All posts by h716a5.icu

India women’s bowling strength came to the fore as they beat Pakistan by 17 runs after Mithali Raj’s unbeaten half-century to win the Asia Cup final

ESPNcricinfo staff04-Dec-2016
ScorecardThe victorious Indian team with the Asia Cup trophy•Facebook/Indian Cricket TeamIndia’s dominance in the women’s Asia Cup extended as they sealed their sixth title in as many editions with a 17-run win over Pakistan in Bangkok. It was the second consecutive time India had beaten Pakistan in an Asia Cup final, having done so in 2012-13 as well. The win also ensured India remained unbeaten in this year’s tournament, which was being played in the T20 format for the second time.It was Mithali Raj who set up the win, scoring an unbeaten 73 after India opted to bat and taking them to 121 for 5. The bowlers then sent down economical spells to choke Pakistan in the chase, restricting them to 104 for 6.Raj dominated almost every partnership she featured in. She started off by putting on 24 for the first wicket with Smriti Mandhana, who contributed just 6. After her dismissal, it was the turn of Sabbhineni Meghana to play second fiddle as she made 9 in a second-wicket stand of 44. Veda Krishnamurthy and Harmanpreet Kaur, the India captain, were also sent back for single-digit scores, before Jhulan Goswami’s late cameo lifted India. Goswami pinged two sixes on her way to a 10-ball 17 before perishing off the penultimate ball of the innings. Raj had struck seven fours and a six in her 65-ball knock.Left-arm spinner Anam Amin topped the wickets column with 2 for 24 in four overs, while Sana Mir and Sadia Yousuf were economical in their respective quotas and took a wicket apiece.Pakistan scored at nearly a run a ball during the first half of the chase, but lost three wickets. Goswami had Ayesha Zafar bowled in the fifth over before Asmavia Iqbal fell in similar fashion in the next over, sent down by Shikha Pandey. Javeria Khan added 28 with captain Bismah Maroof, but could not make her start count as she was snuffed out by Ekta Bisht, the left-arm spinner, and Pakistan became 56 for 3. That third-wicket stand was the highest Pakistan could manage as regular wickets stalled them. Nida Dar and Mir made identical scores of 12 not out in late resistance, but both were kept quiet – neither scored a single boundary – as Pakistan fell short.India’s bowlers shared the wickets around. Bisht, who opened the bowling, took 2 for 22. Anuja Patil, Goswami, Pandey and Preeti Bose took a wicket apiece.

After a raw and unfiltered reaction post the MCG loss, Misbah-ul-Haq has found his centre again, to focus on the Sydney Test

