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Aston Villa are currently 12 points clear of the relegation zone and appear set to retain their Premier League status for the fourth straight season since their promotion back to the top flight in 2019.

The Villans spent three years down in the Championship following their relegation at the end of the 2015/16 campaign and endured some difficult times in the second tier before Dean Smith led the side to play-off glory in 2018/19.

One signing the club ultimately had a howler with during that period was former Bristol City centre-forward Jonathan Kodjia, who arrived at Villa Park for a then-Championship record fee of £15m.

What happened to Jonathan Kodjia?

Roberto Di Matteo was the club’s manager at the time and hailed the striker as a “proven” goalscorer, with the gem having struck 18 times in 45 Championship matches for the Robins in the 2015/16 campaign.

The Ivorian enjoyed a terrific first season in the Midlands as he plundered 19 goals in 36 outings in the division but the 6 foot 3 attacker was unable to carry this form over into the subsequent years.

Kodjia managed ten league goals in the next three seasons – nine of which came in the 2018/19 Championship campaign – and the forward failed to score in any of his six Premier League appearances.

Ex-Villa attacker Darren Bent stated that the Ivory Coast man was “way too inconsistent” and that he did not show enough during his time in the top division, which is backed up by the aforementioned statistics.

Aston Villa boss Dean Smith decided to part ways with the striker midway through the club’s return to the Premier League as Qatari side Al-Gharafa SC signed him for an undisclosed fee in January 2020.

The striker has since moved on to Umm Salal SC in Qatar – joining them last summer on a free transfer – and has scored five goals in 13 outings for his new club.

At the age of 33, the veteran is not plying his trade in a major European league and his decline since the end of his first term at Villa has been disappointing to see.

The dud’s poor form and failure to make the step up to the Premier League, despite joining the Villans for a Championship record fee, is why Di Matteo had a blunder when it came to signing him in 2016.

Despite heading toward the end of his career, Kodjia has only played six matches in one of Europe’s top five leagues with the marksman very much having failed to live up to the price Villa splashed out for his services.

Manchester United are “definitely” interested in a deal to bring Napoli striker Victor Osimhen to the Premier League, according to Sky Sports reporter Dharmesh Sheth.

Who is trying to sign Osimhen?

The Nigeria international’s deal at the Diego Armando Maradona Stadium isn’t set to run out for another two years, but having established himself as Luciano Spalletti’s top-offensive and second overall best player with a match rating of 7.55, has caught the eye of Erik Ten Hag.

Fabrizio Romano claimed in February that the Red Devils boss is a “big fan” of the 24-year-old’s skill set, whilst Florian Plettenberg has since reported that the hierarchy “really want” to bring him to Old Trafford. The Serie A forward has already handed his admirers a boost by admitting that it’s his dream to one day complete a move to the top-flight and it sounds like they are therefore keeping close tabs ahead of the upcoming window.

Speaking to GiveMeSport, Sheth revealed that Osimhen is indeed a serious target at Man United but insisted that any deal taking place is likely to depend on the funds that will be available to them. He said:

“Osimhen could be one of the big movers in the summer. United would definitely be interested because they want to fill that position. But again, as I mentioned before, that takeover and the finances within that club are going to hold a big key in whether they'd be able to get someone like Osimhen or not."

Where would Osimhen fit in at Man United?

Man United striker Wout Weghorst could be set to return to Burnley in the summer after a disappointing loan spell which has seen him score just two goals, so should he depart, Osimhen would be the perfect long-term replacement for Ten Hag.

The Lagos native has clocked up a remarkable 30 goal contributions (25 goals and five assists) in 30 appearances across all competitions this season and he ranks in the 99th percentile for total number of shots by strikers in the top leagues, form which has seen him lauded a “joy to watch” by journalist Josh Bunting.

The £93k-per-week star would also add excellent versatility to the squad with his ability to play as a natural centre-forward, second striker and even out wide on both the left and right flanks, so should the opportunity to sign him arise, United really have a no-brainer of a decision to make.

