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ScorecardRoss Taylor could not get Sussex over the line•Getty Images

A low-scoring classic at Hove saw Sussex Sharks snatch defeat from the jaws of victory as a floundering middler order saw them make a mountain out of a low target set by Hampshire. A simple chase of 135 from 20 overs took a turn when Sussex’s batsmen only managed five runs from three overs, in which they lost the wickets of Matt Machan and Chris Jordan.That meant 23 needed off the final three overs, which soon became 17 off 11 when Dawson caught Craig Cachopa at deep third man off the bowling of Gavin Griffiths. The silver lining of the wicket meant Ross Taylor found himself back on strike. Three fours in the remaining five balls of the penultimate over meant a manageable five off the final six.With three needed from the final two deliveries, Taylor went to lap Brad Wheal around the corner, only for the ball to pass him and leg stump through to the keeper. No wide was signalled and, with a cracking yorker, Wheal sealed a one-run win for Hampshire. Sussex Sharks skipper Luke Wright, while questioning the wide decision did not shy away from the brutal truth that Sussex lost this match through their own inexcusable carelessness.Even Matt Prior, watching on from the stands, could not bite his tongue when Sussex’s middle order woes were put to him, suggesting that he was prepared to help – although stopping short of saying in quite what capacity.While Griffiths returned three figures, it was 19-year-old Wheal that influenced where this game was headed. It was not just his ability to send the ball down consistently above the 85mph mark but his knack of second-guessing the batsmen to return 14 dot balls. Bowling Luke Wright for just nine and then trapping Machan in front just as he looked to steer the game away from Hampshire were marquee wickets.Having chosen to bat, Hampshire posted an under-par target with a batting effort that went some way to explaining why they were rooted to the bottom of the South Group before the match. It makes for unsettling viewing. In an era when the phrase “Moneyball” has been bastardised to the extent that you could get away with applying the phrase to a petrol station meal deal, they were one of the few sides that appreciated the analytics and application of T20 theorems. This will be the first season in the last eight in which they have not made it out of the group stages.Liam Dawson, morphing from one of English cricket’s “most improved” to “most valuable” white ball cricketers, cast as many disapproving looks to teammates as boundaries. Miscommunication with Tom Alsop and Shahid Afridi saw both run out embarrassingly, leaving him to pick up the pieces.Former Barbados under-19 Jofra Archer made his T20 Blast debut and, in his second over, picked up the wicket of Adam Wheater, with Chris Jordan taking the catch. It was Jordan who spotted Archer and recommended that Sussex make use of his British passport and bring him to Hove. Judging by the chain and chunky golden watch, Jordan may accessorise him, too.When he wasn’t encouraging Archer, he was showing him how it’s done. Four overs returned two for 14, as Jordan toyed with the tail when he finished his set with the 17th and 19th overs. His part in the game did not end with the ball, as he made an appearance in the 16th over of the chase, in at No. 6, as Sussex began to get stage fright.Three sixes – Taylor hitting Tino Best into the flats out at midwicket and Machan taking two in a row off Dawson – gave Sussex a degree of insurance. So, too, did Chris Nash’s 32 off the top of the innings. But a game that by Wright’s estimation should have been won in the 18th over slipped through their fingers in embarrassing fashion.It has been a strange season for Sussex: one which started with talk of an all out attack on the sole promotion spot out of Division Two and now, in the midst of the county summer’s own silly season, has them assessing how many eggs to place in each basket. Promotion is still not out of the question. But the uncertain weather and sheer effort needed to win four day games on down-trodden tracks means they will have to embark on an unheard of run in their final 10 matches to take them back to the top division.In the short term, staying in the hunt for T20 success means placing everything on beating Essex Eagles, Surrey and Glamorgan – all of whom sit above them in the group. They are still in control of their own destiny to a point but have lost all wiggle room.

