Cooper and Pieter Seelar batted out 79 overs on the fourth day and added a record 288 runs for the sixth wicket to ensure a draw for Netherlands against Hong Kong

Peter Della Penna14-Feb-2017Netherlands batsman Ben Cooper says his overriding emotion was “relief” after he batted through the entire final day of play to ensure his side secured an improbable draw with Hong Kong in the Intercontinental Cup on Monday.Set a target of 507 to win, Cooper was at the crease on 19 at the end of day three with Netherlands 48 for 2; two overs after the first drinks break on day four, they were 105 for 5. Pieter Seelaar joined Cooper and the pair produced a historic 288-run sixth-wicket partnership, batting out the final 79 overs together to deny Hong Kong victory.”For me it was a big relief,” Cooper told ESPNcricinfo, when asked how he felt when the draw had finally been achieved. “It had been the first time I had batted for such a period. I was just relieved and very tired but it was special to have been able to produce that performance and hold on for the draw. It’s been something that the Dutch have been working towards and being able to perform on the four-day game and put those big scores together, we’ve now proven to ourselves that we can. So we can take the forward with confidence into future games.”The pair set several marks during their epic stand. They set the Netherlands record for any wicket in first-class cricket and a sixth-wicket record stand in the Intercontinental Cup. It’s also the highest ever stand in the fourth innings in the competition and the sixth-biggest partnership in the 13-year history of the Intercontinental Cup. Netherlands also set a new mark for most overs batted to save a draw in the fourth innings of an Intercontinental Cup match. Cooper says he was too focused on saving the match to think about the significance of their feat at the time but says he is happy to have been able to have created a bit of history with Seelaar.”It’s a special thing,” Cooper said. “It’s something you don’t think is possible but you just have to apply yourself and when you get in you just have to make the most of it. To be able to set a record along with Pieter Seelaar is something very special. The first job at hand is to bat and to produce for your team. Anything second to that, such as partnership records and personal records, is a bonus.”Cooper batted just short of seven hours to finish on 173 not out and was named Man of the Match for his brilliant rearguard. It was only his second first-class match, with his debut coming 18 months earlier at home against Scotland. Cooper says he worked hard on mental preparation to deal with the duration required to bat, in spite of his lack of four-day experience.”It’s a tough one because there’s not a whole lot of four-day cricket around for Netherlands but I guess you just have to back your training,” Cooper said. “You go to training and mentally prepare there. I try to bat as long as I can at training to simulate batting for an extended period in a four-day competition. But I guess it’s just a mental thing. You prepare yourself mentally to fight it out and you know you’ve got time so you don’t have to chase so many balls outside off.”Cooper on Pieter Seelaar’s rise as an allrounder: I’m very happy for him to have ticked that off and to have proved that he is a batsman and not just a bowler•Panda Man

