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Vernon Philander is being prepped for a Test return after being named in South Africa’s A side to play four-day games in Zimbabwe and Australia ahead of a packed summer schedule

Firdose Moonda07-Jun-2016Vernon Philander is being prepped for a Test return after being named in South Africa’s A side to play four-day games in Zimbabwe and Australia ahead of a packed summer schedule. Philander only played three first-class games in the 2015-16 domestic season after tearing ankle ligaments before South Africa’s second Test against India in Bangalore in November last year. He has not been picked in the ODI squad and has not had any game time over the winter after failing to secure a County deal but remains in South Africa’s long-format plans.Philander is part of a 15-member squad for the Zimbabwe series – captained by new Test opener Stephen Cook, who made his debut in last summer’s final fixture – that also includes offspinner Dane Piedt, while the contingent for the Australia series includes Dean Elgar and Temba Bavuma, as South Africa prepare for 11 Tests in the 2016-17 summer, which includes a three-match tour of Australia.”A number of the Test squad regulars, who are not involved in the current tri-series in the Caribbean, have been included in the four-day squads at the request of national coach, Russell Domingo. This will give them quality match practice ahead of the two-match series against New Zealand in August,” Linda Zondi, South Africa’s convener of selectors, said. “Vernon Philander, in particular, has not had a lot of cricket, following his long-term injury lay-off.”Despite the endorsement from the administrators, Philander’s comeback is not guaranteed. He will have to fight for a place in a pack that includes Dale Steyn – who has also not played Test cricket since December and has not been included in the A squads – Kagiso Rabada, Morne Morkel and Kyle Abbott. South Africa are also looking at developing a second tier that includes Hardus Viljoen and Andile Phelukwayo.Test discards Stiaan van Zyl and Dane Vilas have also been included in the four-day squads, keeping their hopes of pushing for places alive. There are four new additions to the four-day squad: all-rounder Dwaine Pretorius and three bowlers – Sisanda Magala, Malusi Siboto and Duanne Olivier.After the four-day matches, South Africa A will feature in an annual fifty-over tri-series against the A teams from Australia and India. Wayne Parnell will captain the side to further underline his place in South Africa’s future. Parnell is currently with the ODI side in the Caribbean, making his comeback after a season on the sidelines. “Wayne Parnell gets the opportunity to develop his leadership skills in the one-day format. He was an outstanding captain of our national under-19 side and took them to the final of the under-19 World Cup in 2008,” Zondi said.The one-day side includes David Miller, who was dropped for the West Indies tour, and Rilee Rossouw and Aaron Phangiso, who are part of the trip. There is also space for Eddie Leie, who has played T20 cricket for South Africa, and Khaya Zondo, who was part of the limited-overs squads that toured India in 2015 but did not play a game.Four-day Squad to Zimbabwe: Stephen Cook (capt), Qaasim Adams, Theunis de Bruyn, Heino Kuhn, Sisanda Magala, Keshav Maharaj, Duanne Olivier, Andile Phehlukwayo, Vernon Philander, Dane Piedt, Dwaine Pretorius, Omphile Ramela, Stiaan van Zyl, Dane Vilas, Hardus ViljoenFour-day Squad to Australia: Stephen Cook (capt), Qaasim Adams, Temba Bavuma, Dean Elgar, Heino Kuhn, Sisanda Magala, Keshav Maharaj, Duanne Olivier, Wayne Parnell, Andile Phehlukwayo, Vernon Philander, Dane Piedt, Omphile Ramela, Stiaan van Zyl, Dane Vilas, Hardus ViljoenOne-day squad: Wayne Parnell (capt), Qaasim Adams, Marchant de Lange, Reeza Hendricks, Heino Kuhn, Eddie Leie, Sisanda Magala, Aaron Phangiso, Andile Phehlukwayo, Dwaine Pretorius, Rilee Rossouw, Malusi Siboto, Khaya Zondo, David Miller, Dane Vilas

Journalist Charles Watts has claimed Arsenal may have to sell William Saliba this summer if he doesn't sign a new contract in the near future.

What's the latest Arsenal transfer news?

The French centre-back's absence in recent months with a back injury has severely impacted the club's Premier League title hopes.

