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As England’s bowlers hit back in the final session, as the Barmy Army found their voice and South African batsmen were forced to jerk their heads out of the way of some hostile bouncers – and the odd non-bouncer – it was tempting to believe that England were right back in this match.And it’s true, England could still win this game. We have already seen this year, at Leeds and Lord’s, games where England have won despite being dismissed for under 90 in their first innings. This is a side with the ability to come back from apparently hopeless positions. When you have a player like Ben Stokes in your side, miracles become possibles and hope never dies.But the best teams don’t rely on miracles. And despite all the drama of the last session in Centurion, the unsettling thought persisted that England – English cricket, even – has already hit the iceberg. The ship is going down. All that matters now is the number of survivors.If that sounds over the top, you probably need to look at the statistics from previous games on this ground. The highest score ever made in the fourth innings of a Test here is England’s 251 for 8 in 1999-2000. And that only happened because two innings were forfeited – so it wasn’t really a fourth innings at all – and only one captain was entirely occupied with trying to win. It also remains the only Test played on the ground where the final innings of the match was the biggest. The next highest fourth-innings score made here is England’s 228 for 9 to draw in 2009-10. South Africa’s lead at this point is 175. They have six wickets in hand. England need to strike early and often on day three.If that doesn’t sound so bad, we must also acknowledge that this pitch is deteriorating. The variable bounce has already caused a couple of balls to scuttle and a few others rear and it is most unlikely to get any better. England, meanwhile, are a side that have been bowled out for under 100 three times this year, under 200 nine times (they have had 22 innings in all) and made 400 only once. As a result, it’s hard to be wildly optimistic for them.More than that, though, England should be frank about the longer-term problems facing them. The spin-bowling cupboard has never been so bare; the lack of openers has never been so obvious; the batsmen keep getting rolled and the bowlers keep looking toothless. You look around the world and other teams – certainly India, Australia, West Indies and South Africa – have fast bowlers who seem to hit the pitch harder and extract more life as a consequence. Kookaburra balls that seem dead in English hands come alive for the likes of Neil Wagner or Josh Hazlewood. And it keeps happening; to deny it is absurd and impossible.Joe Root rallies his team before the start of play•Getty Images

There are issues wherever you look, really: Jos Buttler has been living on potential for years – he has one Test century from 37-and-a-half Tests and is now averaging 34.44 since his recall in May 2018 – while Jonny Bairstow’s habit of being bowled continues. More than a quarter of his dismissals in Test cricket (28.69 percent to be accurate) are coming in such a fashion, which places him fifth in Test history of those who have been dismissed a minimum of 100 times. Quite what he is supposed to have proved since he was dropped at the end of the English summer is unclear: he hasn’t played a first-class game in the interim.And while Bairstow can count himself a bit unfortunate to receive one that kept a bit low – yes, it hit the top of off stump, but the impressively sharp Anrich Nortje had been making the ball rear horribly – he might reflect that it was his captain who sentenced England to batting last on this surface. Centurion’s pitches have long had a well-deserved reputation for deteriorating. This scenario was far from unpredictable.Which takes us to the captain. The decision to bowl first here will do nothing to quieten the voices calling for a change. And it’s true, Joe Root’s modest form with the bat – apart from at Hamilton – combined with his underwhelming tactical choices might render him somewhat vulnerable in circumstances where there was a viable alternative.But Root – loved by his team and keen to learn in the role – is the wrong target here. You can suggest anyone you like for captain – Mike Brearley; Winston Churchill; Gavin and Stacey – the issues will remain. It is not the England captaincy that is hindering the development of fast bowlers, spinners or batsman with the attitude and technique to bat for a long time. It is the structure of the domestic system which has been ruined over the last decade or so by a board with more interest in the bank balance than the scorecard.ALSO READ: South Africa incensed as Jofra Archer escapes beamer suspensionTalk of trying to persuade Simon Harmer – whatever his qualities as a bowler might be – to qualify for England only betrays the poverty of the situation. England may, as a result of their history and relative financial wealth, manage to attract players developed overseas to join them. But it only masks the holes. If they really want to improve, they should acknowledge them.Consistent improvement will only come when the County Championship is valued and nurtured. When it is moved to the prime weeks of the season. When pitches rewards the best and when there is a requirement for the same skills so essential at Test level.For that to happen, sacrifices will have to be made. White-ball windows will have to be closed; humble pie will have to be eaten. The World Cup triumph, welcome and wonderful though it was, may have enabled the current administration to continue upon a path that prioritised white-ball cricket to the exclusion of red-ball.So yes, England can win this match. They can win other matches, too. They really do have some hugely talented individuals. They have, in most conditions, what might be referred to as “a puncher’s chance” in boxing.But whatever happens, we must not ignore the growing evidence. The defeats in New Zealand or the Caribbean; the statistics reflecting the problems in the batting or bowling; the first year without a Test series victory this century. Eden is burning; we either have the courage to change things or accept a place – in Test cricket, at least – among the also-rans.

