In a frantic start to the summer transfer window, Aston Villa have now reportedly made their first move to sign a future star for Unai Emery having just confirmed the arrival of Ian Maatsen.
Aston Villa transfer news
The Villans were among the clubs who needed to sell players before the end of June to comply with the Premier League's profit and sustainability rules. As a result, academy prospects Tim Iroegbunam and Omari Kellyman completed moves away to Everton and Chelsea respectively, whilst Emery's squad is set to suffer its biggest blow yet through the pending exit of Douglas Luiz to Juventus.
Aston Villa forward Omari Kellyman.
However, their focus on sales has not stopped Aston Villa from welcoming incomings, with Samuel Iling-Junior and Enzo Barrenechea included in the reported Luiz deal and the arrival of Maatsen officially announced in a deal reportedly worth £35m.
Continuing their frantic start to the summer, those in the Midlands have wasted no time admiring their new arrival. Instead, reports suggest that they've turned their attention towards another fresh face before the start of next season.
According to Abdel Hamad (via Sport Witness), Aston Villa have now made a €5m (£4m) offer to sign Mathis Lambourde from Rennes this summer. The 18-year-old reportedly attracted interest from the Villans at the end of last month and is now at the centre of a first offer in a swift development. Given his potential and current talent, it remains to be seen whether Rennes accept such an offer, but there's no doubt that Lambourde would be an ideal arrival at Villa Park.
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The Villans have been presented with an offer.
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Setting their sights on the future, Villa would be wise to invest in a player considered to be one of Rennes' best young prospects.
"Fantastic" Lambourde is one for the future
Still just 18 years old, Lambourde is certainly one for the future and is unlikely to be in Emery's immediate plans if he completes a move to Villa Park this summer.
That said, the young forward, who can also play on either wing, may well follow the same path as the likes of Jacob Ramsey and even Jack Grealish in years to come with patience. If the praise of Football Talent Scout's Jacek Kulig is anything to go by, where they dubbed the forward a "fantastic prospect", he's certainly capable of following in such footsteps.
Scoring four goals for Rennes' youth side last season whilst also featuring for the first team, Lambourde could make his biggest career step yet this summer in a move that would see him work alongside one of the best forwards that the Premier League has to offer in Ollie Watkins. Perhaps a future partner for the England international, the teenager would only improve under his tutelage.
Tamim Iqbal says he will have to have “out of the box” plans for Fortune Barishal to do well in the forthcoming Bangabandhu T20 Cup. Head coach Sohel Islam and manager Hasibul Hossain, who were at Barishal’s table during last week’s players draft, started off well by picking Iqbal with their first call but then went on to take a lot of young cricketers who lack T20 credentials.As a result, Barishal, who take on the tournament favourites Gemcon Khulna on November 24, look the weakest as of now. They don’t have enough forceful middle-order batsmen and allrounders; Irfan Sukkur and young Towhid Hridoy have to take care of the middle-order while offspinner Mehidy Hasan Miraz and young legspinner Aminul Islam make up a long-ish tail.Iqbal said they didn’t have a good players’ draft but hoped some of the youngsters will step up in the tournament.”There’s no doubt we have made some mistakes in the draft but cricket is a game of uncertainty,” he said. “Maybe we are not counting some of the players in this team but they can all have a great tournament. Those who are not in the limelight may have to end up doing more for this team. In the President’s Cup, we ended up talking about a couple of players we didn’t think would do well.”To be successful with this squad, we have to play out of the box, by surprising the opponent. It will be difficult to win by playing normal cricket with set plans, because of the resources we have. I believe that anything can happen if one or two of our players can perform really well.”Iqbal, who recently played in the PSL playoffs for the Lahore Qalandars, hinted that he may even have to bat down the order to plug the gaps in the Barishal line-up.”My performance is going to be very important,” he said. “If I lead from the front, if you leave aside my captaincy and I just score runs, it will definitely motivate the team. I may have to play different roles in the tournament. As I said, depending on resources, you have to think differently and act according to the situation.”I am in good touch. I would like to score some more runs. We may not have played a lot of cricket but many of us have been in regular training over the last six months. It is going to be important to start the tournament well. It will give me confidence.”Given the lop-sided experience within the squad, Iqbal said he was relying on the likes of Sukkur, Towhid and Afif Hossain. But at the same time, he is also expecting others to take responsibility.”Irfan had a very good tournament. I am waiting to see how Towhid Hridoy performs in the T20 format but he is a quality player. Afif, Irfan and Towhid will have to play out of their skins. They have to take responsibility, like all the others in the team, to make this a success.”We don’t have any seniors or juniors in this team. I am the only experienced player in the team, but to make it a successful team, everyone has to take responsibility. It doesn’t matter if I have played for 13 years or they have been playing for two years.”
