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Wolverhampton Wanderers could be closer to easing their goal scoring woes, as the club have been linked with a goal machine ahead of the summer transfer window.

Julen Lopetegui must find the solution to get his team firing, with Wolves being the lowest scorers in the Premier League, netting just 31 goals in 38 games.

Seeking and recruiting an established goalscorer is difficult for some of the world’s more financially lucrative teams and even more so for the Spaniard, who is facing a difficult summer following the revelation of Wolves’ FFP issues.

The Midlands club shouldn’t give up all hope, as news has emerged linking a goal machine to a potential move to Molineux.

What’s the latest on Georges Mikautadze to Wolves?

As reported by French outlet le10sport, FC Metz striker Georges Mikautadze is rumoured to have gained interest from Wolves.

The Georgian forward, who is valued at €20m (£17m) is wanted by Olympique Lyonnais and Burnley as well as in the Midlands, as stated in the report.

At just 22-years-old, the link could be an exciting one to everyone at Molineux as there is potential for Lopetegui to get his hands on an established goalscorer that won't break the bank.

What could Georges Mikautadze bring to Wolves?

The Lyon-born striker has lit up Ligue 2 this season, making an emphatic 31 goal contributions in 36 appearances for Metz, scoring 23 himself and assisting eight, as per Sofascore.

The Georgian international is the league’s top scorer, averaging a goal every 130 minutes of play and acting as a deadly talisman for his side.

Wolves’ highest-scoring players this season are Ruben Neves and Daniel Podence, who have both scored six goals and neither are strikers, showing the quality that the Metz forward could make in terms of just adding goals alone.

Having been lauded as a “Georgian killer” by talent scout Jacek Kulig, the 22-year-old has a lot more to his game than just putting the ball in the net and could benefit Lopetegui’s side through his passing and creativity.

As per Sofascore, the Lyon-born forward averages 1.5 key passes per game, as well as creating seven big chances on top of having strengths in dribbling, as noted by WhoScored.

The same outlet also points to his style of play being his liking towards running at players, being a threat on the counter-attack and enjoys playing long balls, as supported by him completing 81% of his long balls this season – as per Sofascore.

At 5 foot 9, the dynamic forward is nimble and agile, making him a real handful for defenders, which is shown by his huge goal contribution this term alone.

Wolves could get themselves a bargain at a critical time, and one that could benefit the future of Lopetegui’s side and end their dreadful form in front of goal as of late.

Pakistan captain Misbah-ul-Haq has said that dew played a role in reducing the effectiveness of his bowling attack during the day-night Test in Dubai

ESPNcricinfo staff18-Oct-20163:06

‘A special win in our 400th Test’ – Misbah

Pakistan captain Misbah-ul-Haq has said that dew played a role in reducing the effectiveness of his bowling attack during the day-night Test in Dubai because the dampness affected the pink ball’s ability to spin and reverse swing. He also said the pitch did not deteriorate as it usually does at the venue because the dew.The day-night fixture was Pakistan’s tenth Test in Dubai, where they have won six matches and drawn and lost two each. The 56-run victory against West Indies, who were dismissed with 12 overs remaining in their chase of 346, was Pakistan’s narrowest at the venue.The pattern of the game, which was only the second day-night Test, was in contrast to the first such fixture in Adelaide, where Australia beat New Zealand inside three days in a match dominated by bowlers. In contrast, Pakistan made 579 and 123 in Dubai, while West Indies made 357 and 289.”A bit of dew in the evening session was affecting the ball. With the sogginess, the ball was getting softer so different factors contributed and helped the batsmen score runs,” Misbah said after the Test. “Spinners and fast bowlers will get more help and reverse swing will also be there in the dry weather. But in the evening the pink ball was getting wet and the seam was swelling and it got softer.”The pitch was on the slower side, I don’t know why, but otherwise the Dubai pitch normally starts deteriorating after two days. But since the dew was helping the pitch bind again and it wasn’t breaking up at the same rate it used to. But in the end it was a good Test match, both teams played really well, and it’s good for the Test cricket.”West Indies began the final day needing 251 runs with eight wickets in hand. They lost Marlon Samuels off the first ball but Darren Bravo held the chase together. Misbah said he had nervous moments until Bravo was eventually dismissed for 116 in the final session, and rued his team’s fourth-day collapse for 123 that had let West Indies into the game.”It was tough for the team and for the captain,” Misbah said. “Certainly you were ahead of them for almost three and a half days but in one session you had given the advantage to the opposition. Maybe had we batted for another 15 overs, with 400 runs on board we could have got them out early.Misbah praised Bravo for his resilience. He batted 406 minutes in the fourth innings to take the game deep and Misbah was appreciative of how the West Indian batsman had played legspin.”The way he handled Yasir Shah, that was really something special. He [Yasir] was turning the ball from roughs but he [Bravo] showed good defence and attacked him at times,” Misbah said. “That was the main reason he neutralised Yasir for quite a long time but still Yasir managed to take wickets. Every passing ball was putting pressure but thankfully we managed to win the game. You should give credit to the opposition, they played really well and it was a good game in the end.”

