Middlesex sneaked a one-wicket win at Edgbaston and that leaves Warwickshire with a yawning gap of 48 points to safety in Division One of the Specsavers Championship

Jon Culley at Edgbaston06-Jul-2017
ScorecardA match that might have finished in an historic tie just went the way of Middlesex after a tense and absorbing conclusion, providing the defending champions with only a second win of the season and the hope that they might yet claw back more of the space that opened up between them and leaders Essex with last week’s thumping defeat at Chelmsford.None of the ties in first-class cricket has featured identical totals in both innings, yet that prospect was on the cards here as Middlesex, who had looked as though they would reach their target comfortably while Nick Compton and John Simpson were together, began to lose wickets with disconcerting regularity in the post-lunch session.Warwickshire fought as you would expect from a side desperate for a win and stand-in captain Jonathan Trott was never without an idea that might make something happen, but they are now 48 points adrift from safety,They gave themselves a substantial shot of hope and adrenalin before lunch when Jeetan Patel managed, seemingly against all probability, to draw Compton out of his crease and had him stumped.Until that moment, Middlesex looked in command, needing 112 with six wickets in hand. Yet Warwickshire, who have not enjoyed too many good moments in a largely dismal season, used that wicket as a motivational factor and had a fresh determination as they emerged for the afternoon session.Ryan Higgins at first maintained Middlesex’s momentum but Warwickshire somehow kept themselves in it. A fine catch by William Porterfield, diving forward from gully, removed Simpson off Rikki Clarke. And from 170-6, needing 64, Middlesex stumbled three more times.James Harris was unable to get out of the way of a super ball from Boyd Rankin – among a mixed bag of a performance, it has to be said – and gave a catch behind at 193-7, Higgins popped up a bat-pad short-leg catch off Patel at 210-8 and, tantalising Warwickshire fans even more, Ollie Rayner stepped across one from Rankin to be leg before, leaving his side nine down with seven still required.Tim Murtagh and Tom Helm kept their nerve admirably, however, taking four singles off Clarke before Murtagh found a gap on the offside against Rankin and took three runs to the longer boundary.Dawid Malan, Middlesex’s acting captain, believed the key phase of the match had been the last session on day three, when Tom Helm dismissed Trott for 99 and rapidly cleaned up the tail, leaving Warwickshire at least 20 or 30 runs short of where they had hoped to be.”I think the way Tom plus Tim Murtagh and Ryan Higgins bowled at the end of day three – their spell set it up for us because at tea they had been in the driving seat and we probably bowled them out for a lot less than they should have got,” Malan said.”We desperately needed that win. We haven’t been playing our best cricket so far and have not been able to string four good days together.”We have won two and lost two of our last four which is disappointing on the loss side because we pride ourselves on being hard to beat, but positive on the winning side.”To get a win moving forward with guys due to come back from injury and England duty when the Championship starts again we are in a good position to get a few wins in a row and be pushing for the top.”The concern for Warwickshire, of course, is about finding a way somehow to get away from the bottom, although with only six matches left time is running out.Yet coach Jim Troughton still believes his team’s character remains intact, even though results suggest that time is catching up with some of the senior members of their dressing room.”Yes, we probably need to win at least half our remaining games but in 2010 we needed to win four out of five and if there is one thing you can always say this team has been good at, over the years of winning trophies and getting to finals and bringing this club a lot of success, it is being up for it in the big games that matter.”We always knew that we were hitting a period of transition and that this season was going to be tough and we’ve had some performances this season we have not been proud of, where we have crumbled under pressure or drifted through sessions.”But this is a league in which anyone can beat anyone. Somerset have shown that up at Scarborough. And in this game we have gone toe to toe with a good side so we have to take positives from that.”We need to keep asking questions of the older players. We need to compete over all four days of games and to walk off at the end of the game knowing we have given everything and (on this occasion) I don’t need to question that.”He could not question the passion of some of those players, either, as was evident in the scenes on the third evening, before and after Stevie Eskinazi was dismissed for a duck – the score at which Warwickshire had been convinced he was out in the first innings before going on to score the match-winning individual score.The umpires had to intervene, asking Rikki Clarke and Keith Barker in particular to calm down, giving Trott another challenge as captain he might not have bargained for. Troughton admitted the incident had been a cause for concern.”We had a chat with the umpires and recognised that the passion probably bubbled over a little bit,” he said.”Our members maybe sometimes ask where’s the fight, where’s the passion in our team. They definitely saw it there but to people watching without knowing the context it does not look great. So we talked about being competitive and hitting them hard but not stepping over the line.”

