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Newcastle United could be set to enjoy their finest campaign under the leadership of Eddie Howe.

At the time of writing, the Magpies currently occupy sixth place in the Premier League table, although they are just three points off Manchester City in fourth.

With England likely receiving an extra Champions League spot this season, finishing in fifth position could see Newcastle qualify for the league phase of Europe’s premier club competition.

The club also has a chance to secure its first major trophy since 1969 when they face Liverpool in the EFL Cup final this month. Howe will be hoping that Alexander Isak returns from injury to feature, having missed the midweek loss to the Anfield side in the Premier League due to a groin injury.

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The manager doesn’t have the best strength in depth, especially having failed to sign anyone during the winter transfer window.

However, there are several young players who have either been starring for the club or have the potential to in the future.

Newcastle have plenty of talented youngsters in their squad

With Isak injured, Callum Wilson came into the starting XI against the Reds in midweek, but offered little to no threat in the final third. Indeed, he managed just 17 touches and 8 passes before being subbed off.

William Osula replaced him with 20 minutes to go and showed more during his cameo than Wilson did in 70 minutes. There is no doubting his talent – he grabbed two assists and made three key passes during the club’s FA Cup clash against Birmingham City in February.

Lewis Hall is another youngster who has gone from strength to strength under Howe since joining the Magpies in the summer of 2023 from Chelsea.

He made 22 appearances during his maiden campaign in the north-east, but he has already surpassed that total this term, featuring 34 times in all competitions for the Toon.

Hall ranks in the top 15% for carries into the opposition penalty area per 90 (0.53) when compared to his positional peers in the Premier League, while he also ranks in the top 20% for successful take-on percentage per 90 (52.4%), demonstrating his attacking talents down the left flank.

These two have extraordinarily bright futures ahead of them and could both play a key part in Newcastle’s success over the next few years.

However, there is one player who has emerged from the academy that could outshine the pair, especially considering his impact aged only 18.

Lewis Miley looks like one of the best talents Newcastle have produced in recent years, and if he remains and develops at the club over the next couple of seasons, the Englishman could turn into a star.

Lewis Miley's Newcastle statistics

Miley shone for the U18 side during the 2021/22 season, scoring twice and registering two assists across 24 matches. These types of performances certainly grabbed the attention of Howe, who gave him his debut the following campaign.

On his 17th birthday in May 2023, Miley signed his first professional contract with the club and was lauded by academy director Steve Harper, who said:

“Everyone at the Academy is delighted to see Lewis sign his first professional contract at the club. He’s been with us from a very early age and credit goes to everyone who has played a part to date.

“The admirable support from his family has been very important too but, ultimately, it is Lewis who deserves the most credit. His hard work, attitude to learning, and training as well as his technical ability has got him to this point.

“The contract is a fitting reward for his progress.”

His breakthrough came last term, where he made 26 appearances for the club, including three in the Champions League, slotting into the heart of the midfield with ease, even registering an assist against Milan during their final group stage match in the competition.

The 18-year-old had to wait until 21st December to make his Premier League bow this season due to suffering a metatarsal fracture and his subsequent recovery.

Metric

Champions League

Premier League

Assists

1

3

Key passes per game

1

0.7

Big chances created

0

3

Total duels won per game

1.7

3.4

Shots per game

0

0.8

Via Sofascore

Despite playing just eight times in the top flight this season, Miley has already notched a goal, while the midfielder has also succeeded with 89% of his passes, recovered 1.3 balls per game and won an impressive 60% of his total duels since returning to the team.

He certainly looks like a new signing for Howe, and the more he plays between now and May, the better chance Newcastle have of finishing in the top five and securing a return to the promised land of the Champions League.

The future is bright for Miley. The only downside is that the better he plays, clubs may begin to show some interest in the teenager. But given his market value, Howe could make a significant profit on the youngster should he decide to cash in.

Lewis Miley's market valuation at Newcastle

When Miley made his debut for the Magpies in May 2023 during a 1-1 draw against Chelsea in the Premier League, he was valued at just €2.5m (£2m) by Transfermarkt, which wasn’t a bad valuation considering his age and status in the squad.

