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Manchester United are interested in Benfica youngster Joao Neves as Erik ten Hag looks to add another player to his squad following the deal to bring Mason Mount to Old Trafford.

What’s the latest on Joao Neves to Manchester United?

The saga surrounding Mount is finally coming to an end as United eventually agreed a deal which will cost them £60m in total – and Ten Hag shows no signs of slowing down.

According to journalist Gianluca Di Marzio, the Red Devils are keen on luring Neves to the club this summer as the Dutchman looks to bolster his midfield options.

One key stumbling block could be a potential fee for the player, as he could be set to see his release clause raised from €60m (£52m) to €100m (£86m) due to a new contract being proposed for the youngster, which could be signed once he returns from the U21 European Championship.

Who is Joao Neves?

The 18-year-old enjoyed a breakthrough season during 2022/23, becoming another youth prodigy to burst onto the scene at Benfica having made his debut in December last year.

A move for Neves could be extremely similar to that of the deal to bring Cristiano Ronaldo to Old Trafford 20 years ago.

The United icon was also 18 years old when Sir Alex Ferguson signed him having enjoyed a breakthrough season at Sporting CP, with the Portuguese forward scoring 145 goals over two spells at the club.

Neves likely won't quite hit those scoring heights as he tends to operate as a central midfielder, although his adaptability could be a bonus for Ten Hag, as the teen gem can also sparkle in a more advanced role or drop slightly deeper if required.

Despite being in the embryonic stages of what could be a fantastic career, Neves is shining across a range of metrics for the Portuguese side, showcasing his passing and defensive skills.

Indeed, over the previous 365 days, Neves ranks in the top 4% for passes attempted per 90 (73.65), top 2% for tackles per 90 (3.83), top 1% for blocks per 90 (2.21) and top 6% for aerials won per 90 (2.06) of those playing at a similar level in his position within Europe, indicating that not only does he try and circulate the ball as often as possible, but he can utilise his aerial ability and tenacious nature to protect the defence on a regular basis.

Dubbed as “highly talented” along with a string of fellow Benfica youngsters by talent scout Jacek Kulig last year, his introduction to the first team has certainly garnered attraction from potential suitors.

Having enjoyed success in the Portuguese market over the years, with the aforementioned Ronaldo plus Bruno Fernandes shining since arriving from Sporting CP in 2020, it appears Ten Hag wants to replicate these success stories with a move for Neves this summer.

Martin Guptill, Brendon McCullum, and Kumar Sangakkara, meanwhile, have been retained by Guyana, Trinbago Knight Riders, and Tallawahs respectively

ESPNcricinfo staff09-Mar-20171:57

Excited to get back to the CPL – Dwayne Smith

New Zealand captain Kane Williamson, Sri Lanka fast bowler Lasith Malinga and South Africa allrounder Chris Morris have been signed up as marquee players in the Caribbean Premier League, a day before the draft. The tournament is scheduled to run from August 1 to September 9.Williamson and Morris are set for their maiden CPL season, having been recruited by Barbados Tridents and St Kitts and Nevis Patriots respectively. Malinga will be part of the St. Lucia Stars (formerly St. Lucia Zouks) set-up in the upcoming season, having previously represented Guyana Amazon Warriors.Martin Guptill, Brendon McCullum, and Kumar Sangakkara, meanwhile, have been retained by Guyana, Trinbago Knight Riders, and Jamaica Tallawahs respectively. Chris Gayle, who led Tallawahs to the title in 2016, will now play for the Patriots, the side that finished bottom last season.England T20 specialist Tymal Mills and several Afghanistan players – including IPL-bound Rashid Khan and Mohammad Nabi – are among the big names in the CPL draft.Marquee CPL players in 2017: Martin Guptill (Guyana Amazon Warriors), Lasith Malinga (St. Lucia Stars), Brendon McCullum (Trinbago Knight Riders), Chris Morris (St Kitts & Nevis Patriots), Kumar Sangakkara (Jamaica Tallawahs), Kane Williamson (Barbados Tridents)

