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One Chelsea player is said to have decided on his next destination and has chosen to make a European move, but is now forced to wait for the transfer to happen.

Players who could still be sold by Chelsea

Thiago Silva, Hakim Ziyech, Lewis Hall, Omari Hutchinson, Michael Golding and Ian Maatsen have already left Stamford Bridge to the tune of around £89 million, but many more Chelsea players are expected to follow them before the window shuts.

Chelsea considering deal for £20 million striker with 148 career goals

The west Londoners could sign a prolific new target man for Maresca.

ByEmilio Galantini Jul 11, 2024

Enzo Maresca's side have registered a net spend of just £4 million thanks to the aforementioned departures, coming as they spent around £93 million on deals for Tosin Adarabioyo, Marc Guiu, Omari Kellyman, Kiernan Dewsbury-Hall, Brazilian starlet Estevao Willian and Renato Veiga.

To balance the books further and trim unwanted players off their wage bill, a few interesting names are being linked with exits. Star midfielder Conor Gallagher could be sold by Chelsea with his contract expiring next year, and this would be an unpopular move considering his roots.

Cole Palmer

7.48

Conor Gallagher

7.13

Nicolas Jackson

7.07

Moises Caicedo

6.85

Noni Madueke

6.84

However, Todd Boehly and co are forced to ponder the business decision of finding a buyer for Gallagher, or risk losing the England ace for nothing in 2025. Armando Broja, Malang Sarr, Trevoh Chalobah, Lesley Ugochukwu, Carney Chukwuemeka, Ben Chilwell, Mykhailo Mudryk, Raheem Sterling and Kepa Arrizabalaga are other players linked with Chelsea exits this summer, as all face uncertain futures.

The biggest name who Chelsea will be very keen to find a buyer for is striker Romelu Lukaku. The Belgian has attracted interest from Serie A again as both AC Milan and Napoli reportedly contend for the 31-year-old, with Saudi Pro League sides also thought to be in the equation for him.

Signed for around £98 million from Inter Milan three years ago, Lukaku's time in west London has been regrettable. The former Everton star managed just one full season at the Bridge before being loaned back out to Inter in 22/23 and then Roma last season.

Lukaku is also one of Chelsea's highest earners, on a reported £325,000-per-week, so it is perhaps imperative that co-sporting directors Laurence Stewart and Paul Winstanley find the forward a new home.

Lukaku chooses to join Napoli as he waits for Chelsea exit

Italian newspaper Corriere dello Sport, via TUTTOmercatoWEB, have shared an update on his future this week. They report that Lukaku has chosen to join Napoli and reunite with Antonio Conte, with the former Chelsea boss also wanting him at the Diego Armando Maradona Stadium.

The attacker is apparently waiting to make the move to Naples, as president Aurelio De Laurentiis must first find a buyer for star striker Victor Osimhen. That buyer could well be Ligue 1 giants PSG, who are said to be negotiating a fee slightly lower than Osimhen's £110 million release clause.

If the Nigerian does make a move to Paris, this will open the door for Lukaku's switch to Naples. Called a "top-class" striker by Joe Hart, Conte has also publicly praised Lukaku on more than one occasion.

Following on from the 2023/24 season where the Toffees secured survival, Everton will have another huge task next season to maintain their ever-present Premier League status.

Sean Dyche’s side have endured months of uncertainly off the field, from points deductions and failed takeover attempts – they really have been dragged through the mire, further highlighting the excellent job conducted by the 53-year-old.

However, whisper it quietly, the club appear to be heading in the right direction, with a takeover seemingly edging ever closer to completion, whilst the recruitment has been impressive, signing exciting talents such as Tim Iroegbunam and Iliman Ndiaye.

The Toffees have wasted no time in getting their business done early, but with six weeks remaining in the transfer window, there will undoubtedly be more additions as Dyche aims to secure a mid-table finish for the club this season.

