Newcastle United have been transformative under new ownership and new management since the Saudi-led takeover of the club in 2021, casting aside the universally deplored proprietary of Mike Ashley, who had run the club into the ground during his lengthy ruling of one of the Premier League's most prominent outfits.

With the opulence of the owners capable of rivalling even the likes of Manchester City and Paris Saint-Germain, widely considered the two financial powerhouses in European football, many expected lofty fees to follow the completion of the deal, but the work completed on and off the pitch has been nothing short of astute.

Manager Eddie Howe has crafted a team seeking a return to the Champions League for the first time since 2003, and having clinched 65 points from 33 matches, in third place and nine points above Liverpool in fifth, a swift return to the forefront of the scene looks soon to be confirmed.

The cobwebs of the past are all but cleared at St. James's Park, but one particular deal, the 2018 sale of Mikel Merino, remains a reminder of the previous failings that left the club fluctuating between divisions and scarcely seeing success for many years.

When did Newcastle sell Merino?

Having signed Spanish midfielder Merino from German giants Borussia Dortmund in October 2017, mere months after landing the ace on an initial loan deal, he was sold to Sociedad the following summer after his £10m buyout clause was met.

Hindsight is a wonderful thing, and Merino's brief, 25-match stint on Tyneside preceded the birth of his true skill set at Sociedad, but his natural ability was never in question and granting his departure less than one year after his permanent acquisition seems somewhat premature.

He has now forged 191 appearances for Erreala, scoring 18 goals and serving 25 assists, with journalist Josh Bunting waxing lyrical over the 26-year-old, stating he "oozes confidence".

His rounded scope has expanded during his time in LaLiga, with his seasonal exploits notably demonstrating the improved creativity of his game – Merino has provided one goal and nine assists from 27 league appearances this term.

According to Mundo Deportivo, the 6 foot 2 ace holds a €65m (£57m) release clause in his current contract, a fee the likes of Aston Villa have been willing to meet as recent speculation over the player's future mounts, which only serves as a poignant reminder to what could have been for the Magpies.

The aforementioned fee is actually an incredible 470% increase in value, something which could feasibly increase over the coming years, Merino still only 26 years old.

As per FBref, the £66k-per-week star ranks among the top 2% of positional peers for rate of assists, the top 1% for aerials won, the top 12% for tackles and the top 15% for clearances, highlighting the impressive ubiquity of his trade.

While Newcastle are on track for a sustained period of milk and honey, the 13-cap Spaniard's inclusion could've provided the extra slant in the midfield engine this term, perhaps proving the difference in the 2-0 Carabao Cup final defeat to Manchester United, or issuing control in divisional clashes that could have pushed the club closer to the forefront of the Premier League table and into title contention.

Their wealth, fortunately, buffers the blow, but it certainly illustrates the ineptitude of the previous chapter and the strides taken in such a short time. Indeed, this is one transfer tale to file in the mistakes column.

Zimbabwe will aim to rekindle their competitive spirit to exploit a depleted Indian side in the first ODI at Harare on Saturday

