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Bayern Munich boss Thomas Tuchel has given his team some time off to clear their heads after losing three games in a row.

Bayern suffer three straight defeats Now eight points behind Leverkusen Take on RB Leipzig next GettyWHAT HAPPENED?

Bayern are enduring a nightmare run of form which has hurt their hopes of winning silverware this season. However, after Sunday's shock defeat to Bochum, Tuchel has made a key decision and has opted to give his players some time off to spend with their families and clear their heads, according to Sky reporter Kerry Hau. The players are not due back to work until Wednesday when they will start preparations for a crunch clash against RB Leipzig on Saturday at Allianz Arena.

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Bayern have slipped eight points behind Bayer Leverkusen in the Bundesliga table after losing to Xabi Alonso's side and Bochum. Tuchel's men are also in trouble in the Champions League after slumping to a 1-0 loss to Lazio in the first leg of their last 16 tie. The results have led to scrutiny of Tuchel's position and speculation the club could look to replace him with Alonso. Kane has also come in for criticism for his recent performances for the Bavarian giants despite scoring 25 Bundesliga goals already this season.

(C)GettyImagesDID YOU KNOW?

Kane scored his 25th goal in his 22nd Bundesliga game – the fewest games any player has played in the competition to reach 25 goals.

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Tuchel will be hoping his players can clear their heads and get back on track next time out against Leipzig. The Bavarians surely can't afford to drop any more points if they are to pip Leverkusen to the title but face a tough test against Marco Rose's men.

Discarded Australian Test opener Matt Renshaw made a statement to the national selectors with a commanding 170 to put the Queensland Bulls in control on day one against Victoria at the MCG.Renshaw had endured a lean period after being dropped from the Test squad prior to the Ashes series but has found some form in the last two Shield matches.He struck 12 fours and four sixes in a fluent 218-ball innings that ended at the hands of Fawad Ahmed with more than 20 overs remaining in the day. Renshaw was well supported by Sam Heazlett during an 89-run stand. Heazlett cruised to an unbeaten 63 by the close with Jack Wildermuth racing to 42 not out.The Victoria bowlers toiled hard but only broke through four times on a surface that has yielded a lot of runs this summer.

The New Zealand fast bowler is also a station officer with the Greytown Fire Brigade

ESPNcricinfo staff26-Feb-2018

When we speak of cricketers putting out fires, it’s usually in the context of a batsman playing a rearguard innings. Not so in the case of the New Zealand fast bowler Seth Rance, who is a literal firefighter.On Monday, Rance, who is a station officer with the Greytown Fire Brigade, helped extinguish a blaze that threatened to engulf the White Swan Hotel, a pub in the rural town of Greytown in the Wairarapa region of New Zealand. Crews from across Wairarapa, with Rance among them, arrived on the scene after the pub’s roof caught fire.”The origin of the fire was in the southern end of the building,” Rance told reporters. “There’s a little bit of structural and water damage but it appears to have been caught in time. It’s fortunate we got the call nice and early.”Rance, who has played two ODIs and four T20Is since his international debut last year, isn’t the first New Zealand quick with a day job in the uniformed services – Shane Bond also had a parallel career as a policeman.

Everton's transfer window finally appears to be gaining steam, and manager Sean Dyche is now hoping to fortify his offensive ranks with a swoop for Juventus teenager Samuel Iling-Junior.

The Toffees have only signed Arnaut Danjuma on loan and Ashley Young on a free transfer, and while a £13m deal has been agreed for Sporting Lisbon striker Youssef Chermiti, more work will need to be done to avoid another perilous season battling against relegation from the Premier League.

What's the latest on Samuel Iling-Junior to Everton?

Italian outlet il BiancoNero revealed one week ago that Everton have displayed a concrete interest in Iling-Junior following El Bilal Toure's rejection of the Goodison Park side in favour of Atalanta.

Read the latest Everton transfer news HERE…

More recently, Tuttomercatoweb have claimed that Everton and Premier League rivals Aston Villa are in pursuit, though the OId Lady would only sanction a sale if their €25m (£21m) valuation is met, with the player penning a new long-term deal last December.

Who is Samuel Iling-Junior?

