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Noel Whelan reckons that Harry Kane will almost certainly depart the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium this window [Football Insider].

The Lowdown: Kane crucial to Spurs success in 2021/22

Plenty of onlookers, Spurs fans or not, will be intrigued to see what shirt Kane is wearing come the start of the season.

Despite being a boyhood supporter of the club, long-standing reports have linked the England international with a ground-breaking move to Premier League rivals Manchester City [Manchester Evening News].

Given his alleged desire to leave, Lilywhites fans could be in for a tumultuous few weeks once Kane returns from England duty.

The Latest: Whelan reckons Tottenham have ‘no chance’ of keeping their star man

Former Leeds striker Whelan has backed Kane to jump ship this summer in a recent interview with Football Insider. Commenting on the goal machine’s prospective future aspirations, the 46-year-old stated:

“They have no chance of keeping Kane. I know Tottenham fans will hate to hear that but it is the truth.

“Kane has made it quite clear why he wants to leave and his reasons are good enough for me.

“Spurs are not going to win anything significant in the next few years. They will be playing in this Europa Conference League next season, that is not place for Harry Kane.

“This taste of the European Championships will only deepen his desire to leave Spurs. He wants to compete at the top level every week. He wants to be in the Champions League and competing for the Premier League.

“His career has been amazing but he has nothing to show for it yet. I cannot see him staying there, not for the new manager or the new director of football.

“Kane wants to win things and Tottenham are miles off it at the moment.” [Football Insider].

The Verdict: Hard to disagree…

On balance, Whelan correctly points out the temptation that could creep into the Tottenham skipper’s head should interest in his services continue to develop in prominent circles.

As Tottenham Hotspur prepare for life in the UEFA Conference League, he may envisage testing his European credentials at a higher level.

One of the best players in the Premier League, he registered an unbelievable 50 goal contributions from 49 appearances for the Lilywhites [Transfermarkt] last season.

Further illustrative of his abilities, he recorded the highest rating out of the WhoScored Premier League 2020/21 team of the season, averaging 7.8 out of 10 across the 20/21 campaign.

Only time will tell with regards to Kane’s eventual decision, but you feel Tottenham will have to show some incredible ambition in the transfer market to convince him to stay.

In other news, Tottenham Hotspur have opened talks with a 28-year-old defender.

CANBERRA, Dec 9 AAP – The England team’s injury woes have continued with captain Nasser Hussain being ruled out of Tuesday’s one-day game against the Prime Minister’s XI at Manuka Oval in Canberra

09-Dec-2002CANBERRA, Dec 9 AAP – The England team’s injury woes have continued with captain Nasser Hussain being ruled out of Tuesday’s one-day game against the Prime Minister’s XI at Manuka Oval in Canberra.Hussain has been ruled out with a thigh injury, though English officials say he’s in no danger of missing Friday night’s opening one-day international against Australia at the SCG.Out-of-form opener Marcus Trescothick will lock horns with PM’s XI captain Mark Waugh in Hussain’s absence.Trescothick on Monday said the English side was optimistic it could pick up its first win of the tour tomorrow and gain a much needed confidence boost ahead of the clash with Australia.”We’re looking very closely into winning our first game,” Trescothick said.”We would hope it would be tomorrow. I think we’re okay, I don’t think there’s a major problem with team spirit.”The wheels aren’t off yet.”

Former Tottenham defender Alan Hutton has backed Harry Winks to force his way into Nuno Espirito Santo’s plans in the forthcoming campaign.

The Lowdown: Spurs gear up for life under Nuno

Looking towards 2021/22, many Spurs fans will be eager to witness the direction in which their new manager can take them after missing out on Champions League football for a second successive season.

Acquiring top talent will be key to prospective improvement, but revitalising existing playing assets at the club will also carry great importance.

The Latest: Hutton tips Winks to thrive under new management

One man who Hutton reckons could make an impression on Nuno is midfielder Harry Winks, who last month was reportedly told by Fabio Paratici that he was free to find a new club.

Speaking in an exclusive interview with Football Insider, the Scot was very complimentary regarding the Englishman’s capabilities, stating:

“You always need someone like Winks in your team, in my opinion.

“If I’m Winks with a new manager coming in, you sit and you think ‘What kind of football does he play? What style of player does he like?’ I always did that when I was at Villa and a new manager came in ‘Does he like attacking full-backs? Or, does he just want them to stay back? Does he play a back three?’ You figure all this out in your head.

“At Wolves, he did like to play with that midfielder who drops back, gets the ball and make things happen. He liked someone to keep the ball ticking around the pitch”.

The Verdict: Winks should be a key part of Spurs’ first team proceedings

Winks enjoyed a relatively productive 2020/21 season, registering four goal contributions in 30 outings with two goals and two assists [Transfermarkt]. Demonstrating his propensity to rotate the ball effectively, the Tottenham academy product recorded an impressive 84.9% passing accuracy across the campaign [WhoScored], the fourth-highest in the entire squad [WhoScored].

