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Charlotte Edwards is a Southern Viper, Katherine Brunt a Yorkshire Diamond and Sarah Taylor will rumble for Lancashire Thunder. Not an ECB marketing gimmick but confirmation of the allocation of England players to teams in the inaugural Women’s Super League.The six teams have been assigned between three and four players from the England Performance Squad, with overseas signings to come further down the line. The T20 tournament is scheduled to take place in July and August and is aimed at increasing the standards and opportunities for the women’s game in England.

WSL England allocations

Lancashire Thunder Kate Cross, Sarah Taylor (capt), Danielle Wyatt
Loughborough Lightning Georgia Elwiss, Rebecca Grundy, Amy Jones, Beth Langston
Southern Vipers Charlotte Edwards (capt) Natasha Farrant, Lydia Greenway
Surrey Stars Tammy Beaumont, Laura Marsh, Natalie Sciver (capt)
Western Storm Heather Knight (capt), Anya Shrubsole, Fran Wilson
Yorkshire Diamonds Katherine Brunt, Jenny Gunn, Danielle Hazell, Lauren Winfield (capt)

Edwards, the England captain, has just returned from India were her side were knocked out in the semi-final of the Women’s World T20. She has long played for Kent and will lead the Southern Vipers – who are based at Hampshire’s Ageas Bowl – in the WSL.”With three or four England players, plus three overseas players, per squad the standard of the Kia Super League is going to be very high; exactly what’s needed to take our game forwards,” Edwards said. “I’m really excited and happy to be a Southern Viper. The Ageas Bowl is somewhere that I’ve always enjoyed playing and I have particularly fond memories of winning the Women’s Ashes there in 2013.”I’ve also done a lot of work in the area with the Hampshire Cricket Board and Chance to Shine, so it’s somewhere that I already feel really at home. I cannot wait to play there as a Viper this summer.”Among other key England players, Nat Sciver will continue her Surrey association with the Stars, and Heather Knight will captain the Western Storm – a partnership between Somerset, Gloucestershire and University of Exeter. Yorkshire Diamonds and Loughborough Lightning are the two teams with four England players.Jo Kirk, the WSL general manager, said: “The key considerations when initially approaching the player allocation process were to ensure an even balance of talent across the six teams, alongside factoring in the local allegiances of the players as much as possible.”Each of the teams will have a squad of 15 players, which will consist of a maximum of four centrally contracted England women’s players, three overseas players, and a maximum of three England Women’s Academy players. The remainder of players will come from the England Women’s Development Programme and a comprehensive county talent identification process.”By the end of this process, the ECB will have collaborated extensively with the six hosts to select 90 players from a talent pool of nearly 200 from this country and across the world. Players will receive a standardised match fee for each game that they compete in, plus expenses will be paid to all players throughout the preparation and competition phases.”The six WSL teams have been awarded hosting rights for a four-year period from 2016-2019 inclusive, with the competition set to expand from T20 only in its inaugural year to both T20 and 50-over cricket in future seasons.

Manchester United are thought to be plotting a new move for long-term target Denzel Dumfries, according to Football Insider.

The Lowdown: Transfer priorities

Erik ten Hag has enjoyed a solid first season at Old Trafford, already lifting silverware in the Carabao Cup last month.

However, he and Old Trafford chiefs already appear to have one eye on the summer transfer window, with a new striker and midfielder reportedly the club’s main priority.

Alongside those two positions, bringing in a new goalkeeper to rival David de Gea has also been rumoured, with Brentford’s David Raya a potential player of interest.

And now, it looks as if United could also look at signing Dumfries after first being linked with a move for the Inter Milan right-back last summer.

The Latest: Dumfries update

Football Insider reporter Pete O’Rourke shared a story in the last 48 hours regarding United and Dumfries. He said that Ten Hag is still a ‘huge fan’ of the player and that the Red Devils could go back in for the defender after considering a move in January.

The report adds that a bid of between £40-50million could be enough to prise Dumfries away from the Serie A giants due to their financial troubles.

The Verdict: One to watch?