A round-up of the preliminary finals played on February 11, 2017

ESPNcricinfo staff11-Feb-2017Canterbury defended 250 to seal their spot in the final of the Ford Trophy 2016-17. Wellington fell short of their target by 28 runs, but will get a second go at making the title bout on February 15 when they play Central Districts in the third-preliminary final. This is courtesy their top-of-the-table finish in the round-robin stage; the loser of the preliminary-final between Nos. 1 and 2 plays the winner of the preliminary-final between Nos. 3 and 4.Three wickets in an economic spell from fast bowler Matt Henry went a long way in ensuring Canterbury’s win. He claimed two of Wellington’s top three cheaply, before returning to end a feisty last-wicket stand between Brent Arnel and Hamish Bennett that had added 32 at over a run a ball. In between Henry’s strikes, several Wellington batsmen got starts but only Luke Ronchi managed to convert that into a half-century. Pacers Henry Shipley and Andrew Ellis were also incisive and economical, taking five wickets between them, to ensure Wellington never got away.Canterbury’s total was built around half-centuries from Chad Bowes and Todd Astle. They were wobbling at 10 for 2 after being inserted, but opener Bowes held the innings together with his 84. After he and Astle were out, another hiccup happened with two wickets in two balls (Ellis caught behind and Johnston run out in the 42nd over), but Cole McConchie ensured they did not slide with a swift, unbeaten 40. Canterbury were eventually bowled out with three balls to spare, most of the damage being done by the spin of Jeetan Patel and the new-ball pair of Arnel and Bennett. But their total of 250 proved more than enough in the end.Central Districts had only one win in their first six matches in this season’s Ford Trophy. They won their last two group games with bonus points and made the playoffs. Now they’ve won their first playoff, beating Northern Districts by 48 runs in New Plymouth, to be one step away from the final. They will need to beat Wellington – who lost only one match in the round-robin stage – on February 15, to have a shot at what had looked like a highly improbable title at one stage.Central Districts chose to bat and were propelled to 336 for 7 on the back of a maiden List A century from Tom Bruce and knocks of seventy-odd at the top and bottom of the order from George Worker and Kieran Noema-Barnett. Bruce and Noema-Barnett’s runs came particularly quickly; Bruce’s 100 came off 81 balls and included eight sixes, while Noema-Barnett’s 74 came off 49 balls. Amid the carnage, Northern Districts’ Scott Kuggeleijn and Ish Sodhi maintained economy rates under five, and shared four wickets between them.Northern Districts’ middle order made a decent fight of it, with three half-century partnerships in good time – going into the final 10, they needed 105 with six wickets in hand and two set batsmen at the crease. But then the bottom five managed only 16 runs among them to end the challenge. When they were bowled out for 288 in the 49th over, Kuggeleijn was left stranded on 85 off 52. Fast bowler Seth Rance and left-arm spinner Ajaz Patel were the most effective of the Central Districts bowlers, picking up three apiece in tidy spells.

Leeds United are on the hunt for the right manager who can lead the club in their Championship campaign next season and now a new update has emerged from a reliable source on a potential candidate.

What's the latest on Leeds' interest in Scott Parker?

According to The Athletic's Leeds reporter Phil Hay, the club's hierarchy are now entering the stage of face-to-face interviews this week and has named Scott Parker as one of those interviewees.

As per an article for the publication, Hay revealed that alongside Daniel Farke, Parker will be one of the candidates spoken to about the role, with the club expected to make a decision imminently due to pre-season coming up fast.

Is Scott Parker a good fit for Leeds?

Time is running out for the West Yorkshire club to bring in a manager who can get up to speed with the unfolding situation at Elland Road and build connections with players, whilst also utilising the summer transfer window to bring in new additions that possess the profile to succeed in the style of play deployed.

The 49ers have a big decision to make on whether they bring in a manager who can guarantee quick but short-term success in terms of promotion from the Championship back to the Premier League or somebody who can be part of the long-term project for the new owners, with Parker the perfect option for the former.

The 42-year-old coach – hailed "outstanding" by Jurgen Klopp – has twice masterminded automatic promotion to the Premier League from the second tier with Bournemouth and Fulham, making him the ultimate expert to give Leeds their best chance at following in the footsteps of Burnley next season and bouncing straight back up.

However, his 0.77 points per game record in the Premier League is much less inspiring than his 1.84 points per game in the Championship and could be a cause for concern should he be appointed and promote the Whites next term.

Over 52 top-flight fixtures in charge of both Bournemouth and Fulham, the English coach has tallied up just nine wins and 30 defeats, which ultimately saw Parker sacked in both appointments after leading them as far as he could take them.

That means that even if this just a short-term gig for the former midfielder, it could pay dividends. Indeed, in the second tier he has lost just 19 times while winning over 50% of his matches in charge.

With that being said, Parker would be the perfect appointment if Leeds are looking for a sure-fire way to get promoted next season.

