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The playmaker scored on her first Lionesses start since last October, completing another remarkable comeback after missing the Women's World Cup

There wasn’t a great deal for England to cheer about in Belgium on Tuesday. The Lionesses were sloppy, conceded three goals for the first time under Sarina Wiegman and suffered a defeat that took their UEFA Women’s Nations League and Olympic destinies out of their own hands. But there was still one really big positive from an otherwise difficult camp – the return of Fran Kirby.

Over a year since her last appearance in her country’s colours, the playmaking midfielder came off the bench on Friday in Leicester, and four days later she marked her first start for England since last October with a brilliantly taken goal that briefly gave the Lionesses the lead in Leuven.

The smile on Kirby’s face said it all, as did the glee with which her team-mates approached her to celebrate once the net had rippled. For someone who has been through injury hell this year, a knee problem forcing her to miss the summer’s Women’s World Cup, this meant so much.

Patience is going to be so important with Kirby given the length of time she has been out for, but after a promising start to the new season, this was the biggest reminder yet of what she can offer as she works her way back to her best level.

That’ll certainly be a comforting thought for an England side in a desperate situation in the Nations League, and it will have whet the appetite of all those associated with Chelsea, too, with the Blues’ chances of a fifth-successive Women’s Super League – and success beyond that – only to be increased by their No.14 being fit and firing.

Regardless of your nationality or which club you follow, if you love football then Kirby’s return is good news for you, too. Because to watch the fleet-footed forward in full flow is pure joy.

GettyOn top of the world

No season better illustrated what Kirby is all about quite like 2020-21. Forming the deadliest of partnerships with Sam Kerr, the pair ran defences ragged to help Chelsea clinch a domestic treble for the first time in a season that also saw them reach their first Women’s Champions League final.

In the WSL, she racked up 16 goals and 11 assists in just 18 games. In the FA Cup final, she broke the deadlock and teed up Kerr to double the lead over Arsenal. In the Continental Cup final, she was involved in all six of Chelsea’s goals in their thrashing of Bristol City. She was absolutely unstoppable.

But there’s another layer that makes these feats all the more impressive. In the previous season, Kirby was diagnosed with pericarditis, a heart disease which would keep her away from the game she loves for nine months. She even wondered whether she’d ever play again. To come back in such fashion, then, was absolutely incredible.

“She's been instrumental in the history we have created here,” her manager, Emma Hayes, said. “Her relentless pursuit of excellence and winning, two things I love the most, have meant that she strives for more all of the time – not even more, she just strives for better. I think that's been mirrored by who she has grown into as a person. She'll probably say the same, Chelsea and Fran Kirby are a perfect match, in every way, shape and form.

“This is probably, for me, her proudest achievement, this season, because to recover after what she went through and to produce even better performances, you have to have unbelievable character to do that, and she's shown it day in, day out.”

AdvertisementGettyCan’t catch a break

But sadly that story of having to battle back and overcome some kind of obstacle is a familiar one for Kirby. After the pericarditis, and that amazing season, she was plagued by extreme fatigue that almost prevented her from being able to help England win the European Championships in the summer of 2022.

And then, earlier this year, came the knee injury. Kirby has had pain in her knee – and problems with it – since she was 12 years old, but the feeling she had on February 9, in Chelsea’s Conti Cup win over West Ham, was different.

As each week passed, Hayes was asked in every press conference about Kirby, how she was doing and when she would be back. The answers were vague, without much information of a timeframe, and that’s because the situation was changing so much.

When it felt like she was making progress, Kirby would then be hit with a setback. This went on and on for three months until, in early May, she announced that she would be undergoing surgery to fix the issue. It meant she would miss the Women’s World Cup.

"Unfortunately after a few months of rehab the decision has been made that I will require surgery on my knee," Kirby posted on Instagram. "I have been trying my best to not have to undergo this, but unfortunately my progress has been limited due to the issue in my knee. I'm absolutely gutted to announce that this means my season is over and I will not be able to make the World Cup in the summer.”

