Category Uncategorized

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.

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.

JP Duminy was considering retiring from Test cricket in January, when he was dropped for the New Year’s Test against England, before he was talked out of it by Ashwell Prince

Firdose Moonda05-Nov-2016

South Africa batsman JP Duminy was considering retiring from Test cricket in January, when he was dropped for the New Year’s Test against England, before he was talked out of it by Ashwell Prince, who was a selector at the time. Duminy ended a run of patchy form by scoring 141 in the second innings to give South Africa a 300-plus lead over Australia in the ongoing Perth Test.”When he was dropped in January, he was considering retiring from Test cricket,” Prince told ESPNcricinfo in Perth. “He had the conversation with me because the convener of selectors was not at the Cape Town Test, so I had to go and take him the news that he won’t be playing.”At that time, he was at a real low point and he was being honest and giving his feelings. As a selector, and with him being an important player to South African cricket, you try and convince him to think about it. I’m sure when he thinks back about that conversation this afternoon or this evening, he will know how he was feeling then and with the feeling he is having now, he will be happy that he carried on.”Duminy admitted that at that time he lacked direction, especially in Tests. “There was indifferent feelings. I wasn’t sure where I was going in terms of my career but I am very grateful to get another opportunity.”He had gone 12 innings without a hundred when he was dropped, and in that time he had only passed fifty once. Like his team-mates, he struggled in India and with South African cricket itself on the wane, had several reasons to walk away. “It’s difficult to pinpoint exactly what it was but he was out of form,” Prince said. “With the type of calendar that they have these days, he has got a young baby, a young family, all that might have played a role.”That was when Prince reminded Duminy, who had replaced him in the 2008 Perth Test and made a half-century in a famous victory, of the prestige of the longest format. “I was talking to him as a friend, rather than a selector. I was making him understand how important Test cricket is for a player. You can play hundreds of ODIs and T20 and make millions but when you are done playing, you always think about what you did in the Test-match arena,” Prince said. “You can play fifty ODIs quickly and not remember anything. These type of performances, that’s what the game is all about.”During the conversation, Prince said Duminy told him that he needed “a bit of a break,” and was going to take the New Year’s week off but then he decided to play in a franchise first-class match. He scored a career-best 260. “I don’t know what changed from him wanting a break and then playing in that match but he got 250 straight away and I think the next Test he was back in.”Faf du Plessis was dropped for the next game and Duminy returned but not with much success. He scored 19 and 29 against England at SuperSport Park and it was only when he struck 88 against New Zealand seven months later that it seemed he had found form again. Then, Duminy was able to realign his goals with his performances.”The change came for me just before the West Indies tour,” Duminy said. “I sat down and reassessed my goals. Test cricket has always been a big part of my goal setting and I knew I was at a crossroads in my Test career. I wanted to leave my Test career knowing that I’ve given it my all, and I committed to myself that I was going to give myself the best chance, so that was the difference. It was a personal thing. I didn’t necessarily speak to anyone about it. I just sat down, wrote a few things down, where I want to go, what I still want to achieve.”In that match, played without the injured AB de Villiers, Duminy was moved to No. 4, which is where he has batted in this Perth Test, and the change of position might have led to a change in fortune.”If you are at No. 6, 90% of the time, you are batting with the bowlers so you will always have to try and think how am I going to marshall my way through this innings,” Prince said. “Do I trust them? Are they looking good on the day or are they looking like it’s going to be a matter of time? You are taking everything into consideration, whether it’s spinning, whether they are getting in line behind the ball. Maybe upfront he is a lot more relaxed, he has a lot more time to bat, he doesn’t have to think should I attack more, should I defend more, or how the tail is lining up. He just has to bat.”For Duminy, the move to No. 4 refreshed his approach. “I was pleased with the opportunity. It is something I have always enjoyed in the first-class arena. To be given the nod to go ahead, especially with it being such a crucial position in the South African team, was a big positive for me and I knew I had to step up and fill some big boots. You had Kallis and AB de Villiers batting there before. Today [in Perth] was a step in the right direction.”But more than the change of position, Prince believed it was a mental shift that did the trick for Duminy. “I think its 100% mindset. I think maybe he has thought about and committed to wanting to do more in his Test career,” Prince said. “In the first innings [in Perth] he came out looking to play more positively and maybe once or twice was a little loose, in the second innings he came out positive again but a lot more selective. His shot selection and his stroke play has been sublime.”

