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?

Celtic are reportedly close to signing Busan I-Park midfielder Kwon Hyeok-kyu this summer.

What’s the latest Celtic transfer news?

The Hoops and Brendan Rodgers could spend up to £30m this summer, with those at Parkhead looking to build on a brilliant 2022/23 treble-winning season.

Midfielder Odin Thiago Holm and winger Marco Tilio have signed five-year deals in Glasgow, joining from Valerenga and Melbourne City respectively.

Further reinforcements are on the agenda, especially after Jota departed for Saudi Pro League champions Al-Ittihad in a deal worth £25m. Gangwon FC forward Yang Hyun-jun has been a key target and he previously admitted he would give up his salary to force through a deal with the Scottish Premiership champions.

"Celtic is a good offer, so I want to go. I have to do my best as a member of Gangwon. But I think the desire to go will still be there.

"I want to go to Celtic this summer. I hope Gangwon will allow me to transfer. If the transfer fee isn’t enough, I’ll even give my salary."

It looks as if Celtic will soon get their man, with Sky Sports reporter Anthony Joseph revealing on Friday that the two clubs have agreed on a £2m+ fee for the winger.

“Celtic are closing in on the signing of Gangwon FC winger Hyun-jun Yang. It's understood the clubs have now agreed a fee of just over £2m.

“Personal terms with the 21-year-old are not expected to be an issue.”

Alongside Yang, though, it seems as if the Hoops are also in for Kwon. Sports Chosun reporter Yun Jin-man shared a story on Friday regarding, stating that not one but two South Korean players ‘will join Celtic’ this summer.

It is believed that Kwon, the core midfielder of Busan I-Park, will follow Yang to Parkhead, saying that there is a high possibility a move goes through. The report states that Kwon has been a major target for Celtic, who first made an offer for the player back in December and have increased that bid this summer, although they don’t cite any specific figures.

Who is Kwon Hyeok-kyu?

Kwon is 22 years of age and is primarily a holding midfielder but can also turn out in a more advanced role or in the left if needed, showing how he could be a versatile option for Rodgers, should a move go through.

Sponsored by Nike and a South Korea U22 international, Kwon appears to be at the top of his game with a career-high €550,000 Transfermarkt valuation and has made 43 senior appearances for his current employers, scoring three times and providing one assist.

Kwon has also spent time out on loan with fellow South Korean side Gimcheon Sangmu during his career, turning out on 36 occasions, and it appears as if he could come in and challenge Celtic’s eight current holding or central midfield options.

He has been compared to Manchester City star Rodri by the media in South Korea, and by the looks of things, he could be the next player to leave Asia for Scotland, following in the footsteps of Yang.

Fulham are now closing in on a deal to sign Willian on a free transfer, with the winger poised to snub the interest from Nottingham Forest to remain at Craven Cottage for next season, according to a recent report from The Daily Mail.

What's the latest Fulham transfer news?

Marco Silva is clearly keen to add another winger to his squad, with Chelsea's Callum Hudson-Odoi recently emerging as a key target, but the Blues have recently turned down an opening offer for the Englishman.

The possibility of the Cottagers making a renewed attempt to sign the 22-year-old is not excluded, as they are looking at strengthening their wide options this summer following the departures of Neeskens Kebano and Manor Solomon, with the latter player opting to join Tottenham on a deal until 2028.

It also appeared as though Willian could be set to move on this summer following the expiration of his contract, however The Daily Mail now report he is poised to return to Fulham, following a breakthrough in talks over the weekend.

There had been uncertainty about the Brazilian's future following the expiration of his contract at the end of June, but he is ready to snub the interest from Nottingham Forest and unnamed clubs from Saudi Arabia to commit his future to the Cottagers.

Talks are now at an advanced stage, with Fulham keen to offer the 34-year-old an initial 12-month deal, which includes the option for an extra year, however the finer details of the contract are currently unconfirmed.

