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West Bromwich Albion made it back-to-back 4-1 wins by overcoming a leaky Blackburn Rovers side at the Hawthorns comfortably, Brandon Thomas-Asante's double in the one-sided affair helping the Baggies pick up a win and consolidate fifth position in the current Championship standings.

Tom Fellows got in on the act in the resounding victory too, opening the scoring to justify Carlos Corberan sticking with the 20-year-old winger in the starting lineup after starring in the FA Cup versus Aldershot Town.

The homegrown Baggies product is attracting interest from plenty of higher-up suitors as a result of his recent positive displays, with West Brom powering ahead with multiple incomings in the building to soften the blow of Fellows potentially exiting this month.

West Brom want to sign German talent

Football Insider revealed on Saturday that West Brom are eager to bring Hertha Berlin talent Derry Scherhant to England this January, with Ipswich Town also sniffing around for the German youngster according to the report.

Played both down the flanks and as a centre forward this season out in Berlin, Scherhant could be a wise buy if Fellows does depart the Hawthorns for pastures new.

Previously linked with a shock move to Germany where Scherhant currently resides, Fellows is now subject to interest from Everton in the Premier League according to Fabrizio Romano on social media.

Still yet to tie Fellows down to a new contract, Corberan could swoop in for this 21-year-old transfer target if the Baggies end up becoming powerless over the ongoing situation with their in-demand winger and he ends up walking away.

How Scherhant fits into the West Brom team

Once referred to as an "emerging talent" by football journalist Mike McGrath when the attacker was on the radar of Newcastle United, Scherhant wouldn't simply move to West Brom and wait for an opportunity on the sidelines as one for the future anymore.

Able to be versatile and play down either flank, Scherhant's main joy to date at Hertha Berlin has been when he's deployed as an out-and-out centre forward – notching up an impressive 26 goals playing in that role for the Berlin II team from just 45 appearances in that position.

Scherhant even has five goals from five this campaign for the reserve side before being bumped up to the first-team set-up, proving himself to be a deadly finisher in the German capital.

Yet, when drafted into the play in the senior side, the 21-year-old has commonly played down the left-hand side on top of his striker duties.

23/24

5

5

1

22/23

12

8

2

22/21

34

16

8

Stats by Transfermarkt

With Josh Maja out of action for some time, and Daryl Dike also prone to a lengthy injury layover, Corberan could well utilise Scherhant as a backup striker option to Brandon Thomas-Asante as well as using him as another body down the wings.

The Spanish manager in the Hawthorns dug-out does enjoy having a versatile and flexible squad to call upon when numbers are light, with the likes of Jed Wallace playing across a whole host of attacking positions this season.

Scherhant, who stands at 6 foot 1, could well tick that box for Corberan too, with the 21-year-old even capable of slotting in at right wing and doing a job there if Fellows does move on.

Corberan's men will just have to hope Scherhant isn't tempted by a move to the Tractor Boys over the Baggies, with the West Midlands outfit scared that Ipswich will come out on top again in a transfer tussle as they did by landing Jeremy Sarmiento on loan to West Brom's dismay.

Still, with Fellows rumoured to be off, West Brom will need to push on and add some needed depth to their side in order to maintain a playoff spot in the Championship.

Journalist Fabrizio Romano says Liverpool are interested in signing a player who is "characterised by his calm" and excels in passing out from defence.

Liverpool's title hopes surge

The Reds produced a scintillating performance to beat Newcastle United 4-2 in the Premier League on New Year's Day, pulling three points clear at the top of the table in the process. It was arguably one of Liverpool's most convincing performances in a number of weeks, and while some of the finishing was disappointing, it was a night that suggested that they are very much Manchester City's biggest rivals in the title race.

Some fans feel that new signings in the January transfer window would give Jurgen Klopp's side an even better chance of going all the way, with certain areas of the pitch looking light. Centre-back is a position that could do with reinforcements after Joel Matip was ruled out for the season, and the Reds have been linked with a move for Bayer Leverkusen ace Piero Hincapie.

