Wagner has been able to create chances – Hesson

New Zealand coach Mike Hesson said that on a pitch that did not provide a lot of assistance the side needed a bowler who could create opportunities, something Neil Wagner had done consistently

Firdose Moonda in Dunedin08-Mar-2017New Zealand’s brains trust may have spent Tuesday night sleepless as they mulled over which bowler to bench, in order to accommodate two spinners in their XI at the University Oval. In the end, they left out vice-captain Tim Southee, who has not been dropped in five years since India 2012, in a move that blind-sided everyone including the opposition.”I was surprised because he is their trump card. He and Boult have been phenomenal for New Zealand, in Test and one-day cricket so I was surprised to see him not playing,” Dean Elgar, South Africa’s centurion, said. “I know to play two spinners you have to sacrifice someone. But I was surprised because he bowls with a lot of control and brings the right-arm aspect to the bowling department.”Mike Hesson explained that once New Zealand had decided on their spin duo, they had to choose two of their “three very good seamers” to make up the rest of the attack. With Trent Boult the mainstay, the choice was between Southee and homeboy Neil Wagner, and Wagner won out.”We didn’t think there was a lot in the wicket and we needed one of the two seamers to be able to create things when there’s not a lot on offer, and Neil has done that consistently over the last few years. So that was relatively straightforward,” Hesson said. “It’s certainly something Kane, myself and senior players spent some time tossing over and I think no matter which way we went it would have been a difficult decision. Whoever missed out would have felt a bit miffed.”A sullen Southee was spotted throughout the first day but he wasn’t the only one who would have felt hard done by. Colin de Grandhomme, who has impressed in this home summer, made way for Jimmy Neesham, who is regarded as a better batsman, for tactical reasons. “If we thought the wicket was going to seam then we would have played Colin de Grandhomme. It hasn’t seamed this year and it didn’t seam today,” Hesson said.Hesson conceded that the real test of whether there is any movement on offer will come when South Africa take the field and Vernon Philander has the ball in hand.Elgar is confident that even if there isn’t much for Philander to exploit, South Africa’s attack is good enough to make inroads despite having picked only one specialist spinner in Keshav Maharaj.”I’m going to say our bowlers will perform brilliantly,” Elgar said. “We are fortunate to have similar wickets, like at St George’s Park, where we play good cricket and the wicket is very similar with regards to the pace. Our bowlers seem to have a lot of success there.”Even though Elgar found his most free-scoring period when the New Zealand quicks were using the older ball post-lunch, he believes the South Africa’s speedsters could pose real problems for New Zealand, especially with the new ball. “Having a little bit of extra pace on the ball seems to be key, which is why I find it a bit odd that Neesham didn’t bowl a bit more because he does bowl a quicker, heavier ball. We’ve got Morne and KG who can crank it up to 145-plus, which could work in our favour in this kind of wicket,” Elgar said.Before South Africa get to that, they will want to ensure they give their bowlers enough to work with. After losing four wickets on a slow first day and with two batsmen well set, they could already be rethinking their estimation of what they would like to end up with. “We were looking at about 250-280 at about tea time but now being in a good position after not losing a wicket in the last session we can readjust,” Elgar said. “I think 350 is maybe a 450 on that wicket just because of the slowness of the wicket.”The pace of the match is a concern for other reasons too. The scoring rate on day one eked over 2.5 to the over, and with rain around on the weekend, there is already suggestion there may not be enough time for anything other than a draw. Hesson, however, thinks it’s too early to look further than the next day or two. “Any time you play against South Africa, it’s always a result pitch,” Hesson said. “Dunedin has put on a cracking day today and I wouldn’t expect it to be much different the next couple of days. As for the weekend, when you live on the coast, predicting the weather two days out can be a bit of a guessing game.”

Arsenal: Gunners "Pushing Hard" For "Big Game" Signing

Arsenal are still "also pushing very hard" to sign Man City captain Ilkay Gundogan despite the advanced reports involving Barcelona, according to an update out of Spain.

Who will Arsenal sign this summer?

Mikel Arteta's side have many plates spinning as they attempt to bolster their ranks for the 2022/2023 Premier League season, with midfield additions and forward reinforcements in the pipeline.

West Ham star Declan Rice is a player of serious interest with Arsenal already having multiple bids rejected for the England international, though they remain determined to complete a deal and talks are ongoing (Dharmesh Sheth).

