Leeds United could finally be set to kickstart their significant summer spending, as they close in on a man capable of ushering in Daniel Farke's new era.

Is Ethan Ampadu still a Chelsea player?

That's according to journalist Phil Hay, who took to Twitter to confirm Nizaar Kinsella's earlier claim that they will make Ethan Ampadu their first senior signing of the summer.

He would write:

"Leeds United and Chelsea reach agreement over a deal for Ethan Ampadu. Initial fee of around £7m with add-ons attached. Clears the way for a medical and for Ampadu to become the club's first signing of the summer."

With the 22-year-old having failed to establish himself as a first-team member since joining the Blues in 2017, this move could finally mark an opportunity for the defender to reignite a career that once promised much.

The 6 foot 1 ace has just one year left on his £37k-per-week deal.

What position is Ethan Ampadu?

One of the outstanding qualities of the Wales international is his impeccable versatility, given his ability to star in a number of roles.

Across a tumultuous career, where he has ventured out on four separate loan moves since moving to Stamford Bridge, he has featured at right-back, defensive midfield and his preferred centre-back.

Of those spells, whilst the two in Italy did allow him to impress, his year at Sheffield United will likely be of most interest to fans seeking to get a taste of his qualities within English football.

Featuring 25 times in the Premier League during the 2020/21 season, in which the Blades finished rock bottom, he would maintain a 6.95 average rating massively boosted through his two interceptions, 2.3 tackles and 3.3 clearances per game, via Sofascore. This made him their highest-rated player that year.

Even before this, Ryan Giggs had sought to praise him by claiming: "He’s a future leader and it’s great to see him get minutes on the pitch. It’s my hope that he’ll get more games and he’ll get better."

To pair such imperious solidity with the equally staunch Max Wober, it could pose a frightening prospect for the rest of the Championship.

Few strikers would relish facing a pairing boasting this much quality.

After all, the Austria international, who only moved to Elland Road in January, took no time at all to acclimatise to the physicality of English football.

His 6.84 average rating made him the club's third-best performer of those who started five or more games, as he too would record 1.7 interceptions and four clearances per game, via Sofascore.

From conceding the most goals in the division last term, such a signing would go a long way towards rectifying the fragility that has plagued the club for some time.

With Ampadu yet to realise the immense potential that he commanded when bursting onto the Premier League scene as a 17-year-old, perhaps the alleviated pressure that a permanent move down the football pyramid would bring could prove vital in revitalising a career still very much in its infancy.

After all, former professional football Paul McVeigh had noted back in 2016: "Footballing world, take note of this young player. Ethan Ampadu. He's going to be very special."

His experience is vast compared to most others of his age, and under the stewardship of promotion-specialist Farke and alongside Wober, all the facets are in place for him to finally start playing the way many know he can at a consistent level.

Normally the season-opener, the tournament has been deferred to the beginning of next season because of a cramped international calendar

Arun Venugopal25-Aug-2017The Duleep Trophy doesn’t find a place in the 2017-18 domestic calendar that kicks off with the Ranji Trophy on October 6. Normally the season-opener, the tournament has been deferred to the beginning of next season given the cramped international calendar that has India playing 20 limited-overs games from September to December.A BCCI official said the Duleep Trophy was conducted in a year-and-a-half cycle and not necessarily on an annual basis. The Duleep Trophy featured three teams – India Red, India Blue and India Green – last year and was played with the pink ball under lights. The official said the tournament, which would continue to be played with the pink ball, was better suited to be played at the beginning of the season than in the middle or the end.Ranji Trophy groups

Group A: Karnataka, Delhi, Assam, Maharashtra, Hyderabad, Uttar Pradesh, Railways
Group B: Jharkhand, Gujarat, Kerala, Saurashtra, Haryana, Team Rajasthan, Jammu & Kashmir
Group C: Mumbai, Tamil Nadu, Andhra, Madhya Pradesh, Odisha, Baroda, Tripura
Group D: Himachal Pradesh, Vidarbha, Punjab, Bengal, Services, Goa, Chhatisgarh

“If you remember, ahead of the World T20 year [in 2016], we didn’t have the Duleep Trophy because there was no relevance in holding it when we were looking at selecting a T20 side,” the official told ESPNcricinfo. “Last year, we had a 13-Test season, so starting the Duleep Trophy before the Tests had greater relevance and we had time to do it. The Duleep Trophy takes 24 days [to finish], and with such a long season and with all venues being occupied – obviously we can’t do it in June or July – we had only September.”And, this year we are starting the international season on September 17 which means the team would assemble on September 10 or 11. That’s the reason we decided to defer it to the beginning of next season, which is again a Test season with India playing West Indies and touring Australia and New Zealand. The Duleep [Trophy] will then form the basis for selection in the longer formats.”New BCCI tournaments

