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Seamer emerges from strength and conditioning camp lighter, leaner and ready to lead South Africa attack

Firdose Moonda02-Feb-2020

Lungi Ngidi during fielding practice at the 2019 Cricket World Cup•AFP via Getty Images

Lungi Ngidi has lost “probably four or five kilograms,” and some of his youthful spark after spending three weeks at a CSA strength and conditioning camp, intended to give him and three others time to work on their fitness.Ngidi was sent to the camp on the back of a hamstring injury, sustained in the first week of December in the Mzansi Super League, and has emerged from it lighter, leaner and ready for a leadership role in the upcoming ODI series against England.In the absence of Kagiso Rabada, who is being rested, and Dale Steyn or Chris Morris, who were not considered for this series, Ngidi is the most experienced frontline seamer in the attack. Only allrounder Andile Phehlukwayo has more ODI caps, which means Ngidi will be tasked with spearheading the pack.That reality combined with the lifestyle changes he has had to make in a bid to have an injury-free run may explain why Ngidi had his game-face, and not his usual grin, on ahead of his first training session with the national side on Sunday.”To be leading the attack, doesn’t feel any different. I’ve done it before,” Ngidi, said, trying to play down the responsibility that lies ahead in the next week. “There is always expectation playing for the national side. I am pretty used to that.”What he is less used to is the rigorous routine he was put through at the High Performance Centre, which included everything from fitness to food.”You speak to dieticians, work with strength and conditioning coaches and try find the best way to lose weight and to maintain strength and fitness,” Ngidi said. “There is a lot that goes into it behind the scenes. You’ve got to limit a lot more things that are harmful to your body.”The guidance on how to live like an elite athlete was provided by Adrian le Roux, a sports scientist who has worked with the Indian, South African and Kolkata Knight Riders teams, and who was put in charge of the recently completed camp. In attendance was Ngidi, Tabraiz Shamsi, Jon-Jon Smuts and Sisanda Magala.Consider those names and their frames (and the fact that Smuts was withdrawn from the T20 tour of India and Magala is unavailable to play in this England ODI series because both failed to pass fitness tests) and you will understand the company Ngidi was considered part of.While not necessarily overweight, the frequency of Ngidi’s injuries was cause for concern. Since his international debut in 2017, Ngidi has missed matches and entire series because of hip, abdomen, knee and hamstring injuries and has battled a stress fracture and a side strain. He is only 23, so the wear-and-tear that comes with age is unlikely to be affecting him yet. So what is the reason?”It’s hard to pinpoint,” Ngidi said. “We do a lot of work as national players but everyone’s formula is different and every person is different. I’m a bit bigger than the other guys to it probably takes a bit more out of my body to try and bowl. I’ve got to get the formula right.”Ngidi believes he has found a way to stay fit in shorter formats, which is why making a comeback for the white-ball leg of the England tour, rather than during the Tests, is ideal.”The format we are playing now doesn’t require long spells,” he said. “I’ve got my formula in the shorter format, I’ve got that nailed down. It’s just trying to find that formula for the longer format.”Whether that means South Africa will need to be more selective about Ngidi’s workload management in future will only be known later in the year. For now, it’s about getting Ngidi on the park, especially as he last played at international level three months ago, and watched the England Tests series from the sidelines, knowing his presence could have made a difference.”It’s always frustrating to be watching especially if we are not doing as well as we wanted to be doing,” he said. “From the side, a bit of frustration but the Test series is gone now, we’ve got to focus on the one-dayers.”With the fifty-over World Cup three years away and much rebuilding to be done before then, South Africa’s approach to ODIs may appear to be experimental. They head into this series with a new captain, Quinton de Kock, four uncapped players (fast bowler Lutho Sipamla, left-arm spinner Bjorn Fortuin and batsmen Janneman Malan and Kyle Verreynne) and an inexperienced attack. Beuran Hendricks, the other seamer in the squad, has played just four ODIs, leaving it to Ngidi to lead the attack.He spoke like someone ready to do it. Gone were the giggles of a boy just out of his teens, already living his dreams and in front of us was Ngidi 2.0, a man of maturity who would not even reveal which English wickets he would most value taking.”I would like all of them,” he said, barely cracking a smile. “To win this series would be a massive step for us, having not done as well as we would have wanted in the Test series. It’s a chance for us to redeem ourselves.”And a bigger chance for Ngidi, and his team-mates from the strength and conditioning camp, to do the same.

