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PCA chairman Daryl Mitchell believes the proposed new T20 competition in England is likely to dilute the quality of domestic 50-over cricket and provide “another kick” to its future

George Dobell17-Feb-2017The proposed new T20 competition in England is likely to dilute the quality of domestic 50-over cricket and provide “another kick” to its future, according to new PCA chairman, Daryl Mitchell.While Mitchell, the Worcestershire top-order batsman who was recently elected to the PCA role, regards the launch of the eight-team T20 competition, scheduled for 2020, as “inevitable” he has reservations about several aspects of it and promised to work hard to ensure the interests of all 400 PCA members are protected.”The new T20 competition looks like a great opportunity for the 90 to 100 lads selected to play in it,” Mitchell told ESPNcricinfo. “But the role of the PCA is to look out for the other 300 players, too.”The plan at the moment is to play the 50-over competition during the window when the new T20 competition will be on. But if you take the best 100 white-ball players out of the tournament it is pretty inevitable there will be a dilution in quality.”We’re told players not in action in the new T20 competition may be made available to their counties, but 50-over cricket is probably already the format given the least priority by the players – something that is reflected in the prize money – and this will be another kick for it.”Our role will be to ensure the money we’re told will come into the sport trickles down for the benefit of everyone.”Mitchell’s personal views would appear to conflict quite sharply with the ECB’s approach in several areas. He believes a partial return to free-to-air broadcasting is essential if the game is to reach a new audience, he preferred the idea of a two-division solution (with promotion and relegation) in the T20 debate, and he argues for a need to increase the wages of young players.He accepts, however, that the ECB has “an incredibly difficult job” in trying to “look after so many stakeholders” and that his role is to communicate not his own views but those of his membership. “It’s about feeding back the views of the collective,” he said.”One of the challenging parts of the job is the need to balance the long-term health of the game with the short-term benefits to our current member. We have to remember that, if we don’t look after the game, we might not have any future members.”We appreciate that the ECB are trying to ensure the health of the game in the long-term and we appreciate we’re one of many stakeholders. We know we have to balance our aspirations with the aspirations of everyone else and I’m looking forward to working with the ECB to that end.”But he believes the players may have been “a bit naïve” in their enthusiasm for the new T20 competition and that reality has “hit home in recent times”.”As a Worcestershire player, we really look forward to the T20 competition as it provides us with a chance to play in front of packed houses and on big grounds,” he said. “As things stand, we go into that competition each year with a chance of winning it. To have that taken away from us is a bit of a blow.”When the new competition was first talked about, I think everyone thought they were about to become millionaires. Now people are realising that only about a quarter of us will play. We’re going to need quite a lot of info from the ECB.”From a personal point of view, I liked the two-division idea and, from a personal point of view, I think we need to get some cricket back on free to air. I think the ECB recognise that, too, and they are very clear about trying to raise the profile of the game.”Responding to the ECB’s reported attempt to change the mechanism by which the domestic salary cap is calculated, Mitchell suggested his attention was more on players at the lower end of the salary spectrum.”The salary cap isn’t relevant to many clubs,” Mitchell said. “I’m more worried up upping the minimum salaries. There are players in county cricket earning around £15,000 a year, which I don’t think reflects the skill and dedication required to be a professional athlete.”I’m told that nothing is decided about the salary cap yet, but I think our main priority will be making sure some of the money coming into the game filters down to the lower ends.”

Leeds United are in the hunt for a new manager and West Bromwich Albion boss Carlos Corberan will be a 'serious contender' for the vacancy at Elland Road, according to journalist Dean Jones.

What's the latest manager news involving Leeds United?

According to The Athletic, Corberan is among the candidates for the manager position at Leeds United as they look to find the right man to lead them in the Sky Bet Championship next term.

The Daily Mail report that Leeds United have made 'early soundings' about the possibility of hiring the 40-year-old, who has a £2 million release clause written into is contract at West Brom.

Corberan has previously spent time at Leeds United in an assistant manager capacity and Whites' chiefs were keen to speak to him back in March following their decision to sack Jesse Marsch; however, West Brom stepped in to offer him an improved contract to fend off interest in his services.

As per Football Insider, West Brom are said to be 'braced for an approach' from Leeds United regarding Corberan, who is tied to his current employers until 2027 contractually.

BBC journalist Adam Pope has endorsed the possibility of Leeds United hiring Corberan on the Don’t Go To Bed Just Yet podcast, stating: “Financially, they’re in trouble [West Brom], we know that. So he needs another challenge. I think it makes a lot of sense Carlos Corberan coming in, whereas a couple of years ago people might think, ‘is he ready for that?’. He’s more than proved that I think.”

