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Com gols de Brenner e Luciano, ambos com passagens pelas Laranjeiras, e de Vitor Bueno, o São Paulo bateu o Fluminense de virada por 3 a 1 no Morumbi na tarde deste domingo. Vice-líder, o Tricolor Paulista tem apenas um ponto a menos que o Internacional (16 a 17). O Tricolor Carioca é o sétimo com 11 pontos.

O São Paulo agora enfrenta o Red Bull Bragantino às 19h15 de quarta-feira, novamente no Morumbi. Já o Flu tem o clássico contra o Flamengo às 21h30 do mesmo dia, no Maracanã.

Com a marcação muito bem encaixada, o Fluminense se dispôs a evitar que o São Paulo conseguisse repetir os ótimos momentos que teve no início do jogo contra o Atlético-MG, na última quinta-feira. E conseguiu: o primeiro tempo da equipe de Fernando Diniz ficou muito mais próximo dos 60 minutos ruins do Mineirão do que dos 30 minutos bons. A exceção foi um lance logo aos dez minutos no Morumbi, em que os dois laterais apareceram na área para finalizar: Reinaldo chutou prensado e, na sobra, Igor Vinícius mandou perto da trave de Marcos Felipe.

Os dois voltaram a ser protagonistas aos 39 minutos. Na verdade, coadjuvantes de Wellington Silva. Marcos Felipe lançou, Igor Vinícius deixou passar e foi surpreendido pelo atacante do Fluminense, que ficou com a bola e venceu Tiago Volpi com um tiro de fora da área: 1 a 0.

Não fosse por esse gol, a arbitragem teria provocado as maiores emoções da etapa inicial. Paulo Roberto Alves Júnior, árbitro de campo, chegou a assinalar pênalti inexistente para o São Paulo em uma dividida entre Igor Vinícius e Luccas Claro. Ele foi até a cabine do VAR e, depois de quase quatro minutos de uma inexplicável indecisão, mudou de ideia, apitou falta para o Fluminense e mostrou cartão amarelo ao são-paulino.

Igor Vinícius, Hernanes e Paulinho Boia não voltaram do intervalo. Diniz colocou Juanfran, Igor Gomes e Brenner em seus lugares e, aos oito minutos do segundo tempo, o São Paulo já estava na frente. Brenner empatou aproveitando desvio de Léo após escanteio cobrado por Igor Gomes e só não virou após driblar Dodi e Nino porque a trave não deixou. Luciano conferiu no rebote.

Odair Hellmann chamou Ganso quase que imediatamente, mas nem ele e nem Nenê conseguiram fazer a lei do ex valer a favor do Fluminense. O São Paulo, muito melhor no segundo tempo, esteve sempre mais perto de fazer o terceiro gol – teve ótimas chances com Vitor Bueno e Luciano – do que de tomar o empate. E fez com Vitor Bueno, com um bonito chute de longe nos acréscimos.

FICHA TÉCNICA
SÃO PAULO 3 x 1 FLUMINENSE

Estádio: Morumbi, São Paulo (SP)
Data/Horário: 6/9/2020, às 16h
Árbitro: Paulo Roberto Alves Júnior (PR)
Assistentes: Sidmar dos Santos (PR) e Rafael Trombeta (PR)
Árbitro de vídeo: José Mendonça da Silva Júnior (PR)
Cartões amarelos: Igor Vinícius, Luan (SAO)
Cartões vermelhos: –

Gols: Wellington Silva, aos 39’/1ºT (0-1); Brenner, aos 4’/2ºT (1-1); Luciano, aos 8’/2ºT (2-1); Vitor Bueno, aos 46’/2ºT (3-1)

SÃO PAULO: Tiago Volpi, Igor Vinícius (Juanfran – Intervalo), Diego Costa, Léo e Reinaldo; Tchê Tchê, Gabriel Sara (Luan – 36’/2ºT) e Hernanes (Igor Gomes – Intervalo); Paulinho Boia (Brenner – Intervalo), Vitor Bueno e Luciano (Bruno Alves – 43’/2ºT). Técnico: Fernando Diniz.

