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Crystal Palace have been linked with a move for Aston Villa midfielder Marvelous Nakamba as new Eagles manager Patrick Vieira continues to overhaul the first team squad.

What’s the story?

According to the Daily Mail, Palace are ready to test Villa’s resolve by launching a move for the combative 27-year-old this summer.

The report added that fellow Premier League outfit Everton are interested in acquiring Nakamba’s services, so Vieira may need to move quickly in order to secure the Zimbabwean.

He’s an upgrade on Milivojevic

Nakamba arrived at Villa Park from Club Brugge back in August 2019 and has settled into life on English shores fairly well, making 50 appearances for the Midlands outfit in all competitions. He put in a string of solid, if not eye-catching, performances during his debut campaign, but former Villan Alan Hutton noticed his telling contribution.

When speaking to Football Insider, the Scot said: “I think Nakamba’s done well. Let’s not kid ourselves; it’s been a difficult season; it was always going to be a difficult season.

“I think Nakamba can come out after this season thinking he’s played his part. I think he is probably underrated as well. There’s so much focus on the likes of Tyrone, Jack, John, even Wesley. It’s been difficult, but I think in terms of underrated, Nakamba.

“He’s went about his business very well, especially when the spotlight has been on other members of the squad.”

However, after the arrivals of Douglas Luiz and Morgan Sanson, Nakamba slipped down the pecking order at Villa Park and was limited to just nine Premier League starts last term. That has led to the Zimbabwe international being linked with pastures new, and he could become the latest player to join Vieira’s revolution in south London.

Current club captain Luka Milivojevic is the favoured holding midfielder at Selhurst Park, but the 30-year-old’s performances have been declining for the last couple of campaigns, and Nakamba’s underlying numbers suggest that he would be an upgrade on the Serbian.

As per FBRef.com, Nakamba recorded 2.53 blocks and 2.77 tackles per game last season, bettering Milivojevic’s tallies of 1.79 and 2.56 respectively. The Villa man was also more effective with the ball at his feet, achieving a pass completion rate of 85.7% compared to Milivojevic’s 81.1%, showcasing the improvement that his arrival would likely bring.

It’s unknown how much Villa manager Dean Smith would demand for the £6.3m-rated beast, but Nakamba would provide a solid base to Vieira’s new-look Palace, and Eagles chairman Steve Parish must swoop for the 27-year-old if the transfer budget allows.

In other news… Parish could secure Palace’s new Zaha with £20m swoop for “explosive” speed demon 

Shane Watson has no doubt Andrew Symonds will return to international cricket

Brydon Coverdale in Darwin02-Sep-2008
Shane Watson: “I know when times aren’t going great … it’s probably good to have a bit of time to yourself just to gather your thoughts” © Getty Images
Shane Watson has no doubt Andrew Symonds will return to international cricket and believes it would be a massive waste of talent if he focuses solely on the Indian Premier League. Symonds is considering his future after being cut from the Australia squad in Darwin due to the team’s concerns about his commitment.As the highest paid foreign cricketer in the IPL – he sold at auction for US$1.35 million to the Deccan Chargers – Symonds clearly does not need to play for Australia to earn a living. But his good friend and Queensland team-mate Watson believes Symonds has put in such effort turning himself from an ODI dasher into a high quality Test batsman that he would not walk away from Australia.”I know Andrew Symonds well and I know deep down he’s worked so, so hard and been through a lot of ups and downs throughout his career to play for Australia,” Watson said. “I’ve got no doubt in my mind that he’ll be back, hopefully sooner rather than later, when he makes sure that his mind is exactly where he wants to be.”The IPL option might be tempting if Symonds is having trouble staying focused through Australia’s hectic international schedule. Watson was named Player of the Series in the inaugural tournament this year and said the league had its own set of serious stressors, which Symonds would need to consider if he intended to concentrate entirely on that format.”Playing in the IPL there’s a lot of pressure on you to play and to perform,” Watson said. “I felt that. You know that if things start to not go great that there’s a lot of pressure from your owners, from the people, from the supporters.”I hope that’s not the way he goes because I don’t want this to be the last the Australian public see of Andrew Symonds playing for Australia. I personally think that it would be a waste because he’s an amazingly talented player and I love watching him play.”Watson said he had seen no signs over the past few months that Symonds had changed, although the team leadership group has had lingering concerns for some time. He has resisted the temptation to call his friend over the past few days but he expects to chat to Symonds soon.”I know when times aren’t going great … it’s probably good to have a bit of time to yourself just to gather your thoughts,” Watson said. “I’m sure I’ll talk to him in the next few days.”

