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Manchester United are willing to listen to offers for midfielder Fred this summer despite the player still being considered as "important" at Old Trafford, according to Fabrizio Romano.

Is Fred leaving Manchester United?

Fred has never quite managed to completely win over Man United supporters since his arrival from Shakthar Donetsk in 2018. Despite his best efforts, the midfielder has struggled to show the consistency and quality that many expected of him following his approximately £52m transfer.

Despite having made 213 appearances for the Red Devils and earning 32 caps for the Brazil national team, Fred has often flattered to deceive.

It is therefore unsurprising that the 30-year-old may be moved on this summer as Erik ten Hag aims to mould this United team in his image off the back of a successful debut season at Old Trafford.

According to transfer expert Romano, Fred could well be on his way out of Man United this summer, despite still being held in high regard at the club.

Romano said: "Fred is still considered as an important player by Man United but the reality is that they are open to listening to proposals and negotiating for Fred. So, Fred could be on the move this summer. This is a concrete possibility."

The Italian also lists fellow midfielder Donny van de Beek as a potential summer outgoing, with the Dutchman desperate for more regular minutes, meaning that United may have to reinforce the centre of the pitch this summer.

Mason Mount is on his way to Old Trafford and will be seen as a good upgrade on some of the current midfield options, but more numbers may be required ahead of a season which includes Champions League football.

Fred has been linked with a potential move to Fulham, but also reportedly has other offers on the table. Having spent so highly on the expected arrival of Mount, this could be an opportunity for United to reclaim some of their expenses.

Which midfielders could replace Fred?

One man that Ten Hag and his squad already know intimately is Marcel Sabitzer, who spent the second half of last season on loan at Old Trafford from Bayern Munich.

The 29-year-old featured 18 times for United last term, netting on three occasions, and the Red Devils are reportedly keeping their options open despite Bayern's willingness to sell the Austrian this summer.

There have been some links to Brighton's Moises Caicedo and Southampton's Romeo Lavia too, although respective moves to Chelsea and Liverpool look more likely at this stage.

United's takeover uncertainty means that Ten Hag may be limited in what he can spend, certainly in the opening part of the window, and with a new goalkeeper and centre-forward potentially taking priority, the Red Devils may want to keep Fred around after all.

In his evaluation of the Daredevils campaign, mentor Rahul Dravid said they were done in by their failure to close out tight games, as well as injuries to key players

