Wood given all clear after scans on heel

Mark Wood has been passed fit for the third Test against South Africa with scans clearing him of injury after he had reported soreness in his left heel

ESPNcricinfo staff19-Jul-20171:06

Butcher: Wood’s spot under scrutiny

Mark Wood has been passed fit for the third Test against South Africa with scans clearing him of injury after he had reported soreness in his left heel.However, he could still be under pressure to retain his place after managing just 1 for 197 during the first two Tests at Lord’s and Trent Bridge.Wood has undergone three ankle operations between October 2015 and his return to England colours at the start of the season, but the soreness felt at Trent Bridge was never thought to be related.Wood has not bowled badly in the two Tests but has not consistently provided the extra edge to the attack that he had been earmarked for alongside James Anderson and Stuart Broad. Form aside, there may also be concerns about asking Wood to play three Tests in quick succession due to his injury history.Toby Roland-Jones, the uncapped Middlesex seamer, has been part of the squad for the first two Tests and could come into contention. Chris Woakes, who suffered a side strain during the opening match of the Champions Trophy against Bangladesh, is not expected to be available until the West Indies series in mid-August.Despite the positive news over Wood’s fitness there will be at least one change to the England side for The Oval after Gary Ballance suffered a broken finger while batting in the second innings at Trent Bridge. Liam Dawson’s position will under come under scrutiny, but coach Trevor Bayliss suggested that Keaton Jennings, who has made three single-figure scores in the series, will be given further opportunity although that may come at No. 3 depending on who replaces Ballance.

Everton Submit Offer For £45m Premier League "Threat"

Everton are in desperate need of reinforcements in the squad this summer following their troubling Premier League relegation scrap last season, and now a new update has emerged on a long-standing transfer target.

What's the latest on Everton's interest in Conor Gallagher?

According to journalist and transfer expert Dean Jones, Everton have tabled an offer for Chelsea midfielder Conor Gallagher.

Whilst speaking on the Ranks FC Ultras Podcast, Jones revealed:

"Conor Gallagher has been linked to West Ham. He is a name that has been thrown in there, my information on Gallagher is that he doesn’t want to leave Chelsea at all, but if he has to leave, he will consider it.

"Everton and Newcastle both have tabled offers, he is very aware of what he would get if he went to either of those clubs."

What was Everton's offer for Conor Gallagher?

It is no secret that the Toffees have been in hot pursuit of the England international for over 18 months, with former Everton and Chelsea boss Frank Lampard a huge admirer of the player during his time at Goodison Park.

Whilst Jones has not revealed the exact financial offer that has been made by the Merseyside club, Fabrizio Romano confirmed in late January that Everton had submitted a submitted a £45m offer for the talented midfielder.

As a result, it is now looking like Sean Dyche is keen to continue the pursuit of Gallagher, and if the former Burnley coach can seal a deal to bring him to Goodison Park this summer, it could provide him with a perfect successor for Abdoulaye Doucoure.

The Everton talisman revived his career on Merseyside upon the arrival of Dyche after being exiled due to a reported incident with Lampard. He ended up being the club's hero on the final day of the season when he scored the winning goal against Bournemouth to save them from a drop into the Championship.

abdoulaye-doucoure-premier-league-everton-transfers

Doucoure was set to be out of contract this summer, however, the powerbrokers at Goodison were quick to trigger the one-year extension available on the 30-year-old's deal, so will be seen in the Everton squad for the season ahead.

Now Dyche can get ahead in his plans for the future of the team by securing the signature of Gallagher, who would not only work wonders alongside Doucoure next season but would be the natural replacement when the player's extension expires next summer.

When comparing Gallagher's output with the Mali international's last season, the Chelsea star shares a number of similarities to his positional peer in several key attributes, including pass completion (81.1% v 78.5%), shots on target rate (39.3% v 40%), shot-creating actions per 90 (2.61 v 2.65) and goal-creating actions per 90 (0.17 v 0.18), as per FBref.

Gallagher's career has gone from strength to strength since his loan move to Crystal Palace back in 2021, and has since become a regular feature at Stamford Bridge and was also selected for the England squad in the 2022 World Cup, with Gareth Southgate a huge admirer of the midfielder, having lavished praise on him in the past:

"He’s not as experienced as some of the others but he has an impact in games and has a goal threat. When you look at midfielders, you often ask, 'do they stop goals, create goals or score goals?' He does a lot of all of that."

