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Abhimanyu Easwaran

Bengal eliminate Delhi
Bengal knocked Delhi out of the running for quarterfinal spot with a stirring fourth-innings chase led by Abhimanyu Easwaran’s 183 not out. Set 322 to win, Easwaran hit the winning boundary that took Bengal to 323 for 3, giving them six points and keeping their tournament alive.Delhi looked like they had the upper hand when they made 301 in their second innings. Bengal had conceded a narrow first-innings lead, so they had to go for victory, and they did that in style, taking only 70.2 overs in the chase. This was 23-year-old Easwaran’s second 180-plus score this season, having hit a career-best 186 against Hyderabad earlier in the season.Thrilling draw stymies JharkhandJharkhand had been set 153 to win against Tripura in one session. They came out swinging, but time ran out with the team 144 for 7 in 21.5 overs, at which point the teams shook hands. The result was a tough one for Jharkhand, for whom qualification has become a very tough race. They had entered this match on 30 points, and a win would have taken them to 36, just two shy of Uttar Pradesh’s 38. That would have left both teams very much in the fray heading into the final round, behind Rajasthan who have zoomed to 44 points and sealed one of the two qualification spots. But now, Jharkhand have 33 points, and to qualify, will need to win their last match against Jammu & Kashmir outright. At the same time, they’ll have to hope that Uttar Pradesh lose their last match, against Assam, to remain on 38. Or, if Jharkhand can manage a bonus-point win, they’ll have more than Uttar Pradesh even if the latter don’t lose, but end up conceding the first-innings lead in a draw.ESPNcricinfo understands that Jharkhand were left disappointed with Tripura’s tactics in this match, with the visiting side slowing the game to a dawdle and thus denying Jharkhand a shot at victory. Tripura had resisted well in their second innings to stretch their score to 308, batting out the first two sessions. Tea was taken with the last Tripura wicket falling, which left Jharkhand an extended final session to chase down the target. However, despite the umpires extending play, Tripura bowled only 21.5 overs in close to two and a half hours, a time-span in which at least 35 overs would have been bowled in the normal course of events.ESPNcricinfo Ltd/ Vishal Dikshit

Tight race in A&BThose who are out of running for a quarterfinal spot are: Hyderabad, Delhi, Tamil Nadu, Mumbai, Andhra, Maharashtra, Railways and Chhattisgarh. That still leaves a whopping 10 teams who have a chance, with only one round remaining.Of the ten, Gujarat’s race is run. They have 26 points and have played their full quota of games. Presently third on the table, they need results to go their way to keep them in the top five, and can only watch from the outside.Ranji Trophy 2018-19 Points TableDefending champions Vidarbha are best placed, at the top of the table with 28 points. But if they lose against Saurashtra in their last round, they could actually not end up in the top five – the table is so tight. Here is how that could happen: Karnataka beat Baroda, Saurashtra beat Vidarbha, Madhya Pradesh beat Andhra, Himachal Pradesh beat Kerala, and Bengal beat Punjab by a bonus point. All of the winning teams in this scenario would have more than Vidarbha’s 28 points.Still, Vidarbha are masters of their fate at least, and even a draw while conceding the first-innings lead should be enough for them to secure a top-five spot. Among the other teams in the fray, all of Karnataka (27), Gujarat (26), Saurashtra (26), Madhya Pradesh (24), Himachal Pradesh (22), Bengal (22), Kerala (20), Baroda (20) and Punjab (20) could make it, if things fall in place for them.Plate Group raceUttarakhand didn’t have a match in this round, but they had built up such a lead that they are still on top of the table with 37 points. If they win their last game, against bottom-placed Mizoram at home in Dehradun, they will be through regardless. The only other teams who have a theoretical chance of going through – provided Uttarakhand don’t win – are Bihar and Puducherry.Bihar have 34 points, and will play against Manipur, while Puducherry have 32 points and will face Nagaland. For Bihar to go through, they will realistically need to win, ideally with a bonus point, and hope Uttarakhand only manage a first-innings lead at most. For Puducherry to go through, they need three things to happen – for them to win outright, for Uttarakhand to lose outright, and for Bihar to get at most a first-innings lead.Round 8 – Brief ScoresGroup A & BBengal 6 points Delhi 0 pointsAndhra 3 points, Hyderabad 1 pointMadhya Pradesh 6 points, Himachal Pradesh 0 pointsGujarat 7 points, Maharashtra 0 pointsPunjab 7 points, Kerala 0 pointsKarnataka 6 points, Chhattisgarh 0 pointsVidarbha 7 points, Mumbai 0 pointsBaroda 6 points, Railways 0 pointsGroup CJ&K 6 points, Assam 0 pointsJharkhand 3 points, Tripura 1 pointServices 3 points, Odisha 1 pointRajasthan 7 points, Goa 0 pointsUttar Pradesh 6 points, Haryana 0 pointsPlate GroupNagaland 7 points, Arunachal Pradesh 0 pointsPuducherry 7 points, Manipur 0 pointsBihar 7 points, Mizoram 0 pointsMeghalaya 3 points, Sikkim 1 point

