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Chandika Hathurusingha has been appointed Sri Lanka’s new head coach and will begin his new role on December 20, at the start of the T20I series in India

Andrew Fidel Fernando08-Dec-2017

Chandika Hathurusingha’s first full assignment with Sri Lanka will be the tour to Bangladesh, where he will have just finished up as head coach.Though Hathurusingha had handed his resignation to the Bangladesh Cricket Board as early as October, the boards had been in discussions with him, and indeed with each other, as to what a peaceable relocation of the coach might look like. But SLC has now confirmed that Hathurusingha will begin his three-year contract with Sri Lanka on December 20, just as their T20s against India start. A two Test tour of Bangladesh is set to begin in January.An SLC official confirmed that Hathurusingha will be the highest-paid Sri Lanka coach in history. He is also due to visit Dhaka on Saturday, presumably in order to debrief and finalise his release from the BCB. He had signed on with Bangladesh until the 2019 World Cup, but eventually agreed to take a job with his home country, following several approaches from SLC. He had been Sri Lanka’s A team coach, and an assistant coach with the national team, before his relationship with a previous SLC administration soured in 2010.That SLC has secured Hathurusingha’s services is both a victory for the board, as well as a substantial financial commitment. Sri Lanka have been without a long-term head coach since Graham Ford’s resignation in June, and the board has struggled to attract high-quality applicants to the role. And in order to lure Hathurusingha, SLC has had to more or less match the figure he was being paid by the BCB – a sum in the vicinity of $340,000 (aspects of that pay package were also determined by team performance).Hathurusingha’s tenure with Bangladesh had been marked by progress both in the limited-overs formats and in Tests, where they achieved maiden victories against Australia, Sri Lanka and England. Sri Lanka, meanwhile, have had a difficult year across formats, and will now count on Hathurusingha to replicate the success he had had with his previous team. Highly-rated by virtually every Sri Lanka player who had worked with him in the past, the likes of Rangana Herath, Kumar Sangakkara, Angelo Mathews, and current Sri Lanka batting coach Thilan Samaraweera, have all credited Hathurusingha with having had a positive effect on their cricket.He will be Sri Lanka’s 11th head coach (including interim appointments) since 2011. The three-year contract should take him up to the end of 2020, so long as it is honoured by all parties.

شارك نجم فريق ليفربول، محمد صلاح، في فوز اليوم ضد ولفرهامبتون في الجولة الأخيرة من بطولة الدوري الإنجليزي الممتاز.

وتلاقى الفريقان في إطار منافسات الجولة الثامنة والثلاثين، الأخيرة من الدوري الإنجليزي على ملعب “الأنفيلد” حيث فاز ليفربول بهدفين دون رد.

وشارك محمد صلاح كأساسي في تلك المباراة، وخاضها بأكملها حتى صافرة النهاية.

وكاد محمد صلاح أن يصنع هدفًا في الدقيقة الثانية من الشوط الأول، بعدما مرر كرة، ولكنها وصلت إلى حارس ولفرهامبتون دون رقابة من لاعبي ليفربول.

وتكرر الأمر في الدقيقة 13، ولكن محمد صلاح كان قريبًا هذه المرة من منطقة الجزاء، حيث مرر الكرة من الناحية اليمنى، ولكن الدفاع شتت الهجمة المحتملة.

وكاد محمد صلاح أن يسجل هدفًا في الدقيقة 19، حيث كان متمركزًا في منطقة الجزاء، ووصلت له الكرة ولكنه حظى برقابة دفاعية مشددة، وفشل في التسديد ناحية الشباك.

وسدد محمد صلاح الكرة ناحية مرمى ولفرهامبتون، في الدقيقة 36، ولكنها مرت أعلاه.

وساهم محمد صلاح في الهدف الثاني لـ ليفربول، في الدقيقة 40، بعدما سدد الكرة، ولكنها تشتت من قِبل مدافعي ولفرهامبتون، قبل أن يجدها كوانساه ويسكنها الشباك.

وحظى محمد صلاح بفرصة لتسجيل الهدف الثالث، قبل نهاية الشوط الأول، بعدما وصلت الكرة له، ولكنه فشل في التعامل معها بالدقة المطلوبة.

وحصل محمد صلاح على فرصة أخرى للتسجيل، في الدقيقة 49، ولكن كرته وصلت سهلة إلى حارس الخصم.

