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West Ham United boss David Moyes is 'pushing to sign' Juventus midfielder Denis Zakaria this summer as he looks to fill the void that Declan Rice will leave at the London Stadium, according to Sky Sports reporter Dharmesh Sheth.

How good is Denis Zakaria and are West Ham United keen on bringing him in?

Zakaria is a combustible defensive midfielder who has plenty of distinguishable qualities to offer, even though he failed to make an impact on loan at Stamford Bridge last term due to constant injuries.

In his time at Chelsea, the Switzerland international made just 11 appearances in all competitions, getting on the scoresheet once against Dinamo Zagreb in the group stage of the Champions League, as per Transfermarkt.

As per WhoScored, Zakaria, who was hailed as an "absolute machine", still managed to make his presence felt in the engine room for the Blues, racking up around 1.3 tackles per match in the Premier League.

West Ham officials have held a meeting with Juventus to discuss the possibility of bringing in Zakaria as a potential replacement for Arsenal-bound Rice in what could be an initial loan deal with a purchase option of £16 million attached, as detailed by The Evening Standard.

Fulham midfielder Joao Palhinha is another midfielder that West Ham are keen on acquiring, while Bristol City's Alex Scott, Manchester United ace Scott McTominay and Southampton captain James Ward-Prowse are all being monitored, according to various sources.

Speaking to GIVEMESPORT, Sky Sports reporter Sheth thinks that Zakaria will definitely be one man that West Ham will push to bring to the London Stadium in the summer window.

Sheth stated: "The focus would seem to be on the midfield. Joao Palhinha is a player that West Ham are looking at — massive gap in valuation by all accounts. Fulham are under no pressure to sell; he's still got four years left on his contract. It's definitely one to watch that position, but Zakaria looks like one that West Ham will be pushing to sign."

Who else are West Ham United looking to bring in?

West Ham look to be in the market for several additions this summer and are closing in on a deal to bring in Real Betis defender Luiz Felipe for a fee in the region of £17 million, as per The Mirror.

According to a report from Tuttosport, the Hammers have been offered the chance to sign Liverpool flop Arthur Melo as the Brazil international looks to find a new challenge away from Juventus.

The east London-based outfit are also on the lookout for a striker this window and Strasbourg forward Habib Diallo is believed to be a 'firm target' for West Ham boss Moyes, who is keen to add some extra firepower to his attack, as per Football Insider.

Brentford and Crystal Palace will rival West Ham in their pursuit of the Senegal international as they aim to add offensive depth. Diallo notched 20 goals in 38 appearances in 2022/23 and helped Strasbourg to steer themselves clear of the Ligue 1 relegation zone.

BBC Sport understand that Manchester City defender Taylor Harwood-Bellis is on the radar of West Ham and Fulham following his Under-21 European Championship triumph with his native England, indicating that some exciting arrivals could be on their way to the London Stadium in the near future.

They have a squad studded with the biggest names, but they will need to do much more than they did last year if they are to declare their season a success

