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This latest January transfer window has highlighted just how capable Aston Villa are in the transfer market at being able to bring new players to the club.

Having brought in the likes of Robin Olsen, Lucas Digne and Philippe Coutinho, the Midlands club have been able to strengthen their squad to give manager Steven Gerrard the best chance of ending his first season at Villa Park on a high note.

However, it seems as though the Villans have not stopped their attempts to add more players to their ranks before the window closes.

What’s the latest?

Speaking on Sky Sports News’ Transfer Show (24/01/22 – 5pm), journalist Kaveh Solhekol had this to say on what the current situation is regarding Villa’s reported interest in signing Rodrigo Bentancur from Italian club Juventus.

He said: “Negotiations are ongoing for Juventus midfielder Rodrigo Bentancur. A sell-on clause included in the club from Boca Juniors is complicating a deal.”

This update was also shared earlier in the day by Sky Sports where their interest in the Uruguayan was also claimed.

The midfielder left Boca back in the 2017 summer transfer window for a move to Juve where he has since gone on to make a total of 181 appearances for the Serie A giants across all competitions, scoring three goals and providing 18 assists along the way.

Fans will be elated

With Gerrard reportedly wanting to add a midfielder to his squad this month, which will only have been made even more important due to the fact that Marvelous Nakamba picked up a serious knee injury in December, Bentancur could be exactly what the Villa boss is looking for.

After all, this is a player who is proven at the top level, winning 45 caps for his country and amassing some eye-catching statistics in Serie A.

For example, he has won an impressive 1.7 tackles per game in the Italian top-flight and then a whopping 2.8 per match in the Champions League. Only John McGinn at Villa Park has won more than that.

With that in mind, it should elate fans that they’re interested in a player of this calibre, especially when you consider that Bentancur has plenty of experience playing in Serie A and in Europe’s top competition. However, they will undoubtedly have some concerns regarding the apparent sell-on clause from Boca that could complicate things.

Moving forward, with only a few days left until the window closes, Villa will have to work quickly to negotiate a suitable deal for the Uruguayan that will satisfy all parties so that they can integrate him with the rest of the squad as soon as possible.

In other news: Forget Coutinho: Gerrard can raise roof as Villa plot bid for “exceptional” £33m gem – opinion

A number of Liverpool supporters are over the moon after journalist David Lynch claimed that Mohamed Salah will be available to face Chelsea next week.

Jurgen Klopp’s side are set to be without Salah, Sadio Mane and Naby Keita for a chunk of next month due to their involvement at the Africa Cup of Nations. The Egyptian could be a particularly big loss having had a remarkable season to date, scoring 15 goals and registering nine assists in the Premier League alone.

[freshpress-quiz id=“375258″]

Liverpool face a huge clash with Chelsea at Stamford Bridge next Sunday in a game which could have a huge bearing on the eventual outcome of the title race.

According to Lynch for The Mirror [via Anfield Watch on Twitter], Salah will be available for the Reds next week as they take on his former club prior to heading off on international duty.

[web_stories_embed url=”https://www.footballtransfertavern.com/web-stories/latest-liverpool-transfer-news-15/” title=”Latest Liverpool transfer news!” poster=”” width=”360″ height=”600″ align=“none”]

Liverpool fans react to Salah update

These Reds fans reacted positively to the update on Twitter, with some unsurprisingly calling it “great news”.

“Great news. @MoSalah has so much to prove indeed we @LFC are a different team with him”

Credit: @AbdulMijinyawaD

“Hopefully he’ll be available for that crucial match”

Credit: @Seyjith

“Sadio and Naby are fantastic players but Mo is the most important player having him available is a massive bonus. Any news on Joel Matip getting recalled by Cameroon?”

Credit: @tartanmarvel89

“Lovely mannnn”

Credit: @cloppoflopp

“Well considering the comments of the Guinea manager it’s looking unlikely they’ll let him go if they’re given the final say”

Credit: @onlyfooty22

“Zero choice as LFC WON’T release them until 7.30pm on 2nd Jan…………….sorted”

Credit: @lfcmli4eva

In other news, some Liverpool fans are fuming at an update regarding one player. Find out who it is here.

Roma goalkeeper and Sheffield United loanee Robin Olsen is set to have his loan deal at Bramall Lane cut short in order to join Aston Villa on loan until the end of the season.

What’s the story?

According to transfers expert Fabrizio Romano, Olsen is set to make the move from the Championship up to the Premier League and become Steven Gerrard’s third signing as Aston Villa manager after the exciting captures of Philippe Coutinho and Lucas Digne.

Romano tweeted: “Robin Olsen from Sheffield [United] to Aston Villa now at final stages, agreement in place. Last details to be resolved.

