All posts by h79snht.top

Tottenham Hotspur seem to be closing in on a new defensive target…

What's the latest on Edmond Tapsoba to Tottenham Hotspur?

That's according to Italian journalist Rudy Galetti, who added to the words of his compatriot Fabrizio Romano from mid-June.

The latter first noted: "I keep saying that Tapsoba is a priority target because they [Spurs] love Tapsoba. Tottenham's scouts have been there many times this year to follow Tapsoba. So, he is a player they really love, and they feel he is perfect for Premier League football.

“He is a leader. So, there are many factors in a deal and Tottenham think he is a fantastic option."

However, the latest comes from Galetti, who told GIVEMESPORT: "On the table, there are around €25m (£21m) and the German club is concretely evaluating this proposal. Last winter, Arsenal asked them for him but then now they decide to go for Timber, who is close as well.

“So, the Burkina Faso player [Tapsoba], we can say that is one step away from joining Tottenham. In the next few days, they will push and close the deal positively."

Who could Tapsoba emulate at Spurs?

Given how Mauricio Pochettino kickstarted his reign in north London, which has been comfortably the most successful of any in recent history, perhaps Ange Postecoglou could seek to take a leaf out of his book as he continues his summer spending.

The Argentine added some key defensive assets to his side within the first three transfer windows, but the likes of Kieran Tripper, Eric Dier and Toby Alderweireld offered far more than mere solidity.

All boasted fine ball-playing skill sets that made them integral to the style of play he sought to implement, which worked to great effect.

Now, with their new boss looking to kickstart a revolution of his own, Tapsoba could seek to mimic the latter of that aforementioned trio as the skilful centre-back to underpin his all-action and possession-dominant philosophy.

After all, when compared to others in his role across Europe, the Bayer Leverkusen star ranks in the top 10% for passes attempted, the top 5% for progressive passes, the top 8% for progressive carries and the top 6% for successful take-ons, via FBref.

The 24-year-old is the quintessential ball-playing centre-back, yet boasts the physicality to take to English football with ease too.

This was exactly the case for Alderweireld too, who arguably enjoyed the pinnacle of his Spurs career during the 2015/16 campaign.

Maintaining a 7.28 average rating, which made him the third-highest-rated defender in the whole division for that season, he would record six goal contributions, a 70% dribble success rate, 1.7 interceptions and a mammoth 7.2 clearances per game, via Sofascore.

His presence as a rock at the back for Pochettino aided his title charge massively, which ultimately ended in failure.

Postecoglou will be keen to replicate some of the hallmarks from that tenure but add his own cutting-edge to push them over the line. Tapsoba's arrival would mark a key step towards achieving that goal.

Australia have won their last four Tests, but will face a different challenge when they play the No. 1 team, India, who have not lost a Test at home since December 2012

The Preview by Brydon Coverdale22-Feb-2017Match factsFebruary 23-27, 2017
Start time 0930 local (0400 GMT)4:44