Getty'First time in 18 years that I haven’t had pain'

While that meant Kirby couldn’t play her part in the Lionesses’ historic run to the final in Australia, it was by far and away the best decision she could’ve made.

“I couldn’t walk down the stairs, I couldn’t do normal things, couldn’t take the dog for a walk,” she told in September. “The first month was really hard because those things were taken away from me. If I can’t walk my dogs and I go home and I have to get up in the night to take painkillers because [I’m] getting woken up by [my] knee, it’s not a life. It got to the stage where I knew my knee was impacting my life. I had to fix it.

“I knew I was going to miss the World Cup but, for me, it wasn’t about that anymore. If I had surgery and it didn’t go well, at least I knew I’d be able to walk my dogs. If I can’t play anymore, at least I tried.

“I had a tripartite patella, which means that I had two pieces of bone that were connected by tissue, but they weren’t actually connected to my patella bone. I had those pieces of bone removed. A few days later, I had no pain in my knee. It was literally like the pain had just been taken away. That was a really nice moment, probably the first time in 18 years that I haven’t had pain.”

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GettyPromising signs

Taking such a decision, which will have certainly been difficult even if Kirby’s comments suggest she was thinking very clearly when she did so, is now paying dividends. It meant she could get a full pre-season under her belt, and the way she’s built on that has been quietly impressive in the opening weeks of the new campaign.

Despite only starting two of Chelsea’s first four league games, racking up just 172 minutes of a possible 360, Kirby ranks in the top five in the Blues’ squad for chances created, successful passes in the final third, dribbles completed, possession won – generally and in the final third – and for touches in the opposition’s box. That’s not a bad start from someone who Hayes is keen to stress is still “building”.

Kirby’s goal for England this week was the moment that really underlined all the good work she’s been doing. Having gone towards Lauren Hemp on the left wing for a pass, she quickly realised the better option was for her to drop off to the edge of the box to receive a cutback, and Hemp did brilliantly to disguise her intentions, not even looking at Kirby but knowing exactly where she was when she teed her up to finish.

A first goal from an England midfielder in five games, it was a reminder of what the Chelsea star brings to the table for the Lionesses.

It looks as if Mason Mount may not be the only midfield addition at Manchester United this summer, with the Red Devils reportedly eyeing a move for Southampton sensation, Romeo Lavia.

What's the latest on Lavia to Man United?

According to 90min, the Old Trafford outfit are still seemingly keen on strengthening in the centre of the park despite the recent £60m capture of Mount, with young Lavia said to be among the options being considered by Erik ten Hag.

While the report suggests that the signing of a new striker and goalkeeper remains the 'priority' for the former Ajax boss ahead of next season, a move for a player like the Belgian teenager – who has been valued at around £50m – could also be considered.

This comes amid a similar piece from Manchester Evening News which also revealed that Ten Hag is contemplating whether to make a second midfield signing, with the 19-year-old maestro believed to be being 'monitored' at present.

Who is Romeo Lavia?

The former Manchester City youth star – who made the move to St Mary's on a £14m deal last summer – was arguably one of the breakout stars of the 2022/23 campaign despite his side's eventual relegation, having been tipped to be a "top player" in the future by international colleague, Kevin De Bruyne.

Also regarded as a potential "leader" for his country and for a top Premier League club in the years to come – in the words of talent scout Jacek Kulig – Lavia has already made a strong impression during his embryonic senior career, having also earned notable praise from United legend Paul Scholes last season:

"He has got a pass in his locker and he is big and strong and likes to defend. He does not want to get forward too much and sits in-front of the back four and sets the play in motion from there."

As has previously been suggested, Ten Hag is believed to view the youngster as a potential successor to experienced Brazilian, Casemiro, in that defensive midfield role at the Theatre of Dreams, with further midfield depth also needed amid the uncertainty surrounding the futures of both Fred and Scott McTominay.