The day-long defiance of Keaton Jennings spoiled Nottinghamshire’s hopes of the victory which would have given them a lifeline in Division One

ECB Reporters Network02-Sep-2016
ScorecardKeaton Jennings led Durham’s fightback•Getty ImagesThe day-long defiance of Keaton Jennings spoiled Nottinghamshire’s hopes of the victory which would have given them a lifeline in Division One of the Specsavers County Championship. The opener joined Michael Di Venuto and Paul Collingwood as the only players to score six Championship centuries in a season for Durham and went on to make an unbeaten 171.Durham were 385 for 8, leading by 316, when bad light forced a break, prompting a declaration which may have been influenced by a forecast of rain on Saturday afternoon. The sun re-emerged and Nottinghamshire, with eight overs to bat, reached 17 before Graham Onions trimmed Jake Libby’s off stump with four balls left.Five of Jennings’ six hundreds have come at Emirates Riverside, underlining the improvement in pitches, and this third-day surface had the visitors looking careworn by lunchtime. Despite having a nightwatchman to bowl at, they went through the session wicketless as Graham Onions passed his career-best 41 and went on to contribute 65 to a stand of 162.Jennings, who was on 32 overnight, almost fell to the day’s second and ninth balls. The first edge off Luke Fletcher fell just short of gully and the second, off Harry Gurney, flew straight through where third slip should have been. Gurney beat him a few times, but generally offered a mixed bag, as did the other left-armer, Luke Wood.Onions applied himself studiously to his task and made only eight in the first 45 minutes. He then off drove Gurney for four and lifted Imran Tahir over mid-on as he scored 49 of the 118 runs added in the session. A straight drive off Fletcher took him to his maiden half-century off 119 balls, earning rapturous applause and a hug from Jennings.After Onions fell lbw when trying to hit Samit Patel over midwicket, the best support came from Barry McCarthy with 28 in an unbroken stand of 51. Fletcher took two wickets with the new ball and Tahir went on a celebratory jig through the covers when Stuart Poynter inside-edged a drive into his stumps.Jennings proceeded at the same measured tempo, reaching 50 off 112 balls, his hundred off 204 and 150 off 285. He fiercely put away any short, wide stuff from the left-armers, drove sweetly and carefully nudged ones and twos. He also showed the skill which allowed him to score 88 in the NatWest T20 Blast final with three perfectly executed reverse sweeps.

Newcastle United are planning to raid relegation-threatened Leicester City this summer, with dynamic winger Harvey Barnes earmarked to bolster the offensive ranks.

While rumours have been in circulation for a while, talkSPORT's Alex Crook is one of the latest to make concrete claims of the player's potential forthcoming departure from the King Power Stadium, stating that Magpies technical director Dan Ashworth is preparing a double swoop for both Barnes and his play-making teammate James Maddison.

It is said that the Toon's recruitment chief is a 'big admirer' of the 25-year-old, who has maintained his prowess from an offensive standpoint this season despite his club's woes.

The Daily Mail states that the wily winger was touted at £60m by the Foxes when Newcastle came lurking last summer, though this value could certainly depreciate if Dean Smith's outfit do indeed fail in their bid to preserve their Premier League status.

Why should Newcastle sign Harvey Barnes?

Leicester's current tenure in the Premier League has been utterly magnificent, pulling off a miraculous escape from relegation peril in 14/15 to incredibly win the Premier League title the following season; this success was followed in 20/21 with victory in the FA Cup, with the Community Shield also gleaned in the next term's curtain-raiser.

Barnes played big roles in the latter two triumphs, and while the Foxes have fallen by the wayside this season, it is largely the dismal defensive efforts that have culminated in the club's malaise, with the attacking efforts of the likes of Barnes still very much showing shades of the former robustness.

Indeed, the £40k-per-week gem has plundered 12 goals and one assist from 33 matches in the top-flight, maintaining a consistent goal threat having not gone more than four matches without finding the back of the net all term.