FLUMINENSE: Marcos Felipe, Calegari, Nino, Luccas Claro e Egídio; Yuri Lima (Felippe Cardoso – 38’/2ºT), Dodi e Nenê; Michel Araújo (Ganso – 15’/2ºT), Wellington Silva (Luiz Henrique – 18’/2ºT) e Marcos Paulo (Fernando Pacheco – 15’/2ºT). Técnico: Odair Hellmann

Liam Livingstone has many admirers in the England set-up and the first double hundred of his career will make them sit up and take notice

ECB Reporters Network29-Aug-2017
Liam Livingstone made his highest first-class score•Getty Images

Double centurion Liam Livingstone starred to put second-placed Lancashire on course for a crucial Specsavers County Championship win over Warwickshire at Emirates Old Trafford.Lancashire have reached the halfway stage of this Division One encounter with the struggling Bears at 484 for 6 from 122 overs in reply to 200.They lost only three wickets in the day in advancing from 112 for 3 overnight to lead by 284. Bad light ended play seven overs early.Livingstone has struggled to make an impact since winning England T20 honours earlier this summer, but he batted through the entire day for 215 not out off 318 balls with 25 fours and three sixes.It was his first career double and was a reminder of the ability that impressed England during a Lions tour of Sri Lanka last winter.His emphasis, though, remains with Lancashire. “It was good fun,” he said. “We’ve still got work to do tomorrow, but luckily we’re in a good position to push for the win over the next two days. Everyone’s looking for big performances. It’s a big part of the year. We’ve sort of put ourselves in a good position where we can push and try to win as many games as we can and see where we end up.”Nightwatchman Stephen Parry fell for 43 before lunch and Shiv Chanderpaul and Jos Buttler for 95 and 49 after tea.West Indian Chanderpaul narrowly missed out on his 77th career first-class century. He shared 202 in 49 overs with fifth-wicket partner Livingstone from mid-morning to early evening.Left-handed Chanderpaul turned 43 earlier this month, but he shows no signs of slowing up. This 152-ball effort, including eleven fours, came against one of his other three English counties.This is his second spell with Lancashire, while he also represented Durham and Derbyshire as well as Warwickshire briefly in 2011.In a season which has only seen the Bears win one Championship match and sit bottom of the table, there can’t have been too many more frustrating days than this.Livingstone and Parry completed a fourth-wicket stand of 85 before lunch, ended when the latter miscued Jeetan Patel’s off-spin to mid-on two short of a career best score.From there, Livingstone, who hit 168 in a win over Somerset here earlier in the summer, and Chanderpaul rarely looked troubled on a pitch which has shown rare signs of uneven bounce.Livingstone reached his second hundred of the season off 151 balls when he pulled the penultimate ball of the morning from Olly Stone for six over backward square-leg.Chanderpaul, who started particularly fluently before lunch, fell to the first ball of the evening session’s second over when he pulled Wright to Patel at square-leg, leaving the score at 376 for five in the 99th.That brought Buttler to the crease, and he got off the mark with an inside-edge for four to fine-leg later in the over before lofting Patel for six over long-on shortly afterwards as Lancashire closed in on a fifth batting point.Buttler survived a straightforward drop on 19 by Matthew Lamb at short mid-wicket off Patel before later falling for 49, caught at deep mid-wicket off Andy Umeed’s off-spinners.Earlier in the over, Livingstone reached 200 off 302 balls. The pair shared 82. Ryan McLaren will begin tomorrow’s third day unbeaten on 13.

