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Chelsea have taken "serious steps" for a major signing with manager Mauricio Pochettino giving his green-light to the move.

Who have Chelsea signed?

The west London club spent nearly £400 million over the 2023 summer transfer window; sealing an array of incomings in a serious statement of intent by Todd Boehly and his co-sporting directors – Laurence Stewart and Paul Winstanley. Chelsea put pen to paper on deals for Christopher Nkunku, Axel Disasi, Nicolas Jackson, Lesley Ugochukwu, Robert Sanchez, Romeo Lavia, Moises Caicedo, Cole Palmer, Djordje Petrovic, Angelo and Deivid Washington before deadline day, but their impressive business hasn't exactly translated to good results on the field.

Pochettino's side have won just two games so far this season, coming against Luton Town and west London rivals Fulham. Chelsea dropped points against West Ham, Nottingham Forest, Liverpool, Aston Villa and Bournemouth, with a trip to Burnley up next before another international break. They haven't been helped by injuries to star players, though, with Nkunku, Lavia, Wesley Fofana, Trevoh Chalobah, Reece James, Carney Chukwuemeka, Marcus Bettinelli and Benot Badiashile all sidelined recently.

Chelsea transfer news

There are clearly still gaping holes to fix in Pochettino's squad and one of the most obvious ones is signing a new striker. Chelsea are among the division's lowest scorers; going without a goal since late August before their recent 2-1 win over Fulham at Craven Cottage.

As a result, it has been reported that a new centre-forward signing could be on the cards for 2024. Napoli striker Victor Osimhen and Brentford star Ivan Toney are two names repeatedly linked with a move to Stamford Bridge, with a report by TEAMtalk sharing news on the latter.

According to their information, Chelsea are one of two clubs who've taken "serious steps" to sign the Englishman in January as they attempt to work out the conditions of a January deal. This comes after Pochettino's personal "approval" for the transfer, and Chelsea are willing to get it done despite Toney being outside their usual target age range.

Pochettino is apparently "determined" to strengthen his attack in the winter window, and Toney is somebody he would like to work with this season. Super-agent Jonathan Barnett signed the forward to his agency recently, and Chelsea apparently have a very good relationship with him.

How good is Ivan Toney?

Before his ban for alleged gambling breaches, which is set to end mid-way through January, Toney was in fine form for Brentford. He scored 20 goals last season in the league alone, with his manager Thomas Frank calling him a "remarkable" player.

"Ivan is amazing in many, many aspects,” Frank said earlier this year. “The way he copes with pressure and distractions is amazing. He’s been scoring goals, performing for the team and driving the team. He’s remarkable. I can only talk about the Ivan that I see every day around the place and he’s a fantastic person around the group. He’s got that unique emotional intelligence to be aware of all the players, and every staff member."

There was also a century for Keaton Jennings on a day of toil for Somerset, but some unexpected success with the ball from Tom Abell