ونكرر الأمر في الدقيقة 68، بعدما سدد محمد صلاح الكرة ناحية مرمى الخصم، ولكن الحارس تألق وأبعدها بنجاح.

وكاد محمد صلاح أن يسجل الهدف الثالث لـ ليفربول، في الدقيقة 93، ولكنه لم يتعامل مع الكرة جيدًا، وسقط مع الحارس. ملخص لمسات محمد صلاح أمام ولفرهامبتون

Following the signing of defensive midfielder Waturo Endo from Stuttgart for £16.2m, Liverpool are reportedly prioritising a move for a new left-sided centre-back.

This has also been echoed by The Athletic, which has suggested that a new addition would ideally be a young player (aged 23 or under) who they can work with and develop, won't be required to come straight into the side, and will preferably be left-sided (the club has no left-footed senior centre-backs).

There is a promising talent in the Bundesliga that ticks all these boxes and is attracting the attention of Jurgen Klopp.

What’s the latest Liverpool transfer news?

According to Dominik Schneider of Fussball Transfers, Liverpool are one of the several clubs that have expressed an interest in Bayer Leverkusen’s Piero Hincapie.

The 21-year-old is currently nursing an injury, but his return is set to coincide with transfer deadline day on 1st September, which could make him available for the Merseysiders.

Read the latest Liverpool transfer news HERE…

However, West Ham United and RB Leipzig are also keenly tracking Hincapie.

After missing out on Micky van de Ven, who joined Tottenham Hotspur, and Sporting defender Goncalo Inacio, who penned a fresh four-year deal with his boyhood club, Hincapie has emerged as one of the main targets.

Would Piero Hincapie be a good signing for Liverpool?

The south American sensation has been at Bayer Leverkusen since 2021 and has made 76 appearances in all competitions.

Upon his arrival, Simon Rolfes, a member of the club’s hierarchy, eulogised over his talent and said:

“We're very happy to have acquired a young, but confident central defender.

"We've had our eye on him for a while. His performances against absolute world-class players at the Copa America confirmed to us what an exciting future he has.”

Last season, Hincapie started 27 Bundesliga games, averaging 2.5 clearances and 1.7 tackles per game, and won 56% of his duels, as per Sofascore.

Most importantly, the 27-cap international is an astutely technical defender, who is comfortable playing out from the back – this is mirrored through his rank within the best 2% in Europe’s top five leagues mong his positional peers for progressive carries per 90, as well as the top 15% for successful take-ons per 90.

Once again, Rolfes has showered Hincapie in praise, lauding him as a player with “big potential.”

If the £34k-per-week titan made the switch from Germany to England, it would be reminiscent of Ibrahima Konate’s journey.

Two years ago, the Frenchman joined Liverpool and started 11 Premier League games in his debut season, acting as a deputy to Joel Matip. Now, Konate has begun 15 of the last 17 domestic matches, and Klopp feels he is cemented as the first-team partner for Virgil Van Dijk.

Similarly to Hincapie, Konate is also a relatively young defender and arrived at Anfield as a U23. At this time, Klopp described him as someone “incredibly talented” with “outstanding” potential, which he is well on the way to fulfilling.

The former Leipzig prodigy sits within the highest 11% in Europe’s top five leagues among his positional peers for tackles and successful take-ons per 90 over the last 365 days to show how he is flourishing in his more prominent role.

Therefore, Liverpool must accelerate their attempts to sign Hincapie to repeat their effective Konate trick.

A rousing victory against New Zealand in their last league match will give India a measure of belief as they head into a semi-final against a dominant Australia side that seems to have all bases covered

