Tottenham Hotspur could be set to steal a wonderful signing from under the nose of a Premier League rival.

What’s the latest on Manor Solomon to Tottenham Hotspur?

That’s according to journalists Jack Pitt-Brooke and Peter Rutzler, who claim that Daniel Levy has sparked an interest in signing Manor Solomon on a free transfer.

Writing for The Athletic, they suggest that the chairman will seek to capitalise on a technicality this summer, which will see the Israeli winger leave his parent club, Shakhtar Donetsk, on a free transfer.

Despite spending the year on loan at Fulham, the Lilywhites are reportedly at the front of the queue for the 23-year-old.

How good is Manor Solomon?

Although the diminutive wide man had built up a reputation before his move to England, most notably for his role in the Ukraine outfits demolition of Real Madrid in 2020, it was only after his move to Craven Cottage that more casual fans became aware of his talents.

Despite only scoring four times across 19 games this term, almost all the strikes were something truly magnificent to behold, including in the FA Cup triumph over Leeds United.

Journalist Josh Bunting even noted just how “stunning” the start of his year had been on Twitter after he had headed home an equaliser against Brentford.

With a seemingly patented technique for finding the net, cutting in from the left onto his favoured right foot, even Solomon’s running style mirrors that of Heung-min Son alongside this consistent scoring style.

Those fine finishes are best compared to the South Korean’s north London derby scorcher in 2020, as he too came inside from that flank to curl home from all of 30 yards.

Whilst their actual numbers are far from similar, Solomon has only been limited to 31 minutes per game in the league, thus explaining his lack of proficiency.

Son’s ten goals in the league have come across 2,899 minutes of play time, and thus has averaged a goal every 289 minutes. Conversely, across a cumulative 561 minutes for the Cottagers’ star, he instead finds the net on average once every 140 minutes. That does little to offset the gulf shown when the 30-year-old is on form, as he notched 23 goals last season, but remains worth noting.

Whilst their shared stature also likens Son and Solomon, the latter’s aforementioned penchant for the big occasion mirrors the former Bayer Leverkusen star, who showcased his quality in their fierce derby whilst also having scored five against Liverpool and four against Manchester United, via Transfermarkt.

Meanwhile, the £20k-per-week trickster scored in both of their wins over Real Madrid in the 2020/21 campaign, as they defied the odds. This was alongside nine league goals from the flank too, to compound a successful season.

Whilst fans might note this as an underwhelming signing by Levy, again seeking to find a bargain rather than a quality option in the market, his similarities to Son would make him the perfect understudy to push him back to those old goalscoring ways.

New South Wales cricketers will be the first Australian female domestic athletes to go fully professional, via a landmark deal that will push the wages of some players beyond six figures

Daniel Brettig06-Oct-2016

New South Wales cricketers will be the first Australian female domestic athletes to go fully professional, via a landmark deal that will push the wages of some players beyond six figures.Cricket NSW unveiled a two-season deal with the sponsor LendLease that will ensure all members of the Breakers squad earn at least a minimum wage of A$35,000 a year. Combined with WBBL and Southern Stars payments, this will mean the likes of Ellyse Perry will now draw in a cricket salary in excess of $100,000.The announcement arrived ahead of negotiations for a new MOU between Australia’s cricketers and Cricket Australia, with women’s pay and conditions set to be a key battleground. NSW officials hope the LendLease underwrite will be a trendsetter for players around the nation.”This truly is a landmark moment,” NSW chief executive Andrew Jones said. “Cricket NSW has always been a leader in women’s sport and today we are proud to announce another first. Every member of the Lendlease Breakers squad now has the opportunity to pursue a professional sporting career.”I am confident that every state in Australia will now follow the lead of Cricket NSW by giving their female cricketers the opportunity to earn a living wage.”Cricket NSW is committed to growing and professionalising women’s cricket by attracting and retaining the best athletes, providing world-class facilities, coaching and support staff, and offering all of our athletes a professional pathway.”While the deal has been in the works for quite some time, it has grown in pertinence through recent advances in playing and payment opportunities for women in other sports such as AFL and netball. The new deal will again place cricket in the vanguard of women’s sport.As the young Breakers batsman Ashleigh Gardner put it: “Cricket has always been my passion. However, I never really thought that I would be able to play professionally. In the back of my mind I was always having to consider how I needed to juggle school work, studies, one day having a job and a family, with my training and matches.”To know now that I don’t need to worry about juggling all of this at once, and can really commit to my training and play professionally is incredible.”

