Fabrizio Romano expects both Tyler Adams and Brenden Aaronson to leave Leeds United this summer as the club prepares for life in the Championship.

Are Adams and Aaronson leaving?

Following a return to the Championship, a delayed takeover and a month-long wait for a new manager, there is not much to smile about at Elland Road at the moment.

The club's three-year Premier League journey ended in bitter disappointment last campaign, and with a chaotic beginning to their Championship return, Leeds fans will be hoping they don't have to wait another 16 years to make it back into England's top-flight.

To pile on the misery for Leeds supporters, two of the clubs biggest players are now expected to leave, with Adams and Aaronson both heading for the exit door in Yorkshire.

That is according to journalist Romano, who is expecting both United States internationals to move onto bigger and better things in the summer transfer market.

Speaking on his Here We Go podcast, he said: "I would say for Tyler Adams and Aaronson I expect both of them to be on the move this summer.

"For Tyler Adams there is a lot of interest in the Premier League. It's true that two, three clubs in the Premier League are tracking this possibility, so I think it's going to be busy around Adams in the next weeks, and same for Aaronson.

"So, there is really a lot of interest and I see both of them leaving Leeds this summer."

Having only arrived last summer for approximately £25m from RB Salzburg, Aaronson didn't quite make the impression he would have liked in the Premier League. The 22-year-old only managed one goal in 36 Premier League appearances and that came against Chelsea in just the third week of the season.

Romano has suggested that Aaronson is on his way to Union Berlin in the Bundesliga on loan, with Leeds being forced to allow the move due to a relegation clause in the attacking-midfielder's contract.

Meanwhile, Adams has reportedly told Leeds of his desire to leave Elland Road, with the holding midfielder's impressive performances last season making him an attractive prospect to a lot of clubs. Aston Villa are one of the clubs leading the way for his signature.

The 24-year-old made 24 Premier League appearances for the Whites last term, but missed 12 games at the end of the season due to a hamstring injury. His defensive solidity was sorely missed, with Leeds conceding four or more goals in five separate games during his absence.

Who else could leave Leeds?

There are understandably a plethora of names linked with an exit from Elland Road, with an exodus of talent normally expected post-relegation.

Roma are reportedly interested in taking two Leeds players to Italy, with Diego Llorente and Rasmus Kristensen both angling for a Serie A moves.

Explosive forward Wilfried Gnonto is also expected to depart, with Everton and Aston Villa holding an interest in the Italian speedster. He would reportedly be available for around the £21m mark.

Another exciting forward in the form of Crysencio Summerville has told Leeds that he wishes to leave the club, with Everton again said to be eyeing up the young Dutch winger.

One transfer that has been confirmed is Tyler Roberts' move to Birmingham City, with the Blues set to pay much less than the reported £750,000 fee that had been rumoured according to BirminghamLive.

Former Australia fast bowler Mitchell Johnson believes relations between players and Cricket Australia will take a long time to heal after difficult negotiations over the MoU

Daniel Brettig19-Jul-20173:46

What exactly is the Cricket Australia-ACA pay dispute?

Negotiations between Cricket Australia and the Australian Cricketers’ Association are continuing at a snail’s pace but the damage has already been done, the former Test paceman Mitchell Johnson has said.Talks between the two warring parties – including the chief executives James Sutherland and Alistair Nicholson – resumed in Melbourne on Wednesday with time fast running out to avoid major dislocation to the game, both in terms of commercial deals with sponsors and broadcasters, and also the Bangladesh tour in August.While discussions are now taking place on the sort of level that should lead to an eventual resolution, little movement is discernible from CA’s strong desire to end the fixed revenue percentage models at the core of past collective agreements, and likewise the ACA’s intent to keep the model in place. Johnson, who retired from the international game in 2015, said relationships would take a long time to heal whatever the outcome.”It’s been pretty disappointing and once it’s all dealt with, the player and CA relationship is going to be a struggle … it’s going to be very ordinary,” Johnson said in Sydney. “Even if it gets sorted, the damage has already been done. There’s been personal insults about the players being greedy. That’s not the case.”The relationship is going to have to build again. The last time I felt this way – not to this extent – was the Argus Review [in 2011]. That was the last time we had a little bit of trouble between the players and CA.””If we lose this battle as players, does then the ACA start getting their legs chopped from underneath them and the players lose the ACA?” – Mitchell Johnson•Getty Images

