India women’s wicketkeeper-batsman Sushma Verma, who hardly got batting opportunities in the past, cashed in on the chance against Pakistan with a 35-ball 33

ESPNcricinfo staff03-Jul-2017Sushma Verma has established herself as India’s first-choice wicketkeeper since making her debut in 2014. However, her contribution as a batsman has been minimal, largely because she has hardly had opportunities to prove herself. Prior to Sunday, she had batted just eight times in 22 ODIs, facing a grand sum of 56 deliveries, off which she scored 13 runs, a strike rate of 23.21.She batted at No. 8 or lower in seven of those eight innings. The last time she batted before Sunday, she was sent in at No. 10, even below Ekta Bisht, no more than a tailender. Until the Pakistan game, India’s third at the World Cup, this hardly mattered thanks to robust contributions from the top order. But on a sticky wicket with the top order having a rare off day, the team needed Verma to overcome her battles, and she did.Promoted to No. 7 ahead of the more-accomplished Jhulan Goswami, who has a reputation of being a big hitter, Verma exhibited tremendous composure and match awareness to make a 35-ball 33 to help India recover from 111 for 6 to 169 for 9. Her 34-run stand with Goswami for the seventh wicket, significant in the context of the game, earned plaudits from her captain Mithali Raj.”At that point in time, when we were losing wickets, it was important to slow down a little,” Raj explained of Verma’s promotion. “On a few occasions in domestic cricket, when our Central Zone side was in similar situation, she bailed us out. We expected her to play that role and she did until the 48th over. Those boundaries were also very crucial.”Her partnership [with Jhulan] got us to 170. We were looking for 170 when we lost the top four. When you play such matches, it’s important to continue the momentum but not every day will the same batters will score runs, so I’m happy someone has stood up to get those runs. It’s important we got this opportunity to reflect on our batting order.”Opportunities have been rare for Verma in domestic cricket too as she started her career with Himachal Pradesh and moved to Railways for better cricketing prospects. But moving to a more-established outfit also brought about a fresh set of challenges. Playing in a team that has a star-studded batting line-up that boasts of Raj, Harmanpreet Kaur and Punam Raut has largely meant that a berth in the top order, which she may have been guaranteed at Himachal, has been non-existent.In the entire 2016-17 season, she had four opportunities to impress, twice each in the one-dayers and T20 competition. She managed 21 in those four knocks. It’s a role she has taken awhile getting used to, but one she has grown to accept, Verma said. “The team management has been working a lot on the lower-order batting. We have been getting equal attention as the top and middle order. I was waiting for this opportunity.”I’ve understood I will have minimum balls to face, I need to make maximum impact. Today, there was such an opportunity. It’s not that I’m confident only because of wicketkeeping. For me, the main concern and focus is to score as many runs as possible in as little balls as possible.”

Arsenal boss Mikel Arteta as refused to rule out the possibility of out-of-favour goalkeeper Aaron Ramsdale joining Newcastle in January.

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• Arteta refuses to rule out Ramsdale's January move
• Wants him to stay at the Emirates Stadium
• Ramsdale lost his starting XI spot to Raya

• WHAT HAPPENED?

  Ramsdale, who appeared in all 38 Premier League games last season for the Gunners, saw his game time drastically reduce after the arrival of David Raya from Brentford on loan in the summer. The English goalkeeper has played in just eight matches across all competitions and has lost the No.1 spot in Arteta's team to Raya. Ramsdale has been tipped to seek a transfer in January, with Newcastle thought to be leading the race for his signature.

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• WHAT MIKEL ARTETA SAID

  Arsenal manager Arteta does not want to lose Ramsdale in the upcoming window, but he did not rule out a possible transfer either as he claimed that he cannot stop anyone from leaving the club.

  Speaking to reporters, the Spaniard said: "I want Aaron with us. I am very happy to have two very, very good goalkeepers. We want to be better, so we want to add to what we already have. That's the intention that we have.

  "I cannot tell you that any Arsenal player is not going to leave in January. Or he is to stay here for the next three years. I won't say that no player is going to go to Newcastle. Or no member of the staff either. I won't say it. If you say yes or no, I won't say it. I cannot guarantee that nobody is going to be leaving in January. For Newcastle or any other club. So it is a no."

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  THE BIGGER PICTURE

  Wolves were reportedly keen on signing the 25-year-old custodian and approached the Premier League leaders with an offer, but the Gunners rejected their bid.

