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Days after making a century on Test debut, Keaton Jennings has been named captain of England Lions for their tour of Sri Lanka next year. Jennings will be joined in the four-day squad by the man he replaced in the Test side, as Haseeb Hameed works back to full fitness after suffering a broken finger in India.Another man to have opened the batting alongside Alastair Cook in recent weeks, Ben Duckett, is also named in the Lions party, although only for the one-day fixtures. The Lions will play two four-day games followed by a five-match 50-over series in February and March 2017.England’s lack of Test cricket between December and July, when they host South Africa, means that the Lions tour comes at a good time for Jennings and Hameed, who required surgery after being struck on the hand in Mohali. It will also provide another opportunity for Duckett to press his white-ball credentials, having been left out of the limited-overs squads to play India next month after an impressive ODI debut in Bangladesh.The Lions have been in the UAE for the past few weeks, playing a four-day match against Afghanistan and three 50-over fixtures with UAE. Jennings scored a century on his Lions debut, too, and captained the team to victory in the first two one-day games.”The Lions play such an important role in bridging the gap between county and international cricket, and after a successful training camp in the UAE culminating in an excellent win against Afghanistan, this tour of Sri Lanka is a great opportunity for the players to gain experience of playing on the subcontinent,” James Whitaker, the national selector, said.”Keaton Jennings impressed everyone on the Lions programme, with his leadership skills as well as his batting. That has already led to his call into the England Test set-up in India, but the Sri Lanka tour offers him the chance to gain further captaincy experience as well as playing some high-quality cricket in different and challenging conditions.”Haseeb Hameed had also made such a promising start in Test cricket before it was cut short by injury. Like Keaton and Ben Duckett, who will be returning to the Lions after playing some brilliant innings for them in the home tri-series against Sri Lanka A and Pakistan A last summer, I know he will relish the chance of playing some quality cricket in Sri Lanka in the New Year.”Among a host of regular Lions selections, Warwickshire legspinner Josh Poysden has won his first call-up for the 50-over leg in Sri Lanka, while Middlesex quick Tom Helm is included in both squads after being fast-tracked from the Pace Programme in Dubai.The tour will take place between February 6 and March 13, 2017, with details of the fixtures to be announced in due course.England Lions four-day squad: Keaton Jennings (capt), Haseeb Hameed, Nick Gubbins, Tom Alsop, Tom Westley, Joe Clarke, Liam Livingstone, Ben Foakes, Sam Curran, Tom Curran, Toby Roland-Jones, Tom Helm, Craig Overton, Ollie Rayner, Jack LeachEngland Lions 50-over squad: Keaton Jennings (capt), Daniel Bell-Drummond, Tom Alsop, Ben Duckett, Joe Clarke, Liam Livingstone, Ben Foakes, Sam Curran, Tom Curran, Craig Overton, Tom Helm, James Fuller, Ollie Rayner, Josh Poysden

Journalist Alasdair Gold has claimed that defender Davinson Sanchez will "struggle" with the style of football Ange Postecoglou wants to play at Tottenham Hotspur.

Will Davinson Sanchez ever play for Spurs again?

It was a pretty disappointing season for the centre-back as he made just eight starts for Spurs in the Premier League.

What's more, he didn't really impress in that limited game time. For instance, he was booed off the field after coming on off the bench only to be subbed just 23 minutes later in a home loss to Bournemouth.

The good news for Sanchez, however, is that a new era is about to begin with former Celtic boss Postecoglou now confirmed as Tottenham's next manager.

The only concern, though, is whether or not the £65k-p/w defender will be well suited to the Australian's tactics. While talking about all this on his YouTube channel, Gold certainly didn't seem to hold out much hope for Sanchez.

He explained: "Some of those players are going to struggle with the playing around from the back.

"You maybe imagine, unfortunately, Davinson Sanchez perhaps will struggle with that. The ability to very quickly and calmly play some of the passes that will be required."

