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Former Indian seamer Raj Ghai has also bought a stake in one of the franchise of the 24-team competition

Peter Della Penna17-Aug-2020Krish Persaud and Manish Patel, the American-based owners of Jamaica Tallawahs and Barbados Tridents respectively, have become franchise owners in the 24-team Minor League Cricket T20 franchise competition in the USA. A list of the franchise owners was released by USA Cricket over the weekend and also featured former USA and India internationals among other franchise owners, for a league whose proposed launch has been pushed back to 2021 due to the ongoing Covid-19 pandemic.Persaud, whose cricket business operations are based at the Broward County Stadium in Lauderhill, Florida which has hosted numerous T20Is since 2010, was named as the owner of the Fort Lauderdale Lions franchise. Patel, who is based in Dallas, Texas, and previously owned Jamaica Tallawahs when they won the CPL in 2016 in addition to his current ownership of the reigning CPL champion Tridents franchise, was revealed as the owner of the Austin Athletics in the Texas state capital.Former India pace bowler Raj Ghai who played six ODIs from 1984 to 1986 before relocating to San Diego, California, has been named as part of the ownership group of the San Diego Surf Riders. Another notable entry is former USA offspinner Abhimanyu Rajp, who last played for USA in 2013 and is listed as co-owner of the Los Angeles-based SoCal Lashings franchise.There are also several former USA Cricket Association administrators who have purchased a stake in various franchises. Nabeel Ahmed, the former vice president and interim chief executive of USACA – prior to USACA’s expulsion by the ICC in 2017 – has been announced as the owner of the Michigan Cricket Stars. Former USACA Central East regional chairman Khurram Syed is a co-owner of the Chicago Blasters. Gangaram Singh, former South West regional representative on the USACA board, is a co-owner along with Ghai for the Surf Riders. Lovkesh Kalia, former Central West board member at USACA, is the owner of the Irving Mustangs in suburban Dallas.The 24-team Minor League Cricket competition was due to launch in June this year, but USA Cricket recently announced that it has been pushed back to next spring. However, tournament organisers have stated that they will conduct a player draft on Saturday, August 22 with the intention of staging exhibition matches during September and October in various zones.

Arsenal boss Mikel Arteta hailed backup goalkeeper Karl Hein for his "good performance" after penalty heroics in a friendly against Bournemouth.

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David Raya & Aaron Ramsdale on a breakHein is Arteta's first choice in the USAEstonian earned plaudits with an all-round showWHAT HAPPENED?

With both David Raya and Aaron Ramsdale on a break after their respective national teams, Spain and England, reached the Euro 2024 final, Hein finds himself as the senior goalkeeper on Arsenal's three-match tour in the United States. And the Estonian shot-stopper put his best foot forward to impress Arteta in the pre-season friendly against the Cherries.

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The match at Dignity Health Sports Park culminated in a penalty shootout after a 1-1 draw with Fabio Vieira scoring for the Gunners in the 18th minute. However, it was Hein, who emerged as the hero, saving penalties from Philip Billing and Ryan Christie, ultimately securing a 5-4 victory for Arsenal in the shootout.

WHAT ARTETA SAID

Arteta was delighted with Hein's performance and stated: "I'm very happy for him. Obviously, he had to be really patient and wait for his opportunity. He came back from his holidays really sharp and prepared; he knew that he had big games ahead of him and he started tonight, and I think he had a really good performance."

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Despite his impressive showing, a decision regarding Hein's future at the club looms large. The 22-year-old Estonia international signed a long-term contract extension in the summer, but the arrival of England youth international Tommy Setford from Ajax suggests Hein might be loaned out to gain regular playing time.

"That's the conversation we are having," said Arteta.

"Obviously, David and Aaron are away at the moment and we are really really short in that position, but we want to develop our players – especially a player like Karl who has big potential and a big future ahead of him. He needs to play games, so we're going to explore that option as well."