To be able to bring in such a highly-regarded wonderkid could have the adverse effect of harming one of United's own teenage gems, however, in the form of Kobbie Mainoo, with the 18-year-old Englishman potentially set to see his chances of game time hampered as a result of Lavia's possible arrival.

The "exceptional" talent – as described by MEN journalist Steven Railston – enjoyed a handful of outings in Ten Hag's senior set-up last term, with the expectation being that he will earn a permanent promotion to the first-team ranks moving forward.

A midfielder by trade – who operated in a deeper role in front of the back four during the club's glorious FA Youth Cup run in the 2021/22 season – Mainoo may then find that pathway blocked by the addition of Lavia, with it likely that the United boss would be more prone to handing minutes to a £50m, marquee signing, rather than a promising academy talent.

Of course, there may be hope for the Stockport native to ply his trade in a more advanced midfield berth, although the increased competition that would be provided by the Southampton star's arrival could prove to be bad news for his development.

Brett Lee is probably the only Australian who has welcomed the retirements of McGrath and Warne and is thriving in an environment where he is the alpha male

Peter English at the Gabba03-Feb-2008
Brett Lee: Basking in the limelight © Getty Images
Brett Lee now bowls like a man with nothing to prove. The shadows of Glenn McGrath and Shane Warne have gone and the only clouds on his mind in Brisbane were the leaky ones above the Gabba. A parent of a toddler, Lee is also the head of Australia’s bowling family and is becoming more relaxed about the responsibility with every innings.Australia’s attack included a debutant in Ashley Noffke and Mitchell Johnson, who has played 26 matches, was the only other one backing up from the Test series. Lee was not concerned by his lack of big-name help and against an opponent with similarly fresh faces he showed why he is the big daddy.This is the point Lee has wanted to reach since making his international debut nine years ago. He gets the new ball, comes back mid-innings to mop up or blast out and returns at the finish to create more damage. There is never any question over his end and when Ricky Ponting wants a wicket it is Lee who takes the ball. Throughout the Tests he was there when Ponting needed him and he has started the CB Series in the same way.The only thing Lee could not control was the weather, which prevented him from earning the victory his bowling deserved. In between taking 5 for 27 he ran across to support Noffke during his early expensive overs and tapped a batsman in apology after almost running into him. The downscaling of hostilities since Sydney actually suits Lee and does not result in any loss of bowling venom. Without needing to think about what to say to a batsman, he can concentrate more on how to remove them.There was no generosity shown to the debutant Manoj Tiwary as he was attacked with a series of shorter deliveries. Tiwary did well to avoid a couple of dangerous balls aimed around head height, but he was so sure of getting another that he could not deal with a fuller one and was bowled off his pad. At the end of the over Lee was given a rest, his four-over second spell costing only 11 runs and including two wickets. India had threatened to come back after losing their experienced openers, but when Lee removed Rohit Sharma and Tiwary three wickets had fallen for three runs.Sachin Tendulkar also miscalculated Lee in the final over of his opening collection, pushing back too far and stepping on his stumps. The new and old were taken care of along with a couple of wickets in the last over of the innings and the upshot was Lee’s seventh career five-wicket haul.Lee is probably the only Australian who has welcomed the retirements of McGrath and Warne and is thriving in an environment where he is the alpha maleThe rest of Lee’s fast-bowling family had a mixed day. Nathan Bracken was expensive after his early breakthrough while Noffke recovered well from giving up 27 runs in his opening four overs. Like Noffke, Johnson was playing on his home ground and he would have had something to cheer two overs earlier if Australia’s slips fielders were on message.Michael Hussey and Ricky Ponting both dropped chances off Gautam Gambhir within three balls, but Johnson recovered to trap the batsman in front. He remained a threat and gave up only 33 runs in nine overs, although all the serious danger came from Lee until Ishant Sharma stormed through after another rain break.Given limited opportunities, Sharma was the only bowler to match Lee’s potency in a brief spell where he weaved the ball on a surface freshened by the extra moisture. James Hopes’ off stump was lost and Michael Clarke was welcomed with a hit in the chest. Sitting in the dressing room Lee would have been impressed with the discomfort caused for the batsmen.The conditions were steamy, the ball became slippery and the bowlers had many excuses for things not working. Lee did not need any and excelled despite the heat, the rain interruptions and the new-look India.To reach this level he needed to look around the field and not see any safety nets. Lee is probably the only Australian who has welcomed the retirements of McGrath and Warne and is thriving in an environment where he is the alpha male. Now when he stands at the top of his run he is no longer confused over his position. This is Lee’s team as well as Ponting’s.

