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The new-look Adelaide Strikers, led by opener Alex Carey and legspinner Rashid Khan, secured a 53-run win over Sydney Thunder to get their campaign off to the perfect start

The Report by Alex Malcolm in Adelaide22-Dec-2017
Scorecard and ball-by-ball detailsThe new-look Adelaide Strikers were a bit of mystery coming into this year’s tournament. But their rejuvenated line-up, with the help of mystery legspinner Rashid Khan, delivered a dominant win over the Sydney Thunder to get their campaign off to the perfect start.Rashid weaved some magic, taking 2 for 22 from his four overs, to sink the Thunder. But he was helped by the work of new opener Alex Carey’s 44 off 26 balls that laid the foundation for a defendable total of 163. Then Peter Siddle, the new recruit, delivered a frugal opening two overs and removed the dangerous Jos Buttler to put the Thunder well behind the asking rate in the chase.The Strikers had made an excellent start after winning the toss and batting first, save for the early dismissal of Jake Weatherald.Getty ImagesGiven the task of replacing last year’s leading scorer Ben Dunk at the top of the order, Carey looked right at home. He struck five crisp boundaries and launched two sixes. One was inside-out over cover against a turning legbreak from Fawad Ahmed, the other a flat slog sweep against a turning offbreak from Arjun Nair.Travis Head wasn’t quite as fluid at the other end but the Strikers were 1 for 89 from 9.4 overs before Head was brilliantly caught behind by Buttler off Nair.The Strikers then hit the skids. They scored 34 runs from the next 37 deliveries of spin offered by Fawad, Nair and Chris Green and lost Carey and Colin Ingram in the process. Nair got the spoils with three wickets but Green delivered 12 valuable dots in his four overs.The Strikers scrounged 40 runs in the last four overs that featured a couple of controversial moments. Jake Lehmann was dropped by Mitch McClenaghan but the New Zealand quick felt he was obstructed by the non-striker Jonathan Wells. McClenaghan still got both hands to the relatively simple chance and Wells had done nothing but hold his ground as McClenaghan tried to get around him.McClenaghan, however, had a decision go his way in the last over. He delivered a full toss well above waist height but was not penalised a no-ball. The next delivery should have been a free-hit but wasn’t, and Lehmann holed out for 23.The Thunder started poorly in the chase. Siddle and Billy Stanlake bowled long-form lines and lengths and Kurtis Patterson and Shane Watson did little to try and throw them off. At one stage the Thunder were 1 for 23 after five overs. Four boundaries in the next two overs then pushed the run rate past six. Watson tried to force Head’s offspin over the long boundary and fell 20m short.Rashid then settled into his work. His first three balls cost nine runs. His next 12 cost just seven runs and yielded two wickets. He had Ryan Gibson nicking off with a quick, full legbreak with Carey making the catching behind look a lot easier than it was. Two balls later Ben Rohrer was completely bamboozled by a world-class wrong ‘un that clipped the top of his off stump.Patterson was the Thunder’s only hope having scored 48 of his team’s 81 runs by the 12th over but he picked out midwicket in the next over. Ben Laughlin cleaned up the tail with three wickets in four balls. Siddle finished with the remarkable figures of 2 for 6 from three overs.

Wrexham have confirmed that Jake Bickerstaff has joined Accrington Stanley on loan for the rest of the season.

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Bickerstaff joins Accrington StanleyPart of a clearout at the club Will not be allowed to play against Red DragonsWHAT HAPPENED?

Bickerstaff has left on loan for the rest of the season as part of the clearout at Wrexham as they can only register 21 players. With the signings of Luke Bolton, Jack Marriott and Luke McNicholas and the return of Scott Butler from his loan, they needed to offload a few players.

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In his 15 appearances this season, including eight starts, centre-forward Bickerstaff has scored twice. He scored his first EFL goal during the club's win over Walsall in August and then got his second the following week as they drew 5-5 with Swindon Town. In 28 games throughout his Red Dragons career, he has scored six goals.

DID YOU KNOW?

Wrexham have also announced that the striker will not be allowed to play against Phil Parkinson's side as the club has included a clause in the contract with League Two rivals Accrington.

