Wolves’s rise towards the Premier League elite has been rather impressive.

Just three years ago, they found themselves towards the bottom of the Championship having finished 15th in the 2016/17 season.

Now, though, they are fifth in the Premier League and are through to the last 16 of the Europa League – they drew 1-1 in the first leg against Olympiakos before football was suspended.

Jorge Mendes has had a lot to do with that – his partnership with the Midlands outfit, helping to bring in Portuguese players like Ruben Neves, has been essential to their improvement.

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The former Porto man encapsulates how things have changed at Molineux.

He cost them £15.8m, but was valued at just £9m as per Transfermarkt at the time of signing – that number now stands at £45m, putting him amongst the top 10 defensive midfielders on the planet.

Of all the Premier League holding midfielders, only Rodri, Fabinho, Jorginho and Declan Rice boast a higher market value.

Here are three reasons behind that exponential increase…

UEFA Nations League victory

The 23-year-old was just too young to make it into Portugal’s Euro 2016-winning squad, but he was to play an important role in their next international triumph.

He played in all but one of his country’s matches as they lifted the UEFA Nations League in 2019, with them beating the Netherlands in the final.

Neves only came on from the bench in that final match, but he played the full 90 minutes in the 3-1 victory against Switzerland in the semi-final – he has been included in every one of Fernando Santos’ squads since.

First season in the Premier League, 2018/19

Neves was a fulcrum of the side that was promoted to the top flight during the 2017/18 season, scoring six times in 42 matches, but considering he was already the youngest Champions League captain in history at that point, it was hardly surprising to see him perform in the second tier.

The top flight was to be the true test of his ability.

He settled in fantastically amongst the elite, though. He started 34 out of a possible 38 matches as Wolves finished in seventh place in the league, whilst he also played in five FA Cup matches as they reached the semi-finals. With 2.1 tackles and 2.1 interceptions per match in the top tier, he was a player Nuno Espirito Santo couldn’t do without.

Real Madrid interest

It was only a matter of time before one of Europe’s biggest clubs registered an interest in the up-and-coming star, and they don’t come much bigger than Real Madrid.

According to El Desmarque, Los Merengues were interested in making a move for him in January.

That failed to materialise in the end, but don’t be surprised to see a number of other top sides pursue the midfielder when the market reopens for business.

