All posts by h716a5.icu

Zimbabwe Cricket has denied recent allegations that it has links with a media company

Cricinfo staff04-Jun-2008Zimbabwe Cricket has denied recent allegations that it has links with a media company.An article in The Zimbabwean claimed that ZC officials had bought Tatu Media Productions and were using the firm to personally gain from contracts with the board.It was stated that several ZC officials were also shareholders and directors of Tatu, but Lovemore Banda, the board’s media manager, told Cricinfo that no such relationships existed.”Zimbabwe Cricket has not acquired Tatu Multimedia Productions,” he said. “We cannot afford to spend US$500 000 on activities which are not our core business which is the running of cricket in the country. Surely if that much money was used on a single project in any ZC financial year, it would scream out to the auditors.”With regards to claims that ZC’s media departments had worked out of Tatu offices and that inflated invoices had been paid by the board. Banda was equally forthright.”Anyone privy to the correspondence between the ZC finance department and Tatu’s billing desk would tell you that there were instances when the ZC finance department queried certain invoices and then paid subsequent to satisfactory explanation.”Such is the distinction between ZC and Tatu that when the ZC media department went to the Tatu premises, it was strictly as a tenant. The ZC media department was not incorporated into Tatu but remained a ZC office housed in a Tatu building and reporting to ZC. You may also want to know that, contrary to the perception you have of the ZC media department, it makes sense for us to employ full-time personnel than to rely on consultants.”

Rangers announced the signing of John Lundstram earlier this week and he could prove to be an excellent addition to Steven Gerrard’s side at Ibrox ahead of next season.

The former Sheffield United man was available on a free transfer after his exit from Bramall Lane and Ross Wilson worked quickly to bring him to Ibrox ahead of the 2021/22 campaign.

Gerrard’s thoughts on Lundstram signing

After he was announced on Monday, Gerrard had this to say about his arrival:

“John is a player I have known for some time and knew he would enhance our squad.

“Having played in the Premiership, he has the undoubted quality to enhance our midfield with his technical ability and physicality and I was impressed with his attitude and ambition when we spoke over recent weeks. John is a winner and knows what is required to succeed at a club of this stature.

“He will add steel and presence to our midfield along with his quality which makes our squad much stronger, and to procure a player of John’s profile and experience is very pleasing.

“Myself and the staff are looking forward to working with John. We know he is also very excited to get started at Rangers.”

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Will he be a good addition at Ibrox?

Although Lundstram’s performances with Sheffield United last season were less than impressive, as he managed no goals and two assists in 28 Premier League appearances, his previous performances in the 2019/20 season suggest that if he can rediscover his best form at Ibrox, he will quickly prove himself to be an excellent addition to Gerrard’s squad.

The 41-year-old arguably needed to add some depth in midfield ahead of next season, especially when you consider that Glen Kamara has been heavily linked with a move to the Premier League, whilst Scott Arfield and Steven Davis will turn 33 and 37 respectively next season, so long-term replacements for those two were definitely required.

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Although the former Oxford United man may struggle to break into the impressive midfield of Davis, Kamara and Joe Aribo at first, added competition is only a good thing for Rangers, and the signing of Lundstram should help them improve ahead of next season, as they look to defend their Premiership title and make a mark in the Champions League.

And, in other news… Gerrard handed big boost with Ibrox “warrior” ahead of new season 

Bruno Lage heads into the ongoing transfer market knowing he has a tricky first summer on his hands.

Wolves haven’t been afraid to splash the cash since earning promotion to the Premier League but this would be one of the leanest windows they’ve had in recent memory.

On the chalkboard

With the Old Gold facing a summer of limited spending, Lage will have to be shrewd in the window.

Unsurprisingly, Wolves are once again targeting the arrivals of players who they can build for the future and potentially sell for a greater fee.

They’ve reportedly made a bid for Brazilian starlet Kaio Jorge but it’s one of Portugal’s brightest young talents that we want to focus on.

The entrance of a new manager won’t change the transfer policy at Molineux as they target 20-year-old forward Goncalo Ramos at Benfica.

Ramos was coming through the ranks of Benfica B when Lage was in charge of the Portuguese giants but after a breakthrough season in Liga NOS, he’s caught the eye of Wolves.

The club’s current manager, Jorge Jesus, doesn’t want to sell him according to A Bola but a high enough offer may change his mind.

Capable of playing as a centre forward or as a second striker, he could become Lage’s new Joao Felix at Wolves.

Felix was recently described as an “imposter” by Roy Keane for his performances at the ongoing European Championships but it was Lage who made him the star he is today.