One-day tournament for the Under-23 age group

Under-16 zonal women’s inter-state tournament

Under-19 women’s inter-state and all-India T20 tournament

In line with the same principle, the Vinoo Mankad Under-19 50-overs tournament will precede the four-day Cooch Behar tournament, with the Under-19 World Cup being scheduled for January-February next year in New Zealand. Despite India playing a number of limited-overs games in the next few months, the Vijay Hazare 50-overs senior tournament hasn’t been advanced.”The thing is even if Vijay Hazare starts in October-November it will spill over into December,” the official said. “However, even the knockouts of Ranji Trophy will be over before India go to South Africa. That way everyone can participate in these games before the South Africa tour begins.”The quarter-finals of the Ranji Trophy are scheduled to be held from December 7 to 11, while the semi-finals will take place from December 17 to 21. The final will be held from December 29 to January 2.In a letter to all the member units, BCCI’s general manager (cricket operations) MV Sridhar wrote that pitch-preparation would be overseen by a curator of the board’s grounds and pitches committee. Sridhar also wrote that the central curator’s decision in the overall preparation of the pitches would be final. “This decision is more to ensure that the wickets are standardised as per the directions of the technical committee.”The Ranji Trophy will also revert to the home-and-away format for league fixtures in accordance with the recommendations of the BCCI’s technical committee which decided to shelve the neutral-venue experiment after just one season. In another significant change to the structure of the tournament, the 28 teams in the competition have been split into four groups of seven each. They have been grouped based on their average points in the last three years.Karnataka and Delhi will headline the matches in Group A, which will also see an interesting tussle between Maharashtra and last year’s quarter-finalists Hyderabad. Group B’s marquee encounter will feature Gujarat and Jharkhand, who clashed in the last four in 2016-17, while Mumbai and Tamil Nadu will resume their rivalry in Group C. The game between Punjab and Bengal is expected to be the highlight of Group D.The new group format means that with a maximum of six games, each team will play at least two fewer matches in the league phase than in the previous years. While a few coaches expressed concerns over fewer opportunities for players, the official defended the decision and said that there was a bigger gap between games now. According to the BCCI’s schedule, a copy of which is with ESPNcricinfo, there is a minimum of four days between each round, with a week’s break during Diwali.”This is something we discussed in the captains’ and coaches’ enclave with everyone,” the official said. “There were in fact complaints that there was no gap between Ranji Trophy matches. There was only a gap of three days earlier and in that your travel takes up one day. Even in Vijay Hazare, the gap between one-day games was very less. At times, we were forced to play two or three matches in a row which is not correct. We could never give that gap because we had to complete our entire schedule in a span of six months.”These are healthy changes. The bowlers had to be given relief. In current-day cricket, with so many formats, spacing [out games] and managing bowlers’ workloads is important. For batsmen it is never a problem, but we are seeing a burnout of bowlers because playing three formats has a very big impact on your body.”With balls frequently going out of shape in the Ranji Trophy last year, the quality of the SG Test balls was a major cause for concern. The official said that a new variety of ball called the SG Test LE would be introduced in the domestic season and will be used for the home Tests against Sri Lanka.”This is imported leather being used on Indian cricket balls for the first time,” the official said. “There have been many trials over the last one year in smaller games and side games and even in Test conditions with the manufacturer. We saw the reports and obviously it looks like a much-improved product. Too many balls were losing shape and not surviving long enough, but we are confident that this ball will remain durable.”

Vernon Philander will work on his conditioning ahead of a packed home summer scheduled to feature 10 Tests, including two four-match series against India and Australia

