Destined to wear the #8 shirt: Liverpool have found their next Gravenberch

You could forgive Liverpool supporters for having been concerned that Jurgen Klopp’s departure in the summer of 2024 would lead to a period of decline at Anfield.

The German led the club back to glory during his spell that lasted more than nine years, winning the Premier League and the Champions League during his tenure.

You only have to look at Arsenal and Manchester United since the departures of Arsene Wenger and Sir Alex Ferguson to see how an exit like that can be tough to recover from, as neither of those clubs have won a Premier League title without Wenger or Ferguson.

However, Arne Slot arrived from Feyenoord to replace Klopp in the dugout and hit the ground running by winning the league title in his first year at Anfield.

The Dutch head coach was a breath of fresh air in the Premier League last season with his side’s gung-ho approach to matches. They were incredibly fun to watch.

One of the players who has benefitted the most from the managerial change from Klopp to Slot is defensive midfielder Ryan Gravenberch, who has been transformed over the past 18 months or so.

How Arne Slot saved Ryan Gravenberch's Liverpool career

Liverpool signed the Netherlands international from Bayern Munich in the summer of 2023 to bolster their options in the middle of the park, but he endured a frustrating first season at Anfield.

Gravenberch only started 12 of his 26 appearances in the Premier League under Klopp and mainly played as the left-sided central midfielder, tasked with getting forward to support the attack.

It was a role that did not suit the Dutch midfielder and his performances in that position led to his future at Anfield being thrown into doubt. Turkish giants Galatasaray were even linked with a move for his services in April 2024.

However, Slot’s arrival at the club later that summer saved Gravenberch’s career at the club, because the head coach correctly profiled where he would be best, at the base of the midfield as a number six.

Ryan Gravenberch (Premier League)

23/24

24/25

Appearances (starts)

26 (12)

37 (37)

Pass accuracy

83%

89%

Assists

0

4

Tackles + interceptions per game

1.5

3.4

Clearances per game

0.4

1.5

Ground duel success rate

47%

56%

Aerial duel success rate

42%

65%

Stats via Sofascore

As you can see in the table above, the Dutchman started all 37 of his appearances in the Premier League after being moved to a defensive midfield role, and his statistics show that it was a tactical move that paid off in a big way.

Gravenberch started all 49 of his appearances in the 2024/25 campaign for the Reds and earned a place in the PFA Team of the Year for his performances as a number six.

The 23-year-old star looks set to be a key player for Slot and Liverpool for many more years to come, after a strong start to the 2025/26 campaign with two goals and two assists so far, per Sofascore.

As well as having the man himself, Liverpool also have an impressive teenage central midfielder who has the potential to be a homegrown version of Gravenberch in the future.

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Trey Nyoni started in the middle of the park for the Reds against Championship side Southampton on Tuesday night and the contrast in his performance in the first half to the second half was akin to Gravenberch’s development throughout his career at Anfield.

Why Trey Nyoni may be Liverpool's next number eight

As an academy graduate who plays in central midfield, the 18-year-old star may have his eyes set on grabbing the number eight shirt from Dominik Szoboszlai in the future.

The Hungary international is the star who currently wears it, but it was academy graduate Steven Gerrard who really gave it meaning with his 186 goals in 710 matches for the club in all competitions, per Transfermarkt.

Nyoni has mainly donned the number eight shirt at youth level for Liverpool, which suggests that he is a fan of the number, and as a homegrown talent from the academy, he may want to emulate even a small percentage of what Gerrard achieved with the number eight shirt at Anfield.

Despite this, it is the number six position where Nyoni’s future may lie after what he showed on the pitch against Southampton in the League Cup on Tuesday night.

The England U19 international started the game as a number ten behind Alexander Isak, but did not look suited to playing that position. However, when Curtis Jones came off for Conor Bradley after 57 minutes, Nyoni dropped deeper and took control of the game.