Meanwhile, the Gunners are believed to be nearing the capture of Chelsea star Kai Havertz, with reliable journalist David Ornstein confirming as much just today.

Lavia of Southampton is also apparently "most likely" to join Arsenal despite interest from Man United, Chelsea and Liverpool. Gundogan, who is out of contract at the end of this month, has been heavily linked with a move to north London too.

Man City's Ilkay Gundogan

The Germany international commented on his future recently amid links to Borussia Dortmund, saying there are talks happening behind-the-scenes.

"Of course I have a strong connection to Dortmund. I wasn’t surprised those rumours came up," said Gundogan.

"But the probability wasn’t too high for me. It wasn’t a big issue for me to return to the Bundesliga.

"Basically, there is no decision yet. Talks are going on in the background."

Both Arsenal and Barcelona are major suitors for the 32-year-old, who played a real role in helping City achieve monumental treble-win.

According to Mundo Deportivo, the Gunners are "also pushing very hard" for his signing alongside Barca, despite Gundogan sending "positive messages" to the La Liga champions.

They say those at Camp Nou are still awaiting a definitive decision from him, meaning Arteta's side are still firm contenders to steal him away despite reports this week suggesting he is on the verge of a deal with Barca.

How many goals has Gundogan scored for Man City?

Over his 300+ plus appearances in sky blue, Gundogan has racked up an impressive 60 goals and 40 assists, highlighting his real threat in the final third.

However, his real strength is making a mark on the big occasion, having most recently bagged a brace in the FA Cup final to seal an all-important victory over rivals Man United – a win which helped them clinch their treble.

He scored many crucial goals on City's way to retaining their Premier League title as well, leaving little wonder journalists have described Gundogan as "one of the most underrated big game players ever".

Ponting named assistant coach for SL T20Is

Ricky Ponting will join Justin Langer and Jason Gillespie in Australia’s interim coaching group for the home T20s against Sri Lanka in February

ESPNcricinfo staff01-Jan-2017Former Australia captain Ricky Ponting has been named an assistant coach for the team’s T20 series against Sri Lanka in February in an interim capacity, and will work alongside Justin Langer and Jason Gillespie. The trio have been brought in with the core of Australia’s support staff set to be in India for the four-Test series. Gillespie was appointed to the staff last week.Ponting had said in November that he was open to a role with the national team, and had expressed interest in a coaching or selection job. He reiterated it after his appointment.”I always said when I retired that I wanted to get back involved and what better way to do it than alongside a couple of my best mates in cricket, Justin Langer and Jason Gillespie,” Ponting was quoted as saying by a press release from Cricket Australia. “We have some incredible Twenty20 talent in this country and I can’t wait to work with JL, Dizzy and those selected to have a real crack at doing special for Australia’s Twenty20 International ambitions.”Since his retirement from international cricket in 2012, Ponting has taken up a range of cricket and media roles. He played his last T20 in the 2013 edition of the Caribbean Premier League, and had a two-year stint, between 2015 and 2016, as coach of Mumbai Indians in the IPL. Mumbai won the 2015 IPL and finished fifth in the 2016 edition. Ponting has been commentating for Channel Ten in this season of the Big Bash League. Langer and Gillespie, meanwhile, are coaching the Perth Scorchers and the Adelaide Strikers respectivelyPat Howard, Australia’s performance manager, said Ponting’s appointment would provide an extensive T20 knowledge base for the players to tap into.”By getting him on board during the series, it will allow Justin, Jason and the players to tap into his extensive Twenty20 knowledge, gained through his time playing and coaching in domestic tournaments in England, the Caribbean, India and Australia, as well as through his time watching the KFC BBL for Network Ten,” Howard said.”The fact Ricky, Justin and Jason all know each other so well through their many years together in the Australia team means they will gel quickly and their significant collective experience of the format should ensure the squad that is selected gets all the guidance it needs off the field,” he added.Ponting scored more than 27,000 runs in an international career that spanned nearly two decades. He was a part of three World Cup-winning squads, captaining them in 2003 and 2007.Australia’s three T20 matches against Sri Lanka will be played at the MCG on February 17, Kardinia Park in Geelong on February 19 and Adelaide Oval on February 22. The Adelaide match takes place the day before the first Test begins in India.

Newcastle Had A Howler On £57m Machine

Newcastle United have been transformative under new ownership and new management since the Saudi-led takeover of the club in 2021, casting aside the universally deplored proprietary of Mike Ashley, who had run the club into the ground during his lengthy ruling of one of the Premier League's most prominent outfits.

