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Reece James and Mykhailo Mudryk have contrasting reputations at Chelsea. One is an academy graduate, and potentially the club’s new captain. Meanwhile, the other is an £88.5m signing who has struggled ever since making the move to Stamford Bridge.

Times are changing, however. Mudryk is finally starting to impress, showing glimpses of what he is capable of in the Blues’ first pre-season under new manager Mauricio Pochettino.

The winger even scored his first goal for the club in a friendly against Brighton & Hove Albion, orchestrating the move, before firing an unstoppable volley into the back of the net.

Mudryk’s confidence was on show in Chelsea’s latest pre-season test, too, as he linked up well with James to show off in front of the American fans in attendance.

If the London club can get the best out of their January signing, it looks like they’ll have some player on their hands.

Reece James and Mykhailo Mudryk show off in final pre-season game

As you can see from the video, the move started with James in his natural right-back position, where he burst past a couple of Borussia Dortmund players, before sending an inch-perfect pass across to the opposite flank, where Murdryk was there to control.

Keen to showboat slightly, the Ukraine international controlled the ball with a skilful flick, much to the delight of the on-watching fans. If that doesn’t show improved confidence, then we’re not sure what does.

The Blues went on to draw the game, with substitute Marius Wolf handing Dortmund the lead in the 80th minute, before 19-year-old Mason Burstow equalised from the bench for the Premier League giants just nine minutes later.

Speaking on the result, Pochettino said, via BBC Sport: “We played a brilliant game and I think we deserved to win,” he said. “To lose the game would have been unfair.

“It’s not about the result, though – it’s about the feelings and they are good after five games on tour.

“There is only one option [for Liverpool]: to be ready and we are going to be ready.”

Closing their pre-season with a draw, Chelsea can now look ahead to their opening-day clash at Stamford Bridge against Liverpool. In a game between two sides who failed to show their best form last season, it will certainly be an interesting watch.

How did Chelsea perform in pre-season?

Now that their pre-season has come to an end, Chelsea can reflect on a fairly successful run of results, as they picked up the Premier League Summer Series on their way.

Playing five games in total, the Blues didn’t lose once, defeating Brighton, Fulham, and Wrexham, whilst drawing against both Dortmund and Newcastle United, in an impressive set of results.

It could be a sign of things to come for Pochettino’s side, who have shown that they’re more than capable of scoring goals compared to last season’s misery going forward, which saw them find the back of the net just 38 times.

Fans certainly seem excited and showed this as they reacted online to Mudryk and James’ link-up against Dortmund, some examples of which you can see below:

The pair are likely to be the first batsmen to attempt filling the gap left by Misbah-ul-Haq and Younis Khan’s retirements in the upcoming Tests against Sr Lanka, even as Pakistan have bolstered their bowling with the inclusion of uncapped fast bowler Mir

Umar Farooq23-Sep-2017Haris Sohail, who last played first-class cricket in 2014, and Usman Salahuddin have inherited the hardest jobs in Test cricket – to follow in the footsteps of Misbah-ul-Haq and Younis Khan. The pair are likely to be the first to attempt filling those giant shoes, as Pakistan named their first Test squad in the post-MisYou era, to take on Sri Lanka in the UAE.Pakistan Test squad

Azhar Ali, Shan Masood, Sami Aslam, Babar Azam, Asad Shafiq, Haris Sohail, Usman Salahuddin, Sarfraz Ahmed (capt), Yasir Shah, Mohammad Asghar, Bilal Asif, Mir Hamza, Mohammad Amir, Hasan Ali, Mohammad Abbas, Wahab Riaz