Vs Southampton

Trey Nyoni

Minutes

90

Pass accuracy

96%

Passes completed

43/45

Key passes

0

Duels won

2/4

Clearances

3

Blocks

1

Tackles + interceptions

3

Dribbled past per game

0x

Stats via Sofascore

As you can see in the table above, his statistics looked much more like what you would expect from a defensive midfielder than a number ten, playmaker, type.

Nyoni did not register any shots on target or create any chances for his team whilst playing as a number ten, but his defensive contributions and reliability as a passer when dropped into a deep-lying role proved that he has a future as a number six.

As Liverpool-focused writer Lewis Bower noted after the match, the 18-year-old talent looked far more “influential” when he dropped into a deeper midfield position, rather than as an attacking midfielder.

His metronomic passing in the middle of the park coupled with his defensive strength suggests that he may have the potential to develop into the next Gravenberch in the future, as he is five years younger than the Dutchman.

Gravenberch’s Liverpool career took lift-off after being moved from an attacking or central midfield position to being a number six. Nyoni’s attributes suggest that a similar positional change could forge a future for him in the first-team at Anfield.

That could, therefore, set him on his path to earn the number eight shirt at Liverpool, as he looks to follow in Gerrard’s footsteps from the academy to first-team fame.

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Sophie Devine to miss ODIs and T20Is against Sri Lanka

She had taken a break from domestic cricket and withdrawn from the WPL previously to “prioritise her well-being”

ESPNcricinfo staff17-Feb-2025

Sophie Devine skipped the WPL too•BCCI

New Zealand captain Sophie Devine will not be available for their ODI and T20I series against Sri Lanka as she continues to “prioritise her well-being.” She had earlier pulled out of the Women’s Super Smash midway and also opted out of the WPL for the same reason after “receiving professional advice.””We are fully supportive of Sophie’s decision to not take part in the upcoming series,” Liz Green, New Zealand Cricket’s Head of Women’s High Performance, said in a statement on Monday. “Player well-being is our highest priority and it’s important Sophie feels fit and well before returning to professional cricket.”Since winning the T20 World Cup with New Zealand in October 2024, Devine, 35, had been part of the ODIs against India, played in the WBBL for Perth Scorchers, and also played the ODI series against Australia in late December. She was last seen in action in the Super Smash, where she picked up 5 for 13 against Canterbury on January 24. Her team, Wellington, went on to win the domestic T20 title with Amelia Kerr putting on a stellar show with bat and ball.New Zealand are set to play three ODIs against Sri Lanka, starting March 4 at home, followed by three T20Is that begin on March 14. A full squad is set to be announced later this month. They are also scheduled to face Australia for three T20Is in a series that starts on March 21. These are New Zealand’s first T20I assignments since their T20 World Cup triumph where Devine led them to a maiden title.

Youngsters Vats and Sindhu lead Haryana into quarterfinals

Parth Vats, the 20-year-old legspin allrounder whom Haryana picked over Yuzvendra Chahal in their squad, starred with bat and ball in a 72-run win against Bengal that took them into the quarterfinals of the Vijay Hazare Trophy.In his maiden List A season, Vats helped Haryana rebuild their innings from 98 for 3 in the 17th over. He scored 62 off 77 balls and put on 84 for the fourth wicket with Nishant Sindhu, another 20-year-old allrounder who scored 64 and also contributed with the ball.Vital contributions from the lower order – an unbeaten 32-ball 41 from Sumit Kumar and 29 from Rahul Tewatia – powered Haryana to 298 for 9.Mohammed Shami, who is in line for an India comeback if he can maintain fitness, was wayward in his first spell for Bengal, conceding 27 in three overs without a wicket. He came back strong to finish with 3 for 61 in ten overs, with two wickets at the death as Haryana were aiming to accelerate.Another player of interest from a national team perspective, Abhimanyu Easwaran, was key to Bengal’s chase. With openers Sudip Gharami and Abishek Porel putting on 70 in 12.5 overs for the first wicket, Abhimanyu had the opportunity to steer Bengal’s innings, but the rustiness of having spent two months on India’s Test bench in Australia showed.Having survived a close stumping appeal, Abhimanyu attempted to break free with a succession of reverse sweeps. Eventually, the pressure of not being able to score fluently got to him, and he was out attempting a slog sweep against mystery spinner Amit Rana.Porel kept Bengal alive with a half-century but played conservatively for large parts of his 57 off 78 balls. His dismissal exposed Bengal’s brittle middle order in the 28th over and Vats dismissed Anustup Majumdar, Karan Lal and Shami to help Haryana wrap up the chase for 226 in 43.1 overs.Haryana play their quarterfinal against Gujarat in Vadodara on January 12.

