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Leeds United endured a disappointing 2022/23 campaign as they were relegated from the Premier League and dropped back down to the Championship.

The Whites enjoyed three seasons in the top-flight after their promotion from the second tier under Marcelo Bielsa at the end of the 2019/20 term.

They were unable to achieve safety in the third campaign and they lacked a consistent creative threat at the top end of the pitch throughout the year after Brazilian winger Raphinha moved on to sign for Barcelona.

The Spanish giants swooped in to sign the talented ace for a reported fee of £55m in the summer of 2022 and the club are yet to fully unearth their true replacement for him, just over a year later.

However, current head coach Daniel Farke has a player within his ranks who has the potential to develop into a Raphinha-like figure at Elland Road – Daniel James.

Who recorded the most assists for Leeds last season?

Whilst the Wales international was on loan with Fulham, Jack Harrison ended the 2022/23 campaign with the most assists for Leeds as he racked up seven in the Premier League.

The former Manchester City prospect provided 1.5 key passes per game for the Whites and no other player within the squad made more than 1.3 per outing.

This came after Raphinha had produced ten 'big chances' created and 1.9 key passes per match throughout the 2021/22 Premier League season.

The Brazil international also showcased his outstanding creativity during his debut year in English football. He assisted nine goals and created 12 'big chances' for his teammates to go along with 2.1 key passes per game across 26 top-flight starts.

These statistics show that Leeds missed his creative quality last season as they were relegated down to the Championship without a player who could open up the opposition's defence as regularly as Raphinha was able to for the club.

How many chances has James created this season?

So far this term, James has created 13 chances for his teammates in six Championship appearances, with one of his outings coming as a substitute.

No Leeds player has managed more than his 2.2 key passes per game this season for Farke's side and he has two more assists (four) than any of his teammates.

The English-born whiz, who scored nine goals in 74 outings for Manchester United in all competitions, did also create five 'big chances' and assist four goals in 31 Premier League starts during his first season with Leeds in the 2021/22 campaign.

These statistics suggest that James has been able to take his game up a notch at a lower level in the Championship, as he found it too difficult to deliver quality on a consistent basis in the top-flight for the Whites.

However, there is still plenty of time left for the Welsh gem, at the age of 25, to develop and improve to get to a point where he can deliver Raphinha-like levels of creativity in the future.

Farke, who has helped to improve the likes of Emiliano Buendia, James Maddison, and Todd Cantwell throughout his coaching career to date, could work with James to help him take the next step in his career.

How has James performed this season?

Along with his assists, the former Red Devils speedster has averaged an outstanding Sofascore rating of 7.42 across his six Championship appearances so far.

He has created five 'big chances' for his teammates and only Crysencio Summerville (7.68) has averaged a higher Sofascore rating than the 25-year-old ace.

This shows that James has emerged as one of Farke's top performers in the division so far this season and is starting to prove his worth, two years on from his £25m move to Elland Road from Manchester United.

How many assists did James rack up for Swansea?

His excellent creativity is not a flash in the pan, either, as the speedy wizard amassed ten assists in 39 appearances for Swansea during his time in Wales.

He produced four goals and nine assists in 33 outings throughout the 2018/19 Championship campaign with the Swans as he showcased his ability to split open the opposition's defence with regularity.

In fact, James ranked within the top 9% of his positional peers in the second tier for shot-creating actions (4.61) per 90 and the top 16% for assists (0.25) per 90, as per FBref.

The 5 foot 7 dynamo, who pundit Micah Richards once described as a "nightmare", also displayed his exceptional ability to carry the ball up the pitch for Swansea as he placed within the top 2% of players in his position for progressive carries (6.55) per 90.

This was also a strength of Raphinha's as the Brazilian hotshot ranked within the top 5% of his positional peers in the Premier League for progressive carries (3.89) per 90 during the 2020/21 campaign.

Both players excel at being able to take the ball past players to progress the team forward from deep positions. This allows the side to thrive in transition as they do not have to solely rely on inch-perfect passes to move into dangerous areas.

What's next for James?

Whilst James is already showcasing Raphinha-like chance creation numbers from a wide position, it is now down to the 25-year-old gem to add a goalscoring threat to his game over the coming months.

The Barcelona wizard scored 17 Premier League goals across his two seasons in Yorkshire and that included 11 during his final campaign with the club.

Whereas, the current Leeds speedster, who was once hailed as "electric" by international teammate Joe Allen, has never scored more than four league goals in a single season throughout his senior career to date.