The Preview by Annesha Ghosh19-Jul-2017Match factsJuly 20, 2017
Start time 1030 local (0930 GMT)Big pictureA week ago, when India went down to Australia by eight wickets, the odds in favour of the two teams facing each other a second time this World Cup were seemingly low. While Australia had sealed a semi-final berth at a canter, India’s fate was to be decided by a knock-out tie against New Zealand. In what turned out to be their most comprehensive victory in the tournament, a century from captain Mithali Raj, coupled with Veda Krishnamurthy’s 45-ball 70, marshalled India to their fourth semi-final appearance in ten editions and their first since 2005, when they finished runners-up.The volatility of India’s performances has had a lot to do with their openers. Smriti Mandhana, who got India’s campaign off to a flying start with a 90 and a hundred in consecutive games, hasn’t been able to score in excess of 15 in the four subsequent games. Punam Raut, too, has made two substantial scores – 86 against England and 106 against Australia – while not scoring a fifty in her other five innings. But the one factor that has remained constant for India is Raj’s resilience. While her strike rate hasn’t been the most enviable, Raj’s partnerships with Raut, Harmanpreet Kaur, Krishnamurthy and Deepti Sharma have been vital to India’s totals, as have been her 356 runs at an average of 50.85, that contributed to her becoming the first Indian to score 1000 runs in the World Cup.For Australia, though, consistency of the top order led to the side’s six wins out of seven games. With one century and four fifties between them, the left-handed opening pair of Beth Mooney and Nicole Bolton has not only negated the shenanigans of the new ball but also laid the foundation for the other batsmen to capitalise on thereafter. That they bat as deep as No.9 has given Meg Lanning and Ellyse Perry the freedom to play with abandon.Equally instrumental to Australia’s fortunes has been the variety and efficacy of their spin troika – Jess Jonassen, Ashleigh Gardner and Kristen Beams – who have taken 27 wickets between them, while conceding less than four an over each. Despite the spectre of uncertainty around the protracted pay talks with their board, Australia’s performance on the field has been near-perfect, with their batting and bowling complementing each other perfectly even when they have been without Lanning.Form guideAustralia WWLWW (completed matches, most recent first)
India WLLWWIn the spotlightThrough their seven league matches, Australia’s brooding confidence as defending champions translated, almost seamlessly, into their incarnation as practical frontrunners to win the World Cup. Much of that transition has, unsurprisingly, coincided, with Ellyse Perry’s imperious run of form – on Saturday, she became the only batsman to make five successive ODI half-centuries on three separate occasions. Perry’s 58-ball 55 against South Africa was one of 20 fifties in her last 31 ODI innings. That run of form has earned her a career-best No. 3 spot among batsmen in the latest ICC Women’s ODI Player Rankings. Her World Cup tally of 366 runs from seven innings is the second-highest in the tournament, and her returns with the ball – nine wickets and an economy rate of 4.62 – have helped her leapfrog West Indies captain Stafanie Taylor to become the top-ranked allrounder in the world for the third time in her career.Rajeshwari Gayakwad came in to bowl, for the first time in the tournament, in the 12th over of New Zealand’s chase. Even though the scorecard read 34 for 3, Sophie Devine and Amy Satterthwaite were still at the crease. By her fifth over, Gayakwad had dismissed both, and halfway into her eighth, she had wrapped up career-best returns, the best bowling figures in this tournament, and India’s semi-final spot. Gayakwad was Raj’s trump card against New Zealand, and will remain so against Australia. Unlike fellow left-arm spinner Ekta Bisht, whom she replaced in the side, Gayakwad bowls with genuine loop and guile, and could hold the key to slowing Australia down. When India last defeated Australia, in Hobart last year, Gayakwad bowled an important spell, taking two wickets including that of Lanning.Meg Lanning averages 109.33 in this Women’s World Cup•Getty Images

