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Defending champions shot out by a clinical Peshawar, who, with their 48-run win, reached the trophy match for the third successive year

The Report by Danyal Rasool15-Mar-2019

How the game played out
It was a game that really mattered, insofar as things as trivial as cricket matches do on a day like this. Followed by a minute of silence – impeccably observed – at Karachi’s National Stadium to mark the terror attacks in Christchurch, Peshawar Zalmi and Islamabad United, sporting black armbands, took the field in their knockout fixture. By the end of it, defending champions Islamabad were well and truly trumped by a clinical Peshawar, who, with their 48-run win, also avenged their loss to Islamabad in last season’s PSL final and reached the trophy match for the third successive year.The platform for the win was set up by a sizzling 135-run opening stand between Imam-ul-Haq and Kamran Akmal, put up in just 12.2 overs. It was an onslaught right from the moment Kamran caressed the first ball of the innings for a boundary past point. The batsmen barely seemed to notice that the Powerplay had ended as they carried on right through the following six overs. Kamran and Imam brought up their half-centuries in 29 and 26 balls respectively, and when Cameron Delport dismissed the two of them in a remarkable 13th over, they had scored 74 and 58.That put the brakes on Peshawar for a bit, but when Darren Sammy and Kieron Pollard came to the crease, the assault resumed. Peshawar plundered 75 off the last six overs to ensure they comfortably crossed 200, ending with 214 for 5, the second-highest score in PSL history. It came about despite a somewhat comical mix-up between Pollard and Sammy, leading to the former kneeing a ball away to avoid being run-out and being given out obstructing the field instead. Crucially, the West Indian pair had hammered a combined 67 off the 36 balls they faced, meaning Islamabad needed to register the highest PSL chase ever to get to the final.It was never on, though. Luke Ronchi failed to provide Islamabad the platform they needed, and even as they kept the asking rate just about within reach, they kept bleeding wickets. Chadwick Walton, Delport and Faheem Ashraf all made contributions, but in a game where the defending champions needed something out of the ordinary from one or more of their batsmen, they could only provide short-lived fireworks.Turning point
Islamabad pulled Peshawar back after the openers were dismissed in a passage of play where Peshawar scored just 22 runs in four overs. While on Thursday Islamabad had ensured Karachi Kings were squeezed right till the end of their innings, the wheels spectacularly came off in the death overs on this occasion. In the first Eliminator, Islamabad had allowed 11 runs in the last three overs. Here, they leaked 42.Star of the day
The Peshawar batting line-up put on a masterclass in T20 batting. Four Peshawar players reached double-figures, but they did a lot more than just get there. Kamran, Imam, Pollard and Sammy had strike rates in excess of 170. The belligerence of the openers meant Peshawar could send in Pollard and Sammy straight in afterwards, without any need to consolidate in the middle overs. Peshawar batted as if it was the Powerplay for the whole of the innings, resulting in the huge total they posted.The big miss
For the second time in two games, Ronchi’s innings lasted just nine balls. Whereas on Thursday that amount of deliveries had yielded just five runs, this time he scored a more respectable 17. The only problem was in a chase of 215, Islamabad needed a far more weighty contribution from their most valuable batsman, in much the same way Peshawar’s openers had done for their side. The unhindered joy on the faces of Peshawar’s players after Ronchi’s dismissal revealed how much they valued his wicket. Right from that moment, Islamabad’s run rate had a sense of unsustainability about it; they never could keep it up while keeping wickets intact simultaneously. The chase was valiant, but unsurprisingly, the chase was over well before it actually was.Where the teams stand
Peshawar join Quetta Gladiators in the title clash, the second PSL final between the two sides.

MatériaMais Notícias

Após o encerramento da Série B do Campeonato Brasileiro, o Paraná logo iniciou o planejamento para a temporada de 2021 com foco no retorno do clube para a segunda divisão.

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>Tabela completa do Campeonato Paranaense 2021

De promessa da base ao 12º jogador da equipe, o meia Gabriel Pires avaliou o seu 2020 e destacou a busca pelo acesso nacional com o Tricolor da Vila.

