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Celtic may be hoping that they will be able to keep hold of some of their top performers at the end of the season, rather than having to cash in on their best players.

Jota and Carl Starfelt were both sold, to Al Ittihad and Celta Vigo respectively, ahead of the 2023/24 campaign, whilst manager Ange Postecoglou was snapped up by Tottenham Hotspur.

Speculation is already circulating on the future of current Hoops star Matt O'Riley, as Leeds United – who are competing for promotion to the Premier League – are reportedly weighing up a summer swoop for the Denmark international.

Celtic have struck gold with many players in the past, signing them for modest fees before going on to rake in a massive profit, including current Liverpool and Netherlands colossus Virgil van Dijk.

If just adjust for the inflation of transfer fees in football, the Hoops once sold a defensive midfielder who was worth, relative to the time, more than current star Reo Hatate is worth in the form of Victor Wanyama.

Reo Hatate's market value

According to former Scotland international Barry Ferguson, back in September 2023, the Japan international would easily play in the Premier League and that potential suitors would need to splash out £15m to secure his services.

The ex-Rangers academy graduate based that valuation on Hatate's ability as both an athlete and a technician, as he went on to say that the Celtic dynamo is a 'modern-day' midfielder who has been a "brilliant" find for the Hoops.

Meanwhile, Transfermarkt currently his value at an estimated €10m (£8.5m). It was at €11m (£9.4m) in December 2023 but his recent absence through injury has caused a decline.

Hatate has missed a staggering 37 matches through injury for club and country this season, with calf and hamstring issues, but his form when he has been on the pitch for the Scottish giants over the last 18 months has been superb.

Appearances

32

Sofascore rating

7.32

Goals

6

Assists

8

Big chances created

10

As you can see in the table above, the 26-year-old magician offered quality as both a scorer and a creator of goals from the middle of the park in the Scottish Premiership last season.

Hatate, who held his own in physical duels with a 57% success rate in battles, scored more goals than any other central midfielder within the squad, whilst only Aaron Mooy (ten) and O'Riley (12) provided more assists from those positions.

This season, the Japan international has plundered two goals and two assists in just four league starts, with eight appearances in the division in total, as injuries have disrupted his campaign.

Celtic and Brendan Rodgers should now be hoping that Hatate returns to full fitness sooner rather than later, as his statistics prove that he can be a huge threat at the top end of the pitch for the Hoops when fit and available to start.

The Scottish giants did, however, once sell a more valuable asset in his position when they cashed in on Wanyama, who they hit the jackpot with.

How much Celtic paid for Victor Wanyama

Celtic swooped to sign the Kenya international from Belgian outfit Beerschot AC for a reported fee of £900k ahead of the 2011/12 campaign.

He hit the ground running at the base of Neil Lennon's midfield with 42 appearances in all competitions during his debut season in Scottish football, which shows that the 20-year-old starlet did not need much time to adapt to life in Glasgow.

Wanyama, who also played seven matches as a centre-back that term, chipped in with four goals and five assists for the Hoops, as they won the Premiership title.

The young enforcer followed that up with a return of nine goals and four assists in 49 appearances in all competitions during the 2012/13 campaign.

He racked up six goals and three assists in 32 matches in the Premiership, despite playing as either a defensive midfielder or a centre-back, to help the team to another league title success.

Wanyama won two Premiership titles and a Scottish Cup trophy in two years at Celtic, before Premier League side Southampton came calling in the summer of 2013.

How much Southampton paid for Victor Wanyama in 2024 money

Per Totally Money, the Saints splashed out a fee of £13m to sign the Kenyan colossus from the Scottish giants ahead of the 2013/14 campaign.

If you adjust for the inflation of transfer fees in football over the subsequent years, per Totally Money's index, that deal would be worth a staggering £23.9m in the current day, which is significantly more than the £15m that Ferguson believes Hatate is currently worth.

This shows that Celtic hit the jackpot when they signed Wanyama for £900k in 2011, as they went on to make a huge profit on the midfielder, who would be worth even more than one of their current midfield stars.

The defensive midfielder, who now plays for CF Montreal in the MLS, went on to play 97 times for Southampton across three seasons on the south coast in England, and averaged between 2.8 and 3.1 tackles per game in his three Premier League campaigns with the club.

