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Arsenal are now considering a move for a new striker, with scouts watching one of their targets in action over the weekend, according to a report.

Who are Arsenal signing in January?

The Gunners are keen on strengthening in several positions this winter, having been linked with a move for Sporting CP defender Ousmane Diomande, although the youngster's agent has made it clear his client is happy where he is for the time being.

Mikel Arteta may also look at bringing in reinforcements in wide areas, and Ousmane Dembele has now been named as a potential target, having made a slow start since arriving at Paris Saint-Germain from Barcelona for £50m in the summer.

Transfer insider Dean Jones has revealed that Borussia Dortmund starlet Jamie Bynoe-Gittens could also emerge as an option for the north Londoners this January, although he does not believe the 19-year-old is likely to be among their main targets.

In terms of options at striker, one of Arsenal's main targets appears to be Brentford's Ivan Toney, with transfer insider Fabrizio Romano recently revealing that they have already held talks over a move for the 27-year-old.

However, the Gunners are also considering Feyenoord's Santiago Gimenez, with 90min reporting scouts were sent to watch him in action during his side's fiery clash with Ajax on Sunday, which was ultimately suspended due to crowd unrest.

Scouts will have been left impressed by the Mexican's performance, as he put on a real show, providing two goals and an assist for Feyenoord before the game was halted around the hour mark.

Although his time on the pitch was limited, Gimenez most certainly caught the eye, but other scouts were also in attendance, including representatives from Tottenham Hotspur and Chelsea, so there is likely to be stiff competition for his signature this winter.

Back in August, the 22-year-old opted to commit his long-term future to Feyenoord, agreeing a new contract to extend his stay at De Kuip until 2027, but it appears as though he will have no shortage of offers to move elsewhere in the January transfer window.

How many goals has Santiago Gimenez scored for Feyenoord?

The Buenos Aires-born forward has been prolific in a Feyenoord shirt since making the move from Mexican side CD Cruz Azul, scoring 29 goals in 51 games for the club, and there are early signs he is going to kick on even more this season.

After the opening five games, the Mexico international has already amassed six goals, discounting the two he scored against Ajax at the weekend, having now established himself as a key player for the Dutch side.

The Feyenoord star is a constant threat in attacking positions, ranking in the 99th percentile for touches in the opposing penalty area per 90 over the past year, while he has been likened to Erling Haaland and dubbed a "machine" by football talent scout Jacek Kulig.

That said, it could be a risk to take a chance on Gimenez, considering he is unproven outside the Eredivisie, especially when Arteta also has Toney on his shortlist, who scored 20 Premier League goals last term.

The only new addition is Gauteng’s 21-year old offspinner Raisibe Ntozakhe. Marcia Letsoalo, who last played over a year ago at the World Cup Qualifiers, is the only exclusion from the 2017-18 list

ESPNcricinfo staff13-Mar-2018In what could be seen as a sign of continuity looking ahead to the next cycle of the ICC Women’s Championship and the Women’s World T20 to be played in West Indies later this year, Cricket South Africa have offered contracts to 13 of the 14 players from the 2017-18 season.The only new addition is Gauteng’s 21-year old offspinner Raisibe Ntozakhe. Marcia Letsoalo, the 33-year-old fast bowler who last played over a year ago at the World Cup Qualifiers, is the only exclusion from the list. The new contracts will come into effect on May 1 and run up to April 30, 2019.South Africa, who hosted India for a limited-overs series in February, have a busy 14 months coming up. They next host Bangladesh in May before touring England and West Indies for the second and third round of championship matches. The World T20 and a home series against Sri Lanka will follow that.”The esteem in which our women’s team is held following their successful campaign when they reached the semi-finals of the ICC Women’s World Cup last year is reflected in their invitation to have a major tour of England including a T20 triangular series against England and New Zealand,” said Corrie van Zyl, CSA’s general manager. “It is important that we build on our recent successes as we prepare for this year’s Women’s World T20.CSA contracts list for 2018-19: Dane van Niekerk, Ayabonga Khaka, Sune Luus, Marizanne Kapp, Mignon du Preez, Shabnim Ismail, Trisha Chetty, Chloe Tryon, Lizelle Lee, Laura Wolvaardt, Masabata Klaas, Andrie Steyn, Mosaline Daniels, Raisibe Ntozakhe

Leeds United have had little to shout about over the last year, given their miserable run of form, persisting defensive frailties and eventual relegation.