His wife “saw god in her dream” – Kumble recalls his family’s brush with death during the 2004 tsunami

Varun Shetty31-Jul-20203:52

Kumble reveals Srinath’s hand in historic 10-for

Travelling to Perth after Monkeygate in 2008
You know as a captain you’re generally tuned to take decisions on the field. Here I was faced with something, which was off the field, to take a decision in the larger interest of the game. And one of our players [Harbhajan Singh] was obviously banned for three matches because of a racist remark – that was what the pronouncement was and we appealed. I felt he was wronged. We had to obviously be together as a team but the challenge was that there was a lot of talk about the team wanting to come back at that point in time, and leave the tour and come back. Yes, you know, probably [people] would have accepted that the Indian team was wronged and that’s why they came back.But I think as a captain, or as a team, we had gone there to win the series. Unfortunately, with the first two results not going our way, the best result could have been a drawn series because two more Test matches remained and I just wanted to rally around the team. I was fortunate enough to have senior players, former captains, in the team.We got around as a unit and then we sort of took a decision to continue and make sure that we go on and win the next couple of matches because that would be the best message that we can give back to our fans. Because whenever an Indian team travels abroad, the fans expect the team to do really well and win the series. I certainly believe that we had the ability to do that.

In 2001-02, the famous Australia series [in India], that was the first time that suddenly things changed. That irrespective of what the situation is, we can certainly win from any situation. And then the Headingley Test match in 2002, that again changed the way we sort of thought about exploring Test matches and similarly the Perth Test match

I think you need to have clarity of thought when you are encountered with such situations and I had extreme clarity that no matter what, if I win the toss I’m going to bat first because that’s the best way of winning the Test match. The only thought to me was how can I win this Test match, what’s the best way of putting pressure? In fact, when I went out to toss, just a few minutes before… there are a lot of former cricketers as commentators hanging around near the pitch, and some of them said it’s a field-first pitch. So I said, “okay, that’s your way of thinking, but I’m going to bat first no matter what”. So we batted first. Rahul [Dravid] batted really well and Irfan [Pathan] had a great game in that in that Test match. RP Singh bowled brilliantly. And then Viru [Virender Sehwag] got those couple of breakthroughs in the second innings. So beating Australia in Perth, I think, changed the entire way that we sort of looked at… In 2001-02, the famous Australia series [in India], that was the first time that suddenly things changed. That irrespective of what the situation is, we can certainly win from any situation. And then the Headingley Test match in 2002, that again changed the way we sort of thought about exploring Test matches and similarly the Perth Test match. Irrespective of what the sort of lead up to that Test was, outside of the game itself I think this team just came together. We were really strong as a unit and it showed on the field as well.Anil Kumble acknowledges the cheers after picking up his 600th Test wicket, in Perth in January 2008•Getty ImagesReturning after shoulder surgery, away recordI think, you know, I always had the belief that I can go out there and do well. You know, although people sort of have have their own views about what you can do, what you can’t do. People believe that I needed doctored pitches in India to perform, and I won’t perform outside of India. It’s not easy performing on any surface. Whether in India or outside, it takes time for you to mature, for you to understand the conditions and then make subtle changes in your game to up your skill to be able to perform there. So even I had those challenges and I had to make sure that I would be able to adapt to those kind of situations. So yeah, I mean there were a few situations like the shoulder surgery which I guess it was like you just have to go through it as a professional cricketer.It was tough being out of the game for almost a year, it took me almost three months to lift my hand up, and those were testing times when you start thinking whether you can come back and play, whether you can bowl the way you were bowling before. So all those negative thoughts keep coming and that’s where the family and the friends that you have close to you certainly help. Their support really is important. So for me it was that kind of a situation.Monkey off the backAnd then when I went to Australia [2003], where I didn’t play the first Test [in Brisbane], and then I barely made it to the second Test match in Adelaide. End of day one, Australia were 400 for four [400 for 5] or something like that, and I had one for 100 [1 for 115] or something. It was a very flat deck, and when I came back [from the ground] that evening I realised, “look it doesn’t really matter, I know there’s been a lot of talk about this, perhaps could be my last chance, If I can perform then I’ll continue to play”. So I just took the pressure off me saying, “look it doesn’t matter if this could be my last game, but let me go out there and enjoy, and bowl differently, and set different fields”.

