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Cricket South Africa have confirmed a decision to introduce targets for all national teams for selection of players of colour

Firdose Moonda26-Jul-2016Cricket South Africa has confirmed a decision to introduce targets for all national teams for selection of players of colour. The specifics of the new policy, which will stipulate how many players of colour need to be included in starting XIs, have yet to be revealed, but are likely to fall in line with the requirements of the South African sports ministry, with whom CSA have signed a memorandum of understanding.”In the past, we had never set targets in our national teams, but with changing circumstances, we feel it is essential to move with the times,” Chris Nenzani, the CSA president, said. “The precise targets will depend on work to be undertaken by relevant committees to determine what is realistic and sustainable. This will be announced in due course. We will aim to achieve our targets over the course of the year and not on a match-by-match basis.”In April this year, CSA, along with three other national federations, was banned by the ministry from bidding for or hosting international tournaments after failing to meet transformation requirements. The ministry used 60% as the barometer for their measurements, which equates to seven players of colour in a team. Cricket fell short by 5%. The ministry also had a separate measurement for the number of black African players in a team, but did not provide a percentage.CSA has previously worked with what it termed a “guideline,” on transformation, which required the consideration of at least four players of colour when picking the national men’s team. Although CSA insisted the target did not have to be strictly applied, the board rarely transgressed it and reaffirmed that policy after the 2015 World Cup semi-final. In that match, Vernon Philander, who had spent a significant part of the tournament injured, was selected ahead of an in-form Kyle Abbott, after the coach, captain and convener of selectors met with the CEO to consult on matters of transformation. An internal investigation was conducted to review the semi-final selection which confirmed the guidelines.In the immediate aftermath of that tournament, CSA increased domestic targets for the 2016-17 season. Franchise and provincial teams were required to field six players of colour, including at least three black Africans, up from five players of colour with at least two black Africans the season before. The players’ union was not consulted about the change and mulled taking legal action before reaching an agreement.The following month, CSA chief executive Haroon Lorgat advocated aggressive transformation , and since then, team selection has pointed in that direction. South Africa have fielded at least one black African player in the XI more often than ever before, with Kagiso Rabada most commonly in that position, although Temba Bavuma, Aaron Phangiso and Eddie Leie have also featured. On their most recent outing, the ODI triangular series in West Indies, South Africa’s 15-man squad contained a majority (eight) players of colour, and in their victory over Australia in that tournament on June 7, South Africa fielded a record eight players of colour.Still, their overall numbers were not enough to meet the ministry’s requirements of seven players of colour per match. South Africa’s stats in the tri-series read: 6, 8, 7, 7, 6, 6, which may have promoted this new commitment to achieving targets in the next year. Although South Africa are not due to host any major tournaments until the 2023 Under-19 World Cup, there is talk of a World T20 being held in 2018, and they are being seen as frontrunners to host it. In order to have the ban lifted before that, CSA would need to have the right numbers by the time the ministry conducts its next audit in April 2017, which effectively gives the board the 2016-17 season to work with.In that time, the team will play 11 Tests, including home series against New Zealand and Sri Lanka, and away games in Australia and New Zealand, but they do not have any major limited-overs tournament. They will play ODIs against Australia, Sri Lanka and New Zealand in preparation for the 2017 Champions Trophy, and a smattering of T20s. Player reaction to the targets has yet to be ascertained.

Everton manager Sean Dyche has two more games to preserve the Merseyside outfit's coveted top-flight status, having taken the reins at the Premier League season's midpoint and keeping within touching distance of safety.

Everton have fallen by the wayside over the past few years and narrowly staved off the threat of relegation last year, but jubilation was short-lived following the sale of endeared forward Richarlison to Tottenham Hotspur for £60m and subsequent purchase of £15m Brighton & Hove Albion talisman Neal Maupay, who has scored one solitary goal this season.

Indeed, the Goodison Park side have failed to avoid the terror of a relegation dogfight this time around too, though a recent 5-1 demolition of the Seagulls lifted the club from immediate danger, now perched in 17th place with two fixtures to play, one place and one point above 18th-placed Leeds United.

Should survival be secured, Dyche will swiftly turn his attention to bolstering the offensive ranks, his outfit boasting just 32 goals from 36 matches in the top-flight this term and with key talisman Dominic Calvert-Lewin missing large portions of the campaign due to his injury woes.