Proving his defensive worth, he averaged 1.8 interceptions per game in the Europa League, often stifling opposition attacks [WhoScored] – only three of his team-mates bettered that figure in European action [WhoScored].

Progressing further into pre-season, Nuno should incorporate Winks into his first team plans due to his composure and ability to keep the midfield area ticking over. Hutton is right to appeal to the new manager not to jettison the 25-year-old.

In other news, Spurs are interested in this wonderkid striker.

Successful New Zealand captain Stephen Fleming was at last able to reflect on a victory where conditions were well down on the list of things to talk about from the game

Lynn McConnell29-Dec-2002Successful New Zealand captain Stephen Fleming was at last able to reflect on a victory where conditions were well down on the list of things to talk about from the game.New Zealand took full advantage of a good one-day pitch in Napier to beat India by 35 runs and go 2-0 up in the seven-match series.”It was a good game of cricket, the guys played very well and they enjoyed the challenge of the wicket today, the bowlers probably enjoyed the challenge as well actually having to muck in and get the ball in the right areas and do some hard yards. I’m very pleased with our fielding performance and very, very pleased with the win.”We felt pretty comfortable with 254. You could always ask for more but we thought the groundwork was done pretty well. We had a good partnership at the top and there were good cameos throughout. The running between the wickets was a stand out and probably the basics were done very well throughout the day and that’s where we out-scored India the most.”You saw some very good shot-making today and you also saw a very good game of cricket,” he said.The New Zealanders have been on the receiving end of the Indian batting in the past and have known all through the tour what they were likely to do in good conditions. Fortunately for them it was only Virender Sehwag who took advantage of the situation.”You finally saw today what they are capable of. We’ve known that the whole way through. It was good today to see one of them fire but us still have a win.”The bowlers had continued the good job they had been doing all season and Daryl Tuffey was leading the way.”We bowled in good channels and good areas to these guys,” he said.Mathew Sinclair went a long way towards cementing his World Cup berth with a score of 78 and a share in a 136-run partnership with Nathan Astle for the second wicket, a stand that fell two runs short of equalling the record for the wicket against India.”It’s been a long time coming,” Sinclair said, “but obviously with the World Cup coming it’s good to get some of that form under my belt.”He said that his prior knowledge of what to expect from the pitch as the result of playing in the Central Districts side that met India in their pre-Test warm-up match had been useful in his batting today.Wicket-keeper Brendon McCullum, in only his second One-Day International wearing the gloves had an outstanding day with a highly-polished performance and a share of the New Zealand record for ODIs. His four catches and a stumping equalled the five dismissals made by Adam Parore against the West Indies in Goa in India in 1994/95.”I wasn’t aware of the record. The bowlers have got to nick them and it was nice to get underway with a straightforward one at the start.”I’m happy with the way things are going at the moment.”It’s great to turn in a reasonable performance,” he said.McCullum said the players were feeling the heat from other players around the country but he thought that was good for everyone.And as the ‘keeper who has to do the hard work behind the stumps no matter the pitch conditions, he found the going a lot easier today than in the first match in Auckland.

The successful organisation of the Asia Cup will boost Pakistan’s chances of hosting the ICC Champions Trophy in September this year, the board chairman Nasim Ashraf said

Cricinfo staff04-Jul-2008
Nasim Ashraf: “We are very proud the Asia Cup is organised in such a nice and peaceful manner. It proves that Pakistan is a country where cricket can be played safely” © AFP
The successful organisation of the Asia Cup will boost Pakistan’s chances of hosting the ICC Champions Trophy in September this year, the board chairman Nasim Ashraf said.”All kinds of security arrangements will be made for the Champions Trophy,” Ashraf said after returning Thursday from the ICC’s executive board meeting in Dubai. Sri Lanka is the alternate host for the Champions Trophy in September if a final security report within 10 days of the Asia Cup finishing on July 6 demonstrates that Pakistan is unsafe.”It’s a standard process of the ICC to have a backup venue,” Ashraf said. “I was assured in the ICC’s meeting by all the members that they intend to participate in the Champions Trophy in Pakistan.”We are very proud the Asia Cup is organised in such a nice and peaceful manner,” Ashraf said. “It proves that Pakistan is a country where cricket can be played safely.”New Zealand are also set to tour Pakistan for a short three-match ODI series in August, further enhancing Pakistan’s chances. Ashraf met with Justin Vaughan, CEO New Zealand Cricket, in Dubai where the PCB chief was assured the tour would go ahead.”New Zealand will arrive on August 20 and the series begins from August 24,”Ashraf said. “Two matches will be played in Faisalabad and the third inMultan.Australia postponed a tour of Pakistan in March after several bomb attacksin the wake of former prime minister Benazir Bhutto’s assassination inDecember 2007, and several Australian and New Zealand players have alreadyindicated they may pull out of the tournament rather than play inPakistan.Ashraf also appreciated the ICC’s decision to change the 2006 Oval Testresult from a forfeit win for England to a draw. “The ICC and especiallythe ECB showed tremendous generosity in reversing a bad decision,” Ashrafsaid. “The decision shows that if humans can make mistakes it can becorrected by humans.”Darrell Hair, the umpire at the centre of the storm, was later banned fromthe ICC elite umpire’s panel and only returned after completing arehabilitation program last September, when he also dropped a claim ofracial discrimination against the ICC in the British High Court. Ashrafsaid that he was not sure whether Hair would officiate in the ChampionsTrophy. “I leave it to the wisdom of the ICC to do the right thing,” hesaid.

