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West Bromwich Albion have been linked with a move for Spezia striker M’Bala Nzola, as reported by beIN Sports journalist Tancredi Palmeri.

The Lowdown: West Bromwich Albion eye promotion in 2021/22

Unbeaten in 2021/22 so far following two wins and a draw, the Baggies are building some momentum, in what is an important season for West Brom as they try and secure a return to the Premier League at the first attempt.

Making inroads in the transfer market, Valerien Ismael’s men have acquired three individuals in the form off Matt Clarke, Alex Mowatt and Adam Reach [Transfermarkt].

Now, they could be set to add more depth to their forward line following recent developments.

The Latest: Baggies keen on Nzola

Speaking to his large Twitter audience, Italian reporter Palmeri signified that ‘Fulham and West Bromwich are looking’ into the Italian top flight and have ‘contacted’ Spezia over the Angola international.

A fee of around €7m (£6m) is said to be enough to secure his services this summer.

Clubs in Portugal and Turkey are also mooted to be attracted to his situation.

The Verdict: Nzola would be an astute signing

Perhaps in need of another goalscorer to spearhead their promotion push, Nzola would be a very promising addition to the West Brom ranks.

In 2020/21, he excelled for his current employers, registering 14 goal contributions in 25 encounters; 11 goals and three assists [Transfermarkt].

Furthermore, he impressed with his ability to link the play efficiently up front, recording an 84.3% passing accuracy across the season [WhoScored].

Once labelled as ‘very important’ by Spezia president Stefano Chisoli, West Brom should look to finalise a deal for his signature due to his clinical finishing ability [Geordie Boot Boys].

In other news, a pundit has their say on the possibility of a USA international joining the club. Read all about it here.

The absence of key players could herald a new era for New South Wales, who will bank upon young talent to continue the success from the 2007-08 season, when they won the Pura Cup. Simon Katich, the team captain, feels the line-up is settled even without him, Brad Haddin and Doug Bollinger, all of whom will be touring India with the national side in October-November.”We expect Mark Cameron and Nathan Bracken to open the attack and, with Doug Bollinger away, someone else will try to take that other bowling opportunity,” Katich told the . “Our attack will be fine, as will our batting.”Last year Phil Hughes did extremely well, Peter Forrest had a good season, and guys like Usman Khawaja, Steven Smith and Moises Henriques got opportunities. Greg Mail and Ed Cowan will also push for spots. There’s going to be good rivalry and batsmen who make runs early will be in the best position.”Katich said the winning experience in last year’s Pura Cup, now the Sheffield Shield, will help the up-and-coming players. “They’ve got some experience under their belts, have spent time in the squad, and I think it will be time for them to push on and show what they can do,” he said. “There’s no doubt they’ve got the ability, it’s just about having that belief that they can do it at the next level.”David Gilbert, the Cricket New South Wales chief executive, was thrilled with the advent of younger players, especially Hughes and Forrest, both of whom are in India with the Australia A squad. “It’s probably one of our most exciting eras of young guys coming through since the 1980s, when the Waugh brothers [Steve and Mark] and Mark Taylor emerged,” Gilbert said. “Phil Hughes is proof of that. At this time last year, he was still finishing school commitments – and here he is on an Australia A trip.”Hughes earned his place in the Australia A side after only nine first-class games. He got a rookie deal with New South Wales last year after he scored 387 runs at 96.75 for Australia Under-19s in five matches against Pakistan Under-19s and followed it up with a good showing in the Emerging Players Tournament. In seven first-class matches for New South Wales last season, Hughes scored 559 runs at 62.11 and, at 19, became the youngest centurion in a Sheffield Shield final.”The [Australia A] selection was also good news for Peter Forrest,” Gilbert said. “He did good things for about two years and fell away a bit late last season. But at the Centre of Excellence in Brisbane he’s done very well lately. So I guess his selection was based on what he achieved over the winter up there. He’s a very determined bloke.”We’re probably not going to see much of Simon Katich and Doug Bollinger this year and that’s where it will be interesting to see how the likes of Hughes, Forrest, Steven Smith, Usman Khawaja, Moises Henriques and others go. With the 2009 Ashes tour on the horizon the performances of many of these players will be closely monitored by the national selectors.”