  Newcastle United are also on the lookout for a goalkeeper after losing Nick Pope to long-term injury. Pope dislocated his shoulder during their match against Manchester United and has been ruled out of action for up to five months. The Magpies also have former Red Devils star David de Gea on their shortlist.

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  WHAT NEXT FOR ARSENAL?

  Arteta's side, who currently have a two-point lead over Liverpool at the top of the table, will be next seen in action in the Premier League on Tuesday as they take on Luton Town at Kenilworth Road. Arsenal will be back in action away at Aston Villa four days later as the fixture list starts to pile up heading into the festive period.

Sarah Taylor has declared that she is “back, and ready to face the World Cup and the scrutiny that professional sport brings,” after taking a year-long break from the game to combat an anxiety condition.Taylor, who is widely recognised as one of the most naturally talented female cricketers of her generation, took an indefinite break from cricket in the aftermath of last year’s World T20 in India. However, she was last week included in England’s 15-strong squad for the Women’s World Cup, which gets underway in just under a month’s time.Her inclusion followed a successful reintegration into the England set-up during a recent training camp in the UAE, where she took the field in a practice match against Ireland, scoring 26 not out in the second of three warm-up wins.”It’s been a tough 12 months and lots has been learned in that time,” Taylor said in an interview arranged by the ECB. “In terms of where I am with my cricket, I’m incredibly comfortable to be back playing and the girls have been absolutely brilliant. It’s just nice to be back around them and the fact that the World Cup is at home as well makes it extra special. To be back in time for the World Cup has been a hard journey but very worth it so far.”Prior to her diagnosis, Taylor’s condition was so acute at times that she found herself running off the field of play to be sick, while she also struggled with day-to-day issues such as taking public transport. A course of cognitive behavioural therapy (CBT) helped her to overcome many of the most debilitating traits of her illness, although she does accept that the pressures and scrutiny of a home World Cup campaign will bring a whole new challenge.”I don’t think we can shy away from the fact that in a World Cup there will be pressure,” she said. “Through what I’ve dealt with over the last 12 months I feel like I’m probably mentally strong enough to deal with those pressures. All I want to do is help someone else get through it, so I don’t think I’m any different to anyone else.”To be honest, when I took that break I didn’t look too far ahead. I couldn’t. I was always told to not look too far in the future, to take it day by day and as it comes. Literally getting out of bed was the highlight of a day and then accept that doing something brilliant might mean walking outside, that was a tick in the box.Sarah Taylor has been absent from England duty for the past year•Stephen Pond/Getty Images

“To look towards the World Cup never even got into my head, it was never something I was striving for at the time, then all of a sudden I found myself wanting to train again and, like I said before, it actually benefitted my day-to-day learnings and my anxiety through that. Next thing I knew I was on a plane going to Abu Dhabi and that was a very last-minute decision.Looking ahead to the World Cup itself, Taylor Is in no doubt about the team’s overall aim for the tournament. “Ultimately you want to win the tournament, don’t you?” she said. “But for me it’s literally just a case of day-by-day assessing where I am – anxiety-wise, cricket-wise, everything in my head. If not, what can we do to help me get through a training session, a game, everything like that.”My success, from a very personal point of view, is obviously to perform and be consistent in my performances but flip that to the mental side of things and it’s about getting through the tour unscathed. I’m realistic that there probably will be some bumps but, actually, if I get through it I should look back and be completely proud of myself for doing it. I’m proud that I’ve even put myself out there to do it. I want to win as much as the next person – and I’m hoping that there’ll be success with my own mental health and we can see a trophy at the same time.”

Newcastle United are on the 'tracks' of Villarreal attacker Samuel Chukwueze this summer as Eddie Howe prepares his side for Champions League football this term, according to journalist Rudy Galetti.

What's the latest transfer news involving Samuel Chukwueze and Newcastle?

As per Estadio Deportivo via Sport Witness, Newcastle United are keen on signing Chukwueze this summer and view him as a possible replacement for Allan Saint-Maximin.

The report states that the 24-year-old is out of contract at the Yellow Submarine in 2024 and he has no intention to extend his stay, with a path for an exit becoming 'more and more clear’ either this window or next off-season, where he could depart Villarreal on a free transfer.

One outlet in Spain claim that Liverpool, Manchester United, Arsenal and the Magpies are all fighting to sign the Nigeria international, who has a clause of around €80 million (£68.6 million) inserted into his current terms at Villarreal, according to GOAL journalist Ruben Uria.

