All posts by h716a5.icu

Following the Supreme Court’s warning to the BCCI to follow the directive to implement the Lodha reforms, the board’s defiance seems to have given way to anxiety ahead of the SGM on Friday

Nagraj Gollapudi and Arun Venugopal 29-Sep-20162:25

Lodha proposes, BCCI disposes

Following the Supreme Court’s warning to the BCCI to “fall in line” and follow the directive to implement the Lodha Committee’s recommendations, the board’s defiance seems to have given way to a mixture of anxiety and uncertainty a day before its crucial special general meeting on Friday in Mumbai.The agenda for the SGM, the BCCI had pointed out last week, would be to “consider directions of Justice (Retd) Lodha Committee in connection with the formal adoption of the new Memorandum of Association and Rules for the BCCI.”The court asked the BCCI to respond within a week to the status report submitted by the Lodha Committee on Wednesday. If the BCCI fails to adopt the new Memorandum of Association and Rules at Friday’s meeting, the board risks facing further flak from the court. The BCCI could wait for the court to issue a directive based on the board’s response to the status order, but either way there were not many options left for the BCCI, keeping in mind the two sets of timelines drawn by the Lodha Committee, the first of which will expire on Friday, September 30.A number of board members ESPNcricinfo spoke to admitted to being clueless about the BCCI’s next course of action, and said it would be chalked out by president Anurag Thakur and secretary Ajay Shirke at the SGM. An experienced administrator termed it a “crisis”, but said it was not the end of the road for the BCCI. He felt if the court did not budge, it was time for a new wave of administrators to take charge.A BCCI office-bearer said the board was looking to drag things for as long as it could. “You should understand one thing: whatever needs to be done, we’ll do it,” he said. “The affidavit [filed by the BCCI] is just to prolong things as far as possible.”Some members were, however, wary of the aggressive stance taken by the Lodha Committee and the Supreme Court. The president of a south zone association said the BCCI’s response had to be measured, and people needed to be “careful” about what they said.Another office-bearer of the board, meanwhile, faulted the confrontational approach adopted by the BCCI so far, and said the members of the board were not apprised of relevant developments. “Nobody is kept in the loop. Only president and secretary know what’s happening,” he said. “The BCCI has always been [president and secretary-centric]; that’s the problem we have. All the members could have actually interacted individually with the Lodha Committee, but that was denied. From the beginning itself it has been derailed and we have never got an opportunity to put it on track. From there on, things are messed up.”Ever since the court approved the Lodha recommendations on July 18, the BCCI has resolutely opposed them. The main recommendations the BCCI does not agree with are the cooling-off period after a three-year term, imposing an age cap of 70 for administrators, and having an official of the Comptroller and Auditor General on the proposed Apex Council. The proposed Apex Council is itself contentious as it would replace the existing, and powerful, working committee and the one-state-one-vote proposal, which would bring Mumbai, Maharashtra, Vidarbha. Gujarat, Saurashtra and Baroda under one cluster and limit their voting power to just one vote by rotation.Most state associations, too, have continued to wait for the BCCI’s direction on amending their constitutions. So far, only the Vidarbha Cricket Association has decided to put to vote whether the Lodha recommendations can be adopted by the September 30 deadline set by the committee in its first set of timelines.From being unresponsive at the beginning to openly critical of the Lodha Committee, the BCCI has pursued a combative strategy. Last week, it asked three former India captains, Ravi Shastri, Sunil Gavaskar and Kapil Dev – all hired by the board as television commentators – to back its stance and ask the Lodha Committee to modify some of the recommendations through a dialogue.However, RM Lodha, the chairman of the Lodha Committee, made it clear that there can’t be any dialogue.”Our recommendations have merged with the July 18 judgment after the Supreme Court accepted them and ordered their implementation,” Lodha told the . “The recommendations are part of the judgment. Any attempt to impede implementation of the reform recommendations would be construed as non-implementation of the judgment itself.”

