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Aston Villa midfielder Carney Chukwuemeka will sign a new long-term contract at Villa Park on his 18th birthday, according to Ashley Preece. 

The Lowdown: Catching the eye

The 17-year-old was handed a three-year deal last October – the maximum period Villa were allowed to offer the youngster due to his age.

Since then, the likes of Manchester City, Manchester United, Monaco, PSV Eindhoven and RB Leipzig have all shown an interest in his services.

Chukwuemeka made his first Premier League start prior to the international break against Brentford, and it seems as if a new contract is now in the pipeline.

The Latest: Preece post

Preece took to Twitter on deadline day to share an update on Frederic Guilbert’s loan move to Strasbourg and Chukwuemeka’s new contract.

The reliable reporter claimed that Chukwuemeka will sign new terms when he turns 18 on October 20 – 48 days’ time.

“Frederic Guilbert has passed his Strasbourg medical & pens a loan move back to Ligue 1, announcement soon. Still 1/2 loans out to be completed re #avfc U23s. A big deal will happen on Oct 20 when Chukwuemeka signs new long-term contract on 18th birthday.”

The Verdict: Exciting times

Villa won a first FA Youth Cup since 2002 last season, and it appears as if the club are desperate to keep the majority of that side at the club for the long run.

Chukwuemeka’s new contract is expected to be similar to the one that Kaine Kesler agreed on earlier this summer – a five-year agreement.

Along with the pair, Villa also have Jaden Philogene-Bidace, Louie Barry, Brad Young and Aaron and Jacob Ramsey tied down to lengthy contracts, so it seems to be an exciting time when it comes to thinking of the future at Bodymoor Heath.

In other news: ‘Are you mad?’ – Many AVFC fans fume as news emerges.

Dean Windass has hailed Darren Moore’s League One experience and credits Sheffield Wednesday’s strong to the season with his knowledge of how to compete at this level.

Darren Moore was appointed as Sheffield Wednesday manager in March this year and after the Owls suffered relegation from the Championship, Moore has re-built his side, getting off to a brilliant start this campaign, sitting top of the league after going unbeaten in their opening four fixtures.

The Owls drew 0-0 on the opening day of the season against Charlton before three successive wins against Doncaster Rovers, Fleetwood Town and Rotherham United respectively.

And Windass was full of praise for Darren Moore and his knowledge of League One, exclusively telling Football FanCast: “The first thing you’ve got to look at is that Darren knows the division, he did very well at Doncaster.

“He knows the division very well; he knows players who can play in that division.”

With his new side gelling quickly, having signed no fewer than 13 players this summer, Darren Moore has done a terrific job at Hillsborough so far, and there will be an element of confidence amongst the fanbase that he can guide Wednesday back to the Championship at the first time of asking.

Michael Hussey has seen no signs from Matthew Hayden that he is about to retire and would be stunned if the opener was not part of next month’s tour to South Africa. Hayden scored 39 in the second innings to continue his horrible run at home this season a

Cricinfo staff06-Jan-2009
Matthew Hayden has struggled in the series against South Africa, averaging 19.50 in six innings © Getty Images
Michael Hussey has seen no signs from Matthew Hayden that he is about to retire and would be stunned if the opener was not part of next month’s tour to South Africa. Hayden scored 39 in the second innings to continue his horrible run at home this season amid increasing pressure to call time on his 103-Test career.Hussey was in the dressing room when Hayden returned from his final five-day innings in Australia – he has talked about bowing out in England next year – after being bowled trying to heave Morne Morkel over midwicket. “He was fine,” Hussey said. “I was padding up when he came in, sometimes he comes in calm, sometimes he’s not so calm. He put his gear down and didn’t say too much.”Hayden, 37, has not spoken to his team-mates about walking away and has received regular backing from the side and the selectors, who were under fire for choosing him in Sydney instead of a younger option. “He hasn’t said anything to us,” Hussey said. “From my point of view, I hope he keeps going. From what I see inside the camp, he’s very hungry for runs. I’m not seeing any signs that he wants to call it a day.”