– Mais uma temporada que se encerra e um ciclo finalizado. Já estou me preparando para o que está por vir em 2021. Infelizmente não conseguimos atingir os nossos objetivos e acabamos sofrendo um revés muito doloroso para todos nós. Mas seguimos cientes da nossa responsabilidade e com a mentalidade de colocar o Paraná Clube em seu devido lugar – disse Gabriel.

Revelado na base do clube, Gabriel Pires teve um ano de crescimento e ascensão no Paraná após passagem de empréstimo pelo Atlético-MG no segundo semestre de 2019. Foram 28 jogos e um gol marcado entre as disputas da Série B e da Copa do Brasil.

– Individualmente falando, pude marcar o meu primeiro gol como jogador profissional e esse momento ficará marcado em minha carreira – completou.

Antes de pensar na Série C, a estreia oficial do Paraná na temporada 2021 será no campeonato estadual em 28 de fevereiro visitando o FC Cascavel no Estádio Olímpico Regional Arnaldo Busatto.

Liverpool have received a significant boost in their quest to sign a "charismatic" star, according to an update from Sky Sports journalist Florian Plettenberg.

Liverpool January transfer plans

Those high up at Anfield will be deciding how to approach the January transfer window, with the funds potentially there to bring in reinforcements midway through the season. Jurgen Klopp has never been a manager who simply spends for the sake of it, and FSG aren't exactly free-spending in the mould of Todd Boehly at Chelsea, so there is no guarantee that any players will come in.

Joel Matip's season-ending ACL injury may have altered Klopp's thinking, however, with a centre-back possibly coming in to make up for the loss of a player who was in excellent form. Bayer Leverkusen star Piero Hincapie has been linked with a move to Liverpool, while Sporting CP ace Goncalo Inacio is also a player who continues to be backed to join the Reds.

In midfield, Fulham enforcer Joao Palhinha is seen as a possible target, should the Merseysiders look to bring in more of a natural No.6 than the current options there, with Alexis Mac Allister arguably happier as a No.8, and Wataru Endo feeling more like a squad player.

Liverpool given Piero Hincapie boost

Taking to X, Plettenberg claimed that Liverpool transfer target Hincapie is now keen on leaving Leverkusen in the January window.

"Piero Hincapie, open for a new challenge in winter as he wants to play regularly. He’s not happy as a substitute. But: Leverkusen appreciates him & wants to keep him as Tapsoba & Kossounou will join the African Cup.

"The 21 y/o cb (left foot) has many inquiries on the table. Talks took place. Liverpool is monitoring him but there is no offer; no concrete talks yet."

If Liverpool do decide to enter the market for a new centre-back in January, Hincapie could be considered one of the strongest options out there to bring in. At just 21, he is already such an established footballer, winning 30 caps for Ecuador and making 64 appearances in the Bundesliga, so he may well be seen as an immediate key player and long-term prospect at Anfield.

Virgil van Dijk is now 32, and while he should still hopefully remain at his best for a few more years, there has to be a plan in place to find the perfect successor to the Dutchman at the heart of Liverpool's defence.

Related Liverpool eye "amazing" defensive midfielder who could win them the league

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Hincapie could be exactly that, having been described as "an extremely charismatic player with an 'aura' of a top defender" by football talent scout Jacek Kulig, and his ability to operate mainly as a centre-back but also as a left-back could be perfect for Klopp.

Having someone with such versatility can be priceless for squad depth, and the Reds should do all they can to snap up the Ecuadorian. Hincapie averaged 3.8 tackles per game in the Champions League last term, for example, as well as completing 89.2% of his passes in this season's Europa League.

