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A report has shed light on Tottenham Hotspur and their pursuit of Crystal Palace star Eberechi Eze with an approach made.

Who will Spurs sign?

Ange Postecoglou's side are still in the market for further additons with some reports even suggesting they could make three signings before September 1.

This follows on from the marquee sale of star striker Harry Kane, whose move to Bayern Munich could bring in as much as £103 million if certain add-ons are met.

The loss of their former talisman comes as a real blow to Postecoglou's chances of making a success of his Spurs tenure, but there is believed to be positivity behind the scenes.

Earlier this month, following the signing of Dutch defender Micky van de Ven, Tottenham's head coach hinted at the possiblity of another centre-back coming through the door.

“It's not done yet," said Postecoglou.

"We need bolstering in that central defensive area. We need defenders who can work in an aggressive formation, defend well & behind them. We'll be looking to bring in a couple in that area in the coming days."

After that comment, Postecoglou later backtracked somewhat by suggesting that Tottenham need to focus on further outgoings before bringing in more players.

"We've to see what happens with outgoings," explained Postecoglou.

"But, the potential is there to bring in one more centre back after van de Ven."

We could assume, after the sale of Kane, that Tottenham's financial windfall could provide them with the funds to make moves in the transfer market.

Spurs, following Kane's departure, could well add more attacking reinforcements to their ranks and Palace star Eze is a player to be heavily linked recently.

There have been reports that the north Londoners could make a "surprise" bid for the 25-year-old, who dazzled under both Patrick Vieira and Roy Hodgson last term.

Now, according to a report by The Eagles Beak, a Palace news website, it appears Spurs have made their first move for Eze by enquiring over a possible deal.

The Englishman has been subject to an approach from Tottenham, but it isn't all good news, as Palace have apparently set a marquee price tag.

Indeed, it is believed Hodgson's side will demand a fee in excess of £70 million. Any transfer involving Eze to Tottenham would require chairman Daniel Levy to break the club's transfer record as a result.

How good is Eberechi Eze?

The attacker bagged 10 goals and four assists in the league alone last term, registering a total of 14 goal contributions in one of world football's most competitive divisions.

Ranking in their top two for attempts at goal, key passes made and successful take-ons per 90 also, according to WhoScored, Eze may well be a brilliant attacking outlet if Spurs decide to go further.

Commenting on Newcastle's previous links to the player, former Aston Villa striker Gabriel Abgonlahor claimed he'd be a "fantastic" move.

"It would be a really good signing," said Agbonlahor to Football Insider.

“He’s completely different to Conor Gallagher – he’s a million times better. He can run with the ball at speed, change direction with skill, he’s adding goals to his game, can play in the number ten or off the wing – it’s a fantastic signing."

Read the latest Tottenham transfer news HERE…

Of course, the £70m fee will be a mjaor sticking point for Spurs, but ambition must be shown after losing Kane to Germany.

Journalist Dean Jones has provided an update on Crystal Palace's pursuit of forward Wilfried Gnonto.

The Italian forward looks set to depart Elland Road this summer.

What is the latest Crystal Palace transfer news?

The Eagles were handed a major boost in this transfer window this week.

French forward Michael Olise penned a new four-year deal at Selhurst Park after plenty of speculation around his future. It was reported that Chelsea had activated the £35m release clause in his contract and were discussing personal terms with the forward, however, Palace were reportedly angry with Chelsea for what they perceived was an illegal approach and threatened to go to tribunal, which lead to the move collapsing.

Keeping Olise at the club is a big thing for the Eagles as they have already lost club legend Wilfried Zaha on a free transfer to Galatasaray, and having to replace both of their starting wingers would've been an incredibly difficult task.

The side have already brought in one potential replacement, with 19-year-old Matheus Franca arriving from Flamengo on a five-year contract for a reported £26m fee. Despite the signing of the promising Brazilian, Crystal Palace are still in the market for more attacking reinforcements.