Glasgow Rangers recently confirmed that a number of current first-team players are due to leave on free transfers when their contracts expire this year.
The Light Blues announced that Ryan Jack, John Lundstram, Kemar Roofe, Jon McLaughlin, and Borna Barisic will all be moving on from Ibrox before the start of the 2024/25 campaign.
This leaves Nils Koppen and Philippe Clement in need of reinforcements during the upcoming summer transfer window to fill the gaps within the squad.
However, the Gers could already have an exciting replacement for Roofe already in the squad in the form of Brazilian ace Danilo, whose debut year in Glasgow has been plagued by injury.
Kemar Roofe's Rangers season in numbers
The former Anderlecht ace, who ends his Rangers career with 38 goals in 102 matches, only managed two goals in 24 appearances in all competitions for the club this season.
He also missed 12 games through injury and his fitness issues were a reoccurring problem for him throughout his time at Ibrox, which made him an unreliable player for the Scottish giants.
2023/24
1
65
12
2022/23
1
220
35
2021/22
3
222
35
2020/21
64
3
14
As you can see in the table above, Roofe consistently failed to remain available for a significant period of time across his four years in Glasgow.
His struggles in front of goal this term, with two strikes in 24, mean that allowing him to leave on a free transfer appears to be a good decision on paper, as he has been unreliable on and off the pitch.
Instead of splashing the cash on a new signing to replace the Jamaica international this summer, Danilo could return from injury to be a dream replacement.
Why Danilo would be an exciting replacement for Kemar Roofe
The centre-forward was signed from Feyenoord and manager Michael Beale hailed him as an "exciting" player who wants to score and create goals for the team.
He suffered a knee injury in December that kept him out for the remainder of the season, missing 32 matches in total, but he had only missed seven games through injury between the 2020/21 and 2022/23 campaigns, which does not suggest injuries will be a long-term concern for him.
Glasgow Rangers striker Danilo.
When fit, however, the Brazilian ace showcased his quality with a return of six goals and five assists in 21 appearances in all competitions, a significantly better return than Roofe's two goals in 24 outings.
The 5 foot 9 marksman, who was hailed as "bright" by Clement, produced four goals and one assist in 12 outings in the Scottish Premiership, despite starting just five of those games.
That came after the 25-year-old ace plundered ten goals and three assists in 14 starts and 34 appearances in the Eredivisie for Feyenoord during the 2022/23 campaign.
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These statistics show that the potential is there for Danilo to be a huge threat for the Gers at the top end of the pitch, as a scorer and a creator, but his unfortunate knee injury meant that he did not get to show it much this term.
Next season, though, could be his time to shine as Roofe's replacement when he returns from injury, as the Brazilian ace could emerge as a key player for Clement.
Arsenal have been warned by Gary Neville that they risk being a forgotten team if they fail to win the Premier League or Champions League.
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Arsenal finished second to Man CityLooking to win Premier League this seasonTold they need 'statement win' against championsWHAT HAPPENED?
After surrendering a lead at the top of the Premier League table to finish second behind Manchester City for the second year in a row last season, Arsenal are aiming to end the dominance of Pep Guardiola's side this time around.
AdvertisementGetty ImagesTHE BIGGER PICTURE
Despite the strength of Mikel Arteta's team, ex-Manchester United star Neville says failure to land a major trophy will see them consigned to "nearly men", as he challenged them to earn a "statement win" against City on Sunday.