A solid batting performance enabled Central Districts to consolidate their position at the top of the points table in a drawn encounter with Northern Districts in Whangarei. Peter Ingram (105) and George Worker (52) led the way with a big opening stand, and Tim Weston (99) and Kruger van Wyk (92 not out) boosted CD past ND’s 342 with a century sixth-wicket partnership. Graeme Aldridge took four wickets but there wasn’t much going for the other bowlers as CD surged to a 155-run first-innings lead. Kieran Noema-Barnett, Doug Bracewell and Michael Mason had earlier grabbed eight wickets between them to restrict ND to 342, despite Daniel Flynn’s 135 and half-centuries from Peter McGlashan and Aldridge.ND recovered from 24 for 3 in their second innings to post 275, but the match had meandered into academic realms by then. BJ Watling was dismissed for 99, and Brook Hatwell got 71. Worker helped himself to three late wickets with his slow left-armers, but it was the seamers who did most of the damage upfront. In a short but frenetic second innings, CD made 28 for 3, with two batsmen being run out. But they had already assured themselves of two points.Otago fell two runs short of beating Canterbury in their game at the Queenstown Events Centre. Chasing 345 for victory Otago reached 343 for 7 with Shaun Haigh unbeaten on 94.Earlier, centuries from Reece Young and Andrew Ellis and 95 from Michael Papps, propelled Canterbury to 496 in their first innings. In reply Otago reached 171 for 3 at the end of the second day. On a rain-interrupted third day, they could only add a further 70 runs and they declared overnight. Canterbury raced to 89 for 2 in 15 overs, before declaring to set Otago a target of 345 in 90 overs.Otago started steadily with openers Cumming and Aaron Redmond putting on 90 runs in just under 23 overs before Redmond was dismissed. Cumming, who made an unbeaten 127 in the first innings, continued to look in fine nick, hitting 17 fours as he reached his second century of the match. At 234 for 1 with 30 overs remaining, Otago looked well on course for victory. However Willie Lonsdale struck a crucial double blow dismissing Cumming and Neil Broom in the 62nd over. Otago seemed to lose momentum after that as Todd Astle and Ellis picked up four middle and lower-order wickets between them. The seventh wicket fell with the score on 308 and at the stage Otago needed 37 runs off 46 balls. But Haigh and No 9 Neil Wagner were only able to add 35 runs and the match ended in a draw.Wellington beat Auckland by five wickets at the Basin Reserve to record their first outright win of the season and joined Northern Districts at third position in the points table.Andy McKay and Mark Gillespie picked up seven wickets between them as Auckland were bowled out for 330 in their first innings. Andrew de Boorder made 124 and Jimmy Neesham made 67 but none of the remaining batsmen could get past 35. Wellington declared their innings on 332 with Michael Pollard making 131 and Stewart Rhodes an unbeaten 71. McKay, followed his four-wicket haul in the first innings to pick up five wickets as Auckland declared their second innings on 277 for 9. Their top six batsmen all got past 20, but failed to go on and make a big score with Boorder top scoring with 55. Set a target of 276, Wellington started poorly losing opener Stephen Murdoch with just six runs on the board. However Neal Parlane, who made an unbeaten 127, put on a half-century partnership with Pollard, and an unbroken 134 runs with Joe Austin-Smellie (63), to take Wellington to a victory.The next round of games begin on February 24.

Loads of Newcastle fans have been reacting to a tweet showing some of Salomon Rondon’s best moments on Tyneside, and it’s fair to say they are missing the Venezuela international.

Players going on loan can often be a difficult and tiring process, as it is hard to relate with a fan base when you’re only at the club for one season.

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Every now and again though a player just ‘gets it’, leading to a unique relationship with fans that even the permanent players may not be entitled to, and that’s exactly what happened with Rondon under Rafael Benitez at Newcastle.

The colossal number nine bagged 12 goals and provided seven assists in his lone season as a Magpie, proving to be one of the smartest loan signings the club has ever made.

Valued at £9m by Transfermarkt, he worked tirelessly, scored Alan Shearer-esque headers and also linked up well with his teammates, and fans have been drooling over a compilation of his time at the club.

Check out the video and some of the best Twitter reactions down below, where one member of the Toon Army called it “heartbreaking”…

Steve Harmison is the latest to weigh in on the takeover talks…

Former Leeds United defender Danny Mills has questioned whether reported target Rhian Brewster would provide a better option in the striker position than incumbent Patrick Bamford in an interview with Football Insider.

What did he say?

Bamford has been Leeds’ main man up front this season, starting 35 of their 37 league fixtures so far.

Neither Eddie Nketiah nor Jean-Kevin Augustin have been able to displace the former Chelsea man, despite the 26-year-old managing just 13 league goals.

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As a result of Bamford’s struggles in front of goal the Elland Road-club have been linked with a loan move for Brewster, but Mills said the Liverpool youngster would not be an upgrade.

Speaking to Football Insider, he said: “I would only see him as a squad player. He is not ready to lead the line, that is for sure. You would need somebody with out-and-out experience of the Premier League.

“You might as well stick with Bamford if you are going to go with Rhian Brewster. Undoubtedly he has got talent but he is unproven.

“If you are going to replace somebody you have to have the guarantee that they are better than what you have got.”

Chance to prove himself

Brewster has done well since arriving at Swansea City on loan during the January transfer window, managing four goals in his 11 appearances so far, and clearly has the quality to find goals at Championship level.

However, he is unproven in the Premier League and it remains to be seen whether he can replicate the hold-up ability that has made Bamford such a valuable part of Marcelo Bielsa’s side, measuring in at just 5 foot 11.

