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A decision would need to be made about the value of a global event behind closed doors

Andrew McGlashan04-May-2020

The Australia v New Zealand ODI on March 13 was played to empty stands at the SCG•Getty Images

The fate of the men’s T20 World Cup in Australia, slated for later this year, could yet come down to the likely absence of crowds rather than the challenge of getting teams into the country.The shape of the 2020-21 season in Australia remains in significant doubt, but there have been a few positive indications in recent days that the scheduled cricket may yet be able to take place with Australia being one of the countries managing to effectively tackle the Covid-19 pandemic.The strongest indications revolve around the visit by India – the cancellation of which could cost Cricket Australia A$300 million [US$192 million approx.] – but there also remains a chance of the T20 World Cup still happening. At its recent meetings, the ICC said that preparations were still on for the 16-team tournament due to start on October 18 with a final decision not expected to be taken until August.Discussions continue between CA and the federal government about what needs to be put in place for international cricket to take place later in the year, and on Friday the Australian Institute of Sport published a framework for the return of sport at all levels in the country.While a bilateral series has huge logistical and bio-security challenges to overcome in the current climate – the first indication of how they are tackled could come in the English season – they are multiplied many times over for a 16-team world event, some from countries severely hit by the pandemic. However, the Australian government sports minister, Richard Colbeck, believes a solution could be possible, meaning a decision would need to be made about the value of a global event behind closed doors.”I’d love to see an Australia-India Test series this summer and I’d really like to be able to see the World Cup go ahead, but that will be quite a complex protocol to bring that number of countries in from around the world,” Colbeck told SEN Radio. “The issue [for the World Cup] is not so much the teams as the crowds and that’s probably one of the hurdles we really have to consider and probably one that world cricket will look at pretty closely as well.”We all know the difference in atmosphere when you see a filled stadium verses one that’s empty… they will be some of the broader considerations, but in a team sense I’d like to think that we can build some protocols with the cooperation of the sport and the players, that’s going to be extremely important, with appropriate quarantine and bio-security protocols to see if we can make the competition go ahead.”In one of the first signs in sport that the overall situation is improving in Australia, the Warriors rugby team from New Zealand arrived in Tamworth, New South Wales, on Sunday to prepare for the resumption of the NRL later this month. However, New Zealand has also had significant success tackling Covid-19, to the extent that the country recorded zero new cases on Monday. Expanding travel exemptions to a wider spread of nations would need to be a careful process.”Those conversations are being had, discussions about what the protocols might look like,” Colbeck said. “They will be difficult because one of the things that has been a key part of our success is that we limited access to Australia from areas where there were significant outbreaks of Covid-19 and that’s contributed to the low rate of spread we have now. But we would have to be prepared to consider appropriate plans put forward by the various codes.”Asked more broadly about crowds returning to sports events when social-distancing regulations are eased, Colbeck said it was hugely reliant on being able to trace possible cases. “Our capacity to be able to open up sport to crowds and all those sorts of things is going to be really dependent on our capacity to track and trace then quarantine community spread.”Australia and New Zealand played an ODI behind closed doors at the SCG in March shortly before restrictions were ramped up. Players have spoken about how it was a strange experience, but are confident that it would not detract from the spectacle if it meant a chance to resume the sport.”If this is the case and we have to play behind closed doors, the more and more that happens we’ll get more used to it and understand it,” Marnus Labuschagne said. “I don’t think it takes anything away from the actual game. For us it’s just about being ready and making sure that we’re ready to make any sacrifices that we can to get cricket back on TV and cricketers back out there playing.”

