Everton Keen on "Incredible" £22m Star

Everton may be plotting a move for Boulaye Dia if they can shift Neal Maupay to Serie A.

What’s the latest on Boulaye Dia to Everton?

According to Gazzetta dello Sport (via Sport Witness), Salernitana are interested in a move for Maupay, which could open up the possibility for both clubs to do business given the Toffees' interest in the Senegalese.

It is understood that Dia has a release clause of around €25m (£22m), but a deal could be made simpler if it involved a player plus cash.

The report details that Maupay is looking for a change of scenery and is open to a move to Italy.

Football Insider revealed that a new number nine is a key priority for Sean Dyche, with the Toffees scoring the second-lowest number of goals in the league last season.

Would Boulaye Dia be a good signing for Everton?

Described as “incredible” by journalist Josh Bunting, Dia has enjoyed a phenomenal season in Italy. In 27 Serie A starts, the 2022 African Cup of Nations winner bagged 22 goal contributions.

This impressive record meant he was the division’s third-highest scorer, despite playing for Salernitana, who finished in 15th position. This potency meant he netted more than the likes of Dusan Vlahovic, Romelu Lukaku and Olivier Giroud at a commendable rate of 0.57 goals per 90.

Dia is probably not especially popular across Campagna, as his fizzing left-footed strike stalled Napoli’s title celebrations as he earned his side a 1-1 draw. In that affair at the Diego Armando Maradona Stadium, the forward recorded 3/3 successful dribbles, won five ground duels, managed 81% accuracy, and of course netted that stunning equaliser.

Across the continent, the 25-cap international has also tremendously excelled, ranking within the best 22% for successful take-ons, pass completion, assists and non-penalty goals per 90.

This signing could finally give Dwight McNeil someone to constantly look out for. Last season in the Premier League, the winger averaged the most dribbles per game (1.5) and the second-most key passes per game (1.4) in the Everton squad to show is an instrumental figure within offensive sequences.

Furthermore, the former Burnley livewire created the second-most chances in the squad, with 48 made in 39 outings, and was also the top goalscorer with seven goals.

Dwight McNeil

Back in 2019, Dyche tipped the “outstanding” attacker to have a huge future, saying: “That young man's got a massive chance of being a top, top player in my opinion.

"He continues to grow. Every time I wonder whether I should leave him out, I think, 'No, keep the boy playing'. It's good for him and it's good for us.

"If he keeps his head down and keeps working like he is doing, he's got a massive future."

You can argue that Dyche’s prophecy has been somewhat fulfilled as McNeil now finds himself as one of Everton’s most important performers. His two goals in the unexpectedly emphatic 5-1 win over Brighton in the latter stages of the season were one of the principal reasons for the Merseyside outfit’s survival.

Therefore, the possible arrival of Dia would take the goalscoring burden off McNeil, whilst also drastically improving the Toffees' current striking options.

Explained: Why Barcelona and Real Madrid could receive a staggering €1 billion bonus over European Super League plans – with Premier League clubs risking a hefty fine

Barcelona and Real Madrid could earn a €1 billion loyalty bonus if the European Super League comes to fruition, but Premier League clubs may be fined.

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Real, Barca to get €1 billion in loyalty bonus Premier League clubs to be handed fine Most PL clubs have decided against participating WHAT HAPPENED?

The European Court of Justice, on Thursday, ruled against UEFA and FIFA, stating that their opposition to the proposed European Super League breached EU law. The landmark decision is being considered as a huge boost to the Super League which was initially proposed by the top European clubs like Real Madrid, Barcelona and the Premier League giants.

While the two La Liga clubs remained firm on their decision to compete in the breakaway tournament, the Premier League clubs withdrew after facing massive backlash from their fans.

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As Los Blancos and the Blaugrana remain firm in their decision to take part in the Super League as and when it commences, they could be rewarded monetarily for their loyalty as the two clubs are set to receive a sum of €1billion (£870m), according to .