However, Australia have dropped the experienced duo of George Bailey and Aaron Finch for the five-match series against Pakistan

Brydon Coverdale07-Jan-2017Uncapped fast bowler Billy Stanlake and batsman Chris Lynn have been included in Australia’s squad for five ODIs against Pakistan, while experienced batsmen George Bailey and Aaron Finch have been axed. Usman Khawaja has been included, having not been part of the squad for the Chappell-Hadlee Series last month.The demoting of Finch and Bailey marks a significant selection shift for Australia: both men are currently in the top 20 on the ICC’s ODI batting rankings, an indication of their performances over a long period of time. In fact, in the past four years, Bailey has been Australia’s leading ODI run-scorer with 2603 at 40.67, and Finch third on the list with 2520 at 35.00.”Big call,” Australia’s coach, Darren Lehmann said of the decision to drop Finch. “Obviously he’s been an integral part since the World Cup but performances for Aaron have not been what we would’ve liked and what he would’ve liked to be perfectly honest. He hasn’t made a hundred since Canberra last year. The challenge for him is to make big runs in the BBL and get back into the side.”Tough call on George as well. He’s a ripper bloke, he’s fantastic around the group and he’s been fantastic as a leader as well. Again, it’s down to performances from George. He’s got to go back and make big runs. The door is not shut on any of those players by the way when you’re looking at this form of the game with Champions Trophy coming up. George has got to perform well and really put his case forward.”In announcing the squad, the interim chairman of selectors, Trevor Hohns, noted that Bailey had scored only one half-century in his last ten ODIs. While Khawaja appears the most likely candidate to replace Finch as David Warner’s opening partner, the position of Bailey in the middle order could be filled by Lynn, who has played Twenty20s for Australia but is yet to make his ODI debut.Lynn has lit up the BBL this summer and is the tournament’s leading run-scorer, but remarkably has not played a domestic one-day game since 2013, as in each of the past three years he has suffered pre-season shoulder injuries that have ruled him out of the Matador Cups. He has, however, played List A games for Australia A during that time.”Everyone loves what he’s brought to the T20 format, now the challenge for him is to do that in the one-day format, which we know he can,” Lehmann said. “He’s had some injury concerns in the past but he seems to be batting well and deserves his spot.”The other new member of the ODI squad is Stanlake who, like Lynn, is from Queensland. A very tall fast bowler with limited state and BBL experience – he has played only two first-class matches and four List A games – the 22-year-old Stanlake is the most speculative pick in the 14-man squad. He too missed last year’s Matador Cup through injury, in his case, a back complaint.”He’s tall, he’s fast, he’s got some bounce. So that’s a pleasing thing for us,” Lehmann said. “He will more than likely only play a couple of games depending on the make-up of the side and where we play. It’s a good challenge for a young kid coming through.”Mitchell Starc and Josh Hazlewood have both been included in the squad, but are expected to be rested at some stage during the series after their heavy workloads over the Test summer. The first of the five ODIs takes place at the Gabba on Friday next week.Squad Steven Smith (capt), David Warner, Pat Cummins, James Faulkner, Josh Hazlewood, Travis Head, Usman Khawaja, Chris Lynn, Mitchell Marsh, Glenn Maxwell, Billy Stanlake, Mitchell Starc, Matthew Wade (wk), Adam Zampa

Glasgow Rangers are still keen on signing defender Jonathan Panzo this summer after a recent update has emerged concerning their interest in him.

What’s the latest on Jonathan Panzo to Rangers?

Following the recent acquisition of forward Sam Lammers, Fabrizio Romano tweeted regarding the move while also claiming the Gers are still keen on Panzo, saying: “Official, completed: Sam Lammers joins Rangers on permanent deal, four-year contract signed.

“Talks continue over Jonathan Panzo deal as many clubs want him — Rangers are insisting.”

No other clubs are directly mentioned, though with the Nottingham Forest youngster clearly in high demand, Michael Beale must try to get a deal for the 22-year-old over the line as soon as possible – and he could cost as little as £2m.

Could Jonathan Panzo improve Rangers?

The centre of defence is a position where Beale currently has four first-team players. However, there could well be an issue ahead of the 2023/24 season.

Connor Goldson is a mainstay in that slot, making 261 appearances for the club, but Ben Davies was dubbed “very poor” by Kenny Miller following a horrendous mistake in an Old Firm clash back in April, John Souttar has missed a grand total of 43 games due to an ankle injury and Leon King is still just 19 years old, suggesting that Beale may have a lot to think about when selecting his options in the heart of the defence.