Once hailed as "unbelievable" by Liverpool manager Jurgen Klopp, the £34m-rated attacker actually ranks among the top 10% of attacking midfielders and wingers for rate of non-penalty goals and the top 9% for aerials won per 90, as per FBref, with one scout report noting his ability 'to regularly carry his team further up the pitch and keep the ball in more dangerous areas.'

As such, there are similarities between his game and Arsenal star Gabriel Martinelli's, with the dynamic Brazilian ascending to the forefront of the Premier League's offensive pool of talent since completing a £6m transfer from homeland club Ituano in 2019.

While the Gunners' title charge has deflated after an imperious first three-quarters of the 22/23 term, Martinelli's prolific feats have been highly laudable, with the 21-year-old scoring 15 goals and registering five assists from 36 divisional matches.

The £90k-per-week machine ranks among the top 12% of positional peers for rate of non-penalty goals over the past year himself, also a devastating frontal component with his blend of 'relentless running' and tenacity in sniffing out promising pieces of play certainly similar to the Foxes forward.

Newcastle manager Eddie Howe, while delighted with the strides taken this season and near completion of their seasonal odyssey for Champions League football, will be searching for players to bolster the ranks and provide prowess across the board.

Barnes fits the bill, he will bring a new dimension and a cutting edge to ensure the Tyneside rise doesn't cease any time soon.

Chelsea are one of numerous Premier League clubs interested in signing Fulham midfielder Joao Palhinha this summer, according to a new transfer report.

How good has Palhinha been this season?

The 27-year-old has arguably been one of the standout midfielders in the league so far this season, catching the eye with his off-the-ball ability. In fact, no player in the entire division has won more tackles than him in 2022/23 to date, with a tally of 129 coming his way.

Palhinha has been a big reason for Fulham's success, with relegation never looking likely despite pre-season prediction suggesting otherwise, and the west Londoners will be desperate to keep hold of him at the end of the season. His current deal expires in the summer of 2027, so it is likely that only a sizeable fee will be able to prise him away once the summer window arrives.

Midfield is an area of the pitch that Chelsea will be only looking for reinforcements in moving forward, and it looks as though the £50,000-a-week Portuguese is a potential option to come in.

Are Chelsea in the mix to sign Palhinha?

According to Football Insider, Chelsea are one of many teams who are "interested" in signing Palhinha this summer, although it clearly won't be easy for them to get their man. Tottenham, Liverpool, Manchester United and Bayern Munich are also reportedly in the mix, while Aston Villa are also confident of being able to compete financially with those clubs.

It is stated that Fulham are "resigned to losing" the Portugal international once this season reaches its conclusion, "given the mass amount of interest in his signature".

Palhinha could be exactly what Chelsea are looking for in the middle of the park moving forward, possessing the ability to cover ground, bite into tackles and generally help them dominate games. With N'Golo Kante's future up in the air and Mateo Kovacic turning 29 earlier this week, bringing in fresh blood is essential, and the Fulham man could be an ideal partner for Enzo Fernandez, possessing more physicality than the Argentina World Cup winner.

There are very few things working against the move, although the Blues' lack of European football next season could certainly be an issue, with others reportedly keen on him being able to promise him Champions League next season, which can often be a massive lure for players.

Palhinha has been lauded by Jamie Redknapp for having a "real presence about him" and for being a "fantastic" signing by the Cottagers, and Chelsea signing him could be a masterstroke.

Jurgen Klopp will be hoping Liverpool can return to winning ways against Leeds United this evening following a run of five matches without a win since their incredible 7-0 drubbing of Manchester United at the start of March.

To say it has been a transitional season for the Reds would be putting it politely, with Klopp’s men so far off the pace in the Premier League they may not even secure European football next season.

A 2-2 draw against Arsenal last time out was a solid enough result, although the German could switch things up slightly as the Anfield side make the short trip to Elland Road and three points would cut the gap to six points to fifth-placed Tottenham Hotspur.

Curtis Jones didn’t have the best of matches against the Gunners, ranking as statistically the second-worst performer for the club behind Virgil van Dijk with a Sofascore rating of 6.2/10.

He lost possession 13 times during his 60-minute spell on the pitch while winning just three duels and completing only 26 passes, and it’s clear that Klopp needs to replace him ahead of tonight’s tie.

With the news that Thiago is fit and ready, this should be enough for the 55-year-old to ditch Jones and slot the Spaniard into the heart of the Liverpool midfield for the first time since February.

Will Thiago start for Liverpool against Leeds United?