David Norris has criticised Ezgjan Alioski for turning his back on Leeds United in favour of a move to Saudi Arabia, claiming money was the decisive factor in his decision.

Alioski’s Elland Road career came to an end last month, when it was announced Leeds had been unable to agree fresh terms with the left-back.

His departure came having made 171 appearances since joining the Yorkshire club from Swiss side FC Lugano four years ago.

The 29-year-old, who played every minute of North Macedonia’s Euro 2020 campaign earlier this summer and got on the scoresheet in the defeat to Ukraine, has since completed a move to Al-Ahli.

His destination has been questioned in some quarters, with ex-Leeds right-back Danny Mills alleging Alioski has chosen to join the Saudi Arabian outfit to treble his wages.

Norris, who was on Leeds’ books between 2012 and 2015, believes the finances involved in joining Al-Ahli is the main reason for his Premier League departure.

Speaking exclusively to Football FanCast, he said: “It’s all to do with the money, 100 per cent.

“I don’t think you go to Saudi Arabia to develop your football career or try to win big trophies.

“He must be getting weighed in big on the financial side. I don’t think you leave Europe, or the Premier League, unless you’re getting massive dough to go to Saudi Arabia.”

Aston Villa could enter the race to sign Lazio’s Joaquin Correa, according to Il Messaggero (via Sport Witness).

The lowdown

Correa is capable of playing as an attacking midfielder or down the left but last season he was used as a centre forward. In 25 Serie A starts, he scored eight goals and provided three assists (via WhoScored).

Tuttosport have reported that Lazio need to raise up to €30million (£25.4million) in order to register new signings Elseid Hysaj, Felipe Anderson, Dimitrije Kamenović and Luka Romero and fund a move for Bordeaux’s Toma Basic. As such, they are willing to let Correa leave for that fee.

Legendary countryman Juan Sebastian Veron has actually urged him to remain in Serie A, where’s been ‘crushing it’ (via Goal) – high praise indeed.

Villa have already spent more than £95million on four new signings, but Jack Grealish’s move to Manchester City has put them back in the black (via Transfermarkt).

The latest

The report states that Villa Park is a possible destination for Correa, though there’s competition from Premier League rivals Everton and Leicester City.

The player’s agent is said to be hard at work to arrange a route out of the Italian capital.

The verdict

Do Villa really need Correa? Well his versatility would make him a good asset, but you could argue the funds would be better spent elsewhere.

The likes of Danny Ings, Ollie Watkins and Emiliano Buendia appear to block Correa’s path into the starting line-up.

There is a potential gap on the left-hand side, but Todd Cantwell would be better suited to that role.

It might be the case that Correa’s representatives have made an approach to Villa, rather than the other way around.

In other news, fans react to Gregg Evans’ Danny Ings claim. 

New Zealand dominated the second day’s play at Old Trafford with Ross Taylor’s magnificent 154 providing the backbone to a solid first innings of 381