Pakistan, led by Sarfraz Ahmed now, have also picked uncapped fast bowler Mir Hamza and allrounder Bilal Asif in a 16-man squad for the Test series, which starts with the first Test in Abu Dhabi on Thursday. Ahmed Shehzad and Mohammad Rizwan were the two exclusions from the list of probables that went through a five-day conditioning camp in Lahore recently.Much of the early focus will be on Sohail and Salahuddin, as Pakistan look to make up for losing over 15000 Test runs and nearly 200 Tests worth of experience in the middle order. Both are uncapped in Tests, but have represented Pakistan. Salahuddin played two ODIs for Pakistan in 2011, but Sohail was, for a while after his debut in July 2013, a near-fixture in the ODI side.Yasir Shah and Azhar Ali have both made it into the squad as well, and though both ordinarily would’ve been automatic selections, there was some doubt about their participation in the run-up to the announcement. Azhar, Pakistan’s most successful Test batsman over the last year or so, was in doubt with a knee problem and he sat out a two-day practice match at the camp. He has, however, been receiving treatment, according to chief selector Inzamam ul Haq, and a speedy recovery would enable him to be available for both of the Test matches. Pakistan will need, more than anything, his experience.Yasir, on the other hand, was on the verge of becoming the biggest victim of the new fitness drive coach Mickey Arthur and the management have implemented since their arrival. Already, the push to make Pakistan fitter has claimed victims in Sami Aslam and, most famously, Umar Akmal. Yasir’s fitness levels were said to have been a major concern over the last five days, but he has, apparently, pulled through and proved his fitness. Since 2014, he has been Pakistan’s most successful Test bowler.The squad was meant to be announced on Friday but was pushed until Saturday morning, allowing Yasir to undergo another fitness test to reach a value acceptable for a player to be selected. He was the Player of the Series in Pakistan’s last Test assignment in the West Indies earlier this year with 25 wickets in three Tests.”We want to maintain our standard on fitness and we told Yasir to make it or it would be impossible for us to select him,” said Inzamam. “Yasir’s success over the last three-four years has been great but we don’t want to create an exception on fitness. So we waited a day, and that is why we are announcing the team today, on the day of the team’s departure. Yasir is cleared now, having scored a value of 17.5. Azhar has a cyst in his knee and doctors have recommended he can play after taking injections to the knee. So he is fine now and available for selection, and hopefully he will remain fine all the way.”Aslam, the opener, has also been called back into the squad, suggesting the management is happier with his fitness.The two Tests will be the first time Pakistan step onto a field without both Misbah and Younis in seven years, the previous such instance coming at Lord’s in 2010. Both were the backbone of the Test squad that saw Pakistan reach the No.1 Test ranking last year. Inzamam picked Salahuddin and Sohail as prospective replacements.”I have been thinking of both Usman and Haris over the last few series, envisaging the situation after seniors [retired]. Both have done well. Usman has done well as a middle-order batsman while Harris could have made it into the side in 2015 but was injured. So the idea is to give our youngsters an opportunity in our own conditions rather than playing them in away series. This will increase their confidence and both have the potential to fill in for Younis and Misbah. But it does not mean the door is shut on other players making it into the side. Performances will obviously be considered and, if a player is good enough, he can definitely be selected.”Pakistan named five fast bowlers and three specialist spinners, a move Inzamam said was aimed at managing the workload of the bowlers who are better on flat tracks in the UAE.”We all understand that pitches in the UAE are a batting paradise, and there is a big opportunity for batsmen to score runs. It’s really a big challenge to get any team out twice so we have to strengthen our bowling. That’s why we have five fast bowlers with three spinners in our squad. Since the temperature will be around 40 degrees Celsius, we probably have to consider rotating our fast bowlers as well.”

West Ham United have “held initial talks” regarding a summer deal to sign Manchester United defensive midfielder Scott McTominay, according to Sky Sports reporter Dharmesh Sheth.

Is Scott McTominay leaving Manchester United?

The Red Devils product has made 209 senior appearances since graduating from the club’s academy to become a regular feature of the first team, but last season, he fell significantly out of favour under Erik Ten Hag at Old Trafford.

In the Premier League, the 26-year-old was handed just ten starts and was forced to sit on the bench for the majority of the time, being introduced from the sidelines on 14 occasions, via WhoScored, and with the recent arrival of Mason Mount alongside Casemiro and Christian Eriksen, he’ll only continue to be out of favour and low down in the pecking order moving forward.

The Scotland international does still have another two years to run on his contract, but it’s likely that he will be on the move during this window in order to receive more game time elsewhere, and should he depart, he has an admirer in David Moyes at the London Stadium.

The Independent’s Miguel Delaney has reported that the Irons hold a “strong interest” in the central talisman who has been made a priority target by chiefs in the capital, and if the following update is to be believed, it sounds as if they have taken their admiration one step further by initiating contact.

