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Bayern Munich will reportedly let Joshua Kimmich leave the club in the summer, with as many as five European clubs already interested.

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Bayern to let Kimmich leaveNo progress on contract talksFive European giants vying for signatureWHAT HAPPENED?

The German midfielder sees his contract at Bayern expire in 2025 with no progress as yet of an extension. As a result, Florian Plettenberg of reports that the midfielder is thought to be exploring his options this summer. Furthermore, Plettenberg states that Bayern would be willing to sell Kimmich should a "suitable offer" arrive.

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Kimmich is vastly experienced and is one of the world's best in his position, and at 29 years old he still has plenty to offer at the highest level. As a result, news of his potential departure has sent alarm bells ringing across Europe. Plettenberg lists Manchester City, Liverpool, Arsenal, Real Madrid and Barcelona as all interested, with some reportedly having already made contact with the midfielder.

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While Kimmich could become hot property in the summer, Plettenberg notes that not all top-level clubs will move for him. He singles out Manchester United, Chelsea and Paris Saint-Germain as not currently being in the race for the Germany international.

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getty imagesWHAT NEXT FOR KIMMICH?

While European giants circle there is still, of course, the possibility that an agreement may be reached with Bayern over a contract renewal. Should those talks fall through, however, the Bavarian giants will likely want a healthy return on a player who has become a club legend since signing for €8.5 million (£7.2m/$9.2m) in 2015.

Leeds United could be set to lose one of their senior players next summer alongside Sam Greenwood, who has been linked with leaving the club for good at the end of his loan spell.

Leeds departures 2023

At Elland Road, Daniel Farke and the 49ers sanctioned the permanent exits of Tyler Adams, Rodrigo, Tyler Roberts, Adam Forshaw and Joel Robles over the summer, but there were also ten other players to depart on loan for the remainder of the season.

The Whites gave the green light for Robin Koch, Brenden Aaronson, Jack Harrison, Luis Sinisterra, Rasmus Kristensen, Marc Roca, Cody Drameh, Sonny Perkins and Greenwood to hit the road, and the latter has recently been the subject of an interesting claim.

According to The Athletic, Middlesbrough have an option to buy the attacking midfielder turned forward for just £1.5m next summer so there’s a strong possibility that he could depart should he impress during his time at the Riverside Stadium, and it seems he's not the only one who may never play for Leeds again.

In the Bundesliga, Maximilian Wober put pen to paper on a season-long loan at Borussia Monchengladbach and it’s fair to say that the centre-back has made a fantastic start to life in Germany, having established himself as Gerardo Seoane’s overall best-performing player with a match rating of 7.12 (WhoScored – Borussia Monchengladbach squad statistics).

Maximilian Wober transfer update…

Speaking to German outlet BILD (via Football League World) with a transfer update on Maximilian Wober, Borussia Monchengladbach’s sporting director Nils Schmadtke delivered his verdict on the defender’s performances so far:

“A warrior. That’s why we signed him. Max is a guy who radiates something. Max enjoys defending and fighting duels. That’s exactly what we need. He is a leader, a leader".

Further asked about the possibility of signing him permanently next summer, he added: “Everything in it's own time.”

How much did Leeds pay for Maximilian Wober?

According to Sky Sports, Leeds paid a reported £11m for Wober when he joined from RB Salzburg in January, and he was already showing positive signs of what he’s capable of before he left, but he’s arguably made an even better start to life at Borussia Monchengladbach.

The Austria international currently ranks in the 98th percentile for blocks by players in his position (FBRef – Wober statistics), and he's made 15 tackles so far this season which is more than any of his fellow teammates (FBRef – Borussia Monchengladbach squad statistics), highlighting that he’s not afraid to put his body on the line and get stuck into challenges.

The Yorkshire outfit’s 25-year-old has also provided two assists in seven league appearances this term, so he’s even been making an impact at the opposite end of the pitch, with the influence that he has on a side having previously seen him described as a “leader” by former boss Jesse Marsch.

Furthermore, Wober has the versatility to operate at left-back and higher up on both the left side and in defensive midfield alongside his usual role at the heart of the backline, so the club should do everything they can to retain his services beyond next summer if possible.