Director of England men’s cricket Ashley Giles admits a ‘hell of a lot’ is being expected of new pace talent

George Dobell in Hamilton26-Nov-2019England have to be careful with the workload and expectations of Jofra Archer, according to Ashley Giles.Archer bowled 42 overs in the first innings of the first Test; easily the most of England’s seamers and more than Stuart Broad has ever bowled in a single Test innings.But while Joe Root said afterwards he couldn’t fault Archer’s effort, he did hint that some spells were more potent than others.”He’s got to learn that sometimes you’ve got to make sure every spell count,” Root said. “You really have got to run in and use that extra pace to your advantage.”In many ways I can’t fault his effort, bowling the amount he has done throughout the innings shows that he cares and he wants to put in for this team. But I think there are certain spells where he can just unleash a little bit more. That will come with experience and time.”While Giles, the director of England men’s cricket, did not explicitly contradict Root, he did suggest that a “hell of a lot” was being expected from Archer and insisted England “have to look after him.” The Test at the Bay Oval was Archer’s first with a Kookaburra ball and fifth in total.”Jofra is gold for us and we have got to look after him,” Giles said. “We have to be careful how much we think we’re going to get out of him every day. And on a pitch that placid, it was pretty hard work. We’ve got to look after him. He’s really important for our future.”We’re expecting a hell of a lot from a young bloke just to run in and bowl 95 mph every day. It’s not going to happen, whether that’s just because he’s young or because he’s not played a lot of cricket. We’ve got to help him through that.”With Archer having developed outside the English system – he was born in Barbados and spent most of his formative years in the Caribbean – there is limited data, by comparison with other young England cricketers, available to the team management on his skills and limitations. Equally, the team management are still getting to know him as a man and learning what motivates him.”That’s an ongoing conversation for us,” Giles said. “Culturally he is different. We all are [different to one another] to a degree. We have got to respect every one of our team and team-mates have to respect each other. We’re all different and we all need different management styles.”After Archer’s labours at the Bay Oval, he will be assessed before any decision is made over his availability for the second Test. England travelled to Hamilton on Tuesday and have two training days, on Wednesday and Thursday, ahead of the second match which starts on Friday.”He got through a decent workload there so we’ll will have to see how he pulls up to be honest,” Chris Silverwood, the head coach, said. “I wouldn’t say he bowled too many overs: you have to do what’s in front of you in Test cricket. But we’ll have to see how the bowlers pull up and make some decisions from there.”We want every ball to be an effort ball, really. Having been a fast bowler, that was my job: you come in and bowl hard and for that short period of time you try and make something happen.”It’s difficult to make every ball an effort ball. Your body hurts at times, there’s no two ways about it. As you get older your body hurts every day. You’ve just got to choose to do it, really.”But we’ve just got to remember to manage the expectations on Jofra. He’s still very young in his Test career and he’s learning all the time. He’s bowling with a Kookaburra ball now and, as we’ve seen, it’s not like bowling with a Dukes, and he is learning to bowl on wickets that are probably alien to him.”But I thought the way Jofra bowled on Saturday morning was fantastic. If he can get that as a starting point, I think we’ll be in for a treat.”

Glasgow Rangers manager Philippe Clement and new head of recruitment Nils Koppen wasted little time in looking to shape the squad to their will during the recent January transfer window.

They brought in three new signings to bolster the playing group as Mohammed Diomande, Oscar Cortes, and Fabio Silva all came through the door.

The Light Blues duo also allowed some players to move on from Ibrox, including Jose Cifuentes and Sam Lammers – who had been signed on permanent deals by former head coach Michael Beale last summer.

Their departures were a damning indictment on the work done in the transfer market by the English tactician in 2023, as two of his signings were allowed to leave on loan.

It is now being reported that the club are prepared to sanction a permanent exit for Lammers, who does not appear to have a future at Ibrox beyond this summer.

Latest Rangers transfer news

According to Football Insider, the Scottish giants are prepared to listen to offers for the Dutch forward, as they look to cash in on the former Atalanta flop.

Rangers reportedly agreed a £3.5m deal with the Italian side to sign Lammers on a permanent deal ahead of the 2023/24 campaign, but they are now attempting to recoup some of that at the end of the season.

The left-footed attacker joined FC Utrecht on loan in January. However, it remains to be seen whether or not they want, or are able, to make it a permanent deal later this year.

Football Insider state that Clement is unlikely to change his mind on the 26-year-old forward, who he was willing to send out on loan in January, which is why a permanent exit from Glasgow is now on the cards for him in the summer transfer window.

The Belgian head coach may already have his dream, homegrown, replacement for Lammers in the academy set-up as 18-year-old wizard Archie Stevens could emerge as a first-team option.

FootballTransfers report that Nottingham Forest, Brentford, Brighton & Hove Albion, and Wolverhampton Wanderers are all showing an interest in the teenage whiz ahead of the summer.

The outlet claims that his performances for Rangers B have caught the eye of several English sides, and that he is deemed to be one of the brightest young talents in Glasgow at the moment.