Liverpool are "tempted to sign" a highly-rated player they were linked with this summer once the January transfer window opens, according to an update from transfer insider Dean Jones.

Liverpool transfer updates

The Reds have built one of their most impressive squads in recent years, with strong options across all areas of the pitch as they look to seal Premier League glory this season.

While Liverpool's midfield has been altered significantly, with as many as four new faces coming in during the summer transfer window, there is a nagging feeling that they lack a proper defensive midfielder who can start most weeks.

Alexis Mac Allister is doing his best in the role but doesn't look entirely comfortable there, with the Argentine known more as a box-to-box No.8 during his Brighton days. Meanwhile, Wataru Endo doesn't look at the level required to be a key starter after his move from VfB Stuttgart.

It could be that Jurgen Klopp targets a signing in that position in the coming months, with several players linked in that position, most recently Ezequiel Fernandez, while there is also seemingly a plan to bring in a young attacker, with links to the likes of Victor Osimhen and Jamal Musiala.

Andre to Liverpool

Speaking to Give Me Sport, Jones talked up the idea of Andre to Liverpool happening in the January window, confirming those links from the summer are absolutely "genuine" and the move could happen in the winter window:

"They signed Wataru Endo, and I think that was a decent signing, but the feeling is that there is still one player missing."We still see Liverpool signings that came in during the summer not necessarily being used in their best sense. We have seen Alexis Mac Allister coming deep at times and I still don't think they've sussed out exactly how to make this midfield work.

"But Andre is definitely still one of the guys that they are tempted to sign. He has been looked at by various clubs, and this Brazilian market is clearly one that a lot of English sides are tapping into at the moment. This is a genuine link and a transfer that does have the potential to happen."

It does feel as though Andre looks like a feasible option in January, perhaps coming in as a squad player to begin with but becoming a regular over time. The 22-year-old has already become such an influential player for Fluminense at the heart of the midfield, and Andre's stats highlight that perfectly, with 158 appearances coming his way while still such a young player.

He possesses the natural defensive skills in the No.6 role that can be so hard to master, as Mac Allister is finding out at the moment, and he could prove to be a fantastic signing midway through the season, just giving Liverpool that extra bit of steel in the middle of the park.

At 22, Andre would be coming in as someone who could be a mainstay of the midfield for many years, and the hope is that he would enjoy a similar influence to that of compatriot Fabinho at Anfield over a significant period.

Klopp's men look so impressive everywhere else, with their plethora of brilliant attacking stars, and if they can plug the defensive midfield gap, it could turn them from challengers into champions in 2023/24.

With several senior players returning to the fold, the coach is confident his team will put on a better show than they have in the recent past

Liam Brickhill28-Sep-2018Zimbabwe’s coach Lalchand Rajput is oozing optimism ahead of the first ODI in Kimberley on Sunday. It’s one trait by which his short tenure – he took over the position full-time in August after filling in on an interim basis in July – has been characterised.”South Africa has to be aware that this is not the Zimbabwe team of the past,” Rajput said. “This is a team that is going to give them a good run for their money. We have come to show the world that we are a competitive team and every game is important. We are here to show we can play aggressive cricket and we are here to win.”That’s fighting talk, and Rajput has inspired teams before. Part of the Indian team’s think-tank for a couple of years, including when they won the inaugural World T20 in 2007, Rajput was also in charge of Mumbai Indians in the 2008 IPL and oversaw many of Afghanistan’s recent achievements during his tenure as their coach. On his watch, Afghanistan won six out of 10 limited-overs series, secured Full Membership, and even toppled West Indies in an ODI in Gros Islet – their first win in the format over a Full Member other than Zimbabwe or Bangladesh.Rajput is no doubt looking to replicate that success with Zimbabwe, and is hoping the challenge of taking on South Africa for the first time in three years will spur his team on. “South Africa is always a big challenge, but a challenge always gets the best out of me and the players,” he said.Rajput’s optimism, however, is yet to translate to success on the field. While Zimbabwe stayed just about afloat in their T20I tri-series against Australia and Pakistan, they floundered in the ODIs to lose 5-0 as Pakistan set numerous records.”The series we played when I took over was not good for us, but it was never going to be easy to face Australia and Pakistan in the T20I triangular series and then Pakistan in the ODI series when we were missing seven to eight players,” Rajput explained.”But now that the players are back, it looks a balanced team – a team that wants to do well. Apart from Graeme Cremer and Sikandar Raza, most of our senior players are back and, when experience and youth combine, we can get the best out of the team.”

