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Everton look to be closing in on an exciting offensive signing in Sporting Lisbon's Youssef Chermiti, with manager Sean Dyche making improvements on his side ahead of the 23/24 Premier League campaign.

Is Youssef Chermiti joining Everton?

According to multiple reports – including BBC Sport – the Toffees are closing in on the transfer of the 19-year-old Chermiti for about £13m, with Dyche working to bolster his squad after admitting he has missed out on targets already.

Bournemouth and Wolverhampton Wanderers are both said to have sent scouts to observe the talent in action, but it is the Merseyside outfit who have convinced the Portugal youth international to kickstart his professional career at Goodison Park.

Portuguese outlet, O Jogo – via Sport Witness – have furthered claims by suggesting on Tuesday that the player is now 'one step away' from moving to Goodison Park.

It is unlikely that Chermiti will be deployed as the club's starring cente-forward instantaneously, rather, integrated into the side and utilised as a precocious back-up option.

Who is Youssef Chermiti?

In a circular arc of perfect harmony, Everton's Ellis Simms has joined Coventry City for £8m; Viktor Gyokeres has departed the Robins and headed for Sporting Lisbon for £20m, with Chermiti now completing the merry-go-round of activity by moving to Dyche's side.

Simms was a peripheral figure at the club and only scored one goal from 11 Premier League matches last term, so the deal struck is probably good value for money.

Chermiti is viewed as a long-term option, and as a player who is more than capable of wedging their way into the talismanic role that Dominic Calvert-Lewin currently occupies.

Indeed, the "raw diamond" who is "much like" Calvert Lewin – as he has been described by Zach Lowy, impressed last season as he broke into the Leões first-team, scoring three goals and supplying two assists from just nine starting appearances in the Liga Portugal.

And while he is yet to cement a regular starting berth for himself, with FBref ranking him among the top 10% of forwards across Men's Next Eight divisions over the past year for assists, the top 15% for non-penalty xG – expected goals – and the top 4% for touches in the attacking box, he clearly has the ability to thrive.

While he is greatly underperforming his xG at present – ranking among only the top 56% for goals per 90 – his xG metric, partnered with his offensive positioning in the final third suggests that he has the tools to flourish in the future and could prosper as the understudy to the 6 foot 2 Calvert-Lewin. Indeed, Chermiti is 6 foot 4 and has also been called "imposing" by Lowy. Sound familiar?

He would certainly be an upgrade on Neal Maupay too, who was signed for the Toffees from Brighton & Hove Albion for a reported £15m one year ago but has failed miserably during his time at the club, scoring just once from 29 matches in the top-flight and being branded a "disaster" by journalist Paul Brown.

Hardly an imposing figure at 5 foot 8 either, it's evident Chermiti would provide his new manager with a huge upgrade in terms of physicality and all-round presence when leading the line.

Praised as a "superb" prospect by talent scout Jacek Kulig, Everton must now make use of their imminent acquisition and nurture him to prominence over the coming months; it is refreshing to see the club target youthful promise instead of subpar seniors, and it might just pay off and signify a change of direction.

The Monterrey striker can't stop scoring and is already proving his doubters wrong after making the big move in the winter

As the ball floated through the night sky at the Estadio BBVA, there was no way anyone in the Atletico San Luis defense sensed any danger. How could they? A long and hopeful cross from the left was too far away from goal to cause any harm, surely.

Enter Brandon Vazquez. Just weeks into his Monterrey career, the 25-year-old must have been the only one in the stadium who knew he was about to create a signature moment, one that would announce to Liga MX that he had truly arrived.

To be fair, his headed golazo, a legitimate masterpiece, wasn't the first time he'd found the back of the net since making the move from MLS to Monterrey. It was his second, and a third soon followed. Just weeks into his time in Mexico, Vazquez already seems like a player who could very well make a difference at the very top of Liga MX. And, with an early-season clash with fellow title hopefuls Club America on the horizon, Vazquez has a big chance to prove that he can be the guy for Monterrey and, perhaps, the U.S. men's national team.

Getty ImagesA controversial move

The reaction to Vazquez's move was far from universal acclaim. In fact, many in the American soccer scene immediately blasted the decision as an unnecessary step.

After never fully breaking through at Atlanta United, Vazquez found his feet in Cincinnati, even if it wasn't immediate. After scoring six goals combined in his first two seasons in front of the Bailey, Vazquez netted a combined 36 in 2022 and 2023 to assert himself as one of MLS' best strikers.