Commercial pressure is mounting in terms of players looking at signing deals with sponsors competing against CA’s major corporate partners. It has been reported that both Usman Khawaja and Steven Smith are close to signing deals with Mercedes to follow on from Mitchell Starc’s newly unveiled contract with an Audi dealership in western Sydney. The ACA’s commercial manager, Tim Cruickshank, is currently in India for talks about the collective intellectual property passed on from CA to the players’ commercial arm, the Cricketers’ Brand, when the most recent MoU expired on July 1.”The players have fought so hard, the ACA, for the last 19 years, and got this model that we have in a really good place, and other things as well,” Johnson said. “From the CA point of view, I know David Peever, ex-Rio Tinto … no unions. So that is the thing that concerns me a lot. If we lose this battle as players, does then the ACA start getting their legs chopped from underneath them and the players lose the ACA?”That is the scary thing from my point of view. Cricket will still go on but I don’t know what sort of input the players will have in the future. I saw Nathan Lyon this morning and I think he’s as disappointed as everyone. The way it has been dealt with in the media, it probably should have been more of a private matter … it could have been dealt with very differently.”Speaking at the launch of a new app called BowlFit for young fast bowlers, Johnson also said England’s recent loss to South Africa at Trent Bridge would place doubts in the minds of the team led by Joe Root ahead of a likely pace-based Australian assault in the forthcoming Ashes series.”They’ve got a few issues to sort out,” Johnson said. “It’s only one game but it’s the way they got beaten that you see the score line. Joe Root being a new captain; they’ll try and put a bit of pressure on him to see how he handles it. Australia are a huge chance. It’ll be a great series but there are some scars there as well.”You want to be consistent and they probably haven’t got that consistency at the moment. It’s going to be hard for them now because they have been beaten, there’s pressure on them. I don’t care too much about England to be honest. I don’t care what they bring as long as it’s a good contest.”Another area Johnson found intriguing was the selection of Gary Ballance at No. 3, though a finger fracture has ruled him out of the next Test against South Africa. “England have Gary Ballance at No.3 and when you’re at No.3, you’re meant to be one of the best players in the team, if not the best,” Johnson said. “I don’t think he is.”If you’re a bowler and you see Gary Ballance at No.3, then you actually get a lot of confidence from that. Australia would have a lot of confidence. They [England] have changed their team a little bit over the past. They’re trying to find the right squad. It’s getting close to an Ashes series, so you want to lock that in.”

Max Holden’s maiden century in only his sixth first-class game left Durham kicking themselves for dropping him twice early on the second day of their Specsavers County Championship match