Everton failed to take advantage of Newcastle United's current injury crisis, with the Toffees coming away with just a point in the 1-1 draw at St James' Park on Tuesday night.

Eddie Howe's side took the lead through Alexander Isak's first-half strike but couldn't secure all three points, as defender Paul Dummett inexplicably dragged Ashley Young down in the 18-yard box, resulting in a penalty after a VAR review.

Striker Dominic Calvert-Lewin stepped up to power his penalty past Martin Dubravka, securing a vital point for Sean Dyche's side in the hunt for Premier League survival.

The Toffees were fortunate to get anything out of the game, with Howe's side in control for the vast majority of the encounter, but the resilience of Dyche's side to stay within touching distance of the Magpies was rewarded.

However, one player in particular had a shocker, with the Everton ace producing a below-par performance, before being dragged off during the second half.

Abdoulaye Doucoure's stats against Newcastle

Despite being the club's top scorer during the 2023/24 Premier League campaign, midfielder Abdoulaye Doucoure produced a poor display in the encounter at St James' last night.

In recent months, the 31-year-old has been utilised in a more advanced role by boss Dyche, with the Malian playing just in behind either Calvert-Lewin or Beto.

However, last night he was unable to have any sort of positive impact on the game, with the midfielder only winning 20% of the duels that he contested.

Doucoure could only conjure up 23 touches during the meeting, with the midfielder also losing possession six times – an average of once every 10 minutes.

He was subsequently replaced on the hour mark by Portuguese talent Andre Gomes, with the former Barcelona man looking more assured in the number 10 role than Doucoure.

Doucoure's stats against Newcastle

Statistics

Tally

Minutes played

60

Shots

2

Touches

23

Possession lost

6

Duels won

1/5 (20%)

Dribbled past

1

Stats via Sofascore

The former Watford man was handed a brutally low 4/10 rating by Liverpool World journalist Will Rooney, with the Malian midfielder having been largely 'ineffective' on the night.

Doucoure's woeful display should see him benched ahead of Saturday's huge relegation clash against Burnley at Goodison Park, with one player deserving of a recall after his cameo off the bench against the Magpies.

The man to replace Doucoure

After his impressive performance in his stint on the pitch last night, James Garner must come back into the starting lineup to replace Doucoure, with the youngster bringing some much needed energy and quality to Dyche's midfield.

Despite only featuring for 29 minutes, the former Manchester United talent had 19 touches, just four less than the 31-year-old could manage in under half the time.

He also had a 92% pass completion rate, with Garner hitting the woodwork late on, which could've secured a smash-and-grab win for the Toffees.

The 23-year-old has been a brilliant addition since his £9m move during the summer of 2022, with the midfielder needing to start if the club are to get anything out of the game against Vincent Kompany's side in just a couple of days.

Doucoure may be leading the way with six goals across all fronts, but having now failed to score since December against Chelsea, a change may need to be made amid Everton's scrap for survival.

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Glasgow Rangers’ treble ambitions are safe for another week as they secured passage into the semi-finals of the Scottish Cup over the weekend.

A trip to Easter Road to play Hibs is never easy at the best of times, but sandwiched in between a Europa League last-16 clash against Benfica, the match took on an even greater magnitude.

Much to their surprise, Philippe Clement kept the same starting XI for the cup clash that looked dead on their feet just a few days prior, but it worked a treat as they went into the half-time interval a goal to the good courtesy of John Lundstram.

While Hibs lost their discipline, Rangers kept their calm heads and Fabio Silva netted the clincher against the nine men and a 2-0 win was confirmed.

It was a professional performance by the Light Blues and, once again, John Lundstram was at the heart of everything good during the clash.

John Lundstram vs Hibernian in numbers

Towards the end of the Benfica tie, Lundstram had run himself into the ground, and it looked as though a well-deserved rest against Hibs would be the wisest thing for Clement to do.

No chance. Lundstram started in the capital and delivered a man-of-the-match performance, which included scoring the opening goal.

The midfielder was a calming presence in the heart of the midfield, looking like he had enjoyed a week between matches rather than the knackered figure during the closing stages of the tie in midweek.

There is no doubt he has been one of the most consistent performers during Clement’s reign thus far, missing only one match since mid-October. Two goals and six assists during 2023/24 have proven that he does like to get forward from time to time, but his ability to protect the defence and dictate the play from the middle of the pitch is perhaps his greatest strength.

