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Hardus Viljoen took the first eight wickets to give Derbyshire a rare victory and leave Sussex’s outside hopes of promotion in tatters

ECB Reporters Network15-Sep-2017A magnificent display of fast bowling by burly South African Hardus Viljoen inspired Derbyshire to only their second championship victory of the season against Sussex at Hove.Viloen took the first eight wickets to have a chance of all-10 before Harry Podmore nipped in for the last two to complete Derbyshire’s win and end Sussex’s promotion hopes in the processViljoen, 28, followed up his first innings return of seven for 80 to take 8 for 90 to finish with career best match figures of 15 for 170 as Sussex, bowled out for 344, were beaten by 45 runs. It was the fifth best match return by a Derbyshire bowler.This was the fifth time Viljoen had taken ten or more wickets in an match – but it’s the first time he has achieved it for Derbyshire, who must regret that he has been injured for most of the season.At the start of the day it looked as though Derbyshire had been stingy with their declaration. By declaring their innings closed at their overnight score of 322 for 8 they set Sussex a formidable 390 for victory.But Sussex had to go for the win to keep their promotion hopes alive. And Derbyshire knew that that would give them their best chance of victory.Viljoen, who is a genuine fast bowler, started his demolition job in his second over of the day, when he had Angus Robson caught at third slip. The fielder, Matt Critchley, took the ball with his hands high above his head.But by lunchtime Sussex had put themselves in with a chance of pulling off a stunning victory. They were 110 for 1, and needed another 280.Luke Wells and Stiaan van Zyl had set the platform for an unlikely win by the home side, van Zyl bringing up the 100 partnership just before lunch when he straight drove Luis Reece for four.After the break, Wells hit Viljoen for three successive fours but was then lbw looking for a fourth. And when Chris Nash was caught in the slips for just nine in Viljoen’s next over Sussex were 147 for 3 and Derbyshire were back in the match.But the match turned towards Sussex once again as even Viljoen struggled against van Zyl and the more pugnacious Luke Wright as the pair put on 120 for the fourth wicket. At tea, when Sussex were 236 for 3, needing another 154 from 36 overs, they were clear favourites to win the match.But then Viljoen turned the game towards Derbyshire once again. He had van Zyl caught at third man for 85 and then dismissed the Sussex captain Ben Brown, caught at slip. Then, when he plucked out Wright’s middle stump for 80 with a yorker Sussex were struggling at 276 for 6.Ollie Robinson and Jofra Archer continued to encourage the Sussex supporters with a seventh wicket stand of 31. But then Viljoen took out Robinson’s off stump for 15 before having Archer caught at slip for 25.Podmore finished the job for Derbyshire with the final two wickets, thanks to fine catches by Hamidullah Qadri and Ben Slater. But Viljoen was the great hero of the day.

Virgil van Dijk has issued a warning to Chelsea, suggesting them to not underestimate an injury-hit Liverpool side ahead of the Carabao Cup final.

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Liverpool could miss 10 players But Van Dijk insists Liverpool ready for Chelsea challenge Could lift first trophy as Liverpool captain GettyWHAT HAPPENED?

The Reds could be without 10 players for the final showdown against Chelsea. Despite the challenging circumstances, Van Dijk emphasized that there is an abundance of resilience and determination within the team to prove themselves in the Cup final.

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“I think the players coming in have to step up and show they’re wrong,” the Liverpool captain told reporters. “I think that’s the only way to do it. If they [Chelsea] take us lightly, then that’s their problem. I think we have enough quality to read the opponents. Players who come in have to show that. That fear factor, we don’t have influence on that. Everyone has to step up, the ones that play have to deliver to get results.”

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Van Dijk praised the contributions of young talents like Connor Bradley and Jarell Quansah, who have risen to the occasion when called upon. He emphasized the collective responsibility of every player, stressing the need for confidence and self-belief among the squad ahead of a title decider.

“Younger players as well, everyone has to take responsibility,” he said.

“They also have to enjoy that. “I think everyone wants to get the opportunity and show themselves, and they have to be confident. I’m not worried about that. They just have to go out there and show their qualities. I think if you play for Liverpool, you’re quite a good player already, so go out there and make everyone proud.”