Michael Ball has ruled out the possibility of Chelsea outcast Ross Barkley sealing a return to Everton this summer.

The England international midfielder left Goodison Park in favour of a £15million move to Chelsea three-and-a-half years ago.

Barkley’s Everton exit came after pushing to leave the club for a number of years.

However, the 27-year-old’s switch to Stamford Bridge has not gone to plan as he has made just 86 appearances for the Blues.

Barkley also played no role in the Blues’ Champions League success last season as he headed to Aston Villa on loan.

The central midfielder has been linked with a permanent departure from west London this summer, with Everton, West Ham United and Newcastle United reportedly among those interested.

Barkley made 179 first-team appearances during his initial spell with the Toffees but former Everton left-back Ball believes the way in which the academy product harboured for a way out of the club earlier in his career will make a return difficult.

Speaking exclusively to Football FanCast, Ball said: “The way he left has tainted his side, which is really disappointing.

“Ross has been on loan at Aston Villa and it didn’t really work out. They didn’t want to keep him so there are still question marks over whether he has developed since leaving Everton.

“The reasons why he left were a bit shocking for the Everton fans at the time.”

Bowler attributes much of his success to Kolkata Knight Riders team-mates

Cricinfo staff09-Sep-2008Bengal fast bowler Ashok Dinda said he was surprised after being included in the 14-member Rest of India squad for the Irani Trophy.”I was quite surprised initially, but moments later I realised that I was approaching my childhood dream,” he told Kolkata-based daily the . “It feels nice when things are getting brighter with each passing day. I am happy and want to work harder to make this chance count.”Dinda, 24, said he was disappointed after failing to make it to the India A squad for the tri-series against Australia A and New Zealand A beginning September 16. “I know my performances weren’t that good recently. I was bit upset after being dropped from the India A ODI side. I am thankful and really excited that I have my chance now.”Dinda made his first-class debut for Bengal in the 2005-06 season and has 45 first-class wickets from 16 matches at an average of 39.15. But, he came to the fore with his impressive performance for the Kolkata Knight Riders in the IPL where he picked up 9 wickets from 13 matches at 28.88.The fast bowler attributed much of his success to his Kolkata Knight Riders team-mates in the IPL. “Obviously their advice has changed my thinking altogether. After the IPL, I would like to point out that I am a more mature player.”

Celtic have been name-checked with an interest in Fenerbahce winger Bright Osayi-Samuel by Turkish outlet Fanatik.

The Lowdown: Osayi-Samuel profiled

Osayi-Samuel only joined Fenerbahce in January from Queens Park Rangers and is under contract with the Turkish giants until 2025.

The 23-year-old, who has netted 19 times during his career, has struggled with his current employers. He has scored just one goal and registered a single assist in his 19 games for the club.

Described as ‘dangerous’ by QPR manager Mark Warburton last year, the Nigerian can play anywhere across the front three, with his main position coming on the right wing.

The Latest: Fenerbahce future

Fanatik shared a story on Osayi-Samuel on Tuesday morning. Within their report, they claimed that Fenerbahce are waiting for an offer for the winger, with both Celtic and Rangers credited with an interest.

A fee of €3m (£2.5m) is touted and it seems that Fenerbahce are willing to sell by evaluating any offers they receive, with Osayi-Samuel struggling to adapt to Vítor Pereira’s new system.

The Verdict: A gamble

Osayi-Samuel hasn’t had the best of years, so bringing him to Celtic Park could be a gamble. However, you’d expect that the Hoops would have looked into his career, and if he can get back to the form of the 2019/20 season, a £2.5m deal could be a steal.

He was involved in 14 Championship goals for QPR in that campaign and picked up two club accolades as a result.

Osayi-Samuel is still just 23 years of age and already has more than 200 senior appearances under his belt, so if Ange Postecoglou can get the best out of him, a £2.5m move would be seen as a great piece of business from Celtic in the long run.

In other news: Celtic now ‘in talks’ for ‘really, really good’ 6ft 3 ace; may cost ‘significant’ fee. 

