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Andy Balbirnie, the Ireland batsman, has been released by his county Middlesex after he was ruled out of the 2016 season

ESPNcricinfo staff01-Jun-2016

Andy Balbirnie, the Ireland batsman, has been released by his county Middlesex after he was ruled out of the 2016 season. Balbirnie underwent hip surgery in April and a lengthy recuperation period meant that he would not be able to take part for Middlesex this season, at the end of which his contract was due to expire.”It’s always extremely sad to release a young cricketer, especially when they are as likeable and as committed to the game as Andrew,” said Angus Fraser, Middlesex’s managing director. “He is expected to make a full recovery from his operation, is a very good cricketer, and everyone at the club wishes him well for the future.”Balbirnie, who is a graduate of the club’s academy, played two first-class, three List A and seven T20 games for Middlesex. He has been a regular in Ireland’s squads, including at the recent World T20.”I would like to thank everyone involved in Middlesex County Cricket Club over the last five seasons who have helped me develop not just on the field but off it too,” Balbirnie said. “It’s been a huge honour to represent this great club and one that has been thoroughly enjoyable. I wish the squad and the staff the very best for the remainder of the season.”

Tottenham Hotspur are in for a summer of change.

Not only is chairman Daniel Levy on the hunt for the 12th permanent manager of his reign but the playing squad is in drastic need of a shake-up, with several underperforming stars still turning up to Hotspur Way every day.

It's thought that Julian Nagelsmann is among the leading candidates to take the helm – according to the Telegraph, the 35-year-old currently sits atop a shortlist but there are concerns over the financial implications due to his contract with Bayern Munich, who only sacked him last month.

The Athletic's David Ornstein has also provided some hope on the matter, claiming that talks between Spurs and the German are underway, as revealed to Rio Ferdinand's YouTube channel this week.

Who could Tottenham sign under Julian Nagelsmann?

If appointed, it will be interesting to see what the young, innovative coach does with this weak squad, particularly in defence. During his time at RB Leipzig, the 35-year-old often deployed a back-three, with a lot of their attack coming from the wide areas through the use of wing-backs – sound familiar?

The only difference is, it's a lot more exciting than what Antonio Conte offered during his tenure in north London.

However, the club will need better defenders to pull it off and reports last month linked the Lilywhites with a move for Crystal Palace sensation Marc Guehi, and he'd surely be a prime target to thrive under the stewardship of Nagelsmann.

Take Dayot Upamecano, for example.

No player has featured more for the former Hoffenheim boss than the French centre-back. Indeed, the 24-year-old racked up 151 appearances for Nagelsmann across both his spells at RB Leipzig and Bayern, proving to be a very trusted lieutenant in defence.

The Eagles have endured a rough season in the Premier League but Guehi has been one of the few shining lights, featuring for more minutes than any other player, via WhoScored. It's thought that Spurs are leading the race to sign the 22-year-old, with Palace set to demand in the region of £60m.

Once lauded as an "absolute tank" by former England U21 teammate Josef Bursik, Guehi is also attracting interest from both Manchester clubs, which in itself should display the sort of quality on potential on offer.

Comfortable in and out of possession, having averaged a squad-leading passing accuracy of 85.4% as well as 1.3 interceptions per game, the England colossus is the ideal profile for what Nagelsmann would expect from his central defenders – big, powerful yet adept at building play out from the back.

Upamecano ranks third in the Bayern squad for passing success and fourth for interceptions per game, via WhoScored, and is a similar height to Guehi, both measuring around the 6 foot 1 mark.

Should the German walk through the door ahead of next season, then Levy ought to make it a priority to bring Guehi to north London, given the evidence above, it's a partnership that could put the club back in the right direction.

Chelsea target Giorgi Mamardashvili is keen to leave Valencia this summer amid interest from the Premier League, according to reports.

What's the latest on Mamardashvili to Chelsea?

Todd Boehly is reportedly set to enter the market to find a new man between the sticks, with both Edouard Mendy and Kepa Arrizabalaga facing uncertain futures in SW6.