Jason Holder, West Indies’ captain, says that his team must prepare to embrace the “new normal” after touching down in England to embark on a historic Test series, but admits that the shift in global narrative, from the Covid-19 pandemic to the ongoing Black Lives Matter protests, could help to galvanise his squad in such extraordinary circumstances.Speaking after West Indies’ arrival at Emirates Old Trafford, where the squad will train in isolation for the next three weeks before decamping to Southampton for the first Test on July 8, Holder acknowledged that he and his team-mates felt “pretty safe” after a smooth transfer from Manchester Airport on Tuesday morning, adding that he was relishing the opportunity to get back to playing cricket after months of being “sat at home doing nothing”.However, the tour’s status as a global event has escalated in the wake of the killing of George Floyd in the USA, and surge of protests in support of the BLM movement, and at Holder’s arrival press conference, the lines of questioning veered between provisions for playing cricket in the midst of a pandemic, and responses to issues of racism in cricket, including those voiced this week by West Indies’ former captain, Daren Sammy. ALSO READ: ICC to use ‘common sense’ if players pay tribute to George Floyd“It’s not going to be a normal bilateral series here in England,” said Holder. “But at the end of the day this is where we are with the state of world cricket – the state of the world, per se. No doubt it will be different. But we just have to get on with it and try to make the most of the circumstances in these trying times.”West Indies arrive in England as holders of the Wisden Trophy, after a thrilling 2-1 series win in the Caribbean last year, in which Holder himself excelled with a double-century in Barbados. And though he insisted that England would be favourites this time around, he acknowledged that the challenge of beating the hosts in their own conditions, and at this moment in time, might provide “extra motivation”.”West Indians are fuelled and motivated in different ways,” said Holder. “In previous series, particularly against England, people have said things prior to the series beginning, and that has fuelled a lot of things within us as West Indians.”Who knows, this could be something serious we could build on and we could get some real positive energy through the group. Only after we sit down and discuss and get a common sense of where everybody’s mind is at, will we then formulate our plans.When asked if West Indies would join the BLM protests during the Tests, perhaps by taking a knee in the manner of the NFL quarterback Colin Kaepernick, Holder insisted that he could not speak on behalf of his team-mates until they had decided as a squad how to respond.”As a group we have to sit down and have our discussions,” Holder said. “I don’t want to speak out of context or on behalf of other players. We have different races within our group too. It is a sensitive time where we’ve got to be mindful of everything.”Holder and the West Indies squad arrived at Manchester on Tuesday morning•Getty Images for ECB

“[Racism] is a crime throughout the entire world and something that will probably be an ongoing discussion way past our lifetimes,” he added. “I think the greater message that could be brought from the entire experience is unity. I think regardless of race, your kind, religion, this is a situation for all of us to unite as one.”What has happened recently around the world has impacted the world and the response from people around the world has been tremendous. At the end of the day, you must acknowledge it and protesting or standing up for what you believe is seen as noble and courageous and something I myself would never sit and disapprove of.ALSO READ: Players are in the middle of history – CWI president“For me, the greatest thing at the end of the day is unity. We must all come together, there must be equality across the world. It could be a massive ongoing debate but equality and unity is the main thing I would pick up from this.”We had a brief discussion around it earlier and a lot of things around it come from education as well so I think it’s a perfect time for people to educate themselves about what goes on in other peoples’ experiences of the world. Only then can you have a better sense of what is going on around you. To be honest, a lot of people live and not know exactly what goes on around them and this is the perfect time to educate yourselves around it and make a change.”Holder added that he had not personally experienced racist abuse in cricket, but acknowledged recent incidents involving Moeen Ali – who was labelled “Osama” by an Australian fielder during the 2015 Ashes – and Jofra Archer, who called out a spectator at Mount Maunganui during last winter’s tour of New Zealand, as well as the case of his former team-mate Sammy, who was dismayed to discover he had been labelled with a racist nickname during his time at Sunrisers Hyderabad.”I would be foolish to sit here and say that racism is not prevalent in our sport,” Holder said. “I haven’t followed all of what Sammy has said but in terms of racism in general it is definitely all around us. For me the only solution is finding unity and equality in all races.”I just want equality to excel – to get everyone on the same page. So we can have less fighting, less killing, less adversity in society. For me that is the main message I would like to contribute.”

Celtic may be hoping that they will be able to keep hold of some of their top performers at the end of the season, rather than having to cash in on their best players.

Jota and Carl Starfelt were both sold, to Al Ittihad and Celta Vigo respectively, ahead of the 2023/24 campaign, whilst manager Ange Postecoglou was snapped up by Tottenham Hotspur.