What style of play will Postecoglou bring to Spurs?

Former Spurs goalkeeper – and current Celtic number one – Joe Hart has given some insight on what Tottenham fans and players might expect of their new manager.

Indeed, he told the press (via Keep Up) that Postecoglou will ask his player to stick to his tactic of playing out from the back no matter what.

Hart said: “We live and die by it. I love that opportunity. There’s been many coaches and managers I’m sure out there who say, ‘Look, this is how I want you to play and, if it doesn’t (work), it’s on me’. I have heard that many times.

“But I genuinely feel comfortable making risky passes, short passes, and if someone does miss a pass or a tackle and the ball goes in, I don’t think any of us would even flinch because that’s what we are being asked to do."

It seems, then, the Spurs defenders will need nerves of steel to stay calm under press and play out from the back.

Seeing as Sanchez has been accused of bringing "the panic in the stadium" by Jermaine Jenas on Match of the Day (via TeamTalk) before, he might not be an ideal fit for Postecoglou.

Only time will tell but it's not looking good for the Colombian.

Adam Wheater, the wicketkeeper-batsman, is to return to Essex three years after leaving for Hampshire. Wheater, who had already gone on loan to Essex after losing the gloves at Hampshire, has signed a two-year contract.With Hampshire preferring Lewis McManus as their wicketkeeper for the second half of the season, Wheater was asked to play as a specialist batsman – something he did creditably, scoring a maiden first-class double-hundred in July after which he reiterated his desire to keep wicket.During Wheater’s previous spell at Essex, where he made his first-class debut in 2008, his path was blocked by James Foster and he eventually bought himself out of the final year of his contract to move to Hampshire ahead of the 2013 season. That caused some controversy, when Wheater was preferred to club favourite Michael Bates because of his batting.Foster remains Essex’s first-choice keeper but, at the age of 36, he has already begun to look at opportunities outside the game, taking up the post of cricket professional at Forest School last year. Wheater, who was rumoured to be a target for Essex, will now be considered next in line.”It’s great to be back at Essex, where I started my career,” Wheater said. “I’d like to thank Hampshire for their understanding of moving to Essex and wish them every success in the future.”The signing will bolster Essex’s squad for an expected return to Division One of the Championship. With only one team set to go up, the Division Two leaders are 20 points clear of Kent – who have only one game remaining – and need just a handful of bonus points from their last two fixtures to seal promotion.Wheater made seven first-class hundreds in his four seasons with Hampshire, as well as two in List A cricket. In 2016 he averages 47.22, with a high score of 204 not out, but after McManus was granted an extended run behind the stumps, Wheater made it clear he would prefer to seek opportunities elsewhere rather than play as a specialist batsman, despite a year remaining on his contract.His loan move to Essex was announced last week but it has swiftly been made permanent. He joins Varun Chopra – who will also return on loan from Warwickshire after signing a three-year deal – in making a comeback to the county.Essex’s head coach, Chris Silverwood, said: “To be able to bring Adam back to the club on a permanent basis is brilliant for us, he comes into the squad with Division One experience, which is exactly what we need should we get promoted.”

Manchester United are interested in signing Ajax attacker Mohammed Kudus during the summer transfer window, journalist David Ornstein has claimed.

Could Kudus leave Ajax this summer?

The 22-year-old is arguably one of the Eredivisie's most exciting young players currently, following a string of standout performances for his current club. He has scored 11 goals in just 18 league starts this season, and he has also chipped in with four goals and two assists in the Champions League.

Not only that, but Kudus made a name for himself at the 2022 World Cup, catching the eye with Ghana and finding the net twice in three appearances. That gave him more of a mainstream audience and he has been linked with a move away from Ajax in the months since.

United are one of the clubs who are seemingly in the race to sign the £10,000-a-week star, with the Red Devils looking for a fresh injection of attacking quality this summer. His current deal expires at the end of the 2024/25 season, but it could be that Ajax decide that now is the best time to cash in on him and receive a lot of money for his signature.

