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Zaheer lauds his ‘stubborn’ attitude while Bumrah himself believes clarity of thought under pressure helps

ESPNcricinfo staff13-May-2019Jasprit Bumrah “is the best bowler in the world at this stage”, declared Sachin Tendulkar, the Mumbai Indians icon, after the paceman had returned 2 for 14 to star in their IPL 2019 final win over Chennai Super Kings on Sunday.His returns – not a boundary hit off his 24 balls, and 13 dot balls thrown in – were incredible all right, making him a straight pick for the Man of the Match award too. Chatting with Tendulkar for after the match was Yuvraj Singh, who played a few matches early on in the season for Mumbai but was subsequently benched.

Let me go on record and say that he is the best bowler in the world at this stageTENDULKAR ON BUMRAH

Asked by Tendulkar what made Bumrah so difficult to face, Yuvraj said that apart from an “awkward” action, it was “very tough to understand at what pace he is coming”.”I think he is bowling the best I have seen in his career,” he added, and Tendulkar agreed: “Let me go on record and say that he is the best bowler in the world at this stage. And the best is yet to come, hopefully.”Bumrah was the toast of the Mumbai team, and their fans. Not for the first time either. Forget the past, just this year, Bumrah came on at the toughest of moments for Mumbai, and delivered almost without fail. Among bowlers to have sent down at least 60 overs, only Rashid Khan had a better economy rate for the season – 6.28 – than Bumrah’s 6.63.For two fewer wickets – Bumrah ended with 19 and Rashid 17. Expand that list to bowlers who have bowled at least 40 overs, and Bumrah’s economy rate stands at No. 4, with Ravindra Jadeja (6.35) and Chahar (6.55) slotting in between Rashid and Bumrah. Bumrah still ended with the most wickets among them.

Just trying to be calm, trying to execute, trying to keep things simple whenever I’m trying to bowl … so that’s probably itJASPRIT BUMRAH

Let’s look at more numbers.Bumrah bowled 172 balls in the death overs (17 to 20), 52 more than the next on the list: Kagiso Rabada. And how did he do in them? His economy rate in that period was 7.67, by far the best among bowlers to have sent down at least ten overs at the death. Next on the list is Chris Morris, with an economy rate of 8.61. And Bumrah’s 13 wickets at the death was also second only to Rabada’s tally of 17.But Bumrah was – is – more than just his numbers. It’s the effect he has had on opposition batsmen, coming it at crunch moments and making sure liberties were kept to a minimum. “Phenomenal”, Zaheer Khan, the Mumbai director of cricket, called Bumrah – he’s been doing it year in and year out, for Mumbai and for India.”Just trying to be calm, always learning from all the legends of the game that we have over here, trying to execute, trying to keep things simple whenever I’m trying to bowl … so that’s probably it,” Bumrah told Zaheer about his agenda out in the middle.Those are words one hears often – not much there. But Zaheer did give away a bit of inside information about Bumrah: he is “stubborn”, and he takes “a lot of convincing” when new plans are discussed. But, at the same time, chatting about bowling with Bumrah can make for “great conversations”.One such conversation – more than once, actually – was apparently about bowling more outswingers, which Bumrah did against MS Dhoni in the final. Only three balls Bumrah got to bowl at Dhoni on Sunday night. The first was an awaygoing delivery, angling in and holding its line, leaving Dhoni poking at thin air.”He’s been behind [after] me for the outswingers since the tournament’s beginning,” Bumrah said of Zaheer. “I told him I’d bowl it, but he was behind me all the time ‘you should bowl it more often’. So after bowling it today he was very happy.”

