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Julen Lopetegui's West Ham side are getting ready for the new Premier League season, facing off in their first fixture this weekend against Aston Villa.

This campaign is an exciting one for Hammers fans, as it's their first season adopting a new style of play.

A bundle of new players have been acquired, and many could make their West Ham competitive debuts at the weekend, including Max Kilman, Crysencio Summerville, Niclas Fullkrug, Luis Guilherme, Guido Rodriguez, Wes Foderingham, and Jean-Clair Todibo.

But two more defenders could still arrive this window for West Ham, with Wan-Bissaka undergoing a medical in order to join the club from Manchester United, and links to another central defender signing, as Kurt Zouma could leave.

West Ham transfer news

According to reports in Italy last week, West Ham were showing interest in Nantes defender, Nathan Zeze.

Nantes reportedly values the 19-year-old at £30m, but this is believed to be a figure that can be negotiated.

Inter Milan are apparently another team interested in the young defender. However, the reports state the valuations between the clubs are "very distant", and therefore Zeze looks closer to a move to England, rather than Italy.

Those reports have since been furthered by ExWHUemployee, via his Patreon, who revealed on Sunday that the Hammers have identified the centre-back as a target this month.

Zeze made 13 appearances in all Ligue 1 for Nantes last season, playing over 1000 minutes in total, and contributing to two clean sheets.

How Zeze compares to Kurt Zouma

The 6 foot 3 central defender was described as "incredible" by scout Jacek Kulig, who praised the youngster's talent. Like Zouma, Zeze's physical frame is impressive, especially considering he is only 19-years-old.

Much like another French defender who secured a big move this summer, Zeze has a similar duel capacity to Leny Yoro, who joined Manchester United from Lille.

The Nantes defender actually won more aerial duels than Yoro last season, winning 3.5 per 90, compared to Yoro's 2.58.

Passes Attempted

42.2

36.3

Progressive Passes

2.63

1.55

Passes into Final Third

1.93

1.63

Tackles

0.96

0.76

Interceptions

1.05

0.96

Blocks

1.05

1.18

Aerials Won

1.49

1.89

Aerials Won %

58.6%

58.3%

Zeze brings a calmness on the ball that Zouma doesn't have, despite their 10-year age gap. The 19-year-old manages more passes per 90, more progressive passes, and more passes into the final third, showing the bravery to break the lines with his passing.

He also doesn't lack in the defensive department, winning a higher percentage of his aerial duels than Zouma, who is largely known as one of the better players in the air, in the Premier League.

However, one key difference between the two, is that the West Ham defender is right-footed, whilst Zeze is a left-footed centre-back. This could lead to some issues, as new signing Kilman and Nayef Aguerd are also both left-footed central defenders. This would leave them with a lack of right-footed centre-back options.

If the Hammers can figure out a way to use at least two of the left-footed centre-backs, perhaps in a back three, this could prove to be a very good deal, replacing Zouma with a more progressive and comfortable passer, who has big potential.

West Ham could launch a move for surprise CF who's better than Fullkrug

West Ham could make another striker addition to compete with Fullkrug

ByConnor Holden Aug 12, 2024

New Sunderland boss Regis Le Bris will no doubt want to see his Black Cats side be more of a threat in attack this coming season, as opposed to the goal-shy offerings that became far too commonplace last campaign from the Wearside outfit.

The Championship side only had Jack Clarke in their top scorer charts reach double figures at 15, with the likes of Nazariy Rusyn leading the line for Sunderland on a regular basis only getting to a meagre two in contrast.

Sunderland could eventually be weakened by Clarke moving onto a higher-up suitor too, but they do look to be close to signing Alexandre Mendy from SM Caen, in a bid to significantly bolster the striker spots at the Stadium of Light.

Yet, just because Mendy looks to be nearing a switch to England, it doesn't mean a move for an equally potent striker should fall completely to the wayside.

Sunderland could reignite interest in wanted forward

As per football journalist Darren Witcoop on social media, many EFL sides are contemplating a move for Fulham hotshot Jay Stansfield this transfer window, after he excelled with Birmingham City last campaign.

