All posts by h716a5.icu

Pat Cummins is finally set to play a Test on home soil in the Ashes and hopes to emulate Mitchell Johnson, whose carnage brought home the urn in 2013-14

Daniel Brettig12-Oct-2017Pat Cummins wants to be Australia’s Ashes enforcer, pinpointing Joe Root and Alastair Cook as England’s key wickets. He admitted the hosts will likely resort to bouncers – both verbal and literal – to regain the urn this summer.Ahead of a summer in which Cummins will finally play a Test on home soil – no less than six years after his storied debut against South Africa in Johannesburg – the 24-year-old is taking inspiration from how Mitchell Johnson intimidated England’s Ashes tourists four years ago, and has reasoned that the adjustment from softer northern hemisphere surfaces will offer a significant advantage for Steven Smith’s Australians.”We’re lucky there’s a few of us who are all pretty tall and get a bit of bounce with a bit of pace,” Cummins said in Sydney. “I’d love to play that [intimidation] role, hopefully the wickets have a bit of pace and bounce in them, getting the adrenaline up and running in and trying to bowl quick.”No one really likes it if you’ve got real pace and real accuracy. Especially those kinds of guys, they play on slower wickets where there’s not as much bounce. So over here and in South Africa as well it’s one of our biggest strengths, as batsmen we grow up on these wickets and as bowlers, getting bounce has always been really important. So I think it’s trying to make it as different to their home conditions as possible, bouncy fast wickets and short balls are definitely that.”Just playing a Test match in Australia will be a pretty weird feeling, I’ve played five now but none at home which is obviously what you grow up watching, so it’ll be great to be part of an Ashes series, it’ll be pretty amazing. I was over there a couple of years ago in England, running drinks, so the prospect of playing in front of a home crowd, I can’t wait.”The elevated place of Cummins in Australia’s planning for the home summer was underlined by how he was sent home early from the limited-overs tour of India to enjoy several weeks of rest before playing in the Sheffield Shield matches that lead into the first Test at the Gabba in late November. His memories of Johnson include the exhilaration felt by spectators and the hostility faced by the English batsmen, not only from the bowlers, but also the snarling presence of their team-mates in the field. Root and Cook can expect to bear the brunt this time around.”That series, one of the most exciting in recent times where fast bowling has really excited world cricket, and as a fast bowler I was super pumped to watch Jono [Johnson] and how he kept the whole morale of the side up at home in Australia against the Poms,” Cummins said. “That just shows the importance of having a really quick bowler and hopefully one of us three or four guys can do a similar job.”I think we all show our aggression differently, you probably tailor it towards which batsman you’re bowling to. That was one of the things along with the 150kph bouncers that really intimidated them, not just bowling. Hopefully that’s not our only tool – I’m not quite quick-witted enough to come up with too many sledges, but hopefully we can show our aggression in other ways.”Joe Root’s probably their most in-form batsman so I think he’ll be the prize wicket along with Alastair Cook, either of those two will be prime wickets.”While Mitchell Starc and Josh Hazlewood are returning to full fitness after foot and side injuries, Cummins has come through a severely taxing series of overseas assignments with a clean bill of health, even after taking the field as Australia’s sole fast bowler in enervating Chittagong heat against Bangladesh. He has taken plenty of confidence from the experience, after years punctuated by plenty of injuries, rehab sessions and only the occasional sequence of cricket.”I think more so having the captain and the selectors’ confidence to pick me as the sole fast bowler in a Test match [helped], a year or two ago I thought I was really far away from a Test match, let alone confident in my form and my body to be the only [pace] bowler,” Cummins said. “I feel like I’ve played a lot of cricket on the subcontinent this year, so I’m looking forward to playing some Shield games with the red ball and getting used to these conditions again.”It has been a little bit weird watching the Test matches throughout the summers, but I’ve probably felt for the last five or six years I haven’t been that close to [playing] a Test match. Watching the one-dayers and the T20 sides I feel like I should be out there, but the Test matches I haven’t really been close to, more watching as a fan. So to go out there and play will be doubly special.”Like Starc and Hazlewood, Cummins is expecting to play in two of three Shield matches for New South Wales before joining the Ashes squad in Brisbane ahead of the Tests.