Bayern Munich midfielder Raphael Guerreiro has revealed how Harry Kane offers a lot more to the team that just important goals.

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• Kane playing starring role for Bayern
• Striker praised for offering more than just goals
• Could return from injury against Dortmund

• WHAT HAPPENED?

  Kane has been scoring goals for fun at Bayern following his summer move from Tottenham. The England captain is the Bundesliga's top scorer with 31 goals and is chasing down Robert Lewandowski's legendary record of 41 in a single campaign. Yet new team-mate Guerreiro says the striker offers the team far more than just finding the back of the net on a regular basis.

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• WHAT GUERREIRO SAID

  He told : "To be honest, I didn’t really know about his style of play before he arrived at the club. I thought perhaps he might just stay up top and wait for chances to score. But he offers a lot more than that. He can link the play, he protects the ball well.

  "When I was injured, I watched all the games and I really saw what a great striker he is. He is the type of striker that I really like. He really helps the team out in difficult moments by protecting the ball and by winning fouls. He is not just an important goalscorer for us, he also makes a lot of key passes. He creates a lot of opportunities for his teammates. For example, that pass for Jamal [Musiala] in our last game [against Darmstadt] was exceptional. So he is definitely one of the best strikers.

  "He is a very, very important part of the team. He has shown that this season. When he struggles, we all struggle. He needs to maintain his level until the end of the season so we can achieve our aims as a team.”

• Getty Images
  

  THE BIGGER PICTURE

  Kane also has 10 assists for Bayern this season in all competitions but may still finish the season empty-handed. The Bavarian giants have already suffered a shock exit from the German Cup and sit 10 points behind Bayern Leverkusen in the Bundesliga table. Bayern's best chances of silverware is therefore in the Champions League where they have been drawn to face Arsenal in the quarter-finals.

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  WHAT NEXT FOR KANE AND BAYERN

  Bayern return to action on Saturday in Der Klassier against Borussia Dortmund. The Bavarian giants will be hoping Kane can return from injury for that clash. Kane is back in training with Bayern after missing England's friendlies over Belgium and Brazil due to injury.

Liverpool will face their toughest challenge of the season so far when they face Tottenham Hotspur in the Premier League this evening. Jurgen Klopp will be hoping to extend the Reds' unbeaten record as arguably two of the most impressive teams in the league go head-to-head in a titanic clash.

A comeback win against Leicester City in midweek ensured progress in the EFL Cup, but the German will certainly make a few changes to his starting XI in order to freshen his side up and this will include a reshuffle of the midfield.

How did Wataru Endo perform against Leicester City?

The midfield three were in excellent form against the Foxes, with Endo shining in particular. He was perhaps a surprising signing by Klopp in the first place, yet the 30-year-old has added some experience to the heart of the midfield.

He has already made six appearances for the Anfield side, grabbing an assist, while the Japanese gem was solid against the Championship side on Wednesday. Endo finished the game with a 90% pass success rate while also making two key passes, winning three of his four aerial duels, and making four interceptions.

He is certainly proving to be a useful addition to the squad, yet Klopp should deploy one of his more expensive summer arrivals against Spurs – Dominik Szoboszlai.

Will Dominik Szoboszlai start for Liverpool against Tottenham Hotspur?

The £120k-per-week sensation was one of Klopp’s marquee summer arrivals and has certainly showcased his abilities for the Reds so far.

His displays over the previous 12 months obviously impressed Klopp as when compared to positional peers, the Hungarian midfielder ranks in the top 1% for shot-creating actions per 90 (5.37), the top 6% for successful take-ons per 90 (1.67) and the top 9% for assists per 90 (0.23), clearly demonstrating that he is one of the finest players in his position on the continent.

