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Queens Park Rangers have been dealt a blow in their bid to bring Stefan Johansen to the Kiyan Price Foundation Stadium this summer.

What’s the talk?

That’s according to a report by West London Sport, who claim that, despite Mark Warburton’s side remaining in negotiations with Fulham, talks regarding the 30-year-old’s transfer to QPR have been held up due to the uncertainty surrounding Scott Parker’s future at Craven Cottage.

It is then reported that, should the 40-year-old indeed go on to leave the recently relegated side this summer, his replacement will want to assess the Fulham squad, something that could curtail the Rs’ proposed move for Johansen altogether.

Warburton will be gutted

With it being thought that a deal for Johansen is one of Warburton’s main priorities in the summer transfer window, the possibility of a move for the midfielder being called off is likely to leave the 58-year-old manager gutted.

Indeed, it is easy to see why the QPR boss is so eager to bring the £1.8m-rated man back to the club ahead of next season, as he highly impressed during a loan spell at the Kiyan Prince Foundation Stadium last term.

Over his 21 Championship appearances for the Rs last time out, the Norway international scored four goals, provided two assists and created two big chances for his teammates, in addition to making an average of 0.8 interceptions, 1.1 tackles and 1.6 key passes per game.

These metrics saw the £8k-per-week man earn a seasonal SofaScore match rating of 7.00, ranking him as Warburton’s sixth-best performer in the second tier of English football.

As such, with QPR undoubtedly hoping to build off the back of a remarkable second half of the season last term – with the club ranking third in the Championship table since the turn of the year – in their upcoming campaign, the return of the midfielder whom Ronny Deila dubbed an “unbelievable” player would certainly appear to increase the Rs’ chances of continuing their assault on the top six in 2021/22.

However, whether or not Johansen will be making a return to the club this summer very much appears up in the air at present, with both Warburton and fans of the club facing an anxious wait regarding Fulham’s eventual decision regarding the 30-year-old.

In other news: Massive QPR transfer news is confirmed, it should have the fans buzzing

England’s women’s U-21 cricket team are celebrating in Dublin tonight havingwon the inaugural U-21 European Cup by comprehensively beating the hoststoday

ECB Media Release09-Aug-2002England’s women’s U-21 cricket team are celebrating in Dublin tonight havingwon the inaugural U-21 European Cup by comprehensively beating the hoststoday. The team beat Ireland U21s by seven wickets, with Arran Thompsonfinishing on 36 not out.Earlier this week, England beat Holland U21s by eight wickets, with Thompson, who had played for the England senior team in last month’s One-Day International triangular tournament, again top-scoring with 35*.England had dismissed Holland for just 53 runs in a reduced over match and took ten overs to reach the target. Today they dismissed Ireland for 89, and reached the target in 25 overs. Leanne Davis (Lancashire), who at 15 was the youngest player ever to represent the England women’s team in a one-day game against South Africa in 2000, took 3-27 from her ten overs and was supported by Beth Morgan (Middlesex) who took 2-19 and Jackie Hawker (Somerset) who dismissed the Ireland tail, taking 2 wickets for 3 runs.England’s match against Scotland was abandoned yesterday due to rain.

Protea and SA “A” discard Gary Kirsten struck form with a century for Nashua WP on Thursday in a pre-season friendly against Easterns at Benoni

Russel Adams12-Sep-2002Protea and SA “A” discard Gary Kirsten struck form with a century for Nashua WP on Thursday in a pre-season friendly against Easterns at Benoni.Kirsten hit an unbeaten 128 not out as Province totalled 325/6. At the close Easterns reached 19/1 at the close in this three day friendly at Willowmore Park, Benoni.

Frank McAvennie has warned that Andriy Yarmolenko could prove to be a ‘virus’ in the West Ham dressing room if he expresses a desire to leave and isn’t granted a move.

McAvennie, who played for the Irons between 1989 and 1992, was speaking to West Ham Zone.

The lowdown

According to Roshane Thomas, West Ham correspondent for The Athletic, Yarmolenko is considering his future this summer. The Ukrainian international started only one Premier League game under David Moyes last season, making a further 14 substitute appearances.

The 31-year-old, listed by Spotrac as the club’s highest earner, is about to enter the final year of his contract.

The latest

McAvennie says that Yarmolenko’s work ethic has cost him a more regular starting place and he urged West Ham to comply with any transfer request, expressing a fear that the ‘good atmosphere’ in the camp may be affected by a player ‘moping about’.

The 61-year-old told West Ham Zone: “I think he’s Moyes’ kind of player, he obviously just isn’t working hard enough for him.

“I think if Yarmolenko wants to move, Moyes will have to get him out because he could change the mood in the dressing room, which has a good atmosphere at the moment.

