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Krunal Pandya’s all-round performance – a three-for coupled with a half-century – set up an emphatic seven-wicket victory for Baroda against Karnataka in the first quarter-final at the Feroz Shah Kotla.Chasing 234, Pandya struck a 79-ball 70 after Baroda’s Kedar Devdhar and Aditya Waghmode replicated Karnataka’s opening stand of 64 runs. Waghmode’s dismissal in the 15th over preceded a solid 92-run partnership between Devdhar and Pandya for the second wicket, that took their side to 156 within 33 overs. While Devdhar struck six fours and two sixes in his 98-ball 78, Pandya’s knock – studded with five fours and a six – guided Baroda past 200 and took him among the top five run-scorers in the tournament, with 336 runs from seven matches. Pandya had put on 47 for the third wicket with Deepak Hooda, who made a brisk 34* to overhaul the target, alongside Yusuf Pathan (10*) – with 25 balls to spare.Earlier, Baroda’s decision to field was vindicated by Pandya’s returns of 3 for 32, as his left-arm orthodox undid Ravikumar Samarth (44), before accounting for J Suchith and Aniruddha Joshi, who fell for 18 each. Despite four of their top five batsmen – including Robin Uthappa (24) and Mayank Agarwal (40) – scoring over 20, Karnataka only managed 233 in 48.5 overs, as three run-outs and a middle-overs stutter were followed by them losing their last four wickets for 18 runs. Pavan Deshpande top-scored with 54, but his run-out in the 35th over meant the remaining six partnerships could only add another 63 runs before they were bowled out.A combined bowling effort and a score of 85 from opener GS Raju steered Tamil Nadu in the semi-finals with a five-wicket win over Gujarat in Delhi. Once Gujarat were bowled out for 211, TN reached their target with 46 balls to spare.Gujarat could not capitalise on their decision to bat as left-arm spinner Rahil Shah removed two of the top three batsmen even though Samit Gohel fought with a patient 39 till the 21st over. Two quick wickets from Vijay Shankar, trapping Het Patel and Chirag Gandhi lbw, meant Gujarat slipped to 110 for 5 with over 20 overs left. No. 4 Rujul Bhatt, however, resisted with a brisk half-century and chaperoned the tail to ensure Gujarat batted till the last over. His unbeaten 83 off 98 balls, with five fours and two sixes, survived spells from RS Kishore (2 for 35) and Shah (2 for 34) as Shankar ended with 3 for 48 from his 10 overs, his best List A figures.TN’s chase was led by Raju who stitched partnerships of 62, 63 and 42 for the top three stands with Kaushik Gandhi (18), B Aparajith (34) and Dinesh Karthik (21). Once Raju fell for a 95-ball 85 in the 32nd over, TN were only 45 away and sealed the win in the 43rd over, although after losing two more wickets.

Chelsea have been one of the busiest clubs on the continent in terms of transfer activity so far this summer, with Kai Havertz and Mateo Kovacic the latest big names to depart.

Edouard Mendy, N'Golo Kante and Kalidou Koulibaly have all moved to clubs in Saudi Arabia, meanwhile, and it looks likely that Ruben Loftus-Cheek will be next out the Stamford Bridge exit in a move to AC Milan.

Mauricio Pochettino is no doubt eager to replenish the squad, which was in clear need of a facelift, having so far brought in only Christopher Nkunku from RB Leipzig – a deal sanctioned well before he arrived at the club.

Who is Chelsea target Angelo Gabriel?

According to Nizaar Kinsella in a report for the Evening Standard, Chelsea are in advanced talks to sign Brazilian winger Angelo Gabriel from Santos in a deal worth around £15m.

It is unclear whether Angelo will slot straight into Chelsea's first-team squad ahead of the 2023-24 Premier League season, or instead go out on loan to affiliate club Strasbourg in Ligue 1.

As someone with 129 senior games to his name despite not turning 19 until December, it might well be that Pochettino – a coach well known for giving youngsters a chance – decides to see what the teenager is all about during pre-season.

Is Angelo Gabriel a good fit for Mauricio Pochettino?