However, Buendia had never scored more than six league goals in a season before his move to Norwich to work with Farke and went on to score eight in his first Championship season before an impressive return of 15 goals from out wide in his second campaign at that level under the German head coach.

This suggests that the Leeds tactician has the coaching chops to improve the goalscoring output of his wingers and if he can do that with James then he could unearth the club's replacement for Raphinha, as the creativity is already there from the gem.

اعتذر كيفن دانسو، مدافع منتخب النمسا الأول لكرة القدم، للدولي الفرنسي كيليان مبابي، بعدما تسبب في إصابته خلال مباراة الفريقين أمس ببطولة يورو 2024.

كيليان مبابي تعرض لإصابة بكسر في الأنف خلال اشتراكه في كرة مع دانسو، قبل نهاية مباراة فرنسا والنمسا، ضمن الجولة الأولى من المجموعة الرابعة ببطولة يورو 2024.

طالع أيضًا.. أول تعليق من مبابي بعد إصابته الخطيرة مع فرنسا في يورو 2024

وبعد الاختبارات الطبية التي خضع لها مبابي، تبيّن بأنه سيجري جراحة في أنفه، وبذلك سيغيب عن مواجهة هولندا، وقد يستمر غيابه حتى ربع نهائي يورو 2024، إذا تأهل المنتخب الفرنسي لذلك الدور.

بعد المباراة، توجه دانسو إلى حسابه الشخصي عبر موقع التواصل الاجتماعي X “تويتر سابقًا” للاعتذار عن تسببه في إصابة كيليان مبابي خلال مباراة فرنسا والنمسا.

وكتب دانسو: “أنا آسف جدًا لأن كيليان مبابي أصيب خلال مباراتنا”.

وأضاف مدافع لانس الفرنسي: “آمل أن يتعافى مبابي ويعود في أسرع وقت ممكن إلى أرض الملعب، وأعتذر لجميع المشجعين الفرنسيين”.

One player has become something of a forgotten man at Everton currently, but that could be about to change, following a new update from journalist Joe Thomas.

How did Everton get on this weekend?

The Toffees picked up their first Premier League point of the season on Saturday afternoon, battling their way to a hard-fought 2-2 draw away to Sheffield United.

It certainly wasn't a perfect performance from Everton, who could easily lost in stoppage time if Jordan Pickford hadn't made a superb double save, but there were improvements on show after three league losses on the bounces.

While the Merseysiders have made some important signings this summer, from Arnaut Danjuma on loan to Beto on a permanent basis, there is still one player who is yet to feature in the final third. That issue could be about to be aided, however, following a fresh claim.

What's the latest on Demarai Gray's Everton future?

Writing on X, The Liverpool Echo's Thomas provided an update on Demarai Gray's future, saying that he could now play an important role again this season, having looked like leaving the club throughout the summer transfer window:

"Demarai Gray was not even listed as an Everton player on the programme today. Now, after weeks of intrigue over his future, Sean Dyche appears set to reintegrate him into the squad."

In the report itself, Thomas goes into a little more detail on the matter, too, saying:

"Gray has not been involved in any of the club’s four Premier League matchday squads so far this season, nor the Carabao Cup tie at Doncaster Rovers. Dyche has previously stated his absence was fitness related.

"It now appears that after a deadline day in which four players departed and no incomings were secured, despite Dyche’s hopes otherwise, Gray’s situation has been reappraised."

However, since then, Gray has come out on social media and appears to have criticised Dyche, saying:

"Everton fans have always been great with me but it's so difficult to play for someone who don't show you respect as a person."

Gray has flattered to deceive in an Everton shirt to date, not always performing to the best of his abilities, but keeping hold of him could prove to be a real positive moving forward.

Read the latest Everton transfer news HERE…

The 27-year-old is a very talented footballer – one who has been described as an "unbelievable find" for the Blues by former Manchester United and England centre-back Rio Ferdinand – with 18 goal contributions (12 goals and six assists) coming his way in 75 appearances, which is a solid return for a team that has often been struggling.

Gray is capable of producing spectacular moments, as he showed by once scoring a stunning late winner at home to Arsenal, and if he can find more consistency in his game and knuckle down under Sean Dyche, he could still be a strong option to call upon in wide areas, pushing someone like Danjuma for playing time moving forward.

Leeds United's transfer business surrounding their return and recent relegation from the Premier League was patchy, as the hierarchy sought to do all they could do to regain their top-flight status, and then supply Marcelo Bielsa with the tools to keep them there.

Given they are five games deep into this Championship season, it is fair to say that this was a failed venture.