The report also claims that the Premier League giants who have withdrawn from the competition could be fined a sum of €300m (£260m).

DID YOU KNOW?

After the court's judgment came out, A22, the corporate body, that is backing the Super League project, came up with a new format for the competition for both men's and women's football.

A total of 64 teams will be divided into three different leagues – Star, Gold and Blue – with the top teams competing in the Star league while the weakest competitors will take part in Blue.

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GettyWHAT NEXT FOR SUPER LEAGUE?

UEFA has already made it clear that the court's ruling is not an "endorsement" in favour of the Super League and insisted on its resoluteness to "uphold the European football pyramid."

Almost all major European clubs have decided against participating in the new competition and it remains to be seen if the new league ever sees the day of light.

'Had to check it wasn't a troll account' – Man Utd fans shocked as Erik ten Hag named November Premier League Manager of the Month

Manchester United boss Erik ten Hag has been voted Barclays Premier League Manager of the Month for November and fans can't believe their eyes.

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Erik ten Hag wins PL Manager of the MonthFans can't believe their eyesHis third PL Manager of the MonthWHAT HAPPENED?

Manchester United was the only team without a loss, with a perfect winning record and victories in all three of their games against Everton, Fulham, and Luton Town. They were also the only team to remain goalless for the whole month. Despite this, the team's terrible Champions League form and off-field turmoil has given the feeling that the Red Devils are in crisis. Fans had to double-check the official announcement as they couldn't believe the Dutchman's selection.

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This is Ten Hag's third manager of the month after he won it in September 2022 and February 2023. His defender, Harry Maguire, also won the Premier League Player of the Month. The former captain of the side won back the Dutch coach's approval after he was originally transfer-listed in the summer.

GettyDID YOU KNOW?

Manchester United legend Sir Alex Ferguson is the only manager to have won the prestigious award more than the Dutchman. He received the gong a record 27 times for the Red Devils, the last of which came in October 2012.

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WHAT NEXT FOR MANCHESTER UNITED?

The Dutchman's side will now be in action when they take on Bournemouth on Saturday, December 9 as they look to continue their winning run in the Premier League. The Red Devils may look to rest the side and focus on their clash against Bayern Munich in the Champions League.

Man United Eye Move For £55m "Monster"

An update has emerged regarding Manchester United’s pursuit of Juventus striker Dusan Vlahovic, and it will come as good news to Erik ten Hag as he aims to significantly bolster his attack ahead of the 2023/24 campaign.

How much will Dusan Vlahovic cost?

Having been linked with a move for the Serbian hitman earlier this summer, Italian news outlet Corriere dello Sport (via Man United News) are reporting that Juventus have lowered their asking price to just €65m (£55m) and this could tempt Ten Hag into making a move for the player.

The Serie A side had previously valued him at around €80m (£68m) according to the same publication, and although it still represents a large fee, it is much lower than previously expected.

The Old Trafford outfit made a bid to sign Atalanta striker Rasmus Hojlund, which included a players plus cash deal, according to The Athletic, yet it was booted out by the Italian side as they aren’t looking to budge from their £86m price tag that has been set for the youngster.

Vlahovic then, could turn into an ideal alternative for Hojlund should any potential move fail to materialise during the transfer window.

Could Manchester United sign Dusan Vlahovic?

The Red Devils have made just one acquisition this summer, luring Mason Mount from Chelsea and although this is certainly a step in the right direction with regard to bolstering his attacking options, Ten Hag now needs a proper centre forward to join ahead of next term.

Only Marcus Rashford and Bruno Fernandes scored more than ten goals for the club throughout the whole of last season and the Dutchman will be looking for another one or two players who could arrive and boost this area.

Despite conceding just 43 goals in 38 league matches, United scored only 58 goals, with all but two of the top ten scoring more than them and this heightens their need for a player who could score plenty.