ESPNcricinfo staff15-May-20171:59

‘Losing the close games is what cost us’ – Dravid

Delhi Daredevils failed to qualify for the IPL playoffs for the fifth year in succession, finishing like they did in 2016 – in sixth place, but with two fewer points. They had made a good start to the 2017 season, but a five-match losing streak ruined their prospects. In his evaluation of the campaign, Daredevils mentor Rahul Dravid they were done in by their inability to close out tight games.”You need eight wins to qualify in this tournament, we got seven last year, six this year and I think the close games we lost probably cost us,” Dravid said after Daredevils lost their final game, against Royal Challengers Bangalore. “If I look at five or six of the games, we were actually ahead and we couldn’t close out those games. Maybe that’s a lack of experience, maybe that’s something we can learn from and take ahead in the future.”There were probably seven or eight games that were close and we probably won only two of them, five or six we lost and you can’t afford to lose that many. Obviously, it is a little bit disappointing but there were positives as well right through the season.”Some of Daredevils’ tactics came in for criticism this year. Left-arm spinner Shahbaz Nadeem, who eventually was their most economical bowler, played only half the games. And while Karun Nair was given an extended run despite his poor form, Rishabh Pant wasn’t batted at the top of the order in the early games. Dravid said some of the decisions were dictated by injuries.”Corey Anderson, at the start, was the Man of the Match against Kings XI and then he got injured for two games. Zaheer Khan got injured in the middle for two or three games. Chris Morris got injured towards the back end of the tournament. There are some injuries, sometimes you do take calculated decisions. Shreyas Iyer was not there for the first two games due to chicken pox.”Few of the changes were obviously forced due to injuries, sometimes you do make tactical changes as well when people are not in form, so it’s hard to assess. Each and every game was different. That’s not really an excuse. I believe we had the squad and the players to make up for that. I think the team was really good, maybe a little bit inexperienced in the batting because of the injuries early on but I still think we had the ability and a lot of opportunities in a lot of the games.”There was also an element of predictability in their pace-heavy attack, featuring Zaheer Khan, Pat Cummins, Kagiso Rabada, Mohammad Shami and Chris Morris, with Corey Anderson as the back-up seamer. The emphasis on beefing up the bowling, according to Dravid, was to compensate for a weakened batting line-up.”Unfortunately for us at the start of the season, after the auction, Quinton [de Kock] and JP [Duminy], who were probably our two experienced players, pulled out of the IPL because of injury and we had to look for replacements at the last minute and, which, I guess, isn’t easy when most of the players are taken.”So, to balance it out, we tried to go with a slightly more experienced bowling attack because we knew we had young Indian batsmen. I think there is a lot of talent … but, maybe, sometimes you have to get the balance right. Maybe we didn’t have a little bit of luck as well: injuries at the wrong time, maybe a couple of guys didn’t kick on as well as we would have liked.”While three of the Daredevils top four – Nair, Sanju Samson, Iyer and Pant – aggregated over 300 runs, none of them made defining contributions. The absence of an experienced Indian batsman, and the reluctance to give England batsman Sam Billings a longer run at the top, hurt Daredevils.”When you look at our batsman, yes, they are all very talented and, yes, they are probably less experienced than some other people but you got to see it in a different context – in a larger context,” Dravid said. “Because, a couple of years ago, in the middle of a big auction, you are not going to get experienced Indian players, nobody releases experienced Indian players.”Once the Indian players are in a franchise, it’s very rare that they get released in the middle of an auction. We obviously took that decision to back some of the young Indian talent and balance it out with some foreign experienced players.”Through the example of Samson, Dravid illustrated the need for in-form batsmen to not let the momentum drop. While Samson scored the first century of IPL 2017 – a match-winning 102 off 63 balls – he only made two more 50-plus scores and finished with 386 runs at an average of 27.57. He scored 0, 2, 10 and 0 in his last four games.”We have all seen flashes of brilliance, we have seen some fantastic performances, he scored a hundred and some of the innings that he has played but, by his own admission, he probably would have liked to be more consistent,” Dravid said. “That’s the nature of the tournament as well: sometimes when you are on a roll, when you are playing well, you can’t afford to relax. You got to keep going because it’s tough if you get into a slump and if you have a few bad games.”

Leeds United winger Jack Harrison could be "snapped up by a Premier League team" this summer due to a release clause in his contract, claims journalist Alex Crook.

What is the latest Jack Harrison transfer news?

It has been a busy summer of transfer activity for the recently relegated Leeds this year, but perhaps not in the way fans would've been hoping, as the club have already seen 11 players go out the door, some on loan like Brenden Aaronson, but some permanently, like Tyler Roberts.

That list of departing players could soon have another name as Spanish striker and Leeds' top scorer last season Rodrigo Moreno has completed his move to Qatari side Al Rayyan.

The Peacocks won't even earn much for the move; his £3m price tag will actually represent a £27m loss on the former Valencia man. The fee is so low due to a release clause in his contract that could be activated after the team's relegation to the Championship last season.

In yet more bad news for new boss Daniel Farke, Football Insider revealed last month that exciting attacker Harrison also has a similar release clause in his contract that could see him leave for just £16m this summer.

With his performances for the Whites over the last few years and that appealing price tag, it shouldn't be a surprise if he ends up playing in England's top flight again next year, per Alex Crook.

He explained the situation on air, which was posted on TalkSPORT's YouTube channel, saying:

"Most of that squad have got similar clauses, I think Jack Harrison will be snapped up by a Premier League team."

Is Jack Harrison good enough for the Premier League?

Harrison has had an interesting journey to get where he is today, moving to the USA in his teens before playing in the MLS and signing for Manchester City.

Following that, he spent four seasons in Yorkshire, making himself one of the first names on the teamsheet for much of that time.

He has certainly proved that he has what it takes to play in England's top tier, and even last season, as the team around him was crumbling, he was able to put in consistently decent performances, with WhoScored giving him an average rating of 6.72 across his 36 appearances.

His underlying numbers were also solid, with FBref, who compare players in a similar position across Europe's top five leagues, placing him in the top 8% for blocks, the top 15% for clearances, the top 21% for interceptions, and the top 32% for assists, all per 90.