Are West Ham signing Scott McTominay?

Taking to Twitter, Sheth revealed that West Ham have reached out to Man United to discover what it would take to get a deal over the line for McTominay in the coming weeks. He wrote:

“West Ham have held initial talks with Manchester United over Maguire & McTominay. Gap in valuations for both players. United see them as very important members of [the] squad. While not encouraging offers, it would require very big bids for United to even consider a sale.”

Who would Scott McTominay replace?

West Ham are yet to replace former captain Declan Rice following his move to Arsenal so Moyes will be aware that he needs to recruit a suitable successor, and having been dubbed a “hero” by journalist Josh Bunting, McTominay could be the ideal candidate he’s looking for.

Man United’s 6 foot 3 colossus ranked in the 99th percentile for clearances and the 98th percentile for aerial wins by midfielders last season, highlighting how strong he was at getting rid of the danger and protecting his backline, despite having a short amount of time to prove himself to Ten Hag.

The Lancaster-born talent, who also scored three goals and provided one assist across all competitions during the previous campaign, would additionally provide the boss with versatility with his ability to play in five various positions, including three roles in the midfield and at centre-back, just like Rice.

The Red Devils are reportedly looking to receive a fee of £40m in order to sanction the sale of McTominay which shouldn’t be a problem having received £105m for Rice, so if the opportunity presents itself, this is a deal that the hierarchy should be all over.

Brendan Taylor and Samit Patel put on a Finals Day record 132-run stand that lifted Nottinghamshire away from trouble and towards a maiden T20 title

George Dobell at Edgbaston02-Sep-2017A record-breaking stand between Samit Patel and Brendan Taylor helped Nottinghamshire win the NatWest Blast T20 competition for the first time.Coming together with their side reeling on 30 for 3, the pair added 132 in 81 balls – the highest partnership in the history of English Finals Days – to set the platform for an imposing final total of 190 for 4. Birmingham never really threatened in reply, leaving Notts – who had previously reached the knockout stages eight times but only once made it to the final – the winners by 22 runs.It says much for Nottinghamshire’s strength that, despite having to live without Luke Fletcher – who sustained a horrid head injury on this ground in the opening days of the tournament – and Michael Lumb, who was forced to retire mid-season, they were still strong enough to omit Stuart Broad from their side. Despite that, they used just 14 players throughout the competition and overcame the loss of their first two matches to emerge as worthy victors.Samit Patel summoned a measured half-century with Notts under pressure•Getty ImagesThe result gave Nottinghamshire an outstanding opportunity to complete a treble this season. Having already won the Royal London Cup, they are also 32 points clear at the top of the table in Division Two of the County Championship. It might be considered an eloquent response by Peter Moores, in his first full season as head coach at the club, to his second sacking as England coach. They knew, at Sussex and Lancashire, that he was a fine coach. Now they know in Nottinghamshire, too.Patel might also have felt he had a point to prove. He has seen his international career stall due to perceptions that his fitness is not all it might have been. But here he showed what a fine all-round – no pun intended – cricketer he remains. Following a semi-final performance which saw him dismiss the dangerous Shahid Afridi with the first ball of the Hampshire innings, he contributed an unbeaten 64 in the final.But the moment that appeared to give him the most satisfaction came in the field. Picking up the ball at mid-off, he produced a direct hit to run out Ed Pollock, whose half-century had done so much to help his side win their semi-final, and reduce Birmingham to 16 for 2 in the third over.It looked, initially, as if Chris Woakes might have settled this match in the opening moments. Woakes claimed three wickets in his opening couple of overs – including the in-form Alex Hales – to ensure Nottinghamshire were able to take little advantage from their Powerplay overs.But all it did was bring Patel and Taylor together. Patel might, perhaps, have been caught and bowled by Grant Elliott on 13. But the bowler was, quite understandably, more concerned with self-preservation than the possibility of clinging on to what can only technically be considered a chance.That moment apart, Patel batted with calm imperiousness. Knowing his side could ill afford the loss of more wickets during the early part of his innings, he initially contented himself with punishing anything short or wide. Elliott was pulled for six when he dropped short, while Aaron Thomason was guided through backward point and driven through the covers.As he settled, though, Patel became more expansive. Woakes, having conceded just 12 from his first three overs, was punished for 17 from his final one as Patel carved him for six over cover, while Jeetan Patel and Dominic Sibley were heaved for sixes over midwicket. His half-century took 36 balls.With Taylor, who took Thomason for three boundaries in his first over and clipped Sibley over mid-on for a six, providing fine support in a 42-ball half-century of his own, the pair were not parted until the start of the 19th over.Samit Patel celebrates one of two run-outs on Finals Day•Getty ImagesBut that just allowed Dan Christian to thrash 20 from the final four balls of the innings. Feasting on a succession of length deliveries from Olly Stone – who, to that point, had bowled with impressive pace and control – Christan crunched two fours and two sixes as the last over cost 23. It meant Nottinghamshire had scored 132 from their last 11 overs and 69 from their last five.Birmingham’s resurgence – a resurgence that should encourage their supporters despite this result and the club’s lowly Championship position – had been built largely upon the success of their youthful top order. But with Sibley defeated by a lovely slower ball out of the back of Harry Gurney’s hand, Adam Hose apparently beaten for pace and Pollock punished for dawdling the first half of an attempted single, Birmingham were soon 36 for 3 and in need of a similar partnership as that provided by Taylor and Patel.While Sam Hain, hitting the ball beautifully cleanly, contributed the highest individual score of the day – 72 from 44 balls – he lacked the support required to mount a realistic challenge. Thomason and Colin de Grandhomme threatened for a while but when Gurney – a far more accomplished bowler than when he represented England – produced two more slower balls to account for them, and then beat Hain with a low full toss, Birmingham were left needing an unlikely 29 off the last over.And, as a record crowd of 24,432 cheered every one of a record number of runs on a Finals Day – the teams passed 1000 runs across the three games for the first time – on an excellent surface, the thought occurred once more: was a new competition, one without any of the traditional rivalries and that threatens to overshadow this excellent competition, really necessary?