Vlahovic didn’t enjoy the best season for Juventus compared to previous years, yet he still managed to score 14 goals and grab four assists across all competitions, and he could prove to be a big upgrade on Anthony Martial, who managed just 12 goal contributions in comparisons.

Indeed, not only does the Serbian score more than Martial, he has also registered more shots per 90 (3.12 to 2.26), taken more touches in the attacking penalty area (144 to 58) and made more progressive carries into the final third (29 to 15) suggesting that his game revolves around more than just scoring, and he puts himself in excellent positions to shoot often and also in order to create chances for others.

dusan-vlahovic-juventus-tottenham-hotspur-transfer-gossip-postecoglou-maddison

Lauded as a “monster” by journalist Carlo Garganese, Vlahovic, as evidenced by the statistics, offers a more well round approach than Martial, while also being capable of scoring more often and this should tempt Ten Hag into making a move for him this summer.

The fee of £55m may seem a lot on the surface, but in terms of value for money and the chance to further develop the 23-year-old at United, it could be a wise investment by the club.

Zimbabwe need bowling revival to keep series alive

Zimbabwe must now win both remaining matches, if they are to avoid a series defeat, but a newly inspired Sri Lanka top order stands in their way

The Preview by Andrew Fidel Fernando07-Jul-2017Match FactsJuly 8, 2017
Start time: 0945 local (0415GMT)Can Graeme Cremer tighten up things on Saturday?•Peter Della PennaBig PictureWho would want to be a limited-overs bowler? For so long, Sri Lanka had been the home of the lower-scoring ODI, but in the past week, two totals of more than 300 have been mowed down, which suggests the island’s tracks are also beginning to conform to a global trend. As with so many of the pitches during the recent Champions Trophy, two of the three pitches in this series have afforded virtually no seam movement, and no menacing turn.While the bowlers have been defanged – Zimbabwe especially having failed to take more than five wickets in any of the three innings so far – Sri Lanka’s batsmen appear to be in a good rhythm. Chief among them is Upul Tharanga, who, batting in an unfamiliar no. 4 position, has scored 198 runs in the series without having been dismissed. The openers have been in strapping form, and virtually everyone else in the top six has contributed a score as well.Zimbabwe must now win both remaining matches, if they are to avoid a series defeat, but a newly inspired Sri Lanka top order stands in their way. The key, for them, is the discipline in their spin bowling; on Thursday, the hosts’ openers were fed too many wayward deliveries in the middle overs, and found it too easy to work the ball around.Both sides’ catching is under the microscope too. On batting-friendly surfaces, wicket-taking opportunities are at a premium, and bowlers need their team-mates to convert every chance that comes their way.Form guideSri Lanka WWLLW (completed matches, most recent first)
Zimbabwe LLWWLIn the spotlightWhile Asela Gunaratne’s batting has been required only once in the series, he has contributed nonetheless with the ball, breaking substantial stands in each match. His presence in the attack is vital. While Sri Lanka wean young spinners at the top level, Gunaratne has been sort of an insurance policy – a bowler to fall back on when the front-liners are having an off day. Where Lakshan Sandakan went for 73 runs on Thursday, for example, Gunaratne returned 2 for 53 from his 10 overs, and prevented Zimbabwe’s total from getting completely out of hand.Graeme Cremer came into the series with some form from the Scotland tour, and also the Pro50 at home, but is yet to make a substantial contribution in this series. Partly this is down to indiscipline. On Thursday, there were five wides down the leg side in his first over, and errors of length in most of his overs after that. As Imran Tahir has repeatedly proved this year – this Sri Lanka top order does not enjoy accurate legspin. If Cremer can tighten up his bowling, he could find himself among the wickets. It might also help if he could win a toss on occasion – by his own count, he has lost nine on the trot so far.Nuwan Kulasekara might replace Nuwan Pradeep in the fourth ODI•AFPTeam newsNuwan Pradeep, who had left the field with a thigh strain on Thursday, has been ruled out of the rest of the series. This means a spot may be open for either Nuwan Kulasekara, or 19-year-old quick Asitha Fernando, who have been drafted into the squad.