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Batsman credits wife Candice for helping him ‘get out of bed’ on long road back from ball-tampering ban

Sidharth Monga in Taunton12-Jun-2019That leap to celebrate an international hundred is back. That feeling David Warner at times felt he would never be able to enjoy again. And it is that fear that kept Warner going through the 14 months of international exile, as a result of his role in the Newlands ball-tampering controversy. If that fear pushed him to be back to the best batsman he could be, his wife Candice’s support helped him come out of the initial trauma, admitted a relieved Warner afterwards.”Yeah, definitely,” Warner said when asked if he ever feared he might never get a chance to score a century for Australia again. “There was always that going through my mind. And I think that’s what drove me to keep being as fit as I can, keep scoring as many runs as I can in the Twenty20 tournaments that I was playing in.”Before he could get back to scoring those T20 runs, he struggled to get out of the bed even. That’s when Candice helped him. “The thing that kept me going was my wife and my kids,” Warner said. “Got great support at home, my family. And my wife is just, she’s just my rock. She’s unbelievable. She’s determined, disciplined, selfless.ALSO READ: Warner finds old mindset to flick switch for Australia”And I hold a lot of credit to her. She’s a strong woman. And she got me out of bed a lot in those sort of first 12 weeks, and got me back running and training hard as I could, and prepared for the other formats of the game I was playing. So it was just to maintain my level of fitness and just hard work. And she really nailed that into me.”There was no point moping around. Warner had to enjoy the process of getting back. There was no other option, but he found it genuinely enjoyable. “Really enjoyed going out there. And we used Regulation balls [Kookaburra Regulation, which has a more pronounced seam than Kookaburra Turf, which is used in the first half of the Shield season] back in Sydney [grade cricket]. And that was a challenge in itself to get used to that. The different obscure fields that were being set because the wickets are a tad slower. I really enjoyed all that. It was really, really hard work.Watch on Hotstar (India only) – Hotstar of the match”And I think going through those tough times and sort of regrouping with myself to put myself in the best position to come back to international cricket, I did everything I could. I really, really knuckled down and trained my backside off.”And I’m just grateful for this opportunity. I’m just really looking forward to what’s coming ahead of us here in the World Cup. Pumped to be back, and the boys are on fire here. We’ve got a great group harmony, a lot of smiles on the faces as you can see in a lot of the training sessions and out in the field. So, look, I’m pumped.”Warner is pumped, and finally he has had a match in England where he was not booed. He has a message: the booing might only make him and Steven Smith more determined. “The boos, we don’t really hear that when we’re out there,” Warner said. “At the end of the day we’re out there to do a job. For me, it’s just trying to score runs and have a lot of energy in the field. And, look, it’s water off a duck’s back. You get it all the time. I’ve heard it my whole career. Actually it eggs us on a lot and makes us knuckle down and try to score more runs if anything.”David Warner’s trademark leap•Getty ImagesThere is a difference between Smith and Warner, though. Warner has largely been seen as the corrupting influence. Warner has not had the amount of sympathy that has come Smith’s way. Nor has he done any interviews to seek any.”I was just focused ahead,” Warner said. “That was my own thing. I was just focusing on playing the next game that I was playing in, training as hard as I could. I didn’t need to say anything. What was said was said back in those press conferences. And now it’s about looking forward.”And to be in the here and now is to enjoy the soreness from training hard to be fit enough to be part of the current Australia set-up. “Coming back, that soreness that you normally get, it was it put a smile on my face,” Warner said. “I had a little bit of a strain on my glute. I think that was just purely based on getting back into it and sort of getting back in the mojo of things. And, look, it was just great to be back and part of the team.”More smiles will be on his face when partners of the players join the team in London on Thursday. The last time Warner had Candice over when playing for Australia was probably the most desperate time of his career. He was under the pump, she was mocked disgustingly by the crowds, and it all led to a bitter climax in Newlands. Warner is in a much better place, Australia are in a much better place, and he is looking forward to being with his family and enjoying the tour. That could hardly be said in South Africa.