WHAT NEVILLE SAID
"If this superb Arsenal team doesn’t win the Premier League or the Champions League then they can forget about going down in history. That’s harsh but the reality of elite sport," he wrote in newsletter for . "No one will fondly recall the magnificence of William Saliba and Gabriel at the back, the brilliance of Martin Odegaard and Declan Rice, David Raya’s extraordinary saves or the incision of Bukayo Saka up front. There will be no Netflix documentaries. They will never be feted or admired. They will be dismissed as nearly men."
Neville added: "History is unforgiving of those who fall just short. And that’s why, for all the excellent work they’ve done in the past two years, there is still a step to take. We’re too early in the season to describe Sunday’s clash with Manchester City at the Etihad as a title decider. Yet Arsenal need a statement win because they need to damage Manchester City and to demonstrate to themselves that they are the team of the moment."
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Getty Images SportWHAT NEXT FOR ARSENAL?
The Gunners sit two points behind reigning champions City after four Premier League games, with the two teams going head-to-head at Etihad Stadium on Sunday.
Wicketkeeper’s selflessness is admirable quality, but he needs a score in third Test
George Dobell at Emirates Old Trafford23-Jul-2020Jos Buttler remains a “vital” member of the England team, according to his captain, Joe Root, and the national selector, Ed Smith.Buttler’s position has started to come under scrutiny after a year in which he has averaged 21.26 from 12 Tests. But both Root and Smith have defended Buttler’s longer-term record and insisted he contributes more to the team than is represented on the scorecard.”Jos was recalled to the side 27 Tests ago in May 2018,” Smith said. “Jos averages about 31 in that period and has contributed to a lot of wins with his own personal contributions.”Then, of course, there’s the team’s form. The team has, in that time, won 16 games, lost nine and had a couple of draws. The 27 Tests preceding that, exactly the same period of time, England had won 10, lost 14 and drawn 3. In the 27 Tests preceding that, exactly the same period of time, England won 10 [actually nine], lost 14 and drew three 3 [actually four].”So I suppose part of what we’re trying to do in selection is based around the team winning. Every player who has played in this period, even though there have been a number of players who haven’t performed as well as they would have wanted personally, have contributed to that good form as a team.”While Buttler has actually played in 15 winning teams in that period – he missed the Lord’s Test against Ireland – there is no doubt he remains highly respected within the England squad. And Root used the example of the second Test of this series to demonstrate the selfless cricket which so endears Buttler to his team-mates and which is not accurately represented by his career statistics.Twice at Emirates Old Trafford Buttler was required to accelerate the scoring: once, in the first innings, when he was left with the tail and eventually succumbed to a catch on the midwicket boundary and once, in the second innings, when he was promoted to open as England attempted to set-up a declaration. He fell for a duck in the first over after edging an expansive drive onto his stumps.ALSO READ: Root backs Archer to put isolation troubles behind him”If you look at the last game, both times he was left in a situation where he basically gave his wicket up for the good of the group,” Root said. “That’s the sort of player he is and how he goes about his cricket. That’s why he’s so vital to our team: because he’s willing to play in a manner that suits the situation that we need from him at any given point.”It must have been quite hard for him. In the first innings, he got himself in a position where he felt good and he was playing some good cricket. Then we lost a couple of wickets at the other end and he had to get on with it. I thought he could easily have got 70-odd not out and he’s in a different place, feeling on top of the world with his batting again.”In both first innings in this series, he has looked one of our better players in many ways. That’s the thing he’s got to try to look at. I feel a score is just around the corner for him.”There was, however, a first hint from Smith that England do have other options for the position. And while nobody in the team management will suggest Buttler is now playing for his place – “I would never frame things in that way,” Smith said, “as I don’t think that’s a good message for any player” – it does appear time may be running out for him. Another failure in this Test could well see Ben Foakes recalled for the Pakistan series.”What we like to have as a selection panel is depth across every position and that applies to wicketkeeper batting as much as anywhere else,” Smith said. “In the wicketkeeping position and middle-order batting we do have depth. That’s clear.”
The post-Behalter era means new opportunities, so which U.S. players would benefit most from a Pochettino hire?
When a new coach comes into a locker room, change is inevitable. Right or wrong, each coach has his own approach and, when that new voice enters the room, players must adjust.