Several England players have moved teams ahead of the 2018 Kia Super League

ESPNcricinfo staff08-Mar-2018Several England players have moved teams ahead of the 2018 Kia Super League (KSL). Sarah Taylor has left Lancashire Lightning for Surrey Stars, with Alex Hartley going the other way, while Tammy Beaumont moves to Southern Vipers from Surrey.There has also been a straight swap between Loughborough Lightning and Yorkshire Diamonds of Jenny Gunn for Beth Langston.The changes are overseen by the ECB and aimed at keeping a balance between the six sides, ahead of the third edition of the T20 competition. Each of the teams will still be able to recruit their own overseas players.”The latest player movements are to ensure the best balance between the six sides and to maintain a fair and competitive competition with the over-arching principle of trying to ensure a best versus best competition,” KSL general manager Jo Kirk said.”We want the KSL to continue to go from strength to strength in its third year. Attendances rose by 44% last year and we’re looking forward to even more fans attending games this summer, hopefully culminating in a sold-out Finals Day down in Hove.”This year’s KSL begins on July 22 and features an expanded group stage, with the teams now playing each other twice. The top three will then go on to Finals Day at Hove on Bank Holiday Monday, August 27.

Crystal Palace boss Oliver Glasner was thrilled with his side's 3-0 win over Burnley and how their attack "forced" their opponents to go a man down.

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Palace beat Burnley 3-0Brownhill sent off for ClaretsGlasner thrilled with victoryGetty ImagesWHAT HAPPENED?

The Eagles got Glasner's tenure at Selhurst Park off to a winning start thanks to second-half goals from Chris Richards, Jordan Ayew, and Jean-Philippe Mateta. Their pressure eventually told after Josh Brownhill was sent off in the 35th minute, with former Eintracht Frankfurt boss Glasner praising the performance and the way their attack led to the midfielder's dismissal.

AdvertisementWHAT OLIVER GLASNER SAID

He told : "Sometimes the players forget about keeping the balance in the game but how we forced the red card was brilliant and we attacked very high. It was really nice to see. We had a great spirit from the beginning and the players tried to do everything that the analysts prepared for them. Also thank you to my staff because we were only here for three days. My feeling was the fans were happy to see the players attacking and fighting, they were very loud, this is what we want. They had a great afternoon and now they can go somewhere in a pub and enjoy one or two beers."

Getty ImagesTHE BIGGER PICTURE

Ex-Wolfsburg manager Glasner replaced Roy Hodgson as Palace boss earlier this month after the latter agreed to step down from his role following a health scare and a poor run of results. While this win over relegation-threatened Burnley will not solve the club's issues, it does put them eight points clear of the bottom three. Conversely, Clarets boss Vincent Kompany will be under intense pressure to keep his job as they are 19th and eight points from safety.

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WHAT NEXT?

Glasner's Palace side, who are up to 13th in the table, travel to London neighbours Tottenham in their next Premier League outing on March 2 whereas Kompany's Burnley host Bournemouth in the English top-flight a day later.

