Manchester City's transfer plans have been explained as the Premier League champions deal with the potential departures of three key players.
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De Bruyne & Ederson 'agree' Saudi movesSilva linked with BarcelonaCombined 18 PL titles between trio(C)GettyImagesWHAT HAPPENED?
Last week it was reported that agreements had been reached for Manchester City's Kevin De Bruyne to sign for Al-Ittihad, and for Ederson to join Al-Nassr. Bernardo Silva, meanwhile, is reportedly interested in joining Barcelona – and even knows what shirt number he wants. These are three important players for Pep Guardiola, but according to, City have no immediate plans to replace them.
AdvertisementTHE BIGGER PICTURE
De Bruyne and Ederson's long-term futures appear pretty tenous right now. The Belgian playmaker is out of contract at the end of the coming season and has admitted he is "open" to a Saudi move, while those close to Ederson felt he was ready to move to the Middle East towards the end of the last campaign. In a relief to City supporters, the club reportedly expect both players to remain this summer, and so the need to replace them immediately is reduced.
(C)Getty ImagesDID YOU KNOW?
City have explored the goalkeeper market as they faced the possibility of both Ederson and Stefan Ortega leaving. They may not need to now, though, with Ederson's backup signing a new contract last month to remain in Manchester. He would be considered No.1 if the Brazilian did move on.
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WHAT NEXT FOR CITY?
City have spent the early part of the summer focusing on outgoings, with Taylor Harwood-Bellis and Tommy Doyle leaving on permanent deals. They could soon complete their first signing with the expected arrival of Brazilian wonderkid Savinho.
Leeds United are currently on course to secure automatic promotion straight back to the Premier League at the first time of asking, having been relegated from the top-flight at the end of last season.
The Whites brought in German head coach Daniel Farke last summer in an attempt to lead them to glory and they are second in the table with 13 games left to play.
They are above Ipswich Town on goal difference and two points ahead of Southampton, with all three sides on the same number of matches played, whilst Leicester City are nine points clear at the top.
Farke won the Championship title with Norwich City on two occasions and is now looking for a third promotion to the Premier League, with the help of the exciting squad he has available to him.
Leeds United manager Daniel Farke.
One player who has been particularly important to the club's success on the pitch this season has been terrific forward Crysencio Summerville.
The Dutch wizard has been a constant threat on the left wing and one of the top performers in his position in the division this term, alongside former Leeds starlet Jack Clarke.
When Leeds sold Jack Clarke
In the summer of 2019, then-sporting director Victor Orta decided to cash in on the talented young forward as Tottenham Hotspur swooped in to secure his services.
The Premier League side reportedly splashed out an initial fee of £8.5m to sign the teenage winger and sent him back on loan at Elland Road for the 2019/20 campaign.
Clarke had broken through into the first-team under Marcelo Bielsa during the previous season and made 24 appearances in the Championship, including the play-offs, before Spurs decided to move for him.
Jack Clarke
He produced two goals and two assists from the left flank in those 24 outings, although only four of those matches were as a starter, but his return on loan did not go as well.
The young gem made one Championship appearance for Leeds before Tottenham opted to send him out on loan to Queens Park Rangers for the second half of the campaign, in which time he played six times for the London-based side in the second tier.
Clarke failed to make the grade in the Premier League with Spurs during his time there and was eventually sold to Sunderland, after a six-month loan spell, in the summer of 2022.
Over the last two seasons, the 23-year-old wizard has been a constant threat to opposition defences in the Championship and has been an outstanding performer, which suggests that Orta fumbled Leeds' own homegrown version of Summerville back in 2019.
Crysencio Summerville's season in numbers
The former Feyenoord youngster, who arrived at Elland Road in the summer of 2021, has emerged as the star of Farke's team in the second tier this season for Leeds.
He has been in phenomenal form as both a scorer and a creator of goals as a right-footed winger who predominantly plays on the left side of the attack.
