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Manchester City manager Gareth Taylor is "really confident" Chloe Kelly will stay at the club despite speculation surrounding her future.

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Kelly linked with transfer exitContract at City runs until 2025Taylor confident she will stayWHAT HAPPENED?

The England winger has been linked with a move to Paris Saint-Germain but City are reportedly keen to get her to extend her contract, which currently runs until 2025. And manager Taylor appeared to be relaxed about the 26-year-old's future.

AdvertisementGetty ImagesWHAT GARETH TAYLOR SAID

He said at a press conference: "I'm really confident but at the end of the day, these things happen. When players are doing well, you get these rumours that come out. How true they are, I'm not too sure and how much propaganda is involved. But we try and normalise things and make sure that the players keep their feet on the floor.

"We're on a really good run of unbeaten form, but we have to push to improve. Chloe is one of those players, she's doing well at the moment but there's a lot to come from her. With Chloe, you've got a really good personality to work with and someone who is hungry to learn."

THE BIGGER PICTURE

Earlier this season, Kelly, who scored the winner for the Lionesses in the Euro 2022 final, said she wants to be "winning trophies" and City are in the hunt to do that this season. They are second in the Women's Super League, in the last four of the League Cup, and face Arsenal in the fifth round of the FA Cup on Sunday. But with PSG reportedly offering a very lucrative offer, Kelly may assess her options at the end of the current campaign.

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After Sunday's trip to Arsenal, City take on Chelsea in a top of the table clash next Friday. If they win that, they will draw level on points with Emma Hayes' team – who have won the league for four straight seasons.

Sunderland have reportedly held talks over a move for Fulham striker Jay Stansfield, but the Black Cats aren’t the only club keen on the forward.

Are Sunderland signing a striker?

Tony Mowbray and those at The Stadium of Light have brought in six new players so far this summer in Jenson Seelt, Jobe Bellingham, Eliezer Mayenda, Nectarios Triantis, Bradley Dack and Luis Semedo.

However, the club have been on the search to sign a new forward for a number of weeks now, with Bellingham and Dack, primarily midfielders, occupying attacking roles in the 2-1 win over Rotherham United last time out. Bellingham was the match-winner with two goals, however, Mowbray admitted he wants to bring in a new striker who can run in behind.

"We're trying to control the game on most occasions, and then it's about seeing whether teams are going to press or sit off in a block.

"If we can get a striker in who wants to run in behind and wants to stretch them, it'll give us more space us to play in – that'll help us create more chances and win more games."

It looks as if the club are now working on a move for Stansfield, with The Sunderland Echo reporting that talks have been held with Fulham over a loan move. However, the report adds that several other clubs are also keen on bringing in Stansfield before the deadline.

Who is Jay Stansfield?

Stansfield initially came through the academy at Exeter City before moving to Fulham in 2019. Since then, the 20-year-old has gone on to make eight senior appearances for Fulham and spent last season back in Devon on loan with Exeter.

The forward contributed to 17 goals in 39 games in all competitions for the League One side and is now into the final 12 months of his Fulham contract, although the top-flight side have the option to extend that by a further year.

Kevin McDonald, who played alongside Stansfield at Exeter, praised the player as a forward who has "got it all".

“He's a top, top guy; he's willing to learn every single game and barely ever complains. We get on well and he's a good laugh too. He's technically gifted and a lovely finisher.

“He knows he needs to bulk up as such and he will over time. He's got it all, though. I said that when I was back there [at Fulham] a couple of years ago and even more so now.”

A loan move to a Championship side appears to make sense for Stansfield as he continues his development, and by the looks of things, that could be with Sunderland following discussions over a transfer.

Tottenham Hotspur are believed to be in the race to sign Aston Villa midfielder, Douglas Luiz, with manager Ange Postecoglou seeking to make further moves this month before the close of the window.

What's the latest on Luiz to Tottenham?

According to Football Insider, the Lilywhites – as well as bitter rivals Arsenal – are potentially set to go head to head in order to prise the Brazilian from Villa Park, with the Gunners having notably failed with a late move for the ex-Manchester City asset last summer.

The report suggests that if the Midlands side are to snap up Tyler Adams from Leeds United it could open the door for Luiz to depart, despite the fact that the 25-year-old only signed a new long-term deal with his current side back in October.

Read the latest Tottenham transfer news HERE…

While the piece does not mention what it would take for Daniel Levy to be able to secure the signing of the 5 foot 9 maestro, the in-demand ace has been valued at around €30m (£26m) by CIES Football Observatory.

How good is Douglas Luiz?

This interest in the one-time Girona loanee has come amid reports that Pierre-Emile Hojbjerg is in line to join La Liga side, Atletico Madrid, with that potential exit ensuring that Postecoglou will be in need of reinforcements in the centre of the park.

