Liverpool have been linked with a thriving midfielder at a fellow Premier League outfit, as Jurgen Klopp pushes for more improvements to the Anfield side this month.

There have been a raft of changes on Merseyside this year, with James Milner, Naby Keita and Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain leaving in June upon the expiry of their contracts, and Jordan Henderson and Fabinho departing to Saudi Arabian sides for a combined £52m.

Alexis Mac Allister, Dominik Szoboszlai and Wataru Endo have all been signed as part of the midfield rebuild, but the club still needs to make another acquisition to combat the exodus and return to the forefront of domestic and continental football.

What's the latest on Boubacar Kamara to Liverpool?

According to Spanish sources, the Reds have identified Aston Villa midfielder Boubacar Kamara to conclude their transfer business this month.

Read the latest Liverpool transfer news HERE…

While no fee has been mooted, the Frenchman is currently valued at £35m by FootballTransfers, though it would almost certainly cost in excess of this figure to prise him away from the Villans' clutches.

How good is Boubacar Kamara?

While Kamara only moved to the West Midlands side last year, joining on a free transfer after his deal with French side Marseille expired, and played 24 times in the Premier League last term, hampered by injury and missing chunks of the campaign.

While Villa would loathe to part with the industrious midfielder after securing European football with a seventh-placed finish in the English top-flight last year, it would be interesting if Liverpool were to test the resolve of Unai Emery's side with an enticing offer.

The Merseyside outfit still need to add a sturdy layer of depth to their centre despite the incomings this summer, and Kamara could prove to be the perfect holding midfielder to bolster the ranks, having completed 85% of his passes, made 2.4 tackles and won 55% of his ground duels last term, as per Sofascore.

Hailed as a "controller" by talent scout Jacek Kulig, the £150k-per-week gem ranks among the top 22% of midfielders across Europe's top five leagues over the past year for tackles and the top 18% for blocks per 90, as per FBref, accentuating his grip on games and robustness in the defensive phases.

Given his faculty to exert control, the 23-year-old could prove to be the perfect midfield partner for Szoboszlai, who has impressed in the early stages of his Anfield career after joining from RB Leipzig for £60m in July, with teammate Harvey Elliott already remarking at how he has "showcased his quality".

The Hungarian dynamo is a creative midfielder with a multitude of weapons at his disposal, capable of supplementing the attack and fiercely striking on goal himself, while also being energetic and relentless in his general application.

To showcase this, he ranks among the top 17% of midfielders for assists, the top 10% for shot-creating actions, the top 18% for progressive passes, the top 5% for blocks and the top 14% for clearances per 90.

The all-encompassing approach is exactly what Liverpool needed this summer to spark life back into their centre, but with Kamara alongside him, providing his consistency in the tackle and holding the team together, he could be allowed to display his abilities to their full extent.

Arsenal may have recruited well this summer, but there remains one disappointment for Mikel Arteta which he will seek to rectify before deadline day concludes…

Who could Arsenal sign this summer?

The Gunners were decisive with their business throughout the window, welcoming Kai Havertz, Declan Rice and Jurrien Timber in quick succession before adding David Raya later on.

However, it is one of these signings that is actually now posing the biggest headache for the Spanish manager, with the former Ajax star having been struck down with injury in what was his very first Premier League start.

Reports have since confirmed that their worst fears have been realised, with a seven-month lay-off as the 22-year-old recovers from ACL surgery.

The tough proposition is now deciding whether they wait, potentially sacrificing their title push in favour of saving money, or instead signing another player who could be unnecessary in the long-term by returning into the market.

Read the latest Arsenal transfer news HERE…

Now, recent reports from Denmark seem to suggest that the 41-year-old has taken the latter route, with their interest in SL Benfica youngster Alexander Bah detailed.

It is expected that the Portuguese club will try and command €30m (£26m) for his services.

How good is Alexander Bah?

The only positive surrounding the miserable injury that has spurred this potential move is that Arteta could now add to his wealth of young talent set to star in the present and the future.