Team newsLanning’s troublesome shoulder forced her to sit out a second game in the tournament during Australia’s last league match, against South Africa on Saturday. She was, however, seen taking throwdowns, albeit with a heavily strapped shoulder, as the team got its first training session underway in the County Ground. Chances of her not slotting back into the XI, and as captain, for the knockout clash are, therefore, slim.Despite Lanning’s inclusion, Australia may consider retaining stand-in captain Rachael Haynes, who has featured in only two games so far. Against South Africa, Haynes’ left-arm medium-pace accounted for two top-order wickets off the only two overs she has bowled since the 2013 World Cup. With two golden ducks and one half-century in her last four innings, Elyse Villani’s expensive part-time medium pace may not be enough for her to merit a selection ahead of fellow allrounder Haynes.Australia (possible) 1 Beth Mooney, 2 Nicole Bolton, 3 Meg Lanning (capt), 4 Ellyse Perry, 5 Elyse Villani, 6 Alex Blackwell , 7 Alyssa Healy (wk), 8 Ashleigh Gardner, 9 Jess Jonassen,10 Megan Schutt, 11 Kristen BeamsGiven the nature of the individual performances in their last group game, it is unlikely India will tweak their playing combination.India (possible) 1 Smriti Mandhana , 2 Punam Raut, 3 Mithali Raj (capt), 4 Harmanpreet Kaur, 5 Veda Krishnamurthy, 6 Deepti Sharma, 7 Shikha Pandey, 8 Sushma Verma, 9 Jhulan Goswami, 10 Rajeshwari Gayakwad, 11 Poonam YadavPitch and conditionsMithali Raj considers Derby India’s “home ground” and for good reason. They won each of their four round-robin fixtures at the venue, including the tournament opener against England and the semi-final qualification match against New Zealand. Australia, however, will be playing here for the first time in this World Cup.India’s undefeated run at the venue has largely been due to the spinners, who have capitalised on the two-paced nature of the pitch to take 24 out of India’s 33 wickets here.Stats and trivia Perry’s average of 91.50 is second only to Lanning’s 109.33 in this World Cup. Three Australian bowlers – left-arm spinner Jess Jonassen, legspinner Kristen Beams and medium-pacer Megan Schutt – feature in the top ten on the wicket charts. India, on the contrary, have none. Among the India batsmen, Krishnamurthy boasts the best strike-rate, 110.86, trailed by Mandhana’s 95.76. Legspinner Poonam Yadav’s economy rate of 3.45 is the best among bowlers in the tournament who have sent down 20 overs or more. Jonassen’s 3.61 is the second-best. India have won only eight out of their 42 contests against Australia, the most recent win coming in 2016, steered by half-centuries from Raj and Mandhana and a three-for from Shikha Pandey.Quotes”I’m very impressed with the way India have played this tournament, from the very beginning in their match against England. They were very proactive as a team and I think they have a more aggressive approach to their batting”.
“To win against them requires us to give more than we have so far, against Australia it is important that we are the best we can be as players”.

There’s no greater sound in football than the ball hitting the back of the net. It was the only benefit of pandemic football that we got to hear the noise echo around various stadiums.The noise can signal pure joy, ultimate disappointment, or pure admiration for a goal. Indeed, no matter how the ball has hit the back of the net, the sound remains one of the best.Some goals are especially satisfying, however, as they travel at the speed of light from 30 yards, or end a fantastic, free-flowing team move at a similar light-speed pace.Twitter users have recently been full of praise for such goals, too, sharing in this thread their most satisfying goals scored by Premier League sides, some of which have made our top five below.

5 Tomas Rosicky vs Sunderland

Arsene Wenger’s time at Arsenal featured some of the best team goals we’re ever likely to see in the Premier League, including Tomas Rosicky’s well-worked strike against Sunderland.

Arguably one of the most underrated players to ever wear an Arsenal shirt, Rosicky orchestrated the goal with his incredible movement, passing the ball onto the likes of Santi Cazorla and Jack Wilshere, before finding himself through on goal and finishing in expert fashion with a delightful dink.

4 Johan Elmander vs Wolves

Johan Elmander had a spell to remember at Bolton Wanderers, writing himself into the history books as a club legend, scoring 22 goals for the club, in total.

His best goal came against Wolverhampton Wanderers in 2010, however, when his piece of trickery evaded three defenders, before he found the bottom right-hand corner with ease.

It remains one of the most satisfying goals that we’ve seen in English football.

3 Didier Drogba vs Bolton

Back in 2009, Didier Drogba was in his pomp for Chelsea, terrorising defences across the Premier League.

And while the Ivorian striker scored goal after goal for the Blues, this one against Bolton has to rank among one of the finest in his illustrious career.

Nicolas Anelka cross the ball to Deco on the edge of the box, the midfielder then chested it on to Frank Lampard who flicked it behind him perfectly into the path of Drogba who cooly slotted home on the volley – exquisite!

2 Dimitri Payet vs Crystal Palace

It’s difficult to judge whether a free-kick is perfect, but we’re pretty sure Dimitri Payet’s effort against Crystal Palace back in 2016 is up there as a strong contender.

With a packed wall in front of him, many players would have struggled to get their strike up and over into the top left-hand corner. So, with that in mind, Payet chose the goalkeeper’s side, curling a stunning dipping effort around and into the top right-hand corner.