Everton have been credited with an interest in Middlesbrough striker Chuba Akpom as manager Sean Dyche looks to build a team capable of thriving in the Premier League.

What's the latest on Chuba Akpom to Everton?

That's according to TEAMtalk, who have revealed that newly-promoted top-flight outfit Sheffield United are readying a £10m bid for the 27-year-old, though the Toffees and Crystal Palace are also considering a swoop.

Akpom has entered the final year of his contract on Teesside and while negotiations are ongoing over a new deal, the sway of a starring role at a top-flight club could tempt him to move.

Read the latest Everton transfer news HERE…

With the Blades looking to take their pursuit of Akpom's signature into the closing stages, Dyche will need to act swiftly if he is to secure his man.

Should Everton sign Chuba Akpom?

It's been a testing few years for the blue half of Liverpool, with Everton spending the past several campaigns battling against relegation and churning through managers by the truckload.

But while Dyche only took the reins at Goodison Park in January, replacing Frank Lampard, the gritty, no-nonsense manager looks set to keep his place for the foreseeable after navigating away from danger in the latter stage of the 22/23 campaign.

He has already signed the experienced Ashley Young on a free transfer and Arnaut Danjuma on loan this summer – with a £15m fee agreed with Sporting Lisbon for teenage striker Youssef Chermiti – but Akpom could bring the instant and consistent threat the club strives for to the climb the Premier League ladder this year.

The one-time Arsenal youngster was the Championship top scorer last season as he plundered a fantastic 28 goals from 38 matches, integral for Boro as they reached the playoffs but fell to Coventry City in the semi-finals.

Hailed for his "remarkable season" by BBC Sport's Oluwashina Okeleji, "winning both the Player and the Players' Player of the Year awards", Akpom has finally found his feet after years ebbing and flowing from form, and Everton could offer him the starring role to continue his fruitful exploits and prove to be an upgrade on the club's current options.

Dominic Calvert-Lewin is Everton's irrefutable star man up front, but the 6 foot 2 striker has spent a lot of time in the medical room over the past two seasons and has consequently scored just seven goals across the past two campaigns, after netting 16 during the 2021/22 league season.

And Neal Maupay has not exactly evoked confidence in the sanguine Everton crowd after scoring just one goal all term following his £15m transfer from Brighton & Hove Albion one year ago.

Branded a "disaster" by journalist Paul Brown, Maupay ranks embarrassingly among the bottom 3% of strikers for goals per 90 over the past year (FBref), and recorded an average Sofascore rating of 6.56 in the Premier League, taking just 1.2 shots per game, completing 77% of his passes and succeeding with 37% of his dribbles and 45% of his ground duels.

Akpom, comparatively, recorded an average rating of 7.14 in the second tier last year, complementing his prolific return with 2.6 shots per match, completing 82% of his passes and succeeding with 55% of his dribbles and ground duels.

The Middlesbrough marksman is far sharper and was heralded as a "huge threat" by his boss Michael Carrick last year, also highlighting his impressive "link-up play" and "clever" approach to his trade.

With Everton still short of an attacking cog or two, Dyche might be wise to discard Maupay and offer Akpom the opportunity to thrive for the club, bringing his goalscoring feats to the top-flight and playing a big role in the Blues' pursuit of prominence.

Newcastle United are reportedly "in talks" with Galatasaray midfielder Nicolo Zaniolo over a summer move to St James' Park, but face stiff competition for his signature.

How old is Nicolo Zaniolo?

The Magpies are continuing to work on their summer transfer business, having already brought in the likes of Sandro Tanoli and Harvey Barnes from AC Milan and Leicester City respectively.

Another player who has been linked with joining Newcastle is Zaniolo, who only actually signed for Galatasaray in February, scoring five goals in ten Turkish Super Lig appearances.