ECB Reporters Network03-Jun-2017
ScorecardMax Holden scored his maiden first-class hundred•Getty ImagesMax Holden’s maiden century in only his sixth first-class game left Durham kicking themselves for dropping him twice early on the second day of their Specsavers County Championship match at Chester-le-Street.Once the England Under-19 captain, on loan from Middlesex, had departed for a stoical 124, Northamptonshire lost their last three wickets on 338 and in 22 overs Durham reached 78 for 1 in their second innings, still trailing by 94.Paul Coughlin’s manful efforts to carry the depleted Durham attack earned him a maiden five-wicket haul. He had 5 for 49 in 27 overs, while fellow seamers Barry McCarthy and Gavin Main went at almost five an over.Resuming on 19, Holden survived scares from the day’s first and seventh balls. After a confident lbw appeal from McCarthy he edged Coughlin at comfortable height to second slip, where Keaton Jennings spilled the chance. Then on 27 another straightforward catch was missed by Graham Clark at point off McCarthy, but Holden knuckled down and spent 140 balls over his first 50.With conditions far more benign than on the first day, Durham were made to pay a heavy price for their lapses and three more chances went down as Holden put on 96 for the fifth wicket with Adam Rossington and 162 for the sixth with Josh Cobb.Rossington hit nine fours in his 59-ball 50 before dabbing wide of off stump at McCarthy to edge to second slip and depart for 65. He paved the way for Cobb to take advantage of Durham’s toils with some belligerent strokes in making 96 off 133 balls. Cobb hit 11 fours and a six before edging to second slip during a probing new-ball spell from Coughlin.Holden, becalmed on 85, had exasperated Paul Collingwood, who troubled the left-hander with outswingers. And it was one of those which finally found the edge to give Stuart Poynter his fourth catch, ending the 19-year-old’s 228-ball vigil. The importance of his innings was underlined by Northants losing their last five wickets for 11 runs.With much less assistance than on the first day, the visiting seamers could make little impression, although Ben Sanderson had a big lbw appeal against Stephen Cook. Badly in need of runs before joining the South African Test squad, Cook was dropped by Rory Kleinveldt at third slip on 16 off Nathan Buck.After digging in to reach 23 he took a fancy to Rob Keogh’s offspin, taking 11 off his first over, only to see Jennings stumped for 27 off Keogh’s ninth ball when he tried to paddle him to fine leg and lifted his back foot. It was a lapse from Jennings with only four overs left, but McCarthy survived as nightwatchman and Cook was on 39 at the close.

Pakistan huffed and puffed through a chase of 237 but they made it in the end thanks to the composure of their captain

The Report by Danyal Rasool12-Jun-2017
Scorecard and ball-by-ball details1:35

Agarkar: Sarfraz’s calmness crucial in guiding his side

The Champions Trophy might have been damp and lifeless on the English shores this year, but it was on a Welsh detour that it finally roared to life. In the game which had the most riding on it all tournament, Pakistan and Sri Lanka provided a spectacle befitting the magnitude of the occasion, and Pakistan sneaked across the line with a thrilling three-wicket win. But that’s only half the story. The rest centered around how madly the momentum of this game swung as two obviously flawed teams battled tooth and nail.

Pakistan fined for slow over rate

Pakistan captain Sarfraz Ahmed has been fined 20% of his match fee, while his team-mates were fined 10% of their match fees, for maintaining a slow over-rate during the match against Sri Lanka.
Pakistan were found to be one over short of their target after time allowances were taken into consideration. A second minor over-rate offence in the tournament could result in a one-match suspension for Sarfraz.
Sarfraz pleaded guilty to the offence and accepted the proposed sanction; a formal hearing was not required as a result. The charge was laid by on-field umpires Bruce Oxenford and Marais Erasmus, third umpire Chris Gaffaney and fourth umpire Ian Gould.

Qualification to the semis was the prize riding on this game that was a quarter-final in all but name, and it was clear both sides wanted it desperately. Sri Lanka started impressively but a brilliant spell midway from Mohammad Amir and Junaid Khan restricted them to 236. Pakistan made the chase look harder than it was but captain Sarfraz Ahmed and Amir were there at the end to see their side home. Though the prospect of facing England on Wednesday will be daunting, it will be the last thing on their minds right now.From the moment Pakistan’s seventh wicket fell – with 75 still to win – two antsy sides were hoping they could do just about enough to pip the other. Sri Lanka were the favourites at that point, but their fielding let them down badly. Thisara Perera dropped a sitter at mid-on in the 39th over. Substitute fielder Seekkuge Prasanna shelled another chance – albeit a more difficult one – in the 41st. And Sarfraz, the reprieved batsman, the last of the specialists, took the game away.Lasith Malinga, Sri Lanka’s great talisman, had created both chances and if this is to be his final ICC tournament, it was a cruel way to go. He watched, helplessly, as his team began to gift overthrows, and little by little, the belief as well to the Pakistan batsmen. By the time a dispirited Malinga was brought back for his final over, the fielding had disintegrated to amateurish level. Eventually, Sarfraz dabbed him over third man for the winning runs, and a shocking last half hour for the Sri Lankans met the end it deserved.Sarfraz Ahmed’s composure helped Pakistan overcome an untimely collapse•Getty Images