Ever since that 2022 MLS breakout, Vazquez looked like a player destined for a big transfer. A move to Borussia Monchengladbach never came to fruition, and they weren't the only suitors. Reports indicated that Cincinnati wasn't in a rush to sell to anyone as they chased glory in MLS.

They fell short. A Supporters' Shield-winning campaign ended prematurely with a loss in the Eastern Conference finals. After that, it felt like a matter of time for Vazquez.

Monterrey, ultimately, won out, and Vazquez was criticized for it. The move was seen by many as a sidestep, with MLS seemingly closing the gap on Liga MX in recent years. In a tight USMNT striker race, Vazquez didn't make the big leap to a European team

Instead, he joined a Mexican giant, and, in the first few weeks of the season, he's proven to be exactly what they needed.

AdvertisementA goalscoring start

It didn't take long, did it? We're just three games into the Liga MX season and Vazquez already looks like a legitimate force.

His first appearance for the Liga MX giants came in a 2-0 win over Santo Laguna on January 21. It was a 69th-minute substitute appearance, a first taste for a player that had much more to offer.

In his first start, he needed just 41 minutes to get a goal, giving Monterrey the lead against Queretaro. The goal was a fantastic header, although it was nowhere near as audacious as the one that would come in his second start. More on that later, though.

Against Queretaro, Vazquez showed how physically dominant he can be. The cross in from Jorge Rodriguez was pinpoint and the finish from Vazquez was perfect. Stationed just outside of the six-yard box, he needed just a simple flick of his neck to place the ball into the back of the net and give his side the lead.

Seemingly content to ease in the club's new signing, Monterrey boss Fernando Ortiz took Vazquez out early in the second half. They ultimately would squander the advantage the new striker gave them, conceding in an eventual 1-1 draw.

Vaquez would make sure that wouldn't happen in his second start as he proved that his initial goal was far from a fluke.

Heading home a golazo

It's about as good of a headed goal as you'll see. Power, precision, distance… it was the perfect combination of just about everything.

Vazquez's opening goal against Atletico San Luis was his real 'Welcome to Liga MX' moment. It was the goal that solidified him as a dangerman. Monterrey will hope it's the real start of something special, as will Vazquez, who surely brought his goalscoring ability south of the border after his big move.

It wasn't his only goal that night. No, there was a second. This one came with his feet, proving that Vazquez is much more than a target man.

With the score level at 1-1, Rayados pounced on a turnover, quickly working the ball to Vazquez. The American striker picked a corner and struck, once again placing the ball where no goalkeeper could reach.

It was his third goal in two starts, and a vital one at that as Monterrey made it three wins and a draw from four games thanks to the 3-1 triumph.

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Getty ImagesA huge match ahead

For those that don't follow Liga MX, there is a universally recognized Big Four. Monterrey are not one of them. They do get to face one on Saturday, though, in a match that gives them a huge early-season chance to prove that they belong right up there with the title contenders.

On Saturday, Vazquez and Monterrey will face Club America. Entering that match, Monterrey are top of the table, as one of four teams on 10 points. The winner of Saturday's match will feel pretty good about themselves at this early stage of the Liga MX season.

Make no mistake, though: Monterrey are no plucky underdog. This is a team that finished second in last season's Apertura before ending the Clausura phase in first. The club has won the CONCACAF Champions Cup five times and has lifted a Liga MX trophy three times since 2009.

For much of the past decade or two, Monterrey have been among the very best CONCACAF has to offer. The club is still searching for a bit more domestic success against the teams seen as Mexico's elite. And that pursuit continues on Saturday, with Vazquez expected to play a big part in the marquee match of the Mexican season so far.

Celtic return to action in the Scottish Premiership for the first time since the first international break of the season as they face off against Dundee at Parkhead this afternoon.

What was Celtic's last result?

The Hoops maintained their position at the top of the league table with a 1-0 win in the Old Firm clash in their last game before the national team matches kicked off.

Kyogo Furuhashi scored a stunning goal to secure all three points against Michael Beale's side at the start of the month. The Japan international raced in behind Connor Goldson, from Matt O'Riley's clever header, and rifled a terrific volley into the bottom corner and past Jack Butland.

Brendan Rodgers was without the likes of Maik Nawrocki and Cameron Carter-Vickers but Liam Scales and Gustaf Lagerbielke produced solid displays to keep a clean sheet intact throughout the 90 minutes.

What's the latest Celtic team news?

The Northern Irish head coach has revealed that Reo Hatate is back in training and could be available for selection against Dundee this weekend.

