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Leeds United and West Ham are definitely showing some interest in Blackburn Rovers striker Ben Brereton Diaz, according to talkSPORT, relayed by MOT Leeds News.

The Lowdown: Orta desperate…

Rumours over a possible move to Elland Road for the Chile international appear to be gathering pace.

The Sun’s Alan Nixon shared a story over the weekend, claiming Leeds are thought to be desperate for an attacking addition in the New Year.

He linked the Whites, Brighton and Sevilla with a move for Brereton Diaz, who is thought to be valued at £25m.

The 22-year-old can play anywhere across the front three and has scored 17 goals in 22 Championship appearances this season – already his best campaign in front of goal.

The Latest: talkSPORT’s claim

As relayed by MOT Leeds News, talkSPORT provided an on-air update on Brereton Diaz’s future on Wednesday lunchtime.

Alex Crook was the reporter to share the information, replying to presenter Jim White’s question regarding the Chile international.

“He’s just about the hottest property outside the Premier League right now, his name is Ben Brereton Diaz. 17 goals in 22 games this season. We understand he is attracting interest from the likes of Leeds and West Ham in the Premier League.”

The Verdict: Good move?

Versatility is key in Bielsa’s small squad, and Brereton Diaz would certainly bring that with him to Yorkshire, should a winter window transfer go through.

He appears to be at the top of his game with his 17-goal tally already this season and would be able to play out wide if needed.

However, Leeds aren’t short of fit wingers at this moment in time, so you’d expect he’d play in a centre-forward role with Patrick Bamford missing the majority of the campaign due to injury.

Andrea Radrizzani may have to write a cheque of £25m for the Rovers star, but it seems as if Bielsa and Victor Orta are desperate for an attacking addition over the coming weeks.

In other news: Phil Hay now shares Leeds transfer ‘intention’ after huge injury news. 

Pakistan have suffered a major blow on the eve of the second Test with Mohammad Aamer having been ruled out with a groin injury

Osman Samiuddin at the SCG02-Jan-2010

Pakistan have suffered a major blow on the eve of the second Test with Mohammad Aamer ruled out with a groin injury.Mohammad Yousuf had expressed concern over Aamer waking up stiff this morning, and said they would make a decision only after he bowled in the nets. But Aamer had brushed off the concerns, saying it was just stiffness from bowling so many overs and that he would definitely play.”He has a groin injury and though it doesn’t appear serious, we decided not to risk him for the Test,” Abdur Raquib, the team manager, told Cricinfo. “He had a bowl and the on-tour selection committee decided to leave him out.”The 17-year old was Pakistan’s most incisive bowler for much of the first Test and ended up with his first five-wicket haul in the second innings, including the wickets of Ricky Ponting, Michael Clarke and Michael Hussey. The figures included a fiery spell on the third on the third afternoon to Shane Watson, in which Aamer’s pace went 150kmph on a few occasions.Aamer’s late withdrawal means Pakistan will now start with Mohammad Asif, Umar Gul, Mohammad Sami and Danish Kaneria. Though it is still a strong attack, Pakistan will go into their second Test in a row without what would constitute a first-choice bowling quartet.

Aston Villa have enjoyed an excellent start to life under manager Steven Gerrard, winning four of their six games under the Englishman. However, a recent outbreak of the pandemic in the Villa camp has halted progress after last weekend’s game against Burnley was postponed, meaning the Villans haven’t played for 12 days.

It appears as though Gerrard’s side have recovered from the outbreak and are set to host Chelsea as planned this evening, with the West Midlands side five points off of the top six.

Thomas Tuchel’s Chelsea have struggled for consistency in recent weeks amid numerous injuries, winning one of their last four Premier League outings.

The contest could prove an opportunity for the Villans to claim a major scalp, but also a chance for Gerrard to experiment with a trip to Leeds to come just two days after Chelsea. It is time for the Aston Villa boss to hand youngster Carney Chukwuemeka a start.

Described to be “at a different level” by a former youth coach, Chukwuemeka has been a name that has been mentioned regularly amongst the Villa faithful this season with the 18-year-old starting to become a regular fixture in first-team squads and has featured in three of Gerrard’s games in charge.

Handed his first Premier League start by Dean Smith in August, the midfielder has slowly made progress this campaign despite reports of rejecting a new contract offer.