Sri Lanka are scheduled to play India a second time in 2017, when they pay a return visit to the subcontinent for three Tests, five ODIs and a T20I in November and December

Sa'adi Thawfeeq29-Jul-20172:26

Agarkar: ‘Too soon for another India-SL series’

Sri Lanka are scheduled to play India a second time in 2017, when they tour India for three Tests, five ODIs and a T20I in November and December. That tour could have an impact on India’s tour of South Africa, which is also in December; the itineraries of both series have not yet been released.While confirming the development, a BCCI official remained non-committal on the schedule for India’s tour of South Africa. Cricket South Africa wanted to host India for a Boxing Day Test beginning on December 26, but the BCCI is understood to have been reluctant. The official said the schedule for the tour of South Africa was likely to be confirmed this week.India are presently in Sri Lanka to play three Tests, five ODIs and a T20I. The tour ends on September 6 after which Sri Lanka head to the UAE to play two Tests, five ODIs and three T20Is against Pakistan in September and October, and then they head to India in November and December.”The Sri Lanka tour to India has been brought forward from February next year because we are hosting the tri-nation Independence Cup during that period,” Sri Lanka Cricket CEO Ashley de Silva said. “Sri Lanka was due to tour India from February end to the first week of April next year and the dates would have clashed with the Independence Cup. That’s why we requested the Indian board for a change to bring the tour forward and they have agreed.”The dates for the Pakistan series and the Indian tour are currently being worked out.”

Leeds United will be looking for replacements to bolster their squad this summer following the departure of a number of players, and now a new update has emerged on a potential transfer target.

What's the latest on Leeds' interest in Divock Origi?

According to Football Insider, Leeds have registered their interest in AC Milan striker Divock Origi.

As per the report, the Whites are joined by Premier League clubs Crystal Palace and West Ham United in their interest of Origi, however, Steven Gerrard's Al-Ettifaq have also stepped forward too.

It is noted that the Saudi Pro League club are prepared to offer a huge investment to sign the goalscorer this summer, where his former teammate Jordan Henderson is also set to sign.

How many goals has Origi scored?

Most football fans will be familiar with Origi due to his huge success with Liverpool in the top flight and on the European stage under Jurgen Klopp.