His side still remain interested in one talent who would dramatically improve his options in the attacking third, as Everton aim to address their goalscoring issues from the 2023/24 campaign.

Everton preparing move for £33m talent this summer

According to Caught Offside, Everton are among a list of clubs who could be set to make a move for Arsenal striker Eddie Nketiah this summer, with the 25-year-old allowed to leave the Emirates.

However, the Toffees aren’t alone in their pursuit of the forward, with fellow Premier League sides Brentford, Crystal Palace, West Ham and Wolves also battling for his signature – while Ligue 1 side Marseille are also preparing an opening offer.

The report claims that the Gunners value the striker at between £25m and £33m, as they look to offload Nketiah to fund a move for an elite-level frontman in their bid to win the Premier League in 2024/25.

He only managed to start ten Premier League matches last season, but he still managed to bag five Premier League goals in the 2023/24 season, including a hat-trick against Sheffield United, with his goalscoring exploits a huge benefit to the Toffees should he move to the club.

The Englishman would undoubtedly prove to be a better addition than another player who Dyche and the Everton hierarchy have been pursuing a move for during the off-season.

Why Nketiah would be a better option than Broja for Everton

In recent weeks, Chelsea striker Armando Broja has been strongly linked with a move to Goodison Park, despite his below-par campaign last time around.

The Albanian forward only managed one goal throughout the entire campaign, coming for his parent club against the side he would spend the second half of the campaign on loan at, Fulham.

However, given the current interest in Arsenal man Nketiah, Dyche and his team must put all of their efforts into winning the race for his signature, beating numerous other English sides in the process.

When comparing the pair on FBref, it’s evident that the Gunners' talisman would be the better option, potentially solving the Toffees’ ongoing goalscoring issue.

Over the course of last season, the “remarkable” Nketiah, as dubbed by journalist James Olley, contributed with five more goals or assists, finding the back of the net 0.42 times per game – more than double the tally Broja could muster.

Games

27

21

Goals + assists

7

2

Shot on target %

32%

15%

Progressive carries

22

13

Goals per 90

0.42

0.17

Aerial duels won

46%

30%

The Arsenal talent is also more accurate with his efforts on goal, managing to get 32% of his efforts on target, with the Chelsea frontman only able to produce a tally of 15%.

Everton’s system often relies on a target man to win aerial battles, as demonstrated by Dominic Calvert-Lewin, with any new addition needing to be comfortable in this department.

Nketiah has demonstrated his ability in the air, winning 46% of his aerial battles, a figure that is 16% higher than the Albanian despite his height advantage over the Englishman.

With Everton’s lack of goals last season undoubtedly a concern for boss Dyche, you can understand why he so desperately wants to sign a new centre-forward this summer.

Their efforts have been relentless, but it’s pivotal that they end up with the best possible forward to bolster their lowly tally from 2023/24, with Nketiah ticking all the boxes, making him a great option for the Toffees should they agree a deal with Arsenal for his services.

Everton have already struck gold on a star who's worth more than Philogene

He’s been an excellent addition for the Toffees since his move to Goodison Park.

ByEthan Lamb Jul 12, 2024

Dimitar Berbatov slammed Manchester United's players after their 0-0 draw with Aston Villa and issued a warning to Erik ten Hag.

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Manchester United draw 0-0 against Aston VillaBerbatov slams Man Utd flops after poor showingIssues warning to Ten Hag with sack talk mountingFollow GOAL on WhatsApp! 🟢📱WHAT HAPPENED?

Manchester United came into the clash against Aston Villa needing to secure a victory at ease some pressure on under-fire boss Ten Hag. However, what followed was yet another toothless performance at Villa Park as United failed to secure a win for the fifth straight game in all competitions.

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While United were not as defensively leaky against Unai Emery's side as they have been over their last two games, they had 36-year-old Jonny Evans to thank for keeping the hosts at bay. United legend Berbatov thinks Evans' solid display put his team-mates to shame, and has warned Ten Hag that he won't be able to escape criticism if the poor performances continue.