As such, talkSPORT journalist Alex Crook has reported that West Ham United striker Michail Antonio is 'in their sights', should they indeed secure a Premier League spot next term.

Should Everton sign Michail Antonio?

Antonio has been an admirable stalwart in east London, scoring 75 goals and providing 43 assists from 273 appearances since signing for the Hammers for £7m from Nottingham Forest in 2015.

And while the forward boasts 14 goals across all competitions this term, having plundered six strikes in the Europa Conference League, at 33-years-old clinching his signature would not be an auspicious move for Dyche and co as they seek to navigate away from danger and push for a place higher up the table next year.

The seven-cap Jamaica international has recorded a lowly 6.67 rating in the Premier League this year, starting just 20 times, and while he has plundered five goals and supplied three assists, he is only averaging 1.2 shots and 0.5 key passes per match, having also missed seven big chances this term and branded "shocking" by West Ham TV's Dan Lawless.

Candidly, while Antonio has enjoyed fruitful fortunes in Europe, against an ostensibly easier crop of opposition than the Premier League, should he switch to Everton he would not be competing in such a competition, rather, potentially embroiled in a scrap for survival again next season.

If Calvert-Lewin's fitness doesn't hold up, it could well be Antonio who ranks among the bottom 35% of forwards across Europe's top five leagues for rate of non-penalty goals, as per FBref, and Maupay competing for the spot as the club's offensive focal point, which does not bode well for the performance of the team.

If owner Farhad Moshiri was to sign the £85k-per-week veteran, it could replicate the misfiring deal for Salomon Rondon, who joined the fray on Merseyside at 31-years-old in 2021 from Chinese outfit Dalian Professional.

Another ageing forward, Rondon would score just three times – twice against lowly Boreham Wood – across two campaigns for Everton and offer measly assistance in the final third. Another brutish offensive threat cut from the same cloth as Antonio, there was, unfortunately, a stark lack of end product during his time at Goodison.

With the Irons ace approaching the twilight phase of his career and noticeably waning in the Premier League, it would be a move best left on the rumour mill.

Newcastle United are reportedly interested in making a swoop for Inter Milan playmaker Hakan Calhanoglu, who has been instrumental in his club's ascension to the Champions League final this season.

What's the latest on Hakan Calhanoglu to Newcastle?

Inter need to balance the books this summer and consequently will seek to offload several first-team stars despite the success on the pitch in Europe.

According to CalcioMercato, the Toon are ready to present a bid of €40m (£35m) for the Turkey international, who is out of contract in one year's time.

As per the report, the 29-year-old would likely only join the Tyneside ranks if Eddie Howe succeeds in the bid to secure Champions League football next season, currently third in the Premier League table with three matches to play, one point above fifth-placed Liverpool.

Should Newcastle sign Hakan Calhanoglu?

While Newcastle have been formidable this season, gracing pitches across Europe next term warrants the arrival of quality players to bolster the hopes of achieving their goals both domestically and on the continental stage.

The Turk joined Inter in controversial circumstances in 2021, departing from acrimonious city rivals AC Milan on a free transfer and scoring eight goals and 13 assists across all competitions, winning the Coppa Italia.

This season, he has scored four goals and supplied eight assists from 45 appearances across all competitions, a key component to his side's surging season in Europe, reaching the Champions League final and awaiting the imperious Manchester City.

As per Sofascore, the 76-cap Turkey captain has recorded an average match rating of 7.16 in the Champions League, scoring a goal and two assists, averaging 1.5 key passes per match, completing 91% of his total passes and making 1.3 tackles per outing.

A "magic" competitor with the ball, as described by journalist Deji Faremi, Calhanoglu ranks among the top 2% of midfielders across Europe's top five leagues for rate of assists and the top 3% for shot-creating actions per 90, as per FBref, and he could usher in a newfound sense of creativity for the Newcastle midfield, having created more goals than any Magpie midfielder this term.

He could even be Howe's own version of Christian Eriksen, with the £157k-per-week ace ostensibly replacing the Dane at San Siro after his Serie A career ended following a cardiac arrest at Euro 2020. Coincidentally, the experienced creator is the fourth most similar player in Europe to Newcastle's transfer target, as per FBref.

Eriksen has reignited his career in England and plies his trade for Manchester United after a resurgence with Thomas Frank's Brentford last year.