Osman Samiuddin in Sydney02-Jan-2017This is going to be an interesting farewell, mainly seeing as it isn’t right now looking like a farewell. Or not one just yet anyway, so definitely hold back for now on the guard of honour rehearsals team Australia. Maybe not even one for the foreseeable future, so no need to start planning that farewell match either, PCB. He is definitely playing in Sydney and he is definitely playing as captain as well. That much we know for sure. And after that, well, we can get to it when we need to get to it.Politely put, Pakistan have not had a straightforward history with the retirements of its great characters. But it did really look as if Misbah-ul-Haq might buck that trend. He would know when it was time. He would not make a fuss about it because, hello, he’s Misbah and not Shahid Afridi/Javed Miandad/Imran Khan/Younis Khan. He is not a rattler of the system. He is not a victim. He is not a star.Moreover, Australia was a natural final frontier. No Pakistan side had won a series here, no Pakistan side has won a Test here for 20 years; heck no Pakistan side has even drawn a Test here since 1990-91. Win and it was the perfect time to go, the Misbah era sealed. Fail and then it wasn’t the perfect way to go but still maybe the right time to. Apparently not. Or, who knows, maybe.It’s been a strange couple of days in the world of Misbah. He was as despondent after Melbourne as at any time in his captaincy. What he said then about retirement was a raw, unfiltered reaction to a defeat as hurtful as any; how much it shook him was clear in how openly he doubted his decision-making as a batsman. He never opens up publicly like that.He has since found his centre again, however, no doubt spurred on by his team around him – his “family” he called them on Monday. They have gone to him and told him not to go, or not to go now, or to keep believing in himself and his ability. On Sunday evening, at a dinner hosted by Waqar Younis for the team, Misbah’s mood was not up exactly – he is Misbah after all – but lighter than post-MCG. So too the team around him; no brooding, no shrinking into one’s self as past teams might have done.The team spent New Year’s Eve together in his hotel room, Misbah said, watching the fireworks with family and kids (he got the room with the view obviously). They had dinner together and a chat and decided to throw everything that had happened in the previous two Tests into the bin. Like everyone else, they too couldn’t wait to say goodbye to 2016. Hit refresh.”No, right now, retirement is completely out of my mind,” he said. “If I do think about that, then this match here will be very difficult to play. We have to think of this match as the first match of the series and that it is the final also. At the moment, this is how we are thinking. I have forgotten the last four-five Tests we’ve had and now we’re totally focused on this.”Or as he said later: “2016, gone. Now it is 2017. What is gone, that is gone.””Sometimes you’re playing well, seeing the ball well, not scoring runs, lack of confidence and suddenly one good innings and you’re back”•Getty ImagesIf it sounds like a u-turn, then it kind of is, but also kind of isn’t. His emotions post-Melbourne, he said, were also true of the time. That is how he felt and this is how he feels now. And it may well still be the case that he decides to go back to Pakistan and announce his retirement there, in front of his people. Much will depend on this Test, this dead rubber.Crucially, he has regained – or perhaps retained – some degree of confidence in his batting, which is what had him so distraught after the MCG loss.”Honestly speaking, that can happen to anyone, at any stage in your career. Doesn’t mean you left nothing in yourself if you’re playing. You can still come back, still score runs for your team and contribute. There could be a patch and it can come at any stage, whether you are 19, whether you are 20, 30 or 40, because cricket is like that, especially in batting department.”Sometimes you’re playing well, seeing the ball well, not scoring runs, lack of confidence and suddenly one good innings and you’re back. Playing almost 20 years of cricket, and international cricket for 15-16 years, I can understand that could happen. Whatever I said at the time, that was also true. That doesn’t mean you can’t come back. You can come back still. You work hard. You believe in yourself.”Above all it must be the drive to prove that this is not one of those Pakistan sides of recent vintage; that this 2-0 is different to at least the past three Pakistan sides to have gone into the final Test of an Australian series with that scoreline. It is worth acknowledging this also isn’t a very good Australian side, not as strong as their predecessors would have faced.It was also part of what fueled Misbah to react as he did. “That was only because we thought, and I thought, we were a far better team than what happened in Melbourne. The way we played two Test matches. That was all because of that – frustration, disappointment, it was because of that. We truly believe in this team and the players and the team believes in me. That’s why we’ve been so successful in the past.”I have no doubt in my mind at the moment in terms of whatever I said in that press conference, that was, you could say, frustration and disappointment.”I think [the team] have recovered from Melbourne. That is something about this team. We have been through this a lot of times but right after that, in the next game we surprise opposition. These guys are mentally tough. At this time they are hurt and we just want to prove that we can do better than that.”

Bayern Munich have hijacked Manchester United’s move for Napoli defender Kim min-jae, according to reports.

What’s the latest Man United transfer news involving Kim?

The Red Devils appear to be in the market for a new centre-back this summer and have made Kim their top target in defence.

The South Korea international has a release clause in his contract that can be activated next month, with previous reports claiming that United have agreed to pay the €60m clause and have also agreed on personal terms with the player. However, there seems to have been a twist in the transfer race, in what will come as a blow to Erik ten Hag and co.

Football Insider shared a story in the last 48 hours, claiming that the Red Devils are now worried they could lose out to Bayern in the race for Kim’s services.

The report adds that United made enquiries over a transfer but ‘Bayern have now hijacked the deal and are now moving to seal a quick agreement with Kim’.

Who else have Man United been linked with?

United appear to be on the search for a new centre-back as the futures of Harry Maguire and Victor Lindelof appear to be up in the air. It was claimed earlier in the year that Ten Hag was willing to part ways with the pair this summer, which could leave United with just Raphael Varane and Lisandro Martinez as the only senior centre-back options.

Should Kim opt for a move to Germany over England, United would need to look elsewhere, and one player who has recently been linked with a move is Leeds United’s Robin Koch.

Loose talks have already taken place over a move for the German defender, according to Sky Sports reporter Florian Plettenberg, so he could emerge as a real option if United can’t land Kim.

Even if they do somehow secure Kim’s services, another defender could be of use if Maguire and Lindelof departs, but with a new midfielder and striker also wanted at Old Trafford, it could be a busy few months, especially with the ongoing takeover saga still yet to be resolved.