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GettyWHAT NEXT FOR BICKERSTAFF?

It is not known if the 22-year-old will be in action with Accrington in their next game when they take on Grimsby Town on Saturday, February 3. They will play against Wrexham on March 3.

Sidharth Monga on the small-town venues where Maharashtra have been playing their home games

Sidharth Monga in Nagothane10-Dec-2007

The Reliance Cricket Stadium near Nagothane is one of the many small-town venues where Maharashtra have been playing their home games © Cricinfo Ltd
The Reliance Cricket Stadium near Nagothane is situated 130 km from the nearest city: Mumbai. The population of the township that houses the ground is about 2000. There are villages surrounding the township, the nearest one being 10 km away. Yet, on a Sunday, anywhere between 800 and 1000 watched the Maharashtra-Delhi Ranji Trophy match, something big cities like Mumbai, with a population of 10 million, scarcely manage. And Virender Sehwag, the main attraction, did not even bat on the day.With a hill overlooking the ground and the winter sun staying mild for the majority of the day, it is fun to play and watch cricket here. A venue far away from the city and amid the hills is bound to evoke the exotic, which one needs to look beyond. Nagothane, staging it’s maiden first-class game, is one of the many offbeat, small-town venues in Maharashtra, where Ranji Trophy games are being held.Ratnagiri, Nasik, Aurangabad, Nanded and Karad are the other venues where they have been playing. After they played Bengal in the first round of the 2005-06 Ranji Trophy, they haven’t played a first-class game at Pune. “Maharashtra is a huge state,” says Ajay Shirke, the Maharashtra Cricket Association (MCA) president. “And it’s not feasible for the talent in the districts and small towns to come to us; we will have to go to them with the game. We realised that for the last two-three seasons we have been working on that.”The persistence has started showing feasible benefits. “Our Under-15 team has reached the semi-finals and is unbeaten so far. The pace spearhead of that team, Yuvraj Pawar, comes from Usmanabad. His parents know nothing about the game. We wouldn’t have got him had we just concentrated on Pune. A majority of the population doesn’t have the means to come to Pune and play with city players. We have recognsied it as our responsibility to take the game to them. You can see the senior team too: we have players from Aurangabad, Satara, Nasik. Some of them are the first players from their districts for the last 40-45 years.” Our Under-15 team has reached the semi-finals and is unbeaten so far. The pace spearhead of that team, Yuvraj Pawar, comes from Usmanabad. His parents know nothing about the game There is an unmistakable raw enthusiasm to the young Maharashtra side who have won two matches outright and conceded a first-innings for the first time, against Delhi. Players like medium-pacer Wahid Sayyed from Aurangabad might probably not have made it to the side, but for this policy. Jaideep Narse, former Maharashtra opener, who travels with the team now to assist with the sports mechanics, feels there has been a decisive shift with cricket going to the hinterland. “Earlier Maharashtra cricket was only Pune,” Narse, also from Pune says, “but now we play all over, even if that means doing away with the home advantage for the time being.”Bhupinder Singh, the national selector, only vindicated Narse’s point. Supposed to watch this match, he landed up in Pune only to find out they were playing in Nagothane.While staying beyond the exotic, as Sanjay Bangar’s said in his domestic diary, it is also necessary that players get a proper wicket to play, a proper outfield to field in, and a reasonable place to stay. The local journalists say the wickets at Ratnagiri and Nasik have been sporting. The Nagothane track has a good-length spot from where the ball misbehaves, but apart from that the wicket has done itself no disgrace. The batsmen can get runs if they can apply themselves, the bowlers wickets if they keep hitting the length. The outfield is better than some of the international venues in India. And the team have been put up in large resorts where one can lose one’s way while taking a walk.Shirke doesn’t refute there are “teething” problems, which will be resolved with time. On the day before the match, there was no-one at the ground to operate the super-sopper. On the first day of the match, when heavy dew caused an hour’s delay, an experienced groundstaff could have avoided the delay. It might have only required to time the removal of the covers better. The media-persons covering the match have no decent places left to stay, after the teams have populated the two available resorts. But overall, “teething” problems aside, while the BCCI is busy promoting the game in Singapore, Malaysia and such like, it is good to see a state association taking it to villages. And benefiting from that through the talent they generate.

