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New Manchester United manager Erik ten Hag appears to be pushing for a move for Juventus forward Paulo Dybala.

The Lowdown: Old Trafford talks

Dybala is out of contract in Turin at the end of June at looks set to end his seven-year stay with the Serie A giants ahead of the 2022/23 campaign.

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Reports earlier this month claimed that the 28-year-old’s representatives have already met with Old Trafford chiefs over a free transfer.

Ten Hag was thought to be ‘key’ in United’s attempts to sign Dybala, and as we know, the Dutchman has been officially announced as Ralf Rangnick’s successor since then.

The Latest: Dybala update

Sports Witness relayed updates from Italy regarding Dybala in a story shared on Wednesday. They led with a title suggesting that the Red Devils are interested in Dybala ‘at the push of Ten Hag’, with United now ‘serious’ in their pursuit of the Argentine.

Premier League rivals Arsenal, Manchester City and Tottenham are also name-checked and could look to talk to the player’s agent over the coming months.

The Verdict: Shrewd move

Ten Hag could be short of senior attacking options when he takes over, with Edinson Cavani set to leave when his United contract expires at the end of the season.

That will leave Cristiano Ronaldo as the only recognised senior striker, so bringing in Dybala, rated at £36m, for nothing, could be an extremely shrewd move.

It looks as if he still has plenty of years ahead of him at the top level, so you’d like to think Dybala will add significantly to his 145 goal tally for club and country, possibly in Manchester.

In other news: ‘Been told’ – Sky Sports journalist says ‘incredible’ speedster wants to join Ten Hag at Man Utd. 

Paddy Kenny has been left reacting to some Everton news that has now emerged on Richarlison ahead of the clash with Leicester City.

The Lowdown: Investigation

As per iNews, Richarlison is now being investigated by the police, after he threw a lit flare while celebrating his winning goal during the 1-0 win against Chelsea in the Premier League at Goodison Park last weekend.

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The Brazil international is also at risk of disciplinary action from the FA, although they have paused their own investigation for now.

The Latest: Kenny reacts

Speaking to Football Insider, former Leeds United and Sheffield United goalkeeper Kenny has now given his reaction to the news, claiming he will be ‘lucky’ to avoid a ban, which will be a big ‘blow’:

“He will be lucky to avoid a ban for that, you can’t do it.

“I get that emotions get high. Everton are in a real pressure situation and everyone is stressed.

“There are processes in place for this. You leave the flare and a steward will come on and deal with it.

“I don’t know where Richarlison was trying to throw it. I’m sure he wasn’t trying to hit a fan.

“But he could have really hurt someone. Even after carrying it around, I’m not sure why he threw it into where people were sitting.

“He will be fined, there is no doubt about that. I think the FA would be well within their rights to ban him which would be a blow to Everton.

“He is the guy to score the goals to get them out of this so if he gets banned he will look very silly.”

The Verdict: Worrying

It certainly is worrying that Richarlison could now receive a ban for his actions, given that there are only a few games left of the season to go.

It is not clear how many matches he would be banned for, but starting with a trip to Leicester City on Sunday afternoon, the Toffees have some winnable fixtures coming up that will be crucial in getting them out of the relegation zone.

With four goals and one assist in his last six appearances in the top flight, including the winner against Chelsea last time out (Transfermarkt), Richarlison is a player on form, and so losing him will certainly hinder their chances of winning some of those remaining games.

In other news, find out what big Blues transfer boost has now emerged here!

Kenya’s tour of India, designed to prepare the squad for the forthcoming World Cup, has only served to expose the deficiencies in a side who, barring a major turnaround, seem set for a wretched tournament

