Tamil Nadu’s bowlers leave them with chance of an outright win, and MP made to wait in search of one after Odisha’s batsmen grind it out

ESPNcricinfo staff27-Nov-2017Mumbai bowlers Dhawal Kulkarni and Karsh Kothari, and opener Prithvi Shaw sealed their knockout berth in style by crushing Tripura by 10 wickets on the third evening at Wankhede Stadium. After declaring overnight on 421 for 8 with a lead of 226, Mumbai bowled out Tripura in 78 overs with four wickets apiece from Kulkarni and Kothari. Set a target of 63, Mumbai belted out the runs in 6.2 overs with a 26-ball 50 from Shaw.Tripura saw a couple of partnerships flourish once Kulkarni struck in his second over to remove opener Samrat Singha for 7. Bishal Ghosh (38) and Udiyan Bose (34) stitched a stand of 65, but Kulkarni had Bose caught at the score of 76 and Akash Parkar bowled Ghosh eight runs later. Smit Patel (68) and Yashpal Singh (82) struck fifites with a century stand and gave Tripura some hopes by rallying the score past 200. However, Jay Bista’s offspin broke the stand and Kothari struck on consecutive deliveries to leave them reeling on 222 for 6.No. 8 Rajat Dey counter-attacked with a 21-ball 30 even as Kothari had Yashpal stumped and Kulkarni returned to wipe out the tail and bowl them out for 288. Mumbai’s openers Shaw and Bista – whose ages add up to only 39 – came out with a T20 mentality and Shaw struck eight fours in his fifty while Bista was unbeaten on 13 off 12 to score at over 10 runs per over together that earned them seven points.Tamil Nadu’s bowlers fought back to leave them with a chance of picking up an outright win after conceding the first-innings lead to Baroda in Vadodara. Tamil Nadu had ended the second day on 226 for 5 in response to Baroda’s 309. But they lost five wickets for 48 runs on the third day to be bowled out for 274. Both B Indrajith and J Kousik were dismissed for their respective overnight scores of 59 and 37 as Tamil Nadu lost three wickets for 10 runs. Yo Mahesh and Ravisrinivasan Sai Kishore added 38 for the ninth wicket. Mahesh was dismissed for 26, while Sai Kishore remained not out on 17. Lukman Meriwala led a collective effort from Baroda’s bowlers with 3 for 37.Baroda lost half their side inside 25 overs of their second innings, with just 68 on the board. Swapnil Singh (49) and Atit Sheth (40) lifted them with a 66-run sixth-wicket stand. But despite their efforts, and Kartik Kakade’s 33 at No. 9, Baroda folded for 197. Tamil Nadu’s pace duo of M Mohammed and K Vignesh combined to take six wickets between them. Tamil Nadu’s openers N Jagadeesan and Abhinav Mukund, their captain, saw off the two overs to stumps. Tamil Nadu require 231 runs and Baroda need 10 wickets on the final day for a win. However, an outright win won’t do for either team, as they need other results to go their way to make the quarterfinals.Odisha were still trailing Madhya Pradesh after a laboured third day in Indore, where they scored just 219 runs in 90 overs.Odisha had conceded a huge first-innings lead of 241 runs on the second day and ended it on 18 for no loss. By stumps on the third day, they were 237 for 4, requiring four more runs to wipe out the deficit. Odisha lost Ranjit Singh and their captain Govinda Poddar in the space of 10 overs following a 70-run opening stand. Rajesh Dhuper and Subhranshu Senapati, the promising 20-year old batsman, then buckled down for a third-wicket partnership of 120. Having stoically resisted for most of the day, Odisha lost two wickets in the final hour; first Dhuper fell for 88 to the medium-pacer Puneet Datey before Biplab Samantray followed him after 1 off six balls. Senapati held firm till stumps and was on 78, with Shantanu Mishra on 10 for company. Odisha are out of the race to the knockouts. Mumbai’s win has left MP needing nothing short of an outright win. Currently third, a win will take MP straight to the top of the table.

