Journalist Fabrizio Romano has revealed that Roberto De Zerbi has a release clause that can be triggered this summer amid past links to the vacant Chelsea manager position.

What are the latest Chelsea manager links?

After sacking Graham Potter, it remains unclear who exactly will become the next permanent manager for the Blues. One thing can be certain, though, Frank Lampard won't be in the running for the job.

After all, having lost to Arsenal 3-1 in the Premier League last night, he has now fallen to defeat in all six games since taking charge as interim boss, and is the first English manager in charge of a top-flight team to lose ten games on the trot in 35 years.

Brighton boss De Zerbi is one alternative name to Lampard that looks a lot more appealing for Chelsea. Indeed, the 43-year-old has been touted as a target in recent times.

What's more, it sounds as though he could be available this summer due to a release clause in his contract that could be triggered. Romano explained as much while talking on the Here We Go podcast.

The journalist said (16:42): "Let me say one thing, Robert De Zerbi has a release clause in his contract. You can call it a release clause, fixed amount, whatever you want.

"But there is an amount of money, which is close to 11 million euros, which allows Robert De Zerbi to leave the club in the summer – not during the season.

"This is the only difference with Potter. The Potter clause was valid during the year, and this is how Potter joined Chelsea in September. The Potter clause was different because now De Zerbi is only allowed to leave in the summer, in July.

"But again, at this moment, there is no concrete talk because Chelsea are not working on De Zerbi as a possibility.”

Will Roberto De Zerbi join Chelsea?

Despite Chelsea in theory just having to pay this €11m (£9.7m) release clause, that doesn't necessarily mean De Zerbi would be open to joining the Blues.

And Romano makes clear that there are no current talks between the manager and the London outfit right now, so it doesn't sound as though it's likely at this moment in time.

However, should Chelsea change their minds, it's good news that there is already a predetermined figure they would have to pay to get this deal done – so you can't quite shut the door on this rumour just yet.

Even so, with Brighton quite likely to be playing European football next season, and Todd Boehly's side sitting closer to the relegation zone, it's not as though De Zerbi has any great reason to jump ship this summer.

As the search for a new permanent manager continues at Tottenham Hotspur, supporters will likely be fearful of seeing a repeat of the protracted quest to find a replacement for Jose Mourinho back in 2021, with chairman Daniel Levy having missed out on a string of potential targets before settling on Nuno Espirito Santo.

The fear will be that history may be repeating itself, with the Lilywhites having already seen a possible candidate in the form of former boss Mauricio Pochettino opt to join rivals Chelsea, while German visionary, Julian Nagelsmann – who appeared to be a favourite for the role – is also now out of the running.

With the end of the season rapidly approaching, Levy will surely have to settle on a new full-time appointment sooner rather than later, with the Englishman also likely to be sweating over the future of talisman, Harry Kane, with the England skipper being linked with a move to Manchester United amid his expiring contract.

According to Daily Express journalist Ryan Taylor, however, the north Londoners could well ease those fears over the 29-year-old's potential exit by turning to Bayer Leverkusen boss Xabi Alonso as the long-term successor to Antonio Conte, with the 41-year-old's arrival at N17 possibly set to be enough to tempt Kane into staying put.

Speaking to GIVEMESPORT about the future of the prolific striker, the respected insider stated: "It depends really. Obviously, he wants to win trophies, but at the same time, you could also launch a counter-argument for that as he's had Conte, he's had José Mourinho, he’s had Mauricio Pochettino and still not won a trophy.

"So it depends on what he wants to do, if he's happy to stay, I think someone like Xabi Alonso might actually excite him. I think it's clear Alonso is a forward-thinking manager with fresh ideas, and he's well respected in the game.”

This comes amid a recent report from Sky Sports that named Alonso as a target – in the wake of the shock Nagelsmann blow – with the piece revealing that senior figures at the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium are admirers of the Spaniard.

Would Xabi Alonso be a good appointment for Spurs?

As per Taylor, the capture of the former Real Madrid and Liverpool midfielder may prove enough to sway Kane's thinking this summer, with 3-4-3-based Alonso having made a promising start to life as a manager at senior level.

Having taken the reins at Leverkusen back in October after previously spending over three years with Real Sociedad's B team, the up-and-coming coach has quickly caught the eye due to his fine work, having turned the Bundesliga side from relegation contenders to European hopefuls in such a short space of time.

With the German outift having been languishing in 17th with just one win from their opening eight matches of the season at the time of his arrival, the one-time Bayern Munich maestro has since guided his new side up to seventh in the table, as well as taking them to the semi-finals of the Europa League.

