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Reactions from the England players and team management after their triumph over India in a nail-biting World Cup final at Lord’s

ESPNcricinfo staff23-Jul-2017

Anya Shrubsole”I’m a little bit lost for words, if I’m honest. Just an unbelievable game. It looked for a minute like we were out of it, but one of the great things about this team is we never give up. Alex Hartley got that vital wicket of Harmanpreet (Kaur) and we never looked back from there.”It’s more that you don’t want the game to be ruined by rain. It was just an amazing game from start to finish, and I think it’s a very fitting final for what’s been a brilliant World Cup. It’s a World Cup final, there’s a huge amount of pressure, so much pressure on new batters coming in. We never let the run rate get away from us, even though we weren’t getting wickets, so we knew if we got a couple, we’d be right in the game. It’s a dream, and a dream you never think is going to come true. Here, watching my dad play in the club national knockouts, so to be back 16 years later as a World Cup winner is just amazing.”Heather Knight”I can’t stop smiling, to be honest. So proud of that group of girls, they have been outstanding. We’ve made it hard for ourselves this tournament, but I couldn’t care less. We won those really tight games, which is something we wanted to work on over the last 18 months. Back in Delhi feels like a long time ago, but it was the making of this team. All we’ve done in the last 18 months is to deal with situations like that. Anya Shrubsole, what a hero. What a day.”Credit to India, they had a brilliant tournament and played really well. Punam (Raut) was batting outstandingly and they got some partnerships together. I thought if we hung in there and let the rate stay around five or six that we’d always be in the game. The girls really held their nerve. We took our catches at the end, apart from that little one by Jenny Gunn which was slightly stressful, but the main thing is we got over the line and have got the trophy. Just want to thank the crowd, the support has been fantastic throughout the tournament. Hopefully after our success, we can grow the game in this country. There has never been a better time for girls to play.”Tammy Beaumont”Robbo (Mark Robinson, the coach) had to remind me that I’ve been doing well. So many of the girls stood up. It’s been a great team performance. Myself and Lauren got off to a good start, but we thought we threw it away. But our batting order has been superb. Jenny Gunn and Katherine Brunt were excellent. Full credit to Raut and Kaur, they put on an exceptional partnership. In my head, it was never in doubt, we knew one wicket could change things. It was back in April that we all came here to the Lord’s tour. Lot of hard work went into it, all for just this moment.”Sarah Taylor”Probably couldn’t have been a better comeback, I’m just so proud of the girls. It’s been a roller coaster year for me, but to be part of this team has been simply incredible. For me, it was a case of being healthy, just get back training and see how I go. I was just lucky to be here for the World Cup. India played exceptionally well and we’ve been there, so we know it hurts. But I guess you have to rebuild, come back stronger, and this will make them better cricketers and better people. Good luck to them in the future. Heather Knight’s such a calm character, there was no pressure on us at all. She just lets us play our game. She’s been an incredible character for us and an incredible person.”Alex Hartley”I can’t believe it. This is what we’ve been working for. The girls were absolutely fantastic. It’s a dream come true for all of us. I’ve never stepped onto Lord’s before in a game, absolutely fantastic that we managed to pull it off. At that moment, you can’t really think of that (that a World Cup is at stake), you get too nervous. For me, it’s just another cricket game, but at the back of the mind, it was the World Cup. Anya Shrubsole, what a hero.”Laura Marsh”Think I bowled okay, but Anya was just outstanding at the end, to take all those wickets under pressure was fantastic. I think in a World Cup final, every run is really important. We always knew we’re right in the game. We just stuck in there, it was brilliant.”Fran Wilson”We knew we’d be able to pull through. We’ve done it before; we knew we could do it again. Credit to Anya, she was amazing. Everyone was amazing. I can’t tell you what was going through my head. I guess just past experiences, knowing that 20,000 people are behind you and also the 11 girls on the pitch and the support staff, all willing you on, and that’s always going to keep you calm. It was amazing, an incredible experience. I can’t imagine life after the World Cup.”Jenny Gunn”It’s brilliant to be here at Home of Cricket, Lord’s, home support, in front of family and friends, is just amazing. This is one of the best teams I’ve played with.”England coach Mark Robinson”India played really well, but I’m so proud of the girls. We knew we were 30 light, but we knew we were always in the game. The wicket has been used before, early in the year, so slow bowlers were always going to be hard to get away. So it was a fighting score. This team has a lot of heart, lot of courage. We just needed that break every now and then, and once we had that break, we were right in this game. The game’s really grown, has been incredibly backed by the ICC, it has been marketed, the media has got behind it. And what an atmosphere today. I really enjoyed it. I was desperate for us to win, but it’s such a great occasion, and I just enjoyed every minute of it. The girls have been really well-behaved this trip, I don’t suppose they will be tonight.”