Everton's director of football Kevin Thelwell has his work cut out to ensure that the club finally construct a team capable of challenging for a place higher up the ladder in the English top-flight.

After years of issues, the maladies on Merseyside could be cured with the crafting of a team brimming with first-class talent; Chermiti, aged 19, certainly looks a future star, while Iling-Junior holds the tools to build a successful career.

A dynamic and explosive winger, Iling-Junior scored once and supplied two assists from 18 outings for Juventus last season, only starting on three occasions.

Once lauded for his "high energy and work volume as well as dreamy ball skills" by scout Antonio Mango, the 19-year-old already ranks among the top 5% of positional peers across Europe's top five leagues over the past year for goals, the top 1% for assists, the top 9% for shot-creating actions, the top 20% for progressive carries and the top 9% for successful take-ons per 90, as per FBref – though it's important to note that this is based off little match action.

Nevertheless, it illustrates his natural striking instinct and skill as a bouncing, energetic force on the flanks, with journalist Michele Neri already heralding the starlet as an "assist machine".

When discussing Iling-Junior's style, Neri also said:

“In these qualities, you can absolutely see shades of Rafael Leão when the AC Milan superstar was a bit younger. Of course he is certainly less impactful today than Leão is and has a long way to go to reach the Portuguese’s level."

The AC Milan phenom is definitely not a bad choice to mould one's game off, with the Portuguese talent, who has been dubbed a "phenomenon" by Italian sporting director Fabio Cordella, scoring 16 goals and providing 15 assists across all competitions.

The £105k-per-week gem ranks among the top 5% of attacking midfielders and wingers for goals, the top 11% for assists, the top 11% for progressive carries and the top 4% for successful take-ons per 90.

Given Leão's progressive prowess and electric presence, Iling-Junior could flourish with Everton – boasting a similar profile, he could devastate on the Toffees' flank and grow into one of Europe's leading stars.

Liverpool are going to 'bid again' for Southampton midfielder Romeo Lavia and are now the 'big favourites' to sign the Belgium international this summer, according to transfer guru Fabrizio Romano.

Which clubs are interested in Romeo Lavia?

According to Sky Sports chief reporter Kaveh Solhekol, Liverpool have had a £40 million bid rejected for Southampton midfielder Lavia and it is said that the South Coast side value the 19-year-old at £50 million.

The Daily Mail have claimed that Liverpool and Southampton held further talks on Thursday and the Reds are now set to launch a bid in the region of £45 million to try and entice Lavia to Anfield.

Jurgen Klopp is keen to see the Belgian talent arrive on Merseyside as he looks to replace former club captain Jordan Henderson, who has moved to Saudi Pro League side Al Ettifaq to team up with Steven Gerrard.

Chelsea are keen on providing a twist in the tale and are plotting a 'full-scale hijack' of Liverpool's endeavours to sign Lavia due to running into trouble in their pursuit of Brighton & Hove Albion enforcer Moises Caicedo, as per Football Insider.

Manchester City also hold a buyback clause for Lavia worth around £40 million that will activate in the summer of 2024 and receive 20% of any fee Southampton gain if the Brussels-born ace leaves St Mary's Stadium.

Last term, Lavia enjoyed a productive campaign despite Southampton suffering relegation to the Sky Bet Championship and featured 34 times in all competitions, registering one goal and a solitary assist, as per Transfermarkt.

Speaking to GIVEMESPORT, transfer guru Romano has detailed that Liverpool are still in pole position to bring Lavia to Anfield this summer.

Romano stated: "At the moment, the feeling is that Liverpool are the big favourites. They are going to bid again.

"They feel that the player is prepared to say 'yes', so I think they are confident. But now it's time to close the deal."

Who else could Liverpool boss Jurgen Klopp sign this summer?

According to Toro.it via Sport Witness, Liverpool and Crystal Palace remain 'vigilant' in the race to sign Torino defender Perr Schuurs this window.

Reds boss Klopp is an admirer of the former Ajax defender and would like him to play alongside Virgil Van Dijk in central defence; however, negotiations over a fee have stalled due to Torino's €40 million (£34.2 million) asking price.