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Getty ImagesWHAT VAN DIJK SAID ABOUT KLOPP

Jurgen Klopp has already announced that he is in the final lap of his Liverpool stint and will leave Anfield in the summer. However, Van Dijk emphasized that securing victory in the final takes precedence over lifting the in honour of their departing manager.

“I think nothing has changed,” he said. “We all want to achieve this. Obviously, he’s going at the end of the season, that’s a decision that’s been made, but we all want to win trophies regardless.

“It wouldn’t change if he wasn’t leaving. We just have to go for it and let’s see what that brings. “I’m thinking about the big challenge ahead of us. Hopefully, we can make it an amazing afternoon on Sunday.

“Every game we have ahead of us is the most important game. Obviously going to Wembley will be an amazing experience again with these guys. And it’s a big opportunity to get silverware and hopefully, it gives us an extra boost for the last part of the season.”

Kent all-rounder Matt Coles has been suspended for two Championship matches by an ECB disciplinary commission

ESPNcricinfo staff06-May-2016Matt Coles has received an automatic suspension from the ECB’s cricket discipline commission and will miss Kent’s next two Championship games. Kent’s cricket chairman, Graham Johnson, has condemned the decision as “disproportionate”.Coles’ absence is a big blow to Kent who escaped a weather-affected start to the season by beating Glamorgan at Canterbury to move into the top half of Division Two of the Specsavers Championship but who remain relatively light on seam bowling resources.He was reported by umpires Nick Cook and Rob Bailey during Kent’s match against Glamorgan for a Level Two breach of the code – throwing the ball at or near a player, umpire or official in an inappropriate and dangerous manner.He had previously received a reprimand following three penalty points following a Level 1 breach in August 2014 and six penalty points following a Level 2 breach in September 2014. The penalty for a subsequent breach at Level 2 within 24 months is six penalty points.The ECB statement read: “Coles has therefore received a total of twelve penalty points, triggering an automatic suspension. He is suspended from all cricket under the jurisdiction of the ECB until and including Wednesday 18th May 2016 – a period which covers Kent’s next two First XI fixtures.”Coles took 67 wickets at 23.49 for Kent last summer after returning to his home county following a brief spel at Hampshire where he never settled.Johnson expressed frustration at the decision. “In the light of the steps taken by the ECB cricket discipline commission I feel it only right to defend the position of Matt Coles,” he said. “Since his return to Kent, at the start of last season, Matt has demonstrated that he has learnt from things in the past. He has applied himself to his role on the field and represented Kent Cricket, to good effect, in off field activities.”Players carry points over a 24 month period and the two previously reported incidents are from August 2014 whilst Matt was at Hampshire. Kent made representations to the CDC regarding the breach. However, the CDC Chairman’s nominee, Mr Chris Tickle, did not consider that the consequences of this penalty might produce a result that was manifestly unfair. Under the process relating to cricket discipline there is no opportunity to appeal the outcome or the CDC’s decision.”The outcome in this set of circumstances I believe is disproportionate, it does not reflect the seriousness of the recent incident and does nothing to help a cricketer who has made such big strides since returning to Kent.”Glamorgan’s Chris Cooke was reported by the umpires during the same match for a Level One breach of the code (abuse of cricket ground, equipment and/or fixtures and fittings). He was reprimanded.Stuart Broad also picked up a reprimand after he was reported by umpires Richard Kettleborough, Michael Gough and Richard Illingworth during Nottinghamshire’s Championship match against Yorkshire for a Level One breach of the code – showing dissent at an umpire’s decision by word or action).ic suspension.

Leeds United are staring down the barrel of what could promise to be another devastating relegation, with the late appointment of Sam Allardyce only emphasising the precarious nature of their plight.

To welcome such an experienced firefighter is for the hierarchy to admit all their mistakes that have led to this moment, many of which have come in this one season.

Trusting in Jesse Marsch was a decision they essentially had to make after he saved them the season prior, but keeping him in charge for as long as they did was far from a necessity.

Then, in appointing Javi Gracia, they afforded the Spaniard just two months before then replacing him with the affectionately known 'Big Sam'.