Angelo, as he is known, has been on the radar of major clubs such as Real Madrid and Liverpool ever since becoming the youngest goalscorer in Copa Libertadores history at the age of 16 two years ago, a record that Madrid-bound Endrick has since taken.

In terms of his playing style, Angelo plays out wide and thrives when it comes to beating his opponent, as highlighted by his 4.55 successful take-ons per 90 minutes over the past year. Indeed, as per FBref, that places him among the top 1% of attacking midfielders and wingers across the eight leagues most similar in quality to the Brasileiro Serie A.

As pointed out by his former coach Betinho in an interview with Goal in 2021, Angelo "is like Neymar in terms of his dribbling at speed and his change of direction". Neymar, it is worth pointing out, did not make his Santos debut until a year after Angelo.

That is not to say Angelo is necessarily on the same path as his compatriot, who has starred for both Barcelona and Paris Saint-Germain, but Pochettino appears to be the dream manager to ensure he lives up to the hype.

After all, there are plenty of previous examples of Pochettino getting the most out of big-money players and indeed forwards looking to make their way in English football, arguably the biggest of all being Son Heung-min at Tottenham.

Son joined Spurs from Bayer Leverkusen for £22m in 2015 and initially struggled, but he became one of Europe's hottest talents in his four years working with Pochettino.

As Son said in 2016, he is "very grateful" that Pochettino persuaded him to stay at Spurs and become the player he is, with the South Korean going on to find the net 145 times for the Lilywhites to date, 75 of which came under the new Chelsea boss.

Known for his fleet-footed nature, it's easy to see how he and Angelo are alike.

Being compared to Neymar and Son means Angelo has a lot to live up to, but if he remains patient and takes the advice on board, Pochettino can make him a Premier League star.

A round-up of the first day’s play from the quarter-finals of the 2016-17 Ranji Trophy season

ESPNcricinfo staff23-Dec-2016
ScorecardFile photo – Siddhesh Lad scored his fourth first-class hundred•AFPA century from Siddhesh Lad and his fifth-wicket stand of 105 with Aditya Tare rescued Mumbai after Chama Milind had rocked them with three early wickets. Having chosen to bat first at the Shaheed Veer Narayan Singh International Stadium, Mumbai were 34 for 4, with both Shreyas Iyer and Suryakumar Yadav back in the dressing room, when Lad joined Tare.The pair batted for the next 40.3 overs, before Tare, Mumbai’s wicketkeeper-captain, fell for 73 (148b, 14×4) to the medium-pacer Mohammed Siraj, who picked up his second wicket. That would be Hyderabad’s last wicket of the day, as Lad batted through to go to stumps on 101 (196b, 15×4, 1×6), having added an unbroken 111 with Abhishek Nayar (46*, 79b, 7×4) for the sixth wicket.
ScorecardFile photo – Lunch was taken early due to concerns over the pitch that arose when Parthiv Patel was struck on the arm by an awkwardly rising ball•AFPUnbeaten half-centuries from Chirag Gandhi and Rush Kalaria rescued Gujarat after Odisha sent them in and reduced them to 71 for 6. The two added an unbroken 126 for the seventh wicket in 48 overs as Gujarat went to stumps 197 for 6, with Gandhi on 62 (161b, 6×4) and Kalaria on 59 (136b, 6×4, 1×6).Lunch was taken 47 minutes early at the Sawai Man Singh Stadium, with Gujarat 39 for 2, due to concerns over the pitch that reportedly arose when Parthiv Patel was struck on the arm by an awkwardly rising ball. Play resumed after ground-staff re-rolled the pitch, and Gujarat slumped further against the medium-pace of Deepak Behera, Basant Mohanty and Biplab Samantray, before Kalaria joined Gandhi at the end of the 31st over of their innings.
ScorecardFile photo – Shahbaz Nadeem picked up his 12th first-class five-wicket haul•KCA/Ranjith PeralamShahbaz Nadeem’s 12th first-class five-wicket haul ensured Haryana did not extend the advantage of winning the toss on a day of unconverted starts at the Moti Baug Stadium. In 30 overs of left-arm spin, Nadeem took 5 for 75 as Haryana went to stumps 251 for 7, with all their batsmen getting into double figures but none of them managing a half-century.Chaitanya Bishnoi (41) and Rajat Paliwal (42) were the day’s highest scorers, the two of them adding 83 for the fourth wicket to take Haryana to 154 for 3, before Nadeem dismissed both off successive overs. Haryana slipped further, to 195 for 7, before Sanjay Pahal (38*) and Harshal Patel (22*) saw them through to stumps with an unbroken stand of 56 for the eighth wicket.