EnterpriseWHAT BERBATOV SAID

Speaking on Sky Sports, Berbatov said: "Everybody on the pitch should be ashamed because Evans is man of the match at 36.

"The criticism will continue to grow because United need to win to get the points. They are 14th in the table which is unbelievable.

"The only thing to correct it is to get the points but with the way they're playing at the moment that's going to be hard to do."

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WHAT NEXT FOR MAN UTD?

The Red Devils will not be in action again until October 19 when they take on an in-form Brentford side. It is possible that Ten Hag may not be on the sidelines after the international break, with many fans expecting United part-owners INEOS to relieve the Dutchman of his duties.

This summer is set to be a busy period at Chelsea, as Todd Boehly will want to show his support for his new manager, Enzo Maresca.

The Blues squad is already packed with talent across the board, but that won’t stop them from looking to improve this summer.

Michael Olise is one of their highest priorities this window, and they’ve already verbally agreed personal terms with the Frenchman, according to reports.

However, there’s currently a player in the Chelsea squad that cost the same as Olise’s release clause, and today, they’re worth two times less than the Crystal Palace ace.

What Chelsea paid for Marc Cucurella

During his first campaign in England, Marc Cucurella became regarded as one of the best left-backs in the Premier League at Brighton & Hove Albion.

From his first of his 35 league starts to his last during the 2020/21 campaign, the former Barcelona ace ticked every box a modern full-back needs, but he was already proving that prior to his arrival, with football scout Jacek Kulig describing him as a “playmaking full-back” and a “warrior.”

Therefore, after impressing massively as a versatile defender, in the summer of 2022, Chelsea signed Cucurella from Brighton for a whopping £60m.

The defender signed a six-year deal until 2028, earning a huge wage of £175k-per-week, making him one of the highest-paid left-backs in the Premier League, as per Capology.

What Cucurella’s value is in 2024

In his first season at Stamford Bridge, the number three featured rather frequently, starting 21 times in the Premier League, starting as both a left-back and a wide centre-half.

At times, Cucurella’s defensive ability was questioned, with even pundit Jamie Carragher saying that “he can’t defend” after a defeat to Manchester City.

Under Mauricio Pochettino last season, the 25-year-old made just 20 starts, even being benched for Levi Colwill towards the start of the campaign, but there were signs of improvement.

Towards the latter end of the campaign, he featured in the Argentine’s best XI often, which may just have saved his career at Chelsea beyond the summer.

Enzo Fernandez

£84m

Wesley Fofana

£17m

Mykhalo Mudryk

£51m

Marc Cucurella

£25m

Raheem Sterling

£34m

Nonetheless, as you can see, Cucurella’s value since moving to Stamford Bridge has plummeted, to the point where he’s now worth just £25m.

This means that he’s now worth over two times less than Olise, who has a £60m release clause, which just proves how quickly he’s lost his worth and how it may continue to decrease unless performances improve.

On top of that, it makes the Spanish defender one of the least-valuable consistent starting players at Chelsea, worth the exact same as Djordje Petrovic, for example.

Furthermore, it’s been reported recently that Chelsea are looking to secure themselves a new left-back, which suggests that Cucurella’s short stint as first-choice could come to an end rather swiftly.

Either Ben Chilwell or the Spaniard will have to leave for that to be the case, however, which means that the £60m they once spent on the latter looks set to be a huge mistake.

That’s not to say that Cucurella is an awful player and that he has no future under Maresca, but given his crazy price tag, he can’t exactly be regarded as a good signing.

No Jackson, £226m trio sign: Enzo Maresca's dream lineup at Chelsea

Chelsea are set for a busy summer with plenty of signings expected.