After all, the 25-year-old has shone across various different clubs now, having amassed 257 career appearances, surprisingly scoring 25 and assisting 47 from full-back, via Transfermarkt.

He clearly boasts a dynamic attacking impetus despite being a right-back by trade, and that desperation to contribute to the attack could see him become a hugely important figure this season, on the opposite flank to Oleksandr Zinchenko.

The Denmark international actually boasts plenty of similarities with the 26-year-old former Manchester City star, as a creative defender often more impactful when pushed further forward rather than left to defend.

This is due to his inversion from left-back into midfield, allowing him to flex his offensive know-how alongside his work rate and tenacity.

These are traits also seen in Bah, who when compared against other full-backs across European divisions similar to the Portuguese top flight, stands out.

He ranks in the top 11% for shot-creating actions per 90, the top 5% for pass attempted per 90, the top 8% for progressive passes per 90 and even the top 12% for tackles per 90, via FBref.

Given how unknown a commodity he remains, the words of scout Ron Dor still ring true:

"Alexander Bah? One of the most undervalued RB profiles in the game."

To compare those figures with Zinchenko's, it becomes clear just how impactful the former Slavia Prague star could instantly be.

After all, when the Ukraine international is instead compared against full-backs across Europe's top-five leagues, he sits in the top 15% for total shots per 90, the top 2% for passes attempted, and the top 1% for progressive passes per 90, via FBref.

He retains that immense creativity, but arguably lacks the solidity that could help Bah shine. It seems he is readymade for Arteta's system, and could more than make up for Timber's absence should he take to English football with ease.

India needed 34 off 12. Dinesh Karthik almost single-handedly achieved that target with a stunning 29* off eight balls

The Report by Andrew Fidel Fernando18-Mar-2018
Scorecard and ball-by-ball detailsAssociated Press

When Dinesh Karthik came to the crease, India required 34 off 12 balls. Mustafizur Rahman had just delivered perhaps the over of the tournament. A profoundly deflated Vijay Shankar was batting at the other end. What unravelled was a scarcely believable finish that saw Bangladesh fritter away their chance at the title, and Karthik – phenomenally cool at the crease – seized ruthlessly on their string of mistakes.He punished Rubel Hossain in the penultimate over, as the bowler continually missed his yorkers. The first ball, a full toss, disappeared over Rubel’s head. Later in the over, overpitched balls would be smashed over cow corner and blasted past square leg. Twenty-two runs were hit off that over, but Karthik’s best moment came at the end of the next. India now needing five off the last ball, he drilled a wide half volley from Soumya Sarkar over the extra cover rope. An India-supporting Khettarama crowd, a phenomenon without precedence in the 21st century, was tipped into euphoria. His own team-mates flew out of the dressing room to greet him, engulfing him in a frenzied huddle.Bangladesh, who had already triumphed in two thrillers, doing so much to prove they had rid themselves of the many hang-ups their 2016 World T20 defeat to India had spawned, were almost inconsolably distraught at the end of this match, now having collected a second haunting loss at the same opponent’s hands. They had bowled so beautifully in defense of their 166 for 8 – a total that seemed perhaps 15 runs light. They had bowled four consecutive boundary-less overs in the middle, conceding only 16 during that spell, and consequently raising India’s required rate from 7.81 at the end of the ninth over to 10 at the close of the 13th. Rohit Sharma, who had helped set up the pursuit with 56 off 42, was dismissed soon after, and both Manish Pandey nor Shankar were chased into a corner by a proliferation of Bangladesh dot balls.But all through this tournament, India have found special performers even from among this second string of players. After Mustafizur had bowled a wicket maiden in his final over the tournament, Karthik was India’s human adrenaline shot, reviving an innings that had seemed doomed to a quiet death. His only stroke of fortune was that he had Sarkar to face in the last over, a result of Bangladesh’s refusal to give Mehidy Hasan a second over after his first had been hit for 17 in the Powerplay.Associated Press

