According to Lancs Live, Burnley are interested in making a move for Leeds United full-back Cody Drameh this summer.

Who is Cody Drameh?

Spending last season on loan at Luton Town, Drameh played a key part in Rob Edwards' side as they defeated Coventry City in the Championship play-off final to secure promotion to the Premier League.

Drameh made 16 appearances in the Championship after completing the loan move to Kenilworth Road in January.

The young full-back started the play-off final, as the Hatters battled to eventually defeat Coventry on penalties. After a frustrating first half of the campaign with little game time at Elland Road, Drameh ended on a high at Wembley.

Foreseeing the success that Drameh would have at Luton after the deal was completed, Edwards told Luton Today:

“There was not much doubt really, all the attributes were there.

“A really good mentality, technically he’s a really good footballer and physically fantastic as well.

"They’re pretty good attributes to have, especially in this modern game now, so there wasn’t too much doubt from my point of view.”

Will Burnley sign Cody Drameh?

As reported by Lancs Live, Drameh is on the list of Vincent Kompany's Burnley targets this summer.

The Clarets boss may not make the deal his highest priority, however, given the form of right-back Connor Robers throughout a successful title-winning campaign last season. With that, Roberts would likely enter the season as first choice.

But how do Drameh and Roberts compare?

As per FBref, whilst Drameh made more interceptions per-90 last season, Roberts outperformed his younger counterpart in progressive passes, goals and assists per-90.

Defensively, however, Drameh stands out, having made more interceptions as mentioned plus more blocks, and tackles than Roberts. Although it must be said, this could partly be down to Burnley's possession-based playing style, rather than Roberts' defensive capability.

So, if Drameh did make the move to Burnley, he would likely go in as a deputy, rather than a starter.

The Leeds gem is not short on options, though, with Luton Town interested in turning their loan move permanent this summer, according to Fabrizio Romano.

The two interested parties leaves Drameh with a big decision to make this summer, added onto the fact that he could yet opt to stay at Leeds for next season.

Drameh's current Leeds contract expires this time next year, which will allow the 21-year-old to leave on a free deal.

This means that, if the Yorkshire club want to cash in, it must be soon.

The Olympic Stadium in London is moving closer to hosting matches in the 2019 World Cup

Tim Wigmore23-Jan-2017

The Olympic Stadium in London is moving closer to hosting matches in the 2019 World Cup after a full inspection of the ground* found that the pitch dimensions complied with requirements for one-day internationals. A final decision on the use of the stadium is expected in the coming months, but the London Stadium, as it is now named, is viewed as having a better than even chance of staging games.The move, which is strongly supported by the ICC, is an attempt to use the 2019 tournament to attract new audiences to the sport and produce the best spectacle possible. The London Stadium has a capacity of 60,000 – twice that of any other cricket ground in the UK. It appears likely to host two or three matches, and its capacity raises the possibility of it being used to stage some of the most enticing games in the group stage. The ICC has been struck by the possibility of large crowds at the London Stadium, similar to those at multi-sport grounds like the MCG and Eden Park during the 2015 World Cup, adding to the excitement surrounding the tournament.The venue is also being explored as a possibility to host a stand-alone opening ceremony. The 1999 World Cup began with an infamously damp firework display in drizzle at Lord’s, and it is hoped that a glitzy opening ceremony at the London Stadium, combined with hosting matches there, could help to ensure the 2019 tournament is more successful in engaging the wider public. Fan zones around the country are also being explored to help promote the tournament.Were the London Stadium to be selected to host matches, it would be likely to use drop-in pitches, as the ground is normally used by the English football club West Ham United. The 2019 World Cup is scheduled for outside the football season, and it seems most likely that all the matches at the London Stadium would be played within a short time frame, giving ground staff sufficient time to prepare without encroaching too much upon preparations for the following football season. The London Stadium has long been considered a viable option for T20 cricket – Essex hope to play matches at the ground in 2018 – although hosting 50-over matches for the first time, for a non-cricket specialist stadium, during the World Cup could carry unforeseen risks.However, there could be some resistance to the plans among English counties. At the end of 2014, the ECB announced the full allocation of matches for the 2019 World Cup: 11 venues were guaranteed a certain number of matches, adding up to the full 48 in the tournament. Should the ECB now attempt to unpick this arrangement, counties would be certain to demand compensation. Paying this would be well within the financial capabilities of the ECB – its latest accounts announced cash reserves of £73.1m – if it considers using the London Stadium as a tool to grow the sport. Given its capacity, matches at the London Stadium would also be likely to generate more revenue than at other grounds, and so some could be used to compensate any venues that lost matches.Debate about using the London Stadium also comes against the wider backdrop of the current tussle between the ECB and counties over plans to introduce a new eight-team domestic T20 tournament. Surrey have been one of the most vociferous opponents of the plans. But if the London Stadium is seen as an increasingly viable ground to host matches, it would appear possible that it could be used as a second London venue – in addition to Lord’s – for the new T20 competition. Were that the case, The Oval could be at risk of not hosting a side in the new tournament.

