Dom Bess took his wicket tally in six Specsavers County Championship appearances to 35 as Somerset and Surrey battled out an inevitable draw on the final day at Taunton

George Dobell at Taunton10-Aug-2017Dominic Bess claimed five wickets for Somerset•Getty ImagesThere is a danger that some will look at the venue for this match, draw conclusions, and dismiss Dominic Bess’ performances.And it is true that, on at least a couple of occasions towards the end of the 2016 season, Bess benefited disproportionately from turning surfaces that even Matt Maynard, Somerset’s director of cricket, admits were not great for the game.But Bess can bowl. As a wonderfully aggressive offspinner, he looks as if he will be intimidated by nothing and no one (he gave one of the umpires a fearful scowl mid-way through his first over on debut against Pakistan last year), he gives the ball a sharp tweak – “he turns it more than Robert Croft did,” Maynard enthuses – has a lovely change of pace and, for his age, impressive control. He celebrated his 20th birthday less than three weeks ago.”He’s one of the better offspinners I’ve seen at this stage of a career,” Maynard said. “We had drinks with the opposition after the second day here and I was interested to see he spent an hour or so picking the brain of Gareth Batty. It’s probably Batty he reminds me of most.”This surface offered little if any turn. There was a hint of uneven pace about it – Mark Stoneman was defeated as he pushed at one; if batsmen didn’t try to score, there was little here to worry them – but to dismiss his latest five-for as soft would be unfair and inaccurate. He now has five five-wicket hauls in six Championship games in his career to date and is averaging 16.63 across them. Yes, they have all been in Taunton. And yes, there will be tougher days ahead. But in a land not exactly over-burdened with good quality spinners, he is a significant talent and one to keep a very close eye upon. He can bat, too, as a maiden half-century here suggests.Bess’ excellence helped Somerset achieve maximum bonus points with bat and ball for the first time this season. The rain-ruined third day pretty much eliminated any hopes of better and, though there was just a moment when optimistic Somerset supporters might have dreamt of taking 19 wickets in the day, Stoneman’s skill – and, later, Rikki Clarke’s – helped Surrey avoid the follow-on with seven wickets down. That guaranteed a dull draw.To be fair, there has rarely been much wrong with Somerset’s bowling. Craig Overton is developing into a fine cricketer and is rated by many at Somerset as the more likely of the brothers to challenge for the Ashes tour. Crucially he has, as Maynard puts it “a change-up in pace” as well as a “change down”. At his quickest, with his height and his skills, he could prove a dangerous proposition. Crucially, from an England perspective, he appears to have added control to his game to ensure he can maintain pressure on flat surfaces.Somerset also hope Jamie Overton may yet be available for the final three Championship matches of the season. He has resumed running and will start bowling again next week. If precautionary scans after that show no sign of a fracture, he will soon be back in the side. When he has been fit this season, he has looked as good as anyone in England.”I expect, by the time they retire, they’ll both look back on England careers,” Maynard said.The club have Dean Elgar for their next three T20 matches and hope to have the services for Fakhar Zaman shortly. He has obtained a work permit – which should prove the hard part – and is now just waiting for a visa. He has a plane ticket on hold and is expected to arrive within a week. He should arrive in time to help out in what is clearly a battle to avoid relegation.The future, though, remains home-grown. While Championship results this season have been disappointing – almost entirely due to modest batting – Maynard is delighted by a transition towards a younger, more locally developed squad.”We’re getting to the stage where we have a critical mass of players who have grown up wanting to play for Somerset,” he said. “It’s not 11 individuals out there; it’s a team of 11. I’m not sure that was the case before. We had some talented individuals – the likes of Nick Compton and Craig Kieswetter – but I don’t know if they were as committed to the success of the team.”Intriguingly, Maynard also makes no secret of the fact that he “would love Jos Buttler back at Somerset”.”I’m desperate to have him back,” he says. “I have been since I first signed here. Young cricketers here aspire to be Jos and, even if he wasn’t available much, I think he’d be a huge asset around the club. I’ve no idea what his contract situation at Lancashire is, but if he ever wanted to come back, we’d love to have him.”There will be something of a clear-out at the end of the season. While no players have yet been told they are surplus to requirements – Adam Hose rejected a long-term contract – several have had mid-season appraisals that have left them in little doubt. Maynard, however, has provided assurances that he will remain until at least the end of his contract at the end of the 2019 season.Surrey, meanwhile, move up to fourth with this result. With Stoneman picked by England they are, in their coach Michael Di Venuto’s words, “looking for an opener”. The loss of Dominic Sibley to Warwickshire “still really hurts”. Arun Harinath, who might have been allowed to leave with a year remaining on his contract had he found regular first-team cricket elsewhere (he has been on loan at Leicestershire in recent times), may well find himself winning another opportunity.Looking further ahead, Di Venuto admits that Mitchell Marsh is a leading option as overseas player for the 2018 season – allowing him to gain familiarity with conditions ahead of the Ashes in England in 2019 – and is delighted with the recruitment of Clarke as an “attack leader” and role-model for the Curran brothers.