Much of the missteps can be attributed to different key figures, with Victor Orta the frontrunner for plenty of frustrations garnered by the fans. Not only were his transfers questionable at times, but his managerial decisions were arguably the biggest reason for their failed push for survival last term.

Handing a threadbare squad to Jesse Marsch has proven to be one of the most devastating decisions in their recent history, with the American and the Spanish Director of Football having both since departed. This is now set to usher in a brighter, more intelligent philosophy regarding talent acquisition, rather than the ill-advised embarrassment suffered in years gone by.

With proven stars like Ethan Ampadu, Joel Piroe, Joe Rodon and Glen Kamara all joining over the summer, already it seems like they are taking a step in the right direction. However, some reminders of past failures still linger.

Who is Leeds United's worst-ever signing?

To debate who the Whites' worst-ever signing would be is to open a can of worms, as there have been some high-profile ones, especially in the last five years.

Names such as Brenden Aaronson, Jean-Kevin Augustin, Seth Johnson and Tomas Brolin instantly spring to mind, but perhaps one of the lesser-talked-about duds has been Daniel James.

Brought in for an astronomical fee considering the little he had accomplished across his short career thus far, many questioned the decision to expend so much on a pacey winger with seemingly no end product.

In fact, writer Tom Dutty even emphasised this notion during his spell at Manchester United: "Dan James is a pace merchant with poor final ball and awful decision making. Not sure how he ever got a move to United."

Having made 74 appearances for the Red Devils, scoring just nine times, Orta and Bielsa combined to bring him to Elland Road much to the confusion of many. Unsurprisingly, he would fare no better in Yorkshire, scoring just four times and assisting a further six in 44 appearances thus far, whilst remaining a drain on the club.

Victor Orta's Five Worst Leeds Signings

Fee Paid

Jean-Kevin Augustin (RB Leipzig)

£25m

Daniel James (Manchester United)

£25m

Junior Firpo (Barcelona)

£12.8m

Brenden Aaronson (RB Salzburg)

£25m

Ranking via Leeds Live.

Pundit Kevin Phillips attested that this was a doomed move from the start though: "I’ve said that all along. I don’t think that was an area which needed strengthening. You’ve got Jack Harrison and Raphinha, two quality players – as well as others who can fill in.

"I thought it would backfire if they didn’t bring in that other recognised goalscorer – and it has. He’s played Dan James down the middle, but he’s never a striker in a million years. It’s just papering over the cracks at the moment."

The only saving grace is that the Wales international has a fine opportunity to begin paying back his price tag, given he remained at the club throughout the summer window, and is now poised to play a large role in their Championship campaign.

Even with his 7.27 average Sofascore rating thus far (fifth best in the squad), he will have to conjure up a lot more to start justifying what he has cost the club currently.

How much did Leeds United pay for Daniel James?

Whilst James represents a solid squad player for a team at this level, had they not paid the fee they did to bring him from Old Trafford, his performances might not have drawn as much scrutiny.

After all, unloading £25m for the 25-year-old was always going to draw criticism, especially when his best goalscoring season had come for Swansea City in 2019, where he scored four in the Championship.

Given how he has panned out at Leeds, few can really be surprised by the outcome of spending big on an unproven dud from a bigger club. It is a tale as old as time, and with shrewd acquisitions of the likes of Crysencio Summerville and Wilfried Gnonto from foreign leagues having otherwise bore fruit, the acquisition in question is made even more foolish.

Speaking to talkSPORT, pundit Simon Jordan even gave his scathing verdict on the move: "Dan James, who has been a fundamental disappointment all season to Leeds and a waste of money in my view, has left them in a situation in a game which they might not have been expected to get much out of, they might have been able to nick a draw, but has made it virtually impossible for them to do so."

What is Daniel James' salary at Leeds United?

Given his youth upon first signing in 2021, it made sense that they would tie such a big-money signing down to a long-term deal.

However, they have essentially shot themselves in the foot with this move, as the 5 foot 7 speedster still has three years left on his £50k-per-week deal.

Although there is every chance he could still come good, especially dropping to a lower level where he boasts far more experience, recent performances have dictated that he is far from likely to transform into some promotion spearhead despite impressing.

His chances are set to be limited anyway, having spent last term on loan with Fulham as Marsch sought to offer opportunities to assets he felt were better suited to their relegation scrap.

He would fare a little better in west London than he has done in Yorkshire, but a return of three goals in 23 games for the Cottagers still makes for a disappointing tally.

Does Daniel James deserve to earn £50k-per-week?