Firdose Moonda at Old Trafford07-Aug-20171:54

Du Plessis challenges Philander to prove fitness

Vernon Philander will work on his conditioning ahead of a packed home summer scheduled to feature 10 Tests, including two four-match series against India and Australia, for which South Africa want him to be fully available.Philander struggled with a comeback from an ankle injury and a viral ailment in the first and third Tests in England respectively and then sat out the fourth with a back concern. He came under severe criticism from his former captain Graeme Smith and his current skipper Faf du Plessis has also weighed in, urging Philander to focus on his fitness.”It’s fair that you need to play a lot of cricket for your country and be available for selection and Vern accepts that,” he said. “If you’re only playing one or two Test matches and then off for one or two… there have just been too many times when we as a team go, gulp, ‘Vern might be injured again’. So he’s taken it on board from a fitness point of view.”We have important series coming up, not that we play series that are not important, but India and Australia at home, it’s eight Test matches and he needs to be fit to get through all of them.”Philander’s value to South Africa was underlined in the second Test when he turned in a Man of the Match performance at Trent Bridge. South Africa were depending on him as they sought the series lead at The Oval and though he bowled well on an opening day interrupted by toilet breaks, the rest of his participation was limited. He spent a second night in hospital and though he returned to bat, could not bowl as much as needed in the second innings in conditions that would have been perfect for him.Then, just as South Africa thought they would have Philander back for their must-win game at Old Trafford, he pulled up with back spasms, which left Smith fuming and du Plessis frustrated.”The last I spoke to you, I said he’s just got to do a small fitness test but he’ll be fine. So when he woke up with a stiff back the next morning it was frustrating,” du Plessis said. “For us to have competed and to win Test matches we needed Vern, you need your best players. Duanne bowled well this game but Vern is one of the best in these conditions, probably the best in seaming, swinging conditions which has been the case in all four Test matches, so not having him here was very frustrating and disappointing.”Philander played in all 11 Tests – two against New Zealand at home, three against Australia away, three against Sri Lanka at home and three against New Zealand away – prior to this series, but he struggled with injury in the early part of his career. He had injuries in three of his first four series – a knee, back and hamstring problem – before tearing ankle ligaments in India in November 2015 that kept him out of action for nine months. Philander has admitted it took time for him to fully trust the ankle again and it would not have helped that he injured the other one in the lead-up to this series.Given that he only plays one format at international level, Smith pointed out that Philander does not always have the benefit of a team trainer to put him through his paces. He has had to take that responsibility for himself and du Plessis said Philander has committed to doing more. “It is a challenge for Vern because it’s happened too often that he doesn’t play a full series. I’ve spoken to him about that and he’s accepted the challenge and that he needs to improve that.”

The English winger will hope to have convinced Mikel Arteta to give him more playing time after a bright display in Eindhoven

Eddie Nketiah's first-half goal ensured Arsenal escaped their final Champions League group-stage game with a 1-1 draw against PSV on Tuesday. With qualification as group winners already secured, Mikel Arteta made eight changes to the starting XI that lost 1-0 to Aston Villa on Saturday, and his team were rather disjointed at times and second best throughout the clash in Eindhoven.

Jakub Kiwior was an obvious weak point that left them in danger of going behind, while Leandro Trossard, unable to produce anything of note, was behind the pace of the game all the way through. There were even some dodgy moments for ever-reliable William Saliba and his centre-back partner Gabriel Magalhaes.

After a couple of close calls for the home side, it was the Gunners who took the lead when the promising combination of Reiss Nelson and Cedric Soares on the right side finally produced a decisive moment, sending the ball into the box where Nketiah's movement, touch and finish produced a fine goal.

PSV had looked bright for the most part and managed to find the equaliser just five minutes into the second half, with Ricardo Pepi finding Yorbe Vertessen, who capitalised on Saliba's sloppiness to find the net. The runaway Eredivisie leaders pushed for the winner, but will be happy with a point and a much more assured performance against the team that totally outclassed them in north London at the start of the campaign.

GOAL rates Arsenal's players from Philips Stadion…

• Getty Images
  

  Goalkeeper & Defence

  Aaron Ramsdale (7/10):

  Pulled off a couple of saves on his return to the starting XI and couldn't do much about the goal.

  Cedric Soarez (7/10):

  Looked bright on his first Arsenal start in over a year with some good interceptions and passes.

  William Saliba (6/10):

  Strong positioning and timing was key to blocking some promising PSV attacks, but he was awful on the equaliser.

  Gabriel Magalhaes (7/10):

  Pulled off a great block to deny Pepi early on and made a few strong clearances.

  Jakub Kiwior (4/10):

  Immediately exposed as the defensive vulnerability due to his bad positioning and lack of pace, giving PSV far too much space to attack.

Advertisement

• Getty
  

  Midfield

  Mohamed Elneny (6/10):

  Fine on the ball as he kept it in circulation with neat passes.

  Jorginho (7/10):

  Important defensively when PSV tried to work it through the middle, alert and sensible in his passing too.

  Kai Havertz (7/10):

  Plenty of movement to find the space between PSV's defence and midfield, and pressed well off the ball.

