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Ten days from now, a Yorkshire crowd could again witness Joe Root and Jonny Bairstow batting together, this time for England in the first Investec Test against Sri Lanka

David Hopps at Headingley09-May-2016
ScorecardJoe Root and Jonny Bairstow shared a magnificent stand, worthy of re-writing record books•Getty Images

Ten days from now, a Yorkshire crowd can again expect to witness Joe Root and Jonny Bairstow batting together, this time for England in the first Investec Test against Sri Lanka. But even if consumed by unknown levels of optimism, they will not dare to dream they will witness the delights witnessed today at Headingley. This was the grandest of days.On the safe assumption that a Yorkshire heaven would have cricket in it somewhere, washed down by curd tarts and Taylor’s Landlord, the entertainment provided by Root and Bairstow was something akin to divine. Even the Yorkshire chaplain was on hand to bless it. It is to be hoped that he popped into the away dressing room because for much of this bountiful batting day Surrey’s bowlers could barely rustle up a prayer between them.Two England batsmen at their height of their game – one who should already be recognised as a world star worthy of this or any other age, one still mostly treasured in his native Yorkshire but surely bursting with potential for the summer ahead – smashed the record stand for Yorkshire on this famous old ground, and the Yorkshire record against Surrey for good measure. But this was not just two England batsmen, but two Yorkshire batsmen who have taken guard together since childhood and who steal runs and strike boundaries and gain impetus from each other in a fashion that says much about the true essence of partnership.Their stand of 372 in 68 overs rushed along at around five-and-a-half runs an over. They made the Headingley surface look benign (Surrey’s second innings will be the truth of that) and played with glorious enterprise, not just making runs but responding to their supremacy by stretching their horizons.When the stand ended – Bairstow cutting James Burke to Kumar Sangakkara at slip with what appeared to be considered precision – even the most self-conscious Yorkshire salts joined the happiest of ovations. The fact it was against Surrey, second in rivalry only to Lancashire, made it sweeter.Bairstow savours Root partnership

Jonny Bairstow and Joe Root had just the audition they needed as two Yorkshire batsmen about to face Sri Lanka in the Headingley Test with county records freshly bagged.
“It is great to be batting with Joe,” said Bairstow. “When you have grown up with someone all through the age groups and are summoned to bat with him he is not the worst partner to have at the other end.
“It is fantastic to be out there with people who know how you work and how you tick and that you trust with your calling. That strike rotation is important. The strokeplay comes with that.”
Yorkshire, still seeking their first win, must manage without Root and Bairstow next week – and Bairstow has repeatedly rescued a struttering top order over the past year. This time it was 45 for 3. “Not the position we want to be getting ourselves into on a regular basis,” he said.