It was a year that saw three different managers endure a stint in the dugout, with Daniel Farke having emerged out the other end as the man now trusted to lead the Whites into a brighter future.

He has already taken great strides towards this goal with a fine summer transfer window, where he carefully negotiated the various pitfalls that the previous regime had left for him, to finish with a squad still worthy of a title run.

Having already hit the ground running with Ethan Ampadu and Joe Rodon's acquisitions, despite winning just once in the Championship, Deadline Day saw a further three new faces welcomed in a last-gasp scramble to provide ample competition to his stars.

However, it was marred by the late exit of Luis Sinisterra, which did leave a sour taste in the mouths of supporters given his reintegration back into the first team.

Things could have been far worse though, had they also lost Wilfried Gnonto earlier in the window, which reports had suggested they were very close to.

Who is Leeds United's most valuable player?

Given the numerous departures that Farke was forced to oversee this summer, the label of their most valuable player has shifted dramatically. Especially considering how their relegation dented the value of most of their stars, given the weakened position they were forced into.

After all, to get just £20m for Tyler Adams marked poor business given they had paid the same amount the year prior, particularly given he was one of few shining lights last term in the Premier League.

The same can be said for the various loan deals suffered, with Brenden Aaronson, Max Wober, Marc Roca and more all leaving, despite having only joined within the last year for £24.5m, £11m and £10m respectively.

So, now there is just a small group of players who sit atop the club's list for highest market value, with the Italy international in Gnonto being one of those stars.

Having joined last summer in a Deadline Day move, the teenage star quickly became a mainstay under Jesse Marsch, dazzling defenders and endearing himself to the Elland Road crowd with his dynamism and direct play style. Then, to notch eight goal contributions across all senior English competitions marked a fine return for what was his first year in a new country.

Such form understandably merited praise, which pundit Tam McManus gladly offered: "The boy who got the assist, he came on and he just looks like a little pocket rocket. Wow, what a performance from him. He looks like he has a real low centre of gravity and he looks absolutely tremendous."

This ability in possession is best outlined when compared to other wingers across Europe, as Gnonto manages to rank in the top 17% for progressive carries per 90, with his speed and powerfully short stature a key factor in that success.

So, it was no surprise to see his services well sought-after this summer.

How much was Wilfried Gnonto worth before joining Leeds?

Having spent the bulk of his youth career with Inter Milan, in 2020 the 5 foot 7 dynamo made the bold choice to trade his homeland for Switzerland, signing for FC Zurich. He would swiftly break into the first team and saw his value skyrocket accordingly.

With the first recorded valuation sitting at a lowly €1m (£855k) as of December 2020, by the time of his exit this had risen to a lofty €10m (£8.5m). This made the eventual fee that the Yorkshire outfit would sign him for even more of a coup.

In total he made 74 appearances for the club, scoring 12 and assisting ten. However, it was his performances since moving to England that really put him on the map.

How much did Leeds United sign Wilfried Gnonto for?

To view those aforementioned figures in relation to how much Marsch actually paid for Gnonto, it is crazy just how much of a bargain this deal was.

However, there was a potentially different outcome that was pushed to the side, as the speedster was actually due to join in the following January, with a deal having been agreed weeks before his eventual move.

Despite that, failed ventures to sign Cody Gakpo and Bamba Dieng saw them alter the stipulations of the move, fast-tracking it to that very summer despite journalist Phil Hay reporting: "Marsch says Gnonto wouldn't be Premier League ready. Would be a longer-term thing and not certain to happen in this window."

They would spend just £5m to bring him to Yorkshire, with that fee having since soared given the platform they offered him to shine on, which he took with both hands. He proved his former boss wrong instantly, by shining at the top level with ease.

What is Wilfried Gnonto's market value now?

Such was the nature of his performances, the young Italy international understandably drew plenty of interest. Everton were reportedly one such club who continued to push for his services, firing off numerous bids to no avail.

Gnonto would even hand in a transfer request as he sought to force through the move, but Farke remained steadfast on his stance: the wide man would not be leaving.