Having scored two goals and supplied an impressive nine assists from 40 appearances for the Red Devils this term, Eriksen has been heralded as a "genius" by the likes of Statman Dave and ranks among the top 1% of midfielders for rate of assists per 90.

Considering the unrelenting growth of this resounding St. James's Park team, enhancing the midfield with a player of Calhanoglu's ilk could be the optimum way to ensure the Toon fire across all cylinders once again next campaign.

Northants, the one-time leaders, are in freefall, but by maintaining their unbeaten home record, Durham strengthened their hold on fourth place in the NatWest Blast North Group with two of their remaining three games also at home

ECB Reporters Network15-Jul-2016
ScorecardChris Rushworth makes a mess of Richard Levi’s stumps•Getty ImagesThe scrap for qualifying places in the NatWest T20 Blast North Group hotted up further as one-time leaders Northamptonshire lost by six wickets to Durham at Chester-le-Street.By maintaining their unbeaten home record, Durham strengthened their hold on fourth place with two of their remaining three games also at home.But they turned a stroll into a scramble as they replied to 149 for 5 with an opening stand of 77 inside ten overs, then slipped to 89 for 4 with Ben Stokes falling for one.Both he and Mark Stoneman were lbw trying to sweep Sri Lankan leg-spinner Seekkuge Prasanna, who also had Phil Mustard caught off a towering straight drive to finish with three for 24.Both teams were on 100 after 14 overs, but whereas Ben Duckett was unable to accelerate in his unbeaten 48 off 42 balls, Keaton Jennings continued his excellent season by seeing Durham home with nine balls to spare.He cut Rory Kleinveldt for six in making 36 not out off 24 balls and shared an unbroken stand of 64 with Michael Richardson.That over from Kleinveldt, the 16th, included two wides and cost 15, one fewer than the ninth, bowled by Steven Crook.Bowling round the wicket to the left-handers, he began with a wide and conceded four leg byes with another leg-side ball before Mustard hit him for four and six over mid-wicket.It was also a poor night for the competition’s leading dot ball bowler, Richard Gleeson, who finished the match with a no-ball followed by a wide which flew down the leg side to the boundary.Stoneman beat his season’s previous best T20 score of 25 by making 40, as did Mustard.Despite Josh Cobb hitting 68 off 51 balls, Durham kept a tight rein on the visitors after putting them in.Going in at 14 for 2, Duckett shared a stand of 95 with Cobb. But he lacked the firepower to take his side to a winning total.Chris Rushworth knocked out Richard Levi’s off stump with the first ball of the match and in the fourth over Adam Rossington went down the track to Mark Wood, only to sky a comfortable catch for Mustard.Wood, whose four overs cost only 19, almost had a second wicket when Cobb, on 16, narrowly cleared mid-off.Cobb lifted Scott Borthwick over long-on for six then a lofted straight drive off Jennings gave him his fifth four and took him to 50 off 40 balls before driving Ryan Pringle for a straight six.Cobb departed in the 16th over when he tried to scythe Jennings through off side and played on, then Crook went down the pitch to a slower ball and was stumped.Kleinveldt scored 23 of the 35 runs which came off the last four overs, including a huge six over the sightscreen off Jennings, before he was caught by Wood at long leg off the last ball.

Juventus striker Dusan Vlahovic "could head" to north London this summer as Arsenal are in a "hypothetical pole position" for his signing.

What's the latest Arsenal transfer news?

Mikel Arteta's side are still firmly in contention for their first Premier League title in nearly 20 years, but with Man City firmly in the ascendency, Arsenal chiefs will also be focusing heavily on how they can strengthen for next campaign.

The Gunners are just one point behind City in the race for this year's domestic crown, though Pep Guardiola's side possess a crucial game in hand which could well be the big difference-maker.

Regardless of whether they end up pipping Guardiola to top spot, or if Arsenal finish the season without any silverware, there is a very considerable argument to be made that this year has been a success.

It was just 12 months ago that Arsenal were beaten to a top four place by Tottenham, but now they're guaranteed Champions League football for 2023/2024.

As such, strengthening in key areas is an absolute must, with midfield signings thought to be a major priority for Arteta and co. The north Londoners are thought to be targeting West Ham star Declan Rice and Brighton's Moises Caicedo as a result, as well as additions further forward.

