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Allrounder opts to focus on his own game after disappointing first season leading red-ball team

ESPNcricinfo staff06-Mar-2025Derbyshire allrounder David Lloyd has stood down as club captain ahead of the 2025 season. Lloyd, who joined from Glamorgan in 2023, led the club in the County Championship last year, but could not prevent Derbyshire from receiving the wooden spoon after finishing bottom of Division Two.In his first full summer at the club, Lloyd, 32, averaged 23.47 with the bat and 31.00 with the ball in the Championship, and has opted to stand down from the captaincy in search of better returns.”David has given his all to the captaincy and he has been a fantastic leader for us, but the mental pressures of trying to lead a team, especially while you are trying to rediscover your own form, coupled with having a young family mean it’s best for all parties if we take some of that weight off his shoulders,” Derbyshire’s head of cricket, Mickey Arthur, said.”David has been honest with me, he is determined to contribute to the team and his experience and leadership will still be invaluable for us, both on the field and in the dressing room, and I’m looking forward to seeing the best of him this summer.”Derbyshire underwent a revamp ahead of the 2024 season, with Lloyd taking the captaincy after the departure of Leus du Plooy and several new players coming in. But progress was limited – having been winless in 2023, they managed one victory to go with six defeats and a last-placed finish.That one win, however, did see them end a barren five-year run in Championship cricket at their Derby headquarters.Lloyd said: “This has not been an easy decision for me, but I have had a good group of friends, family and team-mates to confide in over this winter, and I believe this is what will allow me to focus on my game.”It has been an honour for me to captain Derbyshire, and I’m now looking forward to playing with less pressure on my shoulders, continuing to learn from the experience of Mickey and our coaching team, and showing our members and supporters what I can do.”We want to get back to competing across all formats, I am excited to play my part and hopefully helping our new club captain any way I can.”

Christopher Nkunku could mark a sensational return to RB Leipzig as Chelsea remain keen on Xavi Simons. But the Frenchman must accept a hefty pay cut.

• Leipzig could make a move for Nkunku
• Frenchman keen on leaving Chelsea
• Forward must accept 75% pay cut at German side

• WHAT HAPPENED?

  RB Leipzig are reportedly seriously considering a sensational return for former star Nkunku, according to . The 27-year-old Frenchman left Leipzig for Chelsea in 2023 for €60 million (£52m/$70m), and although initial rumours seemed unlikely, talks are now gaining traction.

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  A potential Nkunku move could serve as a key bargaining chip in Leipzig’s negotiations with Chelsea over Xavi Simons. The Netherlands international has long agreed personal terms with the Premier League side and is pushing for a transfer. However, the Blues must first offload players like Nkunku before making an official offer, as the Bundesliga side remain adamant on their asking price of €70 million (£60m/$82m).

• DID YOU KNOW?

  The major hurdle remains Nkunku's reported €20m (£17m/$23m) salary in London, double what he earned in Leipzig. With a new internal salary cap of €5m, Leipzig would only consider a deal if the Frenchman agrees a 75 per cent pay cut. Indeed, per , sporting director Marcel Schafer has been informed by the Leipzig hierarchy to reduce the salary budget by 20%.

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  WHAT NEXT?

  Nkunku was inching closer to a move to Bayern Munich, but the deal is on the verge of a collapse after Chelsea refused to send the forward on loan. The Club World Cup winners value Nkunku — on a contract until 2029 — at €50m (£43m/$58m). The player is also eager to make a permanent switch in order to put an end to his misery at Stamford Bridge. It also remains to be seen what happens to Chelsea's pursuit of Alejandro Garnacho, with Manchester United slapping a £50m ($68m) price tag on the Argentine.