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The 21-year-old scored 17 times under the stewardship of the new Wolves boss, a record that’s strikingly similar to Ramos’ tally last term.

He began the campaign with Benfica B, finding the net on 11 occasions in 12 outings.

Ramos would eventually end the campaign with 15 goals after making the grade at senior level. The 20-year-old was afforded four chances to play in Portugal’s top tier, outings that provided two strikes.

It was a stellar term for the young attacker who was described as “fantastic” in a glowing appraisal from talent scout Jacek Kulig on Twiter.

Like Felix, Ramos is capable of playing just behind the striker and is a tricky individual to deal with.

His dribbling could do with some improvement with a success rate of 42% in that regard but he still amasses 1.87 take-ons per game in his career.

This would be a truly exciting signing. Ramos’ finishing is ruthless and his movement is particularly clever. He could very quickly become the new manager’s next Felix.

AND in other news, Imagine him & Silva: Lage can form menacing Wolves duo by signing “lethal” 15-goal gem…

Some details have emerged of the Premier League’s involvement in the potential takeover of Newcastle United, with the top flight failing to keep their promise to reform the Owners’ and Directors’ Test (ODT).

The Lowdown: Arbitration soon

The arbitration case between the St. James’ Park faithful and the English top flight over the failing of the deal between Mike Ashley and the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia (KSA) group is not far away.

Ashley has also launched a separate anti-competition claim against the division over their decision-making process in failing the bid, but that is thought to be in his back pocket in case the arbitration hearing does not go in his favour.

The Latest: Hurst slams Premier League and ODT

Details have emerged over a discussion between the Newcastle United Supporters Trust (NUST) and the panel of the fan-led review into football governance over the involvement of the Premier League in the whole takeover saga.

Speaking to The Chronicle, NUST board member Alex Hurst explained that among other things, the top flight’s involvement in the takeover was discussed, in particular the handling of their Owners’ and Directors’ Test (ODT):

“We touched on the owners and directors test issues. There’s no transparency there from the Premier League either.

“They promised transparency and to reform the ODT after the shambles of last summer but they haven’t. How can we trust the Premier League to regulate Newcastle United when it can’t regulate itself?

“We are in favour of the independent regulator. Very much so.”

The Verdict: ODT may need a revamp

The ODT may certainly need a revamp, given that the Premier League dwelled on the Magpies takeover for far too long, perhaps proving that the entire system is not efficient or transparent enough.

However, one thing that the ODT is clear on with regards to the potential takeover in the North East is that the KSA’s Public Investment Fund (PIF) must be considered a separate entity to the Saudi state.

If that separation can be proved, it would certainly be a big plus in terms of trying to push the deal through.

Nonetheless, the arbitration proceedings should give a much clearer picture over the direction of where the bid is heading, but the ODT will still unfortunately play its part.

In other news, find out what NUFC’s reported transfer budget is here!

Leeds United have again been linked with a move for Cagliari midfielder Nahitan Nandez, with Marcelo Bielsa reportedly happy to pay his release clause.

The Lowdown: Leeds move mooted

The Whites secured a highly impressive ninth-place finish in the Premier League last season, with the aim now to replicate that in 2021/22, at worst.

For Leeds to go up another gear, top-class new signings may be needed and Nandez is a player who has been linked with a move to Elland Road in the past.

The Uruguayan started 31 of Cagliari’s 38 Serie A matches last season, registering two goals and assists apiece, and has won 36 caps for his country.

The Latest: Fresh update arrives

According to La Nuova Sardegna [via Sport Witness], Leeds ‘insist’ on signing Nandez, with Bielsa prepared for ‘economic madness’.

The Whites manager is willing to pay the €36million (£30.9m) to prise the 25-year-old away from Cagliari, although it is stated that they may try and buy him for less than that.

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The Verdict: Stellar midfield addition

There are arguably times when Leeds have been too reliant on the performances of Kalvin Phillips, so a top-quality midfield addition makes perfect sense.

At 25, Nandez still has years ahead of him in the game, but is also an experienced figures, as highlighted by his international exploits.

He averaged 1.8 tackles and 1.5 clearances per game in the league last season, showing his tenacious side, but also played an average of one key pass per match, displaying a well rounded skill-set on both sides of the ball.

The midfielder has been talked up as a ‘great player’ by his agent, Pablo Bentancur, and like Phillips, he looks to be adept both in and out of possession, which is exactly what Bielsa wants in his players.