• Getty
  

  Attack

  Reiss Nelson (8/10):

  Did a great job! Always looked good on the ball, won it back in PSV's half and combined well with Cedric before sending in the assist for Nketiah.

  Eddie Nketiah (7/10):

  Had a hard time finding the space to threaten until his fine touch and lovely finish opened the scoring.

  Leandro Trossard (4/10):

  Saw a decent amount of the ball but was a bit slow on and off it and unable to create anything until a late effort on goal that was saved.

ENJOYED THIS STORY?

Add GOAL.com as a preferred source on Google to see more of our reporting

• Getty
  

  Subs & Manager

  Declan Rice (6/10):

  Slotted into the defence and looked okay, brought some stability on the ball.

  Ben White (7/10):

  An option out wide after replacing Cedric and gave nothing away as he made an important interception and a block.

  Martin Odegaard (5/10):

  Played just under 30 minutes but did not make any impact.

  Gabriel Jesus (N/A):

  Only brought on to see out stoppage-time.

  Emile Smith Rowe (N/A):

  Came on at the same time as Jesus.

  Mikel Arteta (5/10):

  Made a lot of changes and some questionable decisions given there was nothing at stake for his team. While Arsenal were second-best overall, they had a few bright moments and Nelson's performance in particular will give him some confidence in the winger.

With the Premier League returning to action next month, there are plenty of standout fixtures to have fans salivating.

Friendly football simply cannot compare to the intensity, drama and intrigue that this famous division brings, with the summer providing a sluggish buffer between the last campaign and this upcoming one. Even transfer sagas cannot truly fill that void.

Of the standout games from this game week, Vincent Kompany’s return to Manchester City will likely draw the most attention. However, the impending battle at the Emirates could instead provide a more thrilling viewing – if history is to repeat itself.

With Arsenal hosting a Nottingham Forest side who battled to survive last term, it marks the meeting of two sides who will have wholly different goals for this season.

With a 12.30pm kick-off on Saturday 12th August and subscribers to TNT Sports (formerly BT Sport) set to enjoy this fixture live, there is reason to believe that they will be treated to a thriller in north London.

As the home support seek to will Mikel Arteta’s men one step further than last year after handing the league title to Manchester City, the travelling side will be hoping to upset the favourites with their steely brand of football.

Arsenal vs Nottingham Forest: Who has the better head-to-head record?

It is clear that Arsenal, as a club with a rich history littered with successes, are unsurprisingly the more dominant side when these two heavyweights have met.

Their continued presence within the top flight has aided their ability to stay at the top, whilst Arsene Wenger’s imperious reign supplemented this domination. As such, it will not just be their opening-day opponent who has endured a similar record against the Gunners.

Not to discount the fine history boasted by Forest, though, who enjoyed their own period of success under the legendary Brian Clough.

Arsenal wins: 52 Draws: 22 Nottingham Forest wins: 29 Arsenal vs Nottingham Forest: Who has more wins at the Emirates/Highbury?

The home advantage that north London offers has allowed them to cruise to many victories, with the visiting Tricky Trees winning just four times.

Both Highbury and the Emirates Stadium have experienced its own slices of success and provided a fear factor bolstered by the beautiful football often on show. It seems like the latter has taken the atmosphere to new heights of late, buoyed by their steady progress under their Spanish coach into true challengers for the title.

As such, even at their best, Forest struggled against this club away from home.

Arsenal wins: 27 Draws: 14 Nottingham Forest wins: 4 Arsenal vs Nottingham Forest: Who has more wins at the City Ground?

When in Nottingham, however, a far more even affair is assured. Whilst the Gunners still have recorded more wins, it is a far closer-run contest, with only three victories in it.

This should come as no surprise given the consistently exceptional levels upheld by the Gunners, who have proven a match for any opponent on their day.

Despite being the second-oldest league football club in the world, the City Ground is their seventh home, which they moved into in 1898.

Arsenal wins: 24 Draws: 7 Nottingham Forest wins: 21 Arsenal vs Nottingham Forest: Who has the better cup record?

As the kings of the FA Cup, there is no club as successful in that competition as Arsenal. Their record of 14 victories stands alone, though in the League Cup, they have not been as fruitful. Just two wins mark an underperformance for a club of this stature.

Meanwhile, Forest have won the latter competition four times, but only have two FA Cup triumphs to their name.

When facing each other on the way to a potential final, it is unsurprising that the Gunners have come out on top more often. Six wins is a narrow improvement on the three of the Nottingham side, but it has clearly been enough to claim silverware on numerous occasions. Recently though, it is the smaller side who have triumphed in the cups.