Deivarayan Muthu04-Apr-20175:02

Agarkar: Pune need Stokes’ bowling to fire

Likely first XIAjinkya Rahane, Mayank Agarwal, Faf du Plessis, Steven Smith (capt), Ben Stokes, MS Dhoni (wk), Rajat Bhatia, Shardul Thakur, Ankit Sharma, Ashok Dinda, Imran TahirReservesBatsmen – Usman Khawaja, B Aparajith, Ankush Bains, Manoj TiwaryBowlers – Ishwar Pandey, Saurabh Kumar, Adam Zampa, Jaskaran Singh, Deepak Chahar, Jaydev Unadkat, Lockie Ferguson, Rahul ChaharAllrounders – Dan Christian, Rahul Tripathi, Milind TandonStrengthsThey have arguably the best batsman in the world, the best finisher, and the best allrounder. Smith, Dhoni and Stokes form the crux of a robust middle order that is capable of blitzing targets as well as accumulating scores. Then there is the legspinner Tahir, the current No. 1 bowler in T20 cricket, who was rather surprisingly overlooked at the auction in February. Zampa was the surprise package in IPL 2016, peeling off 12 wickets in five matches at an economy rate of 6.76, and he enters this season with an enhanced reputation after productive stints with the Australian team and Guyana Amazon Warriors in the CPL. He could even jostle Tahir out of the playing XI should Supergiant opt to play just one spinner.WeaknessesNo less than six Supergiant players – du Plessis, Kevin Pietersen, Smith, Mitchell Marsh, M Ashwin and Deepak Chahar – suffered injuries in 2016 with all four overseas names pulling out midway through the last season. They have now lost R Ashwin and Marsh even before the start of this season. Sports hernia has stripped Supergiant of their only frontline offspinner while their two left-arm fingerspinners, Ankit and Saurabh, lack T20 experience – the latter is yet to play an IPL match. Supergiant’s worries extend to their seam attack too. Thakur, who was acquired from Kings XI Punjab, might feel the aftereffects of a long domestic season as the IPL wears on: he bowled 417.3 overs across formats – the second-most by a seamer. Unadkat and Pandey are similar bowlers to RP Singh and Ishant Sharma, who were released from the squad.Dan Christian was on fire at the BBL but will he be able to overturn an otherwise lacklustre IPL career with a new franchise?•Getty ImagesWhere they finished in 2016, and what’s different this year?Seventh. They were the first side to be knocked out last season.For starters, the management has changed the team’s name from Rising Pune Supergiants to Rising Pune Supergiant, and made Smith captain in place of Dhoni on the eve of the auction. Having released Thisara Perera, Albie Morkel and Irfan Pathan from the squad, Supergiant then splurged INR 14.5 crore (approximately USD 2.16 million) on Stokes, making him the most expensive overseas player ever bought at an IPL auction. They also spent a crore on Victoria and Hobart Hurricanes allrounder Dan Christian, who might be thrust into the spotlight when Stokes takes up national duty. That Supergiant shelled out millions for just two players meant they could not bid more aggressively for fast bowlers like T Natarajan and Basil Thampi. As a result, the seam attack remains largely unchanged. The top order, though, has been bolstered by the acquisition of Agarwal from Delhi Daredevils.What have their players been up to? Stokes was distraught after being hit for four successive sixes in final in Kolkata last year, but a brutal fifty and the wicket of Virat Kohli, which helped England sew up a high-scoring thriller this year, came as a soothing balm. His hit-the-deck bustle challenged India in the limited-overs series before he showed innings-building skills while scoring a fifty against West Indies in Antigua. Christian had a fruitful BBL season with the Hurricanes, performing the dual role of taking wickets and curbing the run rate. He claimed nine wickets, including 5 for 14, the third-best figures in the history of the BBL. His batting wasn’t as sparkly in the tournament, but when Christian hits the ball, it stays hit. Case in point: this 117m monster at – or – the Gabba in 2015. On the flip side, Christian has struggled in the IPL, managing only 341 runs in 22 innings for Deccan Chargers and Royal Challengers Bangalore at a strike rate of 116.78. Dhoni smashed a half-century in his most recent T20I, then led Jharkhand to the semi-final of the 50-over Vijay Hazare Trophy. He finished as his state’s second-highest scorer with 330 runs in seven innings at a strike rate of nearly 100.Overseas-player availabilityStokes will be available to the franchise for the entire group stage, before returning to England on May 14 to prepare for three ODIs against South Africa in late May that serve as a warm-up for the Champions Trophy. Tearaway quick Lockie Ferguson will be with Supergiant until May 10, before linking up with New Zealand for a tri-series against hosts Ireland and Bangladesh.Home and away record in 2016Supergiant fared equally badly both at home and on the road. They were swept clean at the MCA Stadium in Pune, before they won two out of three games in their second home in Visakhapatnam and avoided a bottom-place finish. They also won three away matches, all while chasing.Poll

Manchester United have made a new offer to sign Inter Milan goalkeeper Andre Onana, according to Sky Sports reporter Gianluca Di Marzio.

Are Man United signing Andre Onana?

The Red Devils have made a start on their summer business by securing the services of midfielder Mason Mount from Chelsea. The England international is set to cost Man United an initial £55m fee, bringing an end to his 18-year spell on the books at Stamford Bridge.