The discussions are set to continue today, but the move is now close to being concluded, in what will be welcome news for Silva after the recent setback in the manager's pursuit of Hudson-Odoi.

How many goals has Willian scored?

The 70-time Brazil international has made a total of 286 appearances in the Premier League, during which time he has managed to register 43 goals and 50 assists, finding the back of the net five times for Fulham in the 2022-23 campaign.

It was a solid first season at Craven Cottage for the veteran winger, who also recorded six assists in the top flight, displaying that he is still capable of performing at the highest level, despite the fact he is set to turn 35 at the beginning of August.

Silva was clearly impressed by the former Chelsea man last season, saying: "He's been brilliant, he's doing really well. Really humble player, top, top player. We have to keep him as fit as we can, and keep working with a smile on his face."

If the winger is brought in on a one-year contract, with the option for an extra year, it is a very low-risk signing for Fulham, as they do not have to keep him if his form does go downhill, but there is no indication of that happening any time soon.

Despite Willian's imminent arrival, however, Fulham should keep pursuing moves for other wide options, as at 22-years-old Hudson-Odoi could be a fantastic long-term addition to the squad.

تمكن لاعب بايرن ميونخ الألماني، جوشوا كيميش، من تسجيل هدف فريقه الأول في شباك آرسنال، ضمن منافسات دوري أبطال أوروبا.

ويواجه آرسنال نظيره بايرن ميونخ، في إياب منافسات دور الـ8 من دوري أبطال أوروبا، على ملعب “أليانز أرينا”.

اقرأ ايضاً.. فيديو | رودريجو يسجل هدف ريال مدريد الأول أمام مانشستر سيتي

وأحرز جوشوا كيميش هدف بايرن ميونخ الأول في مرمى آرسنال بحلول الدقيقة 63 من عمر الشوط الثاني.

وجاء الهدف بعدما تلقى جوشوا كيميش لتمريرة عرضية من رافائيل جوريرو، ليقوم بوضع الكرة بالرأس في شباك حارس مرمى آرسنال ديفيد رايا. هدف بايرن ميونخ في مرمي ارسنال

Wolves are believed to be in the race to sign Boca Juniors forward Mateo Retegui this summer, according to a fresh transfer report.

Who is Wolves target Mateo Retegui?

The 24-year-old is currently plying his trade at Primera Division side Tigre, joining on loan from Boca in February 2022 and doing superbly there to date. He has scored 35 goals in just 67 appearances for the Argentinian club, also registering four assists for good measure, proving to be a fantastic temporary signing.

At international level, Retegui has also scored twice in three caps for Italy, which represents a promising start to life for his country, and he is at an age where he should only continue to improve in the years that pass.

The attacker's current Boca deal expires at the end of next year, meaning there could be a point where they are willing to sell him permanently in order to receive good money for his signature and avoid the risk of losing him for a cheaper amount further down the line.

Wolves are looking to make more key signings this summer in order to improve on last season's fairly tepid effort, with more attacking quality needed following a campaign that saw them score just 31 times in their 38 Premier League matches. That's where Retegui comes into play, with a move to Molineux potentially on the cards, according to a fresh claim.

Could Wolves sign Mateo Retegui?

According to Ole [via Sport Witness], Wolves are in the race to sign the Italian, even though Genoa thought they had "everything agreed" regarding a move. It is claimed that Wanderers have tabled a €16.2m (£14m) bid for the Boca man, and it is a "matter of filing details", in terms of getting a deal over the line.

It could be that Genoa are the favourites to sign Retegui due to it aiding his international chances more if he is playing in his homeland, but a switch to Molineux is certainly a possibility. The report from Friday evening even stated that he will travel to Europe in the "next few hours" in order to sort out his future.

It could be that Retegui is something of an unknown quantity to many considering he isn't currently plying his trade in Europe, but he has the ability to become a great signing for Wolves, coming in as someone who would immediately bolster their attack.