Speculation is already circulating on the future of current Hoops star Matt O'Riley, as Leeds United – who are competing for promotion to the Premier League – are reportedly weighing up a summer swoop for the Denmark international.

Celtic have struck gold with many players in the past, signing them for modest fees before going on to rake in a massive profit, including current Liverpool and Netherlands colossus Virgil van Dijk.

If just adjust for the inflation of transfer fees in football, the Hoops once sold a defensive midfielder who was worth, relative to the time, more than current star Reo Hatate is worth in the form of Victor Wanyama.

Reo Hatate's market value

According to former Scotland international Barry Ferguson, back in September 2023, the Japan international would easily play in the Premier League and that potential suitors would need to splash out £15m to secure his services.

The ex-Rangers academy graduate based that valuation on Hatate's ability as both an athlete and a technician, as he went on to say that the Celtic dynamo is a 'modern-day' midfielder who has been a "brilliant" find for the Hoops.

Meanwhile, Transfermarkt currently his value at an estimated €10m (£8.5m). It was at €11m (£9.4m) in December 2023 but his recent absence through injury has caused a decline.

Hatate has missed a staggering 37 matches through injury for club and country this season, with calf and hamstring issues, but his form when he has been on the pitch for the Scottish giants over the last 18 months has been superb.

Appearances

32

Sofascore rating

7.32

Goals

6

Assists

8

Big chances created

10

As you can see in the table above, the 26-year-old magician offered quality as both a scorer and a creator of goals from the middle of the park in the Scottish Premiership last season.

Hatate, who held his own in physical duels with a 57% success rate in battles, scored more goals than any other central midfielder within the squad, whilst only Aaron Mooy (ten) and O'Riley (12) provided more assists from those positions.

This season, the Japan international has plundered two goals and two assists in just four league starts, with eight appearances in the division in total, as injuries have disrupted his campaign.

Celtic and Brendan Rodgers should now be hoping that Hatate returns to full fitness sooner rather than later, as his statistics prove that he can be a huge threat at the top end of the pitch for the Hoops when fit and available to start.

The Scottish giants did, however, once sell a more valuable asset in his position when they cashed in on Wanyama, who they hit the jackpot with.

How much Celtic paid for Victor Wanyama

Celtic swooped to sign the Kenya international from Belgian outfit Beerschot AC for a reported fee of £900k ahead of the 2011/12 campaign.

He hit the ground running at the base of Neil Lennon's midfield with 42 appearances in all competitions during his debut season in Scottish football, which shows that the 20-year-old starlet did not need much time to adapt to life in Glasgow.

Wanyama, who also played seven matches as a centre-back that term, chipped in with four goals and five assists for the Hoops, as they won the Premiership title.

The young enforcer followed that up with a return of nine goals and four assists in 49 appearances in all competitions during the 2012/13 campaign.

He racked up six goals and three assists in 32 matches in the Premiership, despite playing as either a defensive midfielder or a centre-back, to help the team to another league title success.

Wanyama won two Premiership titles and a Scottish Cup trophy in two years at Celtic, before Premier League side Southampton came calling in the summer of 2013.

How much Southampton paid for Victor Wanyama in 2024 money

Per Totally Money, the Saints splashed out a fee of £13m to sign the Kenyan colossus from the Scottish giants ahead of the 2013/14 campaign.

If you adjust for the inflation of transfer fees in football over the subsequent years, per Totally Money's index, that deal would be worth a staggering £23.9m in the current day, which is significantly more than the £15m that Ferguson believes Hatate is currently worth.

This shows that Celtic hit the jackpot when they signed Wanyama for £900k in 2011, as they went on to make a huge profit on the midfielder, who would be worth even more than one of their current midfield stars.

The defensive midfielder, who now plays for CF Montreal in the MLS, went on to play 97 times for Southampton across three seasons on the south coast in England, and averaged between 2.8 and 3.1 tackles per game in his three Premier League campaigns with the club.

His form for the Saints over those three years convinced Tottenham Hotspur to swoop in for him in the summer of 2016. Per Totally Money, Spurs paid £12.9m to secure his services, which would be worth £17.7m in the present day.