Dumfries is 26 years of age and appears to be in his prime with a career-high €28m Transfermarkt valuation. He could bring a real attacking threat from right-back to Ten Hag’s side, as he has contributed to 56 goals from 229 appearances from that position compared to Aaron Wan-Bissaka’s 16 in 1823 games.

Wan-Bissaka’s future has also been up in the air this season but stayed beyond the winter window after impressing Ten Hag. However, should the club look at bringing in Dumfries once again over the coming months, the Englishman could be the one to make way, with former side Crystal Palace still interested in signing the United man.

Dumfries has been hailed as a ‘monster’ by freelance journalist Alan Rzepa and a ‘very exciting’ and ‘effective’ full-back by members of the Italian media, so could prove to be a shrewd addition at Old Trafford to rival first-choice full-back Diogo Dalot.

Therefore, this could well be a deal to keep an eye on over the coming months, and it looks as if it may prove to be a really busy year off the pitch in Manchester alongside a number of potential incoming, with a takeover still possibly on the cards in 2023.

Insider Dean Jones has claimed that Wolves winger Adama Traore will be definitely leaving the club at the end of the season.

What’s the latest on Adama Traore and Wolves?

The future of the Spaniard has been up for some debate now and with his contract set to expire this summer, it doesn’t sound as though there will be a renewal.

In January, the player spoke about his future, seemingly leaving the door open to either staying or leaving. Indeed, he told Sky Sports: “For me, right now, it is important to help the team grow and after we’ll see what will happen.”

And no doubt, he would have been keen to see what life is like under new manager Julen Lopetegui but it seems as though he things haven’t panned out well so far.

Speaking on Chasing Green Arrows, Jones said: “Adama will be done now, I think, at Wolves, to be honest. This is his last season there.

“He’s not really enjoyed – well, in recent times, not enjoyed much at all. I think there was a possibility that under the new manager, he might get a new lease of life.”It’s not looking likely, and from what I’m told, Traore’s going to be going at the end of the season.” Is it time for Traore to leave Wolves?

Traore has played regularly in the Premier League this season with 20 appearances but has failed to nail down a starting role, featuring in the first XI on just eight occasions.

He did start in the club’s most recent game but failed to do enough to help Wolves pick up any points as they lost 1-0 at home to fellow relegation rivals Bournemouth. Though, not for the want of trying, as he was named “Wolves’ best player” in the BirminghamLive player ratings but still couldn’t deliver a telling blow.

And in general, he has never been able to produce enough end-product despite his raw talent. For example, across his last three league campaigns he has scored a total of just four goals. And in his whole career, he has just nine goals for 180 top-flight outings in England.

And so, when we reach the summer, it certainly won’t be a shock to see Traore leave without extending his contract.

Atletico Madrid forward Alvaro Morata has hit out at haters after learning the extent of a knee injury that forced him off in tears against Sevilla.

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Morata hits back at hatersPicked up knee injury against SevillaOut of action for two weeksWHAT HAPPENED?

The Atletico Madrid star picked up a knee injury and left the pitch in tears, clearly fearing a long spell on the sidelines as his club went down 1-0 against Sevilla in La Liga on Sunday. A day later, Atletico released a statement confirming the extent of the problem as they revealed that he had suffered bone bruising and a ligament sprain in his right knee. As per , the Spain international is expected to remain out of action for just two weeks.

AdvertisementGetty ImagesWHAT MORATA SAID SAID

After learning about his recovery timeframe, Morata released a statement where he took a dig at those who had sent hateful messages after he picked up the knock.

Morate wrote: "Thanks God, my knee injury is not serious. Thanks a lot for the nice messages. I also hope that people who send so many hate messages can have just as much desire to be happy and work hard. I’ll be at my best again soon."

@GettyTHE BIGGER PICTURE

The 31-year-old attacker's injury comes as a blow for Los Colchoneros as he has been in fine form this season. He has scored 19 goals across all competitions in 33 games, as well as providing three assists.

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Getty ImagesWHAT NEXT FOR ATLETICO MADRID?