Journalist Ben Jacobs claims there is a "mixed narrative" surrounding the Manchester United takeover process and there remains a lack of clarity over the situation at Old Trafford.

What's the latest on Man United's takeover?

Having been put up for sale by the Glazers in November 2022, a potential takeover at Man United has moved at a seemingly glacial speed.

There are two horses in the race to own United: Sir Jim Ratcliffe's INEOS and Qatari businessman Sheikh Jassim Bin Hamad Al Thani.

There has been much toing and froing regarding a potential takeover with several bids submitted by both parties, while Sheikh Jassim is now considered the favourite to buy the club outright.

However, there is a feeling that the Glazers may not even sell the club come the end of this process and the longer the takeover rumbles on the more those fears grow.

Journalist Jacobs has offered a big update regarding the takeover process, suggesting that there is still some distance between the Glazers and the buying parties and that, despite a potential deal slowly progressing, there remains a lack of clarity regarding the process.

Speaking to GIVEMESPORT, Jacobs said: "There's a mixed narrative about why we're not seemingly getting any movement. So, from the group's perspective, they feel like they're waiting for communication from the Glazers and the Raine Group.

"To get there, it requires a lot of legal and logistical box ticks. So, the groups imply that they are ready, and the Glazers must decide."

Jacobs added: “But sources close to the selling side are implying the delays are down to the fact that the groups are not as ready as they perhaps are intimating they are. This is normal within a takeover to have these two different sides.

"But it's also an indication that nothing is paused at this point. It's quietly ticking along behind the scenes. And as we've had throughout the process, the Glazers simply need to show their hands. If they don't, the situation won't be any clearer.”

The lack of communication and transparency regarding the takeover will undoubtedly unnerve United supporters who are desperate for the Glazers to sell the club.

It also impacts United's business during the transfer window with a lack of clarity surrounding funds and available budget, making Erik ten Hag's life more difficult in the market.

Despite question marks over finances, the Red Devils have still managed to remain active in the market as they look to build on the success Ten Hag helped provide last season.

Who are Man United signing?

Having confirmed the signings of Andre Onana, Mason Mount and a surprise deal for former player Jonny Evans, the takeover process has not entirely disrupted Ten Hag's business.

However, there is more to do for the Red Devils, who are keen on bringing in a new number nine and a centre-back this summer.

United's striker search is yet to fully take shape with most discussions at preliminary stages at present, but it appears that Atalanta's Rasmus Hojlund is the priority target at the moment.

It's thought that United would need to cough up a fee close to €100m for the Denmark international, something the Red Devils seem unwilling to do. However, some negotiation could potentially bring that fee down with Hojlund eager to make the switch to Old Trafford.

Meanwhile, their hunt for defensive reinforcements has led them to Monaco's Axel Disasi, who appears the priority target for Ten Hag at centre-back, but they will have to fend off Newcastle United who are also keen on the Frenchman.