Just as remarkable as Cooper’s innings was that of Seelaar, who ended on 138 not out. Coming into the match, Seelaar’s highest score for Netherlands in first-class cricket was an unbeaten 81 against a Zimbabwe XI that came nearly seven years ago. His only other half-century in 40 innings prior to arriving at the crease on the final day was an unbeaten 75 against Canada in 2013. Cooper paid tribute to his partner, saying that the squad was especially pleased for Seelaar to reach his maiden first-class century, especially after he has put in a lot of hard work to turn himself into an allrounder when he began his Netherlands career as a specialist left-arm spinner batting at No. 11.”I think his reaction when he scored his hundred, and the celebration he had, was enough to say how relieved he was,” Cooper said. “I backed him all the way. He’s a class batsman although he may not have been recognised before. But I’m very happy for him to have ticked that off and to have proved that he is a batsman and not just a bowler.”The 1467 runs in the match made it the third-highest scoring game in Intercontinental Cup history, though Cooper says the pitch was playing slightly uneven towards the end to keep the task a challenging one for him and Seelaar. The second new ball was taken in the first over after tea, but Hong Kong failed to make a breakthrough. Cooper says he and Seelaar began to believe they were close to finishing the job when Hong Kong captain Babar Hayat brought himself on as a part-time option in the 101st over, the eighth bowler used for Hong Kong, followed shortly afterward by Nizakat Khan as the ninth.”I think as a team you get that mental victory to know you’ve pushed their main bowlers nearly to their limits and they’ve now had to start using their part-time bowlers,” Cooper said. “That little mental victory does lift you and push you a little bit more. You think it can’t be too much longer until you completely break them and it could be the match saved.”To be able to fight back and hold on for a draw had added significance for Netherlands because it was Hong Kong who had knocked them out of the Desert T20 Challenge in Dubai in January. Netherlands are hoping to take a momentum boost from the final day into the pair of WCL Championship 50-over matches between the sides scheduled for Thursday and Saturday. Netherlands are currently level with Papua New Guinea at the top of the WCL Championship table on 12 points while Hong Kong is third on 11 points.”There’s always that little bit in the back of your head that you may not have played your best cricket previously at the Desert T20,” Cooper said. “But it’s a whole new game, a whole new opportunity to go out and prove yourself and luckily enough we were able to prove ourselves toward the back end of the four-day game and come out with a draw. To come out with a draw from where we were is a great feeling.”

An update has emerged on Chelsea and their ongoing plans to reshape their playing squad after they finished in the bottom half of the Premier League in the season just gone.

What's the latest Chelsea transfer news?

Mauricio Pochettino is in the market to bolster his options in the middle of the park and Sandro Tonali has emerged as a potential option instead of Brighton & Hove Albion's Moises Caicedo.

The Athletic's David Ornstein has reported that the Blues have had an offer of £60m turned down for the Ecuador international and that they are now considering a number of alternatives, including the AC Milan commander.

This is alongside their pursuit of a deal for Villarreal forward Nicolas Jackson, who is seemingly closing in on a move to Stamford Bridge from the Spanish side after agreeing terms with the Blues. The reporter tweeted:

"Chelsea have agreed terms with Nicolas Jackson + intend to strike deal with Villarreal. €35m clause if needed. 21yo striker has committed. + #BHAFC rejected £60m #CFC Caicedo bid 2wks ago – Lavia, Kone, Tonali, Barella among alternatives."

Ornstein's article, which is attached to his Tweet, does not reveal how much it would take to snatch Tonali away from the Champions League semi-finalists but the Italian international is on the club's list of targets this summer.

Who is Sandro Tonali?

The 23-year-old Milan ace is a defensive midfielder who has the quality to make an impact at both ends of the pitch with his defensive awareness and creativity.

Whilst it remains to be seen how much the Italian giants would demand for his services, Football Transfers estimates his market value to be in the region of €68m (£58m), which is significantly more than the €39.7m (£34m) he was valued at in June 2022.

This shows that the young maestro, who scout Jacek Kulig hailed as "Il Comandante", has been building his value over the last 12 months and that Chelsea would be bringing in a player who is on the up, rather than a depreciating asset with no sell-on potential.

Tonali enjoyed a terrific 2022/23 campaign in the Serie A with Milan. The Italian commander, who was once lauded as “extraordinary” by former Brescia manager Eugenio Corini, averaged a SofaScore rating of 7.21 across 34 appearances in the division and made 2.6 tackles and interceptions and 1.8 key passes per match.

Only Thiago Silva and N'Golo Kante (both with a score of 7.26) averaged a higher rating in the Premier League and only Kante (1.9) created more chances per game than the £76k-per-week dynamo.