Liverpool are closing in on a deal to sign Alexis Mac Allister, and a deal could be completed as early as next week, Fabrizio Romano has revealed.

What's the latest on Mac Allister and Liverpool?

The Argentinian has been in sensational form for Brighton this season, helping Roberto De Zerbi's side qualify for Europe, and the 24-year-old has been the subject of transfer interest.

Liverpool are in need of a midfield rebuild, with the likes of Naby Keita and James Milner departing this summer, and it seems that they are set to land the first of their targets.

Speaking on his YouTube channel, Romano revealed that there are just a number of details to finalise before the deal is completed.

"Important update on Alexis Mac Allister, because Carlos, the father of the player will be in England this weekend. The mission is to complete the negotiation for Alexis Mac Allister next week. We know Liverpool are absolutely the front-runners, they have to complete some final details on the contract of the player and then Alexis will become a new Liverpool player," he stated.

"They have an agreement in principle on the length of the contract, on the salary, it is about some final clauses that they are discussing for Alexis Mac Allister, and then he will agree 100% on the personal terms with Liverpool and then join Liverpool, because they will pay the release clause to Brighton, and trust me, if you see reports of £70m, 65 or £60m, it is way less than this, the release clause.

"That's a very good deal for Liverpool in this case if they will be able to complete everything, but the timing is very clear next week for Alexis Mac Allister."

What will Mac Allister bring to Liverpool?

The World Cup winner will likely be one of a number of midfield signings for Liverpool as Jurgen Klopp aims to rebuild his side with a younger set of players, and Mac Allister could be an excellent addition.

The £50k-per-week star will arrive with plenty of experience for Brighton and Argentina, and he could add extra goal threat from the middle of the park.

The 24-year-old ranks in the top percentile of European midfielders for shots attempted, as well as ranking highly for goals and progressive carries as per FBref. He will bring security and energy on the ball, as well as being able to increase the overall output of Liverpool's low-scoring midfield.

No central midfielder scored more than five goals this season for Liverpool, with Harvey Elliott and Curtis Jones scoring five and three each, and Mac Allister's 12 strikes this season represents a significant upgrade in front of goal.

Aston Villa manager Unai Emery is set to enter his first summer transfer window in charge of the club and it provides him with a chance to make big changes to his squad.

The Spaniard helped the club to secure European football for next season by earning qualification for the Europa Conference League and the roster may need upgrading in order to deal with playing in multiple competitions.

Portuguese outlet A Bola recently reported that the Villans are interested in a deal to sign Sporting attacking midfielder Pedro Goncalves ahead of the 2023/24 campaign and he could improve Emery's team significantly.

The report claimed that the club have been tracking the ace since 2020 and have contacted the Liga Portugal side to enquire about his price, with his side demanding that potential suitors pay up his release clause of €80m (£69m).

How did Pedro Goncalves perform this season?

Emery could land a big upgrade on current Villa playmaker Emiliano Buendia by signing Goncalves as the 24-year-old star enjoyed an exceptional campaign with Sporting in his home country.

In the Portuguese top flight, the magician averaged a Sofascore rating of 7.51 across 33 matches and contributed with 15 goals and 11 assists.

The dynamo proved himself to be a reliable goalscorer from an attacking midfield or wide position, after scoring eight goals in 27 league outings last term, and could provide a greater goal threat than Buendia, who managed just five strikes in 38 matches in the Premier League in 22/23 and four in 35 games in 21/22 for the Villans.

Goncalves, whose form was once hailed as "incredible" by talent scout Jacek Kulig, also created 16 'big chances' and provided 2.6 key passes per match for Sporting in the league. This shows that the former Wolves maestro is consistently opening up the opposition's defence to create quality opportunities for his teammates, to go along with his own goalscoring ability.

