Everton have expressed an interest in bringing Villarreal striker Boulaye Dia to the Premier League, according to reports.

What's the latest on Dia to Everton?

The Senegal international is currently out on a season-long loan at Salernitana who do have the option to buy him for €12m (£10m), but being Paulo Sousa’s best-performing offensive player, has caught the eye of the board on Merseyside, but not for the first time. The Goodison Park outfit reportedly reached out to the 26-year-old’s representatives regarding a deal in January but were dealt a blow after learning that he was keen to remain in the Serie A at the time.

Italian outlet Tutto Salernitana have since claimed that the Toffees are still admirers of the forward and are currently in pole position to secure his services should he become available during the upcoming window with Sean Dyche making sure his club don’t give up the chase after their setback at the start of the New Year.

According to Corriere dello Sport (via Sport Witness), Everton, alongside their top-flight rivals West Ham, are both “keen” on Dia and have “often expressed interest” in signing him. The Blues and the Irons’ “requests” are “not lacking” and whilst he’s valued at “at least” €20m (£17m), that would be nothing for his two potential suitors who are desperate for a new striker up top. Should Salernitana permanently purchase the attacker, it’s stated that they previously held an interest in Neal Maupay which has raised the possibility that a swap deal could be on the cards.

Would Dia be an upgrade on Maupay?

Maupay joined Everton from Brighton back in August 2022 but has failed to make a significant impact on the first-team having found the net just once in 22 appearances so Dia would most definitely be a huge upgrade and perfect replacement.

The Nike-sponsored star has scored ten goals and provided four assists in 24 Salernitana outings where he’s averaging 1.4 shots per league game, highlighting how much more prolific he is in the final third. Outside of his natural centre-forward role, the 5 foot 11 gem is also capable of playing out wide on both wings and even as an attacking midfielder so would add great versatility to the squad.

Dubbed “magic” by journalist Usher Komugisha, Dia was a key member and breakout star of Senegal’s World Cup squad that made it all the way to the last 16 of the tournament so it’s no surprise that he’s attracting interest because he’d be ideal for the Toffees.

Don Robson, the driving force behind Durham’s emergence as a first-class county, has died at the age of 82