The fast bowler, who hasn’t featured since injuring his hamstring against Bangladesh, is looking forward to putting New Zealand’s batsmen under pressure

Sidharth Monga in Birmingham17-Jun-2019Lungi Ngidi is fit and ready to bolster the South Africa pace attack as they continue their string of must-win matches. Ngidi injured his hamstring and couldn’t bowl his quota in the match against Bangladesh, who stacked up 330 at The Oval to beat them and derail South Africa’s World Cup campaign. Two days before the crucial match against New Zealand in Birmingham, Ngidi cleared a fitness test. South Africa have three points from five matches, and have New Zealand, Pakistan, Sri Lanka and Australia left to play.Ngidi confirmed he had no reason to worry about his hamstring now. “It’s 100%,” he said. “That’s how the fitness test goes. If you are not bowling at 100% then you are obviously not ready to play. Today was as hard as I could go, at match-intensity.”Ngidi spoke about the feelings of watching Bangladesh score all those runs even as he was off the field with his injury. “On that day, we went a lot shorter [with our length] than we should have,” Ngidi said. “That happens on the day. Credit to them, they took advantage of that and they were able to post a decent total and defend it. With me going off, obviously, I didn’t bowl my full quota of overs and someone had to fill that in, so that didn’t work out in our favour.”Not that I wanted to get injured, but I felt like I let the team down a bit. We probably should have still tried as best as we could to restrict them to under 300 but it happens, it’s cricket. On the day they were better than us and they won the game.”That can lead to mental strain on a cricketer but Ngidi said he has had the support staff to help him out with it. “It’s been tough,” he said of sitting out. “Injuries are never nice but with the support staff I’ve had around me, it’s been pretty decent. Other than being off the field, I’ve been all right. Just frustrated by not being able to play a few games.”Ngidi said South Africa needed to get around to the basics of testing batsmen’s techniques. “The one thing I have always been told by Ottis [Gibson, the coach] is holding my length and with the first game, it wasn’t ideal for me up front,” Ngidi said. “I didn’t do that. I didn’t execute the skill I am in the team to do. That would pretty much be it now, just making sure I am putting batsmen under pressure within the Powerplay, testing their techniques.”That’s where opportunity lies for South Africa. Their opponents New Zealand are yet to be defeated in the tournament, but South Africa know that when Bangladesh put their middle and lower middle order under pressure, they did show signs of vulnerability. “I don’t think their middle- and lower-order batsmen have been tested enough,” Ngidi said. “Most of the guys who have scored the runs are at the top of the order. Maybe one or two [wickets] up front, get those guys, get their middle order in as early as possible, and you could be looking at a different situation when it comes to their batting.”

Former Liverpool boss Jurgen Klopp appeared to take a swipe at rivals Manchester United and Chelsea at a farewell event with fans.

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Klopp aims dig at Ten HagSeems to reference Sancho's loan moveNot impressed by Pochettino's exitWHAT HAPPENED?

Klopp has been speaking about his time with Liverpool in the Premier League after saying an emotional goodbye to the club at the weekend. The German attended a Q&A event in front of over 10,000 fans where he appeared to take aim at rivals Manchester United and Chelsea, who both endured troubled seasons under managers Erik ten Hag and Mauricio Pochettino.

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Ten Hag signed off the season with an impressive victory in the FA Cup final but his position at the club remains uncertain after a dismal Premier League campaign. A difficult year also saw Ten Hag hit the headlines for exiling Jadon Sancho and then sending the forward out on loan to Borussia Dortmund.

It was also a difficult campaign for Chelsea despite heavy investment from owner Todd Boehly. A strong finish saw Pochettino guide the Blues to sixth place and secure European football for next season, before he promptly departed after just one year in the role.

WHAT KLOPP SAID

Klopp appeared to take aim at Ten Hag's decision to send Sancho out on loan after falling out with the winger. He said: "If the whole world loses trust and faith in the player, the manager has to be the one behind the player. I cannot just buy into that ‘he's useless’, like other clubs did by the way – buying a player for £80 million and then sending him out on loan!"

The German then turned his attention to Chelsea, adding: "We should be really happy we have them (Fenway Sports Group) and not guys who bought London clubs. I wouldn't have survived a year at Liverpool (with them). Finally they (Chelsea) play football which everyone thinks ‘Oh, they might be back’ and then they sack the manager anyway. The owners (at Liverpool) feel responsible for the club. Are they the best in the world? I don't know, I can't say. But they worked really hard. I felt supported.”

