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GOAL rates all of the Reds on show as the Dutchman helped himself to another two goals to see the champions through to the last eight

Just call Cody Gakpo the King of the Carabao Cup! The Dutchman's double helped Liverpool kick-off their title defence with a 5-1 rout of West Ham at the tail end of September, and he bagged another brace in Wednesday's 3-2 fourth-round win at Brighton, meaning he now has eight goals in the competition since the start of last season.

Gakpo's 46th-minute opener at the Amex was a stunner, with the versatile winger cutting inside onto his favoured right foot before whipping the ball past Jason Steele from the left-hand side of the area. Gakpo struck again midway through the second half, this time rifling home after pouncing on some sloppy play from Tariq Lamptey.

Brighton pulled a goal back with 10 minutes to go through Simon Adingra, but Arne Slot's side promptly restored their two-goal advantage thanks to Luis Diaz – which was just as well for the visitors, as Lamptey's deflected effort found its way past Vitezslav Jaros in the final minute.

Below, GOAL rates all of the Reds on show as the reigning champions progressed to the quarter-finals of the Carabao Cup…

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Vitezslav Jaros (7.5/10):

With Kelleher temporarily first-choice because of Alisson's injury, Liverpool's No.3 was handed a first start for the club and got the better of Lamptey in a one-on-one in the first half before pulling off an even better finger-tip save to deny Adingra after the break. Nothing he could have done about Lamptey's late goal but he might be disappointed that he didn't do a better job dealing with the Ferguson effort that led to Adingra's goal.

Conor Bradley (6.5/10):

Alexander-Arnold's apparent heir was always looking to get forward, even popping up in central attacking areas, but didn't exactly advance his claims for a starting spot.

Joe Gomez (6.5/10):

A rare start in his preferred position at centre-back and did well. Good on the ball and strong in the air.

Jarell Quansah (4/10):

Began brightly, hoovering up a lot of possession in the first half, but went to pieces in the closing stages and was hauled off in injury-time after giving the ball away for Brighton's first goal, and then unfortunately deflecting Lamptey's shot past his own goalkeeper for their second.

Andy Robertson (6.5/10):

Captain for the evening and was far more influential than he was at Arsenal on Sunday, setting up Szoboszlai for a good chance while also going close to scoring just before the break. But Lamptey's pace caused him problems throughout.

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Tyler Morton (7/10):

A little loose with his passing in the first half but always looking to make something happen, so no surprise to see him find Gakpo in space for the Dutchman's opener. Also impressed with his willingness to get stuck in before his withdrawal.

Wataru Endo (6/10):

Started slowly but was metronomic with his passing thereafter and, as usual, also won a lot of duels in the middle of the park. Booked after the break, though, and that, coupled with his lack of match fitness, contributed to the Japan international coming off midway through the second half.

Curtis Jones (7/10):

Very neat and tidy in possession but wasn't as influential as he would have liked. Still, won the ball back well and nearly never gave it away.

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Luis Diaz (7.5/10):

Moved over to the right-hand side to play the Salah role with Gakpo on the left, but didn't look particularly comfortable. However, after moving back to his preferred position, he scored the killer third goal for Liverpool. The Reds are so fortunate to have two fantastic forwards vying for the same spot!

Dominik Szoboszlai (7/10):

Asked to play the 'false nine' role and did it well. The Hungarian was involved in all of Liverpool's best attacks and saw a couple of good efforts well saved by Steele.

Cody Gakpo (8.5/10):

What more can you say? The man just loves this competition. On this form, though, Gakpo is pushing hard for a place in Slot's starting line-up in the Premier League, which is what he really craves.

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Alexis Mac Allister (6/10):

Came on for Endo just after the hour mark but didn't really help Liverpool gain control of the game on his old stomping ground.

Trey Nyoni (6/10):

The teenager replaced Morton in midfield in the 65th minute and managed to get one effort away on goal.

Mohamed Salah (N/A):

Somewhat surprisingly brought on for the final 20 minutes but didn't get a sight of goal.