Read the latest Newcastle transfer news HERE…

The Italian is still only 24 years of age, and while he has suffered terrible luck with injuries over the years, including cruciate ligament damage, the hope is that he still has a long and successful career ahead of him.

Newcastle clearly see him as a potential strong signing in attacking midfield, perhaps proving to be a creative presence ahead of the likes of Tonali and Bruno Guimaraes, and their interest doesn't appear to be going away any time soon.

Could Newcastle sign Nicolo Zaniolo?

According to Hurriyet [via Sport Witness], the Magpies remain "in talks" with Zanioli and his agents over a summer move to the club, but they are far from alone in looking to snap him up.

Juventus and Milan are mentioned in the same breath, while there is also interest from Saudi Arabia. Another unnamed Premier League team are believed to be in the hunt to sign the Italy international, too.

There is an obvious risk element when it comes to the Magpies possibly sign Zaniolo this summer, considering the injury troubles he has had down the years. Bringing him in on a long-term deal wouldn't necessarily be the most sensible thing, but if the medical experts believed he has overcome the worst of his issues, he could be a fantastic signing on a medium length deal.

The 24-year-old enjoyed an impressive spell at Roma, scoring 24 goals and registering 18 assists in 128 appearances, with club legend Daniel De Rossi once saying of him:

"He has an incredible natural physique for someone who is only 19 and also has great technical quality. In my opinion, as perhaps with everyone now, he is already a very good player – and can become a great one."

Whether Galatasaray are willing to sell Zaniolo so soon remains to be seen, but if his head is turned by a move to the Premier League, they could find it difficult to keep hold of an unhappy player.

Having lots of midfield options is vital for Newcastle, as they get ready to battle across four different competitions in 2023/24, and the ex-Roma man could dovetail beautifully with Tonali and Bruno in an eye-catching midfield, as well as providing great competition for the likes of Joelinton in that advanced left-sided role.

The fact that Zaniolo can play as centre forward and even out wide is an added bonus for Eddie, strengthening his options in the final third at the same time as in midfield, and injuries aside, it is a no-brainer of a signing, and one that could be a statement of intent if they beat some European giants to his signature.

Sussex’s Ollie Robinson underlined his all-round qualities in the Specsavers County Championship match against Durham, taking three wickets with his usual seam bowling and one with offspin

ECB Reporters Network20-Sep-2017File photo – Ollie Robinson claimed wickets with pace and offspin•Getty ImagesOn the Chester-le-Street ground where he made a century on debut two years ago, Sussex’s Ollie Robinson underlined his all-round qualities in the Specsavers County Championship match against Durham. He took three wickets with his usual seam and one with offspin as Graham Clark’s unbeaten 73 carried Durham to 321 for 6, 25 behind.Robinson revived Sussex by removing both Tom Latham and Cameron Steel after they had batted through the day’s first 44 overs to take their second-wicket stand to 163.He almost had Latham when trying two overs of offspin just before lunch. Having reached fifty off 92 balls with seven fours, the New Zealand opener was almost bowled round his legs. In the same over he survived a sharp chance to Chris Jordan at slip. Latham also looked fortunate to survive a Stuart Whittingham lbw appeal on 37, but both batsmen looked supremely comfortable in the first hour after lunch.Both got out to miscued pulls off Robinson, however. Steel fell for 73 when he found George Garton at deep midwicket and four overs later Latham skied to Laurie Evans at deep backward square to depart for 77.With Danny Briggs left out, Robinson provided the only spin option and he tried it again for three overs before taking the second new ball. His seventh delivery had Ryan Pringle lbw on the back foot.Left-armer Garton, given another outing with Jofra Archer rested, conceded 34 in his first six-over spell but claimed the scalp of Paul Collingwood in his second. The Durham skipper got off the mark by driving wide of mid-on for four, but two balls later Garton skidded one through to pin him bang in front.Jordan ran in strongly and deserved some reward, but his only success came from a ball which moved so sharply away off the pitch that Michael Richardson would have done extremely well to touch it. He lingered several seconds after being adjudged caught behind.Clark was missed by Jordan at slip off Robinson on 10 but soon began pulling strongly and had eight fours in his 72-ball fifty. He dominated a stand of 57 with Pringle and enjoyed better support in an unbroken partnership of 42 with Brydon Carse. Bad light ended play with ten overs left.

