Jakati rescues Goa with 8 for 53

A round-up of the action from day 1 of the eighth round of Group C Ranji Trophy matches

ESPNcricinfo staff29-Nov-2016

File photo – Bhargav Bhatt’s six wickets was only the second-best performance of the day as Shadab Jakati responded with 8 for 53 in the same match•ESPNcricinfo Ltd

Shadab Jakati rescued Goa with a career-best 8 for 53 to dismiss Andhra for 159 in Dhanbad and restrict Goa’s first-innings deficit to 44. The left-arm spinner’s performance on what both sides termed a “grassy surface” came after Goa were all out for 115 after Andhra spinner Bhargav Bhatt took 6 for 36 on a day when 20 wickets fell.Defending a slender first innings total, Jakati opened the bowling and dismissed opener Prasanth Kumar in his second over. Srikar Bharat (68) and Ravi Teja (17) added 54 for the second wicket. That was the only substantial partnership as Jakati dismissed Teja and four other Andhra batsmen to leave them tottering at 118 for 7 after they had been 62 for 1. Bhatt hit a 23-ball 25, but Jakati cleaned up the tail.Earlier in the day, Goa openers Sumiran Amonkar and Swapnil Asnodkar saw off the new ball with a 33-run partnership that lasted 21.2 overs before Bhatt’s legspin had the latter caught for 15. Bhatt dismissed five others – all six caught off his bowling – as Goa crumbled from 74 for 3 to 115 all out.Kerala’s Sandeep Warrier and Jalaj Saxena shared three wickets each as Tripura were all out for 213 in Cuttack. In reply, Kerala finished the day on 11 without loss.Tripura suffered a middle-order collapse, from 76 for 2 to 124 for 7. Warrier took three of those wickets, as Tripura’s Udiyan Bose (36) and Smit Patel (26) fell as soon as a partnership seemed to be developing. Yashpal Singh scored a 99-ball 50, stitching together a 69-run partnership with captain Manisankar Murasingh (42) to take them past 200, before Saxena dismissed the last two batsmen within the next 13 runs.Haryana’s Guntashveer Singh scored a first-class ton on debut as they finished on 237 for 3 after day one, against Himachal Pradesh in Valsad.Himachal were made to toil after choosing to field as Singh and opener Nitin Saini (39) helped Haryana put on 91 before the loss of a wicket. They had, however, lost opener Shubham Rohilla, who had to retire hurt after scoring 2 off 21. Singh went on to add significant partnerships with Chaitanya Bishnoi (26) and Rajat Paliwal (25) before seeing out the day unbeaten on 110, with captain Mohit Sharma (20*) at the other end. Kanwar Abhinay picked up all the three wickets of the day.In Mumbai, Services were all out late in the day for 225 after Chhattisgarh’s left-arm spinner Sumit Ruikar picked up his third five-wicket haul in first-class cricket. Opener Nakul Verma (54) and No. 7 Vikas Hathwala (50) top-scored for Services but, with no concrete partnerships for the team, they were unable to build a big total. Ruikar was aided by Abhimanyu Chauhan’s 2 for 24, as Services were all out in the 86th over.Openers Sahil Gupta and Chauhan saw out the day as Chhattisgarh finished on 8 for no loss.Tanmay Agarwal scored his fifth first-class ton and remained not out on 106 as Hyderabad finished the day on 234 for 3 against Jammu & Kashmir in Vadodara.Opener Akshath Reddy was dismissed for 18 by Samiullah Beigh with Hyderabad on 36 but Agarwal and S Badrinath (47) added 105 for the second wicket before Pervez Rasool dismissed the latter. Rasool also got B Anirudh (46) late in the day, but by then he had added 93 runs with Agarwal for Hyderabad to finish the day on top.

Nottingham Forest Plot Swoop For £48k-p/w Titan

Nottingham Forest could look to the summer transfer window to add depth to their squad ahead of next season and now a new update has emerged on a potential transfer target.

What's the latest on Forest's interest in Romain Saiss?

According to Foot Mercato, Nottingham Forest are one of the clubs interested in signing Besiktas defender Romain Saiss.

As per the report, the Garibaldi Reds are keen to take advantage of Saiss' Premier League experience by bringing him back to the Premier League this summer, but will face strong competition from fellow relegation battlers Everton.