A dramatic Yorkshire collapse gave Somerset hope of pushing for victory on the final day if the weather stays clear

David Hopps at Taunton17-May-2016
ScorecardAdam Lyth reached his hundred but few other Yorkshire batsmen prospered•Getty Images

“If the cockerel’s arse is in the grass then it’s going to rain.” So revealed one of the Taunton stewards, gesturing at the weather vane on the top of St James’ Church which had its back firmly turned on the exertions below on the County Ground. “That was one of the first things I was ever told when I started working here. It sounded quite rude at the time.”When the cockerel swung round just enough for play to resume under sullen skies it presaged a remarkable passage of play in which Somerset claimed five wickets for 11 runs in 29 deliveries with the second new ball. Tim Groenewald stood out on a freshened pitch, only for Yorkshire to refuse to yield in a felicitous, unbroken last-wicket stand of 69 between Steven Patterson and Jack Brooks. Somerset still lead by 256 – the follow-on seemingly inevitable – but failure to make inroads into Yorkshire’s second innings has undermined their chance of victory.Presumably such an unexpected twist would have disappointed the cockerel which can be presumed to retain a Somerset affinity, even if its roost came under attack in 2003 when Ian Blackwell, one of the cleanest hitters in the county’s history, struck the church tower during the fastest first-class 200 ever made by an Englishman.This slice of Somerset folklore will prey on a few minds on the final day. The forecast is for more prolonged bursts of rain and it won’t require too many “gurt big clouds” heading for the square for Yorkshire to escape with their unbeaten record intact.For all the late excitement at Taunton, weather interruptions combined with too many dead pitches can be expected to deliver another collection of the draws that are dominating the Championship season. Every victory stolen from this Summer of Stalemate takes on huge importance. Warwickshire won it under Nick Knight’s captaincy with five wins in 2004 and a repeat could be on the cards.Since choosing to bowl and conceding 562 for 7 Yorkshire’s only task has been to save this game. Although they began this diligently enough, with 127 for 1 logged by the close of the second day, and although Adam Lyth went on to complete his hundred before lunch before edging Lewis Gregory to slip on 106, none of the other left-handers who fill Yorkshire’s top five looked in form and there followed calamity against the new ball after tea before Patterson and Brooks plotted an escape route.Lyth often prospers at Taunton and an uppercut six against Jamie Overton which damaged a chair in front of the Colin Atkinson pavilion and a cover drive against Peter Trego completed the transformation of his overnight 80 into a hundred. Others struggled: Will Rhodes fell hooking Trego and Andrew Gale’s edge to slip gave left-arm spinner Jack Leach his only wicket of the day.Regular interruptions then held the day captive, stealing 36 overs in all. It all seemed to leave Julian Cattanach, Somerset’s PA announcer, somewhat disorientated. Resumptions of play were twice announced an hour later than actuality, so encouraging the theory that he was on European time, some sort of gesture perhaps towards the forthcoming EU elections. Cattanach was asked if this perhaps revealed his voting intentions, but he responded in Latin so nobody was any the wiser.Making the best of it during such stoppages is a county cricket thing: how can it not be with the English climate and the dead tramp of contracting media coverage? If you want to change the world then Cattanach’s happy knack for impromptu impressions – Margaret Thatcher morphing into Chris Eubank with barely a pause for breath – might not adequately fill your day, but it passed the time for those of lesser ambition before the skies lightened and, in what had appeared to be the dregs of the day, Somerset revived their chances of victory in a trice.Lewis Gregory began the collapse, treating Jack Leaning to a successive lbw appeal and play and miss before having him caught at the wicket. Adil Rashid was sent back looking for a third by Gary Ballance as Tom Abell, from backward point, retrieved at third man. Tim Groenewald then took 3 for 5 in 8 balls in a controlled burst, Ballance and Liam Plunkett caught at the wicket, pushing defensively and Andrew Hodd cleaned up, middle stump.More seemed sure to follow; nothing did. Cattanach, whose forefathers were on the wrong side at Glen Coe, left with the expression of a man inured to disappointment.

Chelsea midfielder Conor Gallagher could potentially join Borussia Dortmund this summer, according to reliable journalist Florian Plettenberg.