Chappell: Smith has a lot of faith in O’Keefe

Big PictureIn this era of facts and alternative facts, let’s consider one of each regarding the Test series that starts in Pune on Thursday. Australia can regain the No.1 Test ranking by the end of this tour. That is a fact. Australia have a good chance of doing so. That is an alternative fact. In other words, a falsehood. A statement that is backed up by no evidence whatsoever. To do so, Australia would need to win this series either 3-0 or 4-0, and not even Sean Spicer could claim with a straight face that such a scenario is feasible. A different sort of spin will be required to succeed in this series.Consider some more facts. India have not lost a Test – any Test, anywhere – since August 2015. That is a stretch of 19 consecutive Tests they have either been won or drawn. Admittedly, since they were last defeated, by Sri Lanka in Galle, they have played only one away series, against West Indies last year. At home they are utterly dominant. Of their past 20 home Tests, India have won 17 and drawn three. Last time they lost at home was to England in Kolkata in December 2012. It is so long ago that Yuvraj Singh was still a Test cricketer, but Ajinkya Rahane and Ravindra Jadeja were not.Australia, meanwhile, have lost their past nine Tests in Asia. If they were a cat, they’d be out of lives, and out of their misery. Until last year, Sri Lanka was the one Asian venue at which Australia always seemed to win. Then they encountered Rangana Herath and were crushed 0-3. Nine men who played in that series are part of the squad in India. What have they learnt from that experience? We are about to find out. What is certain is that R Ashwin, Jadeja and whichever other spinners India choose to play will test Australia’s batsmen every bit as sternly as Herath and Dilruwan Perera.Last time India hosted Australia for a Test series, Ashwin and Jadeja combined for a remarkable tally of 53 wickets. Only one Australian century was scored in the four Tests in 2013 – by Michael Clarke, on the opening day of the series. From then on, Australia’s tour was beset by poor techniques against spin, an inability to restrict India’s batsmen, internal angst within the squad, and detentions over neglected homework. India only gained momentum, not just winning but annihilating Australia in the process.Four years later, a very different Australia will try their luck. Peter Handscomb, Matt Renshaw and Shaun Marsh will all play Test cricket in India for the first time – Marsh, the selectors hope, could be Australia’s trump card on the spinning pitches, given his success in Sri Lanka – while Josh Hazlewood and Steve O’Keefe will have their first experience of bowling in Tests in India. The hosts, since 2013, have lost legends such as Sachin Tendulkar, Virender Sehwag and MS Dhoni, but appear no weaker for it. They are No.1 in the world, by a distance. Expect that chasm only to grow over the next few weeks.Form guide(last five completed matches, most recent first)
India: WWWWW
Australia: WWWWLIn the spotlightHow will Australia’s batsmen combat the dual threats of R Ashwin and Ravindra Jadeja? They are the top two Test bowlers in the world, according to the ICC’s rankings, and for Australia to have any hope of respectability in this series they will need to find some way to limit their impact. One turns the ball away from the right-handers, one away from the left-handers, and both will be threatening with every single delivery. Their figures are quite remarkable: no bowler in Test history has reached 250 wickets faster than Ashwin, while of Jadeja’s 117 Test wickets, 96 have come in India at the average of 20.22. Expect this pair to once again be at the top of the wicket tally.After a humiliating series loss in Sri Lanka, can Australia’s batsmen turn their spinning-pitches form around?•Associated Press

The oldest man in Australia’s squad, Shaun Marsh gets his first chance to play Test cricket in India at the age of 33. The selectors view Marsh as a good player of spin, and is expected to slot in either at No.3 or No.4, effectively replacing Usman Khawaja, whose previous struggles in turning conditions in Asia appear to have cost him his spot. Marsh was a calm presence in Colombo last August, when he was brought in for the third Test against Sri Lanka and made 130, which was Australia’s highest score of the tour. With hundreds in three of his past four first-class matches and two of his past three Tests, he should enter this Test with confidence.Team newsIndia appear likely to play three spinners, with Jayant Yadav set to join Ashwin and Jadeja. His inclusion looms as the only probable change from the side that beat Bangladesh in Hyderabad.India (probable): 1 KL Rahul, 2 M Vijay, 3 Cheteshwar Pujara, 4 Virat Kohli (capt), 5 Ajinkya Rahane, 6 Wriddhiman Saha (wk), 7 R Ashwin, 8 Ravindra Jadeja, 9 Jayant Yadav, 10 Ishant Sharma, 11 Umesh Yadav.Unless the selectors see such a raging turner of a pitch that they call for a third spinner – in which case Mitchell Marsh could miss out and either Glenn Maxwell or Ashton Agar would be included – Australia’s XI appears fairly settled. Matt Renshaw batted with David Warner for a long period at training on Tuesday, and is expected to retain his place ahead of Usman Khawaja. All up, two changes are likely from the side that beat Pakistan at the SCG last month: the Marsh brothers, Shaun and Mitchell, both in at the expense of Khawaja and Hilton Cartwright.Australia (probable): 1 David Warner, 2 Matt Renshaw, 3 Steven Smith (capt), 4 Shaun Marsh, 5 Peter Handscomb, 6 Mitchell Marsh, 7 Matthew Wade (wk), 8 Mitchell Starc, 9 Steve O’Keefe, 10 Nathan Lyon, 11 Josh Hazlewood.Pitch and conditionsThe pitch for the inaugural Pune Test match is so dry that Australia are believed to be considering a third spinner. India’s captain, Virat Kohli, said he was expecting the turn to be slow. Like at the Wankhede Stadium, the practice pitches at the MCA Stadium are on the main square. That means a lot of barren patches on the square. There is a good chance of reverse swing.Stats and trivia The MCA Ground in Pune will be the 25th venue in India to host Test cricket; Australia, by comparison, has had only nine Test venues According to the ICC’s Test rankings, the top two batsmen and top three bowlers in the world will all be playing in this Test: Steven Smith, Virat Kohli, R Ashwin, Ravindra Jadeja and Josh Hazlewood Unusual as it is for Australia to play two matches in different countries on consecutive days – a T20 in Adelaide on Wednesday and a Test in Pune on Thursday – England once played two Tests on the same day in 1930, one in New Zealand and one in the CaribbeanQuotes”You hear comments like Harbhajan who expect us to lose 4-0. That’s not how we feel. We want to compete here against India. It’s going to be a tough series, they’ve got some quality players in their line-up from 1 to 11. So yes, it’s going to be difficult.”
“Every match and series for us is challenging, we don’t see any series as high or low. All teams we had played were good quality teams. Australia is no different. We are not treating this series different from any others in the past.”