Saha, who made a return from injury after missing most of the England Tests, said that being assured of a spot on his return in the team was a boost

ESPNcricinfo staff10-Feb-20171:36

‘My aim was to bat as long as possible’ – Saha

Wriddhiman Saha waited for years and years to get a decent run in the India Test team. After MS Dhoni’s retirement from Tests, Saha made sure India didn’t miss the legendary wicketkeeper, scoring a century in the West Indies and then winning India the Kolkata Test with half-centuries from tricky situations in each innings. An untimely injury gave Parthiv Patel a look-in, and Parthiv grabbed the chance with both hands. Parthiv’s keeping improved gradually, but it was his selfless batting that would have endeared him to the side.Here we go again, Saha might have thought, but the India selectors and team management brought him right back in as soon as he recovered. They did the same with Ajinkya Rahane even though his replacement Karun Nair scored a triple-century in his last Test innings. Saha was thankful for such clarity in thought both from the selectors and the team management after he capped off his comeback with his Test century.”It’s a great plus for the players,” Saha said. “Because after an injury break when one makes a comeback, if you are clearly told that as and when you recover you will be back in the team, the individual gets more motivated and that helps in your performance.”Saha acknowledged Parthiv’s contribution when he was away, but Saha’s comeback began with a match-winning double-century for Rest of India in the Irani Cup incidentally against the Ranji Trophy champions Gujarat, captained by Parthiv himself.”When I was injured, Parthiv performed and he did well,” Saha said. “Whenever he has got chances, he has performed. But may be after my 200, selectors took a decision, which everybody needed to accept. Now that I was back, my aim was to bat as long as possible and contribute as much as possible for the team.”One of the contributions Saha made was to convince Kohli to review an lbw call when he was on 180. The review was successful, and Kohli went on to become the first batsman in the history of the game to score double-centuries in four consecutive series.”Virat thought that he was out but I told him that he had probably stretched your front foot too far,” Saha said. “Hopefully, the impact may be outside, and the ball had spun sharply, so it might be missing the leg stump. So Virat took the call and was saved.”When Kohli was ruled out again, on 204, Saha couldn’t get a word in because Kohli was absolutely convinced he was out. This time Kohli was hit outside the line, but that is something India took in their stride. Kohli returned the favour later in the day when Saha took a catch diving to his right but didn’t go up in appeal because he didn’t hear anything. Kohli, though, had, and he reviewed to reveal to a faint touch on Soumya Sarkar’s bat’s toe, giving Saha his first dismissal on Test return.

An update has emerged on Chelsea and their plans to bolster their attacking options in the summer transfer window…

What’s the latest on Victor Osimhen to Chelsea?

According to Belgian journalist Sacha Tavolieri, the Blues are one of a number of clubs pursuing a deal for Victor Osimhen from Napoli ahead of the 2023/24 campaign.

The report claims that Mauricio Pochettino’s side have a meeting with the player’s representatives planned as they eye up a swoop for the Nigerian, whose priority is to move to the Premier League, in the coming weeks.

There is no mention of how much the Italian side are prepared to demand for their star number nine but Le Parisien recently reported that it would take a staggering €180m (£155m) to secure his services this summer.

How would Victor Osimhen fit in at Chelsea?

Pochettino typically lines up with a 4-3-3 system and as such, Osimhen could play through the middle as his starting centre-forward, with new signing Nicolas Jackson lining up on the right.

Chelsea are reportedly set to sign the £30m Villarreal attacker this month and the club’s head coach could utilise him off the right flank, despite him predominantly playing as a centre-forward in Spain.

Jackson has experience of playing on the right wing and he could form an exciting partnership with Osimhen in the final third, as both players have showcased their ability to find the back of the net on a regular basis.

The Blues only scored 38 goals in 38 Premier League matches and bringing in two forwards with the potential to explode in the final third would be a huge boost to Pochettino ahead of next season.

Osimhen, who was described as a "goal-scoring machine" by journalist Josh Bunting, enjoyed a fantastic 22/23 campaign as the Nigerian number nine plundered an exceptional 26 goals in 30 Serie A outings for Napoli, which is 19 more than any Chelsea player managed in the top-flight last term.

These statistics suggest that the 24-year-old, who has scored 59 goals in 101 matches in all competitions for the Italian ourfit, would be a phenomenal addition to the squad and one that could finally solve their woes in front of goal.

Jackson, meanwhile, struck 12 times in 16 LaLiga starts for Villarreal and created seven 'big chances' for his teammates, suggesting that the 22-year-old ace could offer a huge goal-scoring threat whilst also being able to provide Osimhen, and others, with opportunities to score.