Currently trailing 1-0 following the first-leg meeting with Jose Mourinho's Roma side in that competition, Alonso has received notable praise from the former Spurs boss in recent times, with the Portuguese ace stating that he "has all the conditions to be a very good coach.”

The Tolosa-born gem has also received a glowing assessment from Leverkusen starlet Jeremie Frimpong who hailed him as a "great coach", with the hope being that Alonso can replicate such a turnaround in fortunes were he to move to north London.

On the evidence of his early work in Germany, it is easy to see why Kane – and his teammates – could be excited by the potential appointment of the World Cup winner.

The Barmy Army, a group of travelling England fans, has said it will not be following the team on tour in Bangladesh owing to prevailing security concerns

ESPNcricinfo staff14-Sep-2016The Barmy Army, a group of travelling England fans, has said it will not be following the team on tour in Bangladesh owing to prevailing security concerns. A statement on the group’s website said that while the BCB had taken an interest in improving security for fans, the “measures do not yet go far enough to persuade us to go against FCO (Foreign and Commonwealth Office) advice.”The development came two days after England ODI captain Eoin Morgan and opening batsman Alex Hales said they would not be travelling to Bangladesh either, despite the ECB saying the tour would go ahead, following an assessment of the security measures in place.”Behind the scenes we have been liaising with the ECB and the Bangladesh Cricket Board (BCB) and have now received advice from the latter,” the Barmy Army said. “We have been supplied with a list of hotels in Dhaka and Chittagong that will receive protection from the Bangladesh Police and been told that England supporters will be afforded their own segregated area within the stadium.”However on the issue of escorts to and from stadiums (where due to local traffic conditions supporters will be most vulnerable to attack), we have been supplied with the contact details of a private security company, the implication being that any extra security will have be at supporter’s own expense. Whilst we are grateful that the BCB are taking an interest, we feel these measures do not yet go far enough to persuade us to go against FCO advice.”It is a matter of great regret that we feel unable to endorse travel to Bangladesh. Those of us lucky enough to have visited this country on previous tours have lasting and fond memories of a warm welcome, friendly locals and wonderful food. Perhaps the greatest pleasure being able to mix freely with the general population, particularly in and around the stadiums. We were also able to wander and explore the teeming cities of Dhaka and Chittagong without fear. FCO advice specifically warns against such activities.”The concerns over security for England’s tour of Bangladesh began after Dhaka, the nation’s capital, suffered a terrorist attack in July that left many dead. Australia had also cancelled their tour to the country at the end of last year and had pulled out of the Under-19 World Cup this year due to security concerns.

Aston Villa will table a "formal offer" for Tottenham midfielder Giovani Lo Celso ahead of the summer transfer window, according to a new report.

Where is Lo Celso this season?

The Argentine has made 84 appearances for Spurs to date, but he was deemed surplus to requirements back in January 2022, being loaned out to Villarreal instead. Having done well there in his first half-season, he then rejoined the La Liga side last summer, enjoying the whole of the current campaign there, too.

Lo Celso has proven to be a solid squad player for Villarreal in 2022/23 to date, making 15 appearances in the league, also chipping in with one goal and two assists from the middle of the park.

Once this campaign reaches its conclusion, the 27-year-old will return to Spurs, but it feels likely that he will be allowed to move on to pastures new given they've deemed him surplus to requirements two seasons in a row. His current deal runs until the summer of 2025, and the north London club could well feel that this summer is the best time to earn a good amount of money for his services.

Villa will be on the lookout for numerous new signings ahead of next season with NSWE expected to back Unai Emery, and it could be that Lo Celso is seen as a top target given their past connections – a new update certainly suggests that that may be the case.

Could Lo Celso head to Villa in the summer?

According to TyC Sports [via Sport Witness], Villa have been tracking Lo Celso for a "long time" and have confirmed "they will make a formal offer" for him in the near future. It is thought that Emery is keen to reunite with a player he worked alongside at Villarreal, no doubt seeing him as someone who can fit nicely into his system next season.

At 27, Lo Celso is someone right in and around his peak years, so he would be joining at a great age, and 42 caps for a country with the footballing heritage of Argentina says a lot about his pedigree as a footballer. He has been described as an "exciting" player by Jose Mourinho back in 2020, while a tally of 55 outings in the Premier League is an added bonus, meaning Villa wouldn't be bringing in a player with no knowledge of the competition.

Midfield depth is vital for Emery next season, especially if Villa are playing in Europe, and the Spurs man could be a lovely fit, providing a box-to-box presence in a manner not dissimilar to John McGinn, who is 18 months Lo Celo's senior.