Are Man United in the mix to sign Kudus?

According to The Athletic's David Ornstein, United remain interested in snapping up Kudus this summer, but they aren't alone, in that respect:

"It is expected to require a fee of around £40million ($49.8m) to sign the Ghana international, although that might be influenced by which teams are in for him.

"Arsenal, Manchester United and Newcastle United are among those tracking Kudus, and while other candidates may be above him on their transfer lists at present, the 22-year-old is admired."

Interestingly, Van Basten stated that Kudus is "much better" than Antony who is currently at Manchester United.

Kudus could be such an exciting signing by United ahead of next season, coming in as a long-term prospect with an extremely high ceiling. He was hailed as someone with a "great future ahead of him" by journalist John Bennet during the World Cup, as well as "brilliant", and he could strengthen the Reds' squad depth in attacking areas.

The Ajax man is capable of thriving in a central strike role, on the right-hand side or even in the centre of midfield, and this versatility will surely appeal to Erik ten Hag. The fact that the pair have already worked together during their time at Ajax would also make the move less of a risk, with the United boss knowing the Ghanaian inside out.

Tottenham Hotspur are reportedly eyeing a move for Brentford boss, Thomas Frank, as chairman Daniel Levy continues his search to find a permanent successor to Antonio Conte in the dugout.

What's the latest on Frank to Spurs?

According to talkSPORT, the Lilywhites have reportedly 'identified' the Danish coach as a "contender' to take on the top job at N17, with Levy still yet to name a long-term replacement for the aforementioned Conte, following the Italian's dismissal back in March.

While Ryan Mason is currently taking charge on a short-term basis – after the sacking of interim coach Cristian Stellini – it would appear that Frank is among those who could be handed the reins this summer, with the report suggesting that the 49-year-old is on the club's 'radar'.

As per the piece, journalist Alex Crook has provided more depth on that apparent interest, with the respected insider stating that an 'approach' could well be in the offing: “Thomas Frank is name that increasingly keeps coming up in conversations as someone Tottenham have an admiration for.

“I would go as far as to say that Brentford are even anticipating an approach for Thomas Frank."

Should Spurs appoint Thomas Frank?

On the face of it, there may be concern among supporters as to whether the Bees boss is a "big enough name" – as per Crook – to take on the role, particularly following the recent news that ex-Bayern Munich boss Julian Nagelsmann remarkably isn't in the running for the job.

Given his youthful exuberance, the German appeared to be a good fit for Spurs, only for it to be revealed they wouldn't be bringing him to north London in a bizarre set of news reports that suggested they hadn't even been in contact with him.

However, after recent moves to appoint "serial winners" such as Jose Mourinho and Conte – as described by journalist Samuel Luckhurst – a shift in direction may well be needed, hence turning to a figure such as Frank who has already proven his credentials in the Premier League.

Name checked by Sky Sports pundit Jamie Carragher as one of the "candidates" to be the top-flight's manager of the season, the former Brondby boss has enjoyed another fine campaign in charge in west London, with Brentford currently in ninth place – ten points clear of Chelsea.

Not just a "manager of the highest calibre", according to talkSPORT's Simon Jordan, the highly-rated coach could also offer the benefit of being able to work effectively with Spurs talisman, Harry Kane, provided that the latter man – who has been linked with a move to Manchester United – remains at the club beyond this season.

Frank has been working wonders with former Newcastle United reject Ivan Toney in recent years, with the 27-year-old currently the second-highest scoring Englishman in the top-flight behind Kane with 20 league goals, while scoring 68 goals and providing 21 assists in just 124 games in total for the Bees.

It would appear that Frank's approach could well benefit the current Tottenham star as the Dane has previously spoken of the similarity between both Toney and Kane, having stated back in November 2021:

"[Kane is] a world-class striker. I think both of them are very good finishers in terms of they are technicallly very good at finishing, and they are very composed and take good decisions. I think that’s the key to being a top scorer.