Leeds United aren’t actively on the lookout for another left-back in the summer transfer window, according to The Athletic‘s Phil Hay.

The Lowdown: Alioski moves on

With Ezgjan Alioski moving on after his contract expired, the Whites are arguably looking a little light in the left-back department.

Junior Firpo has arrived from Barcelona, but Leif Davis’ potential loan move to Bournemouth could leave the Brazilian as the only option there.

[freshpress-quiz id=“359346″]

The Latest: Hays gives key update

Hay dropped his latest update on Friday, revealing (via Twitter) ‘where Leeds United are in the transfer market after tying up Junior Firpo’.

He states that Leeds are ‘not actively pursuing a replacement’ for Alioski as things stand, even if it hasn’t been completely ruled out.

The report states that Stuart Dallas is seen as a possible option at left-back, having ‘filled in successfully’ there, while Davis is described as ‘on the fringes’.

[web_stories_embed url=”https://www.footballtransfertavern.com/web-stories/latest-leeds-united-news-9/” title=”Latest Leeds United news!” poster=”” width=”360″ height=”600″ align=“none”]

The Verdict: Potential risk by Bielsa?

Although Leeds still appear to be relatively well-stocked at left-back, Davis leaving would change that, with Dallas preferably used in midfield.

That makes not bringing in someone a risk by Marcelo Bielsa, particularly if Firpo picked up an early injury or took time to settle at his new club – let’s not forget he only started three times in La Liga last season.

A big name isn’t required, considering Firpo looks first-choice, but sufficient cover will keep squad depth strong and enhance Leeds’ hopes of enjoying another successful season.

In other news, a pundit has made a big claim over the future of one Leeds star. Find out who it is here.

Middlesex wrapped up their second Championship win in a row by an innings and 38 runs against Essex at Lord’s

Jamie Alter at Lord's09-Jun-2008
Scorecard

Tim Murtagh finished with ten wickets in the match as Middlesex beat Essex by an innings and 38 runs at Lord’s © Getty Images
It’s a telling statement that Middlesex’s last victory over Essex at Lord’s came during the latter end of the Thatcher era, but there’s enough evidence to suggest it won’t be as long a wait next time around.Their second Championship win on the trot, by an innings-and-38-runs, lifting Middlesex to third in the second division, was finished convincingly between lunch and tea on the fourth day. Essex went out to bat needing something massive to salvage a draw but lost wickets at irregular intervals to end on 384 with Tim Murtagh claiming 4 for 83, to complete ten in the match, and Dirk Nannes’ complimenting him with 4 for 75.Mark Pettini, the visiting captain, and Ryan ten Doeschate batted sensibly enough during their fifth-wicket stand the previous evening, but a final-day revival was always going to need something spectacular. ten Doeschate came out more adventurously, especially willing to pull Nannes’ well-directed short-pitched offers. His fifty wasn’t long in coming, but he went into his shell after Pettini’s dismissal for 75.At 239 for 4, Pettini paid the price for his first lazy shot of the morning, chipping Murtagh to midwicket where Shaun Udal held a neat low catch. Udal then came on in the 73rd over, from the Nursery End, after an hour’s play and kept it tidy as Essex slowed down.With ten Doeschate quite composed Ed Smith changed his bowlers around more than yesterday, rotating his four seamers in brief bursts. Steven Finn looked the most threatening but ten Doeschate was clinical in his handling of Finn’s lift off the deck. Udal’s frustration was evident with several extremely hopeful lbw appeals to deliveries clearly pitching outside leg stump, which ten Doeschate mostly swept away.Smith’s decision to take the new ball proved his smartest choice of the day, and it altered the complexion of the morning. Murtagh needed just two deliveries to trap James Foster lbw for 23, though it appeared to have been a little high. There was nothing questionable about Murtagh’s next strike, as ten Doeschate’s attempt to leave one came back off the inside edge onto the top of off stump.Nannes gave Alex Tudor a solid working over with a string of bouncers before lunch, but James Middlebrook’s dismissal for four, Murtagh’s fourth wicket, sparked a period of aggression from Essex’s lower order. Tudor and David Masters added 59 with a flurry of flowing boundaries – most of Masters’ shots came out of the middle, barring one slash just over third slip’s fingertips – before Nannes cleaned him up for a brisk 27.Danish Kaneria’s attempts to take matters into the final session ended when he was neatly held by a sliding catch at midwicket, giving Udal his first wicket of the match. It hadn’t been all smooth sailing on the final day, but it was a clinical win and could make the special general meeting called by members a slightly less heated affair.Middlesex next take on Northamptonshire at Uxbridge from June 29, while Essex play Derbyshire at Chelmsford the same day.