Newcastle United owners Saudi Public Investment Fund (PIF) would be keen on bringing Al Nassr forward Cristiano Ronaldo to Tyneside this summer despite a potential move being 'against the principles', according to journalist Alex Crook.

What's the latest transfer news involving Cristiano Ronaldo?

Earlier this year, shortly after Ronaldo completed his historic move to Al Nassr, Marca via The Mirror reported that the Portugal international is said to have a clause in his contract at the Saudi club that would allow him to make a temporary loan move to Newcastle United if they qualified for the Champions League in 2022/23.

Of course, that feat has been achieved, as Eddie Howe's men secured a return to the competition for the first time in 20 years, finishing fourth in the Premier League having amassed 71 points from 38 fixtures, as per BBC Sport.

90min revealed earlier this month that PIF want to make a 'marquee' addition at St James' Park in the summer and the prospect of bringing Ronaldo to the North East 'has also been discussed', though Toon Army boss Howe is not keen on pursuing the £3.4 million-a-week ace.

Howe has spoken about links to Ronaldo and also Paris Saint-Germain attacker Neymar, as per, stating in an interview cited by The Independent: “We could not be able to come close to affording those players as they are the best players in the world. We are never going to be in a position currently to afford those transfer fees and wages, so we need to go underneath and find them young and develop them into the players they can be.”

Speaking to GIVEMESPORT, journalist Crook has stated that PIF would be open to signing Ronaldo this summer; nevertheless, expects Howe to be allowed to conduct transfer business in his own way.

Crook said: “I think PIF are quite keen to bring in big names. They would like to bring in Ronaldo but that goes completely against the principles.

“I think Eddie Howe has enough credit in the bank to be allowed to do it his own way probably with the likes of Harvey Barnes, James Maddison, Scott McTominay, I think, is a big target as well. He’s a James Ward-Prowse type manager rather than a Neymar.”

How has Cristiano Ronaldo fared since moving to Al Nassr?

Funchal-born football legend Ronaldo has been a typically potent goal threat since moving to Al Nassr following his controversial exit from Manchester United in 2022.

Since joining the Saudi outfit, the 38-year-old has featured 19 times in all competitions, racking up an impressive 14 goals and two assists, as per Transfermarkt.

Nevertheless, the veteran forward was left disappointed as Al-Nassr's title bid to win the Saudi Pro League was ended last Saturday, as a 1-1 draw against Ettifaq enabled Al-Ittihad to win the league with a game to spare following a 3-0 victory over Al Feiha in a game he was substituted off in, as per The Sun.

As per talkSPORT, Ronaldo has went two seasons without winning a major trophy, which is something he will be desperate to rectify next term. However, it looks unlikely that he will have the chance to do that at Newcastle United in current circumstances, despite rumours swirling over a dream Premier League return.

Liverpool's summer plans are really hotting up at the moment with a number of deals potentially in the pipeline for Jurgen Klopp and co.

Liverpool transfer news – Reds favourites to sign Mason Mount

The Reds initially wanted to bring Jude Bellingham to Anfield this summer but after reportedly pulling out of a move, the Englishman has since closed in on a move for Real Madrid.

As a result, FSG has sought alternatives with Alexis Mac Allister topping their list.

It's thought that Liverpool are leading the race to sign the Brighton midfielder in a deal that could cost around £70m, as per the Mirror.

That said, he isn't the only domestic signing that the Merseysiders could make with the same report taking note of their interest in Mason Mount.

The Chelsea star is out of contract in 2024 and with no new deal seemingly forthcoming, a move may well be on the cards.

At the moment, it's Liverpool who are 'favourites' to sign the attacking midfielder 'for around £50m'.

Is Mount like Coutinho?

Whenever a new signing arrives through the door for the first time, comparisons are immediately drawn to players of old.

Normally they don't live up to the hype but in the case of Mount, a Premier League-proven player who has already won a plethora of honours, you can't go too far wrong.

In fact, despite his aforementioned price tag, this would be an incredibly smart piece of business and would also mark a statement of intent from Liverpool as they bid to revive their fortunes next term.

What better way to do so than by acquiring a player who possesses shades of a certain Philippe Coutinho?

The Brazilian may now be far past his peak, having scored just once for Aston Villa this term, but during his spell at Liverpool, he was one of the best around. Indeed, the playmaker found the net on 54 occasions in 201 outings, while boasting a further 45 assists.