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(C)Getty ImagesWHAT NEXT

Chelsea are set to replace Pochettino with Leicester boss Enzo Maresca, while United are yet to make a decision on the futures of Ten Hag or Sancho. A host of names have been mentioned already as possible candidates to succeed the Dutchman at Old Trafford, while Sancho will finish the season by playing in the Champions League final against Real Madrid before his loan expires.

Arsenal have yet to delve into the transfer market and sign anyone this month despite being linked with numerous players over the previous few weeks.

Ivan Toney has been perennially linked with a move to the Emirates, while Mikel Arteta has even shown interest in bringing Karim Benzema to north London for the second half of the season.

Both of these moves look unlikely now, especially with just a few days left until deadline day, but that is not to say the Spaniard won't try to sign at least one player.

Arsenal’s search for new signings

Despite a plethora of marquee names being linked with a move, it could be a player thriving in the Championship who Arteta may look to sign. That’s according to journalist David Ornstein, who gave an update on the future of Leicester City midfielder Kiernan Dewsbury-Hall.

“Brighton in negotiations with Leicester to sign Kiernan Dewsbury-Hall. LCFC want ~£30m.

“Gap in valuations but talks ongoing. Competition from Brentford (Arsenal + Fulham admire too) but European football puts BHAFC in driving seat.”

Although he states that Brighton are leading the chase, the nature of the transfer window suggests that anything could happen over the coming days.

The Gunners are currently in contention to win their first Premier League title for 20 years, while the north Londoners are through to the last 16 of the Champions League for the first time since the 2016/17 campaign.

Latest Arsenal transfer news: Euro winner closing in; striker nears N5 exit

With a month remaining in the transfer window, Arsenal are busy lining up their transfer targets.

ByHal Fish Jul 31, 2024

Adding a new signing or two could give Arteta some added squad depth ahead of a crucial few months and Dewsbury-Hall may even be a long-term replacement for Thomas Partey.

Thomas Partey’s future at Arsenal is unclear

It is no secret that Arteta is filling his squad with hungry young talent that he hopes will dominate England over the next few years.

Signing players such as Declan Rice, Jurrien Timber and Kai Havertz last summer is evidence of this philosophy and a move for Dewsbury-Hall would certainly fit into his vision.

This could mean moving a player or two on and Partey is one of the ageing midfielders in his squad who could be on the way out of the Emirates.

Since arriving from Atlético Madrid ahead of the 2020/21 campaign, the Ghanaian midfielder has made 104 appearances for Arsenal, yet has played over 24 league matches just once in his first three full seasons.

So far this season, the 30-year-old has missed 20 matches due to injury, and with just 18 months left on his current contract, could he be approaching the end of his spell in London?

Back in October, 90min claimed that Partey could consider a move away from Arsenal if he was not given more opportunities in the starting XI.

Fast-forward three months and he has started just three league games this term, with the last coming against Fulham in August.

According to reports in Spain (via the Daily Express), Barcelona are showing interest in the midfielder and his time in the Premier League could be about to come to an end.

Dewsbury-Hall is five years younger than Partey, and he could turn out to be an ideal replacement for the former Atlético gem, who looks certain to leave sooner rather than later.

The stats show why Kiernan Dewsbury-Hall would be a good signing for Arsenal

Since making his debut for the Foxes during the 2019/20 campaign, the midfielder has racked up 114 appearances for the club, scoring 14 goals and registering 14 assists in the process.

Despite their relegation last season, the Englishman was one of Leicester's more impressive performers, and it showed that they still had plenty of talent among their ranks.

Indeed, the 25-year-old ranked third among the squad for successful dribbles per game (1.3) along with ranking third for key passes per game (1.3) and he has taken his game to another level in the second tier during 2023/24.

Not only does the midfielder currently rank first in the squad for key passes per game (2.7) and combined goals and assists (18), but he also ranks second for big chances created (12) and fourth for successful dribbles per game (1.3), clearly showcasing his abilities in the Championship as he aims to bring Leicester back to the top flight at the first time of asking.

Writer Kyle Boas lavished praise on the midfielder amid his links to the Premier League, saying he is “one of the most press-resistant midfielders in England” and he would certainly offer a greater attacking threat to Partey judging by his statistics this season.