Fast-forward nearly two years later, and the Englishman is now valued at €22m (£18m). This is a rise of 780% in less than two years, which is a staggering growth.

Should he continue to shine over the next few months, this market valuation will grow exponentially, especially if the midfielder can return to the starting XI on a regular basis under Howe.

Whatever happens, the manager has struck gold on the teenager, who made his debut aged just 17 before playing in the Champions League a few months later.

He won’t be looking to sell Miley, but if a massive bid comes in this summer, it might be difficult to turn down

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Summary of the CDC’s verdicts on the six individuals charged

ESPNcricinfo staff31-Mar-2023Andrew Gale (Former Yorkshire captain and coach)ChargeUsed the term “Rafa the K*****” towards Rafiq in June 2008 and towards Rafiq on other occasions between June 2008 and the end of the 2010 season.Verdict Both provedChargeUsed the term “P***” in September 2009, when Rafiq overheard Gale calling him an “arrogant P***” and on other occasions towards and/or about Rafiq between June 2008 and the end of his first spell at Yorkshire in 2014 and/or during Rafiq’s second spell at Yorkshire in 2018 and in 2013 referring to Mosun Hussain, a Yorkshire Academy player, as a “shit P***” during training.Verdict All proved Tim Bresnan (Former England and Yorkshire fast bowler)Charge Used the term “the brothers” towards Rafiq, Adil Rashid, Ajmal Shahzad and Rana Naved-ul-Hasan during the warm-up prior to a T20 against Nottinghamshire on 22 June 2009 and towards Asian players at Yorkshire by saying things like “what are the brothers doing for dinner?” between 2008 and 2014 and later.Verdict Not provedChargeUsed the term “you lot” towards Rafiq and Rashid in the dressing room at Headingley prior to a county game against Derbyshire on 15 August 2012; Moin Ashraf at T20 finals day in August 2012; towards Asian players on other occasions at Headingley from 2008 onwards.Verdict Not proved against Rafiq and Rashid, not proved against Ashraf, proved against other Asian playersChargeUsed the terms “fit P***” and/or “FP” referring to Amna Rafiq at Headingley in April 2014 and/or about an Asian woman at the Yorkshire team’s hotel bar in Birmingham the evening before a T20 against Warwickshire in July 2018; and/or about Asian women on other occasions in the Yorkshire environment in 2014 and/or 2017 and/or 2018.Verdict All provedRelated

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Matthew Hoggard (Former England and Yorkshire fast bowler)ChargeUsed the term “Rafa the K*****” towards Azeem Rafiq on several occasions between 2008 and 2009.VerdictProvedChargeUsed the term “P***” towards Rafiq and other Asian players during the 2008 cricket season in the Yorkshire dressing room.Verdict ProvedChargeUsed the term “you lot” when referring to Rafiq and other Asian players in the Yorkshire dressing room, in contexts such as “you lot sit over there”, in the 2008 and/or 2009 season.VerdictNot provedCharge Used the term “TBM” or “token black man” towards Ismail Dawood in 2004 and 2005 in the Yorkshire environment.Verdict ProvedJohn Blain (Former Scotland fast bowler and Yorkshire coach)ChargeUsed racist and/or discriminatory language in referring to Asian individuals as “P***” during pre-season training at Headingley in April 2010; and/or on other occasions at Yorkshire in 2010 and/or 2011.VerdictProvedMichael Vaughan (Former England and Yorkshire captain)ChargeUsed racist and/or discriminatory language prior to the start of a T20 against Nottinghamshire in June 2009 by saying “there’s too many of you lot, we need to have a word about that” or alternatively “there’s too many of you lot” towards the four Asian players in the team, Rafiq, Rashid, Naved-ul-Hasan and Ajmal Shahzad.VerdictNot provedRichard Pyrah (Former Yorkshire bowling coach)ChargeUsed the term “you lot” towards Rafiq before a T20 against Lancashire in June 2011 and towards Rafiq on other occasions in the period between 2008 and 2014 and/or in 2018VerdictNot provedChargeUsed the term “fit P***” and/or “FP”, referring to Amna Rafiq as “FP” at Headingley in April 2014 and on other occasions in the Yorkshire environment in 2014 and/or in 2018.VerdictBoth proved

Jarrod Bowen has not been called up to the England squad by Thomas Tuchel even after moving his wedding twice to accommodate international duty.