Darwin Nunez (N/A):

Part of a double-substitution with Salah but, just like the Egyptian, didn't really get into the game.

Ibrahima Konate (N/A):

Thrown on in place of poor Quansah but did little other than get booked!

Arne Slot (7/10):

Unsurprisingly opted to rest several star players ahead of Saturday's league game against the same opposition, and while Liverpool looked quite toothless for long spells without a recognised No.9, they ultimately got the job done thanks to Slot's decision to play Gakpo on the left ahead of Diaz. He'll be concerned by their lack of composure late on, though – as well as Quansah's crisis of confidence. Still, 12 wins from 14 games in all competitions now for Slot.

Juventus icon Leonardo Bonucci snubbed Cristiano Ronaldo and Lionel Messi in favour of a Serie A striker when naming his toughest opponent.

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Bonucci snubs Ronaldo and MessiNames Torino forward as fiercest opponentItalian defender retired in the summerFollow GOAL on WhatsApp! 🟢📱WHAT HAPPENED?

Juventus and Italy legend Bonucci announced his retirement from professional football at the end of the 2023-24 season after spending the final six months of his career at Turkish Super Lig giants Fenerbahce. The 37-year-old, who is widely considered one of the finest defenders in history, has played against some of the top footballers in the world including Cristiano Ronaldo and Lionel Messi – when they were on the books of Real Madrid and Barcelona, respectively. The Italian also shared a dressing room at Juve with Ronaldo for three seasons.

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However, while picking the toughest opponent he has faced in his illustrious career, Bonucci chose ex-Atalanta striker Duvan Zapata ahead of Ronaldo and Messi. The former Colombia international, who is now on the books at Torino, has spent the last 11 years in Serie A and played against Bonucci on multiple occasions.

WHAT LEONARDO BONUCCI SAID

Speaking on Sky Calcio Club, Bonucci said: "The one that hit me the most and the one I had more fun with was Luis Suarez because he hit and got hit without any problem. My nightmare, who didn’t make me sleep at night, was Zapata. God, before games against his Atalanta side, I couldn’t sleep at night. His power and physicality made him my nightmare. Then, I was lucky enough to play against so many champions. [Didier] Drogba, Ronaldo, Messi, [Fernando] Torres, and I forget others, but it was too good."

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Getty ImagesWHAT NEXT IN SERIE A?

Napoli are currently leading the Serie A title race with 16 points from their first seven matches. The league will be back in action after the international break with Genoa facing Bologna on October 19 in the first match of gameweek eight.

Despite previously struggling with financial sanctions, Everton look set to open their chequebook this summer and reward Sean Dyche with a slew of fresh faces this summer.

Toffees want reinforcements in midfield

The latest rumours out of Merseyside suggest that the Toffees view improvements in the middle of the park as their top priority during the transfer window. Recent news has seen Everton linked with a move for Aston Villa's Tim Iroegbunam, who could be available for as little as £10 million this summer.

Everton now "most likely destination" for "really good" £50k-p/w midfielder

He has 22 caps for Brazil.

ByJosh Barker Jun 18, 2024

Joining Iroegbunam on the Toffees' shopping list is French duo Matteo Guendouzi and Khephren Thuram. Whilst Guendouzi will be a familiar name among English fans owing to his time at Arsenal, Thuram is something of an unknown entity to much of the Goodison faithful having spent his whole career to date in France.

Whichever midfielder arrives at Everton is likely to replace Amadou Onana. The Belgian has long been linked with a move away from Merseyside with the most recent developments suggesting a race between Tottenham Hotspur and Arsenal for his signature. The Toffees are reportedly asking for a fee in the region of £50 million for Onana's services, meaning that they won't be short of funds to buy a replacement.

With this in mind, it now appears that Everton are looking to take advantage of a player's contract situation in order to sign a highly rated player for a cut-rate price.

Everton have an eye on Belgian midfielder

As first reported by Sport Witness, the Belgian press are stating that Everton are just one of many clubs keeping an eye on VFL Wolfsburg midfielder Aster Vranckx.