With that in mind, there is no doubt that the signing of Gallagher would be a major coup for Everton and would become a valuable asset to Dyche in his pursuit to improve their performances and league standing next season.

BCCI, CoA sidestep question of Srinivasan's eligibility

Amitabh Choudhary, the acting BCCI secretary, has said it is the prerogative of a state association to nominate a person to the board’s special general meeting “as long as it doesn’t violate any court order”

Arun Venugopal26-Jun-2017Amitabh Choudhary, the acting BCCI secretary, has said it is the prerogative of a state association to nominate a person to the board’s special general meeting “as long as it doesn’t violate any court order”. Choudhary was responding to a question on the eligibility of former BCCI and ICC chief N Srinivasan, who represented the Tamil Nadu Cricket Association (TNCA) at the board’s SGM in Mumbai. Srinivasan had attended the state associations’ meeting with the Supreme Court-appointed Committee of Administrators (CoA) on Sunday (June 25) as well.BCCI could reinstate RCA

The subject of lifting the suspension on the Rajasthan Cricket Association following the election of CP Joshi as the new president recently was also discussed at the BCCI’s Special General Meeting.
The RCA had been suspended after Lalit Modi, who was suspended by the board, was elected president. Now, the board’s acting secretary Anirudh Choudhary said: “The [Rajasthan] association has conducted its elections following the honourable Supreme Court’s order and has also communicated to us saying that all impediments will be removed, including the litigations against the BCCI.
“The house felt that we must respond to it and inform them to submit a formal answer to the showcause which had been issued to the RCA. [It] will be done expeditiously.”

Srinivasan’s eligibility has been in question since the TNCA’s executive committee nominated him as its representative. In April, the Supreme Court and the CoA had warned that office-bearers disqualified under the Lodha Committee recommendations could not attend BCCI meetings. Subsequently, the court prevented Srinivasan from representing the Indian board in the ICC meetings.Srinivasan’s disqualification at that time was on two counts: he was over 70 years of age and had completed nine years as an office-bearer at both the TNCA and the BCCI, thereby violating the judgment of July 2016, which had approved the recommendations of the Lodha Committee. Veteran administrator Niranjan Shah, who represented the Saurashtra Cricket Association at the SGM, is also disqualified on the same grounds.Choudhary, however, said he had done his due diligence when it came to examining Srinivasan’s eligibility. “A notice for a meeting,” he said, “is a notice. And, the notice says that all member units of the BCCI are requested to attend this meeting. As to which individual is chosen to represent a member unit is their discretion, as long as it doesn’t violate any court order. That’s all that I am supposed to examine, which I did.”The CoA, too, had said the issue of an administrator’s eligibility didn’t fall under its remit. “That is an issue that the Supreme Court has to discuss. We have not been mandated by the Supreme Court to sit on judgment on a person’s eligibility, non-eligibility etc,” CoA chairman Vinod Rai said on Saturday. “The attendance register will go to the Supreme Court. The Supreme Court gets to know about all these things, so we are not here to sit in judgment on people’s qualification or disqualification.”A senior administrator from the west zone told ESPNcricinfo that neither Srinivasan nor Shah were currently office-bearers, and hence were eligible to attend the meeting.

Yorkshire falter in face of Collingwood's wondrous season

Paul Collingwood might never see 40 again but his defiant form is once again a bright spot in Durham’s careworn season