Would Romain Saiss be a good fit for Forest?

Steve Cooper will be thrilled with the way his squad performed at the business end of the Premier League season to secure survival, but will be looking for solutions to improve the consistency in the team across the next campaign to ensure they don't fall into trouble again.

Indeed, at 33 years old, Saiss would not be a long-term prospect for the Tricky Trees but would provide a wealth of Premier League experience and add depth to the centre-back roles, making him an ideal addition for next season at the very least.

The 6 foot 3 Moroccan titan is best known for his six-year stint with Wolverhampton Wanderers, but has continued to shine in the Turkish top-flight and on the international stage at the 2022 World Cup for his national team; part of a record-breaking tournament for Morocco.

romain-saiss-premier-league-nottingham-forest-transfers

Over six appearances in Qatar, Saiss – hailed "impeccable" by Medhi Benatia – scored one goal, kept three clean sheets and won 100% of his aerial duels, as well as averaging 41.7 touches, five clearances and 26.5 accurate passes per game, captaining his side to become the first African team to ever get to the semi-final of the prestigious international tournament.

The £48k-per-week Besiktas ace has demonstrated excellent leadership skills over his career and from his centre-back role has never struggled to display his huge presence on the pitch with not only his defensive consistency but his eye for attacking opportunities, making him the perfect player to work alongside Serge Aurier at the City Ground.

The Forest full-back has been a consistent and reliable performer since joining the club with both defensive and attacking attributes on the right flank – averaging 1.2 interceptions, 2.7 tackles, 2.7 clearances and six duels won per game over his 24 Premier League appearances.

Combine that aggressive and combative nature with the titanic approach of Saiss and you'd have a fine defensive pairing, one certainly capable of helping improve Forest's record at the back next term.

Indeed, Saiss could be the perfect player to bolster Forest's defensive presence. He could form a particularly solid partnership with Aurier next season and help the club retain their top-flight status more comfortably than they did this time out.

مواعيد مباريات اليوم الثلاثاء 5-3-2024 والقنوات الناقلة.. باريس سان جيرمان يواجه ريال سوسيداد والهلال يصطدم بـ الاتحاد

تعرف على مواعيد مباريات اليوم الثلاثاء 5-3-2024 والقنوات الناقلة

يشهد اليوم الثلاثاء الموافق 5-3-2024، العديد من المباريات الهامة والمرتقبة على مستوى الدوري المصري، ودوري أبطال أوروبا ودوري أبطال آسيا

في الدوري المصري، يواجه طلائع الجيش نظيره الداخلية على ملعب جهاز الرياضة العسكري، ويلعب المصري البورسعيدي مع سموحة بملعب “برج العرب”.

ويستضيف ريال سوسيداد نظيره باريس سان جيرمان على ملعب “انويتا”، ويحل لاتسيو ضيفًا على بايرن ميونخ بملعب “أليانز أرينا”. مواعيد مباريات اليوم الثلاثاء 5-3-2024 والقنوات الناقلةمواعيد مباريات الدوري المصري اليوم

طلائع الجيش ضد الداخلية، الساعة 4 بتوقيت مصر، 5 بتوقيت السعودية، وتُذاع عبر قناة “on time sport 1”.

المصري ضد سموحة، الساعة 7 بتوقيت مصر، 8 بتوقيت السعودية، وتُذاع عبر قناة “on time sport 1”. مواعيد مباريات دوري أبطال أوروبا اليوم

باريس سان جيرمان ضد ريال سوسيداد، الساعة 10 بتوقيت مصر، 11 بتوقيت السعودية، وتُذاع عبر قناة “beIN Sports HD 1”.

طالع أيضًا | إنريكي يواصل إثارة الجدل حول مبابي قبل مواجهة ريال سوسيداد

بايرن ميونخ ضد لاتسيو، الساعة 10 بتوقيت مصر، 11 بتوقيت السعودية، وتُذاع عبر قناة “beIN Sports HD 2”. مواعيد مباريات دوري أبطال آسيا اليوم

تشانبوك موتورز ضد أولسان هيونداي، الساعة 12 مساءً بتوقيت مصر، 1 بتوقيت السعودية، وتُذاع عبر قناة “beIN Sports AFC HD”.