Having averaged over 50 in first-class cricket over the last three years, Aaron Finch seems to have come of age as a red-ball batsman and hopes he can one day wear the Baggy Green

Brydon Coverdale14-Feb-2017Over the next week, Aaron Finch will break a record. And yet it’s a record he hopes he will not hold forever. Assuming he does not miss any of the three T20s against Sri Lanka, Finch will overtake David Hussey to become the man with the most international caps for Australia without having played a Test. Hussey finished his career with 108 combined ODIs and T20Is; Finch begins this series on 107. But he still dreams of a baggy green.It is a goal that may or may not happen, but at least Finch has improved his chances by greater first-class output over the past few years. At times, Finch has not even found a place in Victoria’s Sheffield Shield XI, but before Christmas this summer he produced his first Shield century for six and a half years. County assignments with Yorkshire and Surrey have helped him find his way in long-form cricket.And Finch freely admits that he had lost his way. In the past three years, Finch has averaged 54.53 as a first-class batsman; in his entire career until then, he had averaged 27.47.”I think it was a combination of a few things,” Finch told ESPNcricinfo. “There were a couple of small technical flaws – at the time I was batting at No.3 for Victoria – that probably got exposed a little bit more with the moving red ball compared to the white ball that swings for a handful of overs. As an opening batter in the shorter form, your job is to go out there and try and make a real statement early on in the game. That risk-reward is slightly more in your favour in the shorter forms.”I missed out a few times and started to doubt my technique, and then I started to doubt my ability, and then I got into a real bad case – my self-talk was all negative. It was almost as if I was walking out there to bat just hoping to do well, and if I got any runs it was almost a surprise, because I’d just talked myself out of it before I started. It wasn’t until I thought, ‘you know what, this is doing nothing for your career’.”I wasn’t very happy, to be honest. I always had the shits because I wasn’t getting runs, but I wasn’t helping myself in any way, shape or form at the same time to do anything about it. That was a combination of a bit of technique and a real mental battle that I was having with my game, and also with myself. It’s something over time that I’ve learnt to deal with.”Finch says holding down a consistent place in the middle order for Victoria, Yorkshire and Surrey has helped him settle down as a long-format batsmen•PA Photos

Finch’s talent has never been in doubt – hence his regular presence at the top of the order in Australia’s ODI and T20 teams over the past few years – but his struggles in the longer form might have led to some observers writing him off as a red-ball player. However, Finch is now coming off 102 in his last Shield game before Christmas and 49 and 71 in Victoria’s low-scoring win over South Australia this week, and he is looking forward to more Shield cricket after the upcoming T20s against Sri Lanka.”It’s always good when you get a good run of four-day cricket in a row,” Finch said. “I’ve been lucky enough to have that in England the last three years. I really enjoyed being able to prepare in blocks, whether it be for three or four games in a row. I just feel like I hadn’t had that opportunity in Australia – through my own fault as well, through not making enough runs to warrant being picked every time.”But I’m really excited about four-day cricket. I still want to play Test cricket – that’s why I choose to go to the UK and play some county cricket instead of taking on the T20 circuit. I still want to play Test cricket … I think having a little bit of consistency with where I’ve batted has helped. I think I’ve batted four, five and six with Victoria, Yorkshire and Surrey.”That’s a place I enjoy batting – in the middle order in the longer form. I’m comfortable mentally and technically with where my game’s at, which makes you walk out into the middle a bit more excited, a bit more upbeat about what’s going to happen. Whether you get runs or not, that’s a different story.”

Jadon Sancho will reportedly push for a transfer away from Manchester United in January after holding showdown talks with Erik ten Hag.

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Winger dropped for Arsenal gameClaims to have been made a scapegoatReady to take on a new challengeWHAT HAPPENED?

It is suggested that the working relationship between the England international winger and his demanding Dutch coach has completely broken down at Old Trafford. With there seemingly no way back, a move that suits all parties will be sought when the next window opens.

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Ten Hag dropped Sancho from his matchday plans for a Premier League trip to Arsenal. He stated that performances in training were behind that decision. Sancho hit back in a statement of his own, with the 23-year-old forward claiming to have been made a “scapegoat”.

DID YOU KNOW?