Under new manager Vincent Kompany, Burnley were promoted back to the Premier League last season, after only one year in the Championship.

Despite being in charge for just one year the Belgian has completely revolutionised Burnley’s squad, with only seven players remaining from the side that was relegated.

Who has joined Burnley under Vincent Kompany?

Since joining Burnley in July 2022, the former centre-back has brought in 26 different players permanently, across three transfer windows and in the most recent window, he brought in 15 players.

Zeki Amdouni

£16m

James Trafford

£15m

Aaron Ramsey

£15m

Jordan Beyer

£13m

Sander Berge

£12m

Wilson Odobert

£11m

Lyle Foster

£11m

Dara O'Shea

£7m

Ameen Al-Dakhil

£5m

Benson Manuel

£4m

Anass Zaroury

£4m

Michael Obafemi

£4m

Darko Churlinov

£3.5m

Josh Cullen

£3m

Arijanet Muric

£3m

Luca Koleosho

£3m

Hannes Delcroix

£3m

Scott twine

£3m

Hjalmar Ekdal

£3m

Luke McNally

£2m

Vitinho

£1m

Samuel Bastien

£700k

Enock Agyei

£300k

CJ Egan-Riley

free

Lawrence Vigouroux

free

Nathan Redmond

free

Han-Noah Massengo

free

Prior to managing Burnley, the Manchester City legend was in charge of Belgian side Anderlecht for two years, this has led to him poaching some of his best players from his former side.

One of these players is 27-year-old midfielder Josh Cullen, and as it stands Kompany’s decision to sign the Irishman looks to be an inspired one.

How much did Burnley pay for Josh Cullen?

Kompany first signed Cullen for Anderlecht back in 2020 from West Ham for £500k, and during his two seasons in Belgium the midfielder would go on to make 80 appearances.

But when the four-time Premier League winner made the switch to Turf Moor, the Hammer's academy graduate was quick to follow.

Cullen became Kompany’s fourth signing and moved back to England just 11 days after his manager made the switch, for a fee of £3m including add-ons.

Since his signing last summer, the Irish international has already signed a new contract three-year contract with the Clarets.

After signing the deal, he announced he couldn't wait to continue playing for Burnley.

Speaking to Burnley he said:

“I’m really happy to extend my time here, especially off the back of last year which was a really successful year for the Club.

I can’t wait to continue my career with Burnley.

“It will be great to get back to Turf Moor this weekend and be in front of the fans again and hopefully get our first three points on the board.”

Why did Kompany sign Josh Cullen twice?

Kompany snapped up Cullen again after his excellent performances under him during the 2021/22 campaign, which saw Anderlecht finish third in the Belgian Pro League.

Per Sofascore, the English-born midfielder was his side’s third top-performing player, with an outstanding average rating of 7.20.

On top of this, he also ranked second for accurate passes per game (62.2), fourth for key passes per game (1.1), third for accurate long balls per game (4.4) and first for tackles per game (2), per Sofascore.

This shows just how integral he was to Kompany’s all-round play as his quality in many different areas allowed him to control the middle of the pitch.

Furthermore, while Cullen was on loan at Charlton from West Ham, then Irons captain Mark Noble revealed in the Evening Standard what a talented player he was.

Noble said:

“Josh has something you can’t coach,”

“He has that desire every day to improve.

“He’s a talented boy with a big heart and will enjoy a good career in football.

“It just shows you that if you’re prepared to back yourself and go out on loan, rather than staying in the comfort zone, you can do it.”

What has happened to Josh Cullen since moving to Burnley?

Cullen’s top-quality form continued after moving to Turf Moor as the midfielder was able to help guide Burnley to win the Championship last season.

His form was also shown through his stats, per FBref, last season he ranked in the top 4% of all European midfielders for passes completed, per 90 minutes.

Furthermore, he ranked in the top 7% for touches, top 2% for successful take-ons and top 7% for carries, per 90 minutes.