One such option is Leeds United forward Gnonto. The Italian who joined Leeds last summer is doing everything he can to push through a move to Everton, who have seen two bids rejected for the Italian international, with the most recent bid being worth £25m plus bonuses and a sell-on clause. Leeds continue to insist that he is not for sale, despite the forwards recent written transfer request, and the Toffees are preparing a new bid. Crystal Palace had an interest in the attacker earlier in the summer, and they may reignite their interest in the forward.

Speaking to GIVEMESPORT, Jones has revealed the reasons behind the failed Olise transfer, as well as stating that Gnonto could prefer a move to Selhurst Park over Goodison Park:

He said: "The Olise situation had really rattled Palace and they were trying to stick up for themselves as they and other clubs of that size feel that sometimes it becomes a bit impossible to compete in the market at the best of times, as they fight to keep their best assets. I do admire Palace’s stance for looking into the tapping up stuff – they genuinely feel this has been out of hand compared to other pursuits. I know there is this narrative that ‘everyone gets tapped up these days’ but I have heard a version of what happened here and if it’s true then I do understand why Palace are annoyed.

"Gnonto is still looking for a new club and I think he would feel more comfortable going to Crystal Palace than Everton in terms of long-term Premier League status so that could become one to look out for. He has been linked with Tottenham Hotspur, but there’s not much in it and it’s still Everton most keen. In a similar way there are players like Callum Hudson-Odoi and Demarai Gray that are looking for new clubs, both have been pursued by Fulham, and I think Palace will at least be exploring those avenues."

What next for Crystal Palace this window?

Despite managing to hold onto Olise, the side are bracing for interest in another one of their stars.

Malian midfielder Cheick Doucoure is a key target of Liverpool this summer after the club missed out on Moises Caicedo and Romeo Lavia to Chelsea. According to the Evening Standard, Crystal Palace want to keep the midfielder who was last season's Crystal Palace Fans Player of the Year, and value the former RC Lens player at £70m amidst interest from the Reds as well as French giants Paris Saint-Germain, which would be a £49m profit on the player after just one season at the club.

Nottingham Forest will be looking to establish themselves as a competitive Premier League side during their second season in the top flight, and Steve Cooper has made it clear that new additions will be crucial.

The Garibaldi Reds managed to survive the jaws of relegation last season after finding themselves falling into the bottom three on several occasions over the 38-game campaign, but will be hoping that with experience and confidence boosted they will have learned from their mistakes and compete more comfortably this season.

So far, Forest have added former Manchester United academy graduate Anthony Elanga and Arsenal goalkeeper Matt Turner to their squad, but are still extremely active in the transfer market and keen to bolster key positions in the team with quality.

Who are Nottingham Forest's transfer targets?

The Forest boss took to his post-match interview after their Premier League opener at the Emirates last weekend to reiterate the need for more incomings:

"There’s nothing imminent. I have to trust the club to crack on with the work. My work is to work with the team every day, come in every day and try to get the best out of them."

The Trentside club have been linked regularly throughout the summer with a move for Ibrahim Sangare, however, PSV Eindhoven have rejected all proposals so far including a €25m (£21m) bid this week.

Now, it looks like Forest are moving on to another midfield talent, with further reports this week from Record in Portugal suggesting that the Tricky Trees have joined the race to sign SL Benfica star Florentino Luis with the outlet claiming that Forest are preparing a £26m bid for his signature imminently.

Who is Florentino Luis?

Better known as Florentino, the Portugal U21 international has been subjected to a lot of interest from Premier League clubs this summer, as many elite English outfits are looking to improve their midfield personnel.

Liverpool, Paris Saint-Germain and Manchester City have all been named as potential suitors, a testament to the incredible performances and talent that Florentino has displayed over the last 12 months in the defensive midfield role.

Over 33 Liga Portugal appearances last season, the 23-year-old ace registered three assists, tallied up a 90% pass completion rate, successfully completed 72% of his dribbles and won 60% of his aerial and ground duels combined, as per SofaScore.