Liverpool are in the market for another midfielder and recent reports have linked them with Crystal Palace's Cheick Doucouré.

The Athletic has been one of those making that link in recent weeks, so the player could soon be heading to Anfield – if the Reds get their way, of course.

But who is Doucouré, and more importantly, just how good is he? Football FanCast has taken a look into the data for everything you need to know.

What is Cheick Doucouré's background?

Doucouré is a Malian player who spent the early part of his career with RC Lens. He started his professional career there in 2018, with the club sitting in Ligue 2.

Two seasons at that level saw them promoted, though, and Doucouré continued to impress in France's top flight. Those performances earned him a move to Crystal Palace last summer in a deal worth up to £26m.

Where does Cheick Doucouré play?

Doucouré is a defensive midfielder, with WhoScored's data placing him in either deep midfield or a more traditional centre-midfield role. No matter where he is, the Malian is all about winning the ball back and protecting his back four.

That would be the primary reason Liverpool sign him if they can find a deal with Palace.

What is Cheick Doucouré's style of play?

Doucouré is a defence-first player. He averages a little over one shot per 90 minutes, says FBref data, while he's rarely involved in build-up play. Again, the data shows this – the 23-year-old is directly involved in creating under two shots per 90. That's very, very low.

His passing perhaps explains that best. Doucouré only passed it into the penalty area 11 times last season, while he averaged under five progressive passes – which are forward passes of at least 10 yards – per 90.

It won't be a surprise to learn that he doesn't dribble often, either – he only attempted to dribble past someone 21 times last term.

What you get, then, is a player who focuses almost entirely on stopping the opposition.

How good is Cheick Doucouré?

So bearing in mind what Doucouré wants to do, it's easy to see why Liverpool are interested. His standout stat is in interceptions, where the player averages 1.8 per 90 – that's in the top 3% of midfielders across Europe's top 5 leagues.

And it's defensive stats across the board that also stand out here. Doucouré is within the top 15% of midfielders for tackles in the final third and the percentage of dribblers tackled, as well as in combined tackles and interceptions.

Overall tackles won are also a highlight, where he places in the top 13%, as does his ability to recover loose balls, which ranks among the top 25%. It's not often you find a player capable of doing all of this to a high level.

It's worth mentioning that Doucouré is consistent with the ball, too. While he rarely tries to take players on, he's very successful at it when he does – only 4% of midfielders are more successful.

He's reliable on the ball, averaging under one mis-control per 90 (placing in the 74th percentile) and is in the 83rd percentile for touches in the defensive third.

All in all, Doucouré is an incredibly consistent player – and one with a very bright future.

How old is Cheick Doucouré and what is his potential?

Doucouré is still only 23 and all of these impressive stats came in his debut Premier League season. Not only that, but Palace weren't especially consistent last time out, even changing their manager halfway through.

As part of a more consistent side – and with extra Premier League experience under his belt – there's every reason to believe that Doucouré can improve quite a lot, even next season – whether that's at Selhurst Park or Anfield.

What is Cheick Doucouré's injury record?

This is a big concern for Liverpool fans, of course. The Reds have had some excellent midfielders in recent years, though pretty much all of them have battled serious injuries – or simply had to contend with a lit of time in the treatment room.

Doucouré is actually quite exceptional in that regard. Transfermarkt has him down as suffering just one notable injury in his entire career up to now – a muscle problem back in early 2021 – and that only saw him miss one game.

There were some mild 'fitness' issues at the start of the 2019/20 season, but that's your lot.

Who would Doucouré replace at Liverpool?

As per The Athletic's article on the Reds' interest, Doucouré would essentially replace Fabinho in the squad.

The Brazilian is expected to leave for Saudi Arabia in a £40m deal to Al-Ittihad, with the midfielder undergoing a medical earlier this week and being left out of the club's pre-season trip to Singapore.