David Hopps11-Mar-2016Don Robson, the driving force behind Durham’s emergence as a first-class county, has died at the age of 82.Durham became the 18th first-class county in 1992, the first since Glamorgan in 1921, defying the general assumption that county cricket was certain to decline rather than expand bravely into what became its most northerly outpost.After difficult beginnings, they went on to dominate the professional game, winning six trophies between 2007 and 2014, including three Championships, and also staging international cricket at their purpose-built Chester-le-Street ground.The death of the man who was chiefly responsible for delivering that dream comes at a challenging time when Durham are under considerable financial strain, inviting questions whether regular England cricket in the north-east is sustainable.Robson, immensely proud of the north-east, would have had no truck with such pessimism. As leader of Durham county council (the youngest ever when he was appointed in 1973) and an influential member of the regional assembly, he had political clout in the region and he put it to good use in a straightforward, immensely committed style.His ambition was to provide a home for the succession of cricketers developed in the north-east but who had previously had to leave the county to fulfil their ambitions to play professional cricket.Gordon Hollins, the ECB’s chief operating officer, knew Robson well from his time as commercial director at Durham.He said: “Don played a leading role in gaining first-class status for Durham prior to their inaugural season at the top table in 1992. The north-east was going through a really tough time economically and Don’s efforts therefore didn’t just help cricket, they also helped the region regain some pride.”The success of Durham on the field, the development of several England players and the staging of international cricket at the Emirates Riverside are all achievements that would not have been possible without Don’s contribution”Don was equally committed to the recreational game – I would often see him watching Greenside CC play in the Tyneside & Northumberland league on a Saturday afternoon.”Robson became Durham’s first chairman as a first-class county, but this was no political sop. He led the fundraising drive, lobbying extensively and continuing his involvement in cricket in the north-east.He was involved when Durham were England’s dominant minor county through the 1970s and ’80s – going 65 games unbeaten between 1976 and 1982 – managed the Under-19 team for a while and represented the county at several committees on the Test and County Cricket Board – the forerunner of the ECB.In April 1992 they played their first match as a first-class county – a Sunday League fixture against Lancashire at the Racecourse Ground in Durham. Ian Botham and Wayne Larkins, two high-profile signings, opened the batting and Durham won. It was a decade and more before winning became a habit.Most importantly, Durham secured land for a permanent headquarters on the outskirts of Chester-le-Street, adjoining the River Wear and with Lumley Castle providing a striking backdrop. A Chester-le-Street farmer had been willing to end his lease because the land was too wet. In May 1995, Durham played their inaugural game on the ground against Warwickshire and the pavilion was named in Robson’s honour and opened by the Queen in 1996.Geoff Cook, Durham’s director of cricket – the longest-serving county coach in the game – said on the their website: “You had to be involved at the time of Durham’s emergence from minor counties cricket to appreciate the enormity of Don’s involvement in the whole scheme.”To be the first new county for 70 or 80 years was a big thing in its own right, but the practicalities of getting the finance and the ground in place were vital to us having a realistic chance of succeeding.”A tremendous amount of balls were up in the air at the same time, but Don remained completely focused throughout the process and at the same time he progressed his business as well as his political career.”It was amazing to be on hand to witness his mental and physical energy and the way he was able to pull things together. He really was a remarkable man. He had a ferocious energy and a determination to satisfy his vision.”No matter the size of the hurdles that got in his way, he always felt he could surmount them. He was formidable, but he had a lot of warmth and he was a caring person.”Before awarding first-class status, Durham had to have at least £1m in the bank and guarantee to secure a permanent ground within five years.Robson used his political contacts to win major support from such companies as Scottish and Newcastle Breweries, but he was a politician who also had a strong connection with the public and they trusted him with a rush of small donations and offers of help in the belief that he would achieve his goal.He was awarded a CBE for services to local government in 1997 and received an honorary doctorate from Sunderland University in 2002 in recognition both of this and his role in securing Durham’s first-class status. He also played professional football as a centre-forward with Doncaster Rovers and Gateshead.

All the dress rehearsals are over. South Africa have prepared at home and away, they have played at home and away, they have won at home and away

Firdose Moonda16-Mar-2016

All the dress rehearsals are over. South Africa have prepared at home and away, they have played at home and away, they have won at home and away. For good measure, they even lost at home, to Australia, and all of that will stand South Africa in good stead for the four matches they will play from Friday as they aim for a semi-final berth.Their World T20 group stage starts against England, an opposition they recently beat 2-0, but the real test will only come two weeks from now if they reach the knockouts. That’s when the fruits of all the training and playing and winning (and losing) will show. This time South Africa have a different plan and it’s nothing fancy at all.”When you are under pressure and your heart rate is 180, it’s hard to keep your thinking clear and that’s why we’ve spoken about doing the basics well,” JP Duminy explained. “If you focus on something that easy, it gives you a good chance of putting in a big performance in that situation.”South Africa learnt that from their most recent defeats, not the string of wins that saw them chase successfully for five matches on the trot. It was only when they fumbled in the field and sent down extras at the death against Australia, that the basics came into sharper focus and they have promised not to lose sight of them.For Duminy, that message has wider implications. There have been suggestions that South Africa’s highest run-scorer in T20 cricket is in the squad on reputation because his recent performances have been far from promising. He has not crossed fifty in 21 international innings since the team’s last visit to India, last October, but that is a statistic he is determined to put right.”I will be lying if I say it hasn’t been a really average season for me,” Duminy admitted. “But I enjoy these events and I feel very refreshed at a world event like this.”Already, Duminy has been back in the runs with 67 in the warm-up match against India and even though he only managed 22 in the second match – where he played for Mumbai Cricket Association XI against his own side – he knows he won’t have to face the bowler who removed him, Kyle Abbott, in the tournament.He will, however, have to bowl despite a summer where his role as an allrounder was scaled down in order for him to focus on his batting. In the subcontinent, South Africa are still likely to field only one specialist spinner – Imran Tahir – and will want a second slower-bowling option. Duminy wants to embrace the chance to contribute in another way. “I know that’s going to bring a lot of opportunities for me, especially in these conditions. Hopefully when given that opportunity I can make it count,” he said.Ultimately, the word opportunity is what South Africa have on repeat as they go into this tournament. They’re not viewing it as an examination of whether they can finally win a global trophy but as an opportunity to try and see if they can.”We’ve taken massive strides in these events. In the past, we’ve buckled under the pressure. If we look back to the last T20 and 50-over World Cup where we reached the semi-finals, we were outplayed,” Duminy said. “It’s when we haven’t given our best that we’ve let ourselves down. Quietly confident is the phrase that’s going around, especially in the shorter format. We are looking forward to this tournament.”