With the opulence of the owners capable of rivalling even the likes of Manchester City and Paris Saint-Germain, widely considered the two financial powerhouses in European football, many expected lofty fees to follow the completion of the deal, but the work completed on and off the pitch has been nothing short of astute.

Manager Eddie Howe has crafted a team seeking a return to the Champions League for the first time since 2003, and having clinched 65 points from 33 matches, in third place and nine points above Liverpool in fifth, a swift return to the forefront of the scene looks soon to be confirmed.

The cobwebs of the past are all but cleared at St. James's Park, but one particular deal, the 2018 sale of Mikel Merino, remains a reminder of the previous failings that left the club fluctuating between divisions and scarcely seeing success for many years.

When did Newcastle sell Merino?

Having signed Spanish midfielder Merino from German giants Borussia Dortmund in October 2017, mere months after landing the ace on an initial loan deal, he was sold to Sociedad the following summer after his £10m buyout clause was met.

Hindsight is a wonderful thing, and Merino's brief, 25-match stint on Tyneside preceded the birth of his true skill set at Sociedad, but his natural ability was never in question and granting his departure less than one year after his permanent acquisition seems somewhat premature.

He has now forged 191 appearances for Erreala, scoring 18 goals and serving 25 assists, with journalist Josh Bunting waxing lyrical over the 26-year-old, stating he "oozes confidence".

His rounded scope has expanded during his time in LaLiga, with his seasonal exploits notably demonstrating the improved creativity of his game – Merino has provided one goal and nine assists from 27 league appearances this term.

According to Mundo Deportivo, the 6 foot 2 ace holds a €65m (£57m) release clause in his current contract, a fee the likes of Aston Villa have been willing to meet as recent speculation over the player's future mounts, which only serves as a poignant reminder to what could have been for the Magpies.

The aforementioned fee is actually an incredible 470% increase in value, something which could feasibly increase over the coming years, Merino still only 26 years old.

As per FBref, the £66k-per-week star ranks among the top 2% of positional peers for rate of assists, the top 1% for aerials won, the top 12% for tackles and the top 15% for clearances, highlighting the impressive ubiquity of his trade.

Former Newastle United midfielder Mikel Merino elebrating his solitary goal for the club.

While Newcastle are on track for a sustained period of milk and honey, the 13-cap Spaniard's inclusion could've provided the extra slant in the midfield engine this term, perhaps proving the difference in the 2-0 Carabao Cup final defeat to Manchester United, or issuing control in divisional clashes that could have pushed the club closer to the forefront of the Premier League table and into title contention.

Their wealth, fortunately, buffers the blow, but it certainly illustrates the ineptitude of the previous chapter and the strides taken in such a short time. Indeed, this is one transfer tale to file in the mistakes column.

Need to understand characters as captain – Jayawardene

Captaining a team is about man management, according to Mahela Jayawardene, who said his style was about allowing individuals space to express themselves within a set of rules

ESPNcricinfo staff20-Jul-20164:12

‘Man-management is key to captaincy’ – Jayawardene

Captaining a cricket team is about man management, according to Mahela Jayawardene, who said his style of leadership was about allowing individuals the space to express themselves within a framework of rules. Jayawardene was speaking on , to be aired on July 22 on SONY ESPN, about captaincy and how he grew into the job for Sri Lanka.Jayawardene captained Sri Lanka in 38 Tests (won 18, lost 12), 126 ODIs (won 68, lost 49) and 19 T20Is (won 12, lost 6) between 2004 and 2013. Under his leadership, they made the finals of the 2007 World Cup and the 2012 World T20.During his tenure as captain, Jayawardene said he took pains to understand the players under his charge. “I thing it’s about man management for me number one, because the team will trust you more than a coach or anyone else,” he said. “You need to understand the characters in the team and allow them to showcase what they’ve got, give them that freedom but in a manner that, you know, you don’t treat each and every individual differently because there should be a set of rules to guide all these people.”But at the same time, they have that little bit of freedom to express themselves and to understand who they are, I mean the background, the family backgrounds, what triggers them, how do they react to situations and how can you get the best out of them.”Jayawardene felt that a good way to build a rapport with the players was to be a “friend” rather than “a captain at the top giving orders.””I realised I could get the best out of the guys a different way, where I’d be their friend and then allow them to be leaders in their own right, allow them to make decisions and back those decisions, and tell them that they’ve done a good job. Even when they make mistakes we sit down and have a discussion … and they would like to know that from you rather than someone else or a selector or a coach.”Jayawardene’s career overlapped with that of his close friend Kumar Sangakkara, who captained Sri Lanka in 82 matches across formats between 2009 and 2012. He was a senior player while Jayawardene was captain and vice versa, and Jayawardene said their personal equation had not interfered with team dynamics.”When Kumar was captain, I would always question certain decisions he made and when I was captain he would do the same,” Jayawardene said. “You need that kind of friend and those kind of people in your team. I allowed people to ask questions because that’s when I would make better decisions as a captain. I allowed the younger members of the team to ask questions because they might have a brilliant idea and if you shut them down, you will never know that.”So my theory on teamwork is everyone talks and everyone has to contribute and I will pick things from them, and if nothing comes up then I’ll take the decision but whatever the decision I take out there, it’s my decision, I take responsibility for that. It doesn’t matter that it came from a different person, but it’s my decision once I’ve made that call. So, Kumar was fantastic in the sense that we had very honest, opinionated discussions on certain matters and they were good for both of us.”Watch with Mahela Jayawardene at 9.30 pm (IST) on July 22 (Friday) on SONY ESPN

