who could Aston Villa sign this summer?

Having welcomed Pau Torres, Youri Tielemans, Moussa Diaby and Nicolo Zaniolo to their ranks, it’s expected that the Villans’ movements in the market are far from over.

Read the latest Aston Villa transfer news HERE…

There has been ongoing speculation over Sevilla full-back Marcos Acuna, with Football Insider claiming last week that the club were ‘continuing talks’ over the weekend to sign the Argentine.

Valued at £13m by the Spanish outfit, it appears that Monchi’s former club could retract their talks to allow the 31-year-old to depart, with journalist Rudy Galetti shedding fresh light on the situation.

The renowned Italian journalist relayed that talks have “stalled” between the two clubs, with Sevilla feeling less convinced to let the left-back leave and are currently discussing “internal evaluations” to make a decision over his future.

What could Marcos Acuna offer to Aston Villa?

Deployed as left-back, Emery could capture a player with significant experience and versatility in a position that could become vacant this summer at Villa Park.

There is ongoing speculation regarding the future of Lucas Digne, who despite starting the opening two fixtures for the Villans, could depart before the end of the window.

In Acuna, the Midlands outfit could integrate a defender capable of playing the role of a dynamic full-back expertly, with skills in going forward and being a combative presence in the back line.

Lauded as an “animal” by journalist Facundo Del Real for his performance at the 2022 World Cup, which saw him add the biggest prize of them all to his accolades, the 31-year-old could bolster Villa’s options at full-back.

Already this season, it’s become evident just how useful having a full-back with attacking tendencies is in the league, with Serge Aurier setting up both goals in Nottingham Forest’s first win of the campaign, and Pervis Estupinan thriving for Brighton.

The Ecuadorian left-back has contributed to three goals in two appearances already this term, scoring one and assisting two to begin the 2023/24 calendar as he left off.

Estupinan’s presence in Roberto De Zerbi’s side has become integral to their style of play, leaving other managers envious, however, Emery could secure his answer to the 25-year-old in Acuna.

Likened to the Seagulls star based on their statistics gathered during the World Cup, via FBref's comparison model, the Argentine could be Villa’s own explosive left-back, as supported by his numbers in the tournament.

As per FBref, Acuna averaged similarly to the Brighton whiz, recording 3.14 progressive passes and 1.21 progressive carries per 90, as well as 1.21 key passes and a monstrous 2.90 tackles per 90 for the World Cup winners.

To put into perspective the roundedness of his talents in comparison to those more familiar through Estupinan, the 25-year-old averaged 4.00 progressive passes, 1.33 progressive carries and 1.67 key passes per 90 for his country, as well as making an average of 2.00 tackles per 90, via FBref.

Emery could sign his own version of De Zerbi’s wizard, though the Spaniard will have to wait in the wings to see if Sevilla will eventually sanction a move for the 31-year-old.

Sydney Sixers said the allrounder had taken personal leave, and there was no date set for his return

ESPNcricinfo staff30-Dec-2017Sydney Sixers’ captain Moises Henriques has taken a break from the ongoing Big Bash League, with no date set for his return.The seam-bowling allrounder played the first two matches of the season for Sixers before missing the third because of illness. “The Sydney Sixers advise that Moises Henriques will be taking some personal leave from the BBL,” a statement from the team said. “He will return when he feels ready to continue in the tournament. Out of respect for Moises’ privacy, the club will not make any further comment.”Henriques’ absence is a major blow to the Sixers, who have lost all their three matches so far. He is their most experienced player, with 1235 runs and 23 wickets in 55 matches.Allrounder Johan Botha, who had led the Sixers in place of Henriques on Thursday against Adelaide Strikers at the SCG, might continue to stand-in as captain.

Lahore Blues secured the title against Lahore Whites thanks to a disciplined bowling performance and an assured innings from Imam-ul-Haq

ESPNcricinfo staff30-Nov-2017
Scorecard and ball-by-ball detailsLahore Blues celebrate the National T20 Cup title•PCBIn a tournament replete with close finishes, the final of the National T20 Cup was a damp squib. Lahore Blues sealed a comfortable victory against Lahore Whites, winning by seven wickets with nearly three overs to spare. Set 128 to win, Lahore Blues, who had registered the highest score of the tournament on Wednesday – 221 against FATA – were never in any danger of falling short. Opener Imam-ul-Haq led the chase, scoring an unbeaten 59, including seven fours and a six.Salman Butt’s Whites had earlier struggled with the bat. Though Butt batted through the innings, his knock never took on any momentum, and the strike-rate was well below what was required to put on a total his bowlers could be confident of defending. His 62 came off 59 deliveries, and with none of the big hitters in his side able to get in, the 127 they managed was always going to be too little. It didn’t help that the Blues’ bowlers expertly hit their lines and lengths, only one of them conceding more than 6.50 runs per over. Atif Jabbar was the pick of the bunch, taking 2 for 24 in four overs.This is the second year that National T20 Cup final has featured two sides from the same city. Last year, Karachi Blues and Karachi Whites squared off for the trophy, with the Blues coming out on top.