Tottenham could be handed an immediate blow to their pre-season planning with the “huge news” that youth coach Yaya Toure has been approached to become the new assistant manager at Standard de Liege.

What's the latest Tottenham news?

The Lilywhites are sure to be busy this summer as they prepare for Ange Postecoglou’s first season at the helm, with a number of outgoings and incomings expected both on and off the pitch.

Eight senior players are returning from loan spells – including the likes of Djed Spence, Bryan Gil and Destiny Udogie – while Pedro Porro and Dejan Kulusevski will make their loan moves permanent, and that’s all before you even start looking at new players.

Off the pitch meanwhile, the new boss was expected to bring in his former Celtic number two, John Kennedy, but that move has been met with stern resistance from the Glasgow club.

And it looks like Postecoglou and Daniel Levy could be shopping for a new academy coach soon too, with Belgian journalist Sacha Tavolieri revealing Toure could now leave.

“Huge news for Standard Liege,” he said. “It is Yaya Toure who has been approached to become Carl Hoefkens first assistant.”

Is Yaya Toure a good manager?

The Manchester City legend joined the Spurs youth ranks back in August of 2022, and has certainly left a positive impression on coaches who know him, with former Crystal Palace boss Patrick Vieira saying Toure will now “easily” become a top level manager.

The 40 year-old has recently admitted however that he would like a “new challenge”, and an assistant role for a senior top flight side is certainly a logical step up from academy coaching, and could then lead to his first chance at the helm somewhere.

With that admission in mind, it seems quite likely that Toure will jump at Liege’s approach, handing Postecoglou early upheaval in his backroom staff very early into his Tottenham reign, and it will be interesting to see where the new boss turns for a potential replacement.

An update has emerged on Celtic and their plans to bolster their attacking options in the summer transfer window…

What's the latest on Benie Traore to Celtic?

According to journalist Alan Nixon's Patreon (25/06/2023), the Hoops are one of a number of clubs showing an interest in Hacken centre-forward Benie Traore.

The report claims that the club have been trying to green-light a swoop for the 20-year-old marksman for over a week as Brendan Rodgers attempts to land his second signing of the summer, after the arrival of Norwegian midfielder Odin Thiago Holm.

It states that Premier League side Sheffield United and fellow Scottish outfit Rangers are also keen on the young attacker, who is set to be available for a fee in the region of £5m.

Who is Benie Traore?

The Ivorian could be a terrific addition to the club's squad as his form in Sweden this year suggests that he has the potential to be a dream heir to Kyogo Furuhashi at Parkhead.

Burnley, who have been promoted to the top-flight of English football ahead of next term, are reportedly interested in signing the Japan international and Celtic may have to start thinking about what life will look like after the 28-year-old moves on.

He has been a phenomenal performer for the Hoops since joining in the summer of 2021 and has proven himself to be a reliable Scottish Premiership goalscorer.

