Lionesses legends Alex Scott and Steph Houghton are among four new inductees into the Women's Super League Hall of Fame.

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WSL announces four new Hall of Fame inducteesFormer Lionesses Scott, Houghton & Flaherty addedTrailblazing referee Welch also recognisedFollow GOAL on WhatsApp! 🟢📱WHAT HAPPENED?

Scott, now well-known for her role as a pundit and a presenter, called time on her playing career back in 2018, after racking up 140 caps for England and winning 22 major honours at Arsenal, including the Champions League. The full-back was part of the Lionesses side that reached the final of the European Championship in 2009, and the one that finished third at the 2015 Women's World Cup.

Houghton, meanwhile, only retired earlier this year, after a 22-year club career at the top of the English game which returned 16 trophies. Eight of those came at Manchester City, whom she captained for her entire 10-year stay, an honour she also held with England. Only Faye White has had a longer stint as Lionesses skipper than Houghton, who helped her country reach three successive semi-finals as they firmly established themselves among the elite in the women's game.

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Also inducted into the Hall of Fame this year are Gilly Flaherty, the former England defender, and referee Rebecca Welch. Flaherty won nine caps in a 17-year career which saw her represent Arsenal, Chelsea, West Ham and Liverpool. Stints with the former two produced trophies galore, with her also part of Arsenal's European triumph in 2007 alongside Scott. Flaherty racked up 177 WSL appearances and scored the league's first-ever goal back in 2011.

Welch completes the 2024 inductees, following her retirement from officiating back in August. The 41-year-old is a trailblazing figure in her realm of the game, becoming the first woman to referee an English Football League match in 2021 and the first to do so in the Premier League in 2023, after several years of officiating at the highest level of in the women's game.

DID YOU KNOW?

These four inductees take the WSL Hall of Fame's total up to 14, after it was established in 2021. It is mainly made up of players, with Kelly Smith, Rachel Yankey, Fara Williams, Karen Carney, Katie Chapman, Eni Aluko, Jill Scott, Ellen White and Anita Asante all recognised. Welch is just the second non-footballer to be added, after former Chelsea boss Emma Hayes.

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Scott, Houghton, Flaherty and Welch will be part of an official induction at a special WSL Hall of Fame celebration event in January 2025.

Full Members outside the WTC have been pushing for a more formalised “second division” for the WTC

Peter Della Penna23-Apr-2021An enhanced structure for more multi-day cricket for Full Members outside the World Test Championship (WTC) and Associates could be a possibility in the next cricket calendar. Though the discussions, which took place last week at the ICC’s scheduling meeting, are at a very formative stage, they took in the possibility of revisiting a past effort to form a second division for Test cricket.According to multiple sources, such a format could be a blended structure combining Afghanistan, Ireland and Zimbabwe – who play Tests but are not part of the WTC – and Associates with ODI status including Netherlands, Scotland and potentially others.”I know it’s been mooted,” an Associate administrator told ESPNcricinfo. “I think every nation and every governing body is trying to find ways to make the game better. We’re here to deliver cricket and improve the standards of cricket globally.”Related

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Another official familiar with the discussions said Full Members outside the WTC had pushed – and have been pushing for a while – for a more formalised “second division” for the WTC. That would provide similar context to Tests for these members as there now exists for those in the WTC, though he did stress that discussions were informal and at a very early stage.The nature of Test commitments for the three Full Members who are not in the WTC has been one of the issues to resolve as the next calendar from 2023-31 is drawn up. Members have viewed the WTC itself as a success and there is an appetite to pursue it beyond the next cycle, which plays out from 2021-23.But there has been growing realisation that the situation has been unfulfilling for Afghanistan, Zimbabwe and Ireland. The trio have only played ten Tests between them – Ireland just one – since the WTC began in July 2019, albeit in a cycle hit by the Covid-19 pandemic. And though they have a slightly busier Test calendar during the second cycle of the WTC, it is not by much.Any such competition would go some way to filling up a sizable fixture gap in the 2023-2031 FTP for these three Full Members as well as some leading Associates.”What does it look like? Where would we want more cricket?,” said one administrator. “Would it achieve our ambitions? There’s a lot of things in the mix before you actually commit and dig deep into it. If it was kicking around, we’d certainly want to be in the conversation.”As well as the scarce number of Tests for the non-WTC trio, the Associates have not had any multi-day international cricket since the last edition of the Intercontinental Cup concluded in December 2017. Unsurprisingly, financial considerations are believed to be the biggest hurdle to clear if any such structure is to come to fruition, and is one of the main reasons why the Intercontinental Cup has not been played since.”It was a finance-driven issue,” said the administrator. “It was about affordability. Again, what does a new tournament look like? What is the cost of running it? You have to be able to fund it to do it properly. So until any detail is produced, you can’t make any informed decisions.”Being an Associate, it’s quite a tough world when it comes to finances when you’re trying to compete and do the best but you’ve only got a limited budget. So while you want to play cricket, the big question is always – can you afford it?”