There is no time for respite, however, as the former Sheffield United gem will have to be prepared to take on Benfica at Ibrox on Thursday as the last eight of the Europa League awaits the winners.

When Lundstram could leave Rangers

A year ago, not many people would have predicted Lundstram being one of the most important players in the squad, but here we are.

Entering the 2023/24 campaign, the 30-year-old had a year left on his current contract, and it looked like his chances of an extension were slim.

Fast-forward a few months, however, and it is clear he will be offered a new deal. The question is, when will he sign it? Clement has gone for a youth-based approach in the transfer market, yet keeping several experienced heads at the club, at least for the next couple of seasons, could be vital.

John Lundstram's Rangers stats
Season	Games	Goals	Assists
2023/24	43	2	6
2022/23	52	5	0
2021/22	48	4	1
Via Transfermarkt

While Lundstram may not have too long left at the very top, he still has plenty to give and his knowledge and experience could be passed down to the youngsters emerging through the youth academy.

Lundstram's academy heir at Ibrox

Cole McKinnon is arguably one of the brightest talents in the B team, and he could well become the heir apparent to the English midfielder in the coming years.

In the final Premiership match of the 2021/22 campaign, Giovanni van Bronckhorst rested a host of first-team players for the forthcoming Europa League final, giving chances to various academy talents in the clash against Hearts.

McKinnon came off the bench with just 30 minutes left and did not take long to announce his arrival, scoring the third goal which clinched a 3-1 win and his talent looked promising indeed.

The youngster was sent on a season-long loan to Partick Thistle, who were playing in the second tier, for the 2022/23 term and this experience of regular first-team football at a competitive level has clearly benefitted him.

Throughout that campaign, the 21-year-old made 31 appearances for the Jags, contributing three goals and three assists in the process as the club came so close to securing promotion to the top flight.

Michael Beale named him part of the matchday squad on numerous occasions during the early part of the season, but he failed to make it onto the pitch.

Under Clement, however, it looks as though he has the perfect manager to play under, as the Belgian has given him a couple of opportunities of late in the senior squad.

Cole McKinnon's stats vs Benfica and Hibs

The midfielder was hailed by Jordan Campbell prior to joining Partick Thistle last season, saying: “The 19-year-old is highly rated at Ibrox and scored in the final league game of last season. Goes box-to-box and has a knack of getting a goal.”

Evidently like Lundstram, the Scot bursts forward in the hopes of joining the attack, but he can also perform in a slightly deeper role if required and this flexibility will be a bonus to Clement.

He came off the bench for the final 13 minutes of the tie against Benfica last week and did not let the occasion get to him.

Indeed, he won 100% of his aerial duels while making an interception and blocking a shot, proving that he has the required mentality to come into a game which is hanging in the balance and keep a calm head.

He was then rewarded with another ten-minute cameo against Hibs, and he was solid again. This could give Clement another option at the heart of the midfield, especially with the games coming thick and fast in the coming weeks.

McKinnon is finally seeing the rewards of all his hard work in the B team recently, and it should serve as a reminder that the chances are there for the youngsters, especially if they are committed and work hard.

Lundstram may have another couple of years at the highest level in the game, but if McKinnon can keep gaining important minutes here and there, the 21-year-old could become an ideal replacement for the Englishman and save Clement millions in the transfer market in the process.