Calciomercato via Football Italia claim that AC Milan have already reached a verbal agreement on personal terms with Chukwueze, though they may fall below his valuation. Villarreal want around €30 million before considering selling the attacker, while AC Milan are planning a bid of around €20 million with add-ons.

Newcastle United have already added Sandro Tonali to the ranks from AC Milan in a transfer worth £55 million as Magpies' boss Howe kicks his transfer proactivity up a notch as the window progresses.

Speaking to GIVEMESPORT, journalist Galetti has revealed that Newcastle United are indeed one interested party in signing Chukwueze this summer.

Galetti stated: "Chukwueze is on the radar of some Premier League clubs. Also, in Serie A, AC Milan are really interested in him. But, the price tag, which is set at around €30m (£26m), is considered a little high for the Italian club.

"Coming back to England – Arsenal, Liverpool, and Newcastle United are on his tracks."

Would Samuel Chukwueze be a good addition for Newcastle United?

Capable of plying his trade on either flank or in central areas, Chukwueze is someone who has an exciting profile and could be a versatile addition to Howe's squad as they prepare to juggle both Premier League and Champions League football this term.

Last season, the 24-year-old enjoyed a productive time of things, registering 13 goals and 11 assists in 50 appearances across all competitions, as per Transfermarkt.

Chukwueze, who has been hailed as a "beast", is something of an entertainer and managed to beat his marker with regularity in 2022/23, averaging around 2.3 successful dribbles per match in La Liga, as per WhoScored.

Providing opportunities for his teammates is a key strength of Chukwueze, evidenced by the fact that he completed 132 shot-creating actions combining his involvement in La Liga and Europa Conference League action, as shown on FBRef.

Newcastle United boss Howe will be intent on bolstering his wide options with the addition of Chukwueze; however, competition from the English top-flight and the continent will make any pursuit tough.

Nevertheless, the lure of playing in Europe's premier competition alongside potentially becoming a key part of the Magpies' project may be enough to entice him to St James' Park.

Manchester United are now targeting Feyenoord goalkeeper Justin Bijlow, who could be brought in alongside Andre Onana, according to reports from the Netherlands.

Which goalkeeper are Man United signing?

Man United goalkeeper David de Gea officially became a free agent on Friday following the expiration of his contract, and it is now looking increasingly likely that the Spaniard will not return to Old Trafford for the upcoming campaign.

As such, Erik ten Hag is tasked with bringing in a suitable replacement, and Onana is at the top of the list, as the manager retains a good relationship with the Inter shot-stopper from their time working together at Ajax.

The Cameroonian is viewed as a huge upgrade on De Gea due to his distribution and reading of the game, however, he will not come cheap, as it is believed it will take offers in excess of £50m for Inter to consider a sale this summer.

Not only is Onana emerging as a key target, but Dutch outlet 1908 reports the Red Devils hold a concrete interest in signing Bijllow, who could arrive at Old Trafford in addition to the Inter 'keeper (via Sport Witness).

The report explains that United are looking to replace De Gea, though Feyenoord are apparently not interested in allowing the £6k-per-week goalkeeper to leave and are pushing for him to sign a new contract.

Voetbal International reports the player himself would love to make the switch to Old Trafford, but at the moment, it appears as though Feyenoord will stand in his way.

Who is Justin Bijlow?

The Rotterdam-born goalkeeper has played for Feyenoord throughout his entire career, and he has impressed enough to be called up for The Netherlands on several occasions, amassing a total of eight caps for his national side.

Hailed as "brilliant" by members of the media, the 25-year-old has recorded a very impressive average clean sheet percentage over the past year, placing in the 92nd percentile compared to his positional peers playing at a similar level.

Given his international experience and impressive performances at club level, it is unclear whether the Dutchman would be happy playing second fiddle to Onana, who would surely be first-choice if he costs over £50m.

If he is willing to accept a more limited role, Bijlow could be a fantastic addition to Ten Hag's squad, who could even be capable of pushing for a starting spot.