West Ham and Chelsea might not represent the strongest of London rivalries, but there is still no love lost between the two clubs and their respective fanbases.

Over the years, the clubs have been involved in some bitter battles, both on and off the pitch.

Much of that was heightened at the beginning of the century when West Ham academy graduate Frank Lampard forced a move away from east London, opting to sign for Chelsea for a mere £11m in 2001.

That naturally upset West Ham fans, who didn’t take lightly to one of their own moving from one side of London to the other in such controversial circumstances. Since then, the Hammers faithful have developed an even stronger disliking of their west London rivals.

What hasn’t helped is their inferior standing up against the Blues, who have become one of the biggest clubs in world football over the past two decades, while the Hammers have endured decades of relegations, mediocre campaigns and disappointing cup exits, before ending a 43-year trophy drought last term.

So with all of that in mind, Football FanCast takes a look at the head-to-head record between these two bitter London rivals ahead of their upcoming Premier League clash at London Stadium…

West Ham vs Chelsea: Who has the better head-to-head record?

These two sides first met in September 1915, playing out a goalless draw in the London Combination. It came during a period of disruption for competitive sport following the outbreak of the First World War.

A series of regional competitions continued in place of national leagues and domestic cups, so clubs in London were placed in a mini-league that became known as the London Combination.

Interestingly, wartime matches are not regarded as competitive and are therefore not included in official statistics, much like friendlies today, but this is the first meeting between West Ham and Chelsea on record nonetheless.

To date, the London rivals have faced off 154 times across all competitions, and despite Chelsea’s dominance in recent history, the overall record between them is pretty even.

That’s because during the very early years of their rivalry between 1915 and the early 1980s, West Ham often got the better of the Blues. Now, though, it’s a much different story as Chelsea have grown into the Premier League force they’re now considered to be.

Interestingly, though, despite the modern-day switch of power between these two sides, West Ham still hold a slight advantage over Chelsea by way of goal difference, having scored 262 goals against the Blues and conceding 254.

West Ham wins: 59 Draws: 33 Chelsea wins: 62 West Ham vs Chelsea: Who has more wins at the London Stadium/Upton Park?

Before West Ham’s move to London Stadium in 2016, the Hammers played at the Boleyn Ground, more commonly known as Upton Park. Their record against Chelsea there was good, losing just five of their first 22 meetings at home between 1923 and 1974.

As Chelsea’s dominance over West Ham grew after Roman Abramovich’s 2003 takeover, the Hammers struggled a lot more on their home patch, beating the Blues just twice more at home between 2003 and 2015, including their final match against the Blues at Upton Park before moving stadiums.

Since moving to London Stadium, the Hammers have enjoyed a decent level of success against Chelsea, losing just twice in eight matches between the two sides. Their last defeat at home to Chelsea came via a narrow 1-0 scoreline behind closed doors in April 2021.

West Ham wins: 30 Draws: 10 Chelsea wins: 20 West Ham vs Chelsea: Who has more wins at Stamford Bridge?

Regardless of these sides being on a relatively even footing for much of their respective histories, Stamford Bridge has been something of a fortress for Chelsea when West Ham visit.

West Ham last left west London victorious in November 2019, via a 1-0 win thanks to an Aaron Cresswell goal, but that was their first win at Stamford Bridge since a Paolo Di Canio masterclass helped them to a 3-2 victory in 2002.

Between those two sides, Chelsea had won 10 games against the Hammers on home turf, drawing four others.

Overall, Chelsea have beaten West Ham at Stamford Bridge 32 times and have lost on only 13 occasions, which is a pretty impressive record over the course of over 100 years of rivalry.

Chelsea wins: 32 Draws: 13 West Ham wins: 13 West Ham vs Chelsea: Who has the better Premier League record?

Unsurprisingly, Chelsea hold an impressive head-to-head record over West Ham in the Premier League era.