When comparing Florentino's output with Sangare's last season, it's clear to see why he'd be such a good alternative.

Indeed, the pair shared many similarities in key attributes including pass completion (89.7% v 83.7%), goal-creating actions per 90 (0.21 v 0.16), percentage of dribblers tackled (69.7% v 57.5%) and aerial duels won (61% v 62.5%), as per FBref.

Football talent scout Jacek Kulig lavished praise on the Portuguese whiz following the climax of the Primeira Liga last season:

"[He has] superb work rate, positioning, timing, composure, and consistency. The Portuguese Octopus."

With that being said, the signing of Florentino would be a major addition for Forest, especially if they could be the likes of Liverpool and Man City to the signing of the midfielder, as he could be an incredible asset to Cooper over the season ahead and beyond.

Zimbabwe likely to be strengthened by the inclusion of Brendan Taylor and Kyle Jarvis for series starting October 21

ESPNcricinfo staff01-Oct-2017Zimbabwe Cricket (ZC) has confirmed it will host West Indies for a short tour comprising two Tests in Bulawayo later this month. This will be Zimbabwe’s first Test engagement since their tour of Sri Lanka in July.The first Test will be played from October 21-25, while the second one will follow from October 29. Both matches will be played at the Queens’ Sports Club. A three-day warm-up from October 15 will precede the series opener.Brendan Taylor and Kyle Jarvis are both expected to make their international comebacks during the series. The pair left Zimbabwe in 2015 and 2013 respectively to play in England on Kolpak deals. But they were convinced to opt out of their English deals early and return home following a complete overhaul of ZC’s structures.Tatenda Taibu, the convener of selectors, initiated discussions with Taylor and Jarvis before they received assurances about the new governance and financial model from ZC MD Faisal Hasnain.Their inclusion is particularly significant because Zimbabwe will depend on them during 2019 World Cup qualifiers, which could take place in their own country next March. West Indies, who failed to qualify automatically, will be among their opponents in that tournament and Zimbabwe will perhaps use this series to gauge how they will match up.This will be West Indies’ second tour to Zimbabwe in the last 12 months. They featured there in a tri-series, also involving Sri Lanka, in November last year.

علّق ماوريسيو بوتشيتينو، المدير الفني لفريق تشيلسي، على خسارتهم الثقيلة في مباراة الأمس أمام آرسنال في بطولة الدوري الإنجليزي الممتاز.

وتعرض تشيلسي لهزيمة قاسية في ديربي لندن، على ملعب “الإمارات” في مباراة مؤجلة من الجولة التاسعة، بنتيجة 5-0.

وقال بوتشيتينو في تصريحات نشرتها شبكة “بي بي سي” العالمية: “أعتقد أننا بدأنا المباراة بشكل غير جيد، استقبلنا الهدف ثم كان من الصعب علينا التعافي من هذا الهدف، أعتقد أننا في الشوط الأول تنافسنا بعد 10 أو 15 دقيقة”.

وأضاف: “لم نتمكن من التعامل مع المباراة كما بدأنا في الشوط الأول ولم نتنافس بالطريقة التي نحتاجها للمنافسة، وبعد ذلك عندما سجلوا الهدف الثالث كان من السهل عليهم السيطرة على المباراة”.

وواصل: “أعتقد أنك بحاجة إلى أن تكون حاسمًا، كما حدث ضد مانشستر سيتي قبل ثلاثة أيام، لم نكن حاسمين ثم اليوم حدث نفس الشيء”.

وأردف: “أداء صعب لأنه ليس من الجيد أن ترى فريقك يلعب بهذه الطريقة عندما تكون مستعدًا لتقديم كافة طاقتك، نشعر اليوم بخيبة أمل من أدائنا بعد بعد ثلاثة أيام لعبنا فيها مباراة رائعة أمام مانشستر سيتي”.