His form for the Saints over those three years convinced Tottenham Hotspur to swoop in for him in the summer of 2016. Per Totally Money, Spurs paid £12.9m to secure his services, which would be worth £17.7m in the present day.

This suggests that Celtic extracted maximum value out of their sale of Wanyama, as Southampton ultimately sold him for less than they paid to sign the towering ace.

2016/17

36

2.5

1.1

2017/18

18

1.7

0.6

2018/19

13

1.0

0.5

2019/20

2

0.0

0.0

As you can see in the table above, the former Celtic star's initially impressive defensive work declined, alongside his appearances, over the course of his career in London.

The Kenya international scored seven goals across 97 appearances for Tottenham in those four years, before his free transfer to Montreal, where he still plays, in the summer of 2020.

Overall, Celtic should look back on Wanyama as a big success as they hit the jackpot with the colossal midfielder, who they made a huge profit on.

Cummins became the IPL’s most expensive overseas buy ever, at the auction in Kolkata

Vishal Dikshit19-Dec-2019The full list of the sold and unsold playersThe most expensive picks of the 2020 IPL auction•ESPNcricinfo LtdKnight Riders break the bank for Cummins
Cummins became the most expensive overseas buy in IPL history when Kolkata Knight Riders bought him after a scrap with Royal Challengers Bangalore and Delhi Capitals. All right, not so much a scrap, really, because Capitals and Royal Challengers went tooth-and-nail for the first part before Knight Riders waded in and had their man.ALSO READ: Cummins’ rise from a naive and fragile boy to the world’s best bowlerKL Rahul the new Kings XI captainHaving let go of R Ashwin, Kings XI Punjab announced a new captain in KL Rahul for the upcoming season. Anil Kumble, their director of cricket operations, made the announcement after the auction ended on Thursday. Kings XI also brought in Wasim Jaffer and Jonty Rhodes as their batting and fielding coaches, respectively.”This is the right moment for KL Rahul in his career,” Kumble said after the auction. “This leadership role will really help him grow.”Rahul was thankful to the team management for showing “faith” in him and giving him this responsibility. “We’ve had a great day in the auction, we’ve had exactly the players we wanted, so [I’m] really, really excited and can’t wait for the IPL,” he said in a video posted by the franchise.Sunrisers get India’s Under-19 World Cup captain
While Rajasthan Royals made a late entry to the bid for Mumbai’s Yashasvi Jaiswal, who recently became the youngest to hit a List A double-century, and got him for INR 2.4 crore (US$ 338,000 approx.), which was 12 times his base price, Sunrisers Hyderabad shelled out a lot of money on more lesser-known players: India’s Under-19 World Cup captain Priyam Garg and 22-year-old Jharkhand batsman Virat Singh. The same two teams bid for them and Sunrisers beat Kings XI both times, for INR 1.9 crore each (US$ 267,000 approx.).Sheldon Cottrell brings out the salute•BCCIFast bowlers get the big money
The second round saw big money being spent on the fast bowlers, especially Nathan Coulter-Nile and Sheldon Cottrell. Coulter-Nile was another Australian to fetch big money as Mumbai Indians and Chennai Super Kings fought over him. He quickly became a millionaire and then went to Mumbai for a massive INR 8 crore (US$ 1.1 million approx.). Cottrell’s bid saw a fierce three-way fight between Royals, Capitals and Kings XI. His bid also went on for long and became a battle between Kings XI and Capitals. Kings XI finally pouched the West Indian for INR 8.5 crore (US$ 1.2 million approx.). Royals bid again for Indian left-arm seamer Jaydev Unadkat and were given a bit of competition by Kings XI but eventually got him back for INR 3 crore (US$ 423,000 approx.).In the last leg of the auction, South Africa quick Dale Steyn who has been injury-prone of late, was picked by Royal Challengers, again, after twice going unsold earlier in the day. He was picked for INR 2 crore (US$ 282,000 approx.), even though he left the BBL recently with a side strain.Australians on the teams’ radar