Bairstow missed his double century by two runs and, after searching for an acceptable expletive, pronounced himself “cheesed off”. Root closed the day 10 runs short and, after his usual regime of morning back exercises, will be eager to avoid cheese. There were 471 runs in the day, and might easily have been 500 if the second new ball had not demanded a little decorum. Yorkshire lead by 156.Root and Bairstow possess such an appealing contrast that their complementary ingredients might have been brought together by a head chef. Even when Root pushes himself to the limit, there is a sense of clinical excellence, such as the back-foot cover drive against Ravi Rampaul which took him to 150 in which his left elbow seemed to cleave the air. Alongside him, Bairstow pulverised the bad balls, immense when he hit on the up through extra cover, commanding on the pull.In many ways this was a day that underlined the divide between England ambition and England status. Adam Lyth, Alex Lees and Gary Ballance all have designs on an international place but all fell within 11 overs as Yorkshire subsided to 45 for 3. Surrey must have imagined their 330 might be defendable after all. But from the moment that Root and Bairstow joined forces, batsmanship had an international presence. Bairstow has spent much of the past year on such rallying calls. If Yorkshire go 45 for 3 against next week, the red fire engine will be otherwise occupied.Rampaul had Lyth lbw with one that swung a shade and cramped Ballance with a similar delivery to cause him to poke onto his stumps: it is impossible to imagine that England will pick Ballance while his tortuous form persists. Lees, who had shown up well in the televised match against Nottinghamshire at Trent Bridge, got out weakly against Tom Curran.Rampaul and Curran stuck at it. Rampaul has been a good signing, a bowler of nous and more eager than many imagined. Curran, learning how to handle the step up in class, has a stooping start to his run which, as the stand swelled, suggested he was auditioning for a role in the annual Gawthorpe World Coal Carrying Championships: he will take to first division life The back-up seamers, though, were dispelled with ease and the spin of the captain Gareth Batty, when it appeared, held no threat.Reports from London that Matt Dunn has real pace will not be taken seriously this far north on this evidenc. Burke looked particularly vulnerable, but somehow figured in Root and Bairstow’s most anxious moments. Before he claimed Bairstow’s wicket, he almost dismissed Root, on 20, at second slip – a glimmer of a chance at best as Jason Roy flung himself to his right, and had Bairstow dropped at mid-on at 134, a full toss which Arun Harinath was unable to turn into a bonus wicket.For all those with a sense of history the celebration of records comes with a vague sadness about those expunged. The greatest records should fall in memorable circumstances. This was a stand worthy of displacing the best. It has become a particularly beautiful Yorkshire spring, so late that all the colours are together at once, and even Headingley, with its traditions of burnt treacle, was at its most lightsome as the boundaries rained down.You had to go back to 1899 at The Oval for Yorkshire’s previous best stand against Surrey: 340 by Ted Wainwright and George Hirst. Wainwright holds the record for the lowest bowling average in Championship history – 97 at 10.17 apiece in 1894, a wet summer. His batting potential is less revered. Asked for the secret of batting, he once remarked: “Play back – and get thi legs reight.” Well he did according to Cardus, who was not afraid of touching up a quote.Yorkshire’s record stand at Headingley, though, before Root and Bairstow gatecrashed it, was in the hands of Darren Lehmann and Michael Lumb. Lehmann’s 339 fell just short of Hirst’s individual record that day and, supping a pint when it was all over, suggested that as an Australian, second place felt about right. Great moments – and Root and Bairstow have added another one to the annals.

Journalist Ben Jacobs has revealed that Newcastle United could be keen on signing Mohammed Kudus in the summer though it remains unclear what role he would want to play for the club.

What's the latest on Newcastle and Mohammed Kudus?

It seems as though the Ghana international is one of the game's hottest properties right now with certain sections of the media linking him with a big-money move away from Ajax in the summer.

For instance, reports in Spain suggest that Real Madrid are keeping an eye on Kudus. The report, however, also mentions AC Milan, Manchester United and Borussia Dortmund as possible destinations.

On top of all that, Jacobs has now told NUFC Matters that Newcastle have been tracking the Ajax player for some time and mooted him as a great fit for their midfield.

He explained: "Erik ten Hag is looking to link up with him as well, and Newcastle have tracked the player, too. There's a few teams, really – even Chelsea have taken a look as well. It's going to be very difficult for Ajax to keep hold of him. He's had a breakthrough season playing in an advanced position and scored 11 goals in 24 games.

"And I think the fit with Newcastle is actually that Kudus at the moment is playing in a front three as a wide forward, but his preferred position is attacking midfield.

"So it's a strange one in many ways, because if you like Kudus now, then you're buying a forward, but if you listen to where Kudus wants to play, he's an attacking midfielder. And I think, as I said before, Newcastle would quite appreciate an attacking midfielder, especially one that has the versatility to play in a more advanced position.

He then added: "So Newcastle are there for sure. There's nothing advanced at this point. There's nothing moving towards the summer.

"But interestingly, they had scouts watching him at the World Cup where he scored two goals and they were considering him as a possible January move.

"So there's a little bit of history there with Newcastle and Mohammed Kudus, and now we have to wait and see whether they rekindle that."

What's the latest on Newcastle and Mohammed Kudus?

The Ghanaian has shown his quality this season with 18 goals and five assists across all competitions for Ajax. However, for the most part, he has done so playing as a centre forward or out on the right wing.

As Jacobs alludes to, though, he actually prefers playing a little deeper in a central attacking midfield role. Indeed, Kudus told De Telegraaf (via Ajax Showtime): “I still feel that I can do my best in the number 10 position. I play as number nine for the team."

With that in mind, it does remain unclear where Eddie Howe would want to use him but perhaps if Newcastle were able to give the 22-year-old the freedom to play where he likes, the Magpies could be a more enticing option in the near future than someone like Real Madrid who may view him purely as a striker.

