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Brendan Taylor has blamed Zimbabwe’s lapses in the field for their four-wicket defeat to West Indies in their Super Six match at the Harare Sports Club. Taylor became the first Zimbabwean to score 10 ODI hundreds as Zimbabwe reached 289, but his efforts were in vain as fifties from Evin Lewis, Shai Hope and Marlon Samuels ensured West Indies kept their qualifying campaign alive.”We grafted hard and we felt we had a good total, but I don’t think we were sharp enough in the field today,” Taylor said. “The bowlers fought hard against a batting attack that thrives on boundaries and big hits, but we just leaked too many runs and that’s been our downfall today.”Zimbabwe missed a handful of difficult catches in the field, while sloppy fielding gifted extra runs and run-out chances were not taken. “We leaked 20 or 30 runs in the field, and that’s what hurt us,” said Taylor.The lapses took some of the shine off Taylor’s hundred, which included 20 fours and two sixes. “It does [take the gloss off],” said Taylor. “You put in a big performance, and it makes it that much sweeter getting over the line knowing that you’ve contributed, for sure.”Zimbabwe decided to bat on a pitch which exhibited more pace and bounce than has become the norm on Zimbabwean pitches. While the pace in the pitch meant there was value for good shots, it also made the new ball a challenging prospect and Zimbabwe were reduced to, in effect, 30 for 3 when Cephas Zhuwao and Hamilton Masakadza fell early to Jason Holder, while Solomon Mire was forced to retire hurt after being struck by a Kemar Roach bouncer.”I think it played into their hands a little bit,” Taylor said. “It was slightly challenging the first hour this morning, and then got a little better to bat on. And certainly by this afternoon, it was a very good batting wicket.”Their defeat leaves Zimbabwe facing a must-win encounter against United Arab Emirates on Thursday. A win in that match will put them on seven points, guaranteeing their place in Sunday’s final.”We’ll come back from [this defeat]”, said Taylor.” We know the importance of the game against UAE, who are a side that is developing. They’ve got some pretty handy players. For us, that’s basically a final. We need to win that. It’s pretty clear cut for us, we know what we need to do. And we need to be sharper than we were today.”Zimbabwe’s narrow defeat was played out to yet another packed stadium, with Harare Sports Club filled to near capacity. Big crowds have been a feature of Zimbabwe’s tournament, and Taylor suggested that free admission to games should be considered for future series.”It’s been great having a full house here at Harare Sports Club, and I think going forward, why not open up the gates to the public and let them come in? They’re passionate about watching us play and supporting us. Instead of charging them a dollar or two dollars, which is a lot of money to them, get them in for free. It’s great having them here, and it helps the players. We want to repay them by putting in the big performances and moving forward there’s nothing better than playing in front of your home crowd with a packed house.”

Jadon Sancho's Manchester United future has been a major talking point in recent weeks, but does a new update suggest he is staying or leaving?

What's happening with Jadon Sancho?

The 23-year-old joined the Red Devils in a big-money move from Borussia Dortmund back in 2021, with huge things expected of him after some star showings in Germany.

Instead, Sancho's time at United has been extremely underwhelming to date, with the Englishman finding it difficult to earn regular starts and not making an impact when he does play. That is highlighted by a record of just 12 goals and six assists in 82 appearances.

Recently, Erik ten Hag has called him out, accusing him of not being a good enough trainer, while the player himself has bitten back in a social media post, essentially accusing his manager of talking nonsense. Because of this, his future at the club looks up in the air, with a move to Saudi Arabia even mooted before the transfer window closed earlier this week.

Does Jadon Sancho want to stay at Man Utd?

Speaking to Give Me Sport, Ben Jacobs provided a key update on Sancho's United future, and in what is a bit of a shock given his outburst, the player is apparently keen to stay put:

"I think Jadon Sancho was very disappointed by Erik ten Hag's comments that he, effectively, didn't perform in training and that's why he wasn't in the Arsenal squad. Erik ten Hag is equally disappointed to see an immediate response in public.

"In a weird way, it might benefit Sancho because these type of incidents, and a manager calling you out for not training with the right application, almost provoke a response which might benefit all parties. Sancho, who still wants to stay at Manchester United, may be even more galvanised now to prove his manager wrong."

This is such a messy situation for United, at a time when so much negativity is surrounding the club, whether it be the Glazers, Mason Greenwood or Antony, to name just a few contentious topics.