Talks have been held between Sancho and his club boss, with the reporting that a parting of ways now appears to be inevitable. A loan deal in January is considered to be the most likely option, with that agreement including the option for a permanent transfer to be pushed through in the summer of 2024.

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GettyWHAT HAPPENS NEXT?

Any switch will bring a forgettable spell at United to a close for Sancho. On the back of his £75 million ($94m) arrival from Bundesliga giants Borussia Dortmund in 2021, the highly-rated wideman has registered just 12 goals through 82 appearances and lost his place in Gareth Southgate’s England squad.

A round-up of the Group D games in the 2016-17 Vijay Hazare Trophy, which took place on February 25, 2017

ESPNcricinfo staff25-Feb-2017Hyderabad seamer Ravi Kiran and left-arm spinner Mehdi Hasan took three wickets each to help their side bowl out Jammu & Kashmir for 228 and set up a 29-run win. A 70-run partnership for the fourth wicket between Parvez Rasool and Ahmed Bandy, which came at more than eight runs an over, had put J&K’s chase of 258 back on track after quick wickets. However, once both batsmen were out, the lower order slumped quickly – J&K lost their five wickets for 22 runs to fold in the 43rd over.Earlier, fifties from openers Tanmay Agarwal and Akshath Reddy carried Hyderabad to 257. Their 127-run opening partnership gave Hyderabad a platform strong enough to survive a brief slide where they lost four wickets within five overs, before S Badrinath and Hasan nudged the score past 200. Hasan remained unbeaten on 28 off 26 balls, having seen the side through to 257.MS Dhoni’s 50-ball 43 and Saurabh Tiwary’s 68 were not enough to help Jharkhand chase down a target of 267 against Karnataka, who won by five runs with only one ball to spare. The pair came together with Jharkhand at 79 for 4 in the 20th over and added 81 runs to put the chase back on track. After Dhoni fell, Tiwary kept the chase alive with a rapid 39 runs for the seventh wicket with Shabaz Nadeem off 26 deliveries. However, Tiwary’s dismissal in the 42nd over left Jharkhand with another 63 to get and although the lower order strung up partnerships, the side was eventually dismissed off the penultimate ball of the game. Rahul Shukla was the last man to fall, run out for 23 off 20 balls, having driven the lower-order partnerships. K Gowtham had returns of 4 for 58.Shukla had earlier taken 4 for 45 in his nine overs as Karnataka were bowled out for 266. Ravikumar Samarth (71) and Manish Pandey (77) struck fifties and shared a 116-run partnership for the third wicket. Pavan Deshpande, too, chipped in with 36 off 34 balls.Seamer Suraj Yadav and wicketkeeper-batsman Nakul Verma played stellar hands in Services’ 48-run victory over Saurashtra.Yadav struck three times in his first two overs – including two wickets off two balls in the first over – to leave Saurashtra’s chase of 263 in trouble. Their score of 6 for 3 soon became 44 for 5 and they only managed to limp to 215 due to half-centuries from Prerak Mankad (58) and Jaydev Unadkat (57). Yadav returned to pick up one more wicket for figures of 4 for 47.Earlier, Verma’s second List-A century, 124 off 132 balls at the top of the order, set the base for Services’ total of 263 for 9. The remaining Services batsmen got starts but only Soumya Swain made a substantial contribution among them, with 32 off 36 deliveries. Seamer Shaurya Sanandia took 4 for 67 for Saurashtra