Manchester United will be looking at making further progress this season under Erik ten Hag, especially with Champions League football gracing the Old Trafford pitch once again.

Summer signings include Andre Onana, Mason Mount and Rasmus Hojlund, as the Dutchman has strengthened in key areas.

The one thing missing is another defender, yet it appears as though the Red Devils have launched a move for Barcelona centre-back Andreas Christensen in a bid to bolster their backline.

Could Manchester United sign Andreas Christensen?

According to reports in Spain (via Football 365), United have made an offer for Christensen in order to lure him back to the Premier League this summer.

Read the latest Man United transfer news HERE…

Ten Hag is said to have made a bid of €50m (£43m), albeit with that bid including certain add-ons and 'variables'. The La Liga side are open to selling the Danish defender for €50m, however they want the entire sum to be fixed and this could potentially derail any move.

It’s clear that United need at least another centre-back this summer, especially with Harry Maguire set to depart the club before the transfer window shuts.

Will Harry Maguire leave Manchester United?

The Englishman endured a difficult campaign during 2022/23, making just eight Premier League starts under Ten Hag. He ranked in a lowly 18th position across the whole squad for tackles per game (0.5), while also ranking eighth for interceptions per game (0.8), suggesting that even when he did play, his influence clearly waned.

He even endured a rant from Onana during pre-season having made a poor pass which presented Borussia Dortmund with a chance to score. Everton are showing interest in the 30-year-old, while Tottenham Hotspur also appear to be keen on signing him and a potential move for Christensen is certainly bad news for Maguire.

The Dane has plenty of Premier League experience, making nearly 100 appearances in the competition during his stint at Chelsea and having won the Champions League while at the Blues, Ten Hag will be signing a player who seemingly has a winning mentality.

His 94% pass success rate was the highest out of any player across the Barcelona squad and this could give him an advantage if he joined United, with Ten Hag looking for his defenders to be able to play out effectively from the back.

Indeed, the 27-year-old ranks in the top 1% when compared to positional peers for pass success percentage (93.7%) and also ranks in the top 10% for progressive passes per 90 (4.95) and top 17% for progressive carries per 90 (0.99).

In comparison, Maguire relies on a more physical approach, failing to rank in the top 40% compared to positional peers for pass completion percentage (85.2%) and slipping outside the top 50% for progressive passes per 90 (3.09), a major drop-off from the figures Christensen registered.

It’s evident that the Barcelona star fits into Ten Hag’s ideologies a lot more than the former Leicester City defender, and he has even been dubbed “underrated” by his former Chelsea teammate Cesc Fabregas.

£43m might sound a lot on the surface, yet with the qualities he would bring to Ten Hag’s side, it is a no-brainer if United wish to secure more silverware this term.

MatériaMais Notícias

Atlético-MG e São Paulo fazem um dos jogos mais esperados da rodada às 20h desta quinta-feira, no Mineirão. Jorge Sampaoli e Fernando Diniz, adeptos do futebol ofensivo, estarão frente a frente.

O São Paulo vem de três vitórias seguidas, sendo a última no clássico contra o Corinthians, e acumula 13 pontos. Inicia a sétima rodada na vice-liderança, com dois pontos a menos que o Internacional – que enfrenta o Palmeiras no Allianz Parque nesta quarta. Vitor Bueno, recuperado de edema no adutor esquerdo, é a principal novidade, mas fica na reserva.

RelacionadasSão PauloVitor Bueno e Arboleda viajam com o São Paulo para jogo com o GaloSão Paulo02/09/2020São PauloPedreiras, Liberta e série visitante: o que espera o São Paulo em setembroSão Paulo01/09/2020

Já o Galo, campeão mineiro no fim de semana, perdeu seus últimos dois compromissos no Brasileirão para Botafogo e Internacional. Após um início promissor, estacionou nos nove pontos (com um jogo a menos) e inicia a rodada fora do G4.