Perhaps his best spell in England was reserved for his final six months before his move to Barca, with the 68-cap star registering 13 goal involvements in his first 14 Premier League matches of the season.

Since then, it has arguably been a tail of woe, with Liverpool arguably still missing his services; even if they do still have the likes of Mo Salah and co.

Writer Josh Williams noted such a fact in 2021, saying: "Liverpool have been without a player who can switch between midfield and attack since Coutinho, like Mount or KDB."

Therefore, in the Chelsea star, Klopp may well have a player capable of breaking those lines again and picking up pockets of space in which to create and score.

The England international hasn't enjoyed his best campaign, scoring just three times in 35 games, but like Coutinho has shown he can bag goals and assist them in regular and consistent fashion.

Only last term, the 24-year-old scored 13 and created a further 16 for his teammates as he recorded career-best figures.

Capable of operating in central areas or from out wide, there are further comparisons to be made between the two silky technicians.

in the last decade or so, there have been few better in this country in their position. Of course, you will always have the David Silva's and Kevin De Bruyne's of this world but in Mount, you have a clutch player who is still rather underrated.

Such a figure would be perfect for Klopp who is searching for reliable operators in order to get Liverpool back on track next term. With that Coutinho comparison whetting the appetite for what's to come, the Three Lions star would be an astute capture. Just imagine him alongside Mac Allister too; what a sight that would be for supporters next season.

The Anfield club have been used to turgid displays for the most part from their central players this term, but in those two players, they'd be incredibly well set.

Chelsea owner Todd Boehly is in talks with Paris Saint-Germain chairman Nasser Al-Khelaifi over a potential move for Neymar, French football expert Julien Laurens has claimed.

What's going on with Neymar?

The Brazil superstar is set to leave PSG this summer, having been targeted by the club's fans, who called for him to depart the French capital.

In what has been an injury-hit campaign, he has 18 goals and 17 assists in 29 games, and the 31-year-old would be a statement signing for anyone.

Speaking on ESPN FC (5.30), Laurens claimed that Chelsea are in talks over a potential deal for the attacker, even though they will not be playing European football next season.

"We know that Todd Boehly has had meetings already with the Al-Khelaifi to talk about Neymar, talking about the possibility of bringing him to Stamford Bridge next season," he stated.

"I don't think this is a strategy from Newcastle to go and get someone like Neymar, their strategies in recruitment have been very different despite the money that they have.

"For Chelsea. however, the bling-bling has been the strategy, that's what they want. So I think Neymar on that point would fit well."

Could Neymar solve Chelsea's problems?

Although he is still prolific in front of goal, Neymar, who has been described as a "special talent," may not solve Chelsea's issues in attack.

Chelsea have already invested a large sum of money in left-winger Mykhailo Mudryk, and Neymar's arrival could block the Ukrainian's pathway to the team.

The Blues have struggled all season, scoring just 34 times in 34 matches, and as he is not an out-and-out striker, Neymar may not be the striker Chelsea need to lead the line.

If Chelsea keep loanee Joao Felix, then they will have two expensive, younger players in Neymar's favoured positions, and signing the Brazilian on a big-money deal would not solve their other issues.

On a wage of around £955k-per-week, he would cost the club a huge amount of money during a time when they need to cut costs, with an inflated squad that needs trimming as well as a lack of Champions League revenue.

At 31, Neymar would be a short-term signing, and whilst his arrival would be a huge statement, his poor injury record would likely mean Chelsea get little value for money, and given that other areas of the team need investment, it is a signing that they should avoid.

Everton have fallen by the wayside these past few years, with mismanagement from the top, and woeful showings on the pitch, Goodison Park has been sapped of its vitality and faces the daunting prospect of relegation from the Premier League.

The Blue side of Merseyside has been left shaking like a leaf, and despite the managerial appointment of Sean Dyche in January, and subsequently collecting home victories over Arsenal and Brentford, recently demolishing high-flying Brighton & Hove Albion 5-1 on the south coast, the Toffees remain just one point above the murky water of the bottom three with two matches to play.

If top-flight status is preserved once again, Dyche will have his work cut out in merging aptitude on the transfer front with application on the pitch and burnishing the club's image will require an unflappable resolve from all affiliated.