Failure to report several approaches from Deepak Aggarwal, an alleged corruptor who was seeking inside information, is why Shakib, Bangladesh’s Test and T20I captain, was banned by the ICC’s anti-corruption unit on Tuesday.We don’t know yet why Shakib, the game’s premier allrounder (he is ranked third in Tests, first in ODIs and second in T20Is in the ICC’s player rankings), failed to report the approaches to the ACU, especially as he has previously reported corrupt approaches. But we do know a little about the conversations with Aggarwal that led to this sanction.November 2017According to information made public by the ICC, the first time Aggarwal got in touch with Shakib was in November 2017 during the Bangladesh Premier League (BPL), where he was playing for Dhaka Dynamites. Shakib’s contact, the ICC said, was provided to Aggarwal by “another person” who was close to the player. Aggarwal had asked this unnamed person to “provide” him with contacts for players in the tournament.Over the course of several WhatsApp messages, Aggarwal tried to arrange a meeting with Shakib.January 2018Bangladesh hosted an ODI tri-series with Sri Lanka and Zimbabwe. On January 19, Bangladesh beat Sri Lanka and Shakib was Man of the Match. Aggarwal “congratulated” Shakib on his performance and then followed it with a cryptic message that raised eyebrows at the ACU. “Mr Aggarwal followed this message with a message saying “do we work in this or I wait til the IPL”,” the ICC said in a statement. “The reference to in this message was a reference to him [Shakib] providing Inside Information to Mr Aggarwal.”Shakib didn’t report this approach either to the ACU, or to any other relevant authority.Four days later, Aggarwal sent another message, a more explicit one, to Shakib: “Bro anything in this series?” Once again, Shakib opted not to report the approach to the ACU or even the BCB.April 2018On April 26, during IPL 2018, Sunrisers Hyderabad – Shakib’s franchise – were playing a home match against Kings XI Punjab. Aggarwal messaged Shakib on the day of the match, and it was during this conversation that Shakib eventually said he wanted to meet Aggarwal.”He received a WhatsApp message from Mr Aggarwal that day asking him whether a particular player was going to be playing in the game that day, i.e. again asking for Inside Information,” the ICC statement said. “Mr Aggarwal continued this conversation with him by talking about bitcoins, dollar accounts and asked him for his dollar account details. During this conversation, he told Mr Aggarwal that he wanted to meet him .”Shakib admitted to the ACU later that he had deleted several other messages from this April 26 WhatsApp conversation. It was then that Shakib grew concerned. However, once again, he did not report the approach.”He confirmed that he had concerns over Mr Aggarwal, feeling he was a bit , and that, following their conversations, he had the feeling that Mr Aggarwal was a bookie,” the ICC statement said.The ACU officers interviewed Shakib in person in Bangladesh twice this year – on January 23 and then on August 27.Shakib readily accepted the charges.”During these interviews, Mr Al Hasan was cautioned that the answers and information provided by him could be used as evidence to support a charge or charges in relation to a breach of the Code, if they revealed that Mr Al Hasan might have breached the Code, either by acting corruptly himself or by failing to report corrupt approaches or corrupt actions by others. After receiving these cautions, Mr Al Hasan admitted various failures to report approaches made to him to provide Inside Information to Mr Aggarwal.”

Erik ten Hag and Manchester United appear to have set their sights on a new centre-back this summer. It recently emerged that the Red Devils have joined Tottenham Hotspur and Borussia Dortmund in making an approach to sign Dean Huijsen, who's currently on loan from Juventus at Roma.

Huijsen's performances this season have apparently "bewitched" multiple members of the European elite, and Juventus are willing to sell him permanently for a fee in the region of €30m (£26m).

Links with Benfica's Antonio Silva, though, date back further. At the end of last year, it was reported that United had made Silva a "top target" for the 2024 summer transfer window, alongside Jean-Clair Todibo at Nice – the club owned by Jim Ratcliffe and INEOS.

Silva's contract runs until 2027 includes a giant €100m (£86m) release clause, but he's still expected to leave the Primeira Liga leaders at the end of the campaign.

Man Utd in touch over Silva

According to Portuguese newspaper O Jogo, via Sport Witness, United have made contact with Silva's agent over a potential move in the off-season. It's unclear whether Benfica will demand that his release clause is paid in full, or show a willingness to negotiate a lower fee. Encouragingly, it's said their top priority is keeping 19-year-old midfielder Joao Neves instead.

The 13-time Premier League champions "know everything" about the defender after scouting him "many times" for both club and country, and they're now preparing to escalate their interest.

"Silly" Silva may be the best young centre-back around

A product of the Benfica youth academy, Silva has already played 79 games for the club at the age of 20. He's started 21 of their 27 league games this season, and six of their eight European matches in the Champions League and Europa League (though he missed one through suspension). He'll also hope to figure prominently for Portugal at this summer's European Championships after making his major tournament debut against South Korea at the last World Cup.

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Silva is one of the best ball-playing centre-backs in the league, ranking ninth for touches (1,420), ninth for passes into the final third (104), third for progressive carrying distance (3,459 yards) and, best of all, first for pass completion (92.5%). He combines that with the second-best challenge success rate in the division (80.6%), so you can see why United are desperate to sign him.

