Liverpool are reportedly looking to add to their attacking depth by making a move for Nigeria international Moses Simon.

The Liverpool Echo are reporting that the Reds have scouted the 22-year-old and are looking to get the jump on their rivals, as it believed the Gent youngster has been tracked by a number of Premier League clubs.

The Echo speculate that the transfer fee will be around the £10million mark as he has a year to run on his contract.

Depth is key for Liverpool

As we saw in the latter part of the Premier League campaign and the Champions League, Liverpool were limping to the finish line with a number of key injuries to attack-minded players.

The season of Adam Lallana never got going due to an injury-ravaged preseason and while his like-for-like replacement in Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain was a key figure in the mid part of the season, his knee injury in the first leg of the Champions League semi-final against Roma came at a critical time.

While they still may not have beaten Real Madrid in the final, having a fit and firing Lallana and Oxlade-Chamberlain at Jurgen Klopp’s disposal would have given them a much better chance of victory.

It was also clearly noticeable that the gruelling season had taken its toll on Mo Salah and Roberto Firmino, which was not a surprise as they were relied upon to put the ball in the back of the net, as their replacements in Dom Solanke and Danny Ings were either very raw, or on the road back from a series of injuries.

With the status of Divock Origi and Daniel Sturridge still not entirely clear, the signing of Simon will be critical as the Reds look towards another season of balancing league and European football.

Qualities of Simon

Simon, who is valued at £5.4m by transfermarkt.com, is able to play on the left or right of midfield, but spent the great majority of the 2017/18 season on the left flank where he scored six goals and contributed three assists to Gent, who finished fourth in the Belgian league.

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Despite his impressive season and overall qualities, Simon missed out on Nigeria’s final World Cup squad, although he had been struggling with a hip injury.

While that would have undoubtedly come as a bitter blow, the strong interest by the Reds will surely put on a smile on his face once again.

[brid autoplay=”true” video=”253213″ player=”12034″ title=”Watch Three reasons for Liverpool fans to be cheerful”]

Fabian Delph is at World Cup 2018 on the back of an unlikely reinvention as a left-back under Pep Guardiola at Manchester City.

The champions spent big money on full-backs last summer but injury to Benjamin Mendy saw the former Aston Villa man thrust into the side on the left side of a defence that was the tightest in the Premier League.

His performances earned him a place on the plane for Russia and while he did not feature in Monday’s 2-1 win over Tunisia – although there was a stage when he looked as if he would come on for the injured Dele Alli – he was incredibly impressive in the final pre-tournament friendly.

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So, we asked the fans whether they think he has more to offer in defence or midfield and while the results were tight, the majority backed Gareth Southgate to keep him in the engine room instead in the back four like Guardiola…

According to reports by Football.London, West Ham United and Lazio are still haggling over a transfer fee for Brazilian winger Felipe Anderson, as the transfer saga involving the 25-year-old drags on.

Football.London, via reports in Italy, say that the Serie A outfit are demanding another €4m for the wideman in a deal totalling €34m (around £30m) to get the transfer over the line, and negotiations between the two clubs look set to continue.

It is still looking likely that a move will eventually go through though, as new Irons boss Manuel Pellegrini, who has been urged to sign a 22-year-old World Cup star to replace the injured Manuel Lanzini, looks to hit the ground running during the 2018/19 campaign by adding some real quality to his squad.

So, how would signing the attacker truly impact the east London club? Football FanCast take a look at the potential consequences of the major summer deal for the Hammers…

West Ham play 4-4-2

Manuel Pellegrini has been known to play a 4-4-2 – or 4-2-2-2 – formation at some of his previous clubs, but with Marko Arnautovic, Lanzini and Javier Hernandez already in his squad and potential deals for Felipe Anderson and Javier Pastore said to be possible, it appeared Chilean was ready to play with just one striker and two attacking midfielders – similar to how David Moyes often set up.

However, the injury blow for Lanzini which will rule him out until 2019 may ensure Pellegrini sticks to what he knows best, and in Anderson and Arthur Masuaku he has the two perfect speedy and tricky wide players to utilise a 4-4-2.

Javier Hernandez gets on the goal trail

West Ham fans thought they had finally got the consistent goalscorer they’d long been searching for when they signed Hernandez from Bayer Leverkusen last summer, but the 30-year-old endured a difficult debut campaign at the London Stadium – struggling as a lone striker and often finding himself behind Marko Arnautovic in the pecking order.

