Aston Villa have reportedly made Sporting CP attacker Pedro Goncalves a transfer priority this summer.

What’s the latest news on Villa and Goncalves?

A new striker is thought to be of interest to Unai Emery ahead of his first season in charge; however, Goncalves, primarily a left-winger, is also a target.

The 24-year-old recently scored an "outrageous" goal against Arsenal in the Europa League and has been linked with a move to the Midlands. Reports suggested last month that Villa are set to make a move for Goncalves who was viewed as a sizeable upgrade on Philippe Coutinho, and a further update has now emerged.

Sport Witness relayed an update from Portuguese newspaper Record regarding Goncalves in the last 48 hours, claiming that Premier League rivals Tottenham Hotspur are in a new chase for his services.

However, they add how Villa ‘were the first’ to show their interest and ‘intensify observations’ over him, saying he is ‘considered a priority’ for Emery and Villa.

Goncalves has an €80m (£70m) release clause in his current contract, something which may need to be triggered for a potential deal this summer as Sporting owe fellow Portuguese side Famalicao 50% of any transfer.

Should Villa push through a move for Goncalves?

Goncalves would offer plenty of versatility at Villa Park, playing in a variety of central and wide roles during his career so far. He also has an eye for goal, scoring 56 times and registering 31 assists in 120 appearances for his current employers.

The player even has experience in the Midlands after spending two years in the academy at Wolverhampton Wanderers before leaving in 2019, so could be keen on a return to England, looking to prove himself in the Premier League.

Villa and Emery do not actually have a senior attacking midfielder on the books at this moment in time, while there are four wingers alongside strikers Ollie Watkins and Jhon Duran.

Therefore, Goncalves could be viewed as the creative spark needed in the final third to take Villa to the next level, with the player topping the chart for Sporting when it comes to shot and key passes per 90, as per WhoScored.

It could cost big money, however, owners NSWE are seemingly ready to back Emery in a 'huge' spending spree this summer, so Goncalves could become the club's record signing, should a fee get anywhere close to the attacker's release clause.

West Ham United are searching for a new manager to take over at the end of the season, and Xabi Alonso is now a strong candidate for the job, according to a recent report from The Sun.

What's the latest West Ham manager news?

West Ham have identified a number of options to replace David Moyes, recently making an approach for Lille boss Paulo Fonseca, as they view him as the "perfect successor" to their current manager.

Reims boss Will Still is firmly in the running to take over at the London Stadium, having been a boyhood fan of the Irons, while Vincent Kompany has also entered the frame, in light of his fantastic spell as manager of Burnley, leading them to promotion.

The same report details the Hammers are set to replace Moyes at the end of the season, despite the fact the club are in the Europa Conference League semi-final, and he will still have one year left on his contract,.

The West Ham hierarchy seem to be adding a number of names to their shortlist, as The Sun report Alonso is now emerging as a strong candidate to come in at the end of the season, should they part ways with Moyes.

It is claimed the Scot has no intention of leaving the club, but the Bayer Leverkusen boss will be in the frame if he does, after putting himself on the club's radar by transforming the German club this season.

The 41-year-old is developing the reputation of a young and progressive coach, which has attracted the attention of the Hammers, despite his lack of experience.

Should West Ham appoint Xabi Alonso?

It is true the Spaniard does not have a greal deal of experience as a manager, however Jose Mourinho has tipped him to be a "very good coach", as a result of working under the likes of Pep Guardiola, Carlo Ancelotti and Rafa Benitez as a player.

In his first season as manager of Leverkusen, the Tolosa-born tactician is proving Mourinho's prediction right, with his side currently in a good position to qualify for Europe next season, and into the final four of the Europa League.

Hailed as "fantastic" by journalist Josh Bunting, Alonso could be a very exciting appointment for West Ham, with some members of the media tipping him to be a "generational" coach, having transformed Leverkusen from being relegation-threatened to European contenders.