Former Barcelona boss Ronald Koeman has shown his support for Xavi after the Spaniard announced he would resign as manager in the summer.

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Koeman called job "an attack on mental health"Xavi has previously complained about pressureSet to leave Barcelona at the end of the seasonWHAT HAPPENED?

Xavi has been vocal about the stress of the Barcelona job in recent weeks. The former Bluagrana midfielder announced that he will leave the post at the end of the season, and has spoken candidly about the job as a result.

AdvertisementWHAT RONALD KOEMAN SAID

Koeman, Xavi's predecessor, admitted that he found the job equally taxing. He revealed as such in an interview with : "Being Barca coach is an attack on mental health. It is much more fun to be a Barcelona player than a coach, and Xavi, as a Catalan and son of the club, has surely noticed it. It's the hardest job I've ever done."

WHAT XAVI SAID

Koeman's comments follow a series of incendiary remarks from Xavi, who showed little hesitation in crticising the club culture: "It is a mental and football issue. Failures make the team weaker and the players lower their level. The football level drops due to the mental level. That's why [I have made] the announcement of my departure. Furthermore, I believe that our work is not valued enough. I had already decided on it a long time ago, since the beginning of the season."

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(C)Getty imagesTHE BIGGER PICTURE

Nine months after winning La Liga, the Blaugrana are firmly out of this season's title race. Xavi's side find themselves in third, eight points behind league leaders Real Madrid. Koeman was removed from the position in November 2021.

A new dawn has risen in north London with Tottenham Hotspur now under the management of the Australian Ange Postecoglou.

And the early signs of the Big Ange revolution in N17 are extremely positive with the Lilywhites impressing many in the opening stages of the 2023/24 Premier League campaign.

With the positivity surrounding the club comes excitement from the fans who have had to endure an underwhelming few years under the likes of Jose Mourinho and Antonio Conte.

Given Spurs fans will be keen to ride this wave of positivity, we at Football FanCast have taken a look at the social media accounts and podcasts every Spurs fan should follow to keep up to date with the latest news and views on their club.

Journalists Alasdair Gold Youtube & Twitter

Perhaps the most well-known Tottenham Hotspur journalist, Alasdair Gold has racked up over 230k followers on the social media platform X.

The football.london journalist often provides the inside scoop on all things Tottenham ranging from transfer news to injury updates and provides a range of content across multiple channels.

Indeed, Gold’s work spans from live blogging from Spurs matches home and away to his hour-long videos posted to his YouTube channel.

If you want to keep up with all things Spurs, this man provides content accessible through almost every means – even a WhatsApp update feed.

Charlie Eccleshare, Athletic correspondent

One of The Athletic’s Tottenham correspondent’s, Charlie Eccleshare also provides a range of written content which caters for just about every Tottenham fan’s need.

The journalist provided breaking transfer news over the summer but also offers longer-form articles which take a deeper dive into some of the underlying topics concerning the north London club.

Fans can find Eccleshare on the social media platform X as well as The Athletic’s weekly Spurs podcast.

Dan Kilpatrick Twitter

Similarly to the likes of Gold and Eccleshare, Dan Kilpatrick is one of the most well-known Spurs correspondents with a significant following on the likes of X.

Kilpatrick covers the north London side for the Evening Standard and also writes a variety of articles which span from the latest information coming out of the Premier League club to how Postecoglou has transformed the side he inherited – for example.

As is the case with most of the well-respected journalists, Kilpatrick can also be found speaking all things Tottenham on The Tottenham Way podcast.

Michael Bridge from Sky Sports

Self professed Tottenham fan, Michael Bridge is often seen hitting the screens on Sky Sports News where he is frequently providing his insight into the latest rumblings around N17.

As well as providing the latest news coming out of Spurs, Bridge is no stranger to providing his personal opinion on what is happening around the club.

As well as featuring on the UK’s biggest sports broadcast, Bridge can also be found on X and often featuring on the Last Word on Spurs YouTube channel.