It does look as if the money rich Blues could have an upper-hand in any impending tussle for Stansfield's services however, with Witcoop further updating that talks have taken place for the striker to return to St. Andrew's, who is noted as having a £5m+ price-tag above his head.

Sunderland have previously been interested in the 21-year-old, but this extortionate asking price from the Cottagers could put off the Black Cats, as Birmingham look to clinch another coup for League One.

Yet, if Sunderland want to show they mean business next season after a dismal 2023/24 campaign, they could go all in for Stansfield, who is arguably an upgrade on the Ligue 2 Golden Boot winner they're currently in hot pursuit of.

How Stansfield could be viewed as an upgrade on Mendy

Mendy, aged 30, did set the French second division alight last season, with the Caen number 19 bagging 22 strikes in the league, but the cut and thrust of the Championship is a different kettle of fish altogether.

Stansfield took to the pressures of the demanding division well last season, even when lining up for a side that fell victim to relegation, with 12 league goals managed for the Blues from 43 clashes.

Non-penalty goals

0.32

0.47

Total shots

2.62

2.62

Shot-creating actions

2.32

1.90

Progressive passes

1.46

1.39

Progressive carries

2.48

0.47

Successful take-ons

1.03

0.33

Touches in attacking penalty area

4.83

5.07

Progressive passes received

5.37

6.61

Operating as more of a mobile threat when compared to Mendy, as can be seen glancing at the table above looking at their respective numbers involving progressive carries and successful take-ons, Stansfield might also suit the youthful side Le Bris will have at his disposal soon more so over the more fox-in-the-box presence of the current Caen man.

Stansfield will also have lots more room to grow and develop into an even more exceptional forward option, whilst Mendy could have well peaked already in Ligue 2, before becoming an expensive flop down the line.

Described as being a forward player that has "got it all" by his former Exeter City teammate in Kevin McDonald, Sunderland would send a statement out to the Championship if they did win Stansfield's services.

Both strikers entering the building would be an unlikely dream scenario, as Le Bris aims to stamp his authority onto the Sunderland starting lineup, ahead of the new Championship season kicking off next month.

Outscored Clarke: Sunderland lodge bid to sign Dijbril Cisse 2.0

Sunderland could finally have the potent striker they’ve been searching high and low for with this signing.

ByKelan Sarson Jul 17, 2024

With the Test ending in two days, and spinners taking 28 of the 30 wickets to fall, the Ahmedabad pitch has come into sharp focus

Nagraj Gollapudi25-Feb-20216:11

Rohit Sharma – ‘Intent wasn’t to survive, but to score’

Was the Ahmedabad pitch poor?Virat Kohli rates it ‘very good’; Alastair Cook calls it ‘so hard’; Sunil Gavaskar says “challenging”; Andrew Strauss says balance “too much in favour” of spinnersThe first Test at the new Narendra Modi stadium will be remembered as the shortest one ever played in India. This day-night Test, the first first-class match played at the ground since 2013, will also be remembered as the shortest completed Test globally since 1935. It had no place for the fast bowlers, who took only two of the 30 wickets to fall. The match finished 98 minutes before end of play on day two, forcing Indian captain Kohli to term it as the most “bizzare” Test he had played in his career.Related

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But what about the performance of the biggest protagonist of this two-day drama: the pitch? While purists labelled it as definitely poor, Kohli called it “very good”, and, instead blamed the batsmen on both teams for coming up with an “under par” performance against good spin bowling.”[It was] a very good pitch to bat on – especially in the first innings – and it felt like the ball was coming on nicely with the odd-ball turning,” Kohli said. Axar Patel and R Ashwin hounded England for a second successive day, to help India take a pivotal 2-1 series lead in the four-Test series. The defeat eliminated England from the race for the second finalist spot in the World Test Championship, to be played in June.What confounded Kohli was the fact that nearly 21 out of the 30 wickets fell to the straighter delivery from the spinners. “It was just, I would say, below-par batting from both teams. Our bowlers were much more effective and that’s why we got the result,” he said.4:15

Match Day: Bad pitch or bad batting?