Marco Tilio, who is yet to make his Celtic debut, has also recovered from his injury issue but may need time to work his fitness levels back up and get used to the group before he hits his stride.

Meanwhile, Cameron Carter-Vickers is closing in on his return to action and could be back over the weeks to come, although he will not be in contention to start this afternoon.

The Hoops have, however, been dealt a huge blow in the build-up to this match as Liel Abada is set to be out for between three and four months with a thigh injury that was sustained on international duty, Rodgers has confirmed.

Football FanCast already published an article explaining why South Korean ace Hyun-jun Yang should come into the starting XI in place of the Israel international.

However, there could also be a change on the other flank as Luis Palma could be in line to make his Hoops debut after joining from Aris FC during the summer transfer window.

Will Luis Palma start against Dundee?

Rodgers should unleash the Honduras international from the start on the left wing as the talented ace has the potential to offer more than Daizen Maeda at the top end of the pitch.

The 23-year-old forward, who was described as "ambitious" by his new manager, was as an unused substitute against Rangers earlier this month and went on to enjoy an excellent international break with his country.

Palma produced a phenomenal performance against Grenada as he recorded a Sofascore rating of 9.1 and contributed with one goal and one assist, along with five shots on target and three chances created for his teammates across the 90 minutes.

The £3.5m signing also arrived at Celtic off the back of a terrific start to the season with Aris in Greece. He racked up two goals and three assists in five matches in all competitions, which included two goals and two assists in four Europa Conference League qualifiers.

As per Sofascore, the 5 foot 10 magician created four chances, one 'big chance', and assisted one goal in his only top-flight appearance for Aris this term, which earned him a rating of 7.7.

Palma came into the 2023/24 campaign after an impressive season last term, as he proved himself to be a reliable goalscoring option from out wide.

The gifted wizard averaged a Sofascore rating of 7.12 across 20 Super League starts and chipped in with 11 goals and four assists, along with 1.4 key passes per game.

He also contributed with two goals and four assists in seven cup appearances for Aris, including three assists in four Europa Conference League qualifiers, which meant that he scored 13 goals and provided eight assists in total throughout the campaign.

How many goals did Maeda score last season?

Maeda, on the other hand, scored 11 times and assisted seven in 49 matches in all competitions for the Hoops during the 2022/23 campaign.

The Japan international averaged a Sofascore rating of 6.78 across 35 Scottish Premiership games, which included 25 starts, and chipped in with eight goals and five assists.

This means that the attacker was directly involved in a goal once every 1.92 league starts on average last term, whilst Palma produced one goal involvement every 1.33 starts on average for Aris.

These statistics indicate that the £3.5m-rated whiz has the potential to provide goals and assists with greater regularity than Maeda on the wing, if he can translate his form from Greece over to Scottish football.

The Honduras international's aforementioned 1.4 key passes per game also suggest that he could provide more creativity than the Japanese marksman as he only conjured 0.8 per match last season.

So far this season, Maeda has averaged a Sofascore rating of 7.03 and assisted one goal, whilst he has failed to find the back of the net once in four Premiership starts for the Bhoys.

He has already missed four 'big chances' in front of goal, which comes after he spurned 11 of them last term, and this shows that the 25-year-old gem has been wasteful at the top end of the pitch.

Whereas, Palma has only missed one 'big chance' in 30 league games since the start of last season to go along with his 11 goals in that time, which means that the 23-year-old maestro could be a far more reliable option in the final third for Rodgers in comparison to Maeda.

Therefore, the Northern Irish head coach must now move the Japan international aside and onto the bench for this clash with Dundee in order to offer Palma the opportunity to showcase his quality on the left wing.

The talented whiz is coming off the back of an impressive international break and could, therefore, be full of confidence and ready to produce a big performance on his debut for the Scottish giants this afternoon.

Maeda has not provided a regular source of goals or assists over the last 12 months or so and Palma's statistics for club and country during that period indicate that he could be an upgrade on him, if he can adapt to life in Scotland and hit the ground running today.

Newcastle United dispatched Arsenal 1-0 at St James' Park on Saturday evening and now attention turns back to the Champions League.

The Magpies face a trip to Signal Iduna Park on Tuesday night to take on Borussia Dortmund and seek revenge after losing 1-0 against them at the end of October.

Eddie Howe is currently dealing with an overflowing injury table as key stars, such as; Alexander Isak, Sven Botman and Harvey Barnes all remain sidelined, meaning he could name a similar lineup to the one that recorded victory over the Gunners.