Indeed, the defender was a notable absence in draws against Liverpool, West Ham and Southampton, as well as the loss to Manchester City, as the Gunners failed to keep a clean sheet in any of those games.

However, they did manage to end that run with a 2-0 win over Newcastle yesterday.

Although, worrying for Arsenal, with his importance to this team so evident, Saliba's long-term future is also in doubt. Indeed, he will see his £40k-p/w come to an end in the summer of 2024 and he is yet to commit.

While talking about it all on his YouTube channel, Watts warned that the Gunners will simply have to sell this summer if the 22-year-old won't renew terms.

He explained: "Mikel has now been talking about his contract, which at the moment remains unsigned…

"Which is a little bit of a sort of elephant in the room type scenario, really, because we're all sort of hoping Saliba gets back fit, plays a part between now and the end of the season. But if not, then he gets himself fit for preseason, so he's ready to go next season.

“But if he hasn't signed a new contract by the end of preseason, it puts Arsenal in a really difficult position. Because he'll only have one year left on his contract, and he could walk away for free at the end of next season.

"So really Arsenal would have to sell this summer. And that is a bit of a horrible thing to think about, because you don't want to be losing Williams Saliba.

"But if he doesn't sign a new deal, if Arsenal can't get this deal over the line and done, then they're going to have to sell him this summer really. And that would be a huge thing for Arsenal."

Will William Saliba leave Arsenal this summer?

Things are still a little hazy regarding Saliba and his deal with some recent reports suggesting negotiations have reached an "impasse". But in more positive news Mikel Arteta has suggested a deal could be close.

Indeed, as per ESPN, the Spaniard insisted this week that the new deal "is about timing, nothing else", which suggests only a few details have to be ironed out.

Even so, if something happens to change the player's stance on the contract and negotiations fail, it would leave Arsenal in an extremely sticky situation.

As Watts points out, Saliba could leave on a free after next season, so this summer would really be the best time to sell him if they want to make any notable money on the defender.

All in all, it sounds like the Gunners really need that contract signed as soon as possible.

Leeds United forward Wilfried Gnonto has been fully fit for selection in the club’s last two Premier League games, according to a source close to the player.

What’s the latest Leeds news on Gnonto?

Gnonto arrived in the summer from FC Zurich and has made 23 appearances during his first season at Elland Road. The Italy international has scored four times and registered three assists for the Whites but has fallen out of favour under current head coach JavI Gracia.

The forward has played just 53 minutes of action in the club’s last six league games, failing to get on from the bench in Tuesday’s 1-1 draw with Leicester.

Many inside the stadium and in the media were left surprised that the 19-year-old didn’t feature in the week, which led to Gracia being quizzed on why he didn’t use Gnonto following the game.

LUFCFANZONE posted on Twitter in the last 48 hours after hearing from “a source close to the player”. They said that Gnonto suffered a small injury prior to the 6-1 defeat to Liverpool but has been fully fit for selection against Fulham and Leicester.

“Before the Liverpool game Willy sustained a small injury. He was 80% fit for the Liverpool game but has been 100% and available full strength for every game after.”

Worrying for all involved…

Phil Hay has described the situation as strange and compared it to Joe Gelhardt last season, but it is a worry that Gnonto has been fully fit and has played just 10 minutes in the last two games.

He has made things happen this season, registering the same number of assists as Brenden Aaronson in half the playing time while also providing moments of brilliance such as the opener at Old Trafford and stunning volley against Cardiff City.

Gnonto was backed by Hay to be key in the club’s battle to avoid the drop just last month, so it is concerning that he simply isn’t fancied by Gracia, with Conor McGilligan even suggesting there may have been a clash between the pair, something which many may feel could be accurate following this update.

It's not as if Leeds have been free-flowing in the final third without Gnonto either, and with Luis SInisterra going off injured against Leicester, it looks like it is between Jack Harrison, Crysencio Summerville and Gnonto for two starting spots on the wing against Bournemouth this weekend, in what appears to be a make or break game for Leeds in their attempts to avoid the drop.

Liverpool, Manchester United, and Newcastle United have all joined the race to sign Chelsea's star player Mason Mount. The England international's contract at Chelsea is set to expire in the summer of 2024. According to reports, a contract extension hasn't yet been agreed upon.

The questions being asked here are, where will Mount go next, and if he does sign for Liverpool, how would he fit into their midfield?