In the absence of the former Chelsea and Juventus star, Diego Simeone is likely to field Memphis Depay in the attack alongside Antoine Griezmann. The team will next be in action in La Liga against Las Palmas on Saturday.

The 34-year-old striker has been once again left out of the squad but could she force her way back in for the Olympics?

The moment an international squad hits an email inbox or social media timeline, there's a mad dash to see who has made the cut. The U.S. women's national team is no different. When Twila Kilgore's Gold Cup squad dropped on Wednesday, fans all over the U.S. raced to read who was involved.

Trinity Rodman and Sophia Smith were there, of course. So too was Rose Lavelle. Oh, Alyssa Naeher was back to fight for a goalkeeping spot and, would you look at that, a returning Mal Swanson's name was included as a training player as she pushes toward full fitness.

The squad, in truth, contained most of the usual suspects. But it's one missing name that remains a major talking point.

That name, of course, is Alex Morgan. The USWNT legend was once again left out of the squad, as she was in December, too. The forward positions were loaded with young talent. Players like Smith, Rodman, Jaedyn Shaw and Mia Fishel were all there, as were veterans like Midge Purce and Lynn Williams. There was no Morgan, though, and this time around it didn't quite feel like a surprise.

Just a few months away from the Olympics, the 34-year-old striker remains out in the cold. It isn't a one-time thing, a chance for Kilgore, and Emma Hayes, to assess different options ahead of this summer's tournament. No, right now, it feels like Morgan has a legitimate fight on her hands. It seems that she'll have to overcome the odds if she wants one last tournament run with the USWNT.

• Getty
  

  Morgan left out

  As of February 22, it will have been one full year since Morgan scored in a USWNT shirt. That goal came in a 2-1 win over Brazil in the SheBelieves Cup, and it's hard to truly explain how much the USWNT has changed in the 12 months since that finish.

  Vlatko Andonovski is gone after a disastrous World Cup that saw the U.S. attack, including Morgan, go totally dry. Emma Hayes, the Chelsea boss, has been brought in, although she won't make the move officially until May. In her stead, Twila Kilgore is running things, keeping the ship afloat by introducing a series of young, exciting players to a core of veterans eager to move past the last World Cup.

  Morgan, though, hasn't been one of those veterans in these last few camps. She was involved in September and October, as the U.S. won three of four games against South Africa and Colombia. Her name, though, was absent from the USWNT squad for the final friendlies of the year as the U.S. topped China twice without her.

  They say once is an accident, twice is a coincidence and three times is a pattern. This, though, doesn't feel like a coincidence, but rather a changing of the guard.

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  A changing of the guard

  Morgan's exclusion, to be fair, has little to do with her own performance. Despite her USWNT goal drought, she's been fantastic in the NWSL, scoring 27 goals over the last two seasons while evolving her game to become a more complete forward.

  Her absence, though, is largely due to the crop of rising stars coming up and staking their claim at the forward position.

  We'll start with Smith, who, at just 23, is already pushing toward an elite level. She has an NWSL MVP and a U.S. Soccer Female Player of the Year trophy already, and it feels like she's just getting started. Smith started out wide at the World Cup and never quite got going, which makes a potential move to striker, where she plays with the Portland Thorns, a decision that makes too much sense.

  Rodman, too, is pushing toward that world-class level. The Washington Spirit star heated up in a big way at the end of 2023, putting a disappointing World Cup behind her. Rodman's potential feels endless, and it seems like she'll be a locked-in starter for the USWNT for years to come.

  And then you have the newcomers, players like Fishel, Shaw and Alyssa Thompson, the latter of whom is out of the Gold Cup with a back injury. Fishel is developing at Chelsea under Hayes, a huge advantage. Shaw has seized her early USWNT chances, proving she belongs. And then Thompson, at just 19, already has World Cup minutes under her belt as she looks to make another big leap this season.

  Throw in the returning Swanson, too. Before her horrible injury last year, she looked destined to start at the World Cup. She's still not fully fit, but she's getting there. When Swanson is healthy, the U.S. have a hell of a forward on their hands.