Koppen and Clement must now ensure that they can convince the English dynamo to turn down interest from the Premier League by offering him a chance to play first-team football as a Lammers replacement next season.

Sam Lammers' stats for Rangers

It would not take much of a contribution from the teen starlet to replace the Dutchman as the £3.5m summer signing failed to make a big impact on the pitch during the first half of the campaign.

Signed from Atalanta, Lammers produced two goals and one assist in 17 appearances for Rangers in a multitude of positions; including the wing, as an attacking midfielder, and as a striker.

He scored two goals from an Expected Goals (xG) of 4.71. Despite leaving the club on loan in January, the Gers flop currently has the second-worst xG difference with -2.71 – only Cyriel Dessers has underperformed his xG by more, with 12 goals from 15.1 xG.

Cyriel Dessers

15.1

12

-3.1

Sam Lammers

4.71

2

-2.71

Danilo

6.68

4

-2.68

Connor Goldson

2.06

0

-2.06

John Souttar

2.4

1

-1.04

The 26-year-old lightweight also ranked 25th in the squad for key passes per game (0.3), which shows that he rarely provided quality as a creator of chances for his teammates.

Lammers created one 'big chance' for his fellow attackers in those 17 league outings, and these statistics illustrate how little of an impact he made on the pitch. The Beale flop did not contribute with goals, assists, or key passes on a regular basis for the Light Blues, which is why it was the right decision to let him leave on loan.

He has found his form in the Eredivisie for Utrecht with three goals and three assists in ten league appearances since his loan move to the club, but there is no guarantee that his performances in the Netherlands would translate back over to Scotland and the Scottish Premiership.

Rangers are now looking to part ways with him on a permanent basis and Stevens, amid interest from several Premier League teams, could step up as a homegrown replacement for the Dutch dud.

Why Archie Stevens could replace Sam Lammers

The 18-year-old gem made his debut for the first-team at the age of 16 against Queen of the South in the League Cup, which speaks to how highly he was rated by the club at the time.

Stevens, who was hailed as a "highly-effective" talent by his former academy manager Michael Hamilton, is an England U18 international and currently plays for Rangers at youth level.

Unfortunately, Transfermarkt do not have his U18 statistics for the Light Blues this season but the academy have posted on X about his goals against RB Bragantino, Jeonbuk, Motherwell (x2), Aberdeen, whilst Rangers Youth Blog covered his strike against Dundee last month.

This means that the teenage talent has scored at least six goals for the U18s and B team combined throughout the season. However, it remains unknown as to how many assists the talented gem has provided during that period.

As you can see in the clip above, Stevens brilliantly powered his way into the box and delivered a pinpoint left-footed finish into the bottom corner to make it 3-3 against Celtic in the Scottish Youth Cup final at the end of last season.

Unfortunately, the Gers went on to lose 6-5 in extra-time in a thrilling final but his strike during the first half showcased his ability in the final third, as he showed drive and skill to get into the penalty area and find the back of the net.

He is, evidently, a goalscoring talent who can operate out wide or down the middle as a number ten, like Lammers, and that is why Stevens could emerge as a replacement for the Utrecht loanee, who failed to show such quality and drive at the top end of the pitch.

The Rangers academy prospect has impressed enough to garner interest from the Premier League and should now be offered a chance to showcase his skills as a first-team option in the summer, with a view to him being a dream heir to the Dutchman's place in the squad.

He would be a dream option to come through as a senior forward for Clement to pick from next season as the former AFC Wimbledon star would be a homegrown player, rather than a multi-million pound addition to the side, and not cost a penny to bring in.

The left-hander produces back-to-back centuries at Drummoyne Oval to inflict WA’s first loss of the season

Alex Malcolm02-Oct-2019A superb career-best 152 from Daniel Hughes has helped New South Wales to their first win of the Marsh Cup, thumping Western Australia by 77 runs at Drummoyne Oval.Hughes struck 13 fours and four sixes and combined in two century stands with Moises Henriques and Matthew Gilkes. The latter made his first List A half-century finishing with 82 off 51 balls, as the home side piled up 6 for 348 after being sent in to bat.WA chased with purpose while Josh Philippe and Hilton Cartwright produced rollicking half-centuries, but that came either side of a collapse that ultimately derailed the visitors. WA lost 5 for 33 in six overs having reached 0 for 70 in less than 12 overs, with Harry Conway striking three times.It was Hughes’ second century in four days against WA and his fifth overall for NSW. He equalled the NSW record for the most in Australia’s 50-over domestic competition joining an elite group that includes Steve Waugh, current NSW coach Phil Jaques, Brad Haddin and Nic Maddinson.Hughes put on 64 for the opening wicket with Jack Edwards and then 116 with Henriques. He did receive some help from WA during that partnership. Philippe dropped a regulation outside edge off Mitch Marsh when Hughes was on 78. He survived a run out chance and a huge lbw shout on 89 off Nathan Coulter-Nile.Once he reached his century he was able to cut loose. Gilkes eased any scoring pressure by thumping 50 off 38 balls during a rapid 105-run stand. AJ Tye and Jhye Richardson came in for specific treatment although Tye did nab three wickets including Hughes for 152. Gilkes fell in the second last over for 82. New South Wales made 189 from the last 20 overs of the innings.Philippe was intent on mowing down the huge total racing to 64 in 50 balls with seven boundaries and three sixes. But he was one of three very soft dismissals to Conway that triggered the mini-collapse. He pulled a ball straight down fine leg’s throat shortly after D’Arcy Short had chipped one to mid-off. Mitchell Marsh made it a trifecta next ball, dragging a checked drive to midwicket only for Edwards to take a spectacular one-handed catch.Marcus Stoinis and Cameron Bancroft fell cheaply leaving WA with too much to do. Cartwright was slow to get started but flourished thereafter smashing 74 from 68 balls with five fours and three huge sixes. His innings ensured the Blues wouldn’t claim the bonus point but he fell trying to reverse-sweep Arjun Nair who also finished with three wickets.New South Wales climb off the bottom of the table while WA remain in second place behind Queensland following their first defeat of the season.