Mustafizur Rahman, the Bangladesh left-arm paceman, is facing shoulder surgery early next month which could sideline him for six months

Mohammad Isam30-Jul-2016Mustafizur Rahman, the Bangladesh left-arm paceman, is facing shoulder surgery early next month which could sideline him for six months. The BCB are currently mulling whether to have the operation in England or Australia, and BCB media committee chairman Jalal Yunus said that a decision on a surgeon will be made by Monday, but that Mustafizur was mentally prepared for the operation.Mustafizur is currently in England having linked up with Sussex after extended delays but his stint came to end last week after two matches when he suffered the shoulder injury. He has seen a specialist in the UK, who recommended that the SLAP (Superior Labrum from Anterior to Posterior) tear – which involves the ring of cartilage that surrounds the socket of the shoulder joint – could be treated through a surgery, which may rule him out for up to six months. Such a lay-off would rule him out of England’s visit in October and the tour to New Zealand at the end of the year.”In the last few days we have sent his reports to a number of places,” Yunus said. “We want him to be operated under the best surgeons. We have found two specialists in the UK and one in Australia. By Monday we can decide who will operate on Mustafizur’s shoulder. He is mentally prepared for the operation.”This sort of injury usually is treated conservatively but we are not going that way with Mustafizur because the doctors have said that it might recur in the future.”Yunus said that Mustafizur has been BCB’s priority and has always been withdrawn from the game at the onset of any injury. The first such occurance was during the Zimbabwe series in January this year when he was down with an injured shoulder. He also missed much of the Asia Cup and World T20 through a side strain while hamstring and ankle injuries delayed his Sussex stint.”We are taking the best care of Mustafizur. We have always withdrawn him from matches whenever he has complained of any physical problem,” Yunus said. “We haven’t seen him in Test matches that much. He has focused mostly in the shorter versions.”We didn’t send him to the PSL because he had injury. He had offers from the CPL. So that he is not overstressed, we are not letting him play when he has a problem.”

Dale Steyn has reclaimed the No. 1 spot in the ICC Test bowlers’ rankings

ESPNcricinfo staff31-Aug-20161:03

Personal records don’t bother me – Steyn

Dale Steyn has reclaimed the No. 1 spot in the ICC Test bowlers’ rankings after picking up match figures of 8 for 99 in South Africa’s 204-run win over New Zealand in Centurion. Steyn went up two places in the rankings, leapfrogging R Ashwin and James Anderson, to become No. 1 for the first time since December 2015, when he suffered a shoulder injury during the Durban Test against England.

Top five Test bowlers

• Dale Steyn (South Africa)

• James Anderson (England)

• R Ashwin (India)

• Stuart Broad (England)

• Rangana Herath (Sri Lanka)

The other two members of South Africa’s pace attack in Centurion also climbed the rankings, with Vernon Philander going from 13th to 11th, and Kagiso Rabada from 30th to 27th. Faf du Plessis, who scored a century in South Africa’s first innings, jumped from 33rd to 24th in the Test batsmen’s rankings.South Africa’s 1-0 series win, meanwhile, lifted them from seventh to fifth in the team rankings, which meant they swapped places with New Zealand, who now sit a place below sixth-placed Sri Lanka.

Wolverhampton Wanderers have been linked to a forward ahead of the summer transfer window, as Julen Lopetegui bids to get his side firing.

Wolves are the joint-lowest scoring side in the Premier League this campaign, bagging 31 goals in 37 games in a testing term for the Midlands club.

As the summer transfer window beckons, the Spaniard will be aiming to get his team scoring again, as well as balancing expected departures with exciting incomings ahead of the 2023/24 campaign.

Ahead of the window, a familiar target from last summer, Dario Osoroi, has re-emerged as a potential arrival at Molineux.

What’s the latest on Dario Osorio to Wolves?

Wolves attempted to sign Chilean teenager Dario Osorio in the summer of 2022, however, the youngster remained in South America to continue his development, as per En Cancha.

Fast-forward to this year, and fellow Chilean news outlet La Tercera have reported that the 19-year-old is “still being targeted” by the Midlands outfit.

The Premier League side aren’t the only ones interested in the young forward, with Serie A giants AC Milan chasing his talent.

Who is Dario Osorio?

At just 19-years-old, the winger has attracted valuable interest from Europe while playing in Chile’s Primera Division for Club Universidad de Chile.

The youngster first attracted interest last season, due to his breakthrough in the 2021/22 campaign in which he scored seven goals in 27 senior appearances.

Playing predominantly as a right-winger, the forward is versatile in his positioning in attack, featuring on the opposing flank as well as at a centre-forward in his budding career.

Despite not scoring yet this campaign, the youngster is considered one of the league’s most promising players, as echoed by Chief Scout at Velez Club de Futbol, Lee Scott, who was full of praise for the star.

The expert in talent ID described the teen as having “elements” within his game likened to Arjen Robben, adding that he will “make the jump” to one of Europe’s top five leagues.

Wolves have a squad full of exciting talent, and the potential arrival of the "flamboyant" Osorio – as dubbed by scout Jacek Kulig – could only further that. Introducing a hungry young talent is always a positive prospect, especially for those around the squad to challenge and compete with.

