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Aston Villa are among a handful of Premier League clubs keeping an eye on an exciting Championship player, according to a new report.

The Villans play their second Champions League game of the season on Wednesday evening as they welcome Bayern Munich to Villa Park, but heading into the game there has been a bit of transfer news that could occur in 2025.

Emery benches Digne in 2 changes for predicted Aston Villa lineup v Bayern

Aston Villa will be nervously preparing for their Champions League showdown versus Bayern Munich.

ByKelan Sarson Oct 2, 2024 Aston Villa transfer news

Unai Emery’s side were very busy during the summer, as they put together a squad that could compete in the league once again as well as in Europe. It has been a good start to the campaign for the Midlands side, but it appears that they could have their eye on more transfer business in 2025.

Villa are said to be keeping a close eye on Atletico Madrid player Samuel Lino, as Emery is keen to improve his options on the left-hand side of his team. The club’s sporting director, Monchi, has been keeping an eye on the player ever since he joined the La Liga side in 2022, and it now seems they are readying their move.

Meanwhile, Aston Villa are also looking to improve their forward line, as they are interested in signing Valencia striker Hugo Duro. They have been left impressed by Duro’s performances in Spain, and are keen to add him to their squad in the near future. Interest in Duro comes as there are still concerns about the future of Jhon Duran despite his excellent form in front of goal.

Aston Villa send scouts to watch two Boro stars

According to TBR Football, Aston Villa had scouts in place to watch Middlesbrough’s Hayden Hackney and Rav van den Berg against West Brom at The Hawthorns on Tuesday evening. The representatives from Villa were there to look at both West Brom and Boro, but they looked closely at Hackney in particular, who has been very impressive in the Championship this season.

Hackney, who has been labelled as “immense” by his manager Michael Carrick, scored the only goal on Tuesday, and it would be no surprise to see him turning out in the top flight next season. It appears that his form has caught the attention of Villa, who were joined by scouts from Nottingham Forest and Wolves.

Van den Berg meanwhile joined Boro in the summer of 2023, and was an important performer for them last season. The defender has missed the last few games through injury, but made his third start in the league on Tuesday as Boro picked up a huge result.

Rav van den Berg

Hayden Hackney

Apps

43

77

Goals

1

7

Assists

0

6

He may be someone that Villa look to bring in as a long-term replacement for Diego Carlos, who put in a struggling performance against Ipswich Town and hasn’t really nailed down a place during his time at Villa Park.

Gary Stead said it was important to manage coaching workload during a long period on the road

ESPNcricinfo staff10-May-2022

Luke Wright will be with New Zealand for some of their limited-overs tours•Alex Davidson/Getty Images

Luke Wright, the former England allrounder, will be part of New Zealand’s coaching staff during their upcoming limited-overs tours of Ireland, Scotland and Netherlands.Wright is part of an expanded coaching group which means no one will be involved in New Zealand’s full schedule of tours which begins with the Test series against England and runs through to August in West Indies.Dion Ebrahim, Dean Brownlie and Graeme Aldridge will also be part of the set-up alongside lead bowling coach Shane Jurgensen and batting coach Luke Ronchi.Ebrahim, the former Zimbabwe batter who played 29 Tests and is now Otago head coach, will be part of the England Test tour before Wright, who stepped down as Sussex’s T20 captain earlier this year and has previously worked as an assistant coach for Melbourne Stars in the BBL, joins for the white-ball matches.Related

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Head coach Gary Stead will miss the tour of Ireland – which will be led by Jurgensen – before returning for the Scotland and Netherlands series followed by a tour of West Indies in August. Jurgensen and Ronchi will return home after Ireland to be replaced by Aldridge and Brownlie. New Zealand used a similar mix of coaches last year.”A key lesson from last year’s Covid-enforced schedules was the importance of keeping not just our players fresh, but also our staff,” Stead said. “We’ve got 14 weeks of non-stop cricket ahead in all three formats and across four countries – along with a T20 World Cup also looming in Australia in October.”We need to ensure our coaches are at the top of their games throughout that period, and able to create an environment in which the team can continue to improve and thrive.”Aldridge and Brownlie have previously been involved in the national set-up while Stead was looking forward to the ideas that Wright and Ebrahim will bring.”Along with the practicality of having an extra set of hands, it’s also a way of introducing different voices and skills to the group, as well as giving the fourth coaches themselves an opportunity to learn and develop,” he said.”Dion is a promising new head coach on the domestic scene. I’m sure he will get plenty out of touring with the Blackcaps. Luke will offer in-depth knowledge of the conditions in the UK and his vast experiences in T20 cricket all around the world.”