The style and strategy that the members of the U.S. men's national team were used to under former coach Gregg Berhalter? That's all gone now. There will be a proverbial new sheriff in town.
Enter Mauricio Pochettino?
The ex-Tottenham, PSG and Chelsea boss is expected to be named USMNT manager, reported more than three weeks ago to have agreed to terms to take over the national team. Though nothing officially has been announced, all signs point to a Pochettino arrival, and should that happen, he'll need to get right to work.
Over the coming weeks and months, Pochettino would presumably assess everything having to do with the USMNT, top to bottom. From the player pool to tactics to schedules, it's all in the hands of a new decision-maker.
For some, that could prove to be challenging, as they'll need to adjust to a new way of doing business. For others, the change at the top could unlock the opportunity they've been waiting for.
There are players on the U.S. squad that would stand to benefit from a Pochettino hire, afforded chances they weren't under Berhalter. To that end, GOAL looks at which USMNT players are best positioned to benefit from a change in coaches.
Getty ImagesAuston Trusty
The centerback race is arguably the most competitive one in the USMNT player pool. There are at least six players that legitimately have an argument to start. Obviously, there's only so much room for that position on a roster, though, and, all too often, Auston Trusty found himself on the outside looking in.
As a result, Trusty would have plenty to gain with Pochettino in charge. He may have been No. 6 or No. 7 under Berhalter, but that's all wiped clean. Trusty may not leapfrog all those in front of him, but he surely has a better chance to do so now that there's a new set of eyes assessing the centerback options. That process has already begun, too, with Trusty called into the September squad.
It'll be up to Trusty to prove he deserves that spot. He'll have to put in consistent performances to do so. The door is open more than it was just a few months ago.
AdvertisementGettyCameron Carter-Vickers
Unlike Trusty, Carter-Vickers has been a part of that centerback group. He was in the squad at both the Copa America and the 2022 World Cup, but has never been a consistent starter. Could that change under Pochettino? Perhaps, particularly when you factor in their prior relationship.
Carter-Vickers never quite broke through at Tottenham, but he was around the squad during Pochettino's time in charge of Spurs. Pochettino was a real believer in the American's potential, even if it ultimately showed itself for Celtic and not Tottenham. At one point, Pochettino backed Carter-Vickers to be one of the best centerbacks in England. That's high praise.
Now 26, the defender is inching towards his prime. With Pochettino in charge, that potential could be accelerated, and he could prove an important piece of this USMNT puzzle.
GettyFolarin Balogun
In some ways, Balogun could be a loser in all of this. He's the USMNT's incumbent No. 9, so there's always a risk that others could overtake him. Realistically, though, it seems he'll be a better fit under Pochettino than he ever was under Berhalter.
Berhalter's system never called for a get-in-behind striker. The system generally worked through the wings, asking those out wide to do much of the lifting creatively. Under Berhalter, the U.S. aspired to be a possession team in ways that prior USMNT groups weren't.
That never quite fit with Balogun's skillset. He's at his most dangerous when running in behind, and he's offered glimpses of that since making his USMNT commitment last year. Occasional flashes aren't enough, though. He needs to be more consistently dangerous.
Pochettino has gotten plenty out of star No. 9s in the past. Harry Kane might be the best of this generation, and he became that under Pochettino's watchful eye. Balogun would be Pochettino's most interesting attacking weapon, and it'll be interesting to see how he could potentially utilize him.
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GettyJohnny Cardoso
For the several years, the USMNT has been built around the so-called "MMA" midfield of Weston McKennie, Yunus Musah and Tyler Adams. In the last year or so, the MMA has added an R for Gio Reyna, who has started as a No. 10. There's been no C for Johnny Cardoso, however, as he's been left as a backup with this group.
Given what he's produced at Real Betis, that could end up changing. Pochettino will have no nostalgic attachment to the MMA group, even if it could remain going forward. Musah is off to a strong start this season, but McKennie hasn't played and Adams has essentially missed the last year and a half with injury issues. Forget this current camp. Even beyond that, the midfield isn't set in stone anymore.