Is Gallagher having a good season?

The 23-year-old's future has been up in the air for a number of months now, as he finds himself at a key point in his Blues career. Having shone on loan at Crystal Palace last season, he has found things tough back at Stamford Bridge, rarely feeling like a key member of the starting lineup in 2022/23.

In total, Gallagher has only started 12 Premier League matches this term, and while there has been plenty of playing time from the substitutes' bench, he may feel that regular starts are required moving forward.

That may not ever quite happen for him in a Chelsea shirt – the Blues next manager is likely to play a big part in that decision – so a move away is increasingly feeling like a strong possibility.

Could Gallagher leave Chelsea this summer?

Taking to Twitter, Sky Germany's Plettenberg gave an update on the situation, saying Dortmund is a possibility for Gallagher, who could well depart west London for around £44m:

"News #Gallagher: He’s on the list of #BVB confirmed. They are monitoring his situation. But nothing advanced at this stage. No concrete talks. His future at Chelsea is open. Understand he could really leave Chelsea in summer. Valuation of around €50m."

In truth, it does feel like Gallagher leaving in the summer transfer window could be the best option for all parties, allowing him to be a key man elsewhere and getting his £50,000-a-week wages off the club's bill.

There is no doubt that the Englishman possesses quality as a footballer – Graham Potter hailed him as "fantastic" during his time in charge – but there are question marks over whether he will ever become the genuinely elite midfielder that Chelsea need to have in their ranks moving forward.

For all the endless work ethic and strong team work, Gallagher doesn't produce enough end product from his attack midfield role, scoring just twice and registering only one assist in 28 league matches this season, as well as none apiece in eight Champions League outings.

With his current Chelsea deal expiring in the summer of 2025, now feels like the best time to receive a good amount of money for him, so if Dortmund are willing to pay a hefty fee, the Blues should allow him to depart.

Tottenham Hotspur have been a side in disarray of late, and although they might have won at the weekend, it was hardly a performance to write home about.

Many have argued that Cristian Stellini’s side came away from the clash very fortunate, as their slender 2-1 victory hides the two questionable handball decisions and dismissed penalty shout, the latter of which the PGMOL has since apologised for.

It was a game that truly had everything, with VAR drama spilling over into the dugout, where both managers were sent off. Again the officials came under fire, as Stellini’s lack of involvement in the touchline fracas still earned him a red.

The main takeaway for the Lilywhites however was the fine strike that came from Heung-min Son, which finally brought the 30-year-old’s Premier League tally up to 100.

In curling in the opener, he became the first Asian to hit such a mark in the division's history.

However, this performance again papers over the cracks of what has been an abhorrent season for the South Korean speedster.

Typically keen to oversee the goalscoring burden alongside Harry Kane, it seems this season the £190k-per-week wide man has shirked his duty on numerous occasions.

After 28 league games, he has just seven goals to his name, whereas the last two campaigns had commanded tallies of 17 and above.

This in turn led journalist Jason Lee to take to Twitter to admit that the forward had been “underperforming”.

One goal should not expunge a season of disappointment, and such poor displays should give way to the youth talent who have instead earned their spot. One such name that springs to mind is Oliver Irow, a player hoping to make a breakthrough in the coming years.

Who is Oliver Irow?

Listed as part of a “bright” future for the Lilywhites by journalist Sohail Shamsudeen, the 16-year-old sensation has been tearing it up for the U18s outfit this season and is certainly one to watch at Hotspur Way.

The teenage gem already boasts four goals across 13 appearances, having finally burst into the youth side as a versatile attacker.

Clearly a goalscoring winger just like Son, to boast such a fine proficiency in front of goal at such a tender age marks him out as a truly valuable asset, one who could dislodge the South Korean once his career in north London comes to an end.

Indeed, to fast-track him into the seniors could be vital in offering the teenager that key experience to help him dominate the various youth levels, encouraging growth at a rapid rate.