Paul Edwards at Old Trafford06-May-20182:04

Yorkshire complete epic comeback

ScorecardSamuel Beckett might enjoy watching Dane Vilas bat. Just when you think he can’t go on, he goes on. Unlike the eponymous character in Beckett’s novel, however, one doubts Somerset’s cricketers consider Vilas . On the contrary, they probably had some pretty ripe names for him on the third evening of this game, albeit they may not be good out-loud words.One sees their point. When Lancashire were eventually bowled out, deep in the evening session of this hot day, they had taken an improbable lead of 63 runs. More to the point, 235 of their 492 first-innings runs had been mercilessly plundered by Vilas, a batsman who seems not to know fatigue and who regards a century as the end of his beginning, an opening gambit, an opportunity.Vilas is a serial converter. Having reached three figures on 17 occasions, he has now made nine scores in excess of 150 and four double centuries. More remarkably still, Vilas has never been dismissed between 100 and 120. His innings against Somerset illustrated his ruthlessness. Having put on a mere 201 for the third wicket with Keaton Jennings, Vilas remained at the crease while Lancashire’s total was nearly doubled, adding 102 for the sixth wicket with Jordan Clark and 49 for the tenth with Matt Parkinson.He had opened his account on Saturday with a couple of sixes off Jack Leach but hit only eight fours in reaching three figures. Then he tore the flagging Somerset attack apart in the hour before lunch, levying ten more fours in getting to 150. Before long we had almost forgotten that Jennings had made his first hundred in 43 first-class innings.Somerset thought they had chances late in the morning session when they removed Shivnarine Chanderpaul and Steven Croft cheaply. Then Vilas reasserted his mastery and, like an implacable bailiff, took everything away from them. He and Clark dominated the afternoon session so the sudden tumble of four wickets just before tea came as something of a surprise, not least because all of them were taken by the Somerset skipper Tom Abell, who nearly doubled his first-class tally in the space of 12 balls.Abell is a medium-pacer who runs up with the genial good-nature of a chap who doesn’t really go in for this bowling lark but is always happy to help the side out, doncha know. The reality is rather different. A tight off-stump line is kept and if you play down the wrong line, as Clark did, you lose your pole.Two overs later Abell took three wickets in five balls as Lancashire declined to 443 for 9. Joe Mennie was bowled, Tom Bailey was leg before and James Anderson was caught at the wicket first ball. Abell smiled at all and sundry, as if to say that a career-best 4 for 43 was absolutely tickety-boo but surely old Jack deserved some more wickets.One tended to agree. Leach may yet wake in the cold and lonely hours before dawn and imagine he is bowling to Vilas. A similar sensation may afflict Lewis Gregory who dropped Lancashire’s linchpin in the gully when the batsman was 171 and just settling into his day’s work. And even when he had reached 200 off 323 balls, Vilas was not done. There were two more sixes as he shepherded young Parkinson towards greater Lancastrian strength. A late tea came and a late tea went. Then Parkinson was brilliantly caught in the gully by Craig Overton off Paul van Meekeren to end the innings.As for the game, it will probably end in a draw. Somerset’s openers faced 18 overs in the late evening and negotiated them without mishap. Lancashire’s wicketkeeper was Dane Vilas. He watched every ball intently. It is his incurable habit.

Losing Julen Lopetegui just before the season got underway, alongside the earlier departures of Ruben Neves, Adama Traore and Matheus Nunes, the last thing that Wolverhampton Wanderers needed was a slow start. Yet, that's exactly what they've endured under Gary O'Neil.

Truth be told, the Midlands club have been unfortunate at times – they were denied a late penalty against Manchester United and soon received an apology for the incident, before being smashed by Brighton & Hove Albion, and finally getting off the mark with a victory over Everton.

Defeats against Crystal Palace and Liverpool have since followed, but Wolves can once again look back on their performances with great content, particularly when against the Reds, having taken the lead and largely dominated the first 45 minutes.

Following a game of two halves against Liverpool, however, those at Wolves at least received a much-needed injury boost, as confirmed by O'Neil.

What has Gary O'Neil said?

Watching on as his side eventually collapsed amid the Liverpool pressure, O'Neil would have been left frustrated by his side, who did so well to take a 1-0 lead into the break. Alas, it simply wasn't meant to be, and Wolves, in defeat, may have hoped to avoid any further blows. When Rayan Ait-Nouri was forced off through injury, however, it looked as though the Midlands club were set to get exactly that.

O'Neil has since squashed any concerns, saying, via Molinuex News: “Rayan’s injury was just muscle fatigue really. I don’t expect him to have any problems. We won’t know until next weekend, but he’ll probably just need a few days to recover.”

The former Bournemouth manager will be a relieved man, given how important it is that he has a full squad available when the Premier League fixtures start coming thick and fast. Up next, Wolves square off against Luton Town, where they'll be the favourites to pick up all three points.

How has Ait-Nouri performed this season?

So far this season, Ait-Nouri has been one of Wolves' most important players, starting in five of their six games under O'Neil. With that said, it would have been a major blow for the Midlands club, had the fullback suffered a long-term injury. That doesn't seem to be the case, however, with Ait-Nouri seemingly likely to slot straight back into his starting place.

Ait-Nouri's rise came as little surprise, with his early progress under Nuno Espirito Santo only a sign of what was to come. The former Wolves boss said, via The Express and Star: "There is improvement, and he's playing. Regarding the circumstances we have in the squad, he's having game after game now. So, there's no better time for improvement than in the game itself. Of course, we work every day with all the players on the aspects that we feel need improvement."

Now, a key member for his side, Ait-Nouri will likely be looking to kick on even further. Statistically speaking, he's already impressed this season, as per FBref, with his 20 progressive passes in five appearances proving his ability to help Wolves up the pitch when pressurised, and perhaps even towards Premier League safety.

Aston Villa have been revived since the arrival of Unai Emery in October 2022, with the Spaniard handing the squad a new lease of life in terms of their progression and goals for the season ahead.