Faf du Plessis, South Africa’s stand-in captain, has added the growing chorus calling for Test cricket to become the focal point among administrators and players

Firdose Moonda at Centurion26-Aug-2016

Faf du Plessis, South Africa’s stand-in captain, has added to the growing chorus calling for Test cricket to become the focal point among administrators and players. Although du Plessis is among the players who feature in T20 leagues across the world, he maintains Test cricket is his top priority.”Test cricket is the best thing to play,” he said. “That is the challenge you want. You want to sit after a day’s play as a bowler…..your toenails are bleeding and you are extremely tired and you want to, for the guys that drink beer, have a sip at the end and say we gave it everything. You can’t copy the feeling of winning a Test match in any other format, especially in T20s.”Du Plessis was among the first to voice his disappointment after the Durban Test was abandoned because of an unsafe outfield. Du Plessis said he respected the officials’ call but rued the fact that the Centurion Test becomes a winner-takes-all affair.”Two-test series is too short. With the current schedule, a five-Test series will be hard to slot-in going forward. For me a three or four-match series is ideal. When you play two Tests, you just get going, there’s always a great match and then the series is finished. Two is just too short especially now that we’ve had one rained off.”Kane Williamson, the New Zealand captain, also called for more matches to constitute a series. “I don’t know if you have too many lotteries in Test cricket,” he said. “Over five days, the team that plays more consistent cricket over a period of time wins the match but it is a shame that we aren’t able to play two full Tests, perhaps even more.”South Africa, currently placed sixth in the Test rankings, may also be wary of being tripped up by a familiar foe. “Definitely, there is more pressure, especially because we are a team that is very disappointed with where we are lying on the rankings at the moment” du Plessis said. “We’ve got much higher standards. We want to win as many Tests as possible to try and jump up that ladder again.”South Africa will have an opportunity to win Tests as they’re set to play 11 Tests this season, even though it may not be as many as some of the other sides, particularly at home.”We don’t play a lot of Tests at home. If you look at India, this season they have got 15 Tests coming up in their country you want to try and make use of your own conditions and play as many Tests as possible,” Du Plessis aid. “We play a little bit and then there’s a big break. With the space the team is in now, we would like to play as much Test cricket as possible and try and build something. We have a mission as a team and we are trying to get there.”Du Plessis also admitted to being concerned that the administrators were not listening to the players’ call for more Test cricket, but hopes the moves to resurrect the idea of a Test challenge will be one step in that direction.”Yes, I am (concerned that the message is not getting through). When we fill those anonymous forms, the general thing that comes out is to play Test cricket. It’s still the No.1 thing for international players,” he said. “To create a structure for the Test championship, that’s a great step in the right direction but you need to play as many Tests as possible.”

Leeds United find themselves in a precarious position with just two Premier League games left this season as their future in the top flight hangs in the balance.

The Whites head into the weekend one point inside the relegation zone ahead of their clash with West Ham United tomorrow, and Sam Allardyce will be hoping he can do everything in his power to avoid sending the club back into the Championship at the end of next week.

It has been a tumultuous season for Leeds supporters, with the former England manager becoming the third man to take charge at Elland Road following the sackings of Jesse Marsch and Javi Gracia, with the board unable to find the recipe to replicate their more comfortable campaigns in the top flight.

As a result, all plans for the summer transfer window will likely be on hold until the West Yorkshire outfit seal their fate at around 6.30pm next weekend, but either way, Andrea Radrizzani will need to find ways to improve the squad and the performances on the pitch with the right recruitment strategy.

In fact, the Leeds owner could save millions in the summer by encouraging the promotion of young talent, with Jeremiah Chilokoa-Mullen thriving in the youth setup and already impressing Allardyce.

Who is Jeremiah Chilokoa-Mullen?

Last year, the young centre-back had his contract extended to 2025 after making impressive strides in his development and has since gone from strength to strength.

This week, Chilokoa-Mullen scored an incredible volley in a Premier League 2 play-off victory for the U21s against Nottingham Forest and was rewarded with a senior training call-up yesterday at Thorp Arch in the preparations for the crucial clash with West Ham.

Over his two Football League Trophy performances this season, the 18-year-old – hailed for his "really strong" partnership with Joe Littlewood by coach Mark Jackson – has been a huge defensive presence averaging 76 touches, 49.5 accurate passes, three interceptions, 3.5 tackles, 1.5 clearances and a whopping eight duels won per game.

