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Sunderland may find it difficult to keep hold of Jack Clarke this summer, with recent reports suggesting that he is attracting interest from the Premier League.

However, the Black Cats could find a potential heir to the Englishman in Villarreal winger Haissem Hassan, who has been linked with a move to the Stadium of Light ahead of the upcoming transfer window.

Could Sunderland sign Hassan?

French news outlet L'Equipe reported earlier this year that a number of sides across Europe including Sunderland and Brentford are keen to recruit the 21-year-old this summer.

The winger recently made his debut for Villarreal's first team and the report suggests that Quique Setien is ready to integrate him into the first team fully, with the expectation that he could replace key player Samuel Chukwueze in the future.

Hassan has just one year left on his contract with the Yellow Submarine so could be sold on the cheap this summer if he leaves in search of regular first-team football.

Could Hassan replace Clarke at Sunderland?

Although he has mustered just two goals and two assists in 51 appearances for the B team at Villarreal he did catch the eye on loan with CD Mirandes last season, notching three goals and six assists. Notably, the aforementioned report claims that his dribble success rate was one of the highest in Europe at the time.

This will certainly pique the interest of Sunderland as Hassan could be an ideal man to replace Clarke on the wing should he earn a move to the Premier League.

It was suggested by TEAMtalk earlier this month that the Black Cats were keen to reward the 22-year-old with a new contract at the Stadium of Light in order to fend off interest from Brentford and Crystal Palace, both of whom are said to be making regular checks on his progress.

The young winger has proven himself to be a superb signing since joining from Tottenham Hotspur and just enjoyed his finest campaign in Sunderland colours, registering an impressive nine goals and 12 assists in 47 Championship appearances, with a superb 7.11 average rating from WhoScored.

This ranked him as the second-best performer in Tony Mowbray's squad behind Ross Stewart so he is clearly a vital player for Sunderland and one they will be desperate to keep hold of as they look to mount another promotion challenge next season.

However, if he is swayed by a move to the top flight, then Hassan could prove to be a strong replacement, as the Black Cats continue their recent transfer philosophy of targeting promising youngsters, with fellow young Frenchman Edouard Michut and Pierre Ekwah joining the club this season.

Previously dubbed as a "quality" option for France's U21s by football talent scout Jacek Kulig, Hassan looks to have a lot of potential and could be another top signing for the future by Sunderland this summer.

New Zealand were pleasantly surprised to find some help for their quicks in the pitch at Eden Gardens, fast bowler Matt Henry has said

Sidharth Monga in Kolkata30-Sep-2016New Zealand were pleasantly surprised to find some help for their quicks in the pitch at Eden Gardens, fast bowler Matt Henry has said. Henry took three wickets on a day New Zealand kept India to 239 for 7. This could still be a big total given India’s spinners and the absence of Kane Williamson, but it was overall quite a satisfactory day for New Zealand considering they had lost the toss.”It was a fair wicket,” Henry said. “Obviously, coming over here you probably don’t expect conditions like that at the start of the day so we knew we had to make the most of that, especially being put in with the ball. It was always going to be tough work through that middle period when it would become a good surface. We had to find ways to put pressure on when we weren’t taking wickets and as a bowling group that is a box we ticked today.”Before they put that pressure through dry bowling, though, New Zealand had to make sure they used the pitch that would have sweated in the preceding days because of the overcast skies and the covers on it. “We knew it was important with the new ball to take advantage of it because the wicket had been under covers for a long time so that was going to be a crucial part of the game,” Henry said. “The way we went about our work today was outstanding. We knew we had to make sure we controlled the run rate because it is very tough in these conditions to take wickets.”Moving forward from there it was just important to maintain those [bowling] partnerships through the middle and make sure we could create pressure by building dots. Our spinners were outstanding today. Jeets [Jeetan Patel] and Sat [Mitchell Santner] were fantastic in allowing us to build a lot of pressure, and that manifested to what happened at the end of the day.”Patel was in England last week, not even dreaming of playing for New Zealand when an injury to Mark Craig resulted in a call-up. Henry, who hardly ever bowls badly, is not a regular in the New Zealand XI because of the surplus pace resources. He, too, was not part of the original squad, but came in only thanks to an injury to Tim Southee. For such players, keeping themselves fit and prepared is a big challenge, but New Zealand players have shown they are always prepared.Matt Henry struck with both the new balls•BCCI”I knew I had to make sure I did all my preparation,” Henry said. “I’ve still being doing a lot of training and work behind the scenes. Even not being able to play in South Africa, I was still doing a lot of work with the coaches in the nets and making sure I was ready to go if needed. We had a few warm-up games out at Lincoln, some winter training squad one-dayers to keep the loads up.”It is easier said than done, though, to retain the sunny attitude when you know your chances are not as frequent as you want them to be. “It’s never easy but it is one of those things that we have such a strong bowling group,” Henry said. “It is a good position for us to be in, you just always have to prepare to play and focus on what the team needs and what your role is going to be so if you do get called in you can do what we need to get done.”Henry was full of praise for Patel too, who took the wickets of a set Ajinkya Rahane and Rohit Sharma. “It is a tough ask coming in from England and only having a couple of days to prepare,” Henry said. “He’s obviously got a lot of experience. He brought a lot of energy in the field and experience and confidence. I thought the way he played today was exceptional, the way both spinners played in tandem. They showed a lot of control and created pressure through those tough periods where it was really hot and important we could control that run rate because we had to keep that squeeze on.”While Rahane felt this was a two-paced pitch and that 300 was a good score on it especially considering a Williamson-less New Zealand might have to bat last. Henry said his batsmen were capable of taking the game deep, just as the bowlers did. “We have a great batting line-up and obviously it is a shame not to have Kane there but I know our batsmen will [apply themselves],” he said. “It is going to be a tough day with the heat and things like that. We just have to keep playing the long game and apply it as best we can.”