The former Arsenal manager took the side he inherited from Steven Gerrard from 16th to 7th last term, earning them a place in the Europa Conference League and marking Villa’s first involvement in Europe since 2010.

Strong signs of development on the pitch were reinforced by a successful transfer window, where the club recruited five new faces, as well as breaking their record fee to capture Moussa Diaby in a £51.9m deal.

As well as new arrivals, the Villans have seen a host of individuals develop under Emery’s guidance, with names such as John McGinn, Tyrone Mings and Lucas Digne thriving in the Spaniard’s system.

Another name has continued his development strongly thanks to the 51-year-old’s arrival, seeing his market value shoot up thanks to consistent game time and high performance levels.

How much did Jacob Ramsey cost Aston Villa?

Jacob Ramsey has been a consistent performer since the arrival of Emery, moving from strength to strength following his emergence into the first team under Dean Smith.

The versatile midfielder joined the club at the age of six, and has since advanced through the levels at Bodymoor Heath, where he today finds himself as a player of great importance to Emery’s side.

Back in 2020, the academy graduate was handed his Premier League debut by Smith, coming on as a substitute against Fulham to mark his first minutes in the top-flight.

His full debut came shortly after in a statement fixture, when he played 90 minutes against rivals Wolverhampton Wanderers in the 2020/21 campaign, a season in which he registered 22 total league appearances.

When Smith was dismissed and replaced by Gerrard, things continued to tick for the Birmingham-born whiz, as he became a favoured player under the manager, making 34 appearances in the Premier League in the 2021/22 season.

The Englishman’s game turned up a notch thanks to Gerrard’s trust in fielding the youngster ahead of other star names, with his selection being a testament to his charged level of performance.

A strong ball carrier among other notable attributes, Ramsey bolstered his in-game numbers between his breakthrough season and the campaign that followed, averaging 1.15 progressive carries per 90 in 2020/21, which doubled in 2021/22 where he averaged 3.32 per 90, via FBref.

Another element of his game that came on leaps and bounds was his goal contributions, as he scored six and registered one assist under Gerrard in the season before last, making his claim to the starting XI undoubtedly.

What is Jacob Ramsey’s market value now?

At the start of the former Liverpool captain’s reign as manager of Villa in November 2021, Football Transfers noted the midfielder's expected transfer value (xTV) at around £7.8m.

Due to strong progression and consistent minutes in the first team, the England U21 star is now valued by CIES Football Observatory at €60m (£52m), showcasing just how much he has improved his game at his boyhood club.

Why is he worth that much?

Hailed as a “big talent” by scout Jacek Kulig, the midfielder continued to thrive during the transition between Gerrard and Emery as manager, maintaining his place in the squad.

Last season, the 22-year-old secured 35 appearances for Villa, scoring a further six goals and registering an improved seven assists, making him the club’s joint second-highest scorer, on par with Douglas Luiz and the since-departed Danny Ings.

Averaging 1.43 key passes per 90 last term, Ramsey seemed to unlock a further element to his game, acting as the provider, with his assist rate of 0.24 per 90 placing him in the top 5% of midfielders in the Premier League, via FBref.

Emery previously lauded the youngster as “very good” for being able to take on the demands asked of him in his role, adding that the “spirit that he adds” makes him a player of great importance in his side.

The stage was set for the midfielder to continue his encouraging career path this season, however a huge injury blow at the U21 European Championships has seen him miss the beginning of the campaign.

In the quarter-finals of the international tournament, the Villa whiz was forced off due to what was later revealed as a broken metatarsal, forcing him to miss not only the start of the domestic season, but the end of the championships that England went on to win.

Being a boy from Birmingham with huge talent, it’s hoped that the Englishman can pick up where he left off once he is available for contention again, with his ability set to be of great importance to his club going forward.

It wouldn’t be the first time that the Villans have seen an academy graduate’s value soar, with Jack Grealish departing Villa Park as a £100m player after concluding the same journey that Ramsey is on.

What’s next for Jacob Ramsey?

While it would be magnificent for both club and player to see Ramsey hit the heights of Grealish, there is a difference between the pair's projected paths at Villa.

At the time of his exit to Manchester City, Villa had just finished 11th in the league, with a feel of the club just coasting around the mid-table area, making his move understandable as he searched for a new challenge.

Emery has injected a different aura to the Midlands, making the project in hand one of exciting promise and a perfect set-up for Ramsey to further his talents and grow into the squad as they continue on their latest journey.