"On top of that, both of them are very good in link-up play. Harry Kane is dropping deeper and deeper and setting players up, you can see that throughout the season with Ivan as well."

While Kane – who has 27 league goals to his name this season – seemingly needs little help when it comes to remaining consistently prolific, it is interesting to note that the 29-year-old could comfortably slot into Frank's style of play, hence just why the latter man would be a particularly suitable candidate to fill Tottenham's managerial vacancy.

Chelsea has been named one of the clubs monitoring Brighton’s Alexis Mac Allister.

What’s the latest on Alexis Mac Allister to Chelsea?

According to Fabrizio Romano, the World Cup winner is definitely leaving the South Coast this summer and Chelsea have been “interested, but it's not a priority.”

As per the briefing, rivals Liverpool are currently leading the race for the 24-year-old and have already had a direct meeting to present their project and plan to the player.

After Jude Bellingham’s proposed move to Real Madrid, the Reds are set to enhance their chase for Mac Allister.

However, considering the excessive spending of the new Blues ownership, they cannot be discounted, and the midfielder, who is valued at £60m, would be an excellent addition to a side crying out for a rebuild.

Who could Alexis Mac Allister replace at Chelsea?

The £50k-per-week man arrived in the Premier League in 2019 from Argentinos Juniors as a relatively unknown quantity but is now one of the country's most sought-after and consistent players.

The 16-cap international – whose current contract expires in 2025 – was catapulted into worldwide stardom as he played a pivotal role in his nation’s World Cup success, having played in six of the seven games with two goal contributions.

His performances generated much acclaim and Manchester City legend Sergio Aguero labelled the player as "very intelligent."

Domestically, the form has been replicated and the Argentine star has averaged 2.1 tackles per game, a 68% dribble success, and an 88% pass completion to become a fantastic all-rounder.

He is an integral cog of a massively over-achieving Brighton side and has the third-highest rating (7.2) of the squad, as per Sofascore.

This prestigious resume means that Chelsea is sniffing around this tremendous talent, and he could be the ideal replacement for Mateo Kovacic, who is reportedly edging close to an exit from Stamford Bridge.

The Croatian has endured a hugely tricky season and appears a shadow of his former self. The 28-year-old has averaged a horrendous average rating of 6.77, with just the 18th-highest rating on the team.

Compared to Mac Allister, he ranks poorly, making just 1.4 tackles per game and registering a pass accuracy of 86%. It's in attack, however, where there are huge disparities. The Argentine has managed 2.6 shots and 1.2 key passes, whereas the Chelsea dud only manages 0.9 for both metrics.

The former Real Madrid man’s deal runs out in 2024 and the Blues may choose to cash in to avoid losing him on a free next summer and make room for Mac Allister.

The technician is an engaging and attractive prospect, who has appeared across the midfield and has already cemented his legacy by assisting Ángel Di María in the World Cup Final against France.

Although he isn't a priority, welcoming Mac Allister to the club would still be an unbelievable first step in a rebuild for the incoming Mauricio Pochettino.

Celtic attacker Liel Abada is believed to have rejected a new contract with the Hoops, according to a concerning new report.

Is Abada having a good season for Celtic?

The Hoops are on the cusp of another Scottish Premiership title, sitting nine points clear at the top of the table with matches running out this season. There have been so many players who have done their bit throughout the campaign, from Carl Starfelt in defence to Kyogo Furuhashi in attack, among many others who have contributed positively to the cause.

Someone who has certainly done his bit for Celtic is Abada, with the Israeli scoring 10 goals in as many starts in the league, making 29 appearances in the competition overall. However, there has been speculation surrounding his future at the club, even though his current deal doesn't expire until the summer of 2026.

It could be that he decides he wants a fresh challenge, especially having not necessarily been a consistent starter this season. Now, a worrying update has emerged regarding the future of the 21-year-old.

Could the attacker leave Hoops this summer?