One player that doesn't look likely to pitch up at Anfield this summer is Fiorentina midfielder Sofyan Amrabat, who has rejected an offer from Liverpool and instead agreed personal terms with Manchester United ahead of a proposed move to Old Trafford, as per Corriere della Sera via METRO.

Lecce defender Patrick Dorgu's agent Kingsley Ogbodo has revealed that Liverpool could offer his client a route to the Premier League in a recent interview with Sport Italia cited by The Daily Express, stating: “I've received this information and I know they have been watching him, they know who he is and are following him. Barcelona and [Manchester] City too, but as I've said in previous interviews, there's no way he's going away right now. "No, they haven't made any offers. But Liverpool are very likely to make one. I don't know if that will happen, but they are interested and they like the player.

In the next few weeks, we will better understand whether Klopp has any more ideas up his sleeve as the window nears its last full month of transfer activity.

Claire Polosak was a Goulburn teenager with a love of cricket when a schoolmate gave her a new idea for getting involved in the game. “A friend came to school with a flyer and she said ‘Dad says you like cricket, you should give this a go’,” Polosak said. “She thrust the flyer into my face and it was a course for umpiring. So I thought ‘oh I’ll give this a go’ and it grew from there.”From that abrupt introduction, her career did indeed grow, to the point that Polosak, 29, will on Sunday become the first woman to officiate as an on-field umpire in an Australian domestic men’s fixture – standing with Paul Wilson in the List A contest between New South Wales and a Cricket Australia XI at Hurstville Oval.In doing so, she will join the likes of Kathy Cross (New Zealand), Jacqueline Williams (West Indies) and Sue Redfern (England) as women to have umpired at the men’s first-class level. Polosak’s progress also follows significant progress for female officiators in other sports. In May, the South Australian Eleni Glouftsis became the first woman to stand as a field umpire in an AFL men’s match.”A little bit nervous, but if you don’t have a little bit of nerves, you don’t care,” Polosak said in Sydney. “So it’s all about getting all the butterflies going in the same direction. Planning on going out there and having my routines, get through the first ball and go through it from there. I love the challenge, watching balls, being out there, the camaraderie between umpires as you’ve come through is really good, it’s a family, the challenge of having to answer decisions is always good.”I never played cricket, but I always followed cricket, and my parents got me into it [umpiring], Dad used to drive me up from Goulburn to do the umpires course here. It took a few times to pass but it was something I was determined to do and I just kept working through the grades in Sydney competition.”I got a phone call from Simon Taufel [to say I would umpire on Sunday]. I followed Simon when I was a lot younger growing up, he was at his peak, so to have the phone call from him was quite special.”Having umpired men’s and women’s matches extensively, Polosak is in a unique position to compare and contrast. She has found that the women’s game can be more difficult to judge as the high standard of fielding often catches out runners between the wickets, while the greater speed of the ball in men’s matches means that nicks off the edge of the bat can be more easily heard. But either way, she is yet to meet an angry fast bowler or irritated captain she has not been able to “deal with”.Equally, Polosak has not yet joined other colleagues in wearing much in the way of protective equipment when standing. “Cricket Australia is very open to if you want to wear a helmet or protective equipment, they’re happy to provide that,” she said. “At the moment I’m fortunate that I haven’t been in that situation. But if you’ve got good positioning and watching the ball, hopefully that reduces your chance of any injury.”Asked whether her pathway had been anymore difficult than for a male equivalent, Polosak paused. “A bit hard to tell, as I’ve come through the grades, I’ve come through at the same speed that players have, so now in first grade in Sydney I’ve seen players I’ve worked with all the way through, so I’m not a novelty anymore,” she said. “The way the appointments work are based on merit, so I can never ask for anything extra.”I’ve probably had to work a little bit harder [than men] but it’s all part of the enjoyment, and being able to do well makes it even better.It just shows there is a pathway now, there are increased opportunities. Cricket Australia and Cricket NSW are really increasing the amount of support available for female umpires, and I think that’s showing in other sports as well.”In addition to her own umpiring, Polosak works in female engagement and umpire education at Cricket NSW, where she is intent on building the number of females coming through the ranks of the game’s arbiters. “We’re looking to improve the numbers,” she said. “There’s now an increased awareness of women’s sport and an increased pathway so it’s really exciting.”As for whether the road, that started with that flyer waved in her face, can lead to standing in a Test match, Polosak said she was not putting any limitations on what could be achieved. “There always is [a dream to umpire a Test match],” she said, “but if you ask players or referees from any sport, you just want to go to the highest possible opportunity that you can.”