The midfield was revamped last summer, following major issues with Fabinho, Jordan Henderson and others, but Fulham's Joao Palhinha is seen as a reported target for Liverpool, too, should Klopp feel the need to bring in a more out-and-out defensive midfielder than Alexis Mac Allister.

It looks as though the Merseysiders could be eyeing a player who is capable of shining in both of the aforementioned positions, according to a new transfer claim.

Liverpool eyeing Ko Itakura

Taking to X, Romano revealed that Liverpool are one of the clubs showing an interest in Ko Itakura, with the Borussia Monchengladbach centre-back scouted by the Reds a number of times.

"Ko Itakura, one to watch in 2024 as top clubs are monitoring Japanese CB. Understand Liverpool have sent their scouts multiple times to follow Itakura’s performances. Tottenham also monitored him as Ange Postecoglou wanted Ko at Celtic. Release clause NOT valid in January."

Ikatura could be a really good signing by Liverpool, with the 26-year-old someone who could add much-needed depth at the heart of the defence, following the ACL injury suffered by Matip. The Japan international was once described as a player who is "characterised by his calm" by former Schalke coach Dimitrios Grammozis, and he represented his country three times at the 2022 World Cup, while his composure is really shown in his passing ability.

Ikatura would clearly have to accept that he was coming in as a squad player, with Virgil van Dijk and Ibrahima Konate Liverpool's undisputed first-choice centre-back pairing, but he has been phenomenal this term, actually ranking as one of the best passers out of all European centre-backs.

Related Liverpool and Spurs battling for “intelligent” Wolves star

He is capable of excelling in a number of positions.

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At 26, the Monchengladbach hero is at a great age, having years under his belt at the top level but still arguably not at his peak, and in Wataru Endo, he would have an international colleague at Anfield who could help him settle quickly.

There is also the added bonus of Ikatura being capable of playing in defensive midfield if needed, and Klopp may see such versatility as a key asset.

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Apesar dos maus resultados, o técnico Fernando Diniz deve permanecer no comando do São Paulo até o final da temporada. São dois os principais motivos para a permanência do comandante no Morumbi.

Segundo apurado pelo LANCE!, um dos motivos é a falta de opções no mercado neste momento. Sem um nome como ‘sombra’, a diretoria são-paulina acredita que não há técnico que possa chegar neste momento e conseguir bons resultados rapidamente, faltando seis rodadas para o final do Brasileirão.

RelacionadasSão PauloDiniz nega crise no elenco: ‘Não tem clima pesado entre os jogadores’São Paulo24/01/2021Fora de CampoBenjamin Back diz que Campeonato Brasileiro ‘acabou’ para o São Paulo: ‘Se bobear, nem entre os quatro’Fora de Campo24/01/2021São PauloO que aconteceu? São Paulo mostra estatísticas ruins em 2021São Paulo23/01/2021

O tempo curto para o fim da temporada é outro ponto que tem relevância na permanência de Diniz. Caso uma nova comissão técnica chegue no São Paulo, terá que haver toda uma adaptação do elenco, o que pode demandar muitos jogos para colher os frutos.

Questionado sobre uma possível demissão depois da goleada sofrida para o Internacional, por 5 a 1, no Morumbi, Diniz afirmou não ter medo de sair e disse que se sente apoiado no clube.

– Já respondi muitas vezes essa pergunta em momentos de pressão. Não tenho medo de perder emprego, eu amo meu trabalho, trabalho com toda dedicação para conquistar título aqui no São Paulo. Quem trabalha com devoção, não trabalha pensando em segurar emprego. Eu sempre me senti apoiado aqui, pela diretoria que saiu e por essa que entrou. Se eu carrego algum tipo de culpa e responsabilidade, a maior responsabilidade é minha. A maior responsabilidade por uma derrota como essa, pela queda, é minha – afirmou em entrevista coletiva.

A torcida já parece ter perdido a paciência com o treinador. Na última sexta-feira (22), houve um protesto no CT da Barra Funda pedindo a saída do técnico. Já no sábado, um ataque ao ônibus que levava a delegação para o Morumbi foi atacado por 20 agressores.

Agora, Diniz e sua comissão técnica terão uma semana livre de trabalhos para enfrentar o Atlético-GO, às 16h, no próximo domingo (31), pela 33ª rodada do Campeonato Brasileiro.