Fabinho is essentially the only out-and-out defensive midfielder in Jurgen Klopp's squad. Doucouré is a natural replacement, then, and the Reds would arguably do very well to find someone better suited to the job.

How would Jurgen Klopp use Cheick Doucouré?

This one's quite interesting as change appears to be on the horizon at Liverpool. Jurgen Klopp has typically used a very versatile midfield, opting for multi-faceted players in the centre of the park.

Indeed, the acquisitions of Dominik Szoboszlai and Alexis Mac Allister have already been noted signings of that ilk.

Jordan Henderson and Gini Wijnaldum were the best examples of that in the Reds' Champions League and Premier League-winning side. Both players could be solid defenders, while both were comfortable in their possession games, too. And, of course, they had the energy to press high and play at pace.

But Liverpool have moved to rebuild their midfield this season, bringing in Szoboszlai and Mac Allister as the likes of Henderson, James Milner and Naby Keita all departed.

The new Reds pair are much more attacking than former Reds such as Henderson or Wijanldum, suggesting Klopp wants to be more proactive and creative with his midfield.

Such a gameplan would require a covering player in defender to sit behind them. That, really, would be Doucouré's role – he'd likely be asked to sit deep and cover for two players who want to be on the front foot – particularly when taking the stats into account.

Indeed, he appears perfectly suited to do just that.

How does Doucouré compare to Moisés Caicedo?

Doucouré isn't the only young, energetic defensive midfielder to be linked with clubs this summer. Moisés Caicedo is also supposedly wanted and has been linked with Liverpool in the past.

A look into the data shows a mix of similarities and big differences. The standout of the latter is that Caicedo is just far more accomplished on the ball.

As per FBref, he averages over 20 more touches per 90 minutes, and not only does he attempt over 24 more passes but he completes them at a higher percentage.

But it's the fact that they're so similar defensively is perhaps why Liverpool will believe they're finding a gem with Doucouré. The Malian wins more interceptions than Caicedo, while his tackling is notably better, too.

The Brighton man does make more tackles overall, but importantly, Doucouré wins possession on more occasions. He also clears the ball twice as often as Caicedo, while also committing fewer errors.

It's easy to see why there's so much hype around Caicedo as his stats, overall, appear more impressive – and he's still just 20.

But if you're after an out-and-out defensive midfielder as Liverpool are, there's a very good case to be made for Doucouré – when it comes to the data, at least.

What are Cheick Doucouré's wages?

Capology has Doucouré down as earning around £60k per week – but we imagine that salary would climb quite a bit if he were to join Liverpool.

For comparison, that's the same figure Adrían earns at Anfield, again per Capology, and only six players earn less than that on the red half of Merseyside. Szoboszlai reportedly earns twice that and it's very possible that Doucouré would demand a pay packet of a similar level.

What is Cheick Doucouré's asking price?

BBC reporter Alex Howell understands that Crystal Palace would want around £70m in order to sell Doucouré this summer. That's a big increase on the £26m they dealt for just a year ago.

But in their defence, Liverpool apparently see that as a fair price. It would now come down to whether the Reds can actually pay it, and whether Doucouré is the player they ultimately decide to sign.

Who else could Liverpool sign this summer?

Before the offer for Fabinho, Liverpool were linked quite heavily with Southampton's Romeo Lavia. The Reds are currently thought to be keen on moving quickly for the Belgian amid potential competition emerging from rivals Chelsea.

There has also been talk of Khephren Thuram at OGC Nice, per Sky Sports, even if links to him have died down a little in recent weeks. Melissa Reddy has also previously named Sofyan Amrabat, Ryan Gravenberch and Kalvin Phillips as 'mooted' Fabinho successors.

In other words, there are options galore right now and it's not completely clear who Liverpool could move for.

Read the latest Liverpool transfer news HERE…

Do Liverpool want any other signings?

The Reds went into this summer needing to reinvest in their midfield. They've done just that, with almost certainly others to come.

But there have been tentative links to centre-backs, too. Joe Gomez's future isn't too clear, while Joel Matip's contract expires next summer. A new addition there may be surprising if no one were to leave but it's one to keep an eye out for.

Attacking options seem set for now, even with Roberto Firmino departing. Though, Saudi Arabian interest in Luis Díaz could prove problematic if they were to turn his head at all. Again, that's one to watch out for as the transfer window thunders on.