Former Chelsea player Michy Batshuayi has sent a hilarious Tweet to Reece James as his sister Lauren continues to shine at the Women’s World Cup.

Are England in the Women’s World Cup 2023?

So far, the Lioness have impressed during the group stage of the tournament taking place in Australia and New Zealand, with three wins from three.

In the first game, they crept over the line with a 1-0 victory over Haiti. After that result, head coach Sarina Wiegman opted to name James in her starting lineup for the next game and was instantly rewarded.

Indeed, the Chelsea 21-year-old scored after just six minutes with that being the only goal of the match as England beat Denmark 1-0.

The Lionesses truly found their rhythm in their final group match, however, as they beat China 6-1 with James the star of the show.

She netted two fine goals and also claimed three assists, making her only the third player on record – they began in 2011 – to be directly involved in five goals in a Women’s World Cup game (via BBC Sport).

Evidently stunned by James’ display, Batshuayi took to Twitter to send a funny message to her brother and former teammate James.

The Fenerbahce striker said: “Damn Lauren’s got a better finish than me bro, @ReeceJames.”

While he also added that he’s a novice when it comes to women’s football but he can tell just how good Lauren is immediately, noting: “Honestly I’ve seen 2 games only but she’s very very good.”

How many goals has Lauren James scored at the World Cup?

According to Opta, despite not starting the Lionesses’ first game, James has the most goals and assists of any player at this year’s tournament, with three goals and three assists in total. What’s more, with her five-goal contribution against China, she became the first England player to be directly involved in 5+ goals in a game at the Men’s or Women’s World Cup.

Evidently, she has delivered a number of fantastic moments over in Australia already but perhaps the pick of the bunch was her second goal, a stunning volley, in the most recent win.

As you can see from the footage above, she ghosts in late at the far post to arrive with exquisite timing, before displaying immaculate technique to volley the ball into the opposite corner with her weaker left foot.

Unsurprisingly, after the game, Wiegman praised James, telling the press that she did “special things”, while Chloe Kelly, the scorer of England’s fifth goal, added: “She’s a very special player for us and women’s football in general. She’s a special talent and the future is bright” (via The Guardian).

James, who was actually denied a hat-trick by a VAR call for offside, also seemed delighted after the game.

“It’s what dreams are made of. Happy for the team; everyone is buzzing. We are looking forward to the next round,” James told ITV (via TNT Sports).

“I felt free. Whether I’m on the wing or in the middle, I’m happy to be playing and contributing to goals.”

All in all, it appears that Chelsea have a pair of very talented siblings on their books.