Virat Kohli has indicated his friendships with Australian players had been irrevocably damaged, following the conclusion of the Test series in Dharamsala

Melinda Farrell in Dharamsala28-Mar-20172:46

Smith disappointed with BCCI, Kohli says ‘friends no more’

A contentious, fractious and ill-tempered Test series has claimed a final victim: Virat Kohli’s relationships with Australian players, the Indian captain said, have been irrevocably damaged. Tensions continued to simmer even after the conclusion in Dharamsala, with Steven Smith apologising for his behavior during the series, but also registering his disappointment at another bit of off-field sparring.Before the four-Test series began, Kohli had spoken warmly about his friendships with all of the Australian players but indicated that would not affect the upcoming series. When asked if he still felt the same way after India won the Border-Gavaskar Trophy 2-1, Kohli was blunt in his reply.”No, it has changed,” he said. “I thought that was the case, but it has changed for sure. As I said, in the heat of the battle you want to be competitive but I’ve been proven wrong. The thing I said before the first Test, that has certainly changed and you won’t hear me say that ever again.”Kohli’s pre-series comments

“I’m really good friends with all these guys off the field,” Kohli had said before the first Test in Pune. “I know them really well, but I know where to draw the line of friendship. “When you step onto the field, I could be playing against my big brother it wouldn’t matter.”

Smith, meanwhile, admitted his emotions had got the better of him at times during the series and offered an apology for his behaviour. He first apologised on the televised post-match presentation and then reiterated it in the following press conference.”I set myself high standards and I wanted to lead from the front with my performances” Smith said. “I have sort of been very intense in my own little bubble and at times I have let my emotions and actions just falter a little bit throughout this series and I apologise for that.”That’s a big stride for me moving forward and something I can really learn from and continue to grow as an individual and as a leader.”Smith, however, expressed disappointment with the BCCI for airing on-field exchanges between R Jadeja and Matthew Wade through a video clip on its website, in which umpire Ian Gould could be heard trying to intervene.”Yeah, I was a little bit disappointed that the BCCI sieved through the archive to find a conversation out on the field that was happening between Matty and Jadeja,” Smith said. “It’s happened between both sides throughout this series, so the fact they’ve done that to us is a little bit disappointing.”Usually what’s said on the field should stay on the field. It’s been a hard-fought series and guys are going to say things here and there, their emotions are going to be high. And so they should be in such a big series. So I was a little bit disappointed by the fact the BCCI did bring that out.Kohli also fired back at sections of the media who criticised his behaviour and form throughout an unusually lean series: he made only 46 runs in three Tests.”As I’ve said before, it’s not in my control,” said Kohli. “I’ve heard a very wise person tell me that when a person is down, the weak come out and speak about him. It takes courage to speak about someone when they are on top. It’s fine, I was targeted individually and I hadn’t done well in the series. So opportunities galore for everyone to come out and speak about me.”When I’ve done well in the past, people have spoken about me. When I haven’t done well I obviously expect them to come out and say all sorts of things. It’s obviously very easy to sit at home and write a blog or speak behind the mic. I think that’s easier than coming out and competing on the field.”That’s all I have to say about that.”

