Newcastle United have a "very realistic possibility" of signing James Maddison this summer, according to an update from journalist Ben Jacobs.

Is Maddison on the move?

Leicester City may have had a hugely disappointing season, with relegation from the Premier League looking likely at this point, but Maddison has again been a standout player for his side. The £110,000-a-week midfielder has scored 10 goals and registered nine assists in the competition, catching the eye with his creativity and all-round end product.

If the Foxes go down this season, it is almost a given that the 26-year-old will leave the club, although he is likely to move on even if they retain their top-flight status. He could feel that he has come as far as he can at the King Power Stadium, especially as he comes into the peak years of his career.

Newcastle have been linked with a move for Maddison in recent months, with the Magpies potentially seeing him as someone who could excel in a No.10 role. They arguably look like the front-runners to snap him up and a fresh update further suggests that that is the case.

Is Maddison likely to join Newcastle?

Speaking to Give Me Sport, Jacobs claimed that the Englishman is impressed with what is going on at St James' Park and that a move could easily come to fruition:

"I think that James Maddison has been at St. James's Park and has been quite wowed by the atmosphere, the culture and Newcastle are flying, so they do stand a very realistic possibility.

"I've always said many times, because Newcastle’s interest in Maddison dates back to last summer, it will only be this summer when Maddison goes. If Leicester go down, it will obviously be definite and there'll be a tremendous deal to be had. But I think even if they stay up, I expect Maddison to leave Leicester regardless."

This is an encouraging update from a Newcastle perspective, so much so that at this point, it would be a surprise if Maddison didn't join the Magpies this summer.

Should it happen, it could be an inspired piece of transfer business, with the two-cap England international scoring 55 goals and registering 41 assists for Leicester, as well as being "destined for the biggest stage", according to Graeme Souness, who isn't one to overly praise players. He could add extra guile to Newcastle's midfield, either as a No.8 or a No.10, and they could get five or six years of brilliance from him.

Arsenal are “confident” that they will agree a new long-term contract with forward Reiss Nelson, according to journalist Fabrizio Romano.

Is Reiss Nelson leaving Arsenal?

The Gunners winger is an academy graduate at the Emirates Stadium having worked his way up through the various youth ranks to get promoted to the first-team back in 2019, and despite having made 65 senior appearances since, his future has recently been up in the air.

The England U21s former international’s contract is set to expire at the end of the season meaning that he will become a free agent on the market should he not put pen to paper on fresh terms, and his potential availability has been alerting a trio of potential suitors.

The Athletic report that Premier League rivals Brighton and Hove Albion, West Ham United and also AC Milan are all interested in striking a deal for the 23-year-old, despite him making zero starts in the top-flight this season, but it now seems to be the case that he won’t be going anywhere during the upcoming transfer window.

Have Arsenal offered Nelson a new contract?

Taking to Twitter, Romano revealed that Arsenal are closing in on an internal agreement regarding fresh terms for Nelson. He wrote:

“Arsenal proposal to Reiss Nelson: four year contract, option included for one more season — as revealed two days ago. Short term deal proposal was rejected in April, talks are now advancing for [a] long term contract. Parties are confident.”

Arsenal will know that Nelson hasn’t featured as much as he would have liked this season as a result of his thigh injury sustained in the early stages of the campaign, but he’s proven what he’s capable of when given the chance to play and he’ll be a key player for the future of the club so retaining his services is completely the right decision.

The Gunners’ “explosive” right-winger, as lauded by football talent scout Jacek Kulig, has posted five goal contributions (three goals and two assists) in ten top-flight appearances this term whilst averaging 8.45 shot-creating actions per game which is higher than any other of his fellow teammates, via FBRef.

The Europa League participant, who pockets £15k-per-week, also provides Mikel Arteta with versatility having operated in eight different positions since first emerging onto the scene, and with Aaron Ramsdale and Bukayo Saka having both recently committed their futures in N7, it seems as if Nelson is about to follow in their footsteps.