الهلال ضد اتحاد جدة، الساعة 8 بتوقيت مصر، 9 بتوقيت السعودية، وتُذاع عبر قناة “beIN Sports AFC HD”. مواعيد مباريات الدوري التونسي اليوم

الترجي ضد الملعب التونسي، الساعة 3:30 بتوقيت مصر، 4:30 بتوقيت السعودية، وتُذاع عبر قناة “الوطنية 2”. مواعيد مباريات الدوري المغربي اليوم

الوداد ضد نهضة الزمامرة، الساعة 7 بتوقيت مصر، 8 بتوقيت السعودية، وتُذاع عبر قناة “Arryadia live HD “. مواعيد مباريات الدوري القطري اليوم

الدحيل ضد المرخية، الساعة 5 بتوقيت مصر، 6 بتوقيت السعودية، وتُذاع عبر قناة ” Alkass EXTRA”.

أم صلال ضد الشمال، الساعة 7 بتوقيت مصر، 8 بتوقيت السعودية، وتُذاع عبر قناة ” Alkass EXTRA”.

معيذر ضد الأهلي القطري، الساعة 7 بتوقيت مصر، 8 بتوقيت السعودية، وتُذاع عبر قناة ” Alkass EXTRA”.

ويُمكنكم متابعة أحداث المباريات لحظة بلحظة من مركز المباريات من هنـــا

Liverpool Could Sign An "Incredible" Talent In 17 y/o Gem

Liverpool appear to have homed their sights on Paris Saint-Germain prodigy Warren Zaire-Emery amid recent reports of the teenager's mounting interest across Europe.

What's the latest on Warren Zaire-Emery to Liverpool?

According to RMC Sport, the French outlet claims that the Reds are among a cluster of outfits vying for the 17-year-old's signature after a remarkable breakout season with the French champions.

Zaire-Emery is also attracting the attention of treble winners Manchester City, who are interested in including the teenager in a deal involving Bernardo Silva – who has been linked with a move away from the Etihad Stadium – while Borussia Dortmund also eyeing a swoop.

The talented Frenchman is already valued at £17m by CIES Football Observatory, though such a valuation will surely only skyrocket over the forthcoming seasons.

How good is Warren Zaire-Emery?

When asked of his thoughts on Zaire-Emery's meteoric rise, PSG Deputy Academy Director Yohan Cabaye said: "I'm not surprised, because he has the intelligence to understand, and also to know that he has to keep working, and he has the behaviour, the fantastic behaviour that gives him the chance to play.

"He deserves everything he has."

Still only 17 years old, the central midfielder is one of the most gifted talents in Europe, and after making his senior debut in PSG's first Ligue 1 match of the season, he has achieved a total of 31 appearances across all competitions, scoring two goals.

As per FBref, he already ranks among the top 15% of midfielders across Europe's top five leagues over the past year for non-penalty goals, the top 19% for progressive carries, the top 10% for successful take-ons and the top 5% for progressive passes received per 90 – as well as the top 3% for pass completion.

Hailed as an "incredible talent" by Joe Cole, Zaire-Emery would undoubtedly play a role in Liverpool's first-team system if he was signed, having completed 92% of his passes and succeeded with 59% of his dribbles in the French top-flight this term, as per Sofascore. Interestingly, these numbers would top the rankings in the Reds' squad based on last season's Premier League data.

And given his prodigious roots, he could even surpass Spaniard Stefan Bajcetic's potential on Merseyside, with the 18-year-old box-to-box ace earning all the plaudits this term for his own breakout exploits.

Liverpool midfielder Stefan Bajcetic.

Bajcetic forged 19 displays and scored one goal before injury cruelly ended his resounding campaign prematurely, but he will expect to earn further opportunities next year as he continues his ascent, having been hailed as "so mature and composed for his age" by journalist Ben Bocsak.

An energetic and nimble player, the former Celta Vigo starlet could yet blossom into one of the Premier League's leading centre-midfielders, but if Zaire-Emery was to join the Reds fold, he could yet eclipse his progress.

Nicknamed "the robot" by his peers, the PSG sensation would definitely not come cheap if his signature was to be procured by the Anfield side this year, but he is arguably one of the most advanced youngsters around and would only enhance Klopp's squad with his dynamic abilities that belie his tender age.