The Gers only conceded three more goals than Celtic last term, and by signing Panzo, they could be further improving their options at the back.

The 22-year-old spent the season on loan at Coventry City and finished his temporary move by ranking in fifth position for overall rating as (per Sofascore) while showcasing his defensive attributes by ranking in the top ten across the whole squad for tackles (1.6), interceptions (1.7) and clearances (2.9) – certainly underlining his ability in the heart of defence as he clearly played a key role in helping the Sky Blues reaching the Championship play-off final.

Panzo can also operate at left-back, with his positional versatility being another bonus for Beale, while he has also been lauded by his former U21 boss at Forest, Dave Rogers, who said: "He is a great professional. He's enthusiastic and has got good experience and energy too. He brings a great vibe to the dressing room, too.

"It's great to see Panzo getting more game time because he seems to be getting better and better each time he plays. It's been fantastic to have him with us and the boys have really enjoyed having him around. He's been great to coach."

High praise indeed, and with another centre-back required ahead of a crucial 2023/24 campaign, Panzo has more than demonstrated that he could slot into Beale's plans with ease.

Pakistan have been found to have fallen short of the targeted over rate in Hamilton by five overs

ESPNcricinfo staff29-Nov-2016Pakistan have been found to have fallen short of the targeted over rate in Hamilton by five overs, resulting in stand-in captain Azhar Ali being fined 100% of his match fee, and the rest of the team 50% of their fees each. As per the ICC’s rules, players are fined 10% of their fee per unbowled over, with the captain fined double that.The charge was laid by the four officiating umpires and the penalty arrived upon by the match referee, Richie Richardson. Azhar Ali accepted the ruling, so there was no need for a formal hearing.Pakistan had been found to be short of the required over rate after the first Test as well, and full-time captain Misbah-ul-Haq was handed a one-match ban, given it was his second minor over-rate offence in the same format in a period of 12 months; as per the rules two offences in 12 months equate to fines and a suspension from the immediately subsequent match in the same format.Misbah, in any case, was likely to miss the Hamilton Test after returning home for personal reasons.

Newcastle United are interested in completing a move for Barcelona winger Raphinha this summer after qualifying for next year's Champions League, according to reports…

What's the latest on Raphinha to Newcastle?

According to Spanish outlet Sport – via TEAMtalk – the 'first approach' has been made by Magpies technical director Dan Ashworth to sign the 26-year-old, who joined La Blaugrana from Leeds United for £55m last season.

The Brazilian is said to be reluctant to leave Catalonia but Newcastle are undeterred and hoping to enter formal negotiations over the coming weeks as manager Eddie Howe looks to bolster the ranks ahead of next term.

Xavi's LaLiga champions have made it clear, however, that they will only agree to a deal if their €80m (£69m) valuation is met, meaning Newcastle would have to break their transfer record to seal a deal.

Should Newcastle sign Raphinha?

Despite exceeding expectations and securing a fourth-placed finish in the Premier League this season, Howe is hardly going to rest on his laurels and will look to make waves in the transfer market this summer to consolidate their newfound stature.

While the Toon concluded the 22/23 league season with the joint-best defence, they finished sixth in the goal-scoring charts and signing someone like Raphinha could be the optimum way to increase the flow.

The Brazilian registered 22 direct contributions from 50 outings in Spain this term as his prestigious side secured the league title and would undoubtedly bring the side of prolific dynamism Howe craves to bridge the gap on the likes of Manchester City and Arsenal, who waged a spectacular title fight this year.

As per FBref, the 16-cap star ranks among the top 13% of attacking midfielders and wingers across Europe's top five leagues over the past year for rate of assists, the top 15% for shot-creating actions, the top 10% for passes attempted, the top 22% for progressive carries and the top 3% for progressive passes received per 90, drawing parallels between his game and Arsenal prodigy Bukayo Saka's.

The 21-year-old England international, who like Raphinha loves to cut inside from the right channel onto his left, was arguably the offensive centrepiece of the Gunners' title-chasing campaign, scoring 14 goals and supplying 11 assists in the Premier League and ranking himself among the top 10% of positional peers for progressive carries and the top 2% for progressive passes received.

Hailed as a "superstar" by Charles Nicholas, Saka finds success driving up the field and wreaking havoc in and around the opposing area, something Raphinha could emulate on Tyneside given his similar skill set.

A "magician" with the ball at his feet – as former teammate Dan James once stated – Raphinha boasts all the attributes, and acumen to flourish under Howe's wing and with that in mind, he must be signed.