The 22-year-old hasn’t slowed down by moving to Liverpool either, already making eight appearances and scoring twice in the process. Lauded as the “Hungarian magician” by talent scout Jacek Kulig in 2022, the midfielder impressed in midweek having made a cameo off the bench. The former RB Leipzig starlet not only got on the scoresheet during his 25-minute cameo, but he also took 17 touches and had two shots during his brief time on the pitch.

His performances in the Premier League have been exceptional too. The youngster has an average Sofascore rating of 7.32 while averaging two key passes per game and succeeding with 1.2 dribbles per game. These statistics rank him third, and fourth for the latter two metrics across the Liverpool squad, clearly indicating that he has made an instant impression.

Klopp should unleash him from the first whistle this evening as the Hungarian gem could give him an added edge in the midfield, as this is likely where the game will be won or lost.

If the Reds secure another win today, they will be right in the mix with regard to challenging for the league title this season.

وجه الاتحاد الإفريقي لكرة القدم كاف، إخطارًا بأمر جديد لجميع الاتحادات الأهلية في القارة السمراء، وذلك بشأن المباريات التي تقام على ملاعبها في المسابقات الإفريقية.

وعلم “بطولات”، إن الاتحاد الإفريقي لكرة القدم “كاف” أخطر الاتحاد المصري بأمر جديد متعلق بـ”الضيوف” (الفرق التي تحل ضيوفًا على الأندية المصرية أو المنتخب المصري).

وأشار إلى أن الاتحاد الإفريقي أخطر الاتحاد المصري في خطابه، بأنه لا بد أن يكون هناك طائرة تقوم بنقل الفريق الضيف من العاصمة للملعب الآخر بطائرة، طالما هذا الملعب يبعد عن العاصمة بـ200 كليو متر.

طالع | رئيس اتحاد الكرة يعلن حسم ناديين المشاركة في بطولتي دوري أبطال إفريقيا والكونفدرالية الموسم المقبل

وأوضح أن كاف يرفض أن تنتقل الفرق من العاصمة لأي مدينة أخرى في حافلة طالما المسافة تزيد عن 200 متر وليس هناك مطار في المدينة التي ستستضيف المباراة وأصبحت الاتحادات الأهلية مطالبة بتوفير طائرة لنقل الفريق الضيف.

وتستعد الأندية المصرية خلال الفترة القادمة للمشاركة في بطولتي دوري أبطال إفريقيا وكأس الكونفدرالية للموسم الجديد 2024-2025، بالإضافة إلي منتخب مصر الذي يترقب قرعة تصفيات كأس أمم إفريقيا لخوض مواجهاتها.

Fulham didn't have the easiest of summer transfer windows, having lost Aleksandar Mitrovic late on to Saudi Arabian side Al Hilal, and eventually winning their battle to keep hold of Joao Palhinha after his move to Bayern Munich reportedly collapsed.

On the pitch, meanwhile, they haven't been at their best, winning just once in their opening four games, and conceding 10 goals in the process. Marco Silva will hope that the Cottagers settle down after the international break, and pick up a comfortable victory up against Luton Town.

Now that the transfer window is shut, they can at least focus on results, and ensuring that key players put pen to paper on new deals. And that's exactly what one particular player would be willing to do, despite being linked with a move away in the summer transfer window.

What's the latest Fulham transfer news?

Those around Craven Cottage would have breathed a sigh of relief when the news of Palhinha's stay filtered around the club. The midfielder will be a Fulham player until January at the very least, when they will likely have a battle on their hands once more.

Another midfielder who was linked with a move away in the summer was Harrison Reed. According to Football Insider, Wolverhampton Wanderers submitted a £3m bid for Reed late on in the window, only to see that offer turned down.

Now, as per Pete O'Rourke of Football Insider, Reed would be 'happy to extend' his Fulham contract 'if a suitable offer arrives'. As things stand, of course, the former Southampton midfielder's contract comes to an end next summer, meaning that he'll be free to negotiate an exit ahead of next season from January.

With Palhinha's future uncertain, the last thing that Fulham need is another midfielder bidding farewell, arguably making a new contract for Reed imperative in the coming months.

How has Harrison Reed performed this season?

So far this season, whilst he is yet to reach the heights of last season, much like the rest of his Fulham teammates, Reed has still impressed at times, as the stats show.

According to FBref, the midfielder has made 1.67 progressive passes per 90, as well as maintaining a pass completion rate of 85.7% in four games played so far this season. He has also won one tackle per game so far, in what has been a season of showing glimpses as things are going.