Elsewhere in the game – though so much will be forgotten in that scintillating last-ball finish – there was a 77 off 50 balls from Sabbir Rahman that held the Bangladesh innings together, and outstanding spells from Yuzvendra Chahal and Washington Sundar, the former claiming 3 for 18, the latter 1 for 20.In fact, the two India spinners had combined to deck the opposition top order as early as the fourth over of the game. The openers had been watchful in Sundar’s first over, but the moment one attacked him a wicket resulted – Liton Das caught at square leg after having attempted a slog sweep. Next over, Chahal’s first, provided two more wickets. Tamim Iqbal advanced, but although he sent the ball high into the Colombo night, he could not clear the field – Shardul Thakur plucking the ball above his head at long-on and expertly keeping his balance to avoid contact with the boundary. Four balls later, Sarkar swept Chahal straight to square leg, and Bangladesh were 33 for 3.Sabbir was involved in rebuilding work with the seniors, putting on 35 in Mushifqur Rahim’s company, then 36 in Mahmudullah’s. Bangladesh would probably have got themselves to a better score had Sabbir not run Mahmudullah out in the 15th over – Mahmudullah marooned at the striker’s end after Sabbir had sprinted to the keeper without taking note of his partner’s reluctance. Sabbir then took it upon himself to club a few more leg-side boundaries, before being dismissed himself. Mehidy Hasan provided a final fillip, scoring 18 off the last over, bowled by Thakur.India appeared to have the measure of this chase early, as after only 13 balls they had already struck 30. But then Shikhar Dhawan and Suresh Raina fell in successive overs, and the innings slowed down. Rohit, who had made 39 in the Powerplay, scored only 13 runs in the six subsequent overs, When he holed out to Nazmul Islam – the original keeper of the dance – Pandey and Shankar were brought together. It was their dithering partnership, which was worth only 35 off 28 balls, that left India requiring the kind of furious finish that Karthik provided.

Sunil Narine has once again been reported for a suspect bowling action, this time during the Pakistan Super League game between Lahore Qalandars and Quetta Gladiators on March 14. This means he has been placed on the PSL’s watch list, but can continue to play the tournament unless reported again. The PCB will pass on the match officials’ report on Narine’s action to Cricket West Indies (CWI).”Mr Narine has now been placed on the warning list and may continue to be selected to play and bowl for his team in the PSL,” the PCB said in a statement. “As the PSL follows the ICC regulations on illegal bowling actions, if a player is reported [again] while on the warning list, the player shall be suspended from bowling for the remainder of the PSL tournament.”The match officials report on Mr Narine’s bowling action will be sent to the West Indies Cricket Board and he will have to go through the process that is followed by the West Indies Cricket Board, for suspected illegal bowling actions.”A history of Sunil Narine’s action•ESPNcricinfo Ltd

The West Indies offspinner has had his action reported several times in the past. During the Champions League T20 in 2014, he was reported twice in two matches and missed the final. He pulled out of West Indies’ World Cup 2015 squad to give himself time to work on his bowling action following that, returned during the IPL, and was reported once again during that tournament. After testing, his offbreaks were banned, but later in the tournament he was given a “final warning” by the BCCI and struck off the watch list.He returned to international duty in November 2015, only to be reported once again during his first series back – limited-overs games against Sri Lanka. He was suspended from bowling – even while the No. 1 bowler in the ICC rankings for ODIs and T20Is – at the end of November, and missed the 2016 World T20 as well to work on his action. He was cleared to bowl again ahead of IPL 2016.Narine was one of only two players retained by his IPL franchise Kolkata Knight Riders ahead of this season, which begins on April 7, and questions remain over whether this will affect his participation in the tournament. It is unlikely to affect it, unless he is called for a second time in the PSL, or CWI runs tests that find his action to be illegal.

West Bromwich Albion are reportedly looking to bring in two new players before tomorrow evening’s deadline.

