Aston Villa are looking to sign Borussia Monchengladbach forward Marcus Thuram when he becomes a free agent this summer.

What’s the latest transfer news on Villa and Thuram?

Thuram has enjoyed a fine season with the Bundesliga side, scoring 16 times and registering six assists in 30 appearances. It has been confirmed that the France international will leave Monchengladbach at the end of the current campaign, though, with Villa linked with securing a transfer earlier in the year.

A new update has now emerged, and it looks as if Unai Emery’s side are still in the race for the 25-year-old’s signature. Sport Witness relayed an update from Calciomercato regarding Thuram’s future in the last 48 hours. They said that the forward is ‘looking for a project in which he can play a leading role’ at his next club.

Villa Park is named as a possible destination for Thuram alongside Premier League rivals Chelsea and Newcastle as well as Atletico Madrid and Bayern Munich.

Thuram and Watkins in attack?

It appears as if Emery’s side are on the hunt for a new forward to potentially partner Ollie Watkins next season, with Brentford’s Ivan Toney another name to be linked with a move to the Midlands in recent days.

Thuram, described as 'world-class' by Wolfsburg sporting director Marcel Schafer, could be a shrewd signing, though, especially as he wouldn’t command a transfer fee and has actually outscored Watkins during the current campaign.

The player can turn out anywhere across the front three so would offer a versatile attacking option and is valued at a whopping €32m by Transfermarkt, showing how from a business perspective a free transfer could be a smart move.

It looks as if Villa may need to pip a number of big clubs to Thuram’s services, but if they can secure European football in the final Premier League fixtures, it could help them in their pursuit of the forward.

Mauricio Pochettino is expected to be named Chelsea's new manager by the end of this week, according to a fresh update regarding the Blues' next boss.

Is Pochettino taking charge at Chelsea?

It is no hidden secret that the 51-year-old will take charge at Stamford Bridge next, following a tumultuous season on and off the pitch in west London. Both Thomas Tuchel and Graham Potter have been sacked during the campaign, while Frank Lampard has struggled in a caretaker role since replacing the latter.

He won't be Chelsea manager any longer than the end of this season, with Pochettino picked out as the best possible candidate to come in and turn the Blues' fortunes around. The Argentine did an excellent job as Tottenham boss, guiding them to the 2019 Champions League final, and he also won the Ligue 1 title with Paris Saint-Germain last season.

Now, a new update has emerged regarding when the ex-Spurs man will officially be appointed at Stamford Bridge – it looks as though it will be sooner rather than later.

When will Pochettino be confirmed as manager?

According to Football Insider, Chelsea "will confirm their new manager by the end of this week, with Pochettino "expected to land the role" after a recent "breakthrough". Talks reached their "final stages" during discussions last week and he is "keen to take the reins" in west London. There are talks taking place over "backroom staff and other small, but important, details", but it now appears to be very close to being confirmed.

It will be great to finally unveil Pochettino before the end of the season, giving Blues supporters a renewed sense of hope, following such a taxing campaign. Granted, he may not take over until this summer, but just knowing that the deal is done and dusted will bring some much-needed positivity.

Pochettino looks like a great appointment, even though his stock has fallen a little since leaving Spurs – he didn't do a great job at PSG, failing in the Champions League like so many of their managers – but he is someone who possesses great man-management skills, plays an attacking brand of football and who generally carries himself with dignity.

The pressure will certainly be on from minute one, with so much work to do to get Chelsea back to the top of English football, but if Todd Boehly backs him in the transfer market and allows him to run things his way, the Blues could have a gem on their hands.

