Tottenham Hotspur have remained strong in their position concerning Harry Kane's future, insisting that the forward will not be sold.

Daniel Levy is clearly hoping that the England captain's desire to break the all-time Premier League scoring record will outweigh his desperation for silverware, of which he boasts none from his time in north London.

The 29-year-old has given everything to this football club, and with Bayern Munich remaining undaunted by this stance, they continue to test the resolve of a club desperate to keep ahold of a gem with just one year left on his deal.

Ange Postecoglou would likely hope to see this saga cleared up soon, so he can start to plan a brighter future at the club with or without their star man.

Given how active they have already been in the window, far more free-spending than in past years, it seems that their new coach will receive full backing to usher in a new age. Should Kane depart, as devastating as it would be, at the very least the former Celtic boss would get his pick of the new man set to spearhead his side.

As per journalist Ben Jacobs, who noted on Sunday, they have already sounded out Jonathan David as such a replacement.

It is within that report that a fresh bid for Kane is expected, suggesting that the mere presence of a contingency plan in case of his departure suggests there is a reality where he leaves this summer.

How many goals has Jonathan David scored?

In the Canadian, the Lilywhites would gain an all-action forward to replace their technically-exceptional number nine.

The 23-year-old boasts pace, physicality and frightening finishing prowess, which he has shown with regularity during his time at LOSC Lille.

His youth proves no barrier, as last season he managed to notch 24 league goals for the French outfit despite their struggles. It marked his best scoring season thus far for this club, having notched 15 the year prior, and 13 as they momentarily ended Paris Saint-Germain's monopoly against all the odds.

Podcaster Tony Marinaro, who was enamoured with the form of his compatriot went as far as to claim: "He is a student of the game. He does everything right. Simply put, he’s a phenom. One of the best strikers in the world is Canadian".

This title-winning mentality, plus an added emphasis on his physicality, arguably makes him an even better fit for a Postecoglou side that often forces the striker to do plenty of running.

Whilst in Scotland, the 57-year-old deployed Kyogo Furuhashi as a lone striker, with his role focused on leading the press. Although his main marksman would still notch 34 goals across all competitions in his final year in charge, he forged many other chances due to the sacrifices he made for the team.

For all his outstanding qualities, Kane is unlikely to do that.

It would be near-impossible to find a like-for-like replacement for the man who scored 30 Premier League goals last term amidst all the turmoil, as few strikers in the modern game could be so prolific yet so creative too. He would record 1.5 key passes per match too (fourth best in the squad), to supplement that claim.

However, for the betterment of the club, his big-money exit could pave the way for a brighter future where they are not reliant upon just one man.

Redistributing funds to bolster the general squad would provoke long-term success in north London, with David a fine focal point to underpin such revolutionary change.

The Zimbabwe captain was disappointed after a seven wicket defeat to Sri Lanka, saying his batsmen did not adjust to the change in the pitch on Sunday and play more straight-bat shots

Andrew Fidel Fernando02-Jul-2017Graeme Cremer conceded Zimbabwe’s batsmen may have been too eager on the sweeps and reverse sweeps during the second ODI on Sunday, even though those strokes had proved productive during Friday’s record chase. Sri Lanka’s best bowler Lakshan Sandakan, meanwhile, had come prepared for that tactic from Zimbabwe, which goes some way to explaining his match figures of 4 for 52.Zimbabwe had been 67 for 1 before the spinners came into operation in Galle, and prompted a collapse that cost the visitors five wickets in the space of 10.3 overs. Sean Williams, Sikandar Raza and Ryan Burl all fell attempting to sweep or reverse sweep.”Maybe with the wicket, we should have adjusted, should have hit the ball down the ground a bit more,” Cremer said after the seven-wicket defeat. “I thought the wicket was a little bit different from the pitch for the first game, and we didn’t adjust early enough. At one stage we could have batted off the overs – 230 could have been a decent score, but we lost too many wickets in the middle.”Sandakan, playing his first ODI since March, employed several strategies to counter Zimbabwe’s sweep-happy batsmen. Early in the innings, he overcame Hamilton Masakadza’s reverse sweep threat by firing deliveries on a leg-stump line. Later in the innings, the dip he achieved also made him a difficult bowler to play across the line.”We identified that they were sweeping us, and we tried to change the field, slow the ball up a bit and change our lengths,” Sandakan said. “We didn’t try too many changes, but length and pace was important and it worked for us today. We also bowled wicket to wicket – a little straighter – to stop some of those shots.”While Sandakan had made the more telling blows to the opposition innings, debutant legspinner Wanidu Hasaranga knocked out Zimbabwe’s tail with a hat-trick in his third over. After the match, captain Angelo Mathews said he had not known much about Hasaranga, which suggests Cremer and the Zimbabwe are likely to have been even less enlightened on the threat he posed.”To get a hat-trick on debut that something special,” Cremer said of Hasaranga. “He looked a little bit nervous when he started, which is understandable. But credit to him when he stuck at it, and credit to the skipper having faith in him to keep him on. To clean up the back end of the innings was excellent.”Sandakan also lauded the 19-year-old’s poise. “When someone is debuting, he is under pressure. He managed the pressure well and bowled his googlies, flippers and leg-spin nicely.”