Kyogo averaged a Sofascore rating of 7.11 and plundered 27 goals in 31 league starts last season and that came off the back of 12 goals in 16 starts during his debut campaign in the division. As such, the exceptional finisher has scored once every 1.2 league starts on average for the club over the last two years.

These statistics suggest that it will be a tough task to replace his output in the final third. However, Traore's goalscoring record in Sweden indicates that the 20-year-old prospect could come in and enjoy similar success.

Indeed, the Hacken centre-forward, who was hailed as "talented" and a "jewel" by talent scout Jacek Kulig, has averaged a Sofascore rating of 7.25 across 13 Allsvenskan appearances and contributed with 12 goals and three assists.

Traore also produced three goals and three assists in six Svenska Cupen outings earlier this year on the way to helping his team win the competition.

At the age of 20, the star of the Swedish top-flight would come in as a player with long-term potential as well as being a striker who could make an instant impact at Parkhead, given his incredible form since the turn of the year, if he is able to adapt to Scottish football.

His goalscoring record in 2023 is extraordinary and Rodgers could, therefore, find the dream heir to Kyogo by bringing the prolific number nine to Celtic.

Amadou Onana is an option Manchester United could explore in the summer transfer window, journalist David Ornstein has revealed.

Who could Man United sign in midfield?

Recent reports have revealed that Man United have submitted a final bid for Chelsea's Mason Mount, having agreed personal terms with the England international, but a deal is far from guaranteed as there is a reluctance to meet Chelsea's high asking price.

Erik ten Hag is targeting a midfielder to play alongside Bruno Fernandes and Casemiro, and Everton's Onana is a name believed to be on their list of targets.

Speaking on the FIVE YouTube channel, Ornstein revealed that Onana is on the list at United, but he is one of a number of players they could target this summer.

"You've got Manchester United as well, who want a midfielder, though as far as we know, they're focused on the more advanced one in Mason Mount at this point in time and the number nine," he stated.

"They are looking at the other positions and you'll have seen reports about Onana and Everton, I'm led to believe he's on the list, and like many, he's one of many options they're considering.

"But they've got their ownership situation which is complicating it all. So this market is just absolutely wild."

Should Man United sign Onana?

The 21-year-old has had an impressive debut season in the Premier League despite Everton's struggles, and has been a standout performer for the Toffees.

Former Belgium manager Roberto Martinez described the midfielder as a "leader," and he could bring a lot of strength and dynamism to the United midfield.

His height could prove to be invaluable in the middle of the park, and he ranks in the top 7% of midfielders for aerial duels as per FBref.

It remains to be seen whether he offers enough on the ball for Erik ten Hag, given that he ranks poorly for progressive passes, but he could help glue together the midfield trio, and at just 21, there is massive potential for him to grow.

If United do sign Mount, then it seems unlikely that they will pursue another expensive midfield signing, but if they pull out of a deal for the Englishman, then Onana is a ready-made alternative they could explore.

Uncertainty over the ownership situation means that a deal may have to be completed later on in the window, but should Onana join, he would be an investment which could reap rewards in the long run.

Manchester United are in the process of being taken over at Old Trafford; however, it is unlikely that minority investment firms will usurp either the Nine Two Foundation or INEOS, according to journalist Ben Jacobs.

What's the latest Manchester United ownership news?

According to Reuters, Manchester United 'is negotiating' granting exclusivity to Qatari businessman Sheikh Jassim bin Hamad al Thani and the Nine Two Foundation.

The report states that the bid from Sheikh Jassim is viewed as more favourable to the Glazer family than Sir Jim Ratcliffe and his petrochemicals firm INEOS' offer to assume control of the Premier League giants.

As per The Times, whoever becomes the new owner of Manchester United is unlikely to be in place before the new season begins at Old Trafford.

There is said to be an 'approval process' before any deal is concluded, something which could take between eight and 12 weeks to complete and consequently drag the timeline of the ownership battle on while vetting procedures are carried out.

ESPN understand that several minority investment firms are still waiting to find out whether they have been successful in their efforts to buy into Manchester United.