Arsenal seem on an unstoppable path to Premier League glory at the moment, with Mikel Arteta triumphantly at the helm.

The Spaniard has overseen vast change in the three years since taking over from Unai Emery, and despite it being his first venture as a head coach, he already seems set to write himself into the history books.

What makes the Gunners' turnaround so special is the manner in which they built their team, which is currently bursting with exciting young talent. Through shrewd and decisive acquisitions and the promotion of academy graduates, the fact that they boast the fourth-youngest average XI in the league is further testament to their imminent success and the unbridled further success their future is promised.

However, perhaps the crowning glory of Arteta's recruitment policy actually came through the departures he has instigated. The likes of Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang and Nicolas Pepe had shown glimpses of quality but did not boast the right mindset or consistency for his vision. And so, they were gone.

They would then be replaced by younger, hungrier models, and thus the cycle continued.

However, in Gabriel Jesus, they arguably have a top striker to hold down that position for the foreseeable future.

He is enjoying a fine return to action after his injury absence, picking up where he left off before the World Cup. The 26-year-old is the model for the perfect transfer, and as such, they are seeking to replicate it his summer with a move for Jesper Lindstrom.

Who is Jesper Lindstrom?

A tricky and versatile attacker, the Denmark international has enjoyed a fine season for Eintracht Frankfurt despite his youth.

As such, it was noted by Sky Germany (via Sport Witness) that contact had already been made over a potential deal in the coming transfer window. What makes this move even more enticing is that the German outfit are reportedly willing to sanction his sale, with €40m (£35m) being the apex of their current valuation.

With seven goals and four assists after just 22 Bundesliga games this season, the 23-year-old actually boasts striking similarities with the former Manchester City forward.

He too has scored just seven, but his six assists across 17 Premier League games slightly outperform his potential teammate.

What further draws comparisons is their shared ability to play all across the front line, with Jesus often deputising on either flank for Pep Guardiola in the past as a keen presser.

Lindstrom too marked himself as an intelligent attacker who could lead the press, as he ranked in the top 18% for successful pressures last season compared to others in his role across Europe.

His teammate Kevin Trapp has sought to praise the youngster too, as he lauded his progression: "Jesper has already made significant steps forward… you can see that he's an outstanding footballer and has very good technique."

With all the necessary attributes to emulate Jesus, perhaps bringing him in could further add to the fluidity of Arteta's system, with yet another forward capable of interchanging within their front three.