Worcestershire seamer Ed Barnard also impressed on the opening day as 18 wickets fell in seam-friendly conditions

George Dobell at Taunton20-Apr-2018
ScorecardSomewhere in Australia, Cameron Bancroft will be checking the scores and shaking his head ruefully.Matt Renshaw has already claimed (reclaimed, you might argue) Bancroft’s place in the Australia side. Now he is sleeping in his bed (Somerset had already arranged the accommodation), driving his car (ditto) and performing his job in Taunton. If Bancroft has a dog, you can imagine it clawing at the door in a big to escape and curl up on the lap of Renshaw.But for a moment of madness, Bancroft would be with Somerset now. As it is, his contract with the club was annulled in the aftermath of sandpaper-gate and Renshaw was signed as his replacement just days before the season on the strength of his availability as much as anything. He is expected to be available until the end of June and then return in mid-August.The early signs suggest it will be a happy union. Here, on a surface on which only one of his team-mates could make more than 10, Renshaw made a century on first-class debut for the club. He was just the 14th man to do so in Somerset’s history and the first since Alviro Petersen in 2013.It was not an especially pretty innings – he was beaten often in the early stages and showed a propensity for the leg side – but his was the standout contribution on a day on which 18 wickets fell. Without Renshaw, Somerset would not only have failed to register a batting bonus point, they may well have failed to set a competitive total. With the ball moving in the air and off a green pitch, batting was never straightforward and Renshaw was made to battle hard for much of his innings.His was a chanceless century, though. While he twice hit the ball in the air close to a short mid-on placed for the stroke, he did so with such power that the fielder had little chance. He flicked one six off his hips off Ed Barnard and brought up his century with a thundering drive over mid-off when facing the only over of spin delivered during the day.”Any ball could have your name on,” he said afterwards. “I got a bit lucky that none took the edge or the glove but I kept getting hit on the inner thigh. I just played to play as late and as straight as possible and, with the sun out, it started to remind me of home.”It will not have gone unnoticed from some Somerset supporters that, if the same number of wickets had fallen in a day to spin bowling, their pitches would have come under scrutiny once again. Yet it is accepted, certainly at this time of year, that conditions will assist seamers. And here, it was typically English seamers – good, probing pros who put the ball in good areas and nibble it around – who held sway: Barnard, who claimed the first five-wicket haul of his first-class career, and Lewis Gregory, who claimed three wickets in his first spell, the stand out performers.Both harnessed the conditions beautifully. You wonder, though, whether the ECB might not have been wise to encourage Somerset to maintain their policy of preparing spin-friendly surfaces (as much as is possible after a damp pre-season) with a view to the tours of Sri Lanka and the Caribbean that loom for England next winter.But it wasn’t just typically English seamers who dominated here; it was typically Australian batsmen. After Renshaw held the Somerset innings together, Travis Head did the same for Worcestershire until bottom-edging an attempted pull on to his stumps.Ed Barnard cut through Somerset’s middle order•Getty Images

Both are fine players who will hope to return to the UK next year as part of the Ashes or World Cup squads respectively. Certainly Renshaw’s innings won’t have gone unnoticed in Australia. But it was just a bit depressing that they managed to handle the conditions so much more comfortably – or with so much more determination – than the English players on display. Joe Clarke and Tom Abell, for example, played across straight ones, Steve Davies wafted at a wide one and, while several batsmen were victims of fine deliveries, it was hard to avoid the sense most could learn from the Australian duo.It was depressing, too, to learn that Jamie Overton was injured. As a bowler capable of generating sharp pace, Overton had an opportunity over the next month or so to impress the new England selection team and, perhaps, force his way into their plans. Instead he departed for a scan on his side. While the club are hopeful it is nothing more than a rib injury, there is a possibility it could be a side strain. If that is so, he will be out of action for several weeks.It seems he would not have played anyway. Feeling his way back having remodelled his action in order to prevent further injuries, he is said to be a little down on pace and confidence. And on these surfaces, his qualities – qualities that could prove so useful on international surfaces – are somewhat redundant.It was, though, far from a depressing day. A cloudless sky and the return of cricket enticed well over 2,000 spectators into the ground (one of which was Worcestershire’s former director of cricket, Steve Rhodes) with an overriding sense that they didn’t require gimmicks to attract them. Almost 10,000 people attended the first day of the four Division One matches.There was entertainment, too. James Hildreth, the one England-qualified batsman to reach 30 on the day, struck two sixes – one a flick off middle and leg that would have made Viv Richards proud and the other an upper cut – in between being dropped twice by the usually faultless Ben Cox. While the second was a tough, diving chance, the first was a surprise: Cox appeared to lose sight of the skied ball in the sun and failed to lay a glove on it.Then there was Barnard. Worcestershire have long thought of him as their version of Chris Woakes and it is not hard to see why. With the ball he is a bit sharper than expected – he credits technical work for providing another yard over the last 12-months or so – and maintains a wonderfully accurate line and length. With the bat he is calm and elegant and has ensured Worcestershire stayed in this game after they sunk to 48 for five and 124 for eight. He retains realistic hopes of batting in the top six one day.He may have plenty more work ahead of him in this match. Steve Magoffin reported a tight hamstring during the day, though Worcestershire are confident he will be fine, and the pitch is expected to flatten out in the sun.