If the north Londoners can beat Mikel Arteta's side to the signing of Luiz, the Rio-born machine could prove to be a truly astute capture, having been hailed as a "guy who’s clever with the ball" and "so physically strong" by City boss Pep Guardiola.

The nine-cap Brazil international would also represent a worthy addition such is his apparent likeness to his compatriot and Newcastle United talisman, Bruno Guimaraes, with the pair said to share a number of stylistic and statistical similarities, according to FBref.

The duo are notably alike due to their ability to provide a creative, playmaking presence from their deep-lying midfield berths, with Luiz ranking in the top 14% among those in his position in Europe's top five leagues for assists, while Guimaraes ranks in the top 18% in that regard.

The pair also enjoyed a similar record with regard to goal contributions last season, with the Villa man scoring six goals and providing six assists from his 37 Premier League outings, while Guimaraes scored five goals and registered four assists from his 32 top-flight appearances.

Not only are the international colleagues alike in an attacking sense but they can both also provide an effective screen in front of the back four, with Luiz racking up 73 tackles and 40 interceptions, while Guimaraes recorded 78 tackles and contributed 36 interceptions.

To be compared to the Magpies ace is a real statement as Guimaraes has been something of a revelation since his arrival at St James' Park from Lyon back in January 2022, having been dubbed "world class" by teammate Dan Burn.

Also dubbed a "really, really talented player" by Newcastle legend, Alan Shearer, the 25-year-old was instrumental in helping to guide Eddie Howe's side to Champions League qualification last season, with the hope being that Luiz can enjoy similar success if he is to trade the Villans for Spurs this summer.

Although Levy has already backed Postecoglou by bringing in eight summer signings so far, it could be time to get the chequebook out yet again…

USMNT midfielder Yunus Musah is set to return for Milan after nearly a month on the sideline due to a muscle injury

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• Musah missed four games through injury
• Returned to training midweek
• Set to be fit for Empoli clash at weekend

• WHAT HAPPENED?

  After suffering a muscle injury against Newcastle in the Champions League in December, the Rossoneri midfielder is set to return to action at the weekend. He was pictured training Thursday, and is set to be fit ahead of the contest.

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  THE BIGGER PICTURE

  Musah has missed four-straight matches for Milan, but lucky for him, they're in stunning form. They've unbeaten in five-straight across all competitions, outscoring their opponents 12-5 along the way. With the 21-year-old back in the fold, though, Stefano Pioli has the ability to express more versatility in the center of the pitch.

• DID YOU KNOW?

  Musah, who moved to the San Siro side from Valencia last August, has made 18 appearances for Milan this season, starting in 12 of the matches.

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  WHAT NEXT FOR MUSAH AND MILAN

  The contest against Empoli is on Sunday, but looking ahead, the Rossoneri don't return to European action until February with a Champions League clash with Gio Reyna and Dortmund on the cards. They return to Coppa Italia action against Atalanta on January 10, followed four days later by a crucial Serie A match vs Jose Mourinho and Roma.

Sevilla have parted ways with their head coach Diego Alonso just 67 days after his appointment.

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Sevilla fire manager Diego AlonsoSacked after just 67 daysWon twice in their last 13 matchesWHAT HAPPENED?

After a series of poor results this season that saw Sevilla win just two out of their last 13 matches across all competitions, the club have decided to sack their manager Diego Alonso. The decision came in the aftermath of the club's humiliating 3-0 defeat at the hands of Getafe on Saturday where former Manchester United player Mason Greenwood scored and provided an assist.

AdvertisementGettyWHAT SEVILLA SAID

Just a few hours after the humiliating defeat, Sevilla officially announced the sacking of their manager in a statement that read: "We would like to communicate that Diego Alonso has been relieved of his duties as first team head coach. We thank him for his efforts and wish him the best for the future."

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Since Alonso's appointment in October, Sevilla have won just twice in La Liga and currently find themselves near the relegation zone. They also crashed out of the Champions League group stage earlier this week, finishing last in their group. They failed to register a single win in their group.

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The Spanish club will announce Alonso's replacement in the next few days as they hope to turn things around under a new head coach. They will be next seen in action in La Liga on Tuesday against Granada.

Lionel Messi remains in contention to add The Best FIFA Men’s Player Award to his Ballon d’Or in 2023, with the Argentine making the final shortlist.

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• Argentine has already won the Ballon d'Or
• Continues to shine at 36 years of age
• World Cup winners up for women's prize

• WHAT HAPPENED?

  The 2022 World Cup winner, who now has eight Golden Balls to his name, continues to be recognised as the best player on the planet at 36 years of age. He is the current holder of the FIFA Best prize and could become the first man to claim that trophy on three occasions. In order to do so he will have to fend off competition from familiar foes Erling Haaland and Kylian Mbappe – with the Manchester City and Paris Saint-Germain forwards finishing in second and third behind him in the Ballon d’Or vote.