Virat Kohli’s fluent half-century and Mohammed Shami’s three-wicket haul were the highlights in India’s 45-run win via D/L method at the Oval

The Report by Nagraj Gollapudi at the Oval28-May-2017
Scorecard and ball-by-ball detailsMohammed Shami snuffed out three of New Zealand’s top four in an opening spell of five overs•Getty Images

A handsome, unbeaten half century from Virat Kohli, and a lethal spell of fast bowling from Mohammed Shami helped India to a 45-run victory via the Duckworth-Lewis method over New Zealand in the teams’ first warm-up match. Late afternoon rain, after 26 overs in the chase, forced the players off the field, and they never returned. By then, India had made 129 for 3, well ahead of the D/L par score of 84.Regardless of the rain, India remained the favourites throughout, especially with Kohli dominating the New Zealand bowlers. His weak IPL form might have created certain doubts, but the Indian captain did not take a step back and batted with his usual positive tempo. He walked in to bat after Ajinkya Rahane had fallen into the short-ball trap set by New Zealand’s new ball pair of Tim Southee and Trent Boult.The Oval pitch was hard with a lot of pace and bounce, which both Boult and Southee utilised to dare the Indian openers. Southee constantly tested Rahane with the short ball, and the strategy proved successful in the last over before lunch. Rahane walked out of his crease, attempting to hook a Southee bouncer, which climbed too fast on him. The weak response went straight to Boult at fine leg. It might have been a recurring dream for Rahane, considering Southee had got him out in similar fashion during the ODI series late last year in India.But the break came at the opportune time. And then there was Kohli. Standing about a yard outside the crease, a strategy that he had used on his previous trip to England in 2014, Kohli punched, pulled and cut with aplomb. Having punched Adam Milne to the straight boundary, Kohli repeated the stroke against Southee and then cut him for another four to swiftly move into the 20s.Shikhar Dhawan, however, had a nervous start. Neil Broom, standing at point, dropped a straightforward catch when Dhawan had made just one run. Boult, the bowler, could not believe his ill luck when, off the final delivery in the same over, an outside edge off Dhawan’s bat fell a yard short of Martin Guptill at second slip.Dhawan batted resolutely and stitched a 68-run partnership with Kohli, before becoming the second Indian batsman to rush into a short ball and pay the price. His march to a half-century was cut short after his pull on the run went to Corey Anderson at short midwicket.Dinesh Karthik arrived nervously to the crease and remained anxious throughout. He fell after mis-hitting a short ball from outside the off stump straight to Mitchell Santner at short midwicket. Having bagged a nine-ball duck, Karthik tapped the back of his head, perhaps, realising how terribly he had batted.Shikhar Dhawan made 40 before holing out to short midwicket•Getty Images

A distracted Kohli was then lucky to get away on 45 when he drove Boult uppishly, away from his body. Santner, this time at short cover, leapt, but the force of the shot beat his outstretched hands. Eventually Kohli reached his fifty when he lunged forward and unfurled a beautiful cover drive off Colin de Grandhomme in the 24th over.Overall it was a good day at work for Kohli and India. Kane Williamson had opted to bat on a warm morning, but Shami stuck an immediate blow when Guptill failed to clear Bhuvneshwar Kumar at mid off. Luke Ronchi, the other opener, was aggressive against Hardik Pandya, who shared the new ball. The allrounder leaked 29 runs off his first three overs.Ronchi survived a scare on 26 after his push-drive against Jaspirt Bumrah went to mid-on, where R Ashwin dived to his wrong side, but in vain. He cashed in, hitting three boundaries in Shami’s fifth over, which included a powerful six – picked from outside off stump and pulled over deep midwicket.But Shami finished the over with wickets off consecutive deliveries. First Williamson erred by playing too close to body and steered the ball straight to Rahane at first slip. Shami then punched the air for the second time after one that seamed away had caught Broom’s outside edge on its way to MS Dhoni.This was the Shami’s first competitive match for India after the World Cup semi-finals in 2015. Recurrent injuries to his knee had kept him out of the reckoning, but after he had regained fitness in March, the selectors picked him in the squad. Shami, with his skiddy pace, is always an asset for Kohli with both the new ball and the old one.Also with Umesh Yadav showing a range of skills in his four-over spell during the latter half of the New Zealand innings, the team management has a welcome headache of choosing between two fast men.The bigger concern would be the form of the top order. Rahane remains the third-choice opener behind Dhawan and Rohit Sharma, who had joined the squad on Saturday. Rohit is set to feature in the second warm-up match against Bangladesh on Tuesday. All three openers will be under the scanner again as India hope to zero in on the ideal combination before they head to Birmingham, where they start their tournament proper, against Pakistan next Sunday.

Emi Martinez threatened to "beat the sh*t" out of Cristian Romero for his rash tackles in the World Cup final after fouling France's Kylian Mbappe.

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• Martinez reveals half-time Romero threat
• Tottenham star had fouled Mbappe
• Argentina beat France in World Cup final

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  WHAT HAPPENED?