Rejecting £25m for his services was bold, but clearly the German manager saw him as an integral part of any promotion success they hoped to achieve. After all, that fee would have made him their largest outlay for the window.

Such persistent interest from the Toffees, as well as a brief flirtation with Tottenham Hotspur, only serves to emphasise just how highly-rated the youngster now is. Football Transfers even value him at €26.7m (£23m), suggesting that had they accepted that offer from the Merseyside outfit, it would have marked a deal made above market value.

Such a figure helps to track the steady progression of Gnonto, as it can be compared to his initial transfer fee as a marker for how far he has come. Across just 12 months, his value has soared by 360%, by taking what first Leeds paid and comparing it with his current valuation.

Having since been welcomed back into the starting side, and with the transfer window now slammed shut, there will be hope around Yorkshire that he can put his head down and work towards earning an instant Premier League return, truly proving his worth. Irrespective of this summer's events, they have certainly struck gold with their initial investment.

Azhar Ali, who had replaced Shehzad in the ODI squad, did not find a place in the T20 squad

ESPNcricinfo staff10-Jan-2018Opener Ahmed Shehzad, who had been dropped for the ODI leg of the New Zealand tour, has returned to Pakistan’s squad for the three-match T20 series. Azhar Ali, who had replaced Shehzad in the ODI squad, did not find a place in the T20 squad. The only other change from the ODI squad was the inclusion of batsman Umar Amin in place of Imam-ul-Haq.Shehzad’s recent form bodes well for Pakistan: he has scored 403 runs in seven innings in the ongoing Departmental One Day Cup at an average of 67.16 and strike rate of 100.24.With allrounder Imad Wasim yet to recover from the knee injury that had sidelined him from the ODI series, Mohammad Nawaz retained his place in the squad.”Imad Wasim was yet to recover from his knee injury, and was told to continue his rehabilitation at the NCA,” Inzamam ul Haq, the chief selector, said.Pakistan are presently two games into a five-match ODI series, with New Zealand prevailing in both contests via the DLS method. The first of the three T20s will be played on January 22 at the Westpac Stadium in Wellington, three days after the fifth ODI.Squad: Sarfraz Ahmed (capt &wk), Fakhar Zaman, Ahmed Shehzad, Babar Azam, Shoaib Malik, Haris Sohail, Mohammad Hafeez, Mohammad Nawaz, Shadab Khan, Faheem Ashraf, Aamer Yamin, Mohammad Amir, Hasan Ali, Rumman Raees, Umar Amin

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Um dos líderes do Santos e capitão na ausência de Alison, o lateral-direito Pará completou nesta quinta-feira 12 anos desde o seu primeiro jogo pelo Peixe. Em sua segunda passagem pelo Alvinegro Praiano, quando foi contratado em agosto de 2019, vindo do Flamengo, o jogador tem se destacado pelo desempenho ofensivo nas últimas partidas.

Versátil, o jogador pode atuar pelas duas laterais. Foi assim em sua primeira passagem pelo Alvinegro Praiano, entre 2008 e 2012, quando conquistou três títulos paulistas, um da Copa do Brasil e uma Libertadores. Contudo, nos últimos anos se fixou pelo lado direito e vinha dando sustentação defensiva a primeira linha do time.

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No entanto, desde a chegada de Cuca, há pouco menos de um mês, o atleta tem avançado ao ataque e participado ativamente da criação da equipe na zona destra de campo, dando segurança para Marinho, artilheiro santista na temporada, expandir o seu repertório. O camisa 11 que tem bom chute de média e longa distância, vê nas descidas de Pará a possibilidade de tabela ou até mesmo o desvencilho mais fácil da marcação, levada pelo lateral na disparada.

De acordo com a plataforma “Sofa Score”, o camisa quatro tem 84% de aproveitamento nos passes e 86% nos dribles, sendo o quatro jogador do elenco que mais acerta bolas longas.

No total, pelo Peixe, Pará tem 217 partidas disputadas e dois marcados, ambos em sua primeira passagem pelo Alvinegro Praiano.

