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Norwich City star Todd Cantwell is the type of player Aston Villa like, journalist Luke Hatfield has told The Transfer Tavern.

Villa have already raided Norwich this summer for Argentine playmaker Emiliano Buendia and it looks like there shopping may not stop there.

According to The Telegraph, the Midlands club have been monitoring Cantwell as Dean Smith looks to bolster his midfield options.

Cantwell played a key role in Norwich’s promotion success last season, with the 23-year-old featuring in 33 league games for Daniel Farke’s side.

On Villa’s reported interest in the player, Hatfield of the Express & Star said:

“Young, will have good resale value if they do bring him in and does know the Premier League – played in it for one season obviously with Norwich the year they ended up getting relegated.

“He’s certainly the type of player I think they would like.”

Villa are certainly not playing around this transfer window. As previously mentioned, they have already brought in Cantwell’s former Norwich team-mate Buendia in a deal believed to be worth £40m in total.

The Villans have also made two bids for Arsenal’s promising youngster Emile Smith Rowe, the latest thought to be in the region of £30m (per The Athletic).

WELLINGTON, Dec 15 AP – Despite two glaring batting collapses, India coach John Wright is expecting changes in the bowling attack ahead the second Test against New Zealand

Ihithisham Kamardeen15-Dec-2002WELLINGTON, Dec 15 AP – Despite two glaring batting collapses, India coach John Wright is expecting changes in the bowling attack ahead the second Test against New Zealand.Fast bowler Tinu Yohannan is likely to replace leftarm seamer Ashish Nehra at Hamilton as India bids to regroup and level the two-match series.After a 10-wicket hammering inside three days, Wright refused to give his demoralised Indian side a break, putting them through a rigorous four-hour pitch session today.Yohannan, who impressed in the only tour match before the first Test at the Basin Reserve, was in the calculations, Wright said.Left-arm paceman Zaheer Khan bowled outstandingly to claim his maiden five-wicket Test haul, but the lack of support compounded India’s hopes.Khan’s new-ball partner Nehra went wicketless while Ajit Agarkar and Sanjay Bangar shared three wickets.”That’s one good thing about this session,” Wright said, after watching Yohannan beat fellow teammates for pace and bounce on a fourth day Test pitch.”He’s making great strides, and he’s done a lot since he’s been out of the side.”Skipper Sourav Ganguly and Venkatsai Laxman struggled against Yohannan, and so did Mohammed Kaif, the spare middle-order batsman in the tour party.”He bowled well in the warm up match and it was a difficult decision for this Test match. He’ll be in the running for the next Test,” Wright conceded.Wright, the former New Zealand opening batsman and captain, reiterated the importance of reigning in the attacking instincts of the free-hitting Indian batsmen.Despite containing some of the best batsmen in the game, the Indian top-order was vulnerable against the new ball in both innings against an inexperienced New Zealand attack, and collapsed to 5-55 and 5-36 in the respective innings.Only Rahul Dravid (76) and Sachin Tendulkar (51) – the two senior most batsmen – were rewarded for their patience on a wicket that offered good bounce and sideways movement.”It happened very quickly,” Wright said.”The boys were shocked by it (pace and bounce).”We really need to get through the new ball phase. Because of the two-match test series, the opportunity of winning the series is gone.”

Ricky Ponting believes dumping the Indian Premier League’s salary cap could be detrimental to the competition

Cricinfo staff18-May-2008
Ricky Ponting expects the Indian Premier League will ultimately help cricket © AFP
Ricky Ponting believes dumping the Indian Premier League’s salary cap could be detrimental to the competition. Talk has begun about stopping the limit, which is currently at US$5million per team, but Ponting, who played for the Kolkata Knight Riders in the opening stages of the event, said the move might make the tournament less competitive.”I have certainly heard there may be no salary cap next year, but I’m not sure if that will be good for the IPL,” Ponting said in the Australian. “The more I’ve thought about it, it might be detrimental to the whole set-up.”We want good, competitive cricket with lots of international players playing good, close games against one another. If they go ahead with no salary cap, a lot of that might go out the window.”One window Ponting wants is for a break in Test and one-day internationals so the IPL can be held without interruptions. “I really do think they can manage it well and have the IPL as something that is going to help the game, and not just be extra money coming in for the international players,” Ponting said. “What it has done already is attracted new audiences to the game and more audiences to the game … Overall it should make cricket a better thing.”

An update has emerged on Newcastle winger Allan Saint-Maximin, regarding Everton’s interest in his services.

What’s the talk?

According to The Mirror, Everton boss Rafa Benitez is plotting a £50m swoop for Newcastle winger Allan Saint-Maximin this summer. The report claims that Benitez has identified the star of his former club as a potential replacement for Richarlison, with the Blues seemingly prepared to pay £50m for the Frenchman.

Newcastle are said to value Saint-Maximin at £60m after he recently signed a new long-term contract with the club this year.

Bruce will be gutted

Newcastle could be set for a huge blow if a bid from Everton is accepted as Saint-Maximin is a crucial player for the club. He provides the magic required to light up a game in the Premier League and often pops up with special moments to win points for the club.