After Mount, Erik ten Hag and those at Old Trafford look like they are turning their attention to a new goalkeeper, with David de Gea currently a free agent.

Onana has been heavily linked with a move to Manchester to reunite with Ten Hag, however, a transfer, like Mount, is proving complicated.

Personal terms have recently been agreed between the Cameroon international and Man United, but shaking hands on a fee is proving to be a problem.

Recent reports suggested that the Red Devils were submitting an opening €40m offer for Onana, but it looks to have already been increased. According to Di Marzio of Sky Sports, Manchester United have “verbally increased” their bid to €45m, but it still doesn’t look to be enough.

“Discussions are still in progress between @ManUtd and @Inter for Andre Onana: MUFC have verbally increased their offer at €45m.”

Within his report, the Sky Sports Italy journalist said:

“Manchester United’s pursuit for Onana continues while Inter still want €60m for the goalkeeper.

“The Red Devils verbally brought an offer of €45 million for the former Ajax goalkeeper. Inter's demand, however, is higher, in order to let go of the Cameroon national.”

What has been said about Onana?

Inter Milan will feel under no pressure to sell, as Onana is still under contract until 2027. The 27-year-old appears to be attracting interest from Saudi Arabia as well, so Inter may be hoping for teams to get involved in a bidding war for their star ‘keeper.

Should Onana move to Old Trafford, though, you could say that Ten Hag would be getting an extremely high-level goalkeeper ahead of his second season in charge.

Ten Hag will know all about the player from his time at Ajax, and Mark Goldbridge is also a fan of Onana, recently saying he’d prefer him over Porto’s Diogo Costa as e is “box office” on the ball.

“I'd prefer Onana over Costa. Mainly because he's just box office to watch when he's got the ball under pressure.”

As per FBref, Onana likes to play out from the back and made fewer launches than both De Gea and Costa last season, showing how he could fit into Ten Hag’s style of building from the back. Pep Guardiola is also a fan of the shot-stopper’s ball-paying ability, hailing him following the Champions League final in Istanbul.

“Identifying the space and emptying the midfield is a special quality. Normally, teams have great keepers, but he [Onana] is exceptional with his feet.

“When you have a goalkeeper like Onana who can read perfectly where everyone is to pass to, with Calhanoglu and Barella, then the strikers hold it up and move the ball around. It is very, very difficult. It would be a tiny bit easier without this goalkeeper, but still very tough.”

Therefore, a move could be a wise one for United and co, especially given their shortage of options at this moment in time, however, they may once again need to up their bid if they are to be successful.

Scott Kuggeleijn has been found not guilty of rape by a jury at the Hamilton District Court

ESPNcricinfo staff24-Feb-2017Scott Kuggeleijn has been found not guilty of rape by a jury at the Hamilton District Court.Kuggeleijn, 25, an allrounder, plays for Northern Districts in New Zealand’s domestic circuit and is the son of former New Zealand Test cricketer Chris Kuggeleijn.The case dates back to an incident that occurred on May 17, 2015. The jury deliberated for less than an hour before coming back with the not-guilty verdict.In a release following the verdict, Northern Districts’ chief executive Peter Roach said: “This has been a terribly difficult situation for all concerned. Northern Districts is an organisation which embraces inclusivity and promotes respect towards women. As such, the charges against Scott were a grave concern.”The case had to be re-tired after a jury could not reach a verdict in August 2016.

No Championship team has been as proactive in the summer transfer window as Sunderland, who continued their spending spree by bringing in Jenson Seelt from PSV over the weekend in a reported £1.7m deal.

Dutch defender Seelt is the Black Cats' fourth signing of the close season, following in the steps of Luis 'Hemir' Semedo, Nectar Triantis and Jobe Bellingham.

Tony Mowbray's side do not appear to have finished their recruitment drive just yet, though, with plenty more names being linked with a switch to the Stadium of Light.

Joe Gelhardt is one of those on Mowbray's radar following a spell on loan on Wearside last season, with the experienced manager revealing in April he would be interested in landing the Leeds United youngster on a permanent deal.