This shows how once again he was the star of Kompany's midfield, as all play was able to go through him, and then he had the ability to move the ball successfully up the pitch into an attacking position.

This was backed up by the Belgian colossus, who last season was full of praise for Cullen.

He said:

"I can't be complimentary enough, but I think everyone can see what he does.

"The team appreciates it; his strength is that he's the ultimate player that puts the team before himself.

“Football naturally always drives you towards being selfish, it just happens that way because you've got to look after yourself, and there are only very few players, despite all of that, who decide to make a conscious choice to put the team above themselves.

"You can't really scout that, you only know it when you work with players.

“The best way to describe Josh [Cullen] is that he came to Anderlecht, from Charlton, as a squad player, and he became the most important player in my squad.

"Then he came to Burnley, back in English football in the Championship, where he was really going to help us out, and he became one of the most important players in the team."

Due to his outstanding performances, the 27-year-old has seen his value rise astronomically, per Transfermarkt he is now rated at £11.1m meaning Burnley have seen a 270% increase in his value from when they signed him only a year ago.

Cullen has backed up his Championship performances by having a strong start to life in the Premier League.

So far this season he ranks as Burnley’s seventh-best-performing player, with an average rating of 6.73, per Sofascore.

On top of this, he has ranked joint first for big chances created per game (1), fourth for accurate passes per game (46.3) and third for tackles per game (1.3).

This shows that despite making a big step up the midfielder is still able have a positive effect on his side

He has also started every game and played every minute so far this season, while also providing an assist, which means he has been involved in 33% of Burnley’s goals.

Sunderland are running out of time to do some late transfer business, but they could still sign a Premier League player, according to journalist Alan Nixon.

Will Sunderland make late signings?

The Black Cats have made a fairly disappointing start to their Championship season, having come so close to finishing the playoff places last term. They have only picked up four points from as many matches, with just one win coming their way.

That came at home to Rotherham United earlier in the month, but they have suffered defeats to Ipswich Town and Preston North End, with their only draw a goalless stalemate at Coventry City last weekend. They have also been knocked out of the EFL Cup at the expense of Crewe Alexandra, so there isn't a huge amount of positivity at the club, with Tony Mowbray's job perhaps even under threat.

It could be that a host of players leave Sunderland before the summer transfer window reaches its conclusion on Friday night, with the likes of Ross Stewart, Patrick Roberts, Lynden Gooch, Alex Pritchard and Dan Neil all potentially moving on.

On the flip side, the hope is that some late incoming business is also in the pipeline, in order to improve the Black Cats' squad up until the January transfer, at the very least. Now, a new update has emerged that suggests they are pushing hard to do just that.

Who are Sunderland signing?

According to journalist Alan Nixon on Patreon [via Football League World], Sunderland are looking to complete the signing of Crystal Palace gem Jesurun Rak-Sakyi on Friday. They have reportedly expressed an interest in snapping him up in the recent past.

A loan move for the 20-year-old attacker is in the offing, although the Eagles are hesitant to sell him if they don't believe they have the required squad depth comes the deadline.

Rak-Sakyi would be a brilliant signing by Sunderland if they do manage to get a deal over the line on Friday, with a host of Championship clubs keen on him. Granted, he is still a very young player learning his trade, but he has made four first team appearances for Palace already, with three of those coming in the Premier League. He is also a five-time capped England Under-20 international, scoring once for his country along the way.

Rak-Sakyi has been described as "wonderful" by former Charlton Athletic manager Dean Holden this year, having spent an excellent season on loan at The Valley in 2022/23, scoring 15 goals and registering nine assists in 49 appearances.

That proves what an impact he can make in the Football League, and with regular starts unlikely to come his way in a Palace shirt over the next 12 month or so, it could be most beneficial for his development to move elsewhere for a temporary spell.