Newcastle United have joined the long line of suitors for Barcelona centre-back Jules Kounde, with the France international allegedly unhappy at Camp Nou despite winning LaLiga this season.

What's the latest on Jules Kounde to Newcastle?

According to Spanish outlet AS (via Chronicle Live), Magpies manager Eddie Howe is an admirer of the dynamic defender and could look to commence a transfer bid in the coming weeks, with Barcelona asking for at least €75m (£65m) for his signature.

With reports that Kounde is disgruntled in Catalonia and seeks clarity over his future role under Xavi's tutelage after spending the majority of the campaign at right-back, Newcastle could take advantage and entice the 24-year-old into a switch to the Premier League.

Chelsea looked poised to complete a deal for the defender last summer before he completed a £50m move to La Blaugrana, but now Newcastle could prise him away after offering a central role in the club's ambitious sporting project.

How good is Jules Kounde?

The 5 foot 11 machine is a burgeoning force in European football and is a defender with genuine "world-class potential" – as lauded by talent scout Jacek Kulig – having played 38 matches across all competitions since joining Barca from Sevilla, scoring once and providing six assists.

The 19-cap Frenchman has clinched the LaLiga title to complement his Europa League success with The Red and Whites in 2019/20, but indeed played 21 matches at full-back as opposed to 17 at his preferred central deployment and could now be seeking a route out of Barcelona after just one season.

As per FBref, he ranks among the top 1% of central defenders across Europe's top five leagues for rate of assists, the top 2% for shot-creating actions and the top 2% for progressive passes per 90, though it is important to remember that he has fluctuated between central and wide defensive positions this term.

Regardless, the £226k-per-week phenom is one of the best ball-playing defenders around and has been hailed as "sensational" by analyst Marcus Bring, with one tactical report once illustrating his agility and efficacy in contributing with crisp passing during offensive transitions.

Dubbed a "warrior" by Frank Leboeuf, the one-time Bordeaux prospect could be the perfect heir to Fabian Schar's position in Howe's Tyneside team.

Schar has been transformational for the Toon this season and has been integral in securing top four, starting 36 Premier League matches.

The 31-year-old is out of contract in one year however, and while technical director Dan Ashworth might be inclined to offer him a new deal, maintaining the ascension could warrant the arrival of a gem of Kounde's ilk.

The £40k-per-week Newcastle titan ranks among the top 6% of positional peers over the past year for rate of assists, the top 2% for shot-creating actions and the top 9% for aerials won per 90, with a knack for contributing from an attacking standpoint that Kounde could replicate, as the evidence suggests.