أعلنت لجنة الحكام بالاتحاد المصري لكرة القدم، عن حكام مباراة تونس ونيوزيلندا، المقرر لها اليوم الثلاثاء، ضمن منافسات بطولة كأس عاصمة مصر الودية التي تستضيفها القاهرة.

ويلتقي منتخبا تونس ونيوزيلندا، على أرضية استاد القاهرة الدولي، في إطار المنافسة على المركز الثالث والرابع من بطولة كأس عاصمة مصر.

وكان منتخب مصر تفوق على نيوزيلندا في مباراة نصف النهائي الأول، بهدف دون رد سجله مصطفى محمد ليتأهل الفراعنة إلى نهائي كأس عاصمة مصر.

طالع أيضاً.. موعد والقناة الناقلة لمباراة تونس ونيوزيلندا اليوم في كأس عاصمة مصر

على الجانب الآخر، خسر منتخب تونس من كرواتيا بركلات الترجيح بنتيجة 6-5، بعد أن انتهت المباراة بالتعادل السلبي. حكم مباراة تونس ونيوزيلندا اليوم في كأس عاصمة مصر

تم تعيين طاقم تحكيم مصري بقيادة أحمد الغندور، ويعاونه هاني عبد الفتاح ويوسف البساطي والحكم الرابع إبراهيم نور الدين، وعلى تقنية الفيديو كل من طارق مجدي، وعمرو الشناوي.

Wolverhampton Wanderers are reportedly still in the race for Bristol City midfielder Alex Scott, as Julen Lopetegui looks to rebuild his side this summer.

The Spaniard has begun the task of a well-needed clear out, in which the Old Gold have made almost £80m in sales so far.

Next, the former Real Madrid boss is expected to focus on introducing players that could become part of a new era at Molineux, with youngster Alex Scott still named as a talent that is wanted in the Midlands.

Links between the teenager and Wolves span back to March, where Dean Jones, via GIVEMESPORT, predicted a ‘summer bidding war’ for the thriving English midfielder.

Amidst Wolves’ Financial Fair Play (FFP) battles, suspicion regarding the club’s interest in the £25m-rated starlet disappeared, however news this week reinstated the belief that the Englishman could arrive at Molineux.

According to The Athletic, the 19-year-old is still ‘very much on Wolves’ radar’, and now that sales, there is hope that the Midlands side ‘could bend the rules’ in the bid to secure the talent.

How good is Alex Scott?

Lauded as “terrific” by U23 scout Antonio Mango, the Bristol City gem was named the Championship’s Young Player of the Year for the 2022/23 campaign.

The teenager burst onto the scene the season prior, securing himself as a firm starter for the Robins, making 38 appearances and contributing to six goals and assists in his first senior term, via Transfermarkt.

Scott’s battery is yet to run out, as he carried the form of his debut campaign to last season, in which he made 42 Championship appearances as the club’s star man.

The central midfielder hit a high in the FA Cup, where he shone against treble winners Manchester City during his side’s 3-0 defeat to the European champions.

Following the game, the teen was praised as being “unbelievable” by Pep Guardiola, in a game that earned him a 7.0 match rating for a blistering 90-minute display against the best of the best, via Sofascore.

His performance on that day suggested that the teenager is ready for the jump to the top tier.

Against City, the Guernsey-born starlet won nine ground duels and two aerial duels up against a midfield including Kevin De Bruyne and Bernardo Silva.

The youngster could be a revelation in Lopetegui’s new-look side and an asset in midfield alongside other talents in the ranks at Molineux.

Joao Gomes arrived at the club in January from Flamengo and has impressed so far, giving Wolves fans a glimpse of what he could offer in his first full season.

Should Lopetegui secure the signing of Scott, the Old Gold could have a midfield partnership that many would envy, in two young talents capable of dictating play in the engine room.

Both players are innate tacklers, as highlighted by their averages across their respective seasons based on their minutes played.

As per FBref, Gomes averaged a monstrous four tackles per 90 in his half-season at Molineux, as well as averaging 2.62 progressive passes per 90 to show his ability in dispatching the ball to advanced areas.

Similar numbers were hit by Scott, who over 3381 minutes in the Championship averaged 2.05 tackles per game, as well as 1.41 blocks showing the tenacious nature of the Englishman’s playing style.