Summerville has racked up 15 goals in 30 appearances in the division – four more than any of his teammates have managed – and only missed nine 'big chances', with an xG of 11.62.
This shows that the 22-year-old whiz has been ruthless in front of goal as he has rarely passed up a good opportunity to find the back of the net for the Whites.
The electric gem has also provided his fellow attackers with eight assists in those 30 Championship games, and only Georginio Rutter (11) has produced more assists within the Leeds squad.
Leeds duo Daniel Farke and Crysencio Summerville.
Summerville may, however, argue that he should have more assists to his name. The exceptional dynamo has an xA of 9.33 and has created 16 'big chances', yet has only been rewarded with eight assists for his efforts.
Along with his quality as a scorer and a creator, the Dutch gem also has the ability in possession to get supporters off their seats with his dribbling, as he has completed 2.3 dribbles per game. He can get Elland Road rocking by committing defenders and driving the ball past players to push his team up the pitch.
Clarke is a player who offers similar qualities as another right-footed winger who plays on the left flank in the Championship, which is backed up by his impressive statistics for Sunderland this season.
Jack Clarke's season in numbers
The 23-year-old has been in exceptional form for the Black Cats throughout the 2023/24 campaign, despite their turbulence in the dugout so far.
They are on their third manager of the season in Mike Dodds, who is in interim charge for the second time after Michael Beale – who replaced Tony Mowbray – was sacked earlier this week.
Despite the seemingly constant change in the coaching staff, Clarke, who was once hailed as "unplayable" by journalist Josh Bunting, has fired in an outstanding 15 goals in 33 Championship matches for Sunderland.
He has only missed four 'big chances' and plundered those 15 goals from 10.25 xG, which suggests that the talented whiz has been more clinical than Summerville as they have the same number of goals but the Black Cats gem has managed it with fewer big chances missed and less xG.
Appearances
33
30
Goals
15
15
Big chances missed
Four
Nine
Assists
Four
Eight
Big chances created
11
16
xA
7.93
9.33
Stats via Sofascore
As you can see in the table above, they have both been superb options for their respective sides as scorers and creators on a regular basis from the left wing.
Like the Leeds star, Clarke has been let down by his teammates in the final third as they have only rewarded him with four assists from an xA of 7.93, with 11 'big chances' created in total. This shows that they have not made the most of his creative quality this season.
However, the former Whites academy graduate did register 11 assists from seven 'big chances' created during the 2022/23 campaign, which could even it out somewhat.
What is clear, though, is that Summerville and Clarke are both mercurial stars who have taken the EFL by storm on the left wing with their immense attacking quality.
That is why Leeds, and Orta in particular, may look back on the decision to cash in on him when they did as a mistake as they could have developed their own homegrown version of the current first-team star by working with the former England U21 international to fulfill his potential in Yorkshire.
Luke Shaw has admitted that Roy Keane’s fierce criticism of his performance in the Manchester derby was justified, even if it "hurt" to hear. The Manchester United defender was called out for "getting away with murder" by the outspoken ex-captain, but has vowed to show more consistency after bouncing back with a strong display against Chelsea.
Shaw criticised by Keane for Man City display
Shaw was heavily criticised after United’s 3-0 defeat to Manchester City, where he was at fault for two goals. Keane slammed his display and pointed to his long history of injuries since joining the club in 2014. The left-back, however, responded with a much-improved performance in the Red Devils' 2-1 win over Chelsea, where he set up Casemiro’s decisive goal.
AdvertisementGettyShaw admits 'I need to be consistent'
“I think sometimes you just have to take it on the chin,” Shaw said. “He's got a lot of experience. He was one of the best captains ever for Man United. Of course it hurts. I think criticism is part of being a football player. I listen to it. But for me, I think he was right. I think that last week, I wasn't at my level at all. I don't need Roy Keane to tell me. I think after the game, I knew that. I knew that, but of course it hurts.
