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The BCCI’s technical committee has recommended that all Ranji Trophy matches in 2016-17 be played at neutral venues to make domestic cricket more competitive

Arun Venugopal29-May-20163:42

Agarkar: Should be good enough to play at opposition’s home

The BCCI’s technical committee has recommended that all Ranji Trophy matches in 2016-17 be played at neutral venues to make domestic cricket more competitive. The committee’s recommendations, according to the BCCI, seek to “rule out the issues related to preparing specific wickets for home teams, as well as to expose players to play in different conditions.” These recommendations will have to be ratified by the board’s working committee. A similar recommendation, to play all Ranji matches at neutral venues, was made before the 2012-13 season but was later turned down.The pitches used in the Ranji Trophy last season came under scrutiny after nine matches finished inside two days. Former India captain Rahul Dravid was critical of the “poor” pitches that stunted the development of young cricketers. He had also said state associations had to be forced to prepare good surfaces.

India A’s tour to Australia approved

The BCCI’s technical committee has approved India A’s tour of Australia in August for two four-day matches and a tri-series. India A had last toured Australia in July 2014 where they played two unofficial Tests against Australia A before playing a quadrangular series that also featured South Africa A and Australia’s National Performance Squad. Australia A had returned the visit with a tour to India in August last year, where it played two Tests against the home side before playing a tri-series that comprised South Africa A as well.

“A lot of people criticise and say Ranji Trophy [knockout] matches should be held in home venues of teams,” he said. “But if teams resort to doing these kind of things, then I think it is better the knockout matches are staged in neutral venues.”While Karnataka coach J Arun Kumar welcomed the panel’s recommendation, his Assam counterpart Sanath Kumar disagreed with the idea.”Apart from not having the home-crowd advantage and the home-pitch advantage, I don’t see anything wrong in that,” Arun Kumar told ESPNcricinfo. “There have been a lot of problems in the past with home-team advantage [resulting in] very bad wickets. Not having crowd support is the only setback but otherwise I think it’s a very fair move.”Sanath Kumar said the existing system, where a team played four games at home and four away, was fair. “I don’t think anybody will now come and watch. [Playing games at home meant] at least a few fans will come and support the team,” he said. “It will be like a knockout match where hardly anybody is watching the game. Instead of this recommendation, they could have had a [neutral] curator to prepare the pitches. That would have been an easier solution.”The technical committee has also recommended that the Duleep Trophy be played entirely as a day-night tournament, with four teams, picked by the selectors, playing in a round-robin format. In January, the BCCI tours and fixtures committee had asked the technical committee to explore the possibility of trialing the pink ball in the tournament. This move is significant considering the board’s keenness to host a day-night Test during India’s long home season where they will play series against New Zealand, England and Australia.Sanath Kumar said there had been discussions about changes in the zonal format of the Duleep Trophy since last season. “[In the coaches and captains enclave last year] we told the BCCI that the zonal system didn’t make much sense,” he said. “In the past we used to play Ranji Trophy at the zonal level and then we go to the knockouts. That time Duleep Trophy had a lot of relevance whereas now Ranji Trophy itself has become an all-India tournament and so Duleep doesn’t have a lot of recognition. Even the players don’t take it seriously.”We suggested that if the selectors select four teams like they do for the Challenger Trophy, it would be a better way of going about things.”

Newcastle United are keen on signing Enzo Le Fee, and the midfielder has now confirmed he wants to leave FC Lorient in the summer, as reported by 90min.

Who will Enzo Le Fee join this summer?

Le Fee has been linked with a move away from Lorient for quite some time, with it being reported back in November that Leicester City were following the midfielder closely, however they were not the only Premier League club interested in his services.

Newcastle were named as potential suitors in the same report, while West Ham United and Fulham are also said to have scouted the Frenchman, with Borussia Dortmund and Lazio headlining the interest from abroad.

