Tottenham Hotspur have reportedly stepped up their search to find a suitable successor to Hugo Lloris, following an update regarding the club's apparent interest in Everton goalkeeper, Jordan Pickford.

What's the latest on Pickford to Tottenham?

According to Football Transfers, the Lilywhites have made contact with the Merseyside outfit over a possible summer swoop for the England international, with finding an heir to Lloris seemingly a real priority with the veteran Frenchman having just a year left to run on his existing deal.

The report suggests that the north Londoners have been 'following' the 29-year-old over an extended period of time and are now ready to make their move, albeit with Daniel Levy and co said to have concerns over meeting the reported £40m transfer fee.

The piece also adds that the former Sunderland stopper – who only recently signed a new long-term deal at Goodison Park – is keen to know who Tottenham's new manager will be and whether international colleague Harry Kane is set to stay at the club, prior to agreeing to any summer switch.

Would Pickford be a good signing for Tottenham?

If recent transfer dealings with the Toffees are anything to go by, it could well prove an awful mistake if Levy is to make a move for Pickford this summer, with Spurs having only recently been stung by their £60m capture of Richarlison from Goodison.

After previously scoring ten goals and providing five assists in his final league season at Everton during the 2021/22 campaign to secure their survival, the Brazilian has since been unable to replicate that impact at N17, having scored just once and registered only four assists in the top-flight in 2022/23.

Those woes – which saw the 25-year-old net just a further two goals in Europe and in domestic cup competitions – have unsurprisingly led to notable criticism, with talkSPORT pundit Tony Cascarino stating that the mercurial forward "has been a joke this year", due to his drab form.

The fear will be then that the signing of Richarlison's ex-teammate – Pickford – could well lead to a repeat scenario, with the 6 foot 1 'keeper also potentially having the ability to underwhelm if he is to make the move to the capital this summer.

While the experienced asset did only recently prove integral to the Toffees' successful relegation fight – having been described as the "difference" between the other relegated clubs by pundit Gary Neville – the £125k-per-week man has been a "liability" at times in recent seasons, according to BT Sport's Chris Sutton.

Also dubbed a "strange goalkeeper" who makes "too many errors" – in the words of Sutton – Pickford came under fire after his dismal display when Everton met Spurs at the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium back in October, having given away a penalty for a foul on Kane, after initially fumbling Heung-min Son's tame attempt on goal.

That "really poor mistake" – as per ex-Tottenham midfielder Jamie Redknapp – is an illustration of the stopper's frustrating inconsistency, having also notably made two errors leading to goals in the Premier League in the most recent campaign.

Those shortcomings – as well as the tale of Richarlison – should have Levy thinking twice before making a move for Pickford this summer…

Tasmania fast bowler Cameron Stevenson picked up five wickets on debut at Hurstville Oval to prevent South Australia from reaching the Matador Cup finals

ESPNcricinfo staff19-Oct-2016
ScorecardCameron Stevenson picked up 5 for 32 on debut•Getty ImagesTasmania fast bowler Cameron Stevenson picked up five wickets on debut at Hurstville Oval to prevent South Australia from reaching the Matador Cup finals. Needing to win with a bonus point in order to reach the elimination final, the Redbacks were set a tall order with a target of 296 that would need to be reached inside 40 overs.South Australia did their best to ensure their tempo was up to standard, opener and captain Travis Head racing to 35 from 18 balls and Tom Cooper making 63 off 65, and gave themselves a chance if they could keep enough wickets in hand.But Stevenson claimed the wickets of Jake Weatherald and Jake Lehmann and then ran through the tail as the Redbacks were bowled out for 267 in the 39th over.Earlier, contributions from Alex Doolan (79), Dom Michael (57), Tim Paine (44) and Ben McDermott (44) pushed the Tigers to 7 for 295 from their 50 overs.Tasmania finished fifth on the tournament table and South Australia sixth, and the elimination final will now be played between New South Wales and Victoria for a place in the decider against Queensland.

The cusp of immortality. A feverish sense of anticipation emanates across East London and Prague as West Ham prepare for one of the biggest games in their history.

They play Fiorentina in the last stage of the Europa Conference League Final – their first European showpiece since 1976.

David Moyes is not a man prone to experimentation, rotation, or romantic storylines – there is no room for error, and his most trusted lineup must start the occasion.

On the final day of the Premier League season, with safety already secured, the Scotsman named a much-changed side.

One of his ever-presents that was rested at the King Power Stadium was Jarrod Bowen, whose recent rise in popularity and stardom has been a fantastic spectacle over the past couple of years.