However, adding Anderson out wide could ensure that former Manchester United man has more support and greater service than he perhaps did last term, and if gets starts there is no reason why he can’t score 15 Premier League goals – a big improvement on the eight he netted in 2017/18.

Michail Antonio wants out

The 5ft 11in tall winger wil have surely been frustrated about often being used as a right wing-back last season rather than in his preferred position on the right wing, and the 28-year-old will be hoping that the arrival of Pellegrini at the London Stadium proves a positive for him.

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However, the fact that the Chilean is targeting a club-record deal for Anderson – who would be a first-choice – suggests Antonio will be a substitute at best during the 2018/19 campaign, and that will likely be enough to convince him to seek a move away.

So, West Ham fans, do you think the signing of Felipe Anderson is a good thing? Let us know by voting below…

[brid autoplay=”true” video=”255853″ player=”12034″ title=”Watch West Ham’s opening fixtures for the 201819 Premier League season”]

Tottenham Hotspur fans are interested in signing Hirving Lozano this summer after impressive performances for Mexico at the World Cup.

The 22-year-old has been a key player in both of his country’s wins at the tournament in Russia so far, scoring the decisive goal against Germany before assisting another in Saturday’s 2-1 win over South Korea.

His performances for Mexico follow what was a huge 2017/18 season for the player, netting 19 goals in all competitions for PSV and assisting another eight more.

He is now primed to make a move to a bigger league and a bigger club.

With Spurs looking for depth to complement their already impressive attacking line-up, could Lozano be the perfect fit in Mauricio Pochettino’s squad and system?

Supporters have certainly been taking a close look at his performances at the World Cup so far, with some believing he could indeed flourish under the guidance of their Argentinian manager.

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They took to Twitter to share their thoughts this weekend…

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Will be available for the first four matches of the four-day competition ahead of the 50-over and Twenty20 events

Cricinfo staff02-Nov-2009Ravi Bopara, the England batsman, has been signed up by Auckland for the domestic cricket season. Bopara, 24, will be available for the first four matches of the four-day competition, starting next week, ahead of the 50-over and Twenty20 events.”We had only been looking for someone for the Twenty20 but he’s very keen to come out for a longer period,” Auckland chief executive Andrew Eade told the .After being left out of the final Ashes Test following a dreadful run of form, Bopara recently lost his one-day spot for the tour to South Africa. He has vowed to return to the England Test side a better player after being dropped following a torrid series against Australia. At the start of the home season he was promoted to No. 3 and responded with consecutive centuries against West Indies, but found life much harder against Australia. His technique was exposed outside the off stump and he was also trapped leg before on three occasions.Eade said it was Bopara’s idea to land in New Zealand as soon as possible. “He is keen to come and contribute over a longer period for us, which is great. He has exactly the right skill set we want, a hard-hitting batsman with a bit of bowling to back that up.”

BJ Watling is in line for his Test debut after replacing Peter Fulton for the series-deciding third Test against Pakistan in Napier

Cricinfo staff07-Dec-2009The in-form BJ Watling is in line for his Test debut after replacing Peter Fulton for the series-deciding third Test against Pakistan in Napier from Friday. New Zealand’s selectors avoided wholesale changes after they were dismissed for 99 and 263 in the loss in Wellington on Sunday, with Watling the only new face in the 13-man outfit.”I had a fair idea I was in the mix but you are always shocked and excited when you get the call-up,” said Watling, who played two Twenty20 internationals in the UAE last month. He has performed well in the State Shield and scored 90 and 136 in the most recent rounds of the Plunket Shield. The selector Mark Greatbatch said Watling showed outstanding potential as a developing batsman.”He’s a quality young player with good technique,” Greatbatch said. “With the series at one-all we need to regroup and we believe Watling can add strength at the top.”There was a lot of discussion about the batting line-up, but this was not a time for wholesale change. We are aiming to give guys the opportunity to succeed.”Fulton managed 42 runs in the opening two games, which was only marginally worse than the return of Grant Elliott and slightly better than Tim McIntosh. Ross Taylor has been the key local batsman in the series, scoring 280 runs, including 97 in the second innings in Wellington.Greatbatch added that New Zealand might make some changes to their batting order, pushing Flynn – who batted at No.3 in Wellington – down the order, and Martin Guptill to No.3 from his opening slot.New Zealand squad Tim McIntosh, Martin Guptill, Daniel Flynn, Ross Taylor, BJ Watling, Grant Elliott, Brendon McCullum (wk), Daniel Vettori (capt), Daryl Tuffey, Iain O’Brien, Chris Martin, Jeetan Patel, Tim Southee.