Revelations about the pair’s off-field behaviour emerged in the course of the Alex Hepburn rape trial

ESPNcricinfo staff11-Jan-2019

Joe Clarke drives•Getty Images

Joe Clarke and Tom Kohler-Cadmore have been dropped from the England Lions squad that leaves for India on Saturday, after revelations about the pair’s off-field behaviour emerged in the course of the rape trial of their former Worcestershire team-mate, Alex Hepburn.Hepburn faces the prospect of a retrial after the jury at Worcester Crown Court failed to reach a majority verdict on Friday, following a five-day case which featured an alleged WhatsApp “sexual conquest game” among its central planks of evidence.In the course of the trial, it was alleged that Hepburn had raped an unnamed girl in April 2017, having entered Clarke’s bed while she was sleeping.It was heard that Clarke had already had consensual sex with the girl on the night in question, and having been arrested in the aftermath of the alleged incident, he was released without charge.Kohler-Cadmore, who was not present on the night in question, was not arrested. However, his first name appeared to be referenced during the prosecution’s examination of the WhatsApp messages, which included Hepburn’s posting of the “rules” of the game. It is understood that a number of other young Worcestershire players were also involved.In his summing-up of the case Judge Jim Tindal said: “It was effectively a competition – and I regret to use this word but it seems to be accurate – to ‘collect’ as many sexual conquests as possible. It’s about ‘collecting’ new girls – to them, ‘freshies’, as they put it.”Although the case may not yet be concluded, the revelations are a further embarrassment to the ECB, a body which has spent much of the past 15 months dealing with the fall-out of the Ben Stokes incident in Bristol in September 2017.Tom Kohler-Cadmore was undefeated as England Lions cantered home•Getty Images

That case was finally closed in December when the Cricket Discipline Commission imposed fines and suspended sentences on both Stokes and his team-mate, Alex Hales – who received further punishment after inappropriate images were widely circulated on social media in the wake of the original incident.Speaking at Lord’s last week in his unveiling as the ECB’s new director of England cricket, Ashley Giles warned that he would be taking a hard line on player discipline during his tenure, as England build towards a seismic summer featuring a home World Cup and an Ashes series, in which England’s squads can expect to be under intense scrutiny.Giles’ first move has come quickly, with England Lions due to fly out to India at the weekend for a five-match 50-over series against India A, starting on January 23, before two unofficial Tests in February.The two players had been named in both the 50-over and first-class squads, and are considered to be two of the most promising up-and-coming talents in the country.Clarke, 22, left Worcestershire for Nottinghamshire at the end of the summer, while Kohler-Cadmore, 24, left for Yorkshire midway through 2017.The incident also resulted in the departure of Worcestershire’s former head coach, Steve Rhodes, who was sacked in January last year, and relieved of his duties as England’s Under-19 coach, after it emerged that he had delayed reporting Hepburn’s arrest to the club.It is the second high-profile suspension this week involving cricketers and their off-field actions, after the India duo, Hardik Pandya and KL Rahul, were sent home from the tour of Australia pending an enquiry into controversial comments they made during a chat show.

Manchester City and Manchester United will face each other in the FA Cup for consecutive years, the first teams to do so since 1885.

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United & City to meet again in Cup finalFirst consecutive final between same teams in 139 yearsBlackburn, Queen's Park faced each other in 1884 & 1885WHAT HAPPENED?

United booked their place in next month's showpiece with a nerve-shredding penalty shootout win over Coventry City, a day after Man City scrapped their way to a 1-0 victory over Chelsea. It will be the first time the same teams have faced each other in back-to-back FA Cup finals for 139 years.

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The only time the same teams have faced each other in consecutive finals was all the way back in 1885, when Blackburn Rovers beat Scottish side Queen's Park 2-0. They had beaten the Glaswegians 2-1 a year earlier. United and City will therefore become the first English teams to meet in consecutive FA Cup finals.

DID YOU KNOW?