What’s the latest West Brom transfer news?

The Baggies and Carlos Corebran have enjoyed a solid start to the new Championship season on the pitch, picking up seven points from a possible 12. However, off the pitch, it has been a struggle for those at The Hawthorns to bolster the squad, with just two new players arriving so far.

Brighton & Hove Albion attacking midfielder Jeremy Sarmiento arrived at the club on loan, whereas centre-forward Josh Maja signed on a free transfer after leaving Bordeaux.

Speaking after the win over Middlesbrough on Saturday, though, Corberan addressed the need for late arrivals, saying:

"I think our future in the competition depends a lot on this week.

"I like to have a strong team in attack and strong team in defence. The fact we scored goals today doesn't mean anything. We still need one attacking player for me, to strengthen the squad. Also we need someone who can play as a wing back or full back to cover the options for the team at the back."

A fresh update has been shared by The Express and Star, and it looks as if the club are trying to give Corberan exactly what he wants. The report, relayed by West Brom News, stated that the Baggies have rejected offers from Stoke City for striker Brandon Thomas-Asante, whereas Grady Diangana is attracting interest from Burnley, Leicester and Leeds.

Should any player leave, it is claimed that they will be replaced, but even if the club don’t sell, they are looking at signing an “attacking midfielder or versatile option able to cover a couple of attacking roles”. Another area is at right-back, with USA international and free agent Reggie Cannon named as a potential target.

Who could West Brom sign?

It appears as if it could be a key couple of days at The Hawthorns, especially following Corberan’s comments on the weekend, so it’ll be interesting to see if the club can give him his wish before the window slams shut.

One player who has recently been linked with a move to the Championship is Newcastle United’s Jeff Hendrick. It has been reported that West Brom, Leeds and Sheffield Wednesday have all registered their interest over a possible transfer after falling out of favour at St James’ Park.

The 31-year-old is primarily a central midfielder who can turn out in an attacking or right midfield role when required. He spent last season out on loan with Reading where he was praised by former manager Paul Ince, who said:

“He trains like a demon every day. He is very professional and I like professional players and he is one you can trust. The thing about football ultimately is that you’ve got to have 11 players you can trust. Sometimes you don’t pick the players with the most talent but ones you can trust week in, week out and Jeff is one of those."

Therefore, a move for the Irishman and defender Cannon could be ones to keep an eye on before tomorrow evening.

The ICC has set October 1-3 for the hearing on the PCB’s dispute with the BCCI, and the decision of the panel will be final