Especially since 2003, the Blues have been one of the strongest teams in the division, while the Hammers have often competed in the bottom half of the table, and suffered two relegations since Chelsea’s takeover.

West Ham’s last victory over Chelsea in the Premier League came in December 2021, thanks to a freak Arthur Masuaku winner in the final five minutes of the game. That is their only win in their last six clashes with the Blues.

Between January 2006 and March 2015, Chelsea dominated this fixture in the Premier League, losing just once in 18 meetings, drawing three others and winning the rest.

West Ham wins: 15 Draws: 10 Chelsea wins: 29 West Ham vs Chelsea: Who has the better cup record?

Only taking FA Cup and League Cup into account – due to many of the cup competitions played in the early 1900s not officially being ‘competitive’, West Ham and Chelsea have met just 10 times in domestic knock-out competitions.

Chelsea hold dominance over West Ham here, too, with six wins and just three defeats. The last time they met in the cup was in October 2016, with West Ham winning 2-1 at London Stadium in the League Cup 4th round. That was their first win over Chelsea in cup competition since 1994.

The two London rivals last met in the FA Cup in 2002, when Chelsea needed a 4th round replay to advance following a 1-1 draw at Stamford Bridge. They won the replay 3-2 at Upton Park.

West Ham wins: 3 Draws: 1 Chelsea: 6 West Ham vs Chelsea: What were the last 5 meetings?

11th February 2023 – West Ham 1-1 Chelsea: This one was far from a classic, but it proved to be a hugely important point for West Ham in their survival bid.

The Blues dominated the game, having 72% possession throughout, and took the lead through Joao Felix in the 16th minute.

However, just 12 minutes later, former Blues full-back Emerson Palmieri popped up at the back post to level it for the Hammers – his first goal in claret and blue.

3rd September 2022 – Chelsea 2-1 West Ham: This clash produced one of the most controversial VAR decisions of the season, if not ever.

Michael Antonio’s opener in the 62nd minute had looked like it would be the winner for the Hammers, but goals from Ben Chilwell (76) and Kai Havertz (88) turned the game on its head late on, giving Chelsea all three points and leaving the Hammers in the bottom three.

However, that wasn’t before a Maxwel Cornet equaliser deep into stoppage time was ruled out by VAR for a foul goalkeeper Edouard Mendy.

Replays showed Mendy had challenged Jarrod Bowen in the box, a challenge Bowen jumped out of the way of. The ball rebounded into Cornet’s path, who calmly smashed it home in front of the jubilant Hammers fans in the away end.

But referee Andrew Madley decided Bowen had ‘fouled’ Mendy while jumping out of the way of the initial challenge and ruled out the goal. Replays showed that the minimal contact was completely unavoidable, with Moyes labelling the decision as “scandalous” after the game.

24th April 2022 – Chelsea 1-0 West Ham: More late heartbreak for West Ham at Stamford Bridge, this time via a 90th-minute Christian Pulisic winner.

The goal came just four minutes after West Ham’s Craig Dawson received a straight red card after fouling Romelu Lukaku in the penalty box.

Jorginho missed the resulting penalty, which gave the Hammers renewed hope of taking a rare point away from west London. But Pulisic’s dramatic winner just minutes later dashed those hopes and the Blues took all three points.

4th December 2021 – West Ham 3-2 Chelsea: Arthur Masuaku’s winner in the 87th minute surprised everyone, including himself. He posted on Twitter after the game: “So, was it a cross or was it a shot. Hint: I was as surprised as you.”

It was an ending to a thrilling London derby that saw the Hammers twice peg the Blues back. Thiago Silva and Mason Mount found the net for Chelsea but both saw their goals levelled via a Manual Lanzini penalty and a 56th-minute Jarrod Bowen finish.

Masuaku’s cross-turned-shot late on gave West Ham all three points.

24th April 2021 – West Ham 0-1 Chelsea: Another narrow Chelsea win and another game defined by a controversial VAR decision.

A rare Timo Werner goal had given Chelsea the lead on the stroke of half-time, and the Blues looked like they might be able to grind out a victory despite facing increased West Ham pressure in the second half.

However, in the 81st minute, referee Chris Kavanagh was asked to look at the pitchside monitor after Ben Chilwell went down following an attempt to block a Fabian Balbuena clearance.

Replays showed Chilwell clatter into Balbuena’s kicking foot milliseconds after his foot made contact with the ball.

