Manchester United playing Jadon Sancho behind the striker in a central role isn't journalist Dean Jones' 'favourite' role to see the England international play in.

Where does Erik Ten Hag see Jadon Sancho playing?

Erik Ten Hag has utilised Sancho in a false nine role in pre-season and the £350k-a-week ace recently impressed in a 2-0 victory over Arsenal in the United States, scoring in the process, as per Sky Sports.

METRO cite that the Dutchman spoke in the aftermath of the game regarding where he sees Sancho as best fit to contribute for Manchester United, stating: "‘He’s doing well, also in that role. I think Jadon is the best in central positions where he can have involvement. Also when he plays in wide areas, but you know when you’re playing with me wide areas in the right setting you also have the freedom – in the right setting, so get me right! – to be inside, in No.10 positions, in central positions".

Sancho has flattered to deceive at times since joining the Red Devils for a fee of £73 million back in 2021 from Borussia Dortmund, registering 12 goals and six assists in 79 appearances for the Premier League giants in all competitions, as per Transfermarkt.

Now at a crossroads in his career, Sancho looks to have won the trust of Ten Hag despite being subject to a failed loan bid from former club Borussia Dortmund earlier this window, according to The Daily Star.

The Manchester Evening News claim that Ten Hag is 'trialling him as a false nine with a view to possibly playing him there when the season starts' and views his ability to enter deeper positions and carry possession as a promising attacking outlet.

Speaking to Football FanCast, journalist Jones doesn't think Sancho is best suited to playing centrally as his attributes are more effective on the flank.

Jones told FFC: "I don’t think there are many people out there that expected Sancho to be occupying a false nine role at this stage of his career. I don’t personally think it's the spot I wanted for him as my favourite version of Sancho is the one getting at people, facing up to them and taking them on, using his trickery along the way. But he hasn’t shown that for a long time, so now Ten Hag is trying something else."

What next for Manchester United?

Manchester United will hope to continue their impressive summer recruitment following the high-profile additions of Mason Mount and Andre Onana and Jonny Evans, who has joined on a short-term basis at Old Trafford, as per Transfermarkt.

CaughtOffside claim that a double raid of Serie A is the next priority for the Red Devils, who have reportedly lined up formal bids for Atalanta striker Rasmus Hojlund and Fiorentina defensive midfielder Sofyan Amrabat.

Though, it now appears as if only Amrabat remains a target as Hojlund is now at here we go status from Romano.

In the next few weeks, Manchester United look set to move a step closer to completing their transfer business ahead of the new Premier League campaign getting underway.

Ashley Giles’ rebuilding of Warwickshire has continued with the announcement that batsman William Porterfield and allrounder Ateeq Javid will both leave the club at the end of the season.Warwickshire’s ageing squad, refreshed by Giles during his return to Edgbaston as sport director, is facing relegation from Division One of the Championship, although Birmingham – the club’s T20 alter ego – did reach the final of the NatWest Blast on Saturday before losing to Nottinghamshire.Ireland captain Porterfield joined the club ahead of the 2011 season, from Gloucestershire, and until this season was a regular in all formats. He plans to return to Ireland to play first-class cricket.Javid is a product of Warwickshire’s academy and made his senior debut in 2009, making 32 first-class, 39 List A and 53 T20 appearances for the Bears without ever quite holding down a regular place. He is joining Leicestershire on a two-year contract.Giles said: “William and Ateeq have been great servants to the club and have been instrumental in our success in recent years, being part of the teams that have won all major trophies across the three formats of the game in a five-year period.”In addition to his contributions with the bat, William has been our vice captain in white ball cricket for the last two years. His leadership experience and support in the dressing room has been a great asset for the club and we wish him the very best in his career with Ireland.”Ateeq grew up in Birmingham and is a Bear through and through. It’s always sad when we see homegrown players leave the club, but we recognise the opportunity for him at Leicestershire and wish him every success in the future.”Offspinning allrounder Javid made his England Under-19s debut at 17. He scored 619 runs in Division One of the Championship in 2013 at an average of 44.00, including two centuries, and helped Birmingham to their NatWest T20 Blast title win in 2014; the dismissal of Kevin Pietersen with his first ball of the semi-final against Surrey was a key contribution.”The time is right to make a move, fight for a place and hopefully play regular cricket across all formats,” Javid said.Leicestershire needed a lift after the departure of coach Pierre de Bruyn after relationships broke down with several senior players. Chief executive Wasim Khan said: “We know that Ateeq is talented in all formats of the game. He is a very versatile player who can adapt to different roles in different competitions. We have been following his progress for some time.”