Leeds United have it all to do this coming weekend, with a must-win clash at home to Tottenham Hotspur on the horizon. However, even if they do claim victory, they are still at the mercy of other results.

All Sam Allardyce can do is send his team out to crush Ryan Mason's struggling outfit, and then hope for another miracle elsewhere.

However, after their recent loss to West Ham United, the 68-year-old is faced with a tough selection headache concerning which players will retain their spot despite few impressing.

Rodrigo again proved himself as a sole clinical asset, but other than that few have stepped up during these all-important final weeks of the Premier League campaign.

Those who might have shown glimpses of their quality earlier in the year have wilted, leaving a team that is playing as if they have already been relegated. Should they succumb to the drop, Andrea Radrizzani will want to purge his team of such disappointments.

Crysencio Summerville is one such example, who threatened to play a huge role in their survival bid only to fade into obscurity as the season has gone on. On Sunday he was handed a golden chance to absolve himself for such failures, and yet only exacerbated his miserable campaign.

How did Crysencio Summerville play vs West Ham?

Although the 21-year-old did not start, the wide man was still given the best part of half an hour to make his mark on this clash with the scores level.

However, across his time on the pitch, he would miss arguably his side's best chance of the whole game and oversee two goals conceded. It was a miserable cameo that garnered his 6.4 Sofascore rating, somehow outdoing his abhorrent 6.66 average rating for the season.

It was that key moment where he burst through late on that showcased just how far from the requisite level he is, as he raced towards goal only to rush the opportunity, firing straight into the only defender when it looked easier to find the net.

The £15k-per-week speedster would also complete just three passes, touching the ball 17 times in 28 minutes, via Sofascore.

Presenter Joe Wainman had predicted such a failure to perform over a year ago, as he told the JustJoe Football Show in 2022: "I may be wrong and this may come back to bite me, but whenever I’ve seen Summerville, he has not pulled up any trees. Okay, we might not have seen enough of him, you could argue."

There was a period where the pundit threatened to be proven wrong, as the Dutchman scored four goals in as many games before the World Cup. Unfortunately, this would be the first and last suggestion of such quality.

Many fans would even argue that this brief spell of form was instrumental in Jesse Marsch staying in Yorkshire for well beyond his welcome, meaning that the six points gained from those four games actually were detrimental in the long run.

Given his youth, there is every chance that Radrizzani could still collect a hefty sum for Summerville, whilst also ditching someone that has disappointed the fanbase even when in form this season.

ESPNcricinfo previews the one-off T20I between England and Pakistan at Old Trafford