Tim Paine will have to juggle the need to win the fourth Test against India, with getting the right balance for when Smith and Warner eventually return

Daniel Brettig in Sydney02-Jan-20194:22

‘Our focus is on team’s improvement’ – Paine

Aaron Finch was set to be sacrificed at the selection table as Australia’s present and future needs wrestled for prominence between beating India at the SCG and preparing for an Ashes year that will also see the returns of Steven Smith and David Warner.Having been distracted in Melbourne by the hubbub around Smith and Cameron Bancroft speaking at length about their roles in the Newlands scandal that also featured Warner as a central player, the Australians and their captain Tim Paine have now openly acknowledged the need for the senior pair to be reintegrated as quickly as possible. With that in mind, and also the struggles of Finch at the top, it appeared likely that Marcus Harris would be accompanied by Usman Khawaja at the top of the order, while Marnus Labuschagne and Peter Handscomb would be recalled.Mitchell Marsh will be the other player to drop out of the XI, as Paine talked up Labuschange’s wrist spin as the fifth bowling option on a Sydney pitch that, in addition to being the first traditional Test surface of the summer, will be expected to take increasing amounts of spin as the game goes on. Paine, who could not have imagined this time a year ago that he would be leading Australia’s Test side, said that a need for stability this year while also keeping room for the suspended duo was at the forefront of his mind.”I think we’re happy to change it a little bit. I think you don’t want to be changing too much,” Paine said in Sydney. “We want to try and settle guys who we think will play long-term in their positions looking forward into the next series and then into the Ashes, we want to settle guys in their positions so as little a disruption as we can have to that or the better in that sense, but at the same time we’ve got to find the best XI to win this Test as well, so it’s a bit of a balancing act.”It’s through a bit of discussion, and being really open and honest as a group of selectors, and me as the captain. Obviously we want to pick the best XI that we think can win this Test. At the same time you’re trying to look forward a little bit and make sure you have the right guys around the squad and in our group who we think can be successful across different conditions in Test cricket.”There’s always going to be a little bit of a balancing act – I know I’ve probably answered it in two different ways, and a lot of people who are critical of selection processes won’t like that, but they’re just the plain facts. That’s what it is. We want to pick the best team. You always got to have a little bit of an eye to the future and what’s coming up at the same time.”
ALSO READ: New-year headaches for Australia
While the coach Justin Langer had spoken positively of how much Finch would benefit from the experiences of this summer, the Victorian’s harried visage was reflected in his choice of shot to be dismissed second ball of the second innings at the MCG, as one of Jasprit Bumrah’s nine victims. Paine suggested that Labuschagne’s all-round abilities and Handscomb’s command of foot movement and scoring options against spin made them strong options for the SCG.”Lots of chat, lots of energy, he doesn’t shut up, Marnus, but I think at the end of a long series his energy has been great, to have him around the group the last few days,” Paine said. “We know how good a cricketer he is, he’s really skilled in all facets of the game. So if he plays tomorrow, we know if the conditions suit we saw in the UAE his leg spin’s improved out of sight, and you’re almost leaning towards him at Test level now as a bit of an all-round option, which is a really good package for us.Marnus Labuschagne slips while fielding•Getty Images”We think it will spin here so if India were to play two spinners I think Pete can be a really important player for us, we know how good a player of spin he is, so that’s one of the discussions we’ll be having, whether India are going that way and if they are, are we prepared to bring him back in. I’m sure if he does he’s an excellent player of spin, and contributes a lot tot the group. Like Marnus he’s a very good package and person to have around the team, and we hope when he does play again he scores a lot of runs.”As for Khawaja’s place in Australia’s plans, Paine said that he would be an opener or a No. 3 depending on circumstances. Beyond the returns of Smith and Warner, it is not difficult to picture a top five featuring the banned duo, Khawaja, Harris and Travis Head. “Usman’s opening record in Test cricket is very good and he’s been on record saying he’s not too fussed where he bats, whether it’s Nos. 1 or 3,” Paine said. “So his record’s great, if that’s the way we go Usman will go out and give his all and I think the way he’s handled the last month or so has been exemplary, so it’s a real credit to him.”I hope they [Smith and Warner] are welcomed back, everyone’s entitled to their opinion and will have a different view on it, but I think once they’ve done their time I’m certainly very hopeful the Australian public and the cricketing public in general will welcome those three guys back and give them a fair chance of coming back into the scene. Just to be treated like all other cricketers are.”Reflecting on the series so far, Paine said the emotional ups and downs of a narrow defeat in Adelaide, a strong victory in Perth and then a humbling reverse in Melbourne had made it challenging to manage the mental state of his young team. Even so, he looked ahead to a year in which the holes in the batting order would mean that by the time Smith and Warner came back, there would be a bevy of younger players steeled and hopefully not scarred by their experiences this summer.”The difficult thing after Perth was more the external stuff, for a younger group we had gone from a team that was no good to all of a sudden really good and then we were back down here so it is about trying to keep a bit of perspective, a reality, about where we are at,” Paine said. “I think we are showing signs of getting better, I think in the last Test while our batters didn’t set the world on fire most guys got a start and showed that they can succeed at this level, so this Test there is going to be a real focus from our batting group.”We know we are not going to win too many Test matches without scoring hundreds and that’s something that we have spoken about and something we are really keen to improve and address. As I said in the last few Tests, the silver lining is that in a few Tests time we have some world-class players available and we are going to have some younger guys with eight to ten Tests under their belt so, it is going to be a great thing for Australian cricket.”

