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Bangladesh offspinner Mehidy Hasan and Ireland batsman Paul Stirling have made notable gains in the ODI rankings for bowlers and batsmen, respectively, after the latest round of bilateral engagements. Shakib Al Hasan, who returned to international cricket after a one-year ban during Bangladesh’s series against West Indies, also moved up two places to No. 13 among bowlers.Mehidy, who was the highest wicket-taker against West Indies with seven strikes – including a career-best 4 for 25 in the second ODI – has climbed up nine spots to No. 4, while Stirling’s three centuries in his last five ODIs against the UAE and Afghanistan in Abu Dhabi helped him rise eight steps to No. 20 among batsmen. His 131 not out against UAE was followed by scores of 128 and 118 against Afghanistan, though all three knocks came in losses.ICC ODI Bowling Rankings•ESPNcricinfo Ltd

Shakib, meanwhile, was just behind Mehidy with six wickets against West Indies – four of which came in the first ODI. In other gains for Bangladesh, left-arm pacer Mustafizur Rahman – who also claimed six wickets in the three matches – has jumped 11 spots to No. 8 among bowlers, while wicketkeeper-batsman Mushfiqur Rahim, captain Tamim Iqbal, Mahmudullah and Mohammad Saifuddin also made slight gains in the charts.Though West Indies comprehensively lost all three ODIs against Bangladesh, Alzarri Joseph moved up by 11 places up to No. 34 among bowlers.

We all know Todd Boehly loves a transfer so it shouldn't come as a surprise to learn that Chelsea have been one of the most active clubs in the summer transfer window to date.

It was only last night that Jonathan David was confirmed as a target for the club, news that broke just hours after the official arrival of Brazilian sensation Estevao Willian, who will join the Blues next year.

Departures should be rife too with the exit of Ian Maatsen to Aston Villa now all but done. However, it's not all been rosy for new boss Enzo Maresca.

On Friday evening, one of their number one targets, Michael Olise, was ruled out of a move to Stamford Bridge. Where is he heading instead? Well, Bayern Munich have swooped in.

This was seen as a market opportunity for Boehly and Co so with Chelsea having plenty of wingers, it's unlikely they'll now go out and acquire a ready-made first-team wideman as an alternative.

So, what is next on the agenda? Well, after Estevao, they're closing in on another young talent.

The latest on Chelsea transfer plans

Missing out on Olise will undoubtedly be a gutting blow, notably for supporters who were keen to see one of the Premier League's most exciting young wingers play in blue next season.

Instead, Boehly is set to put his plan of buying academy talents into action again. Who is the player? Well, in a repeat of the move that saw Chelsea bring Carney Chukwuemeka to the club a few years ago, they're set to raid Aston Villa again for Omari Kellyman.

In fact, it's believed that a deal is as good as done. Fabrizio Romano reported on Sunday morning that 'Chelsea are planning to seal the agreement for Omari Kellyman to join from Aston Villa today.'

It's believed a fee of £19m has been agreed between the respective parties.

The Telegraph's Matt Law has claimed separately that a medical is due to happen on Monday as the finishing touches get put on a move.

How Olise compares to Kellyman

Well, if you can't sign Olise, how about finding a player with similar traits and vast potential? That's what they'd be getting in Kellyman.

Firstly, you may well wonder why on earth Chelsea are signing a player with such little experience for a rather hefty sum.

The 18-year-old has only played six times for Aston Villa's senior team, with just two of those outings coming in the Premier League. Still, this isn't the first time we've been left rather bamboozled at their transfer business.

That said, this could actually end up being a rather shrewd purchase for new boss Maresca.

Matches played

2

Goals

1

Shots *

1.0

Pass accuracy

83%

Tackles *

2.5

Ball recoveries *

3.5

Successful dribbles *

1.5

Duels won *

6.5

The fact of the matter is that Kellyman is a very exciting young player. Like Olise, he possesses a "left foot made of gold", and like Olise he also plays largely off the right-hand side.

So, there are the first two comparisons but there must be more, right? Well, he's also pretty decent from set-pieces, scoring a sumptuous free-kick like the one below. The Crystal Palace star has been renowned for that too, notably scoring a delightful effort from range against Manchester United last season.

So, what else is similar? Well, they're both particularly fleet-footed, skipping past players with confidence that you can tell simply oozes from their veins.