The Georgia international isn’t usually first-choice at the Mestalla Stadium, but has been trusted by his manager Voro to take the lead this season, and has caught the eye of several potential suitors across Europe throughout his 28 La Liga starts.

Spanish outlet COPE reported last week that the 22-year-old’s agents had travelled to the capital to hold discussions with the board ahead of the summer, and they have since been handed a boost after learning that he wants to be on the move at the end of the season.

According to 90min, Chelsea did indeed hold “talks” with Mamardashvili’s representatives – but they also did the same with Tottenham Hotspur, Manchester United and Leicester City, and it’s claimed that the Foxes hold the “strongest interest” out of the name-checked clubs.

Atletico Madrid, Monaco and AC Milan are also keen on a deal for the shot-stopper, but whether anything will come to fruition remains to be seen.

The Blues’ target, however, is “keen to leave” Valencia during the upcoming window, and despite him having a €100m (£87m) release clause, it’s stated that they would be happy to sanction his sale for a cut-price of just £30m.

Should Chelsea splash the cash on Mamardashvili?

Mamardashvili has been hailed a “sensational” goalkeeper by members of the media, and standing at a staggering 6 foot 6, we think Chelsea should definitely empty their pockets to secure his services in the summer.

The Free Football client has kept 16 clean sheets in 53 Valencia appearances, including seven in 32 outings across all competitions this season, as per Transfermarkt.

The Tbilisi native has also made a total of 81 saves from 113 shots on target, giving him a save percentage of 71.7%, showing that capable of getting behind the ball and potentially coming out to stop attacks (FBref).

Mamardashvili also has a 100% success rate for short passes having completed 127/127 this season, whilst recording a 97.8% rate for medium passes, completing 271 of 277 – displaying that he likes to vary how he distributed the ball, arguably making this deal even more of a no-brainer to complete.

Chelsea owner Todd Boehly appears to be wasting no time in his search for a new manager at the club following the recent sacking of Graham Potter, with Sporting CP manager Ruben Amorim on his list.

What’s the latest Chelsea manager news?

According to Fabrizio Romano, Amorim is “also appreciated” by the club and could be a contender for the vacant managerial position amid interest in Julian Nagelsmann.

Boehly may find he has competition from Tottenham Hotspur for the Portuguese manager, as they have also been linked with him since sacking Antonio Conte last month.

The 38-year-old has a contract at Sporting until 2026 and could cost the Blues a big compensation figure should they wish to prise him away from Portugal.

Could Ruben Amorim take over at Chelsea?

Although the likes of Nagelsmann and Zinedine Zidane have been linked with the Chelsea manager's job, Amorim would perhaps be a surprise candidate. However, his credentials may work in his favour and he could be an upgrade on Potter.

He has been in charge of Sporting since 2020, having previously had spells at SC Braga – where he won a Portuguese League Cup during his 13-game stint – and with Casa Pia.

Across 149 matches during his tenure as Sporting coach, Amorim has won 2.21 points per match, which is higher than Potter’s spell at Brighton (1.28) and Ostersund (1.71) in clubs where he has managed over 100 matches.

The 38-year-old has also won five major honours in his managerial career, suggesting he is perhaps best placed to lead Chelsea to success compared to just the one Swedish Cup for the Englishman.

Amorim led Sporting to a sensational title triumph in the 2020/2021 season, ending a 19-year title drought as they lost just once all campaign – when the title was already wrapped up – and conceded just 20 goals, propelling the manager into cult hero status.

This success led Daily Telegraph journalist Matt Law to label him as “highly rated” following their victory over Spurs in the Champions League last year, while the Athletic's Jack Pitt-Brooke went as far as to describe the tactician as "the most exciting young manager in European football."

Chelsea have had mixed success with Portuguese coaches over the years, with Jose Mourinho leading them to glory and Andre Villas-Boas enjoying a rather underwhelming few months in charge.

Yet, if the club were to delve back into that market again, this would surely have all the hallmarks of another Mourinho, rather than his discipline in Villas-Boas.

It could be an unorthodox choice given the two heavyweights previously linked, yet his youthful exuberance in the dugout and fresh tactical ideas would be incredibly exciting for those at Stamford Bridge.