ScorecardTom Curran had a fine night with bat and ball•PA Photos

Debate continues to ferment over the future of England’s T20 competition, which whatever the outcome is unlikely to survive in its current form, but the last thing the NatWest Blast needed on its opening night was for the Colin Graves, the ECB chairman, to deem it “mediocre” before a ball had been bowled.Record attendances last season; record advance ticket sales this. The NatWest Blast might be in for a revamp, but a noisy full house for the TV match at Chelmsford – ultimately silenced as Surrey stole an eight-run win in an engrossing, fluctuating contest – was another salutary reminder that this competition has its fans.It has angered many around the counties that the “Graves digger”, whether by accident or design, almost buried the competition before it had begun.Surrey’s victory came from the unlikely position of 80 for 6 in the 11th over as one of T20’s ancients, Azhar Mahmood, combined with the up-and-coming allrounder Tom Curran to steel Surrey with both bat and ball.Mahmood smashed 42 off 22 balls as he put on 65 in seven overs in a bright and breezy seventh-wicket stand with Tom Curran to spark a mid-innings revival.And Mahmood had barely removed his helmet than he had reduced Essex to 26 for 3 with the key wickets of Jesse Ryder and Dan Lawrence in successive balls – Ryder outwitted with a slower ball, Lawrence strangled down the leg side. He ended with four for 38.New Zealand quick Matt Quinn had claimed career-best T20 figures of 4 for 35 in his first appearance for Essex only to finish on the losing side.Ravi Bopara’s decision to bowl in his first match as Essex’s T20 captain broke the Chelmsford habit and the second-wicket pair of Jason Roy and Kumar Sangakkara raised 50 b y the fifth over. Bopara was forced to recall Quinn, who had already dismissed Steven Davies, and he removed Roy at mid-off. Four balls later, he caused Sangakkara to miscue a hook.By the time Ryan ten Doeschate claimed a third catch, diving in on the deep square leg boundary to dismiss Sam Curran, Quinn had four wickets and, at 90 for 6, seemed to have settled the contest in Essex’s favour.But Tom Curran responded with 32 off 26 balls until he played over a slower ball from Napier. Mahmood went in the last over, toe-ending Bopara to Ashar Zaidi.Essex’s reply got off to the worse possible start when Bopara departed to the sixth ball, hooking Sam Curran high to Mahmood at square leg for one.Tom Westley held them together with 46 off 33 balls, but he was lbw, reverse sweeping Gareth Batty after putting on 60 for the fourth wicket with ten Doeschate and at 89 for 4 with seven overs remaining Essex were behind the pace.The burly figure of Azhar Zaidi joined ten Doeschate and took 18 off an over by Matthew Pillans, including a flat six to midwicket, and then hit another big six in a Gareth Batty over that went for 17.Ten Doeschate also launched Batty over the sightscreen for a maximum and before middling a delivery from Tom Curran to Sangakkara to depart for 36 off 32 balls. Zaidi also tried to reverse-sweep Tom Curran and departed for a quickfire 30 off 15 balls.When Tom Curran lost a skier in the floodlights, and a ball change also seemed to work to Essex’s advantage, suddenly they were back in the game with 17 needed from two overs.But James Foster and Napier fell in successive balls, leaving the ever-competitive Mahmood to dismantle Matt Dixon’s stumps and take a return catch from Quinn.

Arsenal boss Mikel Arteta will know full well just how tough the challenge to overcome Manchester City will be. After all, the Spaniard was an integral part of that success for many years, once a disciple of Pep Guardiola.

Although this Premier League campaign seems destined to go down as a failed attempt at the title, incredible progress has been made to bridge that gap. However, the quality of their squad and its depth remains far from the requisite level.

This summer marks a huge opportunity to maintain pace with their rivals, securing not only their status as a team capable of challenging all season in the league, but also one to give a good showing in the Champions League, of which they will make their return.

Acquiring talent that has already starred on such a level would be preferred, but maintaining their status as the youngest average squad in the league will also remain important.

Therefore, the suggestion that they must go and sign Josko Gvardiol makes perfect sense.

Would Josko Gvardiol be a good fit at Arsenal?

Speaking to GIVEMESPORT, journalist Paul Brown hinted that the Gunners should swoop for the Croatia international immediately.

However, The Times had reported on a £97m release clause, which could prove a stumbling block.