Fulham are in a four-horse race to sign Senegal international and AC Milan left-back Fode Ballo-Toure this summer, according to reports.

Who are Fulham looking to sign this summer?

On the transfer front, things have been very quiet at Craven Cottage, with manager Marco Silva still yet to see a single major signing come through the door.

Following a successful 2022/2023 campaign back in the English top flight, Fulham will be eager to strengthen their ranks and bolster key areas, though that is yet to come to fruition thus far.

The Whites finished mid-table and briefly contended for European qualification last season, even finishing above west London rivals Chelsea. However, to maintain their solid performance level, Silva must freshen up the Fulham squad whilst adding desired quality.

Fulham have been linked with a few fresh faces over the last few weeks, perhaps most notably Man United midfielder Fred, Chelsea winger Callum Hudson-Odoi, USA internationalSergino Dest, Valencia midfielder Yunus Musah and Roma defender Roger Ibanez.

Silva's side have also placed high price tags on their most prized assets to ward off potential suitors, with reports suggesting that star midfielder Joao Palhinha could cost around £90 million to interested sides like Man United and West Ham (The Daily Mail).

In terms of incomings, while there have been few developments in the way of official bids or talks, Fulham do have their eyes on a fair few potentials – with a report from France linking them to African defender Ballo-Toure.

The 26-year-old, who featured briefly for Senegal at the 2022 World Cup in Qatar last year, faced off against England in the last 16 of the tournament.

According to Foot Mercato and journalist Sebastian Denis, Fulham are interested in signing Ballo-Toure, but they face stiff competition as a trio of clubs join the race for him.

Indeed, Bologna, Werder Bremen and league rivals Everton are now also in the mix to sign Ballo-Toure alongside Fulham – with a four-horse battle now on the cards.

Denis wrote:

"Fodé Ballo-Touré keeps a good rating on the transfer market,"

"According to our information, Bologna , Werder Bremen but also Everton are in the process of recovering the 2022 Italian champions, under contract until June 2025 with Milan."

How good is Fode Ballo-Toure?

Playing 10 Serie A matches last season, totaling around 518 minutes for the Rossoneri, Ballo-Toure could well be looking for a new side who can hand him more playing time (WhoScored).

The full-back may perhaps come as an alternative option to Antonee Robinson on the left-hand-side, and according to football philosopher Joost van der Leij, who applies the scientific principle "Bayesianism" to the beautiful game, Ballo-Toure could come as a solid option for Silva.

"Fodé Ballo-Touré is an above par LB with decent defending probability and okayish finishing probability and a bit of passing game probability," said van der Leij on Twitter.

"A modern LB, but I prefer a bit more defending probability myself, even though his finishing probability is really nice to have in a team. Replacement value for AC Milan = €7,560,655. So he is quite undervalued."

Nathan Buck took a career-best 6 for 34 for Northants as Durham’s season showed few signs of clearing under heavy Chester-le-Street skies

ECB Reporters Network02-Jun-2017
ScorecardNathan Buck returned career-best figures•Getty Images