Lancashire have signed Australian batsman Jake Lehmann for the remainder of their Royal London One-Day Cup campaign.Lehmann, the 26 year-old son of former Australian batsman and coach Darren Lehmann, will replace countryman Glenn Maxwell, who is set to join the Australian World Cup squad. Maxwell will play in Lancashire’s next game against Durham on Tuesday before flying back to Australia.Jake Lehmann played first-class cricket for Yorkshire in 2016, scoring 384 runs at an average of 54.85. He will be available for the knockout stages if Lancashire qualify from the North Group in the Royal London Cup. The left-handed batsman averages 31.09 in List A cricket and has played in the Big Bash for Adelaide Strikers since 2015.”I am hugely excited to have been given the opportunity to join a massive club like Lancashire,” he said. “I thoroughly enjoyed my previous spell in England with Yorkshire a couple of years ago and I’m really looking forward to pulling on the Red Rose and playing at Old Trafford this time around.”I am looking forward to meeting all of the lads and I hope that I can put in some match winning performances to help the team finish strongly.”Lancashire’s Director of Cricket Paul Allott, said: “We are very fortunate that we’ve been able to find a replacement for Glenn as he leaves us to meet up with the Australia World Cup squad.”Getting a player of quality for a short spell, with little notice can be difficult, but we’re really pleased that we have been able to secure the services of Jake for the rest of the competition. Everyone at Lancashire Cricket wishes Glenn all the best for the World Cup and we look forward to welcoming him back to Emirates Old Trafford later this summer.”Maxwell will return to Lancashire after the World Cup to play in the T20 Blast in August and the County Championship in September.

Big picture

Even though Delhi Capitals and Sunrisers Hyderabad have the same number of points – four – to their names right now, they have had considerably different journeys to earn them. Apart from the fact that Sunrisers have played one match fewer, Delhi have somehow managed to lose their nerves in the last two matches, not an ailment Sunrisers have shown symptoms of.Delhi were cruising in their chases against both Kolkata Knight Riders and Kings XI Punjab before slipping. Kagiso Rabada saved them in the Super Over against Knight Riders, but against Kings XI, there was no coming back as they lost seven wickets for just eight runs.

Form guide (most recent matches first)

Delhi: Lost to Kings XI by 14 runs, beat Knight Riders in the Super Over, lost to Super Kings by six wickets
Sunrisers: beat Royal Challengers by 118 runs, beat Royals by five wickets, lost to Knight Riders by six wickets

They can’t afford to make such mistakes again, especially against a team that’s been among the best in the last few seasons.Sunrisers’ bowlers must be desperate to have a go and get their act back together, especially in the death overs, seeing the way Delhi have batted at the end recently. Their top-order batsmen, of course, are likely to tear into any bowling attack that errs even marginally.Sunrisers’ death bowling wasn’t tested against Royal Challengers Bangalore on Sunday, and it’s one area, along with their middle order, that Delhi would want to target. Yusuf Pathan has faced 22 balls this IPL and Manish Pandey nine. That means only one thing for Delhi: get quick wickets.Having already lost two of their four matches, this is a good chance for Delhi to win at home before they travel for three away matches within the next ten days. The Delhi track has see-sawed so far, giving first-innings scores of 147 and 185, and might continue to be low and slow on Thursday.Sportzpics

In the news

David Warner had taken a blow on his hand while taking a sharp catch at extra cover to dismiss Virat Kohli on Sunday. But he is now “100%” for Thursday, and while Jonny Bairstow showed signs of discomfort during his century, perhaps because of cramps in the Hyderabad heat, he is also fit.

Previous meeting

When Sunrisers met Delhi Daredevils last in May 2018, they had chased down 188 with ease, ending a Rishabh Pant century in vain. Delhi man Shikhar Dhawan was with Sunrisers then and had scored an unbeaten 92 off 50 balls.

Likely XIs

Delhi Capitals: 1 Prithvi Shaw, 2 Shikhar Dhawan, 3 Shreyas Iyer (capt), 4 Rishabh Pant (wk), 5 Colin Ingram, 6 Chris Morris, 7 Hanuma Vihari, 8 Axar Patel, 9 Kagiso Rabada, 10, Avesh Khan, 11 Sandeep LamichhaneSunrisers Hyderabad: 1 Jonny Bairstow (wk), 2 David Warner, 3 Vijay Shankar, 4 Yusuf Pathan, 5 Manish Pandey, 6 Deepak Hooda, 7 Mohammad Nabi, 8 Rashid Khan, 9 Bhuvneshwar Kumar (capt), 10 Sandeep Sharma, 11 Siddarth Kaul

Strategy punt

• Even though Mohammad Nabi opened the bowling against Royal Challengers and took 4 for 11, it might be a good idea to hold him back until Pant and Colin Ingram walk out to bat, to turn the ball away from the left-handers. His economy rate in the middle overs (7-15) is better than in Powerplays anyway: 5.30 compared to 6.10.
• The home side may want to open with legspin – Lamichhane – against Bairstow if the pitch is slow and low, as expected. Bairstow has been dismissed by legspinners all three times this IPL and averages 23 against them in all T20s since 2015.
• Sunrisers might not want to give Bhuvneshwar more than an over in the death, especially if they bowl first, given his poor recent form. His quota could be given to Rashid Khan, who has gone at 8.20 per over in the last five overs in the IPL since 2015, better than Bhuvneshwar’s 9.50 and Sandeep Sharma’s 10.