Lalchand Rajput knows a thing or two about saving games in the subcontinent. His 20 first-class hundreds, and an average just a shade under 50, attest to his knowledge of these sorts of conditions from his playing days, and indeed, his very first Ranji Trophy ton was scored in the fourth innings of a match at the Wankhede Stadium in Mumbai.As Zimbabwe face a mammoth task of batting out the fifth day to save a Test match in Dhaka, their coach offered a blueprint for survival. First, Rajput turned to recent history for an example of what is required. In October, Australia were faced with a similarly daunting task in the first Test against Pakistan in Dubai before Usman Khawaja’s ton (and Nathan Lyon’s pluck) secured an unlikely draw.”Cricket is a game of uncertainties,” began Rajput’s rearguard disquisition. “You never know what will happen. It just takes one or two big partnerships. It’s happened. If you look at a game like Pakistan/Australia, they really saved a Test match. Khawaja batted the whole day. So we hope somebody stands up and bats a session, because it’s just a question of three sessions. If you can bat one session, then slowly we can [do it].”There’s a little more grip in the Shere Bangla surface than there was in Dubai, but Rajput’s advice to his batsmen was to put the wearing track out of their minds and play each ball on merit. “We don’t think about the pitch now,” he said. “You just have to go to a mindset that you play on the merit of the ball. The pitch is not in our control, it’s uncontrollable, so back your defence, back your instinct, play the ball on merit. If the ball pops up or something, it’s unfortunate, but at least you’re there to try and defend.”Led by Mushfiqur Rahim behind the stumps, a chorus of close-in fielders will constantly remind the visiting batsmen about the deteriorating strip tomorrow and here, Rajput explained, was where the mental aspect – concentration, and the ability to tune out fears and distractions – would be key.”Definitely any team will try and put pressure on the batsmen with close in fielders,” he said. “Some odd balls are jumping, it’s turning, and on the fifth day you can’t expect a true wicket. But that’s the skill level, that’s the mental aspect of the game. You’ve got to be really prepared for that. Whatever happens with that ball, you’ve just got to forget and keep on concentrating on the next ball. It takes a lot of character. If you show that character, only then you can survive in Test cricket. We all know that Test cricket tests the character of a player,and that will really test our character.”Certainly, he warned, they should avoid thinking about what’s at stake here: their first away series win in almost two decades. “I’ve got to be positive and make them feel that it’s just another game. Don’t give that notion that we’re going to win the series if we draw, no, because that adds additional pressure on them. It’s just another game, you’ve got to go and show your skill level and try to bat the day.”The main thing is cricket is played nine inches above the shoulders. This is very, very important. They have to be really calm. They have to be really tough and go through those critical moments. There will be a phase when the bowlers are on top, and you have to respect that and go through that grind that shows that toughness. At the end, you’ve got to back your game. You’ve got to be confident about your defence and your shot selection. You’ve got to keep it very simple, and not think too much. If you keep it simple, then you succeed.”Rajput advised that insurmountable problem can appear much more achievable if it’s broken up into lots of little challenges.”Have small sessions, one hour and then the lunch break,” he said. “And then concentrate for another hour. Small sessions will do a world of good for us. The first hour will be very key. If Brendan [Taylor] and Sean Williams can bat through that, then the pressure will be on the fielding side. And if we play the first session, then it becomes easier for the next two.”