Peter Nevill is open to a promotion in Australia’s batting order ahead of Mitchell Marsh, as the captain Steven Smith and the coach Darren Lehmann ponder how to get the best out of a middle-order duo who are yet to place their stamp on a Test match with the bat.As highlighted by the selection chairman Rod Marsh’s reference to Jackson Bird’s batting as a factor in his non-selection, Australia need to find a way to get more out of their lower-order batting on the days when the top five do not make the desired tallies of runs.It was a weakness exploited ruthlessly by Sri Lanka’s spinners during their recent clean sweep of a Test series, and a South African attack led by Dale Steyn will be eager to do likewise down under, this time with pace. Neither Marsh (averaging 24 after 18 Tests) nor Nevill (20.88 after 15 Tests) have been able to impose themselves, too often opening the door to the Australian tail.While conventional wisdom has it that allrounders tend to bat at No. 6 and wicketkeepers at No. 7, Nevill and Marsh appear stylistically suited in opposite roles. Nevill’s busy but not overly histrionic batting has been most successful at No. 6 for New South Wales, where he averages 42.73 with six centuries and a highest score of 235 not out.Meanwhile, Marsh is much more of a free-spirited hitter, capable of changing the momentum of a game after the fashion of Nevill’s predecessor Brad Haddin or, in earlier years, Andrew Symonds. Nevill said he would happily move up the order, should Smith decide this was a better balance for the Test team.Peter Nevill averages 20.88 after 18 Tests and has two fifties•Getty Images

“I’d happily do whatever the skipper asked me to do,” Nevill told ESPNcricinfo. “Wherever’s best for the team I’m happy to bat wherever. Your role at No. 7 is either the team’s going really well and you need to go out there and look to push the game along with an eye on a declaration.”You’re either that or five for not too many and you need to go out there and guts it out and put a partnerships together with whoever you’ve got at the other end, and batting with the tail as well. So it’s usually one of those two scenarios I’ve found being in the Australian team.”For his part, Marsh is aware his place is under plenty of scrutiny going into this week. He is trying to focus on positive thoughts and an aggressive batting plan, the better to exploit his obvious power with the willow. “There’s no doubt I’m probably under a little bit of pressure, but I think if I go into the week thinking like that I’m probably not going to enjoy it,” he said.”It’s a home Test match, I’m going to prepare as best as I ever have, and go out there and really enjoy myself and not focus on myself to much. I really just want to play for this team and play to win. Every time you bat you just try to bat as long as you can. For me it’s more about trying to score runs and being positive, and when I’m doing that my feet move better and I get into better positions even to leave the ball, so that’s my focus.”While indicating an eagerness to hang onto his No. 6 berth, Marsh did agree his seam and swing had evolved to a point that a lower order commission would be plausible in the context of a greater bowling load in the field.”I certainly want to remain an allrounder, I bat at six. But if that did come up I’d be happy to do it,” he said. “I feel like my bowling’s improved a lot over the last 18 months, and it’s gotten to a point now where I’ve had a few occasions where blokes have gone down and I’ve had to step up to the third seamer role. I’ve done it before, but I really enjoy batting at No. 6 and want to stay there as long as I can.”

The ECB are planning to stage a round of Championship matches under lights at the end of June next season as England prepare for their first day-night Test

George Dobell23-Oct-20161:39

ECB announces first day-night Test

The ECB is planning to stage a round of Championship matches under lights at the end of June next season as England prepare for their first day-night Test.England are scheduled to play two Tests under lights in 2017. First they will play West Indies at Edgbaston in August, before playing one of the Ashes Tests in Australia at the end of the year.While details are yet to be confirmed, it is understood that the ECB has identified a round of games starting on June 26 for the floodlit matches in the hope that England players will be available. England play a T20I against South Africa in Cardiff on June 25, with the first Test against South Africa starting at Lord’s on July 6.That scheduling is not ideal. It comes just a few days after the longest evening of the year (sunset time is around 10pm) so the value of using lights will be diminished. But the ECB hopes it will attract more spectators to games and provide more data over the strengths and weaknesses of the pink ball and optimum pitch conditions for its usage.It is also one of few rounds where England’s Test specialists are expected to be available. Plans to stage the games in August were rejected as not all teams are scheduled to play at the same time and, in the ECB’s words, “equitability is deemed important”.The Division One games will be hosted by four of Warwickshire, Yorkshire, Essex, Hampshire or Surrey, while the Division Two games will be staged by five of Durham, Kent, Nottinghamshire, Sussex, Northamptonshire and Glamorgan. The ECB has asked each of the counties to ensure there are no issues – such as permission from the local council – with them hosting such games before they confirm the schedule.