* Lahiru Kumara is the other seamer in the squad. Sri Lanka may want to keep the top order and the spin attack intact.Sri Lanka (possible): 1 Niroshan Dickwella (wk), 2 Danushka Gunathilaka, 3 Kusal Mendis, 4 Upul Tharanga, 5 Angelo Mathews (capt.), 6 Asela Gunaratne, 7 Wanidu Hasaranga, 8 Dushmantha Chameera, 9 Lakshan Sandakan, 10 Nuwan Kulasekara/Lahiru Kumara/Asitha Fernando, 11 Lasith MalingaRyan Burl had been unavailable for the third ODI after being briefly admitted to hospital, having unwittingly consumed food he was allergic to. Though he comes back into contention for this game, Zimbabwe may be tempted to stick with his replacement Tarisai Musakanda, who hit 48 from no. 3. Tendai Chatara had an indifferent outing in the last match, but as he remains Zimbabwe’s top wicket taker in the series, will likely retain his place. Carl Mumba may also get another run as the second seamer, having returned an economy rate of 5.68 in 6.2 overs.Zimbabwe (possible): 1 Solomon Mire, 2 Hamilton Masakadza, 3 Tarisai Musakanda, 4 Craig Ervine, 5 Sean Williams, 6 Malcolm Waller, 6 Sikander Raza, 8 Peter Moor (wk), 9 Graeme Cremer (capt.), 10 Tendai Chatara, 11 Carl MumbaPitch and conditionsThere is likely to be more of the crosswind that was seen on Thursday, though apparently there is also some chance of a thunderstorm in the afternoon. The pitch may not be quite as batting friendly, but is expected to have plenty of runs in it.Stats and trivia Thursday’s century was the fifth of Hamilton Masakadza’s ODI career. He now sits at fourth on Zimbabwe’s century-makers’ list, behind Brendon Taylor (8), Alistair Campbell (7) and Grant Flower (6). Since his return to ODI cricket following a 19-month layoff, Lasith Malinga has taken five wickets at an average of 63.60, with an economy rate of 6.25 If Sri Lanka win either of their remaining games, this will be the first ODI trophy they have won since November last year, when they beat Zimbabwe and West Indies in a tri-series.Quotes”There’s not much you can change in one day. We will take the positives and try and and restrict them.”
“What we need is consistency. We can lose one or two games, but if we bat well every day that’s great. Some days we don’t do well. If we want to improve we need to be consistent.”
*13.57 GMT, July 7: The story has been updated to reflect the inclusion of Nuwan Kulasekara in Sri Lanka’s squad.

'Made me smile for the first time today' – Erling Haaland reacts to hilarious meme after his furious referee rant in Man City draw with Tottenham

Erling Haaland has enjoyed a social media meme a day after his furious referee rant during Manchester City's clash with Tottenham.

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Haaland reacts to hilarious memeWas left fuming against TottenhamMissed several chances as Man City were held WHAT HAPPENED?

The Norwegian was left fuming during Sunday's Premier League clash between Manchester City and Tottenham Hotspur as he felt that Jack Grealish had been denied the chance to score a fourth goal for the club and seal victory in a dramatic game.

A thrilling encounter went down to the wire, with Grealish played through on goal in stoppage time, only for referee Simon Hooper to stop the game for a foul on Haaland. Hooper had appeared to wave play on initially, leaving the goal machine to angrily approach the referee on the pitch. At full-time Haaland also told Spurs' Giovanni Lo Celso to “f*ck off” as he stormed down the tunnel.

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The 23-year-old seemed to have cooled down after his outburst on the pitch as he shared a meme of himself on X with the caption, "Wtf that made me smile for the first time today."