Before the nerves got hold of them, Pakistan were cruising. A dropped catch and a run-out opportunity in the first two overs aside, Fakhar Zaman and Azhar Ali set about their task masterfully.Fakhar, comfortable in his role as the designated aggressor up front, hit three boundaries in the third over against Malinga. He didn’t mind riding his luck at times, an outside edge burst through slips for four while a top edge flew for six, and when he was dismissed – caught at long leg – he had scored 50 off 36 and Pakistan were sitting pretty at 74 for 1 in 11.2 overs.But with this being Pakistan, there was the inevitable feeling they would take the Rolling English Road to victory. Two wickets fell quickly as Babar Azam clipped Nuwan Pradeep straight to short midwicket and Hafeez chipped one to mid-on next over. Opener Azhar Ali was done in by the extra bounce of Suranga Lakmal soon after, edging a sharp catch to first slip. Pakistan were at 110 for 4, and the game was anything but a foregone conclusion.Sri Lanka were quietly climbing into a position of ascendancy, but Pakistan almost appeared not to notice the early signs of danger. It certainly couldn’t be ignored when Shoaib Malik gloved a short ball from Malinga to the keeper. When Imad Wasim fell five balls later, Pakistan were 6 down with 100 runs still to win.Debutant Faheem Ashraf’s short-lived stay at the crease was fraught with danger as the bowlers peppered him with short deliveries, several of which caught his top edge but managed to evade the boundary riders. For all the risks he was taking on strike, he was run-out at the other end, a ricochet off the bowler’s hand finding the stumps before his bat hit the ground.There were no such errors from Pakistan with the ball though. In fact they were so good that Sri Lanka, despite dominating large parts of their innings, were bowled out well below the par score.A sensational four-over burst from Amir and Junaid ripped the heart out of the Sri Lankan middle order as they went from 161 for 3 to 167 for 7. It was superb fast bowling, evoking comparisons with some of the greats of Pakistan cricket and that it came soon after the innings’ second drinks break spoke either to some kind of strategy, or an especially rousing team talk from the captain Sarfraz. Either way, it was match-turning.Sri Lanka were setting up effectively for the final flourish, with Niroshan Dickwella and Angelo Mathews locked in a settled partnership, before Amir dismissed Mathews off the second ball of the 32nd over, the batsman dragging onto his stumps. Junaid followed up next over with a length delivery that seamed teasingly away from newcomer Dhananjaya de Silva and took his outside edge. Sarfraz then pulled off a superb reflex catch to get rid of Dickwella for 73 and Thisara was caught at slip next over. Sri Lanka’s position of strength was decimated in mere minutes.If it appeared that passage of play would be the solitary turning point of the match, Pakistan and Sri Lanka showed that when they take on each other, it is never quite that simple.

David de Gea could be on his way to Saudi Arabia in January as Al-Ettifaq are said to be plotting a move for the goalkeeper.

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De Gea available as free agentSaudi teams interested in himAl-Ettifaq are front of the queueWHAT HAPPENED?

Steven Gerrard's team are the frontrunners to sign the former Manchester United star, reports, but other teams in the Saudi Pro League are interested in snapping him up when the January transfer window opens up.

AdvertisementGetty ImagesTHE BIGGER PICTURE

De Gea has been a free agent since leaving United in the summer after 12 years with the club. He has previously been linked with a move to Saudi Arabia, with Al-Nassr reported to have offered him a contract, while MLS side Inter Miami are also said to be interested.

DID YOU KNOW?

It has been claimed that De Gea earned up to £375,000 per week at Old Trafford and expects to be paid even more than that in Saudi Arabia as the oil-rich nation has been spending big to bring famous faces to the Pro League in recent transfer windows.

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GettyWHAT NEXT FOR DE GEA?

The 33-year-old goalkeeper will likely receive a few offers as the January transfer window arrives and could be back on the field in the near future.