As a left-sided centre-back, the 21-year-old would offer an instant upgrade on the ever-impressive Gabriel Magalhaes and be the perfect long-term partner for William Saliba. The depth in this role would instantly reach the levels required to compete with City.

The youngster is widely regarded as one of the best young defenders in world football at the moment, with BBC pundit Alex Scott even claiming: "His potential is just limitless. We’re seeing every aspect of his game and that’s what you always need."

Boasting a 6.98 average rating in the Bundesliga, Gvardiol is as remarkable with possession as he is at reclaiming it. His 90% pass accuracy matches that of Gabriel's, yet the Brazilian does not quite rank in the top 4% for successful take-ons per 90 when compared to other defenders across Europe like his counterpart.

Few bring the ball out with as much poise, pace and power as the RB Leipzig general, who was branded a "monster" by journalist Fabrizio Romano for his World Cup displays in which he averaged 1.6 interceptions, 1.3 tackles and 5.3 clearances per game, via Sofascore.

A rock at the back for his overperforming country and already a top-flight mainstay, the youth and subsequent potential of Gvardiol puts him just above the 25-year-old whom he could be set to replace.

Journalist Ben Jacobs has claimed that Newcastle United may look to sign an "elite centre-back" to replace Fabian Schar this summer.

What's the latest NUFC transfer news?

The Magpies have had a brilliant season and consequently, look to be in with a great chance of playing Champions League football next term.

If that happens, Eddie Howe will no doubt feel as though his squad will need to be strengthened to handle the additional demands of playing European football mid-week.

And while Schar has been a favourite for the manager this season – playing in all but two of the club's Premier League games so far this term – it sounds as though his position in the team could be at risk

Indeed, while speaking on NUFC Matters, Jacobs outlined a few of the players who will be trusted next season but hinted at some doubt over the Swiss centre-back.

The insider explained (6:13): "As good as the Newcastle squad is, can you get better? And that's where I think Eddie Howe has to understand, who does he want to bring in to kind of add to the dynamic?

"Where does he just want depth and where is he prepared to maintain [what he has already], because the starting eleven players he's got are just good enough.

“So [Nick] Pope, for example, is going to stay and quite clearly so is [Kieran] Trippier and [Sven] Botman.

"And I think many would argue Schar as well. But there could be another elite centre-back that you replace Schar with.”

Is Fabian Schar going to be at Newcastle next summer?

The £40k-p/w defender has been part of an exceptional team this season, losing just three games in total when he's featured in the Premier League. He has started 37 games in all competitions.

However, at 31 years of age, the centre-back has never played in the Champions League before so it remains unclear if he can step up to that level while also having to perform domestically week in, week out.

With that in mind, even if Howe didn't want to sell Schar, you can certainly see the argument for Newcastle to sign another defender who is potentially better suited to play in Europe's top competition.

Interestingly enough, touted centre-back target Kevin Danso has recently told the press (via ChronicleLive) that he wants to play in the Champions League.

Indeed, he said: "I have a contract with Lens until 2026, my goal is to play regularly in the Champions League. I keep concentrating only on my performance, So I have – in quotation marks – I’ve arrived in world football."

And so perhaps this is a little message for Howe as the NUFC boss potentially considered an upgrade on Schar.

Australia had announced that their A side and National Performance Squad would play a quadrangular one-day series against South Africa A and another international team at the start of May, which has now been confirmed as India A

ESPNcricinfo staff01-Jun-2016At the start of May, Australia had announced that their A side and National Performance Squad would play a quadrangular one-day series against South Africa A and another international team. Cricket Australia has now confirmed that the fourth team would be India A. Townsville will host the first six matches of the series; the remaining six and the two finals will be played in Mackay.One-day quadrangular schedule