ByTom Lever May 29, 2024

All-rounder Liam Dawson was stretchered off with a suspected Achilles injury to mar a productive day for Hampshire in their Bob Willis Trophy match against Middlesex at Radlett.The 30-year-old, who was part of England’s white-ball squad for their recent ODI series against Ireland, fell awkwardly while batting during the final session and had to be carried from the field.Dawson’s attacking knock of 43 had already helped Hampshire to take a first-innings lead when he crumpled to the ground, visibly in pain after playing a defensive shot against Tom Helm.There was a 15-minute delay while Dawson received treatment at the wicket, but it was already evident he would be unable to continue.Despite that setback, the visitors ended the second day in a strong position, with opener Joe Weatherley falling just two short of what would have been his second first-class century and captain Sam Northeast hitting 51 as they dominated the Middlesex bowling.Hampshire had appeared set for an uphill battle when they lost Tom Alsop (4) in the third over of the day, the left-hander edging a rising delivery from Tom Helm as John Simpson leapt to take the catch.That left the visitors in an unsteady position at 28 for 3 – and it could have been worse as both Weatherley and Northeast survived chances to second slip before their partnership had really been established.Northeast’s, a fast thick edge when he had 14 to his name, would have been a magnificent catch by Nathan Sowter – but the opportunity for the same fielder to remove Weatherley off the bowling of James Harris was altogether more routine.The pair made Middlesex pay as they accumulated a fourth-wicket partnership of 139, with Weatherley stroking a midwicket boundary off Tim Murtagh (2 for 49) to raise his half-century off 157 balls.The skipper, meanwhile, also reached his 50 in style, slamming Helm for four through the covers – but he departed in the next over after left-arm spinner Thilan Wallalawita returned for his second spell of the day.Wallalawita’s second delivery tempted Northeast to cut, but the ball sailed towards gully, where Sowter – now relocated from second slip – gathered the catch safely.Weatherley, who went to tea on 90, had rarely looked in anything resembling a hurry during the first two sessions, but he resumed in attacking mode, driving Murtagh’s first two balls of the evening for boundaries to advance to 98.However, the batsman would get no further as he was adjudged leg before in Murtagh’s next over, attempting to flick a straight ball off his pads.But Middlesex were unable to capitalise on the breakthrough as Dawson maintained the tempo, hooking Harris for successive fours and putting on 51 for the sixth wicket with Ian Holland.Holland, who had taken 20 deliveries to get off the mark, eventually contributed a breezy 22 to steer his side past the Seaxes’ first-innings total before Murtagh had him caught in the slips.That, along with Dawson’s injury, slowed Hampshire’s momentum and they also lost Harry Came (5), lbw to Sowter in the penultimate over as they reached stumps 27 runs ahead of their hosts.

Ange Postecoglou’s first season as Tottenham Hotspur manager ended in a frustrating manner, failing to secure a Champions League spot ahead of Aston Villa. That is largely down to the 2-0 defeat at home to Manchester City, a game which, had they won, Spurs would have snuck into fourth.

With that being said, it is still a season in which Spurs can be happy, with fifth place lining up with many fans’ and neutral’s expectations. They had an incredible start to the season; their first ten games saw them win eight and draw two. Not only that, the 26 points Postecoglou’s side accumulated is the most by a manager in their first ten fixtures in charge in the Premier League, as per Opta Joe.

This season has certainly given Spurs and Postecoglou a platform from which they can launch next season. Of course, the demands of European football, a Thursday to Sunday schedule specifically, will return in 2024/25.

With that in mind, the summer transfer window in 2024 will be crucial for the Lilywhites. According to ESPN’s senior writer James Olley, Postecoglou has “asked the club for at least three new signings in the summer transfer window”, with several players on the way out of the club.

There is one player whom Spurs have been linked with in recent weeks, who could kickstart Postecoglou’s spending spree this summer.