Now, a more recent report from 90min claims that the Magpies are still admirers of the 23-year-old, with the likes of Liverpool and Tottenham Hotspur also joining the race for his signature. In what comes as a boost to every side interested in the Lorient star, he has expressed his desire to leave the Ligue 1 club this summer, saying:

"I have a special bond with the club and that's why I wanted to extend my contract at the start of the season. I waited for a contract offer from Lorient until December. It never came. Now, I don't expect anything from the club and I won't extend my contract. I hope to leave this summer so that my transfer will bring money to Lorient."

Would Enzo Le Fee be a good signing for Newcastle?

Hailed as "superb" by football scout Jacek Kulig, the maestro has been very impressive over the course of the past year, ranking in the 89th percentile for assists, and the 97th percentile for successful take-ons per 90, highlighting the threat he poses on the front foot.

Not only that, but the playmaker is well-drilled in the defensive side of the game, particularly specialising in his tackling ability, averaging 3.17 tackles per 90, in the 95th percentile, a big improvement on the amount recorded by Joe Willock and Sean Longstaff in the same time frame.

The £12k-per-week earner has weighed in with an average match rating of 7.27 in Ligue 1 this season, a higher figure than any Newcastle midfielder, which again indicates he could be a real upgrade to Howe's midfield.

As such, the Magpies should move swiftly to ensure they win the race for Le Fee, amid growing interest from some of the Premier League's top clubs.

Chelsea are reportedly monitoring Nottingham Forest manager Steve Cooper ahead of a potential summer move for him, a new report has claimed.

The Lowdown: Cooper shining at Forest

The 43-year-old is doing a magnificent job in charge of Forest currently, guiding them back into the Premier League last season and holding their own in the top flight in 2022/23.

The Reds have stood by Cooper despite a rocky spell earlier in the campaign and their patience has paid off, considering they now sit 13th in the table.

At Chelsea, Graham Potter still finds himself under huge pressure and a new update has emerged regarding his possible successor.

The Latest: Chelsea eyeing up move

According to The Daily Mail [via MOT Leeds News], Chelsea are one of the clubs who are monitoring Cooper’s current situation, seeing him as a future manager if Potter departs.

Tottenham, West Ham, Southampton and Leeds United are all mentioned as potential destinations, however, so there is clear demand for the Welshman.

The Verdict: Another Potter?

Cooper is clearly doing brilliantly at Forest, but if Chelsea brought him in as Potter’s eventual replacement it would feel similarly risky in many ways, with the two coaches even often compared to one another.

Both are talented young English managers but neither have consistently worked with elite players, with the Stamford Bridge job arguably too much for Potter to handle currently.

The 24-game Premier League boss’ pedigree is undeniable – he inspired England’s Under-17s to World Cup glory in 2017, in a team consisting of Phil Foden and Jadon Sancho, among others – but Chelsea may be wise to either stick with the current manager or bring in a more experienced head.

The prodigiously gifted left-winger is already making history and megaclubs across the pond are taking notice

Looking back at the moment itself just a few months later, Julian Hall admits he wasn't nervous. Even he is surprised by that fact. How in the world did he not feel a tidal wave of anxiety the moment he stepped onto the field?

You see, the moment in question came on September 30, 2023. With the New York Red Bulls down a goal, the club turned to Hall in the 80th minute. Nothing unusual, clubs turn to attacking players late in games all the time. The difference is that Hall is 15 years old. 15. The number bears repeating.

Too young to go get a driver's license, but old enough to play meaningful minutes in an MLS game for a club in a playoff race. By making his appearance, Hall became the second-youngest player in MLS history. The only one younger? Freddy Adu.

"I wouldn't say there were nerves," Hall told GOAL, "which is pretty surprising. I definitely just couldn't believe that I was on the field. It was really surreal to me. It took me a while to even feel like I was playing in the game. It was definitely one of the best feelings I've ever experienced and hopefully, I can continue with that."

The world is watching now. Clubs all over Europe have been linked, and they're big ones. Chelsea, Manchester City, Real Madrid, Bayern Munich.. all have been linked with the rising 15-year-old starlet.