Martin Williamson19-Jan-2011Kenya’s tour of India, designed to prepare the squad for the forthcoming World Cup, has only served to expose the deficiencies in a side who, barring a major turnaround, seem set for a wretched tournament.All five matches against youthful Gujarat and Baroda sides were lost, echoing results when the Indian state teams played in Nairobi last year. In only one match did Kenya come remotely close to winning, and even then they were unable to defend a total of 293 for 6, losing to Gujarat by six wickets with more than three overs remaining.The batsmen have coped fairly well with alien conditions. Seren Waters scored the only hundred of the tour, but almost all the other front-line batsmen did enough to suggest they will cope come the World Cup, although doing more than that may be beyond them. However, Alex Obanda and Thomas Odoyo were really out of touch, and more worryingly Steve Tikolo failed to dominate in any game. For so long the lynchpin of the side, there have to be worries that a lack of high-class cricket and age are both taking a toll on his game.Collins Obuya made one good score, but in four other innings managed only 47 runs. If Tikolo is unable to hold together the innings, much will depend on him, and his form is another big concern.The real headache for coach Eldine Baptiste is with the bowling. Peter Ongondo, who has been so vital with the new ball, only played twice but leaked runs, while too many others lacked enough control to really put pressure on what were little more than inexperienced, if talented, young state batsmen. While some of the figures may not appear too bad, they have to be read in the knowledge that Baroda and Gujarat’s batsmen were rarely under pressure to score quick runs and so did not need to be overly attacking.After back-to-back wins, Gurajat completed a 3-0 clean sweep in the final match between the sides. Kenya’s batsmen finally posted a good score, a second-wicket stand of 178 between Waters (103) and Obuya (92) helping them to 293 for 6, but Gujarat’s well-paced reply enabled them to ease home with 19 balls to spare.Kenya then headed to Vadodara for two matches against Baroda. Both followed a similar pattern. In the first, Kenya were put in, most of their batsmen got starts without building a big innings, and their eventual score of 217 was not remotely enough as Baroda ambled to a five-wicket win with 20 balls in hand. In the second, Kenya again batted and scored 182, with Tanmay Mishra’s 63 saving them from a much lower score. Early wickets gave the Kenyans brief hope but Baroda knuckled down and again meandered to a well-paced six-wicket win.Kenya now head to Dubai for conditioning, while Baptiste will be left scratching his head and trying to work out how to avoid the World Cup becoming a nightmare for his side.

Round-up of the fifth day of matches in the Caribbean T20 2010-11

ESPNcricinfo staff15-Jan-2011Derwin Christian made a whirlwind 40 to carry Guyana past Combined Campuses and Colleges by two wickets in what was a high-scoring game. CCC’s total of 175 was set up by a positive second-wicket partnership between William Perkins and Romel Currency, who made 43 apiece. Chadwick Walton then provided the closing flourish with two fours and two sixes in his 12-ball 26. Royston Crandon, who picked up two wickets with his off spin, was the only bowler among the six used by Guyana captain Ramnaresh Sarwan who went for less than six runs an over.In reply, Guyana’s chase started poorly as they lost Travis Dowlin in the third over. CCC’s bowlers struck at regular intervals and at 77 for 5 at the end of 10 overs, Guyana still needed 99 runs of 60 balls. Steven Jacobs and Jonathan Foo added a crucial 40 runs for the sixth wicket before legspinner Nkruma Bonner struck to dismiss both batsmen in the 16th over to swing the momentum in CCC’s favour. However No.9 Christian blasted two fours and four sixes in his unbeaten 13-ball innings to seal a thrilling win for Guyana in the final over with just two balls to spare. With this win, Guyana, who are the defending champions, moved to the top of the table in Group A.An allround bowling performance from Somerset carried them to a comfortable 17-run win over Windward Islands at the Sir Vivian Richards Stadium in Antigua.Somerset won the toss and chose to bat but lost their openers Arul Suppiah and Nick Compton within the first seven overs. James Hildrith and Jos Buttler put on 40 runs for the third wicket to steady the innings. Buttler, who top-scored with 47, then combined with Craig Meschede to add 43 runs for the fourth wicket to take Somerset past the 100-run mark. Meschade and Alfonso Thomas hit some big shots as Somerset reached 139 for 4 off their 20 overs.Windward’s chase started poorly as Gemaal Hussain struck with his medium pace to remove Andre Fletcher and No. 3 Keddy Lesporis cheaply. Max Waller then picked up three crucial wickets with his leg-spin, including that of opener Johnson Charles, who top scored with 36, as Windward looked in deep trouble at 65 for 6. Liam Sebastien and Gary Mathurin added 37 for the seventh wicket but that only delayed the inevitable as Windward managed only 122 off their 20 overs to hand Somerset an easy victory.

Liverpool have ‘registered an interest’ in signing “complete” defensive midfielder Aurélien Tchouameni this summer.

What’s the word?

According to Football Insider sources, the AS Monaco player is thought to be one of Liverpool’s top targets over the next few months as they look to bring him to Anfield as a long term replacement for captain Jordan Henderson and veteran James Milner.

A recruitment source told the outlet that the Reds have registered an interest in the Frenchman fter learning that Monaco are prepared to sell the player. It’s likely it will take a fee of no less than £50m to secure his services.

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However they are not the only ones interested, Football Insider also revealed last month that the Reds’ rivals for the Premier League title Manchester City also want him.

Klopp needs him

Liverpool manager Jurgen Klopp needs to sign a top-class midfield player this summer as he can’t keep relying on Jordan Henderson and James Milner. They are not only ageing but also aren’t up to the level of teammates Thiago and Fabinho.