The Sri Lanka Cricketers’ Association has claimed Sri Lanka Cricket was informed that some of the country’s leading cricketers had committed to the IPL

Sa'adi Thawfeeq07-Nov-2008BCCI deal ‘still on’Graeme Labrooy, the players’ association secretary, has said Sri Lanka can take its proposed multi-million deal with the Indian board to the next level “once we get our relationship on the road”. Labrooy said the offer involved Sri Lanka’s participation in the Champions Twenty20 League for the next ten years and was put forward by the BCCI as a solution for the loss Sri Lanka Cricket (SLC) would suffer due to the aborted England tour next year. However, he admitted SLC’s hardline stance against the Indian board has meant the offer couldn’t be discussed in detail during a meeting in Bangkok last month. “A delegation appointed by the sports minister went to Bangkok to confirm the offer but unfortunately we couldn’t take it any further,” Labrooy said. “At this meeting, the BCCI officials expressed their disappointment over the strained relationship that had developed between them and SLC in the past few months and wanted to know why. They didn’t say the deal is off; it is still on. Once we get our relationship on the road, we can take it to the next level.” Speaking about the offer, Labrooy said, “We went to the IPL and sought their views about the deadlock with England. They came up with a solution that if SLC was going to lose US$2 million revenue on the England tour they would compensate that loss by giving us a window [Sri Lanka[ in the Champions League from next year and for the next nine years where they would pay a sum of $3million to SLC and $1m as participation fee to the provincial side to improve its cricket.”The Sri Lanka Cricketers’ Association (SLCA) has claimed Sri Lanka Cricket (SLC), including chairman Arjuna Ranatunga, was informed during a meeting in June that some of the country’s leading cricketers had committed to the IPL for the next three years. However, in July, the SLC finalised a tour of England in 2009 – currently put on hold by sports minister Gamini Lokuge – despite assuring its cricketers during that meeting that they would keep a window free for the players’ participation in IPL till 2010. The tour announcement was made in July, a month after the meeting.”We see this not as a one-off thing; we feel there is something more to it,” Graeme Labrooy, the SLCA secretary, said at a press conference in Colombo that was also addressed by Mahela Jayawardene, the Sri Lankan captain, and vice-captain Kumar Sangakkara. “Unfortunately, even in 2008, when the players had been given permission by Sri Lanka Cricket to play in the first IPL, SLC tried its best to play a one-day series in Pakistan that would have led to a direct confrontation with IPL. So it is not just the 2009 England tour.”Labrooy, Jayawardene and Sangakkara said they had decided to go public with their views after recent comments from SLC officials, including Ranatunga, questioned their commitment to playing for the country. Sangakkara said he was “disturbed” by the ongoing controversy over the players’ participation in IPL.Labrooy said that SLC’s only demand from the players during the June 12 meeting was they commit to playing 75% of the provincial season. SLC then agreed to tour England for two Tests and three ODIs after the ECB suspended bilateral ties with Zimbabwe, who were due to tour in 2009. Labrooy said Zimbabwe were slated to play three ODIs but the ECB were keen to add two Tests to give the players some practice ahead of Australia’s visit. “We were prepared to compromise and play three one-day games but England wouldn’t want to go with that. They were keen on playing two Test matches.”The key stakeholders of the game are the players. Knowing the players had signed contracts during the same period, SLC should have come back with the England proposal and sat with the players and the cricketers’ association and thrashed out the matter. It would have been resolved to a great extent and wouldn’t have gone so far.”Sangakkara and Jaywardene, who were given permission by the SLC to speak at the press conference, said they wanted to clear the air over the issue and present their “side of the story”. “We always try as players to stay away from controversy, to do what is right and to play our cricket in peace,” Sangakkara said. “There are certain things that we can ignore and take and not worry about it and make any comments. But when we are accused of misleading the public and the government of Sri Lanka, it is time for us to come out into the open and state our side of the story.”Jayawardene said the players had signed for IPL as individuals and not as part of the Sri Lankan team. “So therefore I am not the captain of this IPL group,” he said. “I am the captain of the Sri Lanka team and I am responsible for the decisions which I make on and off the field regarding the team. Above and beyond that, it’s not my responsibility. All these players have their own managers or agents and they have individually written to SLC and got permission and signed with IPL.”