ScorecardDominic Bess claimed figures of 6 for 28•Getty Images

Somerset offspinner Dom Bess marked his Specsavers County Championship debut with 6 for 28 as 21 wickets fell on the opening day of the match with Warwickshire at Taunton. The 19-year-old produced a memorable 16 overs, including the wickets of Jonathan Trott and Ian Bell with successive deliveries, as the visitors were bowled out 123, Ian Westwood top-scoring with 34.That was after Somerset had been skittled for 95, having won the toss. Warwickshire’s pace bowlers did the damage, with Keith Barker claiming 4 for 33, Rikki Clarke 3 for 32 and Chris Wright 2 for 28.By the close of an extraordinary day the home side had made 41 for 1 in their second innings and led by 13. The pitch offered some assistance to spin and seam, without being in any way dangerous. Swing and poor shot selection also contributed to the carnage.Somerset named three spinners in their side, clearly expecting the ball to turn, but were undone by seam as they were bowled out in 30.1 overs before the end of an extended opening session. Barker bowled the first 14 overs of the day from the Somerset Pavilion End, sending back Chris Rogers, James Hildreth, Peter Trego and Roelof van der Merwe in an accurate spell that saw him swing the ball and nip it about off the seam.Wright had set the ball rolling by pinning Marcus Trescothick lbw, while Clarke sent back Lewis Gregory with his first delivery of the match and later accounted for Ryan Davies and Bess.With Somerset nine wickets down, Warwickshire claimed the extra half hour in the morning session and Jeetan Patel put the home side out of their misery by dismissing Jack Leach with his first ball after a last-wicket stand of 26 with Tim Groenewald, the best of the innings.Warwickshire reached 62 for 1 in reply before England U-19 player Bess had Trott caught at leg slip sweeping. The next ball saw Bell hit the ball into a pad and offer up a return catch which the teenager gleefully snaffled. Westwood fell to a good delivery from Bess that turned and lifted before Leach squeezed a ball between Matthew Lamb’s bat and pad to bowl him for a single.At tea Warwickshire were 81 for 5. Trescothick then produced a brilliant diving catch at second slip off Groenewald to dismiss Sam Hain for nine. Barker and Clarke fell to shots they will not want to remember as Bess, who bowled at just the right pace and trajectory to extract maximum turn, added to his tally.Patel was his sixth victim courtesy of another injudicious stroke and Leach wrapped up the innings by clean bowling Wright. Bess led his side off, showing the ball to all sides of the ground, as relieved home supporters gave him a warm ovation.There was still time for Tom Abell to fall lbw to Josh Poysden for 15 with Somerset’s second innings total on 31. The experienced duo of Trescothick and Rogers had five more overs to negotiate and did so thanks to Poysden dropping Rogers on 5 at fine leg off a top-edged pull, Barker being the unlucky bowler.

Chelsea may let Mason Mount leave Stamford Bridge this summer 'if he's not willing to commit' his future to the club and sign a new contract, according to journalist Paul Brown.

What's the latest transfer news involving Mason Mount?

As per Sky Sports, Manchester United are said to be the 'leading contenders' in the race to sign Mount if he is to depart his boyhood club in the summer.

The report states that Liverpool are also keen on his services while talks over a contract extension, with his current £80,000 per week terms set to run out in 2024, have not yielded an agreement from either party.

Mount is said to favour a move to Old Trafford over other potential destinations, as per The Athletic, which also include Arsenal, who are believed to be monitoring his situation.

Prospective new Chelsea boss Mauricio Pochettino is an admirer of Mount and would like to keep him in SW6; however, he may be powerless to stop the Portsmouth-born star from leaving the Blues if no solution is found to extend his deal.

Speaking to Football FanCast, journalist Brown has suggested that the notion of Mount leaving Chelsea is becoming a likely prospect by the day.

Brown told FFC: "Talks have clearly not gone well between him and the club. Talks have been going on for months and months and not really got anywhere at all and I think the owners would be willing to let him go if he's not willing to commit to the club. I just think it feels like a situation where he is probably going to leave. The new incoming manager might have a say in this. He might be able to sit down with Mason Mount and say, I want you in this team, this is the role you'll play, but it does feel like Mason Mount might be leaving this summer to me."

Should Chelsea keep or sell Mason Mount this summer?

Mount is a talented player and that is reflected in the calibre of sides interested in his services; nevertheless, his contract wrangle at Chelsea has gone on for far too long and they may have no choice but to sell him to avoid losing the England international on a free transfer in 2024.

This term, the 24-year-old has made 35 appearances in all competitions for Chelsea, netting three goals and supplying a further six assists, as per Transfermarkt.

Despite a difficult campaign collectively at Stamford Bridge, Mount has still been able to impose his presence in midfield and has won an average of 1.4 challenges in the Premier League, according to WhoScored.

FBRef also note that Mount has also been an effective provider of chances for his teammates, having successfully carried out 83 shot-creating actions in 2022/23.

Nevertheless, it looks as if someone else may be the beneficiary of his capabilities from next season unless there is a drastic change in progress surrounding his contract situation.