Scorecard and ball-by-ball detailsA heavy downpour reduced the semi-final to a 42-over contest, but such was Harmanpreet Kaur’s relentless assault that she had enough time to reel off 171 not out off 115 balls – the third-highest score in the World Cup and fifth-highest overall. She biffed 20 fours and seven sixes – strained shoulder and all – which KO’d defending champions Australia, and vaulted India into the final for the first time since 2005.Arriving at the crease with her team wobbling at 35 for 2 in 9.2 overs, Kaur sensibly saw off the new ball under overcast conditions before unleashing her wrath. She reached her first fifty off 64 balls, her second came off another 26, and her third off a barely believable 17. The acceleration could not have been starker.It wasn’t only Australia who felt the wrath of Kaur. After working legspinner Kristen Beams to deep midwicket at the end of the 35th over, Kaur immediately called for two, but Deepti Sharma stopped in the middle, which resulted in a mix-up. Both batsmen ultimately dived desperately, beat a relay throw, and completed the double, which gave Kaur her third ODI hundred. An infuriated Kaur did not celebrate, however. Instead, she flung her helmet onto the turf and fired verbal volleys at her partner even as the third umpire was called to check on the run-out chance.After the green light came on, Kaur’s first order of business was making up with poor Deepti. The second was firing boundaries in the arc between deep square leg and long-on. India sailed to 281 for 4, but that total appeared smaller when Elyse Villani, making excellent use of her crease, found the boundary with Kaur-esque regularity in the chase. Villani could not do it long enough and her dismissal for a career-best 75 set in motion a collapse: Australia lost 6 for 43. Alex Blackwell’s late blitz – 90 off 56 balls – threatened a jailbreak, but Deepti knocked over her leg stump to lock India for a date with England at Lord’s.Although the day ended with Australia – finalists in six out of the previous eight World Cups – realising they won’t be playing for the championship, it had begun entirely differently. After a rain delay of three hours and 45 minutes, Megan Schutt struck in the first over to hand Smriti Mandhana her sixth successive sub-15 score in the tournament. Soon, Punam Raut, who struck a century in India’s group match against Australia, attempted a low-percentage hoick off Ashleigh Gardner, the offspinner, and holed out to deep midwicket. Mithali Raj and Kaur then played percentage cricket and added 66 for the third wicket.Elyse Villani smacked a career-best 75 off 58 balls•Getty Images

Raj was dropped at midwicket on 34 but she misjudged the next ball from Beams – a flat slider – and was bowled for 36. Australia threw everything at Kaur – seam, left-arm spin, offspin, legspin and even part-time dibbly-dobblers – but she did not budge. The closest they came to dismissing her was when Schutt speared one down the leg side and had Kaur overbalancing, but Alyssa Healy, the wicketkeeper, did not collect the ball cleanly and missed a difficult stumping chance. Kaur had been 35 at that point.She raised her half-century when she swatted Beams to the midwicket boundary, and was particularly severe on Jess Jonassen’s left-arm spin, taking her for 45 off only 20 balls. But Kaur hit the peak of her ball-striking prowess when she smashed Gardner for four successive boundaries, including three over the leg side, in the 37th over, which was also the first of the batting Powerplay. The carnage continued during the 24-ball window as India pillaged 57, of which Kaur scored 47.There was no such joy for Australia’s much-vaunted top four. Shikha Pandey stormed through Beth Mooney’s gate with a full delivery that pitched on leg stump and seamed so very late to hit off. Ian Bishop, on TV commentary, called it the ball of the tournament. But, three overs later, Jhulan Goswami produced a similarly unplayable delivery, which too changed direction at the last minute, to leave Meg Lanning staring at her off stump in shambles. The No. 1-ranked batsman in women’s cricket was out for a duck, and her side would later slip to a precarious 21 for 3 by the eighth over.Villani swept and punched her way to a 41-ball half-century, Blackwell raised hers off only 36 deliveries, and Ellyse Perry came within 12 runs of her sixth successive fifty, as Australia came close, but not close enough.While India will dream of securing their maiden World Cup title, Australia will look to shake this off like a bad dream.

Wolfsburg defender Micky van de Ven is keen on joining Tottenham Hotspur this summer and manager Ange Postecoglou personally believes Spurs have a great chance of signing him.

Who will Spurs sign?

The Lilywhites are aiming to take this transfer window by storm and back Postecoglou in his attempts to restore exciting, expansive football at Hotspur Way.

Jose Mourinho, Nuno Espirito Santo and Antonio Conte before him encouraged a more pragmatic style but Postecoglou appears determined to deploy a much more different approach.

“In terms of how quickly the players embrace it, the new players coming in will help," said the former Celtic boss on his playing style.

"That’s the part I have control over – whether that’s James or Guglielmo in goal.

"They’re players who fit in the direction I want to go in. Then it’s about seeing with the existing group how many of them are able to adjust and embrace the way we’re going to play.”

Spurs have already sealed the signings of goalkeeper Guglielmo Vicario from Empoli, a deal for James Maddison from Leicester City, the free transfer of Manor Solomon and Dejan Kulusevski on a permanent deal from Juventus.

The aforementioned boost Tottenham's options defensively and going forward, with reports suggesting they're now targeting major additions for their central defensive line.

There are a fair few names attracting Spurs' interest, including van de Ven, Edmond Tapsoba of Bayer Leverkusen, Fulham's Tosin Adarabioyo, Barcelona's Clement Lenglet and Galatasary star Victor Nelsson.

