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R Sridhar is set to return as India’s fielding coach for the three-Test series against New Zealand

Arun Venugopal13-Sep-2016

R Sridhar is set to return as India’s fielding coach for the three-Test series against New Zealand. Sources confirmed Sridhar, who is currently in Australia with the India A team, will replace Abhay Sharma, and join the team in Kanpur for the first Test. The details of his contract, however, are understood to not have been finalised yet.It is learnt India coach Anil Kumble was keen on re-appointing Sridhar, whose contract came to an end in April after the World T20. “Kumble contacted Sridhar immediately after he took over as coach and advised him to wait till he came back from the West Indies and took a call [on Sridhar’s appointment],” a source familiar with the developments told ESPNcricinfo. “The BCCI sent an e-mail to the India A team manager late last evening asking Sridhar to report in Kanpur ahead of the first Test. Sridhar might have to leave midway through the second four-day Test between India A and Australia A from September 15 to 18.”While Abhay travelled with the team for the Zimbabwe and West Indies tours in a stop-gap capacity, BCCI president Anurag Thakur had said full-time appointments would be made before September 15. Sanjay Bangar, who went on both the tours, will continue as batting coach, while no bowling coach is expected to be appointed at least until the end of the New Zealand series.Sridhar and Bangar had begun their first stints as assistant coaches to Ravi Shastri, who was brought in as team director, during the limited-overs leg of the England tour in August 2014 after India had lost the Test series. Their contracts were first extended until the end of the World Cup in 2015, before they were renewed till the end of the World T20 the following year.

Arsenal remain in the hunt for their first Premier League title since 2004, as the Gunners hope for Manchester City to fumble in their final run-in.

Mikel Arteta’s side have been front-runners for the majority of the season, however when injury struck the defence, form came to a halt in April, costing them points at a vital time and taking the league out of their hands.

Defensive blows to both William Saliba and Takehiro Tomiyasu proved too costly to the north Londoners, ultimately highlighting their lack of depth in comparison to league leaders City.

Now that Arteta knows what it takes to go all the way, Arsenal are reportedly looking towards the summer transfer window already, with a number of players speculated to be on their radar.

One of those linked with a move to the Emirates is £45m Southampton midfielder Romeo Lavia.

As reported by Fabrizio Romano earlier this year, the Gunners are one of a host of teams interested in the former Manchester City academy player, who has been magnificent for the struggling Saints.

The headlines regarding Arsenal are dominated by talk of Declan Rice potentially relocating across London, however, with Granit Xhaka rumoured to be leaving this summer, chances for a midfield rebuild are there.

How can Romeo Lavia improve Arsenal?

Described by Southampton correspondent Benjy Nurick as an "absolute monster", the midfielder displays the talent of a true holding player, acting as a metronome in the middle of the park.

At just 19 years old the Belgian is competing among Europe's elite this season, despite being in a Championship-bound squad.

The Brussels-born teen ranks in the top 9% for blocks made per 90 minutes this season in Europe’s top five leagues for midfielders, averages a pass completion rate of 86.1% – as per FBref – and sits inside the top 7% for fouls drawn as a marker of his industrious and bustling nature.

The signing of the young midfielder with heaps of potential resonates with the capture of Cesc Fabregas in 2003, who joined Arsenal’s academy to become the World Cup-winning footballing legend he is today.

The Spaniard arrived in north London and quickly became a world-beater in midfield, orchestrating attacks with his innate ability to read the game. Similar attributes are shown by Lavia, who has been described by Paul Scholes as being a player who "sets the play in motion."

The Manchester United legend went on to say the Belgian has "so much potential" and is as good going forward as he is sitting back in midfield.

That was certainly the case for that man Fabregas, who scored 19 goals and registered 17 assists in the 2009/10 campaign. That was at the peak of his powers with the Spaniard eventually moving back into a deeper role, but even then, he won 2.3 tackles per game, similar to Lavia's two per game.

It's unlikely the teenager will ever register those attacking numbers but he could certainly act as a metronomic presence in the way Fabregas did in the later stages of his Premier League career.

That said, with this being Lavia's first full season playing senior first-team football, the sky is the limit for the teen sensation, who if nurtured correctly at a club like Arsenal, could prove to be one for the ages at the Emirates.