“It was tough being out of the game for almost a year, it took me almost three months to lift my hand up, and those were testing times when you start thinking whether you can come back and play, whether you can bowl the way you were bowling before.”Anil Kumble

You know the googly was getting bounce, and the batsmen were not picking that well. So when I went into the second day, I knew that they would be going for runs, and if I can pick up a couple of wickets then the pressure will be back on the batting side. So I set fields like how you set for an off-spinner. I had a short midwicket, a square leg, a short leg, and then even sometimes a backward short leg, and then bowled a lot of googlies, and picked up a fifer [5 for 154] in that first innings.On surviving the Tsunami in 2004We were staying at Fisherman’s Cove [in Chennai]. It was my wife and I and our son – just the three of us. My son was about eight-nine-ten months old and we traveled by air. We didn’t want to drive down because it would take six hours and we didn’t want my son to travel that long. We enjoyed a holiday and the day the tsunami happened, we were leaving, so I was to check out early because we had, I think, a 11.30 flight.Somehow, you know my wife, kept waking up that night very uneasy. She kept waking me up saying, “look, what’s the time?” “I’m not feeling well I’m feeling a bit uneasy.” So we woke up early, we had a coffee looking at the sea. Everything was calm, it was cloudy.[…] we went to the breakfast area and as you’re aware, the breakfast area is slightly at an elevation. And we were having breakfast probably when the first wave hit. I was not even aware that this had happened.As we were checking out I saw a young couple in their bathrobes, you know literally drenched, and they were shivering.I couldn’t make out what it was. We just walked out and sat in the car. […] After Fisherman’s Cove there’s a bridge, and I could literally touch the water because the level of the water was barely one foot from the bridge and it was frothing.We could see a lot of people, you know how you see in the movies, where people carry whatever they can and walking with pots and pans, kids on their shoulder and whatever bags they could have.Our driver kept getting calls on his phone then we asked him to focus on driving, but he kept saying [in Tamil] that there’s a lot of water everywhere.When I came back to Bangalore and then switched on the television that’s when I realized that a tsunami had happened so we were totally unaware as to what had happened.A couple of years back I met the [hotel] manager [he said] once we passed the bridge, the second wave which came, I believe, submerged the bridge. So we were probably destined and saved just in the nick of time.She [Kumble’s wife] did tell she saw god in her dream. I said okay that’s fine. You can’t really relate to that. But now, yes, you can you can relate to what she said. Maybe, you know, all these things certainly there was a divine blessing on us to make it.

Leeds United are currently top of the Championship table after their 2-0 win over Millwall at Elland Road last Sunday before the international break.

The Whites are battling to secure automatic promotion back to the Premier League at the first time of asking, and the form of their attackers has been crucial to their success so far.

Crysencio Summerville, Georginio Rutter, Patrick Bamford, Joel Piroe, Daniel James, and Wilfried Gnonto have all scored at least six league goals for the club this season.

Gnonto, after a difficult start to the campaign, has emerged as a huge goalscoring threat down the right flank for Leeds in 2024, and Daniel Farke may already have a homegrown replica of the Italian whiz in the form of exciting academy talent Connor Douglas.

Wilfried Gnonto's form this season

The former Inter prospect handed in a transfer request last summer after the Whites had rejected four offers from Premier League side Everton – the fourth of which was reportedly worth £25m.

Sky Sports claimed that the forward was unhappy at being denied the chance to return to the top-flight, which is why he requested a transfer from Elland Road, but Leeds were eventually able to keep hold of the talented gem.

Farke and the club may have wondered if they made the right call when the attacker only produced one goal and one assist in 21 appearances and six starts in the Championship during the first half of the season.

Since the start of February, Gnonto has started eight of the club's nine league games and contributed with an eye-catching six goals and one assist in those eight starts, along with one goal in two FA Cup matches during that period.

This means that the right-footed right winger has produced a goal every 1.57 games on average since the start of last month, which has taken his tally to eight goals in 35 games in all competitions this season.