Van de Ven, though, is at the centre of reports claiming he is closing in on a move to north London – with reliable media sources like Fabrizio Romano claiming a deal is close.

As per The Daily Mirror and journalist Darren Lewis, Postecoglou personally thinks the Dutchman will be Tottenham's "fifth summer signing" after Vicario, Maddison, Solomon and Kulusevski.

The Australian is apparently confident he will join Spurs, and much like Romano, the Mirror claim an agreement is nearing. As well as this, van de Ven is thought to be keen on making the move to N17, a factor which could support Daniel Levy's attempts to sign him.

The 22-year-old is thought to command a price tag of around £25 million, a figure which may well be affordable from Tottenham's perspective.

How good is Micky van de Ven?

According to WhoScored, the defender stood out as a real shining light under Wolfsburg boss Niko Kovac last campaign.

Making more blocks per 90 than any of his teammates, van de Ven also ranked among Wolfsburg's top three best players for clearances made on average (WhoScored).

Indeed, it speaks volumes that Kovac selected van de Ven more than any other of his outfield players in the German top flight last year (WhoScored).

Called a "monster" of a player on Voetbal International, the Bundesliga website have described him as a lightning quick player and even compared him to Liverpool's Virgil van Dijk.

They wrote:

"Much like Liverpool’s Dutch centre-back, Van de Ven can be a nightmare for attacking players with his immense strength, determination and precision tackling scuppering the most promising of forward moves.

"With incredible pace and passing ability among his many assets, the Netherlands U21 international – who captained his country at the 2023 UEFA Europan Under-21 Championship – is on course to become a regular for the senior Oranje in the near future."

Newcastle United target Harvey Barnes is 'open to' the prospect of moving to the North East from Leicester City this summer, according to journalist Ben Jacobs.

How good is Harvey Barnes and why are Newcastle United keen on him?

Barnes has been a steady performer on the left flank for Leicester City in the Premier League over the last few years and had a positive campaign on a personal level last term despite the Foxes' relegation, netting 13 goals and laying on three assists in 40 appearances across all competitions, as per Transfermarkt.

The Times report that a deal that would see Barnes move to St James' Park is edging closer after fresh talks between both parties in the last few days and a fee in the region of £35 million could be agreed this week.

Suppose an agreement is concluded for Barnes to head to Newcastle United. In that case, the Magpies will have 'spent their net transfer budget' for this window, following on from the high-profile arrival of Sandro Tonali from AC Milan for £55 million.

Journalist Simon Jones revealed in his Transfer Confidential that both Manchester United and West Ham United are keen to strike a deal for Barnes.

Allan Saint-Maximin may be offloaded by the Magpies in order to raise funds to acquire Barnes, though there are doubts over whether Eddie Howe's men would be able to match Leicester City's £40 million valuation, which differs from The Times' claims over a £35 million agreement.

Speaking to Football FanCast, journalist Jacobs has indicated that Barnes is open to the possibility of joining Newcastle United.

Jacobs told FFC: "That £40 million number is not something that Newcastle necessarily want to pay. I think the Newcastle starting position will be well under that number. Things have advanced on the player's side, who's open to the move and things are progressing as far as talks now. At the time we're recording this, I'm not aware of the formal offer. That may change by the end of the week or over the course of the weekend."

Who else could Newcastle United sign this summer?

According to L’Equipe via TEAMtalk, Lille striker Johnathan David has been linked to Newcastle United and boss Howe is reportedly monitoring the Canada international's situation.

Inter Milan defender Federico Dimarco is another name on the radar at St James' Park and the Magpies are believed to have 'sounded out' a move for the 25-year-old, as per Football Transfers.

Discussions are at a very early stage and Newcastle United have asked Inter Milan to name their asking price for the cultured defender this window.

Chronicle Live understand that despite Newcastle United's interest in Arsenal defender Kieran Tierney, no offer has yet been submitted to the Gunners as of yet.

Foot Mercato via The Sun claim that Lyon's Rayan Cherki, who has also received attention from Chelsea, is someone who is admired by the North East giants and could be sought after to provide versatility and competition this campaign.

In the next few weeks, we will find out more about who Newcastle United value as key targets as the 2023/24 season edges closer to getting competitively underway.