Graeme Smith has admitted the decision over Makhaya Ntini’s is a “sensitive” issue, but he didn’t give the struggling fast bowler his unqualified support

Andrew McGlashan in Cape Town02-Jan-2010Graeme Smith has admitted the decision over Makhaya Ntini’s place in South Africa’s line-up is a “sensitive” issue, but unlike during the build-up to the previous Test at Durban he didn’t give the struggling fast bowler his unqualified support.Two days on from the Kingsmead Test, Smith confirmed that Ntini would retain his place in the starting line-up at the expense of Friedel de Wet, but after a performance where he went wicketless through 29 overs the captain was no longer able to offer that backing. The decision over Ntini’s fate was being taken on Saturday afternoon and the news is unlikely to be good for one of South Africa’s most famous sportsmen.”It’s a sensitive issue in South Africa, and that’s being honest,” Smith said. “Makhaya is an ‘icon’, through the country, not only the most iconic player of colour that we have, but also one of our most iconic cricketers in terms of performance over the last decade.”When senior players are at the point where there are a lot of questions being asked about them it’s always a terrible, tough time for any leadership group to manage. We’ve really tried to support Makhaya and give him as much as we can behind the scenes.”He’s been working hard at his game. Let’s hope there’s confidence left in him for the future. It’s always tough when a guy hasn’t taken a wicket in a game to say you’ve seen improvements.”Such has been the focus on Ntini throughout this series – from the build-up to his 100th cap at Centurion to his decline in form – that Smith showed his exasperation at endlessly having to defend his strike bowler when asked again about his chances. But Ntini is more than just another cricketer in South Africa which is why the issue is so significant.”England have played him well. They’ve had good tactics against him, and Makhaya probably hasn’t been at his best,” Smith said. “We’ve worked on a few things with him this week. Let’s see what happens.”Makhaya will fall into the same place as everyone else. We want to pick the best team for tomorrow. Obviously it is a sensitive issue. We want to make the right decision, so we can win a Test match over the next five days.”In the set-up of South Africa cricket the final decision on the team rests with coach Mickey Arthur once he is given a squad by the selectors, headed by Mike Procter. The triangle of Arthur, Procter and Smith has had few issues over the last year and this major selection call will test the cohesiveness of the home side.”Mickey is meeting with the selection panel this afternoon. We’ll have the team by tonight and announce it [in the] morning,” Smith said. “As far as I know, the selection process is that Mickey will have the final call.”I’ll have an input. But since I’ve been captain, I can’t remember having a vote in the selection. I’m not passing the buck … it’s always been that way.”Either decision will come with significant consequences. If Ntini somehow survives the axe it will create an inescapable feeling that more than purely cricket reasons are behind the decision, but if he is omitted, as looks likely, it will be a tough road back for a player who means so much to this country.There is no black cricketer making a huge push for selection in the near future. Only Lonwabo Tsotsobe, the left-arm paceman who has played three ODIs, is close to the national set-up and he isn’t considered a realistic Test option at the moment. The coming weeks and months will show how free of outside influences South African cricket has become.

Niranjan Shah, the IPL vice-president, has said he would plead his case with the IPL governing council

Cricinfo staff16-Feb-2010Ravindra Jadeja, who was banned from the IPL 2010 season for allegedly trying to negotiate a contract outside of Rajasthan Royals, has received support from Niranjan Shah, the IPL vice-president. Shah, also the president of the Saurashtra Cricket Association (SCA), whom Jadeja represents in domestic tournaments, said he would request the IPL’s governing council to consider the case.”We are hoping that everything will be fine in the coming days and Jadeja will be able to take part in the IPL3 for his franchise,” Shah was quoted as saying in the . “We will see if his ban can be reduced to a couple of matches and not for the entire tournament.”Earlier, Jadeja had pleaded his innocence saying that he had sought prior approval from the BCCI, before deciding to negotiate with other franchises. In his letter to the BCCI, reportedly written two weeks before Saturday’s ban, Jadeja said his contract with Rajasthan had expired on December 31, 2009 and that they did not give him any indications they were going to renew his contract.”It is my understanding that my contract with Rajasthan Royals has expired and they have not at any stage offered me a renewal for Season 2010,” Jadeja said in the letter. “In addition, I have never refused until this day to sign such a contract. Hence, I believe I am free to sign a contract with any franchisee.”