Aside from some poor performances and results in the domestic cups, West Ham United have been enjoying a rather successful season so far.

David Moyes has guided his team to sixth place in the Premier League and straight into the knockout rounds of the Europa League after finishing top of their group.

It's not just on the pitch where things have been going well, as the arrival of Kalvin Phillips from Manchester City will surely give the Irons a massive boost for the rest of their domestic and continental campaigns.

That said, they haven't had everything go their way, as Jota, who was heavily touted for a move to East London last month, ultimately failed to arrive before the window slammed shut. Still, the emergence of a talented youngster within the club might render that a blessing in disguise.

Why West Ham didn't sign Jota

In the last few days of January, transfers expert Fabrizio Romano revealed to GIVEMESPORT that the Hammers were "really working on the Jota deal" and that "the player is open to making the deal happen."

Everything looked rosy for the Eastenders, as the Italian also revealed that Al-Ittihad – who the former Celtic ace had only joined in the summer – were also "quite open to finding the formula for the deal."

However, the deal ultimately collapsed, with a journalist from Saudi publication Aawsat News confirming that Al-Ittihad had registered the tricky winger in their squad, thus "ending all hopes of West Ham signing the player."

While missing out on a player who was so effective for Celtic north of the border is bound to leave some fans feeling disappointed, there is a chance that this failed move, combined with the unknown future of Said Benrahma after his move to Lyon collapsed, could leave space for an up-and-coming youngster to make the position his own.

Dan Rigge could be West Ham's own Jota

With the failed move for Jota, the absence of Benrahma, and the injury concerns around Lucas Paqueta, the left wing spot in West Ham's first team suddenly looks somewhat open, which is where 17-year-old Daniel Rigge could come in.

The "very talented" teenager, as described by academy manager Kenny Brown, joined the Irons' setup from Manchester City in July 2022, and since then, he has been electric for the youth sides.

Able to play anywhere from central midfield, right-wing and left-wing, the Stockport-born gem has been tearing it up in the U18 Premier League, FA Youth Cup, and recently, in the Premier League 2.

In all, he has made 35 appearances for the Hammers' youth teams, in which he has scored eight goals and provided nine assists, meaning he averages a goal involvement every two games, which is a pretty remarkable return for someone so young.

Alongside his impressive output, the "skilful" youngster, as Brown described him, was instrumental in the U18s winning the U18 Premier League South division title and came off the bench to help the club lift their first FA Youth Cup since 1999.

These achievements and his brilliant potential led to the club offering Rigge his first professional contract in October – a sign the club see a bright future ahead for him.

Latest West Ham United injury news, return dates and suspensions

FFC keeps you up to date with all the latest West Ham United news involving injuries and suspensions.

By
Jack Salveson Holmes

May 10, 2024

Ultimately, failing to secure Jota's signature is far from ideal, but with the pathway to the first team now that little bit clearer, perhaps Rigge could become the club's next attacking superstar from the Rush Green ranks in the coming years.

Happily for England’s captain, venues don’t get any more familiar than the ground at which he has been playing for Middlesex since he was 16 years old