Star India will allow Doordarshan to delay-telecast the 8pm IPL match on Sundays, the four knockout matches and the final, as well as the tournament opener

Nagraj Gollapudi07-Apr-2018IPL rights holder Star India has allowed India’s free-to-air national television channel, Doordarshan, to broadcast select matches on a delayed feed, at the Indian government’s request.After an informal agreement was reached on Thursday, Doordarshan will telecast the 8pm match on Sundays during the league phase of the IPL, the four knockout matches and the final, as well as the tournament opener. The games will be delayed by one hour on Doordarshan.The development is significant because Star had no obligation to allow Doordarshan any sort of IPL telecast, having bid a record $2.55 billion for the global television and digital rights between 2018 and 2022. The deal with the BCCI in September 2017 was the largest media-rights sale ever in cricket.In November 2017, Star received a request from the Information and Broadcasting Ministry of the Indian government headed by Smriti Irani, a television actor who had worked for Star before becoming a politician. According to a person privy to the discussions, the I&B ministry initially asked that the live feed be shared with Doordarshan so that “poor people” could watch the IPL in India. Star declined that request immediately.Star also refused another I&B ministry request to share the feed with a delay of 15 minutes, before agreeing to share the feed for the tournament opener, four other play-off matches, and the final with a 15-minute delay. Finally, on Thursday, when Star won the rights to Indian cricket as well, the present agreement with the I&B ministry was reached.Under India’s Sports Broadcasting Signals Act, 2007, broadcasters had to share the feed of only sporting events of national importance with Doordarshan: in cricket, all limited-overs matches involving India, at home and away. The Act also states that the advertising revenue Doordarshan earns from these games should be shared with the rights holder in a 3:1 ratio.In the agreement reached this week, Star asked Doordarshan to market the matches it would broadcast on its own and split the advertisement revenue equally.”This brings #IPL2018 content to Doordarshan for the first time,” Shashi Shekar, director of Prasar Bharati, the parent organisation of Doordarshan, said on Twitter. “Thanks to HMIB @Smriti Irani and Secy@MIB_India for the initiative and support.” Irani responded saying she was “glad to be of help.”Historically, Star had argued that it shouldn’t have to share rights with Doordarshan. In the early 2000s, the I&B ministry made it mandatory for cable and direct-to-home (DTH) operators to have Doordarshan on their platforms. Star argued it was losing revenue because Doordarshan was benefitting from the shared feed under the Sports Act by beaming the same games on PayTV.In 2015, the Delhi High Court ruled in favour of Star, but the I&B ministry challenged the decision in the Supreme Court of India, which said the government could seek games of national importance for people who could not afford cable and DTH. The court said the I&B ministry had to ensure the feed could not be put on PayTV channels.Star agreed to this current deal, it is believed, because the I&B ministry is the authority for granting satellite up-linking licenses to broadcasters, and negotiations seemed a better strategy than legal action. It is understood that once it won the rights, Star applied for the up-linking license immediately, and the ministry officials processed the application quickly, but it still needed approval from Irani, who wanted Star to share the IPL feed with Doordarshan.A bigger concern for Star is whether the I&B ministry might consider including the IPL among sporting events of national importance. However, not everyone in the Indian government agreed that it should: Sports Minister Rajvardhan Singh Rathore, an Olympian, among them.”If IPL is made mandatory, which is a private league, then what about the other leagues? Would they also be made mandatory?” Rathore said at the ‘Idea Exchange’ chat organized by recently.  “Secondly, the Sports Ministry wants federations to be financially independent. Not all leagues are making millions but some of the sports federations have managed to make some profits. But if we were to make the DD telecast mandatory would it not affect their profits? Thirdly, we need to keep in mind that the athletes here are not playing for the country, they are playing for their own clubs. All these issues need to be considered before we take a decision.”Another change Irani made after taking charge at the I&B ministry was to introduce a processing fee – INR 1 lakh per day per channel – for the satellite up-linking license. Star will broadcast the IPL on 12 of its channels, so will pay a huge amount for 60 days.