The Preview by Andrew Miller06-Sep-2016Match FactsSeptember 7, Old Trafford
Start time 6.30pm (1730GMT)Big PictureThe nights are drawing in, the kids are back at school, the summer’s main international trophies have been tussled over and divvied up. All that remains now is an autumnal farewell in Manchester, as England and Pakistan do battle for one last time in a one-off floodlit T20.It all makes for a low-key finale to an otherwise engaging visit from a popular Pakistan touring team. Their victory in the fifth and final ODI at Cardiff on Sunday spared them the ignominy of a 5-0 series whitewash but also, to a degree, deprived this contest of its edge. Not even the Super Series (currently 16-10 in England’s favour) can keep up the pretence that there’s anything tangible at stake.That said, there’s still plenty to prove for the personnel on both teams. England, of course, cemented their white-ball revival with their march to the World T20 final in Kolkata back in April, and for many of the main men of that tournament who sat out the one-off win over Sri Lanka at the Ageas Bowl in June – in particular Joe Root, Alex Hales and, of course, England’s fall guy on that famous evening, Ben Stokes – this will be their first return to the format.Pakistan have no reason to recall their most recent trip to Kolkata with any fondness, either, after a group-stage defeat to India derailed their own World T20 campaign, and in their first 20-over outing since March, they will embark on the start of their own new era, with Sarfraz Ahmed, one of their star campaigners of the England tour, leading his country for the first time outside of a single ODI as stand-in.It promises to be a fun night out in Manchester, and who can quibble with that? But, given that the next World T20 is scheduled to take place in four years’ time (notwithstanding the growing clamour for a 2018 event), anyone seeking pointers for the future directions of both teams can probably afford to let their attention waver for a few hours.Mickey Arthur will be making plans for Pakistan’s new-look T20 side•Getty ImagesForm guide(completed matches, most recent first)
England WLWWW
Pakistan LLLWWIn the spotlightThere will be no escaping the memories of Eden Gardens when Ben Stokes takes hold of the ball in a 20-over contest for the first time since that fateful final over of the World T20. Carlos Brathwaite’s four consecutive sixes ripped the trophy from England’s grasp and left one of their most wholehearted campaigners on his knees and heartbroken. He’s bounced back in all other formats since that day – injury notwithstanding – but it’ll be fascinating to see if he’s trusted to get back to on the horse again when it comes to the death overs.After making his Pakistan debut in Ireland earlier this summer, Hasan Ali’s waspish pace and wholehearted attitude made a decent impression in adversity during the ODI series, and having earned a late call-up to the T20 squad following Mohammad Irfan’s short-lived recall, it seems likely that he’ll be thrust straight into the fray for a shortest-form debut. He seems to be made of the right stuff – Mickey Arthur is already a visible fan – and for a team rebuilding from rock-bottom in limited-overs cricket, he looks worthy of investment.Team newsEngland have named a strong squad, with Hales, Stokes, Root and Moeen Ali all expected to slot back into the starting line-up that is unlikely to look very different from the team that took the field for the World T20 final. Tymal Mills, who impressed with his speed on debut at the Ageas Bowl, is a doubtful starter, having played no cricket since July.England (probable) 1 Alex Hales, 2 Jason Roy, 3 Joe Root, 4 Eoin Morgan (capt), 5 Ben Stokes, 6 Jos Buttler (wk), 7 Moeen Ali, 8 David Willey, 9 Adil Rashid, 10 Chris Jordan, 11 Liam PlunkettIt’s all change for Pakistan, who bid farewell to their ODI skipper, Azhar Ali (not to mention their less-than-match-fit substitute seamer, Irfan), and welcome instead Sarfraz to the helm. Khalid Latif and Sharjeel Khan have been tipped by their captain to open the batting, and there could be a debut for the 21-year-old fast bowler, Amad Butt.Pakistan 1 Khalid Latif, 2 Sharjeel Khan, 3 Sarfraz Ahmed (capt), 4 Mohammad Rizwan, 5 Babar Azam, 6 Imad Wasim, 7 Shoaib Malik, 8 Mohammad Nawaz, 9 Mohammad Amir, 10 Hasan Ali, 11 Amad ButtPitch and conditionsIt’s been a warm and dry Tuesday in Manchester, and with any luck we’ll get more of the same for the match. The pitch, likewise, looks a typically dry Old Trafford surface, with reasonably bare ends that may encourage the spinners on both sides.Stats and trivia England have never yet lost a T20 international at Old Trafford – although they’ve failed on three occasions to get to the finish of a contest. In 2009, they staged back-to-back fixtures against Australia, but weather had the final say, as it did three years later when South Africa were the visitors. Eoin Morgan, who passed 5000 career ODI runs last week, needs 54 to become the first England batsman to reach 1500 in T20s. Quotes”We’ll be playing at a very high intensity, we’ve been playing some great white-ball cricket this summer and we want to continue that.”
“We did not talk about the past but this tour has been good, we have enjoyed it and found people have been welcoming. we win the match and end on a high note.”
Sarfraz Ahmed, Pakistan’s T20 captain, reflects on a happy tour and hopes for a positive ending

Journalist Graeme Bailey has revealed that the representatives of Martin Odegaard have signalled that they want to have talks over a new Arsenal contract.

What's the latest contract news at Arsenal?