Tottenham Hotspur are reportedly interested in making a move for Southampton talisman, James Ward-Prowse this summer, with the Englishman facing an uncertain future at St Mary's following the club's recent relegation.

What's the latest on Ward-Prowse to Spurs?

According to the Daily Mail, the Lilywhites – as well as the likes of Aston Villa and West Ham United – are said to be admirers of the 28-year-old, with the Saints already said to be preparing themselves for offers from Premier League clubs after their drop into the second tier was confirmed at the weekend.

As per the report, the influential midfielder's current deal – which is set to run until 2026 – does not contain a relegation clause, with the south coast unsurprisingly still keen on keeping hold of the long-serving asset despite the prospect of life in the Championship.

That being said, however, the piece goes on to add that the playmaker's reported £100k-per-week salary could prove rather 'pricy' for the newly-relegated side next season, with that potentially opening the door for the likes of Spurs to pounce.

Should Spurs sign Ward-Prowse?

Aside from the search for a new permanent manager at N17, the major concern for Tottenham chairman Daniel Levy will be the uncertainty surrounding Harry Kane's future at the club, with the 29-year-old the subject of interest from Manchester United with just a year left on his existing contract.

The hope will be that the club's record goalscorer will opt to stay put in north London beyond the end of this season, with the signing of Ward-Prowse, in particular, potentially set to be a key factor in tempting the England captain to remain in the capital.

The additon of his compatriot could well represent a dream signing for Kane such is the midfielder's ability to provide quality service, with talkSPORT pundit Darren Ambrose going as far as to suggest that if "you sign James Ward-Prowse, Harry Kane stays".

As Ambrose claimed, the arrival of the "set piece master" – as hailed by broadcaster Maximiliano Bretos – could give Spurs' talisman "an extra ten goals a season" due to his deliveries, with that likely to be a mouthwatering prospect as far as Kane is concerned.

Lauded as the "perfect player that Spurs need that goes from defence to attack" – according to Ambrose – Ward-Prowse would be a real asset to his Three Lions colleague as he arguably has the "best delivery in the league", in the words of teammate Jan Bednarek.

The Portsmouth-born gem – who is valued at around £17m by CIES Football Observatory – has notably created nine big chances this season as a marker of his devastating, creative brilliance, with that a better record than what the current midfield pairing of Pierre-Emile Hojbjerg (five big chances) and Oliver Skipp (zero big chances) have achieved combined for Spurs this term.

As such, it is clear to see that the 5 foot 8 sensation would represent a "great fit" for the club – as per journalist Pete O'Rourke – and potentially for Kane, with Levy needing to ensure that a deal is wrapped up sooner rather than later for the "unbelievable" talent, as hailed by ex-Saints man, Oriol Romeu.

Wolverhampton Wanderers defeated in-form Aston Villa 1-0 this afternoon as they virtually secured their Premier League status for another season.

The Old Gold had secured some impressive wins over the previous month, but a 6-0 loss against Brighton and Hove Albion seemed to knock the stuffing out of the side, and Julen Lopetegui was aiming to bounce back today.

The Spaniard brought in Toti Gomes as he replaced Hugo Bueno, and it turned out to be a match-winning decision, as the defender scored a header from a corner during the first ten minutes which ended up as the only goal.

Both teams had chances throughout, yet Wolves’ resolute defending was integral to the overall performance, and they now sit on 40 points, ten clear of the drop zone.

Toti was a worthwhile inclusion, and his Sofascore rating of 7.6/10 was the highest of any outfield player in the starting XI. Aside from scoring the winner, he was a rock at the back, winning five of his ground duels, making three tackles and three clearances, while taking 40 touches, suggesting he looked to get on the ball regularly.

However, it was forward Matheus Cunha who was Lopetegui’s true hero on the day as he starred alongside Diego Costa.

How did Matheus Cunha perform against Aston Villa?

The Brazilian was excellent against Villa, looking lively throughout as the Molineux outfit looked to secure a vital win, and he was a key part of this success.

His 7.4/10 Sofascore rating ranked him as the joint-second-best outfield player after Toti and alongside Matheus Nunes, and although he didn’t score, his overall contribution was solid.