His talents are clearly appreciated by his teammates, as left back Junior Firpo waxed lyrical about his teammate on the Leeds official podcast, saying:

"He's one of the best wingers I had, in terms of helping the fullback. This is really important for the fullback when you have a winger that is committed to the work and helps you with the 2 v 1's, especially here in the Premier League where every team has amazing wingers. It's unbelievable to have him."

While Leeds would undoubtedly miss him, for the reported fee of just £16m, he would represent outstanding value for any mid-table team in the Premier League, and it's likely just a matter of when and not if he makes that move this summer.

Right-back is seen as "a priority" position for Newcastle United in the transfer window amid reports linking the Magpies with Tino Livramento, according to Pete Graves.

Is Livramento going to Newcastle?

As Newcastle prepare to embark on a first European campaign in two decades, Eddie Howe knows what he has to do in the transfer market to keep the Magpies competitive.

Not reinforcing his current squad would be nothing short of negligent as Newcastle ready themselves to juggle the Champions League, Premier League and domestic cups next campaign.

One area which Howe is keen to strengthen is his defence. Newcastle boasted the sternest backline in the league last season, alongside Manchester City, and conceded just 33 goals in 38 matches.

However, Howe could largely rely on playing the same back four every week, something which will not be possible next term.

According to Sky Sports' Graves, Newcastle will prioritise signing a new right-back this summer to deputise for Kieran Trippier, with the Magpies eyeing Southampton defender Livramento.

Speaking on the Transfer Talk podcast, Greaves said: "I think they're looking for defensive reinforcements. Some of the fans are confused as to why a left-back isn't a priority and I really think they're targeting a right-back.

"Newcastle last year played Dan Burn predominantly at left-back. He is obviously a centre-back by trade but he did a good job at left-back. They've got Matt Targett there who barely played last season but was brought in of course by Eddie Howe after a really successful loan spell from Aston Villa. They've also got Jamal Lewis still there at the club by the way, who's a left-back as well."

He added: "I think they want a right-back because if anything was to happen to Kieran Trippier, there isn't much cover at right-back. Javier Manquillo I think will be one of the players who may leave and move back to Spain. They've got Emil Krafth who can play right-back but he's still recovering from an injury and isn't going to be playing in pre-season.

"They brought in Harrison Ashby who I'm not sure they quite believe is Premier League ready yet and he might go on loan. So, they like Tino Livramento at Southampton and we know that there has been an offer there and we know talks have continued. But he's in that, we talked about it right at the start of the show, in that bracket of fees I think is getting into ridiculous [numbers]."

Graves suggests that Southampton are looking for £30m for their 20-year-old full-back, while Newcastle are only wanting to pay somewhere between £15-20m.

Livramento could serve as a useful deputy to Trippier but his injury concerns make him a somewhat risky signing. The youngster has only played 30 Premier League games in his entire career so far and is still very inexperienced at the top level.

Whether a deal for Livramento is pursued or not remains to be seen but it appears Howe is prioritising a right-back regardless.

How good is Livramento?

Having only managed one full season at Southampton, it is difficult to gauge how good Livramento really is, but at 20-years-old he is certainly a player with great potential.

One of Livramento's best qualities during the 2021/22 season was his ability to support the attack, often bombing down the right wing to offer an overlap option, or driving the ball forward himself from deep.

Compared to other full-backs in the Premier League in 2021/22, Livramento ranked in the top 11% for progressive carries per 90, the top 14% for carries into the final third and the top 24% for carries into the penalty area.

Considering this was his debut campaign at the top level and he was playing for a struggling Saints side, these are fairly impressive numbers for Livramento to have achieved.

Trippier's sensational attacking output from right-back means the player brought in to share his minutes will need to have a similar level of creativity. Livramento certainly has the potential to be Trippier's heir, but whether he is up for the task right now is questionable.

The defending champions have the most experienced batting line-up in the tournament, and a new-found pace force. Will they be able to block out speculations about their leaders though?

Nagraj Gollapudi01-Jun-20171:05

Will Hardik Pandya provide India the cutting edge?