It should come as little surprise that James likely does not deserve to earn such a lofty figure, which has been exacerbated following their drop into the Championship, as the financial restrictions tighten.

In fact, when adding the wage he has drained the club of during his one year playing to his initial transfer fee, and it brings the total expenditure wasted on him to £27.6m. Should he see out his current deal at Elland Road too, he actually could end up costing £35.4m.

When comparing his woeful output to the current figure that he has commanded from Leeds, and it works out that the England-born wide man costs £7m for every goal he scores.

For context too, his current wage via Capology. sits him ahead of Gnonto, Stuart Dallas, Liam Cooper and Luke Ayling, all of whom offer far more to the club than he does.

MatériaMais Notícias

Em meio a muitos desfalques, o atacante Soteldo é presença certa no duelo entre Santos e Atlético-MG, nesta quarta-feira (09), às 21h30, na Vila Belmiro, pela nona rodada do Campeonato Brasileiro. Por conta da carga excessiva de jogos, o venezuelano foi poupado do time titular na vitória santista, por 1 a 0, contra o Ceará, no último sábado (05), no estádio do Castelão, em Fortaleza, pela oitava rodada da competição nacional.

RelacionadasSantosSantos x Atlético-MG: prováveis escalações, desfalques e onde verSantos08/09/2020SantosJoão Paulo tem contrato renovado com o Santos até 2025Santos08/09/2020SantosZagueiro rescinde com o Caxias e encaminha acerto com o SantosSantos08/09/2020

O venezuelano é um dos principais jogadores do Peixe, teve contrato renovado, com valorização salarial em fevereiro, mas chegou ao Alvinegro sob desconfiança, no início de 2019. O atleta foi a primeira contratação santista na “Era Sampaoli”, técnico do clube em 2019, e que hoje comanda o Galo, adversário do Santos nesta noite, inclusive tendo sido indicado pelo argentino.

– Conhecemos o técnico e a forma de jogar dele. Será difícil, mas na Vila é diferente e estamos prontos para fazer uma grande partida – disse o camisa 10 à Santos TV.

Ausências forçadas

Para o reencontro entre Peixe e Sampaoli, o time da casa tem desfalques em todos os setores. Na defesa, Lucas Veríssimo, por ter recebido o cartão amarelo, e Luan Peres, expulso, ambos contra o Ceará, estão fora. Luiz Felipe, que é a primeira opção no setor, se recupera de lesão na coxa, e o volante Alison, que costuma fazer a função, quando necessário, também recebeu um cartão vermelho contra o Vozão, na última rodada. Além do capitão santista, no meio-campo Anderson Ceará segue com dores no joelho e está fora do duelo contra o Galo, bem como Jean Mota, com um edema na coxa.

No ataque, os centroavantes Raniel e Kaio Jorge estão em isolamento, por terem testado positivo para o novo coronavírus. Cuca terá, portanto, apenas o garoto Marcos Leonardo como jogador do ofício, podendo escalar um atleta de beirada para atuar centralizado, possivelmente culminando a mais uma oportunidade para Lucas Braga, titular, no lugar de Soteldo, contra o time nordestino.

Soma-se aos citados o goleiro Vladimir, com dores no pé direito, e o atacante Renyer, que está em fase final de transição aos gramados, após romper o ligamento do joelho direito, em março, durante um treinamento com a Seleção Brasileira Sub-17. Além deles, o lateral Pará e o meia Diego Pituca apenas correram em volta do gramado no CT Rei Pelé, na véspera do confronto diante do Atlético-MG e são dúvidas.

* Sob supervisão de Vinícius Perazzini

Liverpool failed to secure their primary defensive midfield target in Romeo Lavia, with the Southampton ace moving to Chelsea to rub salt into their wounds after Moises Caicedo also chose the Blues over Jurgen Klopp's side.

This follows the £40m sale of Fabinho to Saudi Arabian side Al-Ittihad in July, a departee that Liverpool need to replace swiftly to ensure that the club have a good chance of succeeding this year after a testing 2022/23 campaign that yielded a fifth-placed Premier League finish, and consequently no Champions League football.

Stuttgart midfielder Wataru Endo, aged 30, seems headed for Anfield for £15m in what could prove to be an impressively astute purchase, but the Japan captain alone cannot transform the Reds' strength in the centre, and further reinforcement is surely paramount.

What's the latest on Andre to Liverpool?

According to Anfield Watch, Brasileiro Serie A side Fluminense's tough-tackling, crisp-passing midfielder Andre is very much on Liverpool's shortlist this month, though the Reds may have to pay a 'premium'.