Celtic are believed to have an agreement in place to sign a 20-year-old rising star on loan during the summer transfer window, according to an update from journalist Fabrizio Romano.

Celtic transfer news

The Hoops are still pushing to complete some late transfer business, with Arne Engels one of the latest players to be linked with a summer move to Parkhead. The FC Augsburg midfielder has reportedly begun talks with Celtic over a switch, as they look to bring him in alongside attacking midfielder Mateusz Bogusz.

The latter, who is currently playing for MLS side Los Angeles FC, is a rumoured target for Brendan Rodgers before the window slams shut later this week, and has some limited experience on British shores, making one Championship appearance during a spell at Leeds United.

Hammarby teenager Bazoumana Toure is another player who has been backed to bolster the Hoops' options in the Scottish Premiership and Champions League this season, but Crystal Palace, Eintracht Frankfurt and Bayer Leverkusen are also thought to be in the mix.

Celtic could also look for reinforcements at the heart of their defence this week, with Sheffield United centre-back Auston Trusty continuing to be looked at as a strong option. He is a two-time capped USA international, and could give Rodgers the extra depth that he may crave in a key area of the pitch.

Celtic reach agreement over loan move

Taking to X, Romano claimed that Celtic are set to complete the loan signing of Barcelona youngster Alex Valle, having signed an extension with the La Liga side. Another update from the reporter also says a medical is scheduled on Monday, although he confirms there will be no buy option included.

Not a huge amount may be known about Valle, given his age and lack of experience, but there should always be an element of excitement when any Barca player is linked with joining the Hoops. The 20-year-old is yet to make an appearance for the senior side, but he has enjoyed 22 outings for their B team, and won a combined tally of 17 caps for Spain at Under-19 and Under-18 level.

A left-back by trade, Valle could increase the competition for places at Celtic, not only putting pressure on Greg Taylor for minutes, but also ensuring that Rodgers has the depth to rotate his squad effectively, giving them the best possible chance of success across all competitions this season.

As for the player himself, he could see this as a wonderful opportunity to experience a different league and culture, allowing him to grow as a footballer over the next 12 months, prior to returning to Barcelona as a more rounded player.

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That means the Hoops should hopefully be bringing in a player who is hungry to keep improving, which can only help them, showing his current employers that his contract extension is fully merited.

Having lost Amadou Onana to Aston Villa earlier this summer, Everton were reportedly positioning themselves to sign a replacement who has starred at the Olympics, before suffering a major blow in their pursuit.

Everton transfer news

To their credit, even without a solution to their ownership troubles, Everton have spent well this summer. The Toffees have welcomed the likes of Iliman Ndiaye, Jesper Lindstrom and, most recently, Jake O'Brien in a move to hand Jarrad Branthwaite an ideal defensive partner for the long-term future. The former Lyon centre-back impressed in Ligue 1, earning a Premier League switch as a result.

The 23-year-old told Everton's official website after putting pen to paper: "I’m buzzing and so happy to have signed for Everton. I've been dreaming of this kind of move in the Premier League, with such a historic club. It's a very exciting move for me.

“Everton is a huge club with a lot of history behind it and there's a big future as well. When the transfer window opened there were other clubs in for me but there was only one club I wanted to go to – it was Everton. They’ve shown the faith in me so now it's my turn to show why on the pitch.”