The forward had two shots during the tie and succeeded with all six of his attempted dribbles, as the Villa defence struggled to keep tabs on him during his time on the pitch.

He did complete just nine passes, yet he more than made up for this with his defensive output, chipping in when it mattered most. Cunha won nine ground duels, made two tackles and interceptions as well as one clearance, as he demonstrated his physical attributes to wonderful effect.

It was a display that Loeptegui would have hoped for pre-match and the striker certainly delivered. Securing their top-flight status ahead of next season could be crucial in terms of luring more players of Cunha’s quality to the Midlands ahead of 2023/24, and the manager has turned their fortunes around massively since taking over just before Christmas.

Aston Villa are still interested in signing Manchester City midfielder Kalvin Phillips in the summer transfer window, according to an update from journalist Pete O'Rourke.

Where is Kalvin Phillips?

The Englishman traded Leeds United for City last summer, having earned himself a high-profile move after shining for both the Whites and England. While he has seen as potential key player for the reigning Premier League champions, things haven't got to plan for him in his first year at the Etihad, as he's barely even been seen in top flight action.

Injury problems have hampered Phillips for much of the campaign, as well as other top midfielders being ahead of him in the pecking order, and he has only played 102 minutes of league action across seven cameo appearances, with none coming from the start.

The former Leeds favourite's lack of playing time has led to speculation surrounding his future at City, with a quickfire exit potentially happening this summer. Villa have been linked with a move for him in the recent past and now a fresh update has emerged.

Could midfielder end up at Villa?

Speaking to Give Me Sport, O'Rourke claimed that Villa are still keen on the idea of Phillips joining the club during the upcoming summer window:

"If Phillips becomes available, I'm sure there will be a number of clubs who will be ready to sign the England international. Aston Villa have held a long-term interest in Phillips.

"I think they're the ones who first moved for the Leeds midfielder a couple of years ago, but he decided to stay at Leeds. I'm sure that interest hasn't gone away."

Phillips could be a perfect summer signing for Villa, proving to be the type of player who can take Unai Emery's midfield to another level. Admittedly, this season has been a disappointment for him and his stock has fallen a little, but this is a player who has been described as "superb" by Spain and Barcelona legend Xavi, which speaks volumes.

The 26-time capped England international could be a strong box-to-box presence for the Villans, combining tenacious tackling with quality in possession, having averaged three tackles per game in the EFL Cup and enjoyed a 91% pass completion rate in the league this season.

Should City be willing to let Phillips leave, Villa should do all they can to sign him, with the midfielder very much in his prime years and likely to remain that way until his early 30s.

Tottenham Hotspur chairman Daniel Levy has a new personal ‘favourite’ to replace Antonio Conte as news emerges on Brentford boss Thomas Frank.

The Lowdown: Spurs target new managers…

Nearly a week after Conte’s infamous post-Southampton rant, no official decision has been made on the Italian’s future in north London despite a plethora of reports.

The 53-year-old had been linked with a move away from Spurs even before the controversy, with his contract running out and set to expire in June.

Spurs were believed to be highly unlikely to trigger the 12-month extension option in his deal before Southampton and it’s safe to say that proposition is now dubious at best.

Sporting director Fabio Paratici has drawn up a shortlist of candidates to succeed Conte, ranging from former boss Mauricio Pochettino to more outside contenders like Frank (Sky).

The Dane has been doing a brilliant job at Brentford in the Premier League with his side currently still contending for a place in Europe next season.

The Latest: Frank becomes Levy ‘favourite’…

According to a report by Scottish news outlet The Daily Record, sharing news from ‘well-placed sources down south’, Levy is believed to have a new ‘early favourite’ for the Spurs job in Frank.

The Lilywhites chairman is apparently believed to view Brentford’s boss as the main contender to replace Conte but other candidates, like Celtic’s Ange Postecoglou, are still in the mix.

This report adds that the 49-year-old has been a ‘smash hit’ for the Bees and Levy’s track record of appointing proven winners is a poor one, leading him to consider more ‘project’ managers like Frank.

The Verdict: Fantastic coach…

Taking charge at Brentford almost five years ago, Frank has lead the club to their first ever stint in the Premier League and could secure an historic European qualification place if things go well.