Only this weekend, scout Antonio Mango took to social media to say: "He actually reminds me of Olise the way he dribbles and moves with the ball."

Also possessing great creativity, ball control and vision, this is a signing who could make a remarkable impact on Chelsea's first team in the years to come.

It may not be the swanky signing of Olise but he has immense potential. Only time will tell whether the teenager lives up to his billing.

Chelsea must sell £50m star who earns more than Sesko & Olise combined

The Chelsea player started nine Premier League games last season.

ByTom Lever Jun 7, 2024

Harry Kane picked up another match ball in his latest outing, with the prolific Bayern Munich striker shattering a Bundesliga hat-trick record.

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• Hit four hat-tricks in debut campaign
• Strike rate maintained in second season
• Desperate to land elusive silverware

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  WHAT HAPPENED?

  The England international may not have landed major silverware since moving to Germany, with a barren run on the trophy front yet to be broken, but he has continued to star as an individual. Kane registered 44 goals across his debut campaign at the Allianz Arena – with that haul including four trebles against Bochum, Darmstadt, Borussia Dortmund and Mainz.

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• THE BIGGER PICTURE

  The 2024-25 campaign has seen Kane pick up where he left off, with three hat-tricks recorded in just 13 games. Two of those have come in the German top-flight, when facing Holstein Kiel and Stuttgart, while a four-goal showing against Dinamo Zagreb was delivered in Champions League competition.

• DID YOU KNOW?

  Kane has reached six Bundesliga hat-tricks through just 39 appearances, with nobody able to get close to matching that record. Legendary Mullers, Dieter and Gerd, sit second and third on the trebles chart, but required 118 and 127 games respectively in order to claim six match balls.

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• WHAT NEXT FOR KANE?

  Kane has hit that mark in 79 fewer games than his closest challenger, with Bayern hoping that impressive standards can be maintained by a frontman that has faced criticism at times for supposedly failing to deliver in matches that matter most.

Emma Hayes has returned to England to watch her former club Chelsea take on rivals Arsenal in a mammoth Women's Super League clash.

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• Hayes back in England
• Will watch Chelsea take on Arsenal in WSL
• Left Chelsea to join USWNT this summer

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  WHAT HAPPENED?

  The English manager returns to her homeland for the first time since leaving Chelsea to become the United States women's national team head coach in the summer. Per ' Sam Blitz, Hayes will be in attendance at Emirates Stadium on Saturday and watch her beloved Chelsea from the director's box as the reigning WSL champions take on London rivals Arsenal in a crucial clash.

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  The 47-year-old, who won a host of silverware with the Blues during her time in England including a record seven WSL titles, has started on a positive note in her new project. Under the 47-year-old coach's tutelage, USWNT have remained unbeaten thus far and have won three out of the four matches they have played, taking gold at the Paris Olympics.

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  After failing to make the Chelsea line-up against Real Madrid in the midweek Champions League encounter due to illness, England international goalkeeper Hannah Hampton is back in Sonia Bompastor's starting eleven to face the Gunners.

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• WHAT NEXT?

  The reigning English champions will aim to grab top spot in the WSL table as they eye all three points and will want to extend their winning streak to three games on Saturday.

The fast bowler is keen to maintain his fitness in order to play all three formats for Pakistan

Umar Farooq23-Sep-2020

Shaheen Shah Afridi took four wickets in four balls•Getty Images

Pakistan fast bowler Shaheen Afridi says he aspires to grow across all formats rather than focusing on just white-ball cricket. He recently grabbed impressive figures of 6 for 19 for Hampshire in the Vitality Blast but insisted that there was a lot ahead in his career to make a name for.Afridi rose through the ranks at a time when Mohammad Amir was beginning to fade away – and eventually retired – from Test cricket. Pakistan were keen on picking fresh fast bowlers after the experienced duo of Amir and Wahab Riaz decided to focus only on white-ball cricket, as Riaz took an indefinite break from the format only to recently express a willingness to return. As a result, Pakistan ended up giving Test debuts to five fast bowlers since 2018, one of whom was Afridi, who started as an 18-year-old against New Zealand in Abu Dhabi in 2018.His short yet successful journey so far as pace spearhead has made him an automatic choice for Pakistan in every format. Over the last one year, seven out of Afridi’s 11 Tests have come on tours to South Africa, Australia and England, and he is set to lead Pakistan’s attack on the upcoming tour of New Zealand in December too. Pakistan’s fast-bowling coach Waqar Younis has been overseeing the growth of Afridi and the teenaged Naseem Shah as Test fast bowlers, while also guarding against letting them drift away from red-ball cricket.”I am focusing on all formats.” Afridi told reporters in Lahore, when asked if he finds white-ball cricket more tempting. “I am working hard, learning with every game, evolving as a fast bowler, and eventually I want to play for my country [regularly]. It’s a pride. I want to grab every opportunity to wear the Pakistan colours regardless of any format. I try my best to produce performances to help Pakistan as a team player and that’s the ambition.”The idea is to stay vigilant with my fitness and the fitter I am, more I am going to play for Pakistan in all formats. I am keeping short goals, but maintaining fitness is something that is very important because that is what my whole cricket is going to rely on. Test cricket is tough – especially in the opponent’s conditions – but I am trying to have full control over my game. So red-ball cricket is very much in the mind and it’s not going anywhere.”Shaheen Afridi wheels away in celebration•Getty Images