Younis Khan, the Pakistan batsman, will make his first appearance for South Australia in Wednesday’s one-day match against New South Wales in Adelaide

Cricinfo staff21-Oct-2008
South Australia hope that Younis Khan’s experience at the highest level will rub off on his team-mates © AFP
Younis Khan, the Pakistan batsman, will make his first appearance for South Australia in Wednesday’s one-day match against New South Wales in Adelaide. Younis was the Redbacks’ prize signing during the off-season as they searched interstate and overseas for men who could help improve their dismal on-field record from the past few years.The arrival of Younis, who a week ago was playing Twenty20 internationals in Canada, has spelled trouble for Mark Cosgrove, who was dropped from the 12-man FR Cup squad. Cosgrove, the most recent South Australia batsman to play for Australia, has found himself out of the state side in both formats this summer.Younis, a veteran of 58 Tests and a some-time stand-in captain of the Pakistan side, will follow his FR Cup debut with a Sheffield Shield outing against New South Wales starting on Friday. Mark Sorell, the South Australia coach, said their new No. 3 Younis was not expected to singlehandedly turn around the Redbacks’ fortunes.”He has just got a genuine passion for the game, a very infectious character,” Sorell told . “His record obviously speaks for himself … but he genuinely loves the game of cricket and wants to do well. He has already had an impact on our guys.”The axing of Cosgrove, who is only 24, is a strong reminder to South Australia’s developing batsmen that they must perform or risk losing their places this season. The arrival of Younis and the former Victorian Michael Klinger, who made a century in his first Sheffield Shield outing for his new state, will increase the pressure on players like Cameron Borgas and Callum Ferguson, who have been on the scene for several years without quite fulfilling their potential.”It’s an unfortunate call and at this stage Mark Cosgrove has missed out,” Sorell said. “It is tough on Mark, and anyone missing out you could say it’s difficult with Younis coming in.”But that puts a bit of pressure on our overall group which is not a bad thing for where we’re at. Everyone knows now they have got to start performing because there is pressure on our group from outside with guys missing out like Mark Cosgrove, and pressure on guys when they get the opportunity to make the most of it.”The fast bowler Allan Wise, who did not make the starting line-up in the Sheffield Shield opener, has been cut from the first-class squad to make room for Younis. The Redbacks began the season with a one-day loss to Victoria and a draw against the same opponents in the Sheffield Shield.FR Cup squad Daniel Harris, Michael Klinger, Younis Khan, Callum Ferguson, Cameron Borgas, Daniel Christian, Aaron O’Brien, Graham Manou (capt, wk), Mark Cleary, Dan Cullen, Shaun Tait, Allan Wise.Sheffield Shield squad Daniel Harris, Tom Plant, Younis Khan, Michael Klinger, Callum Ferguson, Cameron Borgas, Aaron O’Brien, Graham Manou (capt, wk), Mark Cleary, Dan Cullen, Paul Rofe, Shaun Tait.

Martin Bodenham, the former FIFA referee turned umpire, will become the first man to officiate in top-flight football and first-class cricket in England and Wales when he stands in 2009

Cricinfo staff10-Nov-2008Martin Bodenham, the former FIFA referee turned umpire, will become the first man to officiate in top-flight football and first-class cricket in England and Wales when he stands in 2009, after being promoted to the full list.Bodenham is one of four umpires elevated for next season, the others are Nick Cook, the former England offspinner, former Durham batsman Martin Gough and former quick bowler David Millns. The ECB now has 25 full-time, professional umpires on the list.”I began playing cricket when I was around 10 or 11 years old and love the game,” Bodenham said. “When I retired as a football referee ten years ago I took up umpiring and continued to play 2nd XI league cricket. Cricket is and always has been my major sporting passion.”After umpiring in the Sussex League, it was England coach, PeterMoores, who encouraged me to apply for the ECB reserve list and I thankPeter for helping me realise my potential.”ECB umpires’ manager, Chris Kelly, said: “We have a pool of talentedumpires supporting our first-class game and Martin, Nick, Michael andDavid have earned their promotion.”

Crystal Palace have been name-checked with an interest in Celtic striker Odsonne Edouard, according to The Scottish Sun.

The Lowdown: Palace set to miss out on Armstrong

Patrick Vieira seemingly wants to bring a forward to Selhurst Park before the transfer window shuts but looks set to miss out on Blackburn Rovers’ Adam Armstrong.

Palace were thought to be leading the way for the 24-year-old just last week, but Southampton have now agreed a fee with Rovers and are finalising personal terms with Armstrong over becoming Danny Ings’ replacement at St Mary’s.

The Latest: Edouard interest

The Scottish Sun shared a transfer story on Monday evening, sharing the Hoops’ interest in Thomas Henry.

The report, which came hours after Sky Sports’ story on Southampton’s hunt for Armstrong, stated that Celtic view the OH Leuven marksman as an ideal replacement for Edouard, with Palace name-checked as one of the clubs who are keen on the latter.

Palace were briefly linked with Edouard last month, and it seems as if they are still tracking the 23-year-old.

The Verdict: Time for Palace to swoop?

