Karun Nair and KL Rahul put on 239 runs for the sixth wicket•PTI
Rahul, Nair added to Karnataka squad: KL Rahul and Karun Nair have been named in Karnataka’s squad for the third round of Ranji Trophy matches beginning October 24, against Hyderabad in Shimoga. Both of them are currently part of the Board President’s XI squad chosen to play the two warm-up fixtures against New Zealand ahead of the limited-overs series starting October 22.Rahul, who has been left out of the New Zealand ODIs, struck a 68 in the first warm-up game in Mumbai on Tuesday. Nair, who led India A in the two unofficial Tests against New Zealand A, top scored with a 64-ball 78, in the side’s 30-run victory.”Having Rahul and Karun is a big boost for Karnataka,” R Vinay Kumar, the Karnataka captain, said. “Rahul has cemented his place in the Indian team while Karun is also doing well. The sight of their names on the team sheet will put opponents under pressure.”
Slams 139 off 76 balls as Vanuatu run down 228 target in 28.2 overs to get into semis of World Cricket League Division Five on net run rate
ESPNcricinfo staff06-Sep-2017
International Cricket Council
Patrick Matautaava produced one of the all-time great knocks in the history of the World Cricket League, striking an unbeaten 139 off 76 balls as Vanuatu defeated Germany by four wickets. Chasing a target of 228, Vanuatu needed to achieve victory in 31.3 overs or less to overtake Germany on the net run rate tiebreaker with the Germans holding a +1.710 advantage at the start of the day. They only needed 28.2 overs in the end thanks to Matautaava’s sensational century.While Vanuatu’s scoring rate was strong at the start of the chase, wickets also tumbled quickly and when captain Andrew Mansale fell for a second-ball duck to end the 10th over, it left Vanuatu 58 for 4. Matautaava had also retired hurt on 5 in the sixth over after facing just eight deliveries but after getting treatment resumed his innings in the ninth and commenced a blistering counterattack.Four of the first five deliveries Matautaava faced upon returning to the crease were hit to the boundary and he never looked back. The 25-year-old brought up his half-century off 37 balls in the 18th over, then needed just another 20 deliveries to reach triple figures as he dominated a 135-run fifth wicket stand with Ronald Tari that spanned just 14.4 overs. When Tari fell, there were still 35 runs needed to win with five wickets in hand and 6.5 overs in which to do it to make the semi-finals. It only took another 3.4 overs as Matautaava scored 31 of the remaining runs required. His 15th boundary of the day clinched victory to go along with eight sixes.Matautaava’s heroics were set up by offspinner Jelany Chilia’s 4 for 39 after Mansale won the toss and as expected sent Germany in. Matautaava and Wesley Viraliliu pinned down the Germans early with the score 55 for 4 after 17 overs but captain Rishi Pillai fought back with 71 off 82 balls. Chilia burrowed through the middle order though and eventually nabbed Pillai as part of his haul to prevent the Germans from making a late surge and they were eventually bowled out in the 50th over.Jersey clinched the top spot in their half of the draw with a 108-run win over Ghana. Jersey made 226 for 8 after being sent in as everyone in the top five crossed 30 but no one passed Nat Watkins’ 44 off 88 balls opening the innings. Obed Agbomadzie’s remarkably consistent tournament with the ball continued as he bagged another three wickets to keep Jersey in check.With Vanuatu’s speedy victory over Germany in progress, a Ghana win would have put them in the semis. However, they wilted under pressure from Jersey’s left-arm spin attack as Ben Stevens claimed 3 for 17 and Watkins 2 for 31. Ghana was eventually bowled out for 118 in 36.4 overs.In a virtual knockout match for the last semi-final spot up for grabs, Qatar pulled off a tense three-wicket win over Guernsey by chasing down a target of 232 with 13 balls to spare. Oliver Newey struck his third half-century in a row from No. 3 for Guernsey, making 80 off 101 balls, but fell in a key sequence with 11 overs to go as Tamoor Sajjad (2 for 33) and Mohammed Nadeem (3 for 49) ensured they were held in check in the death overs.Qatar’s chase got off to an emphatic start with a 112-run opening partnership between Inam-ul-Haq (63 off 83 balls) and Qalandar Khan (56 off 64 balls). Medium pacer David Hooper removed both to open the door for a pair of quick middle-order strikes by left-arm spinner Matthew Ellis to test Qatar’s nerves. Muhammad Tanveer struck a crucial 47 off 62 balls before he fell to Newey with 22 needed off the last 35 balls. Newey struck again in his next over to leave the tail exposed but No. 9 Awais Malik bashed 10 off four balls while wicketkeeper Mohammed Rizlan kept calm to finish unbeaten on 22 to eliminate Guernsey.Italy finished their unbeaten run through Group A with a 122-run win over Cayman Islands. Damian Crowley’s 105 off 88 balls propelled Italy to a commanding total of 326 for 6. The ex-captain finished the group stage as the tournament’s leading scorer with 243 runs.Sacha de Alwis (52 off 44 balls) and captain Ramon Sealy (89 off 92 balls) each made solid contributions in Cayman Islands’ reply but lacked support as no one else made more than Conroy Wright’s 16 at No. 7. Carl Sandri bagged the biggest haul of the tournament, taking 6 for 46 to spin out Cayman Islands for 204 in 42.2 overs.The tournament semi-finals begin on Thursday with Italy taking on Vanuatu for one promotion berth while Jersey will play Qatar to determine the other team that will move up to Division Four. It will be the maiden encounter between the sides for each semi-final pairing.