Carlos Brathwaite has struggled since the World T20, but West Indies’ chairman of selectors Courtney Browne said the allrounder was an ‘investment’ that will eventually reap rewards

ESPNcricinfo staff27-Feb-20170:57

‘I will never ever hit four sixes in four balls again’ – Brathwaite

Courtney Browne, the West Indies chairman of selectors, has said that allrounder Carlos Brathwaite cannot be expected to produce the heroics of the World Twenty20 final each time he plays. Browne was commenting on Brathwaite’s lean form with the bat in the recently-concluded Regional Super50 domestic one-day tournament, won by Barbados Pride, Brathwaite’s team.Since the beginning of 2016, Brathwaite has scored just 304 runs in 27 List A games at an average of 14.47, with a highest score of 46. With the ball, he has taken 46 wickets at an average of 30.66. Brathwaite, who was recently made West Indies’ T20 captain, hasn’t enjoyed too much success in the shortest format either. In 26 T20s since 2016, Brathwaite has managed just 212 runs at 12.47 and 33 wickets at an average of 30.66.”What you must understand is this is still a young man,” Browne told a Caribbean radio station. “If we expect Carlos to repeat what he did in the World Cup every single time, we’re going to fool ourselves. Carlos needs to develop like any other cricketer. We’ve dug ourselves in a massive hole over the years, there’s no quick fix to our problem. It is about hard work. It’s not about ‘you’ve had five games, you have not performed’ so just throw the player away.”Browne pointed out that Brathwaite has earned a lot of respect from coaches and captains over the years with his attitude and hardwork. In January, Brathwaite opted to leave early from the Sydney Thunder in the Big Bash League where he was signed as a replacement for fellow West Indies allrounder Andre Russell.Incidentally, he was one of the three players – along with Darren Bravo and Marlon Samuels – to decline a WICB contract late last year. Although he is an attractive buy for teams across domestic Twenty20 leagues, Brathwaite has said he wants to focus on doing well for West Indies.Brathwaite, Browne said, was an “investment” that would come good eventually. “He’s a young player who is a very exciting player on his day, who hasn’t played a lot of international cricket either,” Browne said. “He’s an investment and we all know if we get him right what he can produce for us. Carlos’s strike rate would be more than the other bowlers because of the time of the games when he bowls.”Carlos and a lot of the other players, we have players now who actually want to play, we have players who are committed, they are self-starters, they work hard. When you see players who are doing that, you know that you will be able to create that environment that is conducive to producing cricketers that can perform consistently.”Browne said West Indies’ selection panel are likely to give players an extended run in the playing XI to help them develop, as opposed to the approach of selection in the past.”We are number eight in the world because we put ourselves there by playing bad cricket over the years by making bad decisions. When you look at our players, there are some who have been given a little extension because you want them to develop,” Browne said.”We don’t want to have a case where you have a whole bunch of players, like what used to happen in the past, where we had so many players, all of them had games under their belts but none ever got a good extension or fair run to help them to develop. We need to develop cricketers.”

Manchester City have reached a £30m agreement to sign Chelsea midfielder Mateo Kovacic, according to Fabrizio Romano.

What’s the latest Man City transfer news?

Pep Guardiola’s side are already on the hunt to bolster their historic treble-winning squad ahead of the 2023/24 season, with Kovacic appearing to be a key target.

The Croatia international was first linked with a move to the Etihad Stadium at the beginning of May, and rumours haven’t gone away since. Reports claimed earlier in the month that personal terms were agreed between Manchester City and Kovacic, and there has now been a further breakthrough when it comes to a transfer.

Romano took to Twitter on Wednesday to provide a key update on the negotiations. The transfer expert said that an agreement has been reached between the two clubs, with a medical to follow in the coming days.

“Mateo Kovacic joins Manchester City from Chelsea, fee agreed and done deal — here we go! Agreement between clubs just reached for £30m fee. Personal terms agreed two weeks ago, Kovacic only wanted Man City. Medicals in the next days. New midfielder for Pep.”

Romano then shared a breakdown of how the fee will be paid.

“Manchester City will pay a guaranteed fee of £25m to Chelsea. £5m will be also included in add-ons to be activated only if/when Man City will win titles — not player’s performances.”

Who else could Man City sign this summer?