Buendia, meanwhile, created eight 'big chances' and made 1.4 key passes per game for Villa in the league and these statistics indicate that the Argentine does not offer as much as the Portuguese talent when it comes to creating for others.

Therefore, Emery could improve his squad heading into the 2023/24 campaign by swooping for Goncalves in the coming months as the playmaker has the potential to provide far more quality in the final third than the ex-Norwich man.

There is no guarantee that he will be able to translate his form from Portugal over to England but his eye-catching form in front of goal suggests that it is a gamble worth taking this summer.

Burnley are reportedly interested in signing Aberdeen striker Luis 'Duk' Lopes in the summer transfer window and his arrival at Turf Moor could see Vincent Kompany ditch Wout Weghorst for good.

Could Burnley sign Duk this summer?

It was reported by transfer specialist Fabrizio Romano last month that Burnley are interested in signing the Cape Verde international following their promotion back to the top flight.

Kompany will be keen to add attacking reinforcements to try and keep the Clarets in the Premier League and after a sensational first season in Scotland, Duk could be a promising option, having only joined Aberdeen on a free transfer last summer, with Benfica still holding 50% of the player's transfer value.

Transfermarkt values the striker at just €1m (£870k) but given that he is contracted at Pittodrie until 2025, Burnley could be forced to pay significantly more if they want to bring the 23-year-old to Lancashire in the summer.

Would Duk be a good signing?

Duk's performances in the Scottish Premiership so far this campaign certainly suggest that he could be a quality addition at Turf Moor, as Kompany seeks replacements for loanee Nathan Tella and departed club legend, Ashley Barnes.

In 35 league appearances, the frontman hit 16 goals and two assists with a strong 6.99 rating from WhoScored for his performances, with only Tella contributing to more goals and four players earning higher ratings in Burnley's squad this season.

The striker's former coach Joao Tralhao isn't surprised by his impact at Aberdeen, given that he starred alongside Atletico Madrid's Joao Felix and Celtic's Jota in the youth team at Benfica.

He said: “He is powerful, aggressive, strong and he works hard to press. He also has an amazing instinct to score goals and you could see that with every year he progressed.

"He has a real instinct for goal that is his top quality. He just scores goals, with his right foot, left foot, chest, head or every part of his body. He has scored a few acrobatic goals for Aberdeen and trust me that is not usual. That is just Duk.”

Duk's physical and goalscoring attributes suggest he could be a dangerous target man for Kompany to have in his squad for next season, which could make Burnley flop Wout Weghorst surplus to requirements at Turf Moor.

After failing to have the desired impact in 2021/22 as Burnley suffered relegation, scoring just twice in 20 Premier League outings, the Netherlands international was sent out on loan to Besiktas and Manchester United and now looks unlikely to have a future with the Clarets.

Therefore, Burnley should definitely be looking to bring in the Portuguese-born forward this summer, especially if it allows Weghorst to be moved on permanently.

Tottenham Hotspur defender Emerson Royal has endured an inconsistent season like many of his teammates as the Lilywhites have struggled to deal with the expectations bestowed upon them.

Pedro Porro had displaced the Brazilian in the Spurs' starting line-up until recently, though Royal has since won his place back in the side and could have a big impact come 2023/24.

What's the latest news involving Emerson Royal?

Journalist Dean Jones, speaking to Football FanCast, has predicted that Royal could have a renaissance in north London next term under a new manager, telling FFC: "I know what they're thinking, will it be three at the back, will it be four at the back [under a new manager], but if he can be adaptable to that, then he could become a big player for Tottenham and start to produce the types of performances that Tottenham fans would have hoped to see more of."

As per The Evening Standard, the 24-year-old demonstrated that he has a role to play looking ahead for Spurs against Crystal Palace earlier this month, operating admirably in a back three, something which drew praise from caretaker boss Ryan Mason.

Mason said after the game: “He was outstanding. I thought the whole team without the ball worked hard, they worked together. And obviously Eme has had a period out. But I trust him. We trust him. And I thought today he did a very good job along with the rest of the players on the pitch.”

90min have cited that there have been suggestions from Royal's agent and father, Emerson Zulu, that he could be set to leave north London this summer, as he said in an interview with the Charla Podcast: "We believe it's time for him to take a bigger leap and to go to a team that fights for titles. I think he fits a giant like Real Madrid."

