Wolverhampton Wanderers have now entered the race to sign a “superb” defender in 2026, and he could be available on a free transfer.

Wolves looking to shore up shaky defence

At this point, Wolves are likely to have major concerns about recording the lowest-ever Premier League points total, having taken a measly two points from their opening 17 games, with Derby County the unwanted holders of the existing record, after collecting 11 points in 2007-08.

Not only have the Old Gold been extremely poor from an attacking point of view, having scored just nine league goals, their defence has also leaked goals far too often, shipping 37, the highest number of any top flight side.

In truth, it could be difficult to attract new players when the transfer window opens in just over one week, given that Rob Edwards’ side are already 16 points adrift of safety, having lost nine matches on the spin in all competitions.

However, they have now set out to sign a new defender, according to a report from Quotidiano Sportivo (via Sport Witness), which states that Wolves have joined the race for Union Berlin’s Diogo Leite, who is expected to leave the German club in 2026.

Indeed, with Leite’s contract due to expire at the end of the season, he will be free to start negotiating a move to a new club next month, with a free transfer possible in the summer, and there is no shortage of potential suitors waiting in the wings.

Bologna, Fiorentina and Girona are also credited with an interest in the Union Berlin star, with a move to Molineux currently deemed unlikely, given that he has aspirations of playing in Europe.

Related Wolves now want to sign 'top talent' from Man City with player set to leave in January

Rob Edwards’ side need inspiration from somewhere.

Posts ByEmilio Galantini "Superb" Leite could be excellent signing for Wolves

In truth, the chances of Wolves being able to get a deal done seem thin, given that it is looking increasingly likely they will be playing Championship football next season, but the 26-year-old could be a solid addition to Edwards’ squad.

Lauded as “superb” by scout Jacek Kulig, the Portuguese defender is experienced in Europe, having made 16 appearances in the Europa League and 10 in the Champions League, while he has also caught the eye in the Bundesliga over the past year.

Diogo Leite’s key statistics

Average per 90 (past year)

Interceptions

1.63 (94th percentile)

Blocks

1.59 (88th percentile)

Clearances

7.04 (88th percentile)

Aerials won

2.75 (77th percentile)

In fact, given the level of the Porto-born defender’s performances, he is now starting to attract interest from some of Europe’s top clubs.

As such, while Wolves clearly need some inspiration from somewhere if they are going to avoid the drop, Leite may not be an attainable target in January, or at the end of the campaign, at which point they will most likely be a Championship club.

Despite only managing to steal a point from their home game against Crystal Palace on Tuesday evening, West Ham fans can be encouraged by their teams’ determination, which had been missing in droves during the first part of their campaign.

In a rather uneventful 90 minutes, a Mark Noble penalty helped West Ham back into the game after Christian Benteke had given Palace the lead mid way through the first half. The score remained level throughout the rest of the match but West Ham looked the better of the two sides and had opportunities to take all three points.

One man who particularly impressed for the Hammers was new signing Joao Mario. The Portuguese midfielder, who is valued at £23.4million on Transfermarkt, looked mightily impressive on his Premier League debut, distributing the ball well and contributing defensively too.

After the game, West Ham fans took to Twitter with excitement regarding the performance of their new signing.,.

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Spurs’ record signing Roberto Soldado is set to stay at the club, after a rather poor two years in North London. Having arrived in a £26m deal from Valencia, Soldado seemed sold-out of ideas.

Tottenham boss Mauricio Pochettino’s decision to hand the Spaniard a lifeline seems an odd one, with an over-reliance on 31-goal star Harry Kane a problem last year. Could this be the biggest mistake to come out of White Hart Lane this summer?

In their quest for all things Champions League, Spurs have not exactly set the world alight in the transfer market. Toby Alderwiereld, Kieran Trippier, Dele Ali and Kevin Wimmer have arrived at the club, with only Belgian star Alderwiereld and former MK Dons star Dele Ali likely to provide competition for the Argentine’s starting XI.

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The focus this year appears to be on shifting the deadwood out of the club. Etienne Capoue, Vlad Chirches, Paulinho and Younes Kaboul have left the club this year. Midfield man Benjamin Stambouli somehow did enough to win a move to Ligue 1 giants PSG. Yet Soldado has survived.

The lack of activity is perhaps understandable, considering the £100m wasted following the sale of Gareth Bale back in 2013.

However, the Lilywhites must be in the chase for the Champions League, and Pochettino must know the consequences of not qualifying. Chairman Daniel Levy is not exactly lenient.