Western Australia booked a third straight home Sheffield Shield final after defeating Victoria and leapfrogging Tasmania to top spot on the ladder.The dual defending champions needed everything to go right in their last regular-season game to keep alive their hopes of a Shield three-peat. They rose to the challenge, defeating Victoria by 138 runs in a virtual elimination final at the Junction Oval in Melbourne.Related

• 'It's a difficult job' – Gannon prepares for Shield final after a career on the fringe

• McAndrew and Doggett put spanner in the works of a Tasmania home final

• Buckingham's five secure South Australia upset victory over Tasmania

Set 269 to win, Victoria were skittled for 130 late on a rain-affected day three of the match. The home side never looked like pulling off the unlikely run chase on a difficult pitch, stumbling to 31 for 3 with their three most experienced batters – Nic Maddinson, Marcus Harris and Peter Handscomb – already dismissed.Harris was superbly held low down at second slip by Cameron Bancroft off Joel Paris then Maddinson was cleaned up from around the wicket by Cameron Gannon who had set up WA’s strong position with five wickets in the first innings.Young left-hander Campbell Kellaway showed why he has a bright future, hitting 53 from 136 balls for his fifth first-class half-century.After coming in at No. 3, Kellaway survived the carnage around him as WA’s bowlers worked in tandem to complete the match on Wednesday.Corey Rocchiccioli was pumped as he bowled WA to the brink•Getty Images

Spinner Corey Rocchiccioli went through the lower order to be on a hat-trick after dismissing Fergus O’Neill and Todd Murphy in consecutive balls.Left-armer Liam Haskett finished with the best figures of his first-class career, including the key scalp of Matt Short lbw from around the wicket, and ended the match after Kellaway was caught going for a slog pull shot.Victoria captain Will Sutherland almost broke down when describing the pain of the defeat.”Our batting let us dow …the boys ran out of steam a little bit with the ball,” he said. “We’re still a young group, but I think this one does hurt quite a bit …almost hurts more than making the final and losing, I don’t know why.”Sutherland (back), Test quick Scott Boland (knee) and O’Neill (illness) all struggled through the match.WA will host the five-day final against Tasmania at the WACA Ground, starting on March 21, after the Tigers blew a golden opportunity to ensure the decider was played in Hobart.Tasmania started the round in the box seat to secure a home final, only needing to defeat South Australia at Blundstone Arena to lock it in.But they suffered a shock 134-run loss – just their second defeat of the season – against the Redbacks to consign them to a trip to Perth.WA are aiming to become just the third team this century, after Queensland (2000-02) and Victoria (2015-17), to win three straight Shield titles.Tasmania won the last of their three Shield finals back in 2012-13 when Ricky Ponting was still playing.”The pleasing thing about this group is there’s no real talk about three in a row,” WA captain Sam Whiteman said. “It’s just about winning this year, and we’ve found this year that Shields are so hard to win, a lot of things need to go your way.”

da betobet： This time last season, during Erik ten Hag’s debut campaign, Manchester United had already confirmed their spot in the Champions League.

da premier bet： However, fast forward to today, and the Red Devils welcome Newcastle United to Old Trafford as the two sides battle it out for a spot in the UEFA Conference League.

However, after United’s 4-0 hammering by Crystal Palace and a 1-0 defeat on Sunday against Arsenal, there’s the possibility that Europe isn’t achieved at all this campaign.

With that in mind, let’s take a look at who could come into the lineup to solidify the backline and finally replace Casemiro.

Why Casemiro must not start at centre-back

Due to the injury crisis that has plagued the Man United backline, Ten Hag has been forced into the experimental decision of playing Casemiro at centre-back.

The Brazilian’s first outing in this role was the 3-3 draw versus Coventry City in the FA Cup, and since then, he’s played every game in defence.

However, the defensive midfielder by trade has received plenty of criticism for his performances against Palace and Arsenal, with creator Liam Canning labelling Casemiro as “beyond embarrassing” after the game at Selhurst Park.

During that defeat, the 32-year-old played a role in three of the Eagles’ goals and was dribbled past seven times. On top of that, he was at fault for the Gunners’ goal at the weekend, playing Kai Havertz miles onside, which highlights his lack of understanding of the role.

It’s quite clear that Ten Hag must deploy a true centre half against the Magpies, and luckily, there’s one waiting for a shot to shine.

The player to replace Casemiro

Willy Kambwala has already had his fair share of first-team football this season, much more than he’d have anticipated at the start of the campaign.