It's still wild to Hall, whose life has totally changed over the last year in ways he still can't quite fathom.

"I think it's all changed a lot after last year," he said. "I never really got the high school experience. I never really attended high school before, but there was a pretty big chunk of teenage life that got away a bit, but it's all been taken out for a good reason now: my development and for me to have a career in this sport."

What's next for the rising 15-year-old star? GOAL spoke to Hall to discuss his career so far and, of course, his hopes for the future…

Insta: julianhall_Where it all began

He doesn't remember the exact moment it happened, nor the real reason why. There was no wake-up moment for Hall when he was younger. At some point early on, he just really fell in love with soccer.

Hall played other sports, but, at one point, soccer became the one. And it didn't take him long to realize that he was actually pretty damn good at it.

"I wouldn't say I was ever the best player, that came at a later time," Hall said. "I started training from age or three years up, and that made me realize that maybe I had a chance to pursue this as a career. When I look at where I am right now, it makes me feel like I have a chance to go somewhere with soccer."

Growing up, Hall was inspired by those around him. He had the usual European influences, although those were only heightened by his Polish ancestry. He loved watching Manchester United, although he initially chose them as a kid mostly for the colors. The player he idolized most, though, was Robert Lewandowski, as anyone with a connection to Poland would.

Born in Manhattan, Hall embraced the uniqueness of the New York soccer scene, one that has always been a big melting pot of cultures. He came from a Polish background through his mother's side, but a quick walk around any New York City game will introduce you to any number of players from any number of different backgrounds.

"There were all sorts of cultures and people," Hall said. "Especially when I played on my local team, people were coming from all over the city. It's definitely thriving where I'm from."

By the time he was 12, though, Hall was ready to make the leap from New York to New Jersey. He joined the Red Bulls in 2020, and it didn't take long for him to prove himself at one of the best academies in MLS.

AdvertisementThe big break

Hall's early years with the Red Bulls youth teams? In a word: dominant.

In 39 matches, the forward scored 28 goals for the academy team, working his way up the ranks. His most notable achievement came with the Red Bulls U-15s at the 2023 MLS NEXT Cup, where he scored five goals to earn an MVP award and, more importantly, the tournament trophy for the Red Bulls team. He also won the Golden Boot award at the 2023 Generation adidas Cup, scoring five more goals, including two in a win over Chelsea.

Ahead of the 2023 MLS Next Pro season, Hall signed his first professional deal. He went on to make 10 appearances, scoring twice despite being among the younger players in the league. By September, those in charge had seen enough to offer him a three-year contract with the first team. And then, just 23 days later, he was on the field for that debut just over halfway into his 15th year on this planet.

"In terms of training with them and getting opportunities with the first team, because of that, [the debut] wasn't a surprise," he said. "I try to stay ready for anything. Anything can happen. But, with that, that was something that I couldn't believe happened in that moment"

He added: "Of course I see certain things going on. Of course, the accolades for the players that came before me, they were all important in making the history of the league. For me now, I think it's incredibly important to just stay focused, especially on myself."

In just a few years, Hall had basically speed-run the Red Bulls system. He made leap after leap after leap relatively quickly, going from academy to second team to first before his 16th birthday.

How it's going

The expectation is that Hall will be eased into the Red Bulls' first team. He's just 15, after all. There's so much maturing he needs to do, on and off the field, before he's ready to be a regular contributor at a top, top level.

If this preseason is anything to go by, though, Hall might not be too far away from his second MLS appearance.

"Julian is one of those players that, no matter what we put in front of him, he managed to have an impact and he managed to adapt," said Red Bulls academy director Sean McCafferty. "We'd be lying, though, if we said we'd expected him to adapt to first-team training as quickly as he has."

He added:" The best compliment I can give him is that every time you put him into an environment where you think he's going to struggle, he finds a way to make it work."