Misbah-ul-Haq, the Pakistan Test captain, urged the cricketing world to embrace the concept of day-night Test ‘quickly’

Umar Farooq26-Sep-2016Misbah-ul-Haq, the Pakistan Test captain, has urged the cricketing world to embrace the concept of day-night Test “quickly”. Pakistan are set to play their first-ever pink-ball Test in Dubai against West Indies next month, from October 13 to 17. Pakistan have also agreed to a day-night Test against Australia in Brisbane in December.The debate around the pink ball and day-night Tests has been on for more than five years, and the PCB was perhaps the first board to show a keenness to host a day-night Test; it proposed to play one against Sri Lanka in the UAE in 2013. The proposal, however, was declined, citing lack of practice with the pink ball. Misbah said the only way to iron out all the issues with format was to play it more often.”Future belongs to night Tests and this should be played frequently,” Misbah said. “It’s a good thing that PCB increased the number of [first-class] day-night games in domestic cricket, and each team will be getting two games or so this season. If future is with day-night Tests, then we have to play it more often and we have to start embracing it quickly. Like we play one-day cricket with white ball, and this pattern had been adapted everywhere in domestic and even in club cricket…”Meanwhile, there are problems, whether it’s a pink or orange ball, for batsmen and fielders so far. These issues can only sorted by playing more cricket under lights with pink balls. Since the game is played for the fans and for the audience, this night cricket is the future and it’s definitely good for cricket. The more frequently we play under lights, it will give more exposure and allow players to get used to it.”The ICC permitted member boards to play day-night Tests from October 2012, but the onus remained on individual boards to decide on the feasibility of these matches in their bilateral agreements, and the precise brand, type and colour of ball to be used for the match. The PCB has been experimenting with day-night first-class cricket for the last six years, though it did not extend the experiment beyond a few games.In 2010-11, the final of the domestic first-class Quaid-e-Azam Trophy was played with an orange ball in Karachi, and the 2011-12 final was played with a pink ball. This year’s final, between Sui Northern Gas Pipelines Limited, who were led by Misbah, and United Bank, captained by Younis Khan, received mixed reactions relating to the visibility of the pink ball under floodlights. The PCB has also scheduled 10 day-night matches to be played with the pink ball in the forthcoming first-class season, which begins next week.Regarding Pakistan’s first day-night Test, Misbah said: “We will have six to seven days before the first Test, so we have to train maximum under lights with pink ball, and try to understand the conditions. We have to adjust to the timing of the sessions, understand how the ball will travel under lights, how much the ball will swing under lights, and how much the dew factor will be affecting it. If you see, the major chunk of the Test is in night, so it basically isn’t really a day-night Test. So we have to start working from scratch.”

From the moment Port of Spain woke up to 2.15pm, when any hope of a resumption of play evaporated, no rain fell at Queen’s Park Oval. Yet not a single ball was bowled

The Report by Sidharth Monga19-Aug-2016
Scorecard and ball-by-ball details
Port of Rain: There was little rain but the wet outfield accounted for the whole second day’s play•AFPFrom the moment Port of Spain woke up to 2.15pm, when any hope of a resumption of play evaporated, no rain fell at Queen’s Park Oval. Yet not a single ball was bowled despite the sun beating down on the ground till 2pm.The umpires came out for inspection after inspection after inspection, but didn’t find the outfield to be fit for play. There was no super sopper to assist the ground staff nor was the whole ground covered when it rained. The eventual downpour at 2.15pm, 15 minutes before yet another inspection, accounted for any remaining hopes.With only 22 overs possible on the first two days, with forecast not great for the rest of the Test and given the facilities available at Queen’s Park Oval, only an unbelievable three days could produce a result. India needed to win this Test to retain their No. 1 Test ranking and not lose it to Pakistan. West Indies were 62 for 2 after 22 overs, all bowled in the first session on the first morning.

A washed out first day in Christchurch is unlikely to prompt wholesale changes in strategy, because there is still “plenty of time left in the game”, New Zealand batting coach Craig McMillan said