Only Bangladesh opposed two-tier Test structure – BCB head

BCB president Nazmul Hassan has said that Bangladesh was the only country to oppose the proposed two-tier Test structure when it was discussed during the ICC’s annual conference in Edinburgh

Mohammad Isam03-Jul-2016BCB president Nazmul Hassan has said that Bangladesh was the only country to oppose the proposed two-tier Test structure when it was discussed in the chief executive’s committee (CEC) meeting last week during the ICC’s annual conference in Edinburgh. He said a decision on the matter was likely to come down to a vote by the Full Members, adding that it wouldn’t be “easy” to have it passed in the ICC.”Bangladesh was the only country to oppose this idea in the [CEC] meeting, where we explained our position,” Hassan said. “But at the end of the day, it doesn’t matter who has opposed it and who hasn’t. The decision will be taken through a vote, so if one or two do not vote, it doesn’t really matter. But I don’t think it will be easy get this passed at the ICC. The issue isn’t so [simple]. It is a tough process.”BCB vice-president Mahbubul Anam, and directors Ahmed Sajjadul Alam and Tanjil Chowdhury, had said last month that they were against such a system being implemented in Test cricket. Should it be implemented, Bangladesh, who are ranked ninth, are likely to slip into Division Two of Test cricket.According to the ICC’s press release at the end of the annual conference, members were updated on the progress being made on the two-tier idea during the CEC meeting. It was proposed that a workshop be scheduled in early September in Dubai, to facilitate discussion between members on this project and to work through some of the details.ICC chief executive David Richardson said that the new structure would make the game more competitive. “This is an unprecedented opportunity for our sport to introduce … structures which are merit and performance based, have context, enhance the value of bilateral cricket, and create a highly competitive environment for cricketers.”This is a complex issue on many levels, but I am heartened by the progress that has been made to date and during these meetings.”

Resourceful Lions target weakened Supergiants

Table-toppers Gujarat Lions appear well stocked with their bevy of allrounders, while Rising Pune Supergiants are struggling for variety

The Preview by Alagappan Muthu28-Apr-2016Match factsFriday, April 29, 2016
Start time 2000 local (1430 GMT)Rising Pune Supergiants’ bowling does not seem penetrative enough•BCCI