His manager, Enzo Maresca, has also lauded the player following his performances, saying back in November:

"He is so dangerous near the box, and has the quality to score or assist from anywhere. He could already have had 10 or 12 assists. He is probably the most-improved for us and he's in the perfect position."

2

9

2

9

1.3

2.7

3

12

1.3

1.3

Dewsbury-Hall has not just impressed among his current teammates, but also when compared to positional peers in similar leagues.

Over the previous 365 days, the 25-year-old is currently ranked in the top 2% for assists, shot-creating actions, progressive carries, touches in the opposition penalty area and none-penalty goals per 90 when compared to players who play in a similar position, and showcases how much he has improved.

Signing the Foxes gem could give Arteta the licence to drop Rice slightly deeper and allow Dewsbury-Hall the freedom to further demonstrate his attacking attributes as he aims for another crack at the top flight.

A fee of £30m would not break the bank either, and the Spaniard could recoup some of that by moving on Partey during the summer transfer window, knowing that he has a more than able replacement within his squad.

The 5 foot 10 maestro can operate across a few positions, with either a central or defensive midfield slot his preferred option, but he has been pushed further forward a few times during his career.

This versatility could be a big bonus for Arteta as he looks to fill his squad with adaptable players, and Dewsbury-Hall could take the next step by joining Arsenal.

Glasgow Rangers moved to within goal difference of the top of the Scottish Premiership table with a 2-1 win over Aberdeen at Ibrox on Tuesday night.

The Light Blues secured all three points thanks to goals from Rabbi Matondo and Todd Cantwell, either side of an equaliser from Bojan Miovski, as Philippe Clement's side moved to 58 points – level with Celtic ahead of their game on Wednesday.

Whilst the two goalscorers will get the plaudits, and rightly so, for their strikes to win the match for the Scottish giants, they were not the only impressive performers for the Light Blues.

Central defender John Souttar was brought into the starting line-up for the injured Leon Balogun and showed what he is all about with an excellent display for the Gers, as he was the real hero on the night.

Matondo and Cantwell's match-winning contributions

Ross McCausland took advantage of a slip from a defender and drove towards the box before lashing an effort at Kelle Roos, who was forced to parry the ball straight to Matondo for the opening goal.

However, the Welsh whiz then missed a huge opportunity to make it 2-0 before half-time. He skipped past two defenders with a brilliant piece of skill but took far too long to get his shot away, with Cyriel Dessers in space to his right, and slipped at the vital moment.

Cantwell was the eventual match-winner as the former Norwich City star was the quickest to react to a save from Roos to bundle the ball into the back of the net on the rebound.

The English whiz also created two chances for his teammates but did lose 100% (3/3) of his duels throughout the game, as Aberdeen found it too easy to get the better of him in physical contests.

John Souttar's defensive dominance

Souttar's centre-back partner, Connor Goldson, had a nightmare for the away side's goal as Miovski got the better of him far too easily from a long ball but the Scotland international avoided any such issues.

The former Hearts titan was colossal at the back for the Gers as he dealt with the majority of the problems that Aberdeen caused through their attackers.

Minutes played

90

Duels won

Ten

Duels contested

15

Clearances

Four

Blocks

One

As you can see in the table above, the Light Blues monster dominated the opposition in physical battles as he won two of his three on the deck and eight of his 12 in the air.

His ability in the air was needed towards the end of the match as the Dons piled the pressure on after Dujon Sterling's red card reduced the hosts to ten men, as the towering defender won his duels to prevent flick-ons and knock-downs around the box.

Souttar was also composed in his use of the ball. He completed 87% of his attempted passes (74/85), six of his ten long passes, and 100% of his attempted dribbles (1/1).

The 27-year-old enforcer's vital defensive work played a key role in the win as the Gers won by a slender one-goal margin, which meant that any slip-up at the back could have resulted in points being dropped.

Instead of slip-ups, Souttar's footing was assured throughout and that is why he was the real hero of the night for Clement with his outstanding performance, starring alongside Matondo and Cantwell.