What's more, the club do seem to be in the market for a creative midfield player with a long-term interest in James Maddison. But if they can't land the Leicester City star, perhaps Kudus will be an ideal alternative.

Manchester United are undoubtedly a club famed for their production of young talent, with the Red Devils having repeatedly promoted players from the academy ranks into the first-team, from the Busby Babes to the ‘Class of 92’, right through to the likes of Marcus Rashford and Kobbie Mainoo.

For every success story, however, there is a notable figure who simply falls by the wayside – for every Paul Scholes there is a Ravel Morrison. For every Ryan Giggs, there is a Callum Gribbin.

In the case of the latter man, the Englishman is a prime example of the perils of hyping up players too young, as well as a warning as to the brutal nature of the game, with once-promising figures able to be so ruthlessly cast aside after years on the books at a club.

What happened to Callum Gribbin?

Gribbin’s tale is arguably one of wasted potential but also likely one of frustration – both for the player himself and for United – with the emerging gem having never been able to truly live up to his early, outstanding promise.

The Salford native – who would ultimately spend 11 years at Old Trafford after joining in 2008 – had been setting tongues wagging among supporters in the know for years as a result of his displays at youth level, having even been hailed as the “English [Lionel] Messi” due to his precocious talent, as The Athletic’s Daniel Taylor revealed.

Lauded as a “fantastic technician” by former assistant coach Kieran McKenna, the playmaker was notably included in the Guardian’s Next Generation list in 2015 alongside the 20 best talents in the Premier League, with that selection including current Liverpool star Trent Alexander-Arnold, as well as ex-Tottenham Hotspur sensation, Marcus Edwards.

That wider acclaim was mirrored by the glowing reports coming out of United, with youth coach Paul McGuiness stating at the time: “Callum’s a very talented player and the type English football does not have a lot of. He can keep the ball with people around him. He can manipulate it and give space for a creative pass. Also, he’s waiting to look for a creative pass all the time too.”

The forward’s quality unsurprisingly sparked comparisons to club legend Giggs, with that likeness having become even more apparent following the youngster’s stunning, solo goal against Barcelona in the Otten Cup back in 2016.

An “unreal talent” – in the words of fellow academy graduate Charlie Scott – Gribbin appeared destined to eventually force his way into the first-team picture, having possessed that innate gift to be able to “glide past players with the ball tied to his feet”, according to club historian, Tony Park.

Despite enjoying a “light-bulb moment” – in the words of Nicky Butt – after producing an all-action display against Wolfsburg in the UEFA Youth League in 2015, the 5 foot 10 ace was never able to make that step up, with injury also playing its part in curtailing his progress.

Having been unable to ever make his senior bow, the former England U17 international was ultimately released in 2019, going on to endure a brief stint at Sheffield United, before joining League Two side Barrow in 2020.

That switch again failed to have the desired impact as Gribbin only made five appearances for the club, having subsequently been snapped up by lower-league side Radcliffe with the aim of kickstarting his career.

Now 24, the former wonderkid is currently on the books at seventh-tier outfit, FC United of Manchester, with that slide down the footballing pyramid representing a sad decline for a player who once promised so much.

With time still on his side, however, hopefully Gribbin can get back to where he belongs sooner rather than later.

Crystal Palace are known for their ability to nurture and develop youngsters, whether that is through a stellar academy setup or hoovering up young talent outside of south London.

Wilfried Zaha became the most prolific of their academy graduates, chalking up 458 appearances for the Eagles across his 18-year association with the club.

After creating a long-lasting legacy, the Ivorian bids farewell to Palace roots this summer, paving the way for the next wave of youngsters to become the "new Zaha", and the talented Eberechi Eze has already taken on that mantle as he aims to surpass the legacy that the former created.

While the Englishman is lighting the touch paper with his sensational performances, academy graduate Jesurun Rak-Sakyi is striving to do similar having already featured twice in the Premier League this season.

Palace have become renowned for cherry-picking the Championship's hottest prospects and luring them to Selhurst Park, utilising that strategy to capture Michael Olise from Reading in 2021, and Eze from Queens Park Rangers in 2020, but failing in their pursuit to land Ollie Watkins from Brentford in 2019.

Did Crystal Palace nearly sign Ollie Watkins?