Indeed, the thought of both effervescent forwards in the same front line must be a mouthwatering thought for everyone associated with Chelsea.

A round-up of the Group B matches from the Vijay Hazare Trophy played on March 4, 2017

ESPNcricinfo staff04-Mar-2017Akshdeep Nath’s 109, his second List A hundred in three matches, carried Uttar Pradesh to a six-wicket win over Himachal Pradesh in Bhubaneswar. Nath struck 17 fours and two sixes during his 90-ball 109 as Uttar Pradesh chased down 256 in 40.4 overs. Nath’s 119-run partnership with opener Shivam Chaudhary, who hit 75 off 74 balls, formed the crux of the chase. Nath went onto bring up his century, then fell with his team 31 away from the target. Rinku Singh and Sarfaraz Khan, however, sealed a handsome victory.Having opted to bat, Himachal Pradesh fell to 68 for 4 in 19 overs. Debutant Ekant Sen and Ankit Kaushik then rallied their team with a 78-run stand. Both batsmen went onto score fifties and Mayank Dagar contributed with a 33-ball 46 to lift Himachal Pradesh to 255. Seamer Mohd Israr returned 4 for 33 while his senior partner Praveen Kumar claimed 2 for 40.Maharashtra limited Tripura to 188 and completed the chase with four wickets and nearly 100 balls to spare in Cuttack. This meant Maharashtra consolidated their position at the top of the Group B table with their fifth win in six matches. It was set up by new-ball bowlers Nikit Dhumal and Shrikant Mundhe who took a combined 7 for 58. They carved up the top and middle order, reducing Tripura to 30 for 5 in 12.2 overs. Gurinder Singh, coming in at No.7, lent some respectability to the score with 91 off 121 balls, including six fours and five sixes. His contribution accounted for nearly half of Tripura’s total of 188.Maharashtra lost Ankit Bawne and Naushad Shaikh early to Ajoy Sarkar but Ruturaj Gaikwad and captain Kedar Jadhav propped up their team with forty-somethings each. Wicketkeeper Nikhil Naik also made a forty – 46 not out off 34 balls – as Maharashtra got home in the 35th over.Batsman Unmukt Chand and left-arm seamer Pawan Suyal – belated additions to the Delhi squad for the Vijay Hazare Trophy – helped the team to a consolation win over Kerala in Tangi. After Suyal took took wickets, Chand steered Delhi’s chase of 232 with 64 off 85 balls, including five fours and a six. Shikhar Dhawan and Gautam Gambhir had laid the platform for Chand with a 60-run opening stand. Milind Kumar complemented Chand with 40 off 37 balls and hastened Delhi’s win.Earlier, Kerala put up 231, thanks largely to Salman Nizar’s 59 and Sanju Samson’s 41 after twenty-somethings from the top three. Navdeep Saini too picked up two wickets while Milind chipped in with one.

Aston Villa have reached an "agreement" to bring Villarreal defender Pau Torres to the Premier League, according to The Athletic's David Ornstein.

Is Pau Torres joining Aston Villa?

Quique Setien’s academy graduate will be out of contract at the end of next season meaning that the ongoing transfer window is his club’s final opportunity to cash in should they not want to lose him for free, and 90min have claimed that he’s told them that he’s ready to leave.

The Yellow Submarines centre-back has reportedly been made a top target by the Midlands outfit with Unai Emery a “big fan” of the 26-year-old having managed him for 105 appearances during his time in his homeland.

The La Liga star’s deal has a £55m release clause included but Fabrizio Romano has confirmed that NSWE and Monchi will pay "way less" than that, and if the following update is anything to go by, the conditions of the deal have already been addressed.

Taking to Twitter, Ornstein revealed that Aston Villa have finalised a deal for Torres with the defender having given the green-light to complete a summer move to the Midlands. He wrote:

"Aston Villa have now reached an agreement with Villarreal to sign centre-back Pau Torres. Personal terms are also in place for 26yo Spain international defender to join in what’s another big coup for #AVFC + manager Unai Emery."

Is Torres a good signing for Villa?

Aston Villa will already be aware of what Torres is capable of due to Emery’s existing connection to the centre-back, and having also been dubbed an “extraordinary talent” by his former coach Javier Calleja, he would be a fantastic acquisition for the boss.