The Englishman has come off the bench against Manchester City, Leicester and Norwich and registered the assist for Ollie Watkins’ late clincher at Carrow Road last time out. He is certainly starting to knock on the door.

Gerrard, who will be absent from the touchline over the next two games having tested positive for the virus and could be tempted to change things up a bit with a hectic fixture schedule. Furthermore, the midfield may require some tinkering with Marvelous Nakamba facing a lengthy spell on the sidelines with a knee injury.

The £2.25m-rated youngster will certainly be an option for the Villans in the coming games and, with injury and illness affecting the squad, a first Premier League start since August could be pending.

AND in other news, Villa now eyeing 129-goal icon who’s “already gone down in history”, would be exciting…

The Clontarf Cricket Club in Dublin will host the one-day international between Ireland and Australia scheduled for June 17 next year. The venue has hosted high-profile games in the past, notably the West Indies-Bangladesh match during the 1999 World Cup. South Africa and West Indies have also played Ireland at the venue in recent years.Clontarf president Roger McGreal was delighted at being awarded the game by Cricket Ireland. “This is a wonderful opportunity for our club to showcase Irish cricket, and I’m sure all our members will rise to the occasion,” he said. “We have carried out major improvements to the ground over the past year and have increased capacity at the venue. It’s sure to be a fantastic game, and I’ve no doubt that we’ll be able to accommodate all those wanting to see Ireland take on Australia.”Warren Deutrom, Cricket Ireland’s chief executive, was hoping for another exciting clash at Clontarf. “Following the huge success of the RSA Challenge one-day international at Stormont between Ireland and England, when we came so close to overcoming the Ashes winners, we are delighted to welcome England’s Ashes opponents, Australia, to Dublin next June,” he said.”Not only do we believe that this match will continue to raise the growing profile of Irish Cricket, but we also believe that the Irish players will have confidence in their ability to properly challenge one of the world’s great cricket teams.”Ireland’s most recent clash with Australia came during the Super Eights of the 2007 World Cup in West Indies. On Irish soil, they faced off in the last international game at Ormeau in 2001, while Eglinton were the hosts in 1997.Australia last played in Dublin in 1993, when centuries from Matthew Hayden and Allan Border helped them to a resounding 272-run win. During that game, Border almost emulated Garry Sobers and Ravi Shastri, hitting the first five balls of an Angus Dunlop over for sixes. He could only manage two from the final delivery, thus sparing Dunlop an unwanted entry into cricketing folklore.

After a fairly poor start to the season, Ralph Hasenhuttl has seen his Southampton side win three out of their four previous league matches, scoring five goals and conceding just two in the process.

After the current international break, Southampton will be looking to continue their good run of form with a clash against Norwich City next up for the Saints.

However, according to a recent report, it seems as though there could be some speculation over which dugout Hasenhuttl could find himself in for that match.

What’s the news?

According to Sky Sports, Hasenhuttl is one of the names being linked with the manager position at Norwich after Daniel Farke recently left the club.

The report also claims that former Chelsea manager Frank Lampard and former Aston Villa manager Dean Smith are also in the running for the job at Carrow Road.

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Since joining Southampton back in December 2018, Hasenhuttl has taken charge of 127 games with the club across all competitions, winning 47, drawing 27 and losing 53 along the way.

Despite his rather inconsistent results at Southampton, the Austrian, who has been labelled as an “exceptional” manager by Pep Guardiola in the past, has managed to keep the Saints in the Premier League since his arrival and even secured them an 11th place finish in the Premier League in the 2019/20 season, showing how well he has done at the club.

He has been game-changing for the club, introducing a high-pressing style while players like Tino Livramento, Kyle Walker-Peters and James Ward-Prowse have been taken to brand new levels under his stewardship.

With all of this in mind, we feel that it would undoubtedly be a nightmare for Gao Jisheng and the club if they lost Hasenhuttl to Norwich and rightfully, it would outrage plenty of Saints fans.

After all, they are still fighting against relegation and their current boss has proven in recent years that he has what it takes to keep the south coast side in the division.

With the manager’s contract at St. Mary’s not set to expire until the summer of 2024, it should help put to rest any concerns the Southampton fans may have that their manager could leave anytime soon. Couple that with the report from Sky Sports claiming he is seen as a long shot for Norwich compared to the currently unemployed Smith and Lampard and supporters will be able to rest a little easier.