The 26-year-old cannot contain his excitement for the final and said: “When I first signed, I couldn’t in my wildest dreams have thought about playing in a major European final three years later, so to be here and so close to winning a trophy for all of us and do to it with players who are my teammates and friends for everybody would be so special. That’s what our focus is on.”

Bowen has been an imperious asset for the Hammers, and he could write his name into Irons folklore tonight.

Why is Jarrod Bowen so important to West Ham?

In the last three Premier League campaigns, the former Hull City starlet has registered 49 goal involvements in 112 outings and has been a formidable component of a Hammers side that secured consecutive top-half finishes and has reached this monumental final.

During this phenomenal upsurge, the £60k-per-week man also received his first England call-up in June 2022.

On West Ham’s endearing journey to the verge of glory, Bowen has been at the centre and Moyes has recognised his contribution, saying: “He has been very much part of the journey from a team third-fourth bottom of the Premier League to a team challenging to be fourth-fifth in the Premier League.

“You have all the right characteristics with Jarrod whether it be a starter or a non-starter.”

Although he has endured a quieter season, Bowen has still emerged as the hub of West Ham’s productivity and creativity – he is the club’s joint top-scorer in the Premier League with Said Benrahma (6), without having the advantage of being the designated penalty-taker.

The four-cap international has also averaged the second-most key passes in the squad (1.3), as his effervescence and final ball have been imperative to attacking sequences.

Described as “unbelievable” by Jurgen Klopp, it would surprise no one if Bowen emerged as the hero tonight, and it would be fitting when considering his input across the years.

Tottenham Hotspur defender Emerson Royal has claimed that Harry Kane wants to “stay” amid speculation about his potential exit.

What did Emerson Royal say about Harry Kane?

Will Kane leave Spurs this summer? It’s arguably the most-discussed transfer rumour in England over the past few months.

From TV pundits to strangers at the pub, you’ve probably heard nearly everyone who follows football offer their opinion on the matter at some point.

Even Kane has had to address the situation recently. Indeed, after scoring twice against Leeds United on the final day of the season, he told BT Sport (via Manchester Evening News): “It is part and parcel of being a footballer [speculation about leaving] especially when you are at the top of your game.

“I have focused on this season and helping the team as much as possible. I am just looking forward to a nice break and some games with England.”

Well, his Tottenham teammate Emerson has now potentially provided a little bit of insider information when speaking to the press.

He said (via Football Daily) “Top [player], for me, he’s number one in this position. I’m so happy for him.

“He wants to stay with us. I want to play with him for a long time.”

Why would Kane stay at Spurs?

Kane is currently on £200k-p/w at Tottenham and his current deal expires in 2024. It’s been reported that he may not sign a new deal and simply leave for free in 12 months’ time.

However, he could also push for a move this summer with Manchester United heavily linked. 90min claims he is the club’s “top transfer target”.

Of course, this might be tempting as he’s not getting any younger (turning 30 this July) and is still yet to win a major trophy in his career.

Some with connections to Sputs even think he should leave. Speaking on Sky Sports, Jamie Redknapp said (via Manchester Evening News): “It feels at the moment that Tottenham is a shambles.

“They can’t seem to get a manager. If you were Harry Kane with one year to go, this is the time to leave.

“He has to push now because Man United might get somebody else. He missed out on Man City a few years ago when he wasn’t allowed to leave, right now it feels like he needs to push.”

However, if Emerson does indeed have some inside information, perhaps Kane isn’t looking to go just yet.

This could make sense too because if he sticks around for one more year he can then leave for free next summer.

Tottenham Hotspur managerial target Ange Postecoglou "may be tempted" to accept the job in the Premier League, according to talkSPORT reporter Alex Crook.

What's the latest news on Ange Postecoglou to Spurs?

The Greek-Australian has reportedly “always” been one of the main candidates on Daniel Levy’s shortlist to replace interim coach Ryan Mason heading into the new season and his future north of the border is uncertain as a result of him being on a 12-month rolling contract, with his current deal set to expire at the end of the campaign due to him not yet signing an extension.

Football Insider claim that Celtic are preparing to table the 57-year-old a record-breaking offer that would make him the club’s best ever paid manager in their history to try and fend off interest from N17, but that doesn’t seem to have stopped the chairman from wanting to take a bite at the cherry.

The Daily Record state that the Lilywhites are readying an official approach for the Parkhead boss, with Levy holding a “concrete” interest in his target, and he’s now been backed to successfully secure his services in the weeks ahead.