Stats that matter

• You’re set for a spectacular scrap no matter who bats first on Thursday. Opener Prithvi Shaw has scored only five runs off Bhuvneshwar’s 12 balls overall in T20s, although with no dismissals. On the other hand, Warner has struck Rabada for only 16 off 14 balls, being dismissed once.
• Only two batsmen had got the better of Rashid in the last IPL: Chris Gayle and Suresh Raina. Pant, another left-hander, will take confidence from that and his own record against Rashid in the IPL: 45 runs off 30 balls and only one dismissal. To add to that, Pant averages a whopping 62.80 and strikes at 162 against Sunrisers.
• Pandey will have to find a way to score against the left-arm spin of Axar Patel, if he is fielded. Pandey has scored 23 runs off 39 balls against Axar over the years, while being dismissed twice. He hasn’t scored particularly quickly against left-arm spin in the IPL since 2015 anyway, with a scoring rate of 116.20.
• What home advantage? Sunrisers’ IPL record in Delhi reads: five wins in seven games, winning 71.40% of the matches.

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O elenco do Botafogo terá uma baixa para a próxima temporada, quando a equipe estará na segunda divisão. O clube de General Severiano chegou a um acordo para rescindir o contrato de Cícero de forma amigável, como informou primeiramente o “Ge” e o LANCE!confirmou.

O acordo foi oficializado nos últimos dias. O meio-campista chegou ao Alvinegro em 2019, foi titular em boa parte do primeiro ano defendendo o Alvinegro, mas perdeu espaço logo depois.

Com um dos maiores salários do atual elenco, a permanência de Cícero era algo praticamente impensável para uma equipe que terá quedas drásticas nas cotas financeiras para próxima temporada. O vencimento do meio-campista era fora da nova realidade do clube.

O atleta de 36 anos atuou em 19 partidas na atual temporada, marcando um gol. Ele chegou a ser afastado pela antiga diretoria no ano passado, mas foi reintegrado por Túlio Lustosa, ex-gerente de futebol.

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Manchester United boss Erik ten Hag has admitted that his side 'got away with it' as they edged past Coventry City in the FA Cup semi-final.

Article continues below

Article continues below

Article continues below

• Man Utd dropped three-goal lead to Coventry
• Won the match on penalties after extra-time drama
• Will face Man City in the FA Cup final on May 25

• Getty Images
  

  WHAT HAPPENED?

  Bruno Fernandes' 58th-minute goal gave Man Utd their third goal of the evening and almost sent the Red Devils on their way. However, a late fight from the Championship side took the game to extra-time at Wembley. In the 123rd minute of extra time, Coventry scored their fourth goal of the night, however, the goal was ruled out by VAR for offside. In the shootout, Callum O'Hare and Ben Sheaf missed their spot kicks and gave the Red Devils the right of passage to the FA Cup final.

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• WHAT TEN HAG SAID

  Speaking after the match, Ten Hag said [via The Athletic]: "We have to do better in such occasions but the difficult thing to do is put ourselves in a winning position, the last thing is much easier. On several occasions, we let ourselves down and let the result slip away but we got away with it.

  "So mixed feelings is clear. It's a huge achievement to be twice in an FA Cup final in two years. In the last 20 years, United was in five times. Now two times in two years, a huge achievement.

  "But when you are so in control in a game, dominating, you should bring it over the finish. The way we did was not good. From the 70th minute to the end, we made mistakes and it shouldn't have happened."

• (C)GettyImages
  

  THE BIGGER PICTURE

  The match pretty much summarised the inconsistencies of the season for the Dutchman's side as they struggled to get the result across the line. The former Ajax manager's job has been under threat this season and the 54-year-old could very well be on his way out of Old Trafford as Sir Jim Ratcliffe has not backed the Dutchman publicly to keep his job for next season.

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• WHAT NEXT FOR MAN UTD?