Getty ImagesTHE BIGGER PICTURE

While the Cityzens might feel that they were robbed of a chance to score a late winner, they did not have the best of outings against Ange Postecoglou's side. The champions came back from behind to go 2-1 up in the first half but then conceded their lead twice in the second and were extremely wasteful in front of goal.

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(C)GettyImagesWHAT NEXT FOR MAN CITY?

Pep Guardiola's side, who are now three points behind league leaders Arsenal, will aim to get back to winning ways on Wednesday when they take on Aston Villa at Villa Park.

Fabrizio Romano: Tottenham are "very happy" with "top" Spurs signing

Tottenham Hotspur have made a very impressive start to the campaign and club chiefs are delighted with one player's performances since moving to north London, according to transfer guru Fabrizio Romano.

What's the latest news involving Tottenham Hotspur?

Spurs could be set for one of their defenders to leave the club in the January transfer window, with Football Insider claiming that Eric Dier is subject of interest from Serie A giants Roma, who are managed by ex-Lilywhites man Jose Mourinho.

The report states that the England international would seriously contemplate a reunion with the Portuguese football icon, given that he has not featured in a single minute of action for Tottenham this campaign and is out of the reckoning under Ange Postecoglou.

Aksam Spor via TEAMtalk indicate that Spurs are keen on bringing in Galatasaray defender Victor Nelsson; however, they will face stiff competition from La Liga outfit Sevilla to sign the Denmark international. Nelsson is said to have a release clause of around €25 million inserted into his contract at the Turkish champions, though his current employers are attempting to raise this figure to €30 million, which would equate to roughly £29.95 million.

On the pitch, Spurs are in an excellent run of form and have yet to lose a single Premier League match this campaign, situating them in second place with 17 points from seven matches and one behind league leaders Manchester City.

Cited by The Daily Mail, former Celtic boss Postecoglou has had his say regarding VAR following Luis Diaz being on the end of a contentious decision that saw what looked like a perfectly good goal denied in Tottenham's 2-1 victory over Liverpool on Saturday, which would've given the visitors the lead in north London.

Speaking in his post-match press conference, Postecoglou stated: "I think I'm on record as saying that I've never really been a fan of it (VAR) since it came in. Not for any other reason than I think that it complicates areas of the game that I thought were pretty clear in the past, but I can see at the same time why it was inevitable that technology would come in."

Who has impressed since joining Tottenham Hotspur?

Taking to social media platform X, transfer guru Romano has revealed that Tottenham are delighted with the impact new goalkeeper Gugliemo Vicario has made since arriving at the Lilywhites, as he stated: "Tottenham are very happy with Guglielmo Vicario and his impact with English football. Understand real fee invested by Spurs to sign Vicario from Empoli was €19m. Top signing."

In his post, Romano also alluded to Vicario's real transfer fee of €19 million, which was previously claimed to be around €20 million in a report from TNT Sports when the Udine-born star joined Tottenham, showing how it was actually slightly less.

Tottenham Hotspur goalkeeper Guglielmo Vicario.

Impressively, Vicario has managed to record a save percentage of 81.8% in the Premier League this term and has made several important saves when called upon between the sticks, as per FBRef. Tottenham finally look to have found a long-term replacement for Hugo Lloris and fans will hope he remains at the club for many years to come, improving along the way.

Never write Atletico Madrid off! Jan Oblak the shootout hero as Diego Simeone's men come from behind to dump Inter out of the Champions League on penalties

Jan Oblak was the hero as Atletico Madrid came from 2-0 down on aggregate to ultimately defeat Inter on penalties in the Champions League last 16.

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Game went to penaltiesEnded 2-2 on aggregateOblak made two saves in shootoutGettyTELL ME MORE

Diego Simeone's men were 1-0 down from the first leg but staged a remarkable comeback despite going behind on the night at the Wanda Metropolitano, levelling the aggregate score at 2-2 before triumphing on penalties.