Eleven New Zealand internationals including captain Kane Williamson, fast bowlers Tim Southee and Trent Boult and senior batsman Ross Taylor are available to play for their respective domestic sides in round one of Plunket Shield from October 10. A few of these players are available for round two too, but not all, with New Zealand’s full series against Pakistan in the UAE kicking off on October 31.Southee’s availability is subject to him clearing assessment of a knee niggle.Nine international players including Adam Milne, Colin de Grandhomme and Martin Guptill are available for the second round next week. Ish Sodhi, Neil Wagner, Jeet Raval, Matt Henry, Tom Latham and Henry Nicholls are the players available for both rounds of matches.These two rounds will end by October 20, before the teams switch to white-ball mode for domestic 50-over Ford Trophy. The four-dayers will then resume on December 6 for two rounds, with the last four rounds to be played in February and March 2019 following Super Smash, the domestic T20 tournament.Available for first round: Ross Taylor (Central Districts); Matt Henry, Tom Latham, Henry Nicholls (Canterbury); Trent Boult, Ish Sodhi, Neil Wagner, BJ Watling, Kane Williamson, Tim Southee (Northern Districts); Jeet Raval (Auckland)Available for second round: Adam Milne (Central Districts); Matt Henry, Tom Latham, Henry Nicholls (Canterbury); Colin de Grandhomme, Ish Sodhi, Neil Wagner (Northern Districts); Martin Guptill, Jeet Raval (Auckland)

Stokes’ co-defendant took the stand in Bristol on Friday as both sides concluded providing evidence in the affray trial with summing up now due on Monday

George Dobell10-Aug-2018

The co-defendant in the Ben Stokes trial has accepted video footage shows he struck a man with a bottle before he was punched by Stokes.Ryan Ali, who like Stokes is on trial for affray at Bristol Crown Court, accepted under cross-examination from Gordon Cole QC, acting on behalf of Stokes, that he could be seen “going towards” England cricketer Alex Hales with a bottle in the footage.Ali, who suffered a fractured left eye socket in the incident, also accepted the footage showed he struck another man, Kai Barry, with the bottle. Ali insisted, however, that he did so only to defend himself.”Do you remember, with a bottle in your hand, going towards Hales?” Cole asked.”I don’t recall that,” Ali replied.”But you agree the footage shows that?” Cole continued.”Yes,” replied Ali.”And do you accept the footage shows you striking Mr Barry with the bottle?””I do,” Ali said.Ali was also pressed on his claim that he attempted to place Stokes in a headlock after Ali’s friend, Ryan Hale, was apparently unconscious on the pavement. CCTV footage shown to the jury, Cole suggested, demonstrated that Ali could only have placed Stokes in a headlock after Hale had regained his feet, picked up a length of metal from a broken road sign and returned to the scene of the action.”Had you been struck by the time Mr Hale returns?” asked Cole.”Not on the footage,” replied Ali.Ali also accepted, under Cole’s cross-examination, that he could only have taken hold of Stokes when the England cricketer had turned away from him and not when he was coming towards him as previously suggested.”When you got hold of him from behind, did you put your arm around his neck and grab his left arm and pull it in against you?” Cole asked.”Yes,” replied Ali.”So he could not have been coming towards you, could he?” Cole continued.”No,” said Ali. “Because he had turned away.”Stokes accepts he threw “multiple punches” and connected with both Hale and Ali, but insists he did so only because he feared for the safety of himself and others and only after a bottle had been used in the fray. His defence team have also shown the jury CCTV footage of Hale running towards the group with the metal bar.With all sides having now provided their evidence in the case, Monday will see a summing up from the barristers involved. On Monday or Tuesday, then, the jury can be expected to retire to make their decision. The charge of affray carries a maximum prison sentence of three years and an unlimited fine.Hale, who saw the case against him dismissed on Thursday, watched proceedings on Friday from the public gallery.The trial continues.

Sir Alex Ferguson ensured United dethroned the Reds as the most successful side in England, but the Merseysiders have regained their former status

Sir Alex Ferguson was always good for a quote, and his most memorable declaration of all was when he reminded journalists of the scale of his achievement when leading Manchester United to overhaul Liverpool as the top force in English football.