Andrew Miller at Lord's13-Jul-2019If ever there was an occasion in which to make capital of one’s home advantage, then a World Cup final at Lord’s would be right at the top of the list. Happily for Eoin Morgan, England’s captain, venues don’t get any more familiar than the ground at which he has been plying his trade for Middlesex since he was 16 years old.And so, on the eve of the contest that will define the rest of his life, England’s captain cut a relaxed figure, believing that he and his team were well placed to take the occasion in their stride, even if the heightened atmosphere come Sunday morning was something that he would be encouraging his players to savour.”I certainly feel pretty relaxed,” Morgan said during his pre-match press conference. “It is nice to be home. I’m also very excited about tomorrow.”We’re going to enjoy the game regardless. We’re going to try and take in as much as we can, it’s a World Cup final, and we’re not going to shy away from that. As long as anything doesn’t affect performance, we’re going to try and take it in.”England’s first appearance in a World Cup final for 27 years is the culmination of a dedicated four-year plan, dredged from the depths of the team’s inept display at the 2015 tournament in Australia and New Zealand, and inspired in no small part by Sunday’s opponents themselves, who handed out such a beating to England in their group-stage encounter in Wellington that Morgan was able to say that rock-bottom had been reached.And while the distance his team has travelled since 2015 is remarkable in its own right, there’s an additional incentive to put on a show on Sunday.For the first time since the 2005 Ashes, England’s exploits will be broadcast free-to-air, following Sky’s decision to share its coverage on a one-off basis with Channel 4. And while Morgan insisted he hadn’t allowed his thoughts to stray so far as to lifting the trophy, he recognised that the platform and the opportunity was there to showcase a side that could yet become the third men’s world champion team among major English sports, after the 1966 footballers and the 2003 rugby side.”Cricket and sport in particular is very fickle,” Morgan said. “If you ever get ahead, it always seems to bite you in the backside, so for us to win it, I think around the country it would be awesome, great for the game.”I think it would be quite iconic in certainly young kids’ memories if they are watching it at home and we manage to lift the trophy, it would be awesome.Batting coach Graham Thorpe, Eoin Morgan and Jonny Bairstow walk out at Lord’s•IDI via Getty Images

“But I think it is important, regardless of if it’s terrestrial or what outlet, that whoever the target audience is – and certainly for us or the ICC it should be young kids – they get more exposure to the players and more insight into what cricket is about and what principles and, I suppose, disciplines it brings to young people being involved in it.”Either way, the players will need to do the job for themselves first and foremost before they can allow their thoughts to be distracted by legacy issues – even if Morgan was grateful for the support that has come his team’s way so far in their campaign.”It means a huge amount to me and everybody in the changing room,” he said. “It’s a culmination of four years of hard work, dedication, a lot of planning and it presents a huge opportunity to go on and try and win a World Cup.”We had a lot of friends and family in the changing room after the semi-final [against Australia] because they are as important to our success as it is to us and everybody around the country, so it is important to share it.”I think for everybody around the country, the support we’ve had throughout has been unquestionable and that makes you feel extremely lucky to be part of a team that has that sort of support.”It presents another opportunity for both teams and the ICC to sell the game on a huge platform,” he added. “Two very strong sides [who will] hopefully produce a really good game of cricket. It’s on terrestrial television around the country and obviously various outlets online. It presents a huge opportunity for us to sell this great game.”Morgan added that he had no great speech planned for the morning of the game, but rather that he would tailor his words to suit the mood that he encounters when the players convene in the dressing room.”I always get asked this before games,” he said. “You never know what you are going to say. You have to go in and see what the mood is like in the camp. If it’s down, you need to pick it up. If it is too high, you need to bring it down. The majority of the times, over the last three or four games, it’s been right on point, I haven’t had a lot to do.”As for New Zealand, Morgan described them as “extremely experienced players who have continually challenged the best in the world and had success doing it”.”They are such a stable side,” he added. “They offer threats throughout with the ball and they’re just a stable side with the bat. I think there will be times throughout the game tomorrow where it could be won or lost, but I think it will be a really good game of cricket.”