James Sutherland, the Cricket Australia chief executive, has jumped on Virat Kohli’s allegations of Australia’s captain Steven Smith “crossing the line” by seeking off-field advice for DRS referrals, calling them “outrageous”.Currently in India, Sutherland spoke strongly in defence of Smith and the team after the coach Darren Lehmann had also categorically denied any orchestrated use of the team viewing area to deliberate on decisions.”I find the allegations questioning the integrity of Steve Smith, the Australian team and the dressing room, outrageous,” Sutherland said. “Steve is an outstanding cricketer and person, and role model to many aspiring cricketers and we have every faith that there was no ill-intent in his actions.”We reject any commentary that suggests our integrity was brought into disrepute or that systemic unfair tactics are used, and stand by Steve and the Australian cricketers who are proudly representing our country.”Sutherland’s comments came after Lehmann insisted that Australia “play the game the right way” in the wake of serious allegations by Kohli.The adjudicating match referee Chris Broad has reportedly stated that Smith would not face sanction over his attempt to check with support staff off-field whether to review his lbw on the final day of the Bengaluru Test match. However others, including the former captain Michael Clarke, have expressed concern about the young batsman Peter Handscomb’s role in the exchange and other possible instances of the practice.Broad is scheduled to be replaced by Richie Richardson for the final two matches of the series, and ICC management based in Dubai are yet to comment on the episode. Lehmann delivered a staunch denial when asked whether there had ever been communication between the team on the field and the dressing room about referring a decision: “Never ever. No. Never.”He [Kohli] has his opinion and we have ours. At the end of the day we play the game the right way. I’m very proud of the way the lads actually played. Disappointed we didn’t get across the line today. We changed the way we wanted to play with a change of side, a younger side. I’m really pleased with the way we do things now, we’ve never done any of that, and we’ll just get on with the next game. Disappointing today but you move on.”Very surprised to hear it [the allegation] but again, that’s their opinion.”Clarke, who worked alongside Lehmann as captain and coach for more than two years, said Handscomb’s involvement to prompt Smith to look towards the team viewing area worried him. Handscomb has tweeted that he had only done so because he was “unaware of the rule” forbidding players from seeking off-field guidance.”If you look at the footage, Peter Handscomb actually suggested Smith to turn around and look to the support staff. If this was a one-off, I don’t think that would have happened,” Clarke told India Today. “The fact that Handscomb has even thought of asking the Australian skipper to turn around and look to the support staff, I’ve got my concerns.”I think Steve Smith respects the game and if it’s a one-off, then it’s a brain fade. I want to find out more about it. But if Virat is correct and if Australia are using DRS that way, then it is completely unacceptable and it is not a brain fade.”Kohli stated after the Test’s conclusion that he had seen the Australians look towards their viewing area twice earlier in the match when he was batting, and had advised both on-field umpires to watch out for it. When Handscomb and Smith conferred, the umpire Nigel Llong stepped in quickly to stop any communication from taking place.ESPNcricinfo understands that members of the Australian team had discussed seeking advice on referrals in the past, but ruled it out on the basis that it was both against the rules and also impractical on the basis that it would take too long. The ICC had also clarified the illegality of the practice to international teams in briefings several years ago.Lehmann insisted that there had been no orchestration whatsoever, and went on to say that the Australian team had changed much in terms of attitude and on-field demeanour under Smith’s captaincy and the selection of a younger touring team to venture to India.”Probably on their side it might but our side again I’ll say we were very good the way we went about it and trying to play the game the way we want to play it moving forward,” he said when asked if the series would remain tense. “Gone were the days where we used to be the other way, and I was part of that as an Australian side.”So the young guys the way they want to portray themselves and get others to play the game and enjoy the game has been exceptional. I’m very proud of the way they went about it this game, even though we lost. [We want to] be remembered as a side that grows as a group together, doesn’t bite on confrontation and just plays the game.”We want to be remembered as a side that learned and grew together as a group. So for us that’s a challenge. There’s tough times in India no doubt, but how we want to play is a lot like everyone else around the world wants to play, and that’s the brand of cricket people come to watch. It was a great Test match … disappointed but proud of them.”The ugly scenes on the field during the Bengaluru Test marked a major downturn in relations between the two sides, but Lehmann said he had not sought out his opposite number Anil Kumble or Kohli to seek to smooth the waters.”No, we leave that with ICC and that’s the way it goes,” he said. “We’re here to play cricket, we didn’t play it well enough, they outplayed us, the partnership between Pujara and Rahane was fantastic the way they played. We could have bowled better a bit yesterday and batted better today, but they outplayed us so we need to be better.”It’s heated, it’s always heated in India that’s the way it is. So we didn’t cope well enough as a group in the last four or five sessions, pleased the way we bowled to get us back in the game, and we had our chances with the bat and didn’t get across the line.”