Given how his potential predecessor in that role has underwhelmed this campaign could only ease such a surprising entry into the first team, allowing the youngster the platform to catapult himself into the stratosphere.

Manchester City are thought to be interested in signing Newcastle United midfielder Bruno Guimaraes this summer, according to a recent report.

The Lowdown: City set for rebuild?

It has been reported by GiveMeSport that a trio of Man City players could be set to leave the club in the summer transfer window, with Ilkay Gundogan, Aymeric Laporte and Bernardo Silva all tipped for exits.

With two of those players operating in midfield, and Rodri also being linked with a departure at the end of the season, Pep Guardiola may be forced into strengthening in the centre of the park, and the Sky Blues have been linked with several options.

City are said to be in ‘pole position’ to sign Southampton’s Romeo Lavia, as a result of the £40m buy-back clause they inserted into his contract when they allowed him to leave last summer, and Brighton’s Alexis Mac Allister has also been named as a potential target.

The Latest: Guimaraes targeted

According to the print edition of the Sunday Mirror (19/03/2023, p78), via The Manchester Evening News, Man City have a ‘strong interest’ in Guimaraes, and could make a move for the midfielder in the summer transfer window.

There may be competition for the Brazilian’s signature, however, as Real Madrid are also thought to be interested. In order to win the race, the Sky Blues could offer Kalvin Phillips as a bargaining chip, with the midfielder struggling to break into the first team.

The Verdict: Get it done?

The central midfielder has been a vital player for Newcastle ever since his arrival in the Premier League, making a total of 20 top-flight appearances so far this season, during which time he has weighed in with three goals and three assists.

Hailed as ‘incredible’ by Newcastle manager Eddie Howe, the 25-year-old is ranked as the Magpies’ fourth-best performing player in the league, as per SofaScore, recording an average match rating of 7.11, the highest of any midfielder.

Over the course of the past year, the maestro has averaged 0.26 non-penalty goals per 90, placing him in the 97th percentile compared to other midfielders, while he is also solid defensively, ranking in the 90th percentile for tackling.

Given that he is a threat going forward, as well as being skilled in the defensive side of the game, Guimaraes would be an excellent addition to the squad, however, it would not be a surprise if Newcastle are unwilling to sell, in light of his performances this season.

Newcastle United are thought to be interested in Leeds United defender Robin Koch, with an inquiry made over a potential deal.

The Lowdown: Praise from Gracia

Koch has been regular under both Jesse Marsch and Javi Gracia this season, missing just one Premier League game. The 26-year-old has already received special praise from the new Whites head coach following the 1-0 win over Southampton.

However, it looks as if his displays along with the possibility of relegation at Elland Road are alerting clubs over a potential Elland Road exit.

The Latest: Transfer update

German news outlet Sport1 shared an update in the last 48 hours regarding Koch, saying he ‘would like to take the next step in his development for the new season’.

They add that Newcastle ‘above all’ are ‘interested’ in signing the defender this summer, but he has also received ‘inquiries’ from the Bundesliga.

The Verdict: Decision needed

Koch, hailed as ‘outstanding’ by Clinton Morrison, is only under contract in Yorkshire until 2024. Therefore, a decision may be needed from both the player and the club over the coming months over a new deal or a move away.

Should Leeds drop down to the Championship, then perhaps Leeds may look to cash in, especially as Koch has made more clearances than any Whites player and also ranks highly for interceptions and blocks made per 90, as per WhoScored.

He already appears keen on taking the next step in his career, so Leeds may be hoping to receive more than the initial £11.5m they paid back in 2020, with Newcastle’s owners worth £320bn.

Manchester United manager Erik ten Hag wants the club to sign Inter Milan midfielder Nicolo Barella, according to Football Insider.

The Lowdown: Barella profiled

Barella is primarily a central midfielder who can also be deployed in holding or attacking midfield roles. The 26-year-old is valued at a career-high €70m (£61.6m) by Transfermarkt and has made 42 senior appearances for Italy.

