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An update has emerged on Newcastle United and their pursuit of Alexander Isak in the summer transfer window…

What’s the talk?

Spanish outlet Diario Vasco have claimed that the club are on the verge of bringing the Swedish international to St. James’ Park.

Journalist Colin Millar translated the article, tweeting:

“Newcastle set to sign Real Sociedad striker and Sweden international Alexander Isak in a £59million deal, rising to £63million, saw local Basque media. Offer accepted and deal imminent.”

The Athletic’s David Ornstein has backed up their claim and Italian reporter Fabrizio Romano has provided a fresh update, Tweeting: 

“Newcastle have already agreed personal terms with Alexander Isak and his agents. Final details discussed on add-ons structure and then deal completed with Real Sociedad, set to be signed. #NUFC Club record fee for Newcastle, also record sale for Real Sociedad.”

Forget about Callum Wilson

Although Wilson has scored two goals in the first three games of the Premier League season, the signing of Isak means that it could now be the time to forget about the Englishman.

Eddie Howe confirmed that the striker is set for a scan on a hamstring injury and it remains to be seen how long he will be sidelined for.

This should come as no shock to Magpies fans, though, as the attacker has missed 35 competitive matches since joining the club in the summer of 2020, compared to Isak’s five since 2019.

Wilson is an unreliable player when it comes to his availability and, at the age of 30, he is not getting any younger, which is why replacing him with Isak as the first-choice number nine could be a good move by the club.

Spanish journalist Guillem Balague has claimed that the Swedish will suit Howe’s style of play “as he is very fast” and “good driving the ball”.

These attributes could allow him to thrive in the manager’s pressing system as it creates counter-attacking opportunities and he can use his speed to burst forward – not giving opposition defenders a chance to catch up with him. Rio Ferdinand once dubbed him a “nuisance” and he could use his work rate and pace to force errors out of teams.

Wilson has scored 22 goals in the top-flight since the start of the 2020/21 campaign, whilst Isak has found the back of the net 24 times in La Liga in the same timeframe.

This suggests that he could offer a similar level of quality in front of goal, whilst suiting the team’s style of play, and having the scope to develop further.

His former teammate Chinedu Obasi previously said that Isak has “enormous potential” and he has plenty of years to prove him right, at the age of 22. He could be Newcastle’s starting striker for many seasons to come and it will now be down to Howe to get the best out of him.

Everton had a slow start to the summer transfer window but have now signed three new players to strengthen the squad at Goodison Park, and a reliable source has revealed a potential new target for the Toffees.

What’s the latest?

According to Everton insider and journalist Alan Myers, the Merseyside club are now interested in signing Conor Coady this summer.

Myers tweeted: “Everton want to sign Wolves defender Conor Coady. Frank Lampard is an admirer of the experienced centre-back, who’s been at Wolves for 7 years.”

Imagine him & Tarkowski

It is no secret that Everton struggled last term as they were embroiled in a relegation scrap at the bottom of the Premier League table until the penultimate game of the season, so it comes as no surprise that Frank Lampard is keen to strengthen his squad, especially in defence.

In March, Jamie Carragher gave a scathing assessment on Sky Sports of what he believed to be a huge problem for the Toffees following their humiliating 5-0 defeat to Tottenham Hotspur.

The pundit raged: “If Everton aren’t going to be good enough, it can be quality and they’re not. That back four is miles away, it’s Championship level.”

The Toffees’ poor defensive performances ultimately led to them conceding the fifth most goals (66) in the Premier League last term, and after signing James Tarkowski from Burnley last month, they could now strengthen their defence even further to ensure that they don’t repeat the mistakes of the past.

Coady, who was dubbed “phenomenal” by former team-mate Dave Edwards, has been a reliable and solid performer for Wolverhampton Wanderers, earning the captaincy at the club with his sound leadership which has led to inclusion in the England team.

Over 38 appearances last season, the £62k-per-week titan scored four goals, made 3.7 clearances per game and won the majority of his duels (53%), becoming one of the standout performers in the division.

The Wolves captain ranked second for successful dribbles, third in conversion of big chances and fourth for blocked shots in the entire top flight.