Read the latest Liverpool transfer news HERE…

It's believed that €25m (£22m), plus add-ons and clauses, may be enough for Fluminense to begrudgingly wave goodbye to their prized midfielder, and Liverpool must now make their move for a talent who could blossom into a first-class phenom.

How good is Andre?

Having been described as a "leader" by talent scout Jacek Kulig, the 22-year-old Andre has captured the attention of the Fluminense faithful with his performances in his homeland, having now chalked up 147 appearances for his only club to date, plundering three goals and assists apiece.

He's been in fine fettle this term too, earning an average Sofascore rating of 7.11 across 15 top-flight appearances, incredibly completing 94% of his passes, forging 2.3 tackles and 1.5 interceptions per match and succeeding with 73% of his dribbles and 64% of his ground duels.

These last-mentioned percentiles are particularly important; Andre is a proficient ball carrier and a precise and brutish ball-winner, with Fabinho winning just 48% of his ground duels in the Premier League last year.

Not quite the traditional defensive midfielder, the one-cap Brazil prospect ranks among the top 1% of midfielders across Men's 'Next Eight' divisions for pass completion, the top 2% for passes attempted and the top 7% for successful take-ons per 90, as per FBref.

With Endo set for a spell at Anfield, it's unlikely that the Reds would sign a further two players and if it boils down to either Andre or fellow Liverpool target Ryan Gravenberch, the Brazilian is the man to move for.

Gravenberch was of interest to the Merseyside outfit back in May, but the bulk of reports fizzled out over the summer as Liverpool focussed their attention elsewhere, though they could now return, according to Football Insider.

The 21-year-old Dutchman signed for Bayern Munich from Ajax for €24m (£20m) last summer with a weight of expectation, having been hailed as the Netherlands' "greatest talent" by former Ajax forward Win Kieft, but started just three times in the Bundesliga all season.

On £153k-per-week, Gravenberch would be an expensive purchase for the Reds and does not boast the same level of passing prowess and aptitude as a midfield vehicle to Andre, ranking among the top 28% of midfielders across Europe's top five leagues for pass completion, the top 25% for progressive carries and the top 20% for successful take-ons per 90.

He also averages 1.3 tackles and 0.9 interceptions per outing across the duration of his career, as per WhoScored, shadowed by Andre's robustness in his defensive work rate.

Liverpool should take a punt on Andre, paving the way for the exciting talent to take the well-trodden path from the rich, verdant landscape of Brazil to England, where he could shine on Premier League soil and rise to prominence at Liverpool.

Aston Villa are reportedly continuing their pursuit of Barcelona forward Ferran Torres, as Unai Emery and Monchi resume their search for star talent this summer.

The Villans have already equipped their side with reinforcements in the wide areas, after capturing Moussa Diaby from Bayer Leverkusen, however, the latest news suggests that the Spanish duo aren’t done spending yet.

What is Ferran Torres' market value?

Valued by Football Transfers at €40m (£34m), Torres is a player that has been linked with the Midlands side throughout the summer, with news in Spain reporting contact back in May.

News reported on Sunday from Spain, relayed by Sport Witness, has reinforced Villa’s interest in the winger, claiming that the club are pushing to sign him.

The report focused on Barcelona’s potential sale of Ousmane Dembele, and how heavily that move would rely on the Catalan giant’s desire to allow Torres to depart, along with Emery’s side’s requirement to up their price.

Read the latest Aston Villa transfer news HERE…

Earning £165k-per-week, the 23-year-old’s wages are mentioned as a problem that Villa could face in their pursuit, however, added that the club are ‘willing’ to make the effort to do what they can to bring the player to Villa Park.

How good is Ferran Torres?

Lauded as a “wonderful footballer” by Barcelona manager and Spanish footballing legend Xavi, the young winger could be one to fire the Villans to further glory.

The Spaniard isn’t the only wide-playing acquisition that Villa have been linked to this summer, with Belgian talent Jeremy Doku also a figure rumoured to be on Emery’s shopping list.

Despite being a “menace” in attack, as praised by U23 scout Antonio Mango, the Rennes winger may not be the best option on show for Emery and Monchi to poach, with Torres providing experience that the 21-year-old lacks.

As a former player of Pep Guardiola at Manchester City, the Spaniard possesses the knowledge of what it takes to succeed in the Premier League, an asset that leaves some new signings fumbling after making the move from abroad.

A two-time Premier League winner at the Etihad, the versatile forward netted nine goals and recorded three assists in just 28 league appearances for the Citizens, where he struggled to maintain a spot in the competitive pecking order.