Vlatko Andonovski has some tough decisions to make with his XI, but it may be worthwhile to let the teenage forward loose early in the tournament

On a good day, it's really, really hard to predict what Vlatko Andonovski is going to do with the United States women's national team line up. Throughout the course of this cycle, Andonovski has often chopped and changed, experimenting plenty as he looked to nail down a first-choice XI. At this point, we don't even really know what that is, simply because we haven't really gotten to see it.

And that's on a good day. Friday's World Cup opener against Vietnam, meanwhile, is a weird one. It's the start of a major tournament, sure, but also a game against, on paper, the USWNT's weakest opponent. If there was a chance for Andonovski to really throw in a curveball, this is the game.

Part of that is due to injuries. Rose Lavelle, Julie Ertz and Megan Rapinoe aren't 100 percent fit, although only the first two are the contenders to start. The other part of it is due to squad rotation, as Andonovski could very well look to, at least initially, rest some key players while looking ahead to tougher games against the Netherlands and Portugal.

So how does he handle that balancing act? GOAL takes a look at how the USWNT should line up on Friday against Vietnam…

Getty ImagesGK: Alyssa Naeher

One of the few players in this XI that is pretty immune from rotation. Naeher is the starter and, barring injury, we'll almost certainly see her play every minute this tournament.

Well, certainly. Casey Murphy or Aubrey Kingsbury could conceivably challenge her for that spot if her form isn't where it should be but, realistically, this isn't the time for goalkeeper drama. Give Naeher the start and let her warm-up for the tougher games ahead.

AdvertisementGettyLB: Crystal Dunn

Could we finally see the great Dunn midfield move in this game? Maybe! Will we? Probably not! Andonovski has shied away from using Dunn in that position all cycle, so it would be pretty wild to see it happen now, even with Lavelle's injury issues.

Instead, we'll likely see Dunn provide some attacking thrust on the left against a team that should have few options to stop her.

GettyCB: Naomi Girma

Even if Andonovski wanted to rotate at center-back, it's not like he has many options. Girma and Alana Cook are the only two central defenders in the squad, which means there really won't be many opportunities to rest those two throughout.

You could see someone like Emily Sonnett or Ertz start centrally, but it's probably more valuable to get Girma on the field so she can shake out any potential World Cup nerves.

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CB: Alana Cook

Ditto from above. Andonovski will almost certainly want Cook to get a taste of the World Cup in a game where she likely won't be challenged too much. Let her walk out, hear the anthem, make a few plays and then, maybe, take her or Girma out if he wants to save their legs for the rest of the group stage.

Chelsea forward Kai Havertz is wanted by Real Madrid in the summer transfer window, according to a new update from journalist Fabrizio Romano.

Did Havertz have a good season for Chelsea?

The German joined the Blues back in the summer of 2020 from Bayer Leverkusen, famously scoring the winning goal in the 2021 Champions League final against Manchester City.

It's fair to say that Havertz has blown a little hot and cold in a Chelsea shirt overall, however, with his performances not always matching his top-class levels of talent. This season, the £150,000-a-week attacker only scored seven times in 35 Premier League appearances, and while that was still more than any other Blues player, he still didn't offer enough leading the line.

It has led to queastion marks surrounding the 23-year-old's long-term future at Stamford Bridge, even though his current deal runs until the summer of 2025. Much may depend on how happy he is in west London currently, and whether Mauricio Pochettino sees him as a key figure.

Could Havertz join Real Madrid this summer?

Taking to Twitter, Romano claimed that Madrid are keen on acquiring Havertz's signature before the beginning of next season, with Carlo Ancelotti a big fan of his:

"Real Madrid have concrete interest in Kai Havertz. He’s one of the players in the list, really appreciated by Ancelotti. Understand Chelsea are open to discuss Havertz exit but they want important fee, no way for loan & similar."