“I'm not getting any younger now and I need to be consistent. I've had a lot of ups and downs, but for me now, it's about keeping that consistency at a high level. I know I can do that. The most important thing is knowing how good I can be. The manager knows that. I think the managers who I played with in the past know that. I'm always in the team and I'm always playing, so there must be something that the managers believe in.
“Last week hurt me a lot, because that's not my level. And I think the criticism is what people understand. But like I said, I take it on the chin and listen to it and move on.”
Shaw's injury-disrupted Man Utd career
Shaw’s words highlight his determination to avoid slipping into old habits and prove his worth to United boss Ruben Amorim. Injuries have disrupted much of his Manchester United career, but the full-back is currently enjoying a run of starts in a new role at centre-back. With United struggling for consistency, Shaw’s leadership and reliability could be vital in the weeks ahead.
Getty Images SportVital games against Brentford & Sunderland up next
United will hope Shaw stays fit and continues to build rhythm after several stop-start seasons. He will be in line for a key role again in Amorim's plans for United's next two games against Brentford and newly-promoted Sunderland.
“We gave them a chance and they took them with both hands,” said Tim Southee
ESPNcricinfo staff31-Jan-2020Having not played a Super Over until Wednesday, and then clawing their way back in to chase 17 and 14 in back-to-back Super Overs in the third and fourth T20Is against New Zealand, was an “unbelievable” experience, according to India captain Virat Kohli.”There’s something new I’ve learnt in the last couple of games, which is: when the opposition is playing that well, you’ve just got to stay calm in the game, observe what’s happening and if an opportunity comes your way, you capitalise on it and try and make the most of it,” Kohli told after the match. “What happened in the last two games is unbelievable, being involved in the game and from the fans’ point of view as well.”You couldn’t have asked for more two exciting T20s back-two-back. We had never played Super Overs before these two games and now we’ve played two back to back. It feels good when you’re out of the game, and then you come back… it shows the character of the team.”ALSO READ: Report – NZ contrive to lose in Super Over again as India go 4-0 upKohli didn’t have a great time with the bat in the regular game, making only 11, but sealed the Super Over by hitting the winning runs with a pull for four off Tim Southee. However, Kohli revealed he wasn’t even planning to go out alongside KL Rahul.”Initially we decided Sanju [Samson] and KL [would open in the Super Over] because both of them can strike the ball really well,” Kohli said. “But then KL and I had a chat [and decided] that I should walk in with him because I have more experience and if there is a pressure situation, I will find more options to figure out what needs to be done.”His two strikes [a six and a four in the first two balls] were crucial, and then the bit of experience did come into play where you knock the ball into the gaps and make the team go past the line and do the job. It’s exciting for me, having not been part of Super Over for a long, long time, but yeah, two back-to-back exciting wins for us.”Tim Southee led in Kane Williamson’s absence•Getty ImagesThe two unlikely victories, according to Friday’s star performer Shardul Thakur, was a lesson in perseverance, the first win in particular sending out a never-say-die message in the dressing room.”That’s all we play for – such nail-biting finishes and two games in a row… I think you couldn’t ask for anything more,” Thakur said of the last over of the main game, when he picked up two wickets and two New Zealand batsmen were run-out, resulting in the tie. “After the last game’s win, we learnt that you should never lose hope, and I think the first-ball wicket was crucial. If I bowl a dot ball or take a wicket, then the pressure is on them. And, that’s what happened, and that changed the game a bit.”ALSO READ: New Zealand’s Super Over heartbreaksSouthee, who delivered both Super Overs and captained New Zealand in the absence of the injured Kane Williamson on the day, summed up the dejection among the home side. “It’s very tough, especially in the positions we put ourselves into,” he said. “We gave them a chance and they took them with both hands. I guess when you’ve got a young bowling attack, and you sort of trying to get a clear decision