The preview by Alagappan Muthu10-Jun-2016Match factsSaturday, June 11, 2016
Start time 0900 local (0700 GMT)Big pictureA second India tour of Zimbabwe in as many years. The last, and only, time that happened was in 1997 and 1998. When Sachin Tendlkar and Henry Olonga were still a thing, Andy Flower would reverse sweep first, ask questions later and Anil Kumble would fume. In essence, there was competition between the two teams. Palpable competition.Zimbabwe would be hopeful of rekindling that on Saturday considering India have left their biggest match-winners behind to make room for new ones to develop. A similar outlook towards a Bangladesh tour left India vulnerable on seaming pitches in 2014; the next year Bangladesh beat a full-strength Indian side 2-1. Imagine the weight it would lend to Graeme Cremer’s prospects of becoming permanent captain if his team can topple MS Dhoni’s.That’s a big if, though. The touring party may be fairly new to international cricket but together, they comprise the range of skills needed in limited-overs cricket. Manish Pandey has won an IPL final off his own bat. Karun Nair uses the straight drive just as well as he does the reverse sweep. Yuzvendra Chahal’s legspin isn’t traditional – he doesn’t toss the ball up and as such doesn’t get it to turn too much – but his flatter trajectory has worked for him in List A and T20 cricket.Zimbabwe, on the other hand, have picked a full-strength squad but they possibly need to do better at flexing their muscles. The batting can hold its own with Hamilton Masakadza at the top, Sean Williams and Craig Ervine to control the middle while Elton Chigumbura along with Sikandar Raza can be depended to provide a suitably breakneck finish. Their problem is the bowling, especially against a batsman who can go on a rampage as was evident against Afghanistan and an unstoppable Mohammad Shahzad.Form guideZimbabwe LWWLL (last five matches, most recent first)
India WLLLLWatch out forFor someone who does so little with his non-bowling hand, Tendai Chatara can generate considerable pace. While that isn’t a guarantee for picking up wickets, it’s a good place to start as he showed in the Harare Test against Pakistan in 2013. He dismissed Azhar Ali, a batsman who beds in at the crease like it was made of wet cement, for a duck and struck the first blow in his second over on the final morning. Essentially, he took the wickets the team needed at a time when they needed it most and he’ll have to take on that responsibility again.In contrast, India’s quickest bowler hasn’t played Tests yet. But with a bumper home season set for 2016-17 and if Jasprit Bumrah continues his limited-overs form, that may change. Much has been said about the accuracy of his yorkers, but Bumrah does have the ability to straighten the ball down the line and a tendency to gather pace off the pitch and surprise batsmen. Skills like that are important to a captain, especially when he wants to put a roadbock in front of an opposition running away with the game.Team newsThe experimental squad that India have picked makes it seem like any of the 16 could make the XI. Faiz Fazal, more than a decade after making his debut in domestic cricket, may win his first India cap as opener unless India consider Mandeep Singh a more worthwhile investment considering his youth and aggressive strokeplay. Chahal is another player eying his international debut, and his wristspin could put him ahead of Jayant Yadav, who relies on finger spin. Kedar Jadhav made a century the last time he was in Zimbabwe and could make a strong case for a middle-order spot, while Test specialist KL Rahul will want to prove he can be a viable option in one-day cricket too.India: (probable) 1 KL Rahul, 2 Mandeep Singh/Faiz Fazal, 3 Karun Nair, 4 Manish Pandey, 5 Ambati Rayudu/ Kedar Jadhav 6 MS Dhoni (capt & wk), 7 Axar Patel, 8 Dhawal Kulkarni, 9 Yuzvendra Chahal, 10 Jasprit Bumrah, 11 Barinder SranZimbabwe could opt for a lengthy batting line-up, with former captain Chigumbura coming in at No. 7. They appear well stocked with spin options, led by captain Cremer and part-timers Williams and Raza. So there is a case for dropping Wellington Masakadza for an extra fast bowler like Donald Tiripano.Zimbabwe: (probable) 1 Chamu Chibhabha, 2 Hamilton Masakadza, 3 Richmond Mutumbami (wk), 4 Sean Williams, 5 Craig Ervine, 6 Sikandar Raza, 7 Elton Chigumbura, 8 Graeme Cremer (capt), 9 Neville Madziva, 10 Wellington Masakadza/ Donald Tiripano, 11 Tendai ChataraPitch and conditionsThe pitch at the Harare Sports Club usually usually has a split personality, especially during matches that begin as early as 9 am. It would help the new ball dart around in the first hour or so, but following that batsmen would only have to be wary of its slowness. India’s interim head coach Sanjay Bangar felt that the pitch wasn’t as green as the one that greeted the team last year but cautioned his batsmen against the behaviour of the Kookaburra ball to be used in this series vis-à-vis a Duke ball that was used in 2015. Weather wise, a clear and pleasant day is expected, with temperatures in the low 20C range.Stats and trivia India have had a different captain in each of their last four tours to Zimbabwe – Dhoni in 2016, Ajinkya Rahane in 2015, Virat Kohli in 2013 and Suresh Raina in 2010. Cremer has been Zimbabwe’s most successful bowler since his return from international hiatus in May 2015. He has 45 wickets in 33 innings across formats. The next best is Luke Jongwe with 32.Quote”MS [Dhoni] is very excited to be part of a young bunch of players. It’s been a long time since he is getting an opportunity to play with younger players and pass on his experience.”
Sanjay Bangar