ECB Reporters Network04-Aug-2017Paul Collingwood’s T20 season goes from strength to strength•Getty ImagesYorkshire’s hopes of a quarter-final place in the NatWest T20 Blast suffered another setback when they failed to complete the double over north group stragglers Durham at Chester-le-Street.After the previous night’s defeat by Derbyshire, Yorkshire made a hash of chasing Durham’s 157 for 3, finishing on 156 for 7 after they appeared to be coasting.The turning point came when man of the match Paul Collingwood followed his unbeaten 88 with a direct hit from deepish mid-off to run out Alex Lees for 29, ending a stand of 47 with David Willey.When Willey lifted a catch to deep mid-wicket to depart for 40 it was left to Jack Leaning and Tim Bresnan to score 40 off the last four overs.With 22 needed off two, Bresnan drove Paul Coughlin to long-on, but Leaning smashed the next two balls to mid-wicket for six and four before skying to extra cover.With ten required, Usman Arshad began the last over with a wide, but Adil Rashid and Azeem Rafiq were unable to find the boundary and three were needed off the last ball.Azeem swung and missed and they managed only a bye, giving Durham their second victory of the series by one run.Collingwood continued his remarkable form by following his maiden Twenty20 century at Worcester on Sunday with his second highest score in the format.That Worcester century had made him the oldest man to make a professional T20 hundred.He appeared to be limping from early in his 54-ball innings, but his seven fours and two sixes provided nearly all the strokes of authority in an innings which would have foundered without him.Michael Richardson contributed 32 to an unbroken stand of 86 and from 68 for 3 after ten overs Durham did well to set a competitive target.Yorkshire looked well on course when Adam Lyth and Tom Kohler-Cadmore launched the reply with 35 off the first four overs.The ex-Worcestershire man drove Barry McCarthy for a huge straight six, but the Irishman had both openers caught at third man off successive balls to give Durham hope.Left-handers Lees and Willey accumulated steadily until Paul Coughlin brought himself on for the 12th over and Lees lifted his first ball over the stand at mid-wicket.He was then run out and Sarfaraz Ahmed managed only six before miscuing to mid-wicket to give McCarthy a third wicket.Collingwood kept it tight, conceding 26 in his four overs, and when Willey departed it left the rest with just too much to do.

Sunderland Could Sign £3m Ross Stewart Replacement

Sunderland appear to be homing in on Everton's Tom Cannon as they ramp up their search for another striker ahead of the start of the new Championship campaign.

Who are Sunderland's strikers?

Bringing in replacements for Ellis Simms and Amad Diallo was always going to be a priority for Tony Mowbray this summer, with the pair netting 20 goals between them during the regular league campaign last time out.

Simms returned to parent club Everton prior to joining Coventry City on a permanent deal, while Diallo is now back with Manchester United and will not be returning to the Stadium of Light.

Sunderland have added Luis 'Hemir' Semedo to their squad this window, but the youngster did not play any senior football during his time with Benfica.

Throw in uncertainty over the future of Ross Stewart, who has been strongly linked with second-tier rivals Southampton, and it is clear that another player who can find the net is required by Mowbray.

According to The Sun's Alan Nixon, via his Patreon page, Everton are willing to let Sunderland target Cannon leave on loan this coming campaign, though the Black Cats are said to be lining up a cash offer should Stewart leave in the coming weeks.

How many goals has Tom Cannon scored?

It has previously been reported that Sunderland are hopeful a £3m offer plus bonuses would be enough to tempt Everton to cash in on Cannon, who has made three senior appearances for the Merseyside outfit.

The 20-year-old has spent more than a decade on Everton's books, but it may well be that his future lies elsewhere, with the likes of Preston North End, Blackburn Rovers and Sheffield Wednesday also said to be eyeing up the youngster.

It was with Preston that Cannon made a name for himself last season when scoring eight goals and assisting one more in 20 Championship appearances.

The 0.65 goals per 90 minutes Cannon registered in the second tier last season, as per FBref, was bettered only by Stewart (0.86) among Sunderland players.

Sunderland striker Ross Stewart.

Even when not scoring, the Republic of Ireland international still proved to be a nuisance for opposition defenders. Indeed, Hull City boss Liam Rosenior hailed Cannon as "outstanding" and "one of the best players we've played against by far."

Cannon only spent four months at Deepdale, and he will no doubt hope to better his eight-goal tally across the duration of an entire season should he again drop down a level.

On top of both being able to find the net regularly, there are other similarities between Cannon and Stewart. For example, they scored from 0.17 and 0.19 of their shots last season respectively, while they completed 64.5% and 68% of their passes.

Stewart is a lot better than Cannon in the air, winning 48.9% of his aerial duels compared to the Everton starlet's 32.1%, but the latter is better at beating an opponent as he averaged 1.22 successful take-ons per 90 to Stewart's 0.60.

Ultimately, Sunderland's decision on whether to sell Stewart this summer before he becomes a free agent next year could come down to Cannon's availability. If they can make a nice profit and bring in a player of very similar quality, it would be good business indeed.

Liverpool Could Make Three More Signings This Summer

Liverpool could still potentially make three more signings in the summer transfer window, according to an encouraging update from Sky Sports reporter Melissa Reddy.

Who have Liverpool signed?

The Reds endured a painful 2022/23 season, finishing fifth in the Premier League and looking a million miles away from the team that almost won the quadruple the previous year.