This suggests that Celtic extracted maximum value out of their sale of Wanyama, as Southampton ultimately sold him for less than they paid to sign the towering ace.

2016/17

36

2.5

1.1

2017/18

18

1.7

0.6

2018/19

13

1.0

0.5

2019/20

2

0.0

0.0

As you can see in the table above, the former Celtic star's initially impressive defensive work declined, alongside his appearances, over the course of his career in London.

The Kenya international scored seven goals across 97 appearances for Tottenham in those four years, before his free transfer to Montreal, where he still plays, in the summer of 2020.

Overall, Celtic should look back on Wanyama as a big success as they hit the jackpot with the colossal midfielder, who they made a huge profit on.

Derby County have been blessed with some potent goalscorers up top this season in their time of need, with James Collins bagging 13 league goals as the main source of goals in attack.

Free agent signing Dwight Gayle had also helped himself to three goals from six League One games, before injury disaster struck.

Paul Warne will hope Collins, who is back in the first-team fold after injury issues of his own, and the rest of his Derby teammates can get over the line as the Rams try and seal automatic promotion in the matches to come to return to the Championship.

The East Midlands outfit will stray on the side of caution splashing the cash if they do jump back up to the second tier, knowing that they could be suspectible to falling victim to another transfer blunder like this one back in 2007.

Robert Earnshaw's time at Derby

A lot was expected of Robert Earnshaw on his arrival to Pride Park, having netted 17 times from just 50 appearances for West Bromwich Albion before moving to Derbyshire.

Bagging an impressive 27 goals from just 47 Norwich City appearances too before joining the Baggies, it must have been a foregone conclusion in Derby's head that the prolific Welsh attacker would become an instant Rams hero.

The reality would be far more bleak unfortunately, with the £4.6m statement signing – as per TotallyFootball's Transfer Index – going on to score just two times for the Rams before departing for arch-rivals Nottingham Forest.

To add further insult to injury, Earnshaw would go on to be a star for Derby's main nemesis and come back to haunt his former employers with many a goal in matches that followed between the bitter neighbours.

When looking over this disastrous deal in the here and now, taking into account inflation courtesy of TotallyMoney's Transfer Index, the transfer mishap is exposed as being even more of a costly misfire.

Robert Earnshaw's transfer value in 2024

If the same ill-fated switch was to happen today, the Welshman would demand a far more substantial £11.9m fee to win his services – as per Totally Money.

Looking at Derby's record arrivals, that would see the Rams dud surge to the very top of the list – beating Matej Vydra to the golden medal spot in the process, who is far more well-liked by those in Derbyshire to this day for notching up 27 goals from 80 appearances.

1. Matej Vydra

€9.4m (£8m)

2. Krystian Bielik

€8.2m (£7m)

3. Bradley Johnson

€8.1m (£6.9m)

4. Tom Ince

€6.7m (£5.7m)

5. Martyn Waghorn

€5.6m (£4.8m)

Earnshaw flopping at Pride Park likely wasn't helped by Derby finishing rock bottom of the Premier League during his only season there in truth, rooted to the foot of the table with a still record low points haul of 11.

Describing his Rams ordeal as a "difficult" time in his career during a tell-all interview with DerbyshireLive journalist Chris Watson in 2018, the now-retired striker will take some solace in the fact he managed to bounce back with Forest even if that makes the failure from a Rams perspective even harder to stomach.

No doubt, Derby failing to win promotion up to the Championship this campaign would be even more sickening with Warne keeping his fingers crossed that Collins and Co can continue firing on all cylinders.

The Derby dud who now plays in a league 14 places below English football

Derby County supporters will have forgotten about this dire flop’s existence.

ByKelan Sarson Mar 27, 2024

كشف محمد حمدي، لاعب الفريق الأول لكرة القدم بنادي الزمالك، عن حجم الإصابة التي تعرض لها خلال مواجهة البنك الأهلي.

وتمكن الزمالك من الفوز على البنك الأهلي بثلاثية مقابل هدفين، في المباراة التي أقيمت على استاد السلام في إطار الجولة الأولى لبطولة الدوري المصري الممتاز.

