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Tottenham Hotspur are looking to secure a deal to bring Bologna defender Takehiro Tomiyasu to the club as they aim to complete their first signing under Nuno Espirito Santo.

What’s the story?

According to well-known journalist and transfer expert Fabrizio Romano, Spurs have ma the Italian outfit, although negotiations are still ongoing.

He tweeted: “Tottenham are still working on Takehiro Tomiyasu deal. Opening bid around €18m [add ons included] to Bologna still on the table, price tag around €20/25m. Negotiations ongoing. Tomiyasu wants to join Spurs.”

Italian outlet Tuttosport (as reported by Sport Witness), provided an update on the situation following Romano’s tweet, claiming that the north London outfit must raise their offer by €2m to make it a new total of around €20m (£17.1m), in order to meet Bologna’s valuation.

Nuno will surely be buzzing

Espirito Santo will be looking to make some key additions to his first-team squad this summer after the capital club finished a hugely disappointing 2020/21 campaign in seventh position.

Several stars have been linked with a move to the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium in recent weeks, but it’s 22-year-old centre-back Tomiyasu who appears to be the closest to signing on the dotted line.

At first glance, the Japan international appears to be an extremely astute purchase, should chairman Daniel Levy get this deal over the line.

He’s comfortable playing at right-back as well as at the heart of the defence, and his versatility will be a very useful asset, given that Espirito Santo showed at Wolves that he often likes to switch between a back four and a back five.

A current teammate of Tomiyasu’s at Bologna, Mitchell Dijks, lauded the youngster back in 2019 saying: “He is very strong, a real Japanese warrior,” after a string of impressive displays.

Since then, the former Sint-Truiden ace has gone from strength to strength. He made 1.5 tackles per league game last term, 1.7 interceptions and 3.3 clearances, placing him in the top three compared to his teammates for each metric.

Therefore, news that Spurs aren’t far away from agreeing on terms for Tomiyasu with his current club will surely leave Espirito Santo buzzing.

He would be a quality first addition to the Portuguese tactician’s reign, and give him a solid base to build from at Tottenham.

And, in other news…Nuno could find his next Jimenez with Spurs swoop for £25m beast who lit up Euro 2020 

PAKISTAN made a clean sweep of both the Test and the One-day internationals against Zimbabwe and the margins were emphatic

Omar Kureishi04-Dec-2002PAKISTAN made a clean sweep of both the Test and the One-day internationals against Zimbabwe and the margins were emphatic. This should put the team in the right frame of mind for the sterner Tests ahead. But in every department, Pakistan showed discipline, the most heartening being fielding. Zimbabwe provided only modest opposition but this should not detract from Pakistan’s performance.There could have been the temptation to get complacent or treat some of the matches as picnic-outings. But the temptation was resisted. Pakistan will need this same positive attitude in South Africa.The inclusion of Abdul Razzaq will strengthen the team further though it will be a hard choice between Kamran Akmal and Rashid Latif. Kamran Akmal did not do anything wrong behind the stumps and he is a useful batsman. Rashid Latif is the more experienced. It’s good to know that we have a choice.The batsmen are in form and it was good to see Saleem Elahi make back to back centuries and Faisal Iqbal seize the first chance he got and make a hundred. Inzamamul Haq did not get too many chances to bat but he seems to be in good nick though he’s been out to careless shots and he needs to watch this. Yusuf Youhana is in devastating form and the lay-off seems to have done him good. He’s not giving his wicket away after doing all the hard work.The bowling is sharp and I was glad to see Mohammad Zahid back in action. He was understandably nervous but he should enjoy bowling on the bouncier tracks of South Africa. He could profit from some sessions with a bowling coach but in the absence of one, there seems to be no reason why someone like Wasim Akram can’t take him in hand and get him to pitch the ball in the right spot more consistently. He is a natural fast bowler in the Glenn McGrath mould and he needs to aim for the same metronomic accuracy. He should try for line and length with pace as a bonus. The point is that we should persevere with him.Shoaib Akhtar is skating on thin ice. He was reprimanded for scratching the ball by the match-referee, Clive Lloyd, and has been fined and given an one-match suspension for making gestures to the crowd and throwing a bottle into the stands. One expects a fast bowler to be aggressive and be a bit of a ‘character’. But he’s got to learn how to handle his celebrity.The fact that he is one of the fastest bowlers in the game does not provide him with a licence to behave like a spoilt brat. He is one of our most valuable players but we need him to be focused. He needs to be told in no uncertain terms that he is a cog in a wheel, not the wheel. As I wrote earlier, he is going to be watched very carefully and what was sauce for the goose in Zimbabwe will not be sauce for the gander in South Africa and in the World Cup.He is going to be one of our key players. He needs to be mindful of this. Besides, this tomfoolery is not doing his bowling any good. I heard Jeff Thompson refer to himself as a “quiet assassin”, when he was asked whether he used to sledge or stare down at batsmen. And he was quicker than Shoaib Akhtar and an Australian to boot.The main interest on the third day of the Perth Test match was whether Australia could wrap it up and this Australia duly did, a classical clinical job against hapless England. There was an object lesson for other captains for the way that Steve Waugh came up the game-plan.Turning his fast bowlers loose from one end and using Shane Warne to bottle up the other end. It was a simple game-plan. The Ashes have been retained. There was never any doubt about this. But there is even greater pressure on England. The prospect of whitewash is looming. And the knives are out for Nasser Hussain.There was a time when Nasser could do nothing wrong. Now he seems to do nothing right. Messrs Botham, Gower, Allott and Bob Willis, the television commentators, seemed to be operating with a script. When he gave the new ball to Silverwood rather than Harmison, they went on and on that Nasser had sinned gravely. Thereafter, his every field placing was criticised. That, I suppose, is the price one has to pay to be a losing captain.Wisdom comes from hindsight. When these gentlemen were themselves captaining England or playing, surely they made mistakes. It is when these players have retired and become TV experts, that they become infallible. Nasser is doing the best he can. He can hardly be held responsible if player after player gets unfit. We need to bring some perspective into criticism.But the most important fact is that Australia is the better team. There is nothing Nasser can do about it. There’s no point in whining and looking for scapegoats. The Australians are on a roll. Pakistan know exactly what England must be feeling. We’ve been there but we did not panic. That’s what England have to do, grin and bear it and wait for another time.