“AS Roma will cancel loan to Sheffield [United] and then will let Olsen join Aston Villa until the end of the season. Olsen already agreed personal terms with Villa.”

Olsen had spent last season on loan at Premier League outfit Everton, making 11 appearances for the Toffees as their second-choice behind Jordan Pickford.

The Sweden international was signed by former Sheffield United manager Slavisa Jokanovic as a short-term replacement for Aaron Ramsdale who joined Arsenal in the summer and has made 11 appearances in the Championship thus far.

However, it appears as though the 32-year-old will cut his spell in South Yorkshire prematurely and return to the English top-flight with Aston Villa.

Fans will be buzzing

Aston Villa goalkeeper Emi Martinez’s status as first-choice ‘keeper is under very little scrutiny after another impressive campaign so far for the Villans with five clean sheets in 18 Premier League matches.

However, what Steven Gerrard does lack is a reliable backup should the Argentinian ever be absent from the Englishman’s side.

Jed Steer is currently the West Midlands club’s only other recognised goalkeeper and has only played two Premier League matches since Villa’s promotion in 2019.

With Olsen, Gerrard’s side will be better equipped should any factor that would make Martinez unavailable arise. Moreover, they will have a goalkeeper with plenty of experience, having played in Serie A, the Premier League, the Champions League and the Europa League.

There may be a slight concern regarding the fact that the 32-year-old hasn’t had the most impressive spell at Sheffield United, keeping just one clean sheet in 11 matches.

However, being a loan deal, it is an ideal solution to what is a major problem in Villa’s squad depth and the presence of Olsen will undoubtedly improve Gerrard’s squad.

In other news: Villa have “agreement†for £13k-p/w ace with a “big presenceâ€, Gerrard will be elated

Bangladesh coach Jamie Siddons has expressed his frustration over the latest injury to fast bowler Mashrafe Mortaza that has put him in doubt for the World Cup that will be held in the subcontinent next year

ESPNcricinfo staff24-Dec-2010Bangladesh coach Jamie Siddons has expressed his frustration over the latest injury to fast bowler Mashrafe Mortaza that has put him in doubt for the World Cup that will be held in the subcontinent next year. Mortaza injured his right knee while batting for his club Abahani in a Dhaka Premier Division League match earlier this week.”A fit and firing Mash [Mashrafe Mortaza] was obviously our first preference for the World Cup and this is a huge disappointment for Mash and the team as well,” Siddons told the Bangladesh newspaper from Australia.The final report of an MRI scan performed on Tuesday confirmed that there had been a near complete tear of the reconstructed anterior cruciate ligament graft on his right knee. Mortaza had surgery on his right knee in August 2009 after he injured it during the first Test against West Indies at St. Vincent in July that year.An ankle problem ruled Mortaza out for most of the recent home one-day series against New Zealand which Bangladesh won 4-0. He came back for the five-match ODI series against Zimbabwe but said after the first two games that he needed more match practice to get his rhythm back. While Siddons was confident that the bowling attack would be able to cope should Mortaza not be fit in time for the World Cup, he said that Mortaza’s experience would be missed.”The inclusion of Rubel (Hossain) or Nazmul (Hossain) would change the dynamics of the opening attack but I believe that though it would be different it would not be weakened significantly,” he said. “The loss of Mash will be seen in his leadership and experience. We cannot cover this aspect of his loss.”This injury is the latest in the long line of injuries for Mortaza. He has undergone six knee reconstructions in the space of eight years, and is currently undergoing a non-surgical treatment for his knee, involving physical therapy and use of a knee brace.

Hampshire turned in another stuttering batting display to reach 281 for 7 on the first day of their County Championship match with Somerset at the Rose Bowl