Speaking to GIVEMESPORT, journalist Jones has indicated that he expects Corberan to be in and around the favourites to take over at Elland Road.

Jones said: “​​Corberan is the one I've heard the most about for this job. I don't know if he's the favourite for the job, but of the names talked about, they definitely like him.

“They've considered him before and kept a close eye on his management style and how he deals with players. I think he'll be a serious contender.”

Would Carlos Corberan be a good appointment for Leeds United?

Given his previous relations with Leeds United and preference to play on the front foot, Corberan is someone who would be an exciting appointment in Yorkshire that would give the Whites some hope that they could challenge for the Sky Bet Championship next term.

Corberan, who was hailed as a "crazy" and is "absolutely obsessed" in a passage from the Athletic, has the ability to mix it up tactically, flickering between slow build-up play, fast transitions and a more direct approach reliant on crosses into the box to strategically outwit the opposition dependent on their style of play, as per Breaking The Lines.

In his time at West Brom, the Spaniard has accumulated 52 points in the English second-tier, presiding over 16 wins, four draws and ten losses in 30 matches in charge, giving him an average points-per-game ratio of 1.73, as per Transfermarkt.

At Huddersfield Town, Corberan also led the Terriers to the Sky Bet Championship play-off final back in 2021/22, narrowly losing out to Nottingham Forest at Wembley Stadium.

Leeds United will need someone who knows what it takes to regularly claim results in what is a notoriously difficult division to get out of and Corberan is someone with a knack of doing that while playing an attractive brand of football.

Chelsea manager Mauricio Pochettino was in agreement with the club not to overpay for Manuel Ugarte amid the competition from Paris Saint-Germain.

How much are PSG paying Ugarte?

The Blues endured a hugely underwhelming 2022/23 campaign which saw them finish in a disappointing 12th spot of the Premier League table.

But it is apparent Todd Boehly will not allow that to happen again with the American owner already putting plans in place to bring change ahead of next season.

Indeed, Pochettino has already been appointed as the new Chelsea manager and they have been involved in a transfer saga this early in the summer.

However, this was not a transfer saga which ended in Chelsea's favour after they bowed out of the race to sign the Uruguay midfielder, Ugarte, following the competition from the Ligue 1 champions.

Although the west London side had submitted a significant bid for the 22-year-old, they were forced to move away from the negotiations after PSG trumped their financial proposal to the player.

Speaking on his YouTube channel, Fabrizio Romano has provided an insight to the discussions behind the scenes at Staford Bridge amid their negotiations with the Sporting CP midfielder.

It is apparent the Blues were keen to strengthen their midfield with the addition of Ugarte, however, Pochettino was not in favour of overpaying for the 22-year-old with PSG offering a reported £2.6m more in annual salary:

"I wanted to tell you something behind the scenes about the situation that Chelsea had regarding Manuel Ugarte."

"I can tell you that Mauricio Pochettino was always involved in the conversation with the Chelsea board. Of course, Pochettino will be into the market this summer together with the board, and also Pochettino when Chelsea told him: 'We are not going to make another bid [for the] player because the idea is not to match Paris Saint-Germain's salary proposal for Ugarte'.

"Also the position of Mauricio Pochettino was like: 'Okay, Ugarte is a great player, but we don't want to enter into any crazy proposal to players, especially'."

Will Chelsea sign Moises Caicedo?

Now the Blues are expected to see N'Golo Kante and Mateo Kovacic depart the club over the coming days, midfield reinforcement will be on the mind for Pochettino.

And with that in mind, it is believed the west London side are eyeing a potential move for the Brighton & Hove Albion midfielder Moises Caicedo.

However, the Blues are not believed to be the only London side keen to potentially bring Caicedo to the capital with Arsenal all credited with interest.

But this is a deal which will not come on the cheap with the 21-year-old having signed a new deal on the south coast following the January transfer window.

As a result, it is suggested the Seagulls will be looking for a fee in the region of £80m – all in – for their midfielder.

The Ecuadorian is believed to be earning in the region of £60k-per-week at Brighton, so if he is to make a big-money move to Stamford Bridge it would be expected his wages will increase significantly like his former teammate, Alexis Mac Allister.

نجح سانت جيلواز البلجيكي في الفوز على نظيره آينتراخت فرانكفورت الألماني بنتيجة 2/1، في إطار منافسات دوري المؤتمر الأوروبي.

وواجه آينتراخت فرانكفورت فريق سانت جيلواز، وذلك في إطار منافسات دور الـ 32 من مسابقة دوري المؤتمر الأوروبي على ملعب “كومرتسبانك أرينا”.