كشفت تقارير صحفية بريطانية، أن نادي آرسنال مستعد للاستماع للعروض المقدمة للاعبه البرازيلي الدولي، جابرييل جيسوس، لرحيله خلال فترة الانتقالات الصيفية المقبلة.

جيسوس هذا الموسم لا يشارك باستمرار، في ظل تألق الدولي الألماني كاي هافريتز، الذي حصل على ثقة المدرب الإسباني ميكيل أرتيتا.

صحيفة “ذا صن” البريطانية، أكدت أن آرسنال مستعد للاستماع إلى العروض المقدمة لـ جابرييل جيسوس، الذي يخوض موسمه الثاني مع الفريق.

طالع أيضًا | تقارير: تشيلسي يستهدف التوقيع مع لاعب آرسنال في الصيف

سجل جيسوس 3 أهداف وصنع 3، في أول 5 مباريات في الموسم الماضي، لكن الإصابة أبعدته عن الفريق وكأس العالم مع منتخب البرازيل لمدة 3 أشهر.

هذا الموسم غاب عن 6 مباريات فقط، لكن وقت لعبه قليلًا مقارنة بـ كاي هافريتز، حيث لعب 24 مباراة وسجل 4 أهداف وصنع 4، في مختلف المسابقات.

وصل المهاجم الألماني البالغ من العمر 24 عامًا كلاعب خط وسط مهاجم من منافسه اللندني تشيلسي الصيف الماضي، لكن تم الاعتماد عليه كمهاجم في خطة المدرب ميكيل أرتيتا.

12 هدفًا و6 تمريرات حاسمة في الدوري الإنجليزي، أقنعت المدرب ميكيل أرتيتا بالاعتماد على الألماني وتفضيله على جابرييل جيسوس.

ورغم أنه لا يزال أمام جيسوس ثلاث سنوات متبقية على عقده مع آرسنال، لكن النادي اللندني مستعد للاستماع للعروض لرحيله في الصيف.

في تصريحات سابقة من هذا الموسم، أكد جيسوس أنه لا يزال يعاني من مشاكل في الركبة بعد الإصابة التي تعرض لها في الموسم الماضي، ويعاني على مستوى الاستمرارية، وهو الأمر الذي لم يتحمله ميكيل أرتيتا، رغم قيمة البرازيلي في غرف خلع الملابس.

Tottenham Hotspur have already enjoyed a fine summer of spending thus far, but they could be set to take it to new heights with a marquee signing sure to truly kickstart Ange Postecoglou's revolution.

Who are Tottenham Hotspur signing this summer?

That's according to journalist Christian Falk, who suggested that the Lilywhites remain interested in Eintracht Frankfurt's star man Randal Kolo Muani, despite Kylian Mbappe having previously implored his Paris Saint-Germain side to snatch him.

Speaking in his exclusive column, the German writer claimed:

"[Kylian] Mbappe asked Paris Saint-Germain to go for the striker of his national team and also Tottenham have registered an interest with the representatives of Muani, but the eventual transfer fee could be too high."

With it reported back in May that the Bundesliga outfit will command a €90m (£77m) fee for his services, this is a claim well-supported.

His acquisition would supplement the earlier signings of James Maddison, Guglielmo Vicario and Manor Solomon, as well as turning Pedro Porro and Dejan Kulusevski's loan deals into permanent ones.

How many goals has Randal Kolo Muani scored in his career?

Signing such a high-quality star would be a huge step forward for Spurs, seeking to usher in a new era under their Australian manager.

Whilst the outlay would be significant, he boasts all the hallmarks of a player who could underpin the regime for the next decade.

After all, the 24-year-old has already lit up German football, having notched 23 goals and recorded 17 assists across all competitions last term for a side that could only muster a seventh-placed finish.

He is young, hungry, dynamic and technically exceptional, with a physicality that could allow him to thrive in the Premier League too. Especially when considering he already has 62 career goals to his name, outlining his experience for someone with so much of their sparkling career left.