With Newcastle seeking clarity over their future among Europe's elite, Kounde would be a "simply awesome" addition, as also described by Kulig, and Howe must complete a swoop this summer.

Glasgow Rangers ended their campaign on a high note with a final day Premiership victory, however, it will be a season Michael Beale will be aiming to move on from fairly quickly.

No trophies, just one win over Celtic in six attempts and finishing their Champions League group with zero points and just two goals scored, the worst-ever performance in the group stages indicates a terrible 2022/23 and their goalkeeping struggles throughout could be partly to blame.

Between them, Allan McGregor and Jon McLaughlin conceded 51 and 18 goals in 36 and 16 matches respectively this term and while the 41-year-old is leaving at the end of his current deal, McLaughlin still has another year left on his, yet it’s time Beale moved him on too as he was somewhat of a liability during his displays.

Following his performance against Celtic in September, where he conceded four goals, Jordan Campbell dubbed the £6.1k-per-week ‘keeper as “poor” and this summer is the ideal chance to get a potential fee for the player as Beale looks to the future.

Indeed, the Ibrox side have been linked with Ivor Pandur according to the Daily Mail and he could be an ideal replacement for the 35-year-old next term.

Could Ivor Pandur replace Jon McLaughlin at Rangers?

Robby McCrorie has impressed since taking the number slot for the final few matches of the season, keeping clean sheets in three of his four matches, and he could have the chance to stake his claim for the number one slot next season, yet Pandur could also be a solid option for Beale.

The Light Blues have sent scouts to watch his performances for Fortuna Sittard in the Eredivisie as he is currently on loan at the Dutch side from Hellas Verona.

The Croatian titan has averaged a rating of 7/10 across 31 matches as per Sofascore, while he has made 3.7 saves per game and succeeded with 100% of his run-outs. McLaughlin on the other hand has achieved a rating of just 6.69/10, making 1.4 saves per game and succeeded with 0% of his run-outs, indicating that the 23-year-old would be a much better option, particularly when it comes to sweeping up the play.

Pandur also took more touches per game than the Rangers shot stopper (46.1 to 36.2), clearly indicating that the 6 foot 2 Croat is more comfortable on the ball and Beale could utilise this to build attacks from the back.

Journalist Marco Conterio lauded him for his “excellent season” back in March and with fresh faces required at Ibrox to give the place a boost ahead of a crucial pre-season, Pandur could prove to be a solid investment.

Liverpool have been linked with a move for Bayern Munich powerhouse Leon Goretzka this summer, with the player ostensibly falling out of favour with the German giants.

According to journalist Phillip Kessler (via Bavarian Football Works), Bayern manager Thomas Tuchel is unhappy with the cohesion in the club's midfield this season, mainly the work of Goretzka alongside Joshua Kimmich, with the latter being eyed for a new role in his compatriot's No. 8 deployment.

The 28-year-old has endured one of his toughest campaigns to date with the German champions, who claimed their 11th successive Bundesliga title on a dramatic final day after Borussia Dortmund failed to win at home against Mainz.

To exacerbate Goretzka's concerns over the prominence of his role at the Allianz Arena, Bayern have completed the signing of Konrad Laimer on a free transfer from RB Leipzig, with the Austrian signing an agreement in April ahead of the expiry of his contract.

This could put Liverpool in position to swoop for the £36m-rated star, with the aforementioned report stating that Jurgen Klopp's outfit 'could be a suitor' after their own strife this season.

Should Liverpool sign Leon Goretzka?

The lion's share of targets that the Reds are being linked with of late are all exciting talents in the maiden phase of their career: Manu Kone is 22, as is Khephren Thuram; Bayern's Ryan Gravenberch is 21, while Alexis Mac Allister, soon to pen a deal with the Anfield side, is 24-years-old.

Goretzka may be older, but given the club's departees this summer – consisting of James Milner, Naby Keita and Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain – will leave the centre bereft of much of its experience and leadership, targetting a distinguished gem such as the one-time Schalke star might not be an inauspicious move.

And Goretzka has pedigree in abundance; signing for Bayern in 2018, the £301k-per-week phenom has made 179 appearances, scoring 34 goals and supplying 35 assists, and won five Bundesliga titles, two DFB Pokal trophies and the Champions League.