Former India captain Rahul Dravid has been appointed team mentor of Delhi Daredevils. Dravid will head a refurbished coaching bench at Daredevils, who have also hired former South Africa and India assistant coach Paddy Upton as head coach.Dravid and Upton will work with a team of assistants: Zubin Bharucha (technical director), former India batsmen Sridharan Sriram and Praveen Amre (batting coaches), and former Tamil Nadu and India fast bowler TA Sekhar (bowling consultant).”I am very excited by the challenge of taking Delhi Daredevils on to the next level. From what I have seen I have been impressed by the ambition and energy demonstrated by the team and I look forward to working with a group of players that I believe have what it takes to succeed,” Dravid said.”Along with the rest of the support staff, I am fully aware of what this franchise means to its supporters and I intend to do everything possible to help build a team that the fans can be proud of.”The franchise was forced to ring in changes to the coaching staff once former South Africa batsman and coach Gary Kirsten’s three-year contract was terminated after two seasons. Under Kirsten, who took charge in September 2013, Daredevils finished bottom of the table in IPL 2014 and second from the bottom last year. Daredevils also axed Kirsten’s assistant Rob Walters, who was the trainer.Incidentally, the trio of Dravid, Upton and Bharucha were part of the core team at Rajasthan Royals, which has been suspended for two seasons by the Lodha Committee. In 2014, having served as captain in previous seasons, Dravid assumed the role of team director cum mentor at Royals. In the 28 matches Dravid oversaw, the franchise won 13 matches and lost 12, with two ties and one no result.One of the most sought after coaches in the T20 format, Upton recently won the Big Bash League with Sydney Thunder, before also coaching Lahore Qalandars in the inaugural Pakistan Super League.”I relish the privilege to work again with Rahul and Zubin, and to have the opportunity to do so at a franchise like Delhi Daredevils,” Upton said. “I am constantly learning about the Twenty20 format as I move around the world, and look forward to applying and furthering this knowledge at the coming IPL season with Delhi.”

Cheikhou Kouyate was something of a fan favourite during his time at West Ham United but his performances since leaving suggest that the Hammers did very well to sell him for £11m.

How did Kouyate do during his time at West Ham?

West Ham signed the Senegal international from Belgian side Anderlecht in the summer of 2014, with the powerful midfielder joining in a deal worth £7m.

He quickly established himself as a regular with the east London outfit, contributing an impressive four goals and three assists in 31 Premier League appearances in his debut campaign at Upton Park.

The 6 foot 2 titan was a mainstay in the Hammers' side throughout his five years at the club, registering 15 goals and ten assists in 147 appearances in all competitions, so it was no surprise that he would earn West Ham a profit when he departed for Crystal Palace in 2018.

The Eagles would pay £11m to bring him to Selhurst Park ahead of the 2018/19 campaign but he simply wouldn't be able to replicate the form he showed at West Ham after moving across London.

During his time with the Hammers, Kouyate consistently averaged above a 7/10 rating from WhoScored for his performances in the Premier League, apart from his final season at the club, which saw him earn a strong 6.80 rating.

Journalist Sam Inkersole also summed up the midfielder's inconsistency when describing his "dreadful" performance in an embarrassing 0-0 draw with Shrewsbury Town back in 2018.

It makes it even more impressive therefore that the club were able to sell him for £11m to Palace on the back of his worst campaign as a West Ham player, and that regression has continued with age.

The defensive-minded midfielder failed to average above a 6.75 rating from WhoScored during his time at Selhurst Park and managed just three goals and five assists in 141 appearances, certainly a 'dreadful' return to quote Inkersole again. Indeed, he couldn't replicate the attacking nous he showed on regular occasions in east London.

It was perhaps no surprise therefore when Palace released Kouyate upon the expiry of his contract last summer, with newly-promoted Nottingham Forest later picking up the 33-year-old on a free transfer.

The £42k-per-week earner has managed just 12 Premier League appearances for Steve Cooper's side so far this campaign, averaging a less-than-impressive 6.50 rating from WhoScored, which has unsurprisingly seen his market value according to CIES Football Observatory drop to just €2m (£1.8m).

Therefore, while West Ham have been criticised for some of their transfer business in recent years, it seems clear that they hit the jackpot with Kouyate by selling him at the perfect time.

A number of Celtic fans online have been left infuriated by defender Carl Starfelt after he gave away a foolish penalty during the club’s most recent game.

What’s the latest on Carl Starfelt and Celtic?

The Bhoys took on Hibernian at home on Saturday afternoon, coming into the fixture nine points clear at the top of the Scottish Premiership with only 10 games remaining.