Why Connor Douglas could be Wilfried Gnonto 2.0

Farke could unearth his next version of the Italian dynamo in U21s star Connor Douglas, who is also a goalscoring winger with the quality to find the back of the net on a regular basis.

The 18-year-old gem, who does not turn 19 until October, has caught the eye with his ability in the final third at both U18 and U21 level over the last two seasons.

Appearances

15

2

Goals

6

2

Assists

3

0

As you can see in the table above, Douglas was directly involved in nine goals in 15 outings in the U18 Premier League, and then earned himself a chance to impress for the U21s with two goals in two matches.

The exciting teenage marksman has been promoted to the U21s on a permanent basis this season and is on two goals in eight Premier League 2 outings so far.

This means that the Leeds whiz has plundered ten goals and three assists in 25 league games for the academy, at U18 and U21 level combined, since the start of last season – compared to Gnonto's eight strikes in 35 outings for the Whites this term.

Douglas, who predominantly plays down the right wing, is still in the early stages of his U21s career and there is no immediate rush for him to emerge as a first-team option.

If he can continue to score and assist goals at an impressive rate for the academy, though, then Farke may look to bring him through as his next goalscoring right winger, like Gnonto.

Ryan Stevenson’s career-best 4 for 71 keeps Hampshire in contest

ECB Reporters Network08-Aug-2020Ryan Stevenson and Martin Andersson recorded career-bests for their respective sides as Middlesex and Hampshire fought out an absorbing first day of their Bob Willis Trophy encounter at Radlett.Devon-born seamer Stevenson, recalled for only his sixth first-class game, took 4 for 71, doubling his first-class wicket tally in the process, but Andersson, a man with just eight first-class matches behind him, hit 92 to take the hosts to 252 all out.Liam Dawson, Keith Barker and James Fuller were also among the wickets, seemingly justifying Sam Northeast’s decision to bowl first, but James Harris took two wickets to leave the visitors 27 for 2 in reply after a seesaw day of action.Northeast’s decision to field raised eyebrows given their hosts opted for two spinners on a pitch expected to turn late in the match.However, in humid conditions and thanks to some early seam movement, it didn’t take the visitors’ attack long to reward their captain’s faith. In just the third over Barker bowled Sam Robson for a duck with a beauty which clipped the top of off stump.Nick Gubbins, fresh from his hundred in the win over Surrey also didn’t stay long. The left-hander got away with one top edge hook over the slips, only to play the shot again in the same over and hole out to Felix Organ at fine leg, so giving Fuller a wicket against his former county. And when the Stevenson got in on the act for the first time, trapping home skipper Stevie Eskinazi for 18, Middlesex were struggling at 41 for 3.That was Andersson’s cue to enter the fray and he played positively from the off, steadying the ship in the company of opener Max Holden either side of the lunch interval.Holden was dropped at slip by Ian Holland off the luckless Barker early in the afternoon, but the drop wasn’t costly as the same combination accounted for the left-hander for 36 shortly afterwards – a wonderful catch taken just millimetres from the turf to end a stand of 44.Andersson was given his one life on 23 when Dawson spilt a difficult chance at slip and he went on to make the most of his reprieve, reaching 50 from 71 balls with eight fours. He found a staunch ally in wicketkeeper John Simpson, who after a sticky start hit Barker for three successive fours.Dawson dropped Simpson on 26, but like Holland earlier atoned soon afterwards to give Stevenson a second wicket and end a stand of 93 for the fifth wicket. Dawson, back from England ODI duty then struck with the ball having Harris taken at slip off the last ball before tea.Six more boundaries took Anderson past his previous best of 83 against Lancashire at Old Trafford last September and to within touching distance of a maiden first-class hundred, but he came up eight short when Fuller trapped him lbw.Tom Helm and Nathan Sowter added useful runs for the eighth wicket before Stevenson returned to dismiss the latter and Thilan Walallawita off successive balls to cap his excellent day.Helm ensured a second batting point by striking Dawson for a towering straight six, but Dawson had him caught and bowled later in the same over.With 14 overs left to bat, Hampshire looked set to get to the close unscathed before Harris found the edge of Organ’s bat and Sowter took a sharp catch at second slip.Barker was sent in as nightwatchman, but that plan backfired when Harris struck a second time with one that splayed the stumps, leaving the match intriguingly poised ahead of day two.