In other news, a pundit has given some key insight regarding one Leeds United player. Find out who it is here. 

Manchester City may be forced to look for an heir to Fernandinho this summer should the Brazilian depart, but Oleksandr Zinchenko could step up as his replacement in Pep Guardiola’s side.

Whilst reports have suggested that Fernandinho will sign a new one-year contract at the Etihad, an official announcement is yet to have been made, and his contract is set to expire at the end of the month.

At 36, City will still have to look for a long-term replacement for the former Shakhtar Donetsk man even if he does extend his stay for another year, as Rodri cannot be expected to be City’s only defensive-minded midfielder across a whole season, so it seems clear that City will need another player who can feature there on a regular basis.

However, the Euro 2020 match between the Netherlands and Ukraine at the weekend emphasised that City may well be able to call upon Zinchenko to step up as Fernandinho’s replacement when he does eventually depart the club.

The 24-year-old, who has featured predominantly as a left-back during his time with City, produced a solid display in central midfield for his country, earning a 7.2/10 rating for his performance from SofaScore.

During the 90 minutes, Zinchenko would impressively win 12 duels and eight tackles, which was more than any other player on the pitch from both sides.

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After helping Ukraine to come back from 2-0 down to make it 2-2, he was caught out at the back post for the Netherlands’ winning goal, with Denzel Dumfries beating him to a header to make it 3-2, which also perhaps emphasised his vulnerability as a left-back.

Across his 20 appearances in the Premier League last season, the Ukrainian would average just 1.3 tackles per game, which suggests that he can be far more effective in a midfield role.

During his time at City, the “incredible” Zinchenko has been given very few opportunities to impress in midfield and has instead found himself competing with Joao Cancelo and Benjamin Mendy to be City’s first-choice left-back.

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If City were to bring in a left-back, such as Nuno Mendes, in the summer transfer window, then perhaps we could see Zinchenko feature further forward in Guardiola’s side next season, as his excellent battling performance against the Netherlands certainly suggests he could fill in as and when Fernandinho leaves.

And, in other news… Txiki signs Kane in £250m spending spree, no Laporte: How Man City could line up next term

Aston Villa have been handed an update on their pursuit of Southampton and England midfielder James Ward-Prowse.

What’s the story?

According to recent reports from The Guardian, Dean Smith is keen on making a move for Ward-Prowse, and now, Football Insider have delivered an update on the situation.

They claim that a recruitment source has told them that Smith’s side have now registered their interest in the midfielder and that it is very much “concrete”.

The report adds that a potential deal is still in the early stages, but Villa are planning for midfield changes this summer.

Dean Smith will be buzzing

Dubbed a “machine” by his teammates at Southampton, the £27m-rated Ward-Prowse had a fine season in the Premier League, scoring eight goals and providing a further seven assists in the top-flight – that also included a brace against Villa themselves back in November when the Saints ran out 4-3 winners.

The latest update that Villa have now registered their interest in the English ace, and that the Midlands club are “planning for midfield changes” will be music to the ears of the Villa boss.

The Villa midfield is arguably the one part through the spine of the team that was found lacking last season, with Emi Martinez a stand-out in goal, Ezri Konsa and Tyrone Mings a formidable presence in defence (they conceded just 46 goals all season), and Ollie Watkins up top.

But in central midfield and in the number ten role, Villa were lacking, with the likes of Douglas Luiz, John McGinn and Ross Barkley all well off the pace – none of them managed more than three goals each.

But with Ward-Prowse’s ability to get goals both from open play and from set-pieces, Villa could add a real game-changer to their ranks in the middle of the park.

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And, given what Smith has recently said about what he wants from his new signings, Ward-Prowse fits the bill.

He said: “In terms of our recruitment, we talk about the sweet spots that we’re looking for, which is that the players have Premier League experience and are (ideally) British because there is no adaptation risk at all.”

It’s exactly why this latest update should have Smith buzzing.

Meanwhile, Villa could form a superb partnership with this star…

Tottenham Hotspur legend Graham Roberts is doubtful over the potential appointment of Antonio Conte, insisting that he may not be “right” for the club.

The ex-Chelsea boss is reported to be leading the race to become the next Spurs boss following the sacking of Jose Mourinho.

Ryan Mason was placed in interim charge while chairman Daniel Levy hunted for a replacement and he now appears to have landed on his man, despite previous links with ex-boss Mauricio Pochettino.

Roberts remains wary of appointing another former Chelsea manager, given that Mourinho was also a legend at Stamford Bridge, though Conte did win the Premier League title in his first season in English football, having again taken over after Mourinho.