  The Dutchman's side will now take on Manchester City in the FA Cup final on May 25 at Wembley Stadium. Before that, they will complete their Premier League campaign as they keep on their hunt for European football next season.

Liverpool emerged from the Etihad Stadium without the bitter taste of defeat, with Jurgen Klopp's side battling hard to fight back and secure a point against Manchester City through Trent Alexander-Arnold's incisive equaliser.

The result in the Premier League means that the Reds remain just one point behind Pep Guardiola's outfit, though Arsenal have now taken pole position after defeating Brentford on Saturday.

While snapping the Citizen's 23-match winning run on home soil was galvanising and a massive step forward, it would be remiss not to acknowledge that Liverpool rode their luck at times and endured an erroneous affair at times.

However, Alexander-Arnold's goal was a product of the Anfield side's resilience and ruthlessness, two yardsticks of Liverpool's success under Klopp.

However, Darwin Nunez did not embody such values on the pitch and endured one of his tougher matches of the campaign, having performed so well for the most part after a testing 2022/23 term.

Darwin Nunez's performance vs Manchester City

Liverpool's £85m club-record signing arrived with great expectation last season after plundering 34 goals from 41 appearances during his final campaign in Portugal with Benfica.

The 24-year-old scored 15 times across all competitions but missed 20 big chances in the Premier League alone, with Klopp forced to stress that the Uruguayan's success on Merseyside is a "long-term project".

Well, he's certainly raised his game since the summer and has landed a direct goal contribution every 80 minutes this season, but against Manchester City, the £140k-per-week forward failed to grasp his opportunities – handed a poor 4/10 match rating via GOAL after the contest.

Nunez was lively against the treble winners and did take four shots, but he failed to inspire with any meaningful efforts, took just 25 touches and lost both of his contested ground duels, as per Sofascore.

He will need to build on his better displays this season and prove himself as the ruthless figure up front that Klopp can rely on to finish off the lightning-quick breaks that have become a trademark over the past several years.

It was always going to be one of the trickier contests of the calendar, however, and there is plenty of cause for optimism given the discernible improvements since the summer.

The bigger quandary that Klopp and co will now be wrestling with will be working out the perfect partner for Dominik Szoboszlai in the midfield, with Curtis Jones also enduring an ineffective afternoon in Manchester.

Curtis Jones' game vs Manchester City in numbers

Jones has been one of Liverpool's unsung heroes in 2023, emerging as a centrepiece of the side's resurgence in the later phase of the 2022/23 season and starting all 11 of the Reds' culminating league fixtures, leading one analyst & scout to remark at his "complete" skill set.

He'd been crucial in the current campaign's early phase for a contentious dismissal against Tottenham Hotspur in September, with The Athletic's James Pearce noting the "flying" start that had yielded a 93% pass success rate in the Premier League, as per Sofascore.

But, on his return against City, the 22-year-old did not enjoy his finest hour and was indeed hooked after just 54 minutes, having taken just 34 touches, made just one tackle and failed to create a single key pass.

Nunez might have been branded with a 4/10 score but the Englishman was handed a lowly 3/10 match rating by GOAL, with Tom Maston writing: 'Gave the ball away on far too many occasions as City's midfield looked to swarm him and force him into mistakes. Replaced by Gravenberch early in the second half.'

Jones is a composed, intelligent midfielder and will play a key part for his outfit over the coming months, but when considering the impact that Ryan Gravenberch made off the bench, it's hard to argue against the Dutchman's claims for a regular starting berth.

Ryan Gravenberch must start for Liverpool

Liverpool completed the £34m transfer of Gravenberch from German giants Bayern Munich in August to complete Klopp's midfield overhaul this summer, and he has since been hailed as “unbelievable” by former Reds midfielder Didi Hamann, who spoke with incredulity over Die Roten's failure to bring out his best attributes.

The £150k-per-week midfielder only earned three Bundesliga starts and clinched just one goal and one assist, though, since his move to Merseyside, he has already bagged four direct contributions, dubbed a "special player" by Liverpool coach Pep Lijnders.

#

Player

Club

1

Jude Bellingham

Real Madrid

2

Dominik Szoboszlai

Liverpool

3

Khephren Thuram

OGC Nice

4

Conor Gallagher

Chelsea

5

Joelinton

Newcastle

*Sourced via FBref

Very much the all-encompassing midfielder, Gravenberch ranks within the top 20% of midfielders across Europe's top five leagues over the past year for goals, shot-creating actions, pass completion, progressive passes, progressive carries, successful take-ons, interceptions and blocks per 90, as per FBref.