اقرأ أيضًا.. أبو تريكة: تشيلسي ظن نفسه فريقًا كبيرًا أمام آرسنال.. ولاعبوه مجرد أقماع

واستمر: “ليس من الصعب شرح ذلك، لقد رأى الجميع أننا لم ننافس منذ بداية المباراة، بعد أن استقبلنا الهدف الأول، أعتقد أن الفريق كان ضعيفًا للغاية، أشعر بخيبة أمل كبيرة من الأدا، لم نكن عدوانيين ولم نركز في المواقف التي يكون من السهل فيها إيجاد الحل، ولهذا السبب نشعر بخيبة أمل كبيرة”.

وأكد: “ليس من العدل الحديث عن اللاعبين الذين نفتقدهم، منذ بداية الموسم نفتقد الكثير من اللاعبين كل أسبوع، مباراة بين فريق يتنافس على الدوري الإنجليزي، الفريق الآخر يتنافس مع كل الظروف التي لدينا”.

واستطرد: “آرسنال فريق جيد جدًا، لكن أعتقد أننا سمحنا لهم باللعب، لقد منحناهم كل الإمكانيات للعب وخلق الفرص، ولهذا السبب نشعر بخيبة أمل شديدة”.

وفيما يخص موعد عودة كول بالمر، قال: “لا نعرف، نحن بحاجة إلى التقييم غدًا، سنرى الفريق الذي لدينا، نحن بحاجة للتعامل مع الوضع”.

Manchester United have reportedly reached a verbal agreement with Inter Milan to sign goalkeeper Andre Onana.

Are Man United signing Andre Onana?

The Red Devils are after a new first-choice goalkeeper this summer after it was confirmed that David de Gea has officially left Old Trafford following the expiration of his contract, bringing to an end his 12-year stint in Manchester.

Onana, hailed as a "superstar" by members of the media, has been heavily linked with a move to the Premier League after just one season with Inter Milan.

The Cameroon international, who worked under Erik ten Hag at Ajax, making 145 appearances under the Dutchman, enjoyed a positive first season in Italy, keeping 19 clean sheets in 41 games and helping the Serie A side to the Champions League final against Manchester City. Pep Guardiola hailed the goalkeeper following the final in Istanbul, saying:

“He [Onana] is exceptional with his feet. When you have a goalkeeper like Onana who can read perfectly where everyone is to pass to, with Calhanoglu and Barella, then the strikers hold it up and move the ball around. It is very, very difficult. It would be a tiny bit easier without this goalkeeper, but still very tough.”

Personal terms between United and Onana have already been finalised at the beginning of the month, leaving a fee needing to be struck between the two clubs, something which now appears to have been agreed.

Journalist Rudy Galetti took to Twitter on Wednesday to provide an update he's heard on Man United and Onana. He claimed that the Red Devils and Inter have reached a verbal agreement over a fee worth an initial £42m plus £5m in add-ons. Details still need to be finalised, though, with Galetti saying:

“Andre Onana, the details: Man Utd and Inter already reached a verbal agreement about the transfer fee: £42m+£5m add-ons; new contacts expected in the next 24/48h to discuss the details and complete the move. The Cameroon GK is ready to join MUFC.”

Are Man United signing a new forward?

It looks as if a move for Onana is gathering real pace and could soon be completed with a verbal agreement in place. However, the Red Devils may not be done there and there could be further incomings and outgoings ahead of the new season.

Reports have stated that up to 13 players are up for sale, including centre-forward Anthony Martial. Should the French attacker leave, Ten Hag will be left with no senior striker option, which could result in left-winger Marcus Rashford occupying a central role once more.

There has been plenty of speculation over signing a new forward, though, with Atalanta’s Rasmus Hojlund a player of interest. It is believed that Old Trafford officials have made a cash-plus player offer for the Denmark international, however, Atalanta are only interested in a cash payment and want around £85m for the 20-year-old.