The Spain international averaged 4.1 clearances, 1.7 aerial wins and 1.3 tackles per league game last season, via WhoScored, so is a real rock at the heart of the backline, but he also likes to push his team as high up the pitch as possible having ranked in the 99th percentile for most progressive carries by centre-backs.

Torres, who stands at a staggering 6 foot 2, also knows what it takes to compete and be successful at the level that the Villans are looking to achieve having previously won the Europa League back in 2020/21, so he could inspire the rest of the squad to give it their all on the bigger stage next season in their first campaign in the Conference League.

Arsenal have submitted an "official proposal" to sign Ajax defender Jurrien Timber, according to transfer expert Fabrizio Romano.

Who is Jurrien Timber?

After progressing through the youth ranks at Ajax, Timber has gone on to establish himself as a key first-team player for the Dutch side, appearing in all 34 league games last season, and he has started to attract the attention of some top clubs.

Manchester United have been credited with an interest in the 22-year-old, but Arsenal appear to be leading the race for his signature, with Florian Plettenberg claiming they are on the "verge" of completing a deal, with Bayern Munich out of the running.

According to Romano, the Ajax star views the project at the Emirates Stadium as "perfect", and he is "really excited" about the move.

Taking to Twitter, the transfer expert has now confirmed that a second "official proposal" has been submitted by the Gunners, and they are aiming to get the deal done "this week", after having an opening bid of £30m rejected.

Talks are "now advancing" between the two clubs, indicating the move is edging closer to completion, and everything is complete on the player's side, with a five-year contract already agreed.

How much will Jurrien Timber cost?

Ajax are believed to be holding out for £50m to sanction the departure of the defender, who is set to double his wages if he does complete a move to the Emirates Stadium this summer.

The Dutchman has been hailed as "exceptional" by football scout Jacek Kulig, while Liverpool's Virgil van Dijk also heaped praise on him last year, saying: “I was never that good at the age of Timber, he’s just 21… I can only praise him. His potential is so high, I’m sure”.

For a defender, the Ajax star is very assured on the front foot, placing in the 99th percentile for progressive carries, and in the 94th percentile for successful take-ons per 90 in the past year, displaying his eagerness to drive the ball into attacking areas.

Reports have suggested Ben White is going to be utilised in a central role next season, meaning a new right-back will be required, and Timber would be more than capable of filling in when necessary, having made 49 appearances in that area of the pitch.

As such, the Netherlands international could be an excellent addition to Mikel Arteta's squad, and the manager will be hoping that Arsenal's second offer is accepted by Ajax.

The New Zealand left-arm pacer will be one of the premier fast bowlers on display at the IPL this season after Kolkata Knight Riders bought him for INR 5 crore