Once he returns from his injury, it’s expected that the Englishman will resume his position in the squad, with added competition introduced this summer in the form of Youri Tielemans, whose presence will only induce an even higher level of performance to ensure game time.

Villa’s academy has once again produced a talent that has the world at his feet, with his market value catapulting from a figure expected of a promising talent, to that of a progressing Premier League star.

Despite leaving on a dim note, the Midlands club have Gerrard to thank for continuing to place his trust in Ramsey, who will no doubt generate the Villans some funds in the future.

Newcastle United will look to bounce back from a succession of defeats against Manchester City and Liverpool with victory over Brighton & Hove Albion in the Premier League today but they will have to tweak the team.

Is Sven Botman out injured?

Although the season is still in its rudimentary phase, Newcastle will be desperate to end a two-match skid and clinch their second victory of the campaign.

To do so, the Seagulls will need to be felled in their own backyard once again, having lost 3-1 to West Ham United in a counter-attacking clinic last weekend, and while Eddie Howe will be confident his team can steer back on track, they will have to do so without star centre-back Sven Botman.

The Dutchman is likely to miss several weeks of action – at the very least – after sustaining an ankle injury against Liverpool, and in his absence, Dan Burn could well revert to his natural role in the middle of the defence after performing, admirably, at left-back for the past 12 months.

Should Howe opt to enact this alteration instead of handing stalwart Jamal Lascelles his seasonal debut, the door is opened for new club signing Lewis Hall to make his maiden appearance in black and white after completing a £35m transfer from Chelsea earlier in August.

Will Lewis Hall start against Brighton?

It's a testament to the 18-year-old's composure and age-belying belief that he performed so admirably in a pretty dismal Chelsea side last season, with the Blues finishing 12th in the Premier League and leaving the trophy cabinet untouched as the bloated squad failed to perform.

Described as a "top-tier talent" with "unbelievable dribbling ability" by BBC Sports' Raj Chohan, Hall made 11 appearances for the Stamford Bridge side last term.

He earned an average rating of 7.01 – as per Sofascore – in the Premier League, with his nine appearances yielding an 84% pass success rate, with an average of 1.7 key passes and 2.6 tackles per game.

The teenage talent even ranks across the top 5% of full-backs across Europe's top five leagues over the past year for shot-creating actions, the top 15% for successful take-ons, the top 6% for tackles and the top 9% for interceptions per 90, as per FBref, with such metrics showcasing an innate creative flair, technicality and defensive tenacity to serve as the framework for a prosperous career.

With Burn the most probable name to drift inwards to central defence, Hall's progressive skills and ball-playing ability is exactly what the St. James' Park side needs to wreak havoc on the south coast, with West Ham's 3-1 victory evidence that while Brighton are a cohesive outfit, they are susceptible to quick transition.

Considering that Burn only recorded an average score of 6.78 last year, making just 0.4 key passes per match, Botman's injury could have a transformative effect on Howe's tactical plans this season, with a hardy defence perhaps benefitting from a forward-thinking presence down the left channel, mirroring Kieran Trippier on the alternate side.

Having already broken into first-team football, Hall received the honour of Chelsea's Academy Player of the Year award in May – an accolade fellow Magpies summer signing Tino Livramento came out on top in two years prior.

And while the injury to Botman comes to the collective groan of the Tyneside support, the dynamic youngster now has the chance to prove his worth and continue a remarkable rise.

Liverpool’s midfield overhaul has taken an unconventional and testing route.

The unexpected departures of Jordan Henderson and Fabinho to life-changing contracts in Saudi Arabia have forced the Merseyside outfit into a more extensive rebuild than was originally planned.

Another twist has been the well-documented failure to land either Moises Caicedo or Romeo Lavia, who both opted to join Chelsea.

Since then, the Reds secured the signing of Waturo Endo for £16.2m but remain active in the transfer market in search of more midfield reinforcements…

What’s the latest Liverpool transfer news?

According to talkSPORT, Kalvin Phillips is on Liverpool’s radar this summer.

Read the latest Liverpool transfer news HERE…

This outlet’s chief football correspondent Alex Crook said:

“Kalvin Phillips is a player Liverpool looked at before he went from Leeds to Man City, and we know it’s been a tough window for Liverpool in terms of target they’ve missed out on.

“I think at the start of the season Phillips wanted to stay and fight for his place at Man City, but he was on the bench with a load of kids at the weekend and he isn’t going to force his way into that team.