Placing Doku’s six goals scored in Ligue 1 compared to Torres’ four in La Liga aside, chasing the Barcelona gem may be the better option in Emery’s pursuit for an additional winger.

The two are similar in their strengths, however, the Midlands side would want to swerve away from hiring from abroad to avoid past mistakes, best highlighted by Leon Bailey’s move to Villa Park from the Bundesliga.

The Jamaica international registered 18 goals and assists in his final league campaign for Bayer Leverkusen, and has since recorded just five goals and six assists in the Premier League, showcasing that the grass isn’t always greener for those unfamiliar with the English game.

Speaking after securing a hat-trick in the Premier League, Torres admitted to the standard being “very physical” however added that he had “adapted very well”, supporting Villa’s claim to chase his talents.

Monchi and Emery could pull off a masterclass by opting for the former City ace over the talents of Doku, in a move that could present to be less of a risk with a high reward.

Todd Boehly is "prepared to sell" Chelsea midfielder Conor Gallagher despite the fact that Mauricio Pochettino wants to keep the player at Stamford Bridge next season, according to journalist Ben Jacobs.

Is Gallagher leaving Chelsea?

Considering just how many players have left the Blues this summer, it has come as something of a surprise that Gallagher is still at Stamford Bridge.

While he did feature readily for Chelsea last season, making 35 Premier League appearances under three separate managers, the indefatigable midfielder struggled to make a significant impact in an underperforming side.

Given the ruthlessness of Chelsea's summer rebuild, allowing the likes of Mason Mount, N'Golo Kante and Kai Havertz to leave the club, there was an expectation that Gallagher would have been one of those moved on to help the Blues recoup some funds.

However, Pochettino's arrival has altered things significantly, and it is believed that the new Chelsea boss is eager to keep Gallagher at Stamford Bridge next season.

Chelsea's hierarchy have a different opinion, however, and they would be prepared to sell the midfielder this summer despite Pochettino's high opinion of the 23-year-old, according to journalist Jacobs.

Talking directly to GIVEMESPORT, Jacobs stated: "Gallagher's perspective is that he's a Chelsea player and he wants to fight for his place. But Pochettino and the Chelsea board still need to get the squad size down.

"Whereas Pochettino quite likes Gallagher and he is not necessarily the first name out of the players that Chelsea need to resolve, I think the Chelsea board would have a slightly different perspective and would be prepared to sell Gallagher for the right price.

"There's a few moving parts here. There's a football decision to be made and Gallagher is quite happy to fight for his place after getting a lot of pre-season minutes. There's the Pochettino perspective and he has been very impressed by Gallagher. He said that during the American tour."

He added: "But if the right number is hit in terms of an offer, I think the Chelsea board would be prepared to sell him."

Chelsea recently rejected a £40m bid from West Ham United for the midfielder which suggests that perhaps Boehly is willing to support Pochettino's decision to keep Gallagher at the club for the 2023/24 campaign.

However, as Jacobs suggests, an improved West Ham bid may be too tempting to turn down, especially as Chelsea look to fund a move for Brighton & Hove Albion midfielder Moises Caicedo.

Gallagher's current contract runs until 2025 and the England international will be hopeful of reviving his Chelsea career under Pochettino's guidance.

How good is Gallagher?

Gallagher usually operates as a number eight for Chelsea, making it important that he can contribute effectively to both attacking and defensive phases of play.

Gallagher's attacking impact was not as eye-catching as his defensive work last season. He did score three goals and register one assist in the Premier League, a total that put him in the top 36% of midfielders in the competition.

When comparing Gallagher to other midfielders in the Premier League last campaign, it is clear that he is in the right positions to contribute to Chelsea's attack but lacks some of the composure necessary to score and assist more.

While averaging 1.55 shots per game, these shots come from an average distance of 17.9 yards from goal. These lower-reward efforts from the edge of the area perhaps demonstrate why his goal tally is not higher, highlighting the need for Gallagher to make more productive runs into the penalty area to find shooting angles – something he showcased his ability to do during his loan spell with Crystal Palace.

Defensively, however, Gallagher can be very productive. Per 90 last season in the Premier League he averaged 1.83 tackles won (top ten percent of midfielders), 2.28 blocks (top four percent) and 0.58 tackles in the attacking third (top three percent), the latter showing his capacity to instigate the press.

Depending on what responsibilities Pochettino offers Gallagher, the midfielder still has the potential to develop into a top box-to-box midfielder.