To get the ball to come down from such a height, and at such speed, looked impossible, but Payet somehow managed it, to score an unforgettable goal.

1 Jack Wilshere vs Norwich City

It had to be this one, didn’t it? There’s simply no goal more satisfying than Wilshere’s against Norwich City in 2013. It is arguably the greatest team move in Premier League history and sums up Wenger’s time at Arsenal.

Cazorla, Wilshere, and Olivier Giroud played incredible one-touch football on the edge of the area, before the goalscorer finished the move in emphatic fashion, side-footing home first time.

It remains, for us at Football FanCast at least, the most satisfying goal of all time.

Leeds United, whilst they might not want to admit it, will have to start moulding their team around Championship domination. It was a reality few around the club will have wanted to face, but one they must tackle head-on to ensure their Premier League hiatus is a short one.

To do so, they could use their significant stature to tempt those around them to join their project.

Even without a manager, the Whites remain a far more attractive proposition than most others in this division, with the 49ers surely aware of this too.

It seems that their knowledge has played into one transfer rumour, with reports suggesting that the Whites are set to request a huge favour from their bitter rivals Manchester United.

Having allowed Amad Diallo to star out on loan with Sunderland last term, the Yorkshire outfit will try and tempt them to sanction one final move before he can return ready to tackle the top flight. Should they push this sensational swoop through, adding one of the Championship's hottest prospects from the recent season, it could be the platform from which their promotion push is kickstarted.

Could Amad Diallo help Wilfried Gnonto improve?

Whilst the Ivory Coast international would win games on his own, the mere presence of such a talented individual would surely raise the levels of those already around Elland Road. This could be through the chances he will forge or the competition for places the £28k-per-week dynamo will command.

Wilfried Gnonto in particular would have to rise to the challenge to fend off this talented loanee, who last term notched 14 goals and a further four assists in all competitions.

Such classy yet cut-throat creativity helped propel the Black Cats to an unlikely playoff push, with his quick feet and electric play style made all the more impressive by his tangible successes.

Meanwhile, for all his excellence in his debut year in England, the Italy international could be argued to have lacked those finishing touches that earned Diallo much praise.

One journalist, Josh Bunting, even noted: "Diallo the confidence in the game, just watching a few highlights. Unbelievable bursting past people like they aren’t even there, the weight on his passes. That’s a player that is enjoying himself and his football, he is a massive talent and just so exciting to watch."

Whilst Gnonto too has that dynamism and trickery to bamboozle his opponents, his tally of just eight senior goal contributions since his move to Elland Road suggest figures that must be improved, despite ranking in the top 16% for progressive carries per 90 when compared with other wingers in Europe's top five leagues.

Perhaps a drop down the divisions could facilitate this, as well as the arrival of someone of such quality within his role. Diallo would push the 19-year-old wide man to new heights, and should they feature on opposite flanks, the respective threat they would pose marks a frightening prospect.

Whoever the opposition chooses to focus their efforts on stopping, which would likely often be the Red Devils' £37.2m signing, the space left on the opposite flank would allow their counterpart to thrive.

As such, this loan move could allow Gnonto to terrorise the Championship, propelling Leeds back to where they belong.

Tottenham Hotspur are reportedly at the head of the queue in the battle to land Bristol City starlet, Alex Scott, according to the latest reports.

What's the latest on Alex Scott to Tottenham?

As per CBS reporter Ben Jacobs – speaking on the Tottenham Fan Chris Cowlin Youtube channel – the Lilywhites and fellow Premier League side Wolverhampton Wanderers are both currently leading the race for the 19-year-old's signature, with the promising Englishman valued at around £25m by his current side.

The respected insider stated: "The big one is Alex Scott for sure. There are two frontrunners for him who are very seriously interested in a deal – Tottenham and Wolves.

“Wolves have been all over him for months and months and months. There are plenty of others who have looked and luckily from Tottenham and Wolves’ point of view some of them are now in the Championship – because Leeds and Leicester were two of them. Brentford could be one to watch and Brighton have taken a look as well.

“Scott is a phenomenal talent, with tremendous potential and very mature for his age. Even clubs like Liverpool have scouted the player but they are one who are definitely not going to move. The deal would need around £25 million and Bristol City know that if the right number comes in they will sell the player. This is going to be one to watch for Spurs and Wolves.”