Cummins was certainly not the first Australian to attract interest. Before him, Glenn Maxwell was picked up by Kings XI for INR 10.75 crore (US$ 1.5 million approx.). Royal Challengers picked up Australia opener Aaron Finch for INR 4.4 crore (US$ 620,000 approx.) after winning a bidding war against Knight Riders.Later in the evening, Josh Hazlewood and Mitchell Marsh were sold at their base prices of INR 2 crore ($US 282,000 approx.) to Super Kings and Sunrisers respectively.Tom Banton thumps one over midwicket•Getty ImagesAllrounder Marcus Stoinis fetched even more money when his bidding started at a base price of INR 1 crore and Royals and Capitals multiplied it nearly five times and was finally taken by the Delhi franchise for INR 4.80 cr ($US 676,000 approx.).Andrew Tye went unsold twice but eventually got a team late in the auction script, when Royals bought him for his base price of INR 1 crore (US$ 140,800 approx.). Varun, Chawla in high demandVarun Chakravarthy, the mystery spinner who was the joint-most expensive buy last season, picked up an injury after just one match last IPL. That remains the only game he has played in more than 12 months and it would not have been surprising if no one wanted him this time, or spent a small amount on him. But Knight Riders and Royal Challengers did not think so. They took his price up, up, and away to INR 4 crore (US$ 563,000 approx.), when Knight Riders got him on board.Piyush Chawla, meanwhile, is 31 and not among the top spinners in the country, and had been released by Knight Riders recently. He got INR 6.75 crore (US$ 0.95 million approx.) from Super Kings, who also have Harbhajan Singh, Imran Tahir, Ravindra Jadeja and Mitchell Santner in their spin contingent. Mumbai opened the bid for Chawla but soon dropped out as Kings XI joined in, but they stopped after a while too, and Super Kings got their man.Another millionaire from the CaribbeanFresh off a match-winning century against India in the first ODI, West Indies’ Shimron Hetmyer is a millionaire now too. He had set his base price at INR 50 lakh and saw two bidding wars: first between Royals and Knight Riders and then between Capitals and Royals. Capitals made him a millionaire with a bid of INR 7.25 crore and then bagged him for INR 7.75 crore (US$ 1.1 million approx.). Hetmyer is known for his big-hitting and was let go by Royal Challengers recently after they gave him only five games last season in which he scored 90 runs.Pravin Tambe belts out an appealThe quick and cheap buys
After the main rounds of bidding, the accelerated stage saw a mix of international and uncapped players scattered across franchises. While many went unsold, the biggest buys of the round were fast bowlers Kane Richardson and Chris Jordan. Royal Challengers bid for both of them but only got Richardson, for INR 4 crore (US$ 563,000 approx.), whereas Kings XI bought Jordan for INR 3 crore (US$ 423,000 approx.) which was four times his base price of INR 75 lakh.Tom Banton, a hard-hitting England batsman who topped the run-scoring charts in the Vitality Blast and is currently playing in the BBL, was bagged by the Knight Riders for his base price of INR 1 crore (US$ 141,000 approx.). West Indies’ Fabian Allen and Oshane Thomas too went for their base prices of INR 50 lakh (US$ 70,400 approx.) to Sunrisers and the Royals respectively. And Sri Lanka’s Isuru Udana, who shone with both bat and ball recently in the Mzansi Super League, got an IPL home with Royal Challengers for his base price of INR 50 lakh (US$ 70,400 approx.).Pravin Tambe, the oldest player in the auction at 48, will get to be a part of the Knight Riders squad, for his base price of INR 20 lakh (US$ 28,150 approx). Prabhsimran Singh, who went for a whopping INR 4.8 crore last auction but played only one game for Kings XI, was bought back by the franchise for INR 55 lakh (US$ 77,500 approx.)

Dele Alli is closing in on a return to action at Everton, as he seeks to land a new contract, with an encouraging update delivered on his fitness.

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Former England star is now a free agentTraining with Toffees during pre-seasonBig decision needs to be made on futureWHAT HAPPENED?

The 28-year-old has not played a competitive game of any kind since February 2023 – during a forgettable loan spell at Turkish side Besiktas. Dele has endured issues on and off the field since then, which has brought his professional career to a halt.