The Belgium international was a contributor in the Merseyside club's dominance, winning a Premier League title and Champions League trophy, as well as an FA Cup, League Cup, UEFA Super Cup and FIFA Club World Cup, before departing upon the expiration of his contract to Serie A last summer.

Origi – who has a reported €15m (£13m) price tag – became a cult hero and a fan favourite at Anfield for his match-winning goals in important moments for the club, which also led to huge praise from Klopp:

"He’s a positive person. He is talented, he shoots left and right, he is really quick, in the air – he is a monster. He is an interesting package.

"His skillset is a special thing – he can come in and play brilliantly. The biggest game in our history against Barcelona in 2019, he started and he was incredible. In specific moments, Divock is absolutely outstanding."

Over 175 appearances for Liverpool, Origi scored 41 goals and registered 18 assists, with a goal contribution every 117 minutes played – marking a consistent output in front of goal that would be hugely valuable to Daniel Farke's Leeds next season.

With Rodrigo departing this summer, Leeds have lost last season's top goalscorer and will now need to rely on Patrick Bamford and returnee Joe Gelhardt in the centre-forward role – unless, of course, they can seal a deal to snap up Origi's services.

Whilst Leeds youngster Gelhardt had a good spell on loan with Sunderland last season in the Championship, scoring three goals and delivering three assists over 18 appearances, the 21-year-old has struggled to earn a regular starting spot at Elland Road, with two goals and seven assists over his 41 appearances so far.

As a result, the signing of Origi would be an upgrade on Gelhardt for next season and a major coup for Leeds to add experience, huge quality and a winning mentality into the forward line to give them the best chance of immediately bouncing back to the Premier League.

Having said that, Gelhardt has a bright future at Leeds if he can continue his positive development and apply that to his performances at Elland Road next season, whilst playing with a Champions League-winning striker could help to take his own game to the next level.

The president of the USA Cricket Association claimed that the ICC’s main motivation behind the expulsion was to tap into the financial potential of the USA market

Peter Della Penna25-Jun-2017USA Cricket Association president Gladstone Dainty has urged USACA and its members to “continue to fight” after the organisation was expelled by the ICC on Thursday as the Associate member governing body in America.”USACA is disappointed by the vote of the ICC membership to expel USACA but not surprised,” Dainty told ESPNcricinfo via email. “The ICC has spent years trying to find a basis to expel USACA and replace it with an organisation the ICC controls.”USACA had made a desperate final plea last Monday by sending a letter to the ICC’s member boards asking them to vote no in the resolution that had been tabled for USACA’s expulsion. Both in that letter and in Dainty’s statement to ESPNcricinfo, the organisation says the ICC’s initial claims of “financial irregularities”, which were a contributing factor to USACA’s suspension in 2015, “were false”. According to Dainty, even though USACA acquiesced to some of the demands made by the ICC regarding the shape of a new constitution, he says USACA should have had the autonomy to make its own final decision rather than bow to the ICC.”The ICC tolerates no dissent,” Dainty said. “They made it clear that if USACA did not do as the ICC wanted and adopt a new constitution exactly as written by the ICC, USACA would be expelled. This week the ICC made good on that threat, with the backing of an arbitration process governed by rules the ICC wrote and an arbitrator it picked and paid for.”Dainty also claimed the ICC’s main motivation for chucking USACA out was to exploit the financial potential in the USA. However, Dainty says that rather than USA benefiting, it is only the outside entrepreneurs who are doing so.”The US cricket community is diverse and noisy – two things the ICC does not understand and cannot tolerate,” Dainty wrote. “The ICC is spending $2.4 million this year to set up a new national governing body – that is 8 times the annual budget the ICC previously allotted for USACA. What are the ICC’s motives all of a sudden to throw so much money at the US? The only purpose of this money is to buy loyalty, to stifle dissent and to ensure that the ICC staff – few of whom look like, or even come from, the US cricket community – remain firmly in charge of US cricket.”The USA is the largest untapped market for cricket in the world. The ICC wants to make sure that the ICC and its powerful Full Member nations control and profit from that community – at the expense of those of us who are actually here.”USACA had previously threatened to take the ICC to court in the event of expulsion. Although Dainty did not explicitly state that those plans will be followed through, he hinted that USACA will not give up just yet.”USACA will continue to fight for the US cricket community and its diversity,” Dainty wrote. “We urge all members of the US cricket community to do the same – to insist that those who lead US cricket going forward reflect our diverse community and are committed to US cricket – and not the ICC and its allies.”