Everton are still interested in signing Leeds United winger Wilfired Gnonto in the summer transfer window, according to a promising update from journalist Ben Jacobs.
How much does Wilfried Gnonto earn?
The £20,000-a-week-earning Whites attacker burst onto the scene at Elland Road last season, catching the eye with his dribbling ability and all-round entertainment value. While some youngsters are daunted by the pace and power of the Premier League and can take time to adjust to it, he consistently stood out as one of his side's brightest sparks.
Ultimately, Gnonto couldn't do enough to keep Leeds from avoiding relegation to the Championship, but he could walk away with his head held high, having registered four goals and assists apiece, in all competitions.
The issue now for the Whites is keeping hold of the 19-year-old beyond the end of the current transfer window, with other clubs trying to snap him up. They will be aware that he likely won't want to be playing in anything other than a top league at this point in his career, so an exit seems on the cards.
Everton are one of the clubs who have been linked with a move for Gnonto, seeing him as someone who could provide the team with some badly-needed attacking magic. A £15m has already reportedly been rejected and it appears as though they haven't walked away from a possible deal yet.
Speaking to Give Me Sport, described Everton's pursuit of Gnonto as "one to watch" currently, hinting that the Blues could still snap up the Italian at some point this summer:
"I expect Leeds to be really busy and I think that there'll still be some other outgoings. I think that Gnonto to Everton is one to watch."
Gnonto is still clearly a very raw footballer who won't necessarily perform to a high level every single week, but the thought of him in an Everton shirt moving forward is a mouthwatering prospect for the supporters.
Last season, he showed how much potential he has as a player, combining direct running with blistering speed out on the left-hand side, and his long-term ceiling is extremely high.
Leeds coach Michael Skubala has described Gnonto as a "special" footballer, while Gary Neville has also spoken of his admiration for him, saying:
"Sometimes you see potential and talent but watching him so closely, his understanding of where to be, his choice of pass, when to run with it, his awareness of teammates, really good honestly."
For Everton to bring in Gnonto over other potential suitors would be a massive coup, considering he already has 12 caps and one goal for a talented Italy side who are the reigning European champions, despite not yet even celebrating his 20th birthday.
The sky is the limit for the Leeds hero, and his style of play means he could swiftly become something of a cult hero at Goodison Park in no time, during a time at the club that has seen a dearth of genuine attacking quality on show for such an extended period.
Everton are reportedly in the mix to sign Leeds United youngster Wilfried Gnonto in the summer transfer window, having enquired about his availability.
What does Wilfried Gnonto earn per week?
The 19-year-old, who currently earns £20,000 per week, was one of the rare bright sparks for the Whites last season in a campaign that ultimately saw them relegated from the Premier League and sent back to the Championship for the first time since 2020.
Leeds simply never got going throughout the campaign, but Gnonto did his best to make things happen in the final third. The youngster provided attacking substance by registering six goal contributions in the league (two goals and four assists), and he couldn't be blamed too much for his side's poor form.
With the Whites now preparing for life in the second tier again, they have to accept that a number of key players will move on in order to remain in the top flight. Gnonto is one of them despite his tender years, considering he is already a 12-cap Italy international.
Everton have been linked with a move for the teenage winger who once clashed with Seamus Coleman during a game, as they look to bring in some exciting attacking signings in the current window – and a fresh update has now emerged.