According to Football Insider, Abada has "rejected a new contract at the club ahead of a potential summer move", in what is a negative fresh development. It is noted that he "wants to leave Parkhead this summer amid links to Premier League bottom club Southampton", with the lure of a move south of the border potentially too great to ignore at the end of this season.

This is clearly not the kind of update that Celtic supporters will want to hear, with Abada proving to be such an effective player, scoring 27 goals and registering 18 assists for the club to date. At 21, there is still so much more to come from him, too, and the hope will be that he is plying his trade at Parkhead for many years to come.

The fact that the nine-cap Israel international only has 10 Premiership starts to his name is something he could use as a reason for leaving, with more regular playing time something that he clearly craves.

Ange Postecoglou has described him as a "really strong" player and one of very few who have arguably "played every game for us this year", showing that he rates him and wants to retain his services.

It remains to be seen what the future holds for Abada, but it appears as though there could be developments further down the line over the summer.

Liverpool have long been linked with a move for Khephren Thuram and now a new update has emerged on the club's pursuit of the player this summer.

What's the latest on Liverpool's interest in Khephren Thuram?

According to French news outlet RMC Sport, Liverpool are one of the Premier League clubs preparing to make a move for the OGC Nice midfielder this summer.

As per the report, Newcastle United and Manchester United are the two English clubs who have joined the Reds in their interest in securing Thuram's services ahead of next season.

It is claimed that the Ligue 1 club will listen to offers of around €40m (£35m) as the player is still in contract until 2025.

Should Liverpool sign Kephren Thuram this summer?

There is no doubt that Liverpool are in desperate need of reinforcements this summer following a tumultuous season so far that has left them without the possibility of a trophy and unlikely to secure Champions League football.

The Reds are currently eighth in the top-flight table following their defeat to Manchester City yesterday and remain seven points adrift of the Champions League qualifying spots inside the top four ahead of Newcastle United and Tottenham Hotspur's games this weekend with just 11 fixtures remaining.

Liverpool are set for a number of exits from Anfield this summer with Naby Keita, Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain, Roberto Firmino and James Milner all out of contract at the end of the season, which presents a huge opportunity for Jurgen Klopp to finally rebuild and invest in the future of the team during the transfer window.

As a result, the signing of Thuram would be a great piece of business for Liverpool and could even provide them with a player who could replace Fabinho in the midfield set-up next season alongside rising star Stefan Bajcetic.

It is no secret that the £180k-per-week Brazilian has regressed during the season so far, with his form having "fallen off a cliff" as per the Redmen TV's Ste Hoare.

Therefore, finding a player who could improve the quality will be essential if Liverpool want to return to competing for trophies.

When comparing Thuram to Fabinho over the season so far, the talented Frenchman – hailed an "exciting prospect" by agent Oscar Damiani – has outperformed his Liverpool positional peer in tackles and interceptions (70 v 66), successful take-ons (61.4% v 50%), dribblers tackled (45.9% v 38.5%) and clearances (27 v 25) – as per FBref.

Not only that, the Nice midfielder is far more versatile and forward-thinking with a number of impressive attacking attributes. Indeed, he boasts two goals, four assists, 60 shot-creating actions and seven goal-creating actions in 2022/23, proving he could be a valuable asset in Klopp's squad.

With that being said, if the power brokers at Anfield can secure a deal for Thuram this summer, it would be a fantastic opportunity to sign a player who can offer a wide range of skills to improve performances and bolster the manager's options.

Leeds United boast a rich and illustrious history within the English game, however, that was somewhat marred by the financial troubles that saw them relegated in 2004 just as they seemed on top of the world.

David O'Leary, with the help of his predecessor George Graham, had crafted a squad laden with talent, culminating in that famous run to the Champions League semi-final before Valencia cut their dreams short.

Regardless, it remains one of the club's most remarkable feats since the turn of the century, with many of those featuring around that period revered for their immense talent.