Surrey overcame London rivals Middlesex in the NatWest Blast by 15 runs in front of a full house at the Kia Oval after a run-out mishap involving Kevin Pietersen

Vithushan Ehantharajah at Kia Oval21-Jul-2017
Kevin Pietersen needed a runner after a run-out mishap•Getty Images

Kevin Pietersen played one of the most jaw-dropping turns of his career in front of more than 23,000 at Kia Oval: an innings nine balls long, strewn with misfortune, that seemed to last a lifetime.Pietersen walked out in the London derby after seven overs, Surrey having lost their first wicket, Jason Roy, with 68 already on the board. He was touch and go for this match, tweeting earlier in the day that he was hopeful that a dicky calf would not hold him back. He was certainly not in the mood to be restrained.He had even told Andrew Flintoff in an interview on Sky that he was still good enough to make it into England’s Test top order batting left-handed with no pads.The match before, against Essex, he told talkSPORT that he might play for South Africa in the 2019 World Cup. Expect him to take off a mask and reveal himself to be Jeremy Corbyn before his next T20 Blast outing.Things went awry immediately. He pushed his first ball to midwicket, set off, and stopped entirely. There did not seem to be a call: Finch’s reaction suggested if there was, he didn’t hear it, racing to the middle of the pitch before he recognised that Pietersen wasn’t playing ball. He was run out by a distance. Comedy ensued.At that point, Pietersen realised that he would need a runner. After discussions with Middlesex captain Brendon McCullum, which from a distance did not seem the most amicable, the game was delayed by 10-minutes as Roy – you’d have been a brave soul to ask Finch as he was walking off – kitted up again and walked out to do Pietersen’s bidding.But just as Roy made it out to the wicket, Middlesex, incensed by the delay, held up time themselves by getting into a huddle to make Surrey wait some more.Under the playing regulations McCullum could have refused but he agreed to the request, suggesting later: “I just wanted to make sure it didn’t bother us and we got on with the game. What you don’t want to do is get his back up because he could have played a sublime hand so the smart thing was accept that he needed a runner and to remain on task.”In the eight minutes that Roy and Pietersen (and Kumar Sangakkara, for once entirely overshadowed) were out in the middle, Pietersen wound Middlesex up again when he decided to move from square leg to point while off strike, just as the bowler was about to set off. The cheers when he plinked to wide mid-on for just four came mostly from the 11 Middlesex fielders in pink around him. He did not field in the second innings; he has not fielded in two matches.So to the routine bits: Surrey moved to top of the South Group with a 15-run win. Defending a target of 157, they were able to rely on Sam Curran (3 for 28) for impact and Stuart Meaker – the most economical bowler with one for 19 from – for calm. Middlesex’s threat came exclusively from lefties, as Eoin Morgan, James Franklin and John Simpson set themselves up but were unable to crack on effectively.What that doesn’t reveal is just how bonkers an evening this was, with Pietersen at its core. London has you covered for most things: get your kicks in the East and your calm in the West. But if it’s crazy you want, well, the South is where it’s at and this fixture had you covered.Ollie Pope’s invention helped Surrey set a matchwinning total•Getty Images