August 13 South Africa A v NPS
August 14 Australia A v India A
August 16 Australia A v NPS
August 17 South Africa A v India A
August 20 Australia A v South Africa A
August 21 India A v NPS
August 24 NPS v Australia A
August 25 South Africa A v India A
August 27 NPS v India A
August 28 Australia A v South Africa A
August 30 Australia A v India A
August 31 South Africa A v NPS
September 3 Final 3 v 4
September 4 Final 1 v 2

India A are also set to play two four-day matches against the hosts in Brisbane in September. Australia A and South Africa A play a couple of four-day matches as well in July-August.”This is an important series for developing and growing the depth of talent in our pathways,” Australia’s team performance manager Pat Howard said. “Players in the Australia A and National Performance Squad have been identified as having the potential to play for their country and the national selectors will be watching this series with interest.”Pat Cummins is expected to make a comeback to competitive cricket after injury, during the limited-overs leg, while several emerging batsmen like Matt Renshaw, Sam Heazlett, Alex Ross, Travis Dean, Kurtis Patterson and Jake Lehmann, the son of national coach Darren Lehmann, have also been called up to the 24-man squad.The A sides from Australia and South Africa A had been in India to play two unofficial Tests each and a 50-over triangular series in July-August 2015. Usman Khawaja and Joe Burns produced standout performances on that tour and have since had success in international cricket as well.Australia A won one of the four-day matches while the other was drawn. They made the final of the one-day tri-series but lost to India A. The South African side was unable to win any of their six matches on the tour. Several of their squad members had been affected by food poisoning, which had contributed to the slump.Four-day matches schedule
July 30 to August 2: Australia A v South Africa A, Brisbane
August 6 to 9: Australia A v South Africa A, Townsville
September 8 to 11: Australia A v India A, Brisbane
September 15 to 18: Australia A v India A, Brisbane

Newcastle United could look to cut ties with winger Ryan Fraser in the summer due to his failure to make an impact this season, according to journalist Pete O'Rourke.

What's the latest news involving Ryan Fraser?

Fraser has been a bit-part player for Newcastle United this term and has made just eight appearances in the Premier League, with the last coming in October 2022 against Everton, as per Transfermarkt.

The Scotland international has since been made to train with the Magpies' Under-21 side by manager Eddie Howe, as per The Shields Gazzette.

45-year-old Howe has explained his decision to demote Fraser, stating: "Ryan’s training with the Under-21s. I made the decision to concentrate on players that are committed to Newcastle. For the benefit of the group, I’ve made that call.”

90min claimed back in January that Everton wanted to sign Fraser to bolster their attacking options for the second half of the season; however, no move came to fruition and the Aberdeen-born attacker stayed put in the North East.

Brentford and Southampton were also keen on bringing in the £42-a-week ace in the mid-season transfer window, according to The Telegraph, though he has instead become something of a forgotten man at Newcastle United and doesn't look like he has any way of forcing himself into first-team contention.

Speaking to GIVEMESPORT, journalist O'Rourke thinks that both parties are almost certain to shake hands and move on in the upcoming off-season.

O'Rourke said: "I think there's disappointment from all parties on this one that the move hasn't worked out as much as he probably envisaged. I think Newcastle right now, with the way their going, he's not going to get too many opportunities, so they might look to offload him in the summer."

What will come next for Ryan Fraser this summer?

If his time at Newcastle United is to come to a close, a new challenge with a chance of being able to source regular game-time has surely got to be of paramount importance to the Scottish winger.

Granted, his time in the North East hasn't gone as well as he would've hoped, with Fraser recording just three goals and six assists in 59 outings for the Magpies, as per Transfermarkt.

Despite this, the 29-year-old still has a lot to offer and could blossom in the right environment, though it remains to be seen where he could end up in the summer.

Likely to be available on the market, Fraser could turn out to be a handy addition for any prospective suitors that are keen on securing his services.

تعرف على نتائج مباريات كأس أمم إفريقيا، اليوم السبت 20-1-2024 وترتيب مجموعات البطولة

أسدل الستار على مباريات اليوم السبت 20-1-2024 ببطولة كأس أمم إفريقيا والذي شهد خوض ثلاث مواجهات، في الجولة الثانية من دور المجموعات.