It says much for the progress of Bangladesh in recent years that their senior players and coaches keep being asked a very similar question: is this the biggest moment in the history of the team?That a reasonable answer to that question – whether it was asked ahead of the World Cup quarter-final in 2015, when they defeated England in a Test in Dhaka or Sri Lanka in a Test in Colombo, when they won home ODI series against Pakistan, India and South Africa, or now, when they find themselves in the semi-final of a global tournament for the first time – is “yes” confirms the impression that, as their captain Mashrafe Mortaza put it, their “graph is pretty good. We’re coming up.”While most would accept that they have enjoyed a little fortune on the way to the semi-final – rain came to their rescue against Australia – the general impression remains: Bangladesh are a growing force in international cricket. Their future looks bright.There is no doubt that India are favourites in this semi-final, though. Strong favourites. It’s not just that they have a hugely experienced batting and bowling line-up, it’s that they have a huge amount of experience of playing in such high-profile games.But as if Pakistan’s victory over England had not already exposed the folly of presumption, Bangladesh have a record that demands respect. They have produced the two highest partnerships of the tournament to date (Shakib Al Hasan and Mahmudullah added 224 for the fifth wicket against New Zealand, while Tamim Iqbal and Mushfiqur Rahim added 166 for the third wicket against England), they have recorded four of the nine highest individual scores (including three centuries) and they have won two of the last three ODIs between these sides.Most of all, they have a skillful, varied attack that, even on the fine batting surface anticipated at Edgbaston, provides Mashrafe with options.For all those reasons, Bangladesh should be a far more confident side than the one brushed aside by India in the World Cup quarter-final. Now they know they can win big games and fight back from tough positions. Now they know they belong at this level. India, Mashrafe said, are going to find a “changed” opponent.”Winning against England [in the 2015 World Cup] helped us a lot. We lost our next match, against New Zealand in New Zealand, but on a tough wicket we scored almost 300 and the team took a boost from that.”After that, we beat Pakistan, India and South Africa. Yes, it was at home, but we gained more self-respect by beating those sort of teams.”So this team has changed. Over the last two or three years, we’ve changed a lot, especially in the dressing rooms. Now we play with freedom. The coaches support the players and don’t drop them. These sort of things actually change teams.”Mashrafe took particular confidence from the victory over New Zealand. With 20 overs of the New Zealand innings remaining, they were 152 for 2 with Ross Taylor and Kane Williamson well set. A total well in excess of 300 looked likely.”That’s the thing,” he explained. “We never give up. They batted really well, but we came back strongly. And once you have played at your best, you know how well you can play and things can change. I know, on our day, we can do anything.”Might the pressure of the occasion prove a burden? Mashrafe accepted his side is in uncharted territory here, but, like his coach the previous day, attempted to alleviate the burden.”It is our first time in our life in a semi-final; that is a fact,” he said. “And if you look at it as a semi-final, the pressure will be very hard. But if you think of it as just another match, the pressure will come a lot easier. And India has more pressure than us as the population is huge there and people love cricket a lot. Both teams have a lot of expectations.”For a Bangladesh team of which very little was expected not so long ago, such hopes are another sign of progress. Few would bet against this being the first of many semi-final appearances over the coming years.

Jude Bellingham has been breaking records at Real Madrid, but he admits to still “disappointing” boss Carlo Ancelotti in one area.

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• England star making a stunning impact in Spain
• Has settled quickly at Santiago Bernabeu
• Still working on breaking down language barrier

• WHAT HAPPENED?

  The England international midfielder has made a stunning impact in Spanish football on the back of his €103 million (£88m/$112m) transfer to Santiago Bernabeu from Borussia Dortmund. The talented 20-year-old, who has won the prestigious Golden Boy award for 2023, has netted 15 goals through 17 appearances this season – allowing him to better the exploits of Blancos legend Cristiano Ronaldo.

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• Getty Images
  

  WHAT BELLINGHAM SAID

  Bellingham has told of how Ancelotti is bringing the best out of him, while demanding even more on and off the pitch: “I’ve had a ferocious commitment to improving myself with hard work, but the credit goes to coach Ancelotti who has found the right position for me, giving me more freedom, so I’m flying now. However, I know I am disappointing him in one aspect.”