Kavanagh decided Balbuena had purposely kicked Chillwell whilst kicking the ball in the same motion and showed a red card.

Unsurprisingly, West Ham’s momentum in search for an equaliser ended right there and Chelsea were able to see out the final moments of the game comfortably.

Who has played for West Ham and Chelsea?

There are quite a few players who have played for both clubs over the years, but there are some especially big names in that list that are worth highlighting – three of whom are West Ham academy products.

Frank Lampard (West Ham 1995-2001; Chelsea 2001-2014): Lampard is the highest-profile player to have played for both, and for good reason. Having come through West Ham’s academy, the midfielder made almost 190 appearances for the Hammers, scoring 39 goals.

His father, a West Ham legend himself, was the assistant manager to Harry Redknapp at the time (Redknapp is also Lampard’s uncle).

When Redknapp and Lampard Sr. were sacked in 2000, Lampard Jr. began to push for a move away from east London.

Despite his record at the club, there were a lot of fans who believed he was only in the team because his dad and uncle picked the team, so he didn’t quite feel appreciated by the Hammers faithful. He went on to sign for Chelsea in an £11m deal in 2001, and the rest is history.

Lampard went on to make almost 650 appearances for the Blues, scoring 211 goals and becoming the club’s all-time top goalscorer. He is now regarded as one of the greatest players in Premier League history, and has since managed Chelsea on two occasions. Since leaving West Ham, Hammers fans have always held him up as a key villain of the club and still do to this day.

Joe Cole (West Ham 1998-2003, 2013-2014; Chelsea 2003-2010): Another product of West Ham’s famed youth academy, Joe Cole’s West Ham exit was received in far more understandable fashion than Lampard’s just a couple of years earlier.

Cole made 150 appearances for the Hammers, scoring 13 goals, and was widely regarded as one of the most exciting prospects in England at the time.

But he was still unable to prevent West Ham from being relegated in 2003, which led to the club needing to sell him to raise much-needed funds.

Chelsea came calling at signed him for a bargain £6.6m that summer, with Cole going on to make over 280 appearances for the Blues, scoring 39 goals.

Cole spent a season at Liverpool and a year on loan in Ligue 1 with Lille before returning to West Ham for 18 months in 2013, going on to make another 37 appearances and scoring five more goals. Unlike Lampard, Cole is highly regarded amongst the West Ham faithful and is a cult hero.

Glen Johnson (West Ham 2002-2003; Chelsea 2003-2007): Glen Johnson only had half a season as a West Ham player, having broken into the team as a youth player in 2003, the season West Ham were relegated from the Premier League.

The Hammers were forced to sell the full-back that summer as a result, and he joined Chelsea alongside Joe Cole for £6m. Johnson went on to make just 72 appearances for the Blues over four seasons before being sold to Portsmouth.

He went on to really make his name as a Liverpool player, where he made 200 appearances.

Carlton Cole (Chelsea 2001-2006; West Ham 2006-2013, 2013-2015): Another Cole, but this time with the opposite journey to Joe. Carlton came through the Chelsea academy but struggled to make a serious impact on the first team, making just 31 appearances and scoring eight goals over four seasons.

He was shipped out on loan three times, to Wolves, Charlton and Aston Villa, before eventually joining West Ham permanently in 2006. He went on to become something of a legend in east London, scoring 68 goals in 293 appearances across two spells.

He was famously released by the club after seven seasons but then re-signed just a few months later after the club had failed to find his replacement in the transfer window.

In 2011, West Ham were relegated from the Premier League and received a number of offers for the striker’s services, but he refused to leave. He later admitted he felt like he had a duty to the West Ham fans to try and get the club back up to the top flight.

He achieved that at the first time of asking, scoring in the play-off final at Wembley as West Ham beat Blackpool 2-1.

Other players to have played for both clubs include Victor Moses, Demba Ba, Jimmy Greaves, Yossi Benayoun, Wayne Bridge and Scott Parker.

What is West Ham’s biggest victory over Chelsea?

Not including ‘non-competitive’ wartime games, in which West Ham recorded 10-3, 6-2, 8-4, 5-0 and 6-1 victories over Chelsea, West Ham’s largest ‘official’ victory over the Blues is 4-0, which came in a February 1981 Division Two clash at Upton Park.

They also beat the Blues 4-0 a few years later at Stamford Bridge, this time in Divison One, in a season that saw West Ham come the closest they’ve ever come to winning the title, eventually finishing third on the final day of the 1985/86 campaign.

What is Chelsea’s biggest victory over West Ham?