With plenty of the season left to come, however, both Reed and Fulham have plenty of time to get up to speed, possibly returning to last season's form in the process.

Silva is certainly a fan of his player, too, saying via The Athletic, after Reed scored against Swansea City a couple of years ago:

“I congratulated him straight away, because he had a very good game. I think it was his first 90 minutes this season. I congratulated him on the way he played 90 minutes.

"He’s playing in a different position and he is adapting really well. I know he can be very good in the No 6 position, but he can play a little bit higher up the pitch with his mobility as well.”

كشفت تقارير صحفية عن موقف نادي مانشستر يونايتد تجاه لاعب الفريق، جادون سانشو، بعد انتهاء إعارته مع بوروسيا دورتموند.

كان سانشو قد قضى النصف الثاني من الموسم الماضي على سبيل الإعارة في صفوف بوروسيا دورتموند، ناديه القديم.

اقرأ أيضًا.. مانشستر يونايتد يستعد لقرار نهائي بشأن تين هاج ويجري محادثات مع بديله المحتمل

جاءت تلك الإعارة بعدما تم تهميش سانشو من قِبل المدرب إريك تين هاج بعد خلافهما العلني عقب استبعاد اللاعب من مباراة آرسنال.

وانتقد تين هاج سلوك سانشو في التدريبات، مما دفع الأخير إلى شن هجوم قوي ضد الهولندي ووصف نفسه بكونه “كبش فداء” في النادي الإنجليزي.

وانتهت فترة إعارة سانشو مع بوروسيا دورتموند حيث عاد من جديد إلى مانشستر يونايتد وسط تكهنات بشأن مستقبله.

ووفقًا لما ذكره الصحفي فابريزيو رومانو، فإن مانشستر يونايتد لا يزال مصممًا بنسبة 100 % على بيع جادون سانشو هذا الصيف.

وأوضح أن قرار مانشستر يونايتد بغض النظر عمن هو المدير الفني للفريق، مع وجود غموض بشأن مستقبل تين هاج.

وأفاد أن مانشستر يونايتد يرغب في الحصول على 40 مليون جنيه إسترليني جراء بيع سانشو، وسط اهتمام من بوروسيا دورتموند وأندية أخرى.

On a day when Australia chipped slowly away at England’s total, in a dead rubber, individual moments and milestones caught the eye more than the overall match progress

The Report by Brydon Coverdale05-Jan-2018
Live scorecard and ball-by-ball detailsOn a day when Australia chipped slowly away at England’s total, in a dead rubber, individual moments and milestones caught the eye more than the overall match progress. There was Steven Smith joining cricket royalty by reaching 6000 Test runs quicker than anyone but Don Bradman and Garry Sobers. There was Usman Khawaja fighting to his highest Test score in more than a year. There was Cameron Bancroft, bowled for a duck, barely clinging to his Test career. And there was Mason Crane, a 20-year-old legspinner, searching in vain for his maiden Test wicket.The day had started with England at 5 for 233; they added a further 113 for the loss of their last five wickets, via some vigorous tail-wagging and sloppy work from the Australians with the ball and in the field. By the close of proceedings, Australia were 2 for 193 in reply, with Khawaja on 91 and Smith on 44. The Australians had progressed at less than three runs an over, happy to work in a leisurely manner as they reduced the deficit to 153 runs at stumps. With eight wickets in hand, the match was fairly evenly poised.Khawaja certainly was looking forward to the third morning and an opportunity for his first Test century since November 2016. Last year was a challenging one for Khawaja, who was overlooked for the Tests in India, recalled in Bangladesh, dropped a Test later, restored for the Ashes and has struggled to make the most of his starts since then. Here, he played calmly and assuredly off both front and back foot, notably using his feet to the spinners, and struck seven fours and one six, lofted down the ground off Moeen Ali.His partnership with Smith was worth 107 runs by stumps. Smith, the leading Test run scorer in the world in 2017, began 2018 in comfortable if not blazing fashion. There was a close call when he edged Crane just short of Joe Root at slip, but otherwise Smith had little trouble. When he pulled a single off Crane to move to 26, Smith joined Sobers in reaching 6000 Test runs in 111 innings, behind only Bradman, who had done so from 68 innings. Given that Bradman and Sobers were both knighted for services to cricket, Smith is in the most elite of company.David Warner batted in a cap when England bowled two spinners•Getty Images