Player

Pos

Club(s)

Jude Bellingham

MID

Borussia Dortmund/Real Madrid

Gavi

MID

Barcelona

Jamal Musiala

MID

Bayern Munich

Eduardo Camavinga

MID

Real Madrid

Pedri

MID

Barcelona

Xavi Simons

FWD

PSV Eindhoven/RB Leipzig

Alejandro Balde

DEF

Barcelona

Antonio Silva

DEF

Benfica

Rasmus Hojlund

FWD

Atalanta/Manchester United

Elye Wahi

FWD

Montpellier/Lens

Described as "silly good" by under-23 scout Antonio Mango, he was the only centre-back to be nominated for the Kopa Trophy – a prize handed out to the world's best under-21 player at the Ballon D'Or ceremony. Ratcliffe will be determined to sign a player who increasingly looks like the next big thing in his position.

Leeds United enjoyed a relatively quiet January transfer window as they were able to keep hold of their top talents and move on some players on the fringes of the squad.

Djed Spence was sent back to Tottenham Hotspur, having spent the first half of the season on loan from the Premier League side, and Luke Ayling was allowed to join Middlesbrough.

The Whites then swooped to bring in experienced right-back Connor Roberts, who won the Championship last season, on loan from Burnley on deadline day.

They kept the likes of Georginio Rutter, Crysencio Summerville, Wilfried Gnonto, and Archie Gray, and are now fighting to secure automatic promotion to the top-flight.

Daniel Farke, however, did attempt to complete a second signing to bolster his options at the top end of the pitch, according to a report that came out after the window.

Leeds United's search for a new winger

According to Turkish outlet Takvim last week, Leeds made a bid to sign Besiktas forwards Milot Rashica to add to their arsenal of weapons on the flanks.

Sport Witness covered the report and inferred that the offer was made during the recent January transfer window, as it was claimed that the approach was made 'recently'.

Takvim claimed that the Whites put €7m (£6m) on the table for the Kosovo international as Farke attempted to snap him up from the Super Lig outfit.

It also stated that Besiktas rejected the bid as they did not want to part ways with the winger, who they signed from Championship side Norwich City last summer, as they view him as an important player that is pivotal to their potential success.

They added that Rashica also turned down Leeds' approach as he is happy in Turkey and was not interested in securing a move away from the club. The exciting forward is said to be eyeing a title challenge for the 'new season' with the Turkish giants, which is why he did not want to made the move to Elland Road.

This failed swoop may have been a blessing in disguise as it could have been a January gaffe from Farke and Leeds, as the former Werder Bremen star would not have been an upgrade on their current options on the flank – including Daniel James.

Milot Rashica's time in England

Interestingly, the then-24-year-old was signed by the German head coach for Norwich in the summer of 2021 ahead of their Premier League campaign.

Farke claimed that the rapid flanker could provide "outstanding" quality at the top end of the pitch for his side, following their promotion from the Championship the previous season.

Unfortunately, Rashica, who was described as a "threat" by journalist Connor Southwell, could not live up to that hype as he struggled to step up to the quality of the Premier League, with a return of one goal and two assists in 31 appearances during the 2021/22 term – including 25 starts.

He then played four times in the Championship at the start of the 2022/23 campaign under Dean Smith, who had replaced Farke during the previous season, and contributed with zero goals and one assist.

Turkish giants Galatasaray then swooped to secure his signature on loan for the rest of that season, and he caught the eye with solid performances out wide.

Rashica's time in Turkey so far

The 27-year-old whiz made 26 appearances in the Super Lig last term and chipped in with four goals, six assists, and eight 'big chances' created for his side.

He also completed 0.9 dribbles per game with a success rate of 48%, which shows that the forward attempted to drive his team up the pitch with mixed success.

His form for Galatasaray convinced rivals Besiktas to sign him on a permanent deal last summer, and the ex-Norwich winger has enjoyed a decent first season with his new club so far.

Rashica has produced four goals, from 2.49 xG, and two assists, from 3.43 xA, across 19 appearances in the Super Lig during the 2023/24 campaign.

This means that the Kosovo international is currently averaging a goal or an assist every 3.17 matches on average for Besiktas since his move from the Canaries ahead of this season.

These statistics, throughout his time in England and Turkey, suggest that Farke would have made a blunder by signing him for Leeds, as he is a worse winger than current Whites forward James.

Daniel James' Championship brilliance this season

The Wales international has been in impressive form throughout the 2023/24 campaign so far, since returning to Yorkshire from a loan with Fulham last season.

He has been ruthless in front of goal with an eye-catching return of ten goals from an xG of 7.50, which shows that James has rarely missed an opportunity to find the back of the net.