Andrew Fidel Fernando in Christchurch17-Nov-2016

A washed out first day in Christchurch is unlikely to prompt wholesale changes in strategy, because there is still “plenty of time left in the game”, New Zealand batting coach Craig McMillan said. Not even the toss was possible on Thursday, which means neither team has yet named their XI.Play is now set to begin half an hour early, for the following four days, as long as weather permits. A minimum of 98 overs is scheduled for each of these days, when usually, only 90 are expected to be bowled.”There’s not a lot of overs lost even though we lost the whole day today,” McMillan said. “We haven’t named our XI, and there are probably discussions on that tonight, but I don’t think too much has changed.”Though a day of rain may make an already green Hagley Oval surface even more conducive to seam movement, McMillan hoped the recent proliferation of greentops in New Zealand will have equipped his batsmen with the means to cope.”I think it’s fair to say looking at that surface that the toss will be important,” he said. “I think with the pitch being under cover today with the rain about, that first session tomorrow (Friday) is certainly going to be challenging. Hopefully, though, there’s enough movement for a couple of days, so that the team that wins the toss doesn’t have so big an advantage. I think there’s going to be enough for both teams in the first innings.”These are conditions that we’ve been in quite a lot over the last few years. We’ve batted first on a number of pitches that looked very similar to the one out there, and we’ve done it well. It’s nothing new to us but we still know that we have to get things right against a very good Pakistan attack.”McMillan had been charged with helping New Zealand’s batsmen – who were battered in India – regain some confidence ahead of the long home season. He said the top order had prepared specifically for the Pakistan attack, with special attention given to combating the left-arm angle that Mohammad Amir, and perhaps Rahat Ali, will provide.”I want to see the batsmen commit to their own personal game plan,” McMillan said. “We’ve done some good work over the last two days in the nets. Both sets of fast bowlers are licking their lips and are pretty excited I think by what’s on offer. I think they have to commit to the style and game plan that they want to follow through with and they have to make good decisions. They have to be nice and precise the way they go about it. If they do that, there’s a reasonable chance they can come out with some success.”

PSG have decided to suspend Lionel Messi in a sensational turn of events.

Reports from France suggest the suspension is for two weeks with immediate effect.

Why has Lionel Messi been suspended by PSG?

The World Cup winner played a part in PSG’s shocking 3-1 defeat to Lorient but just hours after jetted away from France to spend time with his family.

However, his departure wasn’t anywhere local but to none other than Saudi Arabia.

He vacated to the Middle East with his family as part of a contractually obliged trip with the Argentine acting as an ambassador for Saudi tourism.

The trip, however, was not sanctioned by PSG and as a result it’s left senior officials furious with the attacker.

It would appear that not even the greatest player to set foot on planet earth is free from a stern telling off.

The consequence of that is that Messi is now suspended for two weeks by the club.

The 35-year-old happens to be out of contract in the summer and as such, may well have now played his last game in Paris.

He’s been linked with a sensational move back to Barcelona in recent weeks, although a switch will only be feasible should the Spanish giants overcome their well-documented financial troubles.

David Masters proved there is life in the old dog yet with seven wickets to strengthen Essex’s hold at the top of Division Two

Vithushan Ehantharajah at Chelmsford31-Aug-2016
ScorecardDavid Masters picked up five wickets in 32 balls before lunch•NurPhoto/Getty ImagesThere is an air of expectancy around Chelmsford these days. Not only are they top of Division Two, eyes set on the sole promotion spot, but their team possesses the perfect blend of youth and experience. Their Championship performances have eclipsed those in recent seasons and, as a bonus to winning games, they are doing so in style. For an Essex fan, it makes uncomfortable viewing.For the last few years they have had to temper expectations. Previous dawns have been false. Any calm a precursor to an unforeseen yet expected storm. At least in their eyes. In 2013, when Ben Foakes, now of Surrey, helped save Essex’s blushes against Kent with a composed 86 – his highest score at the time – one fan shouted up to the player’s balcony as a wide-eyed Foakes, knowing only of Essex, was being interviewed: “Well played Foakesy, but you’ll leave like the rest of ’em!” Twice in this match you got the feeling some felt more comfortable in that default state of self-mocking .The first was a period after lunch, when Ben Cox led a Worcestershire charge, ably supported by George Rhodes, which saw boundaries flashed through the off side at will, as 94 was put on at over four an over. “This would be so Essex,” grumbled one fan sat in the sun-soaked stand opposite the Pavilion.Those five words came to mind when Nick Browne pressed forward and left a delivery from Joe Leach, who got one to move into the left-hander enough to strike his pad in front of the stumps. Off he went with the scoreboard gleaming 1 for 1. But as the dominant passages that engulfed those two blips indicated, even the most pessimistic fan would have left with a smile. Who knows, they may have joined the gaggle of well-oiled punters screeching “There’s only one David Masters” as Chelmsford closed up for the evening.Masters’ undying love

David Masters: “I’m getting a bit older now and can’t play as many games, so when I am playing I’m generally fresh. They’ve looked after me well this year and I’ve played when they’ve needed me to play and hopefully I don’t disappoint. I still love it. My body takes a bit more of a battering now and it takes me a bit more time to recover. I still love playing, I love bowling and I enjoyed today.”
Matt Mason, Worcestershire assistant coach: “I think our captain Daryl Mitchell summed it up in the dressing room just then when he said it was a very, very disappointing day. He’s not very happy with us as you can imagine. We probably lacked a bit of application with the bat, particularly early on with some soft dismissals in there. And that last session was probably the poorest we have had as a bowling unit this year, so not an ideal day.”