Andrew Miller at Lord's10-May-2019

Lancashire 304 for 4 (Jennings 96, Vilas 70*) beat Middlesex 284 (Harris 117, Simpson 74, Mahmood 4-38) by 20 runsThere is, in case you missed it, quite a kerfuffle at present about the sudden availability of a genuinely quick new-ball bowler, a man with the potential to add a new level of pizzazz to England’s World Cup attack. But not even in his wildest dreams could Jofra Archer hope to hoover up 25 wickets at 18.88 in his first nine matches of the tournament, to propel his team into the semi-finals.Saqib Mahmood has done just that for Lancashire in the Royal London Cup. In spite of a startlingly heroic fightback led by James Harris, whose maiden List A hundred included a sixth-wicket stand of 197 with John Simpson that carried a spirited chase deep into the penultimate over, the ferocity of Mahmood’s new-ball burst was an intervention that could not be patched over in the final analysis.It was, nevertheless, the most improbable sporting thriller since … well, the midweek Champions League fixtures. Somehow, Middlesex clawed their way back from oblivion at 24 for 5 in the tenth over, as a batting line-up that had been denuded by injury and international call-up – with Paul Stirling, Dawid Malan and Eoin Morgan all missing from their first-choice XI – instead found itself relying on a makeshift No.6 whose previous highest List A was a paltry 32.Harris arrived in the middle with his side in freefall and Mahmood enjoying the ultimate Master-and-Apprentice learning experience alongside the ageless Lord of Lord’s, Jimmy Anderson, who produced yet another Pavilion End masterclass, and even topped and tailed his day with a pair of direct-hit run-outs.Screaming to the crease with the biomechanical purity of Brett Lee, allied to a splayed-limb final flourish that evoked Waqar Younis in his pomp, Mahmood blew away Sam Robson and Stevie Eskinazi – the latter to a rabbit-in-the-headlines hook that spiralled to square leg – before producing an off-stump snorter that a batsman with the class and form of Ross Taylor could only steer to slip.The game was a goner – and long before half-time this time – so Harris decided to trust both his eye and his partner, and enjoy the rare opportunity to set out his stall for the bulk of a 50-over innings.For a full 30 overs, he thrived – bossing the change bowlers, not least the legspinner Matt Parkinson, on a pitch that Lancashire’s own batsmen had already demonstrated was full of runs. Without ever exerting themselves, Lancashire had eased to a total of 304 for 4, with Keaton Jennings’ 159-run stand with Stephen Croft providing the backbone before Dane Vilas’ 70 not out from 67 had applied some late urgency.However, it seemed for a long while that Lancashire would regret not getting more of a wriggle on against a Middlesex attack lacking the senior statesmen, Steven Finn and Tim Murtagh, and which at times seemed to be relying on a combination of bluff and guts to stay in touch. No-one had epitomised that better than the medium-pacer George Scott, whose early diving catch at midwicket to remove Liam Livingstone was the outstanding fielding moment of the day, and whose looping leg-stump yorker somehow wriggled into Jennings’ timbers to extract him for 96 and complete a notable maiden List A wicket.But Harris simply kept his composure, and once Mahmood and Anderson had been withdrawn after six overs each, he correctly ascertained that by batting through the overs, the runs would have to come on a pitch as true as Lord’s. He brought up a superb century from 90 balls, with nine fours and two sixes in consecutive overs off Parkinson and Graham Onions, and the increasing frequency of Lancashire’s brains trust gatherings was a clear indication of their mounting doubts.But then, in the 41st over, everything changed again. Swinging across the line to Parkinson, Harris let his back foot twitch fatally as his toe strayed out of the crease, and then two balls later, calamity struck, as the new man, Scott, slapped an inside-out drive to mid-off, and sold Simpson a dummy as Anderson’s dead eye pinged down the stumps at the far end.Though Scott made amends as best he could, with Toby Roland-Jones also digging deep in an eighth-wicket stand of 45, Mahmood would not be denied. Back he came at the death, finding his yorkers at will to strangle the scoring rate, before earning a somewhat fortuitous fourth wicket, as Scott was pinned on the knee-roll by an inswinger, albeit outside the line.With the situation getting frantic, Nathan Sowter ran himself out with a suicidal single to the keeper, before Roland-Jones picked out deep midwicket one ball later to end Middlesex’s spirited campaign. It’s been 31 years and counting since they last won a List A title – but there has been much to admire in their white-ball endeavours this year.Lancashire, meanwhile, march on to face Hampshire in the semi-final on Sunday, and with a world-class strike bowler bubbling up in their ranks, they may yet believe that this hard-fought win was but a dress rehearsal for their own overdue return to trophy-winning ways at Lord’s.

The January transfer window officially opened for business at the start of this month and it remains to be seen how busy Liverpool will be.

Jurgen Klopp's side have been linked with plenty of players in the months leading up to the window, and since it started last Monday, but speculation does not always lead to tangible movement on the transfer front.

Whilst the Reds may not bring in any players this month, they could use January to lay the groundwork for possible summer signings to bolster the squad ahead of the 2024/25 campaign.

All confirmed Premier League done deals: January transfer window 2024

With the January transfer window coming towards its conclusion, FFC has all the info for tracking your club’s winter transfer activity.

By
Luke Randall

Feb 1, 2024

It is notoriously difficult to do worthwhile deals in the winter market as teams, naturally, do not want to lose their best talents midway through a campaign.

Therefore, it could make more sense for Liverpool to wait until the summer to avoid overpaying for a player, unless Klopp feels that a signing is desperately needed in the short-term or that one is value for money in spite of the timing.

Latest Liverpool transfer news

FootballTransfers have reported that the Reds are in the market to add another talented wide player to their ranks and they are eyeing up two gems who are currently playing in England.

Firstly, Crystal Palace star Michael Olise is said to be on their radar after his impressive performances for the Premier League side this season.

The 22-year-old forward has a release clause in his contract at Selhurst Park that would allow him to leave if a club is willing to part ways with £60m, and the Eagles are not prepared to cash in for lower than that figure at this time.

Liverpool and Manchester United are both considering an approach for the former Reading maestro but it is stated that Olise is expected to remain with Palace until the end of the season before a possible move in the summer.

Alongside the young French whiz, the Reds are also eyeing up Leeds United magician Crysencio Summerville to bolster their wide options.

The report suggests that the forward is due to leave Elland Road in the summer, although it is unclear whether or not that depends on their success or failure to reach the top-flight, and does not rule out the club signing both him and Olise.

However, Football Insider recently claimed that the Whites have no intention of cashing in on the Dutch wizard this month and there is no mention of a transfer fee that would change their mind.

The outlet also claimed that Premier League sides Aston Villa and Brighton & Hove Albion are also interested in the impressive EFL starlet, which shows that Liverpool look set to face plenty of competition for his signature.