Arsenal have held talks with Leicester City over a summer move for right-back Timothy Castagne, according to journalist Sacha Tavolieri.

What's the latest Arsenal transfer news?

Mikel Arteta has identified the need for a new right-back, and Real Valladolid's Ivan Fresneda is seen as a viable option, with a decision about whether to step up the pursuit of the Spaniard set to be made soon, amid interest in other players.

Talks over Joao Cancelo have reportedly progressed, and the Gunners are likely to launch a bid of £35m in the coming days, however that figure is slightly below Manchester City's valuation, with the Champions League winners set to hold out for £45m.

Castagne has also recently emerged as an option for Arsenal, with it being reported they are keen to sign him following Leicester's relegation from the Premier League, and there has now been an update on their pursuit of the right-back.

Taking to Twitter, Tavolieri has now claimed the north London club are "going for" the Belgian, however he is only being considered as a back-up option for Fresneda, who remains their top target.

Talks have commenced with Leicester regarding a potential deal, with the journalist also claiming the move "could develop quickly", even though the 27-year-old is not the Gunners' first choice.

Is Timothy Castagne leaving Leicester?

After the Foxes' relegation to the Championship, they are set to lose a number of key first-team players, with journalist Dean Jones claiming they will find it "almost impossible" to keep hold of James Maddison, Harvey Barnes and Castagne.

The defender would almost certainly fancy a move to the Emirates Stadium, considering Champions League football is on offer next season, and there are some indications he could be a solid addition to the Arsenal backline.

Hailed as "brilliant" by members of the media, the £65k-per-week full-back ranks highly for a number of key defensive metrics over the past year, including clearances, averaging 3.04 per 90, which places him in the 91st percentile.

That said, the Belgium international does not offer much in the way of attacking contributions, sparsely showing the desire to get on the ball and take the game to the opposition, placed in just the 13th percentile for successful take-ons.

As a back-up option who could be brought on to help preserve a lead, Castagne could be a good signing for Arsenal, but he is not well-rounded enough to be a regular starter.

South African wicketkeeper Quinton de Kock has said the pink ball wasn’t as tricky as they thought it would be

Firdose Moonda24-Oct-20161:22

Harder for batsmen to adjust to pink ball – Abbott

South Africa came through their first outing with the pink ball without any problems in their tour match at the Adelaide Oval. In preparation for their first day-night Test, South Africa’s batsmen spent 133.5 overs facing the pink ball and their centurion Quinton de Kock explained that it was not as tricky as they thought it would be.”I didn’t find any difference,” de Kock said. “I am not one to overthink it. A ball is a ball. I just play the way I should be playing in that situation, it’s no difference to me.”De Kock warned spectators not to read too much into the performances. “It doesn’t bother me whether I score a duck or a hundred. To me a warm-up game and a net is the same thing. When it comes to game time and focus time, I like to contribute where I can,” he said.De Kock only batted in the first innings and scored 122 of 103 balls. Hashim Amla (51), JP Duminy (97) and Rilee Rossouw (77 in the second innings) also got comfortable, but openers Dean Elgar and Stephen Cook, and the captain Faf du Plessis did not capitalise on their starts. They will have a second opportunity to get their eyes in, when South Africa play another day-night practice match in Melbourne before the third Test, which will be played with the pink ball.For de Kock, the two things that stood out were not different from what he faces in any other game. “Early on, I found it a little difficult but I think that is part of any cricket, white ball or red ball,” he said. “I also found the outfield quite slow. Normally, you play on a square back home so it’s easier to hit the boundaries. With a drop-in pitch, hitting boundaries was a bit harder.”De Kock also played down the difficulty of batting during the twilight period, when natural light is replaced by artificial light. “I thought it was quite nice during the twilight period, actually,” he said.That period was also when South Africa’s bowlers found it best to use the pink ball. “It seems to nip around when the lights come on but not so much during the day,” fast bowler Kyle Abbott said. “There was a bit of grass on this wicket. Not a huge amount of swing, just a bit more nip off the surface.”Abbott joked that the South African team thought they had not seen that much grass on a surface in “the last seven years,” and that he would not mind if a similar amount was left for the Tests, albeit of a slightly greener variety.The ground staff may have to do something like that because the pink ball’s reputation for early deterioration remains. “After 15 overs or so, it [the ball] started to peel,” Abbott said.South Africa’s five quicks bowled in short spells and took two wickets each to end their first warm-up successfully. Tabraiz Shamsi, the only spinner, bowled only three overs without any wickets.