National selector Calvin Hope has defended the inclusion of a recuperating Sulieman Benn in the final Barbados cricket trial match at the Windward Ground last weekend

Ezra Stuart28-Dec-2002National selector Calvin Hope has defended the inclusion of a recuperating Sulieman Benn in the final Barbados cricket trial match at the Windward Ground last weekend.Benn, who injured his knee at a social event on Independence Day [November 30], was limping on Thursday’s opening day when he delivered just six overs and had to leave the field minutes after bowling his first over.After his short spell on Thursday, he did not take any further part in the match, remaining in the pavilion on the last two days, a suggestion to spectators at the Lucas Street ground that he was still not back to full fitness.But Hope revealed at a Press conference on Monday that the Barbados Cricket Association’s (BCA) board of management had cleared Benn after initially informing the selectors that he was not eligible for selection when they first put him into a counselling programme."The board of management of the BCA informed the selectors that Sulieman Benn was ready. That is it. We didn’t have to receive the report [on Benn]."It is the BCA board of management’s report," he said."As selectors, our business is to find out who is available. We don’t necessarily have to review the report on Mr Benn. It is the BCA board of management’s decision," added Hope."It was the BCA board of management who withdrew an invitation to Sulieman Benn to participate in the preparation for the regional tournament, not the selectors."The selectors had a communication regarding Sulieman Benn’s fitness status and that informed the selectors that Benn was fit. That was a communication from a medical doctor which led to Sulieman Benn playing [in the final trial match]."This is nothing to do with the counselling part. This is to do with the injury … but we did ask and we did review whether he was injured or not but that was the information that came forward, so he was selected."But it seems as though the rigours of, and you know his type of bowling, his big jump, seemed to have irritated the ligaments," Hope said.Benn has been named in the West Indies’ provisional 30-member squad for the 2003 World Cup in South Africa and will be considered for selection to the final squad of 15 by the regional selectors, now that the BCA has readmitted him to their training programme.

Leeds United have been linked with a move for Sampdoria winger Mikkel Damsgaard after a string of impressive displays at Euro 2020.

What’s the story?

According to Italian outlet Calcio Mercato (as reported by the Yorkshire Evening Post), the Whites have joined several other Premier League sides in the race for the 21-year-old’s signature.

The likes of Leicester City, Liverpool and Tottenham Hotspur have also been credited with an interest in Damsgaard, who reportedly has a £34 million price tag.

The next Raphinha

TV2’s football expert Martin Mikkelsen labeled him “magical” during commentary back in January this year, and the youngster has gone from strength to strength ever since.

Since making the move from his homeland 12 months ago, Damsgaard has established himself as one of the most promising young talents in European football.

After bagging two goals and laying on four assists in 35 Serie A appearances last term, the Denmark international played a pivotal part in his country’s run to the semi-finals of the European Championship.