Social Media

The Spurs Web Twitter

Football news is a constant cycle and keeping on top of the latest breaking news can prove to be a daunting task – especially in the transfer window.

However, X’s biggest unofficial Tottenham news account remains The Spurs Web who provide a range of posts to accommodate for every Spurs fan’s needs.

The account aggregates news from a huge variety of news outlets from across the globe as well as providing fans with topical discussions and even throwback clips to remind fans of some of the club’s best moments.

Even the likes of former Spurs defender Jan Vertonghen are known to like the occasional post from this account.

The Spurs Express Twitter

Similarly to The Spurs Web, The Spurs Express account aims to provide their followers with the latest news surrounding the club from across the world.

Across the international break, the account looked to offer fans an insight into how some of their players were performing for their respective countries with a statistical breakdown of some of their performances.

There is very rarely a quiet day when it comes to Tottenham Hotspur and following accounts such as this feels like a necessity for any Spurs fan.

Lilywhite Rose Twitter

There are a number of big Tottenham news accounts out there who offer a similar service, however, Lilywhite Rose does provide fans with something completely different.

It can be easy to get caught up in the big signings clubs make in the transfer window, but it is important to consider the next big talents coming through the club’s ranks.

The likes of Harry Kane have emerged through Tottenham’s youth system and the Lilywhite Rose account on X aims to keep on top of the latest news coming out of the club’s academy.

Ran by BBC contributor John Wenham, the account provides a keen insight into the latest news to emerge from the youth levels, youth players away from the club on loan and even offering debate on matters concerning Postecoglou’s first team.

Chris Cowlin Youtube & Twitter

Potentially best known for his content produced during the construction of the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium, Chris Cowling is a match-going fan who provides a range of content from that very perspective.

On top of providing videos from the stands, Cowlin also provides a variety of Spurs-related content on his YouTube channel and relays the latest news and quotes involving the club on his X account.

A Spurs content creator who covers just about all bases.

Matt Hayes Youtube & Twitter

If the likes of Charlie Eccleshare’s work does it for you, then dropping Matt Hayes a follow will likely cure your fix for detailed analytical pieces concerning the Lilywhites.

Indeed, this Spurs fan often takes a deeper look into topical discussions surrounding the north London club to provide fans with a more in-depth understanding of the club they love.

As well as sparking debate on X, Hayes is also a frequent panelist on the Last Word on Spurs YouTube channel.

Ricky Sacks Twitter

Host of the Last Word on Spurs, Ricky Sacks is a regular face on Sky Sports when it comes to providing the voice of the fans on all matters Tottenham.

The podcast host can be found on X where he shares links to the latest shows coming to the LWOS channel as they host some familiar names to discuss the latest happenings in north London.

Burnley and manager Vincent Kompany are reportedly looking to sign an in-demand free agent.

Who did Burnley sign this summer?

The Clarets once again had an extremely productive transfer window ahead of their Premier League return, bringing in a whopping 15 players. However, the club have struggled to make an immediate impact back in the top flight, losing all three of their fixtures to date.

All of Burnley’s Premier League encounters have been played at Turf Moor, with Manchester City, Aston Villa and Tottenham all scoring three or more goals and taking home the points.

As a result, the Clarets sit bottom of the league, with fellow newly promoted side Luton Town also failing to pick up a point in any of their first three games.

Player

Former club

Fee

Zeki Amdouni

FC Basel

€18.6m

James Trafford

Manchester City

€17.3m

Aaron Ramsey

Aston Villa

€16.45m

Jordan Bayer

Borussia Monchengladbach

€15m

Sander Berge

Sheffield United

€13.9m

Wilson Odobert

Troyes

€12m

Dara O'Shea

West Brom

€7.8m

Michael Obafemi

Swansea City

€4m

Hannes Delcroix

RSC Anderlecht

€3m

Luca Koleosho

Espanyol

€3m

Nathan Redmond

Besiktas

Free transfer

Han-Noah Massengo

Bristol City

Free transfer

Lawrence Vigouroux

Leyton Orient

Free transfer

Mike Tresor

Genk

Loan transfer

Jacob Bruun Larsen

Hoffenheim

Loan transfer

With plenty of new players, time may well be required for Kompany to get the best out of his side, however, it looks as if those high up at Turf Moor are still looking at potential additions in the free-agent market.