Alvaro Morata had a fine chance after 28 minutes as he was found unmarked in the box but his header was well saved by Yann Sommer. Soon after, Inter opened the scoring on the night after a surgical counter-attack that saw Federico Dimarco played in 12 yards from goal, and he scored with a first-time finish to give his side a two-goal cushion.

Atletico hit back immediately, though, as Inter failed to clear a through ball and Antoine Griezmann finished on the turn.

Marcus Thuram had a gilt-edged chance to put the game beyond Atletico in the second half but he blazed over with 15 minutes remaining. Memphis Depay, on for the ineffective Morata, hit the post in the 85th minute but the ball came back in just seconds later, and the Dutchman made no mistake.

The same could not be said of Rodrigo Riquelme, as he was played in brilliantly by Griezmann in the last minute of injury time and somehow blazed his shot over the bar.

The tie went to extra time, where Lautaro Martinez had perhaps the biggest chance, but he could only send a header wide.

And so it was penalties. Atletico won the shootout in dramatic fashion, as Alexis Sanchez and Davy Klaasen both saw their penalties saved by Jan Oblak, and Martinez blazed the ball over the crossbar to hand the hosts victory. Saul had missed for Atleti, but it mattered little in the end.

AdvertisementGettyTHE MVP

Jan Oblak! The Atletico 'keeper saved twice from the spot in the penalty shootout and appears to carry with him the aura of a truly elite goalkeeper. He made a couple of vital saves in normal time, but his most telling contributions came in the highest-pressure situation imaginable. A world-class showing.

GettyTHE BIG LOSER

Martinez endured a nightmare of an evening. Not only was he peripheral throughout the 90 minutes, he had a major chance to score an unmarked header in extra time but fluffed his lines, and then he blazed over the decisive penalty to hand Atletico a dramatic victory. It couldn't have gone much worse for the Argentine, who turned in almost the exact opposite of a captain's performance.

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GettyWHAT COMES NEXT?

Both teams have a quick turnaround for the weekend; Atletico face Barcelona in a huge encounter on Sunday in La Liga, while Inter play Napoli on the same day in Serie A.

Rabada will take over from Steyn as spearhead – du Plessis

The South Africa captain backs both quicks to deliver with the reverse-swinging old ball in Sri Lanka