Worse than Idah: Rodgers must drop Celtic star who lost the ball 20 times

Celtic will be playing Europa League football this season after they were beaten 3-2 on penalties by Kairat Almaty in the Champions League play-off clash on Tuesday night.

The Hoops had drawn 0-0 at Parkhead last week, failing to make the most of home advantage, and then failed to get the job done in normal time or extra-time away from home, which led to a loss on penalties.

Adam Idah, Luke McCowan, and Daizen Maeda all missed from the spot for Brendan Rodgers, and it will not have done Idah’s confidence any good after a disappointing start to the season.

Why this will knock Adam Idah's confidence

The Ireland international is yet to get off the mark with a goal this term. In four games in all competitions, the former Norwich City marksman has missed three ‘big chances’ and failed to register a goal or an assist for the team.

He has not proven that he has what it takes to be the main number nine for Celtic as a regular starter, and this latest performance against Kairat will not have helped his confidence.

In his defence, though, his performance after coming off the bench before the penalty shoot-out was not horrendous. He created two chances for his teammates and won two of his three aerial battles to provide an outlet for the team, per Sofascore, but then the striker missed from the spot in the shoot-out.

Performance in Numbers

Want data and stats? Football FanCast’s Performance in Numbers series provides you with the latest match analysis from across Europe.

Despite his penalty miss, though, Idah was not the worst performer for the Hoops on the night. One other player who should be dropped from the team because of their showing is Hyun-jun Yang.

Why Rodgers must drop Yang for Celtic

Rodgers must ruthlessly ditch the South Korea international from the starting XI for the clash with Rangers on Sunday because he put in a poor display on Tuesday evening.

The 23-year-old winger was selected to play off the left flank for the Scottish Premiership giants, with Maeda through the middle and James Forrest on the right, and failed to do enough on or off the ball to impress.

Yang played the opening 70 minutes of the match and did not register a single shot or goal, nor did he create a single chance for his teammates at the top end of the pitch. Whereas, as aforementioned, Idah created two chances for the side after he came off the bench.

Minutes

70

50

Dribbles completed

1/3

0/0

Pass accuracy

61%

77%

Key passes

0

2

Duels won

3/15

2/6

Duel success rate

20%

33%

Possession lost

20x

7x

As you can see in the table above, the South Korean flop performance was even worse than Idah’s in general play before the penalty shoot-out miss from the striker, as he performed worse in duels, gave the ball away way more, and was less creative.

The Hoops winger did not offer anywhere near enough in any phase of the game to justify his continued inclusion in the starting XI, particularly with a clash against Rangers away from home in their next match in the Premiership.

Michel-Ange Balikwisha is reportedly closing in on a move to Celtic from Royal Antwerp to bolster Rodgers’ options on the flanks, and this means that the manager may have another player to pick from on Sunday.

With this in mind, the Northern Irish boss should ruthlessly drop Yang from the line-up after his dismal showing on Tuesday, to potentially throw Balikwisha in at the deep end this weekend.