Liam Norwell and David Payne produced an inspired new-ball spell as Gloucestershire roared back into the game at Wantage Road

Jon Culley at Wantage Road07-Aug-2017An impressive performance by a patched-up attack to secure a first-innings lead of 78 for Northamptonshire was severely undermined when they lost their first five second-innings wickets for 19.In a terrific display of new-ball bowling – in complete contrast to the first innings – Gloucestershire’s Liam Norwell and left-armer David Payne left Northamptonshire’s outside chance of promotion to Division One looking decidedly fragile in a match they probably need to win.They were backed up by some fine catching, too, as George Hankins dived to his right at third slip to snap up an edge as Payne removed Rob Newton for a single, before Will Tavare moved sharply to snare Ben Duckett at second slip and give Norwell his first success.Payne then came up with a beautiful delivery to uproot left-hander Max Holden’s off stump, before Norwell pinned Rob Keogh in his crease and produced another cracker four balls later to clip the top of off as Richard Levi groped helplessly.It had taken only six overs to wreck what had been shaping up as an excellent day for the perennial over-achievers, who are nicely placed to advance to the knockout stage again in the NatWest Blast, in which they are looking to become Twenty20 champions for the third time in five seasons, and had put themselves in contention to return to the top division by winning three of their last four red-ball matches.They recovered a little to 50 for 5 at the close but will need a big innings from captain Alex Wakely if they are to construct a lead substantial enough to have a chance of defending.A maiden five-wicket haul for Richard Gleeson had been the key factor in dismissing Gloucestershire for 265, despite the absence of their leading wicket-takers, Ben Sanderson and Nathan Buck, as well as spinner Graeme White, whose injuries have left them seriously short of bowling resources.In addition to Gleeson, the late starter whose success so far has been mainly in T20 and who had played only one first-class match in 2017 before this one, their attack included left-arm spinner Simon Kerrigan, who has arrived on a month’s loan after falling down the pecking order with Lancashire, and Atif Sheikh – remember him? – who had played only one first-class match in more than two years.Each of them claimed a wicket, although neither seized his chance anywhere near as impressively as Gleeson. The 29-year-old right-arm seamer from Blackpool had not played any county cricket until two years ago and did not have a contract until this year.A huge success already in T20, in which he took 14 wickets last season despite missing Finals Day through injury and has another 10 this summer, Gleeson demonstrated transferable skills by removing both Gloucestershire openers with the new ball, backing that up with a fine spell in the afternoon that saw Jack Taylor and Craig Miles dismissed off consecutive deliveries and, after Kieran Noema-Barnett had defied his hat-trick attempt, completing the quintet with the wicket of academy offspinner George Drissell, who was making his debut.Late movement accounted for Gareth Roderick and Tavare, who edged to wicketkeeper and second slip respectively, while it was a brute of a ball that did for Taylor, who could only fend to the one slip. The yorker that he has used so effectively in T20 then did its job against Miles and Drissell.Gleeson was understandably chuffed with 5 for 46 against his name, although it would have been better still had Adam Rossington been able to bring the ball safely under his control as Hankins, who went on to make 73, edged one on 33 just before lunch.Kerrigan, who has never been the same since that horrible Test debut in 2013, has made only two Championship appearances this season for Lancashire, where Stephen Parry, Matt Parkinson and perhaps even Arron Lilley are seen to have moved above him in the spin-bowling hierarchy.He showed the skills were still intact when he lured Phil Mustard down the track and spun the ball on to the stumps past the inside edge, although Keogh’s offspin did more damage overall, removing Hankins and Ian Cockbain in the space of seven balls after a fourth-wicket stand of 69. Keogh later dismissed Noema-Barnett, lbw slog-sweeping for a feisty 59.Sheikh, who played for Derbyshire in 2010 and for Leicestershire from 2014 to 2016, does have a hat-trick against Gloucestershire to his name, in 2014, albeit one of limited impact given the opposition total was 591 at the time. He has been playing 2nd XI cricket for Northamptonshire in the hope of rebuilding his career.He took a while to find his rhythm but was eventually rewarded when he took out Payne’s middle stump.The weather forecast for the final two days is not encouraging, although the action thus far has unfolded swiftly enough to suggest a positive result is still likely.