Finch was serenaded for the final 10-overs by a 100-strong section at the Vauxhall End. A streaker was given a standing ovation by the Peter May Stand. Across both innings, there were more runners than the Grand National. And then there was Pietersen, matchwinner in his first match, struck by calamity in his second.It was left to Ollie Pope and Dom Sibley to bring some maturity to proceedings, with 31 and 23 respectively as Surrey finished on 156 for 7. Middlesex, upon losing McCullum in the first over, chose not to be outdone in the bemusement stakes when Paul Stirling walked out at No. 3, only to be sent back to the changing room by the umpire as he had been off the field for the last part of the Surrey innings and would only be allowed to bat after 10 more minutes. When he eventually came out, McCullum acted as his runner on a strip 40-yards away from the main pitch.Should a target of 157 really have been enough to win on this pitch? No one was really sure and you got the impression that few really cared. They were still caught up in Pietersen’s pre-match comments and in-match theatrics. Few will have sympathy for him as he watched on, glum-faced from the Surrey balcony.Sympathy rarely comes the way of freelance cricketers, particular those of Pietersen’s stature. But strip away the rent-a-quote, Connor MacGregor persona that he’s trying on this week and it was easy to feel some sympathy.Spreading yourself over Twenty20 contracts is no easy life. Your training regime, nutrition and general wellbeing are very much in your own hands. That won’t sound particularly jarring to most, but for a player in his mid-thirties who has spent most of his career with the very best resources available to keep him a well-oiled, well-drilled machine – one that rasped 13,797 international runs and countless match-winning hands, by the way – niggling injuries such as his calf can prove more testing that they once were.Beyond the panto of the situation – the cat calls from the crowd and belly laughs at the sheer gall of it all – this was a sad sight, played out on the very ground where, 12 years ago, Pietersen set such high standards for himself.He is better than what he said and he is better than what he showed and no amount of ego can dilute the remorse he will feel over his choice of words and those fateful nine-balls. But it would be wrong to judge Pietersen, the cricketer, on a night like this.

ScorecardFile photo – Sam Hain’s half-century provided the platform for Birmingham•Getty Images

Birmingham boosted their hopes of qualifying for the NatWest T20 Blast knockout stages with a 30-run win over Leicestershire at Grace Road.Sam Hain struck 57 off 35 balls as the Bears recovered from a shaky start to post 187 for 7 after they were stuck in. Boyd Rankin and Aaron Thomason then each took three wickets and Jeetan Patel was at his economical best to restrict the Foxes to 157 for eight.The win moved Birmingham level on eight points with Leicestershire, who slipped to their second consecutive defeat, in the North Group.Young opener Ed Pollock, who had hit 66 off 40 balls on debut against Derbyshire in the previous game, was stumped by Luke Ronchi for 5 from a clever piece of bowling by left-arm spinner Callum Parkinson. Then Ian Bell, having lofted one straight four, tried to repeat the shot against Clint Mckay and skied high to Tom Wells at mid-off.But having been struggling on 23 for 2 off four overs, Hain and Will Porterfield took 29 off the last two overs of the Powerplay, with the latter hitting the offspin of Colin Ackermann for two sixes.Hain was fortunate to survive on 21, when Gavin Griffiths dropped a straightforward caught-and-bowled opportunity, and it was to prove an expensive miss by the Foxes.Porterfield was also caught by Wells, at long-on off Parkinson, having added 63 with Hain off just 39 balls, but Hain went on to a half-century from just 28 deliveries. His presence enabled Colin de Grandhomme and Grant Elliott to hit out to good, if brief, effect.Mat Pillans, expensive in his early overs, came back well to pick up the wickets of Thomason and then Hain, but Keith Barker and Alex Mellor compiled an unbroken partnership of 43 for the eighth wicket to ensure the visitors went into the break having maintained the initiative.On a flat pitch, a run-rate of 9.3 looked attainable, and 32 came off Keith Barker’s opening two overs. But Leicestershire’s top order found Rankin harder to get away, and Cameron Delport could not clear mid-on.Mark Cosgrove looked in wonderful touch before wastefully carving Thomason’s gentle medium-pace to Birmingham captain Bell at extra cover to go for 22. Patel bowled Ackermann and the writing was on the wall when Thomason bowled Ronchi for 27.Wells and Pillans added 53 for the seventh wicket, but it was a case of steering the Foxes’ score towards respectability as Patel conceded just 17 from his four overs.

Liverpool are interested in signing Torino central defender Perr Schuurs this summer as manager Jurgen Klopp looks to breathe fresh life into his side's defence.

Who are Liverpool going to sign this summer?

That's according to Italian outlet Toro.it (via Sport Witness), who claim that while the Reds are 'in the picture', fellow Premier League outfit Crystal Palace are looking to take the driving seat after manager Roy Hodgson 'expressly indicated' his desire for the Dutchman.