It was clear that major summer surgery was required within the squad, particularly in midfield, and they have already undergone dramatic change. Alexis Mac Allister and Dominik Szoboszlai are Liverpool's two signings so far, coming in from Brighton and RB Leipzig respectively, but Fabinho, Jordan Henderson, James Milner, Naby Keita and Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain have all moved on to pastures new.

Read the latest Liverpool transfer news HERE…

With the start of the new Premier League campaign edging closer all the time, more additions are required in the coming weeks, in order to have the depth required to challenge across four competitions. More midfielders are imperative, with Romeo Lavia and Andre looking like the current primary targets, while a left-sided centre-back would also be a shrewd addition.

Fluminense midfielder Andre.

Are Liverpool making more signings?

Writing on Twitter, Reddy explained that there is a chance that Liverpool could still sign two midfielders this summer, as well as bring in a new central defender to battle for playing time with the current options:

"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."

Liverpool fans will certainly be buoyed by this update, with the Reds' transfer dealings going quieter of late, aside from players such as Fabinho and Henderson leaving.It will simply be unacceptable if FSG don't provide the funds to bring in at least one more midfielder and a centre-back, although a second signing in the middle of the park feels fairly crucial, in order for Jurgen Klopp have a plethora of options.There is a complete lack of a No.6 at the club currently, with Curtis Jones taking up that role in a few pre-season friendlies, so a couple of additions who are experts in front of the defence, as is the case with Lavia and Andre, makes complete sense.After such a disappointing summer transfer window last time around, it is vital that Liverpool nail their business this time, in order to prevent a repeat of last season's woes and to go into the campaign as genuine Premier League title challengers.If Lavia and Andre both came in, and someone like Sporting CP defender Goncalo Inacio, for example, it would complete a hugely productive time of things in the transfer market, but fans will be concerned that the Reds could again not quite have the squad they desire once the end of August arrives and the window shuts.The next couple of weeks are going to be crucial, with a fast start to the season required, rather than limping out of the blocks like they did last season.

Indrajith savours a back-to-the-wall double-hundred

The 23-year old batsman from Tamil Nadu took India Red from 205 for 9 to 383 to give them a chance in the Duleep Trophy game against India Blue

Deivarayan Muthu15-Sep-2017Double-hundred in maiden Duleep Trophy match. First Indian to hit a double on pink-ball debut. Rallying India Red from 205 for 9 to 383. Dominating the highest tenth-wicket stand (178) in the tournament, and the second-highest in Indian first-class cricket. B Indrajith could not have asked for a better start to the 2017-18 first-class season.The 23-year old batsman from Tamil Nadu was in his sixties when the ninth wicket of the innings fell. Scoring a hundred, let alone a big one, seemed far fetched.But Indrajith combined with Vijay Gohil and blunted the India Blue attack under the floodlights to lead a remarkable recovery. “This is a very, very special innings for me,” he told ESPNcricinfo from Kanpur. “I did not expect to score a hundred after we were nine down. To reach a double-hundred from there is very special. Vijay Gohil defended tightly and I found a rhythm. Without his support and partnership, it would not have been possible.”After closing the first day at 120 off 181 balls, Indrajith reached his 200 off 280 balls, smashing 20 fours and six sixes. This despite India Red captain Suresh Raina posting five men on the boundary as soon as the batsman had moved past his century.”I later took calculated risks when the ball was in my area,” Indrajith said. “I hit out against the spinners and targeted some medium-pacers. I told Vijay ‘I will face the first three balls of the over and then try to turn the strike and give it to you’. I asked him to push for two and run hard whenever he found the gap in the outfield and dealt with the situation. He also showed good application, defended tightly, and left balls outside off.”In addition to the match situation, which was complicated enough, Indrajith had to deal with a couple of issues with the pink ball. “At times, it is hard to spot the seam,” he said. “I usually play the red ball looking at the shine, I could not do the same against the pink ball. It swung in the first five-six overs; once you see that off and settle down, you can score runs.”I did not find it easy to pick the spinners, too, particularly under lights. Wristspin is more difficult to pick but India Blue did not have a wristspinner. At the nets, I found it difficult to pick my team-mate Karn Sharma under lights… The trend has been that wickets fall to the new pink ball under lights. But me, Siddarth Kaul, Basil Thampi and Vijay Gohil hung on.”Indrajith is into his fifth season as a first-class cricketer. In 2015, two years after his debut, he was named the Tamil Nadu vice-captain but a sharp decline in form forced him out of his leadership position. Able to concentrate solely on his batting again, he struck 697 runs from 14 innings in 2016-17, playing a vital part in Tamil Nadu’s run to the Ranji Trophy semi-final. He was selected to play for India A against the touring Australians on the back of that performance.Indrajith starting the new season with a back-to-the-wall double-century was the result of his preparation leading up to it. His personal coach and former Railways player S Balaji said: “He has been working hard at training before the season and there a few aspects to it.”Firstly throwdowns, sometimes we use a steel pipe instead of the bat – the pipe is roughly the same weight as that of the bat. Then visualisation: what length the bowler might bowl and respond to various situations. Then during 22-yard practice, we ask for certain wickets, whether seaming pitches or turners. We also practiced at [team-mate] Vijay Shankar’s terrace, where one end of the make-shift indoor pitch has tiles. The ball turns madly and sometimes jumps from there. It has helped all three [Indrajith, his twin brother Aparajith and Shankar] of them deal with uneven turn and bounce.”Balaji hoped the Duleep Trophy innings was the start of a Indrajith rectifying a flaw in his career so far: “I have been telling him in the last few years the impact innings haven’t been coming and that he needs to improve. He is due for bigger call-ups. He has been hitting fifties and hundreds in Ranji Trophy, but there weren’t many high-impact innings. In fact, 10 days back, VB Chandrasekhar called me and asked ‘why he hasn’t been scoring big’? Hopefully, this turns out to be that innings.”