Chelsea’s biggest victory over West Ham is also 4-0. This happened in March 2008 in a Premier League clash at Upton Park.

Goals from former Hammers Frank Lampard and Joe Cole set the Blues on their way before Michael Ballack made it 3-0 inside 2 minutes. A rare Ashley Cole finish just after the hour completed the rout for Chelsea.

The only silver lining West Ham fans could take away from this game was Frank Lampard received a red card in the 36th minute for a clash with Hammers midfielder Luis Boa Morte.

Salman Butt’s unbeaten 85 carried Lahore Whites into the final four on a day that saw Peshawar and Rawalpindi eliminated

ESPNcricinfo staff21-Nov-2017Salman Butt continued to shake off a wretched Quaid-e-Azam trophy campaign. His second unbeaten half-century in three games helped Lahore Whites trounce Peshawar by 27 runs. Butt’s 58-ball 85 took his side to the top of the standings.His fellow opener Kamran Akmal also joined in to make a 40-ball 52 as the Whites notched up 163. In response, the struggling Peshawar – who now have one win in six matches – could not find a single batsman to score over 25. That meant the chase never really took off. Lahore’s bowlers picked them off at ease with Umaid Asif starring with four for 26 to break the back of the Peshawar chase. Ehsan Adil and Asif Ali took two wickets apiece as Peshawar were cleaned up for 136, with their chances of qualifying for the semi-finals officially extinguished.A century stand between Umar Amin and Zain Abbas wasn’t enough for Rawalpindi as they lost to Faisalabad, thereby falling out of contention for the last four. Amin and Abbas scored 67 and 62 respectively, with Sohail Tanvir adding a quickfire 32 off 16 as Rawalpindi surged to 193. It was, surprisingly, the international stars in Faisalabad’s bowling attack who were the most expensive, with Faheem Ashraf, Saeed Ajmal and Yasir Shah conceding a whopping 115 runs in their combined 11 overs.But Faisalabad gave the daunting chase a right go, thanks largely to a 43-ball 87 from Sohaib Maqsood, even as the top order fell cheaply around him. By the time he was dismissed, he had contributed 87 to Faisalabad’s score of 108, but 86 were still required off a mere seven overss, the balance firmly in favour of the hosts. But sensational hitting from Khurram Manzoor – who finished with an unbeaten 52 off 25 – and Ashraf helped Faisalabad sneak home with a ball to spare and strengthen their hold on a semi-final position.

Manchester City are willing to pay Valentin Barco’s release clause, and a report has claimed that the Sky Blues are actually willing to pay more to sign the defender.

What’s the latest Man City transfer news?

Pep Guardiola has brought in midfielder Mateo Kovacic and defender Josko Gvardiol from Chelsea and RB Leipzig so far this summer, but it appears as if it could be a fairly busy end to the window for those at the Etihad.

Attacking additions appears to be on the to-do list for the treble winners, especially a new right-winger following Riyad Mahrez’s move to Saudi Arabia. Rennes’ Jeremy Doku appears to be the top target for that role, with recent reports even claiming that City have agreed on personal terms with the Belgian over a five-year deal.

Another attacking midfielder could also be on the agenda before the September 1 deadline, with Kevin de Bruyne potentially sidelined for a long period of time with a hamstring injury.

West Ham United star Lucas Paqueta is another who was heavily linked with a move, but it looks as if the club have a new target in Boca Juniors teenager Barco and are willing to swoop.

Sport Witness relayed a transfer update from one Argentinian outlet regarding Barco in the last 48 hours. They claimed that City are willing to activate the player’s $10m (£7.86m) release clause, however, the Sky Blues are actually willing to pay $14m (£11m) and they would also have to ‘pay taxes’ for the transfer too, which would take the deal to $17m (£13.3m), over £5m more than the player’s actual release clause.

Barco, who has also been targeted by Brighton & Hove Albion, would like to play the Copa Libertadores with Boca Juniors before making any move away, something that City may have to consider when negotiating a deal.

Who is Valentin Barco?

Barco is 19 years of age and is primarily a left-back who can also turn out slightly further forward in a left midfield role if needed.

The Argentina U20 international is valued at a career-high €3.5m by Transfermarkt and is already sponsored by Adidas, with his contract at Boca Juniors valid until the end of 2024.