It was September 2002 and United had made a worrying start to the season by losing successive games to Bolton Wanderers and Leeds United. Legendary defender Alan Hansen, who had hoisted so many titles with Liverpool during their dominant period in the 1980s, had suggested that Ferguson was facing the "biggest challenge" of his career.

After having the words put to him during a press conference, Ferguson instantly fired back: "My greatest challenge was knocking Liverpool right off their f*cking perch. And you can print that." The words sure were printed, first on newspapers and then on t-shirts, and they were repeated over and over again every time United beat Liverpool or claimed another title.

The iconic phrase resurfaced when Ferguson's United claimed their 19th title in 2011 and officially overtook Liverpool as the team with the most English league crowns, and again in April 2013 when they made it 20 in his final season in charge before retiring.

But ever since Ferguson stepped down, Liverpool have been on the rise again. They might not have dominated English football to the extent that United did during the Scot's era, but they have racked up considerably more trophies, including the Champions League and Premier League, taking their tallies to six and 19, respectively.

They are now dangerously close to equalling United's count of 20 league titles, meaning many Red Devils fans will be hoping that Arsenal or even Manchester City come out on top in this season's enthralling three-way title race.

Liverpool have made such progress that last month, new United minority owner Sir Jim Ratcliffe echoed Ferguson's unforgettable phrase when he said: "In the north west we have two neighbours who are really impressive football clubs. I want to knock them all off their perch."

As United prepare to face Liverpool in the FA Cup quarter-finals on Sunday, GOAL charts how the Merseysiders dusted themselves off after Ferguson's assault and climbed back on to their perch, pushing their arch rivals off it in the process.

• Getty
  

  1FSG ride to the rescue

  Having reached two Champions League finals in three years, Liverpool entered a period of huge instability after the takeover by US tycoons George Gillet and Tom Hicks, who reneged on promises to turbo-charge Rafa Benitez's squad with new signings and instead dragged the club to the brink of administration.

  Fenway Sports Group, led by Boston Red Sox owner John W Henry, rode to the rescue, purchasing the club for £300 million ($382m) in October 2010. And they oversaw a stunning transformation of Liverpool's fortunes, delivering the two most important trophies in club football within a decade.

  The Americans have made some mistakes, chiefly joining the doomed European Super League, but they have generally got their decisions spot on, above all with recruitment.

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  2Signing Suarez

  Luis Suarez might not have been to everyone's taste, but his win-at-all-costs mentality turned Liverpool from an aspiring side into a top team when he signed from Ajax for just £23m ($29m). He was the club's best striker since Fernando Torres, and his 31 goals in the 2013-14 season took the Reds to the brink of the title before Steven Gerrard's untimely slip against Chelsea handed the momentum back to Manchester City.

  Suarez got a frosty reception from Liverpool fans when he returned to Anfield with Barcelona and then Atletico Madrid, but he unquestionably dragged the club back in the right direction, as well as allowing them to pocket £75m ($95m), more than trebling their return on their investment.

• 3Getting Edwards on board

  Michael Edwards was an obscure figure when he joined Liverpool in 2011 as an analyst, but he would go on to shape Liverpool's glorious future like few others. Edwards worked his way up to become director of technical performance, then technical director, before being appointed Liverpool’s first-ever sporting director in 2016 and becoming one of the most influential figures during the club's most successful period in the 21st century.

  Edewards was the hidden genius who, in tandem with director of research Ian Graham, helped build one of the world’s greatest football teams. He pulled off major transfer coups including signing Roberto Firmino, Sadio Mane, Gini Wijnaldum, Mohamed Salah, Andy Robertson, Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain, Virgil van Dijk, Alisson Becker and Fabinho. He left Liverpool in 2022, but was so well-liked and admired that he has been brought back in an even bigger role, being named as the club's CEO of football.