Like Gomes, the 19-year-old exercised his abilities in advanced areas, averaging 2.34 progressive carries per 90 to show how rounded his talents in the middle of the park are.

Lopetegui could unearth a powerful duo by signing Scott, however, the club must act fast in their pursuit of the in-demand starlet.

Chris Dent completed his 12th first class century as Gloucestershire battled successfully to avoid defeat by Durham on the final day of the Specsavers County Championship match at Bristol

ECB Reporters Network24-Apr-2017
ScorecardChris Dent completed his 12th first class century as Gloucestershire battled successfully to avoid defeat by Durham on the final day of the Specsavers County Championship match at Bristol.Unbeaten on 64 overnight, the 26-year-old left-hander was dismissed for 101 as his side progressed from an overnight 175 for three to 320 all out, tail-enders David Payne (36 not out) and Chris Liddle (21) adding a priceless 45 for the last wicket.Chasing 205 to win, Durham slumped to 15 for three, Payne claiming two of the wickets. But Keaton Jennings and Michael Richardson steadied the ship with a stand of 38 and opener Jennings was still there, unbeaten on 30, when the players shook hands. Durham closed on 85 for four with a further eight overs possible.Earlier, Dent had built confidently on his overnight score of 64. By the time he gave a slip catch off Chris Rushworth the left-hander had faced 258 balls and hit 11 fours.He was dropped on 95 by Richardson at second slip off Rushworth and his departure came amid a spell in which the visitors claimed four wickets for two runs under dark clouds soon after lunch to raise victory hopes.Gloucestershire plunged from 253 for 4 to 255 for 8 as Graham Onions sent back former team-mate Phil Mustard and Craig Miles, the latter bagging a pair, and Rushworth pinned Jack Taylor lbw for two.Durham moved in for the kill and it was 275 for 9 when Liam Norwell was caught behind off a good delivery from Brydon Carse.Another wicket straight away would have given the visitors plenty of time to reach their target. Instead, either side of a break for bad light, which forced an early tea at 3.10pm, Payne and Liddle showed commendable defiance.Their partnership occupied 15.2 overs and by the time Durham set about their target only 31 overs remained in the match.Suddenly it was the hosts scenting victory as Stephen Cook. Graham Clark and Paul Collingwood departed in the first seven overs.Cook went off showing his bat after being judged lbw to the second ball of the innings, a full-length inswinger from Payne.Clark chipped Liam Norwell to deep square where George Hankins took the catch and Collingwood became a second leg-before victim for Payne, having survived a confident appeal off the previous delivery.Durham were 53 for 4 when Richardson lofted a catch to mid-off to give left-arm spinner Graeme van Buuren a wicket.Cameron Steel had dropped down to number six, possibly because of a hand injury suffered while fielding off his own leg-spin bowling. He and Jennings comfortably saw Durham to the draw.

Everton securing a new loan to help with the construction of their new stadium could be 'better than any long-term signing', according to journalist Dean Jones.

When are Everton moving to their new stadium?

According to The Athletic, the loan fund that the Everton Stadium Development Holding Company Limited, who are behind overseeing the construction of Everton's new stadium located on Bramley Moore-Dock, received to help with the ongoing erection of the stadium is said to be worth around £40 million.

Ormskirk firm Blythe Capital's owner Andrew Bell was said to be an agent in the deal that 'satisfied' Everton owner Farhad Moshiri's demand for external investment in a period of uncertainty at the club on and off the pitch, as cited by The Liverpool Echo.

Protests over the running of Everton at boardroom level were widespread last term as the Toffees narrowly stayed in the Premier League on the final day of the campaign following a narrow 1-0 victory over Bournemouth, as per BBC Sport.

Earlier this year, Everton were referred to an independent commission regarding their spending during 2021/22, which could now cost them millions of pounds due to Leicester, Leeds, Burnley and Southampton threatening to take legal action against the Blues 'if they lose their case for an alleged breach' of the Premier League’s financial regulations, which is set to be put forward on October 25th this year, as per The Guardian.

MSP Sports Capital had reportedly signed an exclusivity agreement with Everton back in May, which will allow the firm to plough fresh investment into the club, as per talkSPORT.

Nevertheless, iNews claim that talks are at an 'advanced stage' but 'no timeline' is in place for when the deal might be concluded regarding 25% of the club's stakeholding.