Two goals and one assist in five games for Kasper Hjulmand’s men seemingly caught the eye of several of the continent’s top clubs, and it seems as though Marcelo Bielsa is Damsgaard’s latest admirer.

No categories

The Leeds manager has achieved impressive results at Elland Road over the last few seasons with flying wingers occupying the flanks in West Yorkshire.

Brazilian wide man Raphinha took the Premier League by storm in 2020/21, excelling under the reign of Bielsa, and Damsgaard could be the next flying forward to benefit from the enigmatic tacticians tutelage.

A ninth-placed finish on their return to the top-flight was a magnificent achievement for Leeds, but the addition of the Scandinavian talent could propel them further up the table.

Damsgaard’s proposed arrival would see him lineup alongside the likes ofRaphinha and Patrick Bamford in the Elland Road outfit’s forward line, and that’s an attack that would strike fear into any Premier League defence.

And, in other news…Bye-bye Costa: Bielsa could sign Leeds’ new Harry Kewell in “magnificent” £20k-p/w gem 

An update has emerged regarding Newcastle’s interest in Valentino Lazaro.

What’s the talk?

According to Gazzetta dello Sport, as transcribed by Sport Witness, Newcastle are weighing up a permanent swoop for Valentino Lazaro. The report claims that the midfielder, who was signed by Inter for £20.16m in 2019, is in talks over a return to Tyneside.

Lazaro spent time on loan at Newcastle in the second half of the 2019/20 campaign as Steve Bruce’s side finished 13th in the Premier League.

Facing error

Mike Ashley risks making a heinous error over Lazaro and must opt against bringing the 25-year-old back to the club ahead of next season. The Inter flop was dismal during his time on loan at St James’ Park and has not done enough since that spell to suggest that he would be able to make an impact this time around. Therefore, Ashley must pull out of any negotiations and look elsewhere in the market to bolster Steve Bruce’s squad.

Lazaro averaged a WhoScored rating of 6.21 in 13 Premier League appearances in 2020, averaging only 1.2 tackles and interceptions and 0.2 aerial battles won per game despite playing in defence and in midfield. This suggests that he was not physically able to compete in England and that he was unable to truly demonstrate any qualities he might have on the ball.

Former Liverpool defender Phil Thompson berated Lazaro during his time in England, criticising a  “horror showing” from the Austrian against Arsenal in February 2020.

The pundit told Sky Sports, via Chronicle Live: “His body shape was all wrong when you are defending in there.

“[After watching Bukayo Saka nutmeg Lazaro] Do I feel sorry for players like that?

“He is giving him the opportunity because he is so square on. He doesn’t jockey him or show him the line, he literally gave him the opportunity to do that for him.

“It was a horror showing.”

Has anything changed in the subsequent 12 months? Lazaro spent the 2020/21 campaign on loan at Borussia Monchengladbach in Germany and there was a slight improvement. He averaged a WhoScored rating of 6.52 in the Bundesliga across 22 appearances, which is still disappointing despite being an increase on what he managed in England.

Lazaro could easily flop at Newcastle again if the club decide to bring him back for round two this summer. They must avoid signing him from Inter and should scour the globe to find targets who may have a greater chance of succeeding in black and white in the Premier League, as Lazaro has already shown that he is not up to the requisite standard.

AND in other news, Get it done: NUFC could land bargain £4m deal for “powerhouse”, Bruce would love it…

Cambridge took the honours in the annual Varsity match at Lord’s, completing a comprehensive 47-run victory against Oxford

Cricinfo staff17-Jun-2008
ScorecardCambridge took the honours in the annual Varsity match at Lord’s, completing a comprehensive 47-run victory against Oxford. They were given a flying start by their opening pair of Akbar Ansari and Richard Timms, who added 138, and a target of 287 proved too much for Oxford after a sluggish start to the chase.While Ansari and Timms scored at a brisk rate after Cambridge had been put into bat, they were also gifted the advantage by some wayward bowling. Oxford sent down a total of 42 wides, 30 of them coming in the first 20 overs.At 224 for 2, Cambridge were set for an even more daunting target but the middle order fell away as they tried to accelerate with six wickets falling for 50.Oxford made a solid start to the chase, but struggled to keep up with the required rate. The pressure told as wickets fell steadily and at 107 for 4, Cambridge had a grip on the match. N Kruger did his best to keep Oxford in the contest, with 81 off 71 balls, while R Haslam hit six boundaries in his 38-ball 43, however it proved too much of an ask. Fergus Baker, although being a touch expensive, claimed four important wickets to help Cambridge seal the victory.