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  4Buying and selling Coutinho

  Liverpool landing Philippe Coutinho for just £8.5m ($10.8m) and selling him to Barcelona for £142m ($181m) just might be the greatest piece of transfer business in football history. Coutinho added real quality to Brendan Rodgers' side, and in half a season scored three times and set up seven goals. He was even better the following campaign, helping Liverpool go agonisingly close to the title after forming a fine understanding with fellow South American Suarez.

  Coutinho outlasted Suarez and Rodgers and became a crucial part of Jurgen Klopp's initial team, contributing to 62 goals under the German and briefly forming a mouth-watering attack known as the 'Fab Four' alongside Salah, Mane and Firmino. But Liverpool reacted calmly when Barcelona came calling and invested their huge windfall in signing Van Dijk and Alisson, laying the foundations for their future Premier League and Champions League successes.

Crystal Palace are now planning to make a move for a "wonderkid", having tracked him for some time, according to a report.

What's the latest Crystal Palace transfer news?

Palace are now close to agreeing a new deal with Eberechi Eze, in what could be a real boost, as the Englishman has been attracting the attention of a number of the Premier League's top clubs, including reigning champions Manchester City.

Not only are the Eagles keen to tie down some of their top attacking players, having already extended Michael Olise's stay at Selhurst Park, but they could also target a new forward in the January transfer window, with Paris Saint Germain's Hugo Ekitike said to be of interest.

Football Insider report that Roy Hodgson's side are set to do battle for the 21-year-old with West Ham United, with both clubs of the belief that he could be one of the best options available on the market in mid-season. Ekitike is not the only youngster that Crystal Palace have their eye on, however, with The Sun reporting they are now looking to snap up 17-year-old Leeds United midfielder Archie Gray, having been put on red alert.

Everton are also credited with an interest in the Leeds ace, who the Eagles have now been tracking for some time, and the report suggests his current club would be willing to let him leave, should they miss out on promotion from the Championship this season.

Palace are now planning to swoop for the midfielder, as he is seen as a viable alternative to Blackburn Rovers' Adam Wharton, who may end up being too expensive, although it is unclear how much Leeds themselves would look to hold out for.

The report speculates that Gray could help fill the void left by Olise, should the attacking midfielder leave the club in the near future, with the likes of Man City and Chelsea still believed to be keen despite him putting pen to paper on a new deal.

How good is Archie Gray?

The fact that the starlet has already managed to break into the Leeds first team despite only being 17-years-old is a sure-fire sign he could be destined for great things, so it is exciting news that Palace are in the race for his signature.

The Englishman has featured in every one of Leeds' Championship games so far this season, and he has mainly been utilised as a defensive midfielder, although he has played in central and attacking roles less regularly, showcasing his versatility.

Football talent scout Jacek Kulig has lauded the young maestro as a "wonderkid", while also branding him "one of the most talented in world football", so it is clear that he has a lot of potential, and he could develop his game further at Selhurst Park.

The Eagles have developed a reputation for signing players from the Championship and helping them blossom, having signed Olise from Reading in 2021, while Eze joined from QPR back in 2020, and it will be exciting if Gray is the next youngster through the door.

West Ham United have been in fantastic form across the opening weeks of the 2023/24 Premier League season, using last term's triumph in the Europa Conference League as the framework for further success.

Only back in February, David Moyes was under artillery fire for his side's woes in the English top-flight, flattering to deceive and languishing near the bottom of the table, with a match against Nottingham Forest considered a must-win (and win they did, 4-0) for the Scottish manager to continue his reign.

Lifting that glinted continental trophy has provided the Irons with a third successive campaign in European competition and a return to the Europa League.

Given the impressive acquisitions – including Mohammed Kudus, James Ward-Prowse, Edson Alvarez and Konstantinos Mavropanos – Moyes and co do not believe United have yet reached their zenith, and despite the £105m sale of coveted midfielder Declan Rice, ten points from 12 to kick off the league journey bodes well.

Such additions are impressive, true, but United's core quality has remained despite Rice's departure, with none more awe-inspiring than Jarrod Bowen, who is the centrepiece of the forward drive.

How much did West Ham sign Jarrod Bowen for?

Prior to his move to east London, Bowen had been tearing it up with Hull City in the Championship, scoring 54 goals and supplying 14 assists from 153 outings and earning a £22m transfer in January 2020, on deadline day.