Newcastle United supporters might be expecting prominent arrivals this summer, but manager Eddie Howe will be looking to ensure prodigious talents are secured to ensure the newfound success is not fugacious.

What's the latest on Azeem Abdulai to Newcastle?

One such rising starlet who could fit into this strategy is Swansea City's Azeem Abdulai, with the 20-year-old midfielder on the Magpies' radar, according to the Daily Mail, with Aston Villa also interested.

The Scotland U21 international is still within the academy ranks at Swansea, but is impressing with his exploits on the pitch and has been viewed as a perfect project for the aforementioned Premier League outfits, who could nurture him into the limelight.

While a transfer fee is presently unknown, Abdulai could be a shrewd acquisition for Newcastle and one that could prove worthwhile as the ace continues his progress over the next few years.

Who is Azeem Abdulai?

Something of a late bloomer, Abdulai is yet to make his Championship debut with Swansea and has only featured once this term, coming off the bench in the Carabao Cup against Oxford United.

Development in football is not linear, however, and Abdulai is earning plaudits for his robust presence on the pitch and tactical flexibility, capable both in a pivoting midfield role and as a more defensive cog, at the foot of the midfield or in central defence.

Signing a contract extension last year until 2025 is an indication that the Swans wish for him to continue his development in Wales – with the club's senior professional development phase coach, Jon Grey, saying: “Azeem has been a fantastic addition for us since he has come into the club.

“He came in as a defender but has played more in midfield and adapted to it really well. He has done well for us and had time with the first team and made his debut. That is fantastic, it’s just that next step for him now.”

The aforementioned report from the Daily Mail likens his qualities to that of Jude Bellingham, highlighting his 'stature, playing style and ability' is akin to the Borussia Dortmund phenom reportedly closing in on a move to Real Madrid this summer.

Bellingham is one win away from ending Bayern Munich's decade-long dominance in the German Bundesliga, with the Yellow Wall leading the table entering the final day of the campaign.

And the 19-year-old prodigy has unequivocally been a centrepiece to the feats, recording an average divisional Sofascore rating of 7.4, scoring eight goals and providing four assists, completing 83% of his passes, averaging 2.5 tackles and completing 67% of his attempted dribbles.

The all-encompassing gem is listed as a comparable player to Joelinton on FBref, who is thriving at the heart of Howe's Newcastle system, which will bode well for the Magpies when assessing the feasibility of signing Abdulai, who could be a deadly partner alongside Bruno Guimaraes.

Guimaraes signed for Newcastle for £40m in January 2022 and has since made 56 appearances for the Toon, hailed as "world-class" for his impact by teammate Dan Burn.

Abdulai has a long way to go, but by following the template Bellingham exhibits, he could grow into one of English football's more pleasing success stories on Tyneside with a transfer.

Rangers have signalled their interest in signing Los Angeles FC winger Kwadwo Opoku, though their Old Firm rivals are also in the race, according to a recent report.

What's the latest Rangers transfer news?

With Ryan Kent leaving Ibrox this summer, Michael Beale will need to bring in a replacement, and the manager has started to run the rule over a number of potential targets.

Having missed out on him in January, the Gers have recently reignited their interest in signing Swansea City's Morgan Whittaker, while Sunderland's Jack Clarke is also an option, with Beale trying to get the majority of his transfer business done early.

The Light Blues have also considered some more unknown players from abroad, including Aris Thessaloniki star Luis Palma, as well as Brian Gutierrez, who currently plays for MLS side Chicago Fire.

Another MLS player that Beale has set his sights on is Opoku, according to Fussball Transfers (via Sport Witness), with it being reported that Los Angeles FC may allow him to leave for anywhere between €3.7m and €4.8m (£3.2m-£4.1m)

Both Rangers and Celtic have signalled their interest in the Ghanaian, placing him on their summer target list, but there is set to be a great deal of competition for his signature, with the likes of Stuttgart, Nice and Bordeaux also named as potential suitors.

At the moment, Los Angeles FC are under no pressure to sell the 21-year-old, as he is contracted until the end of this calendar year, with the option of an extra year.

Who is Kwadwo Opoku?