According to Football Insider, Everton are one of numerous Premier League clubs in the race to sign Gnonto this summer, with Leeds all but accepting that he will move on:
"Leeds are expecting Wilfried Gnonto to depart from the club in this transfer window. There is a lot of interest in the winger, with Aston Villa, Everton and Crystal Palace all having made enquires for the Italian international.
"Gnonto, 19, is also attracting interest abroad as clubs in Italy and other clubs around Europe have also expressed interest in the youngster."
This is an encouraging update for Everton, suggesting that their interest in Gnonto hasn't gone away and that they are willing to battle their rivals for his signature. The Leeds ace could be a really exciting addition at Goodison Park, possessing the rare ability to get fans off their seat with his quality and fearlessness in the final third.
Indeed, Leeds coach Michael Skubala previously summed up how highly he thinks of him as a player, saying:
"He’s a great lad, he’s a special player. He’s a credit to Leeds, he’s a credit to himself and he’s a really nice player to work with."
Gnonto will surely like the idea of returning to the Premier League, even though a move back to his homeland could also appeal, and the hope is that Sean Dyche can sell him a move to Everton, talking up why it would be an ideal next destination for him.
The Blues lacked firepower in attacking areas all season long in 2022/23, with Dwight McNeil their top scorer in the league with just seven goals, but the Italian starlet could aid that situation, immediately making them more of a force from the off next year.
Aston Villa are closing in on Villarreal centre-back Pau Torres, as Unai Emery eyes a reunion with his former star.
Monchi will be hoping to deliver a strong summer of signings in his opening spell as president of football operations, with the La Liga gem having the potential to be a marquee capture.
Villa’s quest for the Spaniard extends back to January, where 90min suspected that the defender could follow Emery to the Midlands.
News this week reported by Spanish outlet Sport claimed that the 26-year-old’s next destination is in the ‘final stretch’, with both Villa and Bayern Munich named as the clubs that have made ‘firm offers’.
It was reported by Football Insider that the Yellow Submarine require a figure succeeding the £40m mark to see Torres depart.
What could Pau Torres offer to Aston Villa?
Ranking as one of the best centre-backs in Europe for his progressive play, the Villarreal ace has excelled this season and could be a thrilling asset for Emery to integrate into his side.
Lauded as “extraordinary” by former coach Javi Calleja via The Athletic, Torres placed in the top 1% of central defenders on the continent with an average of 2.24 progressive carries per 90, as per FBref, showing his competency on the ball.
Winning 61% of his total duels in La Liga this campaign, the Spaniard is a colossus in defence with a presence that could take Emery’s side to the next level.
Introducing a talent of the calibre of Torres could inspire Villa to hit further heights than what was achieved this season, in a way similar to the influence fellow centre-back Virgil Van Dijk had when signing for Liverpool.
The Reds captured the Dutchman’s signature in the January window of the 2017/18 season, in a campaign that saw Jurgen Klopp's side finish fourth.
The following two campaigns highlighted the importance of the controlling defender in the side, taking them to their sixth Champions League trophy in his first full term and then on to winning their first Premier League title the following season in 2020.
Hailed as “the best defender in the world” in 2019 by pundit Paul Merson via Sky Sports, Van Dijk was integral to Liverpool’s rise to success, acting as a true leader at the back and excelling in his defensive duties.
As per Sofascore, the Dutchman won an astounding 75% of his total duels in Liverpool’s title-winning campaign, recording an average of 1.1 interceptions and 4.3 clearances per game, being dribbled past an average of just 0.2 times per game.
Similar numbers have been hit by Torres this season in La Liga, recording a per-game average of 4.1 clearances and being dribbled past only 0.4 times, via Sofascore, showing the levels the Spaniard is operating at.
Villa had a fantastic campaign in clinching European football under Emery, and could potentially replicate the rise of Liverpool’s form by introducing their own world-beating centre-back.
The Villa boss described the 26-year-old to football.london as being a player he’d “never seen” anyone like, posing as a dominant figure to have in central defence and an individual that could inspire the squad at Villa Park to reach further heights. Indeed, like Van Dijk, he is progressive, composed and a titan at the back.