Tottenham Hotspur are believed to be eyeing a potential move for Bayern Munich starlet, Mathys Tel, with the teenager having been tipped to be part of a swap deal that would see Harry Kane head in the other direction.

What are the latest Tottenham transfer rumours?

According to journalist Matt Law, writing on Twitter, the Lilywhites are said to be showing an "interest" in the 18-year-old sensation, with the young Frenchman potentially set to be used as a sweetener to help the Bundesliga side clinch the signing of Kane.

As per his report for The Telegraph, Law adds that the north Londoners have already made 'enquiries' this summer regarding a potential deal for the former Stade Rennais gem, albeit with it yet to be seen whether the German giants would be open to a temporary or permanent departure for the exciting youngster.

The France U19 international – who is valued at around €15m (£13m) by CIES Football Observatory – only made the move to the Allianz Arena last summer, after joining on a €30m (£26m) deal.

Who is Mathys Tel?

With Spurs facing the prospect of losing their record scorer this summer, it would somewhat soften the blow if manager Ange Postecoglou was able to bring in the Bayern teen into the fold to help fill the void.

While still in the infancy of his senior career, Tel notably scored six goals in 29 games in all competitions during his debut season in Bavaria last time out, with five of those strikes coming in just 22 league appearances.

That return is all the more impressive considering that the 6 foot speedster was restricted to just a solitary Bundesliga start in that time, having largely been restricted to something of a bit-part role under both Julian Nagelsmann and Thomas Tuchel.

Such limited involvement would suggest that the Sarcelles native may not be able to make an immediate impact at N17 if he were to seal a move, although Tottenham supporters can be excited by the fact that he is a player who seemingly has "so much Thierry Henry in him", according to talent scout Jacek Kulig.

Also described as the "next Thierry Henry" by Transfermarkt's Manuel Veth, it is clear to see that the likeness is there between the Tel and his iconic compatriot, with the pair both typically operating on the flanks or through the middle.

Those of a Spurs persuasion are all too aware of Henry's talents, having had to witness the now-retired ace wreaking havoc for north London rivals Arsenal, for whom he remains their all-time record scorer.

Voted as the best player ever in Premier League history by supporters, the World Cup-winning marksman was a key figure in Arsene Wenger's famed side in the early 2000s, scoring 175 goals and registering 74 assists in just 258 league games during his time with the Gunners.

Also a four-time Golden Boot winner in England's top flight, Henry was a truly clinical and ruthless presence in front of goal, a trait which appears to be shared by his fellow Frenchman, as Tel seemingly has "incredible composure and quality", according to Kulig.

Such glowing praise should be raising the excitement levels at the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium, with replacing Kane with the 'next Henry' hardly the worst transaction as far as Postecoglou is concerned.

Yahoo and Discovery have joined Facebook and Twitter in a 24-strong list of bidders who have shown interest in the IPL media rights