Hall got plenty of minutes during the Red Bulls' preseason run and, against St. Louis, he came off the bench to win a penalty for his team. He provided an assist against the Chicago Fire, too, teeing up Elias Manoel. It's the type of impact he can make, even at his age.

Still, the Red Bulls won't rush him. Hall will be given all the time he needs.

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Biggest strengths

Able to play across the attacking line, Hall is primarily a left-winger, one with the ability to beat a defender and, when the time comes, make things happen in the final third.

His goalscoring record on the youth level speaks for itself, as do his preseason contributions. Despite his age, Hall is confident and dynamic, a player who has an eye for goal at every level he's played at so far in his young career.

"I think being an attacking threat is a huge part of being an attacker, but I have so much to learn. I have great role models at the club to help me to keep improving every day. Nothing is final yet, of course, but there are always things that I can improve on."

At 5'10", Hall already has size, and he could still grow a bit considering his age. He has the pace and skill to beat defenders, helping him create the moments needed to contribute in the attacking third. In terms of physical gifts, they're all there, which is why he can play with players twice his age.

Hall has already found one heck of a role model with the Red Bulls: club legend Bradley Wright-Phillips. One of the most prolific strikers MLS has ever seen, Wright-Phillips has helped Hall adjust to life at this new level.

"I came into the team last year at a young age and it was a new environment for me," he said. "Bradley Wright-Phillips is someone with a great history in the league. The fact that he's still around the team and at the facility, he's available all the time to ask questions and get information from him."

"I think the things that he showed when he was in the league, there's that potential for myself, but I have a long way to go, but having him there is definitely a key aspect of my development."

Wright-Phillips said of hall: "I think he needs a lot more games at the MLS NEXT Pro level but I will say this – the way he’s matured, his body, everything… he’s ready to get minutes for the first-team — and if he does, don’t be surprised if he comes on and has an impact in some games.

"But I think with the young players, we don’t wanna go too fast. There are steps you have to take to adjust your game and I think Julian should take those steps and if he continues to do well at the NEXT Pro level… then he will get his chance."

ScorecardQueensland joyfully accepted a desperate declaration and charged to their first Sheffield Shield title in six years during a rain-interrupted conclusion at Allan Border Field in Brisbane on Tuesday.Tasmania gambled after a lengthy delay in the hope of a last-minute heist, but Queensland moved swiftly through the South Africa-bound Matt Renshaw to secure the nine-wicket win.Renshaw learned of his national call-up during the day, and he celebrated it with an unbeaten second-innings 81. While he waits to learn whether he replaces Cameron Bancroft or David Warner in the fourth Test, he warmed up with a muscular display of 12 fours and two sixes, including crashing a cut to the boundary for the winning runs.Queensland are full of potential and this was the right result perhaps, but neither side was able to show their full wares in a truncated game. Tasmania returned on the final morning at 0 for 10, with Alex Doolan and Jordan Silk trying to transform the game into a T20 contest and an unlikely victory push.As the batsmen opened their shoulders, Queensland spread the field. At one point during the 160-run stand, everyone but the bowler and wicketkeeper was on the boundary. Silk cleared the ropes twice in his 74 and Doolan was even more destructive in his unbeaten 82 off 74 deliveries, striking four sixes before bad light and heavy rain arrived at the stroke of lunch.That meant the outfield was unsuitable for play during the four-hour delay. This forced Tasmania into declaring at 1 for 166, setting Queensland 128 in at least 32 overs, but the locals would not be stopped. Joe Burns kept Renshaw company with 41 on the way to the state’s eighth Shield trophy.Queensland’s golden age began under Stuart Law’s captaincy in the 1990s and included players of the stature of Allan Border, Matthew Hayden, Carl Rackemann, Andy Bichel, Michael Kasprowicz and Andrew Symonds. The current squad is filled with young faces and even the committed cricket fan might struggle to recognise anyone other than Burns or Renshaw when they are wearing whites.Captained by Jimmy Peirson, the side has the 33-year-old paceman Luke Feldman as its elder statesman, but is mostly a band of up-and-comers alongside the journeyman from England, Charlie Hemphrey. Until Tuesday, Burns was the only player in the side to have lifted the Shield, when Queensland beat Tasmania at the Gabba in 2011-12.Queensland finished the group rounds comfortably on top, winning a game more than any other opponent, and its players were able to stare down Tasmania’s regularly-interrupted challenge throughout this contest.After the first-day abandonment, Tasmania posted a healthy 477, but Queensland went further in their response, with everyone contributing at least double figures. The coach Wade Seccombe, who was the wicketkeeper in the state’s first Shield victory in 1994-95, now has the opportunity to build the outfit into a unit craving long-term success.