New Zealand have been fined for not completing their overs in time against West Indies, and a second offence could earn their captain a suspension

Sidharth Monga24-Jun-2019The nail-biting win over West Indies at Old Trafford was the kind of result that gives teams a lot of self-belief, but it has come at a significant cost for New Zealand. Their main batsman, the only one to have scored more than 200 runs at this World Cup, is now on notice because they failed to maintain a good over rate in those tense final moments. Captain Kane Williamson is now one over-rate offence from being suspended for a match.Williamson has been fined 20% of his match fee for New Zealand’s slow over rate against West Indies, and the other players 10% of theirs. Another over-rate breach during the tournament will be deemed a second offence, which will bring with it a suspension for Williamson.It will be particularly disappointing for New Zealand that it has come to this: the last time New Zealand were tardy with their overs was way back in the Champions Trophy in 2017. Behind India – who are immaculate with their over rates – New Zealand are the most disciplined side in the world when it comes to finishing their overs in the allotted time. And in the first match in which they batted first at this World Cup and were put under pressure while defending their total, New Zealand were found to be slow. In the matches between their two offences, the closest match they had when batting first was a 15-run win. It will be a small concern that they were slow when put under that pressure.”We will be talking about that, it’s certainly something we don’t want,” Gary Stead, New Zealand’s coach, said. “Our record’s been really good, and I think the moment the other night was something that probably got to everyone. It was so noisy, and the atmosphere was so good that it was really hard and difficult to hear. When you get in those pressure moments, sometimes you need to take a bit of extra time to be clear on it, but the West Indies were slow as well.”On the clock, even West Indies were at least 26 minutes late in finishing their overs, but the ICC match referee makes allowances for injury breaks and other timeouts before handing out these fines. West Indies were deemed to be just in line with the over-rate requirement, and New Zealand to have exceeded it. And they finished the innings off in 49 overs. Had the match gone the distance there might have been a bigger penalty coming their way.Kane Williamson leads the team talk•IDI via Getty ImagesHowever, New Zealand sound confident they don’t need to do anything dramatic. They won’t suddenly start playing two spinners just to maintain over rates. Stead knows the last time it happened was when he wasn’t even the coach. He knows they just need to reinforce the little disciplines to make sure they are on the right side of that ledger. It is just more significant because it is Williamson, who has been streets ahead of the other New Zealand batsmen in this tournament, with 373 runs at an average of 186.50 and two Man-of-the-Match awards to his name, for two masterful centuries in difficult conditions.”I understand the ICC have got things they need to clamp down on as well, that’s part and parcel of it, but we don’t want to lose Kane so that’s something we’ll be chatting about,” Stead said.The ICC has come down hard on over-rate offences in limited-overs tournaments. In this World Cup, a captain cannot be absolved of over-rate responsibilities even if the team decides to switch captains, like Kumar Sangakkara and Mahela Jayawardene did at the World T20 in 2012.The relevant ICC playing condition says: “If the Team Captain plays in a match without being the nominated Captain for that match, he will be deemed to be the Captain should any penalties be applied for over rate breaches under the ICC Code of Conduct unless he is off the field for wholly acceptable reasons for the entirety of his team’s fielding innings.”However, should New Zealand feel that their last league match will have no bearing on their final standing in the league table, they can rest Williamson if they want to be extra safe. But, as Stead said, it hasn’t caused any panic in the ranks because they know they have managed it for two years. They just need to be mindful of it when the pressure is on.

Brentford forward Neal Maupay has discussed his supposed feud with James Maddison but has maintained he has no issue with the Spurs star.

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Maupay discusses Maddison feudSays he has no problem with Spurs manReveals why he copied Maddison's darts celebrationGettyWHAT HAPPENED?

The supposed feud between the duo started when Maupay copied Maddison's darts celebration and the England star responded coldly. The most recent incident came after the Brentford star seemingly mocked Maddison's omission from Gareth Southgate's England squad for the Euros.

AdvertisementWHAT MAUPAY SAID

Speaking to talkSPORT, Maupay said: "You need to ask him. From my side, I’ve got no problem with him or anyone. I know when I do things like that and we lose the game they will come for me. That’s fine, I can take it. For me, football is a game and growing up I did the same stuff. I don’t want to stop now. I’m just having a bit of banter and a bit of a laugh, there’s nothing deep. I like to give something, but I can receive as well.