The former Manchester United speedster has also registered six assists for his teammates from an xA of 5.50, which shows that his fellow attackers have finished off the chances that he has created with a reasonable level of efficiency.

With an outstanding contribution of 16 goals and assists combined in 29 Championship appearances for the Whites, James has averaged a goal or an assist every 1.81 matches under Farke this term.

Dan James vs attacking midfielders & wingers (via FBref)

23/24 Championship (per 90)

Percentile rank

Non-penalty goals (0.47)

Top 8%

Assists (0.28)

Top 10%

Expected Assisted Goals (0.28)

Top 8%

Shot-creating actions (3.58)

Top 37%

Progressive carries (4.70)

Top 13%

As you can see in the table above, he currently ranks very highly in a number of key attacking metrics among his positional peers in the second tier.

James has been a fantastic performer in the final third for Leeds with a greater level of production, in terms of goals and assists, than Rashica has managed in recent seasons for Besitkas, Galatasaray, and Norwich.

Meanwhile, Gnonto has also racked up five goals and one assist in his last five appearances for the Whites in all competitions, which shows that the manager already has strong depth in that area of the pitch.

Therefore, it would have been a howler from Leeds to splash out £6m on Rashica when his statistics in over the last few years suggest that he would have been a downgrade on their current options on the wing.

Dotted around England, certain Premier League clubs are starting to panic as the January transfer window enters its final stage, though Tottenham Hotspur manager Ange Postecoglou can safely say that his side have strengthened and strengthened well this month.

Timo Werner was brought in on a loan deal to boost the frontline and add a bit of versatility, while the aggressive Radu Dragusin completed a £27m transfer to replace Eric Dier in the rearguard.

Tottenham have been persistently linked with Chelsea midfielder Conor Gallagher this month and while the door has not been closed on that one – Spurs reportedly continue to monitor his situation at Stamford Bridge – it's increasingly unlikely that a deal will be struck before Thursday's deadline.

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But the fact that Tottenham can approach this conclusive phase with more composure than some other divisional rivals speaks of the organised and diligent approach taken since Postecoglou's summer appointment.

The craggy-faced Australian recently revealed that further incomings are unlikely but not to rule anything out, with another forward believed to be on the radar.

Spurs looking at another forward

According to Football Insider, Tottenham talks are underway with FC Nordsjaelland to forge a feeder club agreement, with the Danish outfit recently emerging as one of Europe's most underrated youth production lines.

One such graduate of this esteemed academy is Club Brugge winger Andreas Skov Olsen, with the report continuing that Spurs are interested in the 24-year-old.

Corroborating this news, Dutch news back in November revealed that Tottenham had sent scouts to watch the player in action, so this is definitely one to keep an eye on.

How Skov Olsen compares to Mohammed Kudus

Talent scout Jacek Kulig praised the "perfect" transfer of Skov Olsen to Club Brugge when he completed a move from Serie A side Bologna back in January 2022, and such a prediction has certainly rung true, with the Dane plundering 32 goals and 23 assists from 81 fixtures since arriving in Belgium.

Winning the Pro League in his first term at the club, Skov Olsen might not be the most salient name on the block but he would offer an incisiveness that could find a home amid the panoply of offensive talent that Postecoglou boasts.

Indeed, this season alone, Skov Olsen has scored 17 goals and provided seven assists across 34 matches in all competitions, averaging 1.8 key passes, 1.2 tackles, 4.5 ball recoveries and 1.4 dribbles per game, as per Sofascore.

Linked to Rangers in the past, Brian Laudrap waxed lyrical over the player's skill set in an interview with The Daily Mail – via The Sun – in what only enriches the argument that Tottenham should make their move.

"More or less every time he plays, the fans are out of their seats, thinking: 'Something's going to happen now'. If you are looking for a hug-the-line player, a real creative force, then Skov Olsen ticks the boxes. He's a crowd-pleaser. But an effective one, too. He's not a type you see that often."

As per FBref, Skov Olsen ranks among the top 9% of attacking midfielders and wingers across divisions similar to the Jupiler Pro League for goals scored, the top 7% for assists, the top 13% for shot-creating actions, the top 3% for progressive carries and the top 9% for touches in the attacking box per 90.

Skov Olsen thrives through an innate understanding of his physical prowess and speed and superiority over the lion's share in his acceleration.

Simply, he will receive the ball on the wing and loop inwards to wreak havoc in the final third; a right-sided winger, it's unlikely that Skov Olsen would displace a high-class player in Dejan Kulusevski but he could provide the requisite in-squad competition to align with Postecoglou's vision.