Form guideRising Pune Supergiants WLLLL (last five completed matches)
Gujarat Lions WWLWWIn the spotlightSo what missing from the Supergiants bowling? Variety, perhaps. Ishant Sharma and RP Singh are useful with the new ball but are liabilities in the final overs. Thisara Perera, Mitchell Marsh and Rajat Bhatia bowl wicket-to-wicket and can be lined up. Ashok Dinda brought an infusion of raw pace and trumped Sunrisers Hyderabad on Tuesday, but he struggles with consistency. R Ashwin has the potential to keep the batsmen guessing, but he has bowled his full quota in only three of six games.How will the Lions middle order cope if the onus falls on them to rebuild an innings? A lot of their runs have come via the openers, which means Bravo, James Faulkner and Ravindra Jadeja have faced only 109 balls in 13 innings among them.Team newsWith du Plessis out for six weeks, Supergiants could bring in 24-year-old Australian batsman Peter Handscomb at the top of the order. Handscomb has a T20 hundred to his name and was the third-highest run-getter in the Sheffield Shield with 784 in 11 matches.Rising Pune Supergiants (probable): 1 Ajinkya Rahane, 2 Peter Handscomb, 3 Steven Smith, 4 MS Dhoni (capt & wk), 5 Mitchell Marsh, 6 Saurabh Tiwary, 7 Thisara Perera, 8 Rajat Bhatia, 9 R Ashwin, 10 M Ashwin, 11 Ashok DindaFinch sustained a hamstring injury two weeks ago, but yesterday was the first game he sat out. Even if he recovers, it would put Lions in a tough spot because Smith and McCullum have had explosive results and Faulkner’s inclusion makes the team look well-rounded.Gujarat Lions (probable): 1 Brendon McCullum, 2 Dwayne Smith, 3 Suresh Raina (capt), 4 Dinesh Karthik (wk), 5 Dwayne Bravo, 6 James Faulkner, 7 Ishan Kishan, 8 Ravindra Jadeja, 9 Praveen Kumar, 10 Dhawal Kulkarni, 11 Pravin TambePitch and conditionsThe pitch at the Maharashtra Cricket Association Stadium offered substantial turn on Sunday when the hosts lost to Kolkata Knight Riders, which led to stinging critiques from both captain Dhoni and coach Stephen Fleming. Tomorrow will be the second-last match played in Pune due to the Bombay High Court ruling that the IPL move out of the drought-hit state.Stats and trivia McCullum (300) and Smith (280) are among the top-five six-hitters in T20 cricket Supergiants have conceded runs at 7.66 per over, which is the third-best economy rate among all teams this seasonQuotes”You can come in with fresh ideas and you can build your culture from day one rather than perhaps having a pre-existing culture, or even sometimes some poor experiences of the past can also weigh you down as well.”

Sky Sports share Manchester United takeover news on Sheikh Jassim

Sheikh Jassim’s second offer for Manchester United is ‘definitely going in’, according to Sky Sports reporter Kaveh Solhekol.

The Lowdown: Ratcliffe’s second offer

Jassim and Sir Jim Ratcliffe are seemingly the front runners when it comes to a complete takeover from the Glazers, with both holding Old Trafford talks last week.

However, the two parties ended up missing the deadline to make a second offer for the club on Wednesday in an incredible development, asking for an extension from the Raine Group in New York. That was approved and Ratcliffe’s second offer was submitted on Thursday evening, although there is yet to be any confirmation of Jassim’s revised bid being made.

The Latest: Qatari investors

Chief Sky Sports reporter Solhekol provided an update regarding Ratcliffe’s second offer being submitted on Thursday evening. He then shared the ‘latest information’ on Jassim, stating he’s been ‘told’ that ‘the bid is definitely going in’.

‘We are now just waiting for confirmation from the Qatari’s that they have also put their bid in. The latest information I have is that the bid is ready to go.

‘They missed the deadline last night (Wednesday) as well and asked for a little bit more time. I’m being told don’t read too much into that, the bid is definitely going in.’

The Verdict: Good news

TalkSPORT suggested in the last 48 hours that the improved offers from Jassim and Ratcliffe were set to be world-record bids, worth around £5billion.

Therefore, it is good to know that another big-money proposal is still on the cards, which could result in a greater chance of the Glazers selling up completely. Plenty of United fans have wanted the current owners out for some time, with chants against the Americans at Wembley continuing during the Carabao Cup final triumph over Newcastle.

A takeover from Jassim and his delegation could have an immediate impact on Erik ten Hag as well. Previous reports claimed that the Qatari group led by Jassim wanted ‘things done quickly’ so they could help the manager in the transfer market, with reports in recent days suggesting that they are already planning a stunning move for Jude Bellingham.

Therefore, it could be just a matter of time until we officially hear confirmation of a fresh proposal from Jassim, with Elliott Management another potential rival for the Qatari group alongside Ratcliffe after they also made an offer to buy a minority stake in the club.

Erik ten Hag admits Antony 'hasn't shown big potential' as Man Utd boss opens door for Amad Diallo & 19-year-old Omari Forson to take £85m winger's spot in the team

Erik ten Hag has admitted that Antony "hasn't shown his big potential" for Manchester United while opening the door for Amad Diallo to take his spot.

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Ten Hag claimed Antony needs to prove himselfHas scored just once this seasonWill face competition from youngstersGettyWHAT HAPPENED?