Not everyone agreed with Kohli though. Among those who differed included two former England captains – Strauss and Cook, who felt Kohli was being protective of the groundsmen. Both Strauss and Cook are experts for , the series broadcaster in the UK.According to Cook, who led England to a 2-1 series victory on the 2012-13 tour in India, the degree of turn on offer for the spinners was too much and came into play way too early. “We saw a stat that says this pitch has spun more than any other pitch in India,” Cook said. “There’s been so many other balls that have gone straight on as well. So that means when it is turning, it is turning miles. When you see the highlights and the ball skidding on you, we don’t see the build-up: when the exact same ball is spinning miles.”Cook said the pitch was the main cause behind the batsmen’s struggles. “Virat Kohli’s come out and defended the wicket almost as if it’s a BCCI thing – it cannot possibly be the wicket. Yet it was so hard to bat on that today. .

Mitchell Starc briefly threatened to burst the game open in Adelaide after New South Wales had declared behind in a game dominated by batsmen, but South Australia recovered to extend their advantage to 209.The Redbacks are in a similar position to the previous round where they will need to judge a target to set on the final day – last week they were one wicket short of victory at the WACA – although the late loss of Travis Head, edging Nathan Lyon to slip, kept New South Wales in with a chance of bowling them out.After starting their second innings with a lead of 116 they lost two early wickets as Starc, who earlier scored an unbeaten half-century, recaptured the late swing that he has struggled to find consistently this season in the first-class game. He shaped deliveries into the pads of Henry Hunt and Liam Scott to win lbw appeals which left South Australia 2 for 1 in the fourth over.The in-form Head responded aggressively, getting off the mark with a cut over point for six off Starc, and added 77 for the third wicket with Jake Weatherald before a lovely delivery from Lyon found the edge late in the day and was neatly held by David Warner.South Australia had visions of bowling New South Wales out to gain a significant lead when they had them 6 for 259. Kurtis Patterson reached his century before becoming the first first-class wicket for left-arm wristspinner Joe Medew-Ewen when he drove a catch to short cover.Peter Nevill’s half-century was ended when he edged the new ball to second slip straight after lunch before any hope the home side had of rattling through the lower order was halted by Starc and Sean Abbott as the pair added 80 for the seventh wicket following their partnership of 189 against Tasmania earlier in the season. South Australia have still to bowl a side out in this year’s competition.

Messi couldn't not convert chances he usually finishes with ease and Miami couldn't get past a determined Atlanta side as a result.

Good fortune wasn't enough for Lionel Messi and Inter Miami as they lost 2-1 to Atlanta United at Mercedes-Benz Stadium in Game 2 of their First Round MLS Playoffs series.

Miami took advantage of a controversial situation in the first half as Federico Redondo appeared to interfere with Brad Guzan's goalkick in the 39th minute. The midfielder stood directly in Guzan's range of motion on the delivery and the ball sputtered out with Redondo then finding defender Hector David Martinez in the box. The center back lofted a soft chip directly past a scrambling Atlanta defense to score on an empty net. The moment appeared to be back-breaking for the home side, but they would respond dramatically in the second half.

Derrick Williams took advantage of some poor set-piece defending to score the equalizer while supersub Xande Silva also benefitted from some lackadaisical defending to seal the win for Atlanta.

All eyes now turn to Miami, which will host Game 3 at their stadium. Will the club be able to deliver on sky high expectations? Time will tell.

GOAL rates Inter Miami's players following the Game 2 loss…

ImagnGoalkeeper & Defense

Drake Callender (6/10):

Made three impressive saves, including stopping what would have been a Goal of the Year candidate from Atlanta star Alexey Miranchuk midway in the first half. Couldn't do much with either goal scored.

Hector David Martínez (6/10):

Hey, it's not his fault controversial circumstances created the goal he scored. And he made sure he converted it with a soft chip at an open net with Atlanta scrambling (more on that below). He also made some key clearances, but was part of the group culpable for the game-winner.

Noah Allen (8/10):

Was a surprise inclusion to replace Busquets (illness), but the midfielder-turned-defender was impressive in a rare start. Allen excelled in the sweeper role Busquets has recently been tasked. He made nine clearances (!) and his top moment might have came midway in the first half where he stopped Jamal Thiaré from a clear cut chance on a killer pass. Subbed off when Tata Martino went for additional striker. He probably should have stayed on.