Chelsea defender Malang Sarr is on course to leave the Blues after the club agreed a deal with RC Lens.

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Sarr set to join LensDefender last played for Chelsea in 2022January exit fell throughWHAT HAPPENED?

According to Santi Aouna, a deal for Sarr is in place between Chelsea and Lens. A medical is set to go ahead by Tuesday night ahead of the centre-back signing a two-year contract until the summer of 2026.

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Sarr joined Chelsea from hometown club Nice in the summer of 2020 as a highly-rated 21-year-old, but he quickly joined Porto on loan. Further loans were proposed for 2021-22, although Sarr wound up staying at Stamford Bridge and made 21 appearances. He hasn't played for the club since May 2022 though, and, after a move to Le Havre fell through at the start of 2024, Sarr was described by a source to be at his lowest.

DID YOU KNOW?

Sarr is joining a Lens team looking to recpature their magical 2022-23 season. Having fallen away from their late-1990s heyday, Lens finished second in Ligue 1 to qualify for the Champions League. But they slipped back to seventh last season and will now compete in the Conference League play-off round.

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WHAT NEXT FOR CHELSEA?

Every player sold by Chelsea means budget to reinvest into building a squad for new boss Enzo Maresca. The Italian is yet to take charge of a game, but that will change when the Blues face Wrexham at Levi's Stadium near San Francisco on July 25.

Despite the heavy investment of over £400m by the Saudi PIF since the takeover back in 2021, Newcastle United have struggled at times this campaign with their squad depth.

The Magpies already had a thin squad, however, multiple long-term injury concerns have seen the club struggle, with Eddie Howe's side often looking depleted in multiple key areas.

Injuries to the likes of Sven Botman and Joelinton have seen the Magpies boss rely on once-forgotten players and youth talent to fill the gaps left by senior first-team members.

Jamal Lascelles and Lewis Miley have often been the pair to replace the duo, with the pair often doing an admirable job given the current situation the club has found itself in.

Given the crisis, the club have identified one player as a potential summer signing to provide more squad depth, with the talent currently excelling in one of Europe's top five leagues.

Newcastle eyeing up dream Isak partner

Newcastle have invested their money wisely since the high-profile takeover, with the likes of Alexander Isak and Bruno Guimaraes worth every penny of their transfer fees since arriving at the club.

According to German outlet SportBild – via Sport Witness – the Magpies are set to rival Liverpool for the signing of Eintracht Frankfurt forward Omar Marmoush, with it assumed that the Magpies, Liverpool and Tottenham Hotspur would offer between €50m (£42m) and €60m (£51m) for the 25-year-old.

The Egyptian has scored ten goals and created six assists in his 21 appearances in the Bundesliga this campaign, with his form catching the eye of Howe's side.

Marmoush, who is "difficult to defend" according to manager Dino Toppmoller, has also impressed in Europe, with the 6 foot forward scoring four times in his seven Europa Conference League fixtures this campaign.

He only arrived at Frankfurt last summer from fellow Bundesliga outfit VfL Wolfsburg, with the attacker currently under contract until 2027.

His brilliant goalscoring record this season, coupled with his versatility to play all across the forward line could make him an exciting proposition for the Magpies, but it would be a deal that could see PIF spend the majority of their summer budget, with the club treading carefully to stay within the Premier League's strict PSR rules.

How Marmoush would fit in at Newcastle

Anthony Gordon and Isak have both cemented their starting position under Howe, with Miguel Almiron in danger of losing his place should Marmoush arrive at St James' Park.

When comparing the pair's stats from the Premier League and Bundesliga in 2023/24, the Egyptian forward dominates the Paraguayan, further highlighting the fact he would be an upgrade on the 30-year-old.