Afridi was in England for three straight months: first with Pakistan for the Test and T20I series against England, and then for a T20 stint with Hampshire in the Vitality Blast. He did not have a fruitful beginning for Hampshire, picking up only one wicket in his first six games, but in his final match – against Middlesex, when he took the six-for – Afridi claimed four wickets in four balls to become only the seventh men’s cricketer to achieve the feat in T20 cricket, eventually helping Hampshire end their winless streak. His figures were Hampshire’s best in T20 and his hat-trick the county’s second in the format.”I felt immense pride for the figures,” Afridi said about this performance. “Such performances make you believe that you can do it. It’s really exciting and I am enjoying it. I am thankful for the performance and happy that I became a reason to make my country proud. This might be one of the most celebrated figures in T20s and I came to know that this is the first time someone has taken six bowled [dismissals], but this isn’t it – I have long way to go. I am still on my way to discover myself and want to achieve more than this in my future.”Afridi was one of the prospects who came out of the PSL in 2018. He shot to prominence with figures of 8 for 39 in the Quaid-e-Azam Trophy, the best figures by a Pakistani bowler on first-class debut. And while at the Lahore Qalandars in the PSL, he drew the attention of the then head coach Mickey Arthur, who compared him to a young Mitchell Starc days after the 17-year old took five wickets for just four runs, the best figures in the PSL in 2018.Afridi hasn’t played a lot of domestic cricket in comparison to the PSL and international cricket, but was willing to return to domestic cricket in order to gain more experience. “I have played much of my international cricket outside Pakistan where conditions and wickets are different. But we have a full domestic season coming up and since I haven’t played much domestic [cricket] at home, it’s time [to play]. The weather is hot and pitches also stay low but then you have to give your heart out to take success out of these pitches. I am looking forward to the season and taking forward my performances.”

Derby County managed to win promotion back up to the Championship by being wheeler-dealers to a degree, in the market for cheap gems who would then go on to show their immense worth.

The likes of Nathaniel Mendez-Laing, James Collins, Sonny Bradley and Curtis Nelson were all purchased for £0, with Paul Warne's side having the last laugh over these deals with their final position in the automatic promotion spots in League One.

That named quartet will now long to be etched into Pride Park folklore even further by starring in the division above and taking Derby to the next level, joining this cult hero in the history books potentially who was a diamond found in the rough all the way back in Derby's Premier League hay-day of the nineties.

Paulo Wanchope's time at Derby

Wanchope would arrive onto the scene at Derby in 1997 as an unknown entity from his native Costa Rica, a bold signing from the then Premier League Rams for a fee in the region of £600k.

The exciting gem would never look back, however, after arriving in England as a flashy new import with 25 goals mustered up from 77 games which included 13 in just one top-flight season during the 1997/98 campaign.

Player

Games played

Goals scored

1. Dean Sturridge

127

35

2. Paulo Wanchope

72

23

3. Malcolm Christie

92

22

4. Deon Burton

118

22

5. Franceso Baiano

64

16

Wanchope's debut goal for the Rams, even if he didn't go on to become the club's second-highest goalscorer in Premier League history, would have been enough for him to become a cult figure alone with a silky solo run going unchallenged by multiple Manchester United shirts before the Costa Rican maverick simply stroked the ball home at Old Trafford.