Considering the Toon are fighting for a place in the Champions League knockout stages, the Englishman can ill-afford to rest his key players with only one change expected to be made. Here's the predicted lineup for their clash with Dortmund.

1 GK – Nick Pope

Only Manchester City have conceded fewer xG in the Premier League than Newcastle United's 10.32, as per Understat, and Nick Pope has played a pivotal role in that statistic, making crucial saves and showcasing his presence in between the sticks.

2 RB – Tino Livramento

Livramento replaced the injured Dan Burn at half-time against Arsenal and the "phenomenal" full-back, as described by journalist Thomas Hammond, impressed with his all-action display against the Gunners. With Burn now sidelined, the 21-year-old can now have an extended run in the team, starting against Dortmund on Tuesday. This would be his first Champions League start too; timely.

3 CB: Jamal Lascelles

Sven Botman's injury opened up the opportunity for Jamal Lascelles to showcase his defensive attributes in the heart of the Toon defence and he's done so in fine fashion, captaining the side to clean sheets in victories over Burnley, Crystal Palace and Arsenal. The 29-year-old will continue marshalling Howe's backline against Dortmund.

4 CB: Fabian Schar

Having conjured up a wonder strike against PSG in the Champions League, Fabian Schar has been the man for the big occasion this term. He will start alongside Lascelles once more versus Dortmund where he has the unenviable task of dealing with the pacey and direct Donyell Malen, should he start down that side.

5 LB: Kieran Trippier

With Burn sidelined, Howe could shuffle Trippier across to left back, a position he's played on numerous occasions for England, to accommodate Livramento into the starting eleven. The Englishman, who has posted seven assists this term, is crucial to their attacking output, utilising his wand of a right foot from set pieces.

6 CM: Joelinton

The "monster" – as dubbed by journalist Aaron Stokes for his rapid rise to stardom in a Newcastle shirt – Joelinton's explosive ball-carrying and industry will be crucial to them winning the midfield battle on Tuesday.

7 CM: Bruno Guimaraes

Whilst Joe Willock is knocking on the door for a starting spot, Bruno Guimaraes has firmly closed it on the Englishman. The 25-year-old is the lynchpin of Howe's midfield, with his strength and aggression vital to his side regaining possession. He is one of several Newcastle players who are undroppable at the moment.

8 CM: Sean Longstaff

An immovable object at the heart of Newcastle's midfield this term, Sean Longstaff's tough-tackling and energetic midfield performances have earned him a spot in the midfield alongside Joelinton and Guimaraes.

9 RW: Miguel Almiron

The fleet-footed winger is vital to Newcastle launching their explosive counter-attacks and enjoys cutting in on his peach of a left foot. Having already scored against PSG this term, he will pose a huge threat to Remy Bensebaini, who is likely to start at left-back for the hosts.

10 LW: Anthony Gordon

Although he is yet to register a goal or an assist in the Champions League, Anthony Gordon has been in scintillating form on the left flank for the Toon, frightening the life out of defenders with his pace and trickery while posting four goals and two assists in the top flight, including the winner against Arsenal last time out.

Fabrizio Romano has provided a big update in the Moises Caicedo saga involving Liverpool.

The Ecuadorian looks set to leave Brighton this summer

What is the latest Moises Caicedo transfer news?

The Caicedo saga took a shock turn on Thursday.

All window long, Chelsea have seemingly been leading the race for the midfielder, having seen multiple bids rejected throughout the window, with the most recent offer of £80m being rejected instantly by the south coast side, who are keen to keep one of their stars ahead of their first season in European football. Caicedo has informed the club of his desire to depart this summer, and has even missed training sessions in an attempt to force Brighton's hand, however the club have stood firm.

Liverpool have now made their move to try and bring the player to Anfield, however there are conflicting reports regarding the saga. According to Matt Law, the Merseyside club have submitted a bigger bid for Caicedo than the Blues have managed all window, presumably in response to the London sides £48m bid for Romeo Lavia, who has been the subject of Liverpool's transfer saga. On the other hand, Paul Joyce reports that Liverpool have not bid Caicedo, but instead have just made contact with the South Coast club for information on the situation as part of their "due diligence" in the transfer market, despite the Merseyside club believing that he will still join Chelsea.

German giants Bayern Munich have also reportedly joined the race for the player, who is valued at £100m. However, with the club still pursuing a deal for Tottenham Hotspur forward Harry Kane, it is hard to see the side managing two big money deals this window.