Shots

2.8

2

Assists

0.3

0.1

Successful take-ons

1.4

1

Touches in penalty area

5.9

4

As seen from the stats above, the Frankfurt forward blows Almiron out of the water with his tally of assists and successful take-ons greater than the Magpies forward despite primarily playing as a centre-forward this season.

That assist record would then allow him to provide quality service to the likes of Isak, with the towering Swede – who has netted 16 times this season in all competitions – ready and waiting to pounce on those chances.

Marmoush has all the qualities to feature on the right-hand side of Newcastle's attack, with his stats showcasing he would be a suitable upgrade on Almiron – especially considering the rumours linking the 30-year-old away from St James' Park.

Although they may face tough competition from Liverpool for his signature, the club should go all out to sign the Egyptian, with his quality dramatically improving the forward line and completing Howe's attacking puzzle.

Newcastle may regret selling a defender who's now outscoring Isak

He left St James’ Park back in 2014.

ByEthan Lamb Mar 27, 2024

Archer’s arrival for training was delayed after a household member was unwell

Matt Roller25-Jun-2020Jofra Archer has tested negative for Covid-19 and will join the rest of the England squad at the Ageas Bowl on Thursday afternoon.The other 29 players in England’s enlarged training squad arrived in Southampton on Tuesday, and began training on Thursday ahead of the first Test against West Indies on July 8.Archer’s journey was delayed after a member of his household began to feel unwell over the weekend. They had all tested negative for Covid-19, but Archer underwent an additional test on Wednesday as a precaution and will travel to Southampton on Thursday afternoon after receiving a negative result.Archer’s first training session will be on Friday. The rest of England’s players have been split into two groups for training, with one half having their first session on Thursday morning and the other in the afternoon.ALSO READ: Ashley Giles ‘concerned’ by Pakistan trio’s positive Covid-19 testsEarlier this week, Archer used his column to declare himself fully fit, and Sussex have posted videos on social media of him bowling at full pace against Zak Crawley in the Hove nets.So far, no player or support staff member from either the England or West Indies groups has tested positive, with the ECB confirming on Wednesday that all 702 tests so far had been negative.Ten of the Pakistan players due to tour England in August have tested positive so far, plus one member of the team’s support staff. The PCB announced on Thursday that five reserve players and a back-up member of support staff would be tested for the virus, while those who have previously tested positive will undergo a second round of tests on Friday.

Erik ten Hag hopes Ruud van Nistelrooy will bring along some "DNA of Manchester United" after returning to Old Trafford as an assistant coach.

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Van Nistelrooy returns to Old TraffordWill be a part of Ten Hag's coaching staff along with Rene HakeHas signed a contract until 2026 with the Red DevilsWHAT HAPPENED?

The former striker's return is part of a broader restructuring of the coaching team, aiming to propel the club forward in the upcoming seasons. Alongside Van Nistelrooy, Ten Hag has also appointed Rene Hake to the coaching team. Both have signed two-year contracts, replacing Benni McCarthy and Mitchell van der Gaag. This move marks Van Nistelrooy's return to Old Trafford after 18 years, and Hake joins from his previous position at Go Ahead Eagles.

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Van Nistelrooy's coaching career has been marked by a steady progression through the ranks. After retiring from professional play in 2012, he began coaching in 2013. His journey saw him take on roles with PSV Eindhoven's Under-19 and Under-21 teams, and eventually, the first team, where he won the KNVB Cup in 2023. Despite offers from clubs like Burnley and Leicester City, Van Nistelrooy chose to join Ten Hag at United, demonstrating his commitment to the club where he made his mark as a player.

WHAT TEN HAG SAID

Ten Hag has expressed great confidence in Van Nistelrooy's abilities, both as a coach and a character.

"First of all, his character has brought him so far and it’s an example for everyone here in the building," Ten Hag said.

"Of course, he will also bring some DNA of Manchester United in, but that character is such a strong driver and that is also what he shows as a coach. He has such a highly interesting profile, he’s so ambitious, he has the skills and he already has a lot of experience.