Spurs looking to sign Premier League striker

The player in question here is Bournemouth striker Dominic Solanke. The 26-year-old has been somewhat of a journeyman during his career so far but has found a home at Bournemouth, and after a wonderful season in the Premier League, is attracting interest from elsewhere.

According to Alex Crook of talkSPORT, Spurs are one of the clubs who are interested in signing the Englishman this summer and are contemplating a swoop. Despite the fact that it would take a “hefty bid” to purchase Solanke, Bournemouth owner Bill Foley knows that a deal could be struck this summer.

Indeed, Spurs will not be the only Premier League club interested in signing Solanke once the transfer window opens. As per reports, Eddie Howe’s Newcastle side are also strikingly interested in purchasing the 26-year-old.

It could cost Newcastle £60m to persuade the Cherries to sell Solanke, so it is safe to assume it will be a similar fee for Spurs, too. We could well be about to witness a big transfer saga surrounding the former Chelsea and Liverpool man.

How Solanke and Harry Kane compare

This season in Solanke’s game, there has been a certain likeness to former Spurs talisman Harry Kane.

The Bournemouth centre-forward bagged 19 goals in the Premier League this term and was only behind Erling Haaland with 27 goals, Cole Palmer with 22 goals and Alexander Isak with 21 goals for the Golden Boot.

This was also comfortably Solanke’s best return in the Premier League. In six previous top-flight campaigns so far in his career, the attacker has not scored anywhere close to 19 goals combined.

Of course, Solanke’s numbers are not close to those that Kane put up in the Premier League; the England captain is “the best striker in the world” according to international teammate Harry Maguire. However, the Cherries striker's 19 goals outscored Kane in three of his ten full Premier League years, showing he can keep up at that goalscoring rate Spurs lost when he left.

2013/14

N/A

N/A

10

3

2014/15

N/A

N/A

34

21

2015/16

N/A

N/A

38

25

2016/17

N/A

N/A

30

29

2017/18

21

1

37

20

2018/19

10

0

28

17

2019/20

32

3

29

18

2020/21

N/A

N/A

35

23

2021/22

N/A

N/A

37

17

2022/23

33

6

38

30

2023/24

38

19

N/A

N/A

Aside from his impressive record in front of goal this season, Solanke has previously been slathered with comparisons to England's skipper. Former Bournemouth player Charlie Daniels explained that he is “a bit like Harry Kane” in the way he “combines the role” of a nine and 10, before explaining the fact that “his movement’s the same as Harry’s and they’ve the same intelligence”.

Comparisons with their creativity and link-up play can certainly be drawn when looking closer at the stats, too. Both players average one key pass per 90 minutes, according to Sofascore, although Kane did create 13 big chances compared to Solanke’s three in 2023/24.

With that being said, perhaps Spurs should look no further than Solanke as they hunt down a Kane replacement this summer. There is certainly merit to say Spurs should pursue this deal, and as Daniels points out, could have a striker in the ilk of their record scorer once more.

Spurs eyeing dream Gallagher partner who's like Mousa Dembele

The Lilywhites could be looking at a bargain option to strengthen their midfield ranks…

ByRobbie Walls May 22, 2024

MatériaMais Notícias

O RB Bragantino enfrenta o Athletico-PR neste sábado em confronto com os atuais líder e vice-líder do Brasileirão. Apesar da importância do duelo, o jogo não terá transmissão da Globo, dona dos direitos de transmissão, e só será visto em plataformas ligadas ao Furacão.

+ Veja a tabela do Brasileirão!

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Na previsão feita pela Globo, o RB Bragantino não deve ter nenhum jogo transmitido até a 15º rodada, o que afeta os valores recebidos pelo clube, já que os times que aparecem mais na tela da emissora também recebem mais.

A Globo alegou que precisa equilibrar jogos da Série A e da Série B, que conta com Vasco, Botafogo e Cruzeiro, três times de grandes torcidas, e por esse motivo alguns times acabam aparecendo menos do que outros.