Eintracht Frankfurt’s Randal Kolo Muani is thought to be another option for United, so attention could soon turn to a new forward after sealing the services of Onana.

Newcastle United could complete the signing of Leicester City winger Harvey Barnes in the next week or so, according to an update from journalist Fabrizio Romano.

Is Harvey Barnes joining Newcastle?

The £40,000-a-week winger looks almost certain to enjoy a fresh challenge during the summer transfer window, following a disappointing season for the Foxes. They suffered relegation from the Premier League after failing to turn their fortunes around, which is now expected to lead to an exodus of key players before the new season gets underway.

In fairness to Barnes, he was a clear positive for Leicester much of the time, scoring an impressive 13 goals in just 32 league starts, made all the more commendable because of his team's all-round struggles. The 25-year-old is far too good to be playing in the Championship moving forward, especially as he will be eyeing up a place in England's squad at Euro 2024 next summer, having won one cap for the Three Lions to date.

Newcastle have arguably emerged as the favourites to acquire Barnes' signature in the coming days and weeks, seeing him as a strong option to come in and bolster the options at Eddie Howe's disposal, likely as a replacement for Allan Saint-Maximin. Now, another update has emerged that further suggests he will be at St James' Park sooner rather than later.

What's the latest on Harvey Barnes to Newcastle?

Speaking to Caught Offside, Romano claimed that Barnes could join the Magpies in a matter of days, in what could be an important piece of transfer business:

"Leicester City winger Harvey Barnes is now close to Newcastle, I think this deal could be closed within the next seven to ten days if all goes to plan. It’s also possible for Allan Saint-Maximin to leave Newcastle. It’s not guaranteed yet, but it’s a possibility and is being discussed on club side."

Barnes has the potential to be a superb signing for Newcastle this summer, possibly coming in as a straight replacement for Allan Saint-Maximin, who flattered to deceive last season and only scored one league goal in 25 appearances. The Leicester man's goal tally was far superior in a weaker team, and his direct running and ability and get in behind could make him a potent weapon for Howe.

At 25, the Foxes ace would also be arriving at an absolute sweet spot in his career, with his best years likely to be from now until around the age of 30, meaning the Magpies could see the very best of him for an extended period of time, seeing him mature even further and become more polished as a winger.

An overall tally of 45 goals and 32 assists in the Premier League further outlines the quality ion Barnes' locker – he has been described as "unbelievable" by Liverpool manager Jurgen Klopp, too, which is big praise from such a renowned figure in the modern game – and he is someone who can further help Newcastle grow into even more of a force, as they build a squad that is capable of flourishing across four different competitions next season, including the Champions League.

Australia hold the momentum going into Bengaluru, a venue where they won more Tests than they have lost against India

The Preview by Brydon Coverdale03-Mar-2017Match factsMarch 4-8, 2017
Start time 0930 local (0400 GMT)4:26

Chappell: Matter of how long Australia can maintain confidence

Big PictureIt was no surprise that a spinner took 12 wickets and was Man of the Match in the first Test in Pune. Nor was it a surprise that the winning captain scored the only hundred of the match. It was not even particularly surprising that the Test was over in two and a half days. What was surprising – flabbergasting, even – was that the spinner was not R Ashwin or Ravindra Jadeja but Steve O’Keefe, the captain was not Virat Kohli but Steven Smith, and the team with a 1-0 lead after less than three days of play in this series was not India but Australia.”The pressure was off us, wasn’t it? Everyone wrote us off and expected India to win 4-0. That can’t happen anymore.” Never a truer word was spoken than those from Smith after the Pune Test. But if it was true that the pressure was off Australia in that match, it is no longer the case in Bengaluru, where the expectations on Australia will be high. Not only did they beat India in Pune, they dominated in all aspects of the game. They more than doubled India’s total in each innings, the spinners were more effective, their catching was sharper, even their use of the DRS was more assured.Pressure was on Kohli’s mind after the match, too. “How badly we batted in the first innings is the main reason why we couldn’t get back into the game,” he said. “We put ourselves under a lot of pressure.” The intensity will only increase in Bengaluru, where Australia are in the unexpected position of being able to retain the Border-Gavaskar Trophy by the halfway point of the series. Kohli’s men must find a way to turn around their fortunes quickly, or else an ignominious fate awaits them.So, was Pune an aberration? What surprises will Bengaluru have in store? It is the only venue in this series that has hosted Test cricket before, and it is a ground at which past Australia teams have enjoyed success. Much speculation has surrounded the nature of the pitch at the M Chinnaswamy Stadium in the lead-up to the match, especially given Australia’s triumph on the dry, spinning surface in the first Test. What will be in it? Sharp spin? Reverse swing? Piles of runs? It should be fun finding out.Form guideIndia: LWWWW (last five completed matches, most recent first)
Australia: WWWWW
1:16