Manchester United are reportedly among a handful of Premier League clubs who are interested in signing Fulham midfielder, Joao Palhinha, according to reports.

What’s the latest on Palhinha to Man United?

As per The Sun, the Red Devils – as well as the likes of Liverpool, Chelsea, Arsenal and Tottenham Hotspur – are said to be eyeing a move for the Portugal international this summer, with the 27-year-old having impressed since arriving in England last year.

The report suggests that the former Sporting CP man – who was signed by the Cottagers on a £17m deal in July – could command a fee of more than £40m, with Marco Silva and co unsurprisingly reluctant to sanction a sale.

The towering brute was reportedly a target for the Old Trafford outfit prior to eventually making the move to west London, with it looking as if the club could revive that interest ahead of next season.

How is Palhinha performing at Fulham?

United boss Erik ten Hag will no doubt be fully aware of the impact that Palhinha is making a Craven Cottage at present, with the highly-coveted “warrior” – as described by journalist Hunter Godson – having produced a truly dominant display when the two sides met earlier this season.

Despite ending up on the losing side, the 6 foot 3 titan notably won 12 of his 15 total duels – including making nine tackles – having illustrated just why he has been “one of the signings of the season”, according to Sky Sports reporter Jamie Weir.

That standout showing has seemingly been the norm for the 18-cap powerhouse so far this term, as he currently ranks top of the division for tackles made (101), with that tally far superior to that of current United man, Casemiro (58).

Despite the plaudits that the latter man has received this season at the Theatre of Dreams – having been lauded as someone who “makes such a difference” by his manager – it is actually Palhinha that is arguably performing better in his defensive-midfield berth.

That is indicated by the fact that the Fulham star has averaged a mammoth tally of 4.2 tackles and 1.4 interceptions per 90 from his 24 league appearances this season, while Casemiro averages slightly lower at 3.1 and 1.3 for the same two metrics, respectively, from his 19 outings.

Equally, Palhinha also comes out on top with regard to total duels won (63% to 57%), while his potentially superior quality on the ball has been showcased by the fact that he has lost possession just 8.5 times per game and has a pass accuracy rate of 81%, while Casemiro has lost possession 12.6 times per game and has a pass accuracy rate of just 75%.

Not that such a comparison is a criticism of the Brazilian’s performances under Ten Hag this season, it is merely a marker of just how impressive Palhinha has been for the Cottagers thus far, hence why the Premier League’s big boys have well and truly taken notice.

As such, whether the signing of the Lisbon-born machine is to rival Casemiro in the side or to play alongside him, it would surely represent an astute move for United.

Tottenham Hotspurcould be set to finally put their goalkeeping issues to bed this summer, with a potential move to replace their current club captain…

What’s the latest on Emiliano Martinez to Tottenham?

That’s according toFootball Insider, who reported earlier this week that Spurs were looking atEmiliano Martinez with strong interest.

The Argentine has enjoyed a meteoric rise since deputising for the injured Bernd Leno at Arsenal, having subsequently played an integral role in Argentina’sWorld Cup victory.

He could now be set to take the next step in his club career, withrumoursof alleged friction with Unai Emery, hisboss at Aston Villa, who criticised him in public just last week following Villa’s defeat to his former club.

With another of Tottenham’stargets in Jordan Pickford having recently signed a new deal at Everton, the 30-year-old has now emerged as the outstanding candidate for Fabio Paratici to replace Hugo Lloris. The Frenchman has just 16 months left on his£100k-per-weekdeal in N17 and has struggled this season.

Would Martinez be an upgrade on Hugo Lloris?

If his performances at the World Cup are any barometer, Martinez is arguably one of the best goalkeepers that Spurs could possibly recruit.

This was at least the suggestion made by former Premier League marksman Gabby Agbonlahor, who branded the Villa stopper”the best ‘keeper in the world” upon his return from Argentina’s triumph in Qatar.

Boasting arrogance and quality in equal measure, his ability to unnerve opponents with his bravado and incredible shot-stopping is outlined in his average2.7saves per match for a Villa team in mid-table.