Glasgow Rangers have agreed on a fee with Feyenoord for striker and long-term target Danilo, Sky Sports report.

Are Rangers signing Danilo?

A number of new players have been signed by Michael Beale ahead of his first full season in charge of the club, and it looks as if Danilo could be the next through the door.

Jack Butland, Leon Balogun, Kieran Dowell and Dujon Sterling have all made the move to Glasgow on free transfers.

Meanwhile, money has been spent on attackers Cyriel Dessers and Sam Lammers, whereas Brighton forward Abdallah Sima has arrived on a season-long loan.

Despite three new additions in the final third the club have lost three attackers from last season in Alfredo Morelos, Ryan Kent and Antonio Colak, with Rangers receiving money for the latter after he signed for Parma.

Danilo has been a key target in Glasgow, with Beale personally thought to be an admirer of the forward. An opening offer was turned down by the Eredivisie side, who have been wanting more than £5m for the striker, and it looks as if they will get their wish after a new bid was submitted, with all parties involved on course to get what they want.

Sky Sports shared an update out of Ibrox regarding their pursuit of Danilo on Tuesday. They stated that there has been a breakthrough, with an agreement reached between the two clubs which could be worth a total of £6m.

“Some breaking news from Rangers. They’ve had a deal worth £6m accepted by Feyenoord for striker Danilo. The 24-year-old scored 12 times last season and has been the subject of several offers.

“The initial fee being £5.2m before potential add-ons. Personal terms not expected to be a problem, the Brazilian is keen on a move to Ibrox.”

Further reports have claimed that the forward is poised to travel to Scotland early next week to finalise a transfer by undergoing a medical and signing the relative paperwork, with a five-year deal on the cards.

Who is Danilo?

Danilo actually the same agency as Rangers players Connor Goldson, Fashion Sakala, John Lundstram and Rabbi Matondo, so now a fee has been agreed, you’d like to think a move will go smoothly.

The 24-year-old appears to be at the peak of his powers with a career-high €6.5m Transfermarkt valuation and joined Feyenoord on a free transfer last year. Since then, the forward has found the back of the net on 14 occasions in 48 appearances, helping the club to the Dutch top-flight title in the process.

Prior to his stint with his current employers, Danilo was on the books with Ajax and enjoyed a productive loan spell with FC Twente, scoring 17 Eredivisie goals in 33 appearances during the 2020/21 season.

In total, Danilo has scored 87 goals in 175 appearances at youth and senior level, but with a first taste of senior football outside the Netherlands on the cards, it will be interesting to see if he can find the back of the net regularly in Scotland.

Burnley have been told how much they would have to pay €10m to land Aster Vranckx this summer, according to a report from DH, via Sport Witness.

Who is Aster Vranckx?

The 20-year-old currently plays for Wolfsburg in Germany, but didn't spend the 2022/23 campaign with the club. Instead, he was sent out on a season-long loan deal to AC Milan, and he featured more for the Italian outfit than he had managed with the Bundesliga club last campaign.

Wolfsburg gave him only one league outing before his move, while the Serie A club played him on nine occasions in the league with two of those coming from the start. It meant the midfielder spent most of his time sidelined and managed no goals or assists, but earned some valuable experience in a high level side – Milan made the last four of the Champions League.

Having been given his debut for Wolfsburg in his teens, he has also showcased an ability to perform in a top league. When he first arrived in Germany, he played 24 times in the Bundesliga for them and even chipped in with two goals despite being just 18 at the time. Prior to that, he had also impressed with Mechelen in Belgium – he made his debut for the First Division A side at just 16 and went on to play in 38 league games for them during his time there, with five goals and three assists.

Are Burnley signing Aster Vranckx?

Vranckx then is only relatively early on in his career but has already racked up over 50 league games in total. However, with his gametime dipping at his parent club, it appears he could be available this summer and there is interest in his services.

