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Nahitan Nandez would be ‘one of the signings of the summer’ if Leeds United manage to snap him up, according to journalist Conor Clancy.

The Lowdown: Leeds linked with Nandez move

The Whites have been linked with a number of players during the summer transfer window, but Nandez’s name has appeared in more stories than most.

The Cagliari midfielder has been tipped to come in and bolster Marcelo Bielsa’s options in the middle of the park, having won 41 caps for Uruguay.

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The Latest: Journalist excited by potential move

Speaking to Football FanCast, Serie A expert Clancy, editor at Forza Italian Football, spoke about Nandez’s quality and said he would be a fantastic signing for Leeds:

“If Leeds could get him, that would be one of the signings of the summer in the Premier League.

“But I do see it as increasingly unlikely that the deal will be done now.”

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The Verdict: Would be a huge coup

It doesn’t look likely that the Whites will get their man this summer, as Clancy alludes to – Inter Milan seem to be front-runners – but they should keep trying to sign the 25-year-old.

Nandez registered two goals and assists apiece in Serie A last season, but it is off the ball where he arguably stands out most, averaging 1.8 tackles and 1.5 clearances per game.

The Uruguayan could be a strong alternative to Kalvin Phillips, or someone who could partner him in midfield. The England international is such a crucial component for Bielsa but there are fears he may be relied upon too much, so we feel Leeds should pull out all the stops to sign Nandez.

In other news, one Leeds player may have appeared for the Whites for the last time. Find out who it is here.

Jhulan Goswami, the Indian women’s vice-captain, has said top-order collapses led to India’s overwhelming defeats in the first two one-dayers against England

Cricinfo staff03-Sep-2008Jhulan Goswami, India women’s vice-captain, has said top-order collapses led to India’s overwhelming defeats in the first two one-dayers against England. However she was upbeat about the side’s chances of turning around the 2-0 scoreline to win the five-match series.”The top-order batting are not playing as well as they can,” Goswami told the ICC website. “If they click it will be different for us. In one-day cricket you need runs on the board. It is difficult to bowl when you are defending a low total. But we can still do well and I believe we can come back and win the series as each and every game is different.”Only three batsmen in the top six have managed to get double figures so far, with Mithali Raj scoring 97 of India’s 226 runs in the two ODIs. India were bowled out for 102 in the second match, which they lost by 10 wickets, and four batsmen were out for ducks and four others for single figures.Goswami acknowledged the England side had improved a lot since the two sides last met in March 2007. “They are playing good cricket having won against Australia in Australia, beat New Zealand in New Zealand and beat South Africa but we can beat them.”The two teams will stay on in Taunton for the third ODI on Thursday followed by a Twenty20 game on Friday.

Michael Ball has alleged Everton may have already agreed personal terms with Kalidou Koulibaly ahead of a potential huge move to Goodison Park.

Rafa Benitez is keen to be reunited with Koulibaly having managed the Senegal international central defender during his time in charge of Napoli.

While Benitez left the Italian club six years ago, Koulibaly is still on Napoli’s books and made 37 appearances last season.

Benitez, who has already bolstered his squad by signing Andros Townsend, Asmir Begovic and Demarai Gray, could be frustrated in his efforts to sign Koulibaly as Napoli boss Luciano Spalletti has insisted Koulibaly is not for sale.

But, according to Calciomercato, that has not stopped Everton in their tracks. The report suggests Everton made an opening bid for the 30-year-old which has been rejected.

Former Toffees left-back Ball believes there is a deal to be done and would not be surprised if the Merseyside club have already had conversations with Koulibaly.

Speaking exclusively to The Transfer Tavern, he said: “Everton are in talks and they know what they need to pay.

“They probably know the wages and it has probably been verbally agreed. It’s just whether they can actually finance the move and get it over the line.”

New Zealand Cricket’s chief executive Martin Snedden set the record straight on the nature of New Zealand’s involvement in a tri-series with Australia and Pakistan today