ESPNcricinfo staff11-Apr-2018The BCCI and the PCB’s dispute over two unplayed bilateral series moved a step forward after the ICC constituted a three-person dispute panel four months after Pakistan decided to take the legal route in pursuit of its resolution. The hearings will take place in Dubai from October 1-3 and the decision of the panel will be final.”The International Cricket Council today confirmed that the Hon Michael Beloff QC will chair the Dispute Panel in the matter of proceedings between the Pakistan Cricket Board and the Board of Control for Cricket in India,” the ICC said in a statement. “The other two members of the panel, which has been established under the Terms of Reference of the ICC Disputes Resolution Committee, are Mr Jan Paulsson and Hon Dr Annabelle Bennett AO, SC. The hearing will take place in Dubai from 1-3 October and, as per Article 10.4 of the Terms of Reference of the ICC Disputes Resolution Committee, the decision of the Dispute Panel shall be non-appealable and shall remain the full and final decision in relation to the matter and binding on all parties.”The PCB claims up to $70million worth lost revenue from failure of the BCCI to play two series – in November 2014 and December 2015 – which were agreed by the boards in April 2014. Both series were officially slotted into the ICC’s Future Tour Programme (FTP) with Pakistan as host. However, amid a deteriorating political situation, the BCCI refused to honour that agreement.The PCB, saying they had no option left, sent a notice of dispute to the ICC. Under the watch of the ICC, both boards met on a number of occasions to try and reach a resolution in good faith, to no avail.In a final motion, a three-person dispute panel headed by Beloff with Paulsson (Pakistan representation) and Bennett (Indian representation) will have a three-day hearing at the ICC headquarters in Dubai. Beloff, incidentally, was head of the ICC tribunal which banned Salman Butt, Mohammad Amir and Mohammad Asif for spot-fixing in 2011. The proceedings are likely to be conducted in private.”Unless the parties agree to settle their dispute in the meantime, the Dispute Panel shall decide the outcome of the case following deliberation in private,” read the terms of reference. “They shall endeavour to reach a unanimous decision, but a majority decision shall suffice. No member of the Dispute Panel may abstain from voting on the outcome of any dispute, but any member may record a dissenting opinion which may be attached to the majority decision with the permission of the Chairperson of the Dispute Panel. “The bone of contention is the original agreement between the two sides in 2014, which is expected to be a central pillar in the PCB’s arguments. It had agreed on both sides playing six series between December 2015 and November-December 2022, and also an effort to play a short limited-overs series in Pakistan (or a neutral venue) in November 2014. But amid tense relations between the two governments, any chance of a resumption in bilateral ties had always looked distant. And that has been the BCCI’s core claim all along – that it does not have government permission to play Pakistan.India and Pakistan have not played a full series since the 2008 terror attacks in Mumbai, which India blamed on militants based in Pakistan. Pakistan visited India for a short limited-overs series in December 2012, but that did not do enough to thaw the frosty relationship.

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.

Rasmus Hojlund continued his recent hot streak in front of goal after a "long conversation" with Manchester United legend Robin van Persie.

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• Hojlund has scored in five consecutive league games
• Spoke to Robin van Persie
• Club legend returned to Carrington last week

• Getty
  

  WHAT HAPPENED?

  The Danish striker had a tough start to his journey with Manchester United as he failed to score in his first 14 Premier League appearances. However, he has been on a roll since last month, having scored in five successive games. According to , Hojlund's resurgence is partly due to him spending time with United legend Van Persie.

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  THE BIGGER PICTURE

  The former Netherlands international returned to Carrington last week to take a course at United as a part of his UEFA Pro License procedure. The Athletic state that Van Persie shared a "long conversation" with Hojlund during a break from training, and may well have passed on some wisdom that helped the Dane keep up his recent streak with a neat finish against Aston Villa on Sunday.

• DID YOU KNOW?

  While the 21-year-old initially struggled to find form in the league, he did score consistently in the Champions League. Despite the Red Devils crashing out of the group stage, Hojlund managed to score five times in six matches.

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  WHAT NEXT FOR RASMUS HOJLUND?

  The former Atalanta forward will be next seen in action on Sunday as Erik ten Hag's side – who are looking to extend their unbeaten run to seven matches across all competitions – will face Luton Town away from home in the Premier League.

Liverpool star Mohamed Salah has been linked with a move to Al-Ittihad before the Saudi transfer window closes – and a potentially concerning update has recently emerged.

Could Mohamed Salah join Al-Ittihad?

The future of the 31-year-old has been a massive talking point in recent days, with a move to Saudi Arabia still possible due to their summer window not closing until next week.

He has been wanted by Al-Ittihad for some time, as they eye up an audacious move for one of world football's most recognisable faces.

The likes of Roberto Firmino, Fabinho and Jordan Henderson have already headed to the Saudi Pro League this summer, joining a host of other renowned names, as the league goes from strength to strength.

The level of Al-Ittihad's interest in Salah is highlighted by the fact that they have already seen a £150m offer for him rebuffed by Liverpool, but they are unlikely to go away quietly, whether that be in the next few days or when January arrives.

Will Al-Ittihad bid £200m for Mohamed Salah?

According to a fresh update from Football Insider, Al-Ittihad could now bid a world-record-equalling £200m for Salah's services, as they still look to get a deal over the line in the coming days:

"Liverpool are expecting Al-Ittihad to return with an improved Mohamed Salah offer worth £200million, sources have told Football Insider. The Saudi club had an initial bid of £100million – rising to £150million – turned down late on Thursday night (31 August).