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Pooran, Russell, Hosein and Hetmyer back for England T20Is

West Indies will welcome back Akeal Hosein, Shimron Hetmyer, Nicholas Pooran and Andre Russell for their T20I series against England after they were named in a 15-man squad for the first two games, to be played in Barbados on Saturday and Sunday.The quartet missed West Indies’ previous T20I fixtures, in Sri Lanka last month, for personal reasons. Hetmyer was then recalled for the ODIs against England.The squad is otherwise largely the same as that which lost 2-1 to Sri Lanka. Alick Athanaze, Andre Fletcher, Fabian Allen and Shamar Springer were the players to drop out, while the uncapped Terrance Hinds kept his place. Matthew Forde comes in as cover after Alzarri Joseph received a two-match suspension for walking off the field in the third ODI.Related

  • Holder: England's frequent tours are 'boosting WI's survival'

  • Joseph suspended for two matches following 'unacceptable' behaviour

Romario Shepherd was fit to be included despite having to depart mid-over in the deciding ODI against England after suffering from cramps.”The T20 team is our most settled team with lots of experienced players,” West Indies head coach Daren Sammy said. “However, the difficulty will be picking the XI, as every single player is challenging for a spot. As we face a very good England team, I am confident that the selected squad will continue to play a brand of cricket that allows us to win games, and this ‘Rivalry’ series.”After the Barbados leg, the teams will move on to St Lucia, with West Indies due to confirm their squad for the remaining three games.

West Indies T20I squad for first two T20Is vs England

Rovman Powell (capt), Roston Chase, Matthew Forde, Shimron Hetmyer, Terrance Hinds, Shai Hope, Akeal Hosein, Shamar Joseph, Brandon King, Evin Lewis, Gudakesh Motie, Nicholas Pooran, Andre Russell, Sherfane Rutherford, Romario Shepherd

ICC launches AI tool for Women's T20 World Cup to protect teams from 'toxic content'

The move is to safeguard the mental health of individuals against content such as hate speech, harassment, and misogyny

ESPNcricinfo staff03-Oct-2024

Social media follows you no matter where you are•ICC/Getty Images

The ICC has launched a new software as part of a social media moderation programme for the Women’s T20 World Cup to help protect the cricket community from “toxic content” to safeguard the mental health of individuals and “ensure a safer, kinder and healthier online community for the sport.”An ICC release issued on the morning of the opening day of the T20 World Cup stated the programme was to “promote a more positive and inclusive online experience for teams and players” and that over 60 players had already opted for it.The ICC has engaged GoBubble, a software company from UK, to provide a combination of AI (Artificial Intelligence) and human resources to monitor and moderate comments on the ICC’s social media accounts on Facebook, Instagram and YouTube, as well as those of players who have signed up for this. “The cutting-edge technology is designed to identify and hide from public view toxic content such as hate speech, harassment, and misogyny, helping to create a safer and more welcoming space for fans to engage with the World Cup,” the ICC release said.Players who participate for this can have harmful comments hidden from social media accounts.”We are dedicated to fostering a positive and inclusive environment for all participants and fans of the ICC Women’s T20 World Cup, it’s been great to see so many of the players and teams embrace our new initiative,” ICC head of digital, Finn Bradshaw said.South Africa wicketkeeper Sinalo Jafta said players getting this kind of protection from social media was “very big”.”For me with social media protection I think it takes a lot of weight off players, especially at World Cup campaigns as that is the worst of it,” she was quoted saying in the release. “There is nothing worse than opening up your phone after a loss – or after a victory – and regardless of what side you find yourself there is always some degrading comment about your personality.”With the youngsters coming in you tell them ‘please don’t look’, but what are they going to do? It is literally their thing.”That protection for me is very big because players get to share their life with the world without the fear of being judged or criticised. I am looking forward to seeing the changes, people just being free and players can just show the world who they really are.”The 10-team tournament starts on Thursday in Sharjah at 2pm local time (10am GMT) with Bangladesh taking on Scotland before Pakistan face Asia Cup champions Sri Lanka in the evening game starting at 6pm local time, at the same venue. The final is slated in Dubai on October 20.