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Bowen not selected for EnglandWest Ham star getting married to Dani DyerBowen finishes strongly in poor season for HammersFollow GOAL on WhatsApp! 🟢📱WHAT HAPPENED?

The West Ham forward was a surprise omission from the England squad for next month's fixtures against Moldova and Senegal. Bowen has once again been the Irons' standout player and would have been expecting a call from the new Three Lions boss. Bowen will feel the snub harder having already rearranged his wedding to Dani Dyer, the daughter of actor and West Ham fan Danny Dyer, twice.

AdvertisementInstagramWHAT DYER SAID

As per talkSPORT, Dani explained on the Live and Let Dyers podcast: "We had to move the wedding forward anyway because there's England games in June. This was the problem. I would have liked to have left it one more year and then done it in 2026 but if there's a World Cup how can I plan a wedding around a potential World Cup? Imagine he got called to the World Cup and then his wedding was booked."

THE BIGGER PICTURE

Bowen has 21 combined goals and assists in 33 Premier League games for West Ham this season, including four goals and two assists in his last five games. This follows an equally impressive 22 contributions in 34 league games last campaign. He will be disappointed to have not made the squad, even if he is behind Bukayo Saka in the pecking order. Noni Madueke has been chosen as the deputy right-winger to the Arsenal man.

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Getty Images/GOALWHAT NEXT FOR BOWEN?

As Dyer heads off to Ibiza for her hen do in a full West Ham kit and Bowen's name on the back, the winger will play the final game of the season against Ipswich. Bowen will then jet off to Las Vegas for his stag do.

Leeds United travel to face Portsmouth this afternoon, looking to strengthen their grip on top spot in the Championship and extend their unbeaten run to 18 matches.

Daniel Farke’s side come into the meeting on the South Coast after a 1-1 draw against play-off-chasing West Brom at Elland Road last Saturday afternoon.

The Whites will be hoping to right the wrongs of the previous meeting with John Mousinho’s side on the opening day, with the two sides playing out a 3-3 draw in Yorkshire.

If Farke is to claim another three points this afternoon, they will have to produce an improved display from the last outing, which saw them struggle to break down Tony Mowbray’s side.

He could look to brutally drop one player from his starting eleven after he failed to impress within the final third throughout the draw at Elland Road just over a week ago.

Manor Solomon’s stats against West Brom

Winger Manor Solomon has been a key player since his loan move from Tottenham Hotspur in the summer, registering seven goals and seven assists in his 28 Championship outings.

However, his showing against West Brom was arguably one of his worst during his temporary stint in Yorkshire, being withdrawn after 79 minutes.

The Israeli lost possession 13 times during the draw, only winning one of the six duels he entered, falling way below the high standards he’s set for himself in recent months.

He also failed to complete any of his attempted dribbles and made one successful cross out of the four he produced – failing to offer that final product he’s so often produced this campaign.

As a result, Farke could look to drop the 25-year-old from the side this afternoon, replacing him with one other first-team member who could revive one of his teammates in the process.

The player who could revive Aaronson against Portsmouth

Brendan Aaronson has been a player who has divided opinion over the last few months, failing to replicate his showings from the early weeks of the season.

However, the American has only registered one combined goal and assist in 2025, highlighting the struggles he’s faced over the last couple of months.

A recall for Italian winger Wilfried Gnonto could allow the former RB Salzburg ace to recapture his form, with the youngster needing a recall after Solomon’s disappointing showing last week.

Gnonto, who’s previously been dubbed a “monster” by one analyst, hasn’t started a league game since the 1-0 win over Derby County at the end of December but has the tools to link up with Aaronson to revive the American star.

The Italian has completed 1.9 dribbles per 90 this season, along with 5.4 touches in the opposition box per game, his ability in the final third allowing the attacking midfielder to pick him out with his 83% pass accuracy.

Games played

32

Goals & assists

10

Pass accuracy

82%

Successful dribbles

1.9

Touches in opposition box

5.4

Chances created

2.1

Shots taken

3.1

The winger has also created 2.1 chances per 90, having the tools to return the favour to his teammate in attacking areas, potentially offering a huge threat in the final third for Farke’s side.