"It’s just fun. I like a bit of banter with my mates. That’s just how it is, just because I’m a professional footballer doesn’t mean I can’t do it. I don’t know how people react to it, but it’s just me."

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Maupay also revealed why he copied Maddison's darts celebration and said it was not pre-meditated.

"I actually didn’t think about it before. I score and celebrate with whatever is going through my mind. I don’t have one celebration, so I do a bit of everything. When I scored, I was running to the corner flag and saw the fans and they were angry at me. I don’t know how my brain works, but I just did the darts celebration. It wasn’t towards Maddison, but one of their players does the celebration so I just did it," he explained.

The Brentford star added that found the Tottenham players' reaction hilarious, adding: “That was even funnier. How do you take a celebration so personally? Before that game, I was cool with everyone and with Maddison. He grabbed me straight away as I was coming back from the goal and he was so p*ssed. “I was like ‘relax, it’s just a celebration’."

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WHAT NEXT FOR THE MAUPAY/MADDISON FEUD?

While Maupay has said that he has no interest in continuing the feud with Maddison, it seems unlikely that the Brentford star will shy away from further banter next season.

It means the country’s prime minister has no power to dissolve the board or remove the chairman, with that clause being removed completely

Umar Farooq21-Aug-2019The government of Pakistan formally notified the new PCB constitution with certain amendments, toning down the powers of its own patron-in-chief. This is the fourth time in the last 12 years that the PCB constitution has been redrafted. This latest change means the patron-in-chief, who is also the country’s prime minister, has no power to dissolve the board or remove the chairman, with that clause being removed completely, effectively making the PCB an independent body.According to the new constitution, the prime minister of the country is still a patron of the board, but his power to dictate to it has been curbed. Earlier, his general policy directions were compulsory to implement, but will now, constitutionally at least, only be up for consideration. “The Patron may, from time to time, give to the Board general policy directions for its consideration,” clause 5.3 reads.The patron earlier had the power to dissolve the PCB, with this once igniting an embarrassing crisis for the board when former patron Nawaz Shariff dismissed the then-chairman Zaka Ashraf and dissolved the board of governors. Sharif formed a management committee to pick the new PCB chairman from among its eight members, which ultimately brought Najam Sethi to power.Changes of government have always rung changes at the PCB because the prime minister has held absolute power with the board. This has hindered the PCB’s ability to push through a long-term vision, with the board beholden to the desires of its incoming patron every few years. But the new constitution makes a significant tweak that eradicates the ability of the patron to dissolve the board of governors altogether.When Imran Khan won a general election in 2018, Sethi’s future became the subject of intense speculation, with the two of them having a famously poor relationship. With the prime minister allowed – according to the then PCB constitution – to change the PCB chairman if he so desired, it seemed unlikely Sethi would be able to stay on beyond Imran formally taking charge. In what was widely seen as an anticipation of his impending removal once Imran became prime minister, Sethi tendered his resignation just before Imran was due to take office, leading to Ehsan Mani being ushered in.Until now, chairmen had the authority to act as executives of the board who tried to implement policy they had proposed themselves, which according to Mani was a conflict of interest. The new constitution tackled governance loopholes related to the administration of cricket and the functioning of its governing body, bringing it in line with the best practices of corporate governance.The patron’s role is now more narrowly worded in Clause 32.5, giving them only oversight authority and the ability to launch an audit if they believed financial mismanagement may have taken place at the board. “Notwithstanding anything contained in this clause, the Patron in his exclusive discretion to be exercised, for reasons to be recorded in writing, after being reasonably satisfied that there is sufficient evidence of financial mismanagement within the Board, may direct conducting of a special audit of the Board’s accounts. The audit report shall only be submitted to the Patron for his consideration,” the clause reads.To many, this change might seem a calculated political ploy by the current patron-in-chief, with Imran already having made one intervention which resulted in Mani becoming chairman of the PCB. But whether the constitution, and indeed the institution that is the PCB, is sturdy enough to withstand a future patron-in-chief looking to shake things up at the PCB once more, only time will tell.