Going on to play for both West Ham United and Manchester City after the Rams, where the goals didn't dry up with a combined 44 strikes registered for those clubs, Derby reaped the rewards for risking it all by giving Wanchope a chance relocating over from South America.

If this same golden move went through in today's inflated market, Derby would still be thanking their lucky stars that a deal went through when looking at what Wanchope's value would now be via TotallyMoney's Transfer Index.

Going up to the second tier now, Derby will aim to replicate this absolute steal by recruiting even more impressive cheap gems.

Wanchope's value in 2024

According to TotallyMoney, Wanchope's deal would still stand at a reasonable £5.5m with the bank not depleted too much at Pride Park in the process.

That would still be viewed as an unbelievable piece of business on the end of the Rams, who have splashed far more expensive amounts on the likes of Matej Vydra up top, who was signed for £8m in 2016 and only managed to net two more goals than the cheaper and more beloved Wanchope.

The now 47-year-old former Rams great still keeps tabs on how Derby are doing under Warne, stating that he believes the ex-Rotherham United manager can steer the team back to playing Premier League football over time in a recent interview.

Before any talk becomes too over-the-top, Derby will be more than happy with just surviving in the Championship for the time being after nearly going bust not too long ago.

Still, if they do return to the top flight eventually, they would love to have someone as daring as Wanchope in their ranks enthralling supporters with mazey runs and crucial goals.

Journalist Fabrizio Romano has provided an update on the future of Chelsea manager, Mauricio Pochettino.

Chelsea linked with Mauricio Pochettino replacements

It has not been the easiest 2023/24 campaign for Pochettino at Stamford Bridge. With around £400m spent on players across the summer and winter windows, the Blues should have, at least on paper, been in the Premier League top-four and arguably maybe even challenging for the league title.

However, despite an improved run of form over the last few months, the west Londoners can no longer secure a Champions League berth, with their place in the top seven still not guaranteed with two games to play. This has led to much speculation over Pochettino's future in west London, with the Argentine himself raising eyebrows with recent comments, stating "it will not be the end of the world" if he leaves Chelsea.

"If we are happy then it's perfect, but it's not only if the owners are happy… because you need to ask us also, because maybe we are not happy and we need to split," said Pochettino at his press conference on Friday. "It would not be the first time a coaching staff decided to not keep going. Tomorrow I could say I am going to leave. It's two parts if they make a decision and it's not only if Chelsea are not happy, the owner is not happy, the sporting director is not happy.

"Maybe we are not happy because we arrived here with a job to do, but in the end it's not what we expect. I am not saying I am not happy. If we split it's not a problem, it will not be the end of the world."

Amid Chelsea's struggles this season, the club have seen a number of names linked with Pochettino's role. Last month, it was claimed that Chelsea were "monitoring" the status of Sporting CP manager Ruben Amorim "should things not progress further with Pochettino in (the) summer". Elsewhere, Chelsea are said to have identified Brighton & Hove Albion head coach Roberto De Zerbi as a candidate to take over at Stamford Bridge.

The potential appointment of Hansi Flick has also been “discussed internally” by those within the hierarchy at Stamford Bridge.

Fabrizio Romano shares Maurico Pochettino update

Now, journalist Romano has shared an update on the future of Pochettino at Stamford Bridge when speaking to Caught Offside.

And for all the speculation about the South American leaving the club, Romano states that Chelsea are happy with the team's recent displays, adding that Pochettino is aware any decision on his future would be made at the back end of the 2023/24 campaign:

“Mauricio Pochettino may have raised some eyebrows with his recent comments about his future, but the reality is this: Chelsea are happy with the team’s recent performances, but also Pochettino knows any decision was always going to be made close to the end of the season. This is something the club has always confirmed even in difficult, really difficult moments months ago. So that remains the case.”

Arsenal are potentially just two games away from winning their first Premier League title since 2003/04.

Of course, they rely on Manchester City to slip up as the Gunners will be praying either Fulham, Tottenham Hotspur or West Ham United could do them a favour.

Whatever happens, Mikel Arteta has built a team which could go on to dominate English football over the next few years, especially if they can add another quality signing or two during the summer transfer window.

Could the Spaniard be eyeing up his first signing already? As the club have reportedly upped their pursuit of one of the finest young talents on the continent…

Arsenal transfer news

According to GIVEMESPORT’s sources, Arsenal have contacted the representatives of Athletic Club winger Nico Williams as they look to find out whether he would be keen on moving to London this summer.