Reigning Specsavers county champions Middlesex appear on course for their fourth successive draw of an uninspired Division One title defence after Somerset enjoyed the best of a sun-kissed second day at Lord’s

ECB Reporters Network03-Jun-2017
ScorecardLewis Gregory celebrates his maiden Championship hundred•Getty Images

Reigning Specsavers county champions Middlesex appear on course for their fourth successive draw of an uninspired Division One title defence after Somerset enjoyed the best of a sun-kissed second day at Lord’s.As the Middlesex bowlers endured a wicketless morning session, centuries by Dean Elgar and Lewis Gregory allowed the visitors to bat on until well after tea before their declaration on 443 for nine.In the 22 remaining overs of an extended 104-over day that helped make up for Friday’s rain delays, Middlesex went in at stumps to reach the mid-point of the match on 42 without loss – a first innings deficit of 401. Their openers, Nick Compton and Nick Gubbins, endured a stern test to finish unscathed on 19 and 21 respectively.Somerset were indebted to a record sixth-wicket stand between Elgar and Gregory which rescued their side from the depths of 80 for six to the undoubted riches of four batting bonus points.Elgar crunched a season-best 158 while Gregory, in hitting 137, sailed past his previous best – an unbeaten 73 scored against Yorkshire at Headingley last season – to post his maiden first-class century in his 78th innings.The hosts spurned their one and only pre-lunch opportunity whilst gifting a life to Gregory with his score on 31. Fencing at a lifting delivery from Toby Roland-Jones, the right-hander was downed, one-handed at second slip by Ollie Rayner who, moving late to his right, appeared to lose the ball in the backdrop.Soon afterwards, Gregory rubbed salt in Middlesex wounds by plundering consecutive, cover-driven boundaries against Roland-Jones to move to an attractive 84-ball 50 with 10 fours.Elgar, the South Africa Test batsman, posted his second century of the season with a straight six against off-spinner Rayner. The left-hander danced down the pitch to deposit one over the Nursery End ropes and reach the milestone from 186 balls and with 15 fours to go with his maximum. It was the 31st first-class hundred of his career and his first at Lord’s.The pair saw off the second new ball and batted on after lunch to take their side beyond 300. In doing so they created a new sixth-wicket record for Somerset against Middlesex, beating the 196 scored by Peter White and Maurice Tremlett at Bath in 1959.Gregory marched on to secure his maiden first-class hundred with a leg glance against Tom Helm that flew to the ropes in front of the Pavilion. He punched the air, fist-bumped with Elgar and embraced his partner before holding his bat aloft to receive the acclaim for his 186-ball century which included 15 fours.The duo added 249 before Middlesex bagged their first wicket in 70 overs’ play by ending Elgar’s six-and-three-quarter-hour vigil. It needed a beauty to do so – a James Franklin leg-cutter from the Nursery End that held its own against the Lord’s slope to feather the edge and give John Simpson his fourth catch of the match.Gregory added a further 47 in tandem with Josh Davey but finally went after 333 minutes at the crease. Aiming to pull a length ball from Roland-Jones, he top-edged to long leg where Tom Helm pocketed the skier. Gregory faced 231 balls for a score that included 17 fours and a six.Davey muscled a cameo 47 against his former club before top-edging a pull to midwicket to give Helm a second scalp, then Jamie Overton (37) skied to long-on to be caught by 12th man James Harris.Substituting for Roland-Jones, Harris – who has returned from a second rolling-loan stint with Kent – made good ground running in from the ropes for Rayner’s sole wicket of the innings as Somerset declared nine down at 5.10pm. Tim Murtagh, Roland-Jones, Helm and Franklin all claimed two wickets apiece for the weary Middlesex attack.

Arsenal could potentially explore a deal for Bayer Leverkusen winger Moussa Diaby this summer according to journalist Dean Jones.

How much does Moussa Diaby cost?

Reports have stated that the German side are holding out for £51m for one of their star assets

The report also mentions that Arsenal are joined in the race for the Frenchman by Manchester United, Newcastle United, and the forward's former side Paris Saint-Germain.

It's claimed the 23-year-old has his sights set on a move to the Premier League as his next career step after four successful seasons in Germany.

Leverkusen already seem to be preparing for the French international's potential departure, with the recent signing of German winger Jonas Hoffman from Borussia Monchengladbach paving the way for the forward's possible departure this summer.