The Reds have been competing on all levels this season and find themselves in a third Champions League final in five years. If they are to keep competing amongst Europe’s elite then they need to make improvements to their midfield.

Signing Tchouameni would represent that upgrade. Although he might not possess the experience or leadership of Milner or Henderson, he is better technically.

He has made 33 Ligue 1 appearances for Monaco this season and has been directly involved in four goals.

If you look at his defensive actions this season he has tackled a higher percentage of dribblers than both Liverpool players with 44.3% compared to Milner’s 41.2% and Henderson’s 30.2%.

He also has a higher pass completion percentage than both of them with 86.9% compared to Milner’s 81.8% and Henderson’s 83.2%.

Overall there is not much to separate the trio but the big difference is that he has much more room for improvement, and working under a manager as good as Klopp would allow him to reach his potential and be a key player at Anfield for years.

Liverpool have been linked with a whole host of midfielder but Tchouameni should very high on the list and would be considerably cheaper than some other options.

IN other news: Liverpool could finally replace Wijnaldum by signing £23.4m-rated “elite presser”…

Manchester City have been rather proactive when it comes to signing new players during recent summer and winter transfer windows.

As the Manchester club are looking to secure their fourth Premier League title in five years, it seems as though they have been dealt a blow in regards to one potential transfer deal for the upcoming window.

What’s the news?

In a recent Twitter post, journalist and transfer insider Fabrizio Romano relayed comments from RB Leipzig director, Oliver Mintzlaff, regarding the future of Christopher Nkunku, who has been linked with a move to City.

He said: “We have clearly discussed it internally: we won’t let Nkunku leave this summer, we told him and his agent.”

Romano then added that Leipzig “will also try to extend his contract but talks are still at [the] early stages.”

Guardiola will be fuming

Now that it has been revealed that Leipzig will not be allowing their star figure to leave in the summer, this will surely be bad news for City, thus leaving Pep Guardiola fuming.

Since joining the German club back in 2019 from Paris Saint-Germain, the Frenchman has gone on to make 134 appearances for Leipzig across all competitions.

In those appearances, the 24-year-old has found the net 46 times and delivered 47 assists along the way with a whopping 54 of those involvements coming this term alone. That shows precisely why a team like City would have their eye on adding him to their ranks.

To further highlight how much of an impressive attacking and creative figure he is, no other player in the Bundesliga has racked up more shot-creating actions than Nkunku (129) this season.

He also ranks fourth for shots on target (36) and successful dribbles throughout the current Bundesliga campaign, making him a real handful for defenders and goalkeepers to deal with.

However, with it recently being reported that a deal for Borussia Dortmund striker Erling Haaland is close to being completed, this could take some of the sting away from City fans and Guardiola over potentially missing out on signing Nkunku.

Although should the Manchester club fancy their chances of swaying the hierarchy at Leipzig into selling their French talent, he would certainly be an exciting addition to what is already a rather deadly attacking side if he doesn’t sign a new deal at his current club.

In other news: “Man City will..”: Romano drops behind scenes transfer claim, it’s bad news for Pep

A disappointed Michael Hussey has said he felt he deserved a chance to prove his fitness at the World Cup instead of being left out of the squad altogether

ESPNcricinfo staff09-Feb-2011A disappointed Michael Hussey has said he felt he deserved a chance to prove his fitness at the World Cup instead of being left out of the squad altogether. Hussey and Nathan Hauritz were told on Tuesday they would not be flying to India with the World Cup touring party due to their ongoing injuries, and would be replaced by Callum Ferguson and Jason Krejza.However, Hussey believed the selectors could have taken him despite his serious hamstring injury, in a similar move to the handling of Andrew Symonds in the 2007 World Cup. Symonds tore his biceps off the bone a month before the tournament in the Caribbean but remained with the squad, and regained his place in the side during the later stages of the triumph.”The precedent has sort of been set from the last time with Andrew Symonds,” Hussey told reporters. “He came in about the third or the fourth game in the previous World Cup and played a really big part in our team, he was an important part of the team.”I was hoping that would be the same sort of thing for me really – that they’d give me every chance to have a crack at it at least. I thought I could push for the second game and definitely be right for the third game.”The only way that Hussey will now be any part of the World Cup is if another player is ruled out due to injury once the tournament is under way. Hussey said he wished the selectors had given him some more leeway to recover.”I feel like I maybe deserved that chance to have a bit of a go at it, but they obviously saw differently so it’s disappointing,” he said. “It probably just shows that you can’t look too far ahead. You’ve just got to try and enjoy every opportunity you get to play for Australia – every tournament, every World Cup, every game that you get. You’ve got to enjoy every one because it can sort of all end pretty quickly.”The Australians fly out on Wednesday for their title defence, aiming for a fourth consecutive World Cup triumph. Hussey played all 11 games in Australia’s 2007 campaign but didn’t have much impact, batting only six times for 87 runs at 17.40, as the top order did most of the damage.