While Brentford were chasing promotion out of the second tier in 2019, a whole host of Premier League clubs were converging on their devastating front three as Bryan Mbeumo, Said Benrahma and Watkins were all linked with moves away that summer.

According to the Daily Mail, several clubs were pursuing a move for a 23-year-old Watkins, but Palace showed their hand by submitting a £11m bid for the forward, which was swatted away by the Bees as quickly as it was placed.

During that summer, Roy Hodgson was in the market for a lethal finisher with the funds available from the sale of Aaron Wan-Bissaka, and after amassing 21 goal contributions in 45 games in all competitions in the 2018/19 season, it's clear to see why the veteran was keen to lure Watkins to Selhurst Park.

Despite their attempts to sign the 5 foot 11 marksman, who was described by Thomas Frank as "a pleasure to work with", Watkins would go on to amass 25 Championship goals before making a club record £28m switch to Aston Villa in the summer of 2020.

How has Watkins fared at Aston Villa?

During his time in the Midlands, the 27-year-old has established himself as one of the best strikers in the Premier League, spearheading Villa's resurgence up the table by combining his strong movement, pace in behind and lethal finishing in the area.

While he was an integral figure prior to Unai Emery's arrival in November, the Spaniard helped elevate Watkin's game to new heights as the Englishman amassed 12 goals in his last 19 games of the season to help the Villans qualify for the Europa Conference League – their first time in Europe since 2010.

The "unstoppable" talent – as dubbed by Jamie Carragher – has gone toe-to-toe with the most elite strikers in 2023 for his scoring power, ranking in the top 20% for non-penalty xG, top 8% for the percentage of shots on target and top 15% for non-penalty xG per shot when compared to his positional peers across Europe's top five leagues, via FBref.

While this demonstrates his unequivocal efficiency in front of goal, the high-volume shooter has made such a huge improvement since Emery arrived and the Spaniard has praised Watkins for his rapid progress but also the rest of his team for playing to his strengths and utilising his qualities.

He said: We are trying with Ollie, to help him, to support him, to improve, to take confidence. We practice a lot, offensively and defensively, and of course, we have to take a balance.

“Some players, maybe they are taking it better than others, and one is Ollie Watkins. Every day he is working very, very well and trying to improve, practicing a lot. “He has ambition, and he is a good example for everybody.”

For several years Crystal Palace have been crying out for a striker who can consistently deliver goal-scoring returns.

While Odsonne Edouard is slowly becoming their talisman, scoring four in the opening handful of matches this term, Watkins, who is now worth £35m (€41.2m) according to Football Transfers, would have become an instant revelation at Selhurst Park. Indeed, missing out on him looks to have been a mistake.

Everton are now showing an interest in signing Manchester United's Harry Maguire, and journalist Rudy Galetti has now revealed whether the defender is likely to be on the move this summer.

Is Harry Maguire leaving Man United?

West Ham United intended to sign Maguire in a £30m deal, however the move collapsed, with it emerging that he would rather stay at Old Trafford this season, however the Red Devils still remain open to offers, despite Erik ten Hag being content to keep him.

ESPN report that United think it is too late to go into the market for a new defender, but Fabrizio Romano has recently stated they are interested in signing Jean-Clair Todibo, Edmond Tapsoba, and Marc Guehi, although Benjamin Pavard is their "priority."

If his pursuit of a new centre-back proves to be successful, Erik ten Hag could choose to sanction Maguire's departure, and there have been a number of Premier League clubs credited with an interest this summer, including Tottenham Hotspur and Everton.

Just a few weeks ago, it was reported the Toffees were leading the race for the England international, and they could now be gearing themselves up to make a move, as GiveMeSport have credited them with "shock" interest.

In an interview with GiveMeSport, Galetti has now confirmed the 30-year-old is still available to sign this summer, but there has been little in the way of progress towards an exit over the past couple of weeks.

The journalist said: "Despite the deal that collapsed with West Ham, Maguire is still on the market. Only with his farewell, Manchester United will sign a new centre-back. At the moment for the former United captain, everything is going slow.

“Everton showed interest in him in the last few days, but nothing concrete at the moment. Saudi Arabia is not an option. So, as it stands, the chances to remain in Manchester grow day after day."

Read The Latest Everton Transfer News HERE

How much does Harry Maguire earn per week?