This season, despite retaining the league, Die Roten have not looked at their imperious best and Goretzka only found a starting berth in the Bundesliga on 22 occasions, with his seasonal rating of 6.89 – via WhoScored – the lowest it has been in the German top-flight since 2014/15

The 50-cap Germany international does fit the mould of the kind of central sensation the Reds need after falling by the wayside this year, and he draws similarities to Jude Bellingham, who was Klopp's prime summer transfer target before the club ceded ground for Real Madrid to tie up a deal after concerns over the exorbitant price of such a deal, as per Sky Sports.

The Borussia Dortmund prodigy is one of the most coveted talents in the world, and ranks among the top 1% of midfielders across Europe's top five leagues over the past year for rate of non-penalty goals, the top 8% for progressive carries, the top 1% for successful take-ons and the top 8% for blocks per 90, as per FBref.

Goretzka, who is a comparable player to the 19-year-old on FBref, ranks among the top 12% of positional peers for rate of non-penalty goals, the top 5% for rate of assists, the top 23% for progressive carries, the top 3% for blocks and the top 8% for aerials won per 90.

Praised for being as "cold as ice" by teammate Manuel Neuer, Goretzka could bring the cool composure and iron-clad resolve that the Merseyside outfit has been yearning for this season, and Klopp might just look to swoop for the monstrous midfielder as he melds youthful exuberance with tried-and-tested mettle this summer.

Darren Bravo and Kraigg Brathwaite found runs off the pink ball on the second day of the West Indians’ tour game against the PCB Patrons XI

ESPNcricinfo staff08-Oct-2016
Scorecard and ball-by-ball detailsKraigg Brathwaite scored 55 off 131 deliveries•AFPDarren Bravo and Kraigg Brathwaite found some form with the bat on the second day of the West Indians’ tour game against the PCB Patrons XI. Both batsmen struck fifties and shared an 82-run partnership for the second wicket as the West Indians ended the day on 174 for 2 in response to the PCB Patrons XI’s score of 308.Bravo was unbeaten at stumps on 73 off 178 deliveries, having anchored the side through his partnerships with Brathwaite and Shai Hope (58 for the third wicket). He struck 12 fours and two sixes, while Brathwaite, who scored 55 off 131 deliveries, struck four fours before he was dismissed. Leon Johnson was the only other West Indian batsman to be dismissed on the day, falling to Ahmed Jamal for 11.Earlier, PCB Patrons XI resumed from an overnight score of 241 for 5 and went on to hit 67 runs off nearly 14 overs before being bowled out for 308. Adnan Akmal, who was unbeaten on 26 overnight, took the lead, scoring 69 off 67 balls with 10 fours. He had support from Asif Zakir as the pair stretched their overnight partnership of 34 runs to 85 before the stand was broken by Devendra Bishoo. The pair scored at a rate of 4.81 and were eventually dismissed in successive overs with the total close to 300. Bishoo, who had taken three wickets on the first day, completed his five-for and conceded 107 runs, while Holder took the remaining three wickets on the second day.

New South Wales Women continued their dominance of the WNCL as they clinched their 18th title in the competition’s 21-season history

ESPNcricinfo staff03-Dec-2016
Scorecard and ball-by-ball detailsNew South Wales regained the WNCL title after falling short in the final last year•Getty ImagesNew South Wales women defeated Queensland women by nine wickets in the final of the Women’s National Cricket League in Brisbane to put behind last year’s runner-up finish and clinch their 18th title in 21 seasons of the tournament.Queensland’s decision to bat first backfired as NSW’s bowlers, led by Rene Farrell, the right-arm pacer, hunted in a pack to bowl them out for 119 in 41.1 overs at the Allan Border Field. NSW then reached the target with 156 balls to spare courtesy wicketkeeper Alyssa Healy’s unbeaten 56 and her unbroken second-wicket partnership of 78 with her captain Alex Blackwell (36*).The tone for Queensland’s collapse was set early with opener Beth Mooney’s dismissal by Farrell off the first ball of the match. Farrell then removed Jess Jonassen, who had struck 21 of the 27 runs her team had made, before Farrell struck a third time in the ninth over to leave Queensland tottering at 40 for 4. Delissa Kimmince, the Queensland captain, then steadied the innings with a 53-run partnership for the fifth wicket with Jemma Barsby. Kimmince could not convert her start, though, with Maisy Gibson, the left-arm spinner, taking her out for 24. And with Barsby falling soon after, having top-scored with 30, Queensland slid to a paltry total.Farrell finished with a tally of 3 for 20 in seven overs, and was named Player of the Match. Gibson and offspinner Lauren Smith were both miserly and took two wickets each.NSW made a steady start to their chase with Healy and Rachael Haynes putting on 45 for the first wicket, before medium-pacer Grace Harris dismissed the latter for 18. Healy and Blackwell then combined to shut the doors on a Queensland fightback as they overhauled the target in 24 overs.