Lynn McConnell09-Sep-2008New Zealand Cricket’s chief executive Martin Snedden set the record straight on the nature of New Zealand’s involvement in a tri-series with Australia and Pakistan today.New Zealand will not be taking part in a proposed tri-series in Kenya, Snedden said today.Snedden said that all he had ever had with the Pakistan Cricket Board, was a ‘discussion’ about the prospect of a pre-ICC Champions’ Trophy tournament with Pakistan and Australia.”When we agreed on a shortened re-scheduled tour after the September-October tour was cancelled, I saw this tri-series as one way of making up some of the cricket Pakistan missed as a result of the tour’s postponement,” Snedden said.The prospect of a pre-tournament series appealed because it was in Asian conditions against good quality opposition.”But that was as far as it ever got,” he said.After the Karachi bomb went off and New Zealand came home early from the re-scheduled tour, Snedden heard no more about the tri-series and he assumed the issue was never going to be progressed.Then at the recent International Cricket Council meeting in London, Brigadier Munawar Rana asked if he could have a talk with Snedden about seeing if they could progress the matter. Snedden said, “Yes, let’s talk.”They got Australia in and talked with them as well.”But all it was, was a conversation,” he said.”I said I would not have our players play any cricket in August. I had promised our players a complete break in July and August. They had already earlier agreed to break into an earlier spell in order to make the re-scheduled tour of Pakistan in May.”I also wasn’t going to be prepared to go to a venue that was going to cost us a huge amount of money to get to,” he said.Under the Future Tours Agreement (FTA), teams travelling to countries are required to pay the fares and the players’ fees while host countries pick up the internal costs.”None of it fitted in,” Snedden said.He said Pakistan had made a statement that New Zealand had agreed in principle to the tournament in Kenya but that was not the case at all.Several venues had been mentioned including Morocco, Australia, England and Sri Lanka.The day after saying New Zealand had heard nothing from Pakistan about playing in Kenya, a formal proposal was received from Pakistan.Under its plan, New Zealand would have been required to assemble on August 21 for five matches in Kenya in the last week of August and the first week of September.”That didn’t suit us,” Snedden said. He wrote to Pakistan informing them of that.The other factor about the issue was that Australia were committed under the FTA to play Pakistan in a one-day series, but New Zealand wasn’t.The situation was now over to Pakistan.”We haven’t finalised any build-up. We are in discussions with Cairns, but under the Champions’ Trophy agreement, Sri Lanka are obliged to provide us with two warm-up games.”Pakistan are not shut out but it would be very difficult to fit them in,” he said.Under the FTA when a tour was cancelled, as was the case with New Zealand’s original tour of Pakistan as a result of the September 11 terrorist activity in the United States, it was up to the two countries to renegotiate.”We did that,” said Snedden, while also making the point that wasn’t clear in the FTA was what happened when the re-scheduled tour was abandoned.”It is not reasonable to expect the visiting country to go on forever incurring costs,” he said.As part of the obligation to complete the series which was interrupted by the Karachi bomb, Snedden said he had discussed with Brigadier Rana playing a Test before New Zealand’s tour to India next year.”We can either play two Tests or one Test and two or three one-dayers. But the timing is difficult,” Snedden said.”And all of this is just the result of a conversation, nothing else,” Snedden said.

Nottingham Forest have released their third kit for the upcoming 2021/22 league campaign, and it’s safe to say that it’s sparked quite the reaction on social media. 

The design is labelled as a ‘compelling blend of orange and fluorescent yellow’, and it’s certain to catch the eye over the course of this season.

The Reds finished 17th in the Championship table last term under the management of Chris Hughton, in what was a disappointing campaign on the whole for Forest, after they had been in with a serious chance of a top-six finish the previous term.

The City Ground faithful will be hoping that their side can make a positive start to the 2021/22 campaign this season, as they look to fire themselves back into promotion contention this term.

Forest are set to take on Coventry City in their opening match of the new Championship campaign, in what could potentially be a tricky test for the Reds at The Ricoh Arena.

Plenty of Nottingham Forest supporters took to social media to issue their thoughts on the club’s third kit ahead of the 2021/22 season.

Take a look at the best of the reaction from Twitter, via Nottingham Forest’s official Twitter account, below….

Forest fans rip into new kit

“That’s hideous.”

Credit: @awilliamson93

“Terrible shirt, who is signing off on these designs.”

Credit: @nffc_red_dog

“That’s so bad it’s painful.”

Credit: @NFFCTom

“That is absolutely disgusting, worst kit forest have ever had.”

Credit: @wards_2004

“That is horrid what’s going on.”

Credit: @shanearmy1

“We won’t have to worry about having a clash with the other teams kit, it clashes with itself!”

Credit: @chris_robinson0

“All of a sudden the away kit doesn’t look quite as awful.”

Credit: @danielbuckley92

“Bank balance has nothing to worry about seeing that!”

Credit: @LeeGregory

“Wow.”