If Everton are to tempt the Englishman into a move, they may have to offer him a significant wage package, given that he is currently tied down to a £190k-per-week contract at Old Trafford, which is not due to expire until the summer of 2025.

While he has received plenty of criticism during his time at Man United, the former Leicester City man has also received praise from his teammates, namely Luke Shaw, who hailed him for his performances for England, saying:

"Look at the Euros and what he has done, people need to understand he is a big part of the England team and they have to accept it."

"He keeps putting himself in the spotlight and it shows the strength and character he has got because, come on, everyone knows that he is an unbelievable player."

Maguire's aerial ability is very impressive, ranking in the 90th percentile for aerials won per 90 over the past year, and he has proven himself at international level, receiving 57 caps for his country, so he could be an excellent signing for Everton.

Newcastle United have been linked with Galatasaray midfielder Nicolo Zaniolo this summer, but now another key update has emerged regarding their interest in him.

Do Newcastle want Nicolo Zaniolo?

The Magpies made a sensational start to their Premier League season on Saturday evening, dispatching of Aston Villa 5-1 at St James' Park in a thrilling contest.

It was an early sign that Newcastle fans could be in for another treat of a campaign, with some superb football on show, not to mention new signings Sandro Tonali and Harvey Barnes both finding the back of the net.

Read the latest Newcastle transfer news HERE…

While the performance and result against Villa were memorable, it is still important that the Magpies continue to kick on this summer, bringing in some more new faces. Not many signings are needed, considering how strong the squad now looks, but a couple of additions would be the icing on the cake.

One player who has been linked with a summer move to Newcastle is Zaniolo, who is currently at Galatasaray, having joined them earlier this year. The Italian is also wanted by Villa, with a switch away from the Turkish giants on the cards.

Now, a new update regarding his future has dropped, however, and it looks as though a move to St James' is out of the question.

What's the latest on Nicolo Zaniolo to Newcastle?

Speaking to Give Me Sport, Jacobs claimed that Newcastle signing Zaniolo doesn't look on the cards this summer, with their interest in him never particularly strong:

"I don't think there's been too much with Zaniolo and Newcastle in terms of any action. I know that we've had him linked before, but he has obviously suffered quite a tough two years with injuries and then his relationship with Jose Mourinho before eventually moving to Galatasaray."

Zaniolo is a high-quality footballer who has won 13 caps for Italy, scoring twice in that time, so in many ways, seeing him in a Newcastle shirt would have been exciting, giving them something different in attacking midfield after being called a "decisive" player by Claudio Ranieri.

That being said, as Jacobs alludes to in his update, the former Roma man has suffered terrible luck with injuries down the years, so there would be a concern that he would break down continually in a Magpies shirt, ultimately not proving to be worth the money spent on him.

It could be argued that Zaniolo has now overcome the worst of his issues, and is still a young player who can prove his worth for another decade or so, but it would feel like a risky signing when there are other good options out there.

With Newcastle's interest in him seemingly non-existent at this point, it is important that they now turn their attention elsewhere, look to snap up someone with a similar ability to link the deeper midfielders and the attack, coming in as someone may be rotated with the likes of Tonali, Bruno Guimaraes and Joelinton, making the Magpies' squad even more formidable and enhancing their hopes of back-to-back top four finishes in the Premier League this season.

The 18-year old leads rally with Siddesh Lad before Andhra strike back; Madhya Pradesh recover after TN inflict early blows and Baroda firm against Odisha