Man Utd now in talks to sign £90k-p/w "real leader" who's keen on the move

Manchester United have now opened talks with the agent of a “real leader”, who would be keen on a move to Old Trafford this summer, according to a report.

Amorim needs to hit the ground running next season

Despite admitting it was always going to be “tough” to join Man United mid-way through the 2024-25 campaign, former Man United man Ashley Young believes Ruben Amorim needs to make a fast start to the 2024-25 campaign.

However, Amorim has a very particular style, meaning new personnel will be needed if his side are to kick on next season, and there has been a strong desire to bring in a new forward, with Brentford’s Bryan Mbeumo emerging as a major target.

The Red Devils are hoping to get a deal for Mbeumo over the line as soon as possible, and having reportedly now struck an agreement, they can perhaps afford to turn their attentions towards strengthening other areas of the squad.

With Casemiro now 33-years-old, Amorim is looking to bring in a long-term replacement for the Brazilian, and an approach has been made for Richard Rios, while another midfielder has also emerged as a potential target.

According to a report from L’Equipe (via Sport Witness), Man United have now opened talks with the agent of Lyon midfielder Corentin Tolisso, in order to assess whether he would be willing to make a move to Old Trafford this summer.

Tolisso is said to be keen on the move, which could make it easier for United to orchestrate a deal, although he is unwilling to force an exit.

"Real leader" Tolisso could be exactly what United need

Roy Keane has been critical of the lack of leaders at Man United for quite some time, with the former midfielder saying: “You need characters, you need leaders, I keep repeating myself every week on here. That’s what you need from a group of players.”

RoyKeane

As a result, it would make sense to bring in players with more of a presence in the dressing room this summer, and the Lyon star could fit the bill in that regard, having been described as a “real leader” by Lyon manager Paulo Fonseca.

Not only that, but the £90k-a-week maestro is clearly a very well-rounded midfielder, having performed very well across some key attacking and defensive statistics over the past year.

Statistic

Average per 90

Non-penalty goals

0.28 (96th percentile)

Assists

0.17 (84th percentile)

Blocks

1.98 (97th percentile)

Aerials won

2.10 (93rd percentile)

Tolisso could be a solid signing for Man United this summer, but there may be some slight concerns about his age, with the central midfielder set to turn 31 before the new Premier League season gets underway.

Amorim's own Wirtz: Man Utd chasing "future Ballon d'Or winner"

Manchester United were beaten on Friday night. Again. That’s 18 Premier League defeats for the Red Devils this season, whose one chance of a reprieve lies in Bilbao, Spain, next week.

On Wednesday, Ruben Amorim’s side will have the chance to secure Champions League football next season by defeating similarly beleaguered Tottenham Hotspur in the Europa League final.

Neither side’s domestic campaign warrants a place among Europe’s elite next year, but United have always had a knack for clawing their way toward silverware, even throughout the dreary post-Sir Alex Ferguson years, who stepped down at the end of the 2012/13 season with one more league trophy under the belt.

FA Cup

2x (15/16, 23/24)

League Cup

2x (16/17, 22/23)

Community Shield

2x (13/14, 16/17)

Europa League

1x (16/17)

Winning the Europa League is crucial. Man United are 16th in the Premier League and need to find a route out of this mess. Especially when securing a place at the continent’s highest level next year could be the definitive factor in determining Bruno Fernandes’ future.

The latest on Bruno Fernandes' future

Fernandes, 30, has been Manchester United’s peerless leader over the past several years, the best performer of a rotten bunch but one who can hold their head high all the same, and that has attracted interest from elsewhere, as recently reported by Fabrizio Romano.

He’s clinched 19 goals and 19 assists apiece this season, with Amorim even claiming the Portugal star is the “perfect captain” for the Old Trafford side, labelling him a “legend.”

But with interest from the Saudi Pro League, it’s crucial that a positive end to the season is secured. United can’t afford to lose their playmaker, their leader, their main influencer.

INEOS are, however, gearing up to sign a successor, one who hopefully will be able to learn from the Magnifico over the next few years.