It is all these facets that likely spurred FBref to liken him to Atalanta's Rasmus Hojlund, including the Denmark international on Kolo Muani's 'similar players' list.

This tool also helps paint the picture of the French marksman as a powerful creative threat too, as when compared against other forwards in Europe he sits in the top 3% for assists per 90, and the top 5% for successful take-ons per 90, via FBref.

The 20-year-old has also starred of late in Italy, with his physical assets having been lauded by writer Sacha Pisani: "Atalanta’s Rasmus Hojlund is scary quick."

Manchester United, who too are seeking to cement their early success under Erik ten Hag, continue to push for his signature, in a deal that could reach similar financial heights as Spurs'.

Should they both join these respective English clubs, it is expected that a rivalry will be forged between these two teams in transition, seeking to take the next step up under their new managers.

However, at this moment in time, Hojlund is nowhere near the level of Kolo Muani, with the France international representing a far more mature and developed version of the pacy hitman.

Just nine goals in the Serie A last season emphasise this, as he still has a long way to go before he can be an outstanding asset for a club.

Meanwhile, Postecoglou would be gaining a readymade star, with praise also flying in for the versatile trickster. Germany legend Lothar Matthaus even noted:

"He has remarkable technical ability, he's ice-cold in front of goal and he really throws himself into challenges. The most impressive thing is that he's performing in every game. I can't remember a match where he's played badly. That's the mark of a future superstar."

It is also worth emphasising his physical assets, as he had clocked his team's fastest sprint at 21.68 mph earlier last season.

Kolo Muani and Hojlund are both a couple of gems just waiting to be unleashed on the biggest stage, and in the former, Postecoglou could secure his very own starring striker set to spearhead a new-look team finally set to break the stigma surrounding Spurs.

Aston Villa reportedly remain interested in Real Madrid midfielder Dani Ceballos, as Unai Emery eyes more talent from Spain this summer.

The Spaniard has already secured the signing of Pau Torres from his former club Villarreal, and could now delve back into La Liga for additional reinforcements this window.

Could Aston Villa sign Dani Ceballos?

The link between Ceballos and Villa has been ongoing since Janaury, when Marca claimed in the January window that the former Arsenal star had turned down a move to Villa Park.

Read the latest Aston Villa transfer news HERE…

Now, the reports are back with Spanish outlet Sport speculating that the Villans are preparing an offer for the 26-year-old, who is under contract in Madrid until 2027 after just penning a new deal.

The fee is reported to be in the region of €15m (£13m), in what could potentially be a bargain move for Emery.

How good is Dani Ceballos?

Once lauded as “incredible” by talent scout Jacek Kulig, the Spaniard knows exactly the demands of what it takes to perform in the engine room of a Premier League club.

After spending two seasons on loan in north London, the versatile midfielder obtained valuable Premier League experience, in which he made 49 appearances in the league for the Gunners.

Deployed primarily as a box-to-box player, the Real Madrid ace has the ability to play in a more advanced number 10 role, or in a deeper role due to his innate reading of the game.

Having been praised as being a “very clever player” by former Premier League sensation Robin van Persie, the 26-year-old could now unleash his talents once more in England, with Emery’s side posing a new challenge.

Emery was the force behind bringing Ceballos to the country back in 2019, in which Ceballos identified the Spaniard as being the “turning point” for him joining Arsenal.

Villa have been linked with an array of midfielders this summer and with Youri Tielemans already secured in such position, the Villans could land themselves a strong coup in the Madrid sensation.

The Spaniard has been likened to a player that the Premier League are familiar with in Enzo Fernandez, with FBref forming a comparison between the two midfielders based on their numbers obtained over the past year.

In Ceballos, Emery could bolster Villa with their answer to the £106.8m star, who has been classed as a “complete” player by scout Antonio Mango.

Comparing the two based on their respective 2022/23 campaigns makes for promising viewing from the point of view of the Midlands club, with the Spaniard excelling in traits applicable to a central midfielder when placed against the Argentine.

As per FBref, the 26-year-old averaged a dominating 11.74 progressive passes and 3.45 progressive carries per 90 in LaLiga last term, all while maintaining a pass completion rate of 90.6% per 90.

To put it into perspective, Fernandez averaged 9.77 progressive passes and 1.28 progressive carries per 90 for Chelsea, with a pass completion rate of 88.1%.