After such a long period without a start, Gnonto is more than deserving of an opportunity to remind the boss what he’s capable of, looking to return to his previous high levels of performance.

Whilst Pompey are a side who are in the bottom half, it’s a meeting that can’t be taken lightly, with the Italian having the star quality to provide the goods to extend their unbeaten run.

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The Stamford Bridge outfit have the opportunity to turn a good season into a great one, and the Italian tactician deserves a lot of the plaudits

Champions League qualification and a trophy is the absolute maximum most Chelsea fans could have hoped for from the 2024-25 season, especially after Enzo Maresca took the reins as something of an unknown quantity last summer. Fast-forward nine months, and the Blues stand on the cusp of achieving that unlikely feat.

Although an early-season flourish proved to be misleading, Chelsea have still overachieved under the Italian head coach – claiming a top-four place on the final day of the Premier League season at Nottingham Forest's expense and ultimately not even requiring the fall-back of fifth.

While a return to European football's top table will feel like a trophy in itself, a genuine piece of silverware is up for grabs on Wednesday in the form of the Conference League, and Maresca's men have the opportunity to turn a very good season into a great one.

AFPImpressive feat

Maresca was insistent from the outset that he was under orders to deliver a return to the Champions League within two seasons, rather than at the end of his debut campaign. And while the Italian probably paid the price for his side flying too close to the sun in the first half of the 2024-25 campaign, as Chelsea unexpectedly emerged as Liverpool's closest challengers around Christmas before falling away alarmingly thereafter, he has still achieved that significant objective with a season to spare.

Not only that, but Maresca pulled off that feat with the youngest team in Premier League history, with the average age of his starting XIs over the course the season a little over 24. This was also the Blues' highest points total in six seasons (69), as they finished with their smallest gap to the champions (15 points) since they last won the league title in 2017.

It wasn't pretty at times. In fact, it was often downright dreadful as Chelsea toiled right up until the run-in – but when all is said and done, none of that matters; hauling this youthful group from sixth place last season straight back into the Champions League is seriously impressive. Now, a trophy beckons.

AdvertisementAFP'Eff off to all of them!'

Maresca rightly revelled in finally silencing his critics by getting Chelsea over the line with room to spare on the final day of the season, telling all of his many detractors to 'eff off'.

"I didn't have any doubt about the players," he said. "The doubt was from outside. All the ones that have the answers or the ones that have the truth, they were saying that we are too young, we are not good enough, they were waiting for Aston Villa to drop points for us to achieve the Champions League. They were saying that we were not able to win on this pitch because we are too young, because we are not experienced. Unfortunately for them, they have all been wrong.

"All the ones that have the truth and have an answer to everything. So in English, how you say? 'Eff off' to all of them, because the players deserve that. The effort they have been doing is fantastic."

The focus now shifts to the Conference League final, with nothing to lose for Maresca and his Chelsea side.

Getty Images SportThe Chelsea way

Winning trophies – even in the hard times – has become a proud modern tradition for Chelsea. The club's three most recent successes, the Club World Cup in 2022, Champions League in 2021 and Europa League in 2019, all came within seriously challenging domestic campaigns.

That ability to get their hands on silverware even when the going has been tough is what has set the club apart from many of their rivals since the more dominant 2000s era, but three years on from their last triumph, there will be growing impatience with the trophy drought amid frustration with the way the club is being run by the Todd Boehly-Clearlake Capital consortium.

Of course, Chelsea will also be completing the European set if they are able to come out on top in Poland – potentially becoming the first club to ever win the Champions League, Europa League, UEFA Cup Winners' Cup and Conference League. The latter might be the least significant by some margin, but that legacy is certainly something to play for.

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AFP'Chelsea are back'

Maresca is under no illusions as to the importance of the club getting back into the habit of hoarding trophies. "Probably the most complicated thing this season about the Conference [League] has been to convince the players that for us it's the best competition in the world and the reason why was because it's the competition that we were in," he said in his pre-final press conference.