The 19-year-old defender has featured eight times in the Premier League for the Red Devils, including three starts, with the latest of those being the 2-2 draw against Liverpool.

At the weekend, Kambwala returned to the pitch after a short spell on the sidelines, coming on as a 75th-minute substitute for Jonny Evans, where he made one tackle and won all of his duels.

However, there were cries for the French ace to start ahead of Casemiro prior to the game, with even United legend Peter Schmeichel saying:

“Casemiro can't play centre-back, he was exposed on Monday night so why don't you put a proper centre-half like Willy Kambwala in there rather than on the bench?”

Kambwala & Maguire vs Liverpool

Stats

Kambwala

Maguire

Clearances

2

8

Interceptions

2

1

Dribbled past

0

0

Touches

46

77

Pass accuracy

81%

72%

Duels won

3/4

10/13

Possession lost

8

17

Via Sofascore

Although it is simply a matter of fielding one of the only available centre-backs at the moment, Kambwala has certainly proved that he can hold his own when called upon.

His performance against Liverpool highlights that, as he also displayed that he has a vast skillset, including technical ability and confidence, as shown by his touches, pass accuracy, and possession lost.

The 6 foot 3 defender is also extremely physical, and he’s not afraid to get tight to the opposition striker, which increases the overall intensity of Ten Hag’s side.

However, what may prove vital against Newcastle and Alexander Isak in particular is Kambwala’s excellent athleticism and turn of pace, which were on display in a race against Darwin Nunez during the 2-2 draw.

Overall, there’s no benefit to fielding Casemiro in the team over Kambwala, and given that he’s always impressed when playing, the youngster simply has to start today.

Related Man Utd eyeing "frightening" Casemiro replacement who's like Pogba

He has a “similar profile” to Pogba

Posts ByJoe Nuttall May 7, 2024

Stand of 139 for the sixth wicket sees England claim fighting win to go 1-0 up in the series

The Report by Valkerie Baynes08-Aug-2020A fighting century stand between Chris Woakes and Jos Buttler carried England to a stunning three-wicket victory over Pakistan in a thrilling opening match of their three-Test series.Buttler’s gutsy knock of 75 from 101 balls in the face of mounting criticism over his place in the side, combined with Woakes’ new-found form with the bat, handed England an unlikely victory and broke their run of five consecutive series in which they had lost the first match.ALSO READ: Dobell: England are lucky to have WoakesUnder pressure to make runs after his Test average had dipped and a torrid time behind the stumps during this match, Buttler came in with England 106 for 4 chasing a target of 277 for victory.He and Woakes, who had a high score of 37 not out from his previous 17 innings, shared a partnership worth 139 for the sixth wicket and helped England pull off the second-highest fourth-innings run chase at Old Trafford.Fittingly, Woakes hit the winnings runs with a four through third man off Shaheen Shah Afridi to finish not out on 84 as England snatched victory by three wickets inside four days.Joe Root began the day suggesting a target below 260 would be within reach. Pakistan pushed it just beyond after Yasir Shah came out, as expected, and threw the bat.Yasir resumed on 12 with Pakistan 137 for 8 and leading by 244. He clubbed 21 from nine balls, including 11 off Jofra Archer’s first four deliveries of the day, followed by a defiant four past mid-on and a brutal six over midwicket off Stuart Broad’s first three.Broad had the final say two balls later, drawing a wild swing from Yasir to a length ball outside off and finding a thick edge which went through to Buttler behind the stumps. But Yasir’s job was done.In all, Pakistan pilfered 32 runs within the first half hour, before Naseem Shah was the last man out, bowled by Archer for 4.England managed just 22 runs from the first 11 overs of their chase but, with the best part of two days ahead of them, time was the least of their worries.Wickets were, and Mohammad Abbas took the first with the first ball of the 12th, which nipped back and struck Rory Burns on the back leg as it curled in off the seam. Burns was quick to call for a review, but his dismissal was confirmed on umpire’s call with the ball hitting the top of middle stump.There appeared to be words exchanged, with Burns turning to the Pakistan team and putting a finger to his lips as he strode from the field.Chris Woakes celebrates the moment of victory•AFP