Chelsea are "tempted" to bring in another number nine this summer and have discussed the possibility of making a move for Dusan Vlahovic, according to journalist Dean Jones.

Is Vlahovic joining Chelsea?

Since Todd Boehly's arrival as Chelsea's new owner, the Blues' approach to the transfer market has been fairly disastrous.

Having spent enormously on a mass of players, Chelsea have been preoccupied this summer with trimming their ridiculously large squad, and it is still impossible to predict what new boss Mauricio Pochettino's line-up will look like on the opening day of the Premier League season.

Chelsea's scattergun approach to signing talented young players on huge contracts has backfired significantly and Pochettino is the man tasked with picking up the pieces.

Despite having spent a vast fortune on players in recent windows, Chelsea still mysteriously ended up without an orthodox striker last season, one of the reasons they slumped to a 12th-placed league finish.

However, Pochettino is hoping to remedy that situation in the market and, despite having already signed Christopher Nkunku and Nicolas Jackson this summer, journalist Jones believes that the Blues could target Juventus' Vlahovic to ease their goalscoring woes.

Speaking to GIVEMESPORT, Jones said: "I know some people are ruling out of Vlahovic and they say that nothing is happening there. But Vlahovic has definitely been explored by Chelsea and conversations have definitely happened in terms of that.

"The fact that they are even contemplating that, tells you they're tempted to go and sign another striker by the end of this transfer window."

Nkunku can play as a striker but is not a typical number nine, despite his prowess in front of goal. Meanwhile, Jackson is just 22-years-old and may need significant time to adjust to life in a new league at such a young age.

Therefore, Vlahovic, who has been called a "big-name striker", could be an astute piece of business and is a player with a wealth of experience despite being just 23-years-old.

The Serbian international has managed 72 goals in 171 matches for Juventus and Fiorentina in Italy but has struggled to fully settle at the Allianz Stadium in Turin since arriving halfway through the 2021/22 season.

A fee of around €80m would potentially be enough to sign Vlahovic, a figure which is unlikely to put off free-spending Chelsea. The striker would offer Pochettino a more traditional number nine than what the Blues currently have at their disposal and the forward's physicality and clinical edge would make him a great fit in the Premier League.

How good is Vlahovic?

Based on his performances last season in a Juventus side that struggled on and off the pitch, there isn't an enormous amount to get excited about with Vlahovic.

He scored just 14 goals and provided four assists in 42 matches, also suffering from injuries at times throughout the campaign, and only managed the same amount of Serie A strikes as wantaway Chelsea forward Romelu Lukaku.

However, looking at his statistics during the 2020/21 season – his last full campaign with Fiorentina – it is clear to see that Vlahovic is a top-quality centre-forward.

Compared to other strikers that season in Serie A per 90 minutes, he ranked in the top eight percent for goals (netting 21 in 37 games) and top 12% for aerials won, highlighting his physical presence up top and eye for goal.

Signing Vlahovic could be a risk given his lack of consistency in the black and white of Juventus, but if the forward can recreate the form he has exhibited in the past with Fiorentina and Serbia, then Pochettino would be foolish not to consider the young striker.

Six wickets for Jofra Archer, to go with the five he took in the first innings, left Sussex favourites to win their Specsavers Division Two championship match against Leicestershire at the Fischer County Ground