Defensively, the former Arsenal maestro put in the work too, as highlighted by his average of 2.47 tackles and 1.44 interceptions per 90 for Madrid, followed by Enzo who averaged 2.62 tackles and 0.93 interceptions per 90 for the Blues last term.

A player proven to be able to adhere to both defensive and offensive roles in midfield, Emery could sign his answer to Fernandez in a deal worth almost 10 times less than the Blues' eye-watering British-record fee for the 22-year-old.

Toby Roland-Jones’ Ashes hopes are in severe doubt after being diagnosed with a stress fracture of the lower back

ESPNcricinfo staff22-Sep-20174:34

Toby Roland-Jones on his Ashes hopes

Toby Roland-Jones’ Ashes hopes are in severe doubt after being diagnosed with a stress fracture of the lower back.Roland-Jones, who played no part in the latter stages of Middlesex’s victory over Lancashire at Lord’s, had been a near-certainty to be named in England’s squad for the tour of Australia that is due to be announced at The Oval next Wednesday.Instead, he has been left sweating on his role in this winter’s campaign, after Middlesex confirmed that he would be taking no part in next week’s final match of the County Championship, a potentially crucial relegation showdown against Somerset at Taunton.”Middlesex Cricket are extremely disappointed to announce that the result of the medical scan which Toby undertook yesterday has revealed that he has a stress fracture in his L5 vertebra [lower back], which will mean that he will take no further part in the domestic season for Middlesex.”It is a potentially bitter blow for Roland-Jones, who has impressed in his England career to date. He has claimed 17 wickets in four Tests, including a best of 5 for 57 on debut against South Africa at The Oval in August, and his combination of accuracy and bounce from a tall action would have made him a prime candidate for selection on Australia’s wickets.In Roland-Jones’ likely absence, therefore, and with Durham’s Mark Wood also struggling with injury, the biggest beneficiary could be the man who came to Middlesex’s rescue against Lancashire on Thursday. Steven Finn returned a season’s best 8 for 79 to secure a 36-run victory and, according to his Australian captain, Adam Voges, “bowled as well as I’ve ever seen him bowl”.”If he bowls like that, he should [be in the Ashes squad],” said Voges. “One-hundred percent. He had rhythm, his pace was up and his areas were good.”Finn, who has taken 125 Test wickets in a stop-start 36-match career, endured contrasting fortunes on England’s last Ashes tours. In 2010-11 he claimed 14 wickets in the first three Tests en route to England’s 3-1 series win, but in 2013-14 he was rendered “unselectable” after the collapse of his bowling action.”We’ll see what happens,” Finn said. “I’m pretty content with where my game’s at. I felt really good. I felt that my pace was there for most of the game. It’s up to the selectors and whoever picks the team to see who goes Down Under. It’s a really exciting opportunity and really exciting prospect to potentially – hopefully – be in the mix.”The out-and-out pace of Somerset’s Jamie Overton would have made him another prime contender for a seam-bowling berth in the Ashes squad, but for his own back problems. His twin brother, Craig, who was included in England’s T20 squad against South Africa but didn’t play a match, may also have moved up the pecking order.The typical recovery time for a stress fracture of the back is between six and 12 weeks. The first Test against Australia begins at Brisbane on November 23, in almost exactly two months.

Liverpool feel they can land Southampton midfielder Romeo Lavia for under his £50 million asking price this window, according to journalist Ben Jacobs.

Which clubs are keen on Romeo Lavia?

According to The Independent, Lavia has attracted a wealth of interest in this window from the likes of Liverpool, Chelsea, Arsenal and Manchester United.

Nevertheless, Southampton have set their price for Lavia at £50 million and look unlikely to budge on his valuation as things stand after the Belgium international showed promise in his debut Premier League campaign last term.

In 2022/23, Lavia made 34 appearances in all competitions for Southampton and managed to register one goal and a solitary assist in the process, as per Transfermarkt.

Sky Sports report that Liverpool saw a second bid for Lavia rejected by Southampton earlier this week that was believed to be below a base fee of £40 million.

Liverpool are also considering other options and have contacted Fluminense concerning Brazil international Andre, though his current employers are reluctant to let go of the 22-year-old midfielder.

Anfield Watch have claimed that Leicester City midfielder Kiernan Dewsbury-Hall is another name on the radar in Merseyside and he could potentially 'leapfrog' Lavia as a priority target if Southampton refuse to budge on their £50 million valuation of the 19-year-old.