However, if he does become a genuine contender, Southampton should not entertain any offer that may come their way. He is too vital to the club for them to lose him.

In other news: Big blow: Southampton dealt huge double setback, Ralph will surely be gutted – opinion

A number of Liverpool supporters are delighted after key pair Fabinho and Thiago were pictured in training ahead of the clash with Atletico Madrid.

The Reds had a disappointing afternoon in the Premier League at the weekend, drawing 2-2 at home to Brighton. It was a sloppy performance in which two valuable points were dropped and a response is needed in the Champions League on Wednesday night.

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Atletico make the trip to Anfield looking for a repeat of their 3-2 win there in March 2020 but Liverpool know that victory will secure a place in the last 16.

On Monday, the club’s official Twitter account posted a photo of Fabinho and Thiago training alongside one another, suggesting that both could be available after recent injuries.

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Liverpool fans react to Fabinho and Thiago photo

Needless to say, the image went down a storm with these Reds fans on Twitter, who reacted positively to seeing the duo back in training at a time when Jurgen Klopp’s midfield has been rather depleted.

“Oh god I’m crying”

Credit: @LFCViking6024

“Love it!!”

Credit: @prngcht

“What a boost, we miss you lads”

Credit: @_Harithh_

“I swear I’m not crying”

Credit: @apenggent

“What a way to start the week”

Credit: @JamieHolme

“Someone hold me, I’m weak”

Credit: @itsmeg_statham

“Omg, my heart”

Credit: @LadyToluu

In other news, some Liverpool fans have bemoaned an injury update regarding one player. Read more here.

Lucy Doolan, the New Zealand allrounder, has signed as the overseas player for Essex for the rest of the women’s county season.Doolan, 21, has been playing club cricket in England after the completion of the World Twenty20 last month, where New Zealand reached the finals.”I am confident that the women’s county scene will be the richer for Lucy being involved,” Wellington coach Mark Borthwick said, “and I am hopeful that other women who play the game in New Zealand will see this as an opportunity to engage in off-season playing experiences just like their male counterparts do.”Doolan has played 16 ODIs, scoring 227 runs at 28.37 and has also bagged 17 wickets, and is expected to make her Essex debut against Middlesex on August 2.

An insider from Tottenham Hotspur has sung the praises of Maksim Paskotsi, and thinks that he may get a chance to play Burnley in the Carabao Cup.

The Lowdown: Estonia recognition

Remarkably, Paskotsi already has nine senior caps for Estonia despite being just 18 years of age, and has already played in some of his country’s biggest games in FIFA World Cup qualifying (Transfermarkt).

In the two matches against Wales, up against his Spurs teammates Joe Rodon and Ben Davies and former Lilywhites star Gareth Bale, the central defender only conceded one goal, as he helped Estonia get a credible 0-0 draw away from home (Transfermarkt).

The Latest: Paskotsi excitng

Speaking to Football Insider, THFC insider John Wenham, who regularly breaks news about the North London club on his Lilywhite Rose social media channels, has admitted his excitement over Paskotsi, and even thinks that Nuno Espirito Santo may play him against Burnley in their upcoming Carabao Cup fixture:

“He came in and instantly made an impression for the Under 18s.

“He scored five goals in a very short space of time as a centre back, three of which were volleys.

“We are talking about a very technical player and he got a call up to the Estonia national side last season due to a COVID outbreak.

“Remarkably, he has kept his place in that setup and he is on six caps as an 18-year-old.

“People may not think much of Estonia but they have had some decent results. They beat Finland and Belarus and they came away from Wales with a very creditable draw.

“He was up against Bale on the night and did really well. Credit to our scouting department for going and there and finding him.

“He’s one I’m really excited about. He looks a real future prospect. He’s made his first-team debut in the Conference League qualifying games.

“The progress is looking really promising and I think he could be given a chance to impress against Burnley in the Carabao Cup.”

The Verdict: Start him

Paskotsi will only get better if he starts more games for Tottenham, and the match against the Clarets would present the perfect opportunity to do just that.

Having already made his senior Spurs five goals from centre-back for the U18 Premier League last term, he offers a threat in both boxes.

Nonetheless, a physical side like Burnley will work wonders for his future development as a centre-half.

In other news, find out which ‘quality’ colossus THFC are eyeing here!