Tom Westley and Liam Livingstone hit unbeaten half centuries to steer England Lions out of a sticky situation in the opening game of their tour of Sri Lanka
ECB Reporters Network12-Feb-2017 ScorecardTom Westley stemmed a Lions collapse•Getty ImagesTom Westley and Liam Livingstone hit unbeaten half centuries to steer England Lions out of a sticky situation in the opening game of their tour of Sri Lanka.After dismissing the Board President’s XI for 153 on the first day of their only warm-up fixture before the two four-day games against Sri Lanka A, the Lions slipped to 69 for four in reply, with their England openers Keaton Jennings and Haseeb Hameed, who both made Test debuts on the sub-continent this winter, going cheaply.But Westley and Livingstone responded with an unbroken fifth-wicket stand of 99 in 24 overs, meaning the Lions will resume on the second day of the three-day match 15 runs ahead.Westley, who made an important 84 for the Lions in the first-class match against Afghanistan in Abu Dhabi before Christmas, reached an unbeaten 65 from 108 balls with 12 boundaries.Livingstone, who signed an extended contract with Lancashire just before the Lions left for Sri Lanka, will resume on 61 from 75 balls after reaching his half century with a six in addition to hitting seven fours.Tom Helm had claimed the best figures after the home team chose to bat first, although the wickets were shared around as all seven of the specialist bowlers in the Lions squad had a decent spell in a game that does not have first-class status because of the squad system being utilised.Tom Curran shared the new ball with Toby Roland-Jones and took a wicket in each of his first two overs to reduce the Board XI to 9-2.Helm, who was fast-tracked into the Lions squad from the Pace Programme in December after impressing in the training camp in Dubai, ended with three for 18 from 7.3 overs, and there were three catches for Joe Clarke as he kept wicket in place of Ben Foakes, who has a back problem.Sam Curran and the spinners Ollie Rayner and Jack Leach claimed one wicket apiece, and there were two for Leach’s Somerset team-mate Craig Overton.
تعرض فريق إنتر ميامي للهزيمة أمام خصمه مونتريال، في الساعات الأولى من صباح يوم الإثنين، في إطار منافسات بطولة الدوري الأمريكي.
وتلاقى الفريقان في إطار لقاءات الجولة الرابعة من الدوري الأمريكي، نسخة 2024، حيث خسر إنتر ميامي بنتيجة 3-2.
كان فرناندو ألفاريز قد سجل هدف التقدم لصالح مونتريال في الدقيقة 13 من عمر الشوط الأول.
اقرأ أيضًا.. قائمة منتخب الأرجنتين لمباراتي السلفادور وكوستاريكا.. موقف ميسي
وتمكن ليوناردو كامبانا من تسجيل هدف التعادل لأصحاب الأرض، إنتر ميامي، في الدقيقة 71، ولكن هذا لم يدم طويلًا حيث أحرز ماتياس كوكارو هدف التقدم لـ مونتريال في الدقيقة 75.
وواصل مونتريال تفوقه على إنتر ميامي بعدما سُجل الهدف الثالث في الدقيقة 78 عن طريق سونوسي إبراهيم.
وقلّص إنتر ميامي الفارق من جديد عن طريق لاعب برشلونة السابق، جوردي ألبا، الذي سجل هدفًا في الدقيقة 80.
ولم يشارك النجم الأرجنتيني ليونيل ميسي في تلك المباراة حيث غاب عن قائمة إنتر ميامي بداعِ الإصابة، في حين شارك لويس سواريز كبديل في الدقيقة 77.
بتلك النتيجة، ارتفع رصيد مونتريال إلى 7 نقاط في المركز الثاني، في المجموعة الشرقية، بفارق الأهداف عن إنتر ميامي.