United and City had never faced each other in an FA Cup final until 2023, when Ilkay Gundogan scored the fastest ever goal in the history of the final. The German gave City the lead after just 13 seconds and restored their advantage in the second half following Bruno Fernandes' equaliser from the penalty spot.

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Getty ImagesWHAT NEXT FOR MAN UTD & CITY?

Erik ten Hag's side can celebrate reaching successive finals but not for too long as they host Sheffield United in the Premier League on Wednesday, when they will be looking for their first league win since beating Everton on March 9. City visit Brighton & Hove Albion on Thursday.

Aston Villa were brought back down to earth by Nottingham Forest last weekend as they slipped to a 2-0 defeat that ended a six-game unbeaten run across all competitions.

Unai Emery has built a side which can realistically challenge for the top six spot in the Premier League table this season and winning a trophy of some sort this term can’t be ruled out.

With progress in the Europa Conference League going smoothly so far, this Villa side can certainly go far and Emery has them well-drilled.

The Spaniard will still be looking to strengthen his team though and the January transfer window is fast approaching.

Having enjoyed success during the summer window, bringing in players such as Moussa Diaby, Nicolo Zaniolo and Pau Torres, the former Arsenal coach appears to favour a quality-over-quantity approach and this is working well so far.

With this in mind, he could delve back into the market to bolster his squad in the coming months, especially as he seems to be light in a few areas, most notably at centre-forward.

Aston Villa transfer news

According to a recent report by Italian outlet Calciomercatoweb, Villa are reportedly keen on signing AS Roma striker Tammy Abraham next year.

The Englishman spent a season on loan at the Villa Park side during the 2018/19 season and he scored 26 goals and registered three assists across 40 matches as he helped the club secure promotion back to the Premier League following a three-year absence.

The former Chelsea frontman has a contract that doesn’t expire until 2026 and this could mean Jose Mourinho will place a big price tag on his head regarding any potential transfer.

According to Football Transfers, Abraham is currently valued at €39m (£34m) and with a few years left on his contract, Emery may need to make a bid nearer the £50m mark in order to secure his signature.

The club could face stiff competition for the 26-year-old however, as West Ham United and Fulham are also interested in luring him back to the Premier League according to the report and with Roma signing Romelu Lukaku on loan for the current season, it looks like Abraham could soon be on the move.

The question is, who will be best placed to sign him either in January or next summer? Emery will be hoping their current form and progress in Europe will tempt him back to the Midlands.

Tammy Abraham’s statistics for Roma

Having won the Champions League with Chelsea, the striker decided to move abroad and joined Roma in 2021, becoming an instant hit under Mourinho.

He netted 27 goals across all competitions during his maiden season in Italy and won another European trophy, this time the Europa Conference League.

The goals dried up slightly last term as he managed to score just nine times, yet he displayed his selfless side by grabbing seven assists as the Serie A side finished runners-up to Sevilla in the Europa League final.

A cruciate ligament injury has ruled him out until January at the earliest and this could mean Emery may have to wait until the summer in order to complete a potential swoop for the player.

The Spaniard has been too over-reliant on Ollie Watkins this season however, as the former Brentford forward has featured in every single match so far this term, scoring nine goals in the process and signing someone like Abraham would not only give him some competition, but he would also be an upgrade on Jhon Duran.

Jhon Duran's stats for Aston Villa

The 19-year-old has only been at the club for ten months, joining back in January from Chicago Fire, and it was clear he had bags of potential, having scored eight MLS goals.

Across 12 matches for Villa, however, he failed to get on the scoresheet, proving that the jump from American to England was perhaps tougher than anticipated.

Goals

0

2

Assists

0

0

Shots on target per game

0.2

0.5

Big chances created

0

0

Successful dribbles per game

0.1

0.2

Stats via Sofascore

The Englishman could be an instant upgrade on the Colombian youngster, however. According to FBref, Abraham registered a higher percentage of shots on target (45.2% vs 28.6%) while also registering more goal-creating actions per 90 (0.37 vs 0) and winning a higher percentage of aerial duels per 90 (51.9% vs 41.2%), indicating that he could be a more effective option to lead the line.