Presenter Dan Lawless has slammed West Ham United January signing Danny Ings after his full transfer fee and wages were reported.

What's the latest on Danny Ings and West Ham?

This winter, it looked as though striker Michail Antonio was potentially on his way out of the Premier League club with Chelsea even linked with a loan move.

Perhaps with that in mind, David Moyes didn't want want to risk being short of options up top and the Hammers pounced in the market.

Indeed, they landed Ings from Aston Villa for £15m on a two-and-a-half-year deal. Since then, however, he has failed to impress – scoring just three times in 16 outings.

It's since been reported that the Englishman earns a whopping £125k-p/w. After learning of this, West Ham Fan TV man Lawless outlined how "baffling" the transfer has been

On Twitter, he wrote: "Still an absolutely baffling signing to me, doesn't suit us at all and is now one of our highest earners. Madness."

Who earns the most at West Ham?

With Ings being paid so much, it means only Lucas Paqueta currently earns more (£150k-p/w) than him within the West Ham squad – while the striker sits joint level with Kurt Zouma.

However, when you look at his recent performances, you can't really argue that the 30-year-old has been one of Moyes' better players.

After all, he has scored just twice in the Premier League since joining, has zero assists, and hasn't netted in his last eight league appearances.

What's more, when you look at average league ratings on WhoScored, Ings has managed a 6.32 score in a West Ham shirt. This ranks him 19th out of 25 players in the senior squad.

Worryingly, even Moyes doesn't seem to be entirely convinced about just how to get the best out of his new signing. When asked if Ings looks too isolated up front when playing for the club, the manager told recently reporters (via 6foot2): “Yes, but we’re only just getting to know him. He’s someone who probably might need more people around him.

"We’re not playing at our best and the Nottingham Forest game showed, Danny is a penalty box striker, if we can get the ball more to Danny and give him opportunities, he can score. His record and his history will show that, but we’ve not really been that far up the pitch often enough to sustain pressure which would maybe mean more opportunities are coming."

All in all, this deal is looking more pointless by the day.

An update has emerged on Celtic and their plans to bolster their defensive options in the upcoming summer transfer window…

What's the latest on Xavier Mbuyamba to Celtic?

According to Sky Sports, the Hoops are one of the clubs eyeing up FC Volendam central defender Xavier Mbuyamba ahead of next season.

The report claims that English Championship side Watford, alongside Ajax and AZ Alkmaar, are also interested in the Dutchman, with teams keeping tabs on the youngster's situation.

It is stated that clubs have been tracking the centre-back this season due to his past pedigree in the academy systems at Chelsea and Barcelona.

What is Xavier Mbuyamba's style of play?

The 21-year-old is a talented central defender who is able to win the ball back on a consistent basis for his side whilst also having the presence to chip in with goals at the other end of the pitch.

He has been compared with former Celtic superstar Virgil van Dijk, due to their similar styles and the huge potential of the Volendam gem, and Ange Postecoglou could now land the club's next version of the current Liverpool monster.

Meanwhile, scout Jacek Kulig previously described Mbuyamba as a "complete, elegant & dominant CB" and the youngster's form this season is comparable to Neil Lennon's star performer.

In the 2013/14 campaign, van Dijk made 3.8 tackles and interceptions and 5.7 clearances per game in six Champions League outings for the Hoops.

Mbuyamba, who stands at a whopping 6 foot 5, has put up similar statistics in the Eredivisie this term for Volendam – making 3.5 tackles and interceptions and 5.4 clearances per match. This shows that the youngster is able to consistently cut out opposition attacks by reading the game and being strong in his tackles, whilst also having exceptional positioning to make clearances.