It seems clear that all is far from well between Sancho and Ten Hag, and their relationship will take some mending, but it is encouraging to see the former still wanting to fight for his place.

There is no question that much more is needed from the former Dortmund man if he is to salvage his United career, and if things don't improve drastically soon, a move away has to be expected. Whether Sancho is given the minutes from Ten Hag remains to be seen, though, and it will be interesting to see how things develop after the international break.

Sunderland are reportedly wanting to bolster their midfield and attacking options before the summer transfer window finally slams shut on Friday.

Who have Sunderland signed this summer?

Tony Mowbray and sporting director Kristjaan Speakman have already dipped into the market to bring in seven new players to improve the squad after the 2022/23 campaign.

Jenson Seelt, Jobe Bellingham, Nathan Bishop, Luis Semedo, Bradley Dack, Nectarios Triantis, and Eliezer Mayenda have all been brought in on permanent deals so far.

It was recently reported that the Black Cats failed with a €5m (£4.3m) offer to sign young Lille winger Alan Virginius, although it remains to be seen whether or not they will go back in with an improved bid.

How good is Alan Virginius?

The 20-year-old gem is an unproven talent who is still in the early stages of his development and could come in with a view to him being the dream long-term heir to Jack Clarke on the left wing.

Sunderland's current left winger has been linked with a move to Premier League side Burnley this summer and is reportedly valued at £15m by the club.

The transfer speculation surrounding the ex-Tottenham Hotspur prospect suggests that Mowbray and Speakman need a plan in place in the event of his departure, as he would leave a significant hole within the squad.

Clarke was an outstanding performer for the Black Cats last season as the English attacker produced a terrific nine goals and 12 assists across 47 Championship outings.

Ross Stewart (ten) was the only current Sunderland player who scored more goals than the former Spurs man and none of his teammates managed more than seven league assists for the club.

These statistics show that the 22-year-old dynamo has the ability to score and assist goals on a regular basis from a left wing position, which was also backed up by his team-leading 1.7 chances created per game last term.

There is no guarantee that Virginius would be able to immediately replicate that level of production in the Championship but he is a player who has the potential to develop into a Clarke-esque figure out wide for Sunderland if they are able to bring him in.

The 5 foot 9 prodigy, who was described as a "huge talent" by scout Jacek Kulig, produced five goals and three 'big chances' created in seven Ligue 2 starts and 31 appearances in total throughout the 2021/22 campaign for Sochaux.

This came after three goals and two assists in four starts during the previous season, which shows that he has the ability to deliver goals and assists on a regular basis in spite of limited minutes on the pitch.

His impressive form as a teenager, at the time, earned him a move to French giants Lille last summer and the talented gem has scored once in 16 Ligue 1 outings for the club to date, which has included two starts.

Virginius also showcased his creative skills during the U20 World Cup for France this year with 1.7 key passes per match to go along with three goals in three games at the tournament.

These statistics suggest that the potential is there for the 20-year-old ace to deliver a similar level of attacking threat from the left flank as both a scorer and creator if he is able to remain consistent over the course of an entire season of starts, which Sunderland could offer him the chance to have if Clarke moves on this summer or in a future window.

This is why Mowbray should go back in for the talented youngster as his statistics suggest that he has the scope to develop into a dream heir to the English phenom.

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O Palmeiras encerrou a preparação para enfrentar o Internacional e Zé Rafael deve ser a novidade entre os titulares na vaga de Rony, no compromisso desta quarta-feira (2) às 21h30 no Allianz Parque.

O camisa 8 treinou na formação que vai iniciar o confronto ao lado de Luiz Adriano. A informação é do “Nosso Palestra”. Matías Viña, recuperado de dores no quadril, também participou da atividade entre os titulares na vaga de Diogo Barbosa.

continua após a publicidadeRelacionadasPalmeirasPalmeiras tem retrospecto no Allianz Parque como aliado contra o InterPalmeiras31/08/2020PalmeirasPalmeiras e Internacional terá árbitro de polêmica com VARPalmeiras31/08/2020

O atacante Gabriel Veron, em processo de transição física, esteve uma parte do treino com o grupo, mas a volta é incerta. Felipe Melo e Marcos seguem fora.

O provável time terá: Weverton, Mayke, Luan, Gustavo Gómez e Matías Viña; Bruno Henrique, Gabriel Menino, Patrick de Paula e Lucas Lima; Zé Rafael e Luiz Adriano.

O Alviverde volta a atuar no Allianz Parque depois de três rodadas, uma vez que contra o Santos jogou no Morumbi em razão de um evento.