The opener smashed an unbeaten 101 off 102 balls to steer a chase of 217 and give the side an unprecedented fourth Under-19 World Cup title

The Report by Shashank Kishore in Mount Maunganui03-Feb-2018
India sauntered to a record fourth Under-19 World Cup title in front of a partisan crowd of 4000 odd at Bay Oval, to finish an unbeaten campaign that had begun against Australia at the same venue three weeks ago. The margin of victory then was 100 runs, and it was comprehensive in the grand final as well – eight wickets.To win the tournament, India pulled off their second highest successful chase in U-19 World Cups, after the 226 to beat Australia in Townsville in 2012. Unmukt Chand had led that chase with a sublime century, and on Saturday another Delhi boy, Manjot Kalra, reprised the feat. In the tournament opener against Australia, Kalra had missed his century by 14 runs in an effort to hit out; he was unbeaten on 101 off 102 balls in the final.Kalra, driven by instinct and hand-eye coordination, powered India along with fellow opener Prithvi Shaw, after a short rain delay four overs into the chase. It began with a free-hit which he biffed for six, and the high notes came when he took Jack Edwards for three boundaries in the 11th over. When Will Sutherland got one to move away and bowl Shaw for 29, India were 71 for 1.0:44

Manjot Kalra: Fifth batsman to score a ton in an U-19 World Cup final

Australia’s relief was short lived, as they watched the in-form Shubman Gill – averaging over 100 in Youth ODIs and having made six successive 50-plus scores – play three exquisite cover drives within five minutes of his arrival at the crease. Kalra went on to bring up a 47-ball half-century. The signs were ominous for Australia there on and Kalra finished with a strike rate of nearly 100, having struck eight fours and three sixes. Wicketkeeper-batsman Harvik Desai chipped in with a spunky 47 and it was his sliced four over backward point that triggered manic celebrations in the Indian camp.However, to say India’s win was down to just their batting would not do justice to left-arm spinner Shiva Singh. Despite not having taken a wicket in the tournament, Shiva had kept his spot because of his economy and ability to maintain pressure in the middle overs. In the final, he made a telling contribution – 10-0-36-2.Nathan McSweeney’s dismissal for 23 was particularly significant because Australia were just starting to accelerate going into the last 10 overs of their innings. Looking to nudge the ball on the leg side, McSweeney was deceived in flight and lobbed a simple return catch. In his next over, Shiva removed Will Sutherland with an arm ball that held its line to flick the inside edge to the wicketkeeper. The catch was the start of a turnaround for Desai, who had earlier missed two half-chances off Australia’s openers.ICC/Getty Images