Bayer Leverkusen’s Florian Wirtz may be out of United’s reach, with Liverpool, Manchester City and Bayern Munich locked in a battle for the lucrative ten, but a degree of shrewdness has been shown in United preparing to move for a much cheaper, yet just as exciting, star.

Man United enter talks for sought-after star

According to Caught Offside, Man United have been approached by Rayan Cherki’s agents as intrigue in the Lyon man ramps up ahead of the summer window.

Many clubs are interested in the artful playmaker, but it’s felt that Liverpool and United are showing the most concrete interest at this stage. as they chase a deal for the France U21 international.

Rayan Cherki

Liverpool are big admirers, but their vested interest in Wirtz means United have a golden opportunity to advance discussions with Cherki’s camp and seal a deal promptly.

Reports from earlier this month have even suggested the 21-year-old could be available for a cut-price £25m fee, his Lyon contract about to enter its final year.

What Rayan Cherki would bring to Man United

Cherki has been in fine fettle this season, and no mistake. Across 43 fixtures in all competitions, the wily Frenchman has scored 12 goals and laid on 19 further assists in all competitions.

Olympique Lyonnais' RayanCherkiapplauds fans

It’s worth mentioning that Wirtz might be outscoring him with 16 goals, but Cherki’s creativity is wedged at a higher level than the Die Werkself man, who has claimed 16 assists, highlighting just how talented he is.

When looking at his league metrics this year against Wirtz’s, you begin to see why United are so keen on getting a transfer wrapped up quickly.

Matches (starts)

29 (21)

30 (24)

Goals

8

10

Assists

10

12

Shots (on target)*

1.4 (0.7)

2.5 (1.2)

Big chances missed

1

7

Pass completion

84%

82%

Big chances created

21

17

Key passes*

2.4

1.9

Dribbles*

1.5

2.7

Ball recoveries*

2.8

3.6

Tackles + interceptions*

0.7

1.4

Duels won*

3.2

5.3

Lyon’s star boy has created 21 big chances from just 29 Ligue 1 matches this year, also averaging three dribbles every two games. Cherki might not be quite so combative or active in the duel, but he’s hardly given a poor account of himself.

For a United side that has suffered from colourless attacking play at times this term, this could be a real treat for Amorim next year. Moreover, he’s only missed one big chance in the league, scoring eight times, which further denotes his suitability, so clinical when afforded a chance.

Former Arsenal defender Ainsley Maitland-Niles, speaking to BBC Sport, waxed lyrical about his Lyon teammate. “He is the best natural talent I’ve ever seen. An absolute master, a wizard with the ball.”

It’s the kind of flair Man United need to restore the attacking fluency that has been absent all year long. As per FBref, Cherki ranks among the top 1% of attacking midfielders and wingers across Europe’s top five leagues over the past year for assists, the top 2% for shot-creating actions and progressive passes, the top 4% for passes attempted and the top 12% for successful take-ons per 90.

It’s an almighty demonstration of his elite-level quality, so much so that FBref’s data-driven algorithm has revealed Wirtz is one of his most statistically comparable players.

Given the financial restrictions at Old Trafford, compounding the need for signings across many positions, it’s unlikely Sir Jim Ratcliffe would green-light a deal for Bayer Leverkusen’s man, with the current transfer interest from Liverpool, City, and Bayern revealing demands of a €150m (£126m) fee.

Cherki, who may well come at over £100m cheaper than the German star, would provide the same flair and gusto. He might not be as refined or indeed potent, but Amorim could nurture him to the fore and shape him into such a player in the coming years.

The Athletic’s Alex Barker has made the bold claim that Cherki could be a “future Ballon d’Or winner,” and if he manages to steady the ship at the Theatre of Dreams, he’d have taken a strong step closer to achieving that lofty goal.

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Amazing Delap alternative: Everton in the race for "phenomenal" £40m star

Everton have been born again under the wing of David Moyes, and the exciting part is the Scottish coach is only just getting started.