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Another operation was undergone in January, as fitness problems become all too familiar, and a long road to recovery has been taken in since then – with the odd setback being endured along the way. Dele became a free agent at the end of the 2023-24 campaign.

DID YOU KNOW?

Tottenham have, however, agreed to waive the fee that they would be due if Dele were to sign fresh terms at Everton – and he has joined them for pre-season training. He did not figure in a friendly date with Sligo, but could soon be back out on the field.

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Getty ImagesWHAT DYCHE SAID

Toffees boss Sean Dyche told the club’s when offering an update on those that are currently being ruled out of his plans: “[James Tarkowski] has got a minor niggle at this stage and we have to be careful. We’ve got some other players we’re just being a bit careful with – they’re okay, just a few niggles that we’re going to monitor but nothing too serious. We’re hopeful with Tarky, hopefully it’s nothing. Jarrad [Branthwaite] is making good progress as are Patto [Nathan Patterson] and Dele so we’ll see how those guys go. At this stage it’s nothing too serious so we’re thankful for that.”

South Africa’s new head coach talks up key lessons about diversity as he prepares to take on England

Firdose Moonda21-Dec-2019Some call it bullish, while others call it bullying. Mark Boucher had been labelled both during his playing career. On the field, he was the man up for a fight. Off it, he was one of the toughest fines’ masters around: if he ordered it, you drank it. He was the ultimate boytjie. And then came that day in July 2012.When Boucher’s career was ended by that freak eye injury, three Tests before he planned it would, he was forced to turn his focus inwards. Initially, it took him completely away from cricket and into nature conservation, and then it brought him back as a coach. At the Titans, Boucher was open to running his dressing room differently to the ones he had played in. He let go of the schoolboy-style ideas of hierarchy and embraced modern methods of man-management which are less dictatorial and more focused on individualism.Under Boucher, the Titans won five trophies, produced Aiden Markram, Lungi Ngidi, Tabraiz Shamsi and Heinrich Klaasen for the national side, gave Dean Elgar and Theunis de Bruyn a franchise to find and re-find form and harnessed the talents of players such as Farhaan Behardien and Junior Dala to form a competitive unit. Just read those names and you can see differences of culture, background and experience. That Boucher was able to impact them all speaks of the biggest lesson he has learnt as a coach, and presents a softer and more considered side to a man we all thought we knew as uncompromisingly hard.”My way is not always the right way,” Boucher said at the South African training camp in Pretoria. “There were times in my career where I used to go out there and be quite aggressive and try and impose myself on team-mates and this is what I have learnt about diversity within a set-up. Sometimes you won’t get the best out of the players if you are trying to get them to be like you. My biggest lesson is to let people be who they are and let them be natural. I played at my best when I was natural but my natural wasn’t the same as AB’s [de Villiers’] natural or JK’s [Jacques Kallis’] natural. That’s a big lesson I have learnt with regards to leading individuals.”

Sometimes you won’t get the best out of the players if you are trying to get them to be like you. My biggest lesson is to let people be who they areMark Boucher on his coaching philosophy