Credit: @CNL_NFFC

David Morgan, the ICC president, has met with Indian businessman Subhash Chandra to discuss the ICL

Cricinfo staff07-Oct-2008David Morgan, the ICC president, has confirmed he met with Indian businessman Subhash Chandra to discuss the ICL.Chandra, the chairman of ICL owners Essel Group, was expected to be accompanied by members of the ICL management for the meeting in London. The league is hoping to seek official sanction under Rule 32 of the ICC operations manual which pertains to authorised unofficial cricket.”The ICL had written to the ICC requesting a meeting and today that meeting took place,” Morgan said. “I will now report back the contents of the meeting to the ICC Board, which is gathering in Dubai on 14 and 15 October.”Chandra thanked Morgan and other members of his group – David Becker, ICC’s head of legal, and Jonathan Taylor of the international law firm of Bird and Bird – for attending. He said he hoped the issue of the ICL’s position could be resolved when Morgan presents his findings to the ICC board.Kapil Dev, the chairman of the ICL board, said the ICC’s decision to meet ICL officials was a positive one. “We hope the ICC, for the sake of young cricketers, will look into the matter,” Kapil said. “The BCCI also should consider the matter by having dialogue with the authorities concerned and that’s what we want.”The ICL has been pressing the ICC unsuccessfully for official recognition of their unsanctioned venture for several months. Subsequently they requested the ICC for a meeting, and hinted at legal action if they didn’t accede to the request. The ICC, meanwhile, has held several meetings of a working group it set up early this year to study the legal aspects of unofficial cricket.

French football expert Adam White has alleged that Chelsea are set to beat a host of rivals to the signing of Jules Kounde as an agreement is already in place.

The Champions League holders, according to Spanish media outlet Orgullo de Nervion, are closing in on the signing of France international Kounde. The report states the deal is almost complete and the central defender will more than double the salary he currently boasts at La Liga outfit Sevilla if he exits for Stamford Bridge.

While Chelsea are keen for Kurt Zouma to leave the club, with West Ham United failing to entice the 26-year-old to London Stadium, head coach Thomas Tuchel has made signing a central defender a top priority.

Despite plying his trade at the heart of the back four, Kounde displayed his capabilities in the opposition penalty area by scoring four goals and registering one assist in 49 Sevilla appearances last season.

The highly-rated 22-year-old’s fine form in Spain resulted in him being called up for France’s Euro 2020 squad, where he featured once.

Get French Football News’ White insists Kounde would bolster Chelsea’s chances of building on their Champions League success in the upcoming campaign.

He told Football FanCast: “I love Kounde as a player – he’s fantastic. I think that every major club is interested. I have a feeling that he is on the radar of Chelsea, all of the traditional top six in the Premier League, Barcelona, Real Madrid and Juventus. He is that good.

“Chelsea seem to have acted at the right time and it sounds like a contract has been agreed. He would be a great signing for Chelsea if they can get it over the line.”

Michael Clarke will delay making a decision on whether to take part in the second version of the IPL next April until his hectic schedule becomes clearer

Cricinfo staff27-Oct-2008
Michael Clarke: ‘I’ll definitely play at some stage, it’s just about when’ © AFP
Michael Clarke will delay making a decision on whether to take part in the second version of the IPL next April until his hectic schedule becomes clearer. Clarke is one of the few big-name Australian players who haven’t signed with a franchise and Lalit Modi, the IPL commissioner, has spoken of his desire to have the batsman included.However, Australia are currently at the start of a crammed 15-month campaign and Clarke also wants to squeeze in his wedding to the model Lara Bingle. “It’s important for me, especially now, just to focus on performing here [during the Test series],” he said. “If I’m not performing here, I’m back at state cricket or club cricket for Western Suburbs. Then I won’t have to worry about IPL – I might have to worry about ICL!”Clarke said everyone in India was asking if he would take part in the high profile and official Twenty20 tournament. “I’ll definitely play at some stage,” he said, “it’s just about when.”I saw Lalit Modi at a function in Jaipur and I said I’m very keen to play in the IPL, it’s just about the right time. I certainly won’t be saying no this year, I’ll just be assessing as I go.”Clarke missed the opening tournament to take a break from the game and spend time with his father, who has cancer. He then arrived late to the West Indies tour because Bingle’s father died.”Looking at both our schedules, I don’t think IPL will have any affect on the wedding,” he said. “It won’t be in autumn. I think she wants the middle of summer, when I’ve got a few Tests on.”