Who is Mason Mount?

Mason Mount is a 24-year-old attacking midfielder/central midfielder who currently plays for English Premier League side Chelsea. Since playing for the London club, he has scored 27 goals in 127 games across all competitions.

He made his debut playing for Chelsea's senior team after coming through the 'Blues' youth system in 2017 and his international debut for England came in 2019.

While playing for England, he has so far scored 5 goals in 36 games. Mount was born in Portsmouth, England, in January 1999; the right-footed attacking midfielder wears the number 19 shirt for Chelsea.

Where would Mount fit into Liverpool's midfield if he makes the switch?

If Liverpool were to sign Mount this year or next year, it would be purely to strengthen the current midfield, which currently consists of the following players:

Fabinho Harvey Elliot Curtis Jones Jordan Henderson Alexander Oxlade-Chamberlain James Milner Thiago Alcantara Naby Keita Stefan Bajcetic

If he does sign for the 'Reds,' he would definitely be an asset to the club. He would n easily fit into the middle of the field without Klopp having to make too many changes. Liverpool will no doubt be keeping a close eye on Mount's contract situation over the coming months.

Mason Mount's next club odds

If you look at some of today's major soccer betting websites, you will see that Manchester United have a slightly better chance of signing Mason Mount than Liverpool.

Some of the other clubs he could also potentially sign for are Newcastle United (English Premier League), Manchester City (English Premier League), Paris Saint-Germain (French Ligue 1), or Inter Milan (Italian Serie A).

Let's take a quick closer look at the odds:

Manchester United – Mount is currently priced, on average, at around 4/1 in the UK fractional odds format to join the Red Devils. This works out to 400 in the American/moneyline odds format or 5.00 in the European decimal odds format. This also means that there's a 20% chance of him joining Man United Liverpool – To join Liverpool, you're currently looking at odds of around 6/1 (which is 600, or 7.00), with a 14.30% chance of joining Manchester City – To join the Sky Blues, you're looking at average odds of around 12/1 (1,200, or 13.00), with a 7.70% chance of joining Paris Saint-Germain – To join Ligue 1 side PSG, you're looking at odds of around 16/1 (1,600, or 17.00), with a 5.90% chance of joining Inter Milan – To join Inter, the market is priced at around 25/1 (2,500, or 26.00), with only a 3.80% chance of joining

What's next for Mason Mount

Mason Mount is currently worth somewhere in the region of €55 million to €92 million. Whether Chelsea extends his contract to keep him there for a few more years or decides to cash in on their prolific star player while he's in the best form of his life remains to be seen.

Chelsea are currently in tenth place in the Premier League. They have just 34 points after 25 games, having won only 9 games, drawn 7 and lost 9. They have scored 24 goals and let in 25.

On Saturday, March 11th, they travel away in the Premier League to play Leicester City at the King Power Stadium. Their next league game is a home game against Everton on March 18th, and then on April 1st, they have another home game, this time against Aston Villa.

Image Source: Pixabay

Tottenham Hotspur are expected to interview free agent manager Brendan Rodgers, and he is 'very keen' on the job, according to reports.

What's the latest on Rodgers to Spurs?

After parting company with Leicester earlier this month, the Northern Irishman has been sporadically linked with a move to Spurs who were thought to hold an interest in 2021.

Indeed, the 50-year-old was apparently a target for chairman Daniel Levy, and Rodgers was also the Lilywhites chairman's 'preferred choice' to take over from Harry Redknapp 11 years ago too.

Having led the Foxes into a Premier League relegation battle before quitting the King Power, you could argue Rodgers' stock has slightly fallen since Spurs were eyeing him.

Nevertheless, it has been reported in the last fortnight that he is indeed an option for the north Londoners who are still on the hunt for Antonio Conte's permanent replacement.

Cristian Stellini and assistant coach Ryan Mason are taking interim charge while Levy expands the search, with the likes of Arne Slot (Feyenoord) and Vincent Kompany (Burnley) most heavily linked this week.

Now, as per a report by Football Insider journalist Wayne Veysey, there has been an update on their alleged interest in Rodgers as well.

The former Liverpool boss is apparently 'very keen' on the Spurs job and is expected to be interviewed for the post. Rodgers is also seen as one of the frontrunners as Tottenham chiefs take a real interest.