Overview

Anil Kumble has to go through a fresh interview process to prove his credentials as head coach of India. Virat Kohli, having suffered – by his own admission – the most horrendous IPL, returns to the country where he was humbled on his last visit. Of the batsmen in the Indian squad, only Shikhar Dhawan finished in the top ten run-makers’ list in IPL 2017. R Ashwin, India’s premier spinner, missed the IPL and has not played a competitive ODI match since the series against England in January.While there might be cause for some pessimism, there is also a lot to be optimistic about. India are the defending champions, for starters. Nine out of the 15 were part of the squad that won the title in 2013. Kohli’s side is more experienced than any other, and each of his batsmen can win matches on their own.Squad

Virat Kohli (capt), R Ashwin, Jasprit Bumrah, Shikhar Dhawan, MS Dhoni, Ravindra Jadeja, Kedar Jadhav, Dinesh Karthik, Bhuvneshwar Kumar, Mohammed Shami, Hardik Pandya, Ajinkya Rahane, Rohit Sharma, Umesh Yadav, Yuvraj Singh

ESPNcricinfo LtdMore importantly, India have fast bowlers that can overpower batsmen in various conditions. In India’s warm-up games, the quartet of Mohammed Shami, Bhuvneshwar Kumar, Jasprit Bumrah and Umesh Yadav shot out both New Zealand and Bangladesh without breaking a sweat. India also have the luxury of a seam-bowling allrounder in Hardik Pandya, who struck a brutal unbeaten 80 off 54 balls against Bangladesh.However, some questions remain. They have to pick out the best opening combination from their three primary options: Dhawan, Rohit Sharma and Ajinkya Rahane. On the basis of performance, only Dhawan seems to be a given on the teamsheet. Rahane looked stiff and failed to take off in the warm-ups. Rohit arrived late to the camp and faced three balls in his only innings.Yuvraj Singh, who has not played in England since the World T20 in 2009, was laid low by a viral fever. If he is picked in the XI, should he bat at No. 4 before MS Dhoni or should it be the other way round? If Hardik is picked, should India go with two other fast bowlers or drop a spinner to play three?Kumble and Kohli will need to figure the answers to these questions first. Then then can they bother about proving a point to their detractors.

Champions Trophy history

1998 – Semi-final
2000 – Runner-up
2002 – Joint-champions (with Sri Lanka)
2004 – Group stage
2006 – Group stage
2009 – Group stage
2013 – Champions

Form Guide

India have not played too much one-day cricket since the 2015 World Cup, but they have won their last three ODI series. They wrapped up the away series in Zimbabwe and followed it with victories against New Zealand and England during their home season.

Strength

India have the most experienced batting order. They also bat deep and have the luxury of five allrounders in Yuvraj, Kedar Jadhav, Ashwin, Ravindra Jadeja and Hardik.Bhuvneshwar is the best death bowler in limited-overs cricket, according to Steven Smith; Bumrah is not far behind either. Shami and Umesh can combine velocity with reverse swing when the ball gets old.

Weakness

The emergence of Jadhav and Hardik as capable batsmen has bolstered India’s lower-middle order. Previously that burden fell solely on the shoulders of Dhoni, who had made it clear upon stepping down as ODI captain last year that the baton of the finisher needed to be passed to younger hands.Performances against New Zealand and England have given Kohli confidence in the Jadhav-Hardik. But despite those efforts at home, and Hardik’s imperious innings in the warm-up, the jury will be out on them as finishers in these conditions. There is also the question of whether Hardik can assert himself as a bowler in England on his first visit there. Can he adjust to the conditions and quickly understand the lengths he needs to bowl?

Key Stats

27 – The number of ODIs played by India since the 2015 World Cup – the least by any of the eight participants in the Champions Trophy.74.00 – Dhawan’s average in England, the best among all players in the tournament (minimum 500 runs) since 20122007 – A decade since Yuvraj last played an ODI in England​

There’s a collective understanding in pre-season about certain types of challenges. The main two goals are to gain match sharpness ahead of the forthcoming season and to avoid injury. Some players just don’t get the memo, however.There are certain footballers who aren’t quite sure what a friendly is. Those types of players simply see an opponent, the chance of victory, and the opportunity to win in any way possible. And this can usually result in some fairly reckless challenges.Unfortunately for Arsenal, too, Lisandro Martinez is one of those types of players. The Manchester United defender did not hold back in the Red Devils’ pre-season friendly against the Gunners, making a challenge arguably worthy of a red card – as you can see in the footage below.

Did Lisandro Martinez deserve a red card vs Arsenal?

It says a lot about a challenge when it warrants a red card in a friendly, such is the rarity that a referee reaches for his back pocket in such games. But Martinez’s tackle could have quite easily led to his dismissal against Arsenal.