The outlet goes on to report that Wolfsburg have been unsuccessful in extending the Belgian's contract which is due to expire in the summer of 2025. Because of this, it’s said that the Bundesliga side 'can’t be greedy' about the sale and should look to get a fee for Vranckx rather than letting him leave for free at the end of next season.

With Wolfsburg clearly eager to sell, the Toffees look set to face stiff competition to secure the services of the midfielder. The report cites Italian sides Napoli and Fiorentina as interested in agreeing a deal, meaning that Everton will have to move quickly if they are to get the signing over the line.

The 21-year-old featured 26 times for Wolfsburg last season, however struggled with injury during the latter half of the campaign. Despite this, the midfielder has proven his quality on multiple occasions, earning himself a call up to Belgium's Euro 2024 squad.

His time in Germany has also seen him earn praise from his former coach Florian Kohfeldt, who said that the player is "unexcited, courageous, allows himself to be played to in pressure situations" and "plays like a 25-year-old”.

If Everton are to ramp up their pursuit of Vranckx, they would likely get themselves a bargain owing to Wolfsburg's clear need to sell this summer. Alongside this, the Toffees would need to cover the Belgian's wages with the midfielder currently earning a reported £45,000 per week.

With Onana likely to depart this summer and the need for fresh faces clear, Everton could do a lot worse than signing a highly rated talent that could go on to look like one of the bargains of the transfer window.

Newcastle United have accelerated talks with an influential figure over a key off-field appointment this summer, according to a fresh update.

Newcastle transfer news

The Magpies will be wanting to do plenty of key transfer business in the summer window, with funds hopefully available to strengthen Eddie Howe's squad. They will have to comply with Financial Fair Play (FFP) rules, however, and Nottingham Forest midfielder Morgan Gibbs-White is seen as a target who they could have to avoid signing, for example, given Forest's lofty price tag as they themselves try to avoid further PSR issues.

Burnley goalkeeper James Trafford has reportedly agreed personal terms over a move to Newcastle, coming in to provide stiff competition for Nick Pope, who suffered an injury-plagued 2023/24 season. The youngster is arguably viewed as the most exciting emerging 'keeper in English football, potentially being lined up as Jordan Pickford's future replacement for England.

The Magpies are also thought to be interested in acquiring the signature of Crystal Palace and England star Eberechi Eze, lining up a £60m move for him and making their attack more formidable in the process. The 25-year-old scored 11 goals in the Premier League this season, earning him a place in the Three Lions' Euro 2024 squad, but comes at a huge cost.

Kelechi Iheanacho has also been spoken of as a possible target for Howe's side, having left Leicester City recently, meaning he is now available on a free transfer this summer. The Nigerian has scored 42 times in the Premier League, showing that he knows how to be a threat in arguably the biggest league in the world.

Away from the signing of new players, however, it is also important that Dan Ashworth is sufficiently replaced in the role of sporting director, in order to have someone on board who can help mastermind transfer activity. Now, a new update has emerged regarding that appointment.

Newcastle in talks for sporting director appointment

According to a new update from Give Me Sport, talks have sped up between Newcastle and Johannes Spors over the vacant sporting director role at St James'.

The Magpies have "accelerated talks to bring the German to the club and succeed Dan Ashworth", with the Englishman placed on gardening leave earlier this year ahead of a potential move to Manchester United. This comes after a failed attempt to bring in Dougie Freedman from Crystal Palace.

Spors could be precisely what Newcastle are looking for this summer, with the 41-year-old currently the global sporting director of 777 Group, who have been touted as potential owners of Everton, even though that now appears to have fallen through.

The company owns various clubs across Europe, from Genoa to Hertha Berlin, of which Spors has played a massive role in, with a report from The Athletic describing him as "the architect at the centre of the group’s football operations".

Related Howe can finally complete Newcastle's midfield by signing £38m "machine"

The Magpies are still looking to sign a new midfielder ahead of the summer.

Posts ByEthan Lamb Jun 10, 2024

The German's reputation in the game shows why he would be an exciting appointment by Newcastle, at a time when Ashworth has left a sizeable void, and as long as he and Howe can work smoothly together, he should be considered the front-runner to come in and help take the club forward.