The Scottish teenage sensation could even be the perfect player to develop into Liam Cooper's heir, which Leeds will eventually need as the club captain and experienced centre-back is now 31 years old and reaching the latter stages of his career.

With that being said, it is clear the future is bright for Chilokoa-Mullen if he continues to impress in the academy and senior training opportunities, and it will be interesting to see if the club push for his inclusion in the first team next season, especially if they suffer relegation to the second tier.

ScorecardMark Wood was the pick of the Durham bowlers•Getty Images

Durham shrugged off another injury to captain Paul Collingwood to boost their chances of reaching a second quarter-final when they beat Yorkshire by 15 runs at the Riverside.After both teams progressed in the NatWest T20 Blast on Friday, both can also reach the last eight in the Royal London Cup by winning their final group matches on Monday. Durham go to Old Trafford and Yorkshire entertain Warwickshire but will hope to bat better than in attempting to chase down Durham’s 281 for 7.At 200 for 5 after 40 overs they were 16 ahead of Durham at the equivalent stage but, despite Tim Bresnan continuing his fine batting form with 92, the boundaries dried up against tight bowling.Only 38 runs came off the next seven overs and there had not been a boundary for 12 overs until Bresnan twice planted Chris Rushworth into the stand over midwicket in the 48th. He than holed out off the last ball of the over, leaving 28 needed off two with two wickets standing. Mark Wood conceded only one run in the 49th and Yorkshire finished on 266 for 8.Collingwood, who took over the one-day captaincy from the departing Mark Stoneman last week, was limping while batting and in his absence from the field Keaton Jennings took over. He skilfully marshalled an excellent bowling display, led by Wood after he was belatedly made available as he continues his comeback from two ankle operations. Wood took the crucial wickets of Alex Lees and Jack Leaning while conceding only 43 runs in ten overs.Scott Borthwick was Durham’s star, top-scoring with 84 and taking 1 for 48 in ten overs of generally tight legspin, spoilt only when Bresnan drove a full toss for six then pulled a long hop for four. That came towards the end of a fifth-wicket stand of 76 with Jack Leaning, but when Wood was recalled Leaning steered a catch straight to backward point and the momentum was never recovered.Borthwick accelerated nicely from a 74-ball half-century to reach 84 before breaking his bat, only to fall without addition when the new blade sent a miscued hook to long leg in the 41st over.Durham did well to take 97 off their last ten overs as, despite hitting only two boundaries, Michael Richardson kept the score moving with 53 off 58 balls. He was helped in the last ten overs by cameos from Ryan Pringle, with 27 off 20 balls, and Stuart Poynter, who included a straight six off Bresnan in his unbeaten 27.

Seam bowlers continued to dominate on the second day of the Specsavers County Championship match between Gloucestershire and Leicestershire at Cheltenham

ECB Reporters Network21-Jul-2016
ScorecardDavid Payne claimed 5 for 36•Getty ImagesSeam bowlers continued to dominate on the second day of the Specsavers County Championship match between Gloucestershire and Leicestershire at Cheltenham.David Payne finished with 5 for 36 as Leicestershire were bowled out for 218 in reply to the hosts’ 183, having begun the day on 122 for 5. Angus Robson top scored with 62, while Ned Eckersley and Ben Raine made important contributions.When Gloucestershire batted again there was more evidence of swing and seam movement as they progressed to 133 for 4 before rain brought play to a premature conclusion. Skipper Michael Klinger was unbeaten on 43, with Chris Dent having made 34. Neil Dexter claimed 2 for 11 to match his first-innings figures and the home side were precariously placed with a lead of just 98 going into the third day.The morning session saw the pitch still offering plenty of assistance to the bowlers after 15 wickets had fallen on day one. Leicestershire’s remaining batsmen had to show application to gain a slender, but useful first-innings lead of 35.Left-armer Payne took the last three wickets of the innings, sending back Clint McKay, Richard Jones and Charlie Shreck, having bowled without much luck on the previous evening.Robson, unbeaten on 49 overnight, had reached a battling half-century off 148 balls, with nine fours, before falling to Craig Miles, having added 73 for the sixth wicket with Eckersley, who also went to Miles, having faced 106 balls and hit three fours.At one point, Leicestershire looked well placed at 201 for 7, but Payne then ensured their advantage was a small one, wrapping up the tail with three wickets in as many overs.Lunch was taken at the change of innings and Gloucestershire made a solid enough start, with openers Dent and Will Tavare wiping out the deficit. But with the total on 39, Tavare edged Charlie Shreck through to Mark Cosgrove at second slip and departed for 18.Graeme van Buuren made only 3 before being bowled driving at Raine and it was 80 for 3 when Dent fell to a superb low catch by Cosgrove in the slips off Dexter.Hamish Marshall, playing his last Championship innings at Cheltenham before leaving Gloucestershire at the end of the season, also went cheaply to Dexter, edging to Robson at first slip. But Klinger showed his quality by stemming the tide and was unbeaten on 32 at tea, which was taken with Gloucestershire 113 for 4 and leading by 78.Jack Taylor followed his first innings half-century by helping his skipper add a further 20 runs after the break when rain started falling at soon after 4.30pm. It was light drizzle to start with, but when it became more persistent umpires Michael Gough and Graham Lloyd called play off for the day at 6pm.