Max Bryant, who had tallied just 93 runs in five innings coming into the final, looked in sparkling touch until he slapped Ishan Porel’s short ball straight to Abhishek Sharma at cover point to give India an opening. Edwards carried on, hitting Shivam Mavi for back-to-back boundaries in the seventh over to sustain Australia’s aggression. With Australia having raised their fifty in the 10th over and the pitch holding no demons, Edwards and Jason Sangha had an opportunity to press on.That wasn’t to be, as Porel claimed his second wicket when Edwards punched a short delivery straight to Kamlesh Nagarkoti at cover. It should have been 53 for 3 almost immediately, but for Desai’s reprieve of Jonathan Merlo on 0 as he attempted a cut off Shiva in the 11th over. Desai found redemption in the next over , when he dived full length to his right to snaffle Sangha. Australia were in trouble at 59 for 3.Param Uppal, Australia’s top scorer in the domestic Under-19 tournament in the lead-up to the World Cup, brought a sense of calm to proceedings. He exhibited a strong back-foot game against pace and equal adeptness against spin to milk runs through conventional means. Uppal’s confidence rubbed off on Merlo, who wasn’t afraid to experiment. He played reverse-sweeps and delicate paddles and they raised a half-century stand in 11.2 overs.As Merlo grew in confidence, he wasn’t afraid to get across the stumps and sweep left-arm spinner Anukul Roy against the turn. Australia looked to shift gears, but lost Uppal for 34 when he chipped a leading edge back to Roy. The two deliveries leading up the wicket had played their part: Roy had seen Uppal charge down and shortened his length, and then fired the next one full. Off the third, he deceived Uppal in flight as the batsman looked to work the ball against the turn.McSweeney then came in and played some sublime shots, but the pattern of batsmen wasting starts just when Australia looked to take off continued. From 183 for 4, Australia collapsed. losing their last six wickets for 33 runs to leave 16 deliveries unused in their innings.India started their chase aggressively, with Shaw unfurling three exquisite cover drives. Then his trigger movement of having his back foot move towards the leg side worked against him. Gill had the opportunity to move past Alick Athanaze as the leading run-getter in the tournament. His 30-ball 31 was attractive, but he was out charging the offspinner Uppal.By then, India had powered to 131 for 2, and Kalra took charge and led his team to Under-19 World Cup glory.

Anthony Taylor and his team have come under fire after failing to award a penalty to Liverpool in their clash with Chelsea following what appeared to be a handball by Blues striker Nicolas Jackson.

What’s the latest on Liverpool and VAR?

The opening weekend supplied plenty of drama in the Premier League, including at Stamford Bridge on Sunday 13 August where Chelsea hosted Liverpool.

The game finished 1-1 after Luis Diaz’s 18th-minute strike was cancelled out by new Chelsea signing Axel Disasi before half-time. Both sides had also seen first-half goals chalked off for tight offsides, Mohamed Salah for the Reds and Ben Chilwell for the Blues.

Read the latest Liverpool transfer news HERE…

The Blues were the better side over the course of the 90 minutes, although neither team created a wealth of opportunities in the second half. However, Mauricio Pochettino has to settle for a point in his first competitive game in charge of his new side.

However, things could have been very different had Liverpool been awarded a penalty in the second half as a result of a handball from another new Chelsea signing Jackson.

Dominik Szoboszlai’s corner from the left-hand side was flicked towards goal by Diaz at the near post, only to hit Jackson’s hand in a raised position. While the distance between Diaz and Jackson was short, the forward’s arm was not in a natural position, despite being close to his body.

Diaz’s header looked as if it could have been heading into the far corner, with Robert Sanchez sprawling towards his left-hand side in preparation.

It proved a controversial decision, and one that Liverpool players and fans will feel hard done by.

Should Liverpool have been awarded a penalty against Chelsea?

According to VAR (via Sky Sports), a penalty was not awarded due to “the proximity [of Jackson] from the flick-on” and because “his arms and elbows are tucked into his body”.

Speaking at the end of the game, Roy Keane admitted Jackson was “a lucky boy”, despite believing it would have been harsh to give a penalty against the forward.

However, Daniel Sturridge added: “I’d have been fuming, not gonna lie. If I’m flicking that in, that’s going bottom bin that is. I’m wheeling away in jubilation maybe. He’s gonna hit the target, so as a player, when you make that connection in the box…it’s an unnatural, natural position. It is close to him, but in a way it’s a 50/50 decision, and it’s gone Chelsea’s way.”

Lewis Dunk conceded a penalty in Brighton & Hove Albion’s 4-1 win over newly-promoted Luton Town the day before for what appeared an incredibly harsh handball, with the centre-back not even facing the ball as he dives to block a cross.