Dean Elgar’s unbeaten 72 helped lift South Africa from 52 for 4 but they had plenty of work to do to save the game on the final day after England set them 492 or four sessions to bat

The Report by David Hopps30-Jul-20171:49

Westley and Stokes leave England cruising

The word on the streets after South Africa’s victory at Trent Bridge (or on social media at any rate, the meanest streets of all) was that England were a soft touch and could learn a thing or two from the resilience of their opponents.Such reputations have been dismantled at The Oval, where England will enter the final day only six wickets away from a victory that would put them 2-1 up in the series with one to play. It is England who have had bristled with intent with bat and ball while South Africa’s top order has crumbled twice in the match against insistent seam bowling on a surface which has always kept the bowlers interested.South Africa’s opening woes

12.91 – South Africa’s average opening stand in their last 12 innings; their highest during this period is 21.
42.51 – Dean Elgar’s Test average as opener – he has scored 1998 runs in 51 innings. During this period, the other South African openers have together averaged 22.62, scoring 1380 runs in 63 innings.
9 – Consecutive Tests in which Joe Root has made a 50-plus score. There are only seven instances of a batsman passing 50 in more Test matches in a row.
10 – England batsmen who have passed 50 when batting at No. 3 on their Test debut, as Tom Westley did. The last England batsman to do so was Owais Shah against India in 2006; he was also the last England batsman to make his Test debut at No. 3.
1947 – The only time South Africa have played 100-plus overs in the fourth innings of a Test in England.