Speaking on his YouTube channel, Romano revealed that Liverpool have made contact and are preparing a verbal bid for the midfielder, with Brighton just wanting to sell to the highest bidder.

"In the morning, Liverpool made contact with Brighton, preparing an approach and a verbal bid for Moises Caicedo, so it’s true that Liverpool contacted Brighton and they wanted to enter into the race for Moises Caicedo. That’s the reality, trying to enter at the final stages because as I told you yesterday, Chelsea feel close to signing Caicedo but they still don’t have full agreement with Brighton. So, Liverpool wanted to enter and there was a call from Bayern, who wanted to be informed on the situation.

"On the player's side, the feeling from all the clubs is that Chelsea remain ahead in this story, we know that Chelsea have been working on this for a long time, but of course now for Brighton they are entering into a crucial moment, they have to make a decision, and Brighton’s intention is to sell the player to the biggest opportunity on the financial point of view, so the biggest bid is the one they want to accept, so let’s see what happens."

Read the latest Liverpool transfer news HERE…

Would Caicedo be a good signing for Liverpool?

Moises Caicedo would be the final piece of Jurgen Klopp's midfield rebuild.

So far this summer, the Reds have sold both Jordan Henderson and Fabinho to Al Ettifaq and Al Ittihad respectively, whilst letting Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain, Naby Keita and James MIlner all leave on free transfers. The side have moved to replace them, bringing in Dominik Szoboszlai from German club RB Leipzig by activating his £60m release clause, as well as adding Alexis Mac Allister from Brighton for his release clause of £35m. However, the side still lacks a real defensive stalwart to partner Trent Alexander-Arnold in the pivot, and that is where the Ecuadorian shines.

The 21-year-old recorded an average match rating of 7.08 last season according to Sofascore, whilst also winning 2.7 tackles and 1.5 interceptions per 90. The midfielder is also an impressive player in build up, completing 89% of his passes and averaging 1.2 key passes per match. The idea of linking back up with former teammate Mac Allister is also an exciting prospect, with journalist Julien Laurens stating:

"The Mac Allister – Caicedo partnership is just so so good. They are exactly what Liverpool need so badly."

It will be a tough deal to pull off, but it could be the final piece of the puzzle for Liverpool in terms of rebuilding their midfield.

Cricinfo looks at the careers of Jacques Kallis and Shaun Pollock as they reach 100 Tests

Andrew McGlashan15-Apr-2006

Shaun Pollock made the more impressive start, and went onto become South Africa’s leading wicket-taker © Getty Images
1995-96
Pollock made his debut against England, at Centurion Park, claiming Graham Thorpe as his first Test wicket and ending as the pick of South Africa’s attack in the rain-ruined game. Kallis debuted two matches later, at Durban, but was less successful making just 1. Pollock played a key role as South Africa clinched the series against England 1-0. He took 5 for 32 in the second innings at Cape Town, setting up a 10-wicket victory.1996-97
Both players missed South Africa’s next Test series, away to India, through injury but returned in the following home season. Pollock played all season, and scored his first Test half-century against India, at Johannesburg, but Kallis had to wait for the visit of Australia for a recall and still struggled to make an impression.1997-98
Kallis hit his first half-century at Rawalpindi and 1997-98 turned into his breakthrough season when he made his maiden century against Australia, at Melbourne, and guided South Africa to a fighting draw. Pollock, meanwhile, found golden form with the ball with 5 for 37 bowling South Africa to a 53-run, series-levelling win, against Pakistan at Faisalabad then took 7 for 87 against Australia at Adelaide, completing his first 10-wicket haul in Tests.1998
Kallis hit 132 against England at Old Trafford, the Test where England famously hung on for a draw before claiming the series 2-1. Pollock missed that match and was unable to carry South Africa home at Headingley, being left stranded when the last wicket fell.