This is a deal, as aforementioned, that the Reds could lay the groundwork for this month before swooping in to strike an agreement in the summer. If Leeds are unable to secure promotion to the Premier League then Klopp could come in and offer the forward a chance to return to the top-flight.

Summerville could then arrive at Anfield as the German head coach's own version of Brighton star Kaoru Mitoma, based on his impressive form this term.

Mitoma's Premier League statistics

The Japan international enjoyed an impressive debut season in the Premier League for the Seagulls last term as a winger who was able to provide consistent quality in the final third.

Mitoma started 24 top-flight games throughout the 2022/23 campaign and contributed with seven goals and five assists – one goal contribution every other start on average.

The 26-year-old maestro may also contest that he was unlucky to only register five assists as the talented forward produced nine 'big chances' for his teammates and his fellow attackers were unable to make the most of those opportunities.

He ranked within the top 14% of Premier League attacking midfielders and wingers for xA (Expected Assists) per 90 with 0.25 and the top 15% for shot-creating actions per 90 with 4.23.

Mitoma also ranked within the top 4% for progressive carries (5.55) per 90 and this shows that he is able to drive the team up the pitch before being able to create for his teammates.

The Brighton ace has started the current campaign with three goals and four assists in 13 Premier League starts and has proven himself to be an impressive winger in the top-flight due to his ability to score and create goals.

The statistics that show why Summerville could be Liverpool's Mitoma

Klopp could now land his own version of the Seagulls star with a swoop to sign Summerville, who has been compared to him this season.

Voetbal International journalist Suleyman Özturk compared him to Mitoma earlier this term as they are both "complete" wingers who make a big impact at the top end of the pitch.

He added that the Leeds star has made the Championship his "playground" and it is hard to disagree with that assessment when you consider his statistics.

Summerville has showcased his quality as both a scorer and a creator of goals from a left wing position for Daniel Farke's side this season, as Mitoma has done for Brighton at a higher level.

The 22-year-old whiz has fired in 12 goals from 8.14 xG (Expected Goals) in 23 Championship appearances for the Whites, which shows that he has been a lethal finisher in front of goal.

He has also registered six assists and created 12 'big chances' for his fellow attackers. This indicates that his teammates have let him down in the final third at times.

As you can see from the table above, Summerville has been one of the best players in his position in the Championship in a host of key attacking metrics.

He has proven his quality as a scorer, a creator, and a progressive force down the flank for his side – like Mitoma for Brighton – and this suggests that the Leeds star is too good to continue playing in the second tier.

There is no guarantee that he will be able to make the step up but Liverpool could hope that the 5 foot 9 gem is able to follow in the footsteps of the likes of James Maddison and Jack Grealish, in recent years, to establish himself in the Premier League as Klopp's own Mitoma.

There has been a common theme with regard to Tottenham Hotspur's recruitment in recent times, with the Lilywhites having regularly looked to Italy in order to find potential gems who can go on to thrive in English football.

Previously, with Antonio Conte at the helm – backed by sporting director Fabio Paratici – the north London outfit notably snapped up the likes of Cristian Romero and Destiny Udogie from Atalanta and Udinese, respectively, with the latter man belatedly joining the club this summer.

Even under Ange Postecoglou in the most recent window, the club again turned to Serie A in order to acquire goalkeeper Guglielmo Vicario from Empoli, with the relatively unknown quantity proving a real "revelation" in the Premier League thus far, as described by Sky Sports pundit, Jamie Carragher.

One of the most notable deals involving Spurs and an Italian outfit came back in January 2022, however, with Conte and Paratici managing to strike a double swoop for the signings of Dejan Kulusevski and Rodrigo Bentancur from Juventus.

Following the success of that high-profile deal – with Kulusevski only recently signing permanently following an 18-month loan stint – Postecoglou could well be set to take inspiration from his predecessor by plotting another raid on the Old Lady in 2024.

Spurs transfer news

According to a report from Spain earlier this week, Tottenham are said to be interested in signing both Samuel Iling-Junior and Matias Soule from the Turin giants, with the club seemingly preparing a 'double offer' for the duo in January.

While Postecoglou and co could face rival interest from Newcastle United, they will seemingly be hoping to steal a march on their top-flight rivals, ahead of the window opening in just over a weeks time.

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As per the piece, Soule – who is currently on loan at fellow Serie A side, Frosinone – is valued at around €25m (£22m) by Max Allegri's side, while fellow youngster, Iling-Junior, is likely to command a fee closer to €18m (£16m), according to a prior report from TuttoMercatoWeb.

Coughing up in the region of £38m to sign the emerging talents – who are both 20 – could well prove to be a bargain move as far as Postecoglou is concerned, with the pair looking to emulate the success of Kulusevski and Bentancur at N17.

Kulusevski and Bentancur's record at Tottenham

In the case of Bentancur, it is fair to say that his time in England so far has largely been disrupted by injury, with the Uruguayan notably missing a fair chunk of 2023 with an ACL issue that he sustained back in February.