The report does state that talks have slowed following Torino's €40m (£34m) demands for the player, which both Liverpool and the Eagles are unwilling to pay, but that the sides won't 'give up' in their efforts.

Liverpool's sporting director Jorg Schmadtke has prioritised the reconstruction of the club's midfield over the past few months but is hoping to sign a left-sided centre-back to fortify the defence, and Schuurs certainly fits the bill.

How good is Perr Schuurs?

If the one-time Netherlands U21 gem were to sign, Virgil van Dijk could shift over onto his favoured right side and Klopp could finally get his hands on the left-footed central defender he covets to enhance the fluidity and cohesion of his outfit.

Van Dijk's compatriot could utilise that homeland connection to create a rock-solid new duo, with Schuurs similarly mighty in his standing – 6 foot 3 and described as a "mountain" by journalist Josh Bunting.

As per Sofascore, the 23-year-old titan completed 88% of his passes last term in Serie A and averaged 1.7 tackles and 3.2 clearances per match as Il Toro concluded the campaign with the division's fifth-best defence.

His skill set matches up well against Van Dijk's, who completed 91% of his passes last season, also averaging an impressive 4.2 clearances per game.

And given that Schuurs ranks among the top 8% of positional peers across Europe's top five leagues over the past year for assists and the top 19% for successful take-ons and tackles per 90, as per FBref, he appears to possess the dynamic set of skills that will place him in good stead to succeed at Anfield.

Van Dijk has been heralded as one of Europe's pre-eminent defenders since completing a £75m move to Merseyside from Southampton in January 2018, having racked up 222 appearances for the Reds, nearly winning the whole gamut of silverware since.

The 32-year-old was often at the epicentre of Liverpool's struggles over the past year and failed to exude the same level of imperious superiority that he has been credited with so often over his illustrious career under Klopp's stewardship, but remains a world-class titan who was perhaps a victim of a systematic collapse.

With fresh faces entering the fold at Anfield, life could begin anew and the next phase of the club's journey could now commence, with Van Dijk imparting sage wisdom on the likes of his countryman Schuurs and, in turn, benefitting from the £30k-per-week colossus' youthful exuberance.

Schuurs has all the tools at his disposal to become a "dominant" defensive figure in the future – as he has already also been described as by Bunting – and if he makes the move to Liverpool and plies his trade alongside Van Dijk, allowing the distinguished ace to shift into onto his natural side, it could be a move to enrich the fortunes for all involved.

Manchester United transfer target Leon Goretzka would prefer to stay put at Bayern Munich beyond the summer transfer window, according to an update from journalist Ben Jacobs.

How much does Leon Goretzka earn?

The midfielder, who currently earns £231,000 per week at Bayern, has enjoyed an excellent career to date, becoming a key player for both the Bundesliga giants and Germany.

Goretzka, who has been called a "goal threat", has been a hugely effective box-to-box player for a number of years now, racking up 179 appearances for Bayern, and scoring 34 goals and registering 35 assists in that time. There is also an impressive tally of five Bundesliga titles and one Champions League crown to show for his efforts, summing up the success he has enjoyed since arriving from Schalke back in 2018.

At international level, the 28-year-old now has 53 caps to his name, more than holding his own alongside likes of Toni Kroos, Ilkay Gundogan and Joshua Kimmich.

Goretzka's current deal doesn't expire until the summer of 2026, but he has been linked with a move away from Bayern, with United emerging as potential suitors for him.

Could Man Utd sign Leon Goretzka?

Speaking to Give Me Sport, Jacobs provided a key update on Goretzka's future, admitting that remaining at Bayern would be his preferred option:

"Goretzka has been looked at by several clubs. But when those clubs have explored the possibility of a deal, they get some hope on the Bayern side that a negotiation or conversation could happen, but they get less hope on the player's side because he is still intimating that he wants to stay."