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  WHAT FIFA SAID ABOUT MESSI

  FIFA has said of Messi on the organisation's – with their top award acknowledging efforts between December 19, 2022 and August 20, 2023: “What else is left to say about the player who has won every major domestic, international and individual honour in the game, and continues to mesmerise global audiences at the age of 36. Messi, who was named The Best Men's Player in 2022, returned from leading Argentina to glory in Qatar to help PSG lift their latest Ligue 1 crown, the second of his spell in France, while he was also named in the Ligue 1 team of the season and ended the campaign at the top of the division’s assists chart. A new challenge presented itself in July, with the diminutive genius, who now has over 100 goals for his country and is the all-time top scorer in the top five European leagues, moving across the Atlantic to join Inter Miami, a transfer greeted with the rapture and fanfare fully deserving of one of the game’s all-time greats.”

• THE BIGGER PICTURE

  In the women’s game, another World Cup winner with ties to Barcelona leads the way in the form of Aitana Bonmati. She is joined on the shortlist by Colombian teenager Linda Caicedo – who won the Golden Goal thanks to her efforts with Real Madrid – and Spain international team-mate Jenni Hermoso.

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  WHAT NEXT?

  A glittering awards show will take place on January 15, 2024 – with the prestigious trophies being handed out. Another success for Messi would add further weight to the argument for the South American superstar being considered the greatest of all-time.

An update has emerged on Tottenham Hotspur and their plans to bolster the playing squad ahead of the 2023/24 Premier League campaign…

What's the latest Tottenham transfer news?

According to Italian outlet Sport Mediaset, Spurs are one of three English top-flight teams to have made an offer to sign Juventus centre-forward Dusan Vlahovic.

The report claims that Manchester United and Chelsea are also 'at the window' with an 'important offer' for the Serbian international striker, with all three clubs keen on a deal for his signature.

It states that they have offered no less than €65m (£56m) and that the Old Lady are willing to be reasonable in negotiations as they now eye their own targets to potentially replace the former Fiorentina marksman.

Although, it remains to be seen whether or not £56m would be enough to tempt the Italian giants into parting ways with him, 18 months on from their initial £58m outlay on his services.

How many goals has Dusan Vlahovic scored for Juventus?

The 23-year-old dynamo has plundered 23 goals in 63 appearances for the Serie A side to date and his form in recent years suggests that he would come in as a big upgrade on Richarlison for Ange Postecoglou.

Vlahovic scored ten goals in 22 league starts for Juventus last season whilst the Brazil international struggled badly during his debut campaign at the club – with one goal in 27 Premier League appearances, including 12 starts.

Spurs signed the striker from Everton for a fee in the region of £60m last summer after he produced 17 strikes in 61 league outings for the Toffees over the previous two campaigns combined.

The 26-year-old dud's horrendous form in front of goal last term meant that Tottenham did not have another scorer to back up Heung-min Son and Harry Kane, as they were the only players at the club to end the season with more than five league goals.

Vlahovic, however, is a player who has the quality to provide a third reliable scoring option for Postecoglou, based on his Serie A form over the last three years.

Prior to his ten-goal haul during the 2022/23 campaign, the impressive left-footed marksman scored 45 goals in 67 league starts for Fiorentina and Juventus combined throughout 2021/22 and 2020/21.

He proved himself to be a prolific scorer in Italy as the 6 foot 3 monster found the back of the net over 20 times in both seasons, whilst Richarlison has never scored more than 13 league goals in a single term over the course of his career in Brazil or England to date.

These statistics suggest that the Serbian hotshot, who was once hailed as "incredibly prolific" by talent scout Jacek Kulig, has the quality to offer far more than the Brazilian flop at the top end of the pitch.

Vlahovic is yet to prove himself in England but his form in the Serie A indicates that the quality is there for him to be an exceptional goalscorer for Postecoglou, which is why Spurs must push to win the race for his signature in order to land a big upgrade on Richarlison ahead of next season.