He has been lauded as "very calm and composed" by Freiburg's Vincenzo Grifo, who added that he is "very concentrated".

His aforementioned goalscoring record for Tigre shows what a potent attacking player he is, and considering he is still only 24, Wolves would be getting someone who could be a massive part of their success for a number of years rather than come in as a quick fix, as was the hope with Diego Costa, for example.

Genoa are clearly pushing hard to sign Retegui as well, though, so it won't be easy for Wanderers to get their man, with Julen Lopetegui hopefully using his experience and reputation as a top manager to give them the edge over his capture.

Ajinkya Rahane’s third ODI century and Kuldeep Yadav’s 3 for 50 helped India thrash West Indies by 105 runs in the second ODI in Port of Spain and take a 1-0 lead in the five-match series

The Report by Sidharth Monga25-Jun-2017
Scorecard and ball-by-ball details
Fifty overs. Forty-three overs. It doesn’t quite matter. India are a bot designed to score 300 and not too many more when batting first, which proved to be more than enough against the inexperienced West Indies batting. No team has scored as many 300s as India – 96 – and it was fitting that they took the lead by seamlessly recalibrating their approach in a rain-curtailed ODI.Ajinkya Rahane got to his third ODI century – the period approaching his hundred was the only slow spell in India’s innings, Shikhar Dhawan’s run continued with yet another half-century, and Virat Kohli knocked off an effortless 87 off 66. Shai Hope delayed the inevitable West Indies defeat with a fine 81, but once they had lost two wickets before the first run had been scored off a bat, further rain was their only ally. It was not to be.Early morning rain had left the pitch damp and the atmosphere heavy, ideal bowling conditions that prompted the hosts to invite India to bat. The conditions eventually didn’t turn out to be as treacherous as expected, but it didn’t help that West Indies’ new-ball bowlers never got their length right. They were either too short or too full, getting cut and pulled or driven with ease. There was also more intent from the India openers, who as a partnership have the best average among all pairs who have added at least 1500 runs together. Rahane got going with an upper-cut for a six, and Dhawan loved the driving practice given to him, off-driving Jason Holder for successive boundaries before pulling him for one more in the eighth over. India’s 63 in the first 10 overs was about 14 more than what has been their average since the 2015 World Cup.The busy scoring continued, especially given that Devendra Bishoo, who bowled well in the first match, struggled with his length. In Bishoo’s third over, Rahane picked up two boundaries to get into the 40s. He lost Dhawan immediately after, stumped off the offspin of Ashley Nurse for 63 off 59, but took over the dominant role as Kohli settled down. As in the first match, this was atypical of Rahane, who usually slows down after a quick start against the hard new ball. Here, as on Friday, he accelerated gradually after a sedate start.From 36 off 45, Rahane scored the next 50 runs in 40 balls, but slowed down near the hundred. The nerves were understandable. Here is a Test shoo-in who has struggled to cement a place in ODIs because he has failed to convert those quick starts on a regular basis. With KL Rahul nearing fitness, this chance, which has come through the rest given to Rohit Sharma, could be his last. You can understand Rahane wanted to grab it. He risked a run-out, he edged a cut, and the next 11 runs took 16 balls. He then laced a cover drive to bring up the hundred, but fell immediately after, looking to slog.Kohli, though, didn’t let the wickets slow India down. His acceleration was dramatic. He scored his final 50 runs in 25 balls. You could see he was struggling physically because of the high humidity, which is perhaps why there was an extra effort to set that solid base and concentrate on the swing of the bat and not the power. He didn’t over-hit any of his four sixes, but hit them so clean that he didn’t need to look up to see where they went. In the end, that lack of power did him in when he lofted an Alzarri Joseph slower ball to long-on in the penultimate over of the innings.If there were any doubts about India getting the 300, Holder put paid to them by bowling three beamers and a foot-fault no-ball in his last two overs. The extra deliveries and runs took India over, making it 99 runs in the last nine overs. The next 99 runs would take more than half the length of West Indies’ innings, and three wickets to boot.Bhuvneshwar Kumar started off bowling in areas where batsmen’s mistakes hurt them, taking two wickets in his first two overs. In the fourth over, Hope steered Umesh Yadav to score the first run off the bat. By the time he hit the first boundary of the innings, in the sixth over, the asking rate had crossed eight.Hope showed the promise he carries with a composed innings, but he alone was never going to be able to make up for the disastrous and a struggling Evin Lewis at the other end. One of the final acts of the match belonged to a man bowling for the first time in ODIs: Kuldeep Yadav had Lewis stumped off a wrong’un, and Hope lbw on the sweep moments after the batsman had hit him for a six over long-off. He later came back to have Holder stumped off another wrong’un to stamp out the last bit of resistance.