The Accra-born attacker has started to make a name for himself in MLS, after signing for Los Angeles FC back in October 2020, weighing in with seven goals and two assists in the 2022 regular season.

During the current campaign, the starlet has picked up where he left off, making 13 appearances in the league, and he has averaged 1.5 dribbles per game – the fourth-highest figure in the squad – while 0.8 key passes ranks him fifth.

Football scout Jacek Kulig has previously given an overview of the 5 foot 7 speedster's key traits, claiming that he possesses "pace", "acceleration" and "flair" – all of which are important qualities for an attacking player.

Opoku is still young and relatively unproven, so signing him would undoubtedly be a risk, but he has all the key attributes to become a top-quality player.

Liverpool lead the race to secure a surprise swoop for Fulham full-back Kenny Tete this summer, who could be viewed as an interesting replacement for James Milner, who has departed Anfield upon the expiry of his contract.

What's the latest on Liverpool's pursuit of Kenny Tete?

That's according to recent reports, with the Dutch defender's future at Craven Cottage up in the air after failing to agree a contract extension with Marco Silva's side.

Tete has just one year left on his current deal and could be available for as little as £10.5m, with Liverpool sporting director Jorg Schmadtke now in the driving seat despite further intrigue from two anonymous Premier League outfits and one LaLiga side.

The Cottagers made an emphatic return to the top flight this term and cast aside the 'yo-yo' tag as they recorded a tenth-placed finish, with Tete playing a starring role.

Should Liverpool sign Kenny Tete?

With Liverpool captain Jordan Henderson mere weeks away from his 33rd birthday, it is likely that he will be utilised more sparingly next season, maintaining his leadership skills and galvanising the troops, but no longer taking centre stage on the Anfield grass, having started just 23 times in the league.

It could be that the England veteran slowly transitions into the role that Milner played during his twilight phase on Merseyside, a dependable and dynamic utility option.

While primarily a midfielder, the loss of the 37-year-old Milner has left the right-back position depleted, with 12 of the 61-cap former England international's 41 outings for the Reds this term coming in the defensive position.

And while Trent Alexander-Arnold is the undisputed powerhouse in the right-back position at Anfield, Tete's prospective acquisition could pay dividends by bolstering the fold with a perfect alternative.

Hailed as a "great asset" for Fulham by chairman Tony Khan upon signing for the club in 2020, the 27-year-old made 31 appearances in the top-flight this season and scored one goal and supplied five assists, recording a laudable average Sofascore rating of 7.09 and completing 1.7 interceptions, 2.7 tackles and 2.4 clearances per game.

As per FBref, the £50k-per-week ace ranks among the top 15% of full-backs across Europe's top five leagues over the past year for rate of assists, the top 9% for rate of tackles, the top 3% for interceptions and the top 6% for blocks per 90.

The "sensational" defender – as dubbed by presenter Jack Collins – would clearly be a marked improvement on the ageing Milner, who recorded an average rating of 6.68 this term and boasted just 0.8 tackles, 0.4 interceptions and 0.4 clearances per game in the Premier League, branded as "no longer the answer" by talkSPORT's Ade Oladipo in the early phases of the campaign.

For such a paltry fee, Tete would be a wonderful addition to the Reds' team, and could etch his name into the considerable list of shrewd acquisitions to have served as pillars for Klopp's dynasty on Merseyside.

Wolverhampton Wanderers manager Julen Lopetegui is set for a 'really important week' as he reflects on what the club can change going forward at Molineux, according to journalist Dean Jones.

What's the latest news involving Wolverhampton Wanderers and Julen Lopetegui?

According to BBC Sport, Lopetegui thinks that it will be difficult for Wolves to compete in the English top flight next term amid Financial Fair play issues at Molineux, as he stated: "I have had that meeting [with chairman Jeff Shi] and there are some Financial Fair Play problems I didn't know before. I hope we will solve this issue. It's very difficult to compete in the Premier League without investment."

The report states that the Old Gold posted a £46.1 million deficit in their last financial results in an environment where Premier League clubs are only allowed to record £105 million of losses in a three-year period.

Several first-team players could be on their way out at Wolves this summer in order to balance the books, one of them being club captain Ruben Neves, who is being courted by La Liga giants Barcelona, as per AS.

Tottenham Hotspur, Newcastle United, Roma and Aston Villa have been linked with a move for Wolves striker Hwang Hee-chan, who could become another asset used to raise funds to combat their financial restrictions, as per The Mirror.