Perhaps Brewster would be a worthwhile swoop if Leeds are still in the Championship, but it’s suggested he’s on their radar as a top-flight addition. That would certainly be a gamble at this stage.

Augustin is still at the club of course and could come good once he has had more time to train with Bielsa and adapt to the side’s system.

Meanwhile, Kalvin Phillips has made one Leeds fan cry.

Scorecard and ball-by-ball details
Stafanie Taylor was in fine form with both bat and ball against South Africa•ICC/Getty

Stafanie Taylor led a dominating performance from West Indies in Galle, as they thrashed South Africa and qualified for the semi-finals. Taylor starred in an all-round effort, starting with her offspinners while opening the bowling. She bowled a miserly spell, conceding just 10 runs in four overs and picking up three wickets.South Africa were left reeling at 19 for 6 at one stage, and only a seventh-wicket stand of 46 helped save them from further humiliation. Dane van Niekerk (29) and Shabnim Ismail (16) resisted until they were both run out, and South Africa had to settle for just 70 in their 20 overs.West Indies completed a clinical victory, Taylor remaining unbeaten on 33 with the bat. She was part of an unbroken 71-run opening stand with Juliana Nero, and the pair took just 9.4 overs to seal victory.West Indies captain Merissa Aguilleira said the plan was to expose South Africa’s weakness against spin. “We know that they fancy pace on the ball and like the ball coming onto the bat. We decided to change the normal game-plan and force them to go for shots by using our slow bowlers,” Aguilleira said.She also praised Taylor’s contribution: “Stafanie showed today why she is among the best in the world at the moment and rated among the best women who have played international cricket. She led the way with the ball and came back to finish the job with the bat. She’s a class act and always gives her all for the team.”
Scorecard and ball-by-ball details
New Zealand sealed their spot in the semi-finals on a day of one-sided contests in the women’s World Twenty20. They beat hosts Sri Lanka by eight wickets, following a collective bowling effort that set up an easy chase. Sri Lanka chose to bat but were jolted early in their innings, losing opener Yasoda Mendis in the third over. The only signs of promise were the second-wicket stand of 28 between Inoka Galagedara and Chamari Atapattu and of 29 between captain Shashikala Siriwardene and Dilani Surangika for the fourth wicket.But the batsmen only managed a highest score of 14 between them, and persistent strikes from the New Zealand bowlers ensured Sri Lanka were bowled out for 89. Sian Ruck, Erin Bermingham and Morna Nielson picked up two wickets each.New Zealand’s win wasn’t quite as comprehensive as what West Indies managed against South Africa, but it was still fairly clinical. Captain Suzie Bates fell early in the chase but Amy Satterthwaite made an unbeaten 32, supported by Sophie Devine’s 23. New Zealand lost just two wickets and completed the win in the 16th over.New Zealand, West Indies, Australia and England are the four semi-finalists, but the line-ups will be decided on October 1 – the last day of the league games.

It’s fair to say that Stewart Donald isn’t the most popular of figures at Sunderland.

After the Black Cats’ board confirmed several months ago that Donald was looking to finally sell the club, various supporters groups united in issuing a statement revealing their relief at the “welcome news” and their hope that a new owner could get Sunderland “back where it belongs”.

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Since then, prospective buyers have simply walked away, and things have been left in limbo, particularly with the current situation affecting the world taking its toll on football too.

Now, The Daily Mail journalist Craig Hope has revealed that Donald can “charge interest up to nine per cent above base rate on money he loans to the holding company that owns Sunderland”.

After hearing about the update, Sunderland fans took to Twitter to share their thoughts on the situation.

Some Sunderland fans urged Hope to “keep digging for the truth” and bring some accountability for Donald.

When the club announced a few months ago that Donald was looking to relinquish his hold on the club, Sunderland fans would no doubt have been hoping for a brighter future without him at the helm.