والتقي منتخب الجزائر مع نظيره بوركينا فاسو، في إطار مواجهات الجولة الثانية لدور المجموعات من كأس أمم إفريقيا في مباراة انتهت بالتعادل (2-2).

وتقدم منتخب بوركينا فاسو في الدقيقة 45+3 من عمر الشوط الأول للمباراة عن طريق مهاجمه محمد كوناتي برأسية من داخل منطقة الجزاء، لجأ فيها الحكم إلى تقنية الفار بعد احتساب تسلل في بداية الأمر.

طالع |ترتيب مجموعة الجزائر في كأس أمم إفريقيا 2023 بعد التعادل مع بوركينا فاسو ونهاية الجولة الثانية

وتعادل بغداد بونجاح في الدقيقة 51 من بداية الشوط الثاني، بعد دربكة في خط دفاع المنتخب البوركيني.

وعاد منتخب بوركينا فاسو وتقدم بالهدف الثاني في الدقيقة 71 عن طريق بيرتراند تراوري من ركلة جزاء.

وفي الدقائق الأخيرة من عمر اللقاء، سجل بغداد بو نجاح هدف الجزائر الثاني والتعادل في الوقت القاتل وتحديدًا في الدقيقة 90+4.

وبتلك النتيجة، يكون منتخب بوركينا فاسو في صدارة المجموعة الرابعة برصيد 4 نقاط من فوز وتعادل.

بينما يتواجد منتخب الجزائر في المركز الثاني برصيد نقطتين بعد تعادلين في الجولتين الأولى والثانية.

منتخب الجزائر كان قد استهل مشواره في بطولة كأس أمم إفريقيا بتعادل إيجابي أمام أنجولا بهدف لمثله. أهداف مباراة الجزائر وبوركينا فاسو في كأس أمم إفريقيا 2023

وفي لقاء آخر، حقق منتخب أنجولا فوزًا مثيرًا على موريتانيا، بثلاثية مقابل هدفين، في مباراة ممتعة ضمن الجولة الثانية من المجموعة الرابعة ببطولة كأس أمم إفريقيا 2023.

مباراة أنجولا وموريتانيا جمعت بين الفريقين على ملعب السلام بمدينة بواكي الإيفوارية، بصافرة الحكم المصري محمد معروف.

شوط المباراة الأول شهد تبادلاً للفرص بين الفريقين، قبل أن يتمكن المنتخب الأنجولي من تسجيل الهدف الأول بعد خطأ في إبعاد الكرة من ركنية على مرمى موريتانيا، ليستغلها جيلسون دالا ويهز شباك الحارس باباكار نياسي، في الدقيقة 30.

وقبل نهاية الشوط الأول بدقيقتين فقط، تمكن سيدي بونا عمار، من تسجيل هدف التعادل، بأحد أفضل أهداف البطولة، بمرور رائع من دفاعات أنجولا، ووضع الكرة بطريقة مثالية في مرمى الحارس نيبلو.

أنهى منتخب موريتانيا الشوط الأول بطريقة رائعة، وفي الشوط الثاني، كاد أن يسجل هدف التقدم عن طريق جويسوما فوفانا، ولكن الدفاع الأنجولي أبعدها في اللحظات الأخيرة.

طالع أيضًا.. بلماضي يدافع عن محرز بعد هجوم الجماهير ويؤكد: أثق في لاعبي الجزائر

في ظرف 3 دقائق فقط، أخطاء دفاعية كارثية من المنتخب الموريتاني، أهدت أنجولا هدفين عن طريق جيلسون دالا ثم جيلبرتو.

بعد 5 دقائق، أبى المنتخب الموريتاني أن يستسلم، وسجل هدفًا ثانيًا من صاروخية لـ أبو باكاري كويتا، أشعلت حماس المرابطون في المدرجات.