Jonathan David (Lille) and Lois Openda (Lens) are two attackers Arsenal are looking at for the latter position, with a report from Spain sharing the latest on their links to Vlahovic.

The Juve striker, who could be on the move this summer, is attracting serious interest with the Spanish source claiming Arsenal in a "hypothetical pole position" for him.

Vlahovic "could head to the Emirates Stadium" past July 1, coming after Arsenal tried and failed to sign him in January.

It's added that Arsenal appear to be ahead of both Real Madrid and Bayern Munich in the race, with both those sides also holding an interest.

What could Vlahovic bring to Arsenal?

The 23-year-old has registered 10 goals and two assists in 25 Serie A appearances, a solid but not spectacular return for a star forward, but he has been absolutely heralded for his past form.

During his Fiorentina days, where he amassed quite the reputation, pundit Micah Richards praised Vlahovic as everything you need in a centre-forward – explaining to BBC Radio 5 Live (via The Independent):

“He is lightning. It’s ridiculous. He has got 16 in 18 this season. His left foot is like a wand. I am telling you now, he is everything, he is everything you need.”

Juve are also open to selling him, handing Arsenal an opportunity to finally sign Vlahovic for Arteta.

West Indies could be without captain Jason Holder for their must-win match against South Africa in Barbados on Friday after he injured his hamstring during the loss to Australia on Tuesday

ESPNcricinfo staff22-Jun-2016West Indies could be without captain Jason Holder for their must-win match against South Africa in Barbados on Friday after he injured his hamstring during the loss to Australia on Tuesday. Holder was able to bowl only two overs before he left the field, which forced West Indies to use occasional legspinner Andre Fletcher and stand-in captain Kieron Pollard to make up the rest of his overs.Chasing 283 to secure a place in the tri-series final, the Australians reached their target with eight balls to spare thanks in part to a stunning cameo of 46 not out from 26 deliveries from Glenn Maxwell. Friday’s match between West Indies and South Africa now becomes a straight elimination game, with the winner to take on Australia in the final on Sunday.”I’ve strained my left hamstring,” Holder said after the match. “Hopefully I’ll be ready for the game on Friday, still not sure at the moment. I think the bowlers made a very good attempt at trying to defend the runs. It was just unfortunate we were one bowler short.”Fletcher came on and slipped in three tight overs. In hindsight he probably could have gone on for two more. Having said that we fought right down to the end with a bowler short, so credit must go to the bowling unit.”West Indies were arguably a few runs short of par on a good batting pitch after being sent in by Steven Smith, although a 192-run stand between Denesh Ramdin and Marlon Samuels ensured a strong total after they slipped to be 31 for 3.Samuels finished with 125, his first hundred against Australia in any format, and he was Man of the Match for the second consecutive game against Australia despite the losing cause. There was plenty of chat between the two sides over the course of the match and Samuels said he had been spurred on by Australia’s words.”I’ve been saying that over the years,” Samuels said. “Most times I come out to bat and nobody has anything to say, I don’t perform that well. But when somebody has something to say, I want to stay out there longer and see how long they can talk.”I’ve got a hundred against everybody in the world now [full ICC members]. It’s very satisfying. Nevertheless, we still have a game on Friday and that game is very important for us to win.”Coach Phil Simmons said he was proud to see his team – which is ranked at No. 8 in ODIs – competing well with higher-ranked opposition. Even if they did not win on Tuesday, he said, they gained a lot out of the game. “A loss is a loss but there are a lot of things we can take from it. When you’re up against Australia and you’re 30 for 3, to come back and make 280, you have to take that. Taking it to the second to last over, you have to take that, especially with our main bowler and captain missing. [And also] how well Shannon [Gabriel] bowled on his debut, to have someone in the 150s regularly, it’s great to see.”The work that the guys have put in over the past five or six weeks has been excellent. For us to be in a competition with No. 1 and No. 3 in the world, and still be in the competition and looking to be in the final in the last game, it’s what we spoke about at the start of the tournament, that we need to make sure we are winning games against these top teams in order to be moving up the table.”