  Asked to reveal what that aspect is, Bellingham added: “I still don’t speak Spanish. I am sorry but I am finding obstacles I didn’t expect with this language. I admit it’s difficult for me, but I promise maximum commitment.”

• THE BIGGER PICTURE

  Bellingham, who also landed the Kopa Trophy at the recent Ballon d’Or ceremony in Paris, added on following in the footsteps of boyhood idol Wayne Rooney as the recipient of an award that recognises the best young talent on the planet: “It’s fantastic, it’s an extraordinary result. I am glad of it and I thank all the jurors who voted for me. I am the third English player to win this award after Wayne Rooney, one of my idols, in 2005 when he was at Manchester United and Raheem Sterling in 2014 when he was playing for Liverpool.”

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• Getty
  

  WHAT NEXT FOR BELLINGHAM?

  Bellingham has been nursing a shoulder injury of late, which Real are having to manage ahead of potential surgery, and he will be hoping to avoid any further setbacks heading towards what promises to be a big 2024 for him with club and country.

Callum Hudson-Odoi has still got breakout potential in the Premier League, journalist Dean Jones told FootballFanCast.

The forward, who spent last season on loan with Bundesliga side Bayer Leverkusen has recently been linked with a summer switch to Nottingham Forest.

What is the latest transfer news regarding Callum Hudson-Odoi?

According to a report from the Athletic, the Chelsea wide-man has decided to leave the club this summer.

The 22-year-old has been with the club for 14 years, having joined the club at the age of eight. However, the player understands that at this point in his career, he has to be playing regular first-team football, and he most likely will not be doing that at Stamford Bridge next season.

There are a number of clubs interested in the former England youth international, with Forest and Fulham offering potential Premier League football. Another shock move could be the reunite with former Chelsea youth products Ruben Loftus-Cheek and Fikayo Tomori at AC Milan this summer.

Whilst the London club have not yet decided on the fee they want for Hudson-Odoi, the forward only has one year remaining on his deal, so this summer represents the final chance for the club to make some money off of the forward who has a €15.00m (£12.8m) market value according to Transfermarkt.

Another report states that the club may sensationally ask the player to halve his wages in order to terminate his contract and leave him free to join any club as a free agent. New manager Mauricio Pochettino doesn't see the winger being good enough to have an impact at Chelsea next season.

Journalist Jones has said that we are still yet to see the full version of Hudson-Odoi yet.

What does Dean Jones think about Callum Hudson-Odoi?

When asked about whether Hudson-Odoi to Nottingham Forest would be a good signing, Jones was full of praise for the winger, citing the potential that he has.

The transfer insider told FootballFanCast: "I still think Hudson-Odoi has got breakout potential in this league. I mean, we've obviously seen him before, but I don't think we've seen the full version of him over a long enough period to know exactly what he would be capable of.

He's still so young, this is a player that should really be playing Champions League football right now. If he had fulfilled his potential and not had injuries."

Should Hudson-Odoi head to Nottingham Forest?

A move to Nottingham Forest could be the perfect move for Hudson-Odoi to get his career back on track.

The Premier League side finished 16th last campaign, but received many plaudits for their front-footed style of play, with players like Morgan Gibbs-White, Brennan Johnson, and Taiwo Awoniyi thriving under manager Steve Cooper.

The winger has previously worked under Cooper on the international level with the England Under 17's, where Hudson-Odoi won the under-17 World Cup in the summer of 2017, featuring as part of a squad that included names such as Marc Guehi, Phil Foden, Jadon Sancho, Angel Gomes, Emile Smith-Rowe, and current Forest star Gibbs-White.

The 22-year-old was set for stardom after breaking onto the scene under Maurizio Sarri in the 2018/19 campaign. The forward was so impressive early on in his career that German giants Bayern Munich submitted a loan offer that included the option to buy the Englishman for £70m which Chelsea rejected. However, since rupturing his Achilles Tendon, the forward has struggled to reach those heights again.