South Africa were up against it in the first innings in devilish batting conditions; the English summer at its most cantankerous. On the final session of the fourth day, with the weather fresher and breezier, mitigation was a little harder to find – unless it was the intimidating presence of their target of 492 to win, a target never previously achieved in Test history, or, more realistically, the need to survive for four sessions.They slipped to 52 for 4 by the 16th over. All England’s quartet of pace bowlers carried a threat, unlike South Africa. Morne Morkel has looked on the verge of something special all summer, but has only one Test left to be rewarded. Chris Morris has gone for nearly six an over in this match. The left-arm spin of Keshav Maharaj was under-used. As for Vernon Philander, he was still under the weather and incorporated 15 overs in his toilet breaks.Only Dean Elgar assembled doughty – and, at times, painful – resistance with the bat for South Africa, as he battled his way to an unbeaten 72, Temba Bavuma offering support in an unbroken stand of 65. Elgar will check his left hand gingerly on the final morning. He habitually taunted the slip cordon with his angled defensive pushes and when he did nick one, on 9, Keaton Jennings fumbled low to his left.England have even sorted out their previously incompetent methodology on umpiring reviews, replacing the Who Shouts Wins technique with a more rigorous discussion in which Root, from afar, seems to be asking pertinent questions and Jonny Bairstow, the wicketkeeper, has a central role.A lot of attention has focused on Jennings’ unproductive series at the top of England’s order, but Heino Kuhn has fared no better. His debut series has brought 78 runs at an average of 13. He survived Stuart Broad’s big appeal for lbw thanks to a big thrust forward, only to be cleaned up in Broad’s next over.Hashim Amla remains the prince of wickets: Toby Roland-Jones has given him both barrels, caught at the wicket in the first innings, held by Root at second slip on this occasion. He was happy to walk, but the umpires insisted, somewhat unnecessarily on checking the validity of the catch, the sort of things umpires do when world-renowned batsmen are dismissed by a relative unknown.Then came two in two for Ben Stokes, who has looked more of a threat here. A yorker did for de Kock, hitting his boot on the way, although the umpires might have taken a longer look at the marginal no-ball, and Faf du Plessis was lbw first ball to a leave-alone, confirmed on review. South Africa’s captain, an inspiration in Nottingham, has made 1 and 0 and left them both at The Oval.Dean Elgar drives en route to his fifty•Getty ImagesOne small word of warning for England: when South Africa batted for 148 overs to draw against Australia in Adelaide five years ago they were four down at stumps with a day remaining. But this is not an Adelaide pitch. And on that occasion South Africa had AB de Villiers, Jacques Kallis and du Plessis on hand.Root’s first declaration as an England captain had been a conservative one, at 313 for 8, but he would have rested easy at the close and the weather forecast was good for the final day.England received little charity from the South African attack as they moved gradually to a tea-time declaration. Only when Bairstow, with a run-a-ball fifty, and a twisted ankle in the process, emerged in mid-afternoon did England find a final dash. He added 49 in eight overs with Stokes, who planted Morris into the stands at cow corner before Morris struck his stumps later in the over as he attempted further mayhem.An abstemious maiden Test fifty by Tom Westley was the centrepiece of a heedful morning. Westley only contributed 22 out of 79 to England’s total in the session, but there was again a grace in his game that made him eminently watchable even when not scoring quickly.Some batsmen, such as Stokes, encourage roars of approval; cheers for Root are sourced in admiration; Westley, if he prospers, will bring sighs of pleasure.Maharaj then intervened with two wickets in successive overs early in the afternoon. He spotted Westley’s advance down the pitch, on 59, and found enough turn to beat his outside edge for de Kock to complete the stumping. Root also reached 50, but then swept him to deep square.Dawid Malan is as off-side dominant as fellow debutant Westley favours the leg side. His second-innings dismissal carried a reminder of what had gone before. Then he was cleaned up by an inswinging yorker from Kagiso Rabada. He again fell prey to the ball coming back sharply into his pads, falling lbw to Morris, a wicket only won by South Africa on review.As Root opted for a safe lead then more some, Moeen Ali was run out by a direct hit at the non-striker’s end from Bavuma, who dashed in in from deep midwicket as Moeen sauntered a second run. Toby Roland-Jones then had some fun larruping Elgar’s left-arm slows – a debut full of smiles.Jennings’ England career is under scrutiny. He is without a Test half-century in six knocks. He added 14 on the third morning, but his two boundaries off Morkel were unconvincing, thick edges. Rabada surprised him with a bouncer, on 48, and won a lobbed catch to gully off the glove.Rabada has the capacity to bowl an excellent shock ball whether it is the sort of yorker that unhinged Malan in the first innings or the bouncer, by far the shortest ball he had bowled in the England innings, which removed Jennings. Nevertheless, Jennings’ statuesque style is bound to be bringing growing concern for England’s selectors ahead of an Ashes tour in Australia this winter.Westley had challenges of his own to contend with. It has not taken South Africa long to cotton on to his strengths. Indeed, such is the constant analysis of a new England player that it would have been no surprise if a Romanian plasterer had wandered up to him on the platform at Bank as England travelled to the game by tube and said: “You must be Tom Westley, the one with the strong leg-side game.”Resuming on 28, under overcast skies, he did not bring up his first Test half-century until 10 minutes before lunch, courtesy of the shot that he must have been aching to unveil all morning, a graceful clip through midwicket against Morkel that, as much as any other shot in his armoury, exudes quality. There was enough time in the game for him to play in restrained fashion and he had the intelligence to do just that.