Tomas Aviles (4/10):

Was sloppy at times for Inter, getting called for two fouls and barely made an impact in winning the ball.

AdvertisementMidfield

Jordi Alba (6/10):

Was at his creative best at the first half, trying to fill the void of Busquets, but was kept quiet in the second half as Atlanta grabbed the momentum. His through-ball to Messi between two defenders showed why he was once considered the best attacking left-back in the world.

Federico Redondo (4/10):

Tapped into a master of the dark arts moment as he clearly interfered with Guzan's goal kick, but was fortunate to walk away with an assist as United's keeper didn't go full motion on his kick. Otherwise didn't offer much on either side of the pitch.

Yannick Bright (5/10):

Miami struggled to control the midfield in the first half and Bright's struggles were part of the reason. He is one of MLS's better ball-winning midfielders, but he couldn't stop Atlanta from creating chances from the center of park and offered nothing on attack. Tough outing, but it was revealed he was dealing with a hamstring injury. His replacement Benjamin Cremaschi didn't offer much better.

Marcelo Weigandt (6/10):

Put in a shift for Miami, leading the team in tackles and was tidy with the ball in attack on the other end. Didn't stand out, but didn't cause any mistakes – which was vital.

ImagnAttack

Lionel Messi (4/10):

This might have been Messi's most human performance since joining MLS, and that's saying a lot. He was off his game the entire match, missing easy chances throughout the match. The biggest might have came in the 83rd minute when he was wide open in the box but in a rare moment shot off his right foot as opposed to his famous left. The shot went way into the stands. Was also called offside on the moment where he finally beat Guzan in the 90+2 mark.

Luis Suarez (4/10):

Looked every bit of 37 Saturday night, he couldn't past Atlanta's defense and missed a sitter in the second half that would have iced the game in regulation.

Diego Gomez (6/10):

Started brightly as he created a clear cut chance for Messi that the Argentine should have buried. Was almost non-existent in the second half before being subbed.

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Subs & Manager

Benjamin Cremaschi (3/10):

This is harsh on the teen, but he provided a ton of energy and very little impetus in Miami's loss. He lost his man on the set piece that gave Atlanta its first goal and renewed hope.

Matías Rojas (N/A):

Came on for Gomez at the 84th minute and was largely unable to change much.

Leonardo Campana (N/A):

Came on in the 84th minute for Allen and struggled to make an impact. Should've came on for Suarez instead.

Tata Martino (5/10):

Made a brave decision to start Allen, which paid off as the defender was Miami's best player on the night. He will rue the set piece defending on Atlanta's first goal. His tactical call to go for it in the final 10 minutes would backfire dramatically though as none of his attacking subs had an impact and his team was caught with a defensive lapse to concede the winner.

Manchester United are still keen on signing a "phenomenal" new forward in the summer transfer window, with a player plus cash move involving a current Red Devils star possibly on the cards.

Man Utd transfer news

Erik ten Hag will be hoping to see his squad improve significantly ahead of next season, following a disappointing campaign overall that saw his side finish eighth in the Premier League table.

It will be fascinating to see which new signings come in at Old Trafford, and it looks as though Everton centre-back Jarrad Branthwaite is still a leading option to come in and boost the defensive options on show. Raphael Varane has left, while Harry Maguire and Jonny Evans aren't the answers, and the England international could be an exciting addition.

Meanwhile, Ten Hag has reportedly personally held talks with Bologna striker Joshua Zirkzee over a switch to United in the near future, with the Dutchman seen as someone who could add more goals in the final third. He has 23 goal contributions (14 goals and nine assists) in 58 appearances for Bologna, and at 23 years of age, his best years are likely to lie ahead.

The Red Devils are believed to be willing to double Barcelona defender Ronald Araujo's wages, too, with the Uruguayan currently earning £114,000 per week at the Catalan giants. He could represent a more experienced option to Branthwaite, should the Everton man end up not joining.