ESPNcricinfo staff17-Nov-20170:36

Pathan: Prithvi Shaw’s initiation much like Tendulkar’s

Prithvi Shaw’s fifth century in his seventh first-class match provided the thrust for Mumbai, but they couldn’t build on, slipping to 248 for 6 at stumps against Andhra in Ongole. That the hosts made inroads was because of the twin-threat posed by seamers B Ayyappa (3 for 87) and P Vijay Kumar (2 for 55).Put into bat, Mumbai wobbled, losing Jay Bista and Shreyas Iyer (0) inside three deliveries. From 20 for 2 they slumped to 64 for 3 when vice-captain Surya Kumar Yadav was caught behind off Ayyappa. Shaw then teamed up with Siddhesh Lad (86), fresh from a second-innings rescue-act against Baroda, to add 125 before yet another stutter.Ayyappa came back to remove Shaw in the 61st over. When Aditya Tare, the captain, fell for a duck, Mumbai were precariously placed at 193 for 5. Lad and Abhishek Nayar, though, put on 55 runs, but frustratingly for Mumbai, they couldn’t carry on as Lad’s dismissal in the penultimate over of the day set them back further.Madhya Pradesh recovered from 67 for 5 to post a more respectable 224 for 7 on the opening day against Tamil Nadu in Indore. K Vignesh and M Mohammed, the seam bowling duo, inflicted maximum damage, but MP were rescued by the two Ankits – Sharma (75*) and Dane (63) – through a 120-run stand. Offspinner Washington Sundar made a couple of late strikes, including one to remove Dane, but Sharma and Mihir Hirwani couldn’t be dislodged.In the morning, Mohammed (2 for 46) removed openers Aditya Shrivastava and Rajat Patidar before Vignesh got into the act. In the space of six overs, he removed Shubham Sharma, Harpreet Singh Bhatia and captain Devendra Bundela to knock half the side out. He finished the day with figures of 19-7-27-3.Kedar Devdhar’s seventh first-class hundred led Baroda’s dominant batting performance against Odisha in Vadodara. Two other batsmen – Aditya Waghmode (52) and captain Deepak Hooda (51) – made half-centuries as Baroda ended on 281 for 3.In fact, it wasn’t until the 51st over that Odisha, who elected to bowl, had their first breakthrough as seamer Basant Mohanty dismissed Waghmode. They would account for another Baroda batsmen in the next four overs, as Biplab Samantray sent back Devdhar, whose 150-ball 104 included 15 fours and a six.A 70-run stand for the fourth wicket between Hooda and Vishnu Solanki (46*) meant Baroda would consolidate their position further before Hooda fell in the 73rd over. Solanki and Swapnil Singh, though, made sure Odisha didn’t have the satisfaction of another late wicket.

A major update has emerged on the future of one of Michael Beale's current Glasgow Rangers forwards ahead of the 2023/24 campaign…

What's the latest Rangers transfer news?

According to The 4th Official, the Light Blues have told Fashion Sakala that he is free to find a new club before the end of the summer transfer window.

Beale has reportedly made it clear that the Zambia international's time at Ibrox is over and the attacker will not be part of his plans for the upcoming season.

Read the latest Rangers transfer news HERE…

The outlet states that there is interest from Saudi Arabia, but the 26-year-old foward has already turned down the chance to move there, alongside the likes of Cristiano Ronaldo and Karim Benzema.

However, it remains to be seen whether or not he is willing to change his mind or wait for other options to arise before September's deadline.

How many goals did Fashion Sakala score last season?

The electric whiz plundered 12 goals across 41 appearances for the Scottish giants in all competitions last term and was a reliable attacking threat for Beale.

He produced 12 goals and eight assists in 29 Scottish Premiership outings for Rangers, which works out as a direct goal contribution every 1.45 matches on average.

This came after the 26-year-old sensation managed 12 goals and seven assists in 50 clashes across all competitions during his debut year in Scotland.

New is not always better and the Gers may learn that the hard way as there is little evidence so far to suggest that Brighton & Hove Albion loanee Abdallah Sima will offer more than the £8.3k-per-week gem, which means that Beale is heading for a huge transfer blunder.

The 22-year-old winger provided six goals and two assists in 37 games on loan at Angers in France last season, which came after he failed to score or assist any strikes in four competitive matches for Stoke during the previous campaign.

These statistics show that the summer signing does not have a recent track record of being a reliable option in the final third as a scorer or a creator from out wide.

Sima has gone four appearances without a goal, albeit in pre-season, for Rangers so far, whilst Sakala scored once in three friendlies before being left out of the most recent clash with Hoffenheim on Saturday.

Whilst it is harsh to judge players based on their pre-season form, their respective form aligns with what they have shown in competitive matches over the last two campaigns.

Only Antonio Colak (14) and James Tavernier (16) scored more Premiership goals than Sakala last term.

The Zambian finisher, who was once dubbed a "firework" by ex-Gers full-back Alan Hutton, was one of the club's most reliable scorers and they are now willing to move him on without the guarantee of an excellent replacement.