Stuart Broad has said he does not harbour any ill will towards Mohammad Amir, who is set to make a Test return on Pakistan’s tour of England after a five-year ICC ban for spot-fixing

Alan Gardner06-Jun-20161:02

Quick Facts – Mohammad Amir set to play Tests again

As Stuart Broad prepares for his 16th Test match at Lord’s, starting against Sri Lanka on Thursday, he is asked to cast his mind back to his fifth. Over an extraordinary few days in 2010, Broad scored what remains his only Test century, putting on what remains a record stand for the eighth wicket in Tests (332 with Jonathan Trott); but it was the revelations about the activities of Salman Butt, Mohammad Asif and Mohammad Amir that left their indelible mark on the game.Amir, the youngest of the trio, was on Sunday named in Pakistan’s Test squad for their upcoming tour of England and is set to return to the scene of the crime – for which he served time in a young offenders institute – next month, although a decision on whether he will be granted a UK visa is still pending.Broad, however, does not harbour any ill will towards Amir, who is yet to play a Test match since completing a five-year ICC ban for spot-fixing. He is also still proud of his place on the honours board, next to a score of 169 – the second-highest tally by a No. 9 and, perhaps more importantly to Broad, eclipsing his dad’s Test best by seven runs.Broad backing for Finn

Stuart Broad believes that Steven Finn can find his form on his home ground after an indifferent return to the Test side. Finn has taken four wickets in two Tests against Sri Lanka, having recovered from an injury-affected winter, but Broad said the surfaces in the series so far, at Headingley and Chester-le-Street, had not catered to his strengths.
“I think he’s been searching for a bit of rhythm but Lord’s is his home ground, he should find rhythm – he traditionally bowls from the Pavilion End and bowls really well there,” Broad said. “He can use the slope to his advantage, not try and swing it or throw it up there, just do what he does, throw it into the pitch and use the natural variations of that. Questions marks have been over his bowling slightly because he’s not got loads of wickets but, for me and him – particularly him as a real hit-the-deck bowler – those wickets haven’t suited our style of bowling.”

“It’s certainly not devalued in my mind, I still scored those runs and am still on the honours board,” he said. “I think the result was devalued. We couldn’t celebrate – we didn’t celebrate – it was all a very strange time. But I don’t think any feelings will be dragged into this Test match from that Test match. I think only three or four players are playing in the England team now who were then, and Pakistan have had a huge change over.”I don’t think any ill feeling or negativity from the players will have carried through – the crowd might be a different story. We know that Lord’s is a passionate crowd and they all have their own minds.”Amir made his international comeback with Pakistan’s limited-overs teams at the start of this year and, despite some initial resistance among team-mates, he has made an encouraging start to his second coming. Azhar Ali, Pakistan’s ODI captain, said last week that “toughest phase is over” for Amir and Broad said he had no issues with his inclusion.”I think he’s served his time and the ICC have got their guidelines to what the punishments are for certain crimes and people have their opinion on that,” Broad said. “At the end of the day as an England team to win a Test series like that is a brilliant feeling and you want to play against the best possible team you can and for quality of bowler I don’t think there is much doubt that he is up there with anyone.”I’ve not played him for six years but in 2010 he was a constant threat and he was Man of the Series I think. It swung round corners for him.”While Broad no longer has pretensions to become the genuine allrounder that 2010 innings suggested he might, he has grown in stature as a bowler in the intervening period, recently becoming only the third England bowler to be ranked No. 1 in the world since the 1980s. His rise, following a haul of 6 for 17 in Johannesburg that set up England’s series win over South Africa, was swiftly followed by that of his team-mate James Anderson, who last week emulated Ian Botham, Steve Harmison and Broad in reaching the summit.Despite taking ten wickets at 18.90 in two Tests against Sri Lanka, Broad actually fell to third, behind India’s R Ashwin – who has not played a Test since December, prompting Broad to joke: “So I would have been better off carrying drinks at the IPL.” Not that the famously taciturn Anderson has been moved to an outpouring of emotion. “He hasn’t actually mentioned it. I texted him when the rankings came out saying ‘having a drink for you – congratulations’. I think he is chuffed but you know what Jimmy is like – he’s certainly not given it a smile yet.”Stuart Broad is currently ranked the No. 3 Test bowler in the world•Hardy’sBroad is, however, already plotting how to regain the mantle and, alongside Joe Root’s presence at No. 2 on the ICC batting list, it seems a comment made by Trevor Bayliss at England’s training camp in Spain on taking over as head coach last summer has lodged in the team’s consciousness.”Getting to the No. 1 ranked team is the main aim but Trevor said to us in Spain when he took over ‘We aren’t going move forward as a team unless some of you players raise your games and get up those rankings – we aren’t going to be the best team in the world if you are sat at eight and you are sat at twelve.’ It’s quite an Australian way of saying it – it’s a sort-yourselves-out type thing.”We’ve put some performances in that have taken us up the rankings – as a team, we are lying fourth but I think we are a bit better than that. We are a really good team at the moment, we have a lot of bases covered.”That there is still room for improvement is something Broad quickly admits, too. First on the list will be rectifying England’s poor recent record of losing dead rubbers – even if the new Super Series concept has theoretically removed them – and securing a first whitewash in a series of three or more Tests since beating India 4-0 in 2011.”That is what all the talk will be about this week for sure,” he said. “I can’t even think about when an England last clean swept a series of three. Five years ago is a long time.”It is actually a bad habit we’ve got into. The performance against Australia at The Oval was awful, at Centurion we missed too many chances and fell away, so it is something we’re aware of and it is not good enough. With more focus on rising up the rankings then we can’t afford to make these mistakes.”Should England wrap up a 3-0 series win over Sri Lanka, it might be another moment of quiet satisfaction for Bayliss, who Broad said has “started to instill a bit more of his beliefs on the team”. The Australian is unlikely to be overflowing with praise, in any case. Asked if a “Well done” from Bayliss meant more, Broad replied: “I don’t think I even got one for my 8 for 15… I’m not sure I’m getting one.” The smile suggested he didn’t too much mind.Stuart Broad was speaking as a Hardys ambassador at 1853 Wine Shop in Weybridge. For exclusive wine offers, visit 1853wineclub.com.