Once Jacques Kallis found his feet at Test level he became a run-scoring machine © Getty Images
1998-99
The two allrounders played leading roles in the 5-0 demolition of West Indies. Kallis enjoyed an outstanding series with bat and ball scoring 485 runs and taking 17 wickets. This included a stunning performance at Cape Town where he scored 110, 88 not out and took seven wickets in the match. Pollock was no less impressive as his 29 wickets came at just 16 runs apiece.
1999-00
Kallis’ 105 put South Africa on track to claim the series against England at Cape Town then, in the following tour to India, batted for over seven hours at Bangalore for 95 as they won the series 2-0.
2000
Pollock was thrust into the captaincy after the Hansie Cronje match-fixing scandal and draws his first series, against Sri Lanka, thanks to a seven-run win at Kandy. Kallis contributes a vital 87.2000-01
Kallis started the South African season in style with 160 against South Africa at Bloemfontein and later that summer Pollock struck his first Test century – 111 against Sri Lanka at Centurion. He didn’t have to wait long for his second as he made 106 at Bridgetown, on the tour of West Indies, while Kallis switched the focus from bat to ball with a 10-wicket haul in the same match to seal the series.
2001-02
Kallis began a wonderful run of form with unbeaten scores of 157 and 189 (still a career-best) against Zimbabwe. Pollock scored a century in the Test-that-never-was against India, at Centurion, after the third match of the series was stripped of official status. Pollock had taken 10 wickets in the first match at Bloemfontein.
2003
Pollock lost the captaincy to Graeme Smith following a poor World Cup. Kallis missed the tour of Bangladesh then the first two Tests against England, but returned to take 6 for 39 as South Africa won at Headingley. Pollock took 6 for 39 in a losing cause at Trent Bridge.

They have formed the heart of the South African team for a decade © Getty Images
2003-04
Pollock becomes South Africa’s leading wicket-taker when he dismisses Michael Papps at Auckland, overtaking Allan Donald’s tally of 330. Kallis amassed four centuries in four Tests against West Indies and added to his extraordinary run of form with an unbeaten 150 against New Zealand at Hamilton.2004-05
Runs continued to flow for Kallis as he struck three centuries against England. However, wickets started to dry up for Pollock although he took 4 for 65 in the second innings at Cape Town – South Africa’s only win of the series. Kallis hit the fastest Test fifty – 24 balls – against a depleted Zimbabwe before two more tons in West Indies, where he became South Africa’s leading Test run-scorer by passing Gary Kirsten’s 7289 in Antigua.2005-06
Both were selected for the Super Series – Kallis made the starting XI for the Test but Pollock was twelfth man. A tough winter of cricket followed for the pair against Australia. Kallis made gutsy centuries at Sydney (111) and Durban (114), while he regained the knack of picking up useful wickets and sustained his place at the top of the allrounder rankings. He was named captain when Smith missed the final Test against Australia at Johannesburg.

Will Luke looks at how Canada fared in 2007

Will Luke23-Dec-2007

Umar Bhatti celebrates his hat-trick in the Intercontinental Cup final. It was about the only cause for celebration in a wretched match© ICC
It was a mixed year for Canada both on and off the pitch. They struggled in one-day cricket with four wins out of 16 matches while in the ICC Intercontinental Cup they lost four out of five. And as they move into 2008, the lack of money continues to blight their progress.Their performance at the World Cup was predictably dire, only ever showing glimpses of potential and competitiveness. After losing to Kenya, they took on England and made a decent stab at chasing 280 with Ashif Mulla cracking a quickfire 58. In their final match against NewZealand, John Davison – Canada’s bristling opener and only batsman with the gumption and class to take on the best – smashed 52 from 31 balls in his farewell ODI.Things didn’t improve in four-day cricket either when they were humiliated by Ireland in the Intercontinental Cup final at Leicester carried over from the previous season. Their preparation was poor, blighted by lost baggage and missed flights, and lost a horribly one-sided contest inside five sessions. They struggled in subsequent matches from patchy availability and a lack of preparation as players, already struggling to take time off, often found themselves underprepared on unfamiliar surfaces.The coach, Andy Pick, left in May and urged Canada’s board to appoint his replacement quickly, to aid their path to qualifying for the next World Cup. Pubudu Dassanayake was finally chosen five months later, and he has a battle on his hands to squeeze what little money he canfrom a ring-fenced set-up.New man on the block
A familiar name in Canada’s youth squads, Trevin Bastiampillai is one of the next generation and in 2007 put together some useful scores. He made 71 in Canada’s innings victory over UAE, adding 141 with Mulla.Fading star
John Davison, Canada’s standout batsman, played his last match in the Intercontinental Cup final rout, and two months earlier he bowed out of ODIs at the World Cup with a typically audacious 52 from 31 balls. He might yet return but, at 37, and with Canada’s selectors looking to thefuture, it appears unlikely. They, and Canada’s fans, will sorely miss him.High point
Ashish Bagai shone in the World Cricket League in Nairobi. He scored 137 not out – his first hundred in senior cricket – against Scotland and added a second ton against Ireland four days later. His 345 runs at 86.25 meant he ended the tournament as the leading run scorer and was named Player of the Tournament. He was later shortlisted for the ICC Associate Player of the Year.Low point
Canada’s loss to Ireland in the Intercontinental Cup final summed up their year. Dismissed for 92 and 145, the only crumb of comfort they gained was the performance of Umar Bhatti who took a hat-trick (and very nearly four in four) as Ireland’s first innings fell away. The news that Bagai had taken up a work position in London and was likely to largely unavailable in 2008 was another blow.What the future holds
With the appointment of Atul Ahuja as Canada’s first chief executive, hopes of the government funding Canadian cricket have increased. Like other Associates, they receive a payout from the ICC but, as Pick found out, access to the funds is limited – and this is one area that Ahuja might be able to help in his first year as chief executive. Similarly, Pubudu Dassanayake, Pick’s replacement, has a tough task on his hands to improve consistency.