Arsenal could be set to hijack the pursuit of a Premier League rival, and in turn, massively bolster their own attacking ranks.

Who are Arsenal signing this summer?

Despite Aston Villa's continued efforts to tempt Moussa Diaby to join Unai Emery, recent claims have surfaced that now link the Gunners with a potential swoop.

Having finally announced deals for Declan Rice and Jurrien Timber over the weekend, to supplement the earlier signing of Kai Havertz, an exciting age is now being ushered into north London by Mikel Arteta. Should he now capture this French speedster too, it poses a true threat for the rest of the Premier League.

Speaking to GIVEMESPORT, writer Christian Falk has since noted: "Arsenal have been focusing on him since a month ago, perhaps even a year. Newcastle also, so they for me at the moment, are the two clubs, which are really, really hot.

"Aston Villa would be so interesting for him at the moment, and it's a chance to show the Premier League what he can do. Diaby’s club have now signed Jonas Hoffman, a German national team player, and he’s playing in his position.

"So you see that now they know that Diaby will leave, they want to sell him to get money from this transfer. So I think this is also a player who is getting hot in the next weeks.”

What positions can Moussa Diaby play?

The 24-year-old would arrive as an ideal asset to integrate into this Gunners squad, given his billing as a highly versatile winger who can play on both flanks, up front and even drop into attacking midfield.

However, it is much more than just this ability to cover multiple roles that make him such an exciting and well-admired prospect.

Last season for Bayer Leverkusen he would record 14 goals and assist a further 11 across all competitions, matching Bukayo Saka's league tally for that campaign too. Given how celebrated the England international has been, these are impressive figures for a man featuring in a side that only finished sixth in the Bundesliga.

Such a stellar season could often be written off as a fluke though, had he not posted an even more impressive 31 goal contributions the year before that. His rapid development into one of Europe's most sought-after wide men has been meteoric, with a move to north London sure to compound that elevation.

Journalist Aaron Stokes emphasised this superiority as he willed the Magpies to make a move, writing on Twitter: "31 G/A in 42 games last season, electrifying pace, good with both feet + fearless on the ball. A remarkable deal if they persuade Bayer to sell + the player to join."

For the reported £50m that the German club will demand, this surely marks a no-brainer for Arteta, especially given that the two have already completed one deal this summer by allowing Granit Xhaka to join Xabi Alonso's side.

Whilst the Swiss international endured a turbulent period at the Emirates, in the end, he came good to actually become something of a fan favourite. His 14 goal contributions in his final league season went a long way towards repairing any fractures that remained after his 2019 dispute, as he turned around a career that at times seemed lost.

Having brought him in from the Bundesliga in 2016 on a £30m deal, in a move that can now be described as a masterclass given how instrumental he has been throughout Arteta's steady revolution, a swoop for Diaby from this same division could see this replicated as they once again seek to strike up a deal with Leverkusen.

Rangers are set for phase two of their transfer window in the coming weeks according to Dean Jones.

The Glasgow side have made seven signings so far this window, and their window is far from finished according to the journalist.