According to a report from DH, via Sport Witness, the wonderkid is on the radar of Burnley in the Premier League but also Fulham and PSV. It seems as though Wolfsburg are prepared to let him leave, as he isn't a part of their plans at the club and a deal could therefore happen.

No official bid has been made by any of the aforementioned teams – it seems to be just interest at this point – but the German outfit have already slapped a 10 million Euro (£8.6m) price tag on his head should any offers come in. It means the Clarets would need to stump up a fair amount of cash to sign the youngster.

He already appears to have caught the eye of those who have watched him. Football talent scout Jacek Kulig has highlighted Vranckx as part of what he describes as a "superb generation" of talent in midfield for his country Belgium.

Vranckx has already managed two caps for his national team, and the potential appears to be there for the 20-year-old to perhaps play a prominent part for them in the future. If Burnley did snap him up then, it appears they could be landing a real gem – it's just whether they would be prepared to take such an expensive gamble by their standards.

Pre-season is a time in which most managers likely want nothing more than to just get the bubble wrap out for their players, forever hoping that it will do the trick if they dare square off against Lisandro Martinez in a not-so-friendly friendly game.The so-called ‘butcher’ has so far spent most of pre-season slicing up the calves of some of Europe’s best attackers. First, came his horror challenge on Bukayo Saka, as Manchester United defeated Arsenal 2-0. And, if that wasn’t controversial enough, Martinez then turned his attention to Jude Bellingham, wiping the Real Madrid midfielder out entirely.Taking the attention away from United’s 2-0 defeat, Martinez sparked a reaction from Bellingham, who was rightly left displeased.The commentators were quick to jump the gun with the incident, however, getting slightly mixed up on what actually happened.

Lisandro Martinez and Jude Bellingham clash after tackle

On very rare occasions, a defender can be excused for a shocking challenge, with the ball there to be won. This was not one of those occasions, though. It was anything but.

As Bellingham shifted the ball onto his Madrid teammate Vinicus Junior, Martinez came recklessly sliding in, catching the England international on his right leg in a needless challenge that potentially could have ended up as a red card.

Reacting, Bellingham instantly sprung to his feet to confront the Manchester United defender, pushing the Argentine. Mason Mount then briefly got involved, before things were separated in what was a feisty affair.

The commentary team of Stewart Gardner and Ben Thorn didn’t exactly have their best moment, either, with one accusing Bellingham of hitting Martinez in the face, when the incident quite clearly shows that this was not the case.

As you can hear in the video above, one of the commentators said: “He didn’t just push him there, did he? He struck him in the face as well.”

Speaking after the game on the incident, Bellingham said, via The Guardian: “The little tiff with Martínez is one of those things. He is a brilliant player. I came in at half-time and I was f’ing this and f’ing that. But when he came over to wish me all the best when he came off, I really respected it.

“I know what goes on on the pitch stays on the pitch. I saw him at the end of the game and wished him well. I can respect that when two players are trying to win for their team and can come together and be respectful after the game. He is a great competitor and a great player. Just like me, he wants to win. Sometimes it spills over.”

How have Real Madrid performed in pre-season?

Defeating Manchester United 2-0 after goals from Bellingham and Joselu, Madrid continued a fairly successful pre-season.

So far, they have beaten AC Milan 3-2, coming from behind, and defeated the Red Devils. Their focus now turns to a pre-season El Clasico, as Los Blancos get their first encounter of the season with Barcelona.

In a preview of what’s to come, we may get an indication about the La Liga title race, even though the season is a few weeks away.

West Ham United have held an “initial discussion” regarding a summer move to bring Ajax star Edson Alvarez to the Premier League, according to reliable journalist Ryan Taylor.

Who is Edson Alvarez?

Alvarez is primarily a defensive midfielder who has plied his trade at the Johan Cruyff Arena since 2019 having moved there from CF America, and he’s been a regular feature ever since having made a total of 147 appearances to date.