Mithali Raj is right. “Everybody”, as she puts it, was rooting for India. Even England, their opposition in the Women’s World Cup final, wanted to see Raj and her team at Lord’s.”India being in the final is the best result for women’s cricket,” Heather Knight, England’s captain, said. “There’s massive scope for growth and support from India. And with their team being in the final, BCCI will take note and support women’s cricket the way it should be.”The BCCI have already done exactly that. On the eve of the final, they announced a bonus of INR 50 lakh (approx US $ 77,500) for each member of the squad, irrespective of whether they return home with the trophy or not. It means that for reaching the final, Indian women will receive more than three times the amount of an annual Grade A contract, which is set at INR 15 Lakh (approx US $23,200). If they win, who knows how much richer they could become.Raj hoped the wealth won’t be measured only in numbers. “There might be a lot of changes back home if we go on to win the World Cup, and those changes will benefit the future generations,” she said. “Women’s cricket in India will have a brand of its own. It won’t require anything else to support it and promote it as a sport. This platform and this win will definitely give it that edge for young girls to take up sport back home and maybe a women’s IPL might be in the pipeline.”This is not the first time Raj has proposed a women’s IPL. Before last year’s World T20, Raj predicted that if India did well at the event, it would “give birth” to the women’s IPL. As things transpired, India only won one of their four group games and did not make the semi-finals. Now, things have changed. The team is on the up and Raj has reason to restate her request for an IPL.”It is time. Looking at the way the girls have been performing in the last couple of years. And we’ve seen how Smriti and Hamanpreet have benefitted from their exposure to WBBL,” she said. “I am sure if the other young girls in the squad are exposed to the culture of a T20 league, the domestic standard in Indian women’s cricket will also improve immensely.”Knight agreed that an IPL could become one of the showpiece events for the women’s game, and that the performance of the Indian team at this World Cup could be the catalyst for starting it. “A women’s IPL would be brilliant. The BBL and KSL have been really successful and they’ve been a part of pushing women’s cricket forward,” she said. “You’ve seen players involved in those competitions really develop and perform in this World Cup. All we can keep doing as cricketers is keep improving and keep pushing. The more cricket we play, the more competitive and close games, people will improve quicker.”England coach, Mark Robinson, however, was a little more sceptical about another T20 competition. Being a national coach, his reservations are understandable, especially because the women’s game is still trying to find its feet when it comes to regular bilateral fixtures. “I think we have to play more international cricket before we get into IPL. We don’t play enough international games. We haven’t played since November coming into this competition,” he said. “We can’t get too far ahead of ourselves. England need to play New Zealand more, Australia more, South Africa more. We need to play more good games, home games from a selfish point of view. The IPL might improve cricket in India, but we want to play more international games.”Even in that regard, Raj aimed to please. Though T20 is foremost on her mind, she also wanted to see the game develop more traditionally. “I would also prefer women cricketers playing the longer format, because that is the ultimate challenge,” Raj, who has played 10 Tests, said. “T20 is a good way of promoting the sport and it gives more range for the batters to be more innovative and proactive in their shot selection. But if you want to see quality bowlers, it’s the longer version that you give them that space. We need to have bowlers also in the game and not just focus on batters.”But not at Lord’s tomorrow. Raj was hopeful of “plenty of runs” at the ground where she averages 153. She has only played at Lord’s twice, first in 2006, when she made 59 in a losing cause, and then in July 2012, when her unbeaten 94 helped India beat England. She remembers the first occasion because all she wanted to do back then, as a 24-year old first-time entrant at the venue, was “click pictures.” Now that she is back here to finish her World Cup career, she considers it “destiny.”Though Raj believes she can continue playing for India for a little longer, she has confirmed this is her last World Cup and she wants to give it everything because she does not know how great the rewards could be. “Unlike 2005, where I played with a lot of pressure, this time I want to enjoy being out there,” she said. “In all the years, there were a lot of occasions where I could have enjoyed the success of my team or a few of the innings I played, but it never occurred to me. Now, I will make sure I will not let the fear of what might go wrong cross me.”What about what might go right? “It’s a final and everybody will have their nerves. No matter how many finals we play, there’s always that fear of putting a wrong foot,” she said. “But this bunch of players is playing a final for the first time. I don’t see any fear in them now. It’s completely different to 2005 when we were all overwrought by the situation.”India’s calm comes from a place of certainty, because they know that everybody, at least everybody that matters to them, is rooting for them. “The whole world will be watching India play. Everybody is rooting for India back home,” Raj said. “We’ve been getting calls from various parts of the country to acknowledge and appreciate the efforts of the team so far. Everybody is very happy with the way the team has performed through the tournament. One more game can change the fortunes for women’s cricket and Indian women’s cricket.”

With Russell Martin now confirmed as the new manager of Southampton, the club can begin their quest to get back to Premier League football.