Speaking to Football FanCast, journalist Jones thinks that news that the Everton Stadium's construction is continuing to move swimmingly could be 'better' than a new signing for the fans.

Jones told FFC: "They don't have long left at Goodison now and the look of that new stadium is so easy on the eye and looks like it's going to be stunning. I think fans will certainly love it once they're there, even if they don't like leaving behind the traditions of Goodison at this moment in time. Of course, you worry slightly about how your side might adapt to a new environment, but for the long term in modern-day football, a move like this is needed. It could, it could turn out to be better than any long-term signing."

What now for Everton?

Everton boss Sean Dyche seems like a man who won't pay any more attention than he needs to regarding matters off the field at the club and will most likely be focusing on identifying potential arrivals that can make an impact on his side moving forward.

Former Aston Villa full-back Ashley Young looks set to be the first signing of his reign and is undergoing a medical ahead of a free transfer to the Toffees, as per The Guardian.

Renowned journalist Fabrizio Romano has reported that Young's transfer to Everton is imminent, stating on Twitter: "Ashley Young medical will take place later today; he will sign the contract right after as new Everton player on a free transfer. Here we go, confirmed."

Sassuolo left-back Rogerio is another name of interest to Everton, who have 'requested information' on the 25-year-old, according to Tuttomercatoweb.

Blackburn Rovers kid Adam Wharton has emerged as a further target for the Blues; however, they will need to meet his price tag of £15 million and fend off competition from Newcastle United to sign him, as per The Sun.

كشف محمد عبد المنعم لاعب فريق الكرة بـ الأهلي حقيقة طلب مساواة راتبه مع علي معلول ظهير أيسر القلعة الحمراء من أجل الاستمرار بعد تلقيه عرضًا من أحد أندية الدوري القطري.

وقال محمد عبد المنعم في تصريحات خلال برنامج المقالب “رامز جاب من الآخر” المذاع على قناة “إم بي سي مصر”: “لم أطلب الحصول على نفس راتب علي معلول للبقاء في الأهلي بعد تلقي عرض من الدوري القطري”.

طالع | خبير قانوني يوضح لـ “بطولات” سبب رفض فيفا إقامة مباراة الأهلي والزمالك في السعودية

وأكمل: “رحيلي عن الأهلي لن يكون سوى للاحتراف الخارجي في أوروبا”.

وبسؤاله إذا كان الونش متواجدًا في منتخب مصر هل سيشارك أساسيًا على حسابك؟، أجاب: “لا، ولا يوجد مهاجم في مصر أعمل له حساب”.

وأتم: “أحب اللعب بجانب ياسر إبراهيم بسبب مشاركتنا سوياً في الفترة الأخيرة”.

A remarkable day’s play, which finally ended 90 minutes after the scheduled close, saw 484 runs scored and 13 wickets fall

ECB Reporters Network21-May-2017
ScorecardDarren Stevens counterattacked to good effect•Getty Images