from a number of people, yeah it’s tough we keep getting ourselves in these positions.”It is [difficult] when you lose a couple of games like we have. When you’re winning games, you just find ways to win them with balls to spare, but when you haven’t won and you’re playing against quality opposition against India, you give them a sniff in, then you do you make it tough for yourselves.”Having taken an unassailable 3-0 lead in the five-match series, Kohli’s decision to bring in Samson, Washington Sundar and Navdeep Saini in the fourth T20I didn’t quite return intended results. An impetuous hoick brought Samson’s five-ball 8 to a close two balls after he whipped Scott Kuggeleijn for a wristy six, Washington gave away 24 in two overs, and Saini conceded 29 runs in four overs without putting himself on the wickets column. Kohli, though, took heart from the fact that the trio, especially Saini, were “in the right kind of headspaces” in the face of pressure.”Sanju was fearless at the top of the order,” Kohli said. “We didn’t quite read the pitch that well; having got one six I think he thought this is his chance to get the momentum going and really take things away. That’s the kind of player he is, so he should keeping backing himself.”Washy has played a lot anyway. Saini was particularly impressive with his pace he really rushed the batsman. I think all in all, all of them looked in a good headspace. If the opposition plays that well against them, against them, there’s no harm in saying, ‘You guys were playing well in that situation’. But we were very proud with the way we went about it and pulled it back, and those three guys looked to be in the right kind of headspaces.”
Jose Mourinho marked his Benfica homecoming with a simple sunrise post from the club’s training ground, captioned 'Good morning SL Benfica'. But his first update as Benfica coach sparked chaos online, as Fenerbahce fans swarmed his Instagram with angry comments after his remarks that managing the Turkish side was a 'mistake' and that the club was 'not his level'.
Mourinho marks Benfica move with Instagram return
Mourinho shared his first photo since being confirmed as Benfica’s new head coach, showing the Lisbon side’s training base. The Portuguese tactician recently caused controversy by describing his time at Fenerbahce as a poor career decision. He celebrated his return to Benfica by returning to Instagram and posting a photo of the side's training ground with a beautiful sunrise in the background.
The comments section on Mourinho’s post was overwhelmed by Fenerbahce supporters furious at his words. Many labelled the Special One a mercenary, accusing him of chasing money rather than loyalty. Others fired back that Fenerbahce remain a stronger club than Benfica despite his criticism.
Mourinho's bad blood with Fenerbahce
Mourinho’s social media comeback highlights the tension left behind after his departure from Turkey. His comments have added fuel to a rivalry already shaped by Benfica’s Champions League qualifier win over Fenerbahce. While he insists coaching Benfica is “returning to his level,” his blunt words risk souring his reputation further among Turkish fans.
AFPMourinho faces tough job at Benfica
Mourinho will now turn his focus to steadying Benfica after replacing Bruno Lage in the dugout. The 62-year-old has promised to restore the club’s place among Europe’s elite. All eyes will be on whether his return delivers success on the pitch — or further controversy off it.
Tottenham are believed to be readying a "firm move" to sign an "underrated" star this summer, a player who technical director Johan Lange interestingly tried to sign during his days at Aston Villa.
Lange enjoys terrific debut transfer window
All eyes were on the Dane as he geared up for his first transfer window at Spurs last month, especially considering he stepped into the shoes of former transfer chief Fabio Paratici.
Levy could go above club's asking price with Tottenham ready to sign player
Spurs want him “to the tune of millions”.
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Lange was credited with some astute signings at Villa Park, and his January transfer window at Spurs only further heightened his reputation. Indeed, the official helped to broker a last-minute hijack for teenage sensation Lucas Bergvall, with the north Londoners beating Barcelona to Lange's countryman.
Before Bergvall's signing, Lange also helped to seal deals for defender Radu Dragusin, who joined in a £25 million move from Genoa, and attacking midfielder Timo Werner on loan from RB Leipzig.