There is no doubt that Lampard could form the perfect centre-back partnership between Tarkowski and Coady if Everton can secure a deal for the Wolves skipper before the transfer window shuts, as the pair are both renowned for their leadership skills and are both proven defenders who have been important players for the teams they have represented.

Both Englishmen are capable of playing either side in the centre-back role, which will again be very useful to Lampard if he can get them together at Goodison Park, as the strength and experience of the pair combined could help Everton to seriously improve over the course of this season.

The signing of Coady would be a huge coup for the Toffees and would put Lampard in a great position to deploy a defence that he can trust to compete and contribute in their efforts to retain their Premier League status more comfortably this time around.

West Ham United are waiting on free agent Adnan Januzaj to make a decision regarding his future, according to a report from El Diario Vasco.

The lowdown: Hammers’ interested

Following an initial report from Spanish outlet AS claiming that the Hammers are among the clubs interested in Januzaj, reputable journalist Dean Jones recently claimed that a deal is ‘pretty much set up’ to reunite the attacking midfielder with David Moyes.

The 27-year-old Belgium international played under the Scot on 60 occasions during their time together at Manchester United and Sunderland before both went on to rekindle their careers elsewhere.

Now, having left Real Sociedad after making 167 appearances for the La Liga outfit, Januzaj is seemingly on the verge of deciding his next move…

The latest: ‘On the verge’

As per El Diario Vasco, the 15-cap Belgium star is believed to be ‘on the verge’ of picking his next club.

It’s claimed that Januzaj is wanted by Real Betis, Napoli and in Qatar and Saudi Arabian leagues, as well as attracting admiration from West Ham and Everton.

The report also states that the man once hailed as ‘gifted’ by reporter David Cartlidge is currently training ‘alone’ whilst pondering where to ply his trade.

The verdict: Fingers crossed

Still holding a perceived market value of £10.8million (Transfermarkt), signing Januzaj for free would have to be regarded as a no-brainer for Rob Newman and GSB.

Moreover, still at the peak of his career despite failing to live up to early expectations, adding the versatile Belgian to David Moyes’ attacking options would be a welcome move from the Irons.

Last season, Januzaj scored five times and provided three assists in 43 appearances across all competitions, highlighting his continued importance to an elite-level side that finished in a highly respectable sixth position in the Spanish top flight.

Overall, the 6 foot 1 ace – who is equally adept on either wing – earned a 6.81 Sofascore rating whilst successfully completing 1.4 dribbles and 1 key pass on average per game.

That recent form combined with an ability to play in numerous positions makes Januzaj the perfect addition to Moyes’ squad as West Ham seemingly actively pursue another attacking signing, having also been linked to Nice forward Amine Gouiri.

Everton have only managed to make one signing so far this summer, with James Tarkowski joining the Goodison Park outfit – meaning there is still a lot of work to be done for Frank Lampard to turn around the Toffees’ present situation.

The former Chelsea boss took over as manager at the Merseyside club back in January and managed – by the skin of his teeth – to secure survival in the Premier League in the penultimate game of the season. And, the summer transfer window is the perfect opportunity to strengthen his team ahead of their return to top-flight action next month.

Everton’s desperation for quality players who can make an instant positive impact on the team has heightened considerably since the departure of Brazilian winger Richarlison last week, with the player making a move to Tottenham Hotspur.

As a result, not only will Lampard need to strengthen his current squad but now has a gaping hole to fill in order to replace Richarlison’s output in the team – with the added challenge of doing so on a tight budget due to ongoing financial troubles at the club.

One player who has been linked with a move to the Blues is Nottingham Forest youngster Brennan Johnson, who last season played a huge part in helping his team secure promotion back into the Premier League for the first time in 23 years.

Johnson has played various roles in the attacking third with the player occupying left-wing, right-wing, attacking midfield and second striker positions throughout last season. However, despite moving around a lot in terms of positioning, this didn’t stop him proving how much of a valuable asset he can be.

The 21-year-old who was hailed a “superstar” by Wales boss Rob Page scored 16 goals, delivered 10 assists and created 15 big chances, as well as making an average of 1.3 key passes and winning 3.5 duels on average per game and successfully completing the majority of his dribble attempts over 46 Championship appearances last season.

As a result of his impact on Nottingham Forest’s play-off victory, the £13.5m-rated gem was also named Championship Young Player of the Year, proving that has been a standout performer not only for his club but in the league in general.