Of course, it’s little surprise that a game between the two Premier League giants ignored all the premises of what a friendly usually is. Yet, this didn’t stop Arsenal players from showing their discontent when Martinez slammed into Bukayo Saka, with his boot particularly high.

Whilst his nickname around Old Trafford is the butcher, we’re not quite sure those in North London will appreciate the World Cup winner’s attempt to slice their star man in half.

Club captain Martin Odegaard was quick to defend Saka, too, squaring up to Martinez to start collective pushing and shoving between the two sides. The fact is, this pre-season affair was anything but friendly, as you can see in this alternative replay shared on YouTube.

What is the market value of Lisandro Martinez?

Signing the defender for a reported £57m last summer, Martinez has been a permanent fixture of Erik ten Hag’s Manchester United side ever since, proving plenty of doubters wrong along the way.

Despite his height, the 25-year-old has comfortably slotted in against some of the Premier League’s best forwards, forming a particularly impressive partnership with Rafael Varane, as the Red Devils conceded the third-fewest goals in England’s top-flight last season.

Despite enjoying an impressive debut campaign, though, Martinez’s value has decreased. According to Transfermarkt, the central defender is currently worth €50m (£43.11m), which is £14m less than United paid for him last summer.

We’re sure that Ten Hag won’t have to worry about the Argentine’s price anytime soon, however, with Martinez set to play a part under the Dutchman for years to come.

Next season will be even more important than the last for the defender, too. Having helped United regain a Champions League place, the Premier League giants must turn their attention to taking things up another level. And that could finally see them challenge for the title once again.

It will be difficult against the likes of treble-winners Manchester City, and an always-improving Arsenal side, but Manchester United may well pull off some shocks in the upcoming campaign to seal their first league title since 2013 under Sir Alex Ferguson.

While England are on a seven-match winning streak, India have overcome a mini-slump to topple New Zealand and Australia on their way to the grand finale at Lord’s