Van Dijk was also a goalscoring threat during his time in Scotland, scoring nine goals in 76 Scottish Premiership outings, and the 21-year-old has showcased his prowess in the opposition's box with five goals in 26 appearances in the Dutch top-flight.

These statistics show that Mbuyamba has many similar qualities to the ones that the current Reds star displayed during his time in Scotland, both in terms of his defensive and offensive impact on the pitch in being able to regain possession on a regular basis whilst also punishing teams with his ability in the air.

At the age of 21, the ex-Barcelona enforcer would also arrive with plenty of time left to develop and improve and the talent could be a player, like when van Dijk was sold to Southampton for £13m, who comes in before being moved on for a hefty profit further down the line.

تمكن لاعبو فيوتشر من تحقيق فوز صعب أمام بلدية المحلة، بهدف دون رد، في المباراة التي جمعت بينهما ضمن منافسات كأس الرابطة.

وأقيمت مباراة فيوتشر وبلدية المحلية مساء اليوم على أرضية استاد القاهرة، ضمن منافسات الجولة الثالثة من مرحلة المجموعات بالمسابقة المحلية.

وسجل عبد الكبير الوادي هدف فوز فيوتشر بالدقيقة 12 من عمر المباراة، من كرة رأسية مميزة بعدما تلقى عرضية من الجبهة اليمنى. هدف فوز فيوتشر أمام بلدية المحلة في كأس الرابطة

ويتواجد فريقا فيوتشر وبلدية المحلة في المجموعة الأولى من كأس الرابطة بجانب سموحة والاتحاد السكندري.

وبهذه النتيجة وصل فريق فيوتشر للنقطة الرابعة محتلاً المركز الثالث في المجموعة، بينما تجمد رصيد بلدية المحلة عند نقطة وحيدة بالمركز الرابع.

A brutal innings from Riki Wessels helped Nottinghamshire to their second NatWest T20 Blast victory of the weekend with a one-sided nine-wicket victory over Worcestershire at Trent Bridge.

ECB Reporters Network 09-Jul-2016
ScorecardRiki Wessels ensured Nottinghamshire raced to victory•Getty Images

A brutal innings from Riki Wessels helped Nottinghamshire to their second NatWest T20 Blast victory of the weekend with a one-sided nine-wicket victory over Worcestershire at Trent Bridge.Having toppled Northants on Friday evening, the Outlaws were equally ruthless in dismantling the Rapids to move into second place in the North Group table.Set to score 125 to win, Notts reached their target in only 12.2 overs with Wessels blazing an unbeaten 80, scoring his runs from only 35 balls, He hit six fours and seven sixes in one of the most brutal assaults witnessed on the ground for some time.Worcestershire limped their way to a score of 124 for 8, after morning rain had delayed the start by 15 minutes.Ben Cox made an unbeaten 37 and Tom Kohler-Cadmore scored 22 from 28 balls but far too many of their team-mates were guilty of gifting their wickets away.Put in, after Dan Christian had won his eighth toss out of 10 for the Outlaws this season, the Rapids lost their way as early as the third over when Joe Leach fell for 18.Leach had shown signs of intent by hoisting Harry Gurney for the only six of the innings but then perished to a catch at long-on from Jake Ball’s bowling.Christian took pace off the ball as soon as the Powerplay overs had been completed and was rewarded as Imran Tahir, Steven Mullaney, who took two for 26, and Samit Patel dried up the runs and picked up crucial wickets in the middle overs.Tahir was the only bowler not to take a wicket but was nevertheless instrumental in throwing down the stumps to run out Brett D’Oliveira off his own bowling and then gathered a Ball return to dismiss Daryl Mitchell in the same way.The chase soon became a formality, even though Michael Lumb fell to Matt Henry in the fourth over.By then Wessels had already hit his straps, hitting Leach for 4646 at the end of the second over. The 30-year old continued in the same aggressive manner and brought up his fifty with his sixth maximum, from just 17 balls, the quickest in the competition this year.Greg Smith provided additional firepower from the other end, hitting Matt Henry over the ropes on his way to an unbeaten 32 from 27 balls.