Andrew Strauss could not have timed his return to the ascendancy any better

Andrew Miller at Lord's08-Jul-2008
Andrew Strauss: back in the runs ahead of the South Africa series © Getty Images
Andrew Strauss could not have timed his return to the ascendancy any better. Barely six months ago, his international future was in doubt following his axing for England’s tour of Sri Lanka, and even when he was recalled for the New Zealand series in March, it wasn’t until his gritty 177 in the final innings at Napier that he finally re-established his England credentials. Now however, on the eve of his 50th Test cap, he is right back where he started. Confident and settled at the top of the order, and ready to live up to the colossal reputation that he forged on his very first England tour four winters ago.Strauss’s tour of South Africa in 2004-05 was an unmitigated triumph. Not only did he score 656 runs in the five-Test series – the most overseas by an Englishman since Dennis Amiss in the Caribbean in 1973-74 – he top-scored in six of England’s first seven innings of the tour, and scored three centuries and an unbeaten 94 to secure a memorable 2-1 series win.Over the weekend, Strauss reacquainted himself with the South African challenge by turning out for Middlesex in their final warm-up match at Uxbridge. He made a composed 29 before gloving Morne Morkel’s sixth delivery down the leg-side to be caught by Mark Boucher, but afterwards he insisted that the experience had been hugely beneficial.”I was keen to play because there were a lot more benefits than possible negatives,” said Strauss. “By the looks of things they’ve started the tour well, most of their batsmen have got runs and their bowlers got a run-out, but from my point of view it was fantastic to have an opportunity to face them before the Test series, and start formulating gameplans for individual bowlers.”The experience gave Strauss’s memory-banks a pleasant nudge as well, although he was keen not to hark back too fondly on his previous duels with South Africa’s bowlers. “I started remembering how [Makhaya] Ntini bowled at me previously, and Steyn to a certain extent, so you do have memories, but it can be unhelpful to look back too much. I’ve changed as a batsman, and they’ve changed as bowlers, so you’ve got take them at face value a little bit.”I think I’m more rounded as a player,” said Strauss. “In the last series I was in great form, but I looked back on the footage recently, and thought that, technically, I looked awful. Technique is not the be-all and end-all by any stretch, but I’m more experienced now, I’ve had to contend with more things [in my career], and I’m keener now if I’m in form to make the most of it.”South Africa’s pacemen will be equally keen to make sure his stays in the middle are as short as possible. Strauss, however, believes that the quicker they come, the faster they go, and having had a taster at Uxbridge, he’s relishing the chance to put bat on ball at Lord’s.”Both Steyn and Morkel were slippery, there’s no doubt about it, but that’s what we expect,” said Strauss. “More pace on the ball provides more opportunities as well, because you need less of a bat on it for it to go to the boundary. If they bowl well it’s going to be hard work, but if they are slightly off line, there may well be more opportunities to score than against, say, the New Zealand bowlers who were very disciplined without so much pace.”Steyn’s got a pretty slippery bouncer, so I’m sure he’ll bowl a few of those in the coming weeks, but they are very different types of bowlers, and it’s important not to leave out Ntini, who’s a decent bowler in his own right. But it’s easy to get too focussed on the pace aspect, more crucial is how good a bowler are they. That’s what we’ll find out in next few days and weeks.”It promises to be a high-octane contest, and Strauss was clearly eager to get stuck into the series, especially after such a long-drawn-out battle against the unglamorous New Zealanders. “That series tested us in a very different way,” he said. “That attritional type of cricket is harder to play in many ways, because you’re fighting with yourself a lot of the time. Against South Africa you’re pitting yourself against the opposition a lot more, they are trying to bowl you out, you’re trying to not give an inch in your own right, and it’s all there, clear in front of you, what you have to do.”It’s about getting in the right frame of mind to do that,” said Strauss. “We need to be aware of the type of cricket we need to play, and how they are going to play against us. Every international side has its different character traits, and South Africa play positive and aggressive, attacking cricket. A lot of guys haven’t played them before, but we’ve got quite a lot of experience in the dressing-room, and we’ve got to get ourselves mentally attuned.”Strauss was born in Johannesburg, but left South Africa as a child and has few memories of life on the Highveld. He did not see his background as being a major talking-point for the series, especially given the higher profile of one of his team-mates. “It’s a very important series, and one I’m switched on for, simply because they are a good side,” said Strauss. “I’ve not got any special affinity with South Africa because I was born there. Besides, I think they are more sidetracked by Mr Pietersen. I’ve slipped under the radar.”