ODIs 16 4 12 0 Twenty20 – – – – Intercontinental Cup 5 1 4 0

Liverpool are moving quickly to secure the signing of Southampton midfielder Romeo Lavia according to Fabrizio Romano.

The 19-year-old midfielder has been targeted by a number of top Premier League sides this summer.

What is the latest news regarding Romeo Lavia?

The Belgian looks set to make his move away from St Mary's soon

That's according to journalist Sacha Tavolieri, who took to Twitter to reveal that Liverpool's second bid for the midfielder had been submitted this morning, with the focus on sorting out the payment structure and ensuring the bonuses are achievable. The player is prepared to leave and undergo his medical ahead of his move, with the Reds ideally wanting the midfielder to join up with them in Singapore. Tavolieri stated that it is simply a "matter of time" before the deal is completed.

The Merseyside outfit submitted an opening offer for the Belgian on Tuesday according to David Ornstein, with the offer reportedly worth £37m, which the Saints rejected, however, the club have come back in with a second improved offer to try and complete a deal.

The Reds are the first team to submit an official bid for the Belgian, despite the youngster attracting interest from Chelsea, Arsenal, and Manchester City following a bright first season in the Premier League, where the youngster made 29 appearances for Southampton last season, scoring one goal vs Chelsea in August and earning plenty of praise, with The Athletic journalist Jacob Tanswell naming the midfielder as his Southampton Player of the Year.

Premier League Hall of Fame member Rio Ferdinand was also full of praise for the midfielder, stating after the Saints defeat to Manchester United:

"The way he has started and immediately performed here kind of justifies the conviction that Southampton have had in going and getting him. He is a young player who can do both sides of the game, equally good defensively but also once he is on the ball he has tremendous feet and can pass it."

Speaking on his YouTube channel, Romano revealed that Liverpool are trying to complete the deal quickly due to the fact that Chelsea are also interested in the midfielder:

"It will be a £45m package; £42.5m guaranteed and £2.5m in add-ons so £45m total package with add-ons included. Southampton always wanted £50m so let’s see how this bid will go but Liverpool are strongly working on the Romeo Lavia deal because they know Chelsea have always been keeping an eye on Lavia, Chelsea have always been interested but no bid at this moment, so Liverpool are favourites to make the deal, but they are moving fast because they know Chelsea are keeping an eye on the situation."

Who will Lavia line up with?

Lavia is set to be the third addition to Liverpool's midfield this summer as they rebuild following a disappointing season last year.

The Reds have brought in two midfielders already, with Alexis Mac Allister arriving from Brighton and Hove Albion for a fee in the region of £35m and Dominik Szoboszlai from German outfit RB Leipzig for a fee in the region of £60m, with the pair impressing in the club's pre-season so far.

Manager Jurgen Klopp seems to be employing the same system that was used in the final games of last season, suggesting that should Lavia arrive, he would play as the left-sided defensive midfielder, partnering Trent Alexander-Arnold at the base of the midfield.

Lavia will not be playing with Jordan Henderson, who announced that he is leaving Liverpool, with his switch to Saudi Arabian side Al Ettifaq set to be announced soon. Fabinho is another player who could be departing Anfield, with his proposed switch to Al Ittihad back on after the deal had stalled and was under threat of collapsing. The Brazilian is reportedly not going to travel with the squad to Singapore with all parties committed to completing the deal.

Lavia could also be joined by another addition, with The Athletic's James Pearce reporting that the club are still interested in a number of midfielders, including Crystal Palace's Cheick Doucoure, Manchester City's Kalvin Phillips, Bayern Munich's Ryan Gravenberch and Fiorentina's Sofyan Amrabat, with the club potentially bringing in another to replace the outgoing pair of Henderson and Fabinho.