“Surely if he wants to play for England at the Euros, this would be a great move for him.

“It’s one to keep an eye on from now until the end of the window.”

Would Kalvin Phillips be a good signing for Liverpool?

After a successful stint at Leeds United, which culminated in a long-awaited promotion from the Championship and two successful years in the Premier League, the Englishman sealed a £45m move to Manchester City.

However, this move has unravelled into disaster, as Phillips has only mustered four starts in all competitions. This has been due to persistent injury problems as well as the inability to displace the ever-present and ridiculously reliable Rodri.

Following World Cup in Qatar, City boss Pep Guardiola publicly called out the 27-year-old, saying he arrived back at training “overweight” and not in the correct condition to do sessions or play.

Despite weaving his way back into the squad, the Spanish manager has barely deployed the £150k-per-week mishap, and he has been an unused substitute in every game this season.

It seems that Guardiola is willing to repeatedly run the risk of over-playing Rodri instead of taking a chance on Phillips, who looks non-existent in his plans.

Last campaign, Rodri played the most times (56) in the treble-winning squad and netted the winner in the Champions League final versus Inter Milan. He is an indispensable and resoundingly important member of the squad, and it seems like Phillips is powerless against his marvellous consistency.

talkSPORT pundit and former Aston Villa forward Gabby Agbonlahor has previously described Phillips as “poor”, feeling his career at the Etihad Stadium is “in danger.”

For Liverpool, a side looking to propel themselves back into the top four whilst juggling Europa League football, to sign a player who has barely kicked a ball in the last year and is lacking match sharpness is an awfully risky strategy, and they should seek more logical options.

Phillips’ experience at Anfield could easily closely mirror his disappointing spell at the Etihad Stadium, which would put manager Jurgen Klopp back to square one.

Scorecard and ball-by-ball detailsAshley Allen – CPL T20 / Getty

Kieron Pollard nicked the battle of big-hitters against Carlos Brathwaite as the Shere Bangla National Stadium were enthralled by both batsman’s six-hitting abilities. Pollard’s 24-ball 55 – that had six huge sixes – helped Dhaka Dynamites to their third win in a row, this time beating Khulna Titans by four wickets in the final over.Khulna had earlier made 156 for 5, a remarkable recovery from a sluggish 47 for three in the first 10 overs. The late addition came mostly through Brathwaite’s unbeaten 64 that included six sixes in the last 5.5 overs. Abu Hider took two wickets while Sunil Narine, Shakib Al Hasan and Shahid Afridi took one each.Dhaka’s chase, however, started even poorer. They were 41 for 5 at one stage, but Pollard’s cluster of sixes bought them back into the game, before Jahurul Islam and Mosaddek Hossain took them to victory with a ball to spare.Slow to startKhulna struck only five boundaries in the first 10 overs after being sent to bat. They also lost Michael Klinger, Dhiman Ghosh and Nazmul Hossain Shanto during the same period. The lack of boundaries played a big factor in each of these batsmen’s dismissals.Klinger’s cross-bat took a top edge and was well caught at mid on by Hider, off Shakib. The bowler-fielder combination then switched roles as Hider took Dhiman’s wicket in the sixth over, the skier taken in the second attempt by Shakib.Narine easily scalped Shanto in the tenth over when the batsman charged him needlessly, only to be stumped by Jahurul Islam for a 25-ball 24.Khulna’s late burstEerily similar to their previous game, Brathwaite got into his stride soon after Mahmudullah got out. He first struck Afridi for two sixes in the space of three balls, first over the bowler’s head and then over midwicket. Shakib then went for 17 runs in the 16th over, which included another six over midwicket that went deeper than the one in the previous over.Rilee Rossouw got out in the next over to end the rapid 54-run fifth-wicket stand but Brathwaite struck his fourth six before reaching his maiden T20 fifty off just 25 balls. In the final over, both his sixes off Hider went straight, the second slightly bigger than the first. He finished with six maximums in his unbeaten 29-ball 64.Pollard’s reply to BrathwaiteDhaka, too, slipped like Khulna in the first half of their innings. Abu Jayed had Evin Lewis skied to mid off in the first over, Afridi slammed one to cover in the second over before Jofra Archer bowled Cameron Delport with a quick delivery. Mahmudullah took a sharp catch to remove Narine and Dhaka’s crisis deepened further in the ninth when Shakib was caught for 20.But the scenario changed in the space of five balls, of which four went for sixes off Pollard’s bat. All of those went over long on, despite Mahmudullah’s varying lengths. That over, the innings’ 11th, cost 25 runs. Pollard didn’t spare Brathwaite either, hitting his compatriot for two sixes, both on the leg side in the 13th over that cost 20 runs. From a precarious position, Dhaka had reduced the chase to 58 off the last seven overs.The pullback via ArcherJofra Archer, whose pace has troubled a few batsmen in the BPL, used it to good effect in the 14th over. He gave away just three runs, after which Shafiul picked up the key wicket of Pollard in the following over. Much of the credit for Pollard’s wicket, however, should go to Archer for bringing some control to the Khulna attack. Between the 14th and 17th overs, Khulna conceded only two fours as Dhaka went left needing 27 off the last three overs.Some local creditThe lack of contribution from the local players had been a concern in the BPL but the way Jahurul and Mosaddek played out the last 5.1 overs should be appeasing. They narrowed the chase down with two balls to go, but Jahurul’s reverse off Brathwaite, with four needed, was a was superbly executed. The pair added 43 in their unbroken seventh-wicket stand.What they said“I gambled with that reverse scoop off the second last ball. This is the first time I played in a match.”