A loan move to Leverkusen was tried last season, however, one goal and one assist across 21 appearances was a very disappointing return. The forward still gave some statistical glimpses into his quality though, with his 4.71 progressive carries and 2.02 successful take-ons per 90 still impressive numbers when compared to wingers across Europe's top five leagues. There clearly is still an incredible player there, he's just waiting for the right manager and situation to showcase it.

Forest could lose Johnson to Brentford this summer according to reports, and Hudson-Odoi could be a risk worth taking to fill that void, as if he can begin to realise his potential at the City Ground, then the club may have a potential world-class player on their hands.

Rob Keogh was influential in Northants’ win [file picture]•Getty Images

Northamptonshire ended Leicestershire’s 100 per cent record in this year’s NatWest T20 Blast with a two-run Duckworth/Lewis win at Grace Road.The Foxes, batting second, had only themselves to blame, having been ahead of the D/L calculation for much of their reply after the Steelbacks had scored 165 for 8 on a hard and true pitch.Northants were indebted to a partnership of 75 between captain Alex Wakely and Rob Keogh, who came together after Richard Levi was well caught low down at deep square-leg by Dieter Klein off Gavin Griffiths for 41, leaving the score at 68 for 4 in the 10th over.But Wakely and Keogh kept the scoreboard moving, the former hitting consecutive boundaries off Klein before 21 came from the 17th over, bowled by Mat Pillans.Both bowlers came back strongly, Pillans knocking back Wakely’s leg stump as he stepped to the offside and tried to lift the ball over short fine-leg, and then Klein picking up the wickets of Steven Crook and Rory Kleinveldt with consecutive deliveries to restrict the Foxes’ target to under 170.They were given a good start by Luke Ronchi and Cameron Delport, who added 45 for the first wicket before the New Zealander steered Ben Sanderson to backward point, where Ben Duckett took a smart two-handed catch.Off-spinner Keogh bowled Delport for 30, but Mark Cosgrove, who was particularly severe on left-arm spinner Tabraiz Shamsi, hit 41 off just 26 balls to leave the Foxes in control.Leicestershire were still ahead on D/L when the Australian was bowled swinging across the line at Kleinveldt.But neither Colin Ackermann and Mark Pettini were able to get the ball to the boundary before umpires Steve O’Shaughnessy and Ian Blackwell took the players from the field, with the home team having fallen fractionally behind the required rate.

Barcelona president Joan Laporta has slammed refereeing decisions that have gone against his team in recent weeks, making a comparison to Real Madrid.

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Barca denied late penalty against Rayo Laporta insisted they receive poor treatmentAlso backed Xavi to recover after poor runWHAT HAPPENED?

Barcelona have been denied a series of penalty shouts in recent weeks, most recently seeing a late appeal for an apparent foul on Raphinha waved off in their game against Rayo Vallecano on Sunday.After that game, Xavi criticised refereeing decisions and Laporta, his outspoken club president, has also made his feelings known.

AdvertisementGettyWHAT JOAN LAPORTA SAID

Speaking at an event in Barcelona, Laporta claimed that Barca have been on the wrong end of decisions in recent weeks: "Throughout this week there has only been talk of nonsense when we should have been talking about the Rayo game and the penalty against Raphinha or the one they also gave to [Robert] Lewandowski."

Laporta also appeared to suggest that the decisions that have gone against Barca are part of a wider competitive advantage given to their rivals: "If this had happened to Madrid, I’m sure there would be talk all week… It is not about playing the victim, it’s a reality. To win we must be much better than our rivals and they make things difficult for us."

THE BIGGER PICTURE

Barca find themselves four points behind Madrid and Girona after 14 matches, and in the middle of a poor run. They have dropped points three times since early October, and a negative result or two before the Christmas break could see the Blaugrana fall out of title contention early on.

Laporta has backed coach Xavi to turn the situation around, however, saying: "We live in constant suffering. It’s a fun suffering. I was happy for Xavi, he deserves it. He had to overcome very difficult situations, with injured players."

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Getty ImagesWHAT NEXT FOR BARCELONA

The Blaugrana face Atletico Madrid on Sunday at home in La Liga. A win will thrust them back into the title race. A loss could see them slip seven points off the top, if results elsewhere don't go their way.