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The Toffees didn't seem to be done there, either. According to L'Equipe, Everton were positioning themselves to sign Amir Richardson from Stade Reims this summer, having shown interest in the central midfielder earlier in the window.

Standing at 6 foot 5, Everton weren't the only club interested in Richardson, and a fresh report from Fabrizio Romano has now claimed that Serie A giants Fiorentina have won the race for the midfielder's signature in a frustrating blow for the Toffees.

"Complete" Richardson could have replaced Onana

By signing Richardson, Everton wouldn't have just been replacing Onana, but they'd also have received a player who would be more than capable of providing Sean Dyche's side with an attacking boost.

Not just someone who can screen the back four, Richardson is a box-crashing midfielder and a "complete player" as described by analyst Ben Mattinson.

Still just 22 years old, the Morroco international has had quite the summer of football too, helping his nation reach the bronze medal match at the Olympics and scoring in a 3-0 win against Iraq earlier in the tournament, but Everton's search for an Onana replacement goes on.

Big picture

The first ODI painted a broad enough picture of both sides’ strengths and weaknesses in a way whole series often fail to do. Across exactly 100 overs of two mid-table sides jostling for position in the World Cup Super League, South Africa’s inconsistency at the top was laid bare, as were Pakistan’s struggles with their death bowling and a relatively lightweight middle order.Equally, the home side’s resilience lower down, as well as the purple patches Anrich Nortje and Rassie van der Dussen currently enjoy, took them within inches of an unlikely win, while the brilliance of Babar Azam and the assuredness of Imam-ul-Haq came in handy in a below-par chase of 274. Nothing that happened at SuperSport Park will convince anyone these teams will compete for the biggest prizes just yet, but the first ODI showed they’re still capable of offering up absorbing contests.

South Africa fined 20% of their match fees for slow over-rate

A nail-biting opening match of the series that went down to the last ball – and slipped out of South Africa grasp – has left the hosts with another wound to nurse.
Match referee Andy Pycroft found them to be one over short their target resulting in a monetary fine for each player from the XI.
South Africa captain Temba Bavuma accepted the sanction, which meant there was no need for a formal hearing. He and his players will now be short 20% of their match fees from Friday

Pakistan have a chance of wrapping up the series at the earliest opportunity in Johannesburg, which, regardless of the state of South African cricket, would be a major feather in the touring party’s cap. Series in South Africa have historically been a struggle for Pakistan, and the inflation of ODI scores notwithstanding, Pakistan’s chase on Friday was the joint third-highest outside of Asia in their history. They took wickets up top, and just about killed the game off with one partnership. In many ways, it was a dominant performance, large parts of which they merely need to replicate to put themselves 2-0 up.South Africa will draw positives not just from intangibles like the spirited fightback and a never-say-die attitude, but the knowledge of significant room for improvement. The game might have gone down to the last ball, but they might believe they lost it in the first 15 overs; the loss of four early wickets meant they were always swimming against the current. That they almost got to the shoreline suggests a less disastrous start up top would place much greater pressure on Pakistan, and as we all saw on Friday, Pakistan under pressure always look like they might have a collapse in them.The hosts will play in a different kit to mark the annual pink ODI, which raises money for breast cancer awareness and treatment.Related

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Form guide

Pakistan WWWLW (last five completed matches, most recent first)
South Africa LWWWL