He has been with Inter since 2020 and has made 166 appearances for the Serie A giants, 31 of which have come during the current campaign.

The Latest: Man United interested in Barella

Football Insider shared a story in the last 48 hours regarding United and Barella. They claimed that Ten Hag is a ‘huge fan’ of the player and wants the club to pip Manchester City to his services.

The report also relayed a £70m price tag for Barella, who is under contract at the San Siro until 2026.

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The Verdict: Get it done

United have been short in midfield in recent months, with Christian Eriksen’s injury diagnosis on January’s transfer deadline day leading to Marcel Sabitzer’s temporary arrival. Therefore, bringing in a new marquee midfielder like Barella could be a wise move by United chiefs in the summer in looking to build on a hugely positive first season under Ten Hag.

Barella has been Inter’s third-best performer this season according to WhoScored metrics with a 6.97 rating, registering the joint-most assists at the club and outperforming the likes of Sabitzer, Eriksen, Fred and Scott McTominay at Old Trafford.

With that in mind, the Italian – who was called ‘world class’ by former Azzurri national team coach Marcello Lippi – could form a solid partnership alongside Casemiro and Bruno Fernandes at United going forward, although the club will seemingly need to spend big to get a deal over the line for the Inter dynamo.

Leeds United’s attempt to find a new manager has been a frustrating process, but one name who has been mentioned might make fans wish the search would go on for another while yet…

When was Benitez linked to Leeds?

Given the Whites’ numerous setbacks in the pursuit of a replacement for Jesse Marsch, it feels like they are becoming desperate in their search.

In a reportfrom earlier in the week, following Andoni Iraola’s rejection of the job, it was claimed that Andrea Radrizzani would be open to the possibility of appointing Rafael Benitez should they continue to miss out on top targets such as Carlos Corberan.

Having disappointed with Everton and dragged them towards a relegation scrap last season, there is little to suggest that it would not be a similar story should the 62-year-old take the Elland Road hot seat.

Would Benitez relegate Leeds?

Before his dismissal from Goodison Park 13 months ago, it cannot be denied that the Toffees’ trajectory suggested that relegation was in view.

After a solid start to his reign with 13 points from a possible 15, Benitez had taken his side on a run of justoneleague win in four months and deservedly saw hisP45 handed to himin January 2022. Had they not enjoyed such a strong early-season run, relegation would have been almost certain.

It was a mind-boggling appointment for Everton in the first place to hire a former Liverpool manager whose best days were likely behind him.

The 62-year-old’s last major trophy had come in 2014, and his most recent job before joining the Toffees was a failed spell in China.

Time has caught up with the Spaniard, whose archaic playing style was quickly found out. His Everton team was not solid at the back, with 47 goals conceded in 22 matches under his watch, and often offered absolutely nothing in attack. 

He averaged just1.14points per match at Goodison Park, a figure which even Marschsurpassedduring his much-maligned time in Yorkshire. This poor form, partnered with the toxicity that Benitez can bring to a club, makes him one of the worst possible candidates for a Leeds team craving unity amid their fight against relegation.

Jamie Redknapp put it best when he claimed towards the end of the 62-year-old’s stint at Everton: “Rafa has a habit of causing chaos at clubs. He’s a politician, always blaming someone else, getting this person against that person.He creates an atmosphere with the crowd against the board everywhere he goes. I am convinced he’s doing it again now.”

Benitez crippled the Merseyside outfit, creating what pundit Jamie O’Hara described as a “rotten” core. He cannot be allowed to do so again at Leeds, as his prospective appointment could spell relegation for the Whites, with potential echoes of how he took over Newcastle at a similar juncture seven years ago and was unable to spare them from the drop.

Chelsea have been one of the most active clubs in the January transfer window so far and it wouldn’t be surprising if the club continues to do business right up until the window slams shut on Tuesday.

Joao Felix, David Fofana, Andrey Santos, Benoit Badiashile, Noni Madueke and Mykhaylo Mudryk have all made the move to Stamford Bridge this month to help the side improve their poor run of form in the Premier League.