Sima's goalless pre-season and less-than-outstanding spells in front of goal against Angers and Stoke City do not suggest that he will be able to replace the exceptional contributions that the ex-Oostende star provided.

Therefore, Beale is heading for a significant blunder in the transfer window as his side could lose a significant goal threat unless Sima is able to burst onto the scene and show far more than he has in recent seasons and for the Gers so far.

Liverpool officially kick off their 2023/24 Premier League campaign with a trip to face Chelsea at Stamford Bridge on the 13th of August and there could be a few new faces on show for the club.

Who have Liverpool signed this summer?

The Reds made their first addition of the summer transfer window last month as they signed Argentina international Alexis Mac Allister from Brighton & Hove Albion, in a deal that could eventually rise to £55m.

Jurgen Klopp followed that up with a swoop for RB Leipzig attacking midfielder Dominik Szoboszlai at the start of July. The Merseyside giants have reportedly splashed out a fee of £60m to secure the Hungary international's services.

There could also be a departure in that area of the pitch for Liverpool as it has been reported that Brazilian enforcer Fabinho is closing in on a move to Saudi Arabian side Al Ittihad, whilst Bayern Munich are also interested in signing him.

It has been claimed that the Reds could be in line to receive £40m for the former AS Monaco star, which could help towards funding a possible replacement before the end of the window.

Who could replace Fabinho at Liverpool?

Klopp could forget all about Fabinho by striking a deal to sign Fulham defensive midfielder Joao Palhinha ahead of next season, following his impressive debut season in England.

The Daily Mail reported in June that it could take as much as £90m to snap up the Portugal international and it was recently claimed that Liverpool have considered the Portugal international as an option to bolster their midfield, although it remains to be seen how much they would be willing to pay for him.

Signing the former Sporting titan could improve the German head coach's squad. Palhinha averaged a Sofascore rating of 7.00 across 35 Premier League starts last term, compared to the £40m-rated warrior's score of 6.87, and caught the eye with 5.5 tackles and interceptions per game.

His 4.2 tackles per match for the Cottagers was 1.8 more than any Liverpool player in any position managed throughout the campaign and 2.4 more than Fabinho's 1.8 per outing.

Palhinha, who was dubbed "Casemiro-esque" by journalist Zach Lowy, also won more duels per clash (8.0) than the Brazil international (3.5) and came out on top in a higher percentage of his duels (59% to 50%).

This suggests that the 28-year-old monster would be an upgrade in terms of his ability to win battles and regain possession for his side on a regular basis.

In fact, the Fulham colossus ranks in the top 1% of his positional peers across the Men's Big Five Leagues and European competitions for tackles made per 90 (4.26) over the last 365 days – three percentiles higher than Manchester United's Casemiro – which shows that he has been one of the best ball-winning midfielders at the top level since his arrival in England.

His instant adaptation to Premier League football was impressive and his form suggests that he could come in as a significant upgrade on Fabinho, based on the monstrous enforcer's average performance level and defensive contributions each game in comparison to the current Liverpool man.

Therefore, Klopp could forget about the Brazilian midfielder and sanction the move to Al Ittihad with no concerns about the state of his squad by signing Palhinha to fill that role within the team.

Former United States international Clinton Dempsey went on an insane freestyle rap reminiscent of Eminem at CBS Sports’ Destination Miami set.

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Dempsey wows studio with freestyle rapBlows away Richards, Carragher, and HenryPokes fun at CBS Sports host AbdoGettyWHAT HAPPENED?

On CBS Sports’ Destination Miami set, former Fulham and Tottenham player Dempsey went on an Eminem-like rap in front of the likes of Jamie Carragher, Thierry Henry, Micah Richards, and host Kate Abdo.

Right at the end of his improvisation, he poked fun at Abdo before walking off set, much to the amusement of the watching crowd and the rest of the panel.

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Outside of a distinguished career in football, where he also played 141 times for the US, Dempsey has a passion for hip hop music. In 2006, the Houston-born player, who had the nickname of Deuce, teamed up with Nike and along with fellow Texan rappers Big Hawk and XO, they released the song 'Don't Tread'. It was used as part of the company's advertising campaign for the 2006 World Cup.

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Getty ImagesWHAT NEXT FOR DEMPSEY?

Dempsey is likely to be back in action for CBS Sports when the Champions League returns on December 12.