Arsenal are thought to be closing in on a deal for West Ham midfielder Declan Rice, according to reports.

What’s the latest on Declan Rice signing for Arsenal?

The Gunners have made Rice their top transfer target this summer and have already reached a verbal agreement with the player ahead of a move to the Emirates.

Rice, who recently helped West Ham win the Europa Conference League, is expected to leave the Hammers over the coming months, something which was recently confirmed by co-owner David Sullivan.

Arsenal aren’t the only side keen on the England international, though, with three or four clubs interested, however, it looks as if the Gunners are in a good position to seal a deal.

Now, according to The Guardian, ‘Arsenal are close to agreeing a fee with West Ham for Rice and are expected to pay more than £100m for the midfielder if certain add-ons are achieved.’ A bid is yet to be made, but talks are progressing smoothly and there is confidence an agreement will be reached.

The report adds that ‘Mikel Arteta is a huge admirer’ of Rice and feels he will be key to helping Arsenal to mount another challenge for the Premier League title.

Rice is also a fan of Arteta’s football in north London, with Arsenal also eyeing Brighton’s Moises Caicedo and Manchester City’s Ilkay Gundogan as further midfield additions alongside a move for the West Ham star.

What is Declan Rice’s salary?

Rice has made a total of 245 appearances for West Ham after coming through their academy, scoring 15 goals and registering 13 assists. The 24-year-old's first Hammers strike was actually a winner against Arsenal back in 2019, and he now looks on course to make the move to the Gunners.

When it comes to salary, Rice has gone from being on £100-a-week back in 2015 to £62,000-a-week as of today and actually rejected a £200,000-a-week deal to stay with West Ham. Therefore, you’d expect that Arsenal would be willing to make the midfielder one of their top earners alongside the likes of Thomas Partey and Martin Odegaard.

All the signs ahead of a transfer are certainly exciting, and by the looks of it, a record transfer is close to materialising. Arsenal’s current record transfer was set back in 2019 on a €80m deal for Nicolas Pepe, and should Arsenal get the green light, Rice, hailed as a "special talent" by David Moyes, will surpass that figure ahead of the 2023/24 season.

Younis Khan has said that he will be in touch with the PCB and the team management and then take a call on how long he will play