The Blues are currently 10th in the top-flight table after 20 outings with just 29 points collected out of a possible 60 so far and manager Graham Potter will be hoping the new additions can strengthen the team enough in his pursuit to climb the table into one of the Champions League qualifying spots inside the top four.

Despite the number of incomings already, the west Londoners continue to be linked with moves for Enzo Fernandez, Moises Caicedo and Olympique Lyonnais right-back Malo Gusto with the latter a possible opportunity for Potter to add depth to his right-back position.

The promising 19-year-old has become one of the hottest prospects in Europe ranking in the top 20% of his positional peers for assists, shot-creating actions, passes attempted, pass completion, interceptions and dribbles completed.

Chelsea’s football.london writer Bobby Vincent has lavished praise on the Lyon ace hailing him both a “real talent” and “dangerous” when putting together a scouting report recently. he said:

“Malo Gusto is very dangerous going forward. He’s very quick and athletic and has an eye for a cross on the right-hand side. Also, he’s very good at defending one-versus-one situations. Looks a real talent.”

In fact, Potter could even land his very own Dani Carvajal with the Real Madrid sensation named as the most comparable player to Gusto over the last 12 months, according to FBref.

The two full-backs have several similarities in their output over the season so far including assists (one v one), pass completion rate (81.4% v 85.3%), goal-creating actions (0.14 v 0.10), clearances (19 v 24) and shots total per 90 minutes (0.42 v 0.58), also via FBref – these display the great attacking attributes that could be highly valuable to Chelsea to stay consistent with the prowess of Reece James on the right flank.

With that being said, the signing of Gusto would be a great piece of business for the powers at Stamford Bridge if they can complete a deal before the window closes and with a reported bid being prepared worth £30m, it would give Potter some like-for-like depth in the right-back position without breaking the bank.

Newcastle United could well emerge as a potential destination for Brighton and Hove Albion starlet, Moises Caicedo, with the Ecuadorean international currently attracting hefty interest from the Premier League’s elite.

What’s the word?

According to journalist Ben Jacobs, the Magpies are said to be keeping tabs on the 21-year-old at present in their quest to secure a new midfield addition, albeit with the Seagulls set to demand “£75m+” if they are to sanction a sale this month.

The CBS reporter revealed on Twitter: “Newcastle are also one to watch. Club are looking at more budget midfield options and are still prioritising a creative-minded midfielder over a DM. However they are monitoring the situation.”

This follows previous claims from transfer guru Fabrizio Romano who revealed that the midfielder is a player that the Tynesiders are “following”.

Howe’s next ‘jewel’

The highly-sought sensation has warranted such interest as a result of his standout form for Roberto De Zerbi’s side this season, having started 17 top-flight games to date, scoring once and laying on one assist in that time.

The midfield maestro – who has been tipped to be the “future leader” of his country by talent scout Jacek Kulig – has particularly impressed as a result of his ball-winning prowess, having averaged 2.9 tackles and 1.4 interceptions per game in the league so far this term.

The emerging superstar – who also ranks in the top 16% in Europe among those in his position for tackles made – only recently helped his side to claim a crushing 3-0 win over Liverpool at the Amex, having won five of his eight total duels on the night, while also enjoying a solid 89% pass accuracy rate.

Such mature displays for a player of relative youth have seen the youngster lauded as a “crown jewel” by historian Enrico Castro-Montes, with it looking as if Caicedo will go on to even bigger things over the coming years.

With Newcastle believed to be prioritising a new midfield addition at present – particularly with Jonjo Shelvey facing a spell on the sidelines – turning to the Brighton man could well prove an astute move for Eddie Howe and co.

The Englishman has notably enjoyed great success since bringing in Bruno Guimaraes to St James’ Park a year ago – with the Brazilian having been dubbed “world-class” by teammate Dan Burn – with it looking as if the former Bournemouth boss could find his next ‘jewel’ with the signing of Caicedo.