The England quick sprained his ankle in his fourth over of the day and was ruled out of the second day of the tour match

George Dobell in Adelaide09-Nov-2017England’s Ashes plans have been hit by another setback after Jake Ball was forced off the pitch at the Adelaide Oval on Thursday through injury.Ball, who had emerged as a likely member of England’s side for the first Test, was midway through his fourth over against the Cricket Australia XI when his right ankle buckled in his delivery stride and he fell to the floor.He was able to walk off the pitch unaided but an England spokesman later announced that Ball would take no further part in the second day’s play. His sprained ankle will be monitored over the next few hours before any decision is made about further treatment or the length of his lay-off.The setback comes even before Steven Finn has arrived home. Finn, who in turn was a substitute on the tour for Ben Stokes, suffered a knee injury during training in Perth and was sent home on Wednesday having failed to show any signs of recovery. His replacement, Tom Curran, is due to join up with the rest of the squad in Adelaide on Friday.With Moeen Ali also sidelined through a side injury – he returned to the nets as a batsman on Wednesday – and yet to bowl on the tour, it left Paul Collingwood – England’s 41-year-old fielding coach – dressed in whites and prepared to come on as a substitute fielder as required.It all means that time – and options – are running out for England as they prepare for the first Test which begins in Brisbane on November 23.

Despite landing in New Zealand before some 50-over team-mates, Stokes won’t feature in the remaining T20s and is unlikely for the opening ODI too. The England coach wants to ensure the allrounder is back “up to speed” first

Adam Collins14-Feb-2018It is not quite Brisbane in November on the opening day of an Ashes series, but Ben Stokes’ antipodean tour is finally likely to kick off. He will, however, have to wait his turn with the second ODI against New Zealand in Mount Maunganui shaping as his earliest return.That’s the message from Trevor Bayliss, speaking after his allrounder received the green light to travel south after fronting court to plead not guilty on Tuesday. Despite landing in the country a couple of days before his 50-over colleagues, Stokes won’t return to the side for their remaining T20s and it is highly improbable he’ll be in the XI for the opening ODI.”He hasn’t played for a while so it is not as if we can bring him straight back for these T20s,” Bayliss said in Wellington, the morning after England’s latest short-form defeat.England’s opening ODI is in Hamilton on February 25, but Bayliss will be waiting until he has seen evidence with his own eyes that Stokes is ready. “I’d have to say it’s unlikely,” he said of Stokes’ participation in that particular ODI. “It’s just up and in the air. We’ll have to wait and see how he is travelling, with the practice. We have got to get him up to speed and hopefully during this one-day series we can get him back into the team.”Before Christmas, Stokes – who has not played for England since September – participated in six white-ball fixtures in the domestic New Zealand competition, but that is not going to make much difference on this visit. Bayliss instead will make a “judgement call” on the 26-year-old’s outdoor net form; he has been restricted to indoor training only over the last six weeks.”It’ll just be something we have to keep an eye on as the practice days go,” he said. “In the past, he’s been out with injuries and coming back sooner than we think. That’s the type of character he is and it doesn’t take him long at all to get back up to speed.”The reality is that Stokes is never surplus to requirements, even after the ODI side thrashed Australia in Australia 4-1 in January. “One of the biggest things we’ve missed over the summer has been the combinations we’ve been able to play,” Bayliss said. “Especially in the one-dayers and T20s. We’ve been able to have six bowlers [before], which gives the captain plenty of different options. We’ve been down to just the five bowlers.”Of course, the frustration remains that the incident has so dominated this tour. Bayliss freely admits he was “sick of it from the first day” nearly five months ago. But the latest legal development – especially that Stokes will be initially available for Test duty in March – means that plans could be getting back on track for the England management.”He’s looking forward to getting back doing what he does best and I’m looking forward to catching up with him,” Bayliss said. As far as the playing group is concerned, the coach says Stokes will be welcomed back warmly. “Don’t forget he wasn’t the only one who was out that night. There were a few others. They all can’t wait for him to come back. He’s a very popular member of the squad, one of the leaders of the squad and there won’t be any problems whatsoever.”As for Stokes’ state of mind in the lead up to his more substantial days in court, Bayliss believes this series is the best possible distraction. “There have been players in the past who’ve had off-field issues and been able to put that aside and concentrate on cricket,” he said of the “relief” Stokes will experience in playing again. “I’ve got a feeling he will be one of the guys who can put it aside and perform.”