Veja todas as informações sobre o jogo:

Data/Horário: 3/9/2020, às 20h
Local: Mineirão, em Belo Horizonte (MG)
Árbitro:Jean Pierre Gonçalves Lima (RS)
Assistentes:Lucio Beiersdorf Flor (RS) eLeirson Peng Martins (RS)
Árbitro de vídeo:Rafael Traci (SC)
Onde acompanhar: Sportv, Premiere e em tempo real no LANCE!

ATLÉTICO-MG: Rafael, Mariano (Guga), Réver, Júnior Alonso e Guilherme Arana; Allan, Jair e Franco; Savarino (Marquinhos), Keno e Eduardo Sasha. Técnico: Jorge Sampaoli.
Desfalques:Diego Tardelli(lesionado)
Pendurados:ninguém

SÃO PAULO: Tiago Volpi, Igor Vinícius, Diego Costa, Léo e Liziero; Tchê Tchê, Gabriel Sara e Hernanes; Luciano, Paulinho Boia e Pablo. Técnico: Fernando Diniz.
Desfalques: Daniel Alves, Walce e Rojas (machucados); Gonzalo Carneiro (dores musculares); Reinaldo (gripado).
Pendurado: Igor Vinícius.

أعلن النجم الفرنسي كيليان مبابي رحيله رسميًا عن فريقه باريس سان جيرمان الفرنسي، بعد 7 سنوات قضاها في حديقة الأمراء.

وأنهى مبابي مسلسل التكهنات حول استمراريته مع باريس سان جيرمان والذي استمر لسنوات، في ظل ارتباطه بالرحيل إلى ريال مدريد.

ويغادر مبابي صفوف باريس سان جيرمان في صفقة انتقال حر، ومن المنتظر انضمامه في السوق الصيفي مجانًا إلى ريال مدريد.

مبابي ظهر في مقطع فيديو مطول لإعلان الرحيل، شكر فيها النادي وزملائه ومشجعي الفريق وكل المديرين الفنيين الذين لعب تحت قيادتهم خلال فترة وجوده في باريس سان جيرمان.

وأشارت صحيفة “ليكيب” الفرنسية إلى أن مبابي تجاهل ذكر ناصر الخليفي رئيس باريس سان جيرمان والمدير الرياضي السابق أنتيرو هنريكي.

اقرأ أيضًا | أول تعليق من إنريكي بعد إعلان مبابي الرحيل عن باريس سان جيرمان

وبحسب صحيفة “ليكيب”، لم يتحدث مبابي مع الخليفي منذ فبراير الماضي، وكانت العلاقات متوترة للغاية.

ويشير التقرير إلى أنه لا يُعتقد أن مبابي أبلغ الخليفي بأنه كان يخطط لإصدار بيان لإعلان الرحيل وتوديع الفريق.

ولفتت الصحيفة النظر إلى أن العديد من الشخصيات الرئيسية في باريس سان جيرمان كانت على علم بذلك، بما في ذلك المدير الرياضي لويس كامبوس.

وكانت الأمور فاترة للغاية بين مبابي والخليفي لدرجة أن الثنائي كانا يتجنبان بعضهما البعض خلال الأسابيع الماضية حتى لا يلقيا التحية على بعضهما البعض.

ومن المنتظر أن يودع جماهير باريس سان جيرمان لاعبهم مبابي مساء السبت، مع لافتة تكريم و”لفة شرف” حول الملعب، مخططة ليشكرهم.

Crystal Palace are looking to bolster their squad before the summer transfer window slams shut in just a couple of weeks.

Roy Hodgson saw his side get off to the perfect start in the Premier League, securing a 1-0 victory against Sheffield United, but it could have been more.

They recorded 24 shots in total yet had just one goal to show for it, and the Eagles are now showing interest in a former Premier League striker…

Who could Crystal Palace sign?

The Sun journalist Alan Nixon has provided an update regarding interest in Southampton striker Che Adams.