Boucher’s observations about difference are essential at a time when the South African team risks appearing as if it is returning to the monotone days of the past. Although seven of the national side’s support staff were not part of the famed “clique”, as Herschelle Gibbs dubbed it, four most definitely were, and two of them are in the most influential positions. Graeme Smith is the acting director of cricket and Boucher is the head coach until 2023.In addition, Jacques Kallis is the batting consultant for this summer and Paul Harris’ role as spin consultant is ad-hoc but, considering Boucher was appointed above Enoch Nkwe, who is now his assistant, and taking into account the racial dynamics in South Africa, there are already accusations of a whitewash. While Gibbs has congratulated Boucher, he has also hinted that there is a concentration of power in certain peoples’ hands and so Boucher’s message of inclusivity and humility is even more important.”If you look at every team, they’ve got different characters and I want those different characters to come out because I think they add value to team unity,” Boucher said. “The other thing is understanding that we don’t know everything and there’s certain players in there that have played a lot of Test cricket. Sometimes you’ve just got to be a man manager to them. Other individuals coming in maybe need a little bit more coaching and knowledge passed on to them to try and speed up the learning process.”To apply that approach, not only does Boucher have to be perceptive enough to know which players need him more than others, he also has to able to get his own personality out of the way. And that already seems to have happened.”It’s important that you don’t have guys with egos,” Faf du Plessis, the captain, said. “That’s the most important thing when it comes to leadership groups, especially if there’s a few names thrown into the mix. For someone like Mark Boucher who has been coaching for the last three or four years with the Titans, seeing what it is like on the other side, because coaching and playing are two different roles, and you can see his development from a personality point of view.ALSO READ: Explainer: How and why Cricket South Africa’s crisis unfolded”He also understands that it’s give-and-take. He will come in sometimes and I’ll pull away and vice versa and I think that only comes when you are mature enough to understand what a leadership group looks like and are secure in your own position. If you are insecure, then you are going to feel like you need to talk all the time because there is another big voice in the team but I don’t feel like that at all.”Boucher still talks tough and is quick to remind anyone who asks that South Africa have recovered from tough times before, citing the 2-1 win in an ODI series against Australia after the Hansie Cronje scandal as his example. He needn’t go that far back, though. South Africa pulled themselves together after losing Boucher in the first warm-up match in 2012, which could have put their plans in disarray that summer, to beat England 2-0 and claim the ICC Test mace.So perhaps it’s only fitting that now, seven years later, with another crisis at their door, Boucher is back to try and fix things. But this time, it’s both the same and a different Boucher. It’s still a Boucher that is willing to roll his sleeves up and do the “dirty work” of preparation, and a Boucher that is willing to push others to their limits, but it also a Boucher that is content to sit back and watch what happens rather than bulldoze his way through.”Our role as coaches is about trying to create an environment for these guys to go out there and play their best cricket,” he said. “It’s been hard work on the coaches, we have thrown a lot and my shoulder is a bit sore but we want to get the dirty work done. And the dirty work is sometimes a bit uncomfortable for the players in the nets but we spoke about being adaptable and open to change and to try and break the ceiling a bit and see how far we can push ourselves as individuals and as a team.”

Aston Villa are currently in the quarter-finals of the Europa Conference League while battling it out to secure a top four finish in the Premier League.

It is safe to say the season has exceeded expectations, but if Unai Emery can claim a Champions League berth for next term along with winning the Conference League trophy, he will go down as a Villa legend.

His savvy in the transfer market has been a big factor in their recent rise, with the Spaniard luring the likes of Moussa Diaby, Youri Tielemans and Pau Torres to the club last summer.

Could a decision he made last summer come back to haunt him, however? The 52-year-old moved on a talented youngster who is shining for his new club – Jaden Philogene.

Jaden Philogene’s statistics for Hull City

The youngster made a total of six appearances for Villa before deciding to join Hull City last summer for a transfer fee of just £5m.

While on the surface it looked like a deal that benefitted both parties, his performances in the second tier perhaps indicated Emery moved him on too hastily.

In 23 appearances for Hull, Philogene has scored eight goals and registered six assists in the Championship as the club currently occupy seventh spot in the league table.

His 14 goals and assists would rank him fifth in the current Villa squad, while among his Hull teammates, Philogene ranks first for big chances created (five), shots on target per game (1.3) and successful dribbles per game (2.8), demonstrating how vital he has been to their cause this season.

How Jaden Philogene's wage compares to Villa squad

There is not a lot separating the young winger from Villa’s record signing, Diaby. Indeed, Philogene’s tally of 14 goal contributions is only one behind the Frenchman, while the current Hull gem has scored eight goals to his seven efforts for the Midlands side this term.

Player

Current weekly salary

Clement Lenglet

£150k-per-week

Boubacar Kamara

£150k-per-week

Youri Tielemans

£150k-per-week

Moussa Diaby

£130k-per-week

Ollie Watkins

£130k-per-week

Via Capology

The former Bayer Leverkusen winger is currently earning £130k-per-week since making the move to the Premier League from the Bundesliga nine months ago, but his displays have been a far cry from this sort of salary.

Philogene, on the other hand, is earning just £9k-per-week following his arrival from Villa in 2023 and this is a staggering difference considering their attacking output is fairly similar.