Sunderland would be acquiring the services of a special young talent who could produce attacking brilliance at the Stadium of Light, so the hope is that Palace's stance softens in the remaining hours of the transfer window, allowing the Black Cats to complete a significant piece of business.

A reduction in the number of board members and limits on director terms could see ECB president Giles Clarke step down next year

George Dobell04-Nov-2017Giles Clarke’s long spell at the ECB looks set to end in 2018 due to changes in the governance of the sport.Clarke, currently the ECB’s first president, has been on the board of the organisation since 2005 and, between 2007 and 2015, was its chairman. But with the ECB set to reduce the size of its board from 13 to a maximum of 12 (and quite possibly 10) and introduce maximum term limits, it seems certain Clarke, now aged 64, will stand aside in the next few months.To comply with the governance requirements of UK Sport and Sport England, the ECB will shortly introduce a term limit of nine years (three terms of three years) for directors, while it will also be obliged to have a minimum of 30% of each gender on the board. At present, only two of the ECB’s 13 directors are women. While there is some scope for a director staying in position for 12 years if they are “appointed as chair… or to a senior position on an international federation” – Clarke qualifies on both counts – it will shortly become necessary for a director to have a break of four years before serving on the board again.The ECB has previously opposed any reduction in the size of the board suggesting that to do so would pose a threat to its “operational effectiveness”. They have also claimed that the “highly complex nature of the business” necessitated longer periods in office.The changes will be enshrined in the ECB’s amended Articles of Association – sent to counties this week and scheduled to be agreed in December and ratified at the AGM in April 2018 – alongside a raft of other adaptations. Among them will be an end to the system where the first-class counties (and the MCC) elect a chairman. It will instead be left to the board to elect one.Clarke might charitably be said to have polarised opinions during his spell at the ECB. While he oversaw an influx of money into the game – money that helped improve facilities for spectators and players and contributed to a period of much-improved results on the pitch – he also presided over a period when cricket’s relevance diminished in the public consciousness and gained an ever-more-elitist reputation. Clarke also deserves credit for his support of women’s cricket, disability cricket and, more latterly, Pakistan cricket though his attempts to backtrack on his role on the ‘Big Three’ takeover at the ICC convinced few.The ECB also intends to introduce a Regulatory Committee in the coming weeks. Increasingly anxious about government scrutiny of governance in sport – ECB chairman Colin Graves recently described it as “the most important issue for our sport” in a letter to the counties – the committee is intended, in Graves’ words, to “ensure that we are properly protecting ourselves in relation to integrity matters”.The committee will be chaired by Nick Coward, who has previously been CEO of the British Horseracing Authority and General Secretary of the Premier League, and also include three independent members, two senior ECB executives and an independent member from the ECB board.

There has been a further update in Liverpool's pursuit to sign Federico Chiesa, with reports from Gazzetta dello Sport, via Sport Witness, stating that the Reds will stump up the player's wage demands and are ready to step up their interest in the player.

How many goals has Federico Chiesa scored?

The forward has struggled with injuries over the last 12 months or so, and that has meant his form and his gametime has slightly tailed off for current club Juventus. He could manage only six league starts for the Turin outfit over the course of the 2022/23 season for example and whilst he did play in 21 games overall, he had to make do with largely substitute appearances. It meant that, in total, he had only 9.5 lots of 90 minutes over the course of the entire campaign – his worst ever amount in a season.

In spite of this, Chiesa still managed to score two goals and bag five assists. Whilst not quite hitting the heights of his peak Juventus days or his time at Fiorentina, it shows that he is still capable of hitting the back of the net and creating things offensively when he is match fit and able to get onto the field. Juve though have struggled this season and with the club slumping to seventh – and missing out on the Champions League – it appears he may now be sold on.

Are Liverpool signing Chiesa?

One of the teams most interested in snapping up the Italy international is Liverpool. The Premier League side are reportedly willing to offer up to £34m to try and bring the winger in this summer, although that comes well below the Serie A side's valuation of him.