Speaking to GiveMeSport, Crook claimed that Postecoglou could listen to any offers that come his way from Tottenham as a result of already achieving pretty much everything possible at Celtic. He said:

“Yeah, I’ve been down their list, and I think Postecoglou may be tempted. He would be giving up Champions League football at Celtic, but he might just feel he’s done all he can.”

Is Postecoglou the right candidate for Spurs?

Since Celtic appointed Postecoglou back in 2021, he’s completely transformed the squad and has even been dubbed “mental” for his front-foot approach by compatriot Jackson Irvine, so should Tottenham be able to secure his services in the dugout, it would be a massive coup for Levy and the rest of the hierarchy.

The Hoops coach, whose preferred formation is a 4-3-3 attacking, has so far taken charge of 112 games with the green and whites, winning 82, drawing 12 and losing just 18 of those fixtures whilst averaging 2.30 points per match, via Transfermarkt.

The Champions League manager has seen this form turn into silverware having secured four titles in Glasgow which are part of the 17 trophies that he’s collected at both club and international level since the beginning of his career on the sidelines.

Finally, Postecoglou shares the same agent, CAA Base Ltd, as Son Heung-Min, Pedro Porro and Richarlison, so this existing connection his representative has to the club could potentially give them a small advantage when it comes to the two parties trying to reach an agreement.

Afghanistan will have to wait till June next year for their next international assignment, when they travel to the West Indies

Mohammad Isam02-Oct-2016

Afghanistan will have to wait till June next year for their next international assignment against a Full Member, when they travel to the West Indies. Neither of the teams will be part of the Champions Trophy, which will also take place at that time of the year in England.In the interim, Afghanistan will take part in a training camp at home, play in this season’s Ahmad Shah Abdali four-day domestic tournament and wait for confirmation on a T20 tournament in Dubai involving other Associate nations. They also are scheduled to host Ireland at Greater Noida for three T20s, five ODIs and a four-day Intercontinental Cup match in March.Afghanistan’s manager Abdul Wali Amin said that coach Lalchand Rajput wants to focus on fitness during the camp to be held from mid-November.”We don’t have anything from now till December,” Amin said. “Maybe next year there’s an Associate T20 series in Dubai. The [domestic] four-day tournament started on September 29, and it will go on for more than two months. The national players will need some rest having been on the road for the last three months but, after that, they will have a month-long camp from mid-November. The coach wants to work on their physical fitness, which is very important. They will also work on their fielding and skills development.”He said that an increased number of qualified coaches are helping Afghanistan cricket improve rapidly, and that focus is also being put on having more of these coaches in charge of representative sides.”We have four or five Level 3 coaches currently in Afghanistan. It really helps us promote cricket, especially Under-19 and A team. We have local coaches as assistants in the national team as well. It helps us to promote our own coaching staff.”We have enough Level 2 coaches as well. We also have good umpires and physios, and all of it is for Afghanistan cricket to improve.”Afghanistan captain Asghar Stanikzai said that his team will take the experience from the short trip to Bangladesh and apply it when they next play a top-level team.”We have learnt a lot from this series. It was very important series for us. Playing against Zimbabwe [in Zimbabwe and in the UAE] and Bangladesh has provided us with the opportunity to see how we can play against the Full Member nations. It helps us promote our cricket and get familiar against Full Members.”I think we played very well against Bangladesh and Zimbabwe. They have beaten a lot of big nations. So hopefully we will have a series against West Indies in June and taking this experience we will be prepared for West Indies.”

Aston Villa fans will be excited by their pursuit of Sporting Lisbon attacker Pedro Goncalves as it is an indication of their 'massive plans' for the club, according to Dean Jones.

What's the latest transfer news involving Pedro Goncalves?

According to A Bola via Sport Witness, Aston Villa have ‘advanced with approaches’ to sign Sporting Lisbon man Goncalves this summer and are keen on bringing him to Villa Park.

The report states that the £25k-a-week ace has a €80 million (£68.6 million) release clause in his current contract at the Portuguese giants and he has been closely followed by the Villans this season.

As per Record, Tottenham Hotspur are said to have initiated contact to try and acquire the 24-year-old, potentially creating a transfer tug-of-war for his services.

Goncalves was in fantastic form for Sporting Lisbon in 2022/23 and managed to register 20 goals and 15 assists in 51 appearances across all competitions, as per Transfermarkt.

Aston Villa look to be in the market for quality additions and have also been linked with the likes of Youri Tielemans, Pau Torres and Joao Palhinha.

Speaking to GIVEMESPORT, journalist Jones thinks that Aston Villa fans should be enthused by the prospect of bringing Goncalves to Villa Park this summer.

Jones said: "Villa fans should be really excited by the fact that this is the sort of player they are being linked with. It just goes to show that they're got massive plans at the club, if they're aiming to get in players like this."