The boss has wasted no time in adding to the squad, as the Saints sealed their first signing of the summer, Derrick Abu from Chelsea, following his recent release from Stamford Bridge.

Who is Derrick Abu?

The right-back was noticed by Chelsea after representing grassroots side Coezer FC at a tournament in Spain and was scouted by the Blues at U11 level. He then signed a scholarship with the West Londoners in 2020, before signing professional terms in February 2021.

Then in April 2023, he went on trial with fellow Premier League outfit Crystal Palace, scoring the winning penalty in a 5-3 shootout victory against Valencia in the Premier League International Cup semi-final. Two months ago, it was announced that Abu would leave the club upon the expiration of his contract, which has allowed the south coast side to pounce.

Despite a short-lived career with Chelsea, he still managed 37 appearances for the U18s and U21s, with seven goal contributions.

As well as his footballing endeavours, the buzzing prodigy has also made a name for himself under the alias ‘Cho$en’ and spoken on his mentality, saying: “I am always trying to get my body in the right shape as well as being prepared mentally as there are a lot of games to be played.

“The coaching team in all the age groups I play in have shown a lot of faith in my talents and as a player that can only help you to achieve your goals and the team's goals."

He has supported his hard-working mentality through an obvious technical impudence, as noted by the Daily Echo’s Reece Barrett, who said: “Abu is an attacking-minded player with lightning-fast acceleration and natural crossing ability.

“Pacey, strong first touch but had his path to the first team blocked due to Chelsea having so many elite full-backs.

“His first-touch crossing is brilliant for a player of his age, and has sparked comparisons of his playing style to Trent Alexander-Arnold. He has also said that he has tried to model his game off of legendary La Liga full-backs Marcelo and Dani Alves.”

Alongside Abu, the returning Nathan Tella will also be a huge boost to Southampton, after the 24-year-old enjoyed a sensational loan spell at Burnley last season. With the pair both capable pf playing down the right-hand side, it could be berth of a brand new and exciting partnership at St Mary's.

The Clarets cantered to the Championship title as Tella scored 17 goals, including two hat-tricks, to cement himself as the club’s top scorer in a phenomenal season.

Vincent Kompany was one admirer, saying of the star’s quality: “I still call him a raw diamond. As you can see, he is still progressing.

"He has been doing really well and before anything else, I must mention his effort. It's so important to point that out.

"He has goalscoring ability but many with that ability don't put the work in for the team but he does. He has all the tools and helps us in so many ways, not just goalscoring."

A new era is brewing at Saint Mary’s Stadium, which Abu and Tella could be huge features within, just waiting to take the Championship by storm in a bid to reach the Premier League again.

Glasgow Rangers manager Michael Beale has been a busy man throughout the summer transfer window so far as he has made a number of signings to bolster the squad.

The Light Blues head coach has officially completed six new signings as a reaction to the club's failure to secure a single trophy by the end of the 2022/23 campaign.

Sam Lammers, Cyriel Dessers, Kieran Dowell, Dujon Sterling, and Jack Butland have all joined on a permanent basis, whilst Abdallah Sima has also arrived on loan from Premier League side Brighton & Hove Albion.

However, the 42-year-old boss still has well over a month to make further additions to his team and bringing in more creativity in the middle of the park should be one of his priorities.

No Rangers central midfielder produced more than four Scottish Premiership assists and Tom Lawrence, who only started four league matches, led the way with 1.8 key passes per game in that position.

Therefore, Beale must ignite the club's reported interest in FCSB creator Darius Olaru, who is available for a release clause of €4.9m (£4.2m), from earlier this summer.

How good is Darius Olaru?

The Romanian international is coming off the back of an exceptional campaign with the club and could be an excellent player for the Gers if he can translate that form over to Scotland.

Olaru has the potential to be Beale's own version of Manchester City superstar Kevin De Bruyne, who FCSB general manager Mihai Stoica claimed is similar to the 25-year-old maestro as they both provide 'assists decisively' and play 'total football'.

The left-footed wizard showcased his ability to carve open opposition defences with 2.2 key passes per game and 19 'big chances' created in total across 34 Superliga starts last season.

Meanwhile, De Bruyne racked up an outstanding 31 'big chances' created and averaged 3.1 key passes per outing in the Premier League for Pep Guardiola, which came after he produced 16 'big chances' for his fellow forwards throughout the previous top-flight campaign.