ECB Reporters Network11-Jun-2017
ScorecardJofra Archer was also in fine form against Worcestershire last week•Getty ImagesA six wicket haul for Jofra Archer, to go with the five he took in the first innings, left Sussex favourites to win their Specsavers Division Two championship match against Leicestershire at the Fischer County Ground.Needing 234 to win, the visitors closed the third day on 100 for 2, Leicestershire seamer Ben Raine having dismissed Sussex openers Harry Finch, bowled, and Chris Nash caught behind.The 22-year-old fast bowler Archer shouldered the burden for a Sussex attack deprived of the services of South Africa international seamer Vernon Philander, who rolled an ankle in the field during the morning session.With fellow South African David Wiese unable to bowl more than a handful of overs due to a stomach strain, Archer (6-70) and left-arm spinner Danny Briggs (3-40) produced outstanding efforts to give their side a good chance of securing a second successive championship win.The morning session had seen Barbados-born Archer have Paul Horton caught behind off a brutal lifter and pin Ned Eckersley leg before with a well-pitched up delivery which beat the batsman for pace.Colin Ackermann was given out caught behind down the legside off Chris Jordan, but the biggest blow for the home side was the loss of in-form captain Mark Cosgrove, who went back to a delivery from Briggs, missed and was palpably leg before.Shortly after lunch Pettini got his bat down on an Archer yorker but was unable to prevent the ball rolling back on to his off-stump. Another quick, straight bouncer then accounted for Harry Dearden, the ball flicking the batsman’s glove on its way through to the wicket-keeper.Briggs dismissed Tom Wells in extraordinary fashion, putting up his right hand and deflecting a firmly hit lofted straight drive into the air for Archer, at mid-on, to take a simple catch.Raine edged a straight delivery from Briggs into the hands of Jordan at slip, and Clint McKay, having been horribly dropped by Wiese off Briggs, edged Archer into the slips where Finch held a smart low catch to his left.Leicestershire’s final pairing of Dieter Klein and Zak Chappell then fought hard to extend the Foxes lead to 241 before Klein was yorked by Archer.Earlier in the day, Philander and Briggs extended their tenth wicket partnership to 83, a county record for Sussex against Leicestershire, eclipsing the 80 compiled by John Vinsett and Harry Butt at Aylestone Road in 1909.

Newcastle United have so far failed to agree a fee with Southampton defender Tino Livramento over a summer move, according to a fresh update.

What is the latest Tino Livramento transfer news?

The 20-year-old is one of many highly rated English right-backs currently, in an area where the likes of Trent Alexander-Arnold, Reece James, Kyle Walker and Kieran Trippier have all been such influential players for their respective clubs.

Livramento may have seen his progress hampered a little recently because of an anterior cruciate ligament injury, but a bright future is still expected for him, with the youngster making 34 appearances for Saints since arriving from Chelsea.

Indeed, former Southampton boss Ruben Selles previously labelled the defender "perfect" amid the club's relegation battle last term, citing his importance to the club and bemoaning the fact he didn't have more time to coach him due to his injury.

With Southampton suffering relegation from the Premier League to the Championship last season, they are going to find it hard to keep hold of some of their most prized assets, of which Livramento is arguably one.

Newcastle have been linked with a move for the £8,000-a-week defender numerous times recently, seeing him as a possible long-term replacement for Trippier, and someone who could end up being a mainstay of the team for many years to come.

A new update has now emerged regarding Livramento's future, however, and it suggests that a summer move to St James' Park is struggling to come to fruition.

Could Newcastle still sign Tino Livramento?

According to Football Insider, Newcastle are struggling to reach an agreement with Southampton over the signing of Livramento, despite clearly wanting to snap him up:

"Newcastle have been unable to agree a deal for Tino Livramento as Southampton’s asking price is too steep, sources have told Football Insider. The Magpies are interested in the Englishman, and have registered their interest in signing him before the end of the transfer window."

This is a blow for Newcastle considering what a fine prospect Livramento is, with Theo Walcott once claiming he possessed an "aura" about him despite his tender years, adding, "he's not as shy and timid around the place, he's got a bit more of a presence."

He is currently a five-cap England Under-21 international, and will no doubt hope to make it as a senior international eventually, and while his aforementioned knee injury could be a concern if he was older, his age means that he has every chance of reaching his potential as a top-level footballer.

Granted, it doesn't look as though the Magpies will be signing Livramento as things stand, but the situation could change quickly, and the fact that they are still pushing to sign him does suggest that there is still life in the saga.

The Southampton man could be such a shrewd signing in terms of being Trippier's natural successor at right-back, initially coming in as a squad option but eventually maturing into a trusted starter. The hope is that he pushes for a move and Saints eventually soften their stance, allowing him to move on and become a new hero on Tyneside.