In the spotlight

Tabraiz Shamsi didn’t get any wickets, but the scorecard doesn’t quite tell the tale of his contribution to the late drama in Centurion. Even while Azam and Imam racked up the runs, Shamsi was a leash on the visitors’ otherwise incessant scoring, conceding just three boundaries; the fewest among his team-mates. His wrong’uns spun prodigiously and appeared to trouble most batsmen, and his consistency of line and variable turn gave off the impression any over he bowled could be eventful. It was telling that Temba Bavuma persisted with him at the other end while Nortje was picking off wickets at the other. In the T20I series in Pakistan, he coupled control with wicket-taking, and he doesn’t look too far away from doing that here, either.For an opener with an average over 50, it’s odd Imam-ul-Haq‘s place in the Pakistan side is subjected to as much forensic criticism as it is. Once more, he appeared to deal with it with aplomb, serving as the perfect foil as Azam helped him take the game away from South Africa in the first half. While Fakhar Zaman continues to misfire at the other end, Imam offers a level of poise to a top order that historically possessed little, but that may well be the stick that’s used to beat him with in the long-term. His strike rate is, by modern standards, somewhat pedestrian, and if Pakistan were to need runs at a faster clip than they did in a middling chase on Friday, Imam might have to show a more dynamic side to his game. With the confidence he appears to possess in his abilities, you wouldn’t be surprised if he pulled that out of his locker.

Team news

South Africa will suffer absences once the IPL begins, but for now, they have their full squad at their disposal, and should field an unchanged side.South Africa (probable): 1 Aiden Markram 2 Quinton de Kock 3 Temba Bavuma (capt) 4 Rassie van der Dussen 5 David Miller 6 Heinrich Klaasen (wk) 7 Andile Phehlukwayo 8 Kagiso Rabada 9 Anrich Nortje 10 Lungi Ngidi 11 Tabraiz ShamsiPakistan might want to shore up the middle order with another batsman, with Asif Ali’s place under increasing pressure. Haider Ali could be in line for the nod, with everyone below Babar subsequently dropping a slot down.Pakistan: 1 Imam-ul-Haq 2 Fakhar Zaman 3 Babar Azam (capt) 4 Haider Ali 5 Mohammad Rizwan (wk) 6 Danish Aziz 7 Shadab Khan 8 Faheem Ashraf 9 Shaheen Afridi 8. Mohammad Hasnain 11 Haris Rauf

Pitch and conditions

This should be a high-scoring game, in line with The Wanderers’ reputation. Inclement weather is unlikely to make its presence felt.

Stats and trivia

• Friday’s ODI was the first time in 16 years that Pakistan won an ODI off the last ball. On that occasion, in 2005, Inzamam-ul-Haq got the winning runs off Sachin Tendulkar in Ahmedabad.
• Pakistan have just won two of the ten ODIs they have played at the Wanderers. However, it does include their most recent contest, an eight-wicket win over the hosts.
• Among players with at least five ODI innings, no one averages higher than Rassie van der Dussen’s 83.

Ipswich Town are now closing in on the signing of another "incredible" player alongside the deal for Kalvin Phillips this summer, according to an exciting new claim from Fabrizio Romano.

Ipswich set to seal Phillips signing

The Tractor Boys are now within touching distance of their first game back in the Premier League, with a mouthwatering clash with Liverpool coming their way on Saturday lunchtime. Portman Road is expected to be rocking, as Kieran McKenna's men look to upset the Reds in Arne Slot's first game in charge.

Ipswich have enjoyed a strong summer in the transfer market, but while the likes of Omari Hutchinson and Jacob Greaves are exciting signings in their own right, the confirmed addition of Phillips from Manchester City arguably feels the most eye-catching due to his experience at the top level.

The 28-year-old has sealed a season-long loan move to Portman Road, having been deemed surplus to requirements by Pep Guardiola, and the hope is that he can recapture the Leeds United form that made him an England regular alongside Declan Rice a few years ago.

Away from Phillips, Ipswich continue to be linked with other signings before the transfer window closes at the end of the month, including Anel Ahmedhodzic, who currently plies his trade at Sheffield United. Blackburn Rovers striker Sammie Szmodics has also arrived this summer, having topped the Championship scoring charts last season.

Ipswich sign "incredible" goalscorer

Taking to X on Thursday, Romano said that Szmodics is close to signing for Ipswich, with his medical expected to take place on Friday. The deal is thought to be worth £11m including add-ons. A deal has since been confirmed.

This is hugely exciting news for Ipswich supporters, considering what a potent performer Szmodics was for Blackburn last season, scoring 27 goals in the Championship. He has started off in a similar vein this time around, too, netting three times in his first two appearances, two of which came in the EFL Cup away to Stockport County in midweek.