Lopetegui’s current forward option in the Chilean’s rivalled position is Pedro Neto, who despite being a “superstar” as described by Jamie Carragher on Sky Sports, has been inconsistent in performance this season, scoring just once.

The introduction of the 19-year-old could ignite a spark in both players to compete for a starting spot in the Spaniard’s set-up, with both boasting similar qualities, competition could only enhance their respective form.

It’s been a stagnant campaign for goals at Molineux, with the Old Gold having netted only 31 in 37 league outings, so introducing attacking reinforcements is essential this summer to improve this area ahead of Lopetegui’s first full season in charge.

There’s little to doubt the talent that Wolves could integrate into their side in Osorio, however only time will tell if the deal will get over the line, with AC Milan also showing interest.

Newcastle United are moving towards the forefront of European football with expeditious assertiveness, and with Champions League qualification firmly in their grasp, Adrien Rabiot has been earmarked to fortify the centre of the park.

What's the latest on Adrien Rabiot to Newcastle?

According to prominent French outlet L'Equipe, the Frenchman is 'an important goal' for Manchester United manager Erik ten Hag, with his contract at Juventus expiring in several weeks.

The report also credits Magpies manager Eddie Howe with an interest, bolstering previous claims from the likes of CalcioMercato that the Tyneside club have 'tested the ground' on the feasibility of a deal.

Technical director Dan Ashworth will need to act swiftly if he is to tie up a move, especially considering the Red Devils' interest in the midfield machine.

Should Newcastle sign Rabiot?

While St. James' Park now boasts an affluence that only a select few can compete with on the global footballing stage, completing a shrewd move for Rabiot could be a most auspicious avenue for the club to delve down.

Valued at £43m by CIES Football Observatory, the 36-cap France international has been in emphatic form this season and scored 11 goals and four assists for the Old Lady this term, hailed as an "absolute monster" by journalist Robin Bairner.

Newcastle have been tremendous this season, taking their success under Howe's tutelage from last year and moulding it into something capable of sustaining a position challenging for silverware and top four.

Each shelf of the system has been triumphant, with the defence imperious and the attack devastatingly clinical; the midfield, notably, has been churning at an intense output and the likes of Bruno Guimaraes, Joe Willock and Joelinton have formed a high-octane sense of constancy.

With the addition of European endeavours next year, bringing Rabiot into the fold would only enrich the prospects of success. As per FBref, the £152k-per-week gem ranks among the top 3% of midfielders across Europe's top five leagues over the past year for rate of non-penalty goals, the top 20% for progressive carries, the top 21% for clearances and the top 17% for aerials won per 90.

The phenom, quirkily heralded as a "wardrobe" by Gianluigi Buffon, is also listed as the most comparable player in world football to Magpies menace Joelinton, which could bode very well for Howe and co as they look to clinch new signings capable of flourishing but not disrupting the finely-poised balance of the system.

The Brazilian machine ranks among the top 11% of positional peers for rate of non-penalty goals and the top 16% for progressive carries per 90, as well as the top 6% for successful take-ons, 15% for interceptions and 7% for aerials won per 90, described as "tireless" by writer James Nalton, illustrating the semblance between the two players.

Newcastle must sign Rabiot, he fits the mould for success in the Premier League and, considering he is available on a free transfer, would represent a fantastic value for money.

Stuart Broad is set to play in the Big Bash League if he fails to make England’s limited-overs squad to tour India in January.ESPNcricinfo understands Broad is close to agreeing terms with a BBL team, most likely the Hobart Hurricanes, as he attempts to reinvigorate his white-ball career and force his way back into contention for England’s ODI squad ahead of the 2017 Champions Trophy and the 2019 World Cup.On Tuesday the ECB will announce the squad to face Pakistan during the five-match Royal London ODI series and it appears unlikely Broad will be included in the current set-up. He has played just two ODIs – in South Africa in February – since England’s dismal World Cup campaign in 2015, as the selectors have turned to a new crop of limited-overs seamers.But Broad has made it clear he has not given up on an international career with the white ball. When he was omitted from the ODI squad for the series against Sri Lanka in June, he indicated he would explore other avenues to prove his merit in limited-overs formats.If he is not named in the squad to face Pakistan he will have few opportunities for Nottinghamshire in the remaining Royal London One-Day Cup fixtures to make his case for selection ahead of England’s tours of Bangladesh and India.With 50-over cricket becoming the focus in the lead-up to the Champions Trophy, England won’t play Test cricket between the final match in Chennai and the first Test of the series against South Africa in July.England’s fifth Test against India finishes on December 20 in Chennai and Hobart’s first match in the BBL is an away fixture against the Sydney Sixers three days later, meaning Broad – who has taken 65 wickets in T20 Internationals at an average of 22.93 – could potentially be available for the entire competition, which culminates in the final on January 28.