Everton are currently in the lead to sign the player amid interest from three other clubs, Wolverhampton Wanderers, Crystal Palace, and AFC Bournemouth are also keen on the player.

Hodgson will be hoping to convince the £30k-per-week hitman to move to London despite the interest from other top flight clubs and with the Scottish international having just a year left on his current contract, they could land him for a knockdown price.

How good is Che Adams?

Palace netted just 40 league goals throughout the entirety of the 2022/23 season, a total higher than just six teams, and it’s evident if Hodgson wants to take the club to the next level, improving his firepower is vital.

Only one player across the whole squad hit ten goals last term, Eberechi Eze, with no strikers scoring more than seven.

Odsonne Edouard has started the campaign strongly, netting the winner against the Blades last weekend, and he could be vital should he return to the form that saw him score 87 goals for Celtic in just 179 appearances.

The Frenchman hasn’t quite hit the same sort of heights in England, finding the step up from the Scottish Premiership more difficult than anticipated, yet once he clicks into gear, the 25-year-old is an excellent striker.

Indeed, during the victory last week, he registered seven shots in total, made two key passes, succeeded with two of his three dribble attempts, and even missed a big chance, indicating that he could have scored more than once.

Adams could give the Palace frontline that added boost they clearly require to finish teams off, while he is also statistically similar to Edouard.

According to FBref, the “clever” striker – as lauded by pundit Ally McCoist – is the sixth-most comparable player to the former Celtic frontman and this could suggest he would be a fine signing.

Indeed, last season, the duo registered similar statistics with regard to goal contributions (13 v nine), shots on target per 90 (0.88 v 0.79), shot-creating actions per 90 (2.57 v 2.2) and successful take-ons (both 16), proving that they offer a solid attacking threat.

Having scored 25 Premier League goals during his career so far, Adams knows what it takes to find the net at the highest level and having ranked first across the Saints squad last term for shots per game (1.7) and second for goals and assists (eight), he could give Palace something extra up top.

Combine this with the fact he has shone on international level for Scotland, netting five times while grabbing three assists, so Hodgson could find himself with a player who is already perfectly suited to the rigours of the top flight.

An ICC investigation is underway after he reported the approach, which was made ahead of the first Test against West Indies last month

Firdose Moonda15-Nov-2017

Graeme Cremer, the Zimbabwe captain, was the target of a potentially corrupt approach ahead of the first Test against West Indies last month. An ICC investigation is underway after Cremer reported the approach.Zimbabwe’s players were informed before the first Test on October 21 that a team member had been made an offer to engage in corrupt activities but did not act on it. Instead, the ICC’s Anti-Corruption Unit (ACU) was informed and they have taken over the process of investigating. Zimbabwe Cricket is co-operating with the inquiry.”The ICC can confirm that there is an ACU ongoing investigation in Zimbabwe and because there is an ongoing investigation, I cannot share any further details,” an ICC spokesperson said. “However, the ICC has urged anyone who has any information to contact the ACU via [email protected].”The two-Test series, which was played in Bulawayo, was won 1-0 by West Indies.This is the second time in two months that a corrupt approach has been made to an international captain around an international match – or at least the second that such an approach has become public. During the ODI series between Pakistan and Sri Lanka last month, Sarfraz Ahmed, the Pakistan captain, also reported an allegedly corrupt approach made to him.Days later, the senior Indian curator, Pandurang Salgaoncar, was dismissed by the BCCI for “malpractice”. Salgaoncar was the target of a sting operation by a TV channel, captured on video talking to reporters allegedly posing as bookies about the pitch, ahead of India’s second ODI against New Zealand in Pune. Like the Sarfraz approach, that is also the subject of an ACU investigation.