Leeds United midfielder Tyler Adams is likely to sign for Chelsea this summer, according to Phil Hay.

Is Tyler Adams leaving Leeds?

The Whites, under Daniel Farke, began their Championship season on Sunday afternoon and came from behind against Cardiff City to draw 2-2 thanks to a late Crysencio Summerville equaliser at Elland Road.

One player who didn’t feature due to injury but was present at the ground was Adams, who was spotted giving instructions to 17-year-old midfielder Archie Gray on the pitch at half time.

Gray impressed on his senior Whites debut, and with Adams out with a hamstring issue, the youngster may become a regular under Farke in the coming weeks.

Adams’ Leeds future has been up in the air ever since the club were relegated from the Premier League last season, and by the looks of things, a move to Chelsea is firmly on the cards.

Read the latest Leeds transfer news HERE…

Reliable Leeds correspondent Hay took to X on Monday morning to share what he’s heard about Adams’ Elland Road future. He stated that it is likely the USA international ends up moving to Stamford Bridge, with the Blues set to step up their interest.

“Chelsea set to step up interest in Tyler Adams. Increasing likely that they will sign the Leeds United midfielder, who has a release clause in his deal.”

Who could replace Tyler Adams at Leeds?

Adams, hailed as an “exceptionally bright young footballer” by Gary Lineker at the World Cup last year, could be the latest to leave Elland Road, joining the likes of Diego Llorente, Rasmus Kristensen, Marc Roca, Max Wober, Brenden Aaronson and Robin Koch, all of which have departed on loan.

Rodrigo and Tyler Roberts have also sealed permanent exits away, whereas Leeds have so far signed just goalkeeper Karl Darlow and midfielder Ethan Ampadu from Newcastle United and Chelsea respectively.

Should a move away materialise for Adams as Hay claims, then Farke will be left with just Gray, Ampadu, Darko Gybai, Sam Greenwood and Jamie Shackleton as young midfield options, highlighting the need for further reinforcements if the club are to push for an immediate return to the Premier League.

One player who has been linked with a move to Yorkshire is Rangers’ Glen Kamara, with the club thought to be eyeing up a move for the Finland international to replace Adams.

Kamara has been training on his own, with manager Michael Beale recently saying:

“He’s training in isolation just now, not with the group, trying to get himself up to speed. There’s a lot in the background with Glen as well, with different enquiries and him talking to different people.

“So it’s best that he's to the side of the group. I’ve got no issues with him on a personal level — it’s a conversation we had a good few months ago.”

Therefore, Kamara, who is experienced after making 193 appearances for Rangers, could be the player seen as Adams’ perfect replacement, and with time ticking until the deadline, Leeds may want to get a potential deal lined up ahead of Adams’ move to Chelsea.