Who wants to sign Jesse Lingard?

According to 90min, Jesse Lingard is a player who is in demand and has received offers from clubs in Turkey, Saudi Arabia, Qatar and the United States of America.

He is currently training with West Ham, who are considering offering a short-term contract, although Burnley and Everton are also thought to be interested in the attacking midfielder. However, the report states that if Lingard is to stay in England, it would be with the Hammers.

Lingard, who has scored two goals against Burnley in the past, would offer plenty of Premier League experience at Turf Moor, making 182 appearances in the competition for the likes of Manchester United, West Ham and Nottingham Forest.

Capable of playing in a range of attacking positions, the Englishman was hailed as "top-class" by former Red Devils boss Ole Gunnar Solskjaer and is 30 years of age, so you'd expect the player could have a number of years left at the top level.

It does look as if a move to West Ham could be on the cards, though, with David Moyes recently saying:

"He’s in really good condition – much better condition than he was when he first came in. I have to say, when Jesse joined us two years ago I think he scored nine goals in 15 games and was probably the difference between us getting into Europe for the first time. I want to give him every opportunity to get himself back in condition and see how he does."

However, should a move to the London Stadium fall through, Burnley could be in a position to make an offer, so his future could be one to keep an eye on.

Alex Greenwood admits that the USWNT act as a source of inspiration for England, with a star-studded American side earning the right to be “arrogant”.

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United States have dominated world footballAlways responded positively to any setbacksEngland looking to learn important lessonsWHAT HAPPENED?

The United States did endure a humbling fall from grace at the 2023 Women’s World Cup, as they historically surrendered their crown with a whimper in Australia and New Zealand. They have, however, responded to such setbacks before – becoming world champions on the back of a disappointing display at the 2016 Olympic Games – and they continue to set the standard for most.

AdvertisementGettyWHAT GREENWOOD SAID ABOUT THE USWNT

Euro 2022 winner Greenwood admits as much, with the experienced England defender telling when asked if she admires rivals from the States: “For sure. I've just watched a documentary about them and I still love their mentality. I love the expectation they have of themselves. People may call them arrogant, but I think they've earned the right to have that about themselves. They walk with a swagger, like they're going to win. I think their future, like ours, is exciting. Every team goes through transitions – whether that be changes to the playing group or coaches – and that can cause disruption. It’s about how you come out the other side of it.”

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England suffered final heartache at the 2023 World Cup, before then failing to make it to the UEFA Nations League finals and book a Paris Olympics spot for Team GB, but Greenwood is looking to take positives. The Manchester City star added: “In football, if you don't have setbacks, that’s abnormal. Of course, I judge a team on how much they can win and the consistency they have. I look at our men's team here at City and how consistent they are, winning back-to-back, season after season. The USA women's team were another example when they were winning consecutive World Cups. But I think you grow from setbacks and that's when you learn about yourselves. I'm on the inside with England and I know our reaction will be positive because we're all massive winners and we have such a top-quality team. I don't see the World Cup final as a setback – we should be proud of what we achieved there – but the Nations League was because we're not going to the Olympics. That's disappointing, because we expect to be at every tournament. What it gives us is an opportunity to play other games, to grow as a team and get ready for the Euro qualifiers.”

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Getty ImagesWHAT NEXT FOR GREENWOOD?

Greenwood is currently focused on domestic matters at City, as she looks to help them towards WSL title glory, while the formidable 30-year-old has also been named – alongside six of her England team-mates – in the FIFA FIFPRO Women’s World 11 for 2023.

Chelsea are set for a short pre-season after winning the Club World Cup final, with just five weeks separating their 3-0 win over PSG in New Jersey and their first Premier League game of 2025/2026 against Crystal Palace.

Chelsea hold talks with £100k-per-week England star this week

Enzo Maresca is prioritising one key area.

ByEmilio Galantini Jul 17, 2025

They have scheduled just two pre-season matches as a result of their CWC triumph, needing to fit a holiday in for both players and staff after what was a successful but very long campaign.