The USA Cricket Association has announced over the weekend that it has offered central contracts to four players and intends to offer up to 20 more contracts in the next “two to three months”
Peter Della Penna21-Nov-2016The USA Cricket Association has announced over the weekend that it has offered central contracts to four players and intends to offer up to 20 more contracts in the next “two to three months”. The declarations were made by USACA president Gladstone Dainty and former USA coach Robin Singh during a series of speeches and presentations made at the USACA T20 National Championship in Florida this weekend.USA captain Steven Taylor, allrounders Timroy Allen and Timil Patel, and Trinbago Knight Riders batsman William Perkins were the first four players offered central contracts by the USACA. Dainty stated in a speech to the players on November 19 that the contracts were worth $48,000. It is not known if any of the players has accepted the offer yet but according to multiple sources, USA’s players were advised by ICC Americas officials last month to decline any offer made by USACA after rumours of potential contract offers had circulated.USACA provisional national squad
Rana Adil, Danial Ahmed, Timroy Allen*, Alex Amsterdam, Fahad Babar, Adil Bhatti, Sam Das, Akeem Dodson, Kushal Ganji, Muhammad Ghous, Elmore Hutchinson, Sheldon Irvin, Naseer Jamali, Nosthush Kenjige, Ali Khan, Carlitos Lopez, Jaskaran Malhotra, Prashanth Nair, Saurabh Netravalkar, Japen Patel, Nisarg Patel, Sagar Patel, Timil Patel, William Perkins, Ryan Persaud, Usman Rafiq, Ravi Ravish, Nicholas Standford, Roy Silva, Jessy Singh, Pranay Suri, Steven Taylor, Ravi Timbawala *
A battle for control of the selection process for USA national teams is not unprecedented. In 2005, a dispute over USA squad selections between USACA and the Council of League Presidents resulted in USA being kicked out of the Intercontinental Cup and replaced by Cayman Islands. USACA was suspended soon after, the first of three administrative suspensions over the course of the next decade.In September, ICC Americas staff, currently administering USA cricket in a caretaker role, hired former Sri Lanka Test cricketer Pubudu Dassanayake as the new USA coach ahead of WCL Division Four in Los Angeles, which USA won to gain promotion to Division Three. Robin last coached a USA side at 2014 ICC WCL Division Three in Malaysia, when USA finished fifth and were relegated to Division Four, but he is still listed on the USACA web site as their men’s national coach.However, under USACA’s current suspension, the ICC has made clear that it has assumed complete control over USA’s operational affairs including national-team selection. Dassanayake is expected to continue leading USA’s preparation for Division Three in Uganda next year. USACA has until December 15 to ratify a new constitution that has been approved by the ICC. Failure to do so may see a resolution put forth by December 31 leading to USACA’s potential expulsion as an Associate Member at the next ICC Annual Conference in June 2017.In a speech delivered on Sunday, Robin said he had put together a list of players from which 20 would receive USACA contracts in early 2017. Robin emphasised that the contracts were made possible by the $70 million investment deal announced last month between USACA and Philadelphia businessman Jay Pandya, who was subsequently announced as the new owner of the CPL franchise St Lucia Zouks.”We’re going to consider all of these people going forward to give contracts,” Robin said after the list of 29 additional names for consideration was unveiled. “Hopefully in the next year or two, we want to actually give out about 20 professional contracts and we want to make it as clear as possible. We want to make sure people are actually committed to the game. I’ll put out a list of commitments and requirements that I expect, and there’s going to be some very tough lines.”The USACA list of 33 players differs in notable ways from the 30-man national squad announced by ICC Americas evaluators in July. Among those that have been included in the USACA list of potential contract recipients are several players with first-class experience overseas including former India U-19 and Mumbai medium pacer Saurabh Netravalkar, Carlitos Lopez and Roy Silva. The only players who were part of USA’s Division Four and Auty Cup squads from October not included in USACA’s proposed contract list are Srini Santhanam, Hammad Shahid and Abdullah Syed.”In the next three months, we’re going to make sure there are a lot of games played,” Robin said. “It’s not only for the people who are on this list. I will call people outside the box and I think it’s necessary. If people are injured, or not available, or not honest enough, we will remove them from the list because it’s not my money. We are playing with other people’s money here and I think [Pandya] has made a serious commitment to take the game forward in this part of the world, and I think, as cricketers, you owe it to yourself to give yourself the best chance.”