Usman Khawaja will captain Australia A’s four-day team and Travis Head will lead the one-day side for a series of matches in South Africa in July and August

ESPNcricinfo staff19-May-2017Usman Khawaja will captain Australia A’s four-day team and Travis Head will lead the one-day side for a series of matches in South Africa in July and August. Glenn Maxwell, who scored his maiden Test century on the recent tour of India, will be vice-captain to Khawaja in the first-class games and will have the chance to push his case for retention in the Test side when Australia next play.Moises Henriques was initially named in the one-day squad but the selectors later stated that the allrounder will continue his county stint with Surrey, instead of playing the tri-series.* CA said the selection panel had “considered both Henriques’ experience along with future Australian tours in making this decision”, and that a replacement player will be named in due course.South Australia wicketkeeper Alex Carey has been chosen in both squads after a remarkable summer in which he broke the record for most dismissals in a Shield season, while also scoring nearly 600 Shield runs. Queensland allrounder Jack Wildermuth has als been named in both squads, his first call-up for Australia A, while New South Wales batsman Daniel Hughes has the chance to debut for Australia A in the one-day format.The selectors decided against choosing the experienced batsmen Ed Cowan and George Bailey, who were two of the top three Shield run scorers last summer, as well as Cameron White, who topped the Ryobi Cup run tally. However, national selector Trevor Hohns said that while some senior players had missed out, it would “certainly not detract from their chances of representing Australia in the future”.Also absent from the squads were the opener Marcus Harris, who had a prolific Shield season for Victoria and finished fourth on the run tally with 808 runs, and the spinner Jon Holland, whose 50 Shield wickets placed him second only to swing bowler Chadd Sayers on the competition list. Ashton Agar and Mitch Swepson, both of whom toured India with the Test squad this year, were preferred as spin options in both formats.”We have opted for a well-balanced squad featuring some experience blended with younger players, with an emphasis on building our depth for the future,” Hohns said. “This is a great chance for these players to experience foreign conditions against a quality international sides and really test their skills.”With an upcoming Test Series in South Africa early next year it is also an opportunity to impress with their performances and put their names forward for consideration. Khawaja is a proven leader and has captained Australia A before, he will gel nicely with Glenn who recently had some captaincy experience in the IPL and we believe will respond well to this extra responsibility.”Australia A will play two four-day games against South Africa A from July 12 to 22, and then a one-day tri-series involving South Africa A and India A from July 26 to August 8.Four-day squad Usman Khawaja (capt), Glenn Maxwell (vice-capt), Ashton Agar, Cameron Bancroft, Jason Behrendorff, Jackson Bird, Alex Carey (wk), Hilton Cartwright, Travis Head, Kurtis Patterson, Chadd Sayers, Mitch Swepson, Chris Tremain, Jack Wildermuth.One-day squad Travis Head (capt), Ashton Agar, Jason Behrendorff, Scott Boland, Alex Carey (wk), Hilton Cartwright, Sam Heazlett, Daniel Hughes, Kane Richardson, Marcus Stoinis, Mitch Swepson, Chris Tremain, Jack Wildermuth.*Friday, May 19 0759 GMT. This copy was updated to reflect a change to Australia A’s one-day squad

Jason Behrendorff finished with 9 for 37, the fifth-best Sheffield Shield figures, to help Western Australia gain control against Victoria

ESPNcricinfo staff25-Feb-2017
ScorecardFile photo – Jason Behrendorff returned the second-best figures by a Western Australia bowler in first-class cricket•Getty ImagesIn his first domestic match on return from injury, Jason Behrendorff produced the fifth-best figures in Sheffield Shield history, a sensational 9 for 37, to help Western Australia bowl out Victoria for 117. In reply, Western Australia closed the first day in control at 178 for 4.Behrendorff began Victoria’s slide from the third ball of the match, having Marcus Harris pinned in front for a first-ball duck. In his next over, he had Marcus Stoinis caught behind before Victoria put on a temporary fightback. In the 12th over, Aaron Finch was caught off David Moody for 34, the only batsman not dismissed by Behrendorff. Daniel Christian top-scored with a quick 39.Opener Jon Wells carried Western Australia through with an unbeaten 70 off 164 balls. Along with a 59-ball 43 from Michael Klinger, Western Australia went to stumps with a lead of 61.

United States coach Gregg Berhalter has spoken with Giovanni Reyna for the first time since the dispute that resulted in the former's temporary exit.

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• Reyna out of USMNT since World Cup
• Involved in dispute with Berhalter
• Player and coach have finally spoken

• WHAT HAPPENED?

  Reyna has not been called up to the national team since the World Cup as it was revealed that his family provided damaging information about Berhalter to U.S. Soccer in alleged retaliation after the Borussia Dortmund star struggled for playing time during the tournament in Qatar.

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  Berhalter left the national team after his contract expired, but has since been put back in charge after an investigation into his conduct cleared him to return. The coach said last month that he had not yet spoken to Reyna when he announced his first squad since his return, but U.S. Soccer's sporting director Mark Crocker clarified that they have since had talks.

• WHAT THEY SAID

  Reyna, who has not played for Borussia Dortmund this season as he recently returned from injury, will likely return to the USMNT squad soon, according to Crocker.

  "I think both Gregg and Gio are in a good place to move forward," he is quoted as saying by reporter Steven Goff.

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  WHAT HAPPENS NEXT?

  Berhalter's USMNT are in action again in October when they take on Germany and Ghana in international friendlies.