What can Joe Gelhardt bring to Sunderland?

Having been restricted to just one Premier League start in the first half of the 2022-23 season, Gelhardt was given the chance to play more regularly on loan with Sunderland in the final four months of the campaign.

The 21-year-old scored three times and assisted three more in 20 league outings for the Black Cats, who narrowly missed out on promotion via the play-offs.

Gelhardt's return of 0.45 combined goals and assists per 90 minutes, as per FBref, was better than that of highly regarded Patrick Roberts (0.41) and only slightly lower than Jack Clarke – a target for numerous Premier League clubs – at 0.48, albeit the latter playing 27 games more in a show of his consistency.

Having only turned 21 last month, it is clear that Gelhardt is a player who has his best years ahead of him but is already showing immense talent.

"What a player this kid is going to be," talkSPORT host Adrian Durham said in October 2021. "He was astonishing for Leeds at the weekend. He should be involved in far more games. I think [Marcelo Bielsa's] been a bit reluctant to use him because of his age, but get him in there."

As Mowbray pointed out towards the end of last season, Leeds' relegation from the Premier League may work against his side, with the Whites perhaps looking toward the £15k-per-week youngster to spearhead their drive back to the top flight.

But Sunderland should at the very least test the waters to sign a player who averaged 2.48 shots per 90 minutes for them last season (only Ross Stewart with 3.71 can better that among players still at the club), as well as leading the way for fouls won per 90 (2.56), both highlighting his ability to get involved in play.

The England U20 international still has plenty of areas to improve on, such as finding the net from more of his attempts (his 0.09 goals per shot was bettered by nine Sunderland players last term), but he is the perfect type of player for Mowbray to continue to mould.

With four new signings already in the squad, each ready to challenge for a first-team spot, it may well be that Gelhardt is the final piece of this spending spree for Mowbray.

Sky Sports journalist Michael Bridge has been left thrilled with Tottenham Hotspur as they seal the signing of James Maddison from Leicester City.

Have Spurs signed James Maddison?

On Wednesday evening, it was formally announced that Spurs have completed their third signing of the summer after Dejan Kulusevski on a permanent deal and Guglielmo Vicario from Empoli.

Indeed, Tottenham confirmed that they have put pen to paper on a deal for Maddison, who joins for £40 million from Leicester.

In the process, Spurs have finally acquired a central creative playmaker, coming over three years after former Christian Eriksen left for Inter Milan.

Maddison’s contract at Spurs will run until 2028 with midfielder Harry Winks moving in the opposite direction in a separate £10 million move to the King Power Stadium.

Tottenham have since been lavished with praise for their capture of the 26-year-old, with sections of the press calling it a “bargain” move given he outscored Kevin De Bruyne last season and created more chances than Martin Odegaard (The Mail).

The Lilywhites had been in talks for the last fortnight, according to reports, and were in a battle with Newcastle United for his signing – but Spurs eventually won the race as Maddison makes a move to north London.

Writing on Twitter, journalist Michael Bridge has also claimed supporters “should be excited” by Maddison’s arrival, claiming he will be an “excellent signing” and one which brings creativity back to N17.

Why have Tottenham signed James Maddison?

The Englishman was Leicester’s standout star last season, racking up 19 goal contributions whilst attempting more shots at goal and completing more key passes per 90 than anyone in their squad (WhoScored).

Spurs have also been called the “perfect” destination for Maddison, with pundit Gabriel Agbonlahor saying as much back in February.

““I think Spurs would be the perfect club for him,” Agbonlahor told Football Insider.

“Tottenham need a number ten like him. They keep playing this 3-4-3 formation, but they can totally change that if they get Maddison.

“It transforms into a 4-3-3 – and that means more attacking football for the fans.

“Bentancur, Hojbjerg, and Maddison as a midfield three is a really exciting prospect for Tottenham.”