Sure, recent results have been a little patchy, but Everton have come on leaps and bounds since Sean Dyche was replaced in January, just as solid in defence while more at ease in their forward play, working coherently and fluidly. Beto’s firing once again, and the Toffees as a whole have found a long-lost level of attacking intent.

Everton manager DavidMoyes

But there’s only so much that can be done without signings. Indeed, Everton need to invest in the transfer market this summer, especially with Dominic Calvert-Lewin and Armando Broja both slated to leave when their contracts expire next month.

Everton chasing new striker

While Everton would love to get their hands on Liam Delap, the £30m-rated Ipswich striker is giving priority to Manchester United, and it’s a race that Moyes may not win with interest from the Toffees reported just a few weeks ago.

Transfer Focus

Mega money deals, controversial moves and big-name flops. This is the home of transfer news and opinion across Football FanCast.

Instead, The Friedkin Group may head down a shrewder path and target Brighton & Hove Albion’s Evan Ferguson, 20, who has endured a difficult loan spell at West Ham United this season.

The rumoured price was thought to be £40m when he joined the Hammers this winter, but that should be lower now.

According to GIVEMESPORT, the Republic of Ireland international could be one option this summer to complete Moyes’ frontal ranks.

Why Evan Ferguson could flourish at Bramley Moore

Ferguson has only started once in the Premier League for West Ham, and he was hooked at half-time at that. Still, once regarded as a “phenomenal” finishing ability by James Milner, the up-and-comer has merely suffered a blip in a promising rise to the fore.

Football is a fickle game, and it’s important to remember that while players ebb away, they can bounce right back in a warmer climate.

West Ham hasn’t exactly been a breeding ground for positivity this season, but Everton are building something with Moyes at the helm and he could help coax Ferguson back toward the ascendancy that carried him through his maiden years in the Premier League.

His goalscoring prowess won’t go away, and while there are other areas of his game that need work, Moyes could get the best out of him, for sure.

Of course, his one-goal campaign pales in comparison to Delap’s, with the 22-year-old scoring 12 goals from 35 Premier League outings for his relegated side, missing just ten big chances, as per Sofascore.

But Ferguson has demonstrated his ability before. For Brighton, across the 2022/23 and 2023/24 seasons, the teenage prodigy scored 12 goals and missed only nine big chances, with his powerful performances at the front of the ship leading to a great fanfare.

Evan Ferguson’s Senior English Career (all comps)

Season

Apps

Goals

Assists

24/25 – West Ham

8

0

0

24/25 – Brighton

15

1

0

23/24 – Brighton

34

6

2

22/23 – Brighton

25

10

3

21/22 – Brighton

4

0

1

Stats via Transfermarkt

Such fanfare, actually, that Brighton slapped a £100m price tag on him, with Chelsea and Tottenham Hotspur lurking.

Delap might be the talk of the town right now, but Ferguson has proven himself a big-money talent in the past, with the raw properties to become something special.

Given that Everton could be able to engineer an affordable deal and have Beto firing on all cylinders, this could be an astute piece of business indeed, one which might just bear dividends.

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Switch Hit: A load of new balls

Alan, Miller and Vish are joined by Middlesex’s Toby Roland-Jones to discuss the latest experiment with using Kookaburra balls in the County Championship

ESPNcricinfo staff16-Apr-2024The English season is underway, with two rounds of the County Championship completed – but results have been few and far between thanks to a combination of the weather and the ECB’s decision to trial the use of the Kookaburra ball. On the latest edition of Switch Hit, Alan Gardner, Andrew Miller and Vithushan Ehantharajah were joined by Middlesex captain Toby Roland-Jones – whose side conceded totals of 620 for 3 and 552 for 6 in their first two games – to discuss whether county cricket can provide a natural habitat for the Kookaburra. Other topics included April run-scoring feats, the use of the heavy roller and spinners taking their chance with the Dukes ball on the sidelines.

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