The 28-year-old may admittedly find it harder in the Premier League, given the step up in quality in defenders, but he is now an experienced head, and manager Jon Dahl Tomasson has heaped praise on him in the recent past.

"We always know he can score goals but he's not used to playing a lot of games at this level first of all, he played with Peterborough but not a lot. The way he's scoring goals, the confidence he's playing with and the role he takes as one of the senior players is quite incredible."

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While Szmodics is unlikely to be available to face Liverpool this weekend, it does look as though Ipswich have their man, and his pedigree in front of goal will be so important if McKenna's side are to avoid relegation back to the Championship.

Former Sri Lanka batter Avishka Gunawardene has been cleared of both existing corruption charges against him, and is free to participate in cricket immediately.Gunawardene had never directly been charged by the ICC, but in May 2019 had attracted two charges by the Emirates Cricket Board (ECB) over the 2017 iteration of the T10 tournament played in the UAE. These charges related, essentially, to soliciting or enticing a participant to breach anti-corruption regulations, and also failing to disclose any potential corruption or suspicious approach.Gunawardene, however, maintained his innocence. He was suspended from his coaching roles by Sri Lanka Cricket (SLC) as soon as the ECB charges were announced, with the SLC CEO stating that the board was unaware that Gunawardene was being investigated. Over the years, Gunawardene had become a highly reputed coach, for both the Sri Lanka A and Emerging teams, with many players crediting him for having been a positive influence over their careers.Also dropped are three of the four ECB charges against Nuwan Zoysa, though Zoysa remains banned for six years after being found guilty of separate charges by the ICC. The ECB’s charges against Zoysa were as follows:- Being party to an agreement to influence improperly the result, progress, conduct or other aspect(s) of a match.- Directly or indirectly soliciting, inducing, enticing, instructing, persuading, encouraging or intentionally facilitating any Participant to breach Code Article 2.1.- Failing to disclose to the ACU full details of any approaches or invitations received to engage in corrupt conduct under the Code.- Failing or refusing, without compelling justification to cooperate with any investigation carried out by the ACU in relation to possible Corrupt Conduct under the Code.The ICC release (through which these announcements came) did not specify which of Zoysa’s four charges remains “upheld” by the ECB, but did state that “the detailed decision would be announced to the parties in due course”.The ICC’s anti-corruption unit has been carrying out a long-term investigation in Sri Lanka, and over the past five years, has found former cricketers Sanath Jayasuriya, Jayananda Warnaweera, Dilhara Lokuhettige as well as Zoysa, guilty of breaching the anti-corruption code. Gunawardene is the first to be cleared of all charges against him.

Coach “very disappointed” in KKR’s slow scoring, says “we’re going to have to make some changes for sure”

Saurabh Somani29-Apr-20214:01

McCullum: ‘After Shaw’s six fours, we were shell-shocked’

After the Kolkata Knight Riders sank to their fifth defeat in seven games, a “very disappointed” Brendon McCullum said personnel changes loomed, with an eye specifically on scoring quicker in the top order. The coach said what disappointed him in particular was that his batters had not been more expansive in the seven-wicket defeat to the Delhi Capitals in spite of repeated exhortations to go after the bowling.The Knight Riders’ top three of Nitish Rana, Shubman Gill and Rahul Tripathi cobbled together a combined 77 off 67 balls, before Prithvi Shaw slammed a 41-ball 82 in reply.”It’s very, very disappointing,” McCullum said. “I think as a player, you ask to be given freedom and confidence and loyalty when it comes to selection, to go out there and take the game on and try and be aggressive… and to try and make things happen for your team. That’s the style of play which both myself and the captain [Eoin Morgan] have asked of our players. But unfortunately we’re not quite getting that. We’re certainly not getting it in the abundance that we need.”What we saw from Prithvi Shaw tonight was the perfect template of how we want to play. You’re not always going to be able to hit every ball for four or six, but you can have the intent to do so, particularly when you’re given a free licence. It’s very difficult if you don’t play shots to score runs, and unfortunately tonight we didn’t play enough shots. It’s become a bit of a theme. A saying that I’ve used throughout my career is that ‘If you can’t change a man, change the man.’ So we’ll probably have to make some changes and try and bring in some fresh personnel who will hopefully take the game on a bit more.”Brendon McCullum was “very, very disappointed” in his batters after the loss to the Delhi Capitals•BCCI/IPL