Newcastle United are believed to be plotting a move for a "phenomenal" player this summer, but other Premier League clubs are also interested.

Newcastle transfer news

There is no doubt that this has been a disappointing season at St James' Park overall, with their league form not hitting the heights of last term and an early Champions League exit also coming their way. Injuries have played a big part in their struggles, however, so there is only so much Eddie Howe has been able to do.

Summer signings will be needed in order to ensure Newcastle keep heading in a positive direction, and they are reportedly in pole position to sign Everton midfielder Amadou Onana. A £60m fee could be needed to get their man, though, with the Blues demanding big money for his services.

The Magpies are also thought to be battling Inter for the signing of exciting Turkish youngster Can Uzun, who is currently plying his trade at FC Nurnberg.

It looks as though Howe is also targeting another huge talent who could have a massive future in the game following a fresh claim that has emerged.

Newcastle want Archie Gray

According to HITC, Newcastle are keen on signing Leeds United youngster Archie Gray in the summer transfer window, but are far from alone in wanting to snap him up.

"Liverpool, Manchester City and Newcastle United remain interested in signing Archie Gray from Leeds United, HITC understands. Sources have told HITC that Liverpool, Newcastle United and Manchester City all wanted to sign Archie Gray from Leeds United in the January transfer window.

"HITC understands that Liverpool, Newcastle and City have not given up on signing the teenager. The Premier League clubs are continuing to keep close tabs on Gray, who is a midfielder by trade but has been playing at right-back under head coach Daniel Farke this season."

Gray is someone who Newcastle should be looking to sign as soon as possible, with the 17-year-old a special young talent who could grow into a genuine star over time.

Despite his age, the midfielder has started 26 Championship games this season (prior to this weekend), helping Leeds get into the play-off places, while Jermaine Beckford has lauded him recently, saying:

"I thought he was incredible [against Cardiff]. Watching him play, you forget about his age, you forget he's only 17 years old. When he first started training with the first team, he was still doing his GCSEs.

"He played with such maturity, he was so confident on the ball. He didn't rush, he didn't panic at all. Everything about his game today was absolutely spot on, and if today is anything to go by, this kid has such a bright future ahead of him. He's in the right place to learn, he's got a little bit of everything in him. Phenomenal player, he did really well today."

Newcastle contract twist on player who Eddie Howe loves

There has been a big twist regarding the “fantastic” Magpies ace.

ByHenry Jackson Feb 9, 2024

Gray could arrive at Newcastle as a squad player to begin with, allowing him to adjust to life in the Premier League, but his meteoric rise suggests that it might not take long for him to be a starter.

Whether the Magpies can see numerous other clubs remain to be seen, but he should be considered a priority long-term target, such is his ceiling as a player.

Aston Villa's talks with Juventus over a transfer for Weston McKennie have stalled, with Tottenham and Arsenal also interested in the midfielder.

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Villa discussing Luiz swap deal for McKennieRecent talks for USMNT star stalledArsenal and Tottenham also interestedWHAT HAPPENED?

Juventus and Aston Villa have been in extended talks for Brazil star Luiz to join the Old Lady. According to, the Villans hold a strong interest in McKennie but the latest round of negotiations have left the English side frustrated. The report claims both Tottenham and Arsenal have had a long-standing interest in the United States Men's National Team midfielder and could swoop in with a late bid.

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Aston Villa are under pressure to comply with the Premier League's profit and sustainability rules and may have to sell one of their stars before the 30 June deadline. Luiz is one of their most valuable players so any swap deal would likely involve cash as well.

DID YOU KNOW?

McKennie was a regular for Juventus last season, playing 38 times in all competitions. The 25-year-old did not manage to score but did provide seven assists as the Old Lady finished third and secured a place in the Champions League as well as winning the Coppa Italia.

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Getty/InstagramWHAT NEXT FOR MCKENNIE AND LUIZ?

Talks will continue in the coming days over a potential deal involving McKennie and Luiz. Both are involved for their countries at Copa America 2024 and will face-off as they compete to win the tournament in McKennie's homeland.