Mark Cosgrove held up Northamptonshire as their promotion hopes faded – not that it mattered to many in The Meet at Grace Road

David Hopps at Grace Road27-Sep-2017It was promotion crunch time in Division Two, but in The Meet café and bar, which has fed and watered Leicestershire supporters for a lifetime, there was little sign of rising tension. Every Northants fielder must have been desperate for news from Hove, while their promotion rivals Nottinghamshire were staging a recovery, but in The Meet nobody was noticeably checking scores on their mobile phone. Assuming they had remembered to bring one.Elsewhere in the cricketing ether, ramifications were discussed on cricket blogs, or bursts of excitement were released onto Twitter. But the inhabitants of The Meet have seen promotion seasons come and go and the world has not noticeably been any better or worse for it. Indeed, the days when promotion and relegation did not exist seem like only yesterday. In Leicestershire, who had some fine years in the one-divisional structure a generation ago, such an egalitarian set-up is doubtless viewed fondly.The Meet has seen it all too. This essentially ugly structure (albeit skilfully tarted up under the latest management) has twice been transported from former Leicestershire grounds in the days when every penny counted.Still, looking sagely into the mid-distance did have its attractions for the denizens of The Meet. Mark Cosgrove was in the later stages of a delightful 80 from 139 balls, enough for Leicestershire to reach 270 and set Northants 197 for victory. Leicestershire are seeking their first win, but Northants must buckle down to the run chase in the hope of a calamitous final day for Nottinghamshire. There is reason to see out the season on the final day.Cosgrove, the Australian left-hander, is one of the unappreciated delights of the county circuit. He has amassed 1,000 first-class runs in each of the last three seasons, a persistent consolation during difficult times. When he is not bullying the ball from his presence with powerful pulls or freeing his arms for fulsome drives, he also possesses a strikingly delicate touch. Northants might have adopted the nickname of “The Chubsters”, but Cosgrove is “King Chubster”, a player of heft and quality. A player of international pedigree.But even with Cosgrove on strike, it was tempting to stride into the middle of The Meet and exclaim: “But don’t you know what’s happening at Hove?” Leicestershire putting up batting resistance against Northants on the other side of the window was only half the story. On the south coast, Harry Gurney, who made his first-class debut for Leicestershire 10 years ago – and against Northants to boot, there’s a conversation topic – before Notts tempted him 30 miles up the A46, was playing the innings of his life.At the precise second that Gurney, on his way to the heady heights of 42 not out, saved the follow-on and probably won Notts promotion in the process, a spectator rose from her seat, but only to join a small queue for a flapjack and cup of tea from the Friends of Grace Road stall. (“Sorry, we’ve had a run on the cakes, but I suppose that’s better than a run on the pound,” said the volunteer who had presumably recently retired from an economic think tank).Leicestershire’s second innings had failure as well as success. Michael Carberry has England caps behind him, but two more failures in this match have done little to justify the award of a disturbingly lavish two-year contract wich seems out of kilter with Leicestershire’s more considered development plans. Carberry must gather his thoughts over the winter and prove his worth.The Northamptonshire seam attack, shorn of the injured Rory Kleinveldt, lacked a third seamer and Cosgrove took his chance to ease into his full repertoire. As Leicestershire’s innings progressed, Northants became increasingly reliant on the spin of Rob Keogh and Simon Kerrigan. Kerrigan, the left-arm spinner on loan from Lancashire, could delight in four wickets, two of them stumped, including Aadil Ali, who made a neat 37 and was then drawn into a charge and miss. He deserves regular cricket.Northants are favourites on the final day, but this game is not yet settled. Win or lose a side that survived early-season injuries – they could only summon 15 players for their pre-season photo call – they have turned in a creditable season. Big ambitions from little resources. Admirable stuff.

The excellence of South Africa’s pace attack turned the Trent Bridge Test into a rout as England were dismissed in only 44.2 overs