There is nothing Lampard thrives in more as a manager than developing youth, with the Toffees boss having a hand in the development of Reece James, Armando Broja, Mason Mount and many more during his time at Chelsea, so Johnson would be in a great position to fulfil his potential under the manager’s watchful eye.

With that being said, the signing of Johnson could be a major coup for Everton this summer if they could convince Forest to sell their prized asset, as he could be the perfect Richarlison heir to get the team back to where they belong climbing up the Premier League table next season.

AND in other news: Alan Myers delivers seven-word Everton transfer claim that’ll leave supporters excited

Everton will need a solid summer transfer window if they are to massively improve on their disappointing 16th-placed finish in last season’s Premier League.

Frank Lampard will be under pressure to get things right and transform the mentality at the club after what has been an underwhelming few months at Goodison Park.

There are signs that the club is moving in the right direction, with Lampard reportedly sealing the signing of defender James Tarkowski; and with interest in Keane Lewis-Potter and Chelsea trio Armando Broja, Conor Gallagher and Levi Colwill, it looks set to be a busy summer on the blue half of Merseyside.

It could even get better for the Toffees, who are linked with a move for Brazilian midfielder Andrey Santos according to Le10Sport. The French outlet claimed that Everton are keen on the Vasco da Gama player, despite interest from Paris Saint-Germain and Barcelona.

The Brazilian could be a major upgrade on compatriot Allan, who ranked 18th in the Everton squad last term with a WhoScored rating of 6.50 after a litany of underwhelming performances. Also, with the ex-Napoli midfielder now 31, perhaps it’s time that Lampard moved him on.

A move for Santos might appear risky, especially since he is only 18 years old. However, since making the step up to the Vasco de Gama senior squad, he has played 12 times in all competitions, scoring once.

With the Brazilian club reportedly listening to offers for their teenage sensation, Everton could seal the move for only €8m (£6.8m).

This would represent a bargain for Lampard and the Toffees, although the interest from PSG and Barcelona could suggest that Everton are further down the pecking order. However, they could offer the 18-year-old a better chance at regular first-team football.

Journalist Rodrigo Coutinho praised the Brazilian teenager, saying: “Andrey Santos will be a great midfield player”, a glowing appraisal for someone who is so young and virtually untested in the senior game.

Maybe Lampard needs to take a few risks in the transfer market to reinvigorate his squad, and if he makes the move for Santos, it could pay off massively for Everton over the coming months and years.

It’s time to forget about the underperforming Allan and look to the future with Santos instead.

AND in other news, Contact made: Everton in talks to sign “untouchable” £18m-rated gem, Lampard would love him

A claim has emerged on Leeds United’s interest in Lewis O’Brien heading into the summer transfer window… 

What’s the talk?

Daily Express journalist Ryan Taylor has claimed that the Huddersfield man will still be a target for the club despite Marcelo Bielsa’s exit from Elland Road earlier this year.

He told GIVEMESPORT:

“I think he (O’Brien) will still be a player of interest to Leeds because Brenden Aaronson wasn’t anything to do with Jesse Marsch, that was a signing that Bielsa was keen for, given his running stats.

“I think in the Champions League this season, no player ran more than Aaronson, which obviously with his Murderball football, it was key for that. So, it’s clear the targets have sort of come in from upstairs, and Victor Orta has a clear strategy.”

Supporters will be delighted

Supporters will be delighted with this claim for multiple reasons.

Firstly, it shows that there is a clear style in place at the club and they are not looking to change that any time soon. Having this structure above the head coach means that it is not a complete disaster when someone like Bielsa ends up moving on.

Leeds were not going to go out and bring in a manager who wanted to play defensive, park the bus, football who would have wanted a completely different style of player in the window. This allows for continuity within the playing squad in the long-term irrespective of the man in the dugout as they have an identity that they want to stick to.

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Fans will also be buzzing with this news because O’Brien has the potential to be an excellent addition to Marsch’s squad next season.

The central midfielder enjoyed a terrific campaign in the Championship with Huddersfield as they missed out on promotion to the Premier League via the play-offs.

O’Brien averaged a superb SofaScore rating of 7.00 across 43 games in the second tier as he showcased his ability to perform to a high level on a consistent basis.