Kenya captain Jimmy Kamande has urged his team to give veteran batsman Steve Tikolo a fitting send-off against Zimbabwe at Eden Gardens on Sunday

ESPNcricinfo staff19-Mar-2011Kenya captain Jimmy Kamande has urged his team to give veteran batsman Steve Tikolo a fitting send-off against Zimbabwe at Eden Gardens on Sunday. Tikolo, 39, has been an integral part of all five of Kenya’s World Cup campaigns and has announced that he will retire after the current tournament, the match against Zimbabwe his last for Kenya.”We call him ‘Gunnzie’ (one who bats like a gun),” said Kamande. “He is a legend. He is the man, actually, who made me play one-day international cricket and he is the one who made us qualify for the first time in the 1996 World Cup. I remember watching him play in the qualifiers in 1995 and we owe a lot to the guy. Hopefully, we will send him off with a win.”A towering figure in Kenyan cricket and for a time widely held to be the best batsman outside the Test arena, Tikolo played his first representative match for Kenya against Zimbabwe in Nairobi in 1993 at the age of just 21 – a match that Kenya actually won by three wickets – and top-scored with 65 in Kenya’s first ever World Cup game, against India at the Barabati Stadium in Cuttack in 1996.He was also part of the Kenyan team which pulled off an upset win over West Indies in that tournament, and captained Kenya to the Semi Finals of the 2003 competition. Kenya’s leading runscorer in ODIs by a distance, Tikolo has amassed 3,411 runs, including three hundreds, and has also taken 94 wickets with his offspin.Kamande also expressed his disappointment over Australia captain Ricky Ponting’s remarks that Associate cricketing nations shouldn’t be involved in the World Cup. “What is disappointing is that someone like Ricky Ponting saying that Associates don’t need to be here (in the World Cup),” said Kamande. “We need to keep improving and all we need to do is to play good cricket.”This tournament is a stepping stone for Kenyan cricket. A lot of guys here have never been to the World Cup, we know what it takes to achieve here, whatever we gain, we take it back home with us and try to improve our performance.”Kamande suggested that his side desperately needed more top-class matches in between World Cups to raise standards.”One thing I know for sure is that if we keep playing against the Test-playing nations or their ‘A’ sides the [improved] performances will be there. But the thing is after this World Cup you might go and never see these teams again so it becomes very difficult.”If we’re going to prepare to play Australia again [in a World Cup] in the next five or 10 years it’s going to become very difficult for us [without] regular matches.” Since their successful 2003 World Cup campaign, Kenya have played a meagre 12 one-day internationals against the top Test-playing nations, with none at all in the two years leading up to the current competition.