It seems as though Mikel Arteta and Edu Gaspar are keen to put plenty of important squad members on fresh new deals as soon as possible.

For instance, it was announced this week that goalkeeper Aaron Ramsdale had committed his future to the club, while there is plenty of talk in the media about the likes of William Saliba and Bukayo Saka also penning new deals.

The latest name to add to that list appears to be club captain Odegaard – and it's good news for the Gunners, as it seems he's more than keen to stick around with a new deal.

Indeed, Bailey revealed as much while talking on 90min's Talking Transfers, explaining the latest development.

He said: "The main thing with this is, his people have signalled their intent to have the talks – which is the main thing, really.

"You know, it's that Football Manager thing, isn't it? When you engage with the agents and they're positive.

"He's not saying, 'No, I'll wait and I'll wait another 18 months.' He isn't saying that. He's happy to talk.

"So this will be a matter of when rather than if. Probably more to the end of the season but this will be a huge deal as well. This will be over £300,000 a week; he'll be one of the highest-paid players at the club."

How much will Martin Odegaard's new contract be worth?

At the moment, the former Real Madrid midfielder earns a reported £115k per week, with his current deal set to expire in the summer of 2025.

However, as Bailey reveals, he could potentially treble that and now earn over £300k per week. This makes sense to a degree, seeing as he has since established himself as club captain and helped the Gunners regain Champions League football.

What's more, Odegaard has been superb, winning the Premier League’s Player of the Month for November and December and has subsequently been nominated for the Premier League’s Player of the Season accolade.

With all that being the case, if the 24-year-old is happy to commit his future to Arsenal, it sounds like one deal that could be wrapped up pretty soon – which would be a great boost going into a potentially busy summer.

Lancashire batsman Alviro Petersen missed out on his 42nd first-class century by two runs, but frustrated Hampshire at the Ageas Bowl along with his batting partners

ECB Reporters Network06-Aug-2016
ScorecardHaseeb Hameed produced another solid display•Getty ImagesLancashire batsman Alviro Petersen missed out on his 42nd first-class century by two runs, but frustrated Hampshire at the Ageas Bowl along with his batting partners.Haseeb Hameed and Luke Procter also collected fifties – with seven players reaching the milestone in the match, which is being played on a flat wicket.Petersen appeared the most comfortable and free flowing of the milestone makers – on a pitch with few demons but tricky to score on when bowled straight. He offered just a single mistake in his innings, with substitute Joe Weatherley parrying a tricky attempt at backward point when the batsman was on 28.Petersen moved to fifty in 83 balls, the quickest of all the fifty celebrators, but missed out on his ton when Liam Dawson bowled him two runs short of a deserved bat raise.Teenage opener Hameed had patiently batted half the day to score a half century for the fifth match in a row – also moving past 1,000 first class runs in just his 15th appearance.Hameed played a similar role to Will Smith, who had notched a double century in Hampshire’s posting of 548, and it was no coincidence he reached 50 in the same amount of balls, 147.Other than a drop by Mason Crane on the previous evening, he offered little for the bowlers – who toiled away on a pitch offering very little. He added 119 for the second wicket with Procter equally as watchful throughout the 51 over slog.Procter eventually fell to the final ball before lunch, leg before to Smith for 54 – the batsman kicking the turf in frustration with the hint the ball rattled his inside edge.Hameed continued his patience and look set for a third hundred of the campaign – but after an 85-run partnership with Petersen was bowled leaving a Gareth Berg in-ducker.With Petersen putting on 84 with skipper Steven Croft before his wicket, Lancashire concluded the day trailing by just 238 runs. Croft looks set to become the eighth man to pass 50 as he is perfectly set overnight on 41.A positive result is now unlikely, unless manufactured by the promotion chancer visitors or basement side Hampshire, on the final day.

Tottenham Hotspur's relationship with Sporting CP has been long withstanding.