After a sedate start, with Daryl Mitchell and Brett D’Oliveira reaching 35 for none, it was David Masters who produced a remarkable spell which saw him take five wickets in the space of 32 balls, for the concession of just two runs.The first three fell in the 13th over, Masters’ second running from Hayes Close, as Ryan ten Doeschate asked the 38-year-old to try his luck from the less favourable end. D’Oliveira gave ten Doeschate a catch at bat-pad, Tom Fell overbalanced to the off side and was struck in front before Joe Clarke misjudged the line badly enough to be bowled past his outside edge, despite the ball moving in. Worcestershire skipper Mitchell was then given out lbw for the fourth before Ross Whiteley was bowled through the gate to hand Masters his first Championship five-wicket haul since 2014.It was from 48 for 5 where Rhodes and Cox’s resistance began, but both raised half-centuries. Cox in particular looked in fine touch, bringing up his with 11 fours, compared to Rhodes, who took the steady approach to raise a second fifty of the season, off 107 balls. But one drive too many from Cox saw him caught at cover to give Jamie Porter his 50th Championship wicket of the season. Further help from Leach allowed Worcestershire to breach 200, before he and West Indies quick Miguel Cummins, on Worcestershire debut, gave Masters his sixth and seventh wicket of the innings, respectively.The wicket of Browne was as good as it got for Worcestershire’s bowlers, who toiled till close and were jeered off by a partisan group who had made full use of the hospitality bar to the left of the Pavilion. Tom Westley’s unbeaten innings of 58 provided them with some late entertainment, as he registered a 10th score of fifty or more with some gorgeous shots through midwicket, a pair of straight drives taking him to 51 from 74 deliveries. The knock also made him the first Essex batsman to pass 1000 Championship runs this season (the first time he has achieved the feat).It feels like most of those runs have come with England captain Alastair Cook watching on from the other end, something which will undoubtedly work in his favour when Cook sits down with selectors to determine the make-up of the Test squad to tour this winter. Cook himself looked in good order, unbeaten on 43. However, he should not have made it past 12 when Leach, the pick of the visiting bowlers, drew him into a poke outside off stump. The chance, presented to Rhodes at third slip, was put down.

Leeds United were relegated from the Premier League on Sunday afternoon as they fell to a disappointing 4-1 defeat against Tottenham Hotspur, on a day when they simply had to win.

Players at Elland Road were unsurprisingly booed off on a shocking end to a dreadful campaign, with Sam Allardyce's appointment doing little to stem the run of terrible results and schoolboy defending, as the Yorkshire outfit shipped 11 goals in just four games under the experienced Englishman.

While it will be difficult for Leeds fans to pick out any positives from a nightmare day at Elland Road, the performance of Adam Forshaw was a promising one on what was likely to be his final appearance at the club.

How did Forshaw play against Tottenham Hotspur?

The 31-year-old, who is out of contract next month, has spent much of the campaign sidelined through injury but showed his quality on a day when many Leeds players simply failed to show up.

As per Sofascore, the Englishman would earn a solid 7/10 rating for his performance, which was the joint-best of any Leeds player to feature in the game, with Georginio Rutter also earning a 7/10 from the bench after contributing the assist for Jack Harrison's second half goal.

The £20k-per-week asset saw plenty of the ball on Sunday afternoon, registering 93 touches and completing 54/62 passes, which was a dramatic increase on his season average of 18.4 passes per game.

The former Middlesbrough man also contributed four key passes, which again is a significant increase on his season average of 0.7 key passes per game, and suggests that he was the chief creator on Sunday afternoon from midfield.

He could hardly be blamed for Leeds' defensive woes against an inspired Harry Kane, as he also contributed two tackles and one interception, which suggests that he was one of few players to actually do their job on the final day.

It was no surprise therefore that during BT Sport's coverage of the game, Gary McAllister described him as Leeds' "best player" and suggested that he was the only one who had "stood up" for the Yorkshire outfit in the first half.

While Leeds' multi-million signings showed little to no fight, Forshaw was one who put his all into the game, and it may just make the incoming manager consider whether he is worth a new short-term deal this summer, as he can leave Elland Road tonight with his head held high.