The Dutch manager, who also worked with Antony at Ajax, has acknowledged the face the Brazilian is struggling to live up to expectations at Old Trafford. Antony, who cost United £85 million ($108m) when he joined the club in 2022, has also been warned that he could now fall behind Amad Diallo and 19-year-old Omari Forson in United's attacking pecking order.

AdvertisementWHAT ERIK TEN HAG SAID

Speaking to reporters, Ten Hag said of Antony's current position in the squad: "He has to prove a point, that he will do. And he has big potential. He hasn’t shown it lately, but I know what his talent is, and it’s about proving his talent, and it’s about him. And, yeah, he will probably get his opportunities, right? But, yeah, I think that was always the idea.

"You have competition, and now he has to show himself on the training pitch, but also others because we have opportunities there. With [Amad] Diallo returning from an injury, he’s doing well in the training. Omari Forson is doing well. So we have options to fill in those positions. And it’s not set that Marcus Rashford has to play as a centre forward."

GettyTHE BIGGER PICTURE

Both Amad and Forson have made just one Premier League appearance each in the current season. While the former Sunderland player appeared against Norwich City in December, Forson made his league debut against Wolves earlier this month.

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GettyWHAT NEXT FOR ANTONY?

Brazil international Antony, who has experienced a poor run of form in the ongoing campaign having scored just once in 25 appearances across all competitions, could be next seen in action on Saturday as the Red Devils take on Fulham in a league clash.

Chelsea in pole position to sign star who may have "already agreed" to join

Chelsea's 2024 transfer plans are already taking real shape as a report shares some promising news on their bid to sign a striker for Mauricio Pochettino.

Who have Chelsea signed this season?

The Blues, lead by owner Todd Boehy, alongside co-sporting directors Paul Winstanley and Laurence Stewart, oversaw a summer transfer window of serious spending.

Indeed, Chelsea showcased true ambition with the additions of Christopher Nkunku, Axel Disasi, Nicolas Jackson, Lesley Ugochukwu, Robert Sanchez, Romeo Lavia, Moises Caicedo, Cole Palmer, Djordje Petrovic, Angelo and Deivid Washington – who all joined the club for around £397 million.

To fund this business, many former squad members had to make way, with Kalidou Koulibaly, N'Golo Kante, Edouard Mendy, Kepa Arrizabalaga, Mateo Kovacic, Mason Mount, Kai Havertz, Christian Pulisic, Ruben Loftus-Cheek, Cesar Azpilicueta, Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang, Ethan Ampadu and Callum Hudson-Odoi all departing Stamford Bridge.

Pochettino's reign has well and truly begun with the aforementioned arrivals, though it hasn't exactly been the greatest of starts for the Argentine.

Losing to both West Ham and, most recently, Nottingham Forest; Chelsea's only win of the season to date has been a 3-0 victory over newly-promoted Luton Town.

The west Londoners also dropped points at home to Liverpool on the opening day, with defender Ben Chilwell saying there is still a lot of work to do.

"Very frustrating result and everyone is very disappointed in the changing room right now," explained Chilwell after their recent 1-0 loss to Forest at home.

"If you look at the stats we dominated the game, had the possession, but the most important stat is the goals. We lost in that department and lost the game, that is the black and white of it and we need to improve."

Will Chelsea sign a striker?

One position they didn't exactly shore up with a superstar was their striking position, despite links with the likes of Harry Kane and Napoli star Victor Osimhen.

The latter player, who has been in scintillating form for the past two years, has been repeatedly mentioned as a Chelsea transfer target by various sections of the media.

Osimhen is truly one of Europe's most deadly strikers right now, having scored 26 goals in 30 Serie A starts last season. The Nigeria international has continued in that vain this term; already bagging three goals in his first league games.

His signing would be a truly exciting one from Chelsea's perspective, and there has been a very promising bit of news concerning his possible arrival.

This comes courtesy of Football Transfers, who say Pochettino and co are "leading the race" to sign Osimhen over Premier League rivals Arsenal.

As they enter pole position for the 24-year-old, FT sources indicate that there is a "possibility that a deal may already have been agreed upon" with the player.

Presumably referring to personal terms, it appears Chelsea have taken quite the leap forward for Osimhen's signing just under two weeks after the summer window shut.

We believe the African superstar would be near-perfect to lead Pochettino's line, especially going by his imperious goal record and praise from Gianfranco Zola, who called him "devastating".

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