Second round of Covid-19 tests all come back negative

George Dobell25-Jun-2020

Kraigg Brathwaite sets off for a run en route to a half-century in the intra-squad warm-up•Gareth Copley/Getty Images

West Indies provided a double boost to all those looking forward to a return to something approaching normality as their preparations for the Test series against England moved up a level.As well as offering a glimpse of the first organised cricket of the English season – you would have struggled to find many guessing the first game of the summer would feature two West Indies XIs – there was also good news off the pitch. ESPNcricinfo understands that every member of the touring squad tested negative for the Covid-19 virus – the second such test of the tour – increasing confidence that the series will start, as planned, on July 8.While this three-day match will not be recorded as a first-class encounter – the tourists named all 25 players across the two sides and wore coloured training kits, shorts and hoodies rather than whites – the fact that it represented the first professional cricket since the Pakistan Super League was suspended in mid-March rendered it a notable occasion.West Indies will be quietly satisfied with it, too. There were runs for key batsmen, Kraigg Brathwaite (who made 84 off 162 balls) and Shai Hope (83 off 127), while three of the fast bowlers looked in decent shape.Alzarri Joseph, who wrapped up the tail, was the top wicket-taker with 4 for 60, but Shannon Gabriel, who remains officially a reserve for the tour but looks all but certain to be added to the main squad, was equally impressive in claiming 3 for 32. Kemar Roach also started to find his rhythm after a slow start and claimed the wicket of Brathwaite as the batting side lost their last five wickets for the addition of just two runs.ALSO READ: Gabriel set to be added to Windies Test squadThe only cloud on the horizon was the lack of bowling from Jason Holder. While Phil Simmons, West Indies’ head coach, suggested the previous day that Holder had recovered from a minor ankle injury, there one or two looking at the scorecard with a furrowed brow. West Indies do have another match – a four-day, first-class game – ahead of the Test, however, providing Holder ample opportunity to prove his fitness.The Holder XI enjoyed the better of the opening session. John Campbell, who top-edged a pull to mid-wicket, went for a 16-ball duck, before Shamarh Brooks edged one to the keeper.But Brathwaite and Hope are made of stern stuff. Despite taking 23-balls to get off the mark, Hope made 39 off his next 45 and reached his half-century from 76 deliveries with seven fours. Brathwaite, meanwhile, defended and drove well and reached his half-century from 166 deliveries. In all, they added 103 for the third wicket.Shannon Gabriel celebrates the wicket of Shamarh Brooks•Gareth Copley/Getty Images

They were finally parted by Roach, quietly effective throughout, as he took out Brathwaite’s off stump before tea. From 176 for 3 at the start of the last session, the batting side were rounded up efficiently in the evening.Hope was the key wicket, sixth man down nicking Joseph behind. That was the start of a decisive spell for the seamer, who had Raymon Reifer and Anderson Philip caught in the slips and finished off the day by skittling Chemar Holder first ball. Off-spinner Rahkeem Cornwall and left-arm seamer Preston McSween each contributed a wicket as the Brathwaite XI were bowled out on the brink of stumps for 275.”The intensity was there from ball one,” Brathwaite told PA afterwards. “Everyone was playing with a purpose. Those guys we faced are quality, so it was very good practice for batters and bowlers. It was intense, it felt like we were in a battle all day. When you play a game like this you want to come out on top.”Shannon looks fit to me and I believe he is ready for the Test series.”

Tottenham have been offered the chance to sign a £17 million midfielder who former boss Mauricio Pochettino wanted to bring to North London in 2019.

Spurs planning to sign new midfielder for Postecoglou

Manager Ange Postecoglou and Spurs recruitment chiefs are reportedly planning to bring in a new central midfield ace, with uncertainty surrounding the futures of some squad members in that position.

Tottenham have now reached agreement to sign attacking starlet for Ange

They’ve beat “multiple” Premier League sides in the race for his signature.