When the playmaker has been fit and available, however, he has shone at the heart of the midfield at the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium, chipping in with a respectable haul of six goals and six assists from just 48 appearances in all competitions.

The "immense" and "underrated" midfielder – as described by broadcaster Adam Smith – has certainly proven value for money despite his stint on the sidelines, having cost the club an initial fee of just £15.7m.

As for Kulusevski, the Swede has been an undoubted success even despite a difficult individual and collective campaign last season, in which he scored just twice across all fronts – albeit while registering eight assists.

Prior to that, the 23-year-old had sparkled in the second half of the 2021/22 season following his arrival in north London, having contributed to 13 goals and assists in just 18 league games as Conte's men secured a top-four berth.

Such electric form has been replicated this time around, with the one-time Parma man – who has earned comparisons to a certain Gareth Bale following his display against Nottingham Forest last time out – starting every league game this season, while scoring five goals and contributing two assists.

It is fair to say then that Spurs truly did strike gold by signing both Kulusevski and Bentancur under Conte's watch, with the aim now for Postecoglou to replicate that masterclass in the case of Soule and Illing-Junior.

Samuel Iling-Junior's style of play

Once on the books of Chelsea, Iling-Junior made the bold move to join Juve back in 2020, having since gone on to feature 24 times in all competitions for the Serie A side at first-team level.

While far from being a regular fixture under Allegri, the England U21 international has impressed when he has been given an opportunity to date, registering one goal and three assists from his left-sided berth.

In the younger age groups, the Islington-born menace – who typically features as a wing-back, or in a central midfield berth – showed his undoubted potential after scoring 14 goals and registering 15 assists in just 58 games for Juve's U19 side.

Described as a "flamboyant winger" and noted for his "pace", "acceleration" and "athleticism" – as per talent scout Jacek Kulig – Iling-Junior seemingly has the tools to sparkle in Postecoglou's attack-minded and relentless style, with it a scary thought to consider the combination of himself and Udogie down the left flank.

It would also be a mouthwatering prospect to consider young Soule also following his Juve teammate back to England, with the Argentine currently shining out on loan in Italy's top-flight.

Matias Soule's season by numbers

Much like the Englishman, Soule was also plucked from his homeland back in 2020 after leaving Velez Sarsfield in order to make the move to Europe, yet has seen opportunities hard to come by at his parent club.

After making only 21 appearances over the last few years, the wing wizard was sent out to Frosinone in order to gain some much-needed senior experience, with that move more than paying off amid his heroics of late.

Despite his relative youth, the 6 foot sensation has already scored six times in just 14 Serie A games this season, notably impressing also due to his "superb dribbling skills" – as noted by the aforementioned Kulig.

The in-demand talent has successfully completed 4.4 dribbles per game in the league in 2023/24 and averages a remarkable 2.9 key passes per game as a marker of his immense creativity – with Kulusevski, for contrast, averaging just 1.7 and 2.3 for those same two metrics, respectively.

While it would be a real leap for the winger to attempt to replicate such feats in the Premier League, there is certainly enough there to be excited about for those back at N17.

With Spurs having reaped the rewards of signing Kulusveski and Bentancur from the Allianz Stadium almost two years ago, a repeat of that transfer masterclass involving Soule and Iling-Junior would certainly not be the worst idea.

Lionel Messi’s MLS rivals have been warned that the Inter Miami superstar “can’t be stopped”, with the rest of the division told they’re in “trouble”.

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• Argentine icon is in dazzling form
• Talismanic presence for the Herons
• Opponents unable to contain threat

• WHAT HAPPENED?

  The Argentine icon had to overcome hamstring problems early on in the 2024 campaign, but is now fit and firing once more. Messi has been in dazzling form of late, with the record books being rewritten. He is making the game looking remarkably easy, which does not bode well for the rest of those in North American soccer.

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  WHAT WRIGHT-PHILLIPS SAID

  Former New York Red Bulls striker Bradley Wright-Phillips has told : “Ultimately what we’re seeing is, he can’t be stopped. You get tight, he’s going to roll you, drop the shoulder and get by you. The thing you have to do – and I’m making it sound easy sat here – is stop the supply. I know that’s not easy but once that ball gets to Messi’s feet, forget about it. You’re in trouble, it’s too late.”

• THE BIGGER PICTURE

  Messi’s latest outing saw him post six goal contributions in a 6-2 demotion of the Red Bulls. Wright-Phillips added on seeing the eight-time Ballon d’Or winner continue to raise the bar of individual brilliance: “The numbers, I love to see them and look at them. He will look back and say what I have done there is amazing, but it’s just how easy the game comes to him. The first touch is always good. The weight of his pass to a team-mate is always good. How he drives and goes by players, is always top level. Watching him is unbelievable.”

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  WHAT NEXT FOR MESSI?

  Messi is up to 12 goals and 11 assists for the season and is already considered to be the leading candidate for MVP honours. He will continue to attract A-list guests to each fixture that he graces, with that travelling roadshow set to hit Montreal on Saturday.