Live scorecard and ball-by-ball detailsAFP

The fourth day in Bulawayo drew tenacious performances from batsmen on both sides, but West Indies will still go into the final day as firm favourites. Record contributions from Jason Holder and Shane Dowrich and quick wickets in Zimbabwe’s second innings put them in a virtually unassailable position. It took a battling unbeaten 94-runstand from Sikandar Raza and PJ Moor to stretch the match into a fifth day.While Raza and Moor’s efforts stalled West Indies’ push for victory, the day belonged to Holder and Dowrich, who added 212, the most by an eighth-wicket pair for West Indies. Holder’s century was his second in Tests, and the first by a West Indies No. 9, while Dowrich’s joy at reaching his own maiden Test hundred was plainly evident.Not since 1908 have both a no. 8 and no. 9 made centuries in the same innings of a Test. Clem Hill and Roger Hartigan did it for Australia against England at the Adelaide Oval, and Holder and Dowrich repeated that achievement against Zimbabwe to put their team in a winning position. Their efforts took West Indies to 448, a lead of 122, before the bowlers increased their advantage even further in keeping Zimbabwe to 140 for 4 at the close.It was apparent early on this morning that this might not be Zimbabwe’s day. Regis Chakabva, who has had a difficult match behind the stumps, missed an edge of a flashing Holder drive in the sixth over of the morning and the West Indies captain punished the error as Zimbabwe’s marathon in the field continued unabated.Holder and Dowrich mixed studied defense with daring strokes, and the arrival of the third new ball provided few alarms. Zimbabwe quickly reverted from pace to spin, and both men progressed steadily through the 90s. Holder was first to his ton, crunching Chisoro extravagantly through the covers for his ninth boundary.Dowrich reached his landmark in even more emphatic style, stepping out to dispatch Cremer high over long off. Holder added another six – his second – as West Indies went on the charge, but the increase in tempo was quickly followed by the end of the innings. Chisoro trapped Dowrich lbw, playing back to one that rushed on, for his maiden Test wicket, and then bowled Holder around his legs. The spinner grabbed a third wicket, removing Roach lbw, to bring the innings to an end half an hour before lunch.Though he failed with the bat, Roach excelled at his primary role as senior seamer. Operating from the City End, he got the better of Masakadza with a canny piece of Test fast bowling to draw first blood. Looking to leave the ball, Masakadza was deceived by Roach’s wide angle on delivery and some hooping inswing to have his off stump disturbed.Mire then aimed an ill-judged pull at a length delivery in the final over before lunch, the ball keeping low to strike him in front of middle and leg. A pumped-up Roach gave Mire a rollicking send-off, earning a demerit point in the process.The lunch session allowed West Indies’ new ball bowlers to freshen up and, essentially, have two gos at the wilting Zimbabweans, and Shannon Gabriel bowled with vim and vigour after the interval. He hit Taylor on the glove with a bouncer that skidded through low, and between times maintained a testing line outside off stump. That line, along with pace and inward movement, eventually proved Taylor’s undoing, an indipper beating his flat-footed defense and pinging him right in front of middle.With that, Zimbabwe were teetering at 23 for 3, and the pace bowlers continued to give PJ Moor and Craig Ervine a torrid time. They survived the burst, Holder replacing Roach from the City End, but what Roach couldn’t do, Bishoo soon did. With his second delivery, he rushed a legbreak through Ervine’s defense to bowl him for 22.Moor and Raza took Zimbabwe to tea still 57 runs shy of making West Indies bat again, and amid lengthening shadows in the afternoon they chipped steadily away at the deficit. Mirroring his first innings effort, Moor shelved most of the big shots he is known for, though a pair of drives off Holder and Bishoo were the shots of the day. He was less successful against Gabriel, who touched 150kph in the afternoon and beat his edge multiple times.At the other end, Raza was far less subdued and latched onto any loose bowling that came his way. Roach was flicked and driven for boundaries, while the spinners were attacked whenever they were too short, or too full. Bishoo was drilled for six over wide long on, and a quick single took Raza to a 111-ball fifty just after the final drinks break. The batting pair took Zimbabwe beyond parity, ensuring West Indies will at least have to bat again tomorrow.