These statistics show that both players are capable of conjuring up excellent opportunities for their teammates in the final third on a regular basis from a central midfield position.

This is particularly useful in games against opposition who want to sit in a deep block, which requires creativity to open them up in order to win the match. De Bruyne and Olaru have both proven themselves to excel in these situations, based on their terrific form last term.

Last season, James Tavernier led the way for Rangers with 13 Premiership 'big chances' created.

This suggests that the Gers target would provide a significant creative boost to Beale's squad, particularly in the central midfield department.

The Romanian technician also registered 12 assists in 37 league games during the 2021/22 campaign, which is three more than any Light Blues star managed in their 2022/23 outings.

Olaru, who was once described as an "exciting" talent by scout Jacek Kulig, has the quality to be Beale's outstanding creative force on the pitch, and in midfield in particular, if he can adapt to Scottish football and replicate his FCSB form.

Therefore, the Gers manager must reignite the club's previous interest in ten-cap international to bolster his team's creativity ahead of next season, as the 25-year-old wizard could be his own version of De Bruyne by being a pass master in the middle of the park.

Cristiano Ronaldo will not figure for Al-Nassr in their AFC Champions League clash with Istiklol on Tuesday, it has been revealed.

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Portuguese superstar has been in fine formNursing a slight neck injury at presentWill be rested in continental competitionWHAT HAPPENED?

The five-time Ballon d’Or winner has hit another purple patch in 2023-24, with the Portuguese superstar showing no sign of slowing down at 38 years of age. He has, in a bid to land more major honours, registered 24 goals through 26 appearances this season.

AdvertisementGetty ImagesTHE BIGGER PICTURE

Three of those have come in continental competition, but he will not be given an opportunity to enhance that record against Tajikistan-based Istiklol. It has been revealed that Al-Nassr boss Luis Castro will rest Ronaldo for a final continental outing in Group E.

DID YOU KNOW?

Al-Nassr are, with 13 points taken from five unbeaten matches in the AFC Champions League so far, already safely through to the last-16. With that in mind, they have no need to field talismanic captain Ronaldo. Instead, he will be given a well-earned break.

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GettyWHAT NEXT FOR RONALDO?

Ronaldo has been nursing a slight neck injury of late, with tape strapped to him during a disappointing defeat to Saudi Pro League title rivals Al-Hilal last time out, and a timely breather will give him a chance to fully recover from that ailment before returning to action against Al-Riyadh on Friday – with Al-Nassr having a King Cup of Champions quarter-final clash with Al-Shabab to come after that.

Chris Lynn said he’ll need to be smart in the field “to get another 10 years out of his career” after his second shoulder reconstruction

ESPNcricinfo staff05-Aug-2017

Australia batsman Chris Lynn is hopeful of recovering from a shoulder surgery in time for the Big Bash League this season. However, he said that another shoulder injury could be “career ending”.”Longevity was why I took that option to have the operation. It’s a short-term loss for a long-term gain,” Lynn told . “They [career ending] are words you don’t want to hear but they are down that path. I’ve got to be more cautious and have more smarts about how I go about things.”Lynn sustained a third shoulder injury in less than two years, during this year’s IPL, forcing him to miss a month of the tournament and the subsequent Champions Trophy in June. He is currently undergoing rehabilitation, and will be out of action for most of the upcoming BBL season, which begins on December 19.”It has been frustrating but it was the right decision to get it done,” Lynn said. “I want to play through tournaments and hopefully make a mark and be fully fit for 12 months. I want to put the shoulder injury to bed. I want to go back to enjoying my cricket and being pain-free. I have to change my dynamic slightly but I won’t be changing the way I bat.”I need to be more cautious in the field. Running around on the boundary is not an option. I might have to stop a few with the boot. I am zero or 100 but there are times I have to reel it back and get another 10 years out of my career. We’ll see how smart I am in the next 12 months.”Lynn earned an ODI call-up after another impressive BBL season last year. He was named player of the tournament after hitting a record 26 sixes for Brisbane Heat in the 2016 BBL.”I’d love to get back [for the BBL] and walk out in front of the Gabba again,” Lynn said. “It’s something I get really excited and nervous about as well. My fingers are crossed for the Big Bash.”