Will India bounce back?

In the spotlightLast time India hosted Australia in a Bengaluru Test, back in 2010, Cheteshwar Pujara made his debut. On Australia’s next Test tour of India, Pujara destroyed the visitors in Hyderabad with 204 and a monstrous triple-century partnership with M Vijay. And he began this home season well, with three straight half-centuries against New Zealand and then hundreds in the next three Tests against New Zealand and England. But since then, Pujara’s season has quietened down a little, and India would desperately love for their No. 3 to return to his best in this match, at the venue where his Test career began against this same opposition.Steve O’Keefe was Man of the Match in Pune for his twin 6 for 35s, but on a very difficult batting pitch Steven Smith stood head and shoulders above any other batsman with his 109. Only two Australians had previously made second-innings hundreds in Tests in India: Mark Taylor and Damien Martyn. Not only that but Smith’s effort lifted him into truly elite company on the ICC’s all-time batting rankings; only five batsmen have ever achieved ratings points higher than Smith’s current level: Don Bradman, Len Hutton, Jack Hobbs, Ricky Ponting and Peter May. He will enter the Bengaluru Test with a batting average of 60.34 – not bad for a bloke who started as a legspinner batting at No.8.Team newsHardik Pandya has a shoulder niggle and is not in contention, but the remainder of India’s squad is available for this Test. It remains to be seen whether the selectors give the same XI another chance after their disappointing performance in Pune.India (possible) 1 KL Rahul, 2 M Vijay, 3 Cheteshwar Pujara, 4 Virat Kohli (capt), 5 Ajinkya Rahane, 6 Wriddiman Saha (wk), 7 R Ashwin, 8 Ravindra Jadeja, 9 Jayant Yadav, 10 Ishant Sharma, 11 Umesh Yadav.Australia announced an unchanged XI on the eve of the second Test, retaining Mitchell Marsh, whose bowling services were not exploited in Pune.Australia 1 David Warner, 2 Matt Renshaw, 3 Steven Smith (capt), 4 Shaun Marsh, 5 Peter Handscomb, 6 Mitchell Marsh, 7 Matthew Wade (wk), 8 Mitchell Starc, 9 Steve O’Keefe, 10 Nathan Lyon, 11 Josh Hazlewood.Pitch and conditionsThere has been so much discussion and speculation about the pitch that India’s coach, Anil Kumble, got fed up during his press conference in the lead-up to the Test. “Can we move on? It’s only 22 yards, it won’t be different here,” he said. Both teams expect a better batting surface than in Pune, but it will still be dry and should take plenty of turn.Stats and trivia Smith needs 112 more runs to reach 5000 in Tests. Should he do it in his first innings in Bengaluru, he will be the equal third-fastest to the milestone alongside Garry Sobers, Sunil Gavaskar, Viv Richards and Matthew Hayden, and behind only Don Bradman and Jack Hobbs. India have beaten Australia only once at the M Chinnaswamy Stadium, while Australia have won there twice and the teams have played out two draws. India’s win, though, did come in the most recent of those five Tests, in 2010.Quotes”The way we played last week was such a positive sign. It was a difficult wicket and we showed them we can compete in those conditions. And more importantly, we probably showed ourselves as well.”