  All of this leads to one conclusion: this is a talented, talented group. We didn't even get into the more senior players, names like Williams, Purce or Ashley Hatch. They all have legit Olympic dreams, too.

  Hayes, though, will have some huge decisions to make at the forward position heading into next summer.

• Olympic roster spots

  The USWNT's Gold Cup squad features 23 players, including three training players: Swanson, Savannah DeMelo and Gisele Thompson. Alyssa Thompson is out injured, as is Catarina Macario. Players like Becky Sauerbrunn, Sofia Huerta, Andi Sullivan and Ashley Sanchez will feel they're in the mix, too. And then, of course, there's Morgan, who will be looking for one last push to a major tournament.

  There's a big problem, though. Olympic squads feature just 18 players. Hayes, when the time comes, is going to have to make some very, very hard cuts. Those rosters, typically, feature two goalkeepers, which leaves just 16 outfield spots for Hayes to play with to construct her squad.

  Versatility will be key, as will flexibility and, the issue for Morgan at the moment is that there aren't too many ways to get her onto the field. She's a striker, a true No. 9. She can't step into a central midfield spot, even as pseudo-No. 10. She can't play on the wing, not that the U.S. would really want her to, given the young talent out there. Even if you wanted to bring her in as a veteran presence, can you afford to waste a precious roster spot on a player who would simply be there to provide experience?

  It makes the road difficult, very difficult. It's not impossible, though. The USWNT isn't counting anyone in or out just yet.

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  Kilgore responds

  It was one of the obvious questions once the roster release, and it was quickly asked of Kilgore: with Morgan left out once again, what does this mean for her USWNT career?

  Kilgore was quick to point out that Morgan has not been written off. The U.S. has not moved on from her, nor anyone else. The squad of the moment may not be the squad of the summer, which gives Morgan, and others in her situation, a bit of hope.

  "In terms of Alex, and I guess this goes for really everybody that's not here, everything that happens in the Gold Cup will matter in terms of the future and everything that is happening outside of the Gold Cup will matter in the future," Kilgore said. "We recognize that there are multiple players that aren't going to be in the environment that we are still looking at but are still very much so in the mix…

  "Of course with preseason underway, there are going to be opportunities for preseason matches for those that aren't in camp with us. If you're playing in Europe, there are opportunities there and then our league is starting pretty shortly here. We will be watching and we want to pick the best team and it's going to be very competitive."

  She added: "We have quite a few players that are not in camp that we're still looking at and evaluating in terms of leading up towards the Olympics. Nobody is out of the mix. That goes for some of our bigger names, that goes for lesser names that we've been tracking. We want to get it right, and everybody's still involved. This is more about that there can only be 23 people on the roster and as we head towards the Olympics, only 18. We just simply can't include everybody and this is the group that we feel is the right group for right now and who we need to look at in this tournament."

It's going to be a "crucial week" for Tottenham Hotspur and Bayern Munich as Harry Kane has informed them that his future must be sorted before a ball is kicked in the Premier League this weekend, per transfers expert Fabrizio Romano.

Is Harry Kane leaving Tottenham Hotspur this summer?

There are usually at least a few different transfer sagas that come to dominate the summer every year in football, whether that was the Gareth Bale to Real Madrid story in 2013, David de Gea's almost move to the same club in 2015 or even Declan Rice's switch to Arsenal earlier this year, Bayern's pursuit of Kane might be the biggest for quite some time.

The German behemoths have been incredibly persistent in their pursuit of the Englishman despite the constant signals from Spurs that their talismanic striker is not for sale for anything less than £100m.

So far, the Bundesliga champions have had three formal offers rebuffed by the North Londoners. The second was said to be worth just €80m (£69m), and the most recent one significantly more at €100m (£86m), however even that was deemed to be well below what Daniel Levy and Co are after.

Read the latest Tottenham Hotspur transfer news HERE…

However, where most clubs might've already given up on securing the signature of the superstar striker, the Bavarians look like they might push ahead with at least one more bid worth £95m to test the resolve of the Tottenham hierarchy, per Sky Sports.