طالع..الزمالك يتخذ قرارًا جديدًا بشأن أزمة ثلاثي مباراة السوبر المصري

وخرج محمد حمدي، عقب نهاية الشوط الأول، وحل كونراد ميشالاك بدلًا منه في المباراة التي أقيمت أمس الجمعة.

وخضع حمدي، للأشعة اليوم السبت، لتحديد حجم الإصابة التي تعرض لها في الركبة خلال فوز الزمالك على البنك الأهلي.

وكتب اللاعب عبر حسابه على موقع التواصل الاجتماعي “إنستجرام”: “الحمد الله قطع في الغضروف وجزع في الرباط الخارجي”.

ويستعد الزمالك، في الوقت الحالي، لمواجهة سموحة، الجمعة المقبلة، ضمن منافسات الدوري المصري الممتاز.

“We have a very good team and definitely Karnataka is a very strong side.”It’s odd to hear those words from R Vinay Kumar, talking of his team playing Karnataka. It’s odder still when you realise he’s going to occupy the ‘away’ dressing room at M Chinnaswamy Stadium in Bengaluru. The anomaly is complete with J Arunkumar standing beside Vinay, as the ‘away’ coach against Karnataka at the Chinnaswamy.Before the current domestic season began, Puducherry pulled off a coup of sorts by not only hiring Arunkumar as coach, but also roping in Vinay as one of their three professional players. They wouldn’t have known then, that the combination that took Karnataka to an unprecedented double-treble – of the Vijay Hazare Trophy, Ranji Trophy and Irani Cup – from 2013 to 2015, would end up facing their former team at the first available opportunity in the 2019-20 domestic season.Puducherry steamrolled their opposition in the Plate Group, earning a quarter-final spot against the Group A and B toppers, which turned out to be Karnataka. And now, the two men who were front and centre of Karnataka’s two most glorious years, will be plotting their downfall.”I never thought I was going to play against Karnataka,” Vinay said on the eve of their quarter-final. “But it’s cricket. We just need to play to win. I’m looking at it as one more game. Definitely there will be a lot of emotion involved, but when it comes to business, it’s business. I never thought that I would be playing so soon against them in an important game. It’s a bit similar to how in the IPL and KPL, my close friends could be in the opposite teams but we needed to win that game.”Karnataka are the heavyweights and the favourites, but in Puducherry, they have an opponent with tools uniquely fitted to cause a flutter of worry. Vinay has performed better at the Chinnaswamy than he has overall, and both he and Arunkumar know not just the ground, but the opponents, inside out. Vinay’s first-class bowling average at the Chinnaswamy is 21.46, against a career figure of 23.53. In List A matches, he averages 18.60 at an economy rate of 5.14. Those figures would read even better without the only ODI he’s played there, where he conceded 102 runs in nine overs for one wicket. His overall List A average and economy rate are 24.19 and 4.81. The last time Vinay played at the Chinnaswamy, he almost took Karnataka to victory over Saurashtra in the Ranji Trophy 2018-19 semi-final, having put in his most inspired bowling performance of an otherwise sub-par bowling season, only for Cheteshwar Pujara to get a lucky break in their fourth-innings chase.”It’s a bit of an advantage because you know these players really well,” Arunkumar said. “(Devdutt) Padikkal even played for my team in the KPL. But the execution is very important. Usually, if you plan too much it doesn’t work.””I know about their weakness and they know about mine,” Vinay said, while Arunkumar joked about whether Vinay actually had any weaknesses.S Aravind, who is now the Karnataka bowling coach but bowled alongside Vinay for several years and worked under Arunkumar, said it was bittersweet facing old friends. “We have to look at them as opposition now. There’ll be a healthy competition,” Aravind smiled. “As friends, we are in touch, but during the game, we are in different units.”One of the aces up Karnataka’s sleeve is captain Manish Pandey. He has been in sublime touch through the tournament, and has looked like he belongs to a level above the one he’s currently competing in every time he has stepped out to bat. And both Vinay and Arunkumar know that they will need to neutralise Pandey.”He’s performed in every game. I’ve been watching his scores and he’s doing superbly,” Vinay said. “Being a captain and performing like that shows his calibre, and you can see the difference in the team – they’ve ended up top of the group.”Arunkumar focussed on the fact that it was a one-ball game for batsmen. “In the end, it just takes one ball, one mistake, or one brilliant catch,” he said. “Throughout all our league games, we’ve got all teams all out within 40 overs [Puducherry bowled their opponents out in all seven games they had a full bowling innings in, but three of the teams lasted beyond 40 overs]. It shows how commendable our bowling unit is. Our medium pace department is fantastic, and I think we have some of the best spinners in the country.”He (Pandey) is playing his natural game as captain, (but) there will be a bit of pressure now since it’s a quarter-final. Like I said, it’s just a matter of one ball.”Vinay will have potentially 60 of them with his new team, to overturn the fortunes of his old one.