Cricinfo staff10-May-2010
Scorecard
A sixth-wicket stand of 158 between Nic Pothas and Sean Ervine was the solitary bright spot for Hampshire as they turned in another stuttering batting display to reach 281 for 7 on the first day of their County Championship match with Somerset at the Rose Bowl.Hampshire, who have made their worst start to a domestic season for 104 years, got off to a dreadful start in slightly overcast conditions, as Somerset left-arm seamer Charl Willoughby nipped out in-form openers Michael Carberry and Jimmy Adams with the score at just 18. Liam Dawson, back in Hampshire’s four-day side and promoted to bat at No. 3, steadied the ship in partnership with Neil McKenzie, but the going was sluggish at best as the pair tried to build a foundation for the innings.After cautiously playing his way in and appearing set, Dawson fell lbw to legspinner Michael Munday, to leave Hampshire floundering at 64 for 3. Fellow youngster James Vince came to the crease, but after playing with the sort of composure which has seen him marked as a star of the future, a lapse in concentration saw him suffer a similar fate to Dawson, as he was rushed out by Willoughby when seemingly well set on 26.McKenzie added just ten in partnership with Pothas, before falling two runs short of what would have been a battling half century, leaving Hampshire in danger of folding completely at 123 for 5, with Pothas and the incoming Sean Ervine the last recognised batsmen.Perhaps spurred by the difficulties experienced by their more circumspect peers, Pothas and Ervine swapped a timid approach for one dominated by a fluency and confidence which belied Hampshire’s perilous position.Legspinner Munday was treated with particular disdain as Ervine and Pothas racked up a flurry of boundaries – including four enormous sixes between them. Their controlled hitting and powerful running between the wickets wrestled the initiative away from Somerset, who hitherto had surged into the ascendancy thanks to their accurate bowling.But with the close looming and the light descending, Somerset struck two late blows to ensure they had the better of the day’s spoils. First Pothas fell to Ben Phillips just 13 runs short of what would have been a richly deserved ton, before new batsman Dominic Cork – still clearly shaking new-season ring rust from his aging body – also fell to veteran seamer Phillips for an eight-ball duck.

The Bangladesh A batsmen failed to measure up to a determined South Africa A, who thrashed the hosts by an innings and four runs in the first unofficial Test in Mirpur

Cricinfo staff26-Apr-2010
Scorecard
The Bangladesh A batsmen failed to measure up to a determined South Africa A, who thrashed the hosts by an innings and four runs in the first unofficial Test in Mirpur.Bangladesh began at 148 for 3, and it appeared Nazimuddin and Faisal Hossain, the two overnight batsmen, were in a position to lead a stronger resistance. The pair, who came together with the score on 94, added 115 for the fourth wicket before Thandi Tshabalala ended the partnership. Faisal fell for 51, but Nazimuddin went on to add a further 42 with wicketkeeper Saghir Hossain, who struck six fours in his 44. But that proved the last obstacle in South Africa’s way and once Naziumuddin felt for 82, South Africa were in a good position to wrap up the game.Allrounder Dean Elgar grabbed three wickets and was supported by Tshabalala and Vernon Philander, who bagged two wickets each. Bangladesh captain Junaid Siddique was absent hurt, and the innings folded for 326.

Everton put in a dire performance against Brighton this afternoon, and lost their chance to climb the table with significance by conceding a defeat at Goodison Park, leaving them on 19 points in 15th in the league table.

Rafa Benitez led his side to yet another defeat in the Toffees ninth loss of the season and their fourth at home, with the return of Dominic Calvert Lewin failing to revive the side in their first game of 2022.

After the returning striker missed a penalty, only Anthony Gordon could salvage something from a poor performance in front of the fans in Merseyside this afternoon.

The 20-year-old talent scored two goals in the 53rd and 72nd minutes of the game, but it wasn’t enough to claw back a point in the game as Brighton scored their third just before Gordon’s second killing the game for the Toffees.

One area of blame for such a performance is in the defensive line in a three at the back set up that clearly did not work for Everton today, with one defender in particular having a below average performance.

According to SofaScore, Seamus Coleman lost possession 19 times in defence, and was dribbled past three times against Brighton, with a shot attempted that was sent wide.

The Everton captain hasn’t been at his best this season, and One Versus One records that the 33-year- old has made eight errors leading to goals this season so far, which should be enough for Benitez to axe the captain from the side.

Despite his poor performance, the Irish defender was actually playing out of position on the complete opposite side as left wingback at Goodison Park today, as Benitez continued to refuse Lucas Digne for a start amid a feud, a decision that could be argued cost them a proper defensive performance against Brighton.

Fans took to social media to scathe their captain and the decision who is currently in his thirteenth season for the club.

One fan tweeted in response to Benitez’s decision to drop Digne again and play Coleman out of position;

“Remember when we had a French international left back and decided to play Seamus Coleman there instead.”

Another simply criticised the £3.15m-rated liability’s performance, humorously tweeting;

“Seamus Coleman has the footballing IQ of a tortoise.”

Everton will now have a break from the Premier League to tackle a domestic cup challenge in the FA Cup next weekend against Hull City, and Benitez will be hoping that a positive cup run can distract from the awful performances fans have seen in the league so far this season.