Cole Palmer

7.33

Moises Caicedo

7.02

Enzo Fernández

6.95

Nicolas Jackson

6.88

Noni Madueke

6.82

via WhoScored

Chelsea will take on both Bayer Leverkusen and AC Milan on August 8 and August 10 respectively, but as things stand, these are the only friendlies they’ll play before facing Palace in the top flight a week later.

It remains to be seen how Enzo Maresca’s side will fare given their minimal preparation, but the Italian did get a chance to try out new tactics during their CWC campaign in the US.

He also managed to give some of his major summer signings a run-out. Joao Pedro seriously impressed at the tournament in particular, scoring three goals in three CWC games, including a brace in their semi-final against Fluminense and a goal in the final against PSG.

Despite Chelsea’s need to sell players and balance out the squad due to a pact with UEFA (Kaveh Solhekol), Maresca could still add more fresh faces before their new season kicks off against Palace.

This will be dependent on departures (Simon Phillips), but perhaps Djordje Petrovic’s £25 million move to Bournemouth has freed up space for AC Milan goalkeeper Mike Maignan to come in.

The France number one was a serious target for Chelsea earlier in the window, and they tried to complete a deal for him before competing in the CWC. However, Milan and Chelsea failed to find an agreement, despite Maignan’s eagerness to join.

Despite reports to the contrary, Chelsea could go back in for Maignan before deadline day on September 1, with Robert Sanchez also told he’s free to find a new club away from Stamford Bridge (Graeme Bailey).

Mike Maignan very keen to join Chelsea, he's a top target

TEAMtalk have another update on the situation this week, claiming Maignan remains a top target for Chelsea.

The 30-year-old is also “enthusiastic” about joining Maresca’s side this summer, even if negotiations previously failed, with the main roadblock being Milan’s £22 million asking price – a figure deemed too high by Chelsea considering both his age and his contract situation.

However, given Maignan’s pedigree as one of world football’s most commanding shot-stoppers, £22 million is surely a price worth paying – especially if they sell Sanchez.

Every title-winning side in history have one thing in common – the presence of a world-class keeper. Maignan, who’s been lavished with praise by his fellow top-level players, arguably stands out as the best option by far this summer.

“He is physical, quick, he has clean technique. He is very strong. He is one of the best in the world,” said Liverpool keeper Alisson about Maignan’s quality.

“The quality of goalkeepers has really increased – Mike Maignan is within this elite.”

Chelsea are planning a sensational midfield overhaul that could escalate their spending to unparalleled heights.

The Blues look set to resist Liverpool’s outlandish attempt to hijack their Moises Caicedo deal as they prepare to break the record Premier League transfer fee for the South American.

Furthermore, these clubs are also battling it out for Romeo Lavia’s signature.

What’s the latest on Romeo Lavia to Chelsea?

According to Sky Sports News, Chelsea are ‘close’ to an agreement with Southampton over signing Lavia, but Liverpool retains a strong interest in the youngster.

The 2021 Champions League winners remain in direct contact with the Saints, who are holding firm with their £50m valuation.

Read the latest Chelsea transfer news HERE…

Chelsea submitted a £48m bid earlier this week, while Liverpool have had three separate offers – the latest of which was £45m – all rejected.

This outlet also revealed that the West Londoners are looking to welcome two midfielders in this window, and they feel that landing Lavia and Caicedo is a real possibility.

Why would Romeo Lavia be a good signing for Chelsea?

Although the Belgian has only played on 29 occasions in the Premier League, he has swiftly established himself as one of Europe’s most attractive and sought-after assets.

Last season, Lavia, who was described as “tremendous” by Rio Ferdinand, averaged 2.1 tackles, 1.1 interceptions, and 84% pass accuracy in the opposition half in domestic football as per Sofascore – scoring higher than Mateo Kovacic and Conor Gallagher for the aforementioned metrics.

The 19-year-old has enjoyed a quick rise to prominence with Jean Kindermans, Anderlecht’s head of Academy, eulogizing over Lavia’s composure and bright future, saying: “His best position is as a low playmaker because he can deliver passes.