Having enjoyed the exploits of Rio Ferdinand, Robbie Fowler, Mark Viduka and more, Olivier Dacourt is a name that could perhaps go under the radar given how he would leave the club acrimoniously after a short period.

However, it did not take long for this diminutive midfielder to announce himself as one of the silkiest players to grace Elland Road, with his exploits in the engine room proving imperative in their success around this period.

How good was Olivier Dacourt?

Signed for £8m in 2000, the Frenchman shattered the club's transfer record upon making his return to English football after a brief stint at Everton.

It was on Merseyside where he first showcased his combative yet classy assets, as he could beat a man, tackle and pick out a pass. These skills would have only been honed since then, as he quickly became an important figure in O'Leary's side.

Danny Mills even admitted that his teammate was tailor-made for the toughest games, in what seemed like a back-handed compliment fired at the midfielder: "We had Olivier Dacourt at Leeds. He was unbelievable in the Champions League, incredible against the top-six clubs.

"But when you played against the bottom six clubs, he went missing because he wasn't interested. He was a big-game player and some players are like that."

To have someone with that kind of enviable quality, but the mentality to tackle the very best in the game makes for a truly sensational player.

The Frenchman would certainly mark an upgrade on the current crop of midfielders at Elland Road, namely Marc Roca, who has underwhelmed since moving from Bayern Munich.

His 6.82 average rating perhaps covers up his recent poor form, of which his last two games have seen him handed a 6.4 rating or lower, via Sofascore.

The Spaniard is unspectacular across the board and thus does not excel in any particular role, averaging just a 77.6% pass accuracy whilst ranking in the bottom 16% for shot-creating actions and the top 41% for interceptions per 90 when compared to other midfielders in Europe, via FBref.

It is clear that the Whites need a classy presence to compliment the tough-tackling Tyler Adams, with Dacourt representing the perfect man for Javi Gracia's hypothetical spot.

Although he left amidst frustrations with Terry Venables, he will forever be remembered as a phenomenal player who lit up Yorkshire during his time there. Just imagine him in the current side; it's a mouth-watering thought.

Alasdair Gold has ripped into Pedro Porro for his poor defensive showing during Tottenham Hotspur’s FA Cup loss.

The Lowdown: Spurs limp out of another competition

It looks set to be yet another trophyless season for Tottenham as they were dumped out of the FA Cup by Championship outfit Sheffield United last night and now only have the possibility of winning the Champions League.

That looks incredibly unlikely, however, given they are behind in their tie against AC Milan heading into the second leg so that’s a challenge in itself, never mind the other clubs that are still in the competition.

It appeared as though Christian Stellini was perhaps not taking the game as seriously as he could’ve last night by benching Harry Kane despite Spurs being just a few games away from Wembley and instead, he handed starts to more fringe players including Davinson Sanchez, Pedro Porro and Pape Matar Sarr.

The Latest: Porro woefully poor defensively

Gold, who was in attendance at Bramall Lane last night, picked out Porro for his role in the only goal of the night as he was at fault for the beginning of the move and showed his defensive deficiencies.

He said: ‘A couple of early nervy moments but he steadily improved and adjusted to the swirling wind and rain. He could have done better with Hojbjerg’s diagonal ball, making a great run but then curling his left-footed shot over the bar. However, he was so weak for United’s goal as Ndiaye eased away from him. 5’

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The Latest: Tottenham’s depth is a concern

It was indeed only Porro’s second start as a Tottenham player and he may well have been counting his lucky stars that Antonio Conte wasn’t on the touchline or in the dressing room to rip into him for his weakness before the goal and the fact he won just seven out of his attempted 17 (41%) tackles last night.

To get brushed aside so easily by a Championship player almost sums up how Spurs appeared to approach the game with Stellini even claiming that some of his players took it too easy because of the opposition.

Given the form that Emerson Royal has been showing of late, it seems difficult to see how and when Porro gets a real chance in the starting lineup and last night will have done his chances no favours at all.