ByEmilio Galantini May 16, 2024

Despite his fine form at the start of 2023/2024, it is believed Spurs are now open to suitable offers for Yves Bissouma, while the out-of-favour Pierre-Emile Hojbjerg is looking pretty likely to quit Tottenham and has been for quite a while.

Concerns have surrounded the former's inconsistency lately, while the latter is entering the final 12 months of his contract – giving chairman Daniel Levy precious little time to make money back off his signing in 2020.

Brighton 4-2 Tottenham

7.27

Tottenham 2-0 Fulham

7.06

Tottenham 3-1 Nottingham Forest

6.92

Tottenham 1-4 Chelsea

6.90

Tottenham 3-1 Bournemouth

6.77

Postecoglou's midfield could look very different by the beginning of 2024/2025, and they've got a few key targets to potentially replace the likes of Bissouma and Hojbjerg.

Indeed, Chelsea star Conor Gallagher is still being eyed up by Spurs, so much so that an offer is expected in the coming weeks as the north Londoners believe they could strike a deal for as little as £35 million (TEAMtalk).

They do have alternatives to the Englishman, though, in case their intense rivalry with Chelsea becomes too much of a stumbling block in any proposed deal. Abroad, Atalanta star Ederson has been in excellent form under Gian Piero Gasperini throughout 23/24.

This has turned heads at N17, with Spurs thought to be targeting Ederson as another option to reinforce Postecoglou's midfield ahead of next season. However, it is believed Atalanta are seeking a minimum of £43 million to sell the Brazilian, with Spurs looking to bolster other areas of the squad as well.

Levy and the recruitment team will have to be clever in the way they navigate this summer window, as Postecoglou needs backing across the board.

Tottenham offered Carlos Soler deal

According to HITC, £17 million Paris-Saint Germain midfielder Carlos Soler has emerged as a potential opportunity.

The outlet claims Tottenham have been offered the chance to sign Soler this summer, with the Lilywhites now made aware of his availability. The Spaniard, who's been likened to Man City legend David Silva, has struggled for consistent starting places under Luis Enrique this season – meaning he could depart the Parc des Princes.

Soler is a player who they are familiar with, as ESPN once shared that Pochettino and Spurs were planning an approach to sign Soler in 2019.

“He is the complete midfielder and can act as a (number) six, eight or 10,” former Valencia star Cuco Torres told AS (via HITC). “He has power, arrives in the box and can score.”

Western Province and North West were declared the women’s T20 and 50-over champions

Firdose Moonda24-Mar-2020The Lions and Dolphins have been crowned champions of South Africa’s first-class and the one-day competition respectively after both events were suspended as a result of the coronavirus pandemic. The two franchises each finished at the top of the points’ tables of the respective competition and acting director of cricket, Graeme Smith, recommended the titles be awarded based on log-standings.His suggestion was endorsed by CSA’s board and member’s council, a body made of the 13 provincial presidents. That means the only franchise competition which ran to conclusion in the 2019/20 summer was the Mzansi Super League (MSL), a twenty-over tournament which was won by the Paarl Rocks.But, the fate of the MSL remains unclear, after CSA were unable to sell television rights for the first two editions of the tournament and footed the full bill, amounting to approximately R120 million (US$6.8 million) per year. understands that the MSL is unlikely to take place if it continues to be a drain on CSA finances and that talks are ongoing in the current off-season to decide on the next steps.So too is the search for sponsors after the country’s flagship four-day competition took place without a corporate backer for the second season in succession. Eight out of the 10 rounds of matches were played this season and the Johannesburg-based Lions remain champions of the format, despite losing their head coach Enoch Nkwe to the national side in September 2019.Full List of Winners