That said, a decision will have to be made quickly as the player has informed both sides that his future must be decided before the club's Premier League campaign gets underway against Brentford on Sunday, per transfers expert Fabrizio Romano.

He explained the situation on his YouTube channel, saying:

"For Harry Kane crucial week in this case, this week because Harry Kane's camp communicated to both Tottenham and Bayern that they want the deal to be decided this week. Harry Kane's preference is not to leave after the first game in the Premier League this season; Tottenham play on Sunday, so the expectation is to get the deal done by Friday or Saturday; otherwise, the deal would collapse.

"That's the preference of Harry Kane communicated to both clubs, let's see what happens. Bayern had internal talks today to discuss again about the Harry Kane case, and some sources believe that they will bid again for Harry Kane, so that's the feeling internally at Bayern.

"We wait for a final confirmation but Wednesday is going to be an important day to understand whether Bayern will bid again for Kane or not. Some sources in the club believe that a new bid will be made to try one last time to sign Harry Kane, so it will depend on Bayern and on Daniel Levy absolutely, with the timing now being crucial because the player wants to make the move this week or potentially next summer, so that's the Kane position."

How old is Harry Kane?

Born July 28th 1993, in Walthamstow, England, Kane has just turned 30-years-old but has shown no signs of decline in his performances or output whatsoever, and if last year is anything to go by, he's just getting better and better.

In his 37 Premier League appearances across the 2021/22 campaign, the 6 foot 2 "monster" scored a respectable 17 goals and provided nine assists, giving him a goal contribution every 124 minutes, or once every 1.3 games, per WhoScored.

However, last season, in his 38 starts, the £200,000-a-week genius managed to score 30 goals whilst still providing two assists, meaning that he created a goal contribution every 106 minutes in the Premier League, or one every 1.18 games, also per WhoScored.

With numbers like that, it's not hard to see why the record German champions want to add the England captain to their ranks for the new season, as his presence would give them a much better chance to extend their domestic dominance onto the continental scene.

An update has emerged on Celtic and their plans to add further additions to the playing squad before the end of the summer transfer window…

What's the latest Celtic transfer news?

According to Sky Sports journalist Anthony Joseph, the Hoops remain keen on a deal to sign Dinamo Zagreb goalkeeper Dominik Livakovic as Brendan Rodgers looks to bolster his options between the sticks.

The reporter told the CeltsAreHere’s podcast that the Bhoys are "closely monitoring" the Croatia international's situation and that his proposed move to Fenerbahce could be on the "brink" of collapse, despite the Turkish giants having agreed a fee for his services.

Fabrizio Romano had claimed that the Super Lig side had reached an agreement on a €9m (£7.7m) deal to sign the shot-stopper but this latest update suggests that they may be unable to get the move over the line, which opens the door for the Scottish giants to swoop in.

How good is Dominik Livakovic?

The 28-year-old titan's performances for club and country last season suggest that he is an exceptional goalkeeper who would be a fantastic signing for Celtic.

Livakovic has the quality to be a big upgrade on Joe Hart between the sticks for the Bhoys and could form part of a new-look backline alongside Maik Nawrocki, who recently joined the club on a permanent deal from Polish side Legia Warsaw.

At the age of 22, the Poland U21 international is Celtic's youngest central defender and could be a colossus at the back for Rodgers for many more years to come, which could be alongside Livakovic – who has plenty of seasons left in the tank.

The Croatian cat is eight years younger than Hart, who is the current no.1 at Parkhead, and could, therefore, have the best part of a decade as the club's number one if he is a success and remains loyal to the Scottish Premiership champions.

Livakovic averaged a Sofascore rating of 6.93 across 35 HNL matches last season and saved 74% of the efforts on his goal. The impressive ace also averaged a rating of 7.33 over seven World Cup outings in Qatar last year, in which time he stopped 78% of the shots against him.

Hart, on the other hand, averaged a Sofascore rating of 6.77 over 37 Premiership games and only saved 65% of the shots on target from the opposition.

This suggests that the £7.7m-rated star has the quality to perform at a higher level than Hart on a consistent basis whilst being able to prevent more goals by saving a higher percentage of the strikes between his posts.