Arsenal wins: 6 Draws: 0 Nottingham Forest wins: 3 Arsenal vs Nottingham Forest: What were the last 5 meetings?

20th May 2023 – Nottingham Forest 1-0 Arsenal: In a game that had huge repercussions at both ends of the table, Nottingham Forest claimed the most unlikely victory as Taiwo Awoniyi’s goal separated the sides.

Despite dominating the ball, Arteta’s men could not find a breakthrough past Steve Cooper’s staunch backline.

It was a result that was met with wild celebrations at full-time, as it secured safety for the Tricky Trees and handed the Premier League title to Manchester City.

30th October 2022 – Arsenal 5-0 Nottingham Forest: With the World Cup on the horizon, Arsenal dominated Forest to bring them crashing back down to earth after a shock win over Liverpool the week before.

Gabriel Martinelli started the rout with an early header, and despite Bukayo Saka being forced off with injury, Reiss Nelson stepped up to spearhead a stunning victory. Two goals and an assist from the substitute, alongside further strikes from Thomas Partey and Martin Odegaard, helped the hosts cement their place at the top of the table.

9th January 2022 – Nottingham Forest 1-0 Arsenal: The fact that Arteta felt the need to apologise for his team's showing in this match speaks volumes for the manner of the performance.

Despite rotating, Steve Cooper’s rampant outfit shocked the 14-time winners of the competition to dump them out, with Lewis Grabban’s finish seven minutes from time proving to be the difference.

This was a part of Forest’s impressive FA Cup run this campaign, which saw them also knock out Leicester City before narrowly losing to Liverpool in the quarter-finals.

24th September 2019 – Arsenal 5-0 Nottingham Forest: Facing Championship opposition in the cup always poses a threat for the bigger clubs, especially when they are as tricky as Forest can often be.

However, Unai Emery led his team to a comfortable victory in the end, as goals from Gabriel Martinelli, Rob Holding, Reiss Nelson and Joe Willock helped Arsenal reach the fourth round of the EFL Cup.

7th January 2018 – Nottingham Forest 4-2 Arsenal: Another cup clash between these two saw Forest once again dump out the holders, as they took the lead three times to frustrate Arsene Wenger, inflicting his one and only FA Cup third round defeat.

The Frenchman was forced to watch this clash from the sidelines as a three-match touchline ban kicked in, whilst the hosts had a caretaker manager in charge, and this lack of structure made for a spectacle for the neutral.

Who has played for Arsenal and Nottingham Forest?

Carl Jenkinson (Arsenal 2011-2019; Nottingham Forest 2019-2022): Joining with a big reputation as a defensive stalwart for the future, it quickly became clear that this man was not up to the requisite level for Wenger. The 31-year-old would play just 70 games during his eight years in north London before Nottingham Forest were willing to take him off their hands.

He would fare no better at the City Ground, falling out of favour and eventually leaving at the expiry of his contract.

Aaron Ramsey (Arsenal 2008-2019; Nottingham Forest 2010-2011): Tempted to join Arsenal over rivals Manchester United due to the allure of Wenger, the Welshman became something of a cult hero in north London for his silkiness and technical prowess from the engine room.

Despite injuries plaguing his time at the Emirates, he still scored two FA Cup-winning goals; the first came to complete their comeback against Hull City in 2014, while his finish helped them beat London rivals Chelsea to once again win the competition three years later.

It may surprise some that the 32-year-old actually spent a tough year on loan at the City Ground, where opportunities remained sparse for the maestro. He has since returned to his boyhood club Cardiff City on a free transfer.

Henri Lansbury (Arsenal 2007-2012; Nottingham Forest 2012-2017): Lansbury actually came up through Arsenal’s academy, but would only make eight senior appearances before being allowed to leave for around £1m.

This proved to be quite the steal, as the midfield general would quickly establish himself as a mainstay across various managers in Nottingham, even captaining Forest on his way to making 150 showings. Even in departing the club, he recouped a £3m fee from Aston Villa, to allow him to leave on good terms.

Kevin Campbell (Arsenal 1988-1995; Nottingham Forest 1995-1998): Another recruit to come up through Arsenal’s academy, Kevin Campbell was a powerful No 9 who epitomised the philosophy of his time.

A pure goalscorer, he accumulated fans at every club he played due to his personable demeanour and quality. Somewhat overshadowed by Ian Wright, he would still score 46 league goals for the Gunners before joining Forest.