Lionel Scaloni's hint that he could quit his job as Argentina boss came after a tense episode with Lionel Messi in World Cup qualifying.

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• Scaloni has hinted at Argentina exit
• Clashed with Messi before Brazil win
• Real Madrid have made approach

• WHAT HAPPENED?

  Scaloni admitted he was considering his future after Argentina's victory over Brazil in World Cup qualifying in November. The Argentina boss has grown "tired" of the "sideshow" that accompanies the national team and had also experienced "tension" with Messi ahead of the match with Brazil, according to . Violence broke out before kick-off, which saw Messi lead his team-mates off the pitch and back into the dressing room – a decision the captain made "without consulting" Scaloni and which had "agitated" the Argentina boss and his coaching staff.

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• THE BIGGER PICTURE

  Scaloni led Argentina to World Cup glory in 2022 in Qatar, with Messi finally winning the one trophy that had eluded him for so long. The win was the first time Argentina had been crowned world champions since Diego Maradona inspired his nation to victory in 1986 and was greeted by jubilant scenes back home. Argentina extended Scaloni's contract to 2026 after the victory, although it remains to be seen if he will see it out.

• JUAN MABROMATA/AFP via Getty Images
  

  WHAT SCALONI HAS SAID

  “Argentina needs a coach who has all the energy possible, and who is well,” he said after the win over Brazil. “I need to stop the ball and start thinking, I have a lot of things to think about during this time.”

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  WHAT NEXT FOR SCALONI?

  Scaloni's future appears to be up in the air, with suggestions he could step down after the 2024 Copa America. Real Madrid have reportedly opened talks with Scaloni about the possibility of replacing Carlo Ancelotti at the end of the season. The Madrid coach has been tipped to leave the club and take over as Brazil boss next year.

Chelsea have brought in a couple of big-name signings so far this window, with Nicolas Jackson and Christopher Nkunku undoubtedly bolstering their attack, but at least one more new forward could be en route to Stamford Bridge.

Who have Chelsea signed recently?

Confirmation of Nkunku's arrival from RB Leipzig had long been expected when it finally arrived last month, with that swiftly followed by the arrival of Jackson from Villarreal.

Kai Havertz and Mason Mount have both departed since the end of last season, however, while David Datro Fofana has been loaned to Hertha Berlin and Joao Felix has returned to parent club Atletico Madrid.

New head coach Mauricio Pochettino could therefore do with another player who can play in the forward line, and 90min suggests that man could be Egyptian winger Ibrahim Adel.

The Blues are said to be keeping tabs on Adel, who plies his trade for Egyptian side Pyramids, but a number of other Premier League clubs – Liverpool among them – may also be tempted to make a move.

Who is Egyptian winger Ibrahim Adel?

Adel had been relatively unknown given he has first four years in senior football in his homeland, but he is now on the radar of numerous elite clubs after being named Player of the Tournament at the recent Under-23 Africa Cup of Nations.

The versatile winger has scored 20 goals across 60 Egyptian Premier League appearances in the past three seasons, giving him a nice rounded average of a goal every three games.

While that number may not exactly jump out, particularly given the level he is playing at, the 22-year-old showed at the U21 AFCON that he is one of the hottest talents outside of Europe.

Comparisons with Mohamed Salah may seem lazy, but there is more to them beyond the fact they are both simply Egyptian.

Indeed, Salah was not much younger than Adel when making his first appearance in one of Europe's top five leagues with Chelsea at the age of 21.

Salah made 36 appearances in his homeland for Al Mokawloon prior to joining Basel and then Chelsea, scoring 11 goals. That tally highlights that a player's goal return early in their career cannot be a sole indicator of what is to come.

Adel, who at 5 foot 10 is an inch taller than Salah, has already been capped four times by his country at senior level and has played alongside the Liverpool superstar.

Pyramids director of football Mahmoud Fathallah previously described Adel as a "huge talent for [the club] and for Egyptian football", but it remains to be seen how long the African side can keep hold of their prized asset.

With a history of signing emerging Egyptian talent in Salah – albeit from a European side, rather than directly from Al Mokawloon – Chelsea could be about to do so again.

Unlike with Salah, the Blues will just be hoping it is they who reap the rewards should that happen, rather than one of their domestic rivals.