4-Day Competition: Lions

One-Day Cup: Hollywoodbets Dolphins

Provincial Three-Day Cup: Easterns and KwaZulu Natal joint winners

Provincial One-Day Challenge: Free State and Northern Cape joint winners

Women’s T20 League: Western Province

Women’s Provincial 50-over League: North West

Nkwe, who now works as South Africa’s assistant coach, was succeeded by Wandile Gwazu at the Lions, who has enjoyed a successful first season. His team won four of their eight matches, double the number of victories of any other franchise, and finished 8.46 points above their neighbours, the Titans.The one-day cup, which was scheduled to have playoffs last week and the final at the weekend, finished before it reached the crunch stage. The Dolphins were on top with seven out of 10 victories. Their successful campaign also came under a new coach with one-time Test opener Imraan Khan in charge for the first time. They will be awarded 40% of the prize money, sponsored by financial services company Momentum, with the rest split 30-15-15 between the other three teams who would have played in the semi-finals, the Lions, Warriors and Knights.At provincial level, the first-class three-day competition and provincial one-day cup titles have been awarded jointly to the two teams that finished on top of the respective pools. Easterns (Pool A) and Kwa-Zulu Natal (Pool B) share the three-day cup and Free State (Pool A) and Northern Cape are joint one-day cup winners. Easterns, however, did not actually end the season on top of the table but played one fewer match than their rivals and earned the victory through an average points calculation.”This is undoubtedly the fairest way to decide the various winners, Smith said. “In the provincial competitions where some teams have played more games than others, we have taken the average number of points per game to decide on final log positions.”The women’s provincial T20 league was won by Western Province, who finished on top of the “Top 6,” group with seven victories from eight matches. They missed out on the fifty-over competition title by one point, after finishing behind North West, who claimed the cup.

Carlo Ancelotti has joked about how Kylian Mbappe "ruined' his summer as the Real Madrid boss faces a "very big problem" after a busy transfer window.

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• Mbappe & Endrick enrich Real Madrid squad
• Ancelotti facing a problem of plenty
• Yet he is determined to chalk up an effective blueprint

• WHAT HAPPENED?

  The long-anticipated move of the French superstar from Paris Saint-Germain to the Spanish capital finally materialized this summer and since then the the spotlight has been firmly on Ancelotti as the fans are eager to know how the prolific forward will integrate into Real Madrid's already star-studded lineup. The Italian manager now faces a problem of plenty as he alongside Mbappe, Brazilian teen sensation, Endrick, has also joined Los Blancos which has further spiked competition for places.

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  Ancelotti confessed that the inclusion of Mbappe and Endrick had turned his summer into a period of constant contemplation, as he grappled with the question of how to utilize his new star players effectively without disrupting the balance of his team. Vinicius Jr., Rodrygo and Arda Guler are also vying for starting berths which might lead Ancelotti to rotate the players and keep them fresh for the business end of an extremely busy campaign which could potentially see Real Madrid play up to 70 games.

• WHAT ANCELOTTI SAID

  Speaking to reporters, ahead of the UEFA Super Cup clash against Atalanta, Ancelotti said: "I have a very big problem. All summer I have been thinking about who to put in and who not to. It has ruined my holidays. It’s simple. They are all good. This problem doesn’t exist. We have a lot of games. I can’t think that the same eleven will play 70 games. Last year, those who played less contributed a lot. This year could be a key.”

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• DID YOU KNOW?

  Mbappe missed all of Real Madrid's preseason matches, as he was given an extended break following his participation in the UEFA Euro 2024 tournament in Germany. This absence has only added to the intrigue surrounding his debut for Los Blancos, with fans eagerly awaiting his first appearance in the famous white shirt.

  “He has arrived very well, like everyone else," Ancelotti said. "We are doing very well. He is adapting very well and everyone can play tomorrow. He has extraordinary quality.”

Arsenal are monitoring Julian Alvarez's situation and could make a move after his fallout with Manchester City boss Pep Guardiola.

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• Arsenal could make effort to land Alvarez
• Man City reportedly set huge asking price
• Guardiola unimpressed amid exit rumours

• WHAT HAPPENED?

  reported on Friday that Atletico Madrid are being considered the favourites to sign Argentina international Alvarez as the Spanish side look to replace Alvaro Morata, who left for AC Milan earlier this summer. Now, though, it appears that Arsenal have joined the race to sign the 24-year-old.