Should Spurs sign Alex Scott?

It does appear that new boss Ange Postecoglou is keen to oversee something of a midfield re-shuffle this summer, with recent reports suggesting that the 57-year-old is set to allow Pierre-Emile Hojbjerg to depart, while academy graduate Oliver Skipp is also facing an uncertain future in north London.

With regard to incomings, the former Celtic head coach has acted swiftly to acquire James Maddison from newly-relegated outfit, Leicester City on a £40m deal, with the Englishman – who contributed 19 goals and assists last season in the top flight – set to provide the north Londoners with an increased attacking threat in the centre of the park.

The arrival of the former Norwich City playmaker appears to indicate a shift towards a more progressive, front-foot approach under the new Postecoglou regime, with the Greek-Aussie set to bring a "fast, attacking style of play" to the club, according to chairman Daniel Levy.

Bringing young Scott into the fold alongside Maddison could well help to create an even more attack-minded midfield unit next term, with the teenager having chipped in with one goal and four assists in 42 Championship games last season.

While that may not appear a standout return, the Guernsey native – who has been hailed as "unbelievable" by Manchester City boss, Pep Guardiola – is perhaps more adept at driving his side up the pitch, as he ranks in the top 11% among those in his position across the Men's 'next eight competitions' for progressive carries (2.34 per 90), as well as in the top 16% for successful take-ons (1.22).

That trait for weaving his way past opponents – which also saw the youngster win 2.3 fouls per game on average last season – is seemingly shared by Maddison, with the 26-year-old averaging 2.79 progressive carries and 1.67 successful take-ons per 90 across the last 365 days, as per FBref, showcasing that the two compatriots are both forward-thinking midfield operators.

That potential partnership could well prove to be a mouthwatering one for Postecoglou and co next season, with the hope being that the Bristol whiz can replicate his recent heroics in the top tier.

Aston Villa have been linked with a Bundesliga ace, in a signing that could start Monchi’s tenure as president of football operations with a bang.

Unai Emery will be joined by his fellow Spaniard in the bid to replicate the duo’s success in the transfer windows they endeavoured in together at Sevilla.

The latest link suggests that the pair could enjoy a lavish summer in the Midlands, in a signing that could bolster the squad.

What’s the latest on Manu Kone to Aston Villa?

As reported by the Daily Mail earlier this week, Aston Villa are interested in Borussia Monchengladbach midfielder Manu Kone.

The report claims that the Villans have joined ‘the race’ for the 22-year-old, following Liverpool and Wolves in their pursuit of the youngster.

Valued at £35m, the Frenchman is contracted to Gladbach until 2025 with the club holding the option to extend for an additional year.

What could Manu Kone offer to Aston Villa?

Emery has unveiled the best out of midfield dynamos Douglas Luiz and Boubacar Kamara, who when interchanged with the likes of John McGinn have proved their worth in the Premier League.

The Spaniard could now add additional power to the middle of the park by signing the Bundesliga talent, who could prove to be the perfect partner for Kamara who joined the club last summer.

The former Marseille gem had a stop-start opening campaign at Villa, missing periods due to injury with the club treading carefully in integrating him into the midfield to avoid prolonged absence.

Lauded as a “phenomenon” by former teammate Rolando, Kamara is destined for stardom in Emery’s midfield and could be taken to the next level in being paired with Kone.

The attributes that the duo share suggest that they could be a strong pairing in the set-up at Villa Park.

When comparing both players via FBref based upon their averages over this season in their respective league’s there is sufficient evidence to imply the success the French core could impose in the Midlands.

Hailed as a “one-man army” by talent scout Jacek Kulig, Kone averaged an impressive 2.55 tackles per 90 which was slightly bettered by Kamara in the Premier League who ended the campaign making an average of 2.94 per 90.

It’s not just the defensive areas of midfield that the pair excel at, as they both portray an impressive rate of passing both in general play and progressively.

As per FBref, the Bundesliga gem averaged a pass completion rate of 86.2% followed closely by the Villa ace’s 84.8%, with both players ranking highly in terms of progressive passes with the summer target averaging 5.73 to Kamara’s 4.25 per 90.

Having two players equipped with strong abilities in both defensive and offensive attributes is essential in creating the perfect pivot in the engine room.