The USMNT “cannot count on Tyler Adams for 2026” as they continue with their preparations for a home World Cup, says Alexi Lalas.

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• Midfielder filled armband at Qatar 2022
• Has struggled at club level since then
• Stuck on the treatment table at present

• WHAT HAPPENED?

  Adams captained his country at the 2022 finals in Qatar and was expected to play a leading role for the United States heading towards FIFA’s next flagship event – which will be co-hosted by the U.S. alongside neighbours Canada and Mexico.

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• Getty Images
  

  THE BIGGER PICTURE

  All-action midfielder Adams has, however, been enduring a tough time in England. He suffered relegation out of the Premier League with Leeds last season, with an injury picked up there taken with him to Bournemouth when completing a summer transfer. The 24-year-old has seen just 20 minutes of Carabao Cup football since then – with another fitness setback being suffered – and Lalas fears the USMNT cannot draw up long-term plans where Adams is concerned.

• WHAT THEY SAID

  Lalas has told his podcast: “From a practical perspective, this kind of kicks the can down the road, hopefully, for Gregg Berhalter in terms of making that ultimate decision as to who to play in that three in the midfield, because there is an odd man out. Now, it opens up another space there. But again, we had feared or talked about it with a caveat, that this is a hamstring that went through a massive type of injury. And if immediately he gets back and he's already in trouble right now, it sucks. And now he's got to get back from a whole other injury and who knows when we are going to see him again.

  “But I think Greg Berhalter and company now have to start thinking about not just the immediate in the next window, but going into 2026, having backup plans. And it sucks because he is, so far, irreplaceable. But if all that talent and all that depth is to be believed, whether we've recognised or it's just coming to fruition now, somebody has to step up and somebody has to take the place of a Tyler Adams in terms of what he does on the field and the leadership that he brings to this team. Because right now you cannot count on Tyler Adams in the short term. And it has to be said, you cannot count on Tyler Adams for 2026 right now. If it happens, fine, that's great, and I want it to happen. But this is again another serious injury and who knows when he's going to be back to 100%, his club or his country.”

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  WHAT HAPPENS NEXT?

  Adams has been ruled out for “some time” by Bournemouth, preventing him from being selected in the latest USMNT squad, and he will face serious competition for his place when returning to action as Berhalter has the likes of Weston McKennie, Yunus Musah, Gio Reyna, Luca de la Torre, Malik Tillman and Brenden Aaronson at his disposal.

Manchester United appear to be stepping up their interest in Atalanta sensation, Rasmus Hojlund, according to the latest reports.

What's the latest on Hojlund to Man United?

As per one Italian journalist, writing on Twitter: "#ManchesterUnited will present a first offer of 60 million, today is the first choice. #Atalanta's request will be higher, but the negotiation can get underway."

While it is not stated whether that potential fee is in pounds or euros, Football Transfers have previously suggested that the Serie A side are likely to demand in the region of £60m if they are to part ways with the 20-year-old this summer.

The Red Devils are seemingly looking for suitable striking alternatives to that of England skipper, Harry Kane, amid reports that the Old Trafford outfit are unlikely to make a bid for the 29-year-old due to Tottenham Hotspur's unwillingness to sell.

Would Hojlund be a good signing for Man United?

On the face of it, the signing of a player who scored just nine league goals last season may not appear particularly exciting, although all the signs point to Hojlund simply being a "monster in the making", according to talent scout Jacek Kulig.

Also lauded as "remarkable" by current boss Gian Piero Gasperini – who has likened the Denmark international to fellow Scandinavian striker, Erling Haaland – the former Sturm Graz ace could be the man to lead the line for Erik ten Hag's side over the next decade or so.