Chelsea are back on their travels in the Premier League as they head to the Vitality Stadium to face Bournemouth this afternoon.

The Blues are on a wretched run of form in a horrendous season – having only accumulated one point from the last 15 available to compound a miserable return to management for interim coach Frank Lampard.

Conversely, the Cherries have won five of their last seven games to provide a nine-point cushion between themselves and the relegation zone.

Gary O’Neil, who took over from Scott Parker at the beginning of the campaign, has instigated this unbelievable turnaround, and his side look set to retain their top-flight status.

To pile more embarrassment upon Chelsea, a win for the hosts would mean they leapfrog the 2021 Champions League winners into 12th place.

Lampard will be perplexed by his team’s abject display in their 3-1 defeat in midweek against Arsenal and will be expected to name a rotated lineup.

Here’s what we are predicting…

How will Chelsea line up against Bournemouth?

There could be as many as four changes from their last outing at the Emirates.

In goal, Kepa Arrizabalaga is set to continue between the sticks as stories have surfaced that Edouard Mendy is to leave in the summer after rejecting the latest contract offer from the Blues.

Cesar Azpilicueta, Thiago Silva and Ben Chilwell are expected to keep their places, but a change in the back four could see Wesley Fofana make way for Benoit Badiashile.

The former Monaco man has started eight Premier League games and the Blues have only conceded six goals in those outings.

Carney Chukwuemeka could be in line for a rare start too after Chelsea’s midfield was completely overrun in midweek. His athleticism could feature nicely alongside N’Golo Kante and Enzo Fernandez.

Meanwhile, the west London outfit’s frontline could be heavily altered as the last trio barely threatened on Tuesday.

Noni Madueke is expected to be the only surviving attacker after he netted his first for his new club in the London derby.

Lampard called out the majority of his players for their poor performances but reserved special praise for the winger, who was the only bright spark.

He said: “My job is to tell the players what needs to be done and the players have to do it. And if they don’t do it, they won’t start the game. People like Noni [Madueke] today, I thought he was great.

“Because he has been training like that all week, that is why he plays.”

On the other flank, Mykhailo Mudryk will fill in for £70m-rated Raheem Sterling, who was anonymous in north London and was labelled as "embarrassing" for his lack of contribution.

Then, the final change will see Joao Felix deployed as the central striker instead of Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang.

Predicted Chelsea XI (4-3-3): Arrizabalaga; Azpilicueta, Thiago Silva, Badiashile, Chilwell; Kante, Fernandez, Chukwuemeka; Madueke, Felix, Mudryk.