Despite then being relegated, his 22-goal haul helped them return to the top flight at the first time of asking.

What is Arsenal’s biggest victory over Nottingham Forest?

24th April 1915 – Arsenal 7-0 Nottingham Forest – During Arsenal's last season outside of the top flight, their seven-goal drubbing of Nottingham Forest remains their largest margin of victory over their opening-day opponents more than a century on.

Four goals from Harry King, a Bob Benson brace and a solitary Jock Rutherford goal provided the Gunners with their win in what was the final campaign before the league was suspended due to the First World War.

What is Nottingham Forest’s biggest victory over Arsenal?

9th November 1957: Nottingham Forest 4-0 Arsenal – It has been nearly 50 years since Forest's most dominant display over the Gunners, with this one-sided league clash eventually helping to separate the sides in the final league table as the hosts would end the campaign three points ahead of their mid-table opponents.

A double from Tommy Wilson set Forest on their way, while goals from Jim Barrett and Stewart Imlach completed the rout.

Arsenal vs Nottingham Forest: Key match stats

This will be the 104th meeting between these two teams. Nottingham Forest’s presence in this coming top-flight campaign will be their second consecutive season since 1999. Arsenal have never spent a campaign outside of the top tier of English football since their first appearance, though they have still only played in the fourth-highest number of seasons (107). Liverpool, Aston Villa and Everton have all featured in more. Arsenal vs Nottingham Forest: Classic meetings

22nd September 1990: Nottingham Forest 0-2 Arsenal (League Divison One) – Although seemingly a routine away victory for Arsenal, this crucial win, with goals from Anders Limpar and David Rocastle, helped to bring a tenth English league title to north London that season.

8th March 1997: Arsenal 2-0 Nottingham Forest (Premier League) – In a team littered with stars, it was Dennis Bergkamp who unsurprisingly shone brightest as his brace helped secure all three points for Arsene Wenger’s side.

The mercurial Dutch forward was supplemented by Paul Merson, Patrick Vieira, Martin Keown and Tony Adams to name just a few, as their French coach was building towards the league title he would win the following year.

Leeds United will be craving another promotion hero to crop up sooner than their last.

It took 16 long years before the Whites could make their triumphant return to the Premier League, that which was undone in just three short seasons. Now, the search is once again on to find someone to assume that role.

Daniel Farke is sure to be a key player in any success they earn in the Championship, given his proficiency in getting teams promoted from the level, but he will need to forge a team not only capable of claiming that prize, but ensuring that their top-flight stay is not a short one.

Fortunately, rumours are persisting to link them with one man who could occupy that crucial role, as a creative leader ready to spearhead that charge.

Seeking to tempt those who already have a track record of excelling at this level, few seem more available at this moment than Gustavo Hamer, given how his Coventry City side failed in their playoff push and have since lost star man Viktor Gyokeres.

While transfer insider Dean Jones has suggested any deal might not be that straightforward, the respected journalist did state that the former Netherlands youth international could potentially emulate the success of Leeds legend Pablo Hernandez, in the second tier.

Despite that, he told Football FanCast just how influential the Dutch-Brazilian maestro could be, should the Yorkshire outfit bring him in: "Yeah he could definitely be a Hernandez-type figure for them, but convincing Coventry to sell him after they've just lost Gyokeres isn't going to be easy. I'm sure Coventry will try their best to keep the rest of that team together the best that they can, but he is a great player and at this level, he's really hard to replicate."

How good is Gustavo Hamer?

To liken him to someone of Hernandez's quality should speak volumes for just how good this 26-year-old has been of late.

With nine goals and ten assists in the league last season, Mark Robins' £4m-rated midfield general actually outperformed the figures posted by the Spaniard during Leeds' promotion year.

However, it could be argued that his apex came the term earlier, as the former Valencia man had recorded 24 goal contributions in the league alone to outline himself as a true star despite failing to win the playoffs. His bravery in dropping to their level proved to be a catalyst that ignited their eventual Premier League return, which they could now once again rely on from Hamer.

After all, it would take a degree of courage for the former Feyenoord gem to make this move to a freshly-relegated outfit, even if they are one of the biggest clubs in the division.

To further emphasise the similarities between these two stars, during their two most impressive respective seasons, both would blend technical quality with defensive steel.

The 38-year-old, whilst recording three key passes, also maintained 1.6 tackles per game, via Sofascore. Meanwhile, his potential successor saw his key passes drop to 1.8 per game, but his tackles rose to 2.6, via Sofascore.