Andrew Fidel Fernando in Galle11-Jul-2018To get your mind around exactly how ridiculous South Africa’s pace gifts are at present, consider this: Dale Steyn, almost certainly the greatest fast bowler of his generation, has the worst average among the frontline quicks in his squad. His 419 wickets have come at 22.32; Vernon Philander averages 21.46, Kagiso Rabada, 21.59, and Lungi Ngidi, 16.42. What makes the presence of these riches more incredible, is that Morne Morkel, one of South Africa’s best ever, retired in their previous series.Now, some of these stats are skewed. Ngidi has only played three Tests, all at home, and his record will probably worsen. Philander’s numbers are substantially skewed by a phenomenal home average of 18.27 – his average in Sri Lanka, from two 2014 Tests, is 76.But while Rabada also has modest figures in Asia, his only previous experience on the continent being his three Tests in India, there is a feeling in the South Africa camp that he is a much improved bowler now. If it is true that Steyn is not at his best following a series of frustrating injuries (coach Ottis Gibson described his bowling as “rusty” following the two-day practice match), here is the bowler that will assume the role of attack leader, South Africa believe. There is pressure on spinner Keshav Maharaj to shine on his first series in this part of the world, but captain Faf du Plessis still has plenty of faith in reverse swing, and in Rabada’s ability to extract it.”Dale has been the spearhead, but I think KG (Rabada) will take over that mantle. He’s got the skill, he’s got the pace and he’s got the control to do well in all conditions around the world,” du Plessis said on the eve of the first Test. “I have seen growth in him since the India tour. I think that’s what’s remarkable about KG, is how quickly he learns. That was his first subcontinent tour and I believe he’ll learn from that – the way he’s improved his control.”With his skills, he’s got the ability now to swing the ball both ways with a reverse-swinging ball, which is a skill that not a lot of bowlers have. And once again, pace against any subcontinent team is something you want try and expose. We’ll have to see to what extent the wicket allows for that. It’s good to see him bowling quick again after his recent injury. He looks hungry to perform in the series.”Not that Steyn is expected to fade away. When South Africa were last in Galle, he had claimed 9 for 99, using reverse swing to devastating effect in both innings, to propel his team to victory. This time around, Steyn’s pace may not be what it was four years ago, but his skill – particularly with the old ball – remain undiminished, du Plessis said. In fact, in a three-man pace attack, it is for those later overs that Steyn may be reserved.”Dale’s X-factor is how he picks up wickets with a reverse-swinging ball. His way of getting wickets with the new ball is getting it to move around a little bit with swing, and a little bit of seam, really consistently. But there’s a period of the game when Dale gets his tail up. He gets one wicket, and is up there with the most dangerous bowlers in the world, because he is so skillful, and he can get the ball to reverse swing at pace. I’m hoping to see Dale bowl really quick again. He hasn’t bowled for a long time, so he’ll be excited to get the opportunity. It’s a good sight to see when he gets the ball reversing, and he’s running in and keeping those legs really really fast.”In almost any other side in the world, a bowler of Ngidi’s potential would command a place in every Test, but signs are, he may have to miss out in Galle. While Steyn, Rabada and perhaps Maharaj are aggressively looking for wickets, du Plessis suggested that it is Philander who will be relied on to provide control from the other end.”With Vern, his control is exceptional,” du Plessis sad. “He won’t offer you much as a batter. Even if there’s not much grass and seam movement, Vern is still a guy that will hold a game for you. And then from the other side, from a captaincy point of view, you can bring a guy and try and get wickets.”

'Couldn't make the damage any worse' – Vivianne Miedema defends decision to start for Netherlands in Women's Nations League as Arsenal star prepares for knee surgery

Vivianne Miedema says that her recent start for the Netherlands "couldn't make the damage any worse" following the news that she needs knee surgery.

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Miedema started for Netherlands last weekThen left camp early to return to ArsenalDefends start after news she requires knee surgeryWHAT HAPPENED?

Arsenal boss Jonas Eidevall confirmed on Friday that Miedema requires 'minor knee surgery' just days after starting for the Netherlands against Spain. Asked about those minutes in the international break, which were followed by the forward having to leave the Dutch camp prematurely, he added: "She doesn't need a surgery because of those 45 minutes she played against Spain. She would have needed the surgery anyway. It was nothing that the Dutch team did that complicated this here or made the situation worse. It was a situation that needed to be fixed anyway."

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Miedema has now spoken herself about the situation, which comes just four months after her return from an ACL rupture. "It's the same knee again," she wrote in her column for . "I already knew this surgery was coming. We decided to join the Netherlands camp anyway to see if I could still contribute. In consultation with all the medical specialists, of course. I couldn't make the damage any worse. So what remains is another rehabilitation in which I'll listen to my body very carefully.

"I was just on the way back and felt myself getting stronger mentally and physically," she added. "Soon, I'll have to go back to the gym. It's hard and frustrating. When will this stop for me? But following my previous injury, I'm used to this now."

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Miedema will be absent for 'several weeks', which is a real blow for an Arsenal team that still has a chance of winning the Women's Super League title and is in the semi-finals of the Continental Cup. The Gunners are already without three players who are at the CONCACAF W Gold Cup and Eidevall revealed on Friday that Amanda Ilestedt will be missing be Sunday's clash with rivals Tottenham, too.

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DID YOU KNOW?

Spurs beat Arsenal for the first-time in the history of the women's team in December. Prior to that, the Gunners were unbeaten in 14 meetings with their north London rivals, winning 11 of those in 90 minutes, two on penalties and drawing once.

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