It’s been a summer full of drama for Wolverhampton Wanderers, however enlightening news could soon surround Molineux with a fresh update regarding target Aaron Cresswell reported.

The Midlands club have suffered during the break, climaxing with former manager Julen Lopetegui stepping away from the job just six days prior to the 2023/24 Premier League opener at Old Trafford.

Luckily for the Old Gold, former Bournemouth boss Gary O’Neil has taken the reins from the Spaniard in a quick change in power, however the financial pressures continue to lurk.

What’s the latest on Aaron Cresswell to Wolves?

As reported last month by The Athletic’s Roshane Thomas, Wolves were reported to be ‘in talks’ with West Ham United over left-back Cresswell.

There has since been a significant update amid the chaos in the Midlands, with Football Insider claiming that O’Neil could soon secure the first signing of his reign with a deal ‘expected’ to be completed with the Englishman.

West Ham are reportedly holding out for a fee of around £4m, as per the update.

How good is Aaron Cresswell?

In signing the 33-year-old, O’Neil could marshall his defence with the experience and expertise of Cresswell, who has featured in the top-flight 283 times so far during his nine-year association with the Hammers.

Having been previously hailed as “Mr Consistent” by journalist Dan Woffenden, the left-back has maintained his position as one of West Ham’s most trusted defenders, making 331 appearances in all competitions for the club.

Heading into the final year of his contract, now could be the ideal time for the Irons to cash in on their veteran, in what could be the perfect move for Wolves at this time.

Low on finances, squad members and direction, the Old Gold could find some comfort in Cresswell, who would undoubtedly be a secure addition for O’Neil to integrate into the defence.

Current left-back Rayan Ait-Nouri has been linked with a move away, leaving the Midlands side needing a left-sided defender to take into the new campaign, with only Hugo Bueno and makeshift full-back Toti Gomes available in such position.

While the introduction of the 33-year-old veteran would be fundamental to Wolves’ hopes of competing in the league throughout the upcoming season, it could be a sucker punch for Bueno, who would face another hurdle in his bid to rise up the pecking order at Molineux.

Despite only being 20 years of age, it looked as though the Spaniard was breaking through as being the club’s favoured left-back as communicated by his 21 appearances and 16 starts last term.

In signing the Englishman, the youngster could see his progression halted, with the West Ham marvel offering more of a progressive threat on the left side, as highlighted by his average of 5.84 progressive passes per 90 to Bueno’s 2.68 last season.

Given the severity of the issues at Molineux at present, and the repercussions that could come as a result of failing to address the problems on the pitch.

In the £4m-rated full-back, there would be little risk of error in an experienced professional who has spent the majority of his playing career within the walls of the Premier League.

While Bueno has shown great progress, the years of exposure to the challenges in the top-flight make the task a thing of second nature for Cresswell, rather than acting as a point to prove for the Spaniard at a time when room for error is minimal.

Tottenham Hotspur are now "betting heavily" on FC Porto striker Mehdi Taremi as a replacement for Harry Kane, having already tabled an offer of €24m (£21m), however the Portuguese side are holding out for €30m (£26m), according to reports.

What's the latest on Harry Kane's future?

Bayern Munich have seen another offer rejected for Kane, so time may be running out for the German champions to sign the striker, as he wants to have his future sorted before Tottenham's Premier League opener against Brentford on Sunday.

Ange Postecoglou has recently told the media that he also wants a decision to be made sooner rather than later, in order to have clarity about where he needs to strengthen his squad ahead of the new season, but the striker's future remains up in the air.

The Lilywhites can now sit patiently and see if Bayern were being genuine about their third offer being the final one, though they will of course need to line up potential replacements in case the Bavarians come back and meet the price tag all of a sudden.

Read The Latest Tottenham Transfer News HERE

As such, the Lilywhites haveallegedly now made an offer of €24m (£21m) for Taremi, just shy of Porto's asking price of €30m (£26m), according to reports from Portugal (via Sport Witness).

The striker has "always" desired to play in England, but Porto will not make his departure easy, and he is protected by the €60m (£52m) release clause included in his contract, although his deal is due to expire next year.

Jorge Mendes is intermediating the talks between Tottenham and Porto, delivering the first bid, and it seems as though the north Londoners only need to increase their offer by £5m to secure the Iranian's signature.

Who is Mehdi Taremi?