It has been a year of poor decisions made too late, and with three tough fixtures looming, things do not look good.

With much of this current squad underperforming, hence their league position, whether they survive or not this summer must mark a turning point. With Victor Orta having left and the future of the club's ownership still up in the air, this team must be gutted and an identity reclaimed for the club.

No longer can they afford the panic acquisitions of big names akin to Weston McKennie's January arrival, when the academy boasts such readymade talent.

Should the American return to Juventus this summer, it could allow an opportunity to open up for young Charlie Allen to step into; someone hungry, full of desire, and actually deserving of a first-team spot.

Who is Charlie Allen?

Upon joining, McKennie described himself in his first interview as someone with: "physicality, able to run, I can get box-to-box". More crucially, when questioned by teammate and compatriot Tyler Adams, he agreed to the claim: "I've got goals."

The hope was that an attacking impetus from deep would be crucial in bolstering their survival bid, yet the 24-year-old is yet to score or assist since moving to England.

Meanwhile, for the U21s, the 19-year-old maestro has six goal contributions in 18 Premier League 2 games despite operating all across the pitch. His versatility lends to his preparedness for senior football, as such fluidity in-game could prove imperative.

It is impressive that the teenager has managed to amass such numbers from defensive midfield, and often a deeper right midfield role.

However, it likely comes as no surprise to journalist Patrick Van Dort, who once claimed:

"Charlie is one of those boys that you throw him on to the park and go and ask him to play. [He’ll] play anywhere with the same attitude and enthusiasm. Technically very good and physically can handle it – he is quick enough and he has a real chance

"People say he's a dream to coach, a good listener and ticks the boxes you'd expect of someone so highly rated."

Given he sits there for free, biding his time, whilst McKennie would likely cost a king's ransom for what little he has offered thus far, no matter their division at the end of the season, Allen deserves to play over the 24-year-old flop.

Cricinfo sums up the gains and losses incurred during abizarre six-day war.

Andrew Miller05-Jun-2005There really is nothing more that can be said about the series just passed. Ian Bell, with a century before lunch to his name on Saturday, summed the situation up last night, when he admitted that the bowlers he had just spanked around the park were less of a challenge than your average county attack.What, though, of the challenge ahead? Australia have arrived and the summer is about to begin in earnest, but after a warm-up of this one-sidedness, are England remotely prepared for what is about to hit them? Here, Cricinfo sums up the gains and losses incurred during a bizarre six-day war.

Steve Harmison: important wickets, but should he now be rested? © Getty Images
Steve Harmison’s confidence. A tally of 10 wickets in two Tests is no great shakes, although it is one more than he managed on thattraumatic tour of South Africa last winter. His first-day performance at the Riverside was as explosive as anyone could have wished, and the 90mph yorker that dismissed Habibul Bashar would have troubled even the best of Australia’s batting line-up.Harmison says he has an extra gear to unleash on the Aussies, althoughthere must be a strong temptation to wrap him in cotton wool until thestart of the Ashes. If he is truly England’s trump card, then why play him in seven largely irrelevant one-day games? The Aussies, naturally, would claim he was running scared, but bear in mind, they never had any qualms about hiding Shane Warne during the 1993 Texaco Trophy. And look how that little ruse turned out.Andrew Flintoff’s fitness. Compare and contrast Freddie’s recovery (or lack of) after his hernia operation in 2002-03, to the Lazarus impersonation he has pulled off in 2005. He flew home from South Africa at the end of January to have a spur on his left ankle removed, and the initial prognosis was that he would take no part in the Bangladesh series whatsoever, or at least play only as a batsman.In the event, the exact opposite has occurred. Flintoff bowled 21 fieryovers in the second Test, having eased his way back with five wickets in an exploratory performance at Lord’s, and though he was inked in at No. 6, he was not required to bat even once, thanks to the unfailing success of the England top five. That scenario, as Vaughan admitted, was not ideal, but there will be plenty opportunities in the one-dayers for Freddie to put bat to ball.