Cardoso is playing regularly in La Liga, a league that Pochettino knows well as a player and a coach. He'll no doubt take a closer look at Cardoso, who could finally get his long-awaited chance to earn a starting spot with the U.S.
The fast bowler accepts reduced pay appears likely as the impact of the coronavirus pandemic hits Australian cricket
Andrew McGlashan20-Apr-2020Josh Hazlewood has indicated Australia’s players want full transparency from Cricket Australia in order to better understand the governing body’s coronavirus cash crisis before taking pay cuts as their part of the bargain to keep the game afloat.Hazlewood admitted he was as surprised as anyone last week when CA made the shock announcement that it was standing down the majority of its staff on 20% pay until the end of the financial year on June 30. National head coaches Justin Langer and Matthew Mott are among those who have effectively become part-time for the next two months after the board took drastic action amid fears of running out of cash, despite having been confident of weathering the worst of the pandemic a matter of weeks ago.CA’s chief executive Kevin Roberts is expected to update the governing body’s staff as to the state of play and next steps on Tuesday afternoon after cancelling a previous video conference window for Monday, amid questions from the state associations and the Australian Cricketers Association (ACA) about the game’s finances and the board’s suggested remedies.ALSO READ: States ask Cricket Australia to open financial booksThe deadline for player central contracts had already been pushed back to April 30 and that remains the time frame being worked to. The value of the contracts is based on a fixed revenue share model which the players fought to maintain during the acrimonious pay talks in 2017 between Cricket Australia and the ACA so they are preparing to shoulder the burden of a slump in CA money.”We’re obviously partners in the game and we’ve always said that. We’ve ridden the highs, now is the time to ride the lows a little bit,” Hazlewood said. “We’ll see where it comes to and obviously play our part. “As long as they show a lot of transparency on all the numbers, all the players will be pretty happy with that. So as long as there’s good communication between ACA and CA shown there to see exactly where we’re situated at the moment and moving forward.””It probably took me a little bit by surprise. Just due to the fact this pandemic has probably happened at a perfect time for Cricket Australia compared to the footy codes that are really in some trouble heading into their seasons. But there’s going to be some impacts no doubt. We’re no different to any other sport. If it leads into next summer it could be quite serious, so we’re playing it by ear at the moment and we’ll see where we end up.”Hazlewood was not one of the players contacted directly by Roberts last week when the financial concerns became clear, but he said he was content for the ACA to take a lead in the situation.”I think the relationship between the ACA and CA is a lot better now. It’s developed a long way in the last 18 months or two years so that will go a long way towards having this episode [play out] a lot better than last time. It’s all positive from our end. And from both ends. So hopefully it’s a lot better communication and I think we’ll see that in the coming weeks and months.”However Hazlewood, who admitted he had drawn himself up a budget to help manage his situation over the coming months, acknowledged circumstances would differ greatly between players.”People are at different stages of their career, different stages financially. It’s going to be different for everyone at different levels – whether they’re playing for Australia, been playing for 10 years or it’s their first year, or in their state teams or in a BBL franchise. It’s a lot different for everyone and it’s going to affect some people more harshly than others.”Obviously you think about it, take precautions, we’re no different to anybody else. I’ve started being on a budget and things like that but it’s each individual, they’re in different positions.”