Manchester United are now lining up to sign Napoli's Victor Osimhen this summer, and it would be the striker's "dream" to move to Old Trafford, according to a recent update.

What's the latest Man United transfer news?

Man United have set their sights on bringing in a new striker this summer, and it has been reported they are still keen on signing Goncalo Ramos from Benfica, with the Portuguese club resigned to losing him at the end of the campaign.

However, Lautaro Martinez is said to be Erik ten Hag's top target, with the Red Devils willing to offer £60m to secure his services for next season, an offer that Inter Milan may be forced to accept.

Another option for United is Tottenham Hotspur striker Harry Kane, with it recently being reported they are set to make the England captain a priority target, as they believe he could play a big part in turning them back into title contenders.

Ten Hag has identified a number of targets for the summer, and Sport Witness has relayed an update from Italy, which details that Man United are lining up to sign Osimhen, and the player himself is said to be attracted by the proposition.

It would be a "dream" move for the Nigerian to complete a switch to Old Trafford, however actually being able to land him is where it gets difficult, as Napoli are set to demand €130m (£113m) plus bonuses to sanction his departure.

Not only that, but there will be stiff competition from the likes of Bayern Munich, Real Madrid and Paris Saint-Germain.

How many goals has Osimhen scored?

The 24-year-old has been in fantastic form with Napoli this season, weighing in with 28 goals in all competitions, including 23 in the Serie A, which places him at the top of the goal-scoring charts, above Martinez.

Hailed as "world-class" by members of the media, the marksman has spearheaded Napoli's title-winning Serie A season, and it is no surprise that there are a number of clubs lining up for his signature.

However, £113m is a huge amount and would be a club record fee at Old Trafford, particularly considering Kane could be available for less, with it being reported Daniel Levy may listen to offers above £100m.

Given that Kane has proven himself in the Premier League over many years, the 29-year-old could be a better target this summer, but Osimhen would still be a fantastic signing.

Liverpool are now unlikely to move for Eintracht Frankfurt defender Evan Ndicka, journalist Dean Jones has revealed.

What's going on with Ndicka?

The centre-back is out of contract at the end of the season, and is set to leave Frankfurt. At 23, he could be a player that interests a lot of clubs, as a left-footed central defender.

Liverpool were previously linked with a move for the Frenchman, but it now seems that he is set to move elsewhere.

Ndicka has been described as "exciting," and with wages of £20k-per-week, it could have been a fairly cheap deal to pull off.

Speaking to GiveMeSport, Jones revealed that Ndicka could join Napoli, and that he is unlikely to move to Anfield this summer.

"Liverpool have been linked with Evan Ndicka as a potential solution to helping their defensive depth for next season, but it seems Napoli is a more likely destination" he stated.

"It’s an interesting one because the profile of the player seems a good fit, but over the past couple of weeks I have struggled to find anyone that believes it is going to be a deal Liverpool push for.

"And now in Italy, there seems to be confidence that Napoli are looking at him and are putting themselves in a good position to make a proposal. So it feels like we can probably scratch him off the list."

Do Liverpool need a centre-back?

Despite an impressive recent run of form, Liverpool have suffered a large drop-off from last season, and reinforcements are needed across the pitch.

Virgil van Dijk has come in for criticism over his form this season, as the once flawless Dutchman has started to look vulnerable, and extra cover for the 31-year-old could be useful this summer.

Ndicka could have been the long-term successor for Van Dijk as a left-sided defender, and he could have formed a partnership with fellow Frenchman Ibrahima Konate.

Liverpool could still look at a defender, as Joe Gomez has also come in for criticism, and Joel Matip is ageing. A younger option who could rotate, and perhaps eventually start next to Konate could help pad the squad.