A round-up of the third day’s play of the first round matches of the Ranji Plate League

Cricinfo staff06-Nov-2008
Scorecard

Vikramjeet Malik took 13 wickets to take Himachal Pradesh to victory © Cricinfo Ltd
Sunil Dholpure snared 12 wickets in the match to help Madhya Pradesh open their campaign with an emphatic victory in Indore. Vidarbha’s second innings bore several similarities to their first: their openers, Faiz Fazal and Amit Deshpande, top scored and their batsmen had no answer to Dholpure’s offspin.Medium-pacer Sanjay Pandey took the first two wickets to fall but Vidarbha progressed to 75 for 2 before succumbing to Dholpure. They lost six wickets for 37 runs, and had their last two batsmen to thank for not losing by an innings. Madhya Pradesh were eventually left with a target of 27 which their openers knocked off in 6.1 overs.
Scorecard
There was a third-day finish in Rohtak as well, with Himachal Pradesh’s Vikramjeet Malik taking 13 wickets in the match to consign Haryana to a 103-run defeat. Himachal, who were in the Super League last season, resumed on 185 for 4 only to slump to 238 all out. The collapse would have been even more dramatic had it not been for former Indian offspinner Sarandeep Singh lashing a 21-ball 25.Haryana’s chase of 254 rarely looked like succeeding with eight of their batsmen making single-digit scores. Debutant Rahul Dewan was the only batsman to offer resistance, scoring a combative 66. The rest struggled to cope with Malik, who went one better than his six wickets in the first innings, to ensure five points for Himachal Pradesh.
Scorecard
The match between Kerala and Goa in Palakkad lurched towards a stalemate with Kerala crawling to 327 for 3 in their first innings by the end of the third day. Though they lost only one wicket in the day, Kerala pottered along at less than two-and-a-half runs an over. VA Jagadeesh was dismissed in the third over of the day after which Sreekumar Nair and Preambhastn Prem ground out an unbroken 216-run partnership. With an outright result improbable, the match has now been reduced to a tussle for the three points on offer for the first-innings lead.
Scorecard
Tripura’s tailenders, led by Vineet Jain’s breezy 58, left their side well-placed for an outright win against Services in Delhi. After conceding a 95-run first-innings lead, Services had clawed their way back into the match by reducing Tripura to 93 for 7. However, their bowlers were unable to finish the job and Tripura’s last three wickets realised 137 valuable runs. Jain slammed five fours and four sixes in his knock while wicketkeeper Tushar Saha made a 33-ball 38 to help push Tripura’s lead beyond 300.To make matters worse for Services, they lost two wickets off the last two overs of the day to finish on 55 for 3, needing another 261 more runs.

Writing on Twitter, reliable transfer source Fabrizio Romano has shared a big exit update involving Tottenham Hotspur, Manchester City and superstar striker Harry Kane.

The Lowdown: City eye Kane swoop…

It is no secret that the 28-year-old has been one of City’s main transfer targets for the entirety of this summer transfer window.

The Sky Blues have been after a replacement for all-time top goal scorer and club legend Sergio Aguero with sporting director Txiki Begiristain earmarking Kane as the man for Pep Guardiola.

However, Spurs have taken a firm stance on the forward and do not wish to sell – with the standoff now taking another twist as per Romano.

The Latest: City ‘ready new bid’ for Kane

As per the journalist, writing on his social media, City have a readied a new bid to sign Kane this summer and ‘will push again’ next week.

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It is also believed that the offer will amount to around €150 million (£127.6m) and the Premier League champions are still open including players or add-ons in the deal.

“Manchester City will push again for Harry Kane next week,” Romano explained.

“#MCFC €150m new bid ready and now waiting for Spurs final position – City are also open to include players or add-ons.

“Spurs are still ‘determined’ to keep Harry Kane. No fresh bid received yet. Poker game.”

The Verdict: Levy dilemma?

While it is crystal clear that chairman Daniel Levy does not want to offload his prized asset at Tottenham, an imminent City offer of £127.6m plus players must surely create a dilemma.

Tottenham are after at least two new centre-backs for Nuno Espirito Santo and it isn’t inconceivable to believe that Aymeric Laporte could be the perfect partner for new signing Cristian Romero.

The Spaniard has been described as ‘incredible’ and the ‘best left central defender in the world’ by Guardiola and his salary of around £120,000-per-week is arguably affordable for Spurs (spotrac.com).

Spurs are also on the lookout for a new attacking options, so City striker Gabriel Jesus could also be a fine swap deal option.

The Brazilian is still young (24) and possesses plenty of English top flight experience, bagging 50 Premier League goals and 23 assists in 131 appearances (Transfermarkt).

If Levy gets offered the chance to sign either player plus a sizeable fee, it would be foolish not to at least consider it.

In other news: Agreement reached: Tottenham confirm another N17 exit in social media announcement, find out more here.