Timo Werner
Arrival
Radu Dragusin
Arrival
Lucas Bergvall
Arrival
Djed Spence
Exit (loan)
Eric Dier
Exit (loan)
Ivan Perisic
Exit (loan)
Japhet Tanganga
Exit (loan)
Sergio Reguilon
Exit (loan)
Ashley Phillips
Exit (loan)
Alejo Veliz
Exit (loan)
The Lilywhites shifted deadwood aplenty and saved a lot of money by cutting player salaries as well in what is considered a pretty 10/10 transfer window where Lange is concerned.
It will be interesting to see what Spurs' employees have planned for the summer window, and some reports suggest Barcelona star Raphinha is among the potential Lange targets for later this year.
Tottenham "ready to make a firm move" for Conor Gallagher
Chelsea star Conor Gallagher is a name who supporters will be more than familiar with, as he was heavily linked throughout January and last summer.
The 23-year-old has played a starring role under Mauricio Pochettino this season, and it is believed Chelsea are eager to tie him down with a new contract as a result. However, little progress is being made yet, which gifts Spurs the chance to sign him if both player and club can't agree fresh terms.
Chelsea's Conor Gallagher.
That is according to The Telegraph and journalist Matt Law, who claims Tottenham are "ready to make a firm move" for Gallagher this summer if his future remains unresolved.
Lange actually tried to snap up Gallagher "some years ago" when employed at Villa, so it appears the Scandinavian has another chance at getting his man through the door, but this time at N17 if all goes to plan.
Called "very underrated" by members of the media, Chelsea's midfield ace would also count as homegrown.
South Africa allrounder announces impending retirement from all forms of international cricket
ESPNcricinfo staff23-Dec-2019Vernon Philander, the South Africa allrounder, has announced his impending retirement from international cricket. The upcoming Test series against England will be his final outing for his country, bringing to a close a career that began in 2007.Philander, 34, has taken more than 200 wickets in his 60 Tests to date, putting him seventh on the all-time list for South Africa. However, he has increasingly had to battle injury, making only six appearances in the last 18 months. He played in 40 ODIs, most recently at the 2015 World Cup, and also featured at the inaugural World T20 in 2007.”It’s been coming on for a while, you get to the stage in your career when you’ve got to make a decision,” Philander said. “I’ve had a wonderful career but I’m moving into the darker area for fast bowlers, 35 next year, so I think it’s an appropriate time to call it a day in international cricket.”Personally I’ve done what I wanted to, trying to play Test cricket and get the team into some great positions. I’ve been part of the No. 1 team for a couple of years and that was always part of the aim. Leaving the set-up now, you want to finish on a high and make sure the team is on the graph back up again. We’ve got a young team at the moment so I’d like to play my part in seeing that I leave the team in a good state and also making sure that I pass most of my knowledge on to the younger players in the set-up.”A bustling seam-and-swing bowler, Philander made a dazzling start to his Test career after debuting at the age of 26, claiming nine five-fors in his first 15 Tests and reaching the 100-wicket mark in just his 19th appearance. He claimed his best Test figures last year, taking 6 for 21 against Australia. However, his fitness levels have been questioned, including by former captain Graeme Smith, recently installed as South Africa’s new director of cricket.Philander was injured four times in his first 10 Test series, but played on Smith’s insistence against Australia in a must-win game in 2014. The next year, on tour in India, he suffered his most significant setback when he hurt his left ankle in the football warm-ups before the Bangalore Test. He did not play the rest of that series, which South Africa lost 3-0, or the 2-1 home defeat against England which followed, and was only in action again nine months later.Philander featured in 14 consecutive Tests after that, but on the 2017 tour of England his problems seemed to resurface. He took ill during