Klopp's side still have a shot at Champions League qualification, but may be forced to settle for a Europa League spot, and a large squad will be needed regardless of which competition they qualify for.

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

What's the latest contract news at Arsenal?

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

The Mudgal Report admonished CK Khanna, the long-serving vice-president of the Delhi and District Cricket Association (DDCA), saying his “pernicious influence” is responsible for the “major ills” of the premier state association

Nagraj Gollapudi12-Jul-2016The Mudgal Report has admonished CK Khanna, vice-president of the Delhi and District Cricket Association (DDCA) since 1982, saying his “pernicious influence” is responsible for the “major ills” of the premier state association. The remarks about Khanna are doubly concerning because he is also the vice-president of the BCCI from the central zone.”The major ills of the DDCA can be traced to a long-serving vice-president of DDCA,” the Mudgal report, which was submitted in Delhi High Court on Monday, said. The report was prepared by Justice Mukul Mudgal, the former chief justice of Punjab and Haryana High Court, who was appointed this February to oversee the conduct of matches at Feroz Shah Kotla during the World T20 and IPL, between March and May.While he highlighted in detail the various problems that have plagued the DDCA for many years now, Mudgal reserved his sternest words for Khanna. “It was seen during my tenure that there is no transparency or accountability in the functioning of the some senior office bearers of DDCA,” the report said. “The most pernicious influence affecting DDCA’s administration is the ever-present Mr CK Khanna, who is the vice-president of DDCA for several years and also happens to be the vice-president of BCCI, though from the central zone. He controls a large number of proxies and, accordingly, has a strong hold in DDCA.”The proxies, Mudgal pointed out in the report, are the thousands of members of DDCA who are given one complimentary pass for every match conducted at Feroz Shah Kotla. The only purpose these members serve, he said, is that of voting during the DDCA executive committee elections.In his conclusions, Mudgal noted that the proxy system “is the bane of Delhi cricket and subject to other legal requirements deserves to be jettisoned”. Mudgal said the list of these “few thousand” members, acting as proxies, needed to be properly scrutinised.According to Mudgal the complimentary tickets and passes are a “bone of contention” between various office bearers, executive committee members and other authorities at the DDCA. And it was here Khanna used his influence to get as many complimentary passes as he could. “He excels in at evading responsibility and claiming credit for an achievement by someone else,” Mudgal noted. “His paramount interests are peddling of complimentaries to gain favours and satisfy his proxy interests, and mounting the dais repeatedly for presentations. He craves for every photo opportunity.”Mr Khanna has not the slightest interest in promotion of cricket in Delhi and his sole occupation is the traction obtained by complimentaries to his proxies and various authorities. He specialises in using his proxy power from behind the scenes and always avoids putting his signature on any document to avoid any responsibility. He is very efficient at securing complimentaries for the avowed purpose of giving to various licensing/sanctioning authorities and diverting some of them for his own benefit.”According to the report, a clear case of conflict of interest could be established against Khanna, who had three relatives serving at DDCA. “He has planted his relatives in various positions in DDCA, for example a) Mr Anil Khanna, General Secretary (first cousin) b) Ravi Khanna, Patron (brother) c) Vivek Gupta, Joint Secretary (wife’s first cousin). This is clear case of conflict of interest.”The report highlighted the downward course taken by Delhi cricket in the Ranji Trophy. It argued that if Delhi is to regain its pre-eminence in domestic cricket, Khanna has to leave the DDCA. “Mr CK Khanna is present throughout working hours in DDCA. His supporters who keep him in power are only interested in complimentaries and free food and liquor during matches. Mr CK Khanna is one person whose latent actions along with his proxy-controlled acolytes have brought down the reputation of DDCA. Delhi, which has given several great cricketers to the Indian team, including the present Test captain, now languishes in the second tier of Ranji Trophy. All those who want to work only in the interests of betterment of cricket are hampered and prevented at every stage by the influence of CK Khanna. A restoration of Delhi cricket to its erstwhile glory may not be possible with Mr CK Khanna controlling the affairs of DDCA.”