The 31-year-old made an appearance from the substitutes bench against Arsenal, his first league outing since being ruled out two months ago, and it’s evident that Klopp needs to unleash him from the first whistle tonight.

He has only played 15 times in the Premier League this term, yet he is currently the second-best performer in the squad, as per Sofascore's rating system, proving just how important he is when he starts.

The former Barcelona midfielder will be crucial in terms of Liverpool keeping the ball against Leeds. He has averaged 80.9 touches per game this season and has a pass success rate of 86% while making 1.1 key passes per game, suggesting he can also create chances for his teammates too.

Thiago has been lauded as “world-class” by former footballer George Chomakov and this is certainly justified by his statistics across Europe’s big five leagues where he ranks in the top 10% for pass completion rate, progressive passes, tackles and interceptions compared to positional peers.

If Klopp wants to add some extra dynamism and bite into the Liverpool midfield, Thiago should be the first name on the team sheet, helping to the club to three points this evening.

As Everton fight for their Premier League survival, a major issue for manager Sean Dyche has been the lack of a reliable centre-forward option, with the Toffees currently the joint-lowest scorers in the division having netted just 22 times in 28 league games.

The club's number nine, Dominic Calvert-Lewin, has scored just once in 11 top-flight outings amid what has been another injury-ravaged campaign for the England international, with the Merseyside outfit undoubtedly suffering due to the striker's time on the treatment table.

Dyche may also be ruing the decision of his predecessor Frank Lampard to plump for the £15m signing of Neal Maupay last summer, with the capture of the former Brighton and Hove Albion now looking like yet another blunder for the struggling outfit.

How much is Neal Maupay worth now?

There is no getting away from what has been a rather dismal debut season for the misfiring dud at Goodison Park, with Maupay having scored just once in 20 league games so far this term, firing home the winner against West Ham United back in September.

Having previously netted a respectable haul of 27 goals in 109 games during his time with the Seagulls – after previously scoring 41 times in just 95 games for Brentford – the 26-year-old has failed to replicate such feats in his new home, having endured a "woeful" record thus far, as per journalist Paul Brown.

The forward's measly goal return has led him to be dubbed "embarrassing" by Match of the Day pundit Alan Shearer, with the Premier League's record goalscorer also suggesting that Everton look rather "clueless" in attack at present.

Such woes are laid bare by the fact that Maupay has recorded an average match rating of just 6.59 in the league this season, as per Sofascore, with that rating only the 22nd best among Dyche's squad.

To see such little impact from a summer arrival will likely have supporters tearing their hair out, with there no doubt a feeling that funds could have been better spent elsewhere on another recruit, as the one-time Saint-Etienne man has simply been a "total disaster" for the club, as per the aforementioned Brown.

That dire piece of business is perhaps best illustrated by the fact that the £50k-per-week menace is now said to be worth as little as £7m, according to CIES Football Observatory, with that less than half of what Lampard and co originally paid for him back in August.

Having been lauded by Lampard at the time of his signing as a "player of proven quality" and someone who can provide "a goalscoring threat, as well as bags of energy and a fighting spirit", Maupay appears to have left the one-time Chelsea man looking rather silly indeed.

Manchester City superstar Erling Haaland should be fit for his side's crucial Premier League clash with Liverpool, according to journalist Pete O'Rourke.

Just how good has Haaland been this season?

The Norwegian is enjoying a stunning first season at the Etihad, backing up and even surpassing the hype that surrounded his arrival during last summer's transfer window. He has been unplayable at times, scoring 28 goals in 26 league appearances, not to mention the smaller matter of ten strikes in six Champions League outings, too.

Haaland is going to be an absolutely huge player between now and the end of the season, as Pep Guardiola's side look to clinch both league and European glory, but an injury scare has emerged after he was ruled out of the recent international break.

Is striker available for Liverpool clash?

Speaking to Give Me Sport, however, O'Rourke allayed fears over the 22-year-old missing out at home to Liverpool on Saturday lunchtime:

"I think it's more precaution that Haaland was sent home. I'm sure Manchester City don't want to take any risks with Haaland, especially at such a key stage of the season. They want to keep Haaland fit as they try and chase down Arsenal in the title race and look to win the Champions League as well.

"I think it's one of those ones where they’ll say let's give our star striker a bit of a rest, he doesn't need to be playing these games and aggravating any little knock. But I fully expect Haaland to be playing for Manchester City against Liverpool in the first game after the international break."

Could he be the match-winner this weekend?