Havertz leaving Chelsea would be a blow, especially if Pochettino considers him someone who he can build his team around. With Mason Mount looking likely to leave, it could even be that he is used in a No.10 role behind an elite striker who comes in, such as Napoli's Victor Osimhen, who has been linked with the Blues a number of times in recent months.

Granted, the 34-cap and 12-goal Germany international hasn't always performed at a consistently high level, but he remains a young player with a huge amount of potential. He was once described as "world-class" by Matthias Sammer during his Bundesliga days, so to lose him to Madrid at this point in his career would be a setback.

The hope is that Havertz is buoyed by the appointment of Pochettino and sees his future there for the time being, going up a gear under the Argentine next season and fulfilling his talent in the process.

An update has emerged on Sunderland and their pursuit of further additions to the playing squad ahead of the 2023/24 campaign…

What's the latest Sunderland transfer news?

According to Foot Mercato, the Black Cats are one of a number of teams interested in signing Manchester United winger Noam Emeran during the summer transfer window, as Tony Mowbray eyes up the left-footed wizard.

The report claims that Anderlecht, Vitesse, Strasbourg, and Coventry are also in the running to sign the 20-year-old Frenchman, who could be in line for a contract extension at Old Trafford.

It states that a loan move could be on the cards for the exciting attacker and that would take up one of the club's two Premier League loan spots for the upcoming season.

How good is Noam Emeran?

He is yet to make his senior competitive debut and that makes it difficult to say with confidence that the Red Devils youngster would be a good player for Sunderland.

However, the potential is there for him to come in as Amad Diallo 2.0 for Mowbray after the Ivorian international spent the 2022/23 campaign on loan from United as a left-footed winger.

The ex-Atalanta starlet produced 14 goals to go along with three assists in 39 Championship matches, which made him the club's top scorer in the division.

Diallo was able to make an instant impact at the Stadium of Light and made himself a key player for the head coach throughout the season, which has set the standard for Emeran to follow.

Both of them featured for United in their pre-season clash with Leeds United earlier this week and the French maestro came out on top.

The £1.5m gem replaced Diallo on the right flank at half-time and showcased his talent at the top end of the pitch. As per Sofascore, Emeran completed four dribbles, created three chances for his teammates, and ended the match with one goal to go along with one assist.

That came after the Ivorian talent produced one key pass, three dribbles, and failed to directly contribute to a goal in the opening 45 minutes of the game.

Whilst it was only a pre-season outing, the 20-year-old ace showed plenty of promise with his performance – particularly in comparison to the former Sunderland man.

Emeran also caught the eye for United's U21 side last term with five goals in 15 Premier League 2 appearances, which works out as a strike every three games on average, whilst Diallo managed one every 2.79 matches.

The 5 foot 10 dynamo, who has been hailed as "athletic" by journalist Josh Bunting, displayed his creative ability during his time at U18 level with five goals and six assists over 16 league outings, which suggests that the potential is there for him to replicate Diallo's creativity alongside the goalscoring impact.

Therefore, the French prospect is a player with the scope to come in and make a significant impact on Wearside if he is able to translate his youth and pre-season form to a first-team environment, in the same way that his current teammate was able to do last season.

Nathan Ake has thanked Pep Guardiola for the way the Man City boss dealt with the death of the defender's father.

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Ake praises Guardiola for supportDefender's father died in 2021Ake has turned City career aroundWHAT HAPPENED?

Ake's father tragically passed away aged 63 after a 13-year fight with prostate cancer. After the Dutchman scored in City's 6-3 Champions League win against RB Leipzig in September 2021, he learned that his dad had died during the match. Two years on, Ake has praised Guardiola for the emotional support he gave him.

AdvertisementGetty ImagesTHE BIGGER PICTURE

Nobody can deny that Guardiola is one of the greatest managers of all time. However, critics argue that the Catalan lacks emotional connection with his players and is therefore not a good man manager. Ake's form for City has improved significantly since his father's passing, and he believes that Guardiola played a role in that.