Nagraj Gollapudi24-Aug-2017Companies that have purchased tender

Followon Interactive Media

Taj TV India

Star India

Sony Pictures Networks

Times Internet

Supersport International

Reliance Jio Digital Services

Gulf DTH

GroupM Media India

BeIN IP

Econet Media

Sky UK

BTG Legal Services

BT PLC

Amazon

Facebook

Twitter

ESPN Digital Media

Discovery

Airtel

BAM Tech

Yupp TV

DAZN/ Perform Group

Yahoo

The much-delayed IPL media-rights bidding has been rescheduled for September 4 in Mumbai. A total of 24 companies, both from India and overseas, have bought the bid document for the rights which the BCCI decided in May would be sold for the next five years (2018-22) across media platforms (broadcast and digital).The massive appeal for IPL, which completed its tenth season this year, can be gauged from the 24-strong list of bidders, which comprises digital behemoths Facebook, Amazon, Twitter, Yahoo and Reliance Jio in addition to established television networks Star India, Sony Pictures, Discovery and the UK-based networks Sky and BT. ESPN Digital Media was also on the list*.The BCCI has split the media rights into three categories: television rights for the Indian subcontinent, digital rights, and overseas media rights (television and digital). All three rights last for five years, from 2018 to 2022.The previous broadcasting rights of the IPL were held by Sony Pictures Network India, while Star India owned the digital rights. Both those rights expired after the 2017 IPL.Last September the BCCI had decided to sell the rights for the next cycle through an open-tender process. A total of 18 companies entered the fray as the bids were scheduled to be opened on October 25 last year.However, the intervention from the Supreme Court on October 21 last year forced the BCCI to postpone things. The process was put back on track after the court-appointed Committee of Administrators (CoA) gave the nod for the bidding to open on July 17.In 2008, the Singapore-based World Sports Group bagged the IPL television rights for a ten-year period with a $918 million bid. It simultaneously signed a deal with Multi Screen Media Pvt. Ltd. (MSM) that Sony would be the official broadcaster. The contract was recast before IPL 2009, with MSM agreeing to pay $1.63 billion for nine years.

South Africa coach Russell Domingo has left the team in the U.K. with his mother critical in hospital following an accident

Firdose Moonda23-Jun-2017South Africa coach Russell Domingo has left the team in the U.K. on account of a family emergency. Domingo’s mother was in an accident and is critical in hospital, forcing Domingo to return home.South Africa face England in the second T20 in Taunton today, followed by the third in Cardiff on Sunday.South Africa’s support staff consists of assistant coach Adrian Birrell, bowling coach Charl Langeveldt, batting coach Neil McKenzie and spin bowling consultant Claude Henderson, as well as fitness trainer Greg King.Domingo’s contract ends at the conclusion of the England tour, and although he has not confirmed it, several sources have indicated that he has not reapplied. Domingo has coached the team since mid-2013 and has had his tenure extended three times.

Leeds United have had to 'pivot' their interest in Bristol City playmaker Alex Scott and Arsenal forward Folarin Balogun due to being relegated to the Sky Bet Championship, according to journalist Ben Jacobs.

Who are Alex Scott and Folarin Balogun getting linked with this window?

Earlier this year, Leeds United held reported interest in Bristol City ace Scott and Arsenal striker Balogun when they still held hope of being able to cling on to their Premier League status.

Since then, it has been revealed by Football Insider that Wolverhampton Wanderers are 'closing in' on Scott and will submit another bid for his services following two declined offers this window, with the second proposal said to be worth £20 million.

The report states that the Guernsey-born man is valued at £25 million by his current employers. At the same time, Bournemouth are also keen to offer Scott a route to the English top flight; however, Wolves look to have the edge in proceedings just now.

In the case of Balogun, he is attracting attention from Italian giants Inter Milan, though his £50 million asking price has led the Italian giants to assess alternative options to bolster their striking department, according to The Evening Standard.

West Ham United forward Gianluca Scamacca has been earmarked as a potential arrival at San Siro and Roma are also in pursuit of the Italy international.

CBS Sports detail that Balogun is sought after by Premier League trio Brighton & Hove Albion, Crystal Palace and West Ham United; nevertheless, Arsenal are not expected to rush into any prospective sale.

Speaking to Football FanCast, journalist Jacobs has indicated that Leeds United moving for either player is now completely off the table due to their fall into the Sky Bet Championship.

Jacobs told FFC: "They've had to pivot, Leeds, that's the thing to say, because some of the players that they were looking at were with a view to staying in the Premier League. They wanted, for example, Bristol City's Alex Scott; they were even considering Balogun and now they've gone down, neither of those players are going to be a possibility."

Who have Leeds United turned their attentions towards?

Leeds United boss Daniel Farke has begun work in recruiting bodies for the 2023/24 campaign and made his first signing of the summer earlier this week with the addition of Wales international Ethan Ampadu from Chelsea, as per BBC Sport.