The four-cap England international has been instrumental to West Ham's rise over over the past several years, posting 43 goals and 32 assists from 162 appearances and earning praise for his "unreal" performances by Stephen Killen.

According to former Hull assistant manager Cliff Bryne, Bowen was a "very humble boy" who wanted "to be the best he could be" while plying his trade at the MKM Stadium, and after plundering 16 goals and seven assists across the first half of the 2019/20 Championship campaign, he earned his move to the London Stadium.

What is Jarrod Bowen's market value?

Bowen's high-rising trajectory since donning the West Ham shirt has been a by-product of his hard-working, diligent attitude, utilising his qualities to their full capacity by blending intelligence with natural ability.

As per CIES Football Observatory, the one-time Hereford City youngster is now worth up to €50m (£43m), almost two times the fee paid by the Hammers hierarchy for his services.

It was a complete coup for the side, and it's certainly no mere coincidence that the club's rise has run in tandem with Bowen's ascent to Premier League and European prominence.

The likes of Liverpool have even been credited with an interest in the 26-year-old's services this summer, with Football Transfers claiming that the winger had been earmarked as the potential successor to the imperious Mohamed Salah's position on the Reds' right flank, with Saudi Arabian side Al-Ittihad in pursuit of the 31-year-old with an offer as high as £200m this summer.

Some might be dubious over Bowen's ability to assume such a role, but after such a fine start to the present campaign in a continuation of his stunning exploits in east London, talkSPORT pundit Simon Jordan even waxed lyrical over the "unbelievable" star, claiming he has "joined the Salah club" after his sumptuous strike against Brighton & Hove Albion last month.

A true staple of Moyes' remarkable reign at West Ham, Bowen is endeared by those affiliated with the Premier League outfit. But just how has he earned such acclaim; the short answer, he's rather good.

How many goals has Jarrod Bowen scored for West Ham?

The more scrupulous version of events delves deep into the meteoric jump that has been taken.

When Moyes was appointed as West Ham's head coach for a second spell on the 30th of December 2019 – just one month before Bowen's introduction – the Irons were showing more than a little sign of rust.

Manuel Pellegrini was sacked after nine losses from 12 contests just days before in a fruitless Christmas period, and the Hammers were moored in 17th place in the top-flight, one point above the danger zone.

Moyes got to work and implemented his wide-spreading tactical set-up, utilising his wide players to envelop the centre-forward and heap pressure on the opposing backline.

This paid off, with an efficient, well-drilled system resulting in a late-season purple patch that guided the club to a 16th-placed finish – five points ahead of relegated Bournemouth – after just one defeat from the final seven matches of the season.

Bowen played a big role, turning his goal threat with the Tigers into steady supplementation, earning four assists and scoring the opening goal on his full debut in a crucial win over Southampton, taking the side out of the bottom three.

What ensued was remarkable, with successive top-seven finishes resulting in two campaigns under the European lights, the latter of which, in the Conference League last season, Bowen would net the winning goal in the final against Fiorentina to glean West Ham's first major silverware since winning the FA Cup in 1980.

A dynamic, multi-functional offensive threat, Bowen incredibly landed 31 direct goal contributions across the 2021/22 campaign as the club reached the Europa League semi-finals, before his pivotal trophy-winning role last term.

Heralded for his "electric" presence by journalist Rahman Osman, Bowen thrives on the right flank and uses his incisiveness and explosiveness to wreak havoc, unlocked to his full scale by Moyes' sagely stewardship.

The £60k-per-week ace is showing no sign of stuttering, and with three goals and an assist across the opening phase of the 2023/24 campaign, the Hammers could strike the nail on the head once again this term as the cogs combine.

He has adapted and matured over his career at the London Stadium, now refined and capable of unlocking defences from multiple angles – hitting double digits in both goals and assists across the 2021/22 league season.

That looks like it might happen once again this year, and with such a momentous seasonal introduction, buoyed by his key role in last term's silver-laden triumph, it's clear that West Ham have hit the jackpot and then some in signing this talented star, one of the most underrated players in European football.