The Bulletin by Will Luke24-May-2008
Scorecard and ball-by-ball commentary
Ross Taylor hoists another six during his Test-best 154 © Getty Images
A majestic 154 by Ross Taylor drove New Zealand into a dominant position on the second day against England at Old Trafford. With the visitors squeezing out four late wickets, it is the hosts who are limping, weighed down by that favourites-tag millstone around their necks.After Taylor’s superb hundred provided the backbone to a solid first innings of 381, Iain O’Brien – who replaced Tim Southee for this Test – broke through with an 82mph legbreak to Alastair Cook. Replays suggested the batsman had every right to grumble, but luck and the match momentum were with New Zealand for most of the day. Andrew Strauss and Michael Vaughan then put on a calming 78 in 34.2 long overs before Strauss, who had passed 50 from 125 balls, edged O’Brien to Brendon McCullum, who grasped the most athletic, initiative-seizing of catches low to his left – reminiscent of Alec Stewart’s brilliant snaffle to dismiss Brian Lara at Lord’s in 1995. Daniel Vettori, who turned it square, then had Michael Vaughan trapped in front before Ryan Sidebottom, the nightwatchman, fell three overs before the close.New Zealand owe their dominant position to Taylor, however. No one ever doubted his class and prodigious talents, but pedigrees are habitually unpredictable – as those two reckless innings at Lord’s (19 and 20) proved. The contrast between the rusty Taylor of last week and today’s supercharged (or IPL-charged?) model could not have been more defined. No other New Zealander looked as settled at the crease, and few have the audacity to move to 150 with an expansive six over midwicket. His method is a curious mix of the poise of Martin Crowe (whose record at Old Trafford he beat) and Nathan Astle’s frenzied brutality – but crucially, his hundred today provides much-needed evidence that, under his lid, there lurks a brain. It’s quite a package.Some of England’s tactics were confusing at best, and their fielding lurched from average to embarrassing. Monty Panesar – who turned it square yesterday – was delayed from entering the attack, as was James Anderson who Jacob Oram struggled against yesterday afternoon. In fact Anderson didn’t bowl until 30 minutes before lunch, and it wasn’t due to outstanding bowling from Sidebottom or Stuart Broad. With a strong wind blowing across the ground, Taylor was immediately into his stride with a short-arm bunt through extra cover followed by an audacious cover drive right out of the textbook.
Kyle Mills provided valuable support to Ross Taylor with a Test-best 57 © Getty Images
Oram continued to struggle, however, never resembling a batsman fresh from a Lord’s hundred last week. Broad persisted in peppering him with bouncers from around the wicket and Oram responded by swaying, ducking and weaving out of the way, but never was he comfortable. Once Panesar was belatedly introduced, Oram took him on with a skip down the pitch but Panesar beat him in the flight, the ball circling above Anderson at mid-on. He flunked a relatively easy chance, labouring after the ball and failing to even get a hand on it.Oram gifted his wicket four runs later when, on 38, he too laboured as Taylor called him through for a single to point. Cook – whose fielding has improved beyond sight since the Bambi-like figure who debuted two years ago – swooped, threw down the stumps and Oram was a foot short. Worse was to come, however. Two balls later, Vettori ambled through for a single – as though on a Sunday jog – but failed to ground his bat, and Panesar’s throw was sufficiently straight for Tim Ambrose to whip off the bails in time. Vettori’s foot was airborne, and so were England’s ecstatic fielders. New Zealand had slipped to 250 for 6 in the blink of an eye.Taylor needed a partner, and Kyle Mills responded. A streaky edge off Sidebottom was followed by a heave off Panesar. Another carved four off Sidebottom took him past his previous Test-best of 31 before he matched Taylor’s own elegance with two classical off-drives. Taylor’s hundred – his second in Tests – came from 130 balls, while his and Mills’ fifty partnership came up from just 72. The momentum was entirely with New Zealand.Taylor expanded and flourished after lunch, moving from 100 to 150 in 42 breathless balls, smacking four fours and four sixes, the last of which sailed into the top tier of the stand at midwicket. Vaughan was left flummoxed, as depicted by an awful shy at the stumps which missed by several feet, handing five overthrows. Broad matched that effort with a similarly hapless attempt in the next over off Sidebottom, and the same fielder – now stationed at deep midwicket – failed to cling onto a Taylor mow, parrying it over the rope. Sidebottom’s apoplectic rage could be heard ringing around Manchester as New Zealand ran England ragged.The contrast in run-rates between New Zealand, who skipped merrily along at nearly four-per-over, and England (a yawningly dull 2.57) neatly demonstrates whose confidence levels are spiralling, and whose have plummeted. Kevin Pietersen remains not out, and the pitch is a belter, but England have their work cut out.