The explosive marksman – who has been lauded as "scary quick" by journalist Sacha Pisani – could well be able to form a devastating attacking partnership with fellow youngster, Alejandro Garnacho at the Theatre of Dreams in the long-term, with the teenage Argentine having enjoyed a stellar breakout campaign last season.

Having scored seven goals during United's FA Youth Cup triumph in the 2021/22 campaign – including bagging twice in the final – the 18-year-old has since gone on to make his presence felt in the first-team, racking up ten goals and assists in all competitions.

Lauded as a "game changer" by Manchester Evening News correspondent, Samuel Luckhurst, Garnacho's rapid rise was notably laid bare following his standout cameo in the FA Cup showpiece defeat to rivals Manchester City, having made a 'real impact off the bench', in the words of the Evening Standard's Dom Smith.

Much like Hojlund, the winger's youth would suggest that he still has a way to go to truly reach his full potential, although again – like the Atalanta marksman – the early signs are so very exciting and promising for those at United.

The hope will be that if Ten Hag is to get his man this summer, the former Ajax boss can build his side around both Hojlund and Garnacho over the coming years…

Tottenham Hotspur are keen on moving for Crystal Palace defender Marc Guehi this summer as Ange Postecoglou gets his transfer business underway in N17, according to journalist Dean Jones.

What's the latest transfer news involving Marc Guehi?

According to FootballTransfers, Tottenham are keen on Guehi this summer as they look to bring a defender into the building ahead of the new campaign.

Speaking to the outlet, journalist Steve Kay added: "Spurs are interested in signing Marc Guehi in the summer. Palace want £65m. Spurs apparently won't pay that – they're looking at paying around £45m. Tottenham have been looking for a young, versatile defender for quite a while now, and they have recently inquired about Aymeric Laporte and Pau Torres."

Aside from Tottenham, Liverpool are keen on the £50k-a-week ace alongside Arsenal and Manchester United, according to The Daily Mail, which is a testament to his performances across the season.

As per Football Insider, pundit Gabby Agbonlahor tipped Spurs to make several defensive reinforcements this off-season and has tipped Guehi to move to N17, saying in an interview with the publication: “I think Spurs need three centre-backs. Guehi can be one of them, but I’d go out and get more. Lenglet and Ben Davies are not good enough either. You’ve got to have multiple top centre-backs if you want to go and win trophies. Look at Arsenal after they lost Saliba – it’s cost them the title.”

Writing in his column for GIVEMESPORT, journalist Jones has indicated that Spurs are indeed looking to pursue Guehi this window.

Jones stated when assessing potential defensive additions: "In the centre of defence Harry Maguire has been linked and that interest is genuine. One of the other Premier League options we should expect them to thoroughly look into is another England international in Marc Guehi at Crystal Palace.

"He is also admired by Arsenal but Spurs believe they could have the edge on them in terms of being able to offer regular first-team football, which is going to be vital in a season that leads into the European Championship – as he will aim to be part of the Three Lions squad. Max Kilman of Wolves is another option they have looked at while scouts have had pretty heavy focus on Serie A too."

Would Marc Guehi be a good signing for Tottenham Hotspur?

Guehi, who has been hailed as an "absolute tank", enjoyed a positive campaign for Crystal Palace and made great strides as he continues to develop into a distinguished Premier League central defender.

Over the course, the England international made 40 appearances in all competitions for Crystal Palace, registering one goal, as per Transfermarkt.

WhoScored takes into account that Guehi managed to stay switched on during dangerous attacking phases and completed around 3.6 clearances per game in the English top flight.

As per FBRef, Guehi made 97 tackles and interceptions combined across the term, demonstrating his ability to win back possession with regularity.

With strong winds of change set to engulf Tottenham's playing squad over the next few months, Guehi joining the fold would be an intelligent piece of business by Lilywhites' boss Postecoglou.