* Sob supervisão de Vinícius Perazzini

Amelia Kerr took 3 for 35 to topple Pakistan over for just 147, a score they chased down with 26 overs and seven wickets in hand

ESPNcricinfo staff02-Nov-2017
ScorecardGetty ImagesNew Zealand’s spinners, led by legspinner Amelia Kerr’s 3 for 35, helped topple Pakistan over for 147 in the second ODI in Sharjah. The batsmen then had little trouble in hunting down the target with seven wickets in hand and 26 overs to spare. Sophie Devine continued her fine form from the first ODI, hitting a 48-ball 62 with eight fours.Pakistan elected to bat first, but struggled from the outset, losing Ayesha Zafar in the seventh over for 2. Opener Nahida Khan and captain Bismah Maroof brought Pakistan back into the game with a 46-run, third-wicket partnership of 75 balls, the second-highest stand of the match.The middle order, though, capitulated against Kerr and offspinner Leigh Kasperek, losing 5 for 39 to slump to 113 for 7. Sana Mir hit 31 off 46 balls, but Pakistan lost their last three wickets without a run.In reply, captain Suzie Bates and Devine struck an 80-run opening stand in just 12.5 overs. Amy Satterthwaite struck 25 off 34 balls. Offspinner Javeria Khan took 2 for 6 in her three overs.

Glasgow Rangers have enjoyed a busy transfer window this summer. Michael Beale has managed to sign nine new players as he looks to win the 2023/24 Premiership title after a season without any silverware.

Beale has improved his midfield and attacking options, with quality players such as Jose Cifuentes, Danilo and Cyriel Dessers arriving at Ibrox.

The onus for the manager now will be to move on some players who could generate a transfer fee which will allow him to both trim the wage bill while raising funds for another one or two signings.

Antonio Colak has already departed, while Glen Kamara could be another first-team player who leaves shortly and there will surely be a few more being moved out the Ibrox exit door.

Is Fashion Sakala leaving Rangers?

The Zambian forward is being linked with a move away according to The Herald and Beale has left him out of Rangers Champions League squad for the upcoming qualifying ties against Swiss side Servette.

Read the latest Rangers transfer news HERE…

The Ibrox side could secure a fee of around £4m for the player, which is a solid profit considering Steven Gerrard signed him for free in 2021.

The Gers already have Sam Lammers, Danilo, Dessers, and Abdallah Sima as their new attacking options, yet could they go back in for a previous target in the remaining weeks of the window?

Will Rangers make another move for Luis Palma?

The Honduran winger was first linked with the Light Blues way back in April as Beale was already looking at improving his squad.

Greek side Aris Thessaloniki valued their prized asset at around £4.5m and this looked to have put the club off any potential move.

It now appears as though Stoke City are keen on the winger, who is now being valued at £3.5m and could this perhaps tempt Beale to go back in for another bite of the cherry? Especially with Sakala on his way out.

The latter man registered 20 goal contributions last season – 12 goals and eight assists – while creating seven big chances and averaging 1.5 key passes, showcasing not only his threat in front of goal but also that he could generate opportunities for others.

Palma, like Sakala, can also play on the wing or through the middle, and he also enjoyed a solid season for the Greek side in terms of goal contributions.

Across 36 matches, the 23-year-old scored 13 goals and grabbed eight assists, which was one more contribution than Sakala, while he created four big chances and averaged 1.4 key passes per game, similar statistics to the Rangers forward.

Aris manager Apostolos Terzis lauded Palma following his performances last term, saying: "Luis has done that all season. He has been a huge player for us. We know there has been a lot of interest in him and it's not surprising.”

He certainly offers a similar threat to that of Sakala, being able to score and generate chances for his teammates in equal measure and should Stoke fail to sign him, Beale must reignite a move for the Honduran.