Moreover, Tottenham are not in European competition this season after last year's malaise but are expecting to return to continental prominence after the summer and will require investment across several areas to compete across multiple fronts.

With eight goals from 29 caps for his national team, the 6 foot 1 star has also proved himself on the international stage and is now ready to make the move to the Premier League and contribute toward the Lilywhites' revival.

Finishing

Tackling

Long shots

Crossing

Key passes

Set-piece delivery

With such a natural goal threat, Skov Olsen could prove to be Tottenham's own version of West Ham United star Mohammed Kudus, especially given that the Ghanaian whiz earned his stripes with the Nordsjaelland academy too.

There are definitely similarities between the players, with Kudus ranking among the top 1% of positional peers across Europe's top five leagues for goals scored, the top 14% for successful take-ons and blocks and the top 4% for tackles per 90.

Signing for West Ham from Ajax in a £38m transfer in the summer, Kudus has been lauded for his "outstanding" feats on English shores by The Athletic's Roshane Thomas and has clinched nine goals and an assist after only 18 starting appearances.

With both players in question offering scintillating striking abilities, it is clear that their former Danish club are adept at fashioning successful forward prospects and Tottenham must now take full advantage of this and bolster their ranks accordingly.

West Ham supporters have voiced their displeasure regarding David Moyes' viewed-by-some pragmatic approach to his side's tactical set-up, but Kudus has shown little sign of being negatively affected by such a style.

In Postecogolou's fluid system, he would flourish and so too would Skov Olsen, especially considering the creative prowess of James Maddison in the centre and Heung-min Son further forward – only Liverpool duo Mohamed Salah and Trent Alexander-Arnold have created more big chances than the South Korea captain's 11 in the Premier League this season.

Tottenham already boast a wealth of attacking talent but there are a few pieces of flotsam floating about that will need clearing come summer and Skov Olsen could provide the club with the tools it requires to wreak havoc and counterbalance current stars such as Kulusevski and Timo Werner – both effective outlets but neither the most clinical.

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Na noite do último sábado, o Grêmio recebeu o Internacional pelo Campeonato Gaúcho e venceu por 1 a 0, através de belo chute do atacante Léo Chú, que levou o Tricolor para a ponta do campeonato.

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O resultado serviu para consolidar ainda mais a hegemonia do Tricolor no confronto, que nos últimos anos tem terminado de maneira feliz para quem veste três cores no Rio Grande do Sul.

Arena

Além dos resultados em âmbito geral, chama atenção a imposição do Grêmio em cima do Inter dentro da sua casa. Desde 2014, o Colorado não volta a Arena com motivos para comemorar.

A última vez que o Internacional venceu foi na temporada 2014, quando ambos se enfrentaram na final do Campeonato Gaúcho.

Desde então, o Grêmio conseguiu se impor e ostenta uma invencibilidade de 15 partidas em cima do rival.

No total, o Grêmio obteve sete vitórias e oito empates. O ataque do Tricolor marcou 21 gols e o Colorado estufou as redes em 3 vezes.

Confira abaixo os placares desde a última vitória do Internacional:

2014
Grêmio 1 x 2 Inter – 1º jogo da decisão do Gauchão
Grêmio 4 x 1 Inter – Brasileirão

2015
Grêmio 0 x 0 Inter – 1º jogo da decisão do Gauchão
Grêmio 5 x 0 Inter – Brasileirão

2016
Grêmio 0 x 0 Inter – Primeira Liga/Gauchão
Grêmio 0 x 0 Inter – Brasileirão

2017
Grêmio 2 x 2 Inter – Gauchão

2018
Grêmio 3 x 0 Inter – 4ª final do Gauchão
Grêmio 0 x 0 Inter – Brasileirão

2019
Grêmio 1 x 0 Inter – Gauchão
Grêmio (3) 0 x 0 (2) Inter – Final do Gauchão
Grêmio 2 x 0 Inter – Brasileirão

2020
Grêmio 0 x 0 Inter – Libertadores
Grêmio 2 x 0 Inter – Final do Returno do Gauchão
Grêmio 1 x 1 Inter – Brasileirão

2021
Grêmio 1 x 0 Inter – Gauchão

Bayern Munich have been accused of "damaging German football" and were warned that Vincent Kompany won't reclaim Bundesliga dominance next season.