Former Whites ace Sam Byram has returned to the club on a trial basis and has the chance to win a deal at Elland Road following his departure from Norwich City at the end of last term, according to Football Insider.

Transfer expert Fabrizio Romano has detailed on Twitter that Leeds United are keen to add Paris Saint-Germain midfielder Edouard Michut to their ranks, stating: "Excl: Leeds United are among several clubs interested in Edouard Michut from Paris Saint-Germain. Deal will depend on conditions decided by PSG in the coming days."

AC Milan striker Divock Origi has emerged as a slightly ambitious target, according to Sport Mediaset via Sport Witness, signifying that plenty is going on with regard to recruitment in the building at Elland Road just now.

CoA chairman Vinod Rai has stated he did not have the “foggiest idea” about the total breakdown in talks between Indian captain Virat Kohli and former India coach Anil Kumble

Nagraj Gollapudi18-Jul-2017If there is one thing Vinod Rai, the chairman of the Committee of Administrators (CoA), has learned from the chaotic episode that led to the appointment of Ravi Shastri as India coach, it is to not take “anyone at face value” in the BCCI. In an interview with ESPNcricinfo, Rai said the CoA did not have the “foggiest idea” about the total breakdown in talks between Indian captain Virat Kohli and former India coach Anil Kumble, which eventually forced the latter to step down; statements that reveal the extent of the lack of communication and trust between the various power centers running Indian cricket.According to Rai, the CoA was not informed originally about Kumble’s contract being valid for a year. And by the time they were told, it was “late” and they were left with just one choice: to put in place a process to pick a new coach. “The only thing it has taught me is that I shouldn’t have taken anyone on face value,” Rai said about the way the BCCI works. “I did not know about the conditions of Kumble’s contract that it was one year. I did not have the foggiest idea of whether there was any dissonance between the coach and the team in the dressing room. At the late time that we got to know it was only fair that we follow a process to bring about either a change or extend Kumble. It was quite evident that there was disharmony in the dressing room and that the team could not continue with it.”The BCCI advertised twice for a new coach, first on May 25 and then when Kumble stepped down immediately after the Champions Trophy in June. Shastri didn’t apply the first time, thinking that Kumble’s reappointment was a done deal. In fact, Kumble had applied for the job as soon as the first advertisement came out despite the BCCI telling him that he was a “direct entry” into the shortlist. But as soon as he realised his relationship with Kohli had become “untenable” Kumble stepped down.Shastri was one of five candidates the three-man Cricket Advisory Committee (CAC) interviewed on July 10. Initially, the CAC – Sachin Tendulkar, Sourav Ganguly and VVS Laxman – sought time to deliberate on their final choice. However, Rai intervened and asked the BCCI to announce the new coach immediately. Shastri, who the CAC felt was the “best choice”, was promptly unveiled by the BCCI as the new coach till the 2019 World Cup.The saga did not end there though. The BCCI media release to formalise Shastri’s appointment added that Zaheer Khan would be the side’s bowling consultant while Rahul Dravid would be the batting consultant on overseas Test tours. The two were finalised by the CAC, acting on the belief that it had been given a carte blanche by the BCCI and CoA in appointing the coaching staff.But Rai clarified their ambit did not stretch to support staff appointments. “The CAC was not created by us, it was already in existence,” he said. “And I had total faith in all the CAC members. They were supposed to choose the coach, which they did. Fair enough. They had full authority to choose the coach. But after choosing the coach they have given us two more consultants, which is not the normal pattern.”A CAC member told ESPNcricinfo last week that Shastri, Kohli and the BCCI were all kept in the loop over the appointments of the consultants. But Rai stressed that the CAC could only recommend and that the final authority to appoint remained with the CoA.To that end, the CoA formed a four-member committee to finalise Shastri’s coaching staff. The committee met Shastri in Mumbai on Tuesday and retained the existing pair of Sanjay Bangar (assistant coach), R Sridhar (fielding coach) and brought back Bharat Arun as the bowling coach. These three, Shastri said, would be his “core” set of coaches. Shastri also said he had spoken both to Dravid and Zaheer and welcomed them to provide “inputs” as and when they wanted. In doing so, Rai argued that neither the CoA nor the BCCI had u-turned.When asked whether the CoA actually needed to be involved in the coach appointment process, Rai said there was nobody else the Supreme Court had given authority to. “Otherwise who would do it? The CEO? But we supervise the CEO. Left to myself, I don’t want to be involved in any of these issues, but if it lands in our lap what do we do? The Supreme Court order says the CoA will supervise the administration of the BCCI through the CEO. It also mentions that on the CoA taking charge, the existing office bearers shall also function subject to the supervision and control of the CoA. Hence, we do have to assume the responsibility.”For the rest of the CoA’s tenure, Rai has decided to conduct all meetings in future in the presence of three BCCI office bearers. “Henceforth, I have said all CoA meetings will also be attended by the BCCI office bearers. I did that because I take them along and also not give an opportunity to say that we took a decision behind their back and all that. As it is we have been transparent by putting out the minutes of our meetings on the BCCI website. I don’t need to hide anything from them while I take the benefit of their presence to help us sort out matters.”