He caught the eye with his energetic displays as he won a whopping 7.5 duels and made 3.0 tackles and interceptions per game. Along with his excellent work off the ball, he chipped in with three goals and three assists to prove that he can also make an impact in the final third.

These statistics suggest that he has the potential to make the step up to the Premier League as he has proven his quality in the Championship. Therefore, fans will be delighted by the club’s efforts to bring him to Elland Road this summer.

AND in other news, “No chance..”: Journo reveals crushing Leeds transfer claim, supporters will be gutted…

After a disappointing Champions League final for Liverpool the supporters were hit with more bad news as it was reported that Sadio Mane plans to leave the club this summer, and now a reliable source has given an update from the club’s perspective.

What’s the latest?

Liverpool reporter for The Athletic James Pearce has given a deeper insight into the potential departure of Sadio Mane this summer and how the club are set to approach the situation.

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As per Pearce’s report for The Athletic, senior sources at Anfield have revealed that the club will not accept the reported €30m (£25.5m) and the club believes that it would be more beneficial to keep the player for another 12 months and let him go on a free transfer in 2023.

However, Liverpool value Mane at around €50m (£42.5m) and would only be interested in sanctioning a deal for the winger if they can find a suitable replacement this summer.

Supporters will be gutted

Mane has been a consistent and outstanding performer for Liverpool over the last six years since he joined the club in 2016, and has played a key part in winning huge honours including the Champions League, Premier League, FA Cup and Carabao Cup.

Not only that, the Senegalese attacker has won the Premier League golden boot and finished fourth in the Ballon d’Or in 2019, proving that he has been considered one of the best players in the world during his time on Merseyside, so supporters will surely be gutted at the prospect of him leaving this summer.

The rumoured decision on Mane’s part to leave the club comes as he has one year left on his contract alongside Mohamed Salah and Roberto Firmino, and it was believed earlier this month that FSG would work to open contract negotiations with the two wingers in particular to secure their future at Anfield.

With that being said, Pearce’s update does offer an element of positivity for supporters as Liverpool are clearly not ready to let the player go easily and will work to either find a like for like replacement to make sure the club does not suffer from Mane’s exit in the upcoming season should they reach an agreement that is mutually beneficial.

Either way, the news that a player who has scored 120 times for them is set to depart is not ideal at all. It’s certainly a huge blow to Klopp’s Anfield empire.

AND in other news: Forget Mane: Klopp can land new LFC hero in deal for “tenacious” £100m “predator”

Former Celtic striker Frank McAvennie is ecstatic that six Hoops players have made it into PFA Scotland’s Team of the Year for 2021/22.

The Lowdown: Hoops dominate Team of the Year

The Hoops are on the verge of being named the new Scottish Premiership champions, taking a six-point lead with them into the final three matches of the campaign.

Celtic’s dominance has now been recognised, with the news that Cameron Carter-Vickers, Josip Juranovic, Tom Rogic, Callum McGregor, Jota and Kyogo Furuhashi are all named in the Team of the Year.

All six have enjoyed superb seasons, playing a huge role in Ange Postecoglou’s side being so close to title glory.

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The Latest: McAvennie reacts to news

Speaking to Football Insider, McAvennie couldn’t hide his delight at the news:

“I can’t believe it, if you told me six players would make it into the team of the year at the end of last season, I wouldn’t believe it. The team we had last year was rotten. In such a short time Ange has turned it around.

“If you look at those six, Juranovic, Jota, Kyogo and Carter-Vickers all came in this season. I can’t believe that. Four brand new signings all in the team of the season, it’s just, wow.

“That is down to Ange as well because he brought them in. He is the one to thank in all this.

“McGregor and Rogic have improved so much as well, all of them deserve it. I know it doesn’t really mean much but it’s just another sign for the incredible year we have had and hopefully it’s a good sign for the future.”

The Verdict: Richly deserved recognition

To see over half of the Team of the Year dominated by Celtic players is just reward for their efforts, with Postecoglou getting huge amounts out of his squad in his first season at Parkhead.

Carter-Vickers has been an influential figure on loan from Tottenham, averaging 4.1 aerial duel wins per game, while Rogic and McGregor have brought class and fight to the midfield.