Man Utd want "phenomenal" striker

According to La Repubblica [via Sport Witness], Manchester United haven't given up hope of signing Napoli striker Victor Osimhen yet, with the Nigerian expected to leave his current club in the current transfer window for a fee in the region of £85m.

The report says that "in recent months, United have tried to convince Napoli for Osimhen", offering money plus the services of Rasmus Hojlund, which may come as something of a surprise, but the report claims this is an idea which could now be revisited after the arrival of Dan Ashworth.

Osimhen is one of the world's leading strikers at the moment, considering he has scored 76 goals in just 133 matches for Napoli, as well as being hailed by Walter Mazzarri, who heaped praise on him: "Osimhen is phenomenal because he runs alone at five players and gets through. If you look at genuine scoring opportunities, compared to the number Napoli created lately, I didn’t see that many."

While the 25-year-old is clearly an elite-level striker who could be a devastating addition for United, selling Hojlund would seem like a strange decision, considering his long-term potential. Granted, he hasn't yet set the world alight at Old Trafford, but he has done enough to suggest that he is a star of the future, scoring 16 times in 43 appearances for the Red Devils.

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That being said, if push truly comes to shove this summer, Osimhen would still represent an immediate upgrade on Hojlund and become a potential icon at Old Trafford, kicking off the Ashworth era in style and acquiring the services of a wonderful footballer.

Nobody is really quite sure how Leeds United will handle a second successive season in the Championship, especially with so many key first-team individuals not having their futures set in stone.

Archie Gray, Wilfried Gnonto and Crysencio Summerville just to name a few could all be off this approaching summer transfer window, with Daniel Farke having to pick the pieces up and go again, no matter what his squad looks like, to try and spearhead another promotion push from the dug-out.

The play-off final losers could opt to shop back in the Bundesliga to bring in new and fresh exciting talents to ease the potential mass exodus from West Yorkshire, with one target potentially an upgrade on Gnonto if the Italian attacker ends up relocating.

Leeds looking at £8m forward

According to German football website BILD, Leeds are interested in the services of Stuttgart winger Silas Katompa Mvumpa, who has been crucial to his side's fortunes for a number of seasons now.

The 25-year-old attacker would help himself to 13 goal contributions from just 30 games this season, alerting the likes of Villarreal, Fulham, AJ Auxerre and RC Lens who are also now interested parties alongside Farke's men.

Scoring a wonderful solo strike on the final day of the Bundesliga campaign could act as the perfect parting gift, but Leeds will know it won't be easy tempting the Congolese forward to play in England's second tier, especially with a hefty £8m price-tag placed above his head.

Why Silas would be the perfect Gnonto upgrade

If Leeds mean business next season and want a daring replacement for Gnonto, Silas could be the exact attacker they need to take the Championship by storm.

Farke's men are also well aware that they've managed to strike gold purchasing from Germany in the past, with Georginio Rutter a revelation in the second-tier last season, after initially struggling to justify his excessive £35.5m fee joining from TSG 1899 Hoffenheim. Indeed, the forward supplied a whopping 18 assists and scored eight times.

Gnonto only managed to better Silas' numbers by two goals for Leeds during their failed promotion attempt, despite playing 14 more times across the full campaign.

With Daniel James also bettering Gnonto's numbers in the fight for a starting spot down the right wing, with 20 goal contributions in total to the 20-year-old's lesser 12, a new competition could form between James and the standout Stuttgart man if a move is clinched.

Bettering Gnonto further in many of their respective attacking statistics over the last year, Silas would offer Leeds another full-throttle option going forward that could terrorise Championship defences, with the Congolese forward once described as being a "wild" player to watch by Stuttgart boss Sebastian Hoeness.

Silas has also played his part in his now Bundesliga employers winning promotion before, which would stand him in good stead for the challenge of lifting Leeds back up to the Premier League, with his impressive total of seven goals and eight assists from 29 games during the 2019/20 season enough for his side to instantly return to the top German division.

Lining up alongside Rutter, history could repeat itself and the 25-year-old coming in from Stuttgart could be as dazzling to watch as the dynamic Frenchman.