Craig Ervine will captain Zimbabwe for their three-match ODI series in Sri Lanka. The series is part of the World Cup Super League, with these three ODIs Zimbabwe’s first 50-over matches since a three-match series against Ireland in September.Ervine has been entrusted with the responsibility to lead Zimbabwe once again after he captained the team for the limited-overs tour to Ireland and Scotland in August-September last year.The squad sees opening batter Takudzwanashe Kaitano and wicketkeeper Clive Madande included for the first time, while allrounder Tino Mutombodzi has returned to the national side. Experienced middle-order batters Sikandar Raza and Sean Williams are also part of the side, while Zimbabwe resume life without Brendan Taylor, who retired from international cricket in August.The three games will take place on January 16, 18 and 21. The last time the two sides played an ODI series, Zimbabwe stunned the hosts, famously winning the five-match series 3-2. It remains the only multi-game ODI series Zimbabwe have won in Sri Lanka.Sri Lanka’s last ODI series came against South Africa at home, with the hosts winning 2-1.According to Zimbabwe Cricket, the side will leave for Sri Lanka on Saturday.Squad: Craig Ervine (capt), Ryan Burl, Regis Chakabva, Tendai Chatara, Luke Jongwe, Takudzwanashe Kaitano, Clive Madande, Wesly Madhevere, Wellington Masakadza, Tinotenda Mutombodzi, Blessing Muzarabani, Richard Ngarava, Sikandar Raza, Milton Shumba, Sean Williams

Last Sunday, Shaheen Shah Afridi did the star turn in Dubai, his (in)swing and seam ripping out India’s top order. New Zealand’s left-arm swing bowler Trent Boult is now licking his lips at the prospect of doing an Afridi on India this Sunday in Dubai.Boult comes in armed with 71 wickets in 26 games against India across formats. In particular, he has a strong head-to-head against opening batter Rohit Sharma, having taken him out three times in seven T20 innings while giving up only 29 runs off 24 balls.Related

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“It depends when I get to bowl,” Boult said on the eve of the match against India. “Not too sure what the plan is with what overs certain bowlers are bowling, but yeah the way Shaheen bowled the other night was… from a left-armer watching on I thought it was amazing. But, yeah, there’s qualify batsmen in that Indian line-up. Early wickets are definitely the focus for us as a bowling group. But, here, we just need to be nice and clear and nice and accurate where we are trying to put the ball. But, hopefully from my point of view, it swings around a little bit and I can mirror what Shaheen did the other night (laughs).”Toss has been a significant factor in this T20 World Cup, with the teams chasing winning all but two games in the Super 12s so far in the UAE. Boult was wary of it, and the threat posed by dew, but backed New Zealand to find a way, if they are asked to defend a total in Dubai.Tearaway Lockie Ferguson has been sidelined from the rest of the tournament with a calf tear, but New Zealand have had a ready-made replacement in Adam Milne who has been upgraded from the reserves. Milne could well be one of New Zealand’s options to counter India in the middle and end overs.”Whatever we do first, we need to do it extremely well,” Bout said. “India brings a lot of challenges – quality batting line-up, but with the ball we just need to be clear about the options on how to shut these guys down and obviously give them a bigger chase as possible, but it’s going to be a good challenge. Our first game in Dubai, but the wicket looks pretty good there. Yeah, really look forward to taking them on.”It’s a hard one to understand how much dew is going to come in. But, from the one game we’ve experienced so far [in Sharjah], there hasn’t been too much of it. The overhead conditions have cooled down a lot nicely, so yeah just got to take your time and make sure you got a good grip on the ball and try to be as accurate as you can.”New Zealand have won seven of their ten World Cup matches against India and more recently they toppled them in the inaugural World Test Championship final in Southampton. Boult, however, denied that New Zealand had the wood over India in the lead-up to Sunday’s clash.”I wouldn’t say we have an extra edge,” Boult said. “Both sides are stacked with quality players. In terms of our team, we’re definitely excited about the opportunity that lies ahead for us. Few guys have been here in the UAE, playing the IPL, have relationships and have played with a lot of these Indian guys a lot. Here’s hoping we can put it all together tomorrow afternoon and get our ball rolling.”Boult was hopeful of New Zealand having a fit-again Martin Guptill at their disposal against India after Pakistan quick Haris Rauf smacked his toe with a near-150-kph yorker on Tuesday. Guptill’s left toe was badly bruised after that blow, but he has since returned to training.”Gup is pretty good,” Boult said. “He trained fully yesterday and didn’t see too many issues with him. So, he’s definitely a big piece of puzzle for us at the top of the innings. So, from what I know, he’s good to go.”