The 31-year-old forward started out in his homeland of Iran, but it is with Porto where he has started to make a real name for himself, weighing in with an outstanding 31 goals and ten assists for the Portuguese side in all competitions last season.

Seven of those goal contributions came in the Champions League, indicating the Iran international, who has 33 goals for his country, is very much capable of competing at the highest level, and he has received high praise from members of the media.

Back in March, journalist Zach Lowy claimed the 6 foot 1 striker could be "the best Asian player in football right now", as a result of Heung-Min Son's poor form last season, and he could be a very good signing at around £26m, despite his age.

That said, Taremi is unlikely to be a long-term replacement for Kane, and there may be some concerns over the fact that he is still yet to play in one of Europe's "top five" leagues at this stage of his career.

If Spurs do lose their captain this summer, it is important they re-invest the money they receive on another top striker, and it is unclear whether the FC Porto striker is truly in that bracket.

أسدل الستار على مباريات ربع نهائي دوري أبطال أوروبا، بتأهل ريال مدريد على حساب مانشستر سيتي بركلات الترجيح إلى نصف النهائي ليضرب موعد مع بايرن ميونخ الألماني.

النادي الإسباني تأهل على حساب نظيره الإنجليزي بركلات الترجيح، بعدما انتهت مواجهة الذهاب بثلاثة أهداف لكل فريق، ومن ثم التعادل 1-1 إيابًا، ليحسم الملكي ركلات الترجيح لصالحه 4-3.

بتأهل ريال مدريد يواجه بايرن ميونخ الذي عبر آرسنال بهدف نظيف إيابًا بعدما انتهت مواجهة الذهاب 2-2 في ملعب الإمارات.

المباراة الأولى ستجمع بين الفريقين بملعب أليانز أرينا معقل بايرن ميونخ، قبل أن يلتقيا مجددًا في الإياب باستاد سانتياجو بيرنابيو.

والفائز من مواجهة ريال مدريد وبايرن ميونخ، سيلاقي المتأهل من مباراة باريس سان جيرمان الفرنسي وبوروسيا دورتموند الألماني.

طالع أيضًا.. موعد مباراة باريس سان جيرمان وبوروسيا دورتموند في نصف نهائي دوري أبطال أوروبا موعد مباراة ريال مدريد وبايرن ميونخ في نصف نهائي دوري أبطال أوروبا

مباراة الذهاب يوم الثلاثاء 30 أبريل على ملعب اليانز أرينا.

مباراة الإياب يوم الأربعاء 8 مايو على ملعب سانتياجو بيرنابيو.

Arsenal making an offer to sign French international Aurélien Tchouaméni from Real Madrid is "hard to believe", according to transfer insider Dean Jones.

Arsenal transfer news – What's the latest on Aurélien Tchouaméni?

It has been a brilliant start to the transfer window for Arsenal fans, as the club have already sewn up the £65m deal to sign Kai Havertz and look to be incredibly close to signing West Ham United captain Declan Rice for £105m and Ajax defender Jurrien Timber for £40m.

However, if recent reports are to be believed, the Gunners aren't finished yet, and the next transfer could potentially be the most shocking yet.

According to Spanish outlet DefensaCentral, the Premier League runners-up have made the player a 'priority objective' and are looking to submit a bid in the region of €80m to €90m (£69m-£77m) for the Los Blancos star.

However, the same report also states that the Spanish giants view the player as an 'indisputable' part of their team and that the ex-Monaco man wants to remain and 'succeed at Real Madrid.'

What has transfer insider Dean Jones said about Aurelien Tchouaméni to Arsenal?

Jones was upfront about his general surprise at the rumour, pointing out that the Gunners have already spent a huge amount of money this summer, making a deal for the Frenchman unlikely.

Speaking to Football FanCast, he said: "I mean, in terms of Tchouaméni, I find it hard to believe that Arsenal could afford a deal like that on the back of what they've just had to do to be able to afford Declan Rice.

He points out that while you can convince certain clubs to accept specific payment structures, Real are a different kettle of fish, adding: "The way that the cash flow is working at the moment, it's unlikely that you can just knock on the door at Real Madrid, and propose taking one of the young stars off him that you're playing over six years or something. For some clubs. Yeah, that works. And that's feasible. But at Real Madrid, I'm not so sure."

Would Aurelien Tchouaméni be a good signing for Arsenal?

In short, yes. Tchouaméni would represent an unbelievable signing for the Gunners, especially in a window that has already seen them spend big on Rice, Havertz and Timber.