Tottenham Hotspur have registered their interest over a potential move for Folarin Balogun from rivals Arsenal, however, a report has shared the other Premier League clubs who are also in the race for the forward.

Are Spurs signing a striker?

Spurs manager Ange Postecoglou and chairman Daniel Levy appear to be on the search for a new forward before the September 1 deadline after cashing in on Harry Kane earlier this month.

Those in north London sold the England international to Bayern Munich in a deal worth around €100 million (£86m) plus an extra €20 million (£17.2m) in possible add-ons.

Postecoglou has Richarlison as the only senior striker available to him, with teenager Alejo Veliz joining earlier in the summer.

A number of attackers have been linked with moves to Spurs, including KAA Gent’s Gift Orban and Nottingham Forest’s Brennan Johnson. Another player who has been linked with a move to the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium is Balogun, and an update has emerged.

According to The Daily Mail, Balogun has been deemed surplus to requirements at Arsenal and is valued at £50m by the Gunners. The report claims that Tottenham are a side who have made an enquiry for the attacker, alongside both Chelsea and West Ham.

Balogun has spent time training away from Arsenal’s senior side this summer as the Gunners look to raise some funds late in the window, with Monaco, AC Milan and Inter Milan also keen on the striker’s services.

Who is Folarin Balogun?

Balogun is primarily a centre-forward who can also turn out on either wing if required. The 22-year-old, who has represented the USA at senior international level, appears to be at the top of his game with a career-high €30m Transfermarkt valuation, a figure which has rocketed over the past 12 months.

Read the latest Tottenham transfer news HERE…

In total, Balogun, sponsored by Adidas, has made just 10 senior appearances for the Gunners in all competitions and has caught the eye out on loan. The forward spent last season in France with Stade Reims and contributed to an impressive 25 goals in 39 appearances.

Arsenal boss Mikel Arteta has also praised Balogun in the past as a "special" striker and believes he's "really brave".

“He’s a boy that has a really clear idea of what he wants to do with his career. He’s really ambitious, really committed and really brave," said Arteta.

“We discussed a lot before he made that move whether it was the right place to go and the other choices he had. He was so convinced. I’m really happy for him because he deserves what he’s getting.

“When you look at the numbers and what he is doing, it’s just incredible. It’s very rare to see that. But he’s got something special."

It could be a deal to keep an eye on, however, with Arsenal likely to inflate the price of the player to a direct rival, Spurs may well find it difficult to strike a deal for Balogun, meaning they may end up moving on to other targets such as Orban or Johnson.

Big picture

Rangpur Riders and Comilla Victorians will battle it out in the second qualifier to determine who will face Dhaka Dynamites in the final of this BPL season. Both Rangpur and Comilla have plenty of international stars who have lit up the league. Rangpur, however, have had a better build-up to this clash, after having crushed an impressive Khulna side in the Eliminator. Chris Gayle unleashed his firepower, his 14 sixes entertained the Mirpur crowd as much as it did his team-mates and the Rangpur owners.Comilla have racked up nine wins – the most by any side in the tournament – but their confidence was dented by a heavy loss against Dhaka in the first qualifier. In pursuit of 192, Comilla crashed to 96 all out in 18 overs with only captain Tamim Iqbal passing 30.Tamim and the other Bangladesh internationals such as Imrul Kaues and Liton Das need to step up further under pressure. Marlon Samuels and Shoaib Malik have been among the runs, but Jos Buttler has struggled on the slow, dry pitches.Comilla’s bowling, however, looks in good shape with offspinner Mahedi Hasan attacking the pads in the Powerplay and Hasan Ali attacking the stumps with the end overs.