Previously, the Italian tactician had explained: "It's very important for us, for different reasons, but mainly because we want this club winning trophies. Winning a trophy is a statement and you [could then] say Chelsea are back. If we play in the Conference, it's because it's where we are. [And] if you play Conference, the only trophy you can win is the Conference. I think it's a good starting point."

Chelsea are one of the most ambitious clubs in the world both on and off the pitch, and they have no problem in looking to snatch talent from their rivals should the correct set of circumstances fall into place.

Chelsea have already started their latest recruitment drive

To the surprise of nobody within Premier League circles, Chelsea have already started their hunt for new stars this summer as Enzo Maresca looks to build a long-term dynasty at Stamford Bridge.

Earlier in the week, news broke that the Blues have agreed to sign Geovany Quenda from Sporting Clube de Portugal despite reports suggesting that a reunion with Ruben Amorim could be on the cards for the Portugal Under-21 talent.

Fabrizio Romano was the one to deliver confirmation of the story, but that is likely to be only the tip of the iceberg for what has become a relentless Chelsea project headed up by Todd Boehly. Manchester United’s Kobbie Mainoo is on Maresca’s wishlist after fitness concerns over Romeo Lavia have prompted the west Londoners to submit a significant bid for the Three Lions international.

Despite the Red Devils’ reluctance to sell one of their brightest talents, financial pressure may force their hand as Sir Jim Ratcliffe evaluates all revenue streams available to the club before drawing conclusions.

Kobbie Mainoo’s key statistics in 2024/25 – Premier League

Goals

1

Assists

1

Chances created

13

Duels won

92

Pass accuracy

87.1%

BlueCo also have designs on bringing Sunderland’s Jobe Bellingham to Chelsea, so there is definitely a sense of awareness from the powers that be surrounding talent on English shores who may be available on the market. With that said, Maresca is said to have turned his attention towards another star who plays for a direct rival following interest in Mainoo.

Chelsea make surprise enquiry for Liverpool's Ibrahima Konate

According to TBR, Chelsea have enquired about Liverpool’s Ibrahima Konate as he moves closer to the last year of his deal at Anfield, which runs out next summer.

Making an approach, the Blues are hoping to take advantage of the France international’s uncertain future on Merseyside, which is said to have become a ‘real concern’ after he rebuffed several offers to extend his contract at the end of 2024.

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He has excelled in Liverpool’s title push, registering two goals and two assists in 33 appearances across all competitions this campaign under Arne Slot. Labelled a “monster” by Martin Mosnier, the 25-year-old has shown his robust nature with 109 duels won on Premier League duty in 2024/25.

Remaining coy on his future, it remains to be seen whether Konate would entertain the though of swapping Liverpool for London once the summer comes around.

Controversial career decisions always come with a mixed reception, even if they can often prove to be beneficial in the long run if performances live up to their on-field reputation. One thing is for certain, Chelsea are sparing no expense in their mission to restore themselves as England’s finest side over the next few years.

Star of inaugural Rachael Heyhoe Flint Trophy title joins four team-mates on new six-month deals

Valkerie Baynes11-Apr-2023Charlotte Taylor, the star of Southern Vipers’ first Rachael Heyhoe Flint Trophy title, has earned a six-month professional contract with the club.Some two-and-a-half years since her 6 for 34 spun Vipers to victory over Northern Diamonds in the inaugural final of the competition, Taylor joins four other players on six-month deals announced on Tuesday as the club’s list of professional women’s players swelled to 16, compared with six when Taylor started out with the club in 2020.Fellow spinner Nancy Harman, allrounder Alice Monaghan and wicket-keepers Chloe Hill and Rhianna Southby were also awarded six-month elite domestic professional contracts for the first time. Along with Taylor, they join seven other players with existing elite professionals deals with the club, plus four Vipers players – Danni Wyatt, Lauren Bell, Charlie Dean and Freya Kemp – on England contracts.Related