One sure-fire way to set the cogs into motion is to make good of recent rumours attributing interest from Everton owner Farhad Moshiri in rising Arsenal star Folarin Balogun, who has been flourishing out on loan in Ligue 1 with Reims this season.

According to journalist Ben Jacobs, writing for GIVEMESPORT last month, Everton are 'among a very long list of clubs keeping tabs on Balogun', who wishes to seek a "different kind of challenge" this summer with the Gunners unable to promise him regular minutes.

Should Everton sign Folarin Balogun?

Hailed as a "goal scoring machine" by journalist Garland Gillen, the 21-year-old has indeed been in emphatic form this term, plundering 20 goals and three assists from 36 matches across all competitions with that seeing Arsenal raise his asking price to over €40m (£35m).

The previous campaign, the highly-rated young forward landed three goals and assists apiece from only nine starts for Middlesbrough in the Championship, with the first half of the term within the Premier League 2 leaving the ace with 13 goals from just 11 matches.

As per FBref, the 13-cap England U21 international – with seven goals – already ranks among the top 27% of forwards across Europe's top five leagues for rate of non-penalty goals per 90, also ranking among the top 7% for non-penalty xG and the top 9% for total shots won.

The £31k-per-week gem is certainly a "frightening" talent, as hailed by journalist Paul Brown, and although he does not yet boast the refined prolific edge that comes with confidence and experience, his staggering haul during his first full season at top level illustrates his remarkable capabilities.

He is listed as a comparable player to Liverpool star Darwin Nunez, as per FB ref, who has been a mercurial and electric forward on Merseyside since his club-record £85m arrival from Benfica in the summer, albeit wasteful and unquestionably the unfinished article.

Nunez scored 34 times from 41 matches for Águias last season, and while he boasts 15 goals and four assists from only 26 starting appearances for Jurgen Klopp's Liverpool this term, he has been branded as "too wasteful" by the likes of club legend Robbie Fowler.

Both forwards bear a semblance in their knack of finding opportune moments in the offensive third to strike, with the Uruguayan ranking among the top 1% of positional peers for non-penalty xG and the top 2% for total shots per 90.

Time will tell if either star will blossom into the full scope of their skill set, but Balogun has certainly taken the right early strides and could yet lead Everton to glory as their 'frightening' new talisman.

Chelsea are "closer than ever" to appointing Mauricio Pochettino as their new manager, according to an update from journalist Fabrizio Romano in the early hours of Tuesday morning.

Pochettino vs Nagelsmann for Chelsea?

The Blues are continuing to work hard on announcing a new boss in the near future, with the individual in question not expected to take charge until the summer. Frank Lampard will remain as manager until the end of the season, with these last few fixtures almost not coming quickly enough.

For a while, it looked as though Julian Nagelsmann was the strong favourite to become Chelsea's latest manager, but the former Bayern Munich man has since dropped out of the race, reportedly citing issues with the recruitment process as the reason for it.

Now, it looks as though Pochettino will take charge, in a move that may not go down too well with Tottenham supporters, following his stint there previously. A new update has emerged overnight regarding the situation – one that further suggests that this is almost a done deal.

Is Pochettino joining Chelsea?

Taking to Twitter, Romano said that a deal to bring in the Argentine has "never been closer" after a new development in talks on Monday night. As expected, he won't come in until the summer:

"Mauricio Pochettino, now closer than ever to get Chelsea manager job after new crucial round of positive talks tonight. Negotiations entering final stages — still waiting for formal contract to be sent, checked and signed. Pochettino would join in June, NOT now."

Pochettino feels like an exciting appointment for Chelsea, and while some may point at a lack of trophies during his managerial career, there is more to a manager than simply winning silverware.

Granted, his only three successes have come at Paris Saint-Germain, where there is not exactly stiff competition compared to other leagues, but he reached the 2019 Champions League final with an underfuned Spurs side and had them playing an attack-minded brand of football along the way.

Chelsea have a strong squad that can be utilised by the right manager and Pochettino's man-management skills could get the best out of struggling figures such as Raheem Sterling and Joao Felix, for example, and his time away from management may have refreshed him.

The fact that Spurs fans will dislike the appointment could be an added bonus in the eyes of some Chelsea supporters, given the rivalry between the two clubs, but most importantly, the Blues would be acquiring the services of a top manager with a point to prove.

Tottenham Hotspur are one of the sides who are said to be sniffing around the Manchester City centre-back Aymeric Laporte ahead of the summer transfer window.