-Como o número de jogos por rodada na TV aberta é restrito, a TV Globo busca um equilíbrio para contemplar o maior número de torcedores neste início das séries A e B, sempre respeitando os contratos firmados com os clubes. (…)Como a Globo não tem contrato com o Athletico-PR para transmissão de jogos do clube em TV por assinatura ou PPV, ficou impedida de exibir a partida em outras plataformas. No caso do Bragantino, exibimos quatro jogos do clube no SporTV nas 15 primeiras rodadas – disse a emissora, ao ‘Uol Esportes’

Onde assistir o jogo:
​Como a Globo optou por não passar o jogo do Athletico na TV aberta e não tem os direitos de transmissão na TV fechada, que foram vendidas, durante o período de vigência da MP do Mandante, para a empresa LiveMode, a partida poderá ser vista na plataforma paga ‘Furacão Live’.

A Globo questiona judicialmente esse acordo, mas até o momento a Justiça do Paraná vem dando razão ao Furacão.

Queensland seamer hopes to follow in his mentor’s footsteps and aims to press Test credentials in the upcoming Australia A clash with England Lions at the MCG

Daniel Brettig21-Feb-2020

Michael Neser enjoyed his return to Sheffield Shield action•Getty Images

When Peter Siddle retired from international cricket in the midst of last year’s Boxing Day Test at the MCG, Michael Neser was doing what he has been for most of the past two years – warming up with the Australian Test squad, training with them, bowling to them and living every moment with them.Everything, that is, except actually playing alongside them. Since he was first chosen in the group that went to the UAE to play Pakistan in October 2018, Neser’s bearded face and pleasant countenance have been a fixture at the fringes, as he patiently awaits his chance to showcase the swinging and seaming skills he has demonstrated so ably for Queensland, the Adelaide Strikers and, on occasion, the Australian side in tour matches.Siddle’s decision to step aside has been both a source of pain but also opportunity for Neser: without the older Victorian ahead of him anymore, Neser has lost a source of advice in the dressing room but gained a place on the ladder towards selection. He will get another chance to push his case for Australia A against the England Lions at the MCG from Saturday.”He helped me heaps with my game as well, so him retiring is a downer for me as well because I was learning so much off him,” Neser said. “He was great around the squad and helped everyone, so fortunately for me, I’m still around him with the Strikers, so I’m still learning a lot off him and I suppose Siddsy’s done a great job for Australia for many years, so it’s sad to see him go.”I learned a lot playing with him at the Strikers actually, in the moment, and just him helping me go through my thought process at the top of my mark. The thing with him, he makes sure you have a clear plan, he’s very calm under those pressure situations, so I just see how he goes about it and just little things rub off. His work ethic is amazing, sticking with him at his age and he’s still one of the most energetic guys in the squad, so it’s inspiring and great to watch.”There are little tricks here and there that he’ll help with. The main thing with Siddsy is he changed his career from being a fast, out and out pace bowler to a more skilful swing bowler and it’s transformed the way he bowled. I think it’s a credit to him because he showed he’s more than a one-trick pony. He’s been such a skilful bowler and still is. Unfortunately, Queensland have him at the Gabba this coming up game with the Dukes, so he’ll be a handful for the Queensland batters!”Reflecting on his past 18 months in and around the Australian squad, Neser spoke of the privilege and the challenge with a strong sense of equanimity. It is no disgrace, after all, to be kept out of the Test team by Pat Cummins, Josh Hazlewood, Mitchell Starc, James Pattinson and Siddle – there are plenty of other Test sides around the world for whom Neser may already have played 20 or so matches. Before Boxing Day, he was talked up as a chance to play as a fifth bowler, only for the captain Tim Paine to subsequently describe it as a ruse to fool New Zealand.Michael Neser celebrates an early breakthrough•Getty Images