Conte also won Serie A with Inter Milan in 2020/21 but he walked away after a reported argument over the club potentially having to tighten its belt financially.

And Roberts does not think he fits the correct profile to be the next Spurs boss.

Speaking exclusively to The Transfer Tavern, he said: “Conte? I’m not sure he’s the right person for Tottenham Hotspur.

“He’s an Italian manager, he’s been at Chelsea. What are we going to do? Every time Chelsea get rid of their manager, we’re going to go for them are we?

“That’s not what the club’s about. It’s about people wanting to come to our club. We love playing easy football and that’s been taken away from us over the last 18 months and the fans are not happy.

“We have to get somebody that knows the background of the club and I’m not sure Conte is the person for that.”

Wilfried Zaha has reportedly told Crystal Palace that he wants to finalise a transfer away from the club before pre-season, according to The Times.

As Eagles supporters will know, this is not the first time the Ivorian has communicated a desire to leave South-East London.

Of course, the 28-year-old famously requested to move onto pastures new by transfer request in 2019 [Guardian] and 2020 respectively [Evening Standard].

His possible departure would come as a blow to Palace, as despite this upheaval away from the pitch, he rarely fails to deliver on it.

In a sparkling 2020/21 campaign, Zaha notched a mightily impressive 11 goals in 30 Premier League outings [Transfermarkt].

Currently without a manager after the departure of Roy Hodgson, the Palace faithful could well see a vastly different looking side run out at Selhurst Park next term if the winger departs.

Palace fans react

Coming in a period of uncertainty at the club, loads of Crystal Palace fans took to Twitter to voice their opinions on the matter. Responding to @cpfc_xtra, this is what many of their following had to say, with one supporter claiming this will be a ‘nightmare’ piece of news if things go awry…

“Can you blame him – the club sleepwalking into relegation”

Credit: @PalaceFanDan

“Bored now of Zaha, sell invest in younger talent we move on. Thanks Wilf but cya, he don’t want to be at club, so go.”

Credit @Besiktas1066

“Plus no one wants him cause he’s attitude stinks on the pitch”Credit: @cpfcjj89″If he does not get a move he is going to be a nightmare next season. Its best all round that he goes”Credit @R0BERTJ0NES1″Get your agent to sort it out then!”Credit: @CPFC_1988″Honestly just go at this point let’s rebuild without him.”Credit: @palacecarlton”Boring!”Credit: @RightSideOfFunkIn other news, Crystal Palace are eyeing a swoop for an international defender.

Leeds United boss Marcelo Bielsa has taken the first step to signing Hertha BSC star Matheus Cunha this summer as a fresh transfer update emerges.

What’s the story?

Reports in recent days have suggested that the Brazilian is a player who the Whites are interested in bringing to the Premier League this summer, and it appears there has now been movement in that pursuit.

According to German publication Bild (via Sport Witness), Bielsa’s side have already expressed their interest in signing the forward, and that a move could be on the cards after the 22-year-old received approval from Hertha to leave.

Imagine him and Bamford

The £27m-rated Brazilian has shades of Liverpool’s Roberto Firmino about him, with that impressive knack of getting his teammates involved, and it’s something which has been highlighted by the Bundesliga’s official website.

“Much like the former Bundesliga star, Cunha honed his skills on the streets of Brazil, giving him a one-up on defenders. He can beat them with his speed, skill or intelligence to drift from his marker, having practiced in every position across the front line.

“And much like Firmino, Cunha – even when leading the line – can be found dropping into midfield to pick up possession and link up play with teammates. It’s part of the reason why he’s such a hard attacker to defend against because more often than not, he’s not where you expect him to be.”

And that ability to drop off in between the lines, is what makes his potential partnership with Patrick Bamford a truly exciting one.

Dubbed as “something special” by former Hertha head coach Bruno Labbadia, the £55k-a-week earning Cunha averages an impressive 1.8 key passes and three dribbles per game, and clearly has that creative quality that Bamford could thrive off – to put those stats into context, only Raphinha averaged more key passes than Cunha in the entire Leeds squad, while no-one, not even the Brazilian, could manage his dribbles per match.

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Just like Raphinha however, Cunha is direct and pacy, and that’s exactly what Bielsa wants from his side given the intense pressing game that they play and how they are so deadly in transitions and counter-attacks.

Cunha’s partnership with Bamford could be a tantalising one, and the Hertha star also seems to have the kind of attributes that make him tailor-made for Bielsa.

Meanwhile, Leeds have been handed a major boost…