Aston Villa manager Unai Emery could be given £150m to spend in the summer transfer window, according to an exciting new claim.

Are Villa having a good season?

The Villans have enjoyed an excellent 2022/23 season, having initially struggled during Steven Gerrard's disappointing time in charge. Since Emery has come in, they have gone up a significant level and finishing in the European places is in their hands heading into the final game.

Last Saturday's 1-1 draw away to Liverpool was a further sign of Villa's improvements, with Emery's men more than holding their own against top-quality opposition, and there is a feeling that something exciting is brewing at the club.

In order for that to happen, they need to have an extremely productive summer window, with the owners providing the manager with the funds to bring in the player he thinks can strengthen his squad further. A promising update has emerged, in that respect, suggesting Emery will get his wish.

How much could Villa spend this summer?

According to Football Insider, the manager is expected to be given a transfer kitty of around £150m this summer, allowing him to recruit a number of top-level players. He "will also be able to boost his transfer warchest with fees from any player sales during the off-season".

The report also states that the club "plan to rein in their spending in future windows", but this upcoming one will see them splash the cash.

This is clearly an exciting update for Villa fans ahead of what could be their most significant transfer window in a number of years, at a time when they really do feel poised to become a force again.

In Emery, the Villans have an elite manager in their ranks – one who has won the Europa League an incredible four times, not to mention winning a Ligue 1 title with Paris Saint-Germain – and he already has a strong squad at his disposal, featuring the likes of Emiliano Martinez, Tyrone Mings and Ollie Watkins.

The key now is to keep hold of those players mentioned and then surround them with further top-class signings who can make Villa an even larger force to be reckoned with.

European qualification would certainly help attract the right individuals, highlighting how important a win over Brighton is this weekend, and it could lead to them regularly being in top competitions moving forward, assuming the right business is done this summer.

The WICB has taken legal advice in response to calls for a forensic audit

ESPNcricinfo staff15-Sep-2016The WICB has taken legal advice in response to calls for a forensic audit, claiming that it could carry the “suggestion of wrongdoing”. Terming the calls to carry out the forensic audit by six former board officials as “serious allegations”, the WICB has said that it is consulting Anthony Astaphan, a senior counsel in Dominica, for his advice and recommendations.”The Board has been advised that in a number of instances the call for a forensic audit carries the suggestion of wrong doing and misappropriation of WICB funds by present members of the WICB,” the WICB said in a media release, issued on Thursday. “Additionally, it suggests the auditors are either incompetent or complicit. These allegations are completely false, and seriously damaging to the reputation of the WICB, its members, and auditors.”The WICB has therefore decided that these are serious allegations and has referred the matter to Senior Counsel, Anthony Astaphan of Dominica, for his advice and recommendations.”Last week six former WICB officials – Ken Gordon, Pat Rousseau, Anthony Deyal, Charles Wilkin, Bruce Aanensen and Imran Khan – claimed that the current board administration under Dave Cameron has seemingly become “untouchable”, and not doing anything would lead to the “inevitable demise” of cricket in the Caribbean. As a remedy, the six men urged CARICOM to conduct a forensic audit to save West Indies cricket from “absolute and total downfall”.The WICB said the six men had ignored the facts. “These calls for a forensic audit by the former officials are without any basis in fact, and importantly, notwithstanding, that these former officials are aware that the WICB has for many years retained internal and external auditors.”As it pointed out last week, the WICB repeated once again today that the board’s internal and external audits are done and authorised by a pair of global consultants – PricewaterhouseCoopers and KPMG respectively. The release also noted that all the WICB accounts are published by or available from the WICB on all its platforms, including the board’s website where the reports are available.The WICB said that the allegations “appear triggered not by fact or evidence but an emotional reaction” to its response to the CARICOM sub-committee on cricket. Members of the sub-committee have repeatedly suggested the dissolution of WICB as a starting point to bring back Caribbean cricket to its glory days.