ظل المنتخب الموريتاني يبحث عن التعادل، وأهدر فرصة الهدف الثالث من تسديدة كويتا، التي مرت بجانب القائم الأيمن للمنتخب الأنجولي.

سيطر المنتخب الموريتاني على المباراة، ولم يفقد تركيزه مثلما حدث في الهدفين أمام أصدقاء مابولولو، وكاد أن يسجل الثالث في أكثر من مناسبة.

تغييرات أمير عبده بعد الهدف الثاني، كانت توضح نواياه، من أجل التعادل، ولولا التسرع في بعض الأحيان لكان المنتخب الموريتاني تمكن من تسجيل التعادل.

في النهاية، تمكن منتخب أنجولا من الخروج بـ3 نقاط من فم الأسد، ليرفع رصيده إلى 4 نقاط، ويتساوى مع خيول بوركينا فاسو، بنفس الرصيد، قبل مواجهتهما في الجولة الأخيرة.

بينما موريتانيا تتذيل ترتيب المجموعة بدون رصيد من النقاط، بعد الخسارة من بوركينا ثم أنجولا، وتتصعب المهمة في المرور إلى دور الـ16. أهداف مباراة أنجولا وموريتانيا في كأس أمم إفريقيا

وفي ختام مباريات اليوم السبت، تعادل منتخب تونس بهدف لهدف مساء اليوم السبت أمام المنتخب المالي في كأس أمم إفريقيا 2023.

منتخب تونس واجه مالي، في الجولة الثانية من عمر مباريات المجموعة الخامسة لـ كأس أمم إفريقيا المقامة في كوت ديفوار.

اقرأ أيضًا..محرز يتجاهل الانتقادات بعد تعادل الجزائر مع بوركينا فاسو: لا نستمع لما يُقال خلف الهواتف

تقدم منتخب مالي بهدف مبكر من التصويبة الأولى عن طريق لاسين سينايوكو في الدقيقة العاشرة من عمر اللقاء.

وجاء هدف التعادل للمنتخب التونسي عن طريق حمزة رفيعة في الدقيقة الـ20 من عمر الشوط الأول لينتهي اللقاء بتعادل الفريقين بهدف لهدف.

بتلك النتيجة يحصد منتخب تونس أول نقاطه في البطولة، بينما وصلت مالي للنقطة الرابعة حيث سبق وأن فازت على حساب منتخب جنوب إفريقيا.

وبات منتخب مالي في صدارة المجموعة الخامسة برصيد 5 نقاط، بينما زامبيا في الوصافة برصيد نقطة بالتساوي مع تونس ثم جنوب إفريقيا في المركز الأخير من دون نقاط.

منتخب تونس يتواجد في المجموعة الخامسة مع مالي وجنوب إفريقيا وناميبيا. أهداف مباراة تونس ومالي في كأس أمم إفريقيا

ترتيب مجموعات البطولة

المجموعة الأولى

1- غينيا الاستوائية 4 نقاط من مباراتين 

2- نيجيريا 4 نقاط من مباراتين.

3- كوت ديفوار 3 نقاط من مباراتين.

4- غينيا بيساو بلا نقاط من مباراتين.

المجموعة الثانية

1- الرأس الأخضر 6 نقاط من مباراتين.

2- مصر نقطتان من مباراتين.

3- غانا نقطة واحدة من مباراتين.

4- موزمبيق نقطة واحدة من مباراتين.

المجموعة الثالثة

1- السنغال 6 نقاط من مباراتين.

2- غينيا 4 نقاط من مباراتين.

3- الكاميرون نقطة واحدة من مباراتين.

4- جامبيا بلا نقاط من مباراتين.

المجموعة الرابعة

1- أنجولا 4 نقاط من مباراتين.

2- بوركينا فاسو 4 نقاط من مباراتين.

2- الجزائر: 2 نقاط من مباراتين.

4- موريتانيا بدون نقاط من مباراتين.