Niroshan Dickwella has been fined 30% of his match fee, and handed two demerit points, for a stumping attempt that was deemed to be “contrary to the spirit of the game” by match officials

Andrew Fidel Fernando01-Jul-2017

Niroshan Dickwella has been fined 30% of his match fee, and handed two demerit points, for a stumping attempt in the first ODI against Zimbabwe that was deemed to be “contrary to the spirit of the game” by match officials.The incident had occurred in the seventh over of Zimbabwe’s innings on Friday. Dickwella gathered the ball, and waited many seconds for Solomon Mire to leave the crease, before finally breaking the stumps, long after Mire had completed the shot.When Dickwella made the appeal, the decision was sent to third umpire Nigel Llong, who found the batsman to be in his crease at the time the bails were dislodged in any case. Keepers have often waited for batsmen to overbalance before whipping off the bails, but, on this occasion, the umpires who laid the charge had likely taken exception to the length of time that elapsed between the stroke’s completion and the stumping attempt.”Dickwella admitted the offence and accepted the sanction proposed by match referee Chris Broad and, as such, there was no need for a formal hearing,” an ICC release said.This was Dickwella’s third fine of the year. In February, he had had an on-field run-in with Kagiso Rabada, and later in the month showed dissent to an umpire’s decision. He was suspended for two limited-overs games as a result, and now, having accrued seven demerit points, will suffer a similar suspension again if he is hit with any further demerit points over the next two years.

Dane Vilas made a career-best 224 before James Anderson ripped out three wickets on a steamy evening at Old Trafford to leave Lancashire in charge

Paul Edwards at Old Trafford21-Jun-2017
ScorecardThe signing of Dane Vilas was not greeted with general rejoicing in Lancashire. “What do we need another ruddy wicketkeeper for?” was probably nearer the mark, with the player’s South African origins also featuring in the opprobrium. Disapproval in a comparable vein also welcomed the recruitment of Ryan McLaren and Shivnarine Chanderpaul and it was expressed with predictable feeling.So one rather wonders what the critics thought as Vilas and McLaren shared a record-breaking sixth-wicket stand of 221 on the third day of this game; or as Vilas’ career-best 244 helped Lancashire build a first-innings lead of 198, the sort of advantage which should enable Steven Croft’s bowlers to complete what would be a remarkable victory as early as the final morning of this match.One of Vilas’s most significant achievements was that his 434-minute flogging of Hampshire’s knackered bowlers and fielders also sapped the mental strength of the visitors’ established batsmen, some of whom were already out of form in any case. James Anderson tends to fall on such weakness with the compassion of a ravenous wolf and the evening’s cricket proved that he had lost none of his effectiveness in steamy conditions against demoralised opponents who were searching for the ball rather than seeing it plain.Anderson began Lancashire’s evening fun by dismissing both Jimmy Adams and Rilee Rossouw for nought with successive deliveries in the third over of Hampshire’s second dig. Adams poked tentatively forward like a blindfolded man in a minefield and was leg before; Rossouw, whose 34 runs in seven innings has now included four noughts, fished sadly outside off stump and was caught at third slip by Croft. Four overs later Michael Carberry played no shot at Kyle Jarvis and had his off stump knocked back.Anderson’s best wicket was that of George Bailey, who was lbw for 10 to a ball which swung back into him. If Trevor Bayliss needed reassurance that England’s leading wicket-taker could still cut it, figures of 8-4-5-3 may do that job very nicely. And if Hampshire’s batsmen thought their despond was done with when Anderson was removed from the attack, they were rudely disabused of that notion as James Vince drove McLaren straight to Rob Jones at short extra-cover. It will now be a fair effort should Hampshire’s batsmen extend this game beyond lunch on Thursday.And yet when Anderson’s bowling has been duly praised, this was still Vilas’s day, one on which his commitment to the Red Rose was made abundantly clear during a 275-ball innings. No one could have played with more devotion to his team’s cause than Vilas, as storms and predictions of storms filled the weather charts and forecasts. Having been dropped off the second and third balls he faced this morning when Sean Ervine at slip and Carberry at mid-off grassed perfectly catchable opportunities he set himself to bat as long as he could. His 25 fours and quartet of sixes were only two measures by which his triumph could be gauged.Vilas’ stand with McLaren, who reached his first century for Lancashire with three successive boundaries off Kyle Abbott, set a new sixth-wicket record for the county against Hampshire. The pair added 129 runs in the morning session and they all but broke any vestige of resistance from Hampshire in the process. This was to be a desperate day for Bailey and his players.Still Vilas was not finished and a glance at his statistics would have made ominous reading for the Hampshire attack as they were broken on the wheel. Almost all batsmen talk about “going on” once they have reached three figures, yet few make the word flesh with quite Vilas’ ruthlessness. He has now made 13 centuries, in seven of which he had scored over 150 runs. Only twice has Vilas been dismissed between 100 and 150. These statistics indicate an approach to cricket and a level of fitness which young players like Alex Davies or Jones can learn.Vilas’ destruction of the Hampshire attack in the afternoon and evening session – the way he defended the good balls but also whacked three sixes of one Brad Taylor over – is evidence of a formidable talent, one whose influence may be felt over the coming months in the Old Trafford dressing room. By scoring the runs, he also helped Anderson take the wickets.Where does it leave the overseas players’ debate? Well some folk of firm principle will not have changed their views. Nowhere, apart from Yorkshire, perhaps, is the development of local talent more highly prized than in Lancashire. Those of such a persuasion might suggest that the ideal Lancashire cricketer was born on the banks of the Ribble, has been raised on hotpot and is capable of quoting Jack Iddon’s ten highest innings at the drop of a clog.Far more seriously, they would argue that organisations like the excellent Lancashire Cricket Board exist to develop home-grown talent and what is the use of not giving opportunities to the fine players produced by Lancashire age-group teams? The engagement of overseas players who arrive one week and clear off a fortnight later empowers that question. Yet Glen Chapple might respond that the development of the seven and often eight north-west based players in each of his teams is only assisted by the presence of players like Vilas, McLaren and Chanderpaul, all of whom are with Lancashire for the entire season. And perhaps we should let one of that trio explain his approach to the business of batting”When you get to a hundred, you want to go on and get a big hundred, that’s what the team needs,” Vilas said. “I know how frustrating it is to get a hundred and then get out, and we have said in the changing room that when it’s your day you need to dig deep and go as big as you can for the team.”All the hard work you put in, the sweat, the tears – when you bat like that, it’s what you work for, it’s a brilliant feeling. I’ve seen guys get hundreds and lose concentration and that makes it difficult for the next guy coming in. I don’t want to be the guy who puts pressure on the next man coming in.”Who would not want a cricketer like that in their team?