The Mexico international does still have another two years to run on his contract, but having established himself as the Eredivisie outfit’s overall best-performing player last season with a WhoScored match rating of 7.34 following the departures of Antony and Dusan Tadic, he’s caught the eye of David Moyes in E20.

Read The Latest West Ham Transfer News HERE…

The Athletic’s David Ornstein revealed earlier this month that the Irons had made contact to express their interest in signing the 25-year-old, and whilst an offer is yet to be made, it was reported by the same outlet that one would be on the horizon.

Most recently, Ajax’s sporting director Sven Mislintat publicly admitted during an interview with Aglemeen Dagblad that there was attention surrounding his prized asset, but stated that a replacement would need to be found before sanctioning his sale.

Are West Ham signing Edson Alvarez?

Speaking to GiveMeSport, Taylor claimed that West Ham have talked about the possibility of submitting an official offer for Alvarez who they would likely be able to afford given his acceptable price tag. He said:

“Edson Alvarez, from what I understand, is a target. There has already been initial discussion and, you know, Ajax are a club that have shown a willingness to sell this summer, but it would take a bid of about £35m to get that done from what I understand, which is a fee which is definitely affordable given the Palhinha bid that just went in, but it seems West Ham are a little bit hesitant on that one at the moment.”

Who could Edson Alvarez replace?

West Ham are still yet to replace their former captain Declan Rice following his £105m move to Arsenal so the boss will be in the market to find a suitable successor, and having been dubbed a “monster” by journalist Felipe Cardenas, Alvarez could be the perfect candidate.

The Adidas-sponsored ace last season ranked in the 99th percentile for clearances and aerial wins whilst winning 40 out of his 71 tackles which was the highest success rate throughout the whole of his squad, via FBRef, showing that he’s not afraid to put his body on the line, make a challenge and get stuck in to clear the danger from his area.

Ajax’s talisman, who has the versatility to operate at centre-back and right-back alongside his usual role, also got involved with efforts in the final third having posted six goal contributions (three goals and the same number of assists) in the Eredivisie, so for such a well-rounded player, it would be a massive coup for the Scottish boss to secure his target’s services in the weeks ahead.

أعلن الجهاز الفني لنادي دريمز الغاني بقيادة عبد الكريم زيتو، تشكيل فريقه الرسمي لمواجهة الزمالك، في المباراة التي تجمعهما اليوم الأحد، ضمن منافسات بطولة الكونفدرالية الإفريقية.

الزمالك يلاقي دريمز، في السادسة مساء اليوم الأحد، “بتوقيت القاهرة”، في إطار مباراة الذهاب لدور نصف النهائي من بطولة كأس الكونفدرالية.

طالع | تشكيل الزمالك أمام دريمز الغاني في الكونفدرالية.. شيكابالا أساسيًا

وكان فريق دريمز تأهل إلى دور نصف النهائي، بعدما فاز على الملعب المالي بنتيجة 3-2 في مجموع مباراتي الذهاب والإياب بدور ربع النهائي للكونفدرالية.

بينما الزمالك استطاع التأهل على حساب فيوتشر، بالفوز 3-2 في مجموع المباراتين لدور الـ 8 من الكونفدرالية الإفريقية.

ويشهد تشكيل دريمز أمام الزمالك، تواجد الغاني جون أنطوي لاعب الأهلي والإسماعيلي وبيراميدز السابق لقيادة هجوم الفريق. تشكيل دريمز الغاني أمام الزمالك في الكونفدرالية

حراسة المرمى: سولمون أجباسي.

‏خط الدفاع :إيريك بواتينج – عبدول جاليلو – ماكارثي أفوري.

‏خط الوسط : جودفيرد كينجسلي – إيمانويل أجاي – سليمانا سوهايني – عبد العزيز عيسي – ديريك أجاي.

‏خط الهجوم : جون أنطوي – منساه بواتينج.

يذكر أن مباراة العودة بين الزمالك ودريمز في إياب دور نصف النهائي من بطولة كأس الكونفدرالية ستقام يوم الأحد المقبل 28 أبريل في غانا.