The Preview by Shashank Kishore22-Jul-2017Match facts
July 23, 2017
Start time 1030 local (0930 GMT)Big picture
The heroes who were toppled in an ICC final a little over a month ago have turned cheerleaders now, as have possibly a billion others. Every Harmanpreet Kaur six or Mithali Raj record has been acknowledged by a Virat Kohli praise, a Yuvraj Singh retweet, a Virender Sehwag comparison, or a Sachin Tendulkar endorsement. It’s proof of the statement that India women have made in this World Cup.Every move of theirs – be it reading a book, grooving to the DJ beats in the dugout, their vivacious celebration, even Harmanpreet’s fury at her young colleague, has attracted unprecedented attention. The BCCI, which is yet to present central contracts six months after it expired, has announced a cash reward of INR 50 lakh for every member of the squad. Having exceeded expectations, India now have a shot at cricket’s biggest prize for the first time in 12 years, in front of what is expected to be a packed house at Lord’s.Players have been flooded with interview requests, their families are being hounded for air time, and management agencies are looking to lap them up – everyone is looking to extract gold from a market that has, for a long time, been untapped in India. Now, it’s as if they’re all rushing to buy gold during Diwali. The interest is real, something that Raj didn’t see coming. After a storied career that has spanned close to 18 years, she now has an opportunity to bow out with the ultimate crowning glory in possibly her final World Cup game.Just the prospect of India being in the final would’ve elicited a snigger, if not outright ridicule, a month ago. Too conservative, they said. They don’t quite have the power game, a few said, while others felt they needed to be better fielders. While none of that is entirely untrue, India have still managed to ride these odds. Harmanpreet’s fierce ball-striking in her unbeaten 171 in the semi-final, and Veda Krishnamurthy’s late onslaught that converted a middling total into a daunting one in their final league fixture against New Zealand, showed their ability to fight back when cornered.England’s journey to reach this final has been equally notable, given the upheaval they underwent a little over a year ago. Mark Robinson, six months after being named coach, made the huge call to end Charlotte Edwards’ magnificent international career. The captaincy was handed to Heather Knight at a time when the side needed to revive themselves, having struggled to initially adapt to the challenges and expectations of professionalism. Sarah Taylor’s return, after she took time away from the game to deal with anxiety, and her form in front and behind the stumps, has been one of the stories of the tournament.With England having conjured a seven-match winning streak after being toppled by India in the tournament opener, it will be as much a battle of nerves and temperament as skill. Natalie Sciver’s ‘Natmeg’ has become a rage. Taylor’s swagger, audacious scoops and paddles, Tammy Beaumont’s belligerence, and Knight’s consistency spell ominous signs for India. This is a side that has come free of the heavy baggage from the last two ICC events – they lost in the final of the World T20 in 2014 and the semifinal of the next edition, in 2016.What could prove decisive, though, is how quickly both sides adapt at a venue that hasn’t hosted a game yet. India won five games in Derby, which Raj equated to ‘home conditions’. The slope at Lord’s could present an altogether different challenge for their swing bowlers. Their spinners may not get the same purchase. England hold the edge in this aspect, especially given the core of their bowling group can bank on familiarity of conditions. But come the big day, these external factors could count for little. It’s the pressure of the occasion and how calm the players are that could dictate the fate of the contest.Natalie Sciver’s ‘Natmeg’ has become an instant hit•Getty ImagesForm guideEngland WWWWW (completed matches, most recent first)
India WWLLWIn the spotlight
Smriti Mandhana started the tournament with scores of 90 and 106 not out. She’s endured six straight failures since. Her picking of lengths and shot selection have left her vulnerable, perhaps a sign of her confidence at the moment. India’s batting dynamics are such that she’s unlikely to be left out, which gives her another opportunity to make amends.England coach Mark Robinson believes Fran Wilson’s 75-ball 81, albeit in a defeat against India, triggered a surge. She played that game only because Lauren Winfield was injured. Winfield has since returned to the side, but Wilson has held her own through the sheer weight of her performances, none more significant than her 30 in a tense semi-final win over South Africa. Her career numbers so far don’t reflect her significance in the team, but the final is an opportunity to leave an imprint.Team news
England are likely to remain unchanged.England: 1 Lauren Winfield, 2 Tammy Beaumont, 3 Heather Knight (capt), 4 Sarah Taylor (capt), 5 Natalie Sciver, 6 Fran Wilson, 7 Katherine Brunt, 8 Jenny Gunn, 9 Laura Marsh, 10 Anya Shrubsole, 11 Alex HartleyHarmanpreet Kaur injured her shoulder while batting in the nets and was icing it. However, Raj quashed doubts over her participation and said it was merely a precaution to manage niggles. Poonam Yadav had an off day against Australia. Batsmen had enough time to line themselves up against her loopy legspin. India could consider bringing back Ekta Bisht, who didn’t enjoy a great outing in her previous game, against Australia in the league phase. But she has the experience Raj can bank on.India: 1 Punam Raut, 2 Smriti Mandhana, 3 Mithali Raj (capt), 4 Harmanpreet Kaur, 5 Deepti Sharma, 6 Veda Krishnamurthy, 7 Shikha Pandey, 8 Sushma Verma (wk), 9 Jhulan Goswami, 10 Rajeshwari Gayakwad, 11 Poonam Yadav/Ekta BishtPitch and conditions
It’s set to be the most-watched game in women’s cricket history, with 26,500 fans in attendance, and a few million more expected to tune into their TV sets. The strip is expected to be full of runs. Intermittent showers are on the radar. There’s a reserve day, but it’s unlikely to be needed.Stats and trivia
Mithali Raj is the first captain (men or women) to lead India to an ODI World Cup final twice – 2005 and 2017. Both sides have a 1-1 head-to-head at Lord’s. India beat England by five wickets in the last completed game between the sides in 2012. The ODI in 2014 was abandoned. Nineteen-year old Deepti Sharma is the youngest player to score 200 runs and pick up 10 wickets in a Women’s World Cup. Three England batsmen have scored 350-plus runs in the tournament – Tammy Beaumont (387), Heather Knight (363), and Sarah Taylor (351). India’s only representative in this club is Raj, who is the second-highest run-scorer in the tournament with 392.Quotes
“It seems like it’s going back to 2005, and I am just too happy that the girls have given us an opportunity to be a part of World Cup finals again.”
“The plan was to get to Lord’s and get a chance to sing our song there. Everything we have done since the last 18 months has been towards that and now we’re here.”