Speaking to Football FanCast, journalist Jacobs has indicated that it is unlikely that any minority investors will win the bidding war to invest in Manchester United.

Jacobs told FFC: "My understanding is that the minority investors are largely just waiting at this point. They now have a lower confidence that option will be one that the Glazers take. It looks like the focus is now on the two main groups INEOS and the Nine Two Foundation. Of course, no sale can ever be ruled out, but I wouldn't want to go in and paint to Manchester United fans that that is a likely scenario."

What now for Manchester United?

Manchester United boss Erik Ten Hag will be focused solely on trying to identify new recruits ahead of 2023/24 as the Red Devils look to build on a strong debut campaign under his stewardship.

Chelsea midfielder Mason Mount is a key target for the Dutchman; however, Manchester United were rebuffed in their first attempt to try and land the England international, in an offer that was said to be worth in the region of £40 million, as per BBC Sport.

The Daily Mail report that Atalanta striker Rasmus Hojlund is also on the radar at Old Trafford, though the Serie A outfit will demand around £86 million to sanction his exit.

Brentford goalkeeper David Raya is another name that has been mentioned in connection with Manchester United, who remain keen on the 27-year-old despite interest from Tottenham Hotspur, as per Telegraph Sport.

In a time of change at Manchester United, plenty of exciting developments could be set to occur at the Premier League giants over the next weeks and months.

أعلن نادي آرسنال متصدر جدول ترتيب الدوري الإنجليزي حاليًا عن توصله لاتفاق مع مدافع الفريق الأول لكرة القدم، بن وايت، لتمديد عقده.

ووقع بن وايت اليوم، الخميس، على عقد طويل الأمد لم يعلن آرسنال عن مدته وكان عقده القديم يستمر حتى 30 يونيو 2026.

وانضم اللاعب الإنجليزي الدولي إلى صفوف آرسنال في عام 2021 قادمًا من برايتون بمقابل مادي قيمته 58 مليون يورو.

اقرأ أيضًا.. ساكا يتحدى مانشستر سيتي بعد تأهل آرسنال لربع نهائي دوري أبطال أوروبا

💬 “I wouldn’t want to be anywhere else.” — Arsenal (@Arsenal) March 14, 2024

ولكن أثبت بن وايت نفسه مع المدير الفني، ميكل أرتيتا، مما دفع آرسنال إلى مكافأة اللاعب وتمديد عقده للاستمرار في ملعب “الإمارات” لفترة طويلة.

وشارك بن وايت مع آرسنال في الموسم الحالي في 39 مباراة في جميع البطولات المحلية والقارية وسجل هدف وصنع 4 في 3.050 دقيقة.

ومنذ انضمام بن وايت إلى آرسنال قبل 3 سنوات تقريبًا، شارك في 122 مباراة مع تسجيل 4 أهداف وصناعة 9 آخرين، ويجيد اللعب في مركز الظهير الأيمن وقلب الدفاع.

Vishnu Vinod’s maiden T20 fifty led Kerala to a 21-run victory over Andhra in Chennai. With him lasting as long as the 15th over, making sure both the first and the second wicket partnerships totalled 50 runs or more, Kerala were able to put up 175 for 7 in their 20 overs. Bandaru Ayyappa and KV Sasikanth were Andhra’s most successful bowlers, picking up 2 for 39 and 2 for 29 respectively. Kerala’s bowlers built on their batsmen’s momentum, with Sandeep Warrier (2-28) and Basil Thampi (3-18) handing out ducks to Andhra’s No. 3 Prasanth Kumar and their captain Hanuma Vihari. Although Ricky Bhui found back with 48 off 36 balls, supported by Dwaraka Ravi Teja (33 off 20) and Shoaib Md Khan (20 off 7), they couldn’t make up for the top-order mishaps.File photo – S Badrinath hit 49 off 22 in Hyderabad’s thumping win over Goa•BCCI