Tottenham: Spurs Could Make "Ridiculous" Striker Signing

Italian journalist Davide Chinellato has shared an update on Tottenham Hotspur's striker plans with Juventus striker Dusan Vlahovic in the running to succeed Harry Kane.

Who will Spurs replace Kane with?

The departure of Spurs legend Kane leaves a gaping hole in Ange Postecoglou's squad as the new season gets underway, and it's a problem which needs to be solved quickly.

Kane's transfer to Bayern Munich was sealed after Tottenham agreed a €100 million (£86m) plus an extra €20 million (£17.2m) in possible add-ons, but there is an argument to be made that the 30-year-old is practically irreplaceable.

Postecoglou, speaking after the striker's move to Bayern, admitted that he knew it had been coming for a long time.

“I had a conversation with Harry the first day he arrived and he was up front and honest, and I was the same,” the 57-year-old said ahead of their opener against Brentford on Sunday.

“You get an indication there that he kind of made up his mind: that if the clubs agreed he would go, particularly if it was before the first game. That was my preference as well.

“There's nothing along the way that's sort of made me feel there's anything other than this outcome. None of these things happen in isolation, everyone is pretty clued into to what's going on, so from my perspective I hadn't received anything from Harry, the club or anyone else to suggest to me anything had changed about his stance."

Read the latest Tottenham transfer news HERE…

Montpellier striker Elye Wahi and Gent's Gift Orban, as well as Chelsea forward Romelu Lukaku, have all been linked with moves to Spurs following Kane's exit.

Vlahovic, who the Lilywhites have held a long-standing interest in, is another name to be mentioned as a candidate to step into Kane's shoes.

That is according to Chinellato, who wrote for La Gazzetta dello Sport that the attacker "could come back into the news" as Tottenham draw up a shortlist of striker targets.

"Tottenham had monitored the Serbian's situation last month," wrote the reporter.

"But had given up when it seemed that Kane would have to stay. Now it could come back into the news, provided that Levy decides to invest the 80 million (£69 million) that Juve values ​​him in the 23-year-old. And that Dusan decides that a season at Tottenham."

How good is Dusan Vlahovic?

Juventus striker Dusan Vlahovic.

Vlahovic finished the 2022/2023 Serie A campaign as Juventus' top scorer with 10 goals.

While that isn't exactly mouth-watering, the striker did bag 17 in 21 Italian top flight appearances for Fiorentina the previous campaign.

Vlahovic is a striker of real quality when playing at his very best, a sentiment echoed by pundit Micah Richards, who lavished praise on him back in late 2021.

“I have watched him a couple of times now,” Richards told BBC Radio Five Live (via The Independent).

“He is lightning. It’s ridiculous. He has got 16 in 18 this season. His left foot is like a wand. I am telling you now, he is everything, he is everything you need.”

However, Vlahovic's marquee price tag of around £69 million could well prove a sticking point for Spurs.