Naeem Islam and Sunzamul Islam extended their good form to help North Zone open up a big lead on the points table, while East Zone lifted themselves from the bottom place on the table with a draw against South Zone

Mohammad Isam01-Mar-2017North Zone put themselves six points ahead of second-placed South Zone in the Bangladesh Cricket League points table after their innings-and-85-run win over Central Zone in Sylhet.Central Zone were bowled out for 181 in their first innings, as left-arm spinner Sunzamul Islam extended his good form with 5 for 45, his second five-for of the tournament so far. Farhad Reza took 3 for 41. Saif Hassan’s 63 was the lone half-century in Central Zone’s innings.Then Naeem Islam, Nazmul Hossain Shanto and Dhiman Ghosh struck centuries as North Zone piled up 537 in reply, taking a 356-run lead.Naeem top-scored with 142 off 285 balls that included 20 boundaries and a six. He added 197 runs for the fifth wicket with Shanto, who made 123 off 142 balls, including 18 fours. Naeem then added 126 runs for the seventh wicket with Dhiman, who struck 14 fours in his 113. Dhiman was also part of a 60-run partnership for the ninth wicket with Alauddin Babu, who chipped in with a 67-ball 54. Naeem’s 142 was his third successive hundred, and fourth overall, in the tournament, and took his run tally in the series to 567.Saif replied with a second fifty in the game, but Central Zone couldn’t wipe out their deficit and were bowled out 271 in 76 overs. Saif’s 98-ball 70 included eight fours and two sixes. Tanbir Hayder also struck 51.Babu took four wickets while Sunzamul took three to take his match haul to 8 for 159.East Zone lifted themselves up from the last place on the table after a draw against South Zone at the Zahur Ahmed Chowdhury Stadium in Chittagong. They finished the game with three points, while South Zone took only one point.Batting first, South Zone were bowled out for 296 after Mohammad Saifuddin and Saqlain Sajib took three wickets each. Imrul Kayes, who is attempting to prove his fitness for a spot in the second Test squad in Colombo, struck 136 off 210 balls that had 18 fours and two sixes. Anamul Haque made 58 but the rest of the South Zone batsmen crumbled.East Zone replied well, declaring on 523 for 7, which gave them a lead of 227 runs. Afif Hossain made 137 off 238 balls with the help of 17 fours. Tasamul Haque missed out on a century by two runs, while Alok Kapali (66), Mohammad Saifuddin (50 not out) and Rahatul Ferdous (60 not out) also struck fifties.On the final day, South Zone moved to 198 for 5 in 96 overs, with nearly all their batsmen getting starts.

Manchester United are reportedly in pole position to sign AS Monaco defender Axel Disasi this summer.

What’s the latest Man United transfer news on a defender?

The Red Devils appear to be after at least one new defender this summer, with centre-back seemingly an area Erik ten Hag wants to bolster.

Harry Maguire’s future at Old Trafford remains uncertain, with Premier League trio Aston Villa, Newcastle United and Tottenham all keen on his services.

Napoli’s Kim min-jae was the top centre-back target to arrive in Manchester, with a transfer seemingly agreeed, according to reports. However, the South Korea international now appears to be on course to join German giants Bayern Munich, which has led to rumours on Disasi as an alternative target.

There was speculation that Disasi, labelled as a “complete” defender by talent scout Jacek Kulig, remained on United’s transfer wishlist, and it looks as if the Red Devils are in a good position to seal a move.

Sport Witness relayed an update from RMC Sport regarding Manchester United and the Monaco defender. They claimed that Manchester United are in the lead to sign Disasi ahead of several Premier League sides.

The player has been made aware of the project at Old Trafford, with Ten Hag a fan of the 25-year-old and set to make contact with Disasi to discuss a deal.

Who else could Man United sign this summer?

Disasi may not be the only arrival at Old Trafford this summer, should a move materialise. Alongside a centre-back, a new left-back has also been mooted in Inter Milan’s Federico Dimarco, with an approach made.

David de Gea’s contract situation is also yet to be resolved, so a new goalkeeper could be required, with Inter Milan’s Andre Onana and FC Porto’s Diogo Costa just two names linked.

Further forward, Chelsea midfielder Mason Mount appears to be a key target at Old Trafford, with the Red Devils already making two offers to sign the England international, the second being worth £50m.