Everton could finally be set to solve a long-term problem area of theirs, as they hone in on a top striking target…

Who are Everton signing this summer?

That's according to Italian outlet La Nazione (as relayed by Firenze Viola), who detail the Toffees' continued interest in Salernitana forward Boulaye Dia.

Whilst his €25m (£22m) release clause is noted to have expired this week, his club have slapped a new mouth-watering €40m (£35m) figure on his head and the cash-strapped Merseyside outfit still remain in the race to bring him to Goodison Park.

In fact, the report even states that they have 'come forward' to negotiate a deal this summer, with Neal Maupay a potential makeweight that they could use.

The Italian club were noted as interested in the Frenchman in January, who has struggled to make his mark since joining from Brighton and Hove Albion last summer.

Having already welcomed Ashley Young as their first deal of the window, the Senegalese international could mark the newest addition to follow the freshly-announced Arnaut Danjuma.

How good is Boulaye Dia?

With the persisting injury woes of Dominic Calvert-Lewin having plagued him for a second straight year, the English forward can no longer be relied upon as the sole number nine.

Sean Dyche, as a pragmatic man unwilling to take such a risk, seems to understand that better than any of the recent coaches to have graced the Goodison Park dugout.

As such, Dia would mark a welcome addition to spearhead a new-look front line that now consists of a certain maverick Dutchman at last.

Should these two former Villarreal stars both be welcomed, they could strike up another fine partnership to help fire the famous club to comfortable safety in the same way they aided the Yellow Submarine to the Champions League semi-finals.

After all, Danjuma boasts the necessary danger and creativity to forge plenty of chances for the 26-year-old finisher, who has impressed since moving to Italy. With 16 goals and six assists last season in Serie A, already the forward has showcased his adaptability to switch between leagues.

Just the year prior he had boasted ten goal contributions in LaLiga too, suggesting that the Premier League could be just as easy a conquest.

It was during the 2021/22 campaign that the former AFC Bournemouth dynamo enjoyed his standout year in Spain, recording 16 goals of his own alongside four assists across all competitions. In the league, the 26-year-old would maintain a 6.97 average rating too, buoyed by his 54% dribble success rate and 0.7 key passes per game, via Sofascore.

His dynamism and direct play style would make him a constant threat down either flank, in turn providing space for Dia to work his lethal magic. He managed a prolific 33% goal conversion rate last term in Serie A, which was actually higher than Erling Haaland's in the English top flight.

It is therefore no surprise to see him lauded by many, with journalist Josh Bunting having highlighted a key asset that will undoubtedly have Dyche thrilled:

"Boulaye Dia the key man for Salernitana a goal and two assists so far since joining, a handful to deal with due to his hold up."

With his ability to bring others into play alongside his clinical nature, he could be the man who provides for Danjuma in key areas, later popping up to finish the chances forged by such a dynamic new addition.

Should the Toffees welcome both of these forwards this summer, it poses an exciting prospect for a fanbase starved of any excitement in recent years.