“He’s assisted the Dutch squad, in PSV he did the Under-19s as a manager, he did the Under-21s, Jong PSV, who were playing at the second level and then he was manager of the first team. So much experience, but very young, very ambitious, and very driven. With his skills and his intelligence, he will help all the players and the team.”

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DID YOU KNOW?

Meanwhile, Hake's appointment also reflects a long-standing professional relationship with Ten Hag, dating back almost two decades to their time at Twente. Hake's recent success with Go Ahead Eagles in the Eredivisie further underscores his credentials. His familiarity with Ten Hag's methods and philosophies is expected to help streamline the implementation of new strategies at United.

West Bromwich Albion, even after a tricky first 45 minutes away at fellow Championship side Huddersfield Town, managed to come out on top 4-1 at the John Smith's Stadium owing to a devastating second-half display.

Mikey Johnston continues to endear himself to the Baggies fanbase, the Celtic loanee chipping in with two goals during the eventually one-sided contest, whilst Okay Yokuslu goes from strength to strength in a holding midfield role as well for Carlos Corberan's men off the back of his standout display in West Yorkshire.

Typically dogged and determined in approach to allow his playoff-chasing side to tick, the imposing Turkish midfielder even helped himself to a goal in the victory away from his normal duties with a thunderbolt effort sending the travelling West Brom fans into raptures.

The decision to bring the ex-Trabzonspor man into the building on a permanent deal in 2022 continues to look like an ingenious call, with the Baggies paying nothing to win their now star man's services at the time.

Okay Yokuslu's transfer value at West Brom

Once on the books at West Brom as a loanee at the back end of the 2020/21 season, the West Midlands outfit probably couldn't believe their luck when they ended up winning Yokuslu's services on a free transfer.

He has since gone on to become an important part of the Corberan jigsaw puzzle after being initially signed by Steve Bruce, with the forceful 30-year-old midfielder ever-present for large portions of this season to date – making 36 appearances in the second tier in total.

It has resulted in Yokuslu's transfer value rising all the way up to a hefty €3.5m (£2.9m) as per Football Transfers, which sees the West Brom number 35 come in as the second most valuable member of the squad currently according.

1. Jed Wallace

€4.1M (£3.4M)

2. Okay Yokuslu

€3.5M (£2.9M)

3. Brandon Thomas-Asante

€3.4M (£2.8M)

4. Conor Townsend

€3.4M (£2.8M)

5. Darnell Furlong

€3.4M (£2.8M)

Sourced by Football Transfers

His inflated value also sees him rank as a more valuable player than Brandon Thomas-Asante, despite the Baggies striker leading the goalscoring charts at the Hawthorns this season with ten goals.

Surprisingly, Yokuslu – despite hammering home with venom against Huddersfield last match – only has that solitary goal next to his name this season and could well look to kick on for the remainder of the campaign to prove his worth to the Baggies promotion cause.

Alongside the likes of seasoned first-teamers Darnell Furlong and Conor Townsend, who sit just below Yokuslu in terms of their market value, the experienced West Brom side will hope they can push through to the Premier League even if the nail-biting playoffs come their way.

Okay Yokuslu's continued importance

Corberan and Co will just be relieved that they didn't cash in on their Turkish star in January in the end, with reported suitors from his native country sniffing around before the close of the transfer window.

Instead, Yokuslu will hope he can continue to lead by example in holding midfield as a tough but impactful presence for the promotion-chasers on their way to glory being achieved.

The 30-year-old would shine rolling his sleeves up by winning four tackles too in the comprehensive Terriers win, on top of finding the back of the net with confidence.

West Brom star who won seven duels was as good as Johnston v Huddersfield

West Bromwich Albion romped to a big win over Huddersfield Town courtesy of this top star.

ByKelan Sarson Mar 10, 2024

Yokuslu's transfer value could well skyrocket even further if he does end up being one of many heroes in the West Brom camp that enable the West Midlands outfit to return to the top flight, with the 30-year-old loving life under Corberan currently.

Considering he was picked up on a free transfer, it cannot be doubted that West Brom sealed a golden deal by signing Yokuslu when they did.