Ian Bell: effortless arrival into England’s Test team © Getty Images
Ian Bell’s arrival. Three into two didn’t go in South Africa this winter, so Bell was the unlucky man to miss out when the tour party was unveiled. But Mark Butcher and Robert Key were unable to stake an unassailable claim to the middle-order rights, leaving the way clear for England’s most assured newcomer since, well, Andrew Strauss.The beauty of Bell’s batting is its anonymity. Because he plays every ball precisely on its merits, he has never yet looked in a hurry at the crease, not even while milking 105 runs in a session on Saturday morning. He is unlikely ever to approach that sort of run-rate again, but there is every reason to believe he can survive against Australia, and ultimately flourish.Geraint Jones’s keeping. Never mind the little controversy surrounding that catch. A more savvy cricketer than Nafees Iqbal would have stood his ground, and the moment would have passed after a brief consultation. Nafees, and Bangladesh as a whole, will be older and wiser for the experience, and that, after all, is what this tour is all about.For Jones, the feeling of ball on glove is the more important aspect. South Africa was a tough tour, made tougher by his unfortunate habit of diving blindly in front of first slip and so unsettling his slip cordon as well as himself. Here, his footwork was first-rate, thanks in no small part to his one-on-one sessions with Jack Russell, and a tally of nine catches in the match took his career haul past 50 dismissals – an important milestone for one so doubted.

Matthew Hoggard: Man of the Match, but not at his best © Getty Images
Matthew Hoggard’s no-ball problem. When asked who he thought would be the England’s biggest threat to the Australians, Habibul Bashar immediately plumped for Hoggard – a curious choice that said more about Bangladesh’s unfamiliarity with swing bowling, rather than any genuine form on Hoggard’s part. For in truth, though he finished with a flourish with his fifth five-wicket haul in Tests and the Man-of-the-Match award at Chester-le-Street, Hoggard did not enjoy an impressive series.Michael Vaughan certainly wasn’t fooled by his performance. At Lord’s, he and Harmison were profligate with the new ball; at the Riverside, Hoggard was withdrawn after three ineffectual overs. What is more, he served up 23 no-balls in the two games, and resorted to running in with his eyes closed in a bid to rediscover his rhythm. It was an apt metaphor for a series in which England were not exactly challenged, but a worrying sign nonetheless. Fortunately, with no one-day duties to distract him this month, he’ll have plenty time to groove his action in county cricket before Lord’s.England’s spin options Two years ago, the question on everyone’s lips was “what is the point of Ashley Giles?” It was a cruel jibe, but at the time a valid one, for Gilo’s role in the side had not been properly defined. It took a renaissance series against New Zealand this time last year to finally put an end to the bickering, but with his fitness in doubt because of a dodgy hip, the issue of his replacement has resurfaced. So, let it now be asked, what is the point of Gareth Batty?Until his 15 overs at the death of the series, Batty’s only notable contribution had been a miraculous catch at square leg. Duncan Fletcher loves his utility players, but in Batty’s case, his versatility has usually outweighed his impact with the ball. And it has ever been thus – in Sri Lanka two winters ago, his improbable batting success against Muttiah Muralitharan meant that England’s best attacking spinner, Robert Croft, was omitted from the decisive Test of the series. The result? England lost by an innings and 215 runs. Australia will have taken note.Bangladesh’s development. Not strictly relevant to England’s Ashes prospects, but valid nonetheless to the English summer. The pleasure of watching England ease to their tenth consecutive home Test victory has been severely tempered by the quality of resistance on display, and with the most pointless triangular tournament in history to follow, it can only be hoped that Bangladesh can take heart from their second-innings performance come the one-dayers.I wouldn’t bet on it. As Vaughan noted, the Bangladeshis like to go for their shots, but for every occasion in which Aftab Ahmed’s strokeplay pays off, there are likely to be ten occasions in which he holes out to cover for a 14-ball 20. Bangladesh’s record in one-day internationals is pitiful – this form of the game is supposedly a lottery, and yet they have won just twice against senior opposition in 20 years of trying. They have been in disarray so far on this most testing of tours. For everyone’s sake, we must hope they have now overcome the worst of the culture shock.

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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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.

USMNT stars Weston McKennie, Tyler Adams & Brenden Aaronson were present for a brutal defensive assessment from Sam Allardyce at Leeds last campaign.