Abraham also created more big chances (nine vs two) than Duran during his more productive stint at Chicago Fire, while also averaging more key passes per game (0.9 vs 0.3) and succeeding with more successful dribbles per match (0.6 vs 0.4), further evidence of how impressive Abraham was when compared to the youngster.

The former Chelsea gem could add further firepower to the Villa squad and would allow Emery to give Watkins a much-needed rest when required.

Former professional Stephen Elliot hailed Abraham as a “goal machine” back during his spell with the London side and his spell abroad has certainly improved his game.

His ability to create chances for others, evidenced by the fact he ranks in the top 5% when compared to his positional peers for assists per 90 (0.29), could be a big advantage for Emery, as he will be able to link up well with others and form a partnership alongside Watkins if required.

The striker also ranks in the top 15% when compared to peers for aerials won per 90 (4.3) and his physical presence and aerial ability would also allow him to thrive in the Premier League once again.

Duran is still young and has lots of raw potential, but Emery will be looking for a more experienced player if he is looking for someone who can come in and settle into life at Villa Park easily.

Abraham has spent a season in the Midlands before and this could be what makes the club stand out from the others who are keen on him with regard to a potential move away from the hustle and bustle of Rome.

Former Rangers star and BBC pundit Alan Hutton believes that a "tremendous" figure could form part of their next manager's new coaching staff at Ibrox

Michael Beale sacked

The Gers have endured a poor start to this new season and currently sit a pretty big seven points behind Old Firm rivals and Scottish Premiership frontrunners Celtic. Ange Postecoglou dominated the division for two years before departing for Tottenham, and Rangers now threaten letting new Hoops boss Brendan Rodgers replicating the Australian. Losing three league games already, while being subject to boos from their own supporters on multiple occasions, Rangers made the big decision to sack Michael Beale as manager nearly two weeks ago.

Former Teddy Bears midfielder Kevin Thomson, speaking to Sky Sports news after Beale's dismissal, said that the job is an attractive one but the expectation surrounding Ibrox is the greatest he's ever seen. Thomson said:

"When you look at the club and how big it is, I'm pretty sure that all the big-hitters and all the big names will be getting their agents to get on the phone to the Rangers board to make sure they try and stake a claim to get in front of the board to try and prove to them that they could be the next person.

"I'd hate to throw individual names in there because I just think you're almost second-guessing really. But what I would say is it is a prestigious job, it is as good as it gets, a massive club, an opportunity to win silverware. The expectation and demand is bigger than I have ever seen. I think the club are in a good position. There are selling points, they have got a cup semi-final coming up, there is still the Scottish Cup to play for, they are still in Europe."

Reports in the last few weeks have suggested that the likes of Philippe Clement and Kevin Muscat are currently leading contenders to replace Beale, while Nenad Bjelica has apparently thrown his hat into the ring late on.

Rangers news – Steven Davis

Currently taking interim charge, Steven Davis has guided the Gers to a Europa League defeat and 3-0 league win over St. Mirren. The Northern Ireland legend knows Rangers as a club very well, and David Graham, a former employee, has tipped the 38-year-old for great things.

"A professional for over 20 years, he has been a tremendous servant to Rangers over two occasions – including as captain," said Graham to the News Letter.

"I consider Steven a very good friend, a very good family friend," he told the News Letter. His reputation goes before him – he is a Northern Ireland legend. I have joked with him many times he's the greatest ever Ulsterman, but that will be for others to decide."

Now, Hutton has suggested to Football Insider that Davis may well be considered as part of the next Rangers manager's coaching staff. When asked if the midfielder could be back playing, he said:

“You have to factor in his age but he has got a lot of experience, a lot of knowledge to pass on so could he be part of the next coaching staff? I would presume that is the direction he wants to go in when he is finished. It is ultimately down to him and whether he still sees himself playing but if he does I do not think that will be at Rangers.“

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Aos 35 anos e durante a sua segunda passagem do Grêmio, o atacante Diego Souza surpreendeu ao dizer pela primeira vez que faz planos para deixar os gramados.

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Em bate-papo com a jornalista Aline Nastari, do Esporte Interativo, o jogador afirmou que a sua projeção de pendurar a chuteira é dezembro de 2021, ou seja, Diego teria apenas mais um ano como atleta profissional.