The Report by David Hopps17-Jul-2017
Scorecard and ball-by-ball detailsThe excellence of South Africa’s pace attack turned the Trent Bridge Test into a rout as England were dismissed in only 44.2 overs, their hopeless pursuit of a world-record 474 to win on a deteriorating pitch transformed with indecent haste into a 340-run defeat.Faf du Plessis missed South Africa’s defeat at Lord’s to be at the birth of his first child but he has supervised a staggering turnaround at Trent Bridge, where England had not lost since 2007, which told not just of South Africa’s skill but invited increasing questions about England’s ability to perform when the going gets tough.England’s coach Trevor Bayliss, appointed primarily because of his reputation in the limited-overs cricket, has now overseen a sequence of seven defeats in England’s last 10 Tests. A 4-0 trouncing in India was embarrassing enough, but this feckless batting display will probably attract the loudest condemnation of all. “We’ve had a shocker,” he said.Data suggests no surface degenerates more reliably than Trent Bridge in Tests in England – and that is normally no bad thing – and South Africa made voracious use of their opportunity, removing England’s top four by lunch and then rushing through the rest of the scorecard in unconstrained fashion.This is an England batting line-up that at its best can be highly entertaining, but which gives the impression it can only swim with the tide. Joe Root, two matches into his Test captaincy, must gather together resolve if his first series in charge is not to end in defeat.South Africa’s new-ball attack, Vernon Philander and Morne Morkel, were at the peak of their game and this time they gained excellent support from Chris Morris with only Duanne Olivier, an unimpressive stand-in for Kagiso Rabada, failing to pose a perpetual threat.Philander repeatedly battered away on an excellent line and length as if determined to wear his own hole in the pitch, Morkel possessed uncomfortable bounce and Morris mixed up bouncers and yorkers with alacrity as England struggled to muster resistance. Morkel went wicketless, scant reward for his consistent menace only a few months after he feared his career might be over because of back trouble.England had a single to their name overnight. It felt utterly worthless; their defeat looked only a matter of time. Perhaps they could have planted it and hoped it germinated, or framed it and put it on the wall. Wickets would not be long delayed. By the time the lunch clock brought temporary release, they had careered to 79 for 4. Only 16.2 overs later it was all over.Alastair Cook put up most England resistance, scrambling 42 from 76 balls before he became the fourth England batsman dismissed, hurried by Morris’ excellent bouncer and punching it away from his face down the leg-side where Quinton de Kock held the catch.Cook’s Trent Bridge record almost defies belief. In 10 Tests at Nottingham, he averages 21.93, less than half his Test average and has managed a solitary half-century – 50, nothing more, nothing less – against Australia in 2013.Jonny Bairstow holed out to mid-on as England collapsed•Getty Images

It was asking a lot for him to remedy that on this sort of surface. The sound track of the morning was the rapping of pads and the yelping of South Africa fielders as thick edges dropped wide of slips and flew past gully.Keaton Jennings got off the mark by hooking a bouncer from Morkel, a show of resolve perhaps, although his shot could have fallen anywhere. He has been in mediocre first-class form all summer which did not inspire confidence. He fell in the second over of the morning, Philander wasting no time in creating a gap between bat and pad to bowl him.Gary Ballance never got out of his ditch. His only scoring shot careered unhealthily through gully, off Philander. Pushing forward to Philander, he was beaten by low bounce, extremely late on the shot. He also required attention from the physio when Morkel struck him on the bottom hand and, as the match ended, was heading for an x-ray on his left index finger.South Africa’s successful review, to win the lbw decision was a model of grown-up conversation. They had lost a review in the previous over – Cook narrowly surviving because of Morkel’s high bounce – and du Plessis demanded responsible information as he might if lives were at stake.Philander, who delivers from so close to the stumps that his chances of lbw are heightened, was adamant, the captain conceded and the wicket was theirs.Root, the captain, played inside a swinging yorker from Morris. Another excellent delivery from a South Africa attack hunting England down with admirable skill.If England’s top three includes two players whose Test match aptitude must now be in question, their middle-order, so destructive at times, seems unable – or unwilling – to adjust to the more controlled tempo of Test cricket’s more demanding days, traipsing through the most hazardous streets as if it was a suitable place for a picnic.Jonny Bairstow’s self-admonishment was clear as he tried to hit Keshav Maharaj’s left-arm spin down the ground and only succeeded in dragging it to deep mid-on. Moeen Ali, who gives the impression that he has two gears – marked enjoyment and boredom – reached 27 with his usual sang-froid and then top-edged a sweep at the same bowler to Heino Kuhn in front of square.At least Ben Stokes showed a willingness to buckle down against his natural instincts, not for the first time, before pushing back a wary drive at Philander.The end was rapid, as if England’s three pace bowlers, still aching from their work on the third day, had observed the efforts of the batsmen on the fourth and decided they had seen enough. England, though, had been outplayed both with bat and ball and the lack of ready-made replacements for Anderson and Broad must be a huge concern.Stuart Broad indulged in a slog-sweep and was lucky only to get a groan from his home crowd, and, lo and behold, Olivier wrapped things up with two in two. Mark Wood spliced to gully, James Anderson poked to the keeper.At the on-field press conference, du Plessis looked like a man you would not mess with and Root looked as if he needed to become that man overnight.The series swung markedly from England to South Africa and conceivably in the last two Tests it could swing back again. But it is South Africa who look ingrained in the ways of Test cricket.