Tottenham Hotspur chairman Daniel Levy is personally “looking to drive” a Spurs deal for Leicester City star James Maddison, according to reliable journalist Alasdair Gold.

And now Fabrizio Romano has confirmed a deal has been agreed upon with a medical soon to follow.

Will Spurs sign James Maddison?

Links to the England international date as far back as last year and those reports even claimed that he would be more than open to joining Spurs.

Ange Postecoglou officially begins his tenure as the Tottenham head coach this Saturday, on 1st July, but reliable media sources say that he has already held transfer strategy meetings with Levy behind-the-scenes.

Maddison, who starred for Leicester as a shining light in their relegated side last campaign, is attracting heavy interest from Postecoglou who has reportedly given the green-light for Spurs to move for him.

There have even been claims that his teammate, Harvey Barnes, is another target for Tottenham with the Lilywhites recently lodging a rejected £50 million double bid for the Foxes pair.

Following the signing of goalkeeper Guglielmo Vicario from Empoli in a £17.2 million move, it appears attention has shifted towards Maddison, with reliable reporter Gold of football.london sharing what he knows.

The journalist, writing for FL, claims that former managing director Fabio Paratici is still involved with Spurs on a consultancy basis after parts of his FIFA ban were lifted.

Paratici, like Postecoglou and Levy, is a “big fan” of Maddison and Spurs’ chairman is personally “looking to drive” a deal to sign him after Vicario.

“Paratici is understood to be aiding the club’s summer plans to rebuild the squad for new head coach Ange Postecoglou,” wrote Gold.

“The Australian is a big fan of James Maddison, as are both Levy and Paratici, and the Spurs chairman is looking to drive through a deal for the Leicester midfielder to be a part of the club’s new-look football.”

In a fresh update, Journalist Fabrizio Romano took to Twitter to say: “Tottenham have now verbal agreement in place with Leicester to sign James Maddison, here we go!

“Next steps: medical tests, documents being prepared and then signed.”

What’s been said about James Maddison?

The 26-year-old registered 19 goal contributions for Leicester in the top flight last season, all while averaging their highest number of attempts at goal and successful key passes per 90 in the final third (WhoScored).

Speaking to talkSPORT, former Liverpool midfielder Danny Murphy called him a “super talent” and even says he is a natural “Champions League player”.

“He’s a super talent,” said Murphy.

“He’s a Champions League player. He has all of the qualities needed to play Champions League and international football.”

ScorecardAlex Doolan scored just his second first-class century in three years•Getty Images

Amid all the talk about batsmen competing for a Test call-up, Alex Doolan’s name was never mentioned. And there was good reason: he entered this Sheffield Shield round with 1315 runs at 24.81 from his past three years of first-class cricket. But on the second day at the WACA, Doolan bounced spectacularly back to form with an unbeaten 202 that put Tasmania in a strong position at stumps.Of course, in order to add to the four Test caps Doolan won in 2014, he would likely need a lengthy run of good form to make up for his long lean patch. But he did have a productive Matador Cup, and his runs on the second day in Perth stood out on a Tasmania scorecard on which no other player passed fifty. The in-form George Bailey was lbw for 24 and was one of four Tasmanians out in the 20s.The Tigers had resumed on 2 for 60, with Doolan and nightwatchman Jackson Bird at the crease, and they put on 56 for the third wicket before Bird was out for 22. Bailey, Beau Webster (27), James Faulkner (13) and Jake Doran (41) all made starts, but Doolan was the only one able to go on with it, and finished the day with 33 fours, two sixes, and a new highest first-class score. His 202 had come from 311 balls.Jason Behrendorff picked up 3 for 73 and Simon Mackin collected two wickets for the Warriors. At the close of play, Simon Milenko was the crease on 5, alongside Doolan.