Australia will host Sri Lanka in a Twenty20 international at Geelong’s Kardinia Park in February, after the ground was confirmed as the 11th venue in Australia currently accredited to host international cricket

Brydon Coverdale08-Aug-2016

Australia will host Sri Lanka in a Twenty20 international at Geelong’s Kardinia Park in February, after the ground was confirmed as the 11th venue in Australia currently accredited to host international cricket.Geelong, Melbourne and Adelaide have been named as the venues for three T20Is between Australia and Sri Lanka, to be held from February 17 to 22. The fixtures will all be played as double-headers, with the men’s games preceded by women’s T20Is between Australia and New Zealand.The decision to take international cricket involving Australia beyond the state and territory capitals is almost unprecedented. Test matches against Sri Lanka and Bangladesh in Cairns during the southern winters of 2003 and 2004 are the only other occasions when Australia have played official international matches outside the capital cities.Regional venues were used for some neutral games during the 1992 World Cup, while Launceston, Devonport and Townsville have also hosted official international matches that did not involve Australia. Kardinia Park – known as Simonds Stadium for sponsorship reasons – will be the 21st ground in Australia to host international men’s cricket.Kardinia Park had a taste of elite cricket last summer when the Melbourne Stars and Melbourne Renegades played a warm-up match there ahead of the BBL campaign. That game was followed a week later by West Indies playing a two-day practice match there against a Victoria XI ahead of the Boxing Day Test at the MCG.In order to meet ICC standards for the size of international venues, the pitch orientation at Kardinia Park has been altered to slightly off the square, for the traditional configuration at the ground meant some boundaries were too short. Cricket Australia’s chief executive officer James Sutherland said given the ground met requirements, he was pleased to take international cricket to Geelong.”We’re committed to taking the game to as many parts of the country as possible and we continue to work with regional areas around Australia on how we can make this happen,” Sutherland said. “Geelong proved its capability to host cricket last summer with a successful BBL exhibition match between the Melbourne Stars and Melbourne Renegades attracting more than 10,000 people.”We’re really looking forward to the people of the Geelong region and beyond packing out the stadium and supporting the women’s and men’s national sides.”Despite the off-field facilities at Kardinia Park being of high quality and the dimensions meeting international standards, the prospects of the venue being used as a second first-class ground for Victoria appear limited. Tony Dodemaide, the Cricket Victoria CEO, said the cost of installing drop-in pitches and preparing the multi-sport ground (home of AFL team the Geelong Cats) for cricket was more feasible for international games.As preparation for the T20I series, Sri Lanka will play the annual Prime Minister’s XI match as a T20 game on February 15 at Manuka Oval in Canberra.Cricket Australia has also announced that an agreement has been reached for Adelaide Oval to host an international cricket fixture on Australia Day every summer for the next five years. For some years the tradition was to hold a match in Adelaide on January 26, but in recent summers such a fixture had not always eventuated.”We’ve been working closely with the South Australian Government and SACA to secure marquee matches in the state long term and we’d like to thank both parties for their support,” Sutherland said. “We’re pleased to be able to announce today that Adelaide Oval will host an International Australia Day cricket fixture for the next five years.”