Who have Rangers signed so far?

Rangers have aimed to strengthen their squad this window with seven new arrivals at Ibrox.

Three forwards joined this summer, with Cyriel Dessers joining from Serie B outfit Cremonense on a four-year deal for a fee reported to be £4.5m. The Nigerian forward is joined by former Atalanta striker Sam Lammers, with the 26-year-old signing for the club for around £3m. Abdallah Sima was the final frontline addition this summer for Rangers, signing on a season-long loan from Premier League high-flyers Brighton and Hove Albion.

The Scottish league side also added four free transfers, with Kieran Dowell joining from Norwich, Jack Butland joining from Crystal Palace, Dujon Sterling moving from Chelsea and Leon Balogun returning to the club on a free transfer following the expiration of his Queens Park Rangers contract.

The club have lost some key names however, with Ryan Kent, Alfredo Morelos, Scott Arfield, Allan McGregor and Filip Helander all departing on free transfers this summer. It's a big overhaul in the Rangers side, with all five of those players who left having been major pieces to the club's most recent title win, where the side also went invincible, under former manager Steven Gerrard back in the 2020/21 season.

The Gers have been linked with further additions ahead of this season as Michael Beale attempts to close the gap on Celtic, with Nottingham Forest centre-back reportedly close to completing a move to Ibrox, whilst the club could once again move for Feyenoord target Danilo after they had their first offer rejected weeks ago. LAFC midfielder Jose Cifuentes has also been linked with a move to the club.

According to transfer insider Jones, before Rangers can make any more signings, they have to "trim the squad".

What has Dean Jones said about Rangers?

When asked about what the rest of Rangers window will hold, Jones told FootballFanCast that the club have to "trim the squad" but there is a "second phase coming" to this window:

"They're also having to implement a bit of an exit strategy for players in the next couple of weeks in order to trim the squad and then be able to improve it. I think Michael Beale will be very satisfied so far with what's been done, but there will be a second phase coming."

What players will leave Rangers?

A number of players will have to leave the club in order to reduce the size of the squad which sits at a bloated 36.

One player who looks set to depart this summer is Glen Kamara. The Finland international has reportedly "demanded" a transfer from the club this summer with interest from Turkish side Besiktas, and has not traveled to the side's current pre-season training camp. Manager Beale previously said that a fee in the region of £5m would be enough to secure the services of the midfielder who was a regular under previous managers.

According to another report from the Daily Record, three more players could follow Kamara out of Ibrox, with Ianis Hagi, Ben Davies, and Borna Barisic all available should Rangers receive a good fee. Barisic in particular could be let go of should the player and club fail to agree on new terms if the club hope to make any money on the 31-year-old fullback who was integral to the successful Rangers sides of the previous seasons.

It remains to be seen who will leave the Gers to fund the second phase of this transfer window, but fans should be excited as the club seem to mean business this summer.

Fulham have now agreed personal terms with Chelsea winger Callum Hudson-Odoi, who has given them the green light to complete a move this summer, according to a report from The Evening Standard.

Is Callum Hudson-Odoi leaving Chelsea?

There are a number of clubs vying for Hudson-Odoi's signature this summer, with the winger deemed likely to leave the Blues, including AC Milan and Nottingham Forest, who have both registered their interest.

Forest were initially confident about being able to complete a deal for the Chelsea ace, but they have now dropped out of the race for his signature, due to concerns over the asking price.

That is according to a report from The Evening Standard, which also credits Crystal Palace with an interest in the 22-year-old, however the Eagles have also been priced out of the race.

The three-time England international's huge wages have been causing complications in talks with several of the interested parties.

Chelsea have also been trying to drive up the price for the £120k-per-week earner, having invited Lazio into the race to provide competition, and the Italian side are currently weighing up a loan deal, which would include an obligation to buy.

Despite having their opening bid for the Cobham academy graduate rejected last week, Fulham still retain an interest, and they have now made some progress on the player's side of things, having reached an agreement on personal terms.