جدير بالذكر أن مواجهة الفريقين في مباراة الذهاب، انتهت بالتعادل الإيجابي بهدفين لكل فريق.

اقرأ ايضاً.. مدافع إيفرتون: ما يفعله محمد صلاح “مخيف” لي.. لكنه ليس الأفضل في الدوري الإنجليزي

انتهى الشوط الأول سلبي النتيجة بين الفريقين في شوط شهد سيطرة من الفريق الضيف سانت جيلواز بنسبة استحواذ تخطت 55%.

في الشوط الثاني، وعند الدقيقة 47 نجح فريق سانت جيلواز في تسجيل الهدف الأول عن طريق، كاميرون كاسترو، بعدما تلقى تمريرة حاسمة من اللاعب الجزائري محمد عمورة.

وكاد الدولي المصري، عمر مرموش، أن يحرز هدف التعادل لأصحاب الأرض عند الدقيقة 61، لكنه كرته لم تسكن الشباك.

فيما تمكن إيكيرت من تعزيز تقدم الفريق البلجيكي حينما أحرز الهدف الثاني لصالح سانت جيلواز بحلول الدقيقة 80.

وأستطاع، إريك إبيمبي، أن يقلص نتيجة المباراة بتوقيعه على الهدف الأول لصالح فرانكفورت عند الدقيقة 88.

وبهذه النتيجة، تمكن سانت جيلواز في العبور إلى منافسات الدور الـ16 من مسابقة دوري المؤتمر الأوروبي. اهداف مباراة اينتراخت فرانكفورت وسانت جيلواز 1 2 المؤتمر الاوروبي

Manchester United owners, the Glazer family, are 'keeping their options open' amid the current ownership battle at Old Trafford; however, face a 'race against time' to try and conclude a deal before the transfer window opens, according to journalist Ben Jacobs.

What's the latest on the ownership situation at Manchester United?

As per ESPN, the Glazers are considering delaying their sale of Manchester United until after the end of the season, which could complicate matters regarding the transfer window if the battle for ownership drags on until June 14th, when the market opens for business.

The outlet understands that Joel and Avram Glazer are reluctant to give up their shares at Old Trafford. Sir Jim Ratcliffe and his petrochemicals firm INEOS are said to be open to letting them stay on as minority shareholders. At the same time, Qatari businessman Sheikh Jassim Al Thani wants to acquire 100% control of the Premier League giants.

Sky Sports cite that Manchester United boss Erik Ten Hag has signalled that matters off the field will not affect his recruitment plans this summer, stating in an interview: "I came in here [at the end of] last season and we talked about what can we do in the squad, what can we do in transfers. And last year, the club confirmed they can do. So, for me, I don't think anything changed and yeah, in this summer period we can do the same."

The report states that the Red Devils' boss is eyeing an elite forward and another addition in midfield as priority areas to strengthen ahead of 2023/24.

Speaking to Football FanCast, journalist Jacobs thinks that all parties involved will want 'clarity' over the state of play surrounding the ownership situation at Manchester United.

Jacobs told FFC: "It's obvious that the Glazers are still keeping their options open. My understanding remains that for the right price, all six of them are determined sellers, but that's the key to all of this, has their valuation been met? If not, there's lots of other options on the table. It is now a bit of a race against time, particularly for the two groups that either want control or an outright sale because they'll want to be in by the time the window opens on June 14th. Otherwise, there is perhaps some uncertainty over the first two or three weeks because Manchester United ultimately won't know whose money they're spending and as a consequence, I think all parties will want clarity very soon."

What next for Manchester United?

Manchester United will focus on matters on the pitch for now and Ten Hag will be pleased with his debut campaign in charge which has yielded a Carabao Cup trophy and confirmed Champions League football for next term.

Of course, the Red Devils still have one Premier League match left to facilitate and can seal a third-place finish with a victory over Fulham on Sunday at Old Trafford.

FA Cup glory is also potentially on the horizon for Manchester United, who could win a second trophy of the campaign if they defeat Manchester City in the competition's final in early June.

Following that, all focus will turn towards their transfer business as the Red Devils look to continue their positive trajectory into next season.

Glasgow Rangers’ move for goalkeeper Jack Butland is thought to be at an advanced stage, according to The Daily Record’s Scott Burns.

What’s the latest Rangers transfer news?

Michael Beale isn’t wasting any time in looking to strengthen his Light Blues squad ahead of his first full season in charge at Ibrox. A number of free transfers are being lined up by those in charge at Rangers, including Chelsea right-back Dujon Sterling and Norwich City midfielder Kieran Dowell.