Form guide

Rangpur Riders: WLWLW (completed matches, most recent first)
Comilla Victorians: LWLWW

In the spotlight

The wait for a Jos Buttler blitz in this BPL continues. He has managed only 199 runs in 12 innings with just one fifty. Buttler’s last five innings have been particularly poor: 5,3,11,5 and 4.Brendon McCullum, another big hitter, hasn’t fired like he can. He has only 152 runs in 10 innings but his strike-rate of 97.43 is more worrying.

Team news

Rangpur have Ziaur Rahman, Shahriar Nafees, Isuru Udana and Samuel Badree as replacement options but it is unlikely that they will break the winning XI that won the Eliminator with ease.Rangpur Riders (probable): 1 Chris Gayle, 2 Johnson Charles, 3 Brendon McCullum, 4 Mohammad Mithun (wk), 5 Ravi Bopara, 6 Nahidul Islam, 7 Mashrafe Mortaza (capt), 8 Sohag Gazi, 9 Lasith Malinga, 10 Nazmul Islam, 11 Rubel HossainComilla could consider replacing Dwayne Bravo, who leaked 45 runs on Friday, with Graeme Cremer.Comilla Victorians (probable): 1 Tamim Iqbal (capt), 2 Liton Das (wk), 3 Imrul Kayes, 4 Jos Buttler, 5 Marlon Samuels, 6 Shoaib Malik, 7 Mohammad Saifuddin, 8 Mahedi Hasan, 9 Dwayne Bravo/ Graeme Cremer, 10 Hasan Ali, 11 Al-Amin Hossain

Pitch and conditions

It rained in Dhaka on Saturday and Sunday’s forecast doesn’t seem very promising either. The pitch, which has been under the covers, is likely to offer some assistance to the bowlers.

Stats and Trivia

• Comilla had beaten Rangpur twice in the group stage.
• Comilla’s 96 all out in the first qualifier was their lowest total in the BPL.

USMNT star Christian Pulisic has been told how to command the respect of AC Milan fans after making a strong start to life in Italy.

Article continues below

Article continues below

Article continues below

• Pulisic told how to earn AC Milan respect
• USMNT star has started well in Italy
• Milan have two realistic shots at silverware

• WHAT HAPPENED?

  Pulisic has made a solid start to life at the San Siro since joining AC Milan from Chelsea in a £18 million ($22.41 million) move over the summer. The USMNT attacker has scored six goals and provided four assists in 16 Serie A appearances, but he's been told that winning silverware would be a sure-fire way to earn the total respect of the club's fans.

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• WHAT CHARLIE DAVIES SAID

  Speaking on , pundit Charlie Davies said: "It's the respect you get from the Milan fans. He'll [Pulisic] go down as being one of those players who helped to win a trophy. When you create history it doesn't matter where you're from, they look at what you did for the team.

  "Right now we know Pulisic has done a lot for Milan, and he's just getting started. This isn't the end product, this isn't the end game. He's at the start of his journey with Milan. We just need him to stay healthy."

• Getty Images
  

  THE BIGGER PICTURE

  Milan were eliminated from the Champions League at the group stage, and already look to be out of the Serie A title race. However, Stefano Pioli's side are one of the favourites to win the Europa League, and on Tuesday they reached the quarter-finals of the Coppa Italia by beating Cagliari 4-1.

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• DID YOU KNOW?

  Milan have not won a major European trophy since the Champions League in 2007, and have not won the Coppa Italia since 2003. Pulisic's last major trophy win came in 2021 when he helped Chelsea win the Champions League.

Chelsea's pursuit of Brighton & Hove Albion's Moises Caicedo is "still on" despite their second bid being rejected by the Seagulls, claims transfers expert Fabrizio Romano.