He has made 20 senior appearances for his current employers – 17 of which have come in 2023, and by the looks of things, he has caught the eye in England. Back in 2021, Barco was named among The Guardian’s 60 best young talents in world football, with Juan Carlos Pasman highlighting his ability at free kicks:

“Plays in the same position as Roberto Carlos and wants to continue in defence despite his coaches preferring him to play in midfield because of his technical ability. At the time of writing he has already played three times for Boca’s first team and is part of the Argentina under-17 set-up.

“He is extremely good going forward and has a mean free-kick, capable of scoring dead-ball goals with his left foot. Stands out with his bright red hair and promises to be a future star.”

It looks as if a move to the Etihad could be one to keep an eye on, with City having just two weeks to complete a deal.

The former Hyderabad captain suffered a heart attack at his home on Monday morning

Nagraj Gollapudi30-Oct-2017Former Hyderabad captain MV Sridhar, who recently resigned as BCCI’s general manager of cricket operations, died on Monday morning. Sridhar, who was 51-years old, suffered a heart attack at his home, and was declared dead upon arrival at the hospital. He is survived by his wife, a daughter and a son.A prolific right-hand batsman, Sridhar had 21 first-class centuries in a career that stretched between 1988-89 and 1999-2000. Sridhar was one of three Hyderabad batsmen to record a first-class triple-century, VVS Laxman and Abdul Azeem being the others. His knock of 366 against Andhra in 1994 is the third-highest individual score in the Ranji Trophy, behind Bhausaheb Nimbalkar’s 443 not out and Sanjay Manjrekar’s 377. During that innings, he set a record that still stands today: when he was at the wicket, Hyderabad scored 850 runs (he came in at 30 for 1 and was dismissed at 880 for 5), the most runs scored by a team during one batsman’s stay at the crease.Sridhar was also a qualified doctor. At the Hyderabad Cricket Association, Sridhar served in many roles before becoming the secretary.D Narsing Rao, an HCA member and a close friend, said Sridhar had spoken to him over the phone this morning saying he had been feeling a bit “uneasy” over the past week. “At 12.30pm he [Sridhar] was uncomfortable so he called his cousin to come home. But then he felt better and told his cousin there was no need and had lunch. But an hour later he suffered a severe heart attack.” Sridhar had been preparing for his daughter’s birthday on November 2. She had been by his side at the time of the incident.

Deeply Shocked to hear about the passing away of Dr MV Sridhar , an elder brother to me who taught me the art of batting long 1/2 pic.twitter.com/s9MwJgaqft

— VVS Laxman (@VVSLaxman281) October 30, 2017

In 2013, Sridhar joined the BCCI as general manager during the N Srinivasan administration. Initially, his brief was mostly restricted to domestic cricket, but he began performing multiple roles over the last two years – dealing with players, selectors, BCCI management; playing a prominent role in the board’s various committees, attending ICC meetings, helping draw up international and domestic schedules. He stepped down in September this year.One of Sridhar’s strengths was communication, and he utilised that well when interacting with players, who acknowledged that quality and respected him. In 2008, Sridhar was the assistant manager on the controversy-riddled tour of Australia when match referee Mike Procter found Harbhajan Singh guilty of making a racist comment to Andrew Symonds and banned the Indian offspinner for three Tests under the ICC Code of Conduct.The Indian team management, led at the time by captain Anil Kumble and supported by BCCI (headed by Sharad Pawar), backed Harbhajan to the hilt and even threatened to pull out if the appeal went against him. Subsequently, Justice John Hansen, the appeal commissioner, dropped the racism charge and slapped Harbhajan with a 50% match-fee penalty. Sridhar was instrumental in the discussions and was the bridge between the players and the two boards.Harbhajan, who had met Sridhar for the first time on the Australia tour, said he was a “warm” person and a thorough professional. “Doc was a very warm-hearted person. I have huge respect for him – I was really impressed by his work ethic, and based upon my conversations with him, he was a thorough professional,” Harbhajan said.With the intense media attention around the incident in both Australia and India, Sridhar understood that any word on the matter uttered publicly or even informally could affect the final ruling. His primary job was to safeguard the interests of Harbhajan and the Indian team. “(In 2008, Australia) He was the one handling all the conversations happening between the BCCI and the team management,” Harbhajan said.The offspinner recounted that on the car journey to Justice Hansen’s hearing in Adelaide, Sridhar made sure the player was in the best frame of mind. “I remember on the way to the hearing in the car he was making sure I was calm. He was guiding me properly. His communication was much, much better than many others (team managers). Communication is very important not just with the players but also with the media. And he took responsibility for doing things and get things done for the players. I have lost a friend.”Sridhar will be cremated on Tuesday in Hyderabad.