If Farke is to assemble the team in his image though, with the quality already at his disposal and more that is hopefully set to come, Hamer could underpin any potential promotion push they make in the coming campaign.

As a consistent performer at this level, and a charismatic character to boot, he would hopefully fill the creative void that has arguably been left since Hernandez departed in 2021, helping to secure an instant promotion at the first time of asking.

A referee reportedly stabbed a footballer during an Argentina youth game in a brawl which left the player in hospital with a punctured lung.

Article continues below

Article continues below

Article continues below

Referee arrested for stabbing a playerFootballer rushed to hospitalSuffered punctured lungWHAT HAPPENED?

Grassroots referee Remigio Armoa has reportedly been arrested after stabbing a player during a match in a province of Misiones. The horrifying incident occurred after a brawl occured and players surrounded the referee. Armoa then pulled out a knife and struck one of the players in the chest. The victim collapsed and was then picked up by team-mates and taken off the pitch.

AdvertisementTHE BIGGER PICTURE

The victim, identified as Kevin A by local media, suffered a punctured lung in the attack. However, due to timely medical intervention, he is now out of danger. Images later depicted him recovering in a hospital bed with a bandage on the left side of his chest, scrolling through his cell phone.

WHAT KEVIN'S UNCLE SAID

Speaking to the local media, his uncle informed: "Kevin is miraculously alive. For the family, it is a very delicate moment because he is the Messi of the family. He is a boy well gifted for football, thank God he had the opportunity to be in a club like Chacarita."

ENJOYED THIS STORY?

Add GOAL.com as a preferred source on Google to see more of our reporting

DID YOU KNOW?

Armoa attempted to flee but was later apprehended by local police, who also recovered the knife used in the assault. Later he was photographed in handcuffs, facing charges for the shocking act.

Jack Taylor, the Gloucestershire allrounder, has been banned from bowling for a third time after being reported for a suspect action

ESPNcricinfo staff23-Oct-2017

Jack Taylor, the Gloucestershire allrounder, has been banned from bowling for a third time after being reported for a suspect action. As per the ECB’s regulations, he will not to be able to bowl his offspin for 12 months from September 26, 2017.Taylor, 25, was suspended from bowling last season but was allowed to resume a couple of months later after remodelling his action.Having been called again, he underwent testing at Loughborough on September 26 and his arm was found to exceed the permitted 15-degree limit for flexion and extension. As this was his second suspension within a two-year period, he receives an automatic 12-month ban, after which he can request to have his action retested.In recent seasons, Taylor has become a valuable lower-order batsman for Gloucestershire. This year, he scored two Championship hundreds and averaged nearly 40, while contributing 302 runs at 43.14 in the Royal London Cup; with the ball, he took 19 wickets in all competitions.His first-class batting average has risen to 32.44, with six hundreds, to go with 75 first-class wickets at 43.86. Taylor’s value as an allrounder was more apparent in white-ball cricket and he was Man of the Match in the final of the 2015 Royal London Cup as Gloucestershire won their first trophy in a decade.Taylor was previously banned in 2013 for an illegal action before being passed to bowl again after remedial work in February 2014.

Arsenal continue to be linked with plenty of new potential summer additions, despite having already enjoyed a fruitful window of extravagant purchases. It seems Mikel Arteta will stop at nothing to ensure his side topple Manchester City in the coming season.

Is Axel Disasi joining Arsenal?

Their latest transfer conquest is denoted through a report by The Sun, who suggested over the weekend that despite Manchester United's desperation to sign Axel Disasi, the Gunners are one of two clubs ready to hijack such a move with a late bid.

With it also suggested that AS Monaco may be open to selling, this has likely put plenty of Europe's elite on high alert given the pedigree of the star centre-back.

The French outfit will look to command a £34m fee for his services, despite the 25-year-old only being valued at €20.1m (£17m) by Football Transfers.

How good is Axel Disasi?

Whilst it is easy to assume that the acquisition of a defender will help make a side more solid, in the modern-day climate it often has much farther-reaching repercussions that span across the whole team.

After all, centre-backs nowadays often pride themselves on their ability to stride out from the back with confidence, showcasing their newfound technical finesse to pass into midfield or out wide.

Attacks are forged from the back four, and within Arteta's system, such a claim is only emphasised.

Inverting his full-backs helps them to control the midfield, and thus the likes of William Saliba and Gabriel Magalhaes become the first line of creativity, who must find a key operator in space who can then do the damage further up the field.

Fortunately, in Disasi, the Spanish head coach would obtain the perfect forward-thinking stalwart to underpin his philosophy.