Is Moises Caicedo joining Chelsea this summer?

It's been a hectic transfer window for Mauricio Pochettino's side so far this summer. From selling a swathe of first-team stars to signing a handful of promising youngsters, Chelsea are certainly making a splash in the market.

However, the name that has seemingly been attached to the club more than any other over the last month or so has been Brighton's Caicedo, as the saga to bring him to Stamford Bridge rumbles on.

The protracted nature of the deal is not from a lack of trying on the west Londoners' part, as according to Sky Sports, they have had two offers rebuffed by the Seagulls, the second being worth an eye-watering £80m.

That said, Roberto De Zerbi's side are under no obligation to sell after the 21-year-old signed a new £60,000-a-week contract in March this year that doesn't expire until summer 2027.

If the Pensioners want to secure the signature of La Joya, then they'll have to stump up the £100m that Brighton want – a fee that reflects the transfer of the positionally similar Declan Rice.

However, in good news for fans of the club, transfers expert Fabrizio Romano has reported that, despite their second offer being rejected, talks remain ongoing with the deal very much "still on."

He explained the situation on his YouTube channel, saying:

"From what I am told, and this is my information, is that the negotiations are not stalling now, the negotiations remain ongoing. Of course, with Brighton on their position, they want big money, and with Chelsea on their position, they don't want to overpay, but they are still speaking, they're still talking, and I still expect some contacts in the next days for Moises Caicedo.

"Then, at some point, it's going to be time to decide. For sure, the deal is still on while I'm speaking."

Who else has been linked with a move to Chelsea this summer?

While the Blues certainly seem set on signing Caicedo this summer, they're still looking elsewhere in the market for potential transfers so as not to be left empty-handed should the Ecuadorian remain on the south coast.

One of the names touted as a potential alternative is Southampton's exciting youngster, Romeo Lavia.

According to Football Insider, Chelsea are now 'plotting a full-scale hijack of Liverpool's pursuit' of the 19-year-old following the recent setback regarding Caicedo.

The Merseysiders are currently leading the chase for the Belgian's signature, having seen their opening offer of £34m plus £4m in add-ons rejected as the Saints hold out for a team to match their £50m valuation.

Should a deal for Caicedo not materialise, Pochettino's side could use some of the money put aside for the Ecuardoian and make an offer Southampton feel they cannot refuse.

While he might not be the club's number one choice, the 5 foot 11 "monster" demonstrated his qualities last season, averaging a match rating of 6.56 in an incredibly dysfunctional Saints team and maintaining a passing accuracy of 86.4% to boot, per WhoScored.

Ultimately, Blues fans should rest assured that, at the moment, the deal to sign Caicedo is still on, and even if it collapses, Lavia could be the ideal alternative.

Broadcaster Ralph Dellor, a former editor of cricinfo, has died aged 69

ESPNcricinfo staff01-Sep-2017Broadcaster Ralph Dellor, a former editor of Cricinfo, has died aged 69. In a wide and varied 50-year career in cricket, Dellor commentated for the BBC’s programme, authored many books, and coached the Norwegian national team.Dellor began his career in 1970 with BBC local radio, going on to work on and as well as . He also wrote for the , became the ICC’s first media consultant and, more recently, took on the job of “Voice of Lord’s” as MCC’s PA announcer.Widely liked and respected within cricket, he covered numerous other sports and developed a line in after-dinner speaking. Between 1984 and 1988 he was editor of the and in 2000 he won the Jack Fingleton Award as cricket commentator of the year.A keen cricketer and golfer, he was an ECB-accredited coach and led Norway to the European Trophy in 2003, 2005 and 2006.Dellor was director of cricket operations at Cricinfo between 2000 and 2003, which involved commentating on the 2000 Women’s World Cup in New Zealand. He left to set up his own business, Sportsline Media, with Cricinfo colleague Stephen Lamb.Dellor was recently diagnosed with prostate cancer, for which he had been undergoing treatment.