Brought into the action in the second half (for Jones), the 11-cap Netherlands international played an important part in Liverpool's equaliser after gliding up the pitch into the danger area, forcing the hosts into a defensive structure that was swiftly breached.

In his second-half cameo, Gravenberch made a key pass and impressed with his positivity, with Maston writing that he made 'some good defensive interventions from the Netherlands international after coming on for Jones', which showcases the multi-functionality of this dynamic ace.

Described as a "Rolls-Royce" by journalist Declan Carr, the 6 foot 2 whiz looks increasingly influential in the engine room and is willing to carry the ball forward with penetrative effectiveness to ensure the Reds have a steady, reliable offensive threat from deep, complementing the likes of Mohamed Salah and Nunez in the final third.

The very fact that Klopp now boasts multiple options in the centre of the park will be most pleasing after last year's struggles; indeed, Stefan Bajcetic and Thiago Alcantara have been plagued with injury all season and will hope to make an impact after the new year.

But Gravenberch is staking a claim for a prominent position to rival the most cemented stars in the squad, and after returning to action in style at the Etihad, Gravenberch must now be unleashed from the outset over the crucial coming matches in the Premier League.

أشاد طه إسماعيل، نجم الأهلي الأسبق، بجماعية منتخب مصر الأولمبي، وأدائه في أولمبياد باريس بعد الوصول إلى نصف النهائي.

وقال طه إسماعيل، في تصريحات عبر قناة أون تايم سبورتس: “المنتخب الأولمبي ليس مليئا بالنجوم وليس سهلا على المدير الفني تكوين فريق جماعي بشكل جيد”.

طالع..حكم مباراة مصر وفرنسا في أولمبياد باريس

وتابع: “هذه المجموعة تلعب بشكل جماعي كبير لا يوجد فيهم نجوم كبيرة ولامعة، وهذا سر نجاح المدرب أنه استطاع أن يكون من المجموعة فريقا جماعيا”.

وأكمل: “محمد النني عندما شارك مع المنتخب الأولمبي، هو وأحمد سيد زيزو الاثنين أصبح أدائهما جماعيا وساهما مساهمة كبيرة مع المنتخب”.

وواصل: “هذا الجيل يمتاز باللعب لأخر دقيقة في المباراة وهذا ظهر في مباراة بارجواي ولديهم روح وأداء عالي ونظام وأتمنى أن يصلوا لنهائي الأولمبياد، رأيي أن يستمر ميكالي”.

ويستعد المنتخب الأولمبي، لمواجهة فرنسا، غدًا الاثنين، ضمن منافسات نصف نهائي أولمبياد باريس 2024.

Sri Lanka Cricket (SLC) has thwarted an attempt by one of its employees to embezzle US$ 5.5 million to an offshore bank account, the board has confirmed. The money was due to the board from Sony Pictures Networks in relation to the broadcasting rights for England’s upcoming tour of Sri Lanka.”Immediately, upon finding of the attempted fraud, SLC CEO Ashley De Silva lodged a complaint to the Financial Crimes Investigation Division, under the direction of the Minister of Sports Faiszer Musthapha,” an SLC media release stated.The employee in question is understood to be part of SLC’s finance division, whose name has been withheld from the media until the completion of investigations.”We came to know about the incident on Friday, with the individual having sent the mail on Thursday. Following internal inquiries over the weekend we decided to lodge a complaint with the FCID,” de Silva told .In the meantime, SLC will also be conducting an internal audit into all financial transactions over the past year.England are scheduled to visit Sri Lanka for a full-fledged tour comprising five ODIs, one T20I and three Tests. The first ODI will be played on October 10 in Dambulla, and the tour will conclude with the final Test in Colombo on November 23.

West Brom are keen on bringing in new signings in the coming months, and they are in the mix to snap up one versatile gem, according to a new transfer claim.

West Brom transfers

The Baggies have got off to a solid start this season, sitting ninth in the Championship and looking like strong playoff contenders come the end of the campaign. Carlos Corberan continues to do a good job in charge at The Hawthorns, even though Saturday's 0-0 draw at home to Plymouth Argyle wasn't necessarily the most impressive of results.