Especially considering, when compared against other centre-backs across Europe, the France international sits in the top 4% for progressive carries and progressive passes per 90 and the top 7% for successful take-ons per 90, via FBref.

That's not to suggest he abandons his defensive duties though, as last term in Ligue 1 he maintained 1.5 interceptions and a mammoth 2.9 clearances per game too, via Sofascore. It is, therefore, no surprise to see him branded as a "complete & dominant CB" by Football Talent Scout Jacek Kulig, given the latter figure would have ranked him third among Arsenal's squad last term.

With the 6 foot 3 ace striding into space, and boasting the requisite skillset to then find a man, someone of Declan Rice's quality, when dropping in to receive the ball, would surely benefit.

The England international has been evolving with each passing year at West Ham United, with last campaign seeing him bolster his creative figures. Six goal contributions and one key pass per game in the Premier League emphasise this (via Sofascore), which are figures only certain to improve under Arteta's tutelage.

With his new manager likely teaching him ways to operate between the lines he had never thought of, he could take his ball progression to new heights, especially with the quality of service Disasi would provide.

As someone who rarely accepts progressive passes, rather preferring to provide them himself, adding this facet to his game could see Rice become a truly world-class talent capable of propelling his new team to the title.

When compared against other midfielders across Europe, he ranks in the top 15% for progressive carries per 90, and the top 20% for progressive passes per 90. On the turn, the athletic 6 foot 1 star would be unstoppable, with the potential defensive signing in question set to kickstart the change that makes him a truly dominant and unplayable asset from the middle of the park.

Crystal Palace are targeting moves for Everton star Demarai Gray and Chelsea forgotten man Callum Hudson-Odoi and both would bring 'similar package there in terms of creativity' at Selhurst Park, according to transfer insider Dean Jones.

What's the latest transfer news involving Demarai Gray and Callum Hudson-Odoi?

Roy Hodgson will need to enter the market for a new winger this summer following the imminent departure of club legend Wilfried Zaha to Turkish giants Galatasaray on a free transfer last week , as per The Guardian.

The Daily Mail report that the Eagles are said to be stepping up their interest in Everton winger Gray, who is open to a new challenge after becoming frustrated with his lack of involvement at Goodison Park.

Clubs in Saudi Arabia are also hot on the tail of the Jamaica international, who could be available for £12 million as Everton look to raise money to help them fight back against Financial Fair Play stringency.

Fulham appear to have entered the race for Gray and are looking to strike a cut-price deal for the £25k-a-week ace, which could total around £7 million, according to The Sun.

In the case of Hudson-Odoi, the 22-year-old is garnering attention from Crystal Palace, Nottingham Forest and Fulham and has fallen completely out of the picture at Stamford Bridge, as detailed by The Evening Standard.

The same outlet have given an update on the future of Hudson-Odoi and confirmed that both Crystal Palace and Nottingham Forest have been priced out of securing his signature. Personal terms have been agreed between £180,000 per week earner Hudson-Odoi and Fulham while Serie A giants Lazio linger in the background contemplating a loan offer with an option to buy.

Speaking to GIVEMESPORT, transfer insider Jones has signalled that he expects both Gray and Hudson-Odoi to be offered around to a 'similar' level of club this summer.

"I feel like whoever doesn't get Hudson-Odoi is going to be going for Demarai Gray because you're getting a similar package there in terms of creativity, in terms of spark, in terms of what they can do in one-on-one situations.

"And I know that they are both being offered around to similar clubs at the moment, so if Palace didn't get Hudson-Odoi but ended up with Demarai Gray, I think Roy Hodgson will be happy with that. I know he's a player that he's rated in the past as well."

Would Demarai Gray be a good signing for Crystal Palace?

Gray is a technically gifted winger with an eye for goal and would offer some excitement to Crystal Palace fans moving forward following the painful departure of club icon Zaha once his move is finalised.

Last term, the Jamaica international featured 36 times in all competitions for Everton, registering six goals and one assist in the process, as per Transfermarkt.

Carrying a keen threat, 27-year-old Gray racked up around 1.8 shots and 1.1 key passes per match in the Premier League over the duration of 2022/23, demonstrating his capacity to trouble opposition defences regularly, as per WhoScored.

Chance provision is another big feature of Gray's game and he also managed to successfully complete 95 shot-creating actions in the English top flight, according to FBRef.

Crystal Palace boss Hodgson will be well acquainted with Gray's qualities and a move for the Birmingham-born attacker to Selhurst Park may suit all parties.