MS Dhoni won’t mind the fact that Chennai will go in as underdogs against Mumbai

The Preview by Nitin Sundar21-Apr-2011Match factsFriday, April 22, Mumbai
Start time 2000 (1430 GMT)After 20 days: There won’t be any hugging or tears this time at the Wankhede•Getty ImagesBig pictureIt is Tendulkar versus Dhoni at the Wankhede. It’s only been 20 days since Dhoni catapulted six into those very stands, sending a billion people into raptures, and reducing the battle-hardened Tendulkar to tears of joy. It’s only been 20 days since these men collapsed into each others’ arms, exultant at the end of an exhausting and rewarding campaign. Even the peerless manufacturers of IPL hype won’t begin to suggest that game 25 is going to be a shade on that night. However, Tendulkar knows he has unfinished business.Mumbai have begun the season well, winning three games without breaking a sweat. Brendon McCullum and Co. handed them a shock defeat, but otherwise they have not been tested at all. It was exactly how they went through the last edition as well, before Dhoni’s yellow brigade pipped them in the final. A win tomorrow won’t avenge that reversal, but could throw a huge spanner on Chennai’s works as the season heads into the middle stages.Chennai’s worries, as always, are on the bowling front. Tim Southee and Albie Morkel have been unpredictable, but the spinners have been a bigger letdown. R Ashwin’s lines have been too close to leg-stump, while Shadab Jakati has struggled to land two balls on the same spot. To add to Chennai’s woes, the batting misfired in the middle overs against Kochi, potentially costing them the rain-affected game. Dhoni has sparked several turnarounds before, both for Chennai and for the other team that he leads. He won’t mind the fact that this time his side will go in as underdogs.Team talkIf Harbhajan Singh is fit, he is likely to come in for either Ali Murtaza or Abu Nechim. Both were impressive against Pune, though Murtaza, being a spinner, will be a like-for-like replacement. Davy Jacobs could return, relegating James Franklin to the bench. There’s been a lot of talk surrounding Lasith Malinga, and it will be interesting to see if he can retain his focus on shattering stumps and toes.Jakati’s figures from the last three games read 8.1-0-94-0. Will Chennai drop him, given the lack of turn on the Wankhede track?Predict the playing XIs for this match. Play ESPNcricinfo Team selector.In the spotlightDoug Bollinger turned up after a long injury lay-off, and immediately settled into a lovely rhythm against Kochi. His ability to slant the ball away from the right hander and bring it back in without a visible change in action, could set up an interesting tussle with Sachin Tendulkar.Last year, playing in a different shade of blue, Rohit Sharma and Andrew Symonds were the prime movers in the Deccan Chargers middle order. So far they have hardly got a hit this season, and will be itching to flex their muscles against Chennai.Prime numbersSuresh Raina leads the list of run-getters in IPL history, with 1487 runs. Tendulkar is 81 runs behind Sachin Tendulkar is 11 runs away from regaining the orange cap. M Vijay is Chennai’s highest scorer this season, but he is only 12th on the overall list The chatter”There is a real anomaly in Duckworth/Lewis, it is rubbish for Twenty20. When you don’t get extra runs from D/L method, it is quite a big disadvantage.”

Andrew Gale hit a century as Yorkshire got off the mark in Clydesdale Bank 40 Group A with a resounding 93-run victory over Kent in Canterbury

08-May-2011
ScorecardAndrew Gale set up Yorkshire’s healthy total with a fine hundred•PA PhotosAndrew Gale hit a century as Yorkshire got off the mark in Clydesdale Bank 40 Group A with a resounding 93-run victory over Kent in Canterbury. Gale’s superb 112 from 114 balls proved the mainstay of his side’s excellent total of 254 for 7.After a flying start Gale went on to lay great foundations for a big total with an innings that included 11 fours and two sixes that left the Spitfires with a mountain to climb. I In reply, the hosts could only muster 161 as Adil Rashid picked up 3 for 30.Having won the toss and elected to bat, Yorkshire had 73 on the board after 10 overs. Jonny Bairstow set the visitors on their way with a quickfire 26, which included a pulled six off a free-hit from Azhar Mahmood.Adam Ball struck twice in as many deliveries either side of a maiden from Mahmood. The fifth over ended with Darren Stevens pulling off a spectacular catch to see the back of Bairstow then Adam Lyth was caught behind first ball to make it 40 for 2.Gale and Joe Root’s third-wicket partnership of 124 in 21 overs set a platform that allowed Yorkshire’s middle order to throw the bat. Gale deposited a Matt Coles free-hit over mid-wicket for six then the Yorkshire captain clubbed James Tredwell’s second delivery of the day back over the bowler’s head for another maximum. He brought his fifty up, off 61 balls, with a four straight down the ground off Stevens in the 19th over.Gale went on to score his second hundred in one-day cricket, which came off 105 balls, when he pulled Coles to the straight mid-wicket boundary although though not before an ill-judged reverse sweep ended Root’s responsible innings of 43.Had they not lost four wickets in the closing overs and Rich Pyrah, who retired hurt after being struck on the right knee by Coles, Yorkshire could have put the game totally beyond Kent’s reach. After Gerard Brophy fell leg before for 28 and Tim Bresnan was bowled trying to lift Coles over mid-on, Gale eventually perished attempting a third run to Ball at deep square leg.Needing 255, Kent were soon in trouble, losing Sam Northeast and Martin van Jaarsveld to successive deliveries in the third over. Northeast went caught behind and van Jaarsveld handed Ryan Sidebottom a second scalp when he cut the former England fast bowler high to third man.Seven overs later, Rob Key looped a catch to mid-wicket. Alex Blake was the next to go, caught behind reaching for a ball from Rashid. Shortly after sweeping David Wainwright for six, Stevens charged Rashid and was bowled for 39 to leave the Spitfires on 101 for 5.Two balls after Kent took the batting powerplay, Bresnan sent Geraint Jones’ off stump cartwheeling. In the very next over, the hosts’ fading hopes of victory expired with the departure of Mahmood, who holed out to deep midwicket.