In total, the £40k-a-week ace has made 35 appearances in all competitions for Tottenham this campaign, registering two goals and one assist, as per Transfermarkt.

Does Emerson Royal have a future at Tottenham Hotspur?

Royal should have a future at Tottenham and he has all of the tools for a new manager to come in and make him a key player in north London moving forward.

The 24-year-old is hardworking, adaptable and has definitely raised his game since the arrival of positional rival Porro in January. WhoScored notes that Royal has been competent in the tackle this season, averaging around two successful challenges per match in the Premier League.

Earlier this year, talkSPORT pundit and former Tottenham man Jamie O'Hara took the time to praise the Brazil international due to his upturn in form, saying: “Emerson Royal. All of a sudden, he’s had the kick up the backside that he needs and he looks like a decent player. Porro has come in and he’s thought I need to step up here and play some decent football and he looks alright now you know.”

FBRef details that Royal also ranks in the top 6% of full-backs across Europe's top five divisions for clearances over the last 365 days, having made 3.25 per 90 minutes in total.

In the Premier League, the Sao Paulo-born defender, who was labelled as "dreadful", has managed to complete 33 accurate long balls, illustrating that he can also contribute to offensive passages of play efficiently.

Yes, Royal still has some aspects of his game that he needs to work on; nevertheless, there is a big opportunity for him to show Spurs' prospective new manager that he can fight for the jersey as a starter next campaign.

Leeds United's position as a club battling relegation is a petrifying one for fans, but with Sam Allardyce at the helm, worries must be somewhat abated.

There are few men in English football with as much pedigree as the 68-year-old, who boasts a career made up largely of being drafted in late to ensure Premier League status is retained.

However, few have enlisted his services this late into a season. He is a fine manager for such a role, but not a miracle worker.

History can tell us how a coach like the former Bolton Wanderers boss will look to play, taking the pressure off his players and setting them up to defend staunchly and counter with speed. Against the calibre of opponent they are set to face, this is the only method they can possibly employ to ensure survival.

He will likely hark back to those days at the Reebok, as the pinnacle of his managerial career, hoping to recapture those glorious years in charge in what looks set to be a short and unceremonious spell at Elland Road.

Of the talents he once commanded, few are as well known around England as Jay-Jay Okocha. A true showman, the Nigerian legend remains one of the Premier League's most revered talents for his unwavering commitment to ridiculing his opposition. Such control over the ball is a trait seldom seen nowadays but coincidentally resides in one of his new players: Wilfried Gnonto.

Is Wilfried Gnonto similar to Jay-Jay Okocha?

Having only joined in the summer, it is startling just how quickly the 19-year-old has established himself as a fan favourite in Yorkshire.

Such lightning-quick runs and imperious close control immediately caught the eye, with Statman Dave having branded the £20k-per-week dynamo as "electric".

His ability to ghost past a man with such trickery makes it impossible not to draw these comparisons, as when put alongisde other wingers across Europe, the teen sensation ranks in the top 12% for progressive carries per 90. He bamboozles defences with his supreme pace and power.

Kevin Davies had noted on Okocha that:

"If you were against him he could make you look stupid. But he couldn’t do it in an arrogant way: he’d always have a little smile on his face (when he was making you look stupid). You couldn’t see the ball or where it went."

He continued, as many seemingly could for hours about the talents of the 49-year-old: "He could do anything with the ball. He was a magician."

Funnily enough, with Gnonto having converted his own magic into six goal contributions in 21 league appearances this season, he perhaps goes under the radar in a similar manner to this African superstar.

Given Okocha recorded just seven goal contributions himself in his debut year in England, during what was his prime years, there is every reason to believe that the 10-cap dynamo can emulate Allardyce's last true trickster to fire them to survival.

Tottenham Hotspur are back in Premier League action today, in what promises to be a hotly-contested clash with Newcastle United.

With the hosts boasting the more favourable position, as they sit three points ahead with a game in hand, a win on the road for Cristian Stellini's side would certainly make for an enthralling end to the season as both sides battle for that elusive fourth-place spot.