After all, one of their defensive stalwarts Eric Dier was poached from the Portuguese outfit back in 2014, whilst more recently Pedro Porro has been another top import from the Lions.

However, what chairman Daniel Levy could seek to pull this summer would be unprecedented, flexing their financial muscles to devastate one of the Liga Primeira powerhouses with a remarkable double swoop.

An outlet from within the country, Record (as per Sport Witness), is now suggesting that there are fears within the club that Ruben Amorim is preparing for a north London switch at the conclusion of this season, worrying the club's hierarchy.

Whilst this alone would be a hammer blow, other rumours persist that suggest Spurs are also keen on signing their top midfielder Manuel Ugarte, further compounding their misery.

Should they first tempt the 38-year-old, surely his love of the Uruguayan destroyer would marry perfectly with Spurs' long-held interest in the 22-year-old, tempting both to make a surprise move together.

In one fell swoop, Levy could be set to finally get his sinking ship back on track.

Having been in need of a new manager since late March, and also in need of powerhouse alternatives since Rodrigo Bentancur's injury in February, at last, there seems a solution to these woes.

Would Manuel Ugarte be a success at Spurs?

Given the success earned by their current Uruguay midfield general, outlined in the 7.21 average rating earned before undergoing surgery, there is no reason to believe that the man with a €60m (£52m) price tag could not achieve similar success.

After all, his presence at the base of the engine room has proved profitable for Amorim since his emergence.

The Portuguese boss has often preferred a three-at-the-back system whilst with Sporting but relies heavily on these centre-backs to stride forward and break the lines. This is where Ugarte shines, as his ability to accept the ball under pressure and keep a move flowing is imperative in their successful progression up the field.

As such, he boasts a 7.04 average rating for this season, underpinned by a phenomenal 91% pass accuracy and 3.9 tackles per game, via Sofascore.

Such defensive proficiency has led writer Dave Hendrick to hail him as a "ball-winning machine" and an "absolute monster" for his age, with all of his progression overseen under Amorim's leadership.

Should the two move together, the hope would be that this coach – once branded "the most exciting young manager in European football" by The Athletic's Jack Pitt-Brooke – could quickly instil his ideas onto the Lilywhites' current squad to get them firing with immediacy.

Having someone like Ugarte join alongside him, who is already well-versed in his methods, could help ease that transition, whilst the young boss can continue aiding his rapid rise to the top with further evolution.

It could be the perfect marriage to move both of these to north London at the same time, so Levy must look to form this monstrous partnership heading into pre-season.

The Federation of International Cricketers Association has said players across the globe remain insecure when it comes to providing information related to corruption to the anti-corruption units of the various member boards