“I don’t know the boy but he could be a virus.

“It’s better to get rid of them sooner than later if they don’t want to be there, moping about, which will he be if he’s upset at not playing.”

The verdict

Yarmolenko would probably argue that his lack of minutes is mostly down to his misfortune with injuries rather than a lack of commitment to the cause.

McAvennie is right to point out that the mood at West Ham seemed immensely positive last season, and that was perhaps the foundation of their success.

You wouldn’t want to do anything to put that at risk, but they need a larger squad now with European commitments, and every high-achieving club has to face the challenge of keeping peripheral players happy.

In other news, West Ham are now willing to pay European giants for this star. 

Leeds United full-back Niall Huggins has been told he’s free to leave the club, according to Football Insider.

The lowdown

The 20-year-old only signed a new contract at Elland Road last December, seemingly tying him down until 2023.

The Welsh Under-21 international has made one senior appearance, coming off the bench for the final 37 minutes of the 4-2 Premier League defeat to Arsenal in February. He also played 17 Premier League 2 Division Two matches for the under-23s last season, scoring twice and providing one assist.

Primarily playing at left-back, the prospect can line out anywhere across the defence and even throughout the midfield (Transfermarkt).

After a 4-1 victory for the Leeds youngsters against Burnley in January, former Whites left-back Ian Harte hailed Huggins as ‘fantastic’.

The latest

Leeds have apparently decided that Huggins doesn’t have what it takes to force his way into the first team. As a result, he’s been urged to find a new club during the summer transfer window.

Transfermarkt value the 20-year-old at just £180,000 despite his contract extension in recent months.

The verdict

The report describes the news as a ‘bitter blow’ for Huggins, and it’s hard to disagree. Just six months ago, Leeds seemed to indicate that he was an important part of their future by handing him a new deal.

With fellow left-back Ezgjan Alioski just days away from reaching the end of his contract, the young Welsh talent may even have sensed an opportunity to make a step up to more regular first team contention.

Instead, this has the air of a decision that Leeds could come to regret if the 20-year-old can go on to prove himself in the men’s game elsewhere and the Whites find themselves short of full-backs at some point next season.

In other news, this Leeds man is being eyed by a Serie A outfit. 

Just at the time when Leicestershire thought they were putting their problems behind them, they have received a serious blow to their rebuilding plans

Ralph Dellor31-Oct-2002Just at the time when Leicestershire thought they were putting their problems behind them, they have received a serious blow to their rebuilding plans. Things were looking up with the announcement on Tuesday that long-serving administrator Kevin Hill is to take over as general manager and yesterday’s re-signing of Paul Nixon. So it will be a disappointment that Iain Sutcliffe has today turned down the chance of becoming county captain.Left-handed opening batsman and vice-captain Sutcliffe was offered the post when Vince Wells was stripped of the captaincy. Furthermore, the 27 year-old has declined the offer of a new three-year playing contract which will leave a substantial hole in their resources. Last season in first-class cricket he scored over a thousand runs at an average of 41.84 as well as eight hundred runs in limited overs cricket at 38.47.Hill accepted Sutcliffe’s decision with sorrow. “I am obviously disappointed that Iain has decided to pursue his career elsewhere. I had hoped that he and I would work closely together and share the same aspirations to achieve success for the club. I would like to thank Iain for his contribution to the club in recent years and I wish him every success in the future. We have to accept this and move forward. I will be discussing the situation with the club’s management in the near future.”There will be no shortage of offers to Sutcliffe for his services, with Lancashire thought to be among the leading contenders for his signature.

Again, with Test cricket in Bulawayo when I was offline due to a freak fault in my laptop (still not resolved by the manufacturers), I have been unable to devote much time to Zimbabwean cricket outside that match

John Ward25-Nov-2002Again, with Test cricket in Bulawayo when I was offline due to a freak fault in my laptop (still not resolved by the manufacturers), I have been unable to devote much time to Zimbabwean cricket outside that match. We do have, though, a review of the Inaugural Test match, Zimbabwe v India, ten years ago back in 1992, as remembered by the players and officials who were concerned with it. Sad to say, Zimbabwe’s cricket in that match was much more disciplined and successful than it is today.CONTENTSZimbabwe v Pakistan, at Queens Sports Club, Bulawayo – Scorecard | ReportZimbabwe v Pakistan, Test RecordsTest series review and one-day previewInaugural Test review, Zimbabwe v India, 1992/93 ReportLetters

Liverpool have received a crushing blow in their pursuit of Kylian Mbappe, following reports that Paris St-Germain are set to offer the France international a contract extension [Liverpool Echo].