Speaking to Football FanCast, journalist Jacobs has indicated that Liverpool hold optimism that they can conclude a deal for Lavia which would be under Southampton's £50 million asking price.

Jacobs stated: "Liverpool as ever do their business discreetly and privately and they don't make a big song and dance. They have, by all accounts, had two bids to date rejected. The second bid was just over £40 million and Southampton are sticking to their position at the moment of £50 million, but Liverpool feel that there's a deal to be done there for less."

What next for Liverpool?

Liverpool boss Jurgen Klopp will hope he can add some steel to his squad to complement new additions Alexis Mac Allister and Dominik Szoboszlai, as per Transfermarkt.

According to Football Insider, Liverpool have come into the race to sign Brighton & Hove Albion midfielder Moises Caicedo, who is said to be valued at around the £100 million mark on the South Coast.

Nevertheless, Chelsea are also keen on bringing the Ecuador international to Stamford Bridge and have had an agreement in place over personal terms with Caicedo for quite some time now.

Sky Sports journalist Melissa Reddy recently offered an update on Twitter X, signifying that Liverpool could be set to bring in three more reinforcements this window, stating: "Was part of my reporting yesterday that in an ideal situation, it would be a controller and a progressive destroyer (plus a defender). Might be a case of holding on one of the profiles if there's confidence better can be found. But they're currently working on multiple solutions"

Bayern Munich midfielder Ryan Gravenberch and Manchester City fringe player Kalvin Phillips are under consideration by the Reds as the days continue to tick down in the transfer window, as per The Independent.

Everton could be set to react immediately to fix a potential worry for Sean Dyche…

Is Trevoh Chalobah leaving Chelsea?

That’s according to TEAMtalk, who suggest that Chelsea defender Trevoh Chalobah has been told he is free to leave Stamford Bridge this summer.

With the Blues having invested heavily again throughout a window of vast change for Mauricio Pochettino, the Toffees have instead been forced to graft their way through another gruelling transfer period where they have been financially hamstrung.

Read the latest Everton transfer news HERE…

Despite that, they are noted as one of the interested parties in the 24-year-old centre-back.

FootballTransfers value the Englishman at €41.3m (£36m), which might seem too lofty for a side that are yet to unload a transfer fee thus far. However, the fire sale going on in west London could still justify their interest.

How good is Trevoh Chalobah?

Their desire to sign the defender comes at an opportune moment for the Merseyside outfit, who enjoyed a fine victory over Sporting CP in their final friendly before the Premier League season resumes.

However, that win over the Portuguese outfit was marred by the 87th-minute injury sustained by James Tarkowski, their ever-present stopper from last campaign.

The 31-year-old was the only outfield player to play every minute of every game in the league most recently and maintained Everton’s joint-highest rating (of those who played five games) too at 7.20.

These were figures buoyed by his 81% pass accuracy, 1.3 tackles, 1.3 interceptions and 5.2 clearances per game, via Sofascore.

Unsurprisingly, he was lauded by his current boss after his first game back in charge of the defender:

“I'm delighted for him, he's someone I've taken great joy in watching his career develop and when he got his move here I wished him well.”

So, despite the hopes of the former Burnley boss that it was in fact “just a knock”, Chalobah’s presence would alleviate a potential world where their new vice-captain is not always available.

Especially given how impressive he was during the 2021/22 season, his first in the English top-flight briefly spent under former Toffees boss Frank Lampard.

The Cobham graduate would maintain a 7.23 average rating that year, upheld through his 91% pass accuracy, two tackles and 2.1 clearances per game, via Sofascore.

He would somewhat translate such a fine skillset into his most recent term, which still turned into one of Chelsea’s worst-ever in history. Throughout the turmoil, he still mustered an admirable 6.75 average rating in the league.

Despite that, Graham Potter still sought to praise his exploits:

“He wasn’t in for the first couple of games, but acted perfectly: trained really well, very professional, very determined. He’s an impressive character, very focused on his football. He’s a bit of a soldier.”

This has handed the defender vast experience beyond his years, having racked up 63 appearances for his boyhood club alongside various successful loan spells too.

Now, moving to Goodison Park could allow him to grow into the leader that his play merits, assuming a central role under Dyche and in the potential absence of Tarkowski.