Nottingham Forest are still on the hunt for new additions to bolster key roles in the squad this summer, and now a new update has emerged from a reliable source on the club's pursuit of a transfer target.

The player in mind could well be the ideal replacement for Renan Lodi.

Who could replace Renan Lodi at Nottingham Forest?

According to Italian journalist and transfer insider Fabrizio Romano, Nottingham Forest have submitted a proposal to sign Arsenal full-back Nuno Tavares this summer.

Romano revealed on social media:

"EXCL: Nottingham Forest submit formal proposal to sign Arsenal left-back Nuno Tavares on permanent deal.

"Forest trying top signing as new fullback as negotiations are still ongoing also on player side. Deal on."

How good is Nuno Tavares?

After suffering a difficult relegation battle in the Premier League, there is no doubt that Steve Cooper will be wanting to add even more top-flight experience to his squad, hence the signing of Anthony Elanga already this summer.

Despite their struggles, there were moments of magic in performances that contributed to Forest's ability to retain their Premier League status and Lodi became a popular figure in the squad during his loan spell at The City Ground.

However, the Tricky Trees were unable to make the full-backs tenure permanent and are now on the lookout for a player who could bring the same energy, influence and work rate to the team, with Tavares a great option to replace him.

Indeed, Tavares has been out of favour with his parent club due to their highly competitive squad at the Emirates, however, it hasn't stopped the 23-year-old from shining on loan, spending last season with Marseille.

Over 31 Ligue 1 appearances, the £27k-per-week whiz scored six goals and created four big chances during an impressive season in an attacking capacity.

To summarise the all-round package he provides, the Portuguese also made 1.7 successful dribbles and won 5.5 duels per game, as per Sofascore.

Tavares' impact on Marseille did not go unnoticed by former head coach Igor Tudor, who waxed lyrical about the player's influence on the French side:

"He’s still a young player, he has fantastic physical abilities, he has extraordinary legs, he could play for Real, Barça, City.

"He still has to grow and progress, we talk to him a lot. He has been very important for us this season. He scored several goals, it is not trivial in his position."

Not only that, the talented full-back ranked in the top 10% of his positional peers across the top five European leagues per 90 minutes played over the last 12 months for shots on goal, progressive carries, successful take-ons, touches and progressive passes received, as per FBref.

When comparing Tavares' output with Lodi's last season, the Portuguese ace comfortably outperformed the Brazilian in a number of attacking attributes including pass completion (77.4% v 66.5%), shot-creating actions per 90 (2.53 v 1.22) and goal-creating actions per 90 (0.19 v 0.16), demonstrating further his tenacity to become a real threat from his full-back role.

Ironically, Marseille have now signed Lodi to replace Tavares this season as the Arsenal man returned to England this summer, a testament to the similarities the pair share and how easily he could fit into the demanding role on Trentside.

With that being said, the signing of Tavares would be a no-brainer for Forest as he could be a really valuable asset to the creativity needed to boost goal contributions in the team at The City Ground this season and could be the difference-maker in picking up valuable points.

Everton didn't want to make a move for one specific player this summer because Sean Dyche didn't want him, according to journalist Paul Brown.

Where is Ross Barkley playing now?

Ross Barkley burst onto the scene at Goodison Park as a hugely exciting prospect, with some even tipping him to enjoy a similar career trajectory to Wayne Rooney. He looked like a special young talent as a teenager, already possessing good physical attributes, as well as a fearlessness in possession.

While the 29-year-old enjoyed plenty of good moments in an Everton shirt, registering 55 goal contributions (27 goals and 28 assists) in 179 appearances, he ultimately didn't hit the heights many expected and joined Chelsea in 2018. Since then, his career has nosedived, with his reputation diminishing by the year, following a loan spell at Aston Villa that started well and dropped off, and a season at Nice last term.