Dom Sibley and Root pressed on to 55 for 1 by lunch but there was a period after the break where England’s scoring went quiet against Abbas and Yasir and they managed just two runs in 29 balls.Yasir, who had claimed four England wickets in their first innings, broke a 64-run partnership when he had Sibley caught by Asad Shafiq for 36, the opener furious with himself after attempting a drive and sending a thick edge straight to slip.His dismissal brought Ben Stokes – and all his promise – to the crease and England’s own “miracle worker” got off the mark with a boundary through third man off Naseem. Crucially, though, Naseem swooped quickly to remove the other set batsman, when he found Root’s outside edge, which was collected by Babar Azam at slip to send him out on 42.With England 96 for 3 and needing 181 runs more to win, the glare on Stokes intensified, even though they also had Ollie Pope, who had top-scored for the hosts in their first innings, at the crease.If any indication was needed as to just how highly prized Stokes’ wicket is, Pakistan burned an ambitious review when Naseem struck him on the pad with a ball that looked to be going down the leg side. Sure enough Hawk-Eye showed it was missing and Stokes survived.To Pakistan captain Azhar Ali’s credit, however, faced with the prospect of using up another review seven balls later, when Yasir believed he had Stokes caught behind with a googly that bounced out of the rough outside off stump, Azhar went for it. His courage was rewarded when UltraEdge showed the ball had brushed the glove on the way through to Mohammad Rizwan, who gathered the ball high at his second grab.England had lost 3 for 20 and their situation worsened three overs later. Pope could do little about his dismissal when he copped an unplayable delivery from Afridi that reared off a length and hit his top hand, ballooning to Shadab Khan running in from gully.With England 117 for 5 and hope fading fast, still 160 runs from victory, Buttler and Woakes played a stunning hand that rescued their side.With Buttler’s white-ball credentials in no question, he combined the skill to rack up the runs at a good tempo with the patience required to not throw his wicket away. Even when he did fall, attempting a reverse sweep off Yasir and struck on the boot for an lbw decison he challenged and lost, Woakes was well set and the hard work was done.Needing 21 more runs, England promoted Broad, and although he fell cheaply, lbw to Yasir with the second new ball, Woakes saw them home to end a miserable run in first Tests (aside from a one-off win over Ireland) that stretched back to the start of 2019.

Newcastle United have endured their fair share of injuries this season, with Eddie Howe patching together his squad throughout the campaign. The former boss has at least received a major boost on that front, however, with one star set to return earlier than expected.

Newcastle injury news

The Magpies are already without the likes of Nick Pope, Joelinton and Kieran Trippier as the Premier League season approaches its final stages. And those injury problems have far from helped Newcastle's form, with their European ambitions becoming more and more unlikely every week, especially after their latest defeat against Chelsea.

With two wins in their last six games and mounting injury problems, Newcastle have been left with it all to do if they are to qualify for some form of European football this season. As their Stamford Bridge defeat showed, however, Howe's task is a difficult one in the coming months and one that could have so easily been worsened by further injury news.

Newcastle could sell a player who's earning 9x more than Lewis Miley

The experienced Toon star needs to be moved on this year.

By
Jack Salveson Holmes

Mar 13, 2024

The Magpies boss initially shared concerns over the extent of Anthony Gordon's injury against Chelsea, saying via Premier Injuries: "Gordon looks like a knee problem and it doesn’t look too good at the moment; it is unclear. Hopefully, we can give him that in the next couple of days, and we can get him seen to."

Since then, those fears have fortunately been eased to finally hand Howe some positive news. According to Jacob Whitehead of The Athletic, Gordon has avoided any serious damage to his knee and could even be back for the Manchester City game as soon as this weekend. Even if it's not the City game, the Newcastle star will reportedly be available for England selection in the upcoming international break.