He has all the attributes to thrive on Merseyside for the next decade, underpinning a hopeful period of stability for the club as they seek to make their transition into the new stadium as seamless as possible.

After winning the Auty Cup last week after 26 years, USA players and staff discuss the shift in the team’s attitude and talk of what lies ahead for the side

Peter Della Penna23-Sep-2017

USA coach Pubudu Dassanayake credits the Under-19 team’s attitude in a runner-up finish to Canada at the Under-19 World Cup Qualifier in July as a key factor in reshaping the men’s unit that achieved Auty Cup success over Canada last week for the first time in 26 years.”I think it’s so important that every player who comes into this group, they have to play for the team and the team is first,” Dassanayake told ESPNcricinfo after USA’s 2-1 series victory over Canada last week. “Anybody who comes in from now on has to play for the team and it’s not about any individual. The Under-19 unit actually showed that with their limited capability.”They gave a hard time to the Canada Under-19 team and this group is also moving in the same direction. I think that sets the whole USA cricket into getting into that culture. You can be the best player in the country or have performed in the best way but the important thing is you need to fit into the group and respect the rest of the group. In the future, I hope every USA player that comes in aligns with that culture.”Dassanayake picked out the USA Under-19 side’s four-wicket win over a heavily favoured Canada in the first round of the double round-robin U-19 World Cup Qualifier in Toronto. On a helpful wicket, USA’s seamers ripped through Canada for 63 and in the process bowled 21 maidens. This after Dassanayake was regularly frustrated with the senior team in Uganda in May at Division Three for their indisciplined bowling lines that made it difficult to set any field.USA coach Pubudu Dassanayake discusses some strategies•Peter Della Penna

Despite having far less talent, the Under-19 players showed far more discipline. Their fielding was also exceptional, with a highlight-reel catch from Awais Mubarak making the rounds on the US edition of Sportscenter’s Top 10 plays. Canada Under-19 beat USA in the return match to claim the Americas region spot in the 2018 Under-19 World Cup, but Dassanayake said even in defeat his team’s battling in the second game gave him the blueprint for what he wanted from the men going forward.”The Under-19 tournament was an eye-opener for me because when I look at USA cricket and especially the national team, I thought changing this culture was a long way off,” Dassanayake said. “But suddenly when I saw this young group working together to want to win, I thought if these guys can do it, why can’t the next group do it and start the same?”It really opened my eyes to say ‘you know what, this is how we’re going to move forward with the senior cricketers as well.’ So that influenced me to force some things in the senior group and I think it’s working pretty well, especially with the captain Ibrahim Khaleel, who is in the same line with me about how we want to move forward.”After failing to gain promotion at Division Three in May, Dassanayake and the USA selection panel, headed by Ricardo Powell, enacted a series of major changes, naming Khaleel as new captain to replace Steven Taylor, whose priorities have shifted toward the West Indies. Meanwhile, Taylor’s fellow CPL-contracted players Timroy Allen and Akeem Dodson were dropped along with Alex Amsterdam, the team’s leading scorer at Division Four last year. Khaleel felt there was no doubt in the selectors’ eyes that the team sent to the Auty Cup was a first-choice USA squad in spite of the individual star-power absent.”Whatever people say, the coaches and selectors have said it’s the 14 best at this time and that’s the only reason they believed in that and gave us this team,” Khaleel said. “They know what is the best decision for this team to take, whatever players are the best to take, and most importantly we delivered it. The credit goes to the selectors and coach to give us a free hand to do whatever we’re comfortable at.”It’s a great feeling winning the Auty Cup after 26 years. I think it was a great team effort and I think we just kept it simple. We learned from the second game that we were not disciplined and I think in the third game that was the plan: to go back to the first game, how we bowled a disciplined line, just keep it tight and see where it goes from there. I really want to dedicate this tournament win to [USA high performance manager] Tom Evans, Pubudu and all the selectors who believed in this team and believed in me as captain.”Nosthush Kenjige celebrates the wicket of Akeem Dodson during his five-wicket haul at USA trials•Peter Della Penna