Butland is another name who has been linked with a cut-price move to Scotland when he becomes a free agent in the summer. However, reports stated that a move was too expensive, with Gers chiefs sending scouts to watch ‘keeper Ivor Pandur in action for Fortuna Sittard over the weekend, with the 23-year-old seemingly an alternative target.

It looks as if a swoop for Butland is back on track, though, with Burns sharing an update in the last 24 hours. Writing for The Daily Record, the reliable reporter said that deals for Sterling and Dowell have been agreed and talks with Butland are at an advanced stage.

The club are also in talks with another two or three targets and they hope to make further progress on those summer deals in the coming days.

Where is Butland now?

Butland made the move to Manchester United back in January from Crystal Palace on a loan deal until the end of the season. The 30-year-old, hailed as "brilliant" by members of the media, hasn’t made a competitive appearance for the Red Devils.

He didn’t turn out of parent side Crystal Palace in the first half of the season either, but should he head north as expected, Butland will provide Beale with plenty of experience.

The former England international has made 87 Premier League appearances, while he has turned out on 161 occasions in the Championship. Known for his time at Stoke City, Butland, once valued at €22m by Transfermarkt, could find a new long-term home at Ibrox, especially with Beale set to lose Allan McGregor in the summer.

Butland could therefore rival Robby McCrorie for a starting spot next season, and Rangers may be hoping he can have a similar impact to Joe Hart’s stint at rivals Celtic, with the Englishman playing a key role under Ange Postecoglou in recent seasons.

Newcastle United have enjoyed a truly impressive Premier League campaign but are targeting a summer clearout to make for more quality.

The Magpies are guaranteed Champions League football next season unless something truly devastating happens in their remaining games.

With Eddie Howe aiming to continue climbing the table next season, Newcastle are set to sell several players as part of their recruitment strategy for the 2023 summer transfer window.

How many players will Newcastle sell at the end of the season?

According to a report from Football Insider, Newcastle United placed seven players on their transfer list. With the Saudi-backed side set to splash the cash this summer, they need to make sure they're not falling foul of UEFA's Financial Fair Play regulations.

The players for sale are Loris Karius, Karl Darlow, Jamaal Lascelles, Paul Dummett, Emil Krafth, Matty Longstaff and Matt Ritchie.

Their departures will provide cash for transfers as well as trimming down the club's wage bill. Ritchie, Longstaff, Dummett and Karius will leave upon the expiry of their contracts and so will not generate any transfer fees.

Meanwhile, Ritchie is moving on in order to play more regularly while Lascelles and Krafth are out of favour. Newcastle will use their sales to generate income to sign a new centre-back.

Darlow, who is on loan at Hull City, will also likely leave permanently this summer.

What do Newcastle need in the transfer market?

A centre-back is a priority for Eddie Howe as is a goalscorer. While Alexander Isak has impressed, you simply can never have enough clinical strikers and that's been one of the issues at times for Newcastle.

They defend resolutely even when starters are injured or out of form. To break into the top two in the Premier League, managers need multiple reliable goalscorers.

For example, Arsenal have four different players on 10+ goals in the league and so teams have great difficulty predicting where their next attack will come from.

Chelsea plan to offer Christian Pulisic as part of a swap deal to win the race for Juventus striker Dusan Vlahovic this summer, according to a recent report from Juve Live.

Which strikers could Chelsea sign this summer?

Chelsea could be set for another high-spending transfer window, with it being reported they are preparing a £100m offer for Napoli striker Victor Osimhen, who is deemed to be their priority target this summer.

However, the Nigerian is not the only forward being targeted by the Blues, as they have also been linked with a move for Brighton & Hove Albion striker Evan Ferguson, having been impressed by the 18-year-old's breakthrough season.

The west London club were alerted to the potential availability of Vlahovic back in December, making contact with the player's agent, and they could now be set to formalise their interest with an offer, which could end up being a swap deal.

As per a report from Juve Live (via Sport Witness), the Serbian is ready to leave Juventus this summer, and the Italian club would be willing to sanction his departure, but he could cost up to €80m (£70m).

In order to bring this price down, Chelsea could instead offer €50m (£44m) plus Pulisic, as the American is no longer a part of the club's plans, although it is not stated whether a move to Italy would interest him.

The Blues are not the only Premier League side competing for the striker, as Tottenham Hotspur are also in the race, while Arsenal are also said to be keeping tabs on him.

Should Chelsea sign Dusan Vlahovic?

It is evident that Frank Lampard's side are in need of a goal-scorer, given that they are averaging less than a goal a game in the Premier League this season, scoring 29 times in 30 games, just the 13th-highest total in the entire top flight.