Is Laporte leaving City this summer?

According to reports, the Premier League champions are now opening to allowing the Spaniard to leave in the summer as he looks for more regular action.

And one of the sides said to be interested in the possibility of signing him are Spurs as they aim to keep the 28-year-old in the Premier League.

However, it is also said the French giants Paris Saint-Germain could make a push for the City defender in the summer as City open their doors for an exit.

Spurs have been linked with a number of centre-backs over recent months with Kim Min-jae and Alessandro Bastoni both believed to be targets on Tottenham's radar.

The Lilywhites are expected to make a push in the summer to address their defence with two new centre-backs believed to be on the agenda.

And speaking on the Talking Transfers podcast, insider Graeme Bailey has claimed Laporte is a potential candidate to help solve their defensive issues from this season:

(32:25) "Laporte and his people have been going around Europe letting people know he's available and Tottenham are one of the ones who've had a sniff.

"To be fair, he's a very good Premier League centre-half, isn't he? Outside the top two or three, he would improve most teams, I think, or at least get a game.

"So yeah, I think there'll be a lot of interest in Laporte. It wouldn't surprise me to see him cross the Premier League."

Would Laporte improve the Spurs defence?

Tottenham's defence has been a major concern this season with the north London club only registering a +12 goal difference despite being the league's third-highest scorers.

Spurs have now conceded 41 goals this season and are joined as the eight-worst defence in the league alongside the relegation-battling Everton.

There has to be a caveat when looking at Laporte's stats from this season as his game time has been extremely limited with just 555 minutes of league action under his belt after the "warrior" underwent knee surgery last year (via Transfermarkt).

On top of that, the £120k-per-week ace is playing for one of the most dominant forces in Europe who have only conceded 26 goals in the Premier League this season.

Therefore, his return of 0.48 tackles per 90 minutes is significantly down on his return of more than double that (1.08) from last season where he made 33 league appearances (via FBref).

However, his ability on the ball has been sensational with the 28-year-old ranking inside the top third percentile for pass completion, progressive passes and carries.

And that is something which the Spurs defenders struggled with massively on Monday night as Eric Dier (16) and Clement Lenglet (11) were both victims of losing possession frequently (via SofaScore).

Laporte could also provide the Spurs backline with some much-needed experience and a winning mentality having won numerous trophies during his time at City.

But if the likes of PSG are going to fight for him over the summer, a move to north London could prove a challenging sell.

Journalist Liam Keen has revealed a Wolves concern over the availability of Ruben Neves, as he is not fully fit and at risk of suspension amid their relegation fight.

What's going on with Neves and Wolves?

The Portugal international has been a standout player for Julen Lopetegui's side this season, scoring five times as Wolves aim to surivive the drop.

However, they could lose their captain ahead of a crucial few weeks as he struggles with a calf knock that is being carefully managed. He has been withdrawn in each of his side's last two games, having played the full 90 minutes in every previous league start this season.

He has also accumulated nine yellow cards this season, and one more will see him pick up a two-match suspension.

Speaking on the Express and Star podcast, Keen bemoaned the situation, which means Wolves either have to gamble on the availability of their talisman or purposefully rest him in crucial matches.

He said: "I think Neves is difficult. I think they probably are trying to save him, but you can't do that for the next four games, you can't take him off every single game.

"At the same time, Lopetegui has said that he was at the limits with a calf injury and they've been managing it, so it's a difficult one.

"If they are trying to save him for games, I don't think you can do that, I think you have to just play him and hope that he gets through.

"Of course, he did it last season where he got through eight games without a booking, so it's something he's capable of doing, albeit it's difficult."

Who could Wolves play in his absence?

Rio Ferdinand once referred to Neves as "fantastic", and he will be difficult to replace if he picks up an injury or a suspension.

The £50k-per-week captain has missed just one game this season, which was the 3-0 defeat at the hands of Chelsea, and Wolves will be eager to avoid a similar disaster should they have to play without him.

One option could be to bring Matheus Nunes back into the starting XI. The summer signing has been benched for the last two games, and could return having been made available after the club won their appeal against a three-match ban for the midfielder.

Joao Moutinho and Joao Gomes could come in alongside Nunes to fill the three-man midfield, and this could be a taste of what is to come next season. With one year left on his deal, Neves looks likely to depart the club as it stands, and Lopetegui could trial his internal solutions in his absence now before turning to the transfer market.