He's apparently happy to work 'within the board’s budget limitations' and his track record of building teams from the ground up is said to be very attractive for Spurs.

This also comes as Tottenham's chances of landing Julian Nagelsmann recede.

Would Rodgers strengthen Spurs?

Despite a torrid end to his time at Leicester, we believe Rodgers is still a very capable coach.

He even guided his most recent club to both an FA Cup and Community Shield win in 2021 – clinching nine trophies in total across his career, including a very successful spell dominating the SPFL with Celtic (Transfermarkt.

What's more, the 4-2-3-1 boss has also been praised for his work in the past by Spurs fan favourite and fellow manager candidate Mauricio Pochettino.

The Argentinian said this on Rodgers and Leicester back in 2019:

"Leicester is a very good team with a lot of unbelievable players and after winning the Premier League they rebuild their squad and today are doing fantastic with a great manager like Brendan Rodgers, who I know very well."

His credentials are there and perhaps his status as a free agent removes all obstacle standing in the way of a potential appointment.

Aston Villa's rise to become European challengers has been nothing short of meteoric, with Unai Emery the mastermind behind one of the Premier League's great success stories from this campaign.

Having started the season under Steven Gerrard, his October sacking gave way to the experienced Spaniard, whose main initial goal was just to avoid the drop.

Whilst this was expected to be a simple task for someone of his pedigree, few could have predicted just how quickly the 51-year-old would engineer a turnaround at Villa Park.

Players who had struggled under the previous regime became instant stars, and those who might have been heading for an exit were afforded crucial second chances.

With that freedom and a newfound opportunity to impress the new man, few have opted against taking that chance.

There have been standout players since that impressive appointment, with Ollie Watkins likely to steal the headlines for his fine goalscoring run. However, arguably one of the greater comeback stories given how his form has faltered in recent years, Tyrone Mings also deserves immense praise for his work in reigniting his career.

How did Tyrone Mings play vs Newcastle?

This success culminated in yesterday's unprecedented victory over Newcastle United, where every man in Claret and Blue put on a faultless display.

In a game that finished 3-0, with Watkins scoring twice, once again many rushed to laud the English forward. However, it was journalist Henry Winter who instead turned to the £80k-per-week defender as someone worthy of his praise.

He wrote on Twitter: "Mings the merciless, on the ground and in the air, AVFC defender absolutely dominated NUFC strikers. Read danger, threw his body into blocks, made clearing headers and played some neat passes to build attacks. Outstanding performance. Only Watkins was better today."

The 7.5 rating he earned from that display more than supports this glowing endorsement, as the Englishman completed six clearances, three blocks and two tackles to keep a vital clean sheet, via Sofascore.

This marked the fourth game in his last five Premier League appearances where he had earned a Sofascore rating of 7.2 or higher, truly outlining just how he had birthed such a renaissance.

Emery is deserving of widespread praise for many of his acts since moving to the Midlands, with their unlikely push for Europe sitting atop that list. But considering how only in September the 30-year-old was lambasted by Danny Mills, his work in engineering this turnaround is up there too.

The pundit had suggested: "He’s terrible. I think Maguire is better on the ball." However, with the Villans sitting at the pinnacle of the form table, and Gareth Southgate having watched over his most imperious recent performance, perhaps he is set to prove the former Leeds United defender wrong.

Journalist and transfer expert Dean Jones believes Aston Villa can now sign better midfield options than Matteo Guendouzi in the summer window.

Has Guendouzi been linked with Villa?

The Villans have enjoyed a huge turnaround in fortunes this season, initially looking like potential relegation fodder under Steven Gerrard before being transformed by the hugely impressive Unai Emery. They have won their last four Premier League games, meaning that they are suddenly sixth in the table and in with a wonderful chance of qualifying for Europe, despite having been left in 17th place upon Gerrard's exit.

All of a sudden, this feels like an exciting time for Villa supporters, as with money likely to be available for new signings in the summer transfer window, this is a great opportunity for Emery to build a truly formidable squad moving forward and make them a true force in English football again.

One player who has been linked with a move to Villa Park in the past is Guendouzi, who has matured into a key player for Marseille in recent times, having moved there from Arsenal where he often displayed his petulance – ironically while under Emery's wing. He has made 28 appearances in Ligue 1 this season, as well as playing once for France at the 2022 World Cup.