“I genuinely have no clue! Hopefully, I was close,” Neser said when asked how much of a chance he had had to play. “[The coach Justin Langer] said be ready, you never know what might happen. He pushes with all our players to be ready, no matter if you’re a shoo-in or on the side, that’s what he drills into us, to always be ready.”It’s a rollercoaster of emotions. I love being in the squad and it’s a great honour as well, but at the same time I’m itching to go and I see where I stand in the pecking order though. Our bowlers have performed so well, so it’s kind of hard for me to fit into that line-up when they’re all going so strongly and playing well. But if the opportunity comes, fingers crossed I’ll be ready.”A surfeit of withdrawals ahead of the Australia A match – Pattinson, Marcus Stoinis and Will Pucovski among them – have heightened Neser’s role, and underlined why he would do well to closely follow Siddle’s blueprint for durability in the game. And while there will likely be only a paltry crowd in attendance, Neser is one of many players on the fringe to benefit from the experience of excelling under the crowd and broadcast pressure of the BBL.”Definitely it does [help], it adds an extra element of nerves and it’s great with Big Bash, we experience that feeling around the ground,” Neser said. “When I was sitting here with the Ashes watching that first ball and the crowd was absolutely amazing here with a full house, so it does add an extra element. It’s really intense when the crowd is going like that, and to be blooded in Big Bash and to experience that is less daunting.”A four-day fixture against an England Lions team featuring numerous members of the Test side will be the ideal opportunity for Neser to demonstrate that, in the wake of Siddle, he can be the reliable operator Australia are sure to need on tough days in the future.

Mitchell Santner played more of a holding role with the ball, while Patel is a wicket-taking option

ESPNcricinfo staff18-Feb-2020The big news in the New Zealand Test squad, apart from the post-injury comeback for Trent Boult, was the return to the arena for 31-year-old left-arm spinner Ajaz Patel in place of Mitchell Santner. It’s a good change, as far as former batting coach Craig McMillan is concerned, because Patel “can pick up four or five wickets in a Test match”. As for Patel, he is just excited at the prospect of facing off against “some of the best in the world”.”Mitchell Santner, over a period of time, has done a holding role for New Zealand. And that’s down quite often to the conditions in New Zealand that aren’t really conducive to have the ball turning much. It’s the seamers who do all the damage and take most of the wickets,” McMillan, who finished up with the team after the 2019 50-over World Cup, told .Gary Stead, the New Zealand head coach, had welcomed Patel’s inclusion when the squad was announced, saying, “It’s a slight change in role we’re looking in terms of that position being one where we can take wickets and focus hard on that.”McMillan liked what he heard from Stead: “It’s good to hear, because Ajaz Patel is better than being just a holding spinner. He’s got over 230 first-class wickets [235 in 62 matches], so he knows how to bowl in New Zealand. So I hope they use him in an attacking role. They need to have a spinner who can pick up four or five wickets in a Test match. And Ajaz Patel is certainly a guy who could do that. So I thought it was encouraging to hear, and it will be interesting to see how they use him, because that’s one of the keys, when you have spinners in your side, it’s the time to use them and how to use them.

I feel my game’s pretty adaptable. So I’m going to just see what the conditions are and what the scenario and situation is and try to play to thatAjaz Patel