"Great" Gordon's return will be a welcome boost

In a season to forget, Gordon has been one of the few bright sparks at St James' Park, fully living up to his £40m price tag and £60k per-week salary, which initially raised eyebrows. If the 23-year-old makes his return as soon as the City game, then Newcastle will stand a far greater chance of causing an upset in the FA Cup last eight and making an appearance at Wembley to help salvage their campaign.

Former manager Frank Lampard was well aware of Gordon's quality even during his Everton days, saying after the winger's goal against Brentford in 2022: “It’s what I wanted from him. It was a great run, great timing and a great pass, and his composure was great. I’m delighted for him and thought his all-round performance was great. There’s pressure on him and I thought he handled it brilliantly.”

With ten goals and seven assists to his name so far this season, Gordon has done enough to be considered for a spot in Gareth Southgate's England squad, signalling even more relief that his injury is not as severe as first feared.

Wrexham have seen a bid for Preston striker Will Keane rejected as Phil Parkinson aims to bolster his attack before Friday's deadline.

Article continues below

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Article continues below

• Wrexham launch Keane offer
• West Brom bid also rejected
• Mullin back from summer surgery

• WHAT HAPPENED?

  Wrexham have turned to Keane in their bid to add Championship-level experience to their squad. According to ,the Red Dragons submitted a £750,000 offer to Preston that has been rejected by the Lilywhites.

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  THE BIGGER PICTURE

  Keane scored 13 goals in 38 Championship appearances for Preston last term, and he bagged the only goal in a 1-0 win against Luton at the weekend. Wrexham have completed seven permanent signings so far in the transfer window but none were attacking additions, and the pursuit of Keane appears to be an attempt to provide competition to Paul Mullin – who made his first appearance of the season against Reading last weekend – and Co.

• DID YOU KNOW?

  Wrexham aren't alone in their attempts to sign Keane. Championship side West Brom saw a £500,000 bid for the former Manchester United youngster rejected, while Cardiff are also considering a move before Friday's transfer deadline.

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  WHAT NEXT FOR WREXHAM?

  Parkinson has hinted that Wrexham's transfer business isn't finished, but his side appears more than ready for the task ahead of them in League One. The Red Dragons have collected seven points from their opening three games and defeated the previously-unbeaten Reading 3-0 on Saturday.

Home-summer focus on Tests could conflict with impending target of T20 World Cup glory