He boasts57saves from just 21 top-flight matches this season, pairing this with an impressive22accurate passes per game. Whilst keeping goals out is the primary aim for a goalkeeper, the modern exponent must also be able to contribute to his team’s build-up play.

This is where he truly marks himself out as an upgrade on Lloris, who this season has only completed19passes per game, albeit at a76%success rate. The 36-year-old does not usually attempt anything too fancy, so his lack of ingenuity could be seen as creatively stifling for Antonio Conte.

However, Lloris has hardly paired that with solidity this year, as he has recordedfourerrors which have led to a goal, compared to just one for his Aston Villa counterpart.

Having become something of a liability of late, many Spurs fans would surely welcome an improvement on the club stalwart. In Martinez, they would add another ruthless character who will do anything to win judging by his perceived gamesmanship, with all the credentials to not only improve Tottenham’s build-up play but make match-winning saves to secure points.

One only needs to watch his sensational late stop to deny Randal Kolo Muani in his country’s World Cup final win over France to see just how formidable a goalkeeper the Argentine can be.

Wolverhampton Wanderers have received a boost in their bid to sign Bristol City midfielder Alex Scott this summer.

The Lowdown: Wolves eyeing Scott

Wolves’ interest in Scott came to light during the January transfer window, at which point Bristol City were said to be asking for £12m, amid links to several other Premier League clubs.

This interest from elsewhere has not gone away, with it recently being reported that Tottenham Hotspur are keeping tabs on the 19-year-old, so there is set to be stiff competition for his signature.

The Latest: Boost for Wolves

In what the Birmingham Mail report is encouraging news for Wolves, the youngster will not consider signing a new contract with his current club until the summer, indicating he could be an open to a move away.

However, it is also stated that the Old Gold were put off by a £25m valuation in January, contrary to the fee quoted in previous reports, and this price tag is unlikely to come down in the summer.

The Verdict: Worth it?

The starlet has been spoken of very highly by his teammates, with teammate Kai Naismith lauding him as ‘different class’, while also likening him to Manchester City star Jack Grealish. (via Birmingham Mail)

Bristol City boss Nigel Pearson has raved about the central midfielder, claiming he is ‘destined for the very top’, and he has really started to show signs of improvement this season, having amassed five assists, three more than he managed in the last campaign.

£25m is a huge amount of money for a young player who is unproven in the Premier League, but given how well he has done in the second tier, it may be worth Julen Lopetegui taking the risk, especially considering Ruben Neves is being linked with a move.

If Neves does decide to leave, Wolves will be able to command a big transfer fee for the Portugal international, allowing them to compete for Scott’s signature, and he is displaying that he has the talent to be a suitable long-term replacement.

Transfer insider Alex Crook has claimed on TalkSport that Everton are favourites to sign Rennes winger Kamaldeen Sulemana.

The Lowdown: Everton looking to back Dyche

Despite it breaking last week that Everton were set to appoint Sean Dyche as their new manager, it took until Monday afternoon for that to come to fruition, which has left the new boss with very little time to be active in the transfer market.

However, Dyche and the Everton board are certainly not wasting any time, as they have £40m burning a hole in their pockets via the sale of Anthony Gordon – and were reportedly looking to spend that on Conor Gallagher.

That dream appears to have been a short-lived one, with Sky Sports reporting that Gallagher is not interested in swapping Chelsea for the relegation-threatened Toffees, although there is more positive news on the Sulemana front, according to Crook.

The Latest: Sulemana could arrive at Finch Farm

While speaking to Jim White and Simon Jordan on TalkSport, Crook revealed that Southampton were soon to drop out of the race for the Ghanaian, leaving Everton as the new frontrunners.

He said: “One player certainly on their radar is Kamaldeen Sulemana. He plays for Rennes over in France.

“Southampton had a bid rejected last week. I was getting the impression over the weekend that maybe Southampton were going to walk away from that deal anyway due to the asking price – looks like Everton [are] now favourites to sign him.”

The Verdict: Dyche needs attacking reinforcements

It’s quite a surprise that Dyche and Everton are looking to someone such as Sulemana to help their woes in the final third, as he has just one goal to his name in 20 appearances across all competitions.