With fellow top four hopefuls Liverpool strengthening their squad sufficiently, Spurs are at risk of being left behind. Shipping Soldado out may not solve all of their problems, but it is a start. Linked with a £12m move to Villarreal, at least re-couping some of the fee shelled out to him can go towards a replacement.

Seven strikes in 51 games is not good going. The former Spanish international works his socks off, but as Radamel Falcao showed us last year, that is not always enough. The high pressing system employed by the former Southampton boss would surely suit a younger replacement, not a 30-year old who has failed to live up to expectations.

Harry Kane has rightly earned the right to be considered the starting striker at the club, and with his service, the North Londoners can boast the most prolific Englishman in the league last year. However, a long season gets even longer with a Europa League campaign thrown into the mix, and Spurs need options.

Holding on to the hope Soldado will rediscover his La Liga form is an admirable notion. Is it a realistic one? Probably not.

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In Pochettino, Tottenham have opted for a stylish young manager to drag them away from the rigid Andre Villas-Boas era, one who will field a vibrant young side. In keeping their Spanish stinker, they are holding on to a forgettable period in their history.

Selling Soldado will not solve every problem dragging Tottenham away from the top four spots. However, it will represent a complete departure from the Villas-Boas era, as they enter a new dawn.

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The second day’s play at the Gymkhana ground in Jorhatwitnessed the fall of 17 wickets as Assam collapsed in theirsecond innings after taking a 51-run lead over Sikkim in theirEast Zone Under-14 tournament match on Wednesday.Having bundled out Sikkim for 130 in their first innings,Assam began with a hiccup losing opener Arijit Sen Gupta (5)off the third over of the innings. Thereafter Tashi TopdenBhutia (4 for 20) along with Sangay Dorjee Bhutia (3 for 21)took over the proceedings. They ran through the Assam line-upto leave them tottering at 83 for 9 when stumps were drawn.Only three batsmen opener Prakash Bagat (21), Parwez Aziz (14)and Sadek Imran Choudhury (12) reached double figures.Earlier, resuming at 22 for 2, Sikkim lost their way earlywhen they lost two quick wickets. At 34 for 4, Tshering WangdiBhutia (39) and Bimal Singh (27) came togather and added 64runs for the fifth wicket. Bimal was the fifth batsman to bedismissed when he fell leg before to Ibrahim Ali. His falltriggered a collapse and Sikkim’s first innings folded up.Assam on Tuesday had scored 181 in their first innings.

ScorecardFile photo: Heino Kuhn and Henry Davids added 149 for the first wicket to set up Titans’ win•BCCI

Titans kept their faint hopes of reaching the play-offs alive, beating Knights by three wickets according to the Duckworth-Lewis method in Bloemfontein. Titans cruised to a revised target of 271 from 48 overs with six overs to spare but failed to get the bonus point that would have bettered their chances of qualification.Titans now have 19 points from nine games, four points short of third-placed Dolphins and five points behind Warriors, who are placed second.The Titans chase was set up by a 149-run opening stand between the captain Henry Davids and Heino Kuhn.Kuhn blasted a 80-ball 92 with 13 fours, while Davids played a more patient 73 off 78 deliveries. After Davids fell, Kuhn put together a 48-run stand with Cobus Pienaar, marching towards the total. However, once Knights got Kuhn out, the Titans’ middle order, in an attempt to snatch a bonus point, began to recklessly attack the bowlers and lost three wickets in successive overs, going from 220 for 2 to 231 for 5.Pacers Quinton Friend and Malusi Siboto picked up three wickets apiece, as Knights tried to claw their way back into the game, but the start provided by the openers gave Titans enough impetus to achieve the target in 42 overs.Earlier, Knights chose to bat and were buoyed by starts from their top-order batsmen, who added steady stands for the first and second wickets. An 85-run, third-wicket stand between Dean Elgar and Rilee Rossouw set the platform for a challenging total. Rossouw smashed 87 off 76 deliveries with 11 fours and a six, before late contributions from Pite van Biljon and Diego Rosier propelled them to 279 for 7 from their 50 overs.Titans must now beat Warriors on Friday, and hope that Cape Cobras beat Dolphins, to stand any chance of qualifying.
ScorecardCape Cobras maintained their position on top of the points table with a tight one-run win over Warriors in Paarl. Warriors, chasing 239, needed 14 runs off the final over, but lost Christiaan Jonker, who had brought the side to the brink of victory, off the fourth ball. No. 9 batsman Andrew Birch came in and smacked a four but, with three needed off the final ball, hit Lizaad Williams’ well-disguised slower ball straight to cover, and was run-out attempting a second run.Warriors lost wickets at regular intervals during the run-chase and were precariously placed at 153 for 6, before Christiaan Jonker and Simon Harmer counterattacked with a 80-run seventh-wicket stand. Jonker’s run-a-ball 66 included three fours and two sixes, while Harmer remained unbeaten on 32 off 26 balls.Earlier, Andrew Puttick scored his 10th List A hundred to help the shaky Cobras line-up reach 239 for 8. Puttick hit 10 fours during his 108 off 138 balls, and added 71 for the fifth wicket with Justin Ontong, to keep the side’s innings going in spite of regular wickets on a dry pitch that produced reverse swing. Puttick fell in the 49th over to pacer Rusty Theron, who finished with 3 for 44.