According to Jones, who was speaking on The Football Terrace's Done Deal show, Diaby has been angling for a move away from the Bundesliga since January, and should the Gunners want to act upon their interest, they will have to wait until the "second phase" of the transfer window:

"Diaby, amazingly, still looking for a club. He's been linked with everyone since January and has not actually tied anything off. Definitely someone who has been of interest to Arsenal, so I wouldn't rule it out, especially if this window wears on, and he is still looking for a club.

"Moussa Diaby is someone that Arsenal do like, but again that would be for the second phase of this window. The focus has been so heavily on getting these three guys [Havertz, Rice, Timber] through the door that there is no certainty over who they go for in that position yet, so let's wait until the mini-clearout starts to take place."

Will Diaby play with Saka?

Should the north London side complete a deal for Diaby, he will offer some incredible competition for Bukayo Saka on the right-hand side.

One complaint that some Arsenal fans had last season was the lack of real competition and rotation for the Englishman, who played a whopping 3195 minutes in the Premier League for the Gunners. The winger ended the season having clocked up 4169 minutes across all competitions for club and country and the effects of fatigue were really showing, managing just two goals and one assist in the final eight games of a really grueling campaign.

The arrival of the Frenchman in conjunction with the new deal for academy graduate Reiss Nelson should allow manager Mikel Arteta to properly rotate his right-wingers, allowing Saka to focus on the biggest games and the biggest moments for the Gunners next season across both the Premier League and the Champions League.

Diaby – hailed a "beast" – shares a very similar play style to Arsenal's number seven, with both forwards very direct in nature, whilst having the ability to create and score chances almost at will, as showcased by the pair's goal contribution numbers, with the Leverkusen man managing 14 goals and 11 assists in 48 games whilst the Gunners star produced 15 goals and 11 assists in 48 games.

The former PSG player is also a very versatile attacker, having played across the entire front three for his club last campaign, as well as in attacking midfield. This flexibility opens up a whole range of possibilities regarding the setup of Arsenal's attack and could allow both Saka and Diaby to play together.

ScorecardShai Hope’s second List A century set the tone for Barbados’ 110-run win over Leeward Islands in the second semi-final of the 2016-17 WICB Regional Super50 tournament in Antigua. Barbados will now play Jamaica in the decider on February 18, their second successive appearance in the final of the tournament.With Barbados having opted to bat first, Hope came to the crease in the 10th over with the score on 42 and anchored the side until the 46th over, taking them past 270. Along the way, he shared in half-century stands with Kraigg Brathwaite (77 for the second wicket), Roston Chase (83 for the fourth) and Jason Holder (68 for the sixth). His 125 came off 108 balls and included eight fours and five sixes. Hope’s partnership with Holder came off only 32 deliveries, and Carlos Brathwaite utilised that momentum in an 11-ball 27 that lifted the score past 300. Holder contributed an unbeaten 42 off 26 balls with two fours and three sixes, while Kraigg Brathwaite struck 54 off 84 balls.Hope’s good form on the field extended to his keeping, too, as he effected seven dismissals behind the stumps in Leeward’s chase. Leeward fell away rapidly, stumbling to 43 for 4 by the 15th over and, at one stage, their innings looked in danger of folding for less than 200. Opener Montcin Hodge batted until the 39th over, scoring 63 in the process, but had little support from the rest of the line-up. Seamer Jeremiah Louis struck an unbeaten 32-ball 41 before Leeward’s innings folded for 204 in the 48th over.Offspinner Ashley Nurse and Carlos Brathwaite took three wickets each, with Nurse conceding only 37 runs in his 10 overs.

تمكن نجم فريق ريال مدريد، فينيسيوس جونيور، من تسجيل هدف التعادل في المباراة الجارية حاليًا ضد فالنسيا في بطولة الدوري الإسباني.

ويلتقي الفريقان في إطار منافسات الجولة السابعة والعشرين من الليجا، موسم 2023/24 (لمطالعة التفاصيل من هنا).

ونجح فينيسيوس جونيور في تسجيل هدف التعادل لصالح ريال مدريد، في الدقيقة 78 من عمر المباراة.

جاء هدف تعادل فينيسيوس بعد تمريرة من إبراهيم دياز، حيث وصلت الكرة إلى البرازيلي الذي سددها برأسه في الشباك.