In other news: Benitez could sign Ainsley Maitland-Niles in January

The Delhi Daredevils assistant coach has said his main aim would be to ensure a finals spot in the third season of the IPL

Cricinfo staff10-Mar-2010Eric Simons, the Delhi Daredevils assistant coach, has said his main aim would be to ensure a finals spot for his side in the third season of the IPL. Having made the semi-finals in the two previous editions, Delhi choked against eventual winners Rajasthan Royals and Deccan Chargers respectively.Simons, who is also India’s bowling coach, strongly suggested that a rotation policy was a key strategy to ensure his players’ freshness for the big games. “The key is to peak at the right time and we need to find ways for that,” Simons told the . “Rotating the players will play a key role.”He also gave his full backing to new captain Gautam Gambhir, who took over from Virender Sehwag, and said he should have no problems with the rotation policy. “He’s [Gambhir’s] a mature and clear-thinking individual,” Simons said. “He has got no ego and is the perfect man to lead. Captaincy is all about taking information from others and making the right decisions and he will be able to do that.”Simons, 48, served as South Africa’s head coach from 2002-2004 and later held various capacities at the High Performance Centre in Pretoria. He also has some coaching experience in the IPL, having worked as a consultant with Ray Jennings last year for Royal Challengers Bangalore when the tournament moved to South Africa.He will be assisting Greg Shipperd, having filled the position left vacant by Australia’s David Saker on March 3 this year, and focus on working with the large bunch of young bowlers in the Delhi squad. However, Simons said he has not had much time with the local players for the tournament beginning March 12. “I haven’t seen the local players yet. I think, after three or four nets, I should get an idea.”For a team boasting many international stars – Dirk Nannes, Paul Collingwood, Tillakaratne Dilshan, Daniel Vettori, Farveez Maharoof, David Warner, AB de Villiers, Moises Henriques, Andrew McDonald and new purchase Wayne Parnell – the choice of playing four players from the contingent could be tough.”That is where the balancing act needs to be done,” Simons told . “It is important to manage international players. We have to make sure our top players are not jaded and, hopefully, this time we can manage that. At the moment, everyone is fit and raring to go. It is going to be an arduous six weeks of the tournament and we are hoping to keep everyone on the field. This is where the role of the backroom staff will be very important.”The pitch at the Feroz Shah Kotla Stadium, Delhi’s home ground, has come under criticism in the recent past. The abandonment of the fifth ODI between India and Sri Lanka in December last year, resulted in a one-year international ban from the ICC. However, the venue will host IPL matches as the tournament, being a domestic one, is out of the global governing body’s purview.”We had a practice match last night where one team scored 200 and the other got really close,” Simons said. “There were a few occasions when batsmen were hitting length balls over the bowlers’ heads, which I always believe to be a fair indicator of how good a pitch is.”The surface seems kind of cold, so I think they have left some moisture on the surface which is helping it stay together. We had played on another wicket a few days ago and that had seemed slower, so it is getting better for sure.”

Nathan Bracken’s hopes of returning to Australia’s one-day team this summer have been given a boost after he was named in the New South Wales Twenty20 squad

Cricinfo staff12-Jan-2010Nathan Bracken’s hopes of returning to Australia’s one-day team this summer have been given a boost after he was named in the New South Wales Twenty20 squad. Bracken had surgery on his right knee in October and has not played at a high level since the one-dayers in England in September.He played Sydney grade cricket on the weekend and bowled eight overs, and the Blues have called him in to a 15-man squad for Wednesday’s must-win game against Queensland at Stadium Australia. New South Wales have also named Phillip Hughes, who could be released from Australia’s Test squad in Hobart if Simon Katich is passed fit.Aaron Bird has been included in the group and is free to play despite being reported on Monday for a dubious bowling action. The Blues will be taking on a Queensland side featuring Daniel Vettori, the New Zealand captain, who will fly in to Sydney on the day of the match.New South Wales need to win on Wednesday to have any hope of reaching the finals and ultimately the multi-million-dollar Champions League, which they won last year. The allrounder Moises Henriques, 22, remains in charge of the side in the absence of the captain Katich and his stand-in Stuart Clark.New South Wales squad Phillip Hughes, David Warner, Phil Jaques, Usman Khawaja, Dwayne Smith, Ben Rohrer, Steven Smith, Moises Henriques (capt), Dominic Thornely, Grant Lambert, Daniel Smith (wk), Steve O’Keefe, Nathan Bracken, Aaron Bird, Mitchell Starc.

A round-up of the second round of Quaid-e-Azam trophy matches

ESPNcricinfo staff04-Jan-2013
ScorecardWith Atif Maqbool’s 13-wicket haul, Karachi Whites handed Abbottabad a crushing defeat by an innings and 145 runs in Karachi. Trailing by 313 in the first innings, Abbottabad lost all their wickets for 168 in the second innings, out of which seven were scalped by Maqbool.When Whites started the third day, they already led by 218 runs and Saeed Bin Nasir and Fawad Alam scored another 95 runs together before declaring the innings. Abbottabad openers put on 41 together, but once the opening partnership was broken, they lost their last eight wickets for 98 runs as Khalid Usman was reported absent hurt.Karachi Whites picked up nine points from the win which takes them to top of the table in Group II.