This means Diaby is currently earning 14 times more than the 22-year-old. With his performances for Hull gaining the youngster plenty of plaudits, may Emery rue moving him on so soon rather than giving him a chance in the senior squad?

The Spaniard will be able to go out and splash the cash on young talent in the summer transfer market to soften the blow, but that is not the point. He had a player of considerable talent at the club who was knocking on the door.

Philogene – who has been lauded for his "ridiculous" talent by manager Liam Rosenior – has enhanced his reputation this term and should Hull gain promotion, he could even come back and haunt Emery and Villa during the 2024/25 campaign.

For just £5m, the Championship side have secured themselves a wonderful bargain, no doubt about it.

David de Gea is reportedly open to plying his trade in Serie A as he continues to search for a new club amid MLS rumours.

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De Gea ready to join GenoaHas been a free agent since leaving UnitedKeen to rekindle his career with a top-flight outfitWHAT HAPPENED?

According to Genoa, one of Italy's oldest football clubs, has presented De Gea with a transfer opportunity during the current summer window. At 33, De Gea is considering this offer seriously as he looks to rekindle his illustrious career in a top-flight league in Europe.

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Genoa seek to strengthen their goalkeeping options following the sale of Josep Martinez to Inter Milan. The manager Alberto Gilardino is convinced that De Gea could provide stability as the last line of defence as they look to break into the top half of the standings after finishing 11th in 2023-24.

DID YOU KNOW?

De Gea's departure from Manchester United marked the end of a remarkable 12-year period during which he established himself as one of the best goalkeepers in the world. His tenure at United was decorated with numerous accolades, including eight major trophies and 545 appearances. Even in his final season with United, he made 58 appearances and secured the Premier League Golden Glove award.

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GettyWHAT NEXT FOR DE GEA?

The former United star has remained active during his time as a free agent, training at the facilities of non-league club Altrincham. This commitment to his craft has kept him in peak condition, ready for the right opportunity to return to the game. De Gea had reportedly received interest from clubs in Saudi Arabia and the United States, but the talks fell through and now he appears to be intrigued by the possibility of playing in Serie A.

A major European newspaper claims that a "special" manager is being talked up as Manchester United's potential next boss after Erik ten Hag.

Erik ten Hag under pressure at Man Utd

United's current boss finds himself under enormous pressure to keep his job beyond the summer, with his side continuing to struggle this season. They are now languishing in sixth place and 12 points adrift of Aston Villa in fourth, with Champions League qualification looking close to impossible.

Sir Jim Ratcliffe has made it clear that he is going to be ruthless since becoming part owner of the Red Devils, and it looks as though he is already considering potential candidates to replace Ten Hag if things don't drastically improve.

Impressive Ipswich Town boss Kieran McKenna has been linked with coming in, guiding his current team to within touching distance of promotion from the Championship to the Premier League this season. The 37-year-old is not only a big talent, but he also has ties with United, managing the Under-18s and also being assistant manager for a period in the past.

Former Brighton and Chelsea manager Graham Potter is also seen as an option to take over at Old Trafford soon, with journalist Ben Jacobs saying: "One is Graham Potter, who couldn't handle the Chelsea dressing room for various reasons, perhaps some not in his control, but is still highly thought of after his time at Brighton. INEOS liked Potter with a view to Nice long before the investment was completed at Manchester United, and that's why he's been linked."

It remains to be seen what decision will be made with Ten Hag – Ratcliffe could yet decide that he is the right man for the job if the rest of the season goes well – but another name has now been thrown into the mix.

Man Utd links to "special" manager heating up

According to a front page report from Gazzetta dello Sport [via Sport Witness], Manchester United see Bologna manager Thiago Motta as an option to replace the Dutchman in the near future, and the links are gathering pace in Italy.

It does look as though there is more hype than anything surrounding the update however, with the report admitting that no concrete interest from the Red Devils has emerged and it could just be a case of using a huge club's name to drum up interest elsewhere.

Should Motta become a genuine managerial option for United this summer, or even before then, he would be an exciting candidate, considering what an excellent job he has done at Bologna to date.