Now, according to a report from Gazzetta dello Sport via Sport Witness, this interest from the Reds is hotting up, with the side ready to not only stump up the player's huge wage demands of 8 million Euros (or £6.8m) a year but also preparing to make a "concrete" bid for his services next week.

It even adds that Jurgen Klopp is a big fan of the move, stating that he is a "great sponsor" for the deal being done. They've had "big manouveres" with the player's agent, so things are already happening behind the scenes it seems.

He's a player that is viewed as having a lot of talent in the eyes of media members. Football journalist Josh Bunting stated that Chiesa is a "real difference maker" and has been "one of the most exciting players around" for some time, while former Itlay striker Antonio Di Natale is a huge fan of the player, praising his unpredictability in posession and drive for improvement.

If Chiesa can get back to full fitness and play regularly again then, he could be a real asset to any club – and it appears that the club closest to signing him may just be Liverpool.

Italian journalist Fabrizio Romano has provided an update on Newcastle United's centre-back pursuit.

The club are looking to strengthen their back-line, however, a recent development could stop the pursuit.

What is the latest Newcastle transfer news?

Newcastle have made a number of moves so far this window.

The biggest signing the Magpies have made is undoubtedly the £55m arrival of Italian midfielder Sandro Tonali from AC Milan, but the Tyneside club have also added Harvey Barnes from recently relegated Leicester City and Tino Livramento from Southampton, whilst the side have also agreed a deal with Chelsea to sign youngster Lewis Hall on a loan deal with an obligation to buy.

However, the side do look a little bit short in the central defensive area. Beyond the starting partnership of Sven Botman and Fabian Schar, the Tyneside club only have Jamaal Lascelles as an out and out centre-back option, with Dan Burn able to play the position if required.

Throughout the summer, the Magpies have been linked with a number of central defenders, with Crystal Palace's Joachim Andersen and Benfica’s Antonio Silva being names considered according to the Daily Mail's Craig Hope. However, he believes that those players will sit outside the club's price range at this point in the window.

A more realistic target would be Bayer Leverkusen's Edmond Tapsoba, who according to Football Insider is a name high on manager Eddie Howe's shortlist, with the club considering a hijack on Tottenham Hotspur, who have been interested in the player all summer long.

Speaking to GIVEMESPORT, Romano revealed that Tapsoba, who has been called a "dangerous" player, and Silva are the names that Howe admires, however Financial Fair Play concerns could curtial any potential bid: "I think it’s almost impossible to make it happen because of the Financial Fair Play situation. Edmond Tapsoba and Antonio Silva are two centre-backs that they love. But at the moment they are way too expensive for Newcastle because with the Financial Fair Play situation, it’s complicated. So they would need to sell a player of the same value, and it means someone around €55-€60m, so it’s more than complicated.”

How will Newcastle end this window?

It seems that due to FFP constraints, the Magpies will have to complete loan deals if they want to bring in any more players.

One player being considered is Arsenal defender Kieran Tierney. According to Football Insider the player is open to making the switch to the North East, having fell out of favour at the Emirates following the arrival of Oleksander Zinchenko. According to the report, the Scotland international is eager to make the move as he searches for more regular first-team football. However, there are two real obstacles for Newcastle to overcome to complete the deal. The first is the stiff competition from La Liga outfit Real Sociedad, and the second and more pressing issue is the fact that Arsenal want to sell the defender, whilst Newcastle can only really make a loan deal work, so the Gunners would have to compromise to complete the deal.

Another player being considered is Manchester City's Kalvin Phillips. The 27-year-old has had a torrid time since his £45m switch from Leeds United, with injury problems limiting the midfielder to just 593 minutes last season across all competitions. According to reports, Newcastle are interested in the midfielder this summer as they look to strengthen their squad ahead of their first Champions League campaign in over two decades.