A remarkable day’s play, which finally ended 90 minutes after the scheduled close, saw 484 runs scored and 13 wickets fall as Kent, with Darren Stevens inevitably leading the way, countered after being reduced to 144-5 replying to Leicestershire’s first innings score of 420.Stevens, picking up where he left off in hitting 147 off just 67 balls in the Royal London Cup against Glamorgan in his previous innings, smashed an unbeaten half-century off just 30 balls in the hour before play finally ended at 7.30pm at the Fischer County Ground.Leicestershire’s left-arm quick bowler Dieter Klein had picked up four wickets as the home team did their best to make up for the time lost to the weather over the first two days of the game, when only 47.3 overs had been possible.The afternoon had seen the Foxes’ tail wag to impressive effect to ensure a maximum bonus points return.Play resumed with Leicestershire on 129 for 2, and Colin Ackermann was fortunate to survive when he edged the second ball of the day, from Matt Hunn, just short of Matt Coles at first slip. Thereafter, however, the South African played with an unhurried assurance, going to his 50 with a cut to the boundary off Coles.He and Leicestershire captain Mark Cosgrove had added 76 runs for the third wicket when Cosgrove, on 39, was trapped leg-before by a Stevens inswinger. Ackermann lofted James Tredwell for a straight six, but the off-spinner did enjoy success shortly before lunch when Ned Eckersley tried to pull a short ball, missed, and was bowled for 33.Having bowled without much luck in the morning session, the Kent seamers enjoyed better fortunes immediately after the break. Ackermann was caught behind by Daniel Bell-Drummond, who had taken over the gloves after Adam Rouse dislocated his thumb earlier in the day, Mark Pettini went leg before to James Harris and Callum Parkinson, pushing forward, was comfortably held by substitute fielder Alex Blake at fourth slip off Hunn.At 278-7 Leicestershire were in danger of subsiding, but Tom Wells, Klein and then Clint McKay all put bat to ball. Wells, on his first championship appearance, was disappointed to sky an attempted leg-side clip high to mid-off on 46, but Klein thumped 23 off just ten balls, and McKay, having gone to his 50 with a straight six off James Harris, went to a first-class career best 66 with a similar blow.When Kent began their reply, Klein, swinging the ball back in to the right-handers, quickly pinned Sean Dickson leg before and bowled Joe Denly with a full delivery before a partnership of 57 between Daniel Bell-Drummond and Sam Northeast went some way towards repairing the visitors’ fortunes.Wells dismissed Bell-Drummond with his first ball, and Klein returned to have both Northeast and Will Gidman caught edging loose drives. Kent were in serious trouble, but Stevens played as though the score was 400 rather than 150, hitting through the line of the ball with supreme confidence and timing.He was particularly severe on the unfortunate Callum Parkinson, hitting the young left-arm spinner for 30 off just three overs on his first-class debut for Leicestershire, and his half-century included nine fours and a six.

Leicester City ramped up their preparations for the new Championship campaign this week with the signing of Callum Doyle on loan from Manchester City, but new head coach Enzo Maresca appears to be on the lookout for even more recruits.

Who are Leicester City signing?

The Foxes have so far brought in Doyle, Conor Coady and Harry Winks since being relegated from the Premier League in May, just seven years on from winning the competition.

Coady and Winks arrived from Wolverhampton Wanderers and Tottenham Hotspur respectively for a combined fee of £17.5m, helping to offset the departures of James Maddison, Youri Tielemans and Caglar Soyuncu among others.

The Foxes have been tipped to bring in another centre-back to potentially partner Coady, and TEAMtalk suggests Leicester are one of seven teams keeping tabs on Middlesbrough's Paddy McNair.

Middlesbrough are supposedly open to offers for the Northern Ireland international, who is on wages of around £20,000 a week at the Riverside Stadium, according to Capology.

What position does Paddy McNair play in?

McNair has shown his versatility across the past six seasons in the Championship with Sunderland and for his current side, the past five of those with the latter, having played at centre-back in central midfield and at full-back.

Indeed, as per WhoScored, McNair was used 28 times in the heart of defence last season, twice on the right and seven times in central midfield, making him a very versatile option for Maresca should he arrive.

As Boro boss Michael Carrick pointed out last season when praising McNair's "terrific" displays, it is at centre-back he prefers playing.

The 28-year-old can be trusted to do a job wherever he is fielded, with veteran Neil Warnock hailing him as the best player he has managed, while predicting he would be playing "at the very top" again one day.

It has not quite worked out that way just yet, but McNair is still clearly a man in demand, with promoted Premier League trio Luton Town, Sheffield United and Burnley also said to be interested.

McNair is particularly strong when it comes to his ability to move the ball forward from the back. As per FBref, he ranks in the top 4% of centre-backs for progressive carries (1.69 per 90) across the eight divisions most alike the Championship, and he is among the top 2% for progressive passes received.

Where the former Manchester United player let himself down last season was in terms of clearances per 90 (2.61) and interceptions per 90 (0.80), placing him among the bottom 4% and bottom 7% of centre-backs respectively.

Looking at Coady's figures from last season on loan at Everton, he averaged 3.78 clearances per 90 in the Premier League – only four team-mates could better that – and 0.60 interceptions.

Should they be paired together, it is likely that McNair will be the one tasked with taking the ball forward in a flexible formation – Pep Guardiola protege, Maresca is in charge, after all – while Coady will be more of a pure defender.

Either way, it will be one of the more experienced centre-back partnerships in the Championship should Leicester pull off the deal, and one with plenty of promise.