The French international has taken a little bit of time to settle into life at the Bernabeu, but he still had a great season overall last year, with WhoScored giving the player an average rating of 7.04 for his 24 starts in La Liga.

His underlying numbers are outstanding as well, with FBref, who compare players in a similar position across Europe's top five leagues, placing him in the top 1% for pass completion and interceptions, the top 5% for attempted passes, the top 8% for clearances and the top 11% for aerial duals won, all per 90.

With numbers like that, it's hardly surprising that back in his Monaco days, his former boss Niko Kovac waxed lyrical about the star, saying:

"For me, he is already the best midfielder in Ligue 1 today."

Alongside his coach, he was also lauded by the pundits, with French football expert Tom Williams telling Football Espana that he was "an absolute machine when it comes to ball recovery."

If Edu and Co can get this deal over the line and play him in a midfield with Rice and Martin Odegaard, the Gunners might be able to go that one step further next season.

Ravindra Jadeja has climbed one place to join R Ashwin at No.1 in the ICC rankings for Test bowlers in what is the first instance of two spinners jointly claiming the top spot.

Top five bowlers in Tests

1. Ravindra Jadeja – 892 points
1. R Ashwin – 892 points
3. Josh Hazlewood – 863 points
4. Rangana Herath – 827 points
5. Kagiso Rabada – 821 points

Jadeja’s seven wickets, including a first-innings six-for, in the second Test against Australia helped him occupy the top rank and assured India the No.1 spot in the ICC Test Team rankings for the annual April 1 cut-off.He shares the top spot with Ashwin, whose eight-wicket haul took him past Bishan Bedi as the fifth-highest wicket-taker for India in Tests with 269 scalps. However, Ashwin’s poor returns with the bat – 20 in the last four innings – meant he has dropped behind Shakib Al Hasan on the list of Test allrounders.The last time two bowlers shared the No.1 rank was in April 2008, when Dale Steyn and Muttiah Muralitharan were at 897 points. Jadeja and Ashwin are currently at 892 points each, and lead Australia’s Josh Hazlewood at No. 3 by 29 points.In the rankings for Test batsmen, Virat Kohli lost his second spot to Joe Root after managing only 40 in his last two Tests. Steven Smith maintained his reign at the top for the 77th Test, edging past Ricky Ponting’s 76 matches as the third longest stint at the top among Australians after Steve Waugh (94) and Don Bradman (93).

Glasgow Rangers have submitted an offer to Los Angeles FC for target Jose Cifuentes, according to reports.

What’s the latest Rangers transfer news involving Cifuentes?

Michael Beale and those at Ibrox have wasted no time in bolstering the playing squad ahead of the 2023/24 season, with four new additions already made.

Dujon Sterling, Kiran Dowell and Jack Butland have all agreed on free transfers to Glasgow, whereas Rangers have also signed forward Sam Lammers from Italian side Atalanta for €3.5m.

That appears to be just the start of the club’s summer business, with Cifuentes looking like he could be the next through the Ibrox door.

Reports have suggested that a Rangers move for Cifuentes could be agreed upon by the end of the month, although a low fee still needs to be arranged with the MLS side, and it looks as if that bid has now been made.

According to journalist Alejandro Ruilova, Cifuentes has agreed to make the move to Rangers, with the Scottish side making an offer to LAFC, who are evaluating the proposal.

“Jose Cifuentes – Ecuadorian player has agreed to go to Rangers. Only that Los Angeles FC asks for an amount of money to be able to release the player before the end of his contract.

“It is being negotiated since Rangers offered an amount that is being studied by the club.”

Who is Jose Cifuentes?

Cifuentes is seemingly at the top of his game with a career-high €12m Transfermarkt valuation and can play as a holding, central or attacking midfielder.

The 24-year-old has made 115 appearances for LAFC after joining back in 2020, contributing to 33 goals along the way. He has also won 15 caps for Ecuador and is sponsored by Nike, with his current contract set to expire at the end of the year.

Lauded as being “very dynamic” by LAFC assistant manager Marc Dos Santos, Cifuentes has also been hailed by Ecuador football expert Benedikt Duda, who said:

“Cifuentes is a no.8, who is physical and strong in defence with a tendency to get involved in the attack. There is a good reason he wears the no.11, and footballing-wise, he models himself after Paul Pogba.”

Therefore, for the right price, it looks as if Rangers could be getting a versatile midfielder at the peak of his powers, and hopefully, he’ll be able to go from strength to strength under Beale in Scotland.