St. Kitts and Nevis Patriots restricted the Guyana Amazon Warriors to 123 for 7, but needed a cameo from Carlos Brathwaite to scrape past the target

The Report by Peter Della Penna in Lauderhill05-Aug-2017
Scorecard and ball-by-ball details1:13

‘Could have gone either way for Patriots’ – Gayle

Carlos Brathwaite channeled his World T20 heroics from Kolkata, producing a superb late cameo to lift St Kitts and Nevis Patriots past Guyana Amazon Warriors by four wickets in a low-scoring affair in Lauderhill. A sluggish pitch in the opening American affair of CPL 2017 produced an attritional contest that saw Patriots chase a target of 124 with an over to spare.Chadwick Walton accounted for nearly half the runs in the Amazon Warriors’ total of 123 for 7, but a decisive double-wicket maiden by Sheldon Cottrell in the final over of Guyana’s innings denied the Warriors momentum. Rayad Emrit took 2 for 3, including a wicket-maiden in his first two overs, to helped keep Patriots in check early in the chase but Brathwaite took control with a top-score of 31 off 19 balls before Jonathan Carter’s unbeaten 29 secured victory.Unpatriotic fieldingPatriots bowlers were framed with hands on heads early and often in the first innings as three catches were shelled, nearly all of them straightforward with Brathwaite central to the plot. In the second over, Walton was on 1 when Samuel Badree induced an aerial drive to Brathwaite on the circle at mid-off but the knee-high chance clanged off the heel of his hands. Brathwaite also had Babar Azam dropped twice off his bowling in the 11th and 13th overs.Wily WaltonCaptain Martin Guptill said on the eve of the tournament that Walton’s sharp cricket brain impressed him. Walton sized up the pitch quickly, recognizing that batting was a grind. After his early life, he set a base with singles before launching in the final few overs.He was on 44 when he drove Badree for a straight six to bring up his 50 off 44 balls and then connected with another terrific inside-out lofted cover drive for six later in the over. His knock at least gave his bowlers something to aim at.Cottrell’s military maidenThe Amazon Warriors entered the final over on 122 for 4 and were eyeing a strong finish after Walton set a strong platform. But Sheldon Cottrell produced a magnificent six deliveries which resulted in three wickets and a stolen bye off the final ball as the only run.The over started with Walton slashing to third man to end his innings. Two balls later, Carter produced a spectacular diving catch on the run to remove Keemo Paul.Remember … me? Brathwaite has struggled at times to fulfill the expectations placed on him in the 18 months since his seminal world-title winning cameo for West Indies. In that chase against England, he thrived towards the final few overs of the innings. Though the task wasn’t as daunting as the 49 off 27 balls against England that day, things were looking shaky for Patriots when he entered at 57 for 5 in the 11th over with 67 needed to win.Brathwaite revived the Patriots with a crucial 31 off 19, getting off the mark with a six off Veerasammy Permaul in the 12th over. He targeted the left-arm spinner twice more in the 14th, clearing midwicket first before going straight for his third six in the space of nine balls to bring the equation down to a run-a-ball before Carter and Mohammad Nabi took over to clinch victory.

Jorg Schmadtke has, by and large, appeased the Liverpool support since taking the role of sporting director earlier this year, and the next month will be telling in how well he can close out his first transfer window at Anfield.

World Cup winner and Brighton & Hove Albion star, Alexis Mac Allister, joined for £35m in June, while Dominik Szoboszlai completed a £60m transfer this month in a move that rose from the shadows and was completed swiftly, in trademark Liverpool fashion.

Such incomings were necessary following the exits of James Milner, Naby Keita and Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain, who all left upon the expiry of their contracts this summer, but with Jordan Henderson and Fabinho now off to Saudi Arabia, the Reds' midfield feels somewhat thin despite the possible incoming of Romeo Lavia from Southampton.

If Schmadtke can navigate through the perils and perhaps secure one more signing, the Anfield side will feel well-placed to challenge at the forefront of English football once again.

Who will Liverpool sign this summer?

The latest name to enter the transfer discourse on Merseyside is Barcelona's Franck Kessie, with the Ivorian ace deemed expendable by Barcelona, according to Mundo Deportivo.

Sport previously revealed that Liverpool would be willing to part with (£30m) to secure the imposing midfielder's services, though given the work done on the transfer front thus far a move might only come into fruition if that valuation is whittled down.

How good is Franck Kessie?

Kessie is best described as a powerful midfield vehicle capable of crashing into dangerous offensive areas while also boasting a defensive sheen to his arsenal, having been once heralded for his "devastating" impact by Stefano Pioli.