It looks as if Kovacic will be City’s first major signing of the summer, with the midfielder, hailed as an "unbelievable footballer" in the media, seemingly keen on a transfer.

The Chelsea man will provide a versatile midfield option as he is capable of playing in defensive, central and attacking roles and will also arrive with 142 games of Premier League experience under his belt. However, the £150,000-a-week star may not be the only Croatia international to make the move to Manchester.

Reports have suggested that RB Leipzig defender Josko Gvardiol is also willing to sign for the Premier League champions, with an agreement appearing to be close with the Bundesliga side.

It could be a busy few weeks for those at the Etihad as they aim for a fourth top-flight title in succession, and over the coming days, Kovacic could well sign on the dotted line.

Chelsea are on the hunt for a new goalkeeper this summer, as Todd Boehly reportedly hopes to land a new first choice shot-stopper in the upcoming transfer window.

The Blues spent a monumental figure exceeding £500m last season in a bid to improve their squad, all to little avail as Stamford Bridge saw the club’s lowest finish since the 1993/94 campaign.

If reports are to be believed, Chelsea could spend big once more with a number of players already linked with a potential move ahead of the window.

What’s the latest on Mike Maignan to Chelsea?

As understood by 90min, AC Milan goalkeeper Mike Maignan was mentioned in discussions with Chelsea officials.

The report claims that Blues representatives mentioned their interest in the goalkeeper while discussing the potential deal between the two clubs for Ruben Loftus-Cheek.

Their approach was reportedly dismissed by Milan, though taking into consideration the clubs’ hopes to sign a new 'keeper, the Rossoneri favourite could be a name destined for Stamford Bridge.

What could Mike Maignan bring to Chelsea?

Hailed as being a “giant” by talent scout Jacek Kulig, the Frenchman has established himself as one of Europe’s strongest goalkeepers for his performances at San Siro.

The 27-year-old, who ascended up the ranks at Paris Saint Germain, could be a revelation at Chelsea, who have jousted between the talents of Edouard Mendy and Kepa Arrizabalaga this past season.

Branded as a “liability” by former Blues defender Mario Melchiot, Kepa has had an eventful time since signing from Athletic Bilbao in 2018 for a fee of £71.6m, with him now rated at just £26m by the CIES Football Observatory.

While the Spaniard has displayed his talents on numerous occasions, he’s had his fair share of mishaps on and off the pitch, and was benched by Mendy following the Senegalese ace’s arrival in the capital.

Now, the end of the road for the 28-year-old could be in sight if reports regarding Maignan are to be believed.

As per Sofascore, the Milan goalkeeper has conceded an average of 1 goal per game in Serie A this season, marginally fewer than Kepa, who averages 1.1 per game in the Premier League.

Criticised by Jamie Redknapp for not making ‘nearly enough saves’, the Spaniard has been placed into the spotlight in the past for his weaknesses in saving shots from distance.

As displayed in a graphic presented by Sky Sports below, the former Bilbao ace is familiar with conceding from outside the box, with the pattern reinforced this season with him conceding six from such areas, via Sofascore.

Maignan could eliminate the weakness that the current Chelsea 'keeper possesses, as evidenced by him conceding just two from distance this campaign, as well as recording three saves caught to Kepa’s none, despite playing fewer games as per Sofascore.

Chelsea’s inconsistencies between the sticks must be resolved this summer, with not many clubs switching between their goalkeepers throughout the season due to poor performance.

In signing the £59k-per-week beast, Mauricio Pochettino could unearth a reliable and commanding number one in the bid to significantly improve things at the Bridge.

Chelsea are interested in bringing Napoli striker Victor Osimhen to Stamford Bridge.

What’s the latest on Victor Osimhen to Chelsea?

According to the Guardian, a new frontman is one of the club’s priorities and the 24-year-old has been earmarked as a possible candidate.

Indeed, the report notes that the London club are 'interested' in the Napoli striker and Inter star Lautaro Martínez.

That said, whilst the Blues eye a sensational summer swoop for the €100m (£87m) Nigerian, Mauricio Pochettino is still yet to conclude how to deal with Romelu Lukaku, whose future in west London looks extremely murky.

Is Osimhen better than Lukaku?

The 25-cap Osimhen has enjoyed the season of dreams and has been simply unstoppable at times.

The marksman netted 25 Serie A goals to underline his status as the division’s top scorer and also forged the best minute-per-goal ratio (100 mins) in the league, as per BBC Sport.