Hyderabad crushed Goa by 51 runs, thanks to Tanmay Agarwal’s career-best 91 that helped them post 224 in Chennai. Agarwal put on 111 for the opening wicket with Akshath Reddy (55 off 32) and 97 for the second with S Badrinath (49 off 22) before his 48-ball knock came to an end. With the exception of debutant legspinner Ganeshraj Narvekar (1-28), all of Goa’s bowlers went at more than 9.5 per over. In their response, Goa lost early wickets and were kept tight by medium-pacers M Ravi Kiran and Mohammed Siraj, who took 1 for 53 in the eight overs between them. Sagun Kamat (50 off 44) and Saurabh Bandekar (53* off 25) scored half-centuries, but Goa could muster only 173 for 5 in their 20 overs.Dinesh Karthik steered Tamil Nadu out of choppy waters•Sivaraman Kitta

A 55-run stand for the sixth wicket between Dinesh Karthik (45) and M Ashwin (34) helped Tamil Nadu overcome a middle order wobble to beat Karnataka by four wickets. They chased down Karnataka’s 144 for 9, achieved largely thanks to R Samarth’s 40, with four balls to spare. Karnataka were left to rue a poor fielding effort that resulted in them reprieving Ashwin twice in one over off R Vinay Kumar; Mohammad Taha put down the chances at long-on. Samarth aside, five other Karnataka batsmen made double figures; three of them made 16.

Vikram Limaye, a member of the committee of administrators overseeing the BCCI, has said there is a need for greater trust between the Indian board, other member boards, and the ICC

ESPNcricinfo staff10-Feb-2017Vikram Limaye, a member of the committee of administrators overseeing the BCCI, has said there is a need for greater trust between the Indian board, other member boards, and the ICC. Limaye, who represented the BCCI at the ICC Board meeting in Dubai last week, said it was important for boards to move forward collectively and not carry baggage from the past.”There is a lot of mistrust between the BCCI and the other members based on historical experiences and on how they feel they have been treated in the past,” Limaye told the . “I outlined my views to the ICC Board members that it is important to adopt a collaborative approach, rather than a confrontational approach, which is not in the interest of anybody: neither does it help Indian cricket nor world cricket.”Fortunately I don’t carry baggage of the past, I have no alignments, I am not here on a permanent basis, I am here to try and do what I have been asked to do. In that context, if I am to build some bridges and sort out some issues, I would do that.”The main sticking point for the BCCI at the meetings was the ICC’s push to approve in principle the new constitution and revenue distribution model: the Indian board stood to make significantly less under the new projections. The BCCI voted against the rollback of the Big Three model because Limaye, who was at the meeting, said he had insufficient time to take an “informed view of the said proposal.”Limaye, however, said the BCCI’s discussions on revenue sharing had to go beyond the context of maximising its revenue. “I think the revenue-sharing model has to be balanced on a broader framework,” he said. “There is a larger context in which discussions should be conducted and everybody feels fairly treated. That was the takeaway from the conversations I had when I was there.”He also felt it was the BCCI’s responsibility as a strong member to ensure that weaker nations had adequate resources to develop their cricket. “It’s in our (BCCI’s) interest to have stronger cricketing nations from a viewership perspective, revenue perspective and from any perspective,” he said.”I don’t think we could get the kind of revenues if we just kept playing against weaker countries, nobody would be interested in that. So it is important for us (BCCI) to play that role because of our stature in terms of not only as a good cricketing team, about also because of the sizeable influence we have on revenue from an India perspective.”When told how some members had found the Big Three model to be flawed and that they had claimed to be forced into the agreement, Limaye said he did not want to dwell on the past.”The good news, which I appreciate, is that there is no confusion in anybody’s mind, in fact they were vocal and appreciative of the fact that the BCCI is an important member and India does bring in a disproportionate share of revenue. But the issue is what kind of share should the BCCI get versus the other members. Being combative, confrontational is not going to be helpful.”I heard that all kinds of things were done to get a disproportionate share for India. But I don’t want to get into that history. When the BCCI conducted a meeting last year [SGM on February 19], they acknowledged that the BCCI should be willing for a lower share and gave the authority to the president and secretary to negotiate it.”There was also a view in that meeting that the BCCI should take a balanced view on the sharing of ICC revenue, but the number was never frozen. That meeting was attended by all BCCI members. One member dissented and all others agreed to it. There was an agreement that there has to be a more equitable distribution. I think this aspect has to be taken into context, which all countries are aware, now that Mr Manohar is the ICC Chairman.”While studying the draft constitution before it is put to vote in the next round of ICC board meetings in April, Limaye said he had to keep mind what the other countries would agree to. “They have agreed in principle to this proposal and revenue share. And again we know, if that is put to vote again, we have already seen what will happen.”That’s to be kept in mind, in order to ascertain the feasibility of getting anything substantially more than what has been passed in the meeting at Dubai. We [CoA] will also consider this so that there is input from us for the April meeting, input in the sense a conversation with ICC if we have a different view. Whether they choose to accept or view or nor is a separate matter.”