  Tottenham defender Romero flew into a challenge with France star Mbappe in the first half of the 2022 World Cup final in Qatar last December. The South American side won the game on penalties after a 3-3 draw but at half time, Villa keeper Martinez pulled his fellow countryman aside to warn him about his reckless challenges in an effort to stop him getting sent off.

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  WHAT EMI MARTINEZ SAID

  He told : "I know Cuti's (Romero) weakness, I remember in the final against France he went with both feet against Mbappe. He grabbed the ball, everything. And at half-time I grabbed him by the shirt and told him, 'If you get kicked out, I'll beat the sh*t out of you after the game'.

  "I have to tell Cuti 'Please, stop hitting'. Cuti plays like that, on the edge of a red card, and I'm always catching him in that sense. But he's impressive."

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  THE BIGGER PICTURE

  Argentina won their third World Cup crown in one of the greatest finals of the tournament's history. Lionel Messi also finally achieved his dream to win this great trophy after many years of trying. Argentina got the win without having any players sent off, so maybe Martinez's chat with Romero did the trick…

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• WHAT NEXT FOR ARGENTINA?

  Argentina duo Martinez and Romero may cross paths again when they return to international action in the Copa America in June of next year.

This is the first instance of the India team getting a full-time, professional manager

ESPNcricinfo staff28-Jul-2017Former Tamil Nadu captain Sunil Subramaniam has been named India’s administrative manager on a one-year contract. This is the first instance of the India team getting a full-time, professional manager, marking a departure from the system of ad-hoc appointments made by the BCCI on a tour-to-tour basis. Subramaniam will join the team before the second Test that begins on August 3 in Colombo.Subramaniam, 50, was picked by a committee comprising BCCI acting president CK Khanna, acting secretary Amitabh Choudhary, CEO Rahul Johri and Committee of Administrators (CoA) member Diana Edulji, in accordance with the Lodha Committee’s recommendation approved by the Supreme Court. The committee, according to reports, had shortlisted more than 10 candidates before interviewing them. Subramanian said he would meet with Johri on Monday when he would be apprised of his duties. “It feels good to be a part of the team,” Subramaniam told ESPNcricinfo.During his playing days, Subramaniam, a left-arm spinner, picked up 285 wickets from 74 first-class matches. An NCA-certified coach, Subramaniam has acquired renown for having worked extensively with India offspinner R Ashwin in the past. Over the years, he has also coached teams in the Duleep Trophy and has been associated with the Tamil Nadu Cricket Association Academy.On his appointment, a BCCI press release said: “He has a rich vein of experience when it comes to management and administrative capabilities, having served both public and private sector organisations for over 16 years.”

Arsenal are set to take a break regarding incoming transfers following the signings of Declan Rice and Jurrien Timber, according to journalist Dean Jones.

What has Arsenal's transfer window been like?

The Gunners have really attacked the transfer market as they look to take the next step forward following their success last campaign, finishing second after a title challenge with Manchester City and returning to the Champions League for the first time since Arsene Wenger was manager of the club.

The north London side's first move this window was completing the signing of German forward Kai Havertz from rivals Chelsea for a fee reported to be in the region of £65m. The 24-year-old spent three seasons at Stamford Bridge, with his greatest moment being scoring the winning goal in the 2021 Champions League final against City.

The club have also agreed a fee of around £38m for Ajax defender Timber. The 22-year-old Dutch international has come through Ajax's youth system and last summer was the subject of heavy interest from Erik ten Hag and Manchester United before the club ultimately made the move for his former teammate Lisandro Martinez.

The defender has received praise from National team captain Virgil Van Dijk, who said that he "wasn't as far along as he [Timber] is (at the same age)".

The biggest move for Mikel Arteta this summer has undoubtedly been the move for Rice. The West Ham captain led his side to their first-ever European trophy and after weeks of tense negotiations, the two clubs finally reached an agreement on a £105m fee for the English international, who is set to undergo a medical soon. The 24-year-old also reportedly garnered interest from Manchester City, but he will play his football at the Emirates next season.

However, Jones has said on The Football Terrace's 'Done Deal' show that Arsenal will have to wait until the "second phase" of the window for any more incomings, especially in the wide areas, with the focus now on trimming down the squad with some outgoings.

"The focus has been so heavily on getting these first three guys through the door that there is no certainty over who they go for in that position [right wing] yet. So let's wait until the mini clearout starts to take place, the tidy up I should say, of the Arsenal squad takes place.