Celtic striker Odsonne Edouard has emerged as a possible target for Crystal Palace this summer, according to The Guardian’s Ed Aarons.

And, as to be expected, a number of Eagles supporters have been sharing their thoughts to the links on social media.

According to Aarons, Edouard, who worked with Palace’s new development coach Said Aigoun at Paris Saint-Germain’s academy, is a potential target.

The Hoops forward has scored 83 goals in 169 games for the Scottish giants but is still keen on leaving Celtic Park after a move to Leicester City fell through.

Edouard, 23, has less than 12 months remaining on his Celtic contract but is thought to be valued at £20m by the Hoops.

He featured in Celtic’s first competitive game of the new campaign earlier in the week but it seems as if Selhurst Park could now be a potential destination for the French forward.

Palace fans react

Aarons posted the links to Edouard on Twitter on Wednesday evening. This is what these fans had to say, with many extremely excited over a possible move.

“This would be the icing on the cake.”Credit: @JLLissen”I’m on my knees please Parish”Credit: @PrideOfSouthLDN”Wow we are serious!”Credit: @MATTT046″WHEN PADDY VIEIRA CALLS! Our knock is different”Credit: @J_CPFC”This is mad.”Credit: @CPFCH10″This is my club”Credit: @LawonY60

In other news: Pundit has exclusively backed a Crystal Palace pursuit of a reported target.

Wolves winger Adama Traore will probably cost £35-40m this summer, journalist Luke Hatfield has told Football FanCast.

Traore has been heavily linked with a move away from Molineux, with Chelsea thought to be one team currently circling.

According to The Athletic, the west London club have an interest in the 25-year-old, who could give Thomas Tuchel the kind of attacking threat down the right flank he is looking for.

Traore has just two years left on his contract, so this could be Wolves’ last opportunity to make good money off of the Spaniard.

When asked by FFC how much Wolves could sell him for, Hatfield of the Express & Star said:

“His contract makes it murky, doesn’t it? I’d say probably a similar amount to [Ruben] Neves, 35, maybe £40m.

“He’s a young player, so he can still improve. But the contract situation, as I said, makes it murky.”

It is not the £80m price tag that has floated around in the past, but selling Traore for half of that would still be good business from a financial point of view.

Wolves signed Traore for £18m from Middlesbrough back in 2018 after meeting a release clause in his contract, so the Midlands club would still obviously be making a profit.

Robin Singh, India’s fielding coach, has worked with the players on their close-in catching in the nets after dropped catches affected India’s performance in the first Test against Sri Lanka in Colombo

Cricinfo staff29-Jul-2008
Robin Singh: “Dinesh Karthik had a bad match. He dropped a few catches but it is a part of the game. He is working hard in the net. We hope to come back strongly” © AFP
Robin Singh, India’s fielding coach, says India’s close-in catching will improve in the next Test with the team working on it in the nets. Dropped catches affected India’s performance in the first Test against Sri Lanka in Colombo.”There have been a few lapses in the past that won’t be repeated,” Robin said after a practice session ahead of the second Test in Galle, starting on Thursday. “Most of the people are aware of their responsibilities. I feel we had a bad day [in the last Test] but we will come back strongly in the [next] Test matches.”India lost the first Test by an innings and 239 runs and conceded 600 runs in the first innings where four Sri Lankans scored centuries. Mahela Jayawardene, the top scorer with 136, was dropped by wicketkeeper Dinesh Karthik on 55 and 96 while Thilan Samaraweera, the next highest scorer with 127, was dropped by Gautam Gambhir at short leg when he was on 53.Robin said both players had put in time for fielding practice. “Gambhir is working hard on close catches. Dinesh Karthik had a bad match. He dropped a few catches but it’s a part of the game. He is working hard in the nets. We hope to come back strongly.”Robin said the team was in a better mental shape than it was after losing in Colombo. “Everyone is trying to lift their game. Everyone is prepared in their own way. If each player plays well, if we are able to get a good start, the rest can follow.”