In a clear reference to his top order, McCullum said that runs at the top against a new ball and with field restrictions in place were imperative, especially given the slow nature of the surfaces in IPL 2021, where so far teams have often found it difficult to tee off at the death.”Look, on a slow surface you’ve really got to maximise the new ball and the fielding restrictions,” he said. “One thing we have to get our heads around is that in T20 cricket, you’ve got to part from the old-school mentality of trying to find a boundary and then get a one. You’ve got to try and put some pressure back on the opposition bowlers. If you get a boundary, then look for another, and then look for another one. If you’re able to do that, then the opposition bowler is under an immense amount of pressure and normally what happens then is they don’t execute. Then you can have big overs, and that allows you to be able to build into an innings, create those partnerships and those sizeable platforms.”It’s very difficult if you’re not trying to look for boundaries for that to happen. So it’s more of an application thing than it is anything else. It’s incredibly disappointing because I’ve asked time and time again for us to be more aggressive and more expressive and take the game on, and we continue to not do it. So we’re going to have to make some changes for sure.”The Knight Riders openers – Rana and Gill – are striking at less than 125 so far in the tournament, and are in the bottom five among the 15 openers who have faced at least 40 balls in IPL 2021. On the bench, they have Venkatesh Iyer (T20 strike rate 137.64), Karun Nair (131.47), Sheldon Jackson (117.09) and Gurkeerat Singh Mann (123.74) to choose from among top-order batters.The Knight Riders think-tank had decided before the tournament that their most devastating weapon – Andre Russell – was best utilised if deployed around the 12th over. But, even though Russell has been coming in to bat as planned, he hasn’t always been able to express himself freely because a sound enough platform had not been laid. Against the Capitals, Russell walked in at 75 for 4 in the 11th over, eventually dragging the side to 154 for 6 with his big-hitting, which still proved woefully inadequate when Shaw got going.Related

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“I had a conversation with Andre at the start of the season. We look at a lot of stats and facts and try to back what’s the best place for him,” McCullum said. “Ideally with the right platform, beyond 12 is what we agreed on, but there are times when he’s going to have to come in a little bit earlier. Today he came in slightly earlier. It actually allowed him to settle a little bit, but he really couldn’t play with the same freedom, because we had fallen into a bit of a hole. It was only his brutal power towards the end which allowed us to post any sort of total.”The other day he came in, the game against Chennai, the game was so far beyond us, he was able to come in and just try and take the game on. He has that ability. But I think, ideally, from 12 overs onwards is where he can do the most amount of damage with the least amount of risk. So it’s really up to the rest of our guys to provide him with a better platform rather than asking him to do too much.”The Knight Riders next match is against the Royal Challengers Bangalore on May 3 at the same venue.

Leeds United are set to be busy in the final days of the transfer window, and are now in talks over a move for an exciting new winger for Daniel Farke.

Farke wants four more faces

After two games of a Championship season in which Leeds were favourites to secure promotion, they sit in sixteenth place without a win, having followed their 3-3 opening-day draw with Portsmouth up with a 0-0 affair against West Bromwich Albion.

Between those ties, Farke's side were dumped out of the EFL Cup in the first round after being thrashed 3-0 by Middlesbrough at Elland Road as their season threatens to die out before it has even truly started.

To make matters worse, they have sold Georginio Rutter to Brighton in a deal worth £40m, with the Frenchman signing a five-year deal with the Seagulls after his release clause was met.

Though it takes Leeds' sales well over £100m this summer, it leaves them with a much weaker squad than they had last season as departures continue to tot up, with 12 having already said their goodbyes this summer.