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Adam Carty, Regional Director of Women’s Cricket at The Ageas Bowl, said the new deals came after he, Vipers head coach Charlotte Edwards, and senior support staff had recognised the hard work the recipients had put in over the English winter.”I am delighted to be in the privileged position to be able to award these professional contracts to a group of players who have demonstrated professional characteristics and attitudes in every way but contract status this winter,” Carty said. “With a massive summer ahead that will see more matches, a greater competitive challenge from an ever-improving opposition pool and, no doubt, a fluctuation in player availability, we will need a deep and meaningful squad to remain at the forefront of the elite domestic scene.”Monaghan and Taylor have been part of the Southern Vipers’ set-up since it became a regional hub in 2020 as part of a pivotal restructure of the domestic women’s game, having risen through the ranks at Hampshire.Taylor, who was just five matches into her career when she made her presence felt in that 2020 RHFT final while also working in customer service for an aerospace company supplying parts for helicopters, said her new professional contract would allow her to focus solely on her sporting career this season.”I am delighted to have been awarded a contract with the Vipers,” Taylor said. “It means I can focus fully on my cricket for the summer and not have to juggle a full-time job for the first time. I cannot wait for the season to arrive and hopefully I can contribute to some silverware this year.”Monaghan and leg-spinner Harman have represented London Spirit in The Hundred, playing under the captaincy of Vipers team-mate Dean. Monaghan said: “I’m so excited to be given this opportunity. This will allow me to elevate my game to the next level, and I can put in some performances to contribute to the Vipers having another successful season.”Hill, who also captains Worcestershire, spent the 2022 season on loan to the Vipers from Central Sparks before making a permanent move at the end of the year having scored 111 runs in five innings for the Vipers with a best of 55, while Southby joined from South East Stars in November last year.Vipers, who also defeated Northern Diamonds in the 2021 RHFT final before losing to the same opposition by just two runs in last year’s title decider, begin their 2023 season when they host Sunrisers at The Ageas Bowl on April 22. Sunrisers are yet to win a match in the RHFT and have won just one of their fixtures in the Charlotte Edwards Cup, in which Vipers are the defending champions.

Tottenham Hotspur and chairman Daniel Levy are believed to be changing their minds about selling a star player this summer, with La Liga giants Real Madrid also holding internal talks over a potential deal for him.

Tottenham stars attracting interest ahead of this summer

Spurs manager Ange Postecoglou, if he is indeed still in the job by next season, will likely have to contend with elite clubs attempting to poach his key squad members this summer.

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The Lilywhites, according to TEAMtalk, are mindful of AC Milan and Atlético Madrid’s serious interest in midfielder Rodrigo Bentancur as one example. Both European heavyweights are apparently considering a swoop for the Uruguay international this summer, and Spurs are set to open formal new contract talks with Bentancur as they look to stave them off.

Chelsea (away)

April 3rd

Southampton (home)

April 6th

Wolves (away)

April 13th

Nottingham Forest (home)

April 21st

Liverpool (away)

April 27th

The £75,000-per-week ace’s contract expires in 2026, meaning time is running out for Tottenham to tie him down with fresh terms, and if they can’t, then a sale this summer could be a real possibility.

Meanwhile, there have even been suggestions that Bayern Munich are weighing up a surprise move for Son Heung-min this summer. Tottenham recently triggered the one-year extension clause in his contract, meaning he won’t be leaving until next year, but Bayern could apparently try and tempt Levy into an early transfer.

A lot of speculation has also surrounded star centre-back Cristian Romero and his long-term future at N17, with Atlético also said to be expressing an interest in the Argentine World Cup-winner alongside Bentancur.

Romero is apparently prepared to leave Tottenham this summer as well, following the club’s dismal 2024/2025, but Atlético are not the player’s only temptation.

Tottenham stance on selling Cristian Romero as Real Madrid eye move

According to GiveMeSport, Diego Simeone’s arch rivals Real are also eyeing up a move for the South American. The Galacticos are widely rumoured to be on the hunt for a big-name central defender this summer, and Romero is on their list of star-studded targets.

The outlet reports that Tottenham are now tempted to sell Romero, following a significant U-turn behind-the-scenes, and Real have held internal talks over a swoop for the 26-year-old.

While the club have relaxed their stance over an exit deal for him, Spurs have most recently demanded £60 million to let go of Romero, and Atlético in particular are set to fall short as things stand.

Simeone’s side want to open talks over a transfer worth £33 million, but this is set to fall short of Levy’s demands. While Real haven’t yet made contact with Tottenham or Romero’s camp, there is a distinct possibility they could do, if they decide he is indeed the right man to bolster their backline.