Pakistan allrounder Mohammad Hafeez has been banned from bowling in international cricket for 12 months after his action was found to be illegal for a second time since November 2014. He will be able to have his action reassessed by the ICC only after this period is completed.Hafeez, 34, had undergone testing at an ICC-accredited lab in Chennai on July 6, after his action was reported following the first Test against Sri Lanka in Galle in June. The tests revealed Hafeez’s action exceeded the permitted 15-degree limit.”As this report has constituted the player’s second report within a two-year period, the first of which led to a suspension, he is now automatically suspended from bowling in international cricket for a 12-month period,” the ICC said. “Hafeez is entitled to appeal any procedural aspect of an independent assessment that has led to this automatic suspension. However, only after the expiry of this one-year period will he be entitled to approach the ICC for a reassessment of his bowling action.”

Hafeez’s troubles

• November 2014 – Reported for a suspect action after Abu Dhabi Test v New Zealand

• December 2014 – Suspended from bowling in international cricket

• December 2014 – Tests reveal flex of elbow was as far as 31 degrees

• January 2015 – Fails unofficial retest

• April 2015 – Passes an official retest and is cleared to bowl again

• June 2015 – Reported again after the Galle Test v Sri Lanka

• July 2015 – Banned for 12 months

Hafeez had been reported for a suspect action after the Abu Dhabi Test against New Zealand in November last year, and in December his action was found to be illegal following tests at an ICC accredited centre in Loughborough, England. He was found to have an elbow extension up to 31 degrees.He underwent remedial work at a biomechanics lab in Chennai, but failed an unofficial test on his action on January 3. Later that month the PCB requested the ICC to retest Hafeez’s action in February in Brisbane, so that he could bowl at the World Cup if cleared, but he was ruled out of the tournament with a calf injury. Hafeez was finally cleared to bowl again in international cricket on April 21, after more tests on his action in Chennai.After he was reported following the Galle match, Hafeez bowled in the second Test in Colombo, where he took one wicket before travelling to Chennai to have his action tested. He missed the third Test in Pallekele as a result, but returned to play the first two ODIs in Sri Lanka, taking 4 for 41 and 2 for 61.

ScorecardIrfan Ahmed blasted four sixes and nine fours during his 55-ball 98•ICC/Sportsfile

Opener Irfan Ahmed blazed to a 55-ball 98 after which left-arm spinner Nadeem Ahmed took a career-best 5 for 12 to lead Hong Kong past Namibia by 83 runs. The victory ensured Hong Kong’s qualification for the playoff stages and remain in the hunt for a World T20 spot. Namibia, despite the loss, will join them.Hong Kong, having been inserted, got off to a rapid start – 56 in five overs – before Gerrie Snyman dismissed Jamie Atkinson in the sixth over. Two 30-plus partnerships took the total past 120. Irfan then added 54 runs off 26 balls with Babar Hayat for the third wicket, but both batsmen fell in the space of two balls. Hong Kong were 178 for 5 in the 18th over, but could only add 19 runs in the remaining 15 deliveries to finish on 197 for 8.Irfan had four sixes and nine fours to make his career best score, but fell fell two runs short of what would have been the first century of this year’s World T20 Qualifier.Namibia openers Snyman and Stephan Baard began the chase strongly. They took the score to 23 for 0 in the second over but fell in successive balls to seamer Haseeb Amjad. Then Hong Kong captain Tanvir Afzal got rid of Raymond van Schoor in the fifth over but Namibia kept up with the asking rate and were 101 for 4 in the 11th over. But they lost the remaining six wickets for only 13 runs.Nadeem was at the centre of that collapse, strike twice in 12th and doing it again in the 14th over to run through the tail and bring the match to a very quick and abrupt finish.