the third Test and was hospitalised overnight but was passed fit for the series-deciding fourth Test before back spasms ruled him out. It was then that Smith’s criticism was at its strongest. South Africa lost the match and the series and coach Russell Domingo lost his job, being replaced by Ottis Gibson.Gibson’s first assignment was against Bangladesh, a series Philander sat out as he continued to recover from his back problem. He went on to play in the other eight Tests South Africa hosted in the 2017-18 summer, thereby meeting Gibson’s challenge to stay fit for the rest of the season. But his good run did not last and in February, he was ruled out of a crucial Test against Sri Lanka at home. Sri Lanka became the first team from the subcontinent to win a series in South Africa, who have now lost their last five successive Tests.Philander hopes to bow out on a winning note, however, with the four-Test series against England beginning at Centurion on Boxing Day. He is the senior member of the bowling attack, which has lost the services of Steyn, Morkel, Duanne Olivier and Kyle Abbott over recent years.”We’ve got a good opportunity playing at home against England,” he said. “It would be a fitting farewell, beating England in South Africa. They’re one of the top-four international sides at the moment and would definitely be a fitting send-off if we can beat them.”The series concludes in Johannesburg at the end of January, and Philander said he would take some time off to decide on his next move but indicated that he saw a future for himself in a developmental role. “I’ll still be involved in the game somehow,” he said. “There’s a massive part for us still to be played in South African cricket, because of development, young and upcoming players need guidance. I see myself playing a massive role in that.”
Premier League executive Karren Brady has hit back at bold claims from Ivan Toney and Cristiano Ronaldo that the Saudi Pro League is on the same level as the Premier League. Brady admitted she was left “gobsmacked” by the comparisons, insisting the Saudi project is far from matching the Premier League’s global standard in quality, support, and stature.
Toney and Ronaldo's outrageous Saudi Pro League claims
Toney recently suggested that his Al-Ahli side would “finish close to the top four” if they played in the Premier League. Ronaldo has also backed the idea that Saudi Arabia’s top flight is on par with Europe’s elite leagues. Brady, however, has dismissed those views, pointing out weak attendances and the age profile of many imported stars.
AdvertisementAFPBrady strikes back at Saudi Pro League claims
“Ivan Toney's claim that the Saudi Pro League is on a par with the Premier League left me gobsmacked,” Brady wrote in her article with The Sun. “Footballers have every right to ply their trade where they want. But to put Saudi’s nascent project — going since 2008 — alongside the world’s gold standard in football isn’t just a stretch, it’s nonsense.”
She added: “The Saudi Pro League just isn’t widely watched, even in Saudi Arabia. Last term’s average gate was 8,354 with our League One at 10,102 and League Two 6,090. With huge investment, the Saudi Pro League will perhaps one day reach a competitive standard worth genuine respect. But it won’t for a long time be on a par with the Prem.”
Saudi Pro League still ways away from global domination
The Saudi Pro League has made waves by attracting marquee names like Ronaldo, Karim Benzema, and Sadio Mane with massive contracts. Yet, many of these players are in the twilight of their careers, and the league’s popularity remains limited, even locally. Brady argues that while Saudi investment is undeniable, it cannot yet rival the Premier League’s global reach, packed stadiums, and competitive balance.
Getty Images SportPremier League unbothered by Saudi Pro League's sudden rise
Toney and Ronaldo’s comments will continue to stir debate about Saudi Arabia’s football project and its rapid growth. Premier League figures, however, remain confident their competition is unmatched in quality and commercial appeal. For now, Saudi football still has a long road to travel before being viewed as a genuine equal to England’s top flight.