As things stand, Everton have netted just 15 goals in the league, which is the second-least – only behind Wolves – so Dyche will have to start working on getting some belief into the players already at the club, as he can’t solely rely on new signings making the difference.

It has been reported that Everton are indeed looking to strike up a deal with Rennes, with the Ligue 1 outfit looking for around €30m (£26m), which would still leave them money left over from the Gordon deal alone to bring in at least one more player – and that would appear to be better value for money instead of splashing all of it on one player in Chelsea’s Gallagher.

Glasgow Rangers turn their attention away from Premiership action for this weekend as they face off against Aberdeen at Ibrox in the League Cup.

The Light Blues have the chance to secure their place in the final of the competition by beating the Dons today, after winning 1-0 against Dundee FC in the previous round.

Michael Beale has won five of his six competitive games in charge of the Gers so far, drawing the other match, and he could now book a place in his first final as the club’s head coach.

Rangers come into this game off the back of a 2-0 win away at Dundee United in the Scottish top-flight and the manager may look to make alterations to his side in order to give others a chance to impress.

Whilst Malik Tillman started in the number 10 role and scored in last weekend’s win, Beale must finally unleash academy graduate Alex Lowry from the start today.

The 19-year-old attacking midfielder has only featured in one match for the former assistant manager and has not played a competitive match for the club since the 28th of December.

Lowry started in a 3-0 win over Motherwell and put in a solid shift in his rare opportunity to catch the eye. As per Sofascore, the gem won five of his nine duels, managed two shots on target, and completed 85% of his attempted passes as he earned a rating of 7.00.

The teenager has been in splendid form for the B team throughout the 2022/23 campaign and his form for the reserve side indicates that he deserves another chance to show what he can do in the first-team.

In one assist for the young Gers.

Lowry was given opportunities to impress under Gio van Bronckhorst last season and contributed with seven first-team outings, which shows that he does have the quality and maturity to make an impact for the senior side.

In an interview with The Athletic, Scottish coach Andy Goldie lauded the midfielder as being “gallus” and a “master” of the ball and these comments indicate that he would be an exciting player for the fans to watch in action as he is a technically gifted, brave, young player. 

The dynamo has shown signs of promise at first-team level and Beale must finally give him a chance to prove his worth by placing the gem in the starting line-up against Aberdeen.

Wolves youngster Theo Corbeanu has returned to Molineux from Blackpool because of injury, with his loan deal temporarily suspended.

The Lowdown: Corbeanu loaned out again

The 20-year-old moved to Blackpool on a short-term basis back in the summer, with Wanderers unable to promise him regular playing time this season.

Corbeanu has arguably been quite impressive during his time at the club, scoring three goals in nine Championship starts.

Hailed as ‘outstanding’ by James Collins in the past, the young attacking midfielder ranks as the Seasiders’ sixth-best player this season (Whoscored).

Unfortunately, the Wolves youngster’s progress has now been hampered by injury, with a fresh update on his future emerging.

The Latest: Youngster makes Wolves return

On Tuesday, Wanderers’ official website confirmed the return of Corbeanu, whose loan spell at Blackpool has ended for now because of his ankle injury:

“Theo Corbeanu, Christian Marques and Lewis Richards have returned from their season-long loans to have injuries assessed.

[…]

“Corbeanu was enjoying a fruitful loan spell in the Championship with Blackpool where the winger had found the back of the net three times in 17 second tier appearances but now returns to his parent club for assessment of an injury before a decision is made on the next stage of his development later in January.”

It remains to be seen how long the winger is out for, however, or if a separate loan or switch back to Bloomfield Road comes before February 1.

The Verdict: Give him a chance?

This is a real blow for Corbeanu, who will have been enjoying the regular minutes and getting an opportunity to prove himself in a difficult division. Blackpool manager Michael Appleton has also praised his performances, saying he ‘knows where the goal is’ – sound like something Wolves could use right now?

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In truth, it is hard to see the Canadian’s long-term future lying at Wolves, with Julen Lopetegui possibly wanting his own players brought in, but it surely couldn’t hurt to give the youngster a chance if he can get fit soon.