Newcastle United are believed to be chasing Juventus winger Federico Chiesa after qualifying for the Champions League and now boasting an allure to rival any on the European stage.

What's the latest on Federico Chiesa to Newcastle?

That's according to Italian newspaper Tuttosport (via Sport Witness), revealing that Aston Villa have now joined the race for the Italy international, who has spent the 22/23 campaign reintegrating into competitive action following a long-term injury.

The report continues to state that the interest of Magpies' sporting director Dan Ashworth for the winger dates prior to that of AC Milan midfielder Sandro Tonali, who is expected to join the ranks at St. James's Park on a €70m (£60m) deal, as per Fabrizio Romano.

While a variety of valuations have entered circulation for the touted star, the Old Lady are believed to have transfer-listed the 25-year-old for €60m (£51m) after financial difficulties resulting in a detrimental ten-point deduction have left the Serie A side scrambling to recuperate what they can.

How good is Federico Chiesa?

Before suffering a horrendous ACL injury in January 2022, Chiesa was riding the crest of a wave and had been instrumental in his nation's triumph in the European Championships the previous summer, earning an average Sofascore rating of 7.05 after scoring two goals, completing 80% of his passes and averaging 2.4 shots per match.

An "exciting" footballer, as per Dean Jones, he has also scored 18 goals and supplied 14 assists across the season-and-a-half before the bitter setback, and while the 41-cap gem has impressed in the closing weeks of the recently-concluded term – registering four direct contributions from his final five league matches – he will be desperate to rekindle his former free-flowing form.

And he could do just that on Tyneside, slotting into a thriving outfit that can offer the Champions League football that has been taken from chastened Juve, and perhaps offer a clean slate from which he can return to prominence on the right flank of Eddie Howe's system.

A veritable "wizard", as the £153k-per-week ace has been called by Liverpool insider DaveOCKOP, Chiesa could be Howe's answer to Bukayo Saka, with the Arsenal prodigy's performances over the duration of the 22/23 Premier League season a defining factor behind Arsenal's – ultimately unsuccessful, albeit impressive – title challenge against Manchester City.

Saka, who has been dubbed "the best right winger in the world" by GOAL correspondent Charles Watts, scored 14 goals and laid off 11 assists in the Premier League last season, having also scored seven goals for England since last summer.

The discussed pair are listed as comparable players via FBref. Chiesa ranks among the top 4% of attacking midfielders and wingers across Europe's top five leagues over the past year for assists, the top 15% for progressive carries, the top 16% for successful take-ons and the top 13% for tackles per 90.

Saka, comparatively, ranks among the top 21% for goals, the top 23% for assists, the top 10% for progressive carries, the top 5% for touches in the attacking box and the top 28% for tackles per 90.

It paints the picture that while both are supremely creative and expert ball carriers, they aren't afraid of the dirty work either, tracking back to help out their defensive colleagues.

With Chiesa still not back at the peak of his powers, it's a daunting prospect for opposition to imagine just how "potent" – as stated by Rio Ferdinand – he could yet become, and at Newcastle, he could rise to the fore and rival any positional peer on English shores with the calibre of his performances.