Kagiso Rabada shows glimpses of what his side needs in these conditions
Firdose Moonda in Port Elizabeth16-Jan-2020If you want to guess how much goes on in Port Elizabeth, use today’s play as your most revealing clue. With 224 runs scored and four wickets taken, you will conclude that not that much happened and you would not be wrong, on the field and off it.This is the sleepiest of the four venues for this series, a place where life seems simpler. There’s one go-to beachfront strip, one hipster neighbourhood and one team in the premier soccer league. Likewise, there’s one thing to expect from the St George’s Park pitch: it will be slow.That means fielding teams need to think innovatively, especially if they have to make first use of the surface in trying conditions, as was the case today. It was the hottest day of the week, with barely a breath of wind, even though the bowling-friendly easterly was forecast, and South Africa decided an extra bowler was necessary.Dane Paterson, who bowls in the high-130s, became the 109th player to be capped post-readmission and replaced Dwaine Pretorius, whose speeds are in the low-130s. On the face of it, it does not seem like a bad idea. Extra pace, albeit at the expense of an allrounder, could have its uses but not when used the way South Africa did today.Paterson shared the new ball with Vernon Philander, despite the presence of out and out quicks, Kagiso Rabada and Anrich Nortje. South Africa’s bowling coach Charl Langeveldt explained the decision as part of a strategy to ensure England’s openers were not allowed to leave too much. “On this surface, we needed to make the new ball count and the captain and management decided we would go with Paterson because he bowls a fuller length and makes the batsmen play more,” Langeveldt said.England left 10 balls in the first eight overs, so perhaps South Africa achieved their aim but Zak Crawley admitted the decision not to use Rabada upfront surprised him. That statement should tell South Africa everything they need to know about the dangers of taking the pressure off the opposition in the opening exchanges, which should be as attritional as possible.It also puts the spotlight on Philander and won’t be amiss to go as far as to question his inclusion in the XI, considering his contribution, or lack thereof, and the conditions. Philander delivered an opening spell of four overs, in which Quinton de Kock was standing up to him, a mid-morning session of four overs and then did not bowl again until the second new ball. He was the least-used seam bowler on the day, delivering only 11 overs, but Langeveldt said team management were not expecting any more from the soon-to-be-retired seamer. “The surface doesn’t suit Vern that much. It’s quite slow so off the wicket batsmen can adjust. Vern is great with the new ball, but we decided to use him sparingly,” Langeveldt said.Would South Africa have got more from Pretorius, in terms of overs or impact? It’s tough to say, especially because Faf du Plessis has previously explained the expectation on Pretorius is to contribute 10-15 overs a day and keep it tight and Langeveldt called Philander and Pretorius “basically two of the same”. So South Africa chose one of them, and may spend the rest of this Test wondering if it was the wrong one.The outcome of all that is that Keshav Maharaj had to put in overtime and bowled 30 overs in succession, from before lunch until before the second new ball, and two overs to close the day. Not only did Maharaj keep England quiet and allow the quicks to rotate from the Park Dive End, but he also created several chances and made the breakthrough that changed the meandering mood of the day into something more meaty. De Kock was the man who spotted that a wicket was on offer when Maharaj struck Joe Denly on the pad, just before he inside-edged the ball. De Kock was the lone voice to appeal and asked for a review; replays showed that the ball was hitting middle and off-stump.Keshav Maharaj impressed in the holding role•Stu Forster/Getty ImagesThat brought Ben Stokes to the crease, to resume a cat-and-mouse game with Maharaj that was evenly poised after the first two Tests. Maharaj dismissed Stokes in the second innings at SuperSport Park and Stokes took Maharaj on at Newlands. Here, they danced again.Maharaj hit Stokes on the back pad and du Plessis reviewed but Stokes survived on umpire’s call on the impact just outside the line and responded with a sweep through midwicket for four. In the next over Maharaj again had a review off Stokes, for a delivery that spun past the inside edge and off the pad, for what looked like a slip catch. Replays showed that there was no bat and no chance of an lbw with impact outside the line. Stokes responded with a cut for four. In the next over, Maharaj kept Stokes on the back foot and set him up for the nudge to short-leg, but the chance fell just short of Pieter Malan. Still, it showed that some parts of the South African attack are working to a