Plans for the county season to start overseas are back on the table as the ECB looks to find a solution to fixture congestion in the domestic season.With the ECB’s plans to reduce the County Championship schedule to 14 games per side abandoned for at least another year and clearly unacceptable to several counties, further options will now be considered. And one of those plans, favoured by Sussex among others, is to move part of the domestic programme into March and play the games overseas. Possible destinations include Spain, the UAE, South Africa and various Caribbean nations.While Sussex have suggested only playing “part of a domestic 50-over tournament overseas before the start of the normal season” it is possible that up to two Championship matches and two 50-over matches per county could be played outside England and Wales.When the plans were first mooted, in June 2013, they received a lukewarm reception. But now, as county members reflect on some of the possible scenarios, this may be considered the least bad option.There are decent cricketing reasons for the initiative. It would ensure a symmetrical fixture list in both divisions and it would enable players to gain more exposure in conditions that would favour spin bowling far more than would be the case in early-season England. It would also ease fixture congestion during the rest of the season and allow the time the England team management insist is required for rest, recovery and practice.It is understood that, at the time the idea was first aired, several tourist boards and travel companies contacted the ECB to offer sponsorship or incentives, so the costs may not be as much of an issue as they might appear at first glance. About half of the counties currently prepare for the domestic season with overseas tours. The UAE and Barbados are the most common venues.While county members would be encouraged to travel to watch the games, many would find the cost prohibitive and would naturally resist the reduction in cricket available close to home. But with compromise likely over the coming months, it is one option that will warrant further discussion.

Brendon McCullum did not mention “match-fixing” in a statement relating to an approach made to him by Chris Cairns, according to John Rhodes, the Australasian head of the ICC’s anti-corruption and security unit (ACSU).Cairns, who is on trial at Southwark Crown Court in London and denies two counts of perjury and perverting the course of justice, was claimed to have discussed spot-fixing during a meeting with McCullum in a Kolkata hotel room in 2008.However, according to Rhodes, to whom McCullum admitted the approach three years later following an ICC anti-corruption briefing, the New Zealand captain’s statement in February 2011 mentioned a “business proposition” but did not include an explicit reference to match-fixing.Orlando Pownall, QC, Cairns’ defence lawyer, read extracts from McCullum’s statement to the court: “We had a general conversation and then after about half an hour he [Cairns] asked me if I knew anything about spread betting. I told him that I didn’t. I initially thought he was taking the piss.”Cairns then started to explain using a pen and paper: “He was telling me you can make a great deal of money. He told me you could make between US$80,000 to US$250,000 a day. He told me that he had never done it on an international match.”Pownall put it to Rhodes that the conversation between McCullum and Cairns concerned betting, not an approach for McCullum to underperform in a particular match.Rhodes responded: “The inference is in the statement. It is clear to me that an approach is being made by Mr Cairns to Mr McCullum.””To fix matches or to underperform?” asked Pownall.”Yes,” said Rhodes.”Where does it say that?” Pownall continued, to which Rhodes replied: “It doesn’t.”When asked why he had not requested McCullum clarify what he meant, Rhodes stated he was not “in a position to put words” into his mouth.The ACSU, Pownall suggested, had done “nothing” in response to McCullum’s statement, although Rhodes said that, as an unsanctioned tournament, the Indian Cricket League (ICL) was beyond the jurisdiction of the ICC.The allegations, Pownall suggested, were “potentially momentous”. However, Rhodes argued that without corroboration from any other source they remained unsubstantiated.Rhodes added that he had “no reason” to believe McCullum had not been telling the truth. However, he said that as a field officer, his job was simply to collect information – it was up to his superiors to investigate his findings.Rhodes recalled that McCullum had met him in Nagpur, along with his then-captain, Daniel Vettori, whom Rhodes stated did not contribute to the meeting and had been attending to provide support for McCullum.However, under cross-examination, Rhodes was shown a statement made by Vettori in February 2014, in which he said he had asked Cairns to buy him a diamond ring with the money he was owed for undertaking a promotional tour for an Indian toothpaste company after the Champions Trophy in 2011.Asked why his evidence had omitted this detail, Rhodes said that he did not recall Vettori’s comment. “What I am saying is that if Mr Vettori is saying to me that he said that to me in Nagpur, then I will accept that.”Rhodes told the court that he had not made any notes of that conversation, adding that he had lost his diary for 2011. He also admitted that he had not made a note of McCullum’s request that New Zealand Cricket should not be told he was making a statement.Sir Ronnie Flanagan, the current chairman of the ACSU, also gave evidence. He denied that Cairns had been made a scapegoat to deflect media criticism into his unit’s lack of success in tackling corruption.”Corners were cut, normal action was left to one side with a view to achieving the scalp of Chris Cairns,” Pownall suggested.Flanagan replied, “absolutely not”, adding: “If scalp turns out to be an appropriate description, I think it is an absolute tragedy.”The trial continues.