WHAT AKE SAID

As reported by the Mirror, Ake said: "I’m grateful to Pep [Guardiola] for all he means to me on and off the pitch. When my father passed away, he was fantastic. If I needed things or wanted time off, I just had to tell him. He gave me all the time and space I needed."

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Getty ImagesWHAT NEXT FOR AKE?

The arrival of Josko Gvardiol means that Ake is no longer the sure starter in defence he became last season. However, after penning a new four-year contract following City's treble success, he looks set to stay at the Etihad Stadium for the foreseeable future.

Cristiano Ronaldo plunged into an ice bath ahead of Portugal's final Euro 2024 qualifying game against Iceland.

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Ronaldo plunges into an ice bathPortugal face Iceland nextA Selecao have qualified for Euro 2024WHAT HAPPENED?

The Portugal and Al-Nassr star shared a photo on his Instagram story where he can be seen calmly meditating as he plunged into an ice bath ahead of the national's team final Euro 2024 qualifying match against Iceland. The Ronaldo-led side have already booked their place in Germany while maintaining a 100% win record through their nine qualifying matches.

AdvertisementGettyTHE BIGGER PICTURE

The 38-year-old looks to be in great shape both on and off the pitch. He has scored 16 times in 17 matches and provided nine assists for his club this season and was also on target for A Selecao in their recent 2-0 win over Liechtenstein in the Euro qualifiers.

WHAT RONALDO SAID

The superstar uploaded his Instagram story with the caption, 'G Night' with a 'cold face' emoji.

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WHAT NEXT FOR CRISTIANO RONALDO?

The Manchester United and Real Madrid legend will be next seen in action against Iceland on Sunday before heading back to Saudi Arabia where Al-Nassr will be playing against Al-Akhdoud in the Pro League on Friday. Ronaldo and Co currently trail leaders Al-Hilal by four points.

Aston Villa star Alisha Lehmann showed some invention with her bum as she promoted the viral soft drink PRIME on social media.

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Aston Villa star posts inventive promotional videoUses bum to topple bottle down stairsInstagram following laps up wacky vidGettyWHAT HAPPENED?

In the quirky video full of quick edits, Lehmann finds ever more bizarre ways to tumble a bottle of PRIME down a stair well to herself below. To the tune of JID's 'Surround Sound' she drops, throws and nods a bottle down before failing with a hip bump, causing her to resort to toppling the bottle with her behind. The video went down well with her 16 million Instagram followers. Lehmann also revealed that she is partial to PRIME's Cherry Freeze option, as she captioned the post: "Prime everywhere, that's my favourite flavour ❄️💘"

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Getty/TwitchDID YOU KNOW?

Lehmann's vast social media following were let in on a secret as the new year broke with the Swiss star posting a series of family photos that revealed that she had reunited with Brazilian midfielder Douglas Luiz after splitting up in November 2022.

Eagle-eyed Twitch viewers were also treated to the sight of Lehmann ticking off her partner for losing track of time after a marathon Call of Duty session on Tuesday evening.

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WHAT NEXT FOR ALISHA LEHMANN?

After a month of for the WSL winter break its back to work for the Swiss international when Villa take on Everton in the FA Women's Cup fourth round on Saturday. Lehmann will also hope for minutes in Villa's first WSL game back against Leicester on January 19.

Sunderland can expect to have all four of Danny Batth, Dan Ballard, Jewiosn Bennette, and Niall Huggins fit and ready to play again, potentially in time for this weekend's preseason friendlies, according to reports.

What is the update on Sunderland's injury list?

With the new Championship season just on the horizon and the chance to once again make it back to the Premier League, the Black Cats have been given some good news on the injury front.

According to the Sunderland Echo central defenders Batth and Ballard are both back to full fitness and joined in with their teammates in full preseason training this week, and it is expected that they will therefore feature in Saturday's two games.