Allrounder provides the evidence that Taunton surface is difficult, but hardly unplayable during crucial last-wicket stand with Jack Leach

George Dobell in Taunton24-Sep-2019

Roelof van der Merwe brings out the reverse-sweep•Getty Images

As John Cleese ate his lunch at the County Ground on Tuesday, he could have been forgiven for concluding that Somerset’s title hopes were no more; ceased to be; expired and gone to meet their maker.Around that time, Somerset had subsided to 144 for 9. On this dry surface offering substantial assistance to the bowlers that was not, perhaps, quite as bad as it may seem at first glance. But neither was it a commanding position in a game they must win if they are to overhaul Essex. As a lifelong Somerset supporter, it may have been enough to put Cleese (and Jeffrey Archer, who has also had a long affiliation with the club and has been at this match) off his Colditz salad.But if we have learned anything from this summer, it is that Jack Leach is not a man to be underestimated.And here, once again, he batted as if nailed to the crease in helping his side add 59 crucial runs or the final wicket. It was easily the highest stand of the Somerset innings and one of only two that extended beyond 30. And while it would be an exaggeration to suggest it has put Somerset on top in this contest – the weather is probably winning so far and every gamble has to come off if Somerset are defeat it and Essex – it has, at least, extended their hopes of a maiden Championship title into the penultimate day of the season.Leach is becoming something of an expert in such last-wicket heroics. He was given a rousing reception by proud supporters as he made his way to the crease and rapturous applause after he hit – guided might be a more appropriate word – his first two deliveries for four through third-man off the previously frugal Sam Cook. From then on, however, he adopted a more familiar holding role – leech-like, if you will – with just two more scoring strokes from the other 34 balls of his innings.To see Roelof van der Merwe as low as No. 10 is surprising, though. This is a man with a first-class double-century to his name, after all, who has batted at No. 3 in both first-class and limited-overs cricket. But, reasoning that attack may be the best form of defence on such a pitch, he registered his first first-class 50 since 2017 slog-sweeping his first ball for six and following it, moments later, with a reverse-sweep for six more. In all there were four sixes and three fours.Simon Harmer bore the brunt of the punishment. Until that point, Somerset had struggled to negate his turn and control as he claimed the tenth five-wicket haul of a wonderful campaign that has now brought him 83 wickets. But van der Merwe took him for 45 runs from 35 balls and took Somerset to a total that may well prove somewhat better than par by the time this match ends. He later rated it both a “good score” on such a surface and a “good wicket” which may well be a somewhat contradictory stance.It was a stand which may carry significance beyond its numbers. For by demonstrating the pitch was not as unplayable as one or two Somerset batsmen had made it appear, Leach and van der Merwe have also earned their side a decent chance of avoiding serious sanction.Somerset have walked a narrow path in this area for some time. Just over a year ago, they escaped a penalty for their surface in a Championship match against Lancashire which finished in two days and was found to have “demonstrated excessive turn”. But while the ECB’s Cricket Discipline Commission did not penalise Somerset, they did warn that “the club should expect any proven breach of ECB’s pitch regulations in future to result in a points deduction”.The key point here is that game just over a year ago. And the ECB’s regulations state that “penalties can only be applied if a pitch has been marked poor or unfit, or is a second case, in the same competition, of a below-average pitch for that county in a 12-month period.And with ECB regulations deeming a pitch unfit “only if it is dangerous” and poor only if there is “excessive unevenness of bounce” or “excessive seam movement” there seems little scope for either conclusion. There is turn here, certainly, and there is some uneven bounce. But it really does seem as if Somerset have studied the regulations and taken a calculated gamble. If it comes off and they win the Championship, they will brush off the indignity of another ‘below average’ condemnation with a cheery smile. It would be a remarkable effort for a club currently searching for a new chairman, chief executive, chief operating officer and groundsman.There are also various extenuating factors the ECB’s pitch liaison officer, Phil Whitticase, will take into consideration. It is, for example, a televised game. And that means it has to be played close to the centre of the square in line with the position of the camera gantries. And, at the end of a long summer, all such surfaces have been used – this one for both the Ashes Test and the Afghanistan v New Zealand World Cup match.Either way, nobody wants this thrilling title race to be decided in a meeting room in the weeks after the season has been completed. So while the Essex coach, Anthony McGrath, did suggest “the pitch has turned from ball one and some deliveries have gone through the surface” he also conceded such matters were “nothing to do with me” and urged his side to “play the conditions in front of them.”For a moment, as van der Merwe counterattacked, Essex did seem a little rattled. Harmer appeared irritated when Jamie Porter, on the deep point boundary, came off the rope only to see a six pass just over where he had been and, with Ryan ten Doeschate pushing men out to protect the boundaries, the gaps for singles increased. Aron Nijjar, the left-arm spinner, was also largely ineffective.But Essex’s nerves were calmed with the relative ease with which Alastair Cook and Nick Browne negotiated the new ball. They were beaten occasionally, but they also established a decent platform and arrested whatever momentum shift may have been achieved in the latter stages of the Somerset innings. And with just 27.5 overs possible on day one and 45.5 on day two, time is running out for Somerset.The forecast for the third day, at least, is better. And while Somerset have a great deal of work ahead of them to claim 20 Essex wickets and squeeze in a second innings of their own, they have a huge amount of faith in the ability of Leach to exploit a pitch that really might have been tailor-made for him.Their Championship bid hasn’t kicked the bucket and shuffled off its mortal coil just yet.