Despite enjoying some fine form, Aston Villa showed the rest of the league exactly how to negate the Magpies, as they dismantled them 3-0 in their last game. However, Spurs too have been left reeling after their heartbreak at home to AFC Bournemouth.

Having led early, two goals on either side of halftime transformed the game for the travelling Cherries. A late Arnaut Danjuma scorcher made it almost certain that the points would be shared before Dango Ouattara struck even later to claim the win.

It marked just one of numerous miserable results for Spurs this season, who squandered a fine opportunity to gain vital points on Eddie Howe's men.

They will not get a better chance to do so than today when they face head-on at St James' Park.

Having struggled all season, it is a wonder how they find themselves in contention for such a position. However, to give themselves the best possible chance today, they must call on Danjuma from the start.

Will Arnaut Danjuma play vs Newcastle?

Having been poached from Everton at the eleventh hour, the Dutchman moved to north London as a top asset sure to test the likes of Dejan Kulusevski and Heung-min Son.

However, he has instead been reserved for short cameo appearances and starts in cup competitions, which they have since been knocked out of. The £53k-per-week speedster is yet to even make a Premier League start for the club.

After his goal last weekend, that could be about to change.

This would come after the pleas of journalist Rob Guest, who took to Twitter to write: "Arnaut Danjuma demonstrated on Saturday against Bournemouth that he can more than make an impact on the pitch for Tottenham. Baffling that Antonio Conte only turned to him four times despite the team's attacking woes."

These woes could now be solved by a man who scored 16 goals in all competitions as his side reached the Champions League semi-final.

Such pedigree cannot go unnoticed, and former Premier League marksman Kevin Phillips would exacerbate his need for a start by branding him a "nightmare for defenders" last year.

With Son only recently finding form, scoring three in his last five, Kulusevski has instead recorded just one goal contribution in his last 11.

Something has to change, especially for a game of this magnitude, and Danjuma's introduction could provide just that.

Leeds United defender Junior Firpo has admitted youngster Wilfried Gnonto has surprised him since joining the club back in the summer.

What did Firpo say about Gnonto?

The Italian made the move from FC Zurich in the summer and has made big strides early in his Leeds career which has seen him earn 16 appearances in the Premier League alone (via Transfermarkt).

However, his game time has been hindered slightly since the arrival of Javi Gracia who benched the 19-year-old for their recent games against Chelsea and Brighton & Hove Albion.

But it seems this decision may not have pleased all inside the club with Firpo admitting how much the youngster has impressed since arriving at Thorp Arch.

Speaking on the club's official podcast, the left-back spoke about the 19-year-old's ability and maturity despite having played less than a whole season in the English top flight:

"I think nobody expected from Wilfried. Nobody expected that when he first came, nobody expected. He was just a shy guy, didn't talk too much. He was even a little bit shy on the pitch as well in the training sessions.

"But as soon as he went on the pitch, he was unbelievable from day one. Since day one, he's matured. It's not normal for 19 years old.

"It's not normal how he plays, the maturity that he has, everything, it's unbelievable, to be honest."

How good is Wilfried Gnonto?

Having been dropped to the bench by Gracia, the £20k-per-week Italian made an instant response by providing an assist in his last two games which included from the bench in the draw against the Seagulls.

And his ability at such a young age has been recognised by Roberto Mancini and the Italian national side who have shown a lot of trust in the 19-year-old.

Gnonto recently came off the bench in the game against England and then was rewarded with a start in their following game against Malta (via Transfermarkt).

The issue for Leeds is they are now left sweating over the fitness of their winger who was withdrawn through injury in the early stages of that game.

Given Gracia has not been scared to bench Gnonto already, it will be interesting to see how the Whites would get on if the young Italian was to be sidelined through injury.

In just 168 minutes of action under the Spaniard in the league, Gnonto has offered an impressive return of two assists which is the same as what Brenden Aaronson has offered all season.

Journalist Beren Cross has said the youngster has "dazzled" at times this season and it is easy to see why when the 19-year-old is in the top 10th percentile for progressive caries across the top five European leagues (via FBref).

And it is apparent the players at Thorp Arch have recognised this as much as anyone, especially Firpo who is likely coming up against him in training.