Considering that decision was given and the Jackson decision wasn’t, it’s clear to see why supporters are already annoyed at a lack of consistency in decision-making by Premier League referees.

Chelsea’s clash with Liverpool also showcased some of the Premier League’s new guidlines when it comes to dissent, with both Jackson and Alexis Mac Allister being booked for waving an imaginary yellow card after being fouled, while the game also saw a greater amount of added time in both halves to make up for time-wasting.

Nine of the 16 chosen to play the T20s against Pakistan did not feature in the team’s last assignment

ESPNcricinfo staff21-Oct-2017

Allrounder Thisara Perera will lead a new-look, 16-man Sri Lankan squad to play the T20I series against Pakistan starting next Thursday. The shake-up is the result of some first-choice players – including the regular limited-overs captain Upul Tharanga – refusing to play in Lahore, where the third match of the series is scheduled.Two days ago, the SLC chief selector Graeme Labrooy had confirmed that only those willing to travel to Lahore would be considered for the squad. That decision was taken by the board in consultation with the Sri Lankan sports ministry. This has brought about nine changes to the squad that last played India in September.Sri Lanka’s T20I squad

Thisara Perera (capt), Dilshan Munaweera, Danushka Gunathilaka, Sadeera Samarawickrama, Ashan Priyanjan, Mahela Udawatte, Dasun Shanaka, Minod Bhanuka (wk), Sachith Pathirana, Vikum Sanjaya, Lahiru Gamage, Seekkuge Prasanna, Vishwa Fernando, Isuru Udana, Jeffrey Vandersay and Chaturanga de Silva
In: Danushka Gunathilaka, Sadeera Samarawickrama, Ashan Priyanjan, Mahela Udawatte, Minod Bhanuka, Sachith Pathirana, Lahiru Gamage, Vishwa Fernando, Chathuranga de Silva
Out: Upul Tharanga, Akila Dananjaya, Wanindu Hasaranga, Niroshan Dickwella, Suranga Lakmal, Lasith Malinga, Angelo Mathews

In addition to Tharanga’s refusal, selectors have also confirmed that Lasith Malinga, Niroshan Dickwella, Chamara Kapugedara, Akila Dananjaya and Suranga Lakmal were all unavailable for selection as well. Lakmal and Kapugedara had been on the team bus that was attacked by gunmen in 2009.Head coach Nic Pothas and physiotherapist Nirmalan Thanabalasingham have also refused to travel to Lahore, but are likely to be with the team for the UAE leg of the series. SLC has reasoned that as the team is only in Lahore for 24 hours, the absence of two regular members of the support staff will not make a substantial difference. A replacement physiotherapist is expected to make the trip.In what is a sign of the recent upheaval Sri Lanka have experienced, Thisara is set to become the seventh man to captain Sri Lanka this year, with Tharanga, Angelo Mathews, Lasith Malinga, Rangana Herath, Dinesh Chandimal and Chamara Kapugedera having borne the captaincy in some format, in 2017. While Thisara’s ODI from has continued to flounder, his T20 form was good in the recent World XI matches in Lahore. In fact, he was Player of the Match in the second of those three T20s, largely for his 19-ball 47 not out.Among the notable names in the squad is batsman Danushka Gunathilaka, who regained his place after completing a suspension for a lethargic attitude towards training. Sadeera Samarawickrama, the 22-year old batsman who won his first Test and ODI caps on this tour, is also in the squad. He was one of two uncapped players in the shortest format, alongside wicketkeeper Minod Bhanuka, who will be getting his first taste of any kind of international cricket. Sri Lanka have also recalled Mahela Udawatte, who has not played for them in eight years.Allrounder Dasun Shanaka will leave Sri Lanka A’s tour in the Caribbean to take part in this series. He brings with him some batting form, having struck 102 off 108 balls and 60 off 85 in the ongoing four-day match against West Indies A.That this is a very inexperienced outfit is no surprise. Over the last two weeks, it has become apparent that better-established players would refuse to play in Lahore, while fringe players were more likely to take the tour on. SLC was hopeful a full-strength team would be available, but had not succeeded in convincing many of the more experienced players of the security arrangements.