واحتفل فينيسيوس جونيور بهدفه بقوة، أمام جمهور فالنسيا، ورد على هجومهم الشرس ضده، حيث أطلقوا صافرات الاستهجان ناحيته منذ بداية اللقاء.

ولجأ الحكم إلى تقنية الفيديو للتأكد من صحة هدف فينيسيوس، لوجود شبهة تسلل، ولكن الفار أكد صحته، لتصبح النتيجة 2-2، مع العلم أن البرازيلي هو من سجل هدف ريال مدريد الأول. هدف فينيسيوس جونيور الثاني في مباراة ريال مدريد وفالنسيا

أسدل الستار على منافسات اليوم الخميس في أولى جولات دور الثمانية لدورى سيدات الكرة الطائرة للموسم المحلي 2023/2024.

وتمكن الأهلى من تحقيق الفوز على الشمس بنتيجة 3-0  وفاز سبورتنج على الصيد 3-0 و استطاع سموحة الفوز على الزهور بنتيجة 3-2 ونجح الزمالك في الفوز على وادي دجلة 3-0 .

وتقام منافسات دور الثمانية لدوري سيدات الكرة الطائرة على صالة اتحاد الشرطة بالدراسة بنظام البلاي أوف يومي 29 فبراير الجاري و1 مارس وفي حالة وجود مباراة فاصلة تقام 3 مارس.

طالع أيضاً.. الأهلي يعلن ضم 3 محترفين لبطولة BAl 4 لكرة السلة

يذكر أن سيدات الأهلي قد توجن بلقب كأس سوبر الطائرة المحلي على حساب الزمالك بعد مباراة مثيرة بين الفريقين انتهت بنتيجة 3- 2 للأهلي.

ووافق الاتحاد الأفريقي للكرة الطائرة مؤخراً على إقامة البطولة الأفريقية للأندية للكرة الطائرة رجال وسيدات في مصر، حيث ينظم النادي الأهلي البطولتين.

تعرف على موعد والقنوات الناقلة لمباراة الهلال وسباهان اليوم في دوري أبطال آسيا.

تستكمل اليوم الخميس مباريات جولة الإياب من دور الـ16 لبطولة دوري أبطال آسيا 2023.

ويستضيف ملعب استاد المملكة آرينا، مباراة الهلال السعودي وسباهان أصفهان الإيراني، مساء اليوم الخميس.

الهلال صاحب الرقم القياسي برصيد 4 ألقاب من مسابقة دوري أبطال آسيا، يستهدف تعويض خسارة اللقب في الموسم الماضي أمام أوراوا الياباني في النهائي.

ويفتقد الهلال لخدمات البرازيلي نيمار، المنتظر غيابه حتى نهاية الموسم الحالي، بداعي الإصابة.

وكان الهلال قد اقتنص بطاقة الصعود للدور الإقصائي الأول، باحتلاله صدارة ترتيب المجموعة الرابعة برصيد 16 نقطة.

أما سباهان فقد حل وصيفًا للمجموعة الرابعة برصيد 10 نقاط وتعادل وحيد، وهزيمتين بينهما واحدة بقرار من الاتحاد الآسيوي.

الجدير بالذكر، أن مباراة الذهاب التي أقيمت على ملعب استاد نقش جهان، معقل فريق سباهان، قد انتهت بفوز الهلال بنتيجة 3-1. موعد مباراة الهلال وسباهان في دوري أبطال آسيا

ومن المقرر أن تنطلق مباراة الهلال وسباهان في تمام الساعة الثامنة مساءً بتوقيت مصر والتاسعة بتوقيت السعودية. القنوات الناقلة لمباراة الهلال وسباهان اليوم

ومن المنتظر أن تذاع المباراة عبر قنوات Alkass Ten HD و Abu Dhabi Sports Asia 1 و beIN Sports AFC HD و SSC HD.

ويمكنكم مطالعة مواعيد ونتائج جميع المباريات لحظة بلحظة عبر مركز المباريات من هنا.

Tottenham Hotspur are seemingly stepping up their interest in Celtic boss, Ange Postecoglou, as the search to find a permanent successor to Antonio Conte rumbles on.

What's the latest on Postecoglou to Tottenham?

According to the Daily Record, the Lilywhites are believed to be ready to 'make their move' for the title-winning coach, having seen previous leading target Arne Slot opt to remain at current club Feyenoord.