Could Villans sign someone better?

Speaking to GiveMeSport, Jones claimed that Villa could now actually look at superior options than the 23-year-old, even though a move could still materialise:

"It'll be interesting to see what Unai Emery makes of the idea of something like this, and if he does think it will work, you kind of have to trust him.

"Personally, I think they could do better than that. But obviously, in the team model that they're putting together, he might be a good fit."

The fact that Villa are now being deemed as too good for Guendouzi says so much about the progress under Emery, with the seven-cap France international someone who has been described as a "great player" by former Germany international Arne Friedrich.

While there are alternative midfielders out there than the ex-Arsenal man – Villa have been linked with a move for Sporting CP talisman Pedro Goncalves, for example – he could still be a really effective signing, as he would arrive with Premier League and European experience.

He has enjoyed an 88.4% pass completion rate in Ligue 1 this season (no current Villa player has a better rate in the Premier League), and we believe he is someone who could enhance Villa's depth and be a long-term addition to the squad.

Arsenal, on their road to challenging for the Premier League title, have endured plenty of hardships.

Whether it be finding the right manager, or sifting through the transfer market to select new players, the Gunners have got it spectacularly wrong on numerous occasions before they got it right.

Unai Emery was handed the unenviable task of taking over after Arsene Wenger and unsurprisingly suffered because of it. Expectations were through the roof, and although some of his transfers were questionable he was not a bad manager at all.

Regardless, he was dismissed in favour of Mikel Arteta; an unproven graduate from Pep Guardiola's school of thinking taking on his first stint as a head coach.

The Spaniard was swift and decisive in clearing out the squad he had inherited, showing a ruthless touch needed to move on from the sentimentality of the legendary Frenchman's era.

Players such as Nicolas Pepe and Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang were swiftly pushed out the door, however, it is the likes of Lucas Torreira who silently bled the club dry underneath these bigger names.

How much did Lucas Torreira cost Arsenal?

The fourth addition of the Emery era, the diminutive midfielder was expected to add some relentlessness and steel to their engine room not too dissimilar to N'Golo Kante's contribution to Leicester City and Chelsea.

However, the £26.5m fee was surprisingly high for the Uruguayan who was yet to prove himself at the level that would be demanded of him at the Emirates.

That quickly became apparent in the two full seasons he would feature at the club, playing a total of 89 games before returning to Serie A with Fiorentina on loan.

Those Premier League campaigns saw him record an underwhelming 6.88 and 6.82 average rating respectively, via Sofascore, a far cry from the return they expected.

Even the Italian outfit did not want to spend any money on signing the 27-year-old, who instead moved to Galatasaray.

Paul Merson had predicted such an underperformance however as he told Sky Sports (via The Express) four years ago: "Everyone was raving about Lucas Torreira, but he’s not that good.

“I said this a few months ago and everyone kicked up a stink. He only looks good as he’s what Arsenal have needed for a long time, someone to run around and put their foot in. But if you put him up for sale tomorrow, then none of the top five clubs in the Premier League would be interested."

Fiorentina only served to prove this with their lack of interest.

Whilst the fee alone would mark Torreira as a huge disappointment, the fact that he sat on a lofty £75k-per-week wage packet during his two full seasons at the club further enhanced the total loss to £34.3m.

This marks one of many abysmal deals, which Arteta has expunged from memory due to how he has transformed the culture at the club. Under his stewardship, it seems these kinds of moves will become far more infrequent, much to the delight of KSE and Stan Kroenke's wallet.

When Brendan Rodgers was dismissed from his managerial position at Liverpool in October 2015, the proud and prestigious Premier League outfit was full of trepidation; sustained success looked like a fleeting and distant memory, and silverware looked unattainable for years to come.

Jurgen Klopp was appointed as Rodgers' successor and Liverpool's quandary was swiftly eradicated, the course was set for an era laden with triumph, with the German manager leading the Reds to glory in the Premier League, Champions League and FA Cup, winning multiple further major honours.

Seasonal fortunes have not been so emphatic in the present day, but Klopp entered a dilapidated shack and crafted a castle, and that will leave him a perpetually revered figure on Merseyside.