“He’s always calm on the ball. You can give him it under pressure and he will solve the problem. He is going to have a brilliant career.”

Paul Scholes has followed up this praise, feeling that Lavia is someone with “so much potential.”

A player of this calibre and defensive acumen could be a pivotal figure in aiding Reece James to recapture his best form at Stamford Bridge.

The last two seasons have been difficult for the right-back – he has missed 45 games through various injuries that have massively disrupted his rhythm and consistency.

Last campaign, Chelsea failed to win in any of his final eight outings in the Premier League, and he mustered just four goal contributions in all competitions.

Nevertheless, he is one of the world’s most effective full-backs, and as the club’s new captain, he will be an imperative figure in any Chelsea revival.

James will be looking to emulate and surpass Trent Alexander Arnold’s influence. The £180k-per-week man also endured a tricky campaign, as Liverpool unexpectedly dropped out of the top four, but he still managed to hit double-digits for assists.

Both players have built formidable reputations for their awe-inspiring technical ability. Interestingly, over the past 365 days, James comfortably outranks Alexander-Arnold for progressive carries per 90 (3.51 vs 1.41), and successful take-ons per 90 (1.8 vs 0.91). Then, the latter narrowly outperforms the former Wigan Athletic loanee for shot-creating actions per 90 (3.46 vs 3.88), and progressive passes per 90 (6.29 vs 7.31).

In summary, these figures mean that James sits within the best 10% in Europe’s top five leagues among his positional peers for the aforementioned metrics. To still possess these numbers whilst going through the toughest period in your career is a testament to his quality, which could reach even more frightening heights with Lavia’s addition.

Tottenham Hotspur have not wasted any time before getting going under Ange Postecoglou, who has got off to a near perfect start at the club. Having endured fairly uninspiring football from the likes of Nuno Espirito Santo and Antonio Conte, the Lilywhites are now one of the most interesting sides to watch in the Premier League.

The summer transfer window certainly left them in an interesting position, and without Harry Kane, you worried about them. Yet, after four games, only Manchester City have won more points than their ten, having even defeated Manchester United along the way.

Now, they are set to strengthen further, despite the transfer window slamming shut earlier this month, with a centre-back coming through the doors of Hotspur Way.

What's the latest Spurs transfer news?

Losing Kane for a reported £105m to Bayern Munich in the summer, Spurs have invested their money well, welcoming the likes of Micky van de Ven, Brennan Johnson and standout player James Maddison, who already has four goal involvements in five games for the club in all competitions.

Among all the positives, though, Postecoglou actually suffered a late blow to his squad depth when Davinson Sanchez lef the club to join Galatasaray after the closure of the English transfer window, leaving Spurs short on defensive options. But it appears that's not the only out-of-window business, as Postecoglou now looks to the future.

According to Fabrizio Romano, Spurs are "on the verge" of signing the Croatian centre-back Luka Vusković on a five-year deal, fending off interest from five other clubs in the process. The 16-year-old will reportedly make the move from Hajduk Split when he turns 18 in two years, giving him plenty of time to develop even further.

Romano said: "Tottenham are on the verge of signing Croatian CB top talent Luka Vusković! After top project for his development, Vusković only wants Spurs — despite interest from 5 more top clubs. Personal terms agreed, clubs finalising paperwork. Here we go."

Who is Luka Vuskovic?

At 16, Vuskovic stands at 6 foot 4 and could still have room to grow even more, potentially making him a dominant central defender. Despite his age, the Croatian has already made 11 first-team appearances for Hajduk Split, even scoring one goal, and making the bench twice this season.

Given that he is being trusted to feature for the first-team before he's even 18-years-old, it certainly seems as though Spurs have got themselves one to watch for the future.

From the Lilywhites' perspective, they'll be hoping to get a player ready to play a part in their squad once he turns 18, and completes the move once and for all. For now, though, they'll be well aware that he is still very much in the early stages of his career, and gaining first-team experience at Split is more important than ever.

Securing the central defender once again shows how much Spurs have improved off the pitch in such a short space of time. Reportedly beating five other clubs to Vuskovic's signature, the Croatian's arrival represents a major coup for the future.