The Dane has operated on fairly limited resources compared to other European contenders, like Man United or Newcastle for instance, and we believe he could be considered a perfect ‘project’ manager.

Frank has been endorsed by both members of the media and rival top flight bosses for his work at the Gtech Community Stadium.

Liverpool boss Jurgen Klopp, speaking to the media, had this to say on Brentford’s tactician – claiming:

“The football they play is incredible and the organisation is incredible so Thomas and Brentford is doing an incredible job. They show even with less money you can create something really special.”

Meanwhile, presenter TV and Radio presenter Adam Smith has called him ‘one of the most underrated’ managers in England.

Liverpool are believed to be interested in signing Bayern Munich midfielder Ryan Gravenberch this summer, according to a new transfer rumour.

The Lowdown: Gravenberch out of favour

The 20-year-old has emerged as arguably one of the most exiting midfielders of his generation, having initially burst onto the scene at Ajax, making 103 appearances for them.

Gravenberch’s performances earned him a high-profile move to Bayern last summer but he has struggled to reach the hype early on in Germany.

He has only managed just one start in the Bundesliga all season long, as well as making 14 substitute appearances, falling behind others in the midfield pecking order, such as Joshua Kimmich and Leon Goretzka.

While it is still clearly early days for Gravenberch at Bayern, there may be a part of him that is already considering moving on, should Julian Nagelsmann not see a long-term future for him.

That’s where Liverpool come into play, as Jurgen Klopp continues to look at potential midfield signings during the summer transfer window.

The Latest: Liverpool keen on signing

According to a report from Spain [via Caught Offside], the Reds are interested in signing Graveberch at the end of the season, seeing him as a strong option to bring in.

It is even stated that talks are at an advanced stage currently, with new faces required ahead of the likely exits of Naby Keita, James Milner and Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain.

Gravenberch’s current Bayern deal doesn’t expire until the summer of 2027, so it may not be easy to get him on the cheap.

The Verdict: Potentially great addition

Granted, the 11-cap Netherlands international hasn’t pulled up any trees at Bayern so far this season, but he is such a young player that going overboard about his struggles is nothing more than hyperbole.

Gravenberch remains a huge talent with a massive future ahead of him – former Ajax player Wim Kieft once called him a ‘complete’ player – and for that reason the idea of him in a Liverpool shirt is hugely exciting.

The youngster possesses both physicality and technical quality, both of which have been sorely lacking at Liverpool this season, given his 6ft 2in frame and 89.1% pass completion rate in the Bundesliga this season.

At 20, Gravenberch and Jude Bellingham could both come in and represent the future at Anfield, although both are so incredibly mature for their age that they would surely be considered regular starters from the off by Klopp.

Whether or not Bayern are willing to sell so soon remains to be seen, but Liverpool should see it as a shrewd signing in what is a pivotal summer at the club.

Liverpool defender Kostas Tsimikas has been praised for his ‘fantastic play’ during the Premier League game vs Wolverhampton Wanderers by journalist Ian Doyle.

The Lowdown: Victory at Anfield

The Reds were the hosts at Anfield on Wednesday night as they secured a 2-0 victory over the Old Gold thanks to two second-half goals from Virgil Van Dijk and Mohamed Salah.

The Greece international was named in the starting line-up by Jurgen Klopp and had a wonderful impact on the game, providing the assist for the Egyptian striker to seal all three points.

The Latest: Doyle’s reaction

Taking to Twitter, Doyle was quick to applaud Tsimikas for his work rate to burst into the box and lay it on a plate for Salah. He wrote:

“Fantastic play down the left by Tsimikas, who ran on to a Gakpo pass, delayed and delayed and delayed and then picked the right pass to cut back for Salah to score.”

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The Verdict: Standout performer

Liverpool picked up a much-needed win over Wolves, and Tsimikas’s contribution certainly helped them get the result over the line.

The left-back, labelled ‘excellent’ on the night by Dave O’Connell, was his side’s second-best performing player, earning a match rating of 7.7, slightly behind Van Dijk, who came in at 8.2 for his goal and captaincy on the night (SofaScore).

The Reds star also had an 85% pass accuracy and registered two key passes, highlighting the positive impact he made under the lights.

Tsimikas has only been handed six league starts this season, but after a performance like this, Klopp may now have to consider increasing his involvement in the weeks ahead.