Goretzka has been a top-level player for a long time now, and he is someone who could add so much to United's midfield, combing defensive intelligence, physicality and an eye for goal in the final third.

He could be a lovely foil for Casemiro and Bruno Fernandes, coming in as an upgrade on Fred and Scott McTominay, and a younger alternative to Christian Eriksen, although it looks as though a move is looking out of the question.

There would be a risk element in the Reds signing the Germany international, however, with his recent injury history a long way from being perfect, which would be a plus point if United missed out on him.

Ultimately, the positives outweigh the negatives with regard to United's pursuits of Goretzka, though – former Reds manager Ralf Rangnick once called him "the best box-to-box player in the world "- so it would be preferable to see a move materialise. If it doesn't, it would be no disaster and alternative options should be looked at instead.

Whatever happens, it is vital that at least one new midfielder arrives at Old Trafford between now and the beginning of the 2023/24 season, with more quality and depth required there if United are to become genuine Premier League title challengers in the coming campaign.

Fiorentina and Morocco hero Sofyan Amrabat looks increasingly likely to make the switch to United, which could be an exciting piece of business, but Goretzka would still be a better option, should his current mindset change.

Journalist Ben Jacobs claims there is a "mixed narrative" surrounding the Manchester United takeover process and there remains a lack of clarity over the situation at Old Trafford.

What's the latest on Man United's takeover?

Having been put up for sale by the Glazers in November 2022, a potential takeover at Man United has moved at a seemingly glacial speed.

There are two horses in the race to own United: Sir Jim Ratcliffe's INEOS and Qatari businessman Sheikh Jassim Bin Hamad Al Thani.

There has been much toing and froing regarding a potential takeover with several bids submitted by both parties, while Sheikh Jassim is now considered the favourite to buy the club outright.

However, there is a feeling that the Glazers may not even sell the club come the end of this process and the longer the takeover rumbles on the more those fears grow.

Journalist Jacobs has offered a big update regarding the takeover process, suggesting that there is still some distance between the Glazers and the buying parties and that, despite a potential deal slowly progressing, there remains a lack of clarity regarding the process.

Speaking to GIVEMESPORT, Jacobs said: "There's a mixed narrative about why we're not seemingly getting any movement. So, from the group's perspective, they feel like they're waiting for communication from the Glazers and the Raine Group.

"To get there, it requires a lot of legal and logistical box ticks. So, the groups imply that they are ready, and the Glazers must decide."

Jacobs added: “But sources close to the selling side are implying the delays are down to the fact that the groups are not as ready as they perhaps are intimating they are. This is normal within a takeover to have these two different sides.

"But it's also an indication that nothing is paused at this point. It's quietly ticking along behind the scenes. And as we've had throughout the process, the Glazers simply need to show their hands. If they don't, the situation won't be any clearer.”

The lack of communication and transparency regarding the takeover will undoubtedly unnerve United supporters who are desperate for the Glazers to sell the club.

It also impacts United's business during the transfer window with a lack of clarity surrounding funds and available budget, making Erik ten Hag's life more difficult in the market.

Despite question marks over finances, the Red Devils have still managed to remain active in the market as they look to build on the success Ten Hag helped provide last season.

Who are Man United signing?

Having confirmed the signings of Andre Onana, Mason Mount and a surprise deal for former player Jonny Evans, the takeover process has not entirely disrupted Ten Hag's business.

However, there is more to do for the Red Devils, who are keen on bringing in a new number nine and a centre-back this summer.

United's striker search is yet to fully take shape with most discussions at preliminary stages at present, but it appears that Atalanta's Rasmus Hojlund is the priority target at the moment.

It's thought that United would need to cough up a fee close to €100m for the Denmark international, something the Red Devils seem unwilling to do. However, some negotiation could potentially bring that fee down with Hojlund eager to make the switch to Old Trafford.