Edouard has netted 85 senior goals during his club career so far and was hailed as a ‘special talent’ by former Hoops manager Neil Lennon last year.

He is into the final 12 months of his Celtic Park deal, so Palace could possibly land the striker for a relatively cut-price fee.

However, if the Eagles are serious about Edouard, they may have to act fast, with arch-rivals Brighton the favourites for the Celtic man’s services at this moment in time.

In other news: Many CPFC fans react to transfer update on this winger

Nigel Jemson reckons that playing regular football could lead to Joao Carvalho finally loving up to the hype at Nottingham Forest, with the former Reds man even claiming that the Portuguese would be more suited to Premier League football.

Carvalho joined in a club-record fee three years ago, but he’s been unable to justify that fee – and scored just six goals in his first two seasons at the City Ground.

Having lost his place in the side towards the back end of the 2019-2020 campaign, the 24-year-old was loaned out to Spanish second division side Almeria.

And despite failing to score in 36 appearances in all competitions, Carvalho has returned to Forest and looks to be part of Chris Hughton’s plans moving forward.

He was an unused substitute against Coventry City on the opening-day but showed his true quality by netting both goals in the Carabao Cup first-round victory over Bradford City on Wednesday.

Carvalho has endured a difficult three years with Forest, but Jemson is confident that with a full pre-season behind him, his fortunes could soon be about to change.

He exclusively told The Transfer Tavern:

“I’m a big fan of his, I like him. I think he would do better in the Premier League than in the Championship.

“I hope that he came back to pre-season with an attitude to make people realise what a good player he is. If he’s playing regularly, I think he’s going to be a superb addition, I really do.”

Adam Gilchrist has told Sachin Tendulkar that his comments in the media were taken out of context

Cricinfo staff24-Oct-2008
Adam Gilchrist says excerpts from his book were quoted out of context © Getty Images
Adam Gilchrist has told Sachin Tendulkar that his comments questioning Tendulkar’s evidence in the Harbhajan Singh racism case had been taken out of context. Excerpts from Gilchrist’s new book, published in the , questioned Tendulkar’s sporting spirit and his role in the hearings into the alleged racist remark made by Harbhajan. In , Gilchrist suggested Tendulkar had changed his statement.”Gilchrist called me up and clarified this issue,” Tendulkar told news channel . “He said his comments have been taken out of context.” To another channel, , Tendulkar defended himself against Gilchrist’s remark that he was “hard to find for a changing-room handshake after we have beaten India”.”Before, during and after the match I don’t like to enter the opposition dressing-room as it is not my culture,” Tendulkar said. “But I have nothing against other cultures. I have never walked off a ground without shaking the opposition players’ hands.”Indian cricket officials have already criticised Gilchrist for questioning Tendulkar’s honesty. MV Sridhar, the Indian team manager on the tour, had added a twist to the saga by offering a different version to Gilchrist of what Tendulkar had said.”During the hearing in front of Mike Procter, the match referee, during the Sydney Test, Tendulkar told him that he had heard some form of abuse,” Sridhar told Cricinfo. “But Procter didn’t probe any further and left matters at that. But subsequently in front of Justice Hansen, when both parties were cross-examined by legal counsel, Tendulkar said that he had heard Harbhajan say but clarified that it was an abbreviated form of an abuse.”Sridhar was present at both hearings after the Test, first with Procter and then with Justice John Hansen. Sridhar questioned the timing of Gilchrist’s revelations and said he used the incident merely to get cheap publicity for his book.”It is absurd that he [Gilchrist] is speaking after almost a year after the incident,” he said. “It’s just a cheap marketing gimmick to sell the book. Why did he try to go public now because he realised the importance of the moment like the India-Australia series which has gained Ashes-like proportions?”He said he was surprised at how Symonds, who claimed he was racially abused by Harbhajan in Hindi, got away despite admitting that he was involved in a heated discussion with him. Symonds saw Harbhajan hitting Brett Lee on the backside so he stepped in and “had a bit of a crack at Harbhajan”, telling him exactly what he thought of his antics. Harbhajan was initially banned for three Tests but his punishment was overturned on appeal.BCCI vice-president Rajiv Shukla said the board would not pursue any action against Gilchrist. “I think it is better to ignore Gilchrist’s comments,” Shukla said. “The only one to lose respect will be him, not Tendulkar.”Niranjan Shah, the BCCI secretary at that time, felt Gilchrist only wanted to “sensationalise the incidents” to sell his book. “Everything was properly handled by the authorities with the appointment of proper men to conduct the hearing after a proper procedure was put in place. After the matter is over, to claim these things in the book is nothing but foolishness.”