With ODI cricket returning to Hambantota for the first time since 2015, the nature of the pitch for the third ODI between Sri Lanka and Zimbabwe remains a mystery

Andrew Fidel Fernando05-Jul-2017Match FactsJuly 6, 2017
Start time: 0945 local (0415GMT)Tendai Chatara’s discipline has earned him four of Zimbabwe’s eight wickets in the series so far•AFPBig PictureOne comfortable pursuit of 317 for Zimbabwe, one crushing home victory set up by Sri Lanka’s spinners – not much about this series has been predictable, and the teams are now about to venture into more uncertainty. In the past two years, the ground at Hambantota has probably hosted more elephants than cricket matches, and no one is quite sure how the pitch will play after such a long hiatus. Will it tend to be on the faster, bouncier side, as it had been between 2011 and 2015? Or will it – as the hosts might prefer – take a little extra turn now?Mumba replaces injured W Masakadza

Zimbabwe left-arm spinner Wellington Masakadza has been ruled out of the series due to an ankle injury, and has been replaced by seamer Carl Mumba. Masakadza’s last ODI appearance for Zimbabwe was in 2015, and having made a return to the squad, he did not get a game against Sri Lanka. Mumba’s sole ODI match so far came against Sri Lanka in November last year.

There is also often a powerful crosswind to contend with, at the venue, which tends to favour the more adaptable side. In the past, batsmen who have chosen to base their innings around hitting with the wind have prospered in Hambantota: not only do their strokes carry further, the balls they hit into the air have also been notoriously difficult to catch. Sri Lanka, who have dropped no fewer than six chances across the first two games, may be especially vulnerable if the breeze picks up. Bowlers have also had highly contrasting experiences with the wind: it has helped boost the natural swing of some, and put others off their game completely.Whatever the conditions, appropriate use of the sweep shot is likely to have come up in Zimbabwe’s team discussions over the past 48 hours. They had lived by the stroke in the first game, then died by it in the second. They may aim to be more selective in their deployment of the stroke in Hambantota.Form guideSri Lanka WLLWL (completed matches, most recent first)
Zimbabwe LWWLLIn the spotlightAll through the Champions Trophy campaign there was wonderment in Sri Lanka as to why Lakshan Sandakan was not in the XI. Now that he has taken 4 for 52 upon his return, the head scratching has only intensified. For now, Sandakan is not a bowler who offers a lot of control, and perhaps on the less spin-friendly tracks in England, the selectors and team management felt he may become a liability. However, if any bowler has appeared as if he may correct Sri Lanka’s inability to take wickets through the middle overs, it has been Sandakan. The selectors might do well to now provide him with a secure place in the side, in order to determine if he can in fact fulfill that wicket-taking role, in the longer term.A longer run in the ODI side can help determine if Lakshan Sandakan’s potential, seen in his 4 for 52, can be fulfilled•AFPThough batsmen’s handling of spin has dominated the series narrative so far, it is the skillful seam bowling of Tendai Chatara that has brought Zimbabwe half of their eight wickets in the series so far. There is no booming swing or searing pace for Chatara, but so far in the series, there has been a discipline to his bowling, and even on an unresponsive Galle pitch, he was one of the only quicks to glean some movement off the seam. If he can quickly modify his bowling to suit Hambantota’s unique conditions, Zimbabwe could again make an early breakthrough, as they have in each of the first two games.Team newsSpinner Amila Aponso and seam-bowling allrounder Lahiru Madushanka have been dropped from the squad for the last three ODIs, and in their place are seamer Lahiru Kumara and batsman Chamara Kapugedera (Suranga Lakmal was originally slated to be in the squad until he took ill). Unless the flu that has been making its way around the Sri Lanka side incapacitates another player on Thursday, the hosts may not wish to make a change to their winning XI, however.Sri Lanka (possible): 1 Niroshan Dickwella (wk), 2 Danushka Gunathilaka, 3 Kusal Mendis, 4 Upul Tharanga, 5 Angelo Mathews (capt.), 6 Asela Gunaratne, 7 Wanidu Hasaranga, 8 Dushmantha Chameera, 9 Lakshan Sandakan,10 Lasith Malinga, 11 Nuwan PradeepDespite the loss, Zimbabwe have a fairly settled outfit, and they may stick with the same XI. If any place is under scrutiny, it may be that of seamer Donald Tiripano. Chris Mpofu could potentially replace him.Zimbabwe (possible): 1 Solomon Mire, 2 Hamilton Masakadza, 3 Craig Ervine, 4 Sean Williams, 5 Sikander Raza, 6 Ryan Burl, 7 Peter Moor (wk), 8 Malcolm Waller, 9 Graeme Cremer (capt.), 10 Tendai Chatara, 11 Chris Mpofu/Donald TiripanoPitch and conditionsForecasts for this part of the country are notoriously unreliable, but the weather is expected to be dry and hot, with temperatures in the low thirties. How the pitch will play is anyone’s guess.Stats and trivia Sri Lanka have won seven and lost six of their 17 matches at Hambantota. 2017 is Chatara’s most successful ODI year so far, having taken 15 wickets in nine matches at 24.46.In addition to having become the third bowler to take a hat-trick on ODI debut, on Sunday, Wanidu Hasaranga became the first Sri Lanka spinner to claim a hat-trick in the format.Quotes”Assessing the conditions a little bit better is crucial. When the wicket is flatter like in the first game, you can play all your shots freely and chase down a huge score like that. In the second game it was probably not a wicket where you can go for your shots regularly. We need to do bit of work on that – assess conditions and stick to our plans.””Nuwan Pradeep has been our best bowler in the last three years in Test and ODI cricket, but for some reason he doesn’t pick up many wickets. He has improved his fielding too. He is one of the hardest working cricketers in the side.”