It was never going to be an easy day out for Hibs, but they got off to a terrible start when Elie Youan picked up two yellow cards by the 24th minute, meaning his side would have to play the bulk of the game at Parkhead a player down.

However, despite this obvious advantage, Ange Postecoglou’s Celtic side ended up conceding before half-time to go in at the break 1-0 behind.

Indeed, VAR noticed defender Starfelt pulling Paul Hanlon’s shirt inside the box, and after checking the monitor, referee Steven McLean decided to point to the spot.

Consequently, Hibs took the lead as Josh Campbell stepped up from 12 yards and sent goalkeeper Joe Hart the wrong way.

Evidently baffled by Starfelt’s miscalculation, a collection of Celtic fans couldn’t help but vent their anger online. Here are some of the strongest comments on Twitter…

West Ham United face Gent in the Europa Conference League tonight, with David Moyes' side hoping to put one foot in the semi-finals with a positive result against the Belgian side.

The east London side are considered one of the favourites to bring home the trophy, having won every game in the competition so far this season, and they will want to continue that trend against a side that currently sits fourth in the Belgian Pro League.

The Hammers bounced back from a heavy defeat against Newcastle United with a vital 1-0 win over Fulham last weekend but with Arsenal to come on Sunday, Moyes will surely be tempted to rest some of his squad for the game at the Ghelamco Arena today.

How should West Ham line up against Gent?

Here is how Football FanCast expects Moyes to line his side up for the first leg, with seven changes from the side that started in the 1-0 triumph at Craven Cottage.

(4-2-3-1): Areola (GK); Coufal (RB), Zouma (CB), Aguerd (CB), Emerson (LB); Rice (CM), Downes (CM); Paqueta (CAM), Cornet (RW), Benrahma (LW); Ings (ST).

Lukasz Fabianski may have returned from his recent fractured eye socket injury but Alphonse Areola has been the starter for West Ham throughout the Europa Conference League campaign and the Frenchman should start in between the sticks tonight.

Although the Hammers kept an impressive clean sheet against Fulham, Moyes may choose to rest Angelo Ogbonna and restore Nayef Aguerd to the starting line up in the hope that he can regain some confidence after his nightmare against Newcastle where he was caught on the ball for Callum Wilson's second of the clash.

Similarly, Emerson comes back in for Aaron Cresswell at left-back, as it wouldn't be a surprise to see the experienced Englishman get the nod against Arsenal, while Vladimir Coufal and Kurt Zouma complete the back four.

Tomas Soucek will surely finally be dropped by Moyes having produced some woeful recent displays, earning Sofscore ratings of 5.9 and 6.3 against Southampton and Newcastle respectively.

As a result, summer signing Flynn Downes partners Declan Rice in the middle of the park, with Lucas Paqueta returning to the side in a more advanced midfield role.

It's all change on the wing as Jarrod Bowen and Pablo Fornals are rested, with Maxwel Cornet handed a rare start on the right, while Said Benrahma, who has proven himself "unplayable" in Europe before in the opinion of Joe Cole, replaces Pablo Fornals on the left.

Michail Antonio is rested up top, with Danny Ings keeping his starting role as the lone striker, in the hope that he too can regain some confidence having scored in just one match since his January switch from Aston Villa.