West Brom did some productive transfer business during the summer window, signing the likes of Josh Maja and Jeremy Sarmiento, among others. In order to keep improving, however, it could be that the Baggies eye up further additions when January rolls around, allowing them to strengthen the squad and aid their promotion push in the second half of the season. It certainly looks as though that could be the case, with Corberan's men linked with a move for an interesting player.

West Brom transfer news: Olukayode Osu

According to a fresh West Brom transfer update from TEAMtalk, a move for Olukayode Osu appears to be a possibility, but the Baggies are far from alone in showing an interest in the Bracknell Town youngster:

"A host of teams are showing an interest in non-league ace Olukayode Osu, with Sheffield United, West Brom, Huddersfield, Barnsley and Wrexham all tracking the Bracknell Town man.

"The 21-year-old defender, who can also play in midfield, has been one of the star’s of Bracknell Town’s run to the FA Cup first round, where they will face Cambridge United next month.

"And we have been informed that Osu’s displays for the Southern Premier League Division South outfit have seen him attract attention from a number of clubs."

Admittedly, Osu will be something of an unknown to many West Brom fans, with all due respect to him, considering how far down the footballing pyramid he is currently playing. That shouldn't be used as a stick to beat him with, however, and there is a reason why the Baggies are in the race sign him, along with the likes of Sheffield United, Huddersfield Town and Wrexham.

One of Osu's greatest strengths appears to be his versatility, with the 21-year-old predominantly a defender but also someone who can play in midfield, so that could give Corberan even more depth across two positions just by bringing one player in. The Bracknell man is also a young footballer who may only continue to develop as the years pass, and if those in charge of transfers at West Brom believe he is capable of making the step up from the Southern League Premier Division South to the Championship, they should be trusted.

It is clearly unlikely that Osu would come straight in as a key starter from the off, adjusting to life at The Hawthorns and possibly even getting some minutes in the younger age groups, but players have made the step up from lower leagues in the past, most notably someone like Jamie Vardy, so it could be a deal to watch.

Manchester United are thought to be interested in signing a new defender who recently impressed against a side that included Casemiro.

Man Utd transfer news – defender

The Red Devils have had their injury problems at the back already this season, with Erik ten Hag without the likes of Lisandro Martinez, Raphael Varane and Luke Shaw for large parts of the current campaign. A new centre-back was brought in over the summer in free agent Jonny Evans, with money spent bolstering alternative positions in big transfer moves for Andre Onana, Mason Mount and Rasmus Hojlund.

Man United centre-backs

Lisandro Martnez

Raphael Varane

Harry Maguire

Victor Lindelof

Jonny Evans

However, it looks as if a new marquee defender is top of Man Utd’s transfer wishlist, with the likes of Sporting CP’s Goncalo Inacio and Nice’s Jean-Clair Todibo two centre-backs to be linked with a move to Old Trafford. More recently, Real Sociedad’s Robin Le Normand has also been rumoured as a possible Red Devils target after scouts were left impressed, and it appears as if another name is of interest to club officials.

Football Insider journalist Pete O’Rourke provided a transfer update in the last 48 hours, claiming that a number of teams, including Man Utd, are keen on signing Club America defender Sebastian Caceres, who impressed against Casemiro’s Brazil during the international break.

“Spurs are among the sides monitoring the progress of Club America defender Sebastian Caceres. The 24-year-old has impressed for Uruguay’s senior side under Marcelo Bielsa and dazzled as they beat Brazil 2-0 in World Cup qualifying last week (18 October). I’m told Newcastle, Man United, Fulham and West Ham are all also interested in the defender.”

Sebastian Caceres profiled

Caceres is an out-and-out centre-back who made the move to Mexico side Club America from Uruguayan side Liverpool Montevideo back in 2020. Valued at €3.5m, he is out of contract with is current employers at the end of 2024. (Sebastian Caceres profile – Transfermarkt)

During his time in Mexico, Caceres has made more than 100 appearances for Club America, contributing to five goals, and he has also represented his country on seven occasions. (Sebastian Caceres stats – Transfermarkt)

As mentioned, Caceres recently impressed for his country against Brazil, which saw Casemiro play 64 minutes of the World Cup qualifier. The centre-back ended with a match rating of 7.0/10 in the 2-0 win compared to Casemiro’s 6.4/10, as per FlashScore.

At 24 years of age, Caceres appears to be a player catching the eye of many clubs in England, and you’d like to think he could be available at a cut-price fee due to his market value and contract situation. Therefore, those at Old Trafford may see the player as a shrewd target to provide back up to the likes of Varane and Martinez, making this one to watch.