Enjoying a remarkable 2020-21 campaign, Mbappe notched an unbelievable 53 goal contributions in 47 appearances for the Coupe De France winners [Transfermarkt].

Sparking rumours of a switch to the Premier League, Liverpool alongside Real Madrid have been heavily rumoured with a move for to secure his signature.

However, this now looks set to fall by the wayside after the Parisians have stepped up their attempts to keep him at the Parc De Princes.

PSG president Nasser Al-Khelaifi has taken charge of negotiations, whilst the 22-year-old looks likely to tie himself to his current employers for the foreseeable future [Liverpool Echo].

In light of this news, no wonder loads of Liverpool diehards took to Twitter to voice their opinions to the rumours.

Reds fans react:

Replying to The Liverpool Echo’s Twitter feed, here is how some Reds fans summarized these latest developments:

“Oh, for god’s sake, give it a rest. For a paper whose credibility among Liverpool fans is already low you seem determined to hang yourselves on this non-story. We Are Not Signing Mbappe!!”

Credit: @poggiolino”Oh no, nO, NOO! I’d already ordered my new shirt with his name on the back, thought it was a sure bet! For Gods sake people, Mbappe is not coming to LFC, not even on a free, not now, not ever. LFC would never pay that kind of salary on a player even if he was free!”Credit: @chara2_john”Double blow? What? 1. He’s not coming to Liverpool and 2. He was never coming to Liverpool anyway.”Credit: @FireGrd”No way. It looked nailed on a few days ago”Credit: @khan45887895″Only bloody fools will believe we are even in the running to bid mbappe”Credit: @ErnestYap9″Its only a blow if you were stupid enough to full invest your hope on this being true.”Credit: @GregB_LadIn other news, Liverpool fans react to a pursuit of a reported transfer target.

PERTH, Nov 30 AAP – Luckless England has another cricketer in its Ashes casualty ward, with paceman Chris Silverwood ruled out of the third Test in Perth after bowling just four overs.

Michael Crutcher30-Nov-2002PERTH, Nov 30 AAP – Luckless England has another cricketer in its Ashes casualty ward, with paceman Chris Silverwood ruled out of the third Test in Perth after bowling just four overs.Silverwood damaged ligaments in his left ankle last night, leaving another depleted England team to fight Steve Waugh’s Australians.The 27-year-old was only called into the tour party as a replacement for Simon Jones, who was sent home with a knee injury after bowling just seven overs in the first Test.Seven England players have now missed Test action because of injury, just when the tourists needed everything to go their way to have any hope of avoiding their eighth successive Ashes series loss.”To say I’m frustrated is a massive understatement,” Silverwood said.”I’ve waited a long time to get back into the Test side and really wanted to make an impact in this game.”I just felt something go in the ankle on impact in the second ball of my second over.”I decided to stay on but the pain just got worse – it was hurting when I threw out Justin Langer from the boundary.”England selectors had yet to decide whether Silverwood would leave the tour squad, with a three-week break before the Boxing Day Test in Melbourne.The tourists are sweating on spinner Ashley Giles recovering from a broken wrist before the final two Tests, along with batsman John Crawley (hip injury) and paceman Andrew Caddick (back).

Derby County are closing in on a deal to bring Teden Mengi back to Pride Park this summer.

What’s the talk?

That’s according to a report by The Athletic, who claim that Wayne Rooney’s side are nearing the completion of a season-long loan deal for the Manchester United centre-back.

The news comes following the English Football League’s announcement that they will not be appealing a verdict given by an independent disciplinary commission regarding the club’s policy on the amortisation of player registrations, meaning that the Rams will be playing their football in the Championship next season.

Rooney will be delighted

With the completion of a deal for Mengi appearing to rest on which level of English football Derby would be participating in next season, the fact that the Rams will remain a Championship side, and subsequently the green light being given for the 19-year-old to make a return to the club this summer, will have delighted Rooney.

Indeed, despite being thrown into a Derby side in freefall during a loan spell at the club last season, Mengi nevertheless impressed over his nine Championship appearances for the Rams last term.

In the second tier, the £1.35m-rated man helped his side keep one clean sheet, as well as making an average of 1.1 interceptions, one tackle, 2.4 clearances and winning 3.8 duels per game.

These metrics saw the player Rooney dubbed a “fantastic” centre-back earn an average SofaScore match rating of 6.67, playing a key role in the club’s survival from relegation to League One.

As such, with the 35-year-old undoubtedly looking to build a team in the summer transfer window that is capable of much more than simply securing survival next season, the return of the £600-per-week England U19 international is certainly an excellent way to begin Derby’s recruitment drive.

In other news: Nixon drops significant Derby County off-field update, Morris will be fuming