Andrew Miller14-May-2020

England may be forced to choose whether their all-format stars such as Ben Stokes and Jos Buttler feature for the Test or limited-overs teams this summer, after Ashley Giles, the managing director, conceded that two separate squads might be the best means of ensuring player safety as they attempt a return to action during the Covid-19 outbreak.Stokes produced two of the greatest England performances of all time in white- and red-ball cricket last summer, first for the ODI team with his unbeaten 84 in the World Cup final against New Zealand at Lord’s, and then, a month later, for the Test team against Australia, where his unbeaten 135 sealed a thrilling one-wicket win at Headingley.But, with England confirming their plans for a staged return to training ahead of an anticipated start to the Test summer against West Indies in July, Giles admitted that the logistical challenge of squeezing the home international schedule into a 12-week window could force them to prioritise certain formats for certain players who might ordinarily feature in both squads.The ECB confirmed that an initial pool of 30 players would be returning to individual training from next week, at seven different venues across the country, and under strict social-distancing, hygiene and temperature-control protocols. In an attempt to further limit interaction, players will be asked to arrive at venues in their training gear, with shared spaces such as dressing rooms to remain off-limits.”We’re probably erring on that side of creating a bubble to surround our people,” Giles told Sky Sports. “We’ll probably look to take all 30 people back into the environment at the venue, so that we’ve got everything we need from a playing, a practice, and a net-bowling perspective leading into a Test match, probably two weeks before the first ball is bowled in that Test match.”The likelihood is if we do that and we’re trying to main really safe environments, that we’re going to operate two separate squads.”England have prioritised the staging of their six scheduled Tests against West Indies and Pakistan because they are the most lucrative formats when it comes to fulfilling their contractual obligations to Sky Sports. If no international cricket were possible this summer, the ECB has estimated that it would be looking at a £380 million loss.However, with the T20 World Cup scheduled to take place in Australia in October and November, England recognise that their best white-ball players will need to get as much match practice as possible if they are to match their achievements in the 50-over format last season, and go one better than they did in 2016, when they were the losing finalists against West Indies in Kolkata.ALSO READ: Environment will be safer than going to supermarket – GilesSince the promotion of Chris Silverwood as England’s head coach, there has been a renewed focus on the standards of the Test team, which was largely overlooked under the previous regime of Trevor Bayliss, whose primary focus had been on that successful home World Cup campaign.And after a tricky start in New Zealand, the team achieved a memorable series win in South Africa at the turn of the year, with a raft of young players such as Dom Sibley, Ollie Pope, Dom Bess and Zak Crawley taking their chances to cement their places in the Test set-up.However, a decision may need to be taken about which of England’s multi-format players continue to feature for the Test team this summer, with six names up for particular debate: Stokes and Buttler, plus the two fastest bowlers in England’s ranks, Jofra Archer and Mark Wood, as well Joe Root, the Test captain, and Jonny Bairstow.”At the moment we’ve got a schedule on paper that looks great, that we can fit everything into July, August, September, but it’s a squeeze and there’s a lot of cricket there,” Giles said. “”So again that probably leads us to a place where we’re operating two separate teams.”It’s a lot of people, it’s a lot of logistical pressure and organisation,” he added. “Part of this is about high-level performance and getting sport back on that people want to enjoy, but there is also an economics angle to this, a financial element. For the whole game in this country, us playing cricket is really important.”Where should England’s priorities lie?Ben Stokes
England’s biggest box-office name produced one of the very greatest Test innings of all time at Headingley, and in a summer when finances count for so much, he will surely be required to front up for the Test team, over the one-day squad, and give the most lucrative format some bang for its buck. Whisper it, but his T20 record isn’t a patch on the other two formats. Verdict: TestsJofra Archer
Injured through over-use after making his Test debut in the Ashes, this lay-off has arguably been as opportune as such things can be, after the mania of his first six months as an England cricketer. His value as one of the pre-eminent T20 bowlers in the world is indisputable, and he’s already been the point of difference in one victorious white-ball campaign. Verdict: ODIs/T20sJoe Root
He’s England’s Test captain, so that’s the end of the argument. Root was also their stand-out performer in the last T20 World Cup in 2016 – and would surely have been man of the final if they’d got over the line. But his importance in the other two formats has cramped his opportunities ever since. Verdict: TestsJos Buttler
Root in reverse. Buttler is already England’s greatest white-ball batsman of all time and their most feared campaigner going into the T20 World Cup. He is also Eoin Morgan’s heir apparent (and who knows how Morgan’s back, which gave him problems last year, will respond to this lengthy lay-off). The fact that his Test form was teetering in South Africa is further evidence of where his priorities need to be. Verdict: ODIs/T20sMark Wood
Now here’s a dilemma. Wood, by his own admission, is probably going to break down within days of his return to action, such is his woeful injury record. But that’s never held him back from going full throttle, and nothing gave him more joy than his recent performances in Test cricket, in St Lucia last spring and Johannesburg in January, where he bowled like greased lightning. He’d be an asset to the T20 squad, but perhaps not a first choice. Better to let him go with his heart. Verdict: TestsJonny Bairstow
Another dilemma, though largely due to the knock-on effect of Buttler’s white-ball focus. Bairstow, his predecessor as Test gloveman, might be the logical choice to step into the breach. But should a man who caused such a storm alongside David Warner for Sunrisers last season be putting his best efforts into that T20 prep? His recent Test form has not been much to boast about, either. It might depend on whether England think Ben Foakes’ time has come. Verdict: ODIs/T20s

Tottenham Hotspur are fighting for a return to the Champions League in Ange Postecoglou's first campaign in the dugout, with the club falling by the wayside in recent years.

Shrewd investment in the transfer market is not exactly anything new under chairman Daniel Levy, widely accepted as one of the more economical figures in the Premier League, but thrifty spending hasn't always hit the mark.