This is a huge boost for City, assuming Haaland does end up facing the Reds, in what represents one of the biggest remaining fixtures this season. While Jurgen Klopp's men are having a campaign to forget, they still possess top-class talent all over the pitch and they have top-four aspirations to focus on.

It would certainly be no surprise if Haaland ended up being the match-winner at the Etihad this weekend, having scored against Liverpool in their EFL Cup triumph over them earlier in the season, as the Blues look to crank up the pressure on Arsenal.

On the flip side, the idea of him missing out on proceedings is a huge concern, with the Norway international arguably the most formidable striker in world football at the moment, being described as 'astonishing' by Rio Ferdinand earlier this month.

Out-of-favour Chelsea midfielder Mason Mount is growing frustrated and potentially looking towards the exit door, according to journalist Pete O’Rourke.

The Lowdown: Mount exit rumours

The 24-year-old has suffered his first genuinely frustrating period at Stamford Bridge in his career, finding himself out of the team in recent times.

Mount has only completed a full 90 minutes once since the turn of the year and is often on the substitutes’ bench, as was the case against Borussia Dortmund on Tuesday night.

There have been numerous exit rumours regarding the Englishman of late, and with no new deal signed yet, there is a real feeling that this could be his last season in blue, with the club running out of transfer windows to secure a fee for his services.

The Latest: Journalist talks up move

That’s certainly the opinion of O’Rourke, who told Give Me Sport that Mount’s lack of minutes could have him considering his future as pressure mounts on Todd Boehly:

“The longer he’s out of that team, it might push Mason Mount to force that move and look for a move elsewhere, as I’m sure he’s frustrated at not playing regularly. But we know what fans are like.

“If the team’s doing well, there won’t be too many people questioning a potential departure of a player. But if things aren’t going well and Chelsea continue to struggle, it might increase the pressure on Todd Boehly for letting him go.”

The Verdict: Would be a big loss

While Mount’s form hasn’t been the best this season – he only has three goals in 23 Premier League appearances – it would still be a huge shame to see him leave.

The 36-cap England international has become an undoubted key man for Chelsea down the years, racking up 192 appearances, and he is still only 24 years of age.

Mount’s ongoing contract issues don’t bode well, however, and with his current deal expiring at the end of next season, he really could his last few month in a Blues.

Liverpool have been linked with a move for him and he is someone who could make Chelsea’s rivals immediately stronger in midfield, having been described as ‘unbelievable’ by Joe Cole.

Arsene Wenger’s reign at Arsenal was a universal success, having led the Gunners to various trophies while transforming the whole of English football from dietary methods to play style upon his arrival at the club in October 1996.

The Frenchman took the north London side to new heights following a couple of years stagnating under Bruce Rioch and he would eventually win three Premier League titles and a record seven FA Cups during his 22-year tenure.

His proficiency in the transfer market, especially during his first decade in charge, proved to be very lucrative for the club in the long run, yet it was a player who his predecessor signed who would go on to become an integral part of Wenger’s success at the club – Patrick Vieira.

 How big an impact did Patrick Vieira have at Arsenal?

Rioch signed the French midfielder in August 1996 from AC Milan for a fee reported to be £3.5m having shown great potential for the Serie A side, making five appearances before his 20th birthday, although it would be at Arsenal where he achieved his greatest success.

Under Wenger, he became one of the finest midfielders of his generation – having recently been inducted into the Premier League’s Hall of Fame – with his physical presence and combative nature allowing him to dominate the middle of the pitch, while he could count on Thierry Henry and Dennis Bergkamp to provide the attacking spark.

He won two doubles in his first six seasons as Arsenal challenged Manchester United’s dominance under Sir Alex Ferguson and they were the two finest teams in the land, with matches between them often ferocious affairs with no love lost on or off the park or between the two managers – with glory on the line, both would do anything to gain an advantage.

The summit for Vieira and Wenger arrived in the 2003/2004 season, with the midfielder captaining the team to an unbeaten Premier League campaign and they were subsequently dubbed the ‘Invincibles’ in what was a moniker that still lives on.

A fourth FA Cup winners medal followed the next season as Vieira scored the decisive penalty in a shoutout win against old foes Man United, but when Juventus came calling that summer, it was a move simply too good to turn down.

The Gunners received a fee of £13.75m for their prized asset, which was a 291% increase on the fee they paid for him nine years earlier, proving the club certainly struck gold on the 6 foot 4 colossus.

His time at the club was extraordinary and current Arsenal manager Mikel Arteta even praised Vieira as a “remarkable” player, with the fact he is still talked about as being one of the greats a testament to how well the north Londoners did to hold on to him for nearly a decade.