If Leeds United can complete the transfer of Coventry City star Gustavo Hamer, it would be the "signing of the window", according to fan and host of the One Leeds Fan Channel, Conor McGilligan.

Is Gustavo Hamer joining Leeds United this summer?

It hasn't been a good few months for the Leeds faithful recently. A miserable Premier League campaign was rounded off with a final-day relegation after a humbling defeat at the hands of Tottenham Hotspur at Elland Road.

Following that, the club had to endure an exodus of first-team players who wanted to play top-flight football again next season despite failing to keep the club up.

And then, to top it all off, the club captain and standout defender Liam Cooper went down injured after scoring a goal against Cardiff City in the team's first game back in the Championship last weekend.

Read the latest Leeds United transfer news HERE…

However, there have been some genuinely positive developments regarding transfers for Daniel Farke and the team.

According to The Athletic's Phil Hay, the Peacocks are "keen" on Coventry star Harmer despite the deal not being "cheap or easy to do."

According to Football Insider, the West Midlands side have set a price tag of £12m plus an additional £2m of add-ons for any team that want to sign the 26-year-old, which while expensive, could be achievable for Leeds, especially should they get £20m for American international Tyler Adams.

If the 49ers group can get this deal over the line, it would be a great way to improve the side and win fans over, with prominent Leeds supporter McGilligan already describing it as potentially the "signing of the window."

He expressed his excitement at the potential signing on the One Leeds Fan Channel YouTube channel, saying:

"Gustavo Hamer would be, that would be the signing of the window. It would be the signing of the window.

"I think above Ampadu as well. I think Gus Hamer is such a good player."

How much does Gustavo Harmer earn?

The former Feyenoord man currently earns a relatively modest wage of £6,538-a-week in the West Midlands, which makes him the sixth-highest earner in the entire Sky Blues squad, per Capology.

Were he to make the move to the Whites this summer, he would likely earn a significant raise as the likes of Adams – who he could be replacing – earns £55,000-a-week in South Yorkshire.

And it would be a well-deserved raise as the Itajai-born machine had a brilliant season for Coventry last year, starting 42 games, scoring 11 goals, providing ten assists, winning nine Man-of-the-Match awards and averaging a seriously impressive match rating of 7.26 for the entire campaign, per WhoScored.

His underlying numbers are just as impressive as you might imagine and suggest that were he to make a move, he would be able to slot right in and maintain his remarkable performances.

According to FBref, which compares players across the next best eight leagues, the 5 foot 7 dynamo sits in the top 1% for assists, the top 3% for total shots, the top 4% for expected assists and shot-creating actions, the top 5% for non-penalty goals and non-penalty expected goals, all per 90.

Described as the team's "main creative player" by journalist Josh Bunting, his potential arrival at Leeds would strengthen their promotion push while severely weakening Coverntry's, killing two birds with one stone for Farke's men.

Chelsea’s midfield has undergone a significant amount of change this calendar year.

The Blues have lost Jorginho, Mateo Kovacic, N’Golo Kante, Mason Mount and Ruben Loftus-Cheek.

Conor Gallagher is now targeted by West Ham, who have just had a £40m bid rejected for the Englishman.

Chelsea aren't in the best position to lose Gallagher, as Enzo Fernandez and Carney Chukwuemeka are the only other two central midfielders in the squad.

Their pursuit of Moises Caicedo has been frustrating and unfruitful, with their latest bid of £70m instantly rejected by Brighton, who are demanding around £100m for the Ecuadorian.

The west Londoners may be forced to resort to different targets, and they still retain an interest in Romeo Lavia.

Who is signing Romeo Lavia?

According to Sacha Tavolieri, Liverpool are trying to close in on a £45m deal for Lavia, but Chelsea may attempt an “ultimate approach” thanks to Joe Shields’ "pressing".

It was previously reported by The Athletic that the Reds are set to make an improved offer for the Southampton gem, after having an opening offer of £37m be shunned by the Saints, who are holding out for around £50m.

However, the report says that Chelsea retain a firm interest and could have an advantage in the deal due to Shields’ connection to the player.

The 36-year-old was recruited from the south-coast outfit last summer as the club’s co-director of recruitment and was a leading figure in Lavia’s move from Manchester City to Southampton.

What position does Romeo Lavia play?