Manchester United are reportedly 'prepared' to bring Mason Greenwood back for pre-season training if they fail to sell him in the next fortnight.

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Man Utd looking to sell GreenwoodPotential suitors yet to meet asking priceCould return to United for pre-season trainingWHAT HAPPENED?

The Mirror reports the Red Devils are 'prepared to welcome Greenwood back' amid their struggles to sell the forward. United are trying to shift the one-time England international but as of yet nobody has met their asking price – which is understood to be upwards of £40 million ($50.6m).

AdvertisementGettyTHE BIGGER PICTURE

Lazio had a £30m ($38m) bid for the 22-year-old – who spent last season on loan at Getafe – rejected by United earlier this month, with Juventus and Napoli, among others, also thought to be interested in recruiting him. His contract at United runs until 2025 but it seems Greenwood may have played his last game for the Premier League giants.

DID YOU KNOW?

Greenwood swapped United – who are said to be keen on selling their academy product and bringing in Bologna's Joshua Zirkzee as a replacement – for Getafe on loan in 2023-24 and scored 10 goals and bagged six assists in 36 appearances in all competitions.

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GettyWHAT NEXT?

United are due back for pre-season on July 8 but it remains to be seen if Greenwood – who is also wanted by Getafe but most likely on another loan deal – will head back to Carrington for then as transfer negotiations continue behind the scenes.

Whilst the silverware and Anfield development during Jurgen Klopp's time at the club will take the headlines when he makes an emotional exit this summer, one key aspect that musn't be looked past is the emergence of Liverpool's academy since the German took over. It was getting to a stage when the Reds looked unlikely to find their next Steven Gerrard and then there may have been concerns that Trent Alexander-Arnold was a one-off.

After almost a decade on Merseyside, however, Klopp's impact is finally beginning to show in the academy.