Rangers In "Talks" To Sign Enthusiastic" £2m Gem

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.

Uncapped Lynn, Stanlake in Australia ODI squad

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

Leeds Eyeing 57-Year-Old As Their Next Manager

Leeds United have reportedly "opened talks" with Carlos Carvalhal over becoming their new manager this summer, according to a fresh rumour regarding the search for a new boss.

Which managers are Leeds linked with?

It has been a period to forget at Elland Road over the past 12 months or so, with the club getting through three different managers en route to being relegated from the Premier League.

Amid the new takeover from 49ers Enterprises, Leeds are now working hard on finding a new boss, with so many different names linked with the job in the weeks since their relegation was confirmed.

The likes of Brendan Rodgers, Graham Potter, Steven Gerrard, Carlos Corberan and Scott Parker have all been mooted as potential successors to Sam Allardyce, but no clear favourite has emerged in the race yet.

Now, a new name has been thrown into the hat – someone with plenty of experience in English football in the past.

Are Whites in talks with Carvalhal?

According to iG Esporte [via Sport Witness], Leeds have "already opened talks" in "recent days" with Carvalhal, suggesting that he is considered a strong option to come in and lead the promotion charge at Elland Road.

The 57-year-old is "free in the market" currently, having left his post as Celta Vigo manager earlier this year, although Brazilian side Atletico-MG are also believed to be eyeing him up.

Carvalhal could be an interesting appointment by Leeds if they get a move over the line, having previously managed Sheffield Wednesday and Swansea City in the past. He got the former into the Championship playoff final in 2016, and the semi-finals the following year, although he only lasted approximately six months with the latter.

The Portuguese is now a hugely experienced manager, having taken charge of teams all over the world, from Sporting CP to Besiktas, and he also won the Portuguese Cup with Braga in 2021.

There are question marks over whether Carvalhal is the strongest contender to come in, though, considering the likes of Rodgers and Potter are arguably more highly thought of currently, having been established Premier League managers for a while now, despite admittedly both losing their jobs earlier in the campaign.

Meanwhile, someone like Daniel Farke has won promotion from the Championship twice in the past, during his time at Norwich City, which is something Carvalhal has never managed, so he could be a safer pair of hands.

Umpire Reiffel to miss rest of Mumbai Test

Umpire Paul Reiffel will not stand for the remainder of the Mumbai Test after suffering concussion because of a blow to the back of the head on the opening day.Reiffel was helped off the field by England’s medical staff and went to hospital where tests cleared him of serious injury, but he was advised to rest. Marais Erasmus, who was the TV umpire, will continue in the on-field role for the rest of the match.*An ICC statement said: “Paul Reiffel underwent precautionary tests yesterday, which came back all clear. Paul, however, has been advised to rest, which is the normal course prescribed following a concussion. As such, he will not take any further part in the Mumbai Test and has been replaced by Marais Erasmus.”The accident took place in the 49th over of England’s innings, when Keaton Jennings worked R Ashwin past the square leg. From three-fourths of the way to the fence, Bhuvneshwar Kumar lobbed a throw back to Cheteshwar Pujara, who stood between Reiffel and the stumps. The throw didn’t have enough power, and Pujara seemed to warn Reiffel late, leaving him time only to duck. Had Reiffel stood upright the ball might have glanced the top of his head; but now it hit the sensitive area on the back of the head.The other umpire Bruce Oxenford, who wears an arm guard in limited-overs cricket, rushed to provide Reiffel shade with his hat and the England medical team looked after the 50-year-old umpire as he collapsed to the ground. Play was held up for 10 to 12 minutes shortly before the scheduled afternoon drinks break. Erasmus took Reiffel’s place on the field as he walked off for a medical examination.It helped that there was an understudy for the third umpire: C Shamshuddin, who has stood in ODIs, was at the ground as part of a programme to train local umpires on the DRS. Shamshuddin, who was better versed with DRS protocols than fourth umpire Nitin Menon, moved into the TV umpire’s seat.Reiffel is scheduled to be an on-field official during the final Test in Chennai.* December 9, 2.15pm IST: This story was updated with news of Paul Reiffel not returning for the Test

Tottenham: "Sensational" Star "Likelier" To Join Spurs

Leicester City star James Maddison is “likelier” to join Tottenham Hotspur than Premier League rivals this summer, according to journalist Miguel Delaney of The Independent.