Would Goncalves be a good signing for Aston Villa and who else has been linked?

Goncalves would be a terrific addition to Unai Emery's side and carries a potent goal threat, evidenced by the fact that he averaged around 3.2 shots in the Primeira Liga this campaign, as per WhoScored.

FBRef also show that Goncalves has been an extremely inventive presence this term, successfully carrying out 181 shot-creating actions in total.

In terms of other prospective arrivals, Aston Villa have been linked with a loan move for Manchester United striker Anthony Martial, who is set to be moved on at Old Trafford this summer, as per FootballTransfers.

talkSPORT also understand that Leeds United winger Jack Harrison has also cropped up on the radar at Aston Villa and could be another offensive option for Emery to work with heading into next campaign.

Aston Villa look set for an exciting few months and their fanbase will hope to see Goncalves arrive alongside a few others in the West Midlands as they prepare to juggle domestic and Europa Conference League football.

Pakistan have added batsman Younis Khan to their squad for the second Test against West Indies in Abu Dhabi, which starts from October 21. Younis’ inclusion is the only change to the squad for the ongoing series.Younis had missed the first Test after being advised extended rest as he recovered from a bout of dengue. The 38-year-old batsman had contracted a high fever last month that was later diagnosed as the mosquito-borne disease, as he underwent treatment at a Karachi hospital. The illness also forced him out of the first round of the Quaid-e-Azam Trophy, Pakistan’s premier first-class tournament.Younis is Pakistan’s leading run-scorer in Tests with 9456 runs at 53.72. Before the Dubai Test, he had last missed a Test in May 2011, and had since played 41 successive matches, scoring 3839 runs at an average of 59.06. He scored 218 against England at The Oval in his last Test appearance.

يأمل كونور برادلي، لاعب ليفربول الإنجليزي في الحصول على فرصته للمشاركة أساسيًا أمام تشيلسي بنهائي كأس كاراباو.

ويلتقي ليفربول وتشيلسي يوم الأحد القادم، بنهائي كأس رابطة الأندية المحترفة “كأس كاراباو”.

وقال برادلي في تصريحات نشرها موقع ليفربول الرسمي، عن إمكانية مشاركته أساسيًا: “سيكون ذلك مميزَا حقًا، إذا شاركت أساسيًا، فستكون هذه هي اللحظة التي سأحظى بها لبقية حياتي”.

وأكد برادلي في تصريحاته: “نحن نتطلع حقًا للذهاب إلى هناك ونأمل أن نعيد الكأس إلى ليفربول”.

اقرأ أيضًا | كونور برادلي عن مهاجم ليفربول: أسوأ كوابيسي في التدريب وأكره مواجهته

واستطرد: “هذا ما يواصل المدرب كلوب قوله، إنه تعزيز كبير للثقة بالنسبة لنا للمضي قدمًا لبقية الموسم”.

وأتم: “لقد بذلنا كل العمل الشاق للوصول إلى هناك، والآن نحتاج فقط إلى تقديم أداء جيد يوم الأحد والحصول على اللقب”.

جدير بالذكر أن مانشستر يونايتد هو حامل لقب النسخة الماضية لكأس كاراباو لموسم 2022-2023.

With both Sri Lanka and West Indies gaining bonus points from their opening wins, Zimbabwe have their work cut out if they are to stop this tri-series becoming a two-horse race