Eoin Morgan, and any other players still uncertain over whether to tour Bangladesh, have until Saturday to make up their minds with Andrew Strauss, the team director, saying there can be no guarantees given to anyone who relinquishes their place.Morgan has been among the players with the most reservations about the trip but Strauss, who had called for a full-strength squad to commit to the tour as soon as it was given the green light last week, reiterated that he would “absolutely” want both England’s captains to undertake the Test and ODI legs of the trip.Alastair Cook has given private assurances that he will lead the Test side, but Morgan’s uncertainty seems set to linger into the weekend when England’s central- and incremental- contracted players gather for two days of end-of-season fitness assessments and appraisals.Over the course of those two days, Strauss will ask for a ‘yes or no’ over a player’s willingness to be available for the Bangladesh tour, with the squad now due to be named at the end of next week. The announcement has been pushed back to give players more time after the conclusion of the series against Pakistan.Though Strauss did not issue any ultimatums – the ECB’s stance continues to be that touring is an individual choice – he did acknowledge that being captain brings other responsibilities”Would I like both our captains to be on that tour? Absolutely, definitely,” Strauss said. “The captain has certain roles and responsibilities that are greater than just looking after themselves. He obviously has a duty to the team. But they’re still human beings – and I think that’s an important point to make. They have their own thoughts, concerns, issues and views on life – and we’ve got to understand that.”I can’t force anyone onto that plane. I cannot literally force people up the steps and say ‘you have to go to Bangladesh’. People have their own decisions to make.”Though Strauss insisted he was not delivering any ultimatums, Morgan may nevertheless wish to consider the subtext in his comments. Writing in the Daily Telegraph last week, Kevin Pietersen – who was faced with a similar situation during his time as England captain in India in 2008-09 – warned that Morgan would “have a red cross against his name” in ECB circles if he refused to make the trip.”When the going gets tough for him in the future, with the team losing, or a run of personal low scores, then he will find that the loyalty from his bosses will not be the same because he went against them,” Pietersen wrote. “That is just the way it is. In the end it will come back to haunt him.”Alex Hales, another player reported to be uncertain about the tour, has previously said how it is a difficult decision because you are forgoing your place in the side. This is especially true of someone such as Hales, who is struggling to cling to his Test berth, while there are an abundance of young players striving to get in the one-day side even if Hales has just become England’s individual record-holder in ODIs.”I think, at its most simple, the big consequence for not going is you are giving someone else an opportunity to step into your shoes and stake a claim for themselves,” Strauss said.”That’s just the same as if someone gets injured, you are out of possession of that spot in the team for a certain period of time, and if someone does really well then you can’t give any guarantees.”But that’s a choice people have to make themselves, and they have to weigh up all sorts of different things when they come to this decision. Everyone has a different attitude to risk, different thoughts about what their priorities in life are. That’s fine – that’s their decision.”Strauss stopped short of saying that a player’s decision on the Bangladesh tour would affect their position for the India leg, a situation more relevant to the Test team where the seven matches in Bangladesh and India are being seen in their entirety, but again encouraged them to take heed of the security assessment put together which got the tour approved.”I’m very assured by the report that Reg gave to me and translated to the players. But everyone will look at that and take their own observations,” Strauss said. “I’m still very hopeful that everyone gets on that plane because I believe the security plan we have in place mitigates the risk to an acceptable level.”I genuinely believe that and that is why I’m encouraging every player to use that incredibly detailed and experienced view point from Reg to make a judgement.”

Arsenal have been offered the chance to sign Juventus striker Dusan Vlahovic this summer, with his agents currently in the process of trying to seal a move away from the Serie A club, according to reports from Italy.

What's the latest Arsenal transfer news?

The Gunners have now joined the race for Lens striker Lois Openda, who has impressed in Ligue 1 this season, weighing in with 17 goals in 32 appearances, while Folarin Balogun could be allowed to leave, according to The Daily Mail.

The same report details that Mikel Arteta could sanction the departure of Granit Xhaka this summer, amid interest in West Ham United captain Declan Rice, and the manager is also willing to listen to offers for Kieran Tierney.

Tierney has failed to hold down a regular place in the starting XI since the arrival of Oleksandr Zinchenko, and Manchester City could look at signing the left-back, while Paris Saint-Germain are readying an offer for Bukayo Saka.

As such, there could be a great deal of change at the Emirates Stadium this summer, and one area that Arteta is particularly keen to strengthen is at striker, according to recent reports from Italy. (via Sport Witness)

The agents of Vlahovic are well aware the Gunners are chasing a new forward, and they have offered them the chance to sign the Juventus marksman, as he is not considering staying with the Serie A club long-term.

Bayern Munich have also been given the opportunity to sign the Serbian, though a major obstacle both clubs face is that Juve would only consider a sale if they receive at least €70m (£62m).

Would Vlahovic be a good signing for Arsenal?

If Arsenal had been offered the chance to sign the 23-year-old a year ago, fans would have had good reason to be very excited, given that he scored a remarkable 24 league Serie A goals last term, the second-highest amount in the division.

However, despite being dubbed "world-class" earlier in the campaign, the Serbia international has struggled considerably this season, and he is now without a goal in his last 10 Serie A games.

With his current club set to demand £62m to sanction his departure, we think the former Fiorentina man would be a very risky signing for Arsenal, especially considering they are already well-stocked in forward areas.

Gabriel Jesus has scored four goals in his last five Premier League games, and it makes no real sense to allow Balogun to leave in the summer, considering he has enjoyed a phenomenal season on loan at Reims.