Both Khaleel and Dassanayake pinpointed left-arm spinner Nosthush Kenjige as a significant catalyst in the team’s changing dynamic. Making his debut on the tour of Uganda, the 26-year-old was at times inconsistent but showed flashes of his capability in taking seven wickets in six games to finish second on tour while also showcasing his electric fielding at backward point. Kenjige stepped up his bowling in the Auty Cup, leading the team with seven wickets in three games including a hat-trick in the second match.”I think Nosh, compared to [the tournament in] Uganda has improved his consistency,” Khaleel said. “He’s giving less runs and every ball he bowls looks like it will be a wicket-taking ball. I think that helped him get so many wickets at this tournament. I really liked his attitude and his approach. I think he’s one of the best left-arm spinners in the USA and I think he’s going to play for a very long time.”Though USA’s next ICC qualification tournaments are not expected to begin until midway through 2018, Dassanayake says the Auty Cup win should serve as a springboard to further success. The USA coach is working with ICC Americas caretaker staff to facilitate a tour of the UAE for November in conjunction with leading Associate sides’ participation for the final round of the WCL Championship, and is aiming to use that as another development opportunity to keep moulding a new identity for USA.”We have informed all the players even before this tournament of the direction we want to move forward with the national team,” Dassanayake said. “So we set up some standards: we had given details on how to move forward and the tournaments we are having in the next 15 months. We’re not going to wait 12 months to build the team for the next Division Three or the T20 World Cup Qualifier. We’re going to build the team from now.”So when we’re starting a new pathway to get this win, it’s a fabulous feeling. Of course, winning the Auty Cup is one thing but for a new group to come in to win, that has set the platform for us for the next 15 months.”

Tottenham Hotspur could finally be set to secure an heir to an old favourite of theirs, perfecting Ange Postecoglou's new-look midfield in the process.

Who are Tottenham Hotspur signing this summer?

With James Maddison the star new addition thus far, supplemented by the signings of Manor Solomon and Guglielmo Vicario, it seems that the Lilywhites are heading in the right direction towards building a brighter future.

However, it could certainly still be worth borrowing some ideals from the sole successful regime in recent memory though, taking a leaf out of Mauricio Pochettino's book by emulating his main men to prop up the new regime.

Read the latest Tottenham transfer news HERE…

Of those stars of the past, few compare to Mousa Dembele, who held down the engine room with relentless power and endless grace for seven fine years. However, there is one star on the market who does boast frightening similarities both in physical profile and play style.

Sofyan Amrabat has been touted with an exit from Fiorentina ever since his exceptional World Cup, and it is Spurs who too are reportedly interested in making the Moroccan general the heir to their Belgian maestro.

He is expected to cost around €40m (£34m), per transfer guru Fabrizio Romano.

How good is Sofyan Amrabat?

Whilst those performances on the world stage still stand as the apex of his career thus far, he has impressed for his club too across four years in Italy.

The 26-year-old managed a 6.86 average rating in Serie A last season, buoyed by his 90% pass accuracy, 75% dribble success and 1.3 tackles per game, via Sofascore.

When comparing that to Dembele's best year in north London, arguably throughout the 2015/16 campaign, it is clear that the similarities begin to shine through.

After all, they are both a couple of tough-tackling 6 foot 1 midfield stars, with the class to retain possession but also turn defence into attack in an instant.

During that Premier League term, the 36-year-old ace recorded a 7.41 average rating, with just four goal contributions, a 90% pass accuracy, a 92% dribble success rate, one key pass and 3.6 tackles per game, via Sofascore.

It was such form that led Pochettino to compare his key man to some of the greats he had met, claiming:

"I always say to him, ‘Mousa, when I write my book, you will be one of my genius players that I have been lucky enough to meet.

"One was Maradona; also Ronaldinho, Okocha and Iván de la Peña – he was a genius, too – and then Mousa. We always tell Mousa that if we had taken him at 18 or 19, he would have become one of the best players in the world."

Perhaps Postecoglou could now be credited with engineering that rise to the apex of world football with Amrabat, especially given that he has already received widespread praise of his own for that recent World Cup run. Journalist Carlo Garganese even noted:

"Amrabat the best centre midfielder in the tournament. MONSTER."

He too has that genius within him which is just waiting to be unleashed, with only flashes of it having been shown thus far in his career despite his ranking within the top 8% for progressive passes per 90 when compared to other midfielders across Europe.

Perhaps a switch to north London could see him truly look to Dembele as the benchmark, emulating the stylish flair that made him much more than your average defensive midfielder.