The Preview by Liam Brickhill in Bulawayo18-Nov-2016Match factsNovember 19, 2016
Start time 0930 local (0730 GMT)Big PictureIf off-field distractions have followed West Indies to Zimbabwe, their performance in their first game of the tri-series did not show it. They brought a largely young, inexperienced squad here but their win on Wednesday suggested depth and quality nonetheless, and they will arrive in Bulawayo a confident group.West Indies’ three debutants in the first match helped to shape their win, with Shai Hope and Rovman Powell both making 40s before offspinner Ashley Nurse chipped in with three wickets. Nurse has insisted that rankings are not foremost in West Indies’ game plans, but their current position of ninth in the ICC rankings suggests a serious malaise that needs tackling.With a forward-looking squad and the necessity for general improvement in one-day cricket, it’s hard to dismiss the feeling that West Indies are focussed on their future. They have already missed out on qualification for the Champions Trophy next year, and if they are to avoid the ignominy of having to play in a qualifying tournament for the 2019 World Cup, they will have to continue to build on performances such as those in their tour opener. This game offers their next opportunity to do just that.The increased pace and menace with which West Indies’ quicks will operate brings with it myriad dangers for Zimbabwe’s batsmen. Shannon Gabriel and Jason Holder will not only gain extra lift from a traditionally dull surface, but Bulawayo’s drier pitches and outfields will also likely bring reverse-swing into the equation, as they did last year when Afghanistan’s Dawlat Zadran picked up nine wickets at 16.66 in five ODIs at Queens.Dawlat’s pace and swing meant he was able to strike upfront with the new ball, and then again with the old to help Afghanistan win the series 3-2. The bowling stats from that series offer further clues as to which bowlers might prosper in Bulawayo: Wellington Masakadza, Tendai Chisoro and Amir Hamza – all spinners – were the other leading wicket-takers. Genuine pace, accompanied by spin, will form a potent attack.With both Sri Lanka and West Indies gaining bonus points from their opening wins, Zimbabwe have their work cut out if they are to stop this tri-series becoming a two-horse race.Form guide(last five completed matches, most recent first)
Zimbabwe: LLLLL
West Indies: WLLLL
Sean Williams seems to relish batting against West Indies – in two World Cup matches against them he averages 146•AFPIn the spotlightZimbabwe coach Heath Streak called for more energy and aggression from his team after their defeat to Sri Lanka, and one player who normally has both in spades is Sean Williams. This is a player who spanked Zimbabwe’s fastest Test hundred while seriously ill with the flu earlier this year: he has clearly got the sort of fight Streak is looking for. Williams made starts in both Tests against Sri Lanka, so he’s in some nick, and he averages 40 at Queens Sports Club – his home ground. Williams also seems to enjoy batting against West Indies – in two World Cup matches against them he averages 146, with a pair of 70s in 2007 and 2015.Given the advantages of his height and long fingers, Sulieman Benn’s one-day bowling average of 46.38 is surprisingly high. Benn was part of the squad that lost to Pakistan last month, taking 2 for 158 in the series, and West Indies will want him to improve on those returns in Zimbabwe. Benn, 35, is of an age where consistency in performance is vital to continued selection. He should find Bulawayo’s pitches to his liking, and if he hits rhythm he will help West Indies retain control of the middle overs.Teams newsZimbabwe will probably look to bring in an extra spinner in these conditions. A debut for Tarisai Musakanda would offer an injection of youthful hunger into the batting, though that would also necessitate a re-shuffle in the batting order.Zimbabwe (possible): 1 Chamu Chibhabha, 2 Brian Chari, 3 Craig Ervine, 4 Sikandar Raza, 5 Sean Williams, 6 PJ Moor(wk), 7 Elton Chigumbura, 8 Graeme Cremer (c), 9 Tendai Chisoro, 10 Carl Mumba, 11 Tinashe Panyangara.With two spinners already in their line-up on Wednesday, and momentum with them following their win, West Indies may well go into this match unchanged.West Indies (possible): 1 Johnson Charles, 2 Kraigg Brathwaite, 3 Evin Lewis, 4 Shai Hope(wk), 5 Jonathan Carter, 6 Rovman Powell, 7 Carlos Brathwaite, 8 Jason Holder (c), 9 Ashley Nurse, 10 Sulieman Benn, 11 Shannon Gabriel.Pitch and conditionsSituated in the drier south of the country, Bulawayo tends to produce flatter pitches with less grass than Harare. Spin will be an important factor in the game, while inclement weather is less likely to feature – though when thunderstorms do brew they can be cataclysmic. Fortunately, Saturday should be sunny and dry.Stats and trivia West Indies’ last tour of Zimbabwe was nine years ago, and none of West Indies’ squad have played at Queens Sports Club before. Zimbabwe have played 45 ODIs against West Indies, losing 35 of those. Their last win against West Indies was in Guyana in 2010, when Zimbabwe clung on to defend 254 and win by two runs. The first List A game to be played at Queens Sports Club in the independent Zimbabwe was between West Indies and Zimbabwe in October 1981. Zimbabwe overcame a young West Indies side containing Desmond Haynes, Faoud Bacchus, Gus Logie, Jeff Dujon, Malcolm Marshall and Wayne Daniel by 53 runs, with Dennis Streak – current coach Heath Streak’s father – taking 4 for 45 with his medium pace. Quotes”I had a chat with Marlon Samuels [who has been to Zimbabwe before], but apart from that we’re just pulling out all the data we can possibly find from the analysts in terms of the ground stats and the opposition. But cricket is cricket at the end of the day, you just have to play as you see it, and assess the conditions as quickly as possible.”
“We know their batsmen are pretty fearless. We know they like to hit boundaries. We’ll try and stop that, and starve them of the boundary option to put them under pressure.”