Nathan Buck continued his excellent start with Northamptonshire by taking a career-best 6 for 34 as wickets tumbled in the Specsavers County Championship match at Chester-le-Street.Durham, still on minus 24 points at the foot of division two, were dismissed for 166 then had Northants rocking on 28 for 3 before Max Holden and Chesney Hughes steered them to 59 for 3 at the close.At 26, Buck is starting to fulfil his undoubted potential with his third county and is the joint second highest wicket-taker in division two with 27.It was inevitable that Northants would bowl when play began at 1.10 following rain. Heavy cloud persisted for most of the day, and the tinge of green in the pitch could hardly have been intended to suit a home attack shorn of five seamers.Paul Coughlin and Irishman Barry McCarthy opened the bowling for Durham with 22-year-old Scot Gavin Main in support, making his second championship appearance three years after the first.Northants’ four seamers maintained a probing accuracy on a day when no wickets fell in the first ten or the last six overs, with the 45 in between yielding 13, nine of them to edged catches. Northants had five slips at one stage.The going was always tough, but the Durham openers put on 30 before Stephen Cook’s disappointing form continued with an edge to second slip off Rory Kleinveldt.Then Buck struck with his seventh ball, which lifted and left Keaton Jennings for a catch behind.Buck bagged two of the three lbws and the only catch in front of the wicket completed his second successive five-for when extra bounce found the shoulder of McCarthy’s bat and the ball lobbed to mid-off.With 24 overs to bat, Northants lost Rob Newton in the thrid over, when Coughlin’s pace produced a flying edge to first slip.Alex Wakeley and Rob Keogh were both strangled down the leg side off McCarthy, although Keogh’s was more of an authentic glance, brilliantly pouched by the diving Stuart Poynter.Ex-Derbyshire man Hughes, given his chance by the absence of Ben Duckett and the concussed Richard Levi, looked as confident as any batsman in his unbeaten 16. Bad light ended play with eight overs still to bowl at 6.40.

Victoria have recalled legspinner Fawad Ahmed for the Sheffield Shield final against South Australia, which begins in Alice Springs on Sunday

ESPNcricinfo staff20-Mar-2017Victoria have recalled legspinner Fawad Ahmed for the Sheffield Shield final against South Australia, to be played in Alice Springs from Sunday. Ahmed has replaced fast bowler Jackson Coleman in Victoria’s 12-man squad for the decider as they aim to win the Shield title for the third consecutive summer.Ahmed has played only one match in this year’s Shield campaign, taking five wickets against Western Australia at the same ground earlier this month. However, the conditions at Traeger Park could favour slow bowling, in which case Ahmed could form a twin spin attack with Jon Holland, who is third on the wicket tally this summer with 42 Shield wickets at 21.11.The Victoria side will be captained by Cameron White in the continued absence of regular skipper Matthew Wade, who is with the Test squad in India.”It’s an amazing achievement to be involved in a third straight Sheffield Shield final, and it’s also a golden opportunity to make history as the first Victorian side to go back-to-back-to-back,” Victoria chairman of selectors Andrew Lynch said.”Everyone from the players to the coaches have worked incredibly hard to get to this point again, and we also can’t wait to take the final to Alice Springs for the first time. The squad we’ve named will thrive in the conditions at Traeger Park, and hopefully can bring home another title to Victoria.”Victoria squad Travis Dean, Marcus Harris, Rob Quiney, Aaron Finch, Cameron White (capt), Daniel Christian, Seb Gotch (wk), James Pattinson, Chris Tremain, Scott Boland, Jon Holland, Fawad Ahmed.

This will be the second Test series Mathews has missed over a six-month span, with multiple leg injuries also having prevented him from touring Zimbabwe in October and November.

Andrew Fidel Fernando25-Feb-2017Sri Lanka captain Angelo Mathews has been ruled out of the Test series against Bangladesh as the hamstring injury that has ailed him since January 22 continues to pose problems. Sri Lanka’s selectors are expected to name the Test squad on Tuesday, and with it, the replacement captain.This will be the second Test series Mathews has missed over a six-month span, with multiple leg injuries also having prevented him from touring Zimbabwe in October and November. He had played a substantial amount of cricket in the two years leading up to this period, representing Sri Lanka in all three formats, as well as leading the team in the 2015 World Cup, in last year’s World T20, and in Tests.Rangana Herath had filled in as captain during the Zimbabwe Test series, and it is possible he will be picked for the role again. However, regular vice-captain Dinesh Chandimal – who had also missed the Zimbabwe tour through injury – may also be considered for the captaincy in this series. Upul Tharanga, who led Sri Lanka in the recent ODIs against South Africa and the T20s in Australia, represents a third option. Neither Chandimal or Tharanga have previously led Sri Lanka in a Test.The first Test starts in Galle from March 7, before the action moves to the P Sara Oval, from March 15.A Sri Lanka Cricket release said Mathews was “likely” to be available for the ODI and T20 series that follow the Tests.