Nagraj Gollapudi13-Jun-2016Despite the ICC’s strong reassurances in the wake of former New Zealand captain Brendon McCullum calling the anti-corruption unit (ACU) “casual”, the Federation of International Cricketers Association (FICA) has said players across the globe remain insecure when it comes to providing information related to corruption to the anti-corruption units of the various member boards.While delivering the MCC Spirit of Cricket lecture recently, McCullum, who had provided evidence against former team-mate Chris Cairns in a perjury case at the Southwark Crown Court last year, had revealed how he had reported two approaches by Cairns to a member of the ICC’s ACU; the official took the information on a piece of paper, McCullum said, and told him it would end up at the “bottom of the file”. Cairns was acquitted of all charges in the case.According to Tony Irish, FICA’s chief executive, players were concerned about the manner in which “sensitive information” provided by them was treated by the anti-corruption units of various member countries. “There is a degree of nervousness generally among players who report, around how that information will be used. Brendon’s experience doesn’t help with that,” Irish told ESPNcricinfo. “It’s a question often asked by players during anti-corruption education sessions run by players’ associations at the domestic level.”According to Irish, the protocols around how player statements were dealt with by both the ICC and the ACU in various member countries was an issue on which FICA wanted focus. “From a collective point of view we want to ensure that any sensitive information provided to authorities by players is protected, and that the various protocols and procedures in place provide adequate protections to players, in particular to whistle blowers,” Irish said. “Protecting clean athletes effectively is a critical aspect of ensuring that corruption is stamped out.”McCullum’s first sitting with the ICC’s ACU, when he was bewildered by the anti-corruption official’s approach, had taken place at the start of the 2011 World Cup. In 2014, when he sat with the ACU to record a much more elaborate statement, once again he was left stunned when his statements were published by an English newspaper. “How can the game’s governing body expect players to co-operate with it when it is then responsible for leaking confidential statements to the media?” McCullum said during his speech.Responding to McCullum’s remarks, the ICC said it was not responsible for the leaks, and that the episode had provided an opportunity for the ACU to review its processes. The ICC also said it was committed to “gain and retain the complete trust” of players. Irish said it was important for the ICC’s ACU and the anti-corruption units in various countries to keep the FICA and players’ associations in the loop.”The best results will always be achieved when players are part of and buy into regulations, rules and protocols that affect them,” Irish said. “Everyone needs to be in this fight together. We have been pushing to formalise the relationship with the ACU for some time, and we will continue to do so, as we think that this is vital to achieving good outcomes globally.”By ensuring that player representatives are able to have input into operating procedures (including those related to how player evidence and statements are dealt with), protocols and regulations, it will help to build and develop trust and confidence.”

Tottenham Hotspur have now informed Barcelona that they want to sign Clement Lenglet on a permanent basis in the upcoming transfer window, according to recent reports from Spain.

What's the latest Tottenham transfer news?

Back in February, it was reported that Tottenham wanted to sign two new centre-backs in the summer, and they have now started to run the rule over potential options, recently being linked with a move for AS Roma's Roger Ibanez.

Crystal Palace defender Marc Guehi is another option for Spurs, however his current club are set to demand £65m to sanction his departure, which is £20m more than chairman Daniel Levy is willing to spend on the 22-year-old.

The same report also details that enquires have been made about Aymeric Laporte and Pau Torres, with the Lilywhites keen to bring in someone to replace both Eric Dier and Davinson Sanchez.

Not only are Tottenham looking at new options, but they are also keen to keep Lenglet at the club on a permanent basis, according to recent reports from Spain. (via Sport Witness)

Spurs are said to have already informed Barcelona that they intend to sign the Frenchman in the summer, with the La Liga club set to demand a fee in the region of €15m – €20m (£13.1m – £17.5m)

The Lilywhites have been satisfied with the 27-year-old's performances this season, and it is now down to the club's hierarchy to convince him to commit to a permanent move to north London.

Should Tottenham sign Clement Lenglet?

In truth, the whole Tottenham defence has been disappointing this season, so much so that Sanchez and Emerson Royal have been tipped for exits by journalist Alex Crook, while pundit Gabby Agbonlahor was shocked by reports to potentially offer Dier a new deal.

Even Cristian Romero has not been immune from criticism, with journalist Charlie Eccleshare claiming the Argentine was "caught out" for both goals Spurs conceded against Aston Villa on Saturday, and Lenglet has also disappointed.

Despite being lauded as "superb" by the media earlier in the campaign, the 15-time France international has been underwhelming during his loan spell, recording a lower average WhoScored match rating than Dier, Davies and Romero in the Premier League.

It is very disappointing that Spurs appear to be keen on signing Lenglet, as his performances this season have not merited a permanent move, and they should look at options from elsewhere.

Tottenham Hotspur are on course to end the 2022/23 campaign without a trophy or a permanent manager after another difficult year for the club.

They started the season with former Premier League-winning manager Antonio Conte at the helm but are ending it with Ryan Mason as the caretaker boss for the second time, after interim Cristian Stellini was relieved of his duties.

Lilywhites chairman Daniel Levy now faces the huge task of appointing a manager to finally bring success back to north London as they have not won a single major trophy since lifting the League Cup in 2008.