Read the latest Everton transfer news HERE…

Now, Barkley has sealed a summer move to Premier League newcomers Luton Town, in a transfer that will hopefully revitalise him, following such a noticeable dropoff since leaving the Blues. A return to Merseyside was mooted, but it never came to fruition.

Why didn't Everton re-sign Ross Barkley?

Speaking to Give Me Sport, Brown claimed that a return to Goodison for Barkley never looked on the cards, with Dyche not seeing him as a good option to bring in:

"If he came back and had a bad game, I think the fans would be right on his back. He would have had a pretty rough ride from them. But the problem was that I just don't think Sean Dyche wanted Ross Barkley. I don't think he's the sort of player that Sean Dyche wants in his team and, for that reason, I never could really see this one happening."

Ultimately, any big decision regarding a new signing should end with the manager, so if Dyche never wanted Barkley, it was a transfer that wasn't even worth persevering with.

As Brown alludes to, it wouldn't have taken much for the Englishman to have started receiving criticism from supporters if he didn't hit the ground running, which could have spread a negative vibe throughout the club.

There is no doubting Barkley's ability as a footballer, with six goals and 33 caps coming his way for England down the years, but there is also no question that he hasn't reached his potential, with injuries not helping and a lack of a killer mindset arguably holding him back compared to others, in terms of professionalism.

It will be interesting to see how he fares in a Luton shirt, in what could ultimately be his last crack at staying put in the Premier League – he does turn 30 later this year, after all – but it would be a surprise if he came close to matching those early Everton performances, and the club are unlikely to regret sealing a reunion with him this summer.

Dyche has his own type of player that he wants to bring in before the end of the window, and Barkley is very different to that, in terms of work etic and defensive nous.

Following the departure of Harry Kane to Bayern Munich, Tottenham Hotspur are looking to sign KAA Gent forward Gift Orban, and a further update has emerged.

Ange Postecoglou has so far welcomed six reinforcements this summer, and now faces the task of replacing Spurs' talisman as the Premier League season gets underway.

What's the latest on Gift Orban to Tottenham Hotspur?

Spurs certainly have the money to spend after selling Kane to Bayern Munich for a reported £95m. Without their main man, finding goals could prove to be a difficult task for Spurs this season, potentially making the arrival of Orban potentially crucial in the coming weeks.

Postecoglou will be desperate to find a replacement as soon as possible, as the last thing that the new manager will want is to be without a goal scorer in his debut season at Spurs.

Looking to replace Kane, Spurs and Gent are in ongoing talks over a deal for Orban, according to journalist Sacha Tavolieri, who reported that the North London club have verbally offered around €27m, with the Belgian club holding out for €30m this summer.

As per Tavolieri, a written offer from Spurs is set to come next week in an attempt to reach an agreement for the forward's signature.

Should Tottenham Hotspur sign Gift Orban?

The arrival of Orban could represent smart business from Spurs. The forward is an option for both the present and future, who will only get better with a move to a Premier League side.

Last season, the Nigerian scored 20 goals in just 22 appearances for Gent. Meanwhile, in the current campaign, he has already found the back of the net five times in three games. The stats suggest that Spurs would be signing a man in form who may only get better in time.

Without Orban, the North London club may be forced to rely on Richarlison to lead the line throughout the campaign, who struggled to find the back of the net in his debut season at the club, scoring just three times in 35 appearances.

Read the latest Tottenham transfer news HERE…

The Gent forward has received high praise for his performances, too, with Ben Jacobs telling TeamTalk:

"Of course, he only joined Gent in January, which makes a summer move relatively unlikely, although because of Gent playing in Belgium, there is a realistic chance that a top European club might just be able to put in an offer that’s too good to turn down.

"But what Orban is doing is putting himself in the shop window. This week alone, he’s scored seven goals including a four-minute hat-trick in the Europa Conference League. And then on top of that, four goals in the Belgian Pro League. So between Sunday and Wednesday, the young Nigerian scored seven goals, which is absolutely incredible. And when you have that type of scoring form, you’re bound to pique the interest of suitors."