The Englishman has given the green light for the Cottagers to complete a move this summer, as he is keen to leave Chelsea as soon as possible, having been stuck training with the Under-21s for the past three weeks.

The last barrier for Marco Silva's side to overcome is the transfer fee, and they appear to be at the most advanced stage of the interested parties.

How good is Callum Hudson-Odoi?

Despite being lauded as "amazingly talented" by football scout Jacek Kulig, the starlet has never been able to establish himself as a key player for Chelsea, being sent out on loan to Bayer Leverkusen during the 2022-23 campaign.

In truth, the London-born forward also struggled in the Bundesliga, recording just one goal in 21 appearances in all competitions, however he still has time on his side, and he could be able to fulfill his lofty potential if he picks his next move wisely.

A switch to Fulham, where he would be likely to receive more game time, could be ideal for the want-away Chelsea winger, who former teammate Olivier Giroud believes can go on to become a "top player".

Cesc Fabregas has also been full of praise for the youngster in the past, saying: "He is a boy who is full of confidence. I remember his first training session and his finishing was superb. I thought "I have never seen this kid before but actually he has something about him." It was very early but you could see that he had a lot of potential."

Fulham should not be held to ransom by Chelsea, as his performances over the past couple of seasons do not justify a huge outlay, but Hudson-Odoi could be a quality addition to Silva's squad.

It is very possible that Everton will look to sign a new midfielder in the summer transfer window, according to a key update from journalist Alan Myers.

Are Everton looking for new signings?

The Blues endured another disappointing season in the Premier League last time around, having gone into the campaign with an element of hope that a positive year could be enjoyed.

Instead, Everton had to wait until the final day to secure their safety, with their 1-0 victory over Bournemouth keeping them in the top flight and preventing what would have been a damaging relegation to the Championship.

It is now imperative that a repeat of the last two seasons doesn't happen, however, with Sean Dyche and his players needing to find a new level in 2023/24, ahead of a move to their new ground in the near future.

For that to happen, it is clear that new signings need to come in, bringing a freshness to proceedings, and most importantly, adding more quality and depth to Dyche's squad. It looks likely that Atalanta will beat them to the signing of primary attacking target El Bilal Toure, which is a blow, but other areas of the pitch also need to be focused on.

There have already been players brought in, though. Ashley Young was the first to join, signing on a free transfer after leaving Aston Villa, and he has since been followed by Arnaut Danjuma, who has made the move to Merseyside on loan from Villarreal.

Another new face, this time in the middle of the park, could also be on the cards.

Will Everton sign a new midfielder?

When asked by a fan on Twitter whether Everton would bring in a new midfielder this summer, Sky Sports reporter Myers responded with a simple but promising two-word response regarding the situation:

"Very possibly."

While no specific player is mentioned in the report, it is encouraging to hear that a midfielder could arrive at Goodison soon, hopefully in time for the start of the Premier League season, with Everton entertaining Fulham in their opening game on August 12th.

Chelsea and England midfielder Conor Gallagher has been linked with a move to Merseyside and he could be an ideal option, although he isn't without suitors, with West Ham thought to be in the running to snap him up, having tabled a £40m offer for his services.

The 23-year-old is renowned for his energy levels and would provide a fresh impetus in the middle of the park, not to mention an eye for goal, having scored eight league goals on loan at Crystal Palace in 2021/22.

Whoever ends up coming in – you could argue he needs to be the right age and profile for Dyche, arriving as a key man from the off and providing strong competition for the likes of Amadou Onana, Idrissa Gueye and Alex Iwobi.

These next few weeks really could decide how Everton will cope and potentially even finish in the league in 2023/24, and if key additions don't come in across several different positions – centre-back, midfielder and centre-forward all stand out – there is the definite risk of yet another painful relegation battle, but it looks as if a new midfielder could be one to watch.