This follows a report from the Independent that suggested Spurs chairman Daniel Levy is now 'strongly considering' the 57-year-old as an option to be the club's next full-time head coach, having handed the reins to Ryan Mason on a caretaker basis over the last weeks.

Should Tottenham appoint Postecoglou?

There are no doubt fears growing at N17 that the north London outfit are in for a repeat of the summer of 2021, with The Athletic's Charlie Eccleshare stating that it had taken over 70 days for Levy and co to eventually find a replacement for Jose Mourinho in that protracted managerial search.

The Premier League side have already suffered the blow of missing out on the likes of Julian Nagelsmann and Xabi Alonso – as well as the aforementioned Slot – with time now running out to find a suitable, willing candidate ahead of the summer transfer window.

In Postecoglou, however, Levy may well have already found a dream fit for the role, with the Greek-Aussie having showcased his credentials at Parkhead of late after winning four domestic honours since the start of last season, all while implementing "beautiful, attacking football" in Glasgow – as per BT Sport pundit, Owen Hargreaves.

The former Australia head coach – whose front-foot approach has been hailed as "mental" by compatriot Jackson Irvine – would likely be able to bring back a more aggressive and expansive style of play to the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium, with former boss Harry Redknapp having only recently stated that the club need to be "less timid" and "have a go at teams".

Not only would such an approach likely please Spurs supporters, but Postecoglou's arrival could also potentially have a positive impact on the club's struggling squad, with the forward line, in particular, set to benefit from the 4-3-3 tactician's influence.

Long-serving asset Heung-min Son could be among those to find a new lease of life under the current Hoops boss, with the South Korean star having endured an underwhelming season to date after scoring just ten league goals, after previously bagging 23 top-flight goals last term.

With the 30-year-old having been something of a "passenger" at times of late, according to journalist Charlie Gordon, a fresh face in the dugout could be just what is needed to get the former Bayer Leverkusen man back to his best.

The benefits of Postecoglou's attacking style have been felt by those in his current home, with wing wizard, Jota, having bagged 14 goals and 11 assists in 41 games across all fronts this term while typically operating in a left-wing berth.

The 24-year-old's rampant form should well showcase that Postecoglou could also allow Son to flourish from the left flank next season, with the latter man likely to be revived by the presence of a more attack-minded coach.

As such, if Levy is to turn to the experienced tactician in the coming weeks, it could well be wonderful news for Tottenham's £190k-per-week hero.

Liverpool youngster Calvin Ramsay won't be rushed back from injury and will definitely miss the rest of the season, according to an update from reliable journalist David Lynch.

How has Ramsay fared at Liverpool?

The 19-year-old joined the Reds from Aberdeen last summer, arriving as a highly-rated right-back prospect who was hailed as "elite" by Dons chairman Dave Cormack back in 2021. Sadly, his first season at Anfield has been horribly injury-plagued, limiting him to just two appearances in all competitions, and not a single minute of action in the Premier League.

Ramsay hasn't featured at all since way back in November, with a back issue and then a knee injury causing him major problems and keeping him sidelined for many months. It has been a cruel way for the Scot to begin his Liverpool career, with so much expected of him when he arrived, and glimpses of his potential shown during his fleeting appearances.

The hope is that the teenager is slowly on the mend and closing in on a return, however, and a key update has emerged regarding his current situation.

When will Ramsay return from injury?

According to Lynch for Football Insider, Liverpool are "taking a cautious approach" with Ramsay, who won't play between now and the end of the season. That being said, he is "expected to be fully fit for a pre-season period in which he will hope to show Klopp that he is worthy of operating as the first-choice back-up to Trent Alexander-Arnold at right-back".

It is noted that he will face competition and could lose the role to fellow youngster Conor Bradley however, who is also considered a potential long-term understudy to Trent Alexander-Arnold at right-back.

It is only right that Liverpool handle Ramsay with care, ensuring his injuries don't affect him too badly so early in his career, perhaps due partly to them rushing him back. The hope is that a full pre-season will aid him hugely moving forward, and that these current issues are no more than the growing pains that someone like Steven Gerrard also suffered from in his younger days.

Ramsay looks like a player of such top quality and with such a high ceiling – he registered nine assists in 39 appearances for Aberdeen and has been hailed as "absolutely exceptional" by Jurgen Klopp – and he still has so much time on his side that he should be moved along at his own pace, eventually providing genuine depth at right-back.