They have won one major honour in the 21st century and they could change that by nailing the summer transfer window and their next managerial appointment to give themselves a chance in the 2023/24 campaign.

What's the latest on Luciano Spalletti to Tottenham?

One manager who is reportedly in the running for the job, according to Italian journalist Rudy Galletti, is current Napoli head coach Luciano Spalletti, who is said to be being monitored by Spurs heading into the summer.

The Italian boss' contract with the Serie A title winners is due to expire in June and the report claimed that there are doubts over whether or not he will extend his stay in Naples.

Other reports suggest that an extension will be offered, though the club are yet to officially announce any details, further raising uncertainty in the short term.

This could hand Levy a huge opportunity to swoop for him and the Tottenham chairman could finally bring winning ways back to the club by appointing the 64-year-old.

Would Spalletti bring success to Spurs?

Journalist Josh Bunting recently claimed that the tactician "has always had the credentials to lead a team to success" after he secured the Serie A title with Napoli and this is backed up by his record elsewhere.

Spalletti won two Italian Cups with Roma and four trophies, including two league titles with Zenit Saint Petersburg during his time in Russia, which shows that he knows how to get teams over the line in both cup competitions and domestic leagues.

The experienced boss, who was once dubbed a "genius" by journalist Mina Rzouki, also plays an exciting brand of football.

Opta and Flashscore journalist Owuraku Ampofo has also described his style of football as "scintillating" and playing in this way could get the supporters on board and give them something to believe in, which could then provide Spalletti with the time he needs to build a squad capable of implementing his tactics.

The veteran manager has also proven himself to be able to end a long-term trophy drought at a club as his title success this season ended Napoli's 33-year wait for a Scudetto, which bodes well for his chances of repeating the same with Spurs.

Glasgow Rangers are 13 points off the top of the Scottish Premiership and have already been knocked out of both domestic cup competitions and Europe heading into the final month of the campaign.

It has been a disappointing season for the Light Blues as Giovanni van Bronckhorst and Michael Beale have both failed, barring a sensational collapse from their Old Firm rivals in the final five games, to bring home a trophy.

Planning has already begun to right the wrongs in 2023/24 and one player who appears set to be on his way to Ibrox in the summer is attacking midfielder Kieran Dowell.

The Daily Record recently claimed that the Englishman will sign a three-year deal with the Scottish giants upon the expiry of his contract with Norwich City this summer, after already passing a medical.

Who is Kieran Dowell?

The £25k-per-week gem is a midfielder who can play out wide, as a number eight or in the hole behind the striker, and has been playing in the Championship for the Canaries this season.

Beale could now repeat the trick he played with Todd Cantwell, who arrived from Norwich in January and also plays in the attacking midfield positions, by bringing in the 25-year-old's former teammate.

Since joining in the winter window, Cantwell has caught the eye with a string of impressive performances in the Premiership.

The English dynamo has averaged a Sofascore rating of 7.33 and chipped in with two goals and four assists in ten starts, after failing to produce a single goal or assist in nine Championship starts for Dean Smith in the first half of the campaign.

How has Kieran Dowell performed this season?

The Canaries no.10 has had more success in the second tier of English football than Cantwell this term.

The 25-year-old has scored five goals and assisted three, whilst creating six 'big chances', in just 14 starts for the Yellows, which shows that the mercurial playmaker has the quality to be a goalscoring threat while also consistently creating chances for his teammates.

Dowell, who was once hailed for his "beautiful technique" by journalist Josh Bunting, has provided 23 key passes in the Championship and could – like Cantwell – be an exceptional option for Beale to call upon in the Premiership.

His former Norwich teammate has already taken to the Scottish top-flight like a duck to water and that bodes well for the chances of Dowell translating his impressive form over to Scotland next season.

Therefore, the Gers head coach could repeat the masterclass he played in securing Cantwell's signature in January by swooping to sign the former Everton academy graduate to bolster his attacking options this summer.