“I hope they give him the opportunity to continue bowling how he does at the domestic level at the international level, because I think he can do a really good job, pick up wickets and be really useful in that New Zealand Test side.”Patel has played only seven Test matches since his debut in 2018, five of them in Asian conditions and only two in New Zealand, where the stress has been on pace with Santner trying to keep things tight without really being much of an attacking option. In the last 12 months, Santner has played one Test in Sri Lanka, two at home against England, and two in Australia, and picked up only five wickets in those games at an average of 96.80. The other spinners in the mix have been Todd Astle, who has since retired from red-ball cricket, and Will Somerville, who both played the New Year’s Test in Sydney on the back of an illness crisis in the squad.Back in the scheme of things now, Patel is looking forward to going up against Virat Kohli, Cheteshwar Pujara and the rest of the mighty India batting line-up.”It’s a fantastic challenge. I suppose as a spinner, testing yourself against some of the best players in the world, it’s a great challenge and it’s something that you should, really, enjoy and cherish,” he said. “At the end of the day, I suppose, at some point in my career, I want to be known as the best in the world. So to be able to challenge some of the best in the world, it’s a great opportunity and a challenge, something that I look forward to.”Mitchell Santner is congratulated on a wicket•Getty ImagesWhether he gets that chance or not depends on the Basin Reserve pitch. If it’s green, as McMillan pointed out, “perhaps playing a fourth seamer, which means Kyle Jamieson might get a run”.Patel understands that. “I suppose it depends on the surface and the scenarios of the game,” he said of the role he expects to play. “Either way, I am going to try and contribute in any way that I can, whether it be with the ball, with the bat, in the field. If it requires me to try and take wickets, then I’m going to try to do that, if it requires me to try and restrict runs, then I’ll try and do that. I feel my game’s pretty adaptable. So I’m going to just see what the conditions are and what the scenario and situation is and try to play to that.”The Basin could be quite interesting, I suppose. It depends on what kind of day it is and what kind of week you get. If you get a nice, sunny week, the wicket dries up pretty quickly. Although if there’s a bit of overcast conditions, that can be a bit different as well. And obviously you have the wind factor. There’s a lot of things you’ve got to think about at the Basin, but once again, it’s kind of adapting your game to whatever presents itself, and that’s probably one of the great things about Test cricket. You get different challenges thrown at you and you have to learn to adapt.”What could have gone against Santner, apart from just his own moderate returns, was the fact that even as he picked up just one wicket in two Tests on the December 2019 tour of Australia, Nathan Lyon topped the wicket-takers’ chart with 20 wickets in three Tests, all of which Australia won.Did that show up Santner, as well as New Zealand’s use with their frontline spinner? “I think it did in many ways,” McMillan agreed. “[Santner’s numbers] sort of stands out in itself, because his core role in the side is to pick up wickets as a spinner, not as a batsman. And he was getting picked in the side to do a little bit of this and a little bit of that. And New Zealand, with the bowling line-up they’ve got, need a spinner who can contribute four or five wickets a Test match, which just takes some pressure off the likes of [Tim] Southee, [Neil] Wagner and Boult.”

Atletico Madrid are in talks with Chelsea over a potential move for Conor Gallagher, with the Blues having named their asking price.

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Atletico in talks with Chelsea for GallagherBlues name price for academy graduateMidfielder top of Atletico's summer shopping listWHAT HAPPENED?

Gallagher appears to be moving closer to a move to Atletico Madrid as Diego Simeone's side are now in "direct talks" with Chelsea over a transfer, according to Fabrizio Romano. The Blues are willing to offload the England international for €35-40m (£29m-33m) and negotiations are underway between the two clubs.

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Gallagher is into the final year of his contract at Chelsea and the Blues are believed to be willing to cash in on the academy graduate in a bid to try and help balance the books at Stamford Bridge. Tottenham and Aston Villa have also been linked with moves for Gallagher, but Atletico have made the midfielder a top priority and appear to be the leading the race.

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Gallagher joined Chelsea at the age of eight and has been with the club ever since. It's not known yet if he is willing to leave his boyhood club and move to Spain to join Atletico this summer. However, Chelsea will be acutely aware that if he does not depart, it increases the possibility of him moving on a free transfer next summer.

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GettyWHAT NEXT FOR GALLAGHER

Chelsea have given Gallagher an extended break after Euro 2024, meaning he won't take part in their pre-season tour of the United States and will instead return to training at Cobham at the start of August. The club's first game of the 2024-25 Premier League season in on August 18 against Manchester City, but it remains to be seen if Gallagher will still be a Chelsea player by the time the fixture rolls around.