Andrew McGlashan21-Feb-2017Trent Boult became the second-most expensive New Zealand player in IPL history when he fetched INR 5 crore (US$750,000) from Kolkata Knight Riders, but he won’t be splashing the cash. “A new pair of jeans, maybe,” was his modest idea for a purchase.Boult’s value sits behind only Brendon McCullum’s, who went for INR 7.5 crore (US$1.12 mn) in 2015, and confirms his rise into one of the finest white-ball pace bowlers in the world. Last year he was benched for the majority of the tournament – playing only once for Sunrisers Hyderabad – but in the absence of Mitchell Starc, he will be the premier left-arm quick at this year’s event.He is certainly an in-form bowler. In the one-off T20 against South Africa, at Eden Park, he claimed 2 for 8 off four overs – in a total of 185 – which followed 6 for 33 in the deciding Chappell-Hadlee ODI. Seeing his price rise, in a bidding war between Knight Riders and Mumbai Indians, was a “surreal” experience and he struggled to get his mind around how some players were valued so highly.”We were in a car with a couple of the lads following the Twitter feed,” Boult said. “To see the name come through with a figure like that next to it was pretty unbelievable. It’s bizarre how that much money can be put on the head of a player to play six or seven weeks.”Building up to [2015] World Cup I wouldn’t have put myself in the bracket of top five or six white-ball bowlers in the country. But my game has grown, I’m a lot more confident with the white ball and now things like this are knocking at the door.”Having been bought for such a significant sum, and given the balance of the Knight Riders squad, Boult can look forward to a lot more on-field time at this year’s tournament.”It’s a very hard one to read,” he said. “Different teams need different things. It was frustrating to only play one game last year but that’s the way the tournament is played – four overseas players [in the XI] so people have to miss out. I’m definitely looking forward to putting my foot forward for KKR.”The 27-year old will be one of ten New Zealand cricketers to feature in the upcoming edition of the IPL•BCCIOverall it was an auction of limited success for New Zealand players with only Corey Anderson, Martin Guptill, Matt Henry and Lockie Ferguson – the raw quick bowler – being bought, although nine current New Zealand players, plus Brendon McCullum, will feature. Despite his impressive T20 record, Guptill had to wait for the second round of bidding while Ferguson was even later, picked up in the dying moments of the auction when brought back into the pool for a second time.NZC have taken a pragmatic approach to the impact of the IPL on its international players, realising it risked alienating them if harsh restrictions were put in place over how long they could go for, given the limited earning potential from their New Zealand careers.It has created controversy in the past, with a core of senior figures arriving on the eve of a Test match against England at Lord’s in 2015. This time, players involved in the latter stages of the tournament will be allowed to miss the triangular one-day series in Ireland from May 12-24 which was viewed as a warm-up for the Champions Trophy.The 15-man squads for the Champions Trophy have to be named 30 days before the tournament begins – which would mean May 1 – but it is likely to be a shadow New Zealand team which competes in Ireland, although some players could become available for the latter matches if their franchises are knocked out.David White, the NZC CEO, said that while in an ideal world a full-strength squad would stay together, they had to continue to adapt to the impact of the IPL.”I think our strategic approach to this one has been bang on: encourage our Black Caps to continue playing for New Zealand by allowing them to share in the opportunities now available in the professional market,” White told the . “Don’t force them to choose between cash and country and risk a backlash.”At least on this occasion, they’ll be moving from one short-form, white-ball tournament to another. I think a compromise in which our players can feel they’re getting the best of both worlds is the prudent option.”The money is clearly game-changing for New Zealand players, but Boult said there was more to the IPL experience than counting the digits in his paycheck.”I’m not going for the money. The experience of playing there in front of thousands of people is the most exciting part. I’m looking forward to rubbing shoulders with a few more international players and growing my game.”But, still, a few team-mates made sure he bought the coffee on Monday morning. “Tim Southee pretty quickly reminded me it would be my shout.”

Lyon midfielder Romain Faivre has the potential to be a shrewd summer signing for Crystal Palace, according to journalist Dean Jones.

Who is Romain Faivre?

The 24-year-old spent last season on loan at FC Lorient, scoring five goals in Ligue 1, as well as chipping in with a further three assists in the competition. He is permanently registered at Lyon, however, where he has made 28 appearances to date, netting three times along the way.

It could be that Faivre looks for a new challenge during the summer transfer window, however, and a move to the Premier League certainly doesn't look to be out of the question. Palace are one of the clubs who have been linked with a move for the Frenchman, as they look to make positive progress in the transfer market before the start of the 2023/24 season.

Everton and Fulham are also believed to be in the mix, though, with it looking increasingly likely that the midfielder will depart Lyon, even though his current deal there doesn't expire until the summer of 2026.

Would Faivre be a good signing for Crystal Palace?

Speaking to Give Me Sport, transfer expert Jones talked up the idea of Palace completing the signing of Faivre in the summer transfer window:

"I think he’s a good level of player to be looking at. He's very confident on the ball. He’s very confident in his decision-making. He's got a bit of cheekiness about him too."

Faivre could be a really strong option for Palace this summer, coming in as someone who can provide various different attributes in the middle of the park. Last season, the £18,000-a-week midfielder averaged three dribbles per game, highlighting the attacking quality and risk-taking ability that he possesses, but he also made 0.8 tackles per match, which while far from earth-shattering, still shows that he can do a job defensively.

Midfield is certainly an area of the pitch that the Eagles could do with improving, as Roy Hodgson looks to bring in the right players after committing his future to the club for another season, with Faivre providing more of a creative spark than someone like Will Hughes, for example, who only chipped in with one goal and assist apiece in the Premier League last term.

Arsenal legend Thierry Henry has said that "Romain Faivre has something few players have – he breaks lines", which is high praise from such a legendary footballing figure, and it is that ability to provide that extra spark in the middle of the park that could help take Palace up a level moving forward, also getting even more out of attacking stars such as Eberechi Eze and Michael Olise.

There is clearly strong competition for Faivre's signature, so it won't be easy for the Eagles to get their man, but the lure of moving to London could as a potential advantage, given the appeal of living in and around the city, and Palace could also be considered less of a relegation-threatened candidate than Everton and Fulham in 2023/24.