Shoaib Malik, the Pakistan captain, is confident there is enough depth in his side’s bowling to overcome the loss of spearhead Mohammad Asif

Cricinfo staff06-Jun-2008
A lot will be expected from Sohail Tanvir after his magnificent showing in the Indian Premier League © AFP
Shoaib Malik, the Pakistan captain, is confident there is enough depth in his side’s bowling to overcome the loss of their spearhead, Mohammad Asif, who was dropped from the squad after he was detained at Dubai airport for suspected possession of an illegal item.”We still have a decent bowling attack in Umar Gul, Wahab Riaz, Sohail Tanvir and Iftikhar Anjum,” Malik said. “They have been working hard throughout.” In Asif’s absence, Geoff Lawson, the Pakistan coach, was banking on Sohail Tanvir to replicate his IPL form. Tanvir was instrumental in the success of the Rajasthan Royals – the champions – picking up 22 wickets at an average of 12.09, with a wicket every two overs.Pakistan touched down in Bangladesh on Friday for the week-long one-day tournament, which also involves India and the hosts. The tournament is a preparatory event ahead of the Asia Cup in Pakistan later this month, and Malik is looking forward to continuing the team’s record-breaking streak.”Our target is to maintain the consistency that saw us winning 11 games in a row,” Malik said. “We want to continue that streak. Everyone is fit and we are looking forward to a good series.”Pakistan whitewashed Zimbabwe and Bangladesh 5-0 in the ODI series at home earlier this year, after having beaten India in the final game of a five-ODI contest they lost 3-2 last year. The 11th win helped Malik’s side edge past Pakistan’s earlier record of ten wins, set in 1990. “Our aim is to win every match and the series. We want to set a record in Pakistan cricket. Our immediate goal is to win every match here and we want to be consistent with our play.”I think if you look at few months back, when we were playing against Zimbabwe and Bangladesh, everyone was in good nick. We are looking forward to good cricket over the next 10 days.”Pakistan play the tournament opener against Bangladesh on June 8, and would be favourites after having thrashed the same opposition 5-0 at home. “On home conditions they [Bangladesh] play a lot better and we got to be careful about it,” Malik said.” I want to win the first game, which would raise our confidence levels and we would learn how to play in Bangladesh since we are playing here after a long time.” Malik suggested the composition of the playing XI and batting order would depend on the conditions.

Newcastle United are reportedly eyeing up a cut-price move for Boubacar Kamara in the summer transfer window.

The Lowdown: Centre-back and midfielder eyed

The St James’ Park club have bene linked with a number of centre-backs and centre midfielders throughout the transfer window so far, including Will Hughes, Kyle Bartley and Cameron Carter-Vickers.

Given that Kamara is capable of playing both as a centre-back and central midfielder, Steve Bruce may be looking to kill two birds with one stone with his potential signing.

The Latest: Kamara interest

As per The Daily Mirror, Bruce is interested in a move for Kamara, who is in the final year of his current deal with Marseille.

The 21-year-old is duly thought to cost in the region of £15m, which could present a bargain to Newcastle given that he is currently valued at £33.3m by Transfermarkt.

Both Liverpool and Manchester City are also monitoring the player, but the Tyneside club may be able to pounce on his signature as neither of the other two clubs has firmed up on their alleged interest.

The Verdict: Bargain

The fact that the Magpies could get Kamara for essentially half of his market value presents itself to be a real bargain.

Once described as a ‘phenomenon’ by his former team-mate Rolando in May 2020, he is still only 21 years of age, and so it is scary to think how good he could be in the future.

The Frenchman played in 35 Ligue 1 games in the 2020/21 season, winning 6.9 of his duels per match while also averaging an impressive 2.5 tackles, 1.3 clearances and one interception per game (Sofascore).

He could be a very smart signing by the Magpies at just £15m if they get the deal over the line.