Meanwhile, Jota has been another inspired loan signing, chipping in with 18 goal contributions in the league – nine goals and assists each – and both Juranovic and Kyogo have also done their bit for the cause at right-back and in attack, respectively.

In other news, Celtic are reportedly keen on selling one player this summer. Find out who it is here.

Since the start of 2014, he has never had a year without a Test ton. Now he is two matches away from going one-and-a-half years without one

Sidharth Monga11-Dec-20182:08

Surprise omission to key member: Rahane’s year in Kohli’s words

As most Test wins are, the three overseas ones for India in 2018 have been fashioned by their bowlers, but in all three of those wins, all three of India’s most established batsmen have made telling contributions. In Johannesburg, Virat Kohli and Cheteshwar Pujara gave India the first-innings score followed by third-innings target-setting knocks from Kohli and Ajinkya Rahane. In Nottingham, Kohli and Rahane scored the first-innings runs, and Kohli and Pujara put things past England in the second innings. In Adelaide, Pujara was the glue in both innings, and there were meaningful contributions from both Kohli and Rahane in the second innings.ALSO READ: How has Pujara overcome his weaknesses overseas?Out of the three, Rahane still remains under pressure. Some of it is down to the missing centuries. Kohli has scored three, Pujara two, in overseas Tests this year, but Rahane has now gone 23 Test innings without a hundred. Kohli has been the undisputed best for India this year, Pujara’s average is now nudging 40, but Rahane languishes in the early 30s. It is believed being unsettled because of that omission in South Africa earlier this year, and also being consumed by limited-overs ambitions, has had an effect on his batting. One of the casualties is the loss of an effortless organic tempo of an innings. The 2014 Rahane knew just what pace to play at; nothing seemed forced. Now his attack and his defence both seem predetermined.However, there is support from where it matters the most. At the start of the year, Rahane’s axing was a foregone conclusion for captain Kohli, who was surprised people questioned his decision. By the end of the year, Kohli is firmly in Rahane’s corner.”Look every batsman every now and then has to work on his game if something is not going right but you can never take away the player totally. As I said in the past many times, both technically and temperament wise they are both solid Test players,” Kohli said of Pujara and Rahane after the Adelaide win.”I think Ajinkya batted superbly as well,” Kohli said after claiming Pujara was the difference between the two sides at Adelaide Oval. “So fearless and positive, and that’s his game and that’s his template; taking their bowlers on and not being intimidated. He has confidence in his own space, which I think is the most important thing for him. And the fact that he could do it in the first game, we have seen him build on it in Australia in the past. If he can bat like that every Test match, I think, he certainly can take away the game from the opposition and set the game up in a session. That’s how good he is when he is on a roll.”Ajinkya Rahane celebrates a half-century•Getty ImagesHowever, Rahane’s troubles against Nathan Lyon continue. Not long ago, he and Pujara scored half-centuries that were worth hundreds in the low-scoring Test in Bengaluru to get the better of Lyon, but Rahane is back to not trusting his defence against the offspin from the rough. A lot of Rahane’s cricket since his last century has been played in pace-friendly conditions, but six of these 23 dismissals have come against offspin. He tried to hit out in the first innings, but perished against pace. And even after getting set, under no pressure from the match situation as the batting approach of the lower order suggested, Rahane still felt the need to play a reverse sweep to tackle Lyon, who refused to move out of the rough. That brought about a dismissal in the 70s when it was probably time to get a personal milestone to earn himself some breathing space. That didn’t leave batting coach Sanjay Bangar too impressed.”He scored runs against West Indies, and even in England he had scores in the third, fourth and fifth Tests,” Bangar said of Rahane. “It’s just that the hundred has been elusive, the big knock which we are all expecting and which he is also working hard towards, is not coming. But it is not about individual landmarks but whenever he has played that innings, it is the quality he possesses, he generally puts the team in a very good position.”Since the start of 2014, Rahane never had a year without a Test century. Now he is two matches away from going one-and-a-half years without one. And at least after the South Africa tour, he has been given a consistent run. India will dearly love for him to correct that stat, or at least once again get close to doing so.

Martin Guptill’s 180* is now the highest percentage contribution in a successful run chase of 250 and above. But which of these was the best innings?

ESPNcricinfo staff01-Mar-2017