Pakistan are the world’s No. 1 T20I team, but they are just a defeat away from being dislodged from the top of the rankings. They presently have 270 points, just one more than Australia at No. 2.Anything other than a 3-0 win in the upcoming T20I series over Bangladesh – even a 2-1 win – will see Pakistan slip below Australia. Bangladesh, meanwhile, are at No. 9 with 227 rating points.”We are focused on continuing our world No. 1 ranking and that can happen only if we ultimately win the series,” Babar Azam, Pakistan’s T20I captain, said during a pre-series press conference. “When you think that you have to retain your position and it comes to a do-or-die match then we have to plan accordingly. Our aim is to win the series. No team can be taken lightly nowadays, but we are positive and will try to play good cricket. Overall we have made very good preparations – we played four [practice] matches and the team has gelled and we hope we will give you good results.”Pakistan have held on to the top spot since January 2018, but they haven’t won a T20I for nearly a year, with their last win coming in February 2019 against South Africa. They lost eight of their nine completed games in the format last year.They still hold the No. 1 ranking because of their remarkable record in the time before this recent string of poor results: between January and November 2018, they won 17 out of their 18 T20Is. Veterans Mohammad Hafeez and Shoaib Malik were both part of Pakistan’s team when they went on that winning run, and they are both back in the side now, on the insistence of Babar and Misbah-ul-Haq, Pakistan’s coach-cum-selector, even if there was no consensus among the six regional selectors on the issue.”If you look back to when we became number one, they were part of the squad throughout, so I am happy my opinion was considered,” Babar said. “As a captain it will be a great help with seniors around me and I get to learn a lot.”Babar hinted that the prospects of Hafeez and Malik beyond the Bangladesh series would depend solely on their performance. “We will give them a proper chance,” he said. “We expect them to perform. We will give them all three games and there will be the PSL after that, so with time the picture will be clear and then we will see. We made changes in the team because we had to, since players who were not in form had to be replaced.”All three matches of the T20I series will be day games. The previous nine T20Is at the Gaddafi Stadium were all night games, with Pakistan winning five and losing four. The highest total at the venue is 197, while the lowest is 101.”In my point of view it looks like a 180-190 wicket,” Babar said, when asked about conditions for the first T20I on Friday. “Batting is our strength and the depth goes until No. 9, with Imad [Wasim] and Shadab [Khan] capable of giving us power hitting later in the innings. But our bowling is equally good, with Shaheen [Shah Afridi] making a comeback, and Haris [Rauf], whom we have seen doing great in the Big Bash League. There’s no such pressure from what happened in the past. We can’t do anything about it. But yes, we won’t repeat the mistakes, and we will play according to our strengths.”
Zimbabwe are in such flux that Sri Lanka go into the series as favourites, despite consistency issues in both departments
The Preview by Andrew Fidel Fernando18-Jan-2020Big PictureThe last time these two teams met, Zimbabwe gave Sri Lanka an almighty scare. Craig Ervine and Sikandar Raza struck hundreds, captain Graeme Cremer took nine wickets, and Sri Lanka were made to chase 388 for victory at Khettarama. Had a very tight stumping decision gone Zimbabwe’s way in the back end of that chase, the visitors would have been headed towards an upset. Earlier on that tour, Zimbabwe had won the ODI series.It’s been only a little over two years since those series, but how much has changed. The optimism that Zimbabwe ended that tour with has not just dissipated in the time since, it has been replaced by gloom. Having been suspended from full-member rights for a large chunk of 2019, Zimbabwe Cricket has had to put a domestic tournament on hold, pending further funding from the ICC.On the player front, Cremer is not even in the team, having put his career on hold to move to Dubai with his family, while Hamilton Masakadza has retired and swiftly become Zimbabwe’s director of cricket. PJ Moor – one of the best players from that Khettarama game – has been overlooked for the squad as well. In fact, where that old Zimbabwe squad had a little experience about it, the one that has been named for this series features five players who are uncapped in Tests.It’s a strange series in which Sri Lanka actually appear to have the more stable outfit. Yes, it is Dimuth Karunaratne leading the Test team now, when it had been Dinesh Chandimal at these teams’ last meeting. But at least Chandimal still finds a place in the XI. Having named their strongest squad, Sri Lanka have serious experience on their side, particularly in Angelo Mathews and Suranga Lakmal, who returns after having missed the entire