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Whites struggled throughout 2022-23 campaignAmerican stars unable to steer them to safetyEx-England boss oversaw slide into the ChampionshipWHAT HAPPENED?

None of that trio are at Elland Road in 2023-24, with McKennie returning to Juventus at the end of his loan spell, while Adams has joined Bournemouth and Aaronson is spending the current campaign at Union Berlin. Their departures were sparked by relegation out of the Premier League, with Allardyce unable to pull off a great escape after taking in just four games at the helm.

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He inherited a squad that was stuck in a rut, and did not hold back when offering an opinion on those at his disposal during a brutal first squad meeting. Patrick Bamford has lifted the lid on that chat, telling the podcast: “Honestly, he was brilliant. We had a meeting, we're all sat there, he's come in, just walked in, just stood at the front with his cup of tea, and just basically told us we're sh*t at defending. Just told us we need to sort this out. And that's what he did. There was no beating around the bush.

"The lads who didn't really know much about him, in terms of they'd been playing abroad or are foreign lads, are a bit taken aback. But obviously us English lads, who even growing up have watched him as a manager, you know what he's like. We're just like 'this is brilliant'. Tell it to us how it is and we can deal with it. It was simplifying it and just going back to the basics, which obviously last year we weren’t very good at. So he had a job on his hands. He definitely got us tighter at the back and if he’d been there a little but longer, we would’ve been fine.”

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Leeds finished five points adrift of safety last season, with Allardyce picking up just one from the 12 available to him. United States international Adams, who captained his country at the 2022 World Cup in Qatar, was among those unavailable to the vastly experienced former England boss through injury.

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Leeds have, following a mass summer clearout, moved on to Daniel Farke in the managerial department and are looking to bounce back into the Premier League at the first time of asking – with the Whites currently sat third in the Championship table.

A round-up of the Dhaka Premier League matches played on May 6, 2017

Mohammad Isam06-May-2017Gazi Group Cricketers took a four-point lead at the top of the Dhaka Premier League points table after their ten-run win over Brothers Union at the BKSP-3 Ground in Savar. Abu Hider’s four-wicket haul made the difference for Gazi Group at the end of a tense battle.Set 237 to beat the in-form team of the competition, Alok Kapali and Manvinder Bisla added 78 runs for the fourth wicket after Brothers Union lost three early wickets. When Manvinder fell in the 39th over, having added 60 runs for the sixth wicket with Dhiman Ghosh, Gazi Group took charge of the game.Even though Myshukur Rahaman tried to inspire Brothers Union’s lower-order to an end-innings fightback with a run-a-ball 38, Hider’s late strikes, culminating in figures of 4 for 52, ensured the opposition was bowled out for 226 in 48.5 overs. Mahedi Hasan and Shahidul Islam finished with two wickets each.Earlier, Gazi Group’s innings was headlined by a 97-ball 93 from wicketkeeper Anamul Haque, who strung a third-wicket 89-run stand with Suhrawadi Shuvo (41) and a 59-run fifth-wicket partnership with captain Nadif Chowdhury (33), before Mohammad Saddam and Kapali scalped three wickets apiece to skittle Gazi Group for 236 in 48.4 overs.Partex Sporting Club registered their first win this season after handing Kalabagan Krira Chakra a 62-run drubbing at the KSOA Stadium in Fatullah.Having been put in to bat, Partex posted 278 for 5 in 50 overs, piloted by a 52-run stand between Irfan Sukkur (58) and Sajjad Hossain (46) for the third wicket. Sukkur and and Sazzadul Haque (53) then put on 95 runs for the fourth wicket. Jubair Ahmed (16) and Rajibul Islam (30) took Partex past 250 runs, adding 42 unbroken runs for the sixth wicket in the last 4.4 overs.Samad returned the best figures for Kalabagan, finishing with 3 for 50 from his ten overs.In reply, despite having four experienced batsmen, Kalabagan failed to play out their full quota of 50 overs, folding for 216 in 46.1 overs. Hamilton Masakadza top-scored with 45 while openers Mehrab Hossain jnr and Mohammad Ashraful struggled to make any impact, registering scores of 11 and 12 respectively. Kalabagan’s woes were compounded by Imran Ali, who bagged a five-wicket haul in only his second List-A game. Among his victims were Masakadza and captain Tushar Imran, who fell for a four-ball duck.Khelaghar Samaj Kallyan Samity moved to eighth position on the points table after Robiul Islam Robi struck a 126-ball 103 to set up a 20-run victory over fifth-placed Sheikh Jamal Dhanmondi Club at the BKSP-4 Ground.Having elected to bat, Khelaghar opener Robi clobbered ten fours and two sixes enroute to his second List-A century this season. He added 83 for the first wicket with Salahuddin Pappu (46) before adding 126 for the third wicket with Amit Majumder, who struck 58 off 74 balls. Abdur Razzak picked up his second five-for of the season, as Khelaghar posted 266 for 8 in 50 overs.Dhanmondi Club were reduced to 22 for 3 in the fourth over but Prashant Chopra (44) and Rajin Saleh (76) added 53 for the fourth wicket to resuscitate the chase. Rajin and the in-form Ziaur Rahman (75) then led Dhanmond’s rally with an emphatic 108-run stand for the fifth wicket. However, Ziaur’s dismissal in the 35th over triggered a lower-order collapse as Dhanmondi lost their last five wickets for 51 runs before being bowled out for 246 in 47.2 overs. Abdur retired hurt with a leg injury after he fell badly while putting in a dive to get back in the crease. Tanvir Islam scalped four wickets to help Khelaghar register their third win of the tournament.