Darwin Nunez is reportedly open to joining Saudi Pro League side Al-Hilal amid mounting speculation over a Liverpool exit.

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Nunez linked with Liverpool exitAl-Hilal eye Reds strikerUruguayan open to transferFollow GOAL on WhatsApp! 🟢📱WHAT HAPPENED?

According to Foot Mercato, the Uruguay international is not against joining Al-Hilal this summer but Liverpool have not received an offer for his services so far. However, the report adds that the Saudi team have established contact with the 25-year-old's representatives.

AdvertisementTHE BIGGER PICTURE

Nunez cost Liverpool a whopping £85 million ($115m) in 2022 but he has not lived up to that hefty price tag since then. The ex-Benfica man has scored 40 goals and added 26 assists over three seasons but now it seems a parting of the ways is in the offing.

DID YOU KNOW?

Al-Hilal have reportedly turned their attention to Nunez after Napoli striker Victor Osimhen, who has been on loan at Galatasaray this season, snubbed their advances over a summer transfer. While the Nigerian is not interested in that switch, Nunez may be a more gettable target.

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GettyWHAT NEXT?

Nunez, who has also been linked with Atletico Madrid and Napoli, is likely to feature for Uruguay in their latest 2026 World Cup qualifier on Tuesday night as they host Venezuela. Incidentally, there is a chance he may have played his last game for Liverpool.

While Najam Sethi does not disagree that India should get the largest share, he wants clarity about the workings of the model

ESPNcricinfo staff16-May-2023The PCB has become the first board to publicly express unhappiness with the proposed ICC revenue distribution model, as revealed by ESPNcricinfo last week. The model is yet to be finalised but is close to what may be a final version. It is supposed to be approved by June, before being formally adopted at the ICC’s AGM in Durban in July. But Najam Sethi, the current PCB head, has said his board will not approve the model, unless it is presented with more details of the workings behind it.In the proposed model, the BCCI is expected to receive 38.5% of an annual projected ICC earning of US$600 million, followed by the ECB with a 6.89% share, CA with 6.25% and the PCB with 5.75%. The remaining Full Member (FM) boards all receive an annual share of less than 5%. The shares for each board are the result of weightage given to four different criteria: an equal share for FM status, variable shares for cricket history and performance at ICC events for men and women, and a share for the commercial contribution each board makes to the game.The commercial contribution weightage is what sets the BCCI apart from other boards and though Sethi agreed that India should receive a larger share, he said there needs to be more clarity where the figures are coming from.”We are insisting that the ICC should tell us how these figures were arrived at,” Sethi told . “We are not happy with the situation as it stands. Come June, when the board is expected to approve the financial model, unless these details are provided to us, we are not going to approve it.”ICC proposed financial model – 2024 to 2027•ESPNcricinfo LtdThe PCB was one of the dissenters when the Big Three surprised the cricketing world by attempting to overhaul the game’s administrative and financial model in January 2014 – the new proposed financial model is based on similar principles of marking members for performance and commercial contributions. The model was voted in before Shashank Manohar took over as the ICC head in 2016 and rolled back the changes the Big Three had made. After some wrangling, the ICC and BCCI agreed to a new financial model in which the BCCI was scheduled to receive USD$405 million over the course of eight years.This time round, the PCB apart, no board has publicly gone on record to say anything about the proposed model. Sethi said that two other Test-playing countries had also asked for more details on the workings of this model.”In principle, India should get more, there is no doubt about that,” Sethi said, “but… how is this table being developed?”All FMs are due to receive considerably more income in this rights cycle than in the last, a result of the increased bounty for the ICC in this cycle. Part of that was down to how the ICC broke down and sold its broadcast rights; where the ICC historically sold broadcast rights to all its events as one property to one broadcaster globally, this time it broke up its rights across different territories, in four and eight-year packages as well as into linear TV rights or for digital streaming (or both). As a result, where the ICC received approximately USD$2.1 billion for eight years in the 2015-23 cycle, they will receive upwards of USD$3 billion for four years from the India market alone this time. That means that a number of boards could end up receiving more than double what they did in the previous cycle.