Pakistan series.The visitors go in as favourites, but they are far from unbeatable. There are huge questions over Dilruwan Perera’s ability to lead the spin attack after he went wicketless in Pakistan. The top order has shown flashes of brilliance, but is in no way a consistent or cohesive unit. There are plenty of cricketers playing for their spot, which of course opens up opportunities for Zimbabwe.Form guideZimbabwe LWLDL (completed matches, most recent first) Sri Lanka LDLWWIn the spotlightThe last time Zimbabwe won a Test, in late 2018, Sean Williams’ first-innings 88 had led them to 282 in Sylhet – a total that proved decisive on that surface, where each of the three other innings fell short of 200. His left-arm spin has also been helpful, such as against West Indies in Bulawayo, the previous year. Now, as he prepares to captain his first Test, he has the likes of Brendan Taylor, Raza and Ervine to call upon for support, but if he can make his own individual mark on the series, it may help a side playing their first Test in over a year rally behind him, and spark a little of that hope they found in their last encounters with Sri Lanka.Sean Williams crunches one through the off side•AFPIn September 2015, Angelo Mathews’ batting average was a touch above 52, and he was easily one of the best players in the world. At the start of 2020, his average is 43.87, the lowest it’s been in at least six years. Injuries have plagued him, yes, but even those can’t quite account for how he is now merely a good player, when once he was headed toward “great” status. Although it seems as if he’s been around forever, Mathews is only 32 – the kind of age at which many batsmen come into their most prolific years. In the last few months, he has also dropped a lot of the weight he carried through the last few years and suddenly seems as fit as he’s ever been. Can Mathews recapture the form of old? With a challenging year ahead, Sri Lanka are desperate for someone to lead the middle order as he once did.Team newsOpener Kevin Kasuza, who has been in decent domestic form for Mountaineers, could be in line for a Test debut. He could be partnered by Rhinos opener Prince Masvaure. Seam bowler Victor Nyauchi is one of several bowlers who could debut, with Tendai Chatara out of the series with a bicep injury. Left-arm spinner Ainsley Ndlovu is uncapped in Tests as well, and could get a run, if Zimbabwe feel they need a specialist spinner in addition to Raza and Williams.Zimbabwe(possible): 1 Kevin Kasuza, 2 Prince Masvaure, 3 Brendan Taylor, 4 Craig Ervine, 5 Sean Williams (capt.), 6 Sikandar Raza, 7 Regis Chakabva (wk), 8 Donald Tiripano, 9 Victor Nyauchi, 10 Kyle Jarvis, 11 Ainsley NdlovuSri Lanka’s top order should be fairly settled – Lahiru Thirimanne the likeliest to sit out. Lahiru Kumara and Lakmal will most likely share the new ball, while Dilruwan and Lasith Embuldeniya will probably be the frontline spin options.Sri Lanka (possible): 1 Dimuth Karunaratne (capt.), 2 Oshada Fernando, 3 Kusal Mendis, 4 Angelo Mathews, 5 Dinesh Chandimal, 6 Dhananjaya de Silva, 7 Niroshan Dickwella (wk), 8 Dilruwan Perera, 9 Suranga Lakmal, 10 Lasith Embuldeniya, 11 Lahiru KumaraPitch and conditionsThere’s rain scheduled for the first half of Saturday, with showers predicted for Monday and Tuesday as well. The Harare Sports Club surface is generally good for batting in the first innings.Stats and trivia Zimbabwe have lost five matches and drawn five at home against Sri Lanka. The most recent of those draws, though, was all the way back in 1999. Their last two matches at the Harare Sports Club against Sri Lanka have ended in 225-run and 257-run defeats. Ervine needs 59 more runs to complete 1000 in Tests. His highest score was the 160 at Khettarama in 2017. Mathews has averaged less than 30 with the bat in three of the last four calendar years.
Aston Villa’s chances of securing a top-four finish in the Premier League took a big hit last weekend as they stumbled to a 4-0 defeat against Tottenham Hotspur.
Having just three days recovery between the clash on Sunday and their Europa Conference League tie against Ajax looked as though it caught up with Unai Emery’s men.
While they were 2-0 down to Spurs, John McGinn got himself sent off with 25 minutes remaining and the north Londoners netted another two in added time to wrap up a convincing victory.
John McGinn
Should Villa prevail against the Dutch giants this Thursday, could fatigue begin to set in and derail their challenge for a Champions League spot?
McGinn’s red card on Sunday means he will now be suspended for the next few league matches and combining this with an ever-growing injury list, it looks as though the Midlands side could see their dreams being destroyed.
Emery has formed an excellent starting XI, but his squad depth is a worry, especially in defence.
If Matty Cash gets injured, the only other senior right back in the first-team squad is Calum Chambers, and he has played a grand total of 222 minutes this season, and he is currently earning more than one of their January transfer signings.