Livakovic, who was dubbed "different class" by former Hoops ace Frank McAvennie, could, therefore, form a rock-solid defence alongside Nawrocki.

The 22-year-old machine made 2.5 tackles and interceptions per game in the Polish top-flight last season, which is more than any Celtic centre-back managed last term.

This suggests that Nawrocki could be an upgrade on Rodgers' other options in that position in terms of the frequency at which he wins the ball back for his side, by reading the game to make an interception or using his strength and timing to make a crucial tackle.

Pair his ability to cut out opposition attacks with Livakovic's super shot-stopping quality and you have the bedrock of what could be a sturdy defence for the Northern Irish head coach this season.

The seamer’s maiden five-wicket haul sent Himachal Pradesh hurtling to 167 all out. Vidarbha, meanwhile, made Bengal follow on, while Goa gained a slender lead against Services

ESPNcricinfo staff11-Nov-2017

Seamer Shahnawaz Hussain’s career-best figures of 6 for 53 helped Chhattisgarh bowl out Himachal Pradesh for 167 and hand them a thrashing by an innings and 114 runs. Shahnawaz’s maiden five-wicket haul gave Chhatisgarh their first outright win of the season and with it seven points.After Chhattisgarh posted 456 in their first innings to secure a 281-run lead, Himachal Pradesh were bowled out in 49.5 overs in their second dig. Himachal Pradesh’s innings was devoid of any momentum right from the start, as they slipped to 9 for 2, 88 for 5 and 121 for 7 at various stages. Only Nikhil Gangta (41) and Paras Dogra (35) played reasonably substantial knocks, but Shahnawaz cleaned up the middle and lower order. Earlier in the morning, Chhattisgarh added 67 runs to their overnight 389 for 6. Rishi Dhawan, Pankaj Jaiswal and Sidharth Sharma claimed three wickets each.Vidarbha held the whip hand at the end of day three after bowling out Bengal for 207 in their first innings and making them follow on in Kalyani.Resuming their first innings on 89 for 3, Bengal didn’t lose a wicket until the 15th over of the day, but once captain Manoj Tiwary (50) and Wriddhiman Saha (0) fell in quick succession, things went downhill for them in no time. From 132 for 3, they slipped to 172 for 7, and they were eventually bowled out for 207, conceding a 292-run first-innings lead.Offspinner Akshay Wakhare picked up three wickets, while seamers Rajneesh Gurbani and Lalit Yadav finished with two apiece. Following on, Bengal were in early trouble as they slipped to 10 for 3. Lalit struck three times in the space of two overs to remove Abhishek Raman, Abhimanyu Easwaran and Koushik Ghosh. There was some damage control done, however, by Sudip Chatterjee (40*) and Tiwary (36*) who ensured Bengal didn’t suffer any more jolts, moving them to 86 for 3 by stumps. They still trail Vidarbha by 206.A last-wicket stand of 27 between Keenan Vaz (70, 167b, 7×4) and Heramb Parab helped Goa secure a slender seven-run lead against Services at the Palam ground. At stumps, Services were 108 for 3 in their second innings.In the morning, resuming their first innings at 150 for 6 in reply to Services’ 263, Goa looked like they would concede the first-innings advantage when they slipped to 193 for 8. It was thanks largely to Vaz and overnight batsman Amogh Desai (52) that Goa eventually edged past Services. Vaz added 50 for the ninth wicket with Felix Alemao before the seamer Sachidanand Pandey – who would finish with five wickets – dismissed the latter. Vaz and Parab eventually ensured Goa achieved the lead.

Liverpool feel confident that they can land Levi Colwill this summer, according to 90Min, and are even readying a bid to snap up the defender from big six rivals Chelsea.

How many games has Levi Colwill played for Chelsea?

The current Chelsea man has really shone in the Premier League when he's got onto the field – which is even more impressive when you consider that he's actually yet to make his debut for the Blues in the top flight. The club have still not given him a minute of action in the top tier, instead opting to send him out on various loans to get action under his belt.