Chelsea signing Harry Kane this summer would be 'an absolute headline-grabbing transfer' as speculation continues to swirl over his future, according to journalist Dean Jones.

What's the latest transfer news involving Harry Kane?

As per talkSPORT, Tottenham Hotspur chairman Daniel Levy is said to be expecting an offer from Chelsea for Kane this summer as the Blues continue their search for a new striker.

The report states that Levy is 'reluctant' to let go of his prize asset this summer; however, the fact that Chelsea are close to appointing ex-Spurs boss Mauricio Pochettino as their new manager is likely to intensify their interest in acquiring the 29-year-old.

Tottenham are likely to demand a hefty fee if they sanction a departure for Kane, with The Times revealing that they could ask for £100 million upfront to deter prospective bidders.

The Daily Mail have detailed that Manchester United are also keen on Kane as Erik Ten Hag seeks to bring a world-class striker to Old Trafford ahead of next term. At the same time, Bayern Munich are ready to put in a 'persuasive offer' to try and entice the England international to the Bundesliga, as per The Independent.

Capology understand that Kane earns £200,000 per week in north London on a contract that runs until June 2024.

Speaking to GIVEMESPORT, journalist Jones thinks that Kane moving to Stamford Bridge would be an 'unbelievable' transfer that would garner enormous attention.

Jones said: "It would be an absolute headline-grabbing transfer. There's no doubt about it. He'd also be risking tarnishing everything he's ever done at Tottenham in the eyes of their fanbase, but never say never.

"Football throws up some unbelievable plots at times and Kane's name will be thrown into the hat here. It'll start off with speculation. Who knows whether it actually comes to being something we could genuinely see?"

Would Harry Kane be a good signing for Chelsea?

Kane is a proven goalscorer with an enormity of Premier League experience and he would be a fantastic addition to lead the line for Chelsea.

In 2022/23, the London-born forward has hit the net 27 times in 45 matches across all competitions for Tottenham, as per Transfermarkt.

WhoScored also shows that Kane has obtained an average match rating of 7.48/10 for his exploits this campaign, making him Spurs' most consistent performer in a topsy-turvy campaign for his current employers.

Whether he would actually choose to leave Tottenham for bitter rivals Chelsea is another question because he could completely ruin his reputation in north London; nevertheless, this summer will be intriguing for Kane as he decides the next step in his career.

Everton have made an approach to the entourage of UD Almeria striker El Bilal Toure regarding a move to Goodison Park, according to reports.

What's the latest on El Bilal Toure's future?

Toffees forward Dominic Calvert-Lewin is reportedly being monitored by Arsenal ahead of the summer and Neal Maupay is also on the wishlist on Salernitana, so with Ellis Simms the only other option for Sean Dyche, should one or both of the duo depart, senior reinforcements will be required.

The Mali international only joined the La Liga outfit back in September 2022 but has become a standout star during his 20 appearances to date, emerging as Rubi’s top-performing offensive player, and this form hasn’t gone unnoticed by the board on Merseyside.

At the Power Horse Stadium, the 21-year-old’s deal isn’t set to expire for another five years so naturally a move would have proved difficult to complete, but there is a way that he could leave before that time.

According to GOAL in Spain (via Sport Witness), Everton and Premier League rivals Wolverhampton Wanderers are both “chasing” El Bilal Toure ahead of the 2023/24 term. The Goodison Park outfit and the Old Gold are showing a “strong interest” in securing his services and are “on the hunt” for him at the end of the season. The Toffees have “already contacted” the attacker’s camp in “recent days” to discover what a deal would look like in the summer as a result of his current terms including a €40m (£35m) release clause.

Should Everton splash the cash on El Bilal Toure?

El Bilal Toure is still only in his debut season at Almeria and is at quite a relatively young age, but considering the positive instant impact he’s made, Everton should definitely cash out because he would be an extremely exciting signing for the future of the club.

The Adjame native, who has the ability to play with both feet, has scored six goals and provided two assists in 20 appearances since joining whilst receiving two man-of-the-match awards during that time, so is clearly recognised for his individual importance.

Standing at 6 foot, El Bilal Toure is also the ideal target man up top where he’s currently averaging 2.2 aerial wins per game so holds a strong physical presence, and with all these combined qualities having seen him lauded a “major talent” by journalist Graeme Bailey, he would be the perfect fit for Dyche on Merseyside.