Speaking to Football Insider, pundit Noel Whelan has been left in awe by West Ham transfer news involving Real Madrid striker Luka Jovic.

The Lowdown: West Ham weighing Jovic swoop…

As per Eurosport, the Irons are now weighing a swoop for the Galacticos forward, having been long-term admirers of the Serbian.

It is understood that Jovic will not be in Carlo Ancelotti’s plans for next season, which has prompted the Hammers to consider making a move for him before August 31.

David Moyes has long been on the lookout for a new forward as backup/competition for Michail Antonio, who spent his fair share of time on the sidelines over 2020/21.

The Latest: Whelan reacts…

Reacting to this Eurosport claim involving Jovic, pundit and former Premier League striker Whelan believes that it may just be the ‘perfect fit’ for West Ham.

[web_stories_embed url=”https://www.footballtransfertavern.com/web-stories/west-ham-latest-gossip/” title=”West Ham latest gossip…” poster=”” width=”360″ height=”600″ align=”none”]

He also hailed what a potential bit of business that signing the 23-year-old would be for the Hammers, not to mention how their location in the English capital could be a massive selling point.

“Absolutely. The chance to live in London, this is what foreign players want,” Whelan explained to Football Insider.

“When they’ve been at big clubs and places like Madrid, they want the capital kind of living down there. It’s a great opportunity.

“If West Ham can get this one over the line or pull it out the hat if he’s surplus requirements, then I’m sure both parties can come to an agreement.

“It might just be the perfect fit. Wow, what a bit of business that would be for West Ham.”

The Verdict: Best remaining option?

Links to new forwards have been scarce over these last few weeks, with Divock Origi and Martin Braithwaite standing out as names who are mentioned the most consistently.

Jovic, who has been called ‘magical’ by none other than superstar Lionel Messi, comes as another exciting option given his young age and plaudits – even despite the fact he can’t muster much game time at the Bernabeu.

Former Eintracht Frankfurt boss Adi Hutter also heaped praise on the young striker earlier this year during his loan spell back at Deutsche Bank Park, branding Jovic ‘absolute world-class’ (realmadridlatestnews.com).

If West Ham could somehow land him before the transfer window deadline, it may just be a saving grace for Moyes.

In other news: ‘Wow’, ‘Staggering’, ‘Cannot write this’…West Ham fans react as news now confirmed, find out more here.

West Indies have named four uncapped players, including the Australian-born Brendan Nash, for their Test tour of New Zealand in December