plan, specifically the leg-side plan that dismissed Dom Sibley.Du Plessis set 6-3 fields to Sibley, who showed South Africa his willingness to play the ball in the air on the onside. He did it several times in the morning session and one too many in the afternoon, when he steered a back-of-a-length Rabada ball to Dean Elgar at backward square leg.Rabada enjoyed that wicket but not as much as his next one, the England captain Joe Root. Post-tea, after Maharaj’s crucial intervention with the wicket of Denly, Rabada beat Root for pace and pegged back his off-stump. He sent Root off by screaming at the stumps, a celebration reminiscent of his performance here two years ago against Australia. Then, Rabada went full tilt against Steve Smith, with a shoulder charge that almost earned him a suspension. Then was also the last time Rabada took a five-for and the last time he seemed to get properly riled up.Since then, Rabada has looked everything from lethargic to overworked and though he remains South Africa’s most feared bowler, he has not always enjoyed the returns that come with his reputation. Even though Rabada was South Africa’s leading wicket-taker in 2019, it was his Rabada’s leanest full calendar year as a Test cricketer and led to questions about whether he was bowled too much, too soon, and was maybe becoming a little jaded by it all. His reaction to dismissing Root said otherwise. “KG is always looking for a scrap. It gets him fired up,” Langeveldt said.On a pitch like this, that’s what South Africa need: an inspired spell from someone who can make something out of nothing. That doesn’t often happen in Port Elizabeth, but the next four days could be different.
Chelsea have been one of the biggest spenders in World Football since Todd Boehly took ownership of the club in May 2022.
Since then, the Blues have managed to accrue spending of £1bn on both transfer and loan fees with the hopes of challenging for the Premier League title. This has not yet made much of a difference, as they currently find themselves residing in 11th place.
Last season's results weren't much better either, as Graham Potter's men only managed to get as high as 12th despite massively overhauling their squad.
Although many put this down to the squad needing to gel, their recent performances have left a lot to be desired. For example, in their most recent clash against Aston Villa in the FA Cup, despite coming out on top, a few players could still face the axe ahead of their next clash on Monday evening.
One player in particular is Noni Madueke. The former PSV man joined the club in January 2023 for a fee worth around £29m but since then, he has been in and around the Blues' first-team squad and has played a total of 30 games whilst contributing to six goals.
These statistics aren't the most enthralling and showcase how far off the pace the winger is despite being with the club for over a year now.
Madueke's performance against Villa in numbers
Madueke started the game against Aston Villa but was taken off in the 75th minute. However, before he was taken off, he did manage to create the first goal for the Blues.
That said, according to Sofascore, despite being part of a front three, the winger didn't manage to have a single shot on target. Whereas, Cole Palmer, who was playing as a striker, managed two.
Despite receiving an 8/10 match rating courtesy of Goal, and having a decent game overall, Mauricio Pochettino may be forced to bench the youngster for the foreseeable future.
This is due to no fault of his own, however, the Argentine will be keeping an eye on Christopher Nkunku as he has now returned from injury.
Why Nkunku is likely to replace Madueke
Nkunku was the third-most expensive addition to Chelsea's squad this season, trailing only Moises Caicedo and Romeo Lavia.
The attacker had been heavily linked throughout the entirety of the 2022/23 season with a move to west London following an impressive outing in his final campaign for RB Leipzig.
Across all competitions last season, the France international managed to contribute to a total of 32 goals in just 36 games for the German side.
This was by far the attackers' most prolific season and, with his versatility of being able to play anywhere across the front three, he was an invaluable member of the squad.
It's this versatility which makes him an ideal replacement for Madueke, as he can interchange with his fellow attackers if and when needed. Additionally, now could be the ideal time to give the England international a rest as Nkunku has recently returned from injury.
Pivotally, despite playing 11 games fewer than Madueke, the 26-year-old only has three fewer goal contributions.
If he could manage to find his attacking prowess once more, he could become an invaluable member of Pochettino's squad. His addition to the side on Monday against Crystal Palace would also allow Palmer to move to his more natural position on either wing. It's a change the manager should be looking to make if he wants to beat the Eagles.