Despite Southampton’s abysmal season, in which their 11-year stay in the top-flight ended, the youngster emerged from the rubble with a prestigious reputation.

Lavia, who has been described as “incredible” by Pep Guardiola, has showcased he is a phenomenal ball player and a tenacious asset in central midfield.

Indeed, in 29 Premier League appearances, the Belgian averaged 2.1 tackles, an 86% pass accuracy, and completed 68% of his dribbles. Such stats are impressive, particularly considering only Enzo Fernandez (2.5) and N'Golo Kante (2.3) made more tackles per game of Chelsea's midfield players last season.

Arguably winning back the ball is his standout trait, as Lavia was one of only three U21 players who won possession in the midfield third 100+ times (114) to display how he excels in his age group.

Nevertheless, he is still extremely comfortable on the ball and holds supreme technical quality. This has been echoed by Jean Kindermans, Anderlecht's head of Academy, who said: “He’s always calm on the ball. You can give him it under pressure and he will solve the problem.

Paul Scholes has also recognised his all-round profile, adding: “He is a young player who can do both sides of the game, equally good defensively but also once he is on the ball he has tremendous feet and can pass it.”

Another player that Chelsea are linked with, who also exudes on-the-ball competence and eye-catching dynamism, is Mohammed Kudus.

In The Athletic’s Profiling of 50 exciting players under the age of 23, it is stated that the Ghanaian sees his best position in midfield and as a result, he could form an exciting partnership with Lavia if played slightly in front.

Last season, the 22-year-old recorded 100+ successful take-ons (104), 100+ ball recoveries (134), and scored 16 goals, ranking him as the highest for each metric in the Ajax squad.

This potentially new-look Chelsea midfield would also include Fernandez, who sits within the best 14% in Europe’s top five leagues among his positional peers for tackles per 90, as well as the highest 3% for progressive passes per 90.

These three players can do both sides of the game excellently and could propel Chelsea back into European contention.

Sunderland are already looking at potential signings should they lose Alex Bass this summer, and Sunderland Nation is reporting that Nathan Bishop is one of them.

How many games has Nathan Bishop played?

The 23-year-old has struggled to get many first-team minutes under his belt over the course of his career yet, with the youngster instead having to make do with a short-term deal elsewhere most recently to get action. He's been with current side Manchester United since 2020, who poached him from Southend, but since the move to Old Trafford, he's been largely a youth team option. He's never played in the Premier League for the Red Devils and has instead had to feature predominantly for their reserve outfit.

He was sent out to Mansfield for the 2020/21 season though in order to get first-team football and shone, featuring in all 46 league games for the Stags. Conceding only 52 along the way, he helped the side to climb to seventh in the standings and was a key member of their squad.

It's not the first time that Bishop has stood out in the EFL though, with his performances in his teens for Southend prompting United to sign him in the first place. He played 31 times in the league for them over four seasons, despite being just 17-years-old when he made his debut.

Are Sunderland signing Nathan Bishop?

With the Englishman now facing another season on the sidelines with the Red Devils, he would no doubt like to play for a different side more frequently. It appears that Sunderland could be prepared to give him that chance, as according to a report from Sunderland Nation, the Black Cats have identified Bishop as a potential transfer target this summer and could launch a move soon.

They face the prospect of losing their own shot-stopper in Alex Bass and, if they do, they feel Bishop could be an ideal replacement. The report states that he could actually be their "top target" for the position should Bass depart the Stadium of Light, which now looks very likely as the latter is thought to be having a medical with AFC Wimbledon on Thursday.

Whilst he would be slightly rusty if he did sign for Sunderland considering his lack of action, it wouldn't take him long to get back to his best. The young shot-stopper would no doubt thrive when he does manage to get onto the field as he has usually impressed with his performances when offered a chance.

One of his former managers, Nigel Clough, stated that the youngster is "brilliant" and added that during a game for Mansfield he helped to keep his side competitive in the game with "three or four brilliant saves". Having performed during his teens and had to sit out of action for so long, the 23-year-old then has proven that he is certainly capable of stepping up and being a regular option inbetween the sticks. Now, Sunderland could be ready to give him that opportunity for the first time in the Championship.