Liverpool's academy emergence

Liverpool have had plenty of promising homegrown stars over the years, but the majority have eventually struggled. Ben Woodburn got his career off to a flying start when he became Liverpool's youngest ever goalscorer at 17-years-old in a League Cup victory over Leeds United. Since that famous day in 2016, however, things have gone downhill. The academy graduate now plays for Preston North End in the Championship.

Then of course, Alexander-Arnold came along, who proved to be no one-goal wonder after striking a stunning free-kick in the Champions League qualifiers against Hoffenheim. The right-back has got better and better ever since and is now Liverpool's vice-captain and the highest assisting defender in Premier League history.

More recently, meanwhile, the likes of Jarell Quansah and Conor Bradley have stepped up and played important roles under Klopp and look likely to play a key role in the coming years.

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They're not the only players to have impressed Klopp though. According to Wayne Veysey of Football Insider, Lewis Koumas has been promoted to first-team training after Klopp was reportedly "wowed" by the 18-year-old attacking midfielder.

"Brilliant" Koumas can follow Bradley and Quansah path

Named in the first-team squad for Liverpool's recent 3-1 win over Burnley, Koumas has been described by a well-placed source at the club as a "diamond" as per Veysey. The forward, who operates on the left-hand side, converted from a midfielder last season and has been flying ever since – scoring 12 goals and assisting a further three in 15 games so far in the current campaign.

It's no surprise that Liverpool U21 manager Barry Lewtas has spoken so highly of Koumas, given the numbers. Lewtas told the club's official website: "Lewis has been brilliant for us, he really has.

"He is a real energetic frontline player, loves to run in behind, he is aggressive in how he approaches the game and has really good technique. He is a really good footballer. He has fitted in great with the lads, he has a fantastic character and he just gets on with it, he really does. The other day when we were talking about Lewis, you forget he is still an U18 player. He has really matured the way he plays."

After a busy January transfer window, which saw Corey Blackett-Taylor and Ebou Adams arrive, it seemed as though Derby County could go on and welcome one more fresh face for Paul Warne even after deadline day. A fresh twist has now emerged, however.

Derby transfer news

Sat second in League One and just four points adrift of leaders Portsmouth with a game in hand, the January transfer window could prove to be the difference-maker for Derby come the end of the campaign. The Rams will be looking to make the most of Max Bird whilst they've still got him too, having seen the midfielder complete a permanent move to Bristol City late in the window, before re-joining Warne's side on loan.

Speaking about the deal, Warne said via The Derby Telegraph: "It was quite early on really. Max has been courted by a few clubs over the years. A year or two ago, a couple of clubs had offered big money for him. He didn't go and I always think it's difficult when you are a youth team player and come through the club, you always get looked upon differently by the fans, the staff and by everyone.

"You don't want to become part of the furniture, and I do feel that some players do that. For example, at my previous club, I had Ben Wiles and Jerry Yates. Both were amazing players but got to the stage where they thought they needed to go somewhere else and show their worth."

Perhaps looking to enjoy some good news on the transfer front, reports linked Derby with a move for Dwight Gayle, who was recently released from Stoke City and was seemingly spotted on his way to Pride Park. However, according to Leigh Curtis of The Derby Telegraph, Derby are not pursuing a deal for Gayle as things stand.

"Quick" Gayle would be worth the gamble

As Derby look to gain an edge in the race to leapfrog Portsmouth and win the League One title, Gayle would have been worth a punt, before the reports were rubbished by Curtis. The forward has plenty of experience, whether that be in the Championship or the Premier League, and was once at the centre of Alan Pardew's praise.

The former Crystal Palace boss said via FourFourTwo: "He [Gayle] seems a very uncomplicated player to me. He's very straightforward in his work. He's quick, good in the air and has two feet… blimey, there's not much more you could want is there really? He's got a good attitude, all he needs is experience and to grow in his confidence."

Gayle's Championship numbers speak for themself, but it seems as though Derby have opted out of pursuing the forward, who remains a free agent.

Dwight Gayle in the Championship

Stats

Appearances

145

Goals

62

Assists

21

As the weeks tick by, the Rams will hope that their decision doesn't come back to haunt them and Warne's current options do enough to earn a place back in the Championship.