Bologna

68

1.72

Spezia Calcio

40

0.98

Genoa

10

0.90

The 41-year-old has been hailed as a "special" manager by journalist James Horncastle, and his team sit fourth in Serie A, as they close in on a place in next season's Champions League. A recent report has claimed that internal talks have happened within United, no doubt involving Ratcliffe, and he is one of Europe's most exciting young bosses currently.

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Motta prefers to play a possession-based 4-2-3-1 formation, with a report on his tactics from the Coaches' Voice adding the system "delivers more fluidity, despite still working to an overall structure", and he would represent a vibrant choice to come in and be an upgrade on Ten Hag.

Harvey Elliott is thrilled with new Liverpool manager Arne Slot's "elegant" style of play, which he admits is "a lot different" to Jurgen Klopp's.

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Slot ushering in a new era at AnfieldHis philosophy is in stark contrast to Klopp'sElliott relishing the new playing styleWHAT HAPPENED?

Elliott played a key role in Liverpool's 1-0 victory over Real Betis, which marked the beginning of their United States tour. The 21-year-old midfielder is enjoying Slot's possession-based style, which is a major shift from Klopp's high-intensity pressing football.

AdvertisementGetty WHAT ELLIOTT SAID

Speaking ahead of an upcoming friendly match against Arsenal at Lincoln Financial Field in Philadelphia, Elliott shared his insights on the team's adaptation to Slot's methods.

"It's very elegant, Dutch style, it's very nice. The style of play is a lot different. It's more about in possession now," he told reporters. "The players are excited, we play certain patterns, it is a good buzz around the team and the lads are excited to apply it in games.

"It's a fresh start for everyone. I don't think it is nerves but excitement. I think we [will learn it] very quickly to be honest. We have seen in the last game there were certain moments where the amazing football was free-flowing.

"It's pre-season and it is only the first couple of games and we need to keep trusting what they are teaching us. We need to keep going if things don't work out [immediately] because it is all new."

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Against Real Betis, Slot deployed two number 10s, Elliott alongside Dominik Szoboszlai, a role necessitated by the absence of Darwin Nunez and Diogo Jota. The manager later indicated that he sees Elliott and Szoboszlai competing for the attacking midfielder position as this No.10 role will be pivotal in his system.

When asked if this new role could pave the way for his senior England debut, Elliott responded with determination. "I hope so. It's just down to me to put in the work, put in the performances," he said. "You can say it all you want but it is down to me to work as hard as I can and perform in training and games, so it is on myself. There's no one I could blame apart from me. I just wanted to come back early to get to grips with the new style of play and meet the coaching staff and gaffer for the first time. It gives me a chance to get up and running in pre-season. I feel like I've done that. I just need to keep going and building."

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Getty ImagesWHAT NEXT?

The renewed focus on possession and creativity under Slot's management has given Elliott a platform to showcase his talents. He hopes to secure a regular starting spot when the competitive fixtures kick off by impressing the Dutch manager during Liverpool's remaining pre-season friendlies against Arsenal, Manchester United and Sevilla.

Relive the dramatic scenes at the Gabba through the ESPNcricinfo ball-by-ball commentary