Sure, Spurs yield a chequered past in this regard, but well it goes right, it goes right. Gareth Bale is probably the gold standard in this regard, one of the Premier League's all-time greats and he didn't leave for a half-bad price either.

Why Gareth Bale is a Spurs legend

Levy saw a bargain and he snapped Bale up on an initial £5m deal from Southampton back in 2007, with the teenage left-back touted for big things and choosing the Lilywhites over Manchester United as he sought a path to prominence.

Darren Bent

Charlton

Gareth Bale

Southampton

Alan Hutton

Rangers

Younes Kaboul

Auxerre

Jonathan Woodgate

Middlesbrough

Kevin-Prince Boateng

Hertha BSC

Adel Taarabt

RC Lens

Chris Gunter

Cardiff

Gilberto

Hertha BSC

Danny Rose

Leeds

It didn't go according to plan in those fledgeling days, with Bale regarded as an 'unlucky charm' after enduring a 24-match winless streak to start life in London, though an infamous two-legged affair against Inter Milan in the Champions League saw the Wales international bloom into a world-class phenomenon.

Completing a world-record £85m transfer to Real Madrid back in 2013, Bale draped the curtain on a staggering Spurs career, totalling 71 goals and 58 assists across 236 outings after enjoying a season back on loan at the club in the twilight phase of his career.

The iconic winger scored 26 goals alone in his final year in England (before moving to Madrid) and Levy needed to replace his goal threat, but actually found a replacement who had outscored Bale in Roberto Soldado.

The fee Spurs paid for Roberto Soldado

Harry Kane was stirring away in the maiden stage of his Tottenham career but he was not yet ready to flaunt his legendary goalscoring talents in the Premier League, and Soldado was landed to lead the strikeforce in 2013, joining from Valencia for £26m.

He had, in fairness, plundered 30 goals from 46 appearances in all competitions for his La Liga outfit during the 2012/13 term and looked to be a reliable and exciting new member of Tottenham's team.

Let's just say it didn't go to plan,

How Soldado is remembered at Spurs

Journalist Kevin Palmer lamented Soldado for being "so useless" that Tottenham failed to impress in the Europa League during the 2014/15 campaign, losing in the last 16 against Fiorentina in part due to the Spaniard's profligacy.

First Impressions

What did pundits and fans alike think about their new star signing when they arrived? Football FanCast's 'First Impressions' series has everything you need.

In total, Soldado chalked up 13 goals and 11 assists across 74 matches for Spurs but this doesn't even paint the full picture of a player who drastically underperformed, incapable of leading the line to even the semblance of Bale in his free-scoring brilliance.

Premier League

52

7

6

Europa League

13

4

1

FA Cup

4

0

3

League Cup

5

2

1

Europa League Qualifying

2

3

0

Realistically, all seven of the signings made to replace Bale fell wide of the mark – bar Christian Eriksen – but Soldado really was the worst of the bunch, giving the transfer fee and weight of expectation after such clinical efforts in Spain.

Soldado flattered to deceive at Tottenham but Levy's blushes were spared two years on as Kane began a ridiculous rate of scoring at Spurs for the best part of a decade.

Still, journalist Sam Tighe mused that Soldado might have been the "flop of the season" – he really was that bad.

David Moyes has pulled off a real statement of intent by luring Kalvin Philipps to West Ham United on a loan deal until the end of the season, and his quality could shine through should he remain fit and healthy.

The Englishman will add some much-needed steel to the centre of their midfield, and it could prove to be an inspired signing as Moyes looks to secure another continental trophy with the club.

While this is a big coup, with just under a week left until deadline day, the Scot will be hoping to bring in at least another player or two, especially as he needs to bolster his attacking options.

West Ham’s search for new signings

According to journalist Graeme Bailey, the Irons are currently showing interest in former Celtic sensation Jota as they look to improve their squad ahead of the second half of the season.

He said: “Former Celtic winger Jota is still hoping for a move to the Premier League this month.

Latest West Ham transfer news: £35m ace and La Liga superstar on radar

It’s a new era at the London Stadium – here’s what Julen Lopetegui could be up to in the transfer market…

By
Mark Marston

Jul 11, 2024

“West Ham have spoken about a possible deal, whilst Brighton, Everton and Newcastle have been linked. Spurs remain admirers too.”