Arsenal are in talks to sign Brentford goalkeeper David Raya and sell USA international shot-stopper Matt Turner to Nottingham Forest, according to reports.

Who will Arsenal sign?

Mikel Arteta has been seriously backed in this summer transfer window, with Arsenal spending over £200 million on three major signings so far.

The big one is England international star Declan Rice, who swapped West Ham for the Emirates Stadium in a deal worth a club-record £105 million (including £5 million in add-ons).

He joins both winger Kai Havertz, who signed for £65m from Chelsea, and versatile Netherlands international defender Jurrien Timber following his £38m Ajax transfer.

Despite their huge outlay, reports have suggested that the possibility of further signings is very likely, and it is believed sporting director Edu is looking firm up Arsenal's goalkeeping options.

Reliable media sources, like transfer journalist Fabrizio Romano, have claimed that Brenford's Raya has already reached an agreement with Arsenal on personal terms.

Fellow reporter Pete O'Rourke, writing for Football Insider, echoes Romano's point that the Gunners are in talks to sign the Spaniard.

However, it appears Arsenal are plotting a one in, one out double transfer, as they're also in simultaneous negotiations to offload Turner to Nottingham Forest.

"Arsenal are in talks to sign Brentford goalkeeper David Raya and sell backup shot-stopper Matt Turner to Nottingham Forest," wrote O'Rourke.

"It is believed the framework of each deal is close to being agreed."

The report adds that Brentford have placed a £40 million price tag on Raya's head, while Turner comes as a Forest alternative target to Dean Henderson.

Despite being the USA's number one, Turner has been exclusively used as a backup option to Ramsdale, meaning Arsenal are happy to let him depart for the City Ground.

What's been said about David Raya?

Brentford boss Thomas Frank, commenting on Raya's first ever Spain call up last year, revered his keeper's "very aggressive" style of play and mentality.

"I think that mentality we all know, or mental state in the game, the mindset is so important," said Frank.

"So that's one thing you know you're only building stronger with your setbacks. You can't have a strong mentality if you don't have any setbacks.

"He's been on the radar from the Federation of Spain, I'm pleased to see him there. I think it shows definitely a lot of credit to him because there's a lot of good goalkeepers for Spain."

According to WhoScored, the "exceptional" Raya stood out as one of Brentford's best-performing players per 90, all while playing more league minutes than any other Bees player.

Liverpool boss Jurgen Klopp was also full of praise for the keeper's distribution in late 2021, coming after Raya wreaked havoc with some of his balls in behind the Reds.

“The goalkeeper could have the shirt with No 10,” the Liverpool manager said.

“He played a few incredible balls but it was the right thing to do against us today.”

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."

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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.