New Zealand fast bowler Adam Milne is in discussions to play in this season’s NatWest T20 Blast as an overseas player. Milne’s agent has confirmed that, while a number of clubs were interested in signing the 24-year-old, he has only entered into talks with two, one of which ESPNcricinfo understands is Kent.The signing of Milne would be a boost for Kent, who have struggled to get new recruits through the door at Canterbury. Visa issues have so far prevented Allan Donald from taking his position as assistant coach, though Jason Gillespie provides more than adequate cover as Donald sorts the relevant qualification.Kent were understood to be close to acquiring South Africa pace bowler Duanne Olivier as an overseas player for the first three months of the season. However, just as the club were preparing to announce his signing, Cricket South Africa intervened at the 11th hour to block the move, on the ground of managing Olivier’s workload ahead of the Champions Trophy. Further misfortune arose when two other potential signings on their shortlist went down with injuries.Milne has now emerged as an alternative. One of the quickest bowlers in the world – he has been clocked above 95mph – he is also a fine death bowler, with a record of 21 wickets at an average of 21.80, and an economy rate of 7.36, in T20 internationals. He also offers excellent fielding and runs lower down the order.As ever with Milne, there will be questions over his fitness. This year’s NatWest T20 Blast takes place in a block, with each team playing 14 matches in a six-week period between July 7 and August 18. While a condensed schedule has made it easier for counties to obtain players of Milne’s profile, they will also have to consider managing the workload of a player with Milne’s injury record.He has not played for New Zealand since the World T20 and, while playing for Royal Challengers Bangalore at the IPL last April, he suffered a hamstring tear – the first of three issues that meant he did not play again in 2016. Elbow surgery in the summer saw him unable to fulfill a seven-match commitment for Essex in the Blast.He sat out an ODI series in India to regain his fitness but picked up a side strain in the nets at the end of 2016, meaning he had to bide his time until March for a competitive comeback. Both New Zealand and his suitors will be encouraged that he has emerged unscathed from three Plunket Shield matches for Central Districts in the last four weeks.Milne is set to travel to India in the hope of completing his first full IPL with RCB (he missed the 2015 season with a heel injury) and is expected to make New Zealand’s squad for the Champions Trophy in England, which starts in June.