He moved to Saudi Pro League outfit Al Ittihad last summer for a fee of around £25m following an impressive spell in Scotland, yet his move to the Middle East has not played out as well as anticipated.

Could the Portuguese gem perhaps return to British shores in the coming days? There is no doubt he has the potential to shine in the Premier League, and with West Ham needing some freshness injected into the final third, he could be an ideal signing.

Moyes may need to move a player or two out the door, however, with winger Said Benrahma attracting interest from French side Marseille.

Indeed, the Hammers even rejected a loan bid from the Ligue 1 outfit last week for the Algerian, but a move for Jota could indicate that his time in London is approaching an end.

Said Benrahma could leave West Ham United

The winger is certainly a polarising figure. At times, he can be devastating and cause utter chaos to opposition defences, yet more often than not, he fails to leave his mark in matches and Moyes could do with an upgrade on the player going forward.

Since joining West Ham from Brentford at the beginning of the 2020/21 campaign, the 28-year-old has scored 24 goals and registered 19 assists across 155 matches, a ratio of a goal contribution every 3.6 games, which is a solid, if unspectacular, return.

This season, however, the winger has grabbed only one assist in 22 matches and his performances have been underwhelming, to say the least.

Among the squad, Benrahma currently ranks 14th for goals and assists (one) in the Premier League, while also ranking sixth for shots on target per game (0.5) and 17th for overall Sofascore rating (6.73), indicating that this term has hardly been a productive one.

The former Brentford winger still has two and a half years left on his current contract and this could tempt Moyes into moving him on this month, especially as he could command a decent fee.

It is clear he is not having the same impact this term compared to previous seasons. Moyes has started him just 13 times in all competitions, which proves he does not place his trust in the 28-year-old that often.

Jota could be a big upgrade to the current West Ham player, and it would be interesting to see if he could pick up where he left off after starring at Celtic.

The stats that show why Jota could be an upgrade to Said Benrahma

Admittedly, the 5 foot 9 winger has not had a good season for Al Ittihad in the Saudi Pro League since making his big-money move there last summer.

This was surprising, especially due to how impressive he had been for Celtic during their treble-winning 2022/23 campaign and his performances were always going to catch the eye of potential suitors.

Last term, Jota not only ranked first among the squad for overall Sofascore rating (7.45) in the Premiership, but he also ranked second for goals and assists (22), shots per game (2.4), big chances created (13), and key passes per game (1.9), demonstrating how much of an influence he had in the team.

In comparison, Benrahma ranked eighth for Sofascore rating (6.86) among the West Ham squad, along with ranking third for goals and assists (nine), first for shots per game (2.1), second for big chances created (five) and for key passes per game (1.4), suggesting that he also had a decent season for the Hammers, yet Jota’s numbers across these key metrics are better.

Jota was even lauded by former Glasgow Rangers manager Alex McLeish, who dubbed him as a “revelation” under Ange Postecoglou as they swept to five of the six domestic honours in his two seasons under the current Tottenham Hotspur manager.

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By
Luke Randall

Feb 1, 2024

As mentioned, the 24-year-old has struggled in Asia this season, making just 11 appearances and scoring only two goals, as clubs are limited to naming just eight foreign players in their domestic squads.

This has clearly limited his appearances, and it looks as though it is time for a fresh start and a return to Britain could bring out the best in him.

Benrahma has shown this term that he simply cannot be trusted to add goals or assists to this West Ham team on a regular basis and if he isn’t moved on this month, he will surely depart London in the summer.

This could give Moyes the licence to ditch the Algerian by making a concrete move for Jota as he looks to add some more depth to his attacking options.

There is no doubt the former Celtic star will be fresh having played so few matches, and this could be a huge bonus for West Ham, especially as they chase another continental title.

Jota has won five major titles during his previous two full seasons, and he certainly knows how to win trophies, which the Hammers will be hoping he showcases in the Europa League later this year if they win the race for his signature.