Leeds United have reportedly suffered a huge blow in their pursuit of West Ham United midfielder Flynn Downes this summer, as they look to build a squad capable of promotion back to the Premier League at the first time of asking.

So far this summer, Daniel Farke has welcomed four reinforcements at Elland Road.

What's the latest on Flynn Downes to Leeds United?

As per Football Insider, Leeds were among the clubs interested in making a move for Downes this summer, but now face the prospect of losing out on the midfielder, with Southampton in pole position.

This comes with West Ham in ongoing deal to sign Southampton captain James Ward-Prowse. Football Insider reports that a fresh twist in the deal could see Downes head in the opposite direction.

Leeds, of course, are unable to offer the Hammers such a deal, leaving them unlikely to land the former Swansea City man this summer.

The Yorkshire club won't be the only side to miss out, however, with Middlesbrough and Crystal Palace also among the clubs interested in securing the 24-year-old's signature.

Losing out on Downes to a potential promotion rival in the form of Southampton will be a particular blow for Leeds, who need all the help they can get if they are to earn back their top flight status in the coming year.

How good is Flynn Downes?

Of course, with a deal yet to be agreed between West Ham and Southampton, those at Elland Road could still swoop in. Signing Downes would represent solid business from a Leeds perspective, too.

This is a player with plenty of Championship experience due to his time at Swansea, whilst also possessing the quality to play in the Premier League, as proved by his move to West Ham last summer.

Read the latest Leeds transfer news HERE…

At his best, the Englishman can outperform the current options under Farke, as shown by the numbers. According to FBref, whilst at Swansea in the Championship, Downes made more progressive carries per 90 than current Leeds midfielder Ethan Ampadu managed last season, while also producing more goals and assists per 90, painting the picture of a midfielder who contributes at both ends.

It's the type of statistics that have earned the midfielder some significant praise in the past, including from former Swansea manager Russell Martin, who said, via the official club website: "Flynn was incredible, it’s difficult to single people out, but he does the dirty work perfectly well.

“He enables other people to do their roles brilliantly, he knows exactly what his role in the team is.

“Kyle Naughton and the guys at the back appreciate him a lot, I know I would have if I had him playing in front of me. He has an excellent willingness to learn, his attitude, his attention to detail and how quickly he learns is outstanding.

“He’s playing in a completely different role to what he used to play at his previous club, as most of the guys are. His desire to win and athleticism, with his increasing and improving technical ability, shows how much he wants to work.

“That’s the point of playing him in this way, it’s the best way to improve players, it really is.”

Morne Morkel produced a searing opening burst to carve up Bangladesh’s top order and severely dent their chances of saving the first Test in Potchefstroom

The Report by Mohammad Isam01-Oct-2017
Live scorecard and ball-by-ball detailsAFPMorne Morkel produced a searing opening burst to carve up Bangladesh’s top order and severely dent their chances of saving the first Test in Potchefstroom. By tea on the fourth day, Bangladesh had been reduced to 49 for 3, leaving them still requiring an improbable 375 runs to get with four sessions left in the Test. They were saved from batting out some of that time, with the light deteriorating and rain forcing the covers to come on shortly after the break. It refused to let up, washing out the final session and forcing an early stumps.Morkel, however, walked off the field towards the end of the session, and it was later confirmed that he had suffered a side strain which could leave him unlikely to bowl further in the innings. He will be sent for scans on Monday morning.For as long as he was on the field, though, Morkel troubled Bangladesh, getting the new ball to prodigiously swing around. In his first over, he flattened Tamim Iqbal’s off stump by angling one in from wide of the crease. Two balls later, he found movement in the air and pinged the pad of Mominul Haque, who chose not to review the decision despite replays later showing that the ball would have comfortably missed leg stump.Bangladesh’s only consolation is that they still have Mushfiqur Rahim, one of their most experienced batsmen, at the crease, unbeaten on 16. But even that was down to South Africa’s own undoing: Morkel drew the Bangladesh captain forward and burst through the defences but replays indicated that he had oversteppedThree overs after that, Imrul Kayes was thrown a lifeline when Kagiso Rabada swung one across the left-hander and made him reach out to send an outside edge to Faf du Plessis, who put down a regulation catch at second slip. Kayes continued to stand on shaky ground, taking on short balls and getting away often despite timing his shots poorly. Along with Mushfiqur, the two just seemed to be getting a partnership going, but Maharaj broke through before the association could translate into a meaningful recovery.Maharaj had varied his lengths with the first two deliveries of the over, first getting a length ball to kick up off the rough and then drawing Kayes forward with a fuller one. The follow-up was on an in-between length that left Imrul in two minds as he withdrew his bat late to edge to Quinton de Kock behind the stumps.Earlier in the day, South Africa took rapid strides towards establishing a big lead, adding 193 runs to their overnight 54 for 2 in just 241 balls. Du Plessis and Temba Bavuma did the bulk of the scoring, putting together 142 for the fourth wicket. They came together after Hashim Amla edged behind an offcutter from Mustafizur and pushed up the run-rate, punching 149 runs at 5.12 per over in the morning session as Bangladesh’s bowlers created minimal impact.Du Plessis zoomed to a 100-ball 81, while Bavuma benefitted from a reprieve on 8 and ran up 71 off 107 balls. They got out either side of a 48-minute rain break; du Plessis leg-before to Mominul after being beaten on the sweep and Bavuma to a brilliant leg-side catch by Liton Das, who moved before the batsman had even made contact with the ball. Mominul then struck for a third time when he removed Quinton de Kock, courtesy a smart stumping by Liton.