Instead, things have reached a standstill, and Donald’s grip on the club continues to cause controversy.

Dean Elgar, JP Duminy’s replacement in the South African squad, is counting on his ability adapt to strengthen his case for a spot in the Test XI. Elgar arrived in Brisbane on Wednesday and has four days to settle in before the squad regroups on Sunday.It is thought that Elgar is unlikely to play because Faf du Plessis was already in the touring party and will probably be promoted, but Elgar’s selection indicates he is in the national selectors’ future plans. He was called a “like for like replacement” for Duminy by convenor of selectors Andrew Hudson because apart from being a frontline batsman, his left-arm spin is a useful part-time option.But there is dissimilarity too, because Elgar has played most of his cricket in the top order and if he were to come in for Duminy, he would have to bat in the lower-middle order. It will require him to play a slightly different role, one which Duminy noted provides less batting time but more freedom because “the bowlers tend to forget about you.”Elgar thinks it’s a position he will be able to fit into with ease. “I don’t think it will be a problem to adjust to the middle order, it’s just a bit of a mind-set change,” he said. “I see myself as a versatile, flexible player and I can bat in the top order or middle order, whatever the case may be. It’s one of my better assets.”During South Africa’s one-day series against England in August, Elgar batted at No. 4, No. 3, where he made his top-score of 42, and No. 7 as part of the floating line-up. Although he did not manage any milestones on the trip, Elgar believes the experience he gained from being around the team will stand him in good stead on this tour.”Being someone who is not as active in the side and then coming for the first time to a place Australia tour, which is a tough tour, could be quite difficult.” He said. “But luckily I have had a taste of some international cricket and that does help.” He has also toured Australia before with the South African Emerging side in 2008 and 2009.Elgar’s previous involvement also means he does not need the Gary Kirsten coaching method explained to him. He understands it as being based on a philosophy in which players are accountable for their own actions. “You can prepare like an adult, they don’t treat you like children. It’s an adult’s set-up and they trust you to do what you have to do before a game. They trust you to prepare the way you want to prepare for a game or for a net session. There is a lot more responsibility on you.”Those who have followed Elgar’s career may believe he will develop quicker in an environment like that, especially as his ability to lead is clear – he captained the Under-19s in the past – and his discipline has been obvious. They may also believe he is finally getting an opportunity in the format to which he appears best suited. When Elgar was making his name at the domestic level, it was in the longer version that he was most proficient. Elgar has played in the South African A side with great success over the last few years, most recently during his 177 against Sri Lanka A in June.Elgar, too, is pleased that he has been recognised in the longer format. “I love first-class cricket because that’s the finest, purest form of the game,” he said. “I also love my one-day cricket because it adds a different dimension to the game, but if you had to put the two on the table and say chose one, I would have to say the longer format.”His penchant for spending hours at the crease is something the circumstances may not allow for on this tour, but Elgar hopes it will remain a feature of his game. “I think you reach a point where you just want to keep on batting – ask guys like Jacques Kallis and Hashim Amla. It’s just the enjoyment factor. You’ve got to look at the finer things and realise that the longer you bat, the more you are going to score and the better it is for your side. That’s something I have worked on in the past, especially in four-day cricket.”

According to a recent report from The Daily Mirror, Tottenham are interested in a move for defender Max Aarons. The 19-year-old currently plays his football at Championship table-toppers Norwich City after making the move to Carrow Road as a youth player back in 2016, with his impressive efforts for the Canaries this season seemingly attracting the interest of Spurs manager Mauricio Pochettino.

And that’s because a recent report from The Daily Mirror suggests that the Premier League title-chasers are keeping an eye on the 19-year-old’s development at the Norfolk-based outfit, with a move to North London, and thus the chance to work under Pochettino, a move that could turn Aarons into a star.

The Breakdown

Ultimately, former Southampton chief Pochettino has a proven track-record throughout his time in English football of developing and nurturing young talent into world stars, be it Luke Shaw at St Mary’s, or indeed the likes of Dele Alli, Eric Dier, and Harry Kane at Spurs.