Finally, and possibly the most important area for United is in attack, with a new marquee striker possibly on the cards. Tottenham’s Harry Kane could still be a target over the coming months, with reports claiming a £80m price tag could tempt United back to the table.

All in all, it could be a chaotic few months in Manchester, especially when you factor in the ongoing takeover saga, but hopefully Ten Hag will be able to bring in the players he wants.

Delhi Daredevils batsman Mayank Agarwal was acquired by the Rising Pune Supergiants in the second trading window for IPL 2017, which is open from January 13 to 20

ESPNcricinfo staff19-Jan-2017Batsman Mayank Agarwal was acquired by the Rising Pune Supergiants from Delhi Daredevils in the second trading window for IPL 2017, which is open from January 13 to 20. The move was the first trade of the season.Agarwal first played in the IPL with Royal Challengers Bangalore for three seasons, from 2011 to 2013, before he was signed by Delhi Daredevils. He played 21 matches in three seasons for Daredevils and scored 355 runs at an average of 17.75. However, in the 2016 season, Agarwal played just three games, and scored 9, 10 and 8 at an average of 9.Through the 2016 season, the Supergiants used three different opening partners with Ajinkya Rahane – Faf du Plessis, Saurabh Tiwary and Usman Khawaja. Du Plessis was ruled out of the tournament with a broken finger after six games.

Liverpool are homing in on OGC Nice star Khephren Thuram after reportedly agreeing personal terms with the Frenchman, but his outfit are yet to give the green light as they hold out for rival interest.

What's the latest on Khephren Thuram to Liverpool?

That's according to Football Transfers, who state that while Thuram is hoping for a transfer to the Anfield side after completing international duty with France U21s, Les Aiglons are reluctant to permit a transfer just yet, anticipating further intrigue in his services as the window draws on.

Currently touted at around €60m (£51m), Nice want to extract as high a fee as possible for the 22-year-old, which likely means a breakthrough in negotiations will not immediately be forthcoming.

Reds manager Jurgen Klopp has already signed Alexis Mac Allister for £35m, and with James Milner, Naby Keita and Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain all departing the club, Thuram could be an immense upgrade.

How good is Khephren Thuram?

Liverpool simply have to make another move in the market this summer to further strengthen the Anfield centre, and considering the rate of the "elite" – as stated by Zach Lowy – Thuram's ascension and energetic, imposing skill set, there are few available options better suited to Klopp's system.

One such option is Inter Milan's Nicolo Barella, although the Champions League finalist is reportedly engaged in negotiations with the Reds' Premier League rivals Newcastle United, and could well join the Magpies for £50m, according to the Telegraph.

As per FBref, the 26-year-old Italy international ranks among the top 8% of midfielders across Europe's top five leagues over the past year for rate of non-penalty goals, the top 12% for shot-creating actions, the top 11% for progressive carries and the top 8% for progressive passes received per 90, illustrating a ball-driving, conducting presence in the midfield that would only enhance Liverpool's prospects of returning to prominence next year.

However, given Thuram's youthful exuberance and burgeoning rise, he could be the "perfect profile" – as dubbed by RMC Sport reporter Alex Jaquin – for Klopp's team, with Barella coincidentally listed as a 'Similar Player' to the one-cap France international via FBref.

He ranks among the top 6% of positional peers for progressive carries, the top 9% for successful take-ons and the top 19% for touches in the attacking box per 90, attributes indeed offering a striking similarity to Barella's.

And on just £14k-per-week, his signature exudes an air of prudence – after all, Klopp is second to none when moulding talented prospects into world-class phenoms, and Thuram could indeed become a "monster" – as he has been called by writer Sam McGuire.

While their transfer fees ostensibly wind up to around the same amount, Inter have responded to the recent transfer news surrounding Barella's name to claim he is untransferable, with previous figures of €100m (£87m) perhaps a more realistic assessment of the situation.

While the £153k-per-week Barella might be an enticing option for the Reds, sticking to the route that has clinched such illustrious success and crafting their own world-beater out of Thuram is certainly the more likely route – and in fact, it might just be the more propitious one.