West Brom are reportedly interested in signing Aston Villa midfielder Conor Hourihane this summer.

The Lowdown: Lack of playing time for Hourihane

Villa enjoyed an impressive 2020/21 season in the Premier League as they finished 11th, but Hourihane was a peripheral figure throughout the campaign.

The 26-cap Republic of Ireland international made just three league starts for the club and was loaned out to Swansea City in the January transfer window.

The Latest: West Brom linked with Hourihane

An exit may be on the cards this summer, and according to The Athletic, West Brom are keen on signing Hourihane, with Sheffield United also seen as potential suitors.

While a number of clubs are believed to be interested in acquiring the 30-year-old’s signature, the Baggies are one of the few who could afford him given his £42,000-a-week wages.

The Verdict: Shrewd addition by Ismael

Hourihane could be an excellent signing by Valerien Ismael, adding experience and quality to West Brom’s midfield.

The Irishman has 145 Championship appearances to his name, scoring 30 goals and registering 31 assists in that time in highlighting the end product he possesses. During his time on loan at Swansea last term, their manager Steve Cooper lauded the Irishman as “a real focused professional” who had been “so impressive from the day he’s come through the door” (Irish Independent).

At 30, Hourihane still has a few years left in him at a high level, and he is a player who could stand out in the second tier if West Brom were to offer him a new lease of life in the Midlands.

In other news, West Brom have been dealt a blow in their quest to sign one player this summer. Find out who it is here.

Media reports confirming a four-nation Twenty20 tournament in Toronto, involving hosts Canada, Bangladesh, Pakistan and West Indies in August, are premature, according to sources inside Canada

Cricinfo staff12-Jul-2008Media reports confirming a four-nation Twenty20 tournament in Toronto, involving hosts Canada, Bangladesh, Pakistan and West Indies in August, are premature, according to sources inside Canada.”There were some teething problems initially but now everything is going according to plan,” Noman Nabi, chairman of Sports International Marketing – the company staging the August 14-17 tournament – told the earlier this week. Nabi added packed stadiums were expected for the event, with approximately 12,000 spectators expected for each game.The tournament faced major hiccups last month when the original organisers backed out. “We only came in the picture last month and signed an MoU with the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) in mid-June,” Nabi said. He said they had signed an MoU with the Bangladesh Cricket Board while all terms and conditions have been verbally agreed with the top officials of Cricket Canada.”They [Cricket Canada] have assured us that they would soon confirm the participation of the West Indies in the tournament,” he said. Noman said there was a delay in confirming the four-day event as Cricket Canada were a “bit apprehensive” about the venture after the earlier organisers backed out.”The PCB has been very supportive,” he said. “The tournament is aimed at building Pakistan’s image in Canada because a successful Twenty20 tournament will help revive cricket in that country.”Canada has a big Pakistani community and since the event will begin on August 14 we believe it would be a perfect time to celebrate [Pakistan’s] Independence Day there.”

As per The Daily Record, Connor Goldson has agreed to sign a three-year deal to stay at Glasgow Rangers.

The Lowdown: Goldson future up in the air

The defender’s deal was set to run out at the end of the 2021/22 campaign (Transfermarkt), and for a while it may have been doubted whether he would put pen to paper on a new contract.

It was also reported that West Ham United were interested in signing the 28-year-old (Football Insider), but now there has been an update on the former Brighton man’s future in Glasgow.

The Latest: Goldson agrees new deal

As reported by The Daily Record, the Scottish champions have been handed a major boost with regards to Goldson.

The centre-back has agreed a new deal with the club which will extend his stay at Ibrox for another three years following several days of talks with sporting director Ross Wilson.

The Verdict: Huge boost

With the Gers closing in on the start of an important new season, uncertainty over the future of Goldson was a cloud over their preparations. While this news has not yet been formally announced by the club, it will come a huge boost for Steven Gerrard if there are no late hitches – the manager called the 28-year-old “immense” earlier this year (via The Scottish Sun).

The £6.75m-valued defender (Transfermarkt) was a rock at the heart of the Rangers backline last term as the they won the Premiership for the first time in 10 years. He played every single minute of every single game in all competitions as the Gers were defeated just three times, including once on penalties (Sky Sports).

In the league, Rangers conceded just 13 goals (thefishy.co.uk), illustrating his importance to the side. As the Gers attempt to defend their title and also qualify for the Champions League group stage, having Goldson’s future secured is exactly what they would have wanted.

In other news, this Rangers ace has revealed he is flattered by interest from one Premier League club.