المجموعة الخامسة

1- مالي 4 نقاط من مباراتين.

2- ناميبيا 3 نقاط من مباراتين.

3- تونس نقطة واحدة من مباراتين.

4- جنوب إفريقيا بدون نقاط من مباراة واحدة.

المجموعة السادسة

1- المغرب 3 نقاط من مباراة واحدة.

2- زامبيا نقطة من مباراة واحدة.

3- الكونغو الديمقراطية نقطة من مباراة واحدة.

4- تنزانيا بدون نقاط من مباراة واحدة.

Sam Allardyce couldn't have asked for a tougher first game as Leeds United manager, as his side face Manchester City at the Etihad on Saturday afternoon.

The Premier League's worst defence against its best attack suggests that there will only be one winner in Manchester, but Allardyce's arrival could inspire hope and bring a newfound stability to a leaky Leeds defence.

Opportunities to attack City will be rare, but if Allardyce can set his side up well and hit Pep Guardiola's side on the counter-attack, they could just cause an upset, as they did two seasons ago under Marcelo Bielsa – winning 2-1 at City despite going down to ten men.

Therefore, the 68-year-old manager should select his best counter-attacking threats at the Etihad, which surely means dropping Crysencio Summerville as the young winger continues to struggle for form at Leeds.

Should Summerville be dropped by Leeds?

Although the Dutch winger would enjoy a strong run of form in the build-up to the World Cup, notching four goals in four appearances, he has managed zero goals and two assists in 17 appearances since top-flight football resumed, which suggests that he shouldn't be anywhere near the starting side on current form.

After scoring in his fourth consecutive game in the 4-3 defeat against Spurs before Premier League football was paused due to the tournament in Qatar, Summerville earned a lot of praise from Michael Owen on the Premier League's coverage of the game.

He said (via Leeds News): "The ball is behind him. He takes one lovely touch with the outside of his foot, then another one to keep him away from the defender and finishes it brilliantly.

"This is a really hard chance. He’s behind the defender in many ways when he gets the ball. I mean, how he does that is really, really exceptional."

The injury concerns of Luis Sinisterra have perhaps meant that the former Feyenoord man has featured more than he would have done, but Allardyce's comments on Wilfried Gnonto prior to his arrival at Elland Road suggest that it is the Italian who will get the nod to start out wide.

If we compare Gnonto and Summerville's stats from the Premier League season thus far, it is apparent that the Italian offers more in the final third, as he has averaged more shots (1.1 vs 1), key passes (1 vs 0.6) and dribbles (1 vs 0.9) per game.

While they are both on the smaller side, Gnonto is much more built physically than Summerville and could cause problems down the left, whereas Summerville could be more easily bullied out of the game by the likes of John Stones or Kyle Walker, who could feature as a defensive-minded, physical right-back in Pep Guardiola's side.

Therefore, after a woeful run of form, Allardyce must surely consider ditching the £15k-per-week Summerville, as there is little to suggest that he can be the man to inspire the turnaround required to keep Leeds in the Premier League.

Chris Jordan starred with 5 for 28 and teenager Phil Salt hit 81 from 76 balls as Sussex bowled out Middlesex for 191 to win by 31 runs

ECB Reporters Network12-Jun-2016
ScorecardChris Jordan’s five wickets completed Sussex’s win•Getty Images