England duo have the last laugh after posting crucial innings at the SCG

AAP07-Jan-2022Jonny Bairstow wishes his abusers were still there when he walked off the SCG in triumph.Security evicted three fans from the ground after Bairstow and Ben Stokes were subjected to verbal barbs during Friday’s tea break.The England pair clearly took exception to something that was said as they were about to enter the visitors’ dressing room. Stokes stared down a member of the crowd, while Bairstow fired back in response. It’s believed three spectators were asked to leave the venue soon after.Jonny Bairstow and Ben Stokes batted through the afternoon session•Getty Images

A couple of hours later, Bairstow walked back to the dressing room in triumph after scoring an unbeaten century.”It would be nicer if they were there giving it when we walked off at the end, wouldn’t it?” Bairstow said after the day’s play. “But unfortunately, they weren’t there at the end and they missed the end of a fantastic day’s Test cricket.”Bairstow said the abuse was not on and the fans responsible needed to be told as much.”It was just a bit of bad-mouthing from the crowd and obviously it’s not the greatest and it’s not needed,” he said. “We’re out there trying to do our jobs. People are out there, enjoying the day’s cricket and unfortunately sometimes you have people overstep the mark.Related

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“It’s important to stand up for ourselves, because if we’re not standing up for ourselves as well, then you can cop it and especially when people overstep the mark, they need to be told.”The incident comes one year after India paceman Mohammed Siraj, then fielding on the rope, halted play at the same venue to report racial abuse. Six spectators were removed from the ground on that occasion.Cricket Australia (CA) conducted an investigation into the Siraj episode with NSW Police, clearing the six fans of racially abusing Siraj during the Test. However, CA also made it clear while releasing the result of the probe that “members of the Indian cricket team were subjected to racial abuse”.

Arsenal are keen to sign a Premier League winner this summer as their hunt for attacking reinforcements heats up, according to one recent report.

Arsenal waiting on departures for statement signing

Like an overflowing nightclub, it seems clear that Mikel Arteta's side are now operating on a one-in, one-out policy ahead of the upcoming Premier League campaign.

Riccardo Calafiori's arrival has been the only major piece of business in north London so far this summer, with three other deals including two young goalkeepers and the anticipated permanent move for David Raya following his loan spell in the 2023-24 season.

Much of that has been down to sales; the Gunners parted ways with academy talent Emile Smith Rowe in a deal worth £34m last week, but that was their first sale of the summer with five more players leaving either on loan or for free.

As a consequence of Smith Rowe's exit, Mikel Merino's arrival from Real Sociedad, ostensibly to play in the same midfield role, has accelerated with personal terms having been agreed for the EURO 2024 winner.

The same is likely to happen in their frontline, with both Eddie Nketiah and Reiss Nelson free to leave this summer should their valuations be met. Arsenal are believed to be holding out for £30m to part ways with Nketiah, while Nelson is attracting attention from across the Premier League as he seeks his own new challenge away from north London, just 12 months on from penning a new deal at the Emirates Stadium.

Should they depart, the Gunners are eyeing up a former Premier League winner to replace them.

Arsenal target Premier League striker

That comes as reports link Arsenal with a surprise move for Bournemouth striker Dominic Solanke, with the English striker having enjoyed an excellent 2023-24 season with the Cherries.

Solanke still has three years left to run on his £70,000 a week deal at the Vitality Stadium, but has also been linked with a move to north London rivals Tottenham as clubs look to prise him away from the south coast.

The 26-year-old was part of Chelsea's Premier League title-winning squad in 2016/17 and has since forged a career for himself at Bournemouth, and found the net on 19 occasions last season, his best-ever Premier League return.

Dominic Solanke's impressive form at Bournemouth

Season

Goals

2023-24

19

2022-23

6

2021-22 (Championship)

29

Now, Caught offside claim that Arsenal "have turned their attention" to Solanke after refusing to pay the asking price for Sporting CP striker Viktor Gyokeres, with a deal for the Swede now considered "very unlikely".

They add that Bournemouth do not want to sell the striker this summer, but that his contract on the south coast "contains a £65m release clause" which can be activated by any of the "big six" Premier League sides.

Edu could re-sign £197,000-per-week ex-Arsenal star to replace 26-year-old

The Gunners may look to a former hero.

ByEmilio Galantini Aug 3, 2024

It means that Solanke could end up being a far cheaper option than the likes of Gyokeres or Victor Osimhen, who the Gunners have also been linked with, while Solanke is also "believed to be open" to the idea of leaving the Vitality Stadium this summer.

Is he the striker Arsenal should be looking to sign in the final weeks of the window?