The youngster has a release clause which stands at around £43m and this is a figure that will certainly be within Arteta’s summer budget, especially as it looks like he is planning to sell a few first-team players.

Fellow Premier League side Chelsea will provide stiff competition, however, as Mauricio Pochettino aims to bolster his own side, but surely the lure of Champions League football will be the big factor in Williams’ decision?

Despite already having wonderful options at his disposal, Arteta certainly appears to be keen to add some strength to his front three.

Nico Williams has shone for Athletic Club this season

The 21-year-old has enjoyed a stellar campaign on both a personal level and as part of a team. The winger starred for the Pamplona side as they ended their 40-year major trophy drought by winning the Copa del Rey in April, defeating Mallorca on penalties, with Williams grabbing the assist for their only goal of the game.

Across all competitions, the Spaniard has scored seven goals while providing 16 assists, made even more impressive by the fact he has played just 34 times this term.

Nico Williams' statistics this season for Athletic Club in La Liga

Goals

4

Assists

10

Big chances created

9

Key passes per game

1.5

Successful dribbles per game

2.9

Via Sofascore

It was in La Liga that he really showcased his potential. Among his teammates in the Spanish top flight, Williams ranks third for goals and assists (14, alongside his brother Inaki), while he also ranks third for shots on target per game (0.5), first for big chances created (nine) and for successful dribbles per game (2.9), impressing for the Spanish side.

His ability to beat defenders on a regular basis while setting up chance after chance for his teammates is something Arteta clearly wants more of in his side and Williams could be an ideal acquisition.

U23 scout Antonio Mango hailed the youngster as “extremely dangerous” in 2022, and it's clear to see that he has gotten a lot better since then, attracting attention from the Premier League in the process.

Gabriel Martinelli and Bukayo Saka are the first-choice wingers under Arteta. Williams is flexible enough to be able to operate on either flank with ease, although it has been on the left where the 21-year-old has played most of his football this season.

Not only would the 42-year-old be signing a player who could instantly improve the starting XI, but he would be bringing in a player who is similar to Martinelli.

How Nico Williams compares to Gabriel Martinelli

The Brazilian has been a mainstay on the left wing since arriving in north London back in the summer of 2019 for a fee reported to be around £6m, which has turned out to be a massive bargain.

Since then, he has made 172 appearances for the Gunners, scoring 41 goals while grabbing 24 assists, emerging as one of Arteta’s main attacking threats in recent years.

According to FBref, Martinelli is currently the tenth-most comparable player to Williams in Europe’s top five leagues. Given how impressive the 22-year-old has been during his Arsenal spell thus far, signing a player who can play like him should work out fairly well.

Indeed, the duo have registered similar domestic statistics this season with regard to goals and assists (14 vs ten), shots per 90 (2.05 vs 2.6), shot-creating actions per 90 (5.07 vs 3.97), crosses delivered (144 vs 101) and touches in the attacking penalty area (132 vs 180) which show just how alike they are statistically for their respective teams this season.

According to WhoScored, both Martinelli and Williams can count dribbling as a main strength. While the Brazilian likes to cut inside often, the Athletic Club winger prefers to dribble and cross more regularly, showing that the pair do have slightly different playing styles.

For £43m, Arteta must be tempted to make this move a reality, especially if he aims to win trophies next season.

How much Nico Williams earns at Athletic Club

The 21-year-old is currently earning £172k-per-week at the Spanish club, and it is likely that he will want a pay rise should he make the move to London.

To put this wage into comparison with the Arsenal squad, he is currently earning more than Ben White (£150k-per-week), who has been impressive of late for the Gunners during their title bid.

With Champions League football to come yet again next season, the finances are clearly in order, which could allow Arteta to lure the best players to the club by offering them a solid wage.

Williams has enjoyed a fast start to his professional career, becoming a regular for his club side while even making 13 appearances for his country – representing them at the World Cup – and his form will only continue to get better.

Despite Arsenal having the best-attacking record in the top flight, Arteta is also looking to improve and move with the times. Signing Williams this summer would give him yet another player who could showcase his talents in the Premier League, and it could be the difference between finishing second or winning the league.

Related Arsenal "frontrunners" to repeat Saliba masterclass with "insane" £86m gem

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Posts ByJack Salveson Holmes May 10, 2024

There's no doubting the fact that Manchester United need to make a number of changes. The Red Devils confirmed their failure to qualify for the Champions League with their draw against relegation candidates Burnley, summing up their struggles this season. Now, Fabrizio Romano has had his say on just how many summer changes could take place.