He started with a loan spell at Huddersfield in the Championship and featured prominently as they broke into the play-off places. With 29 second tier games at just 18-years-old, he didn't look out of place in that Terriers backline and they even ended the campaign in third place.

Having proven his worth in the second tier, it was Brighton who next got to add the centre-back on a short-term deal. The Seagulls brought him in at the beginning of the 2022/23 season and the young Englishman continued to stand out. Playing 17 times in the Premier League, the teenager, now 20, bagged two assists and actually managed more progressive carries than the likes of Danny Welbeck and Evan Ferguson despite being a defender, showing the signs of a truly unique ball-playing talent at the back.

Are Liverpool signing Levi Colwill?

These performances have led to interest in signing him up from Chelsea permanently this summer. Most notably, Liverpool have been really keen to bring in Colwill and have made him one of the players on their wanted list. Their eagerness to sign the 20-year-old has even been confirmed by Fabrizio Romano, who stated that the links are "genuine" and "100% confirmed".

Now, according to a report from 90Min, the Reds are ready to launch an actual formal move to sign the centre-back. It states that they feel a deal can be struck with his current side Chelsea in order to bring him to Anfield and are ready to now make a bid in order to try and snap up the youngster. The Blues are holding firm and don't want to sell, but Liverpool do still intend to make a bid and are "confident" of getting a deal done for the Englishman.

Despite being just 20-years-old, the Chelsea man is highly regarded in the game. Football talent scout Jacek Kulig stated that Colwill is "one of the most talented" players in his position in the world – which is huge praise for someone considering all the other options in that centre-back area. He also added that the youngster has a "huge future".

Those who have seen him play then have clearly been impressed with what they have seen. It's no wonder Liverpool are eager to wrap up a deal for the Premier League ace – and if they can land him, then they have a player who could arguably lead the back line for years to come once Virgil van Dijk goes past his peak.

Emmanuel Petit has raved over the signing of Declan Rice from West Ham United, calling him a "bargain" Arsenal addition this summer.

Who are Arsenal signing?

The north Londoners, after reaching an agreement to sign Kai Havertz from Chelsea for £65 million, have now also put pen to paper on the signing of Rice after weeks of talks.

Arsenal and West Ham agreed a total £105 million fee for 24-year-old some time ago, according to reports, but negotiations over payment structure were ongoing for a while after that.

Agreeing to pay an initial £100 million, plus £5 million in add-ons, Mikel Arteta's side eventually compromised on terms of the deal and will give West Ham the £100m over a 24-month period.

Reported to be Arteta's top summer target, Rice's arrival at Arsenal marks a very significant coup, with the player having his medical yesterday.

Ajax defender Jurrien Timber, who also underwent his medical tests on Friday, will follow Rice through the door in what has been a very busy last few days for the club.

Speaking to SportsJoe, Petit has praised Arsenal for the signing of Rice, calling the move a "bargain" despite it being a record for any British player.

The £105 million paid for Rice means he will eclipse both Jack Grealish and Jude Bellingham as the most expensive English player in history, yet according to Petit, he's worth every penny.

"A bargain," said the France legend on Rice.

"The way Declan wants to play, and the way Arteta wants his team to play, I think they will fit perfectly together".

The England international performed incredibly for West Ham under David Moyes last season, making more interceptions per 90 than any player in their squad whilst standing out as their best-perfomer per 90 (WhoScored).

What's been said about Declan Rice?

Due to his imperious form at the London Stadium, former Irons and England defender Matthew Upson is a huge fan, calling Rice a "quality" midfielder.

Upson also suggests that he is playing beyond his years, and having worked with Rice personally, believes the sky is the limit for Arsenal's new midfielder.

"I really enjoyed working with him," Upson told BBC Sport.

"He was so receptive. He had the ability to take criticism or feedback. It didn't deter him. He took it all in such a positive way and had the intelligence to absorb the information and add it to his game, which is a real skill.

"Declan was already at a super high level when I worked with him in terms of what he was capable of. You could see the ability he had in his character to be at the top of the game. That is him. Nobody has added that or given it to him. That is just Declan. That is his star quality."