Cricinfo staff01-Nov-2008
Kemar Roach, the Barbados fast bowler, is one of the new faces for the winter tour © AFP
West Indies have named four uncapped players, including the Australian-born Brendan Nash, for their Test tour of New Zealand in December. The fast bowlers Kemar Roach, from Barbados, and Lionel Baker, from Leeward Islands, are also in the squad along with the Guyana batsman Leon Johnson.The four men are also in a 15-man group named for the three-match one-day series against Pakistan in Abu Dhabi starting on November 12. The ODI squad also includes the spinners Nikita Miller and Dave Mohammed and the batsman Shawn Findlay, who have not been selected for the New Zealand Tests.The Test squad instead will feature the left-arm spinner Sulieman Benn, the fast bowler Fidel Edwards and an extra wicketkeeper, Denesh Ramdin. Carlton Baugh is the lone specialist gloveman for the Abu Dhabi leg although he will likely be Ramdin’s deputy in the longer format.The inclusion of the former Queensland batsman Nash, who last year moved to Jamaica where his parents were originally from, continues his rise following his ODI debut in Canada in August. Johnson and Roach also made their initial one-day appearances in Canada and the three men, along with the untried Baker, will now be aiming to squeeze into the Test line-up.John Dyson, the West Indies coach, said his team hoped to use the series against Pakistan as a chance to build on their tournament victory in Canada. “Chris Gayle batted strongly in that series as did Xavier Marshall, at his new No. 4 spot,” Dyson said.”Newcomers Brendan Nash, Leon Johnson and Shawn Findlay showed that they are ready to perform against Pakistan. The series is a further opportunity for our spinners, Nikita Miller and Dave Mohammed, to impress and provide the variety we need to balance the established pace attack. Kemar Roach is expected to press the senior bowlers for a spot in the team.”On the New Zealand leg, Dyson hoped that a series win would nudge his team above New Zealand, who at No. 7 are just one place ahead of them in the Test rankings. New Zealand were pushed hard during the tour of Bangladesh, beginning the tour with an ODI defeat and winning the Test series 1-0 with much difficultly. Dyson banked on his fast men to utilise the conditions well in the country.”We have a strong pace attack in Jerome Taylor, Daren Powell and Fidel Edwards supported by the promising newcomers Roach and Lionel Baker,” Dyson said. “Nash will be a handful on the New Zealand wickets and Sulieman Benn should find the wickets more to his liking compared with the flat wickets he has bowled on in the Caribbean.”The first Test in Dunedin starts on December 11 and the second, in Napier, begins on the 19th. The squad for the five-match ODI series and the two Twenty20 internationals in New Zealand will be named later.Squad for Abu Dhabi ODIs Chris Gayle (capt), Ramnaresh Sarwan, Lionel Baker, Carlton Baugh (wk), Shivnarine Chanderpaul, Sewnarine Chattergoon, Shawn Findlay, Leon Johnson, Xavier Marshall, Nikita Miller, Dave Mohammed, Brendan Nash, Daren Powell, Kemar Roach, Jerome Taylor.Squad for New Zealand Tests Chris Gayle (capt), Ramnaresh Sarwan, Lionel Baker, Carlton Baugh, Sulieman Benn, Shivnarine Chanderpaul, Sewnarine Chattergoon, Fidel Edwards, Leon Johnson, Xavier Marshall, Brendan Nash, Daren Powell, Denesh Ramdin (wk), Kemar Roach, Jerome Taylor.

Queens Park Rangers manager Mark Warburton has dropped an update on the future of Seny Dieng.

What’s been said?

In recent comments cited by West London Sport, the QPR boss addressed reports suggesting that Sheffield United would be able to sign the Rs goalkeeper for a fee of around £6m this summer, assuring fans that they should not be worried about his side selling one of their prized assets on the cheap, with the 58-year-old labelling the quoted fee for the 26-year-old as ludicrous.

Warburton said: “No one here is going cheap. I read about a price tag on Seny. Ludicrous. The fans need not worry. The owners will put the right price on the players.

“Every player in the world has got a value. If anyone leaves QPR it will be on the owners’ terms. If they leave it doesn’t matter, because they’ll leave at a price that represents great value for QPR.”

Fans will be buzzing

Considering just how impressive Dieng was for QPR last season, the news that Warburton has no intention of cashing in on the goalkeeper, unless it is for a fee the club simply cannot refuse, is sure to have left the Kiyan Prince Foundation Stadium faithful buzzing.

Indeed, over his 42 Championship appearances last term, the £900k-rated man kept 11 clean sheets and made a total of 121 saves, as well as making an average of 2.9 stops and 0.2 successful run outs per game.

These metrics saw the man Warburton dubbed an “outstanding” player earn a seasonal SofaScore match rating of 6.96, ranking him as the club’s seventh-best performer in the second tier of English football.

The £4k-per-week shot-stopper also appears to have carried on this impressive form in the club’s 2021/22 Championship campaign, keeping one clean sheet and making 2.5 saves per match over his two league appearances so far this season – seeing him average a SofaScore match rating of 6.95.

As such, it would very much seem as if retaining the services of the Senegal international this summer would provide Warburton’s promotion hopes with a rather significant boost, while his recent comments on the 26-year-old’s future are sure to be music to the ears of fans.