Sri Lanka, who were clinical in the first game, will look to stretch Bangladesh’s losing streak in T20Is to nine

The Preview by Mohammad Isam05-Apr-2017Match FactsThursday, April 6, 2017
Start time 1900 local (1330 GMT)Mashrafe Mortaza will play his final T20I on Thursday•Associated Press

Big pictureThe second T20 international against Sri Lanka will be Mashrafe Mortaza’s last, and Bangladesh will be keen to farewell their captain with a victory. If Bangladesh come back from Tuesday’s thrashing and win, the T20I series will end in a draw, like the ODI and Test series did.Sri Lanka, who were clinical in the first game, will look to stretch Bangladesh’s losing streak in T20Is to nine.It was the returning Kusal Perera who led Sri Lanka’s charge in the first match with a 53-ball 77. He found little support from the other end, but that did not stop Sri Lanka from acing a chase of 156. Lasith Malinga, predictably, was Sri Lanka’s most effective bowler with two wickets. Vikum Sanjaya’s swing, Asela Gunaratne’s dibbly-dobblers, and Seekugge Prasanna’s accurate legspin ably complemented Malinga.Mosaddek Hossain and Mahmudullah played cameos to rescue Bangladesh’s innings, but the side will need more from the top order, especially Soumya Sarkar who has a tendency to throw away starts.To give Mashrafe the perfect send-off in this format, Bangladesh will have to improve their fielding, and they also must find a way to absorb pressure. That is how they won at the P Sara Test and Dambulla ODI.Form guideSri Lanka WLWWW (completed matches, most recent first)
Bangladesh LLLLLIn the spotlightKusal Perera’s renewed vigour enabled him to make a match-winning half-century in the first game, and now will look to blend that vigour with consistency.All eyes will be on Mashrafe Mortaza, who had announced his retirement from T20Is at the toss in the previous game. Will it turn out to be a happy ending for Mashrafe?Team newsSri Lanka are likely to retain their winning combination from the first T20I.Sri Lanka (possible): 1 Upul Tharanga (capt), 2 Kusal Perera (wk), 3 Dilshan Munaweera, 4 Chamara Kapugedara, 5 Asela Gunaratne, 6 Seekkuge Prasanna, 7 Milinda Siriwardana, 8 Thisara Perera, 9 Nuwan Kulasekara, 10 Lasith Malinga, 11 Vikum SanjayaBangladesh, on the other hand, might consider replacing Taskin Ahmed with offspinning allrounder Mehedi Hasan, who is uncapped in T20Is.Bangladesh (possible): 1 Tamim Iqbal, 2 Soumya Sarkar, 3 Sabbir Rahman, 4 Mushfiqur Rahim (wk), 5 Shakib Al Hasan, 6 Mosaddek Hossain, 7 Mahmudullah, 8 Mashrafe Mortaza (capt.), 9 Mohammad Saifuddin, 10 Mustafizur Rahman, 11 Taskin Ahmed/Mehedi HasanPitch and conditionsThe second T20I will be played on the same pitch that was used for the first one. It is expected to be good for batting, but is likely to assist the spinners as the game wears on. Showers have been forecast for the day but the chance of rain in the evening is small.Stats and trivia Mashrafe Mortaza will finish his T20I career as Bangladesh’s highest wicket-taker among fast bowlers.Bangladesh have now lost eight T20Is in a row, their second-worst run in the format