Man Utd transfer news

All was going relatively to plan for Erik ten Hag last season. The Dutchman secured his first trophy in the Carabao Cup and qualified for the Champions League. It seemed as though things could only improve if anything. A year later, however, and Manchester United have failed to finish inside the top four and found themselves on a run of two wins in their last seven Premier League games. Ten Hag has been quick to jump to his side's defence though.

That progress could be helped by several changes of course, as Romano predicts is on the cards at Old Trafford. He told GiveMeSport this weekend: “I expect them to be very busy. Honestly, a number at the moment, I have absolutely no idea because it depends on the outgoings. We know how important it will be to clarify the situations of [Mason] Greenwood, [Jadon] Sancho and many players who are still at the club.

“[Anthony] Martial is leaving, [Raphael] Varane at the moment is not being offered a new deal, but we have to see what happens with [Christian] Eriksen, Casemiro – there are many situations to discuss.

“This is why at the moment, it is difficult to see and to mention how many signings United will do. But I think there will be a lot of movement, so I expect them to be very, very busy in terms of outgoing and incomings.”

Related 2/10 Man Utd dud who made just 3 passes all game is letting Ten Hag down

He had less touches than Onana

Posts ByJoe Nuttall Apr 28, 2024 What Man Utd need this summer

Given their struggles, it may be easier to say what Manchester United don't need rather than what they do, but a central defender should be the main target. Ten Hag has been forced to put together a makeshift defence as of late and with Varane's future uncertain, his depth is only likely to get worse.

That said, those at Old Trafford have already been linked with the likes of Everton star Jarrard Branthwaite in what would be an ideal move to improve Ten Hag's backline. Meanwhile, away from their defensive struggles, United have also been linked with a move to sign Kaoru Mitoma, in what could hand Marcus Rashford some serious competition next season.

With Sir Jim Ratcliffe looking to make a statement in his first summer transfer window in Manchester, the Red Devils could quickly steal the headlines on their way to turning a sinking ship under Ten Hag around next season.

Newcastle United reportedly have serious interest in replacing Eddie Howe with an "incredible" manager this summer – one who has never finished lower than third place in a domestic league campaign.

Eddie Howe's Newcastle future in doubt

Howe has done a brilliant job at St James' Park overall, having come in and inherited a relegation-threatened side, only to change their fortunes in spectacular fashion. The Englishman guided his side back into the Champions League last season, by virtue of finishing fourth in the league, but things have been a lot harder this term.

Newcastle sit 10th in the Premier League table with 10 matches to go, meaning that European qualification of any kind is unlikely, and they also exited the Champions League at the group stage, with performances and results too often flattering to deceive.

Because of this, Howe has found himself under pressure of late, as the PIF decide whether or not they should look to dispose of him and find a big name replacement at the end of the season. Some reports have suggested that he will stay on even if the Magpies miss out on Europe, but that hasn't stopped potential successors being linked with the job.

Roberto De Zerbi has been linked with replacing Howe at St James' Park in the summer, as he continues to do an impressive job at Brighton, while Germany manager Julian Nagelsmann is another name who has been thrown into the mix.

Now, another manager has emerged in the race to be the next man in charge at Newcastle, in what could be a real marquee appointment.

Newcastle seriously interested in "incredible" manager

According to HITC, Newcastle are showing "genuine and strong" interest in making Xavi their next manager, with the 44-year-old confirmed to be leaving Barcelona at the end of the season. The report says that Chelsea are also in the same position, however, should they decide to part ways with Mauricio Pochettino.

Xavi would certainly be an interesting appointment by Newcastle, even though it does seem more likely that Howe will remain in charge for now, with the Spaniard a huge figure in the game, having achieved such legendary status at Barcelona during his playing days.

It is dangerous hiring a boss who was only a big name as a player, but the former Spain World Cup winner has impressed in his managerial career as well, never finishing lower than third place across six seasons with two different clubs, not to mention winning the La Liga title with Barca last season.

Date

2021-present

2019-2021

Matches

132

96

Points per game

2.06

2.20

On top of that, former teammate Andres Iniesta called him "incredible" earlier this season, especially in terms of his passion for the club, and his attacking 4-3-3 formation could go down well with Newcastle supporters.