In other news: Warburton drops claim on “excellent” QPR gem which will be music to the ears of fans

Stats highlights from the second Test in Galle where hosts Sri Lanka wrapped up their first series win against Australia in 17 years

Shiva Jayaraman06-Aug-20168 Number of consecutive losses for Australia in Tests in Asia – the second-longest losing sequence for an overseas team in Asia after West Indies’ ten consecutive losses from 1997 to 2002. Australia’s last win in Asia came at the same venue, in 2011. Their current sequence of ten Tests without a win in Asia since then is their second longest. They had gone 12 Tests without a win in the subcontinent between 1979 and 1982.1999 Only time before this Sri Lanka had won a Test series against Australia, which was also at home. The hosts had beaten Australia 1-0 in a three-Test series on that occasion. This is the first time Sri Lanka have won the Warne-Muralitharan Trophy since its inception in 2007-08.3 Number of consecutive series losses for Australia in Asia. Before this, they had lost 0-2 to Pakistan in the UAE in 2014-15 and 0-4 to India in 2012-13. This loss against Sri Lanka is their fifth in the last six series in Asia.2 Number of times Australia have lost a Test in Asia by a bigger margin in terms of runs than their 229-run loss in this match. Pakistan had beaten them by 356 runs in Abu Dhabi in 2014-15, which is their biggest such loss. Their 320-run defeat in the Mohali Test in 2008-09 stands second in this list.501 Total legal deliveries faced by Australia’s batsmen in this Test – the fifth lowest they have faced in a losing cause in Tests since 1900. The last time they faced fewer deliveries in a loss was in Port of Spain in 1994-95 when they faced 499 balls.1988 Last time Australia scored fewer runs than this in a losing cause in Tests in Asia. They had lost the Karachi Test in 1988-89 after having scored just 281 runs. The only other such instance had also come in Karachi, in 1956, when they had made 267 runs. The last they scored fewer runs in a loss against any side was in Port of Spain in 1995 when they managed just 233 runs from their two innings.11 Number of Tests Dilruwan Perera has taken to complete 50 Test wickets. Nathan Lyon’s wicket in Australia’s second innings was Perera’s 50th of his Test career. Ajantha Mendis was the quickest Sri Lanka bowler to 50 Test wickets before Perera, having taken 12 Tests. Perera has taken 55 wickets at 26.78.0 Number of previous instances of a Sri Lanka player taking a ten-wicket haul for the match and scoring at least one fifty-plus score in a Test. Perera’s is only the fifth instance of a player from the subcontinent to achieve this. Shakib Al Hasan, Abdul Qadir, Imran Khan and Kapil Dev are the others to have done it.ESPNcricinfo Ltd84 Wickets taken by Rangana Herath in Galle – the highest any bowler other than Muralitharan has taken at a venue in Tests. Herath went past Heath Streak’s tally of 83 wickets at the Harare Sports Club with the wicket of Mitchell Starc in Australia’s second innings. Muralitharan occupies the top three spots in this list: he took 166 wickets at the SSC, Colombo, 117 wickets in Kandy and 111 in Galle.1 Number of time a Sri Lanka bowler has taken a better haul in Tests against Australia than Perera’s 10 for 99 in this match. Muralitharan had taken 11 for 212 at the same venue in 2004. Upul Chandana’s 10 for 210 in Cairns in 2004 is the only other instance of a Sri Lanka bowler taking a ten-for in Tests against Australia.1997 Last time a bowler took ten or more wickets in a Test against Australia at a better rate than Perera’s average of 9.9. Phil Tufnell had taken 11 wickets at 8.45 runs apiece at the Oval.1997 Last time when Australia’s batsmen didn’t manage a single score of 50 or more when all their batsmen have batted twice in a Test. Australia had managed a highest of 47 from Greg Blewett on that occasion. David Warner’s 42 in the first innings was Australia’s highest individual score in this match. This is the first such instance for them in Tests in Asia.

Chelsea have implemented a brave and ruthless transfer approach over the past few years, signing the best young talent on the market, before they establish themselves at the highest level.

This has included buying the likes of Enzo Fernández from Benfica, many talents from Brazil such as Willian Estevao, and other clever signings like Nicolas Jackson, Malo Gusto and, of course, Cole Palmer.

The Blues clearly want to cover all types of profiles in every department and have done well to do this. However, one area they haven’t yet completed in the squad building department is adding a box-dominant striker to their ranks, and that could be the next port of call.

Chelsea looking at Premier League star

According to David Ornstein, speaking on The Athletic FC Podcast, Chelsea have Ipswich striker, Liam Delap on their radar, as they assess the market for another striker profile to compete with Nicolas Jackson.