ESPNcricinfo staff19-Jan-2020The Brisbane Heat suffered the worst 10-wicket collapse in BBL history as they threw away a game they looked almost certain to win. While the overall demise of the batting was breathtaking, the last seven wickets fell for seven runs in 16 balls. Here’s how Alex Malcolm recorded the mayhem on ESPNcricinfo’s ball-by-ball commentary.***12.3 Patel to Heazlett, OUT, caught behind! A little edge trying to late cut! It was pushed through from around the wicket, it slid on straighter, he tried to run it fine, got a little tickle and Harper took the catch well after a slight juggleSam Heazlett c †Harper b Patel 56: 4 for 11312.4 Patel to Peirson, OUT, caught and bowled! A soft dismissal. Tossed up on off, it might have held in a surface a touch but he just chipped a drive back to Patel. Easy catch for him. He’s a hat-trickJimmy Peirson c & b Patel 0: 5 for 113Joe Burns trudges off after being run out•Getty Images12.5 Patel to Cutting, 1 run, shorter on off, he’s back and punching this to long off12.6 Patel to Burns, OUT, Burns is run out in a mix up! It was tossed up outside off, Burns just defended it to cover and called yes immediately, it was to the left of Harris who is a right hander and not a sharp fielder, Cutting sent him back, Burns had to turn around, Harris got to ball and had to spin around to throw, the throw was high but Harper had time to take the bails off as Burns was well out!Joe Burns run out 14: 6 for 114***13.1 Christian to Cutting, no run, good length, on off, he pushes towards mid off, Wildermuth slides coming across from midwicket and takes out a huge bit of turf with his knee! That turf was loose. He is OK but that could have been nasty.13.2 Christian to Cutting, no run, slower ball bouncer outside off, he tries to pull and misses13.3 Christian to Cutting, FOUR, 123kph, length ball outside off, he backs away and slices this in the air wide of mid off and picks the gap!13.4 Christian to Cutting, OUT, Given lbw! The umpire wasn’t going to give it and then he did! This was missing leg by some margin! He walked down the wicket, it was a slower ball inswinger, he might have even got an inside edge but it was swinging a long way as it hit the pad. It was given out and Cutting was furiousBen Cutting lbw b Christian 5: 7 for 11813.5 Christian to Lalor, no run, good length wide off, he tries to drive and missed13.6 Christian to Lalor, OUT, caught behind! Back of a length outside off, this climbs off a length, he’s trying to run it to third man but it got big on him, gets a thin edge through to Harper! This is staggeringJosh Lalor c Harper b Christian 0: 8 for 118***14.1 Boyce to Pattinson, no run, tossed up on middle, he leans out to defend14.2 Boyce to Pattinson, 1 run, floated higher, he drives and gets a thick edge to backward point14.3 Boyce to Laughlin, no run, shorter length, he’s back and defending to cover14.4 Boyce to Laughlin, 1 run, shorter length, he’s back and cutting this to backward point, Wildermuth misfields and they nearly panic and try for a second14.5 Boyce to Pattinson, OUT, Bowled him! Played for spin that wasn’t there! This was floated up on off, it was a top spinner, he tried to work to leg thinking it was a leg break, he closed the face, was beaten on the outside edge and it hit the top of off!James Pattinson b Boyce 1: 9 for 12014.6 Boyce to Mujeeb Ur Rahman, OUT, LBW! Renegades win! Incredible! Tossed up on leg, he tried to sweep, it pitched and spun and got him on the front pad infront of middle, the umpire put his finger up after a big appeal and the Renegades celebrate!Mujeeb Ur Rahman lbw Boyce 0: 120 all out

Julen Lopetegui has responded to Danny Dyer's demand to build his West Ham team around his daughter Dani's fiancée Jarrod Bowen.

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Dyer wants Lopetegui to build team around BowenWest Ham boss responds to ex-EastEnders starSays both men need to push England starWHAT HAPPENED?

West Ham are currently gearing up for their first Premier League season under Lopetegui after the former Real Madrid manager took over from David Moyes in the summer. Ahead of the new campaign, Danny Dyer has urged Lopetegui to build the team around his daughter's fiance Jarrod Bowen. The 27-year-old was West Ham's top scorer last season, netting 16 goals and six assists to book himself a spot in England's squad for Euro 2024.

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Lopetegui has now responded to Dyer via , but says both men have work to do if they are to get the best out of Bowen this season: "I love you too! Danny, for sure, and you and me, both, we are responsible about Jarrod's performance. Depends on your daughter! So I have to push Jarrod and you have to push your daughter. Are you agreeing with me? Come on!"

Getty/West HamTHE BIGGER PICTURE

West Ham fans will be hoping Lopetegui can bring a fresh approach to the club in the new season and an attractive style of play. The Hammers have already brought in a host of players to strengthen the squad with Germany striker Niclas Fullkrug and Manchester United's Aaron Wan-Bissaka joining the likes of Max Kilman, Crysencio Summerville, Wes Foderingham and Luis Guilherme in making the move to east London.

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GettyWHAT NEXT FOR WEST HAM

Bowen was on target in West Ham's final pre-season friendly against Betis and will hope to continue that form when the team kick off their new Premier League campaign on Saturday against Aston Villa.