"And then we'll see, once that second phase is ready to be activated if Arsenal can go for those players in the wide areas."

Who will Arsenal sell this summer?

The club are set to listen to offers for a number of players this window as they look to recoup some of the £208m they have spent so far.

One player who has already left the Emirates is midfielder Granit Xhaka. The 30-year-old has joined German side Bayer Leverkusen in a deal worth £21.4m. The Swiss international spent six seasons with the Gunners, where he made 297 appearances across all competitions and had a spell as club captain.

Reports also state that his midfield partner from last season Thomas Partey could also be departing the club this summer, with Juventus interested in his signature. Partey enjoyed the best season of his Arsenal career last time out, making 45 appearances for club and country and recording WhoScored rating of 6.92. However, with the arrival of Rice and the reports that the club are looking at Southampton's Romeo Lavia, the Ghanaian could find his game time reduced.

A number of Arsenal defenders could also move on this summer, with Scottish full-back Kieran Tierney being most notably linked with a move to Newcastle United. The 26-year-old has struggled to beat out Oleksandr Zinchenko for the starting spot at left-back, making just six starts in the league last season, and is reportedly holding talks this week with the manager to figure out his future at the club.

Englishman Rob Holding is another player who could leave the club this summer, with journalist Ed Aarons reporting that the centre-back is expected to depart this summer, either permanently or via a loan switch. Holding make 24 appearances for the side last campaign and had an extended run of games following William Saliba's season-ending injury.

It is hard to guess how much Arsenal will make off these player sales, but the club will be hoping it is enough to fund the "second phase" of their already strong window.

The door could well be open for Tottenham Hotspur to strike a deal for Japanese international, Daichi Kamada, following the midfielder's recent exit from Eintracht Frankfurt.

What are the latest Tottenham transfer rumours?

According to 90min, the Lilywhites have reportedly been offered the chance to land the free agent this summer following the collapse of his proposed move to AC Milan, with the north Londoners – as well as Newcastle United – having been 'informed' about the 26-year-old's situation.

As per the piece, the 6 foot sensation – who has been without a club since coming to the end of his contract at Frankfurt last month – had reached an agreement regarding a move to San Siro, albeit with subsequent changes to the hierarchy at the Serie A outfit leading to the club pulling out of a deal.

This follows reports in Germany that revealed Tottenham's interest in the former Sagan Tosu man heading into the January transfer window, following the playmaker's impact at the World Cup in the winter.

Who is Daichi Kamada?

The 29-cap dynamo notably started all four games for his country during their run to the last-16 in Qatar, having also impressed in the Bundesliga last term after scoring nine goals and chipping in with six assists from his 32 league outings.

Prior to that, Kamada had been part of the Frankfurt side that claimed Europa League glory during the 2021/22 campaign, notably scoring five goals in 13 appearances in the competition that season, including in the first-leg, semi-final victory over West Ham United.

As journalist Josh Bunting stated back in August, the exciting gem is not only an "incredible talent" but is also simply a "joy to watch", hence why the likes of Spurs and Newcastle have been paying such close attention to him of late.

If Ange Postecoglou is to seal a deal for Kamada ahead of those rival suitors over the coming weeks, the 57-year-old could seemingly find a perfect partner for recent addition, James Maddison in the centre of the park, with the latter man having joined on a £40m deal from Leicester City.

With the ex-Celtic boss likely to utilise his preferred 4-3-3 formation next season which includes two advanced midfielders – or number eight's – then the Greek-Aussie could be able to slot Kamada in alongside Maddison in that system.

Like the Englishman – who notably averaged 1.7 tackles per game in the Premier League in 2022/23 – the Frankfurt machine can also muck in defensively having averaged 1.6 tackles per game last term.

Also lauded as a player with "intelligent movement in and around the box", according to Bunting, Kamada showcased a real desire to get forward and impact proceedings in the final third as he ranks in the top 10% among midfielders for touches in the attacking penalty area, with Maddison sharing that front-foot approach as he ranks in the top 1% in that regard.

The duo are also alike due to their ability to net themselves or tee up others with quality service, with the former Foxes ace – who registered 19 goal involvements in the top-flight last season – ranking in the top 1% for both non-penalty goals and assists, while Kamada is not too far behind as he ranks in the top 5% and the top 15% for those same two metrics, respectively.

To potentially have two players who possess that same attacking and creative intent is a truly exciting prospect as far as Spurs are concerned, with it no doubt set to be a real bargain if Postecoglou can snap up the in-demand asset on a free.