Such is the attraction of playing in Pep Guardiola's current treble-winning side, combined with the amount of money the Premier League champions have at their disposal, Manchester City can usually feel confident about landing their key transfer targets.

And all seemed to be pointing in the usual direction in the case of Josko Gvardiol, too, with the deal even receiving the famous Fabrizio Romano 'here we go', which almost always means a deal will reach completion.

RB Leipzig are in no mood to entertain the transfer expert's news, however, even contradicting Romano in a shock new twist.

In what will no doubt rub some salt in the Man City wounds, too, it appears as though Liverpool have played a deciding role in the unexpected Grvardiol twist.

Manchester City suffer Josko Gvardiol blow

Taking the opportunity to shut any rumours down, RB Leipzig director Max Eberl said, via Philipp Hinze of Sky Germany: "There is no agreement with Manchester City. Not even close."

He then continued, saying: "The fact is that Manchester City would like to have him. Currently, we are still very far apart. The transfer of Szoboszlai has secured us financially. We don't need the money. We would prefer Josko to stay."

Slamming the message home, Eberl added: "We are not a club that blocks anything. We are transparent. But we have our ideas and want them to be implemented.“

It will likely leave Liverpool delighted that their £60m deal to bring Dominik Szoboszlai to the club has played a large part in Leipzig's stance on Gvardiol.

The defender was pictured in training this week, despite initial reports from Romano stating that the defender had completed the first stages of his medical at Manchester City.

The transfer specialist has since claimed that tensions are high between Leipzig and City in the final stages of negotiations, causing a delay to the medical, which was supposed to be booked today.

Also speaking about Gvardiol, Leipzig manager Marco Rose said, via Hinze: "Josko is one of our players and as far as I know he will remain one of our players. I don't know anything about a medical check, nothing about a first and nothing about a second. I think if it was, I would know as head coach!"

After Leipzig contradicted Romano, the Gvardiol saga is certainly one to keep an eye on.

How did Josko Grvadiol perform last season?

There's a reason why Leipzig want a reported €100m (£86m) for Gvardiol this summer. The defender had another outstanding campaign last season, as the club finished third in the Bundesliga, five points behind champions Bayern Munich.

When compared to Nathan Ake, who could be his future teammate at Manchester City, the Leipzig defender outplayed the Dutchman in certain areas.

According to FBref, last season, Gvardiol made more blocks, clearances, won more tackles, and made more interceptions per 90 than Ake. So, statistically speaking, the transfer target would be an upgrade for Guardiola.

As things stand, though, the chances of Gvardiol becoming a Manchester City player seem to be growing slimmer and slimmer, with those at RB Leipzig quick to contradict Romano's initial claims.

As the saga goes on, however, more twists and turns could easily occur.

Afghanistan are closing in on playing their maiden Test, and are in talks with Zimbabwe for a full series later this year. The series is likely to be hosted by the Afghanistan Cricket Board (ACB). Afghanistan were conferred Test status by the ICC in June earlier this year.ESPNcricinfo understands the series is likely to comprise one Test, five ODIs and between two to three T20Is. With Afghanistan not in a position to host cricket at home, the ACB is looking at hosting the series either in India or the UAE.It is understood that Zimbabwe Cricket (ZC) sent an e-mail to the ACB last week giving an in-principle nod. Both boards will take a final decision once ZC finalises the dates of the scheduled tri-series in Bangladesh, which, as per the ICC Future Tours Programme (FTP), is to be played between January-February next year. Ideally, ZC wants to play Afghanistan in the UAE and then travel to Bangladesh.If the plans materialize, it will give Afghanistan a significant boost, after they have hopped into the top echelons of international cricket since gaining ODI status in 2009.During this period, Afghanistan registered memorable results, including three consecutive limited-overs series victories against Zimbabwe before recently drawing the ODI series in West Indies in June.