Australia’s innings had started in disappointing fashion when Bancroft became Stuart Broad’s 399th Test victim, bowled in the second over, driving loosely outside off stump. The chasm between Bancroft’s bat and pad was so enormous it could have been seen from South Africa by Kagiso Rabada and his colleagues, who will be Australia’s next Test opponents. Whether the selectors entrust Bancroft with the opening duties on that tour remains to be seen.David Warner scored an 89-ball half-century but was prevented from turning it into anything more when James Anderson nibbled one away just enough to kiss the outside edge of Warner’s bat on 56. It left Australia on 2 for 86, but by stumps Khawaja and Smith had steadied the innings considerably. England’s only wickets had come from pace, but there was turn in the wicket. The debutant Crane was the most costly of England’s bowlers, but landed enough good legbreaks to suggest that he has a future.Crane had been the last man dismissed in England’s innings, run out for 4 on the verge of the lunch break. The opening session was a strange mix of excellent fielding from Australia – Smith’s diving take of Dawid Malan at slip off Mitchell Starc was brilliant – and woeful mistakes. Pat Cummins grassed a low chance at mid-on off Tom Curran’s bat, and Josh Hazlewood dropped the mother of all sitters when Moeen skied one to midwicket in the next over.The Australians also persisted with their short-pitched attack against Broad, who swung hard and swivelled a couple of pulls for six off Cummins, and made a valuable 31 from 32 deliveries. By the end of Broad’s innings, only Adam Gilchrist had struck more career sixes in SCG Tests than the seven Broad has accumulated. Australia might have considered a top-of-off line a more effective ploy; in the end, Broad fell to a top-edged skier off the spin of Lyon.Cummins did pick up two wickets with short deliveries, when Moeen gloved behind for 30 and Curran fended to short leg having ridden his luck for 39. But he also gave up plenty of runs with his bouncer barrage. The value of England’s tail-wagging, only time will tell.

It has been a promising start to Championship life for Southampton under Russell Martin, who was appointed as manager earlier in the summer, following an impressive two-year stint at Swansea City.

Across three games, the Saints have acquired seven points, scoring eight times.

However, the club has yet to keep a clean sheet, conceding six goals.

Therefore, Martin is still on the lookout for more defensive reinforcements and could raid one of his former sides…

What’s the latest Southampton transfer news?

According to the Daily Mail, the south coast outfit are set to make a move for Swansea’s Nathan Wood.

The Welsh club value the centre-back, who signed last summer under Martin, at around £12m.

The English coach is now hoping to repeat the same trick and bring Wood to St Mary's Stadium.

Would Nathan Wood be a good signing for Southampton?

During his debut season for Swansea in 2021/22, the England U21 defender made 43 appearances in all competitions and has quickly been established as one of the team’s most valuable and consistent assets.

On Wood’s debut for the club on the opening day of last year’s Championship campaign, Martin hailed him as “absolutely outstanding.”

In total, he started 40 of the 46 league matches, completing 67% of his dribbles and winning 57% of duels, as per Sofascore.

The 6 foot 2 titan’s most impressive attribute is his technical ability and ball-playing competence – this is mirrored by his rank within the best 5% outside of Europe’s top five leagues among his positional peers for pass completion per 90 and progressive carries per 90.

Back in March 2023, when Wood made his England U21 debut, Martin again applauded his limitless potential and said:

“He is a huge asset to the football club, on the pitch and off the pitch.

"He's been amazing – a young man who has just grown and grown on the pitch and off the pitch as well.

"He is becoming a real leader in the group. He's an incredible learner and he's incredibly brave with the way that he plays. He will play at the very top, no doubt about it."

If Southampton managed to complete this transfer, it would be a second steal from Swansea this summer, following Ryan Manning’s departure.

The left-back joined the Saints from Swansea in July after a sensational season at the Liberty Stadium.

Last term, Manning made 43 Championship appearances, averaging the most tackles per game (2), interceptions per game (1.3), key passes per game (2.5), and assists (10) in the squad.

Martin was overjoyed when he was reunited with the 27-year-old and said:

“Firstly, he's a brilliant character. He's got a real edge to him. He's got a fantastic personality, a lot of energy and was a really important member of our group at Swansea.

“In terms of on the pitch, he's an outstanding footballer who has a brilliant understanding of what we want. He played in a few positions for us previously, and he's coming here as a left-back because he ended up performing as one of the best left-backs in the division last year.”

The signing of Wood would be a magnificent coup for the recently relegated club and would be a continuation of the promising direction that is being spearheaded under Martin.