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  Indeed, the states that the young forward could move to north London from Manchester as the Gunners look to bolster their attack. The report further claims that the reigning Premier League champions are expected to demand a transfer fee in the region of £80 million ($102m), and it remains to be seen if Mikel Arteta is willing to spend that much.

• DID YOU KNOW?

  Per ’ German Garcia Grova, Paris Saint-Germain have also emerged as one of the candidates who are keen on bringing in the 24-year-old. The French champions are in search of a quality attacking option after the departure of Kylian Mbappe to Real Madrid on a free transfer last month. According to Gaston Edul, PSG's bid is superior to that of Atletico and it seems likely that the attacker will leave City this summer.

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  WHAT NEXT FOR JULIAN ALVAREZ?

  The World Cup-winning striker recently had a what's being described as a falling out with Guardiola after the City manager said that he would not force an unhappy player to stay at Etihad Stadium. Alvarez had earlier claimed that he remains unsure about his future and would only take a decision after the ongoing Paris Olympics.

Standard Bank will end an association with cricket that began in 1998, the latest in a set of major moves that have been sparked by CSA’s governance problems

Firdose Moonda06-Dec-2019South Africa’s men’s team will lose their major sponsor, Standard Bank, who have opted not to renew their deal when it expires on April 30, 2020. This ends an association with cricket that dates back to 1998. Standard Bank sponsored South African cricket between 1998 and 2011, when it ended its sports associations with both cricket and football. The company then returned to cricket in 2016 and signed a four-year deal with Cricket South Africa (CSA) which is understood to be to the tune of R400 million (approx. US$ 27.3 million). Currently, they are only the title sponsor for the men’s team and their withdrawal is a direct result of administrative and governance problems at CSA which Standard Bank believes is tarnishing its reputation.”Standard Bank is committed to upholding the highest levels of leadership, integrity and governance. In light of recent developments at CSA, which are a culmination of long-standing problems which have damaged Standard Bank’s reputation, it has decided not to renew its partnership with CSA,” Thulani Sibeko, Standard Bank Group Chief Marketing and Communications Officer said in a statement released on Friday morning.Cricket South Africa’s protracted problems, which include a court battle against the South African Cricketers’ Association (SACA), projected financial losses of at least R654 million (approx. US$44.7 million) in the next four-year cycle, and the suspension of six staff members – three of whom were given notice of their suspension on Thursday – came to a head last weekend when five journalists’ accreditation was revoked during the Mzansi Super League (MSL).On Monday, CSA CEO Thabang Moroe confirmed CSA made the decision because they did not approve of the way these reporters were writing about the organisation. That same day, Standard Bank expressed its “grave concerns,” about the situation at CSA and demanded a meeting with CSA to “know about developments within CSA, especially those that relate to governance and conduct.”Sources told ESPNcricinfo that Standard Bank had been severe on CSA officials at the meeting and demanded they “clean up their act”. On Tuesday, Standard Bank issued a statement expressing its satisfaction that the meeting was “productive” and that they were left with the assurance that CSA would “urgently take the South African public into its confidence about the state of governance at the cricket administrative body”. It also said CSA had agreed to “urgently implement remedial actions to address stakeholder concerns, including the unacceptable manner in which it treated members of the media”.However, just three days later, Standard Bank has confirmed it will not renew the sponsorship deal. Between Tuesday and Friday, three independent directors, Professor Shirley Zinn, Iqbal Khan and Dawn Makhobo, have resigned from the CSA board, and there have been calls from all quarters for the CEO and President, Chris Nenzani to step down.Among the chorus has been former UCB managing director Ali Bacher, who was involved in mediating an agreement between Moroe and Graeme Smith, which would have seen Smith become director of cricket on October 1. Critiques have also emerged from development sponsors The Willowton Group and, last night, the Gauteng Cricket Board, the biggest provincial affiliate of CSA. In addition to the voices of dissent, CSA also faces allegations of credit card abuse from Khan, and a second commercial rights dispute with South African Cricketers’ Association (SACA) in as many months.Now, CSA has also lost its only major team sponsor after deals with Sunfoil and Momentum ended last year.