Vale lembrar que, ao longo da temporada, Diego Souza, homem de confiança de Renato Portaluppi, tem 18 gols e lidera a lista de artilheiros do Tricolor em 2020.

Former France and Tottenham captain Hugo Lloris claimed he felt he already knew Los Angeles after playing Grand Theft Auto.

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• Lloris regularly plays Grand Theft Auto
• Knew all about LA from the game
• Moved to LAFC from Spurs in December

• WHAT HAPPENED?

  Lloris, who signed for Major League Soccer Club LAFC in December 2023, came up with a bizarre claim that he knew everything about Los Angeles even before he moved to the metropolitan through Grand Theft Auto, a video game that he regularly plays.

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• WHAT HUGO LLORIS SAID

  Speaking to , the former World Cup-winning French captain said, "As for the population, it seems to be growing with every move, but I think we’ll stop here. The film industry, Dr. Dre, GTA… I’ve played this game so much on PlayStation that I felt like I knew all the landmarks, streets, and corners of the city, even though I’ve never been here."

• USA Today Sports
  

  THE BIGGER PICTURE

  The veteran goalkeeper has featured in his team's starting lineup in their first two matches of the current MLS 2024 season. LAFC were off to a flying start as they beat Seattle Sounders 2-1 but they suffered a 3-0 defeat in their second game against Real Salt Lake where they had to play in extreme weather conditions.

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• Getty Images
  

  WHAT NEXT FOR HUGO LLORIS?

  The 37-year-old will be next seen in action for the Los Angeles-based side on Sunday as they take on Sporting KC in a MLS clash.

Newcastle United could make further signings in the January transfer window and one player has emerged as a primary target, according to a fresh update.

Will Newcastle make signings in January?

The Magpies have steadied the ship after a difficult start to the season, enjoying a positive couple of results that will hopefully signal the start of a big turnaround in fortunes.

Eddie Howe's side battled their way to a 1-0 win at home to Brentford in the Premier League last Saturday, before drawing 0-0 away to AC Milan in their Champions League opener – a result that could look so important come the end of the group stages later this year. They may not have been vintage performances, but it has clearly still been an improvement.

Newcastle enjoyed a good summer in the transfer market, most notably bringing in Sandro Tonali and Harvey Barnes from Milan and Leicester City respectively, but more signings are required moving forward, in order for them to keep in touch with their rivals at the top of the Premier League and not go backwards.

Added depth in the midfield is something that Howe could look to do in January, allowing rotation to be aided across four different competitions in the second half of the season, and it looks as though they have lined up one key target already.

Will Newcastle sign Carlos Alcaraz?

According to an update from talkSPORT, Newcastle are eyeing a move for Southampton midfielder Carlos Alcaraz in January, with Howe personally seeing the 20-year-old as a strong option to bring in.

"Newcastle are among a number of clubs keeping tabs on Southampton midfielder Carlos ‘Charlie’ Alcaraz. The Magpies made an enquiry for Alcaraz during the summer transfer window and manager Eddie Howe is an admirer of the 20-year-old Argentine.

"It will not have gone unnoticed at St James’s Park that Alcaraz is struggling to command a place in Saints’ starting line-up despite the fact the recently relegated side have lost their last three games. Alcaraz scored four goals in 18 Premier League games last season following a £12m move from Racing Club."

Alcaraz may not necessarily be an established footballer who is playing at the top level every week, but he could be an exiting young signing who comes in as a squad player, developing over time and becoming a key man eventually.

The 20-year-old has scored five goals in 28 appearances for Southampton, as well as chipping in with two assists, and he did play 18 times in the Premier League last season, showing that he can perform in England's top flight.

Former Tottenham manager Harry Redknapp has praised Alcaraz in the past, saying he "has a bit of everything in his game", while football talent scout Jacek Kulig has lauded him as "one of the biggest talents in Argentina".

It is encouraging to see Newcastle continuing to look at bringing in top young talent, rather than simply news signings for the here and now, and it will enable the club to keep progressing for many years to come, rather than resting on their laurels and not reaching their potential.