Leeds United permanent departures summer 2024

Player

Club joined

Archie Gray

Tottenham

Crysencio Summerville

West Ham United

Glen Kamara

Rennes

Charlie Cresswell

Toulouse

Jamie Shackleton

Sheffield United

Cody Drameh

Hull City

Robin Koch

Eintracht Frankfurt

Ian Poveda

Sunderland

Luke Ayling

Middlesbrough

Marc Roca

Real Betis

Diego Llorente

Real Betis

Georginio Rutter

Brighton

Speaking after their most recent game, Farke revealed that he felt he needed at least four new faces in the final 11 days of the transfer window: "We would need cover at full-back, in midfield and two offensive positions. [I] Cannot guarantee we will get all of these, but four is roughly what I would like to see."

Now, they are in talks to sign one of those forwards.

Leeds in permanent talks over "electric" forward

That comes as journalist Sacha Tavolieri reports that Farke's side are locked in talks over a permanent move for Burnley winger Manuel Benson.

The 27-year-old is yet to feature for the Clarets this season and managed just eight Premier League appearances last season under Vincent Kompany, starting only one game as his side were relegated.

He impressed in the Championship in 2022/23 though, with one performance against Middlesbrough leading to EFL pundit Sam Parkin to dub him "electric".

“He was electric. Six attempts, Benson was far and away the most by any player,” he told ITV4's highlights show.

Despite still having three years left to run on his £25,000-a-week deal at Turf Moor, the report claims that the forward is "about to leave Burnley" and that "talks on a permanent move are currently taking place" with Leeds named as the prominent club at present.

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There is also thought to be interest from Sunderland and Norwich City, while it is added that "personal terms won't be a problem", suggesting that the forward is keen to move on from the Clarets in the final stages of the transfer window.

Having possibly missed out on Jonathan Rowe, could Benson be the man to fire Leeds back to the Premier League?

MatériaMais Notícias

Após resultados ruins nos últimos jogos, o São Paulo se encontra em uma situação difícil na luta contra o rebaixamento. Com apenas seis jogos pela frente para definir sua permanência na Série A, o Tricolor pode contar com o fator casa como um de seus principais trunfos, tendo decisões importantes para disputar no Morumbi.

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CONFIRA A TABELA ATUALIZADA E SIMULE OS JOGOS DO BRASILEIRÃO DE 2021!

O São Paulo é o atual 15º colocado do Campeonato Brasileiro, com 38 pontos, apenas dois pontos acima do Juventude, primeiro time do Z4. Porém, tanto o time gaúcho quanto o Bahia (16º colocado) têm um jogo a menos, o que pode significar o ingresso do Tricolor na zona de rebaixamento quando as três equipes atingirem igualdade de partidas disputadas.

Com isso, o São Paulo encara uma série de desafios cruciais para lutar contra o Z4, jogando três vezes como mandante e outras três vezes como visitante. A tabela, porém, fará o time paulista ter sequência importante no Morumbi, além de jogar em casa nos confrontos diretos.

O próximo jogo da equipe ainda é como visitante, contra o Palmeiras. O clássico é válido pela 33ª rodada. Após o Choque-Rei, porém, a equipe recebe o Athletico-PR e o Sport em casa, disputando a 34ª e a 36ª rodada do torneio.

Ambos os adversários desta sequência disputam na parte de baixo da tabela, sendo pontos importantes para o Tricolor conquistar, podendo contar com o Morumbi como um fator forte para a luta contra a zona de rebaixamento. Conquistar seis pontos nos dois confrontos pode afastar o time do Z4, dando maior tranquilidade ao time na reta final do Brasileirão.

Na penúltima partida do campeonato, um jogo ainda mais decisivo sendo disputado no Morumbi. O São Paulo recebe, no dia 6 de dezembro, o Juventude, principal adversário na briga contra o rebaixamento para a Série B. Dependendo dos resultados até o duelo entre os dois, uma vitória pode selar a permanência ou o rebaixamento do time.

Fora de casa, além do Palmeiras, o São Paulo enfrenta o Grêmio, que pode ser um adversário direto, e o América-MG, jogo que fecha o campeonato.

Recentemente, a fase do Tricolor como visitante é negativa, estando há mais de dois meses sem vitórias fora de casa. Isso significa que, nas partidas em que jogará no Morumbi, a equipe pode somar pontos importantes e se garantir na Série A para 2022.