Calum Chambers’ statistics at Aston Villa
In January 2022, during Steven Gerrard’s first transfer window in charge of the club, the former Rangers manager lured Chambers north in a move that cost them just £2m.
This was due to the defender having only six months left on his Arsenal contract and, on the surface, it appeared to be a bargain.
Calum-chambers-aston-villa
Chambers had spent the previous six and a half seasons at the Gunners, making 122 appearances across all competitions, yet his final 18 months saw him feature on just 17 occasions, and it was clear his future was elsewhere.
Gerrard had secured the signing of a defender with plenty of Premier League experience, and he played 11 games for Villa until May 2022, scoring once in the process.
This should have been a solid platform to work with ahead of the following season, yet he started just five matches for the club, including only two in the league.
The right-back ranked in a lowly 17th position in the squad for accurate passes per game (10.9) in the top flight, while finishing in 11th spot for accurate long balls per game (0.6) and 14th for tackles per match (0.6), indicating that he failed to perform when given a chance in the first team.
The 29-year-old has found opportunities even harder to come by this term as Emery prefers Cash on the right of his back four.
calum-chambers-arsenal-transfer-aston-villa
Indeed, Chambers has played just 44 minutes of Premier League football during 2023/24 and that came against Nottingham Forest a couple of weeks ago amid the club's wretched run of injuries at the back.
The Englishman still has another year left on his current contract, yet the Spaniard will clearly be looking to move him on this summer, especially considering the wage that he is earning every week.
What Calum Chambers earns at Aston Villa
The defender signed a three-and-a-half-year deal in January 2022, earning a staggering £50k-per-week in the process.
Since he joined, the defender has only played 32 times for the Villa Park outfit, which indicates that he is rinsing the club dry, even if a lavish fee wasn't spent to acquire his services.
Clement Lenglet
£150k
Boubacar Kamara
£150k
Youri Tielemans
£150k
Moussa Diaby
£130k
Ollie Watkins
£130k
John McGinn
£120k
Lucas Digne
£120k
Emiliano Martínez
£120k
Leon Bailey
£120k
Diego Carlos
£100k
Via Capology
Indeed, combining his £2m transfer fee with the £5.7m he has earned roughly since moving to the club just over two years ago, the total comes to £7.7m, which works out at £240k per game.
While he may be towards the lower end of the scale concerning the highest earners at Villa, he is still earning more than Morgan Rogers, who joined in January, yet the youngster clearly has a big part to play for the club in the coming weeks, unlike Chambers.
How much Morgan Rogers earns at Aston Villa
It was evident during the winter transfer window that Emery was looking to add some attacking reinforcements to his side, while also thinking about the future in the process.
This led him to target a move for Rogers, who had impressed during the first six months of the season for Middlesbrough.
The winger had scored seven goals and registered nine assists for Boro in all competitions and this type of form clearly grabbed the eye of Emery.
A deal was finally announced on deadline day, with Rogers potentially costing the club up to £16m, but his potential ensures this could soon turn into a wise investment.
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The winger was handed a long-term deal while earning a wage of £20k-per-week, which placed him near the bottom of the squad, and this is even £30k-per-week less than Chambers, who has barely featured this season.
The 29-year-old is approaching the last few years of his career and has certainly rinsed the club since his January move in 2022, although Emery will be keen to move him on as soon as possible.
Morgan Rogers in action against Aston Villa.
Rogers, on the other hand, has a wonderful future ahead of him. He has yet to open up his account for Villa, but given plenty of time to develop, there is no doubt he can become a shrewd acquisition.
Against Luton Town a couple of weeks ago, Rogers was unleashed in the starting XI and gave Emery plenty to think about while delivering a promising performance.
Not only did he have a shot on target, but the 21-year-old succeeded with 100% of his dribble attempts, made two key passes and lost possession on just four occasions, proving that he is ready for the Premier League.
In comparison, Chambers’ last league appearance saw the defender win zero duels, and make zero tackles or interceptions along with succeeding with 0% of his accurate long ball attempts.
Yet he is earning more than Rogers. The summer transfer window simply cannot come quicker for the former Paris Saint-Germain boss as he seeks to improve his squad.
Chambers will surely be one of the first players to depart to free up some of the wage bill.