The winger averaged an exceptional WhoScored rating of 7.12 in the Premier League last term. Joe Willock was the only player who managed better than that – by 0.01 – and the third-highest score was Martin Dubravka’s 6.84. This highlights the gulf in quality between Saint-Maximin and the next best in the squad, with Willock having returned to Arsenal following his loan spell at the club.

Speaking earlier this year, Steve Bruce was resigned to there being interest in the attacker this summer. The ex-Villa boss lauded the forward’s ability to get supporters off their seats and labeled him as a special talent.

He told The Sun:

“He’s one of them that will get you off your seat, and how many have got that these days?

“He scored a goal in training the other day which was just remarkable. He does that, where we all just have to stand and applaud.

“You can see when he’s playing and injury free then he’s a special, special talent which inevitably will draw interest.”

This shows how highly Bruce rates the 24-year-old and why selling him would be a major blow for the club, at any price. Bruce would be gutted if he lost a player of Saint-Maximin’s quality ahead of the campaign.

Therefore, Bruce would be gutted if Mike Ashley sanctioned an exit for Saint-Maximin for £50m. It would take a lot to replace the winger, given the standard of his performances for the Toon Army and how much he stood out ahead of his peers at this level.

This is why Newcastle must reject the offer and do their utmost to keep him at the club as long as they can.

AND in other news, “Drumming up this confidence” – Journalist drops Newcastle United takeover verdict…

Cricinfo previews the fourth ODI between England and New Zealand at The Oval

Cricinfo staff24-Jun-2008Match factsWednesday June 25, 2008
Start time 10.45 (9.45GMT)
Grant Elliott has been in fine form with bat and ball © Getty Images
The big pictureEngland’s upward one-day curve hit a blip at Bristol on Saturday, with New Zealand triumphing by 22 runs to level the series at 1-1. The joy, or relief, with which the tourists celebrated showed how difficult the last few weeks had been and, as they approach the fourth ODI at The Oval, the momentum is with them. Grant Elliott, the allrounder who was playing for Weybridge in the Surrey Championship a week ago, has surprised everyone with his composure at international level, and his 56 at Bristol hoisted New Zealand from the depths of 75 for 6 to a challenging (and ultimately match-winning) 182. Kyle Mills and Tim Southee also found form, but for England, it was their complacency with the bat which cost them. Going into the first of the two London matches, they have two selection dilemmas to ponder. Alastair Cook, whose shoulder injury ruled him out of the first three ODIs, could return at the top of the order at the expense of Ian Bell, who injured his knee during a warm-up. Meanwhile Ryan Sidebottom has recovered from a stiff back and could return at the expense of James Anderson.Form guideEngland LNWLT (most recent first)
New Zealand WNLWTWatch out forRyan Sidebottom His natural aggression and competitiveness will be to the fore if, as expected, he earns a recall to bolster England’s seam attack. Now recovered from a stiff back which ruled him out of the second and third matches, he will be looking to continue the dominance he has had over New Zealand’s batsmen in recent months. England urgently need him firing on all cylinders if they are to combat New Zealand’s growing confidence.Grant Elliott Paul Collingwood spoke of his admiration for Elliott after the Bristol ODI, claiming he and his team-mates were well aware of his credentials. Even he, however, must have been surprised at Elliott’s allround contribution in the series as his 3 for 23 at Edgbaston was followed by a fine, calm fifty in Bristol to lift New Zealand’s total to 182. Lively in the field, he has quickly become a vital cog in all facets of the game for Daniel Vettori.Team newsBell tweaked his knee during a warm-up at The Oval and it could prompt a return for Cook, who himself has recovered from his shoulder injury. Sidebottom, too, should return – possibly at the expense of Anderson whose performance at Bristol was mercurially indifferent.England (possible) 1 Luke Wright, 2 Ian Bell, 3 Kevin Pietersen, 4 Ravi Bopara, 5 Paul Collingwood (capt), 6 Owais Shah, 7 Tim Ambrose (wk), 8 Stuart Broad, 9 Graeme Swann, 10 Ryan Sidebottom, 11 Chris Tremlett.Jacob Oram has declared himself fit and raring to go, having fully recovered from the side strain which ruled him out of the first three matches, providing New Zealand considerable strength and much-needed balance. Gareth Hopkins is the man to miss out, meaning Brendon McCullum takes back the keeping duties.New Zealand 1 Brendon McCullum (wk), 2 Jamie How, 3 Ross Taylor, 4 Scott Styris, 5 Daniel Flynn, 6 Jacob Oram, 7 Grant Elliott, 8 Daniel Vettori (capt), 9 Kyle Mills, 10 Tim Southee, 11 Mark Gillespie.Umpires: Mark Benson and Steve DavisStats and triviaEngland’s run-rate at The Oval is a lofty 4.88. England have lost their last three matches at the ground, however.New Zealand have played five times at the ground, only winning once. They beat USA by 210 runs in the 2004 ICC Champions Trophy.Quotes”I played five days on the trot before I joined up with New Zealand – three with Sussex Seconds, one for Weybridge and then a charity game, but I didn’t feel as if I was ready to hit the ground running.”
Grant Elliott, the South African born New Zealand allrounder, responds to his fine start to his one-day international career.”We’re very disappointed we didn’t take an opportunity here. We had the opportunity to be pretty ruthless and go 2-0 up and we kept losing wickets.”
Paul Collingwood rues his side meek performance in Bristol.