Who will Tottenham sign?

Ange Postecoglou’s arrival from treble-winning Celtic marks the dawn of a new era and attacking football’s return to N17, coming after the more pragmatic eras of Jose Mourinho, Nuno Espirito Santo and Antonio Conte before him.

The domestic transfer window is officially open for business and it is now the task of chairman Daniel Levy to scour the market for much-needed Spurs upgrades.

A major rebuild is on the cards at Tottenham, with Hugo Lloris, Ivan Perisic, Davinson Sanchez, Ryan Sessegnon, Eric Dier, Ben Davies, Tanguy Ndombele, Giovani Lo Celso, Sergio Reguilon and Harry Winks facing uncertain futures (The Telegraph).

There have been suggestions that Pierre-Emile Hojbjerg could be facing the axe as well, meanwhile major doubts surround 2022 summer signing Richarlison.

Of the players who could come in, Postecoglou apparently wants a new centre-back, a goalkeeper to replace Hugo Lloris, forward additions and Leicester star Maddison.

Leicester City midfielder James Maddison.

Going back to the latter player, reliable reporter Delaney of The Independent has shared an update, with Spurs battling Newcastle for the 26-year-old’s signing.

However, despite Eddie Howe enjoying the luxury of Champions League qualification for next season, Maddison is actually “likelier to go to Spurs”.

It is stressed in his report, though, that neither side are that close to agreeing a fee for the midfielder – with Enzo Maresca’s side demanding almost double £45 million.

How many goals has James Maddison scored for Leicester?

Maddison, during his time at the King Power, has racked up an impressive 55 goals and 41 assists in all competitions.

Last season, the former Norwich City star totalled 10 goals and nine assists in the league alone – standing out as Leicester’s best-performing player by average match rating (WhoScored).

Journalist Rob Blanchette also hailed Maddison for his “sensational” form last year he got the England nod over Man United winger Jadon Sancho.

“James Maddison is an easy pick ahead of Sancho,” said Blanchette on Twitter.

“His form for Leicester has been sensational, while Jadon has declined.”

Tottenham Keen On Signing 26 y/o "Monster"

Tottenham Hotspur are reportedly chasing a move for Fiorentina midfielder Sofyan Amrabat this summer, according to reports.

What’s the latest Spurs transfer news?

Ange Postecoglou looks set to be backed by the Spurs board ahead of his first Premier League season in charge in north London, with five potential new signings on the agenda.

A transfer meeting has already been held, with a new midfielder thought to be on the wishlist. Leicester City’s James Maddison appears to be a target, however, Tottenham appear to be trailing Newcastle United in the race for the England international.

Celtic midfielder Reo Hatate is another to be linked with a move to Spurs following Postecoglou’s arrival, and it appears as if Amrabat is another name to look out for.

Sport Witness relayed an update from Mundo Deportivo regarding Amrabat. The report states that Spurs and Bayern Munich have joined Atletico Madrid in the race for the midfielder, who is set to leave his current employers over the coming months.

An auction looks set to take place at a starting price of €20m, with SW citing previous claims suggesting that contact has already been made by Spurs to Amrabat’s representatives.

sofyan-amrabat-premier-league-man-united-transfers

Who is Sofyan Amrabat?

Amrabat, described as a "monster" at the World Cup with Morocco by journalist Carlo Garganese, is primarily a defensive midfielder who can also play further forward in a box-to-box role.

The 26-year-old, who cares the same agency as Ben Davies, appears to be at the top of his game after his Transfermarkt valuation rocketed from €10m in November to a career-high €25m prior to the New Year. He has made 107 appearances for his current employers but has more than 250 games of senior club experience under his belt.

Bringing in a new defensive midfielder could prove to be a smart idea, as Oliver Skipp is the only out-and-out holding midfielder on the books at this moment in time. As per FBref, Amrabat ranks in the 99th percentile for long passes completed and 98th percentile for medium passes completed, so could bring a real stability to Spurs’ midfield.

Adding Maddison to bring the creative spark to Postecoglou’s 4-3-3 formation could complement someone like Amrabat and an existing central midfielder such as Rodrigo Bentancur, but Spurs will need to pip a number of sides to secure Amrabat’s services over the coming months.

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