Speaking to Football FanCast, journalist Jones thinks that Lopetegui will be anxious to seek clarity over what the future may hold for Wolves next season.

Jones told FFC: "I think it's going to be a really important week or so to reflect on what Lopetegui has actually changed about the club and what he's going to be able to change going forward. That's what he needs to be assured of, that the work that's gone in over the past five or six months can continue and that's, I think, is his big concern."

Who could Wolverhampton Wanderers bring in to supplement potential departures?

Obviously, Wolves will also need to try and bring in players in the summer to supplement prospective departures to build a team capable of competing in the Premier League in 2023/24.

Writing in his column for Caught Offside, journalist Ben Jacobs has stated that Liverpool youngster Fabio Carvalho has emerged as a target for the Old Gold, with a loan deal in the off-season believed to be a possibility.

FC Metz forward Georges Mikautadze has also cropped up on the Old Gold's radar according to reports in France, potentially adding some quality to Lopetegui's forward line.

talkSPORT understand that Coventry City striker Viktor Gyokeres is someone Wolves want to bring in ahead of next season; however, it may cost the best part of £25 million to bring him to Molineux.

Celtic are set to lose one of their talents this summer, with Tsoanelo Letsosa deciding not to agree a new deal with the club, according to the Daily Record (24/05, 4:31pm).

Who will Celtic sell this summer?

The 18-year-old has spent this season playing for the Scottish Premiership side's B-team in the Lowland League. He's been a first-team regular for that outfit, playing 32 times in the division and bagging himself three goals and five assists along the way. He also played for the side in Europe in their UEFA Youth League campaign, managing five appearances with one goal to his name.

Having come up through the ranks at the club – he began in the side's Under-17 and Under-18 teams before moving on to play with the B-team – Celtic may have hoped that he could come through and play in some matches for their first team in the future. However, with his contract expiring at the end of the season, it seems he has no intention to stay.

That's because the Daily Record is reporting that despite being offered fresh terms, he has opted against putting pen to paper and is instead looking for a move over to England. However, the only saving grace for the Scottish side is that if he does move on to another side, the club are likely to be given compensation due to his age, which is thought to be to the tune of a six-figure sum.

Who is Tsoanelo Letsosa?

The youngster has yet to really have a taste of first-team football at the top level, so it is obviously unclear just how well he would do if given the chance in perhaps the EFL or at a higher level than he has featured so far.

However, the signs are promising for any team that does pick him up this summer. That's because coach Stephen McManus stated that he and the rest of that squad are "terrific" and that they each have a "bright future" in the game. It's high praise from the former player and suggests that he may well have the ability to go on and feature somewhere else to some success.

In addition, he's also been capped by the Scotland national team at Under-16 level – an honour which wouldn't be given to a player unless their coaches saw talent in his boots.

Therefore, Letsosa could be a good free-agent pickup for a team in England this summer – although it is unclear as of yet where he will end up.

أعلن الاتحاد الإفريقي لكرة القدم “كاف”، عن موعد إجراء قرعة الدور التمهيدي لتصفيات كأس أمم إفريقيا 2025، المقرر إقامتها في المغرب.

وأوضح “كاف” عبر الموقع الرسمي، أن قرعة الدور التمهيدي بمشاركة 8 منتخبات، الأقل ترتيبًا في تصنيف الاتحاد الدولي لكرة القدم “فيفا”: الصومال، جيبوتي، سان تاومي، التشاد، موريشيوس، جنوب السودان، ليبيريا وإسواتيني.

وأشار الاتحاد الإفريقي إلى أن المباريات ستقام ذهابًا وإيابًا خلال تواريخ “فيفا” من 18 إلى 26 مارس 2024.

وسينضم المتأهلون الأربعة في الدور التمهيدي إلى 44 منتخبا كان معفيًا، للمشاركة في دور المجموعات للتصفيات.

طالع أيضًا | اتحاد الكرة يكشف عن أولى طلبات حسام حسن.. وموقف محمد يوسف موعد إجراء قرعة الدور التمهيدي لتصفيات كأس أمم إفريقيا 2025

وستُجرى قرعة الدور التمهيدي لتصفيات كأس أمم إفريقيا، المغرب 2025، يوم الثلاثاء 20 فبراير 2024، في القاهرة، مصر.

وستُقام القرعة بدءا من الساعة الثانية مساءً بتوقيت مصر، الثالثة بتوقيت السعودية.