It was Afghanistan’s first win in the Super 10s, it was their first win in any format against a Full Member side other than Bangladesh and Zimbabwe, and they had done rather well to beat West Indies, but the West Indies captain was in no mood to praise his opponents. An uncharacteristically tetchy Darren Sammy instead said his team should have had the match in the bag, that they should have easily chased 124, and failed to do so only because none of their batsmen took the responsibility of anchoring the chase.”[I] don’t think it was difficult,” he said, when asked about the challenge of batting against Afghanistan’s spinners on a slow, grippy pitch. “At the end of the day, we just didn’t play smart enough. We backed ourselves. The games we have won, every match somebody took responsibility to bat through. Chris [Gayle] did it in the first game, [Andre] Fletcher did it in the second game, Marlon [Samuels] did it in the third.”This time nobody did it. Nobody took responsibility, just left it for the next man to come. Like I said to the guys tonight, we just leave this game here in Nagpur. It’s a new focus now, which is the semi-final which is the first step and we just have to be ready to face whoever it is in Mumbai.”In a closely fought match decided by a six-run margin, Afghanistan ran 11 twos, while West Indies only managed five. Sammy didn’t think this had been a key difference between the two sides in the game, and repeated his belief that West Indies should have won the game comfortably.”This ground is probably one of the biggest grounds in India,” he said. “Plenty [of] twos were on display, especially when you are trying to save the boundary. Batsmen, depending on how quickly the ball is coming to you, always [have] two on offer particularly if you run the first one hard. Yeah, look, at the end of the day, we were really happy chasing 124. We should have gotten it. We lost the game, they didn’t win it.”While disappointed that West Indies had lost, Sammy was happy they had won their first three games and to be among the final four teams left standing in the World T20.”They [Afghanistan] are a side we were supposed to beat, and we just didn’t do that today. But the main objective of the Super 10 was to qualify for the semis and that we did.”Fletcher retired hurt after the sixth over of West Indies’ innings, while batting on 10. He returned to the crease in the final over, with West Indies needing 10 off the last three balls, but looked in clear discomfort, hobbling the last run of his innings. Philip Spooner, the West Indies media manager, said he had injured his right hamstring.”We will assess him tomorrow early and a decision would be made,” he said. “At this stage, as you could see, he is struggling, but a full assessment will be made tomorrow.”

Leeds United are reportedly interested in signing Italy sensation Mateo Retegui this summer and his potential arrival at Elland Road could see Patrick Bamford finally leave.

Could Leeds sign Mateo Retegui?

According to Italian news outlet Area Napoli, Leeds are one of the sides showing an interest in the 23-year-old ahead of the summer transfer window but could face competition from both Milan clubs and Eintracht Frankfurt for his signature.

The Argentine-born striker, who qualifies for Italy through his maternal grandfather, has enjoyed an impressive campaign at club level, contributing seven goals in just nine league appearances for Tigre, having joined them on loan from Boca Juniors for the season.

This has led to him earning a strong 7.11 rating from WhoScored for his performances in Argentina's top flight, while he has a 7.07 rating in the European Championship after scoring in both of Italy's games in the recent international break, including once in the 2-1 defeat against England.

The forward also spent the 2022 season on loan with Tigre, crashing in 23 goals in 42 appearances in all competitions, so it is easy to see why he earned the call-up to Roberto Mancini's side recently, which has clearly attracted the interest of clubs across Europe.

2006 World Cup-winning manager Marcelo Lippi was full of praise for the Boca Juniors star on Super Deportivo Radio after his performances during the international break, outlining attributes that should come as music to the ears of everyone associated with Leeds.

He said (via FC Inter News): "He’s the classic centre-forward who scores. He has a strong header. I like how he plays in the box, that’s why I think he’s a good striker.”

It does seem that Retegui's future lies away from Argentina and if Leeds do sign him this summer, it would surely see one of the strikers at Elland Road leave, with Bamford a prime candidate given he has just two goals in the Premier League so far this term.

How has Bamford played this season?

This campaign has been an extremely underwhelming one for Bamford, with the former Chelsea man once again failing to live up to the performances he showed under Marcelo Bielsa in the top-flight, when he managed 17 goals.

Not only has the 29-year-old only bagged twice in 2022/23, but he has massively underperformed his xG by nearly five, and that could be the difference between safety and relegation in what is an extremely tight battle to avoid the drop.

Considering Bamford is ranked as the 22nd-best performer in Javi Gracia's squad with a 6.34 average rating according to WhoScored, it seems clear that he cannot be considered a reliable long-term option at Elland Road.

Retegui has also averaged more shots (3.9 vs 1.7), key passes (0.6 vs 0.5) and dribbles (0.4 vs 0.2) per game than Bamford, outlining him as a better all-rounder in attack.

As such, it is evident that the Italy star could be a big upgrade on the struggling Leeds star this summer.