The chance to show off their depth rather than the concerns of whether the waters may be too shallow is how Hashim Amla has described the challenge South Africa face in Bangalore. His team go into the match without two of three first-choice fast bowlers, after Vernon Philander and Dale Steyn were ruled out of the series and match respectively, leaving South Africa with a young attack who Amla believes will be able to fill big shoes.”A series is generally won with 15 players and not just 11,” Amla said. “Obviously losing Dale – the best bowler in the world – and Vernon – arguably the best allrounder in the world – changes the dynamics of our team but the guys who are going to be replacing them are quality cricketers and we are very fortunate to have great depth in our bowling attack.”South Africa’s new-look pace pack will be led by Morne Morkel, who has recovered from the quad strain that kept him out of the last two ODIs and the first Test, and seconded by Kyle Abbott and Kagiso Rabada. Between them, they have played just four Tests and Rabada only one – South Africa’s previous one in Mohali – but they will be need to take on the roles of much more experienced men. But Amla brushed off worries about his attack being too green.”Things like this happen and sometimes you get fairy tales coming out of these type of things. If Kyle rocks up and has an amazing day then so be it,” he said.Abbott has already been part of one Cinderella story. On debut, he stood in for Jacques Kallis, who missed the 2013 Centurion Test against Pakistan with a calf injury and became the second most successful South African on debut. He took 7 for 29 in the first innings and finished the match with nine scalps.Although he has not had the same success in the two other Tests he played – as part of a four-man pace pack against Australia in March 2014 and against West Indies in December 2014 – he has done well when filling in for the likes of Philander and Steyn in ODI cricket and is regarded as South Africa’s go-to deputiser.”Over the last couple of years Kyle has been one of our outstanding reserve bowlers. Whenever he has had an opportunity for us in T20s, ODIs and even in Tests, he has done exceptionally well,” Amla said. “It’s great to have him back.”Abbott will be back barely after stepping off the plane, having arrived in India on Thursday evening. Less than 48 hours later he could be on the field but Amla is not worried about jet-lag either. “Kyle is a wonderful professional and when he puts his boots on he’s ready, even if he got off the plane 10 minutes before he bowled the first ball,” Amla said.South Africa’s desperation to use Abbott comes because they see him as a like-for-like replacement for both Philander and Steyn because of his consistency and his ability to swing the ball. “He brings a little bit of what Vernon brings in terms of consistency, you kind of know what you are going to get, he is extremely consistent in where he lands the ball,” Amla said. “He brings a lot of control and he has got a great know-how of what he wants to do.”Abbott stood in for Philander at the 2015 World Cup, where he played four matches including the quarter-final because Philander was battling a hamstring injury. Abbott finished with South Africa’s best average in the tournament – 14.44 – and was controversially replaced in the semi-final when Philander regained fitness. The irony of Abbott now replacing Philander will not be lost on the many who followed the story of Abbott being left out of the semi-final XI for what was later revealed as political, not tactical, considerations.This time there are no politics involved, only strategy. South Africa seem set on three seamers in every match, not fewer, because they don’t want to leave too much for their part-timer bowlers, specifically JP Duminy, to do. Duminy has recovered from a cut on his hand and will be back in the XI but selector Ashwell Prince, speaking on a television show, said Duminy’s focus should be his batting.”I would like him, if he comes back into the team, to play as a batsman, a world-class batsman… the responsibility of his off spin needs to come off his shoulders. It must be seen as a bonus, as with Dean Elgar’s left-arm spin,” Prince said.Amla seems to be leaning the same way. He spoke about Duminy’s value as a batsmen above the options he provides with ball in hand. “JP has been a quality player over many years for us. He bats in a crucial position down at No. 5, 6 and 7. In all forms of cricket, that’s the business end of the game,” Amla said. “He brings a lot of know-how and experience to the middle order and his off spin has been vital for us.”Duminy will do some bowling but all indications are that South Africa will continue to rely on their traditional strength in seamers although not all their strong men are available anymore.