India coach Anil Kumble has said he was heartened by Hardik Pandya’s performance with the new ball on his ODI debut, and that the team management would give the allrounder the freedom to bat and bowl without specific instructions. Pandya opened the bowling along with Umesh Yadav in Dharamsala and was responsible for New Zealand’s batting meltdown. His figures of 3 for 31 from seven overs earned him the Player-of-the-Match award.”[Pandya] is someone who obviously gives us the right balance,” Kumble said on the eve of the second ODI in Delhi. “He can not only bowl but also bowl at a pretty decent pace as well. [Bowling with the new ball] was certainly the strategy MS [Dhoni] wanted Hardik to try. He certainly has the potential and he showed his potential in the limited opportunities that he has got, whether it be the T20s or in the ODI. With him giving us those seven-eight overs, sometimes even 10, certainly gives us a better balance in the team.”When asked if Pandya’s ball-striking ability gave India lower-order insurance, especially with MS Dhoni moving up the order, Kumble said the team backed Pandya to play the way he wanted to. “For someone who is just starting his international career, we don’t want to put pressure on him by giving him definite plans as to this is what is expected of him,” he said. “He is someone who likes the freedom and that’s exactly what we have given someone like a Hardik. Even with regard to his bowling, we have told him to bowl with freedom and not worry about getting hit.”The moment you start putting pressure saying we want you to bowl six deliveries in one spot… it doesn’t work like that in international cricket especially if someone is just starting his international career. So even with his batting, he has all the freedom; it doesn’t matter what the situation is when he walks in. I’m sure he’ll play the way he wants to play rather than how you want him to play.”Kumble backed Manish Pandey to continue batting at No.4, but said the batting order remained fluid and would change according to the situation. “In one-day cricket it is not necessary that you need to have certain positions fixed as far as batting goes. It all depends on the situation,” he said. “So, you could see someone else walking in at No. 4 [depending upon] if we bat first or we bat second. We have a couple of options [for No.4]. Obviously Manish is someone who has done really well in the recent past and he started off well even in Dharamsala.”He comes into international cricket with solid domestic performance over the years. So that certainly gives him the additional advantage of knowing exactly what to do in different situations. Yes, he is certainly your No.4, but it depends on the situation, you could see someone else walking in at No. 4 as well.”Kumble, however, said Ajinkya Rahane would continue opening the batting through the series, and that it was premature to pencil in a permanent opening combination. “At the moment I think Rahane certainly fits in at the top of the order and that’s something that we will persist with,” he said. “Yes, it does give us an option once Shikhar [Dhawan] and [KL] Rahul are fit.”But we will only look at that probably post the England Test series, when England come for one-dayers. Looking at the Champions Trophy, we will then decide as to who will be our opening batting combination and then who will bat at 4, 5, I think all that will come in much later.”
Chelsea, for all the immense talent they have acquired since Todd Boehly's arrival as owner, are still lacking that clinical focal point up top.
This means that no matter how comfortable in possession they can be, or how solid their defence remains, with little threat up top they are so easy to thwart.
Therefore, it is not surprising to see that the Blues have claimed just a sole victory in all competitions since early March, with their tally of 36 goals the joint-fourth lowest in the Premier League.
Frank Lampard has offered little in the way of a new manager bounce, however, it seems that with each passing day, the announcement of Mauricio Pochettino nears.
In the proven Argentine, it is hoped that they have snagged a top-class head coach capable of welding together this makeshift side and propelling them into a brighter future.
However, should he not address their glaring issue, the problems of this miserable campaign will persist.
Therefore, should the reports linking them with a move for "main target" Victor Osimhen be true, the former Tottenham Hotspur boss simply must fork out the reported €150m (£130m) price tag this summer. It would mark a small price to pay to add that final piece of the jigsaw that could knit together a stumbling team at last.
How good is Victor Osimhen?
It is a testament to the quality of the Nigerian forward that he has earned comparisons with the legendary former Chelsea striker Didier Drogba.
When told about these rumours, talkSPORT pundit Ally McCoist boldly claimed: "He's the only striker I've seen in the last 10 years that reminds a little bit of Didier Drogba."
Given his goalscoring feats this season, such a notion is certainly well-founded.
After all, his 23 goals and five assists have proved instrumental in firing the Naples outfit to their first league title since 1990.
These figures mean that already the 24-year-old has already outscored all but one of the former Ivory Coast international's nine Premier League campaigns, a feat Statman Dave has branded as a "ridiculous output".
didier-drogba-chelsea-transfer
However, it is not just his potency that likens Osimhen to the 45-year-old, who truly cemented his legacy in west London after first scoring in normal time before coolly slotting the penalty that handed Chelsea the most unlikely of Champions League triumphs in 2012.
Both of these hulking forwards have blistering pace that belies their immense physique, and these raw assets would be emphasised further when surrounded by the technical proficiency of Kai Havertz, Enzo Fernandez and potentially Joao Felix as well.
The fact that BBC Sport contributor Raj Chohan has also lauded him as someone who "presses like a monster" only feeds into this notion.
Given the young African powerhouse has already admitted that Drogba remains his idol, there would be no better place to emulate his glittering career than at Stamford Bridge, should Pochettino convince him to make the move and Boehly fork out another expensive fee this summer.