In other news, find out what details have been shared of talks with Amanda Staveley on the potential takeover

The cancellation of Australia’s tour of Pakistan could have been foretold, much before the terrorists struck in Murree and Taxila

Omar Kureishi14-Aug-2002The cancellation of Australia’s tour of Pakistan could have been foretold, much before the terrorists struck in Murree and Taxila. Once the principle of neutral venues had been accepted, the tour was off.After all, it was the Australians who had refused to play in Sri Lanka in the 1996 World Cup and they had taken the West Indies along with them.In many respects, the Australians are like the Americans, they feel safe among their own. I cannot, in all conscience, say that their concerns for their players were unfounded.Of course, the terrorists can strike and, on the face of it, Pakistan seems to have become a high-risk country and that’s the view that one would get from the Diplomatic Enclave in Islamabad. But from the measures that the United States is adopting in the name of Homeland Security, the United States too would be a high-risk country. But international sports events are not being cancelled and the US Open tennis tournament is due to get underway in New York in a few days time. New York is the city where the World Trade Centre was located and which is now called Ground-Zero. But everyone is entitled to his own perception of danger.When I went to Nairobi, some 20 years ago, the hotel manager advised me not to go walking about at any time of day or night for fear that I might get mugged. I don’t know what it is like these days but when I went to South Africa many years later, I stayed in my hotel in the evenings and even so the Pakistan team’s physio was mugged on the grounds of the hotel which was in a posh suburb. Danger lurks in many forms but you can’t opt out of life because danger exists.Some of the Australian players have been vocal about not touring Pakistan. One of them has been Mark Waugh. He has good reasons to give Pakistan a miss, provided he would have been selected. It was in Pakistan that he claimed that Salim Malik had offered him (and Shane Warne) a huge sum of money to “tank” the Karachi Test match.At that time, he did not disclose his relationship with a bookie who was then simply called John but who turned out to be a major player in gambling on cricket matches.Mark Waugh and Warne’s association with Mr John had not been one-off and he regularly received ‘pocket money’ from John for providing him with ‘innocent’ information!Twin-brother Steve has blown hot and cold about Australia’s tour, as if, getting signals or reading the mind of the Australian Cricket Board.Pakistan must now decide on a neutral venue. Last week, I had recommended that this option be shut out as I had wanted Pakistan to call the tour off. Now the Australians have beaten us to the punch. It re-arranges the scenery on the stage. If the Test matches are to be played at a neutral venue, so be it.The victory has already been handed to the terrorists and Australian troops who are in Afghanistan, as a part of a coalition military force, would have every right to wonder what they are doing there, putting their lives on the line. Pakistan is a victim of terrorist attacks because it too is a part of that coalition. Perhaps, the Australian High Commission in Islamabad is not aware of this.India has blooded a new wicket-keeper, Parthiv Patel, who is 17 years and some months old. The excitement shown at picking such a young player is such that one gets the impression that the Indian tour selection committee has invented sliced bread.Patel looks even younger than his age, as did Sachin Tendulkar when he toured Pakistan in 1989. But to us in Pakistan, catching them young is routine. Hanif Mohammad was 17 years and 300 days old when he was picked for Pakistan in 1952. Some of us forget that he was not only a batsman but first-choice wicket keeper.We now remember Hanif as one of the great batsman of his time. But his brother Mushtaq was even younger when he first played for Pakistan against the West Indies and Wes Hall in Lahore.There has been Khalid Hasan who played for Pakistan in England in 1954, Hasib Ahsan and Nasimul Ghani who were probably school boys when taken on Pakistan’s tour of the West Indies.Zaheer Abbas too looked terribly young when I first cast eyes on him and he went on to make a thundering double century on Pakistan’s tour of England in 1971. But the crown rests on the head of Hasan Raza who was 13 years and some months when he wore the Pakistan cap, prompting a lyrical editorial in The Times of London.The Indian school-boy Patel, looks a fine prospect and may turn out to be another Wasim Bari. Bari too was very young when he toured England in 1967 but one look at him and one knew that he would go on to be one of the best the cricket world would see. But Patel must not be spoilt because he hasn’t even started to shave. Test cricket is serious business and no quarter is given. But once selected, he should be persevered with, something we did not do with Hasan Raza.