Sunderland have enjoyed a strong first season back in the second tier of English football as Tony Mowbray’s team currently sit ninth in the table after 29 matches.

The Black Cats are two points off the play-off places and could fight for a place in the top six, leading to a chance at promotion to the Premier League, between now and the end of the regular season.

One of the key players in their campaign so far has been academy product Dan Neil. The central midfielder has started 26 times in the Championship and looks set to be the next success to come out of the Academy of Light.

He could be looking to follow in the footsteps of the likes of Jordan Henderson and Jordan Pickford, who are currently playing for Liverpool and Everton, respectively, in the top-flight.

Was releasing John Egan a mistake by Poyet?

Sunderland have not always had the best judgement when it comes to youth products as one player they dropped the ball with back in 2014 was central defender John Egan.

The youngster came through the u18 side and went out on various loans before former manager Gus Poyet opted to release him on a free transfer to Gillingham in 2014.

It only took two seasons for Brentford to swoop in for the defender and Egan enjoyed an excellent spell in London – averaging Sofascore ratings of 7.15 and 7.08 in his two seasons in the second tier, helping his side to keep 18 clean sheets.

The Ireland international won at least 60% of his individual duels across the two campaigns and displayed his colossal quality as a centre-back at that level, just two years on from leaving the Stadium of Light for £0.

His form for the Bees then convinced fellow Championship side Sheffield United to smash their transfer record to sign the Irish titan for £4m in 2018.

Since arriving at Bramall Lane, the 30-year-old – who has been capped 30 times by Ireland – has played 198 matches in all competitions for the Blades and featured in 67 Premier League games.

In the 2019/20 top-flight campaign, Egan, who was once dubbed a “leader” by journalist Kate Burlaga, averaged a Sofascore rating of 6.96 in 36 appearances as the gem won 61% of his duels and 2.8 tackles and interceptions per outing.

For context, no Sunderland centre-back with more than one appearance in the Championship this season has averaged a score higher than 6.87, which illustrates just how well the Irishman has performed over the years for Sheffield United and Brentford.

Therefore, the Black Cats dropped the ball by releasing Egan in 2014 as they missed out on a big payday with the central defender as well as the opportunity to utilise his talents on the pitch over the years.

They could have benefitted from his colossal performances in the Championship, and the Premier League, and then cashed in for big money – £4m or more – to make him a real academy success. Instead, they allowed him to leave for nothing and have had to watch on as the enforcer is enjoying an excellent career.

BT Sport pundit Rio Ferdinand has claimed that Arsenal defender Oleksandr Zinchenko was left “flustered” after Neal Maupay came off the bench this weekend.

What’s the word? It was a bad day away from home for the Gunners in the Premier League this weekend as Mikel Arteta’s men came unstuck at Goodison Park.Indeed, Sean Dyche’s Everton team managed to grind out a 1-0 win against the league leaders, inflicting Arsenal’s second defeat in a row after losing to Manchester City in the FA Cup.With the Toffees already leading thanks to a headed goal by James Tarkowski, Muapay came on in the 62nd minute and helped see out the game.While speaking on Rio Ferdinand Presents FIVE, the pundit claimed that this substitute had a particular impact on one of the Arsenal players.He explained (4:17): “Maupay has had up Arsenal a couple of times. He has though, I’m not joking. He’s ruffled your feathers a few times.”He continued: “Today came on, he had Zinchenko all flustered. Last time against Arsenal and what happened, was it when he was at Brighton? He called out [Matteo] Guendouzi.”NemesisAs Ferdinand mentions, Maupay certainly did seem to get in the head of Zinchenko. In the dying stages of the game, he managed to disrupt Arsenal’s momentum by fouling the left-back with a nasty kick that was missed by the officials.A furious Zinchenko then squared up to the Everton man who pulled the Ukrainian to the floor as if he was the one who had been pushed. Both men were booked but it wasted some precious time for the Gunners.What’s more, this certainly wasn’t the first time Maupay has annoyed an Arsenal player. Indeed, back at Brighton, he was caught up in a skirmish with Guendouzi after the final whistle having injured Bernd Leno earlier on in the match.The Seagulls won the game too and so Arteta and co won’t be keen to see the French striker again any time soon.