Chris Jordan starred with 5 for 28 and teenager Phil Salt hit 81 from 76 balls as Sussex bowled out Middlesex for 191 to win by 31 runs in a rain-shortened Royal London One-Day Cup South Group game at Hove.Jordan, bowling with impressive pace and firing in his toe-crushing yorkers seemingly at will, topped and tailed the Middlesex innings after Sussex had totalled 222 for 7.It was Sussex’s first win in the competition this season, at the third attempt, and Salt was joined in a third-wicket stand of 125 in 18 overs with New Zealand batsman Ross Taylor, who hit a 44-ball 54 despite finishing his innings with a runner because of a pulled hamstring.Ben Brown’s entertaining cameo of 31 not out from 13 balls pushed Sussex on to a challenging total in a match reduced to 32 overs per side, and it proved too much for Middlesex despite both Brendon McCullum and Eoin Morgan getting starts with 44 and 31 respectively.England one-day fast bowler Jordan struck twice with the new ball to bowl Dawid Malan for a duck and have Paul Stirling caught – after a juggle – by Brown behind the stumps for 4, and he later returned to pick up three tailend wickets as Sussex wrapped up the match with little fuss with eight balls remaining unbowled.Left-arm seamer George Garton and legspinner Will Beer also made important breakthroughs for Sussex after McCullum, who hit a six and six fours in his 37-ball effort, and Morgan, with five fours, threatened to mount a challenge with a third-wicket partnership of 40.Garton, 19 and in only his third List A appearance, had McCullum well held on the deep square leg boundary while Beer bowled Morgan behind his legs and then flummoxed John Simpson with a googly to have the left-hander caught by Jordan at slip.Beer’s seven overs brought him 2 for 34 and Garton later had Nick Gubbins caught behind for 37 after he and James Franklin had offered some defiant blows. Franklin’s 28 was ended when he swung Danny Briggs’s left-arm spin to deep midwicket where substitute fielder Luke Wells dived forward to take a fine catch.Play did not get under way until 2pm due to overnight and morning rain but, when it did, there was some rich entertainment for a sparse crowd well down in numbers on the 2,500 or so who would have been expected to attend on a sunny day.Chris Nash survived a difficult high chance to slip, one ball before Toby Roland-Jones nipped one back from down the Hove slope to bowl him for 11. And Sussex looked to be vulnerable when Luke Wright, after one hoicked six off Roland-Jones, was held at mid-on off the same bowler for 15 in the seventh over – the last of the initial powerplay in this reduced-overs contest.Salt and Taylor, however, grew in authority the longer they were together and also capitalised on some moments of good fortune. Salt, on 15, was beaten by a beauty from James Fuller which jagged away from his defensive bat and on 32 edged Fuller just short of first slip. Taylor, on 24, was badly missed by Fuller at deep mid wicket when he skied a pull at Franklin’s left-arm seamers.Fuller, in fact, did not lay a hand on the ball. Running in too fast from the boundary edge to position himself for the catch, he momentarily lost his footing and the slip disorientated him so much that, in the end, the ball sailed over his head and plopped to the turf as the batsmen ran two.Salt and Taylor added 125 in 18 overs, and there were some memorable strokes in the partnership which provided the meat in Sussex’s total. A reverse-sweep four by Salt off Stirling’s off spin was followed later by an extraordinary reverse flip which went high for four to the unguarded third-man ropes. The teenager also produced a superb straight-driven four off Fuller to reach his 52-ball 50, while Taylor merely upped his own tempo after calling for Nash to act as his runner when, on 26, he strained a hamstring muscle.In the 22nd over Taylor mowed Nathan Sowter’s leg spin over midwicket for six and, next ball, swept him hard for four before reaching his own 50 three overs later with a six swung off Stirling. From the next ball, however, attempting something similar, he was well held by Sowter on the deep square leg boundary.Salt soon followed, bowled by Franklin, and neither Harry Finch, Jordan nor Beer lasted long as Sussex slumped from 164 for 3 to 185 for 7. Finch, after one lovely straight four, was bowled swinging at Franklin for 8, Jordan was comically run out for 7 by the bowler after trying to swing Roland-Jones to leg, slipping over when looking for a sharp single and failing to crawl back into his crease, while Beer was leg-before to the next ball.Brown, however, hoisted Fuller for successive sixes in the final over after previously ramping Roland-Jones brilliantly for four and also earning seven runs in total for two pulls to deep square leg. In all, 30 runs came from the last two overs as Sussex, thanks to Brown, finally managed to build significantly on the Salt-Taylor stand.