BRISBANE, Oct 19 AAP – NSW paceman Stuart Clark has declared himself ready for a shot at Queensland in tomorrow’s ING Cup one-day clash at the Gabba after overcoming the ankle injury which has made him a temporary spectator.

Michael Crutcher19-Oct-2002BRISBANE, Oct 19 AAP – NSW paceman Stuart Clark has declared himself ready for a shot at Queensland in tomorrow’s ING Cup one-day clash at the Gabba after overcoming the ankle injury which has made him a temporary spectator.Clark has spent the last four days in the Gabba stands watching the Blues surrender first innings points to Queensland in a grinding Pura Cup match.The Australia A quick was a last-minute withdrawal from that game after failing to convince medical staff his ankle would stand up to long spells in the Brisbane heat.But Clark has been passed fit for tomorrow’s match, which will be the third match in eight days between the arch-rivals.”I’ve been bowling a bit over the last couple of days and I had a long bowl this morning so I should be fine for this game,” Clark said today.”It was touch-and-go for the four-day game and the decision on whether I’d play changed about six times on the night before the game.”But I was still a bit sore so in the end it was decided to let it go for a game.”Clark injured his left ankle during a one-day match for Australia A against South Africa A in Pietermaritzburg last month and the Blues missed him during the four-day match.The 26-year-old will be a valuable addition to the Blues team which beat Queensland by 45 runs at North Sydney Oval last Sunday in the opening match of their ING Cup defence.Queensland selectors have stuck with the same team which experienced a top-order slump against the Blues, hoping the likes of Jimmy Maher and Martin Love can return to their best form in front of their home crowd.The Bulls lost the ING Cup final to NSW at the Gabba last season, preventing their pursuit of the four-day and one-day crowns in the same season.Queensland: Jimmy Maher (capt), Martin Love, Lee Carseldine, Clinton Perren, Andrew Symonds, Brendan Nash, James Hopes, Wade Seccombe, Ashley Noffke, Michael Kasprowicz, Scott Brant, Damien MacKenzie.NSW: Simon Katich (capt), Brad Haddin, Corey Richards, Michael Bevan, Michael Clarke, Shane Lee, Dominic Thornely, Shawn Bradstreet, Don Nash, Stuart MacGill, Nathan Bracken, Stuart Clark (all 12 to play).

Leeds United have been given a major transfer update on Jack Harrison, and it’s news which will surely have fans buzzing.

What’s the story?

In a Q&A for Leeds Live, Beren Cross dismissed suggestions that there may be some late hitches with a permanent deal for the winger and insisted that he will join up with Marcelo Bielsa’s side essentially from the start of pre-season.

The journalist said said: “I don’t believe so. From what I’ve been told, there won’t be any issues with Harrison coming in. To be honest, I’m not sure on the technicality in the paperwork, but it certainly came across last summer as though he would definitely be joining permanently 12 months later. It may have been left as an option rather than an obligation to give Leeds a way out if they changed their mind, but I’m not sure.

“Harrison’s deal has effectively been in place since last summer when he agreed his third year-long loan spell. It should go through on July 1, if not a little after. There are no concerns about it and he’ll be in place from the start of pre-season pretty much.”

Fans will be buzzing

The news that there are no hitches in Harrison’s permanent arrival and that he will be at Elland Road for the start of pre-season will surely have Leeds fans buzzing.

The Whites are yet to complete any significant first team signings just yet, with Birmingham City starlet Amari Miller the only player to walk through the door so far.

While Harrison has been at the club for so long and may not feel like a ‘new’ signing, there will be a major relief and excitement that he will now join on a permanent basis and will be at Elland Road for the long-term.

He enjoyed a superb campaign with Leeds in the Premier League last season, with his tally of eight goals bettered only by Patrick Bamford, and his haul of eight assists second only to Raphinha (Transfermarkt).

It’s exactly why Cross’ latest update on where things stand with a permanent deal for Harrison should have Leeds fans delighted.

Meanwhile, Leeds receive major update on Marcelo Bielsa’s future…