It's the same story for youngster Bennette, and things look positive for fullback Huggins after he returned to the side during the play-off campaign and has since continued his recovery.

The renewed availability of all four gives manager Tony Mowbray some much-needed depth going into another long and gruelling campaign in England's second tier.

It's also good news for Elliot Embleton as he is now running again, and despite the fact he won't be fit in time for this weekend, he should be back to full health again by the time the side jet off to the States for their pre-season tour.

Finally, Jenson Seelt will miss both this weekend and the tour of America but is expected to play a part in the team's opening fixtures of the season as his minor ankle problem continuously improves.

Who is likely to miss the start of Sunderland's Championship campaign?

Aji Alese and Corry Evans are set to miss the Black Cats' opening games of the season. Alese is still suffering from a thigh issue that saw him miss two months of last season and has undergone surgery after the side's play-off defeat to Luton Town.

On the other hand, Evans is still recovering from the ACL injury he sustained against Middlesbrough earlier this year; it's hoped that he might be able to make a return to the side around Christmas if his recovery goes well.

Who are Sunderland's first three opponents in the Championship next season?

It was almost an unbelievable season for Sunderland last year, almost going straight back up to the Premier League at the first time of asking since winning promotion from League One the year before.

Mowbray and Co will look to go one better next season, but their first few fixtures certainly look challenging.

The Black Cats kick off their new campaign with a home fixture against the recently promoted Ipswich Town, who were exceptional in the third tier last year, scoring 101 goals and only conceding 35.

Following that, it's a potentially difficult away trip to Preston North End, who finished comfortably midtable last season, despite enduring some dismal form towards the backend of their campaign.

The Wearsiders finish their opening three games back at home, hosting Rotherham United, and considering their opponents finished all the way down in 19th last season, Mowbray's men should be winning that with ease.

However, Sunderland end their season, be that with a promotion or another missed opportunity, the fitness of their stars will be paramount, and with the players they have returning, they'll always have a chance.

Salman Butt’s unbeaten 85 carried Lahore Whites into the final four on a day that saw Peshawar and Rawalpindi eliminated

ESPNcricinfo staff21-Nov-2017Salman Butt continued to shake off a wretched Quaid-e-Azam trophy campaign. His second unbeaten half-century in three games helped Lahore Whites trounce Peshawar by 27 runs. Butt’s 58-ball 85 took his side to the top of the standings.His fellow opener Kamran Akmal also joined in to make a 40-ball 52 as the Whites notched up 163. In response, the struggling Peshawar – who now have one win in six matches – could not find a single batsman to score over 25. That meant the chase never really took off. Lahore’s bowlers picked them off at ease with Umaid Asif starring with four for 26 to break the back of the Peshawar chase. Ehsan Adil and Asif Ali took two wickets apiece as Peshawar were cleaned up for 136, with their chances of qualifying for the semi-finals officially extinguished.A century stand between Umar Amin and Zain Abbas wasn’t enough for Rawalpindi as they lost to Faisalabad, thereby falling out of contention for the last four. Amin and Abbas scored 67 and 62 respectively, with Sohail Tanvir adding a quickfire 32 off 16 as Rawalpindi surged to 193. It was, surprisingly, the international stars in Faisalabad’s bowling attack who were the most expensive, with Faheem Ashraf, Saeed Ajmal and Yasir Shah conceding a whopping 115 runs in their combined 11 overs.But Faisalabad gave the daunting chase a right go, thanks largely to a 43-ball 87 from Sohaib Maqsood, even as the top order fell cheaply around him. By the time he was dismissed, he had contributed 87 to Faisalabad’s score of 108, but 86 were still required off a mere seven overss, the balance firmly in favour of the hosts. But sensational hitting from Khurram Manzoor – who finished with an unbeaten 52 off 25 – and Ashraf helped Faisalabad sneak home with a ball to spare and strengthen their hold on a semi-final position.