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Kompany took charge of BayernReplaced Tuchel in the hot seatWarned about Bundesliga challengeWHAT HAPPENED?

Bayern, a club synonymous with dominance in German football, have recently come under scrutiny following a rare trophyless season and the surprising appointment of Kompany as their new head coach. Despite having world-class talent like Harry Kane, the club failed to secure any silverware, marking a significant downturn for a team that set the benchmark for excellence in German football.

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Ex-Manchester City star Kompany has just four years of managerial experience and his coaching history lacks any Champions League experience – his only European outing ended in an early Conference League qualifying round exit.

However, before settling on Kompany, Bayern's sports director Max Eberl and his colleague Christoph Freund faced several high-profile rejections as the club’s attempts to secure the services of Xabi Alonso, Julian Nagelsmann and Ralf Rangnick were unsuccessful. Other potential candidates such as Roberto de Zerbi, Roger Schmidt and Julen Lopetegui either chose to stay with their current clubs or pursue opportunities elsewhere.

WHAT FELIX MAGATH SAID

Former Bayern coach Felix Magath did not mince words when discussing the club's recent managerial hunt. Speaking at the Sports Media Austria conference in Saalbach-Hinterglemm, Magath expressed his dismay at the situation and stated: "At first it was perhaps something to smile about, but later it was no longer something to laugh about. That was something that damaged German football. It wasn't pretty, the way it was portrayed in public. So we're all really happy that we have someone now and we're keeping our fingers crossed."

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DID YOU KNOW?

Despite his criticisms, Magath backed Kompany’s appointment and said: “I am very happy that FC Bayern have once again signed a very good, successful player as a coach. I believe that there is still a need in the Bundesliga for former world-class players to bring their experience as coaches to the league."

However, the former coach tempered his optimism with a dose of realism about Bayern’s prospects in the 2024-25 campaign, adding: “Bayern will have a better season. The players have a much greater responsibility. They often had the coach as an excuse, but that is no longer the case. Bayern will no longer be dominant in the next one or two years."

West Brom are interested in signing a "special" attacking player who is admired by Carlos Corberan, according to a fresh update from journalist Alan Nixon.

West Brom transfer news

The Baggies could conduct some important transfer business this month, and they haven't been without suitors when it comes to potential new signings coming in.

Hertha Berlin ace Derry Sherhant is one player who has been linked with a move to the Hawthorns, with the attacker playing in the 2.Bundesliga this season, where he has been called "too good" for that division. Bristol City attacker Andreas Weimann is another individual who is a reported target for West Brom, having previously played for Aston Villa in the Premier League.

Meanwhile, Fenerbahce striker Umut Nayir was seen as a target too, although he has now joined Pendikspor, so it appears as though Corberan would like to bolster his attacking options between now and the end of the month. Another name has now been thrown into the hat in that area of the pitch, in a move that could be considered exciting by West Brom supporters.

West Brom want Joe Gelhardt

According to reliable reporter Nixon on Patreon [via Leeds United News], West Brom are keen on signing Leeds United attacker Joe Gelhardt, with the youngster someone who Corberan would "love" a reunion with.

Scottish Premiership giants Celtic and Rangers are also believed to be in the mix to sign the 21-year-old, should the Whites grant him a move away during the January transfer window, with Leeds wanting any interested parties to pay Gelhardt’s £16,000-a-week wage in full.

Gelhardt is someone who could be such an eye-catching addition for West Brom this month, even though the fact that he isn't playing much for Leeds could raise eyebrows.

There is so much attacking quality on show at Elland Road that playing time is always going to be different, though, and the Englishman could enjoy a new lease of life at the Hawthorns. Back in 2019, former Wigan Athletic manager Paul Cook had this to say about him, highlighting his huge potential at the time:

"He's got that unique talent to find space in a telephone box. He's such a natural, good footballer. To get a goal like that in front of his own fans was a special moment. A lot of young footballers coming into the game are not very nice people. We're just lucky to have a boy with his humility playing for us – the game is easy for him."

Meanwhile, ex-Scotland international Alan Hutton has described Gelhardt as "unreal" in the past, too, and he is someone with the natural talent and eye for goal to make a world of difference at West Brom in the second half of the season.

West Brom eyeing signing of ace who is "too good" for his current league

The Baggies’ Championship rivals are also keen.

ByHenry Jackson Jan 14, 2024

Whether Leeds would be willing to allow him to join a Championship rival remains to be seen, but the Baggies should see him as one of the best options to snap up.