Silas will hope he can be the fresh new buy who can accelerate another promotion push, therefore, as Leeds hunt for new heroes in the market.

Leeds lining up swoop for bargain PL player to replace Gnonto

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Dan Emery

Jun 6, 2024

Australia’s cricketers will carry a giant silk adorned with the Walkabout Wickets logo onto Allan Border Field and then form a barefoot circle with New Zealand in a major public display of solidarity with the nation’s Aboriginal community prior to the first international sporting fixture on home soil since the emergence of the Black Lives Matter movement this year.Plans for such a moment are in line with a long-running process by which the women’s national team has connected ever more deeply with the experiences of Aboriginal Australians and other people of colour, but will carry added significance in the wake of the many conversations opened up around BLM. In particular, Meg Lanning’s team hope to shine light on the fact there have been more than 400 Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander deaths in custody since the Royal Commission into Aboriginal Deaths in Custody handed in its findings in 1991.The team had previously formed a barefoot circle prior to the Reconciliation match played against England in Canberra in February, where the players also took the field wearing Indigenous-inspired playing kit. These public gestures have run hand in hand with education and connection efforts to ensure that all players and staff know the deep and often painful history of Aboriginal Australia and how its initial close connection to cricket – via the inaugural MCG Boxing Day cricket match in 1866 and the more widely known tour of England in 1868 – was lost for decades.ALSO READ: Australian cricket’s Indigenous inclusion – ‘You can’t just window dress things’The Walkabout Wickets design was created by Aunty Fiona Clarke, a descendant of one of the members of the teams that played in 1866 and 1868. The logo will also feature on the collars of both the women’s team, exemplifying a long-term commitment between them and Aboriginal Australia. The concept of forming a barefoot circle is based on the idea of connecting the players to the land and its traditional owners as well as to each other. It will become part of the routine for the team each time they visit a new city.”The great thing about being involved with it was that it wasn’t a superficial event,” Australia’s vice-captain Rachael Haynes has said of the Reconcilitation match played against England last summer. “Quite often when we do things on the field, you walk out as a player and you’re just part of that one moment and then you move on and you play the game. One of the things I really enjoyed about being involved in it was it started perhaps six months before that moment.”CA came and presented to us on the whole concept and then spoke about the jersey that was going to get produced and we did some activities leading into it as well to get an appreciation of indigenous culture. For me as a player that was much more valuable than just stepping out onto the field and going through the ceremony and not perhaps understanding different moments you were part of.”I think that’s something sport has a responsibility to do, just because the lights and cameras are out and flashing, that’s not just the moment you’re looking to capture. If you want to be impactful long term, you’ve actually got to take the opportunity leading in to educate the players on what they’re doing and why they’re doing it and what the opportunity is as well. Rather than just getting them to step out onto the field and be part of a ceremony which is really symbolic and great to be part of, but that shouldn’t be where it stops and starts.”In addition to being pioneers for the professionalisation of women’s cricket, the Australian team have also played a leading role in showing how an elite sporting team can expand its understanding of issues around race and inclusion beyond public actions often queried as “tokenism” without a deeper meaning beneath them.The men’s national team is at an earlier stage of a similar journey, as acknowledged by coach Justin Langer on the recent tour of England after criticism from Michael Holding for not taking the knee.”To be completely honest we could’ve talked more about it perhaps leading up to that first game, there was so much going on leading up to us getting here, maybe we should’ve thought and talked a bit more about it,” Langer said.”What we do talk about in the team is we want to have a response that is sustained and powerful and it can go, not just in one action, but sustained periods, not just throughout this series, throughout our summer, but throughout time.”I know there’s a lot of talk going on within our group about how we can, and I know there’s a lot of talking going on about the Australian women’s team as well, about how we can have a sustained and powerful response to Black Lives Matter. It’s incredibly important.”Ricky Ponting, the former Australian captain, stated this week that BLM and related issues needed to be the subject of plenty of conversations in cricket. “It’s not just about the Australian cricket team, it’s about Australian cricket and it’s about the world game,” Ponting told . “It’s a huge issue in world society at this point and as cricketers we should do what we can to help the cause or around that cause. We should certainly be talking about it.”