The box-to-box player would bring physicality to Liverpool's midfield and could help instil a "warrior" – as called by talent scout Jacek Kulig – attitude that certainly evaded the Liverpool ranks last year as the team failed to qualify for the Champions League.

As per FBref, the £149k-per-week midfielder ranks among the top 12% of midfielders across Europe's top five leagues over the past year for touches in the attacking box and progressive passes received per 90, confirming his adept skill at ploughing forward and stretching the opposition lines, hailed as a "beast" by journalist Sacha Pisani.

With the dynamic Cody Gakpo occupying the centre-forward role at Anfield, this could prove to be an invaluable tool for Klopp as he devises a strategy for success this summer.

Gakpo completed an initial £35m move to Liverpool from PSV in January, arriving at a turbulent time but cementing a starting berth in the side as Liverpool enjoyed a late-season purple patch to spark renewed optimism in the forthcoming prospects.

Scoring seven goals and providing three assists for the Reds across 26 outings, the Dutchman has been hailed "magnificent" by Josh Bunting, and his set of skills could bring the best out of an ace like Kessie.

Indeed, the 23-year-old ranks among the top 10% of forwards for assists, the top 17% for shot-creating actions, the top 8% for progressive passes and the top 1% for tackles per 90, meaning that not only can he drop deep and pick out forward-surging players with slick passes, but he gets stuck in and can disrupt the play with his high tackling output.

With this in mind, Klopp may consider signing Kessie, given the support he would have on Merseyside and the duo that could be formed, with the Ivorian latching onto Gakpo's creativity and returning to the top of his game.

Chelsea's pursuit of Brighton & Hove Albion's Moises Caicedo is "still on" despite their second bid being rejected by the Seagulls, claims transfers expert Fabrizio Romano.

Is Moises Caicedo joining Chelsea this summer?

It's been a hectic transfer window for Mauricio Pochettino's side so far this summer. From selling a swathe of first-team stars to signing a handful of promising youngsters, Chelsea are certainly making a splash in the market.

However, the name that has seemingly been attached to the club more than any other over the last month or so has been Brighton's Caicedo, as the saga to bring him to Stamford Bridge rumbles on.

The protracted nature of the deal is not from a lack of trying on the west Londoners' part, as according to Sky Sports, they have had two offers rebuffed by the Seagulls, the second being worth an eye-watering £80m.

That said, Roberto De Zerbi's side are under no obligation to sell after the 21-year-old signed a new £60,000-a-week contract in March this year that doesn't expire until summer 2027.

If the Pensioners want to secure the signature of La Joya, then they'll have to stump up the £100m that Brighton want – a fee that reflects the transfer of the positionally similar Declan Rice.

However, in good news for fans of the club, transfers expert Fabrizio Romano has reported that, despite their second offer being rejected, talks remain ongoing with the deal very much "still on."

He explained the situation on his YouTube channel, saying:

"From what I am told, and this is my information, is that the negotiations are not stalling now, the negotiations remain ongoing. Of course, with Brighton on their position, they want big money, and with Chelsea on their position, they don't want to overpay, but they are still speaking, they're still talking, and I still expect some contacts in the next days for Moises Caicedo.

"Then, at some point, it's going to be time to decide. For sure, the deal is still on while I'm speaking."

Who else has been linked with a move to Chelsea this summer?

While the Blues certainly seem set on signing Caicedo this summer, they're still looking elsewhere in the market for potential transfers so as not to be left empty-handed should the Ecuadorian remain on the south coast.

One of the names touted as a potential alternative is Southampton's exciting youngster, Romeo Lavia.

According to Football Insider, Chelsea are now 'plotting a full-scale hijack of Liverpool's pursuit' of the 19-year-old following the recent setback regarding Caicedo.

The Merseysiders are currently leading the chase for the Belgian's signature, having seen their opening offer of £34m plus £4m in add-ons rejected as the Saints hold out for a team to match their £50m valuation.

Should a deal for Caicedo not materialise, Pochettino's side could use some of the money put aside for the Ecuardoian and make an offer Southampton feel they cannot refuse.

While he might not be the club's number one choice, the 5 foot 11 "monster" demonstrated his qualities last season, averaging a match rating of 6.56 in an incredibly dysfunctional Saints team and maintaining a passing accuracy of 86.4% to boot, per WhoScored.

Ultimately, Blues fans should rest assured that, at the moment, the deal to sign Caicedo is still on, and even if it collapses, Lavia could be the ideal alternative.