Emery could take his squad a step further in purchasing Kone, who could prove to be a force to be reckoned with in the Premier League.

Arsenal are set to make an offer for Manchester City full-back Joao Cancelo, having held positive talks, according to a report from Football Transfers.

Is Joao Cancelo leaving Man City?

Cancelo left Man City to join Bayern Munich on loan during the January transfer window, with Pep Guardiola confirming his departure was due to a lack of game time, after the manager changed his side's play-style following the World Cup.

There were also reports the defender had a training ground bust-up with his manager, which led to his shock move to Bayern, however the German champions are set to reject the chance to sign him on a permanent basis this summer.

City proved they are more than capable of succeeding without the Portugal international, finally winning the Champions League on Saturday night, and he could be on the move this summer, having already held talks about a move to Arsenal.

According to a report from Football Transfers, those talks are progressing positively, so much so that Mikel Arteta is set to launch an opening bid of around £35m in the coming days, although that may not be enough to secure 29-year-old's signature.

Man City are asking for around £45m for the defender, £10m more than the Gunners are set to offer, but the indication is that they could table a higher bid, should their opening offer be rejected.

The report details that the £250k-per-week earner would become the starting right-back at the Emirates Stadium, allowing Arteta to use Ben White as cover in that area of the pitch.

Will Joao Cancelo sign for Arsenal?

The aforementioned report claims that Guardiola wants to get rid of the Portuguese full-back, and he does have a previous history of selling players to rival Premier League clubs, with Raheem Sterling joining Chelsea for £47.5m last summer.

As such, it would by no means be a surprise if Arsenal sign the Man City ace, and he could be a quality addition to the squad, having been hailed as "sensational" by Bayern Munich director Hasan Salihamidzic.

For a full-back, the Barreiro-born star is very impressive on the front foot, ranking in the 99th percentile for assists per 90 over the past year, and in the 98th percentile for successful take-ons, when compared to his positional peers.

Not only that, the former Benfica man is also solid defensively, ranking first in the Man City squad for average interceptions per game in the Premier League last season.

Cancelo could be a great signing for Arsenal, and it is fantastic news that Arteta is ready to test the waters with an opening bid.

Chelsea "really appreciate" Southampton midfielder Romeo Lavia ahead of a possible summer move for him, according to Fabrizio Romano.

Is Lavia set to leave Southampton?

The 19-year-old had a tough season in terms of the team he is playing for, with Saints finishing bottom of the Premier League and heading back down to the Championship.

Lavia stood out as unquestionably one of Southampton's most impressive players, however, producing consistently impressive performances in the middle of the park. Despite his tenders years, he performed with real maturity, sitting in front of the defence and averaging 2.1 tackles per game.

The £25,000-a-week Belgian's displays haven't gone unnoticed in recent months, with many of the country's biggest clubs eyeing a summer move for him. Chelsea are one of those who have constantly been linked with snapping him up, but the likes of Liverpool and Manchester United are also believed to be in the conversation among others.

Now, a fresh update has emerged regarding Lavia's future, as the Blues' interest in him refuses to go away.

Are Chelsea keen on move for Lavia?

Speaking to Give Me Sport, Romano said that Chelsea still rate Lavia highly ahead of a potential summer move, although there has been no real progress regarding a transfer of late:

"We know Chelsea really appreciate the player because of the director of Joe Shields. We will see where they go from that. But at the moment, this is not something advanced or imminent."

Lavia, who has been described as having a "supreme ability to pass" and has been hailed as a "monster", could be such a great long-term signing for Chelsea, potentially be viewed as the natural heir to N'Golo Kante, especially if the Frenchman's leaves when his contract expires this summer. The Southampton starlet's quality is summed up by the fact that Manchester City manager Pep Guardiola has described him as "incredible", having left the Etihad to join Saints last summer.

At 19, Lavia's ceiling looks enormous, considering he is already proving himself as a key stater in the Premier League, and he is someone who could be Enzo Fernandez's midfield partner at Stamford Bridge for many years to come, making up for the disappointment of Sporting CP's Manuel Ugarte looking set to join Paris Saint-Germain instead of the Blues.

Whether Lavia picks Chelsea remains to be seen, though, with no European football certainly working against them, but it is encouraging to hear that they still rate him highly and haven't ruled out the idea of making a move for him.