Vihari, Bhui tons give Andhra control

Mumbai eke out lead courtesy Jay Bista’s century; Tamil Nadu’s push for victory halted by bad light in Chennai

ESPNcricinfo staff16-Oct-2017A hundred from Jay Bista and vital half-centuries from Siddesh Lad (82) and Suryakumar Yadav (91) helped Mumbai squeeze out a first-innings lead over Madhya Pradesh in Indore. Mumbai, who resumed on 130 for 1 in reply to MP’s 409, slipped from 260 for 2 to 296 for 5. The lower order rally was led by debutant Akash Parkar (21) and wicketkeeper Sufiyan Sheikh, unbeaten on 30. Mumbai ended on 415 for 8.Hundreds from Hanuma Vihari, the captain, and Ricky Bhui helped Andhra wrest control over Baroda in Vadodara. The pair added 308 for the third wicket to comfortably overhaul Baroda’s 373; they ended the day on 505 for 9. B Sumanth was unbeaten on 45. Atit Sheth, the medium pacer, picked up his second five-for in just his sixth first-class match. The Pathan brothers – Irfan and Yusuf – were wicketless across 32 overs.Tamil Nadu’s push for an outright win, against Tripura, was thwarted by bad light in Chennai with just little over an hour’s play possible. Washington Sundar could add just three to his overnight 156 as Tamil Nadu, who secured a first innings lead, ended on 357 for 4 at stumps. B Indrajith (89 not out) and R Ashwin were at the crease, with Tamil Nadu ahead by 99. Dinesh Karthik, who flew in only on the morning of the match, was out for 5.

West Ham: Hammers Now Make "Exciting" Forward Bid

Journalist Santi Aouna has shared an update on West Ham United and their transfer plans for Rennes winger Jeremy Doku this summer.

Who will West Ham sign?

Manager David Moyes, technical director Tim Steidten, sporting director Mark Noble and David Sullivan are aiming to be busy as we enter the final hurdle of this summer window.

So far, the Irons have secured just two major signings, coming in the form of midfielders James Ward-Prowse and Mexico international ace Edson Alvarez.

Commenting on the addition of Ward-Prowse, Moyes was left thrilled by West Ham's capture of the England international, who adds both quality and real set-piece threat for the east Londoners.

“I’m delighted to bring a player of James’ quality and experience to West Ham United,” Moyes said.

“He's performed to a very high level in the Premier League over the last decade, constantly producing good numbers season after season. His leadership qualities are obviously another huge plus for us – he’ll be a big voice for us, someone who drives the team on from the middle of the pitch.

“We’re excited to get him up and running, for what will be another busy season on both the domestic and European front.”

Read the latest West Ham transfer news HERE..

Next up, West Ham are thought to be chasing a possible replacement for star midfielder Lucas Paqueta, who is attracting real interest from last night's UEFA Super Cup winners Man City.

Also, following the collapsed transfer of Man United defender Harry Maguire, West Ham are chasing the addition of a top centre-back and have been linked with a fair few names.

The Irons could also make further additions in the attacking areas, with Rennes forward Doku coming as a major target for Moyes, Steidten and co.

That is according to Foot Mercato reporter Aouna, who wrote an update on X regarding West Ham and their pursuit of the Belgium international.

Indeed, it is believed Doku is a "priority" target in terms of the final third, with West Ham making a verbal offer to Rennse for his services.

Little else is said on the nature of this bid, or whether it's even been entertained, but it appears Moyes' side have moved for Doku in an attempt to reinforce Moyes' attacking options.

How good is Jeremy Doku?

Jeremy Doku Aston Villa

The 21-year-old made nearly 30 Ligue 1 appearances for Rennes last term, scoring six goals and assisting two others, but it's his dribbling which comes as a major draw.

Doku averaged a very impressive 3.3 successful take-ons per 90 over the 2022/2023 campaign, which is the best return of any French top flight player last season, even above the likes of Lionel Messi and Kylian Mbappe (WhoScored).

The Belgium international, who has been called an "exciting" forward by members of the media, could reportedly cost at least £45 million if West Ham want to do a deal.

Mbappe, meanwhile, is one player to have heaped praise on Doku and his sky-high potential.

"Recently, I was speaking with my father about a player who impressed me because of his speed qualities, that is (Jérémy) Doku, at Rennes," said the World Cup winner in 2021.

"In 5 years as a professional, I have never seen someone from a standing start demonstrate so much power.

"In terms of an incredibly quick player, I would also put Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang."

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