In fact, the latter trio are now first team regulars at Tottenham with messrs Alli and Kane arguably indispensable, which itself underlines just what an outstanding coach Pochettino is – after all, Alli had never played in the Championship, let alone the Premier League, prior to his move to Spurs back in 2015.

Yet Argentine Pochettino has given him, as well as Shaw, Kane, Dier, and more recently Harry Winks, the opportunity to play first team football and prove their worth, which they have all done in abundance to suggest that there are few managers out there better equipped at bringing through young, English talent than the Tottenham manager.

And that must be of interest to Norwich defender Aarons, who has enjoyed a meteoric rise this season at Carrow Road to suggest that, with the right guidance, he could be destined for huge things in the game.

The 19-year-old originally began his youth career at Luton Town before moving to Norfolk back in 2016, earning his senior debut for Daniel Farke’s side only back in August of last year in their Carabao Cup victory over Stevenage.

Yet that has since paved the way for 26 further first team appearances for the England Under-19 international, 25 of which have come in the Championship to help the Canaries to top spot in the second tier table, with his two goals and four assists very much playing a part in their rise.

And such is the undoubted talent the right back possesses, he would surely flourish under the guidance of Pochettino at Tottenham – the Argentine’s willingness to give young players an opportunity to perform could well benefit the youngster in his quest to reach his full potential.

Ultimately, Aarons is very much a Championship sensation at present with the talent and potential to go far in the game – and a move to Spurs to work under Pochettino could go some way to turning him into a star.

Tottenham fans… what do you think? Let us know!

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Well, it appears that Marko Arnautovic is staying at West Ham United then.

The 29-year-old’s future has been the subject of intense speculation over the last few weeks amid suggestions of at least one offer from the Chinese Super League (BBC Sport).

Arnautovic appeared to wave goodbye to the West Ham fans following the club’s 1-0 win over Arsenal earlier this month (Mirror Football).

According to The Guardian, West Ham were prepared to sell Arnautovic had a club come up with an offer of £45m.

However, the attacker has now taken to Instagram to insist that he will be staying at the London Stadium until at least the end of the season.

Arnautovic, who joined West Ham from Stoke City in the summer of 2017, has scored eight times in 18 appearances for West Ham this season (Transfermarkt).

There is no question that the Hammers are a better team when he plays, but a number of the club’s fans had started to get their head around the idea of him leaving.

Arnautovic’s words have been welcomed by some, but others feel that the attacker will only be staying until the end of the season, when he will again seek a move.

A selection of the Twitter reaction from the West Ham fans can be seen below:

Check out the video below to see Pl>ymaker FC’s American Soccer Fan give his take on all six ‘field goals’ in West Ham v Burnley…

Crystal Palace have been rather impressive in recent times as they continue to improve under Roy Hodgson, having gone unbeaten in their last five games in all competitions. 

The Eagles still find themselves at risk from slipping into the relegation zone as they’re currently only two points above the bottom three, so they still need to seek even more improvements.

Interestingly, it appears as if the London club already have their sights set on a possible summer swoop, as according to Calciomercato (via 90Min), Crystal Palace are interested in Christian Kouame.

Indeed, the 21-year-old has established himself as one of the brightest prospects in Italy this season, having produced four goals and six assists at current club Genoa. He is a powerful forward who possesses an obvious aerial threat, so he would be a great addition for Palace who look to play off a target man.

Sadly, the likes of Christian Benteke, Jordan Ayew, Connor Wickham and Michy Batshuayi have only produced a combined three goals this season, so it’s safe to say they could do with bringing in attacking reinforcements.

Roy Hodgson can make a big statement by securing the services of Christian Kouame as they would pip one of Europe’s elite to the signing as Juventus also hold a strong interest in the Ivory Coast forward, and he has the potential to become a future star.

What do you think Crystal Palace fans?