Other interested clubs include Tottenham, Manchester United, and even Manchester City, who could re-sign Delap after selling him to Ipswich in the summer.

Many clubs are interested in the 21-year-old forward, as he is showing brilliant signs of development at Ipswich this season, even being picked as the “obvious long-term successor” to Harry Kane in the England team by Danny Murphy.

Delap has made 15 appearances for the Tractor Boys this season, scoring six goals and providing one assist, totalling 1,046 minutes played so far. But the young forward could thrive even more with better creators around him, one of those being Chelsea’s summer signing, Jadon Sancho.

Transfer Focus

Mega money deals, controversial moves and big-name flops. This is the home of transfer news and opinion across Football FanCast.

How Jadon Sancho could improve Liam Delap

Since joining the Blues this summer from Manchester United, Sancho has made nine appearances, scoring one goal, providing five assists, and totalling 492 minutes played.

The wide player has already shown his creative qualities, providing those five assists, with a mixture of different tools, picking out teammates with crosses into the box, finding clever passes into the strikers’ feet in the penalty area, and even weaving his way into the box himself with close control.

Goals

0.18

0.51

Assists

0.91

0.08

xG

0.06

0.32

xAG

0.33

0.06

Progressive Carries

5.93

1.93

Progressive Passes

5.93

1.05

Shots Total

0.91

2.12

Goals/Shot

0.20

0.24

Key Passes

1.85

0.79

Passes into Pen Area

3.15

0.35

Shot-Creating Actions

4.26

2.19

Aerial Duels Won

0.00

1.58

These creative metrics mixed with the clinical finishing and aerial prowess of Delap would be a brilliant combination, as Sancho would have more of a focal point in the middle to play off, finding those intricate passes into the forward’s feet to hold it up, and finding crosses for him to attack in the air.

Against Crystal Palace, Delap won a whopping eight of his nine aerial duels, which shows exactly the type of striker he is. Standing at 6 foot 1, and having a strong upper body build, it allows the 21-year-old to bully opposition defenders in the box, and configure shots for himself, whether they are on the floor or in the air.

Delap – who is an “incredible” striker in the eyes of Pep Guardiola – would offer Chelsea the perfect striker partner to complement Jackson, giving them different options for different tactical matchups, and therefore presenting Maresca with even more in his toolkit to affect games with tactical decisions both before and during games.

Chelsea want to sign £46m Arsenal target who's far better than Mudryk

Mudryk’s time at Chelsea could be up if they sign this “great” star.

1 ByConnor Holden Dec 4, 2024

Marc Casado suffered a ligament injury during Barcelona's thrilling win over Atletico Madrid and will be sidelined for at least two months.

Article continues below

Article continues below

Article continues below

Casado suffered a ligament injuryWill be sidelined for at least two monthsBarca beat Atletico 4-2Follow GOAL on WhatsApp! 🟢📱WHAT HAPPENED?

The Spaniard tore his knee ligament after a clash with Antoine Griezmann on the pitch. He was quickly replaced by Hansi Flick, who brought in Eric Garcia in place of the central midfielder. On Monday, Barcelona confirmed that the player underwent tests which revealed that he injured the ligament on his right knee and further tests will conducted to determine the extent of the injury.

AdvertisementTHE BIGGER PICTURE

Per SPORT journalist , the midfielder will be sidelined for at least two months, which more or less confirms that the youngster's season is over. The news comes as a huge blow for Barcelona, who are competing for a treble in the 2024-25 campaign. Casado had established himself as a mainstay in Flick's side, having appeared in 36 matches across all competitions thus far, where he scored one goal and provided six assists.

Getty Images SportDID YOU KNOW?

Despite the injury setback, the Catalan giants triumphed in a six-goal thriller at Wanda Metropolitano after coming back from a two-goal deficit. Robert Lewandowski and Lamine Yamal were on target alongside Ferran Torres, who scored a brace.

WHAT NEXT FOR BARCELONA?

The Blaugrana head into the international break top of La Liga. They will be back in action on March 27 as they take on Osasuna in a rearranged game.