Shane Bond and Scott Styris have returned to the New Zealand squad for the one-dayers and the Twenty20s against Australia starting next week

Cricinfo staff19-Feb-2010The experienced pair of Shane Bond and Scott Styris have returned to the New Zealand squad for the one-dayers and the Twenty20s against Australia starting next week. The players to miss out from the pool that was picked for the recent Bangladesh series are the fast bowling pair of Andy McKay (injured) and Ian Butler.Bond comes back into the national squad for the first time since he tore an abdominal muscle during his Man-of-the-Match performance in the Dunedin Test against Pakistan last November. Australia are among Bond’s favourite opponents, particularly in the one-day format where he has 35 wickets at 14.45 in 12 matches against them, including five four-wicket hauls.”We are very happy with Shane’s progress,” Mark Greatbatch, national selector and coach, said. “He’s had five or six games now with Canterbury and club cricket and he’s ready to go.”He’s very, very excited about playing for New Zealand again in the one-dayers and Twenty20s again against Australia and has always saved his best for them so is looking forward to getting stuck in and helping us.”The other comeback man, Styris, had fared poorly in New Zealand’s limited-overs contests against Pakistan in November and was left out of the home series against Bangladesh. “Scott’s had really good domestic form,” Greatbatch said. ” We’ve asked him to go away and try and extend his game and we fell that he’s done that so he gets an opportunity in the first two one-dayer’s as part of the 13 man squad to play Australia.”The series gets underway on February 26 with the first of two Twenty20s, followed by five ODIs.New Zealand Daniel Vettori (capt), Shane Bond, Neil Broom, James Franklin, Martin Guptill, Peter Ingram, Brendon McCullum (wk), Nathan McCullum, Jacob Oram, Tim Southee, Scott Styris, Ross Taylor, Daryl Tuffey

Half-centuries from Ashen Fernando and captain Dinesh Walpita helped S. Thomas’ College fight out a draw against Royal College in the Inter School’s Annual Big Match

Cricinfo staff13-Mar-2010
Scorecard
Bhanuka Rajapaksa and Dinesh Walpita – both captains starred in all-round efforts – share the trophy•Manoj Ridimahaliyadda

Half-centuries from Ashen Fernando and captain Dinesh Walpita, backed by a useful lower-order effort by Chamod Pathirana, helped St Thomas’ College fight out a draw against Royal College at the Sinhalese Sports Club in the Inter Schools Annual Big Match. Royal College’s performance had been led by example from their captain Bhanuka Rajapakse, who starred in an all-round effort, and so did Walpita for St Thomas’ College.Royal College, led by opener Ramith Rambukwella’s blistering 165, which came off 148 balls and included 21 fours and five sixes, cruised to 288 for 4 on the third day and declared to set St Thomas’ College a challenging target of 258. St Thomas’ College, though, went about trying to save the game, as Walpita batted steadily, striking nine fours in his 128-ball 51. There were, however, moments of trepidation as Royal College nipped out the first three wickets for 53. Walpita, determined to battle through to a draw, added 69 in 22.3 overs with Fernando, who contributed 55.Still, Royal College never had victory out of sight and fought back through Rajapakse, who dismissed Walpita and wicketkeeper Sachin Peiris of consecutive deliveries to reduce the opposition to 123 for 5. The next two wickets, though not adding too many, did manage to bat 11 overs, and Pathirana, with Neomal Wickramasekera, played out a further 46 balls before play concluded.It was St Thomas’ College who had grabbed the advantage at the end of the first innings, gaining a lead of 31. Walpita, after putting Royal College in, took four wickets to help limit his opponents to 283 for 9. Rajapaksa, too, played a captain’s hand, scoring 68 off 60 balls. In reply, Pasan Wijewardene (99) and Nuwan Kavinda (86) were involved in a 159-run partnership to help their team get past 283 and post 314, though Rajapakse and Manisha Thanthirigoda, sharing eight wickets, had fought back.The tables turned in the second innings, but some determined batting by St Thomas’ College on the final day helped them save the game.