Mohamed Salah earns the plaudits for his clinical brilliance, while £75m centre-back Virgil van Dijk has been a colossus since he arrived from Southampton; Trent Alexander-Arnold, the homegrown talent, is one of the most destructive creative forces the Premier League has ever seen.

The nucleus that has held it all together, however, has been captain Jordan Henderson, not always the most respected or endeared figure in English football, the 32-year-old has been the centrepiece of Liverpool's endeavours, a conduit from which all has flowed at Anfield.

How much was Henderson worth at his peak?

Henderson was signed from Sunderland for roughly £20m in 2011, now a stalwart of the club having made 480 appearances, scoring 33 goals, supplying 60 assists and captaining the outfit to every slice of silverware gleaned under Klopp's wing.

At the peak of his powers Henderson was valued at £58m by Football Transfers, but the brilliance of Henderson's Anfield tenure is not marked by numerical figures, but rather by his galvanising presence and orchestrating ability.

Prior to Klopp's first trophy at Liverpool, club icon Steven Gerrard remarked that if the Reds secured the 2017/18 Champions League, Henderson must be considered among the club's very best.

He said: "I believe this Liverpool team are stronger with him in it. If he delivers this Champions League he'll be a legend here forever."

Liverpool failed on that account, but rebounded to win the following year's edition before monumentally triumphing in the Premier League for the very first time, more recently completing the domestic cup double last year.

The £140k-per-week "conductor" – as hailed by one analyst – has indeed been integral to the success, assured in possession with a career average 83.5% pass success rate and tenacious in his all-encompassing engine room role with 1.7 tackles and 1.2 interceptions per match, as per WhoScored.

Henderson has won it all at Liverpool, with the inflation of the initial value evidence of his growth as a player, emerging as one of the game's finest modern leaders under Klopp's tutelage.

Liverpool would have almost certainly cashed in lucratively had they decided to part with the one-time Coventry City loanee, though such a move would have been ludicrous, he has spearheaded one of the most illustrious spells in the distinguished football club's history, and without him, Liverpool may never have tasted such sweet success.

Chelsea are now interested in signing Leeds United goalkeeper Illan Meslier, according to a report from Football Insider.

The Lowdown: Chelsea eyeing goalkeeper

With goalkeeper Edouard Mendy currently ‘not looking’ to sign a contract extension at Stamford Bridge, the Blues are eyeing a new option between the sticks, recently being linked with a move for Borussia Dortmund’s Gregor Kobel.

On a more long-term basis, Chelsea have been looking at a number of options with proven Premier League experience, including Brighton & Hove Albion shot-stopper Robert Sanchez, who at one point was deemed to be ‘high up on the list.’

At one stage, the west London club were said to have made contact with David Raya about a move across the capital, while Everton’s Jordan Pickford was also a target, but the Englishman has recently signed a new contract.

The Latest: Meslier targeted

As per a report from Football Insider, Chelsea have now joined the race to sign Meslier in the summer transfer window, amid interest in the £30m-rated goalkeeper from the likes of Tottenham Hotspur and Manchester United.

Graham Potter is said to have informed owner Todd Boehly that he would like a new goalkeeper in the summer, and the club believe they could sign the Leeds United star for a bargain fee if they are relegated from the Premier League.

Despite the high level of interest in the 23-year-old, the Blues are willing to outbid their rivals to secure his signature.

The Verdict: Get it done?

Lauded as ‘unbelievable’ by members of the media, the Frenchman is at the right age to be a long-term success at Stamford Bridge, and he has been one of Leeds’ most consistent performers in the Premier League so far this season.

With an average Sofascore mating of 6.89, the former Lorient man is the sixth-best performing player in the squad, most recently impressing by making a total of six saves from inside the box in his side’s vital 4-2 win away at Wolverhampton Wanderers.

That said, it is unclear whether the 6 foot 4 colossus would be an upgrade on Kepa Arrizabalaga, ranking far lower than the Spaniard in terms of average save percentage per 90 over the course of the past year.

Given that Kepa has been putting in some very good performances in recent weeks, recently making five saves, including three from inside the box in the 3-1 victory at Leicester City, Chelsea should continue to monitor the performances of their current goalkeeper before deciding if a summer replacement is really necessary.