Osman Samiuddin in Sydney06-Jan-2017Younis Khan will play on for Pakistan for as long as the side needs him, dousing speculation about his immediate future, unlike that of the side’s captain Misbah-ul-Haq.Talk of retirement has not attached itself to Younis through the series as resolutely as it has done to Misbah. It has done so more by association – because he is 39 to Misbah’s 42.But a lack of a big innings meant that Pakistan’s leading Test run-getter had speculative questions and barbs thrown in his direction. That has been addressed for now with an unbeaten 175 in Sydney.”It all depends [his future plans],” Younis said. “I don’t want to give a surprise where I come and say suddenly I’m going, or that I’m playing for the next five years.”It all depends on my team and what they want from me. That’s the main thing for me. I’m very near to 10,000 runs and it will be a big achievement for a Pakistani. If you see that list there is no Pakistani who has made that.”So it all depends on my team, the PCB and how they want me. I will be in touch with them and as they tell me, what kind of energy and what they need from me, from that I will decide how long to play. My body is giving me a good response at the moment.”Younis is 36 runs short of that landmark and it is one, as he has made clear in the past as well, that is important to him. If he fails to get there in Pakistan’s second innings, his next opportunity will come in March this year when Pakistan tour the Caribbean to play four Tests. As per the Future Tours Programme, Pakistan tour Bangladesh for a couple of Tests in July and then host Sri Lanka for three Tests in the UAE. The likelihood of a tour to India at the end of the year is minimal, as relations stand now between the countries.Younis wanting to continue should be music to Pakistan coach Mickey Arthur’s ears. Asked earlier in the series about the future of the two veterans, Arthur said in an ideal world he would want the pair to stagger their exits, so as not to leave too big a hole in Pakistan’s middle order. Misbah, with 38 runs in five innings so far, would appear to be closer to the exit. Younis has been a hugely influential figure in the dressing room as a batting mentor to the likes of Azhar Ali and Asad Shafiq.”I have learned so much from him and Misbah-ul-Haq throughout my career,” Azhar said on Thursday of this mentorship. “They both are mentally very tough. What I have learned from Younis is how to keep focus and be relaxed when you are going through a hard time. There are so many innings that I have played would have not been possible without him. Hopefully he can carry on and keep playing for Pakistan as long as he can and share his experience with the more guys who are coming into the team. That will be really helpful. He has not just made my career good, there are lot of other players who benefited from him. He has given lot of advices to us.”Despite sitting on top of the list of the most successful Pakistani batsmen judged on most metrics, Younis doesn’t believe he is the greatest his country has produced. “I can’t feel that I am the greatest player ever from Pakistan. In that list, Javed Miandad is there, Zaheer Abbas is there. Lots of great players. Inzamam is there also. I don’t feel I am the greatest ever batsman in Pakistan but I want my people, my critics, my followers, I want them to know that whenever I played cricket I played for my team and my country. That is more important for me. When I leave the field, when I will retire, it is my wish that they remember me as a fighter who fought for his country and his team-mates.”

Chelsea's frustrating search for a new holding midfielder to replace N'Golo Kante may see them go down a different route entirely.

Kante is set to join Saudi Arabian side Al Ittihad, while midfield partner Mateo Kovacic has long been linked with a move to Premier League champions Manchester City.

Brighton and Hove Albion's Moises Caicedo is widely considered to be top of Mauricio Pochettino's wishlist, but the Seagulls are reportedly seeking a fee in the region of £100m.

For that reason, 90min reports that the Blues are now looking elsewhere for potential back-ups, with Inter Milan's Nicolo Barella one possible option.

Where would Nicolo Barella fit in at Chelsea?

If Chelsea move for Barella, they are not bringing in a like-for-like replacement for Kante as such. After all, the Inter midfielder ranks in the bottom 4% for interceptions and bottom 36% for tackles, as per FBref, among his positional peers across Europe's top five leagues.

Instead, they would be signing a player who is very similar in profile to Real Madrid's long-serving midfield superstar Luka Modric. The pair each averaged 0.21 goals per 90 minutes last season, while Barella slightly edged things in terms of assists (0.21 v 0.15).

Barella completed 81.6% of his passes, compared to 87.8% for Modric, and he also just about came out on top in terms of tackles won per 90 minutes (0.86 v 0.46) and blocks (1 v 0.77).

It is in terms of goal-creating actions, which takes factors such as passes and take-ons prior to a goal being scored, that the pair's similar playing styles can be highlighted, averaging as they do 0.45 and 0.46 per 90 minutes.

Italy international Barella was named Serie A Midfielder of the Year in 2022-23 and also showcased his talents in Inter's run to the Champions League final. Indeed, among other impressive stats, he covered 135.1km of ground in the competition, second only to AC Milan's Sandro Tonali (139.4km).

As Italian football expert James Horncastle put it during Inter's quarter-final tie with Benfica, Barella really was "everywhere" on the field.

Fellow writer Carlo Garganese went further by describing the 26-year-old – who is also wanted in a £50m swoop by Newcastle United, according to The Telegraph – as a "monster" because of his energetic displays.

If Enzo Fernandez is in the team to bring some calm in the midfield engine room, then Barella could be the perfect choice to sit alongside him, carry the ball forward and make something happen in the final third while te Argentine sits back and dictates proceedings.

Ranked as he is in the top 8% for non-penalty goals among midfielder's across Europe's top five leagues, and top 11% for assists, Barella is the Modric-like upgrade Chelsea are crying out for this summer.