Arsenal have been dealt a sizeable blow in their preparations for the new Premier League season, with manager Mikel Arteta set to have to make do without centre-forward star, Gabriel Jesus in the early knockings of the campaign.

Following what has been a largely positive summer for the Gunners thus far – with the likes of Declan Rice, Kai Havertz and Jurrien Timber having all been brought to the club – the loss of the Brazilian will be an unwanted headache for the former Manchester City assistant.

What's the latest on Gabriel Jesus' injury?

As confirmed by Arteta, the 26-year-old is set to be out of action for "a few weeks" after recently undergoing knee surgery, with the ex-City striker having seemingly been impacted by the same issue which kept him on the sidelines for much of the second half of the season.

Read the latest Arsenal transfer news HERE…

While not a "major" concern – in the words of the Gunners boss – it will be of real frustration to have to make do without the 59-cap international yet again, with Jesus having already missed 15 games during his debut season at the club last time out.

Who will replace Gabriel Jesus?

The question now will be as to just how Arteta will go about dealing with the loss of the 5 foot 9 sensation, with the Emirates outfit forced to fill the void of a player who scored 11 goals and contributed seven assists in just 26 league outings in 2022/23.

The obvious choice for the role would be Jesus' usual understudy, Eddie Nketiah, although the Englishman was hardly prolific when given an extended run in the side, having scored just four goals in 30 league games last season.

Equally, while exciting prospect Folarin Balogun – who scored 21 Ligue 1 goals last season while on loan at Reims – is currently part of the first-team squad, Arteta appeared to hint that the 22-year-old's future won't be impacted by the injury to Jesus, with a move away from the club looking likely.

Suitors appear to be lining up to land the United States international – who has been valued at around £50m by the Arsenal hierarchy – hence ensuring that the club may need to look elsewhere to find someone else to lead the line in Jesus' absence.

One perhaps left-field option could well be that of 19-year-old academy star, Khayon Edwards, with the teenage marksman having proven rather prolific in the youth set-up of late.

Who is Khayon Edwards?

The £5k-per-week starlet is yet to make a competitive senior appearance for the Gunners to date, although he was previously drafted into the first-team squad by Arteta last season after being named on the bench for two Europa League group stage ties.

That promotion had no doubt been deserved as the Hale End gem boasts a tally of 23 goals and nine assists in just 41 games for the U18s, while also making a promising start to life at a higher age group with five goals in 21 games for the U21 side.

Khayon Edwards

Described as "deadly" in front of goal in the past by football.london's Kaya Kaynak, Arsenal's official website also states that the local lad is 'a hard-working, natural goalscorer with pace to burn'.

That work ethic could well make Edwards a dream replacement for Jesus through the middle, with the one-time Palmeiras ace also rather relentless when leading the line, ranking in the top 3% for tackles and the top 9% for interceptions made per 90 among his European peers.

Equally, much like the latter man is able to bring others into play – as he ranks in the top 6% for assists – Edwards also seems to possess that creative prowess, with the club's official website writing that: 'Khayon also showed he was able to play deeper as a No. 10, impressing with his link-up play.'

Those shared traits between the Englishman and the Brazilian would indicate that if handed the chance, young Edwards could certainly have a good crack at filling the shoes of the stricken Jesus.