The focal point emerged as the title-winning catalyst that secured the Partenopei their first Scudetto in 33 years as he achieved immortalisation in one of Europe’s most adoring and fervent football cities.

Italian legend and former Chelsea ace Gianfranco Zola recognised Osimhen’s magnificent quality saying: “He’s a very complete player. He’s got a good reference going forward, he can link up play and he’s devastating in the air. He’s a pest to defenders.”

From a Chelsea perspective, a player of this potency and productivity would be invaluable, especially when assessing the west Londoner’s hapless form in front of goal.

Their abysmal haul of 38 goals in as many top-flight games is their lowest-ever tally as it's been an issue that has plagued their disastrous record-breaking campaign.

The 2021 Champions League winners already have Lukaku in their ranks, but it remains to be seen if he wants to return and what Pochettino thinks.

Nevertheless, when you consider the Belgian’s form this season and his frighteningly little contribution last term, it seems most logical for both parties to go their separate ways.

After his £97.5m move to Chelsea, he netted three goals in his first three Premier League outings, but then only found the net on five occasions in the following 23 attempts, a run which included an outrageously controversial interview, where he expressed his desire to return to Inter.

Although the powerhouse has been more fruitful since returning to the Italian capital, scoring ten in 24 league outings, that is still a far cry from Osimhen's enormous tally.

Add to that his hideous lack of movement, mobility, and motivation for the Blues and it would make sense for the English side to pursue a more dynamic, hungry, and pacey forward, which could come in the form of Osimhen.

Aston Villa are ready to compete in the summer transfer window, after signing off from the 2022/23 Premier League campaign with a seventh place finish and a ticket to Europe next season.

Unai Emery’s side clinched a spot in the UEFA Europa Conference League with a win on the final day, to round off a dramatic turnaround of events at Villa Park this year.

Now, the club have been linked with a potential move for a player whose season ended far from the heights of European football, with the Championship looming for the expected-to-depart ace.

What’s the latest on Harvey Barnes to Aston Villa?

As reported by The Independent last week, Leicester City star Harvey Barnes is expected to be on the move this summer, with Villa reportedly leading the chase for the forward.

The Englishman is reported to have a price tag of £50m, however, the asking price could be significantly reduced considering the Foxes’ relegation.

The Independent speculate that Villa’s “continued promise” under Emery makes them the likeliest destination for Barnes, as well as a “strong package” that the club can put together.

What could Harvey Barnes bring to Aston Villa?

In what has been an abysmal season for Leicester, Barnes has continued to shine in the Premier League, as shown by his 13 goals scored this campaign.

Hailed as “unbelievable” by Liverpool boss Jurgen Klopp, the Englishman has established himself as one of the most threatening wide players in the league, despite playing in tough conditions.

The 25-year-old could add so much to Emery’s budding squad, not just through goals but the impact he could have on those around him.

When Villa signed Emiliano Buendia, the Argentine playmaker had been impressing in the Championship at Norwich City, contributing to a mammoth 31 goals in his final campaign with the Canaries, scoring 15 and assisting 16 in 39 appearances – as per WhoScored.

Since arriving at Villa Park, the 26-year-old has shown glimmers of his true potential, however, continues to hint that the best is yet to come, which is an area that introducing Barnes could improve. Indeed, this term the diminutive figure could only manage five goals and three assists.

Playing as an attacking midfielder for Norwich, the Argentinian formed a partnership with Todd Cantwell, which could be replicated with Barnes at Villa in a bid to get the midfielder back to his best.

Lauded as having “pace and intelligent movement” by WhoScored’s Martin Laurence, Barnes could thrive playing beside Buendia in Emery’s system of a midfield free-for-all.

The Englishman appreciates the importance of having a competent and creative central outlet to make movements for, as seen through his success in playing next to James Maddison.

Barnes’ pace to get in behind, and then to finish could be a dream for Buendia, who has strengths in playing through balls and making key passes – as per WhoScored.

While Leon Bailey is a strong wide player, the Jamaican has scored just four goals this season, incomparable to the impact that Barnes has had in a much poorer side.

Introducing a player of the calibre of the Leicester star would inject quality and positivity to Emery’s exciting project, and could be a shining light in guiding Buendia towards his full potential in claret and blue in having a deadly wide player to his side.