The issues in front of goal have been particularly prominent in recent weeks, with Chelsea failing to score in their last three games, despite having 2.17 expected goals in the 0-0 draw against Liverpool.

Vlahovic could be the remedy to these problems, having been described as a "monster" by journalist Carlo Garganese, while Angelo Mangiante has lauded him as a "predator".

That said, the 23-year-old marksman has been eclipsed by Osimhen in the Serie A this season, having scored just eight league goals, compared to the Napoli star's 21, and so the latter player should still be the Blues' priority target.

Transfer insider Dean Jones believes a Manchester United takeover could make a summer move for Jude Bellingham ‘more possible’.

What’s Jones had to say on Man United and Bellingham?

The Red Devils are set for a busy few months both on and off the pitch, with Erik ten Hag’s side pushing for a top-four finish and more silverware in the FA Cup and Europa League after lifting the Carabao Cup earlier in the season.

An Old Trafford takeover also appears to be a possibility, with Sheikh Jassim and Sir Jim Ratcliffe submitting revised offers last month to take control from the Glazers. Jassim previously wanted 'things done quickly' so he could help Ten Hag in the transfer market, with reports last month suggesting he is a ‘huge fan’ of Bellingham and is plotting a stunning United move.

Talking to GiveMeSport, Jones feels that a takeover at Old Trafford could help them in a potential move for Bellingham, however, he also cited the time Bellingham turned down a move to Manchester in favour of heading to Germany.

"I think a takeover would make it more possible and they could come back into the Bellingham conversation a bit stronger. But the fact is Bellingham already had the chance to join Man United once, and he didn't take it? Maybe he feels more ready for that now, certainly could be that.”

Do Man United have a chance to sign Bellingham?

Fabrizio Romano stated last month that United's current board weren’t actively working on signing Bellingham this summer, so a takeover may have to go through relatively quickly in order for the Red Devils to have a chance of a potential deal.

That’s because there is plenty of competition for the 19-year-old’s services, with Liverpool, Manchester City and Real Madrid all feeling they have put compelling cases forward for Bellingham to join them. Dortmund will also reportedly only consider selling for a club-record fee in excess of €144m (£126m), which would smash the current transfer record at Old Trafford.

Bellingham has been hailed as a "superstar" by former United captain Roy Keane, and with Ten Hag after a midfielder and forward this summer, securing a move for Bellingham would surely make Jassim a popular man in Manchester straightaway. A lot needs to happen, though, but it appears as if there may be a chance to sign the England international, providing Jassim manages to strike a deal with the Glazers over the coming months.

Journalist Ryan Taylor has been reacting to Aston Villa’s reported interest in AS Roma forward Tammy Abraham.

The Lowdown: Abraham rumours

Villa are seemingly planning for the summer ahead of Unai Emery’s first full season in charge, where a new forward appears to be high up on their transfer wishlist.

Abraham, hailed as ‘magnificent’ by journalist Henry Winter last year, has been linked with a return to the Midlands, with reports suggesting that Villa and Premier League rivals Everton are ‘in the front row’ for the forward, with Roma’s asking price €75m (£66.4m).

Alternative reports have suggested that an offer over €40m (£35.3m) could now be enough to secure Abraham’s services, which would still be a club record at Villa Park either way.

The 25-year-old has contributed to ten goals in 27 Serie A appearances this season, with his last goal coming at the beginning of February.

The Latest: Taylor’s comments

Taylor, reporter for The Daily Express, was talking to GiveMeSport regarding Villa’s potential move for Abraham. He said that the forward is ‘the kind of name Villa are looking for’ and questioned whether or not that could push top scoter Ollie Watkins out wide.

“Would that push Watkins out wide? I’m not sure Watkins is a winger and based on the past few games, he’s proven he can come up trumps and score goals.

“It will be interesting to see what Villa do, but that is the kind of name [Abraham] Villa are looking for, and obviously, he’s played for the club before.”

The Verdict: Two up front?

Bringing in a new forward appears to be a wise move despite Watkins’ fine form in front of goal in recent months, with teenager Jhon Duran the only other centre-forward available to Emery at this moment in time.

Ashley Preece suggested that ‘a new No.9 to partner Watkins is at the top of Villa’s shopping list this summer’, so Emery could look to use a front two next season. The Spaniard has played with two in attack on a number of occasions since domestic action returned after the World Cup, although he has returned to a 4-2-3-1 system in recent weeks for games against Crystal Palace, West Ham and Bournemouth.

As Taylor says, it’ll be ‘interesting to see what Villa do’, but moving Watkins wide might not be the best idea following his purple scoring patch as a centre-forward in 2023, where he has scored six in his last eight.