"Al-Ittihad could now submit a new bid of an initial £150million that would be topped up with add-ons to make an astonishing £200million package in total, which would be a world-record transfer fee."

There is no doubt that this will be a worry for Liverpool supporters, with Al-Ittihad's interest in Salah clearly genuine, as they look to make a major signing of intent during the current transfer window.

It is a tough situation for the Reds, with £200m an astonishing amount of money for a player who is now 31 years of age, so it would have to be something they consider given the funds it would generate for them to sign other top players moving forward.

There is the clear issue of not being able to sign a replacement, which is a major issue, so it would be far more preferable for Salah to depart early in the next summer window.

Should the move appeal to the Egyptian, though, Jurgen Klopp tends not to be a manager who would stand in his way, given their decisions to sell Jordan Henderson and Fabinho this summer.

So it could end up being that the decision rests with Salah. He hopefully feels that he still has a lot to offer at Anfield, however, ignoring Al-Ittihad's interest for at least another year.

It wouldn't be a shock to see him end up in Saudi Arabia, where he would surely be one of the main attractions given his status as a football superstar across the globe.

Liverpool defender Trent Alexander-Arnold is facing a spell on the sidelines, but a reliable journalist has confirmed that his injury is not as bad as first feared in a promising update for supporters.

What's the latest injury news on Trent Alexander-Arnold?

During the 3-0 Premier League victory over Aston Villa on Sunday afternoon, the right-back was forced off the pitch after 71 minutes with a suspected hamstring injury and was replaced by Jarell Quansah.

In his post-match interview after the game, Jurgen Klopp delivered an immediate update on his vice-captain’s fitness. He said: “I don’t know exactly. I asked him, he said it’s [his] hamstring. ‘Not too serious’ is his opinion, but we obviously have to wait for the scans and then we will know more.”

The England international had initially been named as part of Gareth Southgate’s squad for his side's upcoming Euro 2024 qualifier against Ukraine and friendly vs Scotland, but with the 24-year-old having since withdrawn from duty with the Three Lions, fans will have been concerned that their academy graduate had sustained a serious problem.

How long is Alexander-Arnold out for?

Taking to X on Monday, however, The Athletic’s James Pearce revealed that Alexander-Arnold is only set to be out of action for a fortnight, and whilst he might not make next weekend’s game vs Wolves, the prognosis is a "big relief" from initial fears of serious damage:

“Trent Alexander-Arnold expected to be sidelined for around 2 weeks. Scan today showed damage to his hamstring is only minor. Big relief. A doubt for Wolves away after the break – but he’s a quick healer.”

How many goals has Alexander-Arnold scored for Liverpool?

During his 277 senior appearances for Liverpool, Alexander-Arnold has posted 89 goal contributions (73 assists and 16 goals), form which has previously seen him dubbed “mind-blowing” by football talent scout Jacek Kulig, and that’s certainly the impact he has under Klopp, hence why it’ll be a huge boost to have him back.

Sponsored by Under Armour, the defender has recorded a total of 18 shot-creating actions so far this season, which is tied with Dominik Szoboszlai for the most in the squad, as well as whipping 16 crosses into the box which is the second-highest behind Andy Robertson, via FBRef, highlighting his desire to provide for his peers in the final third.

The West Derby-born talent, who pockets £180k-per-week, has also helped the club to secure seven pieces of silverware since his promotion to the first team fold, including the Premier League and Champions League trophies, so he knows exactly what it takes to compete and be successful at the highest level with his extraordinary winning mentality.

Finally, Alexander-Arnold has the ability to operate slightly higher up in both central and on the right side of the midfield alongside his usual role as a full-back so he provides the boss with excellent versatility, and there’s no doubt that having him in the starting line-up only increases the team’s chances of gaining a positive result.