Pakistan has put forward two options as it strives to retrieve what benefits it still can from the 2011 World Cup

Sa'adi Thawfeeq16-May-2009

Pakistan has put forward two options as it strives to retrieve what benefits it still can from the 2011 World Cup. In a meeting with Sri Lanka board counterparts, Ijaz Butt, the Pakistan board chairman, suggested a swap for World Cups or for the subcontinent boards to jointly ask the ICC to allow Pakistan to present alternate solutions.The first option – swapping the 2011 World Cup, which is to be jointly hosted now by India, Sri Lanka and Bangladesh, for the 2015 edition to be held in Australia and New Zealand – was put forth by former ICC president Ehsan Mani, who is advising the PCB on the World Cup. The ICC had stripped Pakistan of its rights to co-host the 2011 World Cup following the terrorist attack in Lahore when gunmen attacked the Sri Lankan team bus. The PCB responded by serving a legal notice to the ICC for its decision to move the World Cup headquarters from Lahore to Mumbai.DS de Silva, the SLC chairman, said he would stand by any decision made at the ICC meeting in Dubai though he would discuss the PCB’s options with the rest of the interim committee members and get back to the PCB accordingly. The SLC will also wait for feedback from India and Bangladesh, with whom Butt will also meet on this diplomatic tour before taking a final decision on the World Cup options.Butt put forward the same argument that forms the basis of the PCB’s legal notice to the ICC; that the uncertain security situation in the entire subcontinent, following the terror attacks in Mumbai and Lahore, poor political relations between India and Pakistan and the slow pace of preparations for the World Cup indicated the subcontinent was not prepared to host the tournament in another two years. It is believed that this is option is unlikely to win backing among the co-hosts.In the event of that option failing, Pakistan wants the Asian bloc to ask the ICC to provide them with an opportunity to provide alternate solutions on their internal security problems. This may, as some in the PCB have already suggested, mean shifting Pakistan’s matches to Dubai and Abu Dhabi. The ICC has not ruled out the option, saying only that Pakistan had yet to make such a proposal.Butt also argued that Pakistan should be allowed to retain the right to have the central secretariat of the World Cup because it was on this premise that the PCB agreed to host a lesser number of matches than it did in the 1996 World Cup.

Amid Charlie Cresswell’s recent rise into a first-team star at Leeds United in the past couple of weeks, Marcelo Bielsa will no doubt be keeping a close eye on the academy for could who be the next breakout talent from Thorp Arch.

Back in June, reports claimed that the Whites were monitoring Celtic starlet Leo Hjelde ahead of a potential summer move for him, and the Yorkshire club eventually got a deal done for the teenager.

While he may only have recently turned 18, Hjelde is clearly someone with a lot of potential, having been deployed in numerous positions already, including at left-back and further forward in left-midfield.

And, after seeing him score his first professional goal against Kilmarnock earlier last season, his manager, John Hughes, was quick to shower him with praise.

He said: “He found himself out of the team a little bit, then came on there and got his goal. He’s destined for big, big, big things. He won’t be far away from the Celtic first-team when he goes back, but this is what he needs to be doing.”

Since then, Hjelde has of course made the switch to Elland Road, and has already been making waves at academy level, taking over the leadership mantle from Cresswell in the process.

Speaking after the U23s’ 3-2 win over Oldham in the Papa John’s Trophy earlier this week, Mark Jackson raved: “It was a test for him tonight, to come in and take the armband and lead the team. I challenged him to lead the team and organise, it’s a new system of play for him to get used to so that challenge as well is going to be difficult for him but I’ve got full confidence and I see the qualities in him, which hopefully I can help nurture.

“I did that a lot with Charlie Cresswell throughout the time I worked with him from when he was an U-16, through the 18s and in the 23s as well and I see certain qualities in Leo as well.”

With Liam Cooper the current club captain having turned 30 this past August, Bielsa may be looking at Cresswell as the man to take over the Scotland international’s throne as the next leader of the Whites defence.

But in Hjelde, he could have another hugely exciting option to take that massive leap, and given the fact Jackson has already trusted him to take the armband just months after his initial arrival in Yorkshire, speaks volumes of the natural leadership instincts he possesses.

The 6 foot 2 ace could become a huge part of Leeds’ future going forward.

Meanwhile, Leeds could make a short-term signing in this ace…