Meanwhile, their hunt for defensive reinforcements has led them to Monaco's Axel Disasi, who appears the priority target for Ten Hag at centre-back, but they will have to fend off Newcastle United who are also keen on the Frenchman.

Tottenham Hotspur and Ange Postecoglou are "working on the assumption" that Harry Kane stays at the club next season amid interest from Bayern Munich, according to journalist Alasdair Gold.

Is Kane leaving Spurs?

Postecoglou has a difficult job on his hands next season at Tottenham, but it will be a lot easier if Kane is still in north London.

There is still huge uncertainty over the England captain's future amid persistent interest from Bayern Munich, who have recently launched a third £86m bid for Kane.

The fact that Kane captained Spurs during their 5-1 victory over Shakhtar Donetsk in a pre-season friendly on Sunday 5 August and scored four goals against the Ukrainian side has raised the hopes of Tottenham fans desperate for Kane to stay.

Read the latest Tottenham transfer news HERE…

In recent hours, it has been reported the Lilywhites have rejected Bayern's latest offer for Kane which may provide some fans with a lot of optimism over Kane's future.

According to journalist Gold though, Tottenham are preparing for the new season under the assumption that Kane stays at the club, and will simply react to the unfolding situation should things change.

Speaking on his YouTube channel, Gold stated: "From what I understand, everyone seems to be working to the assumption that at the moment he [Kane] stays, and if anything else changes that's what they work to.

"That's very much what Postecoglou's saying as well. This isn't me, you know, saying anything like amazing. It's exactly how Postecoglou is treating it. It seems to be the vibe everyone is working to, and it seems to be the players as well is that he's here now, he's a Spurs player, let's crack on planning as if he's there, and if that scenario changes then we deal with that."

He added: "Which is not a good way to operate, to be honest. It's not and that's why, you know, Postecoglou will certainly want a resolution sooner rather than later, so he can really know exactly what's shaping up next."

Kane's four-goal contribution against Shakhtar again highlighted his significance to this Tottenham team and Spurs would certainly miss him hugely next season should he leave for the Bundesliga champions.

Kane managed 30 goals last season in the Premier League despite featuring in an underwhelming Tottenham side that lacked attacking ingenuity. The thought of him playing in an attack-minded Postecoglou team will give many opposition defenders sleepless nights.

However, if Spurs leave making a decision too late in the transfer window, they may be left with little time to bring in an adequate replacement for their star man.

Who are Tottenham signing?

Spurs' busy start to the transfer window has naturally slowed down in recent weeks, but that does not mean that Postecoglou is done exploring the transfer market.

Tottenham made the loans of Dejan Kulusevski and Pedro Porro permanent, before moving to sign Guglielmo Vicario, James Maddison and Manor Solomon early in the summer.

This has since been followed by the signing of young Blackburn centre-back Ashley Phillips who is seen as a player for the future in north London at just 18-years-old.

Phillips will be joined shortly by another centre-back with Wolfsburg's Micky van de Ven soon to be confirmed as a Tottenham player in a £43m move. The Dutch defender attended Spurs' clash with Shakhtar and is expected to complete his medical soon.

Spurs are also finalising a deal for young Argentine Alejo Veliz from Rosario Central after having agreed to meet his £13m release clause, although the forward could be loaned out.

The fourth ODI is unlikely to be the major talking point at The Oval, but West Indies must win to give themselves something to play for at the end of the tour

The Preview by Alan Gardner26-Sep-2017Big PictureMuch of this series has been played amid mizzle and murk but there is a much bigger cloud hanging over England now. Ben Stokes’ arrest in the small hours after England had thumped West Indies in Bristol means both the fourth ODI and the Ashes squad announcement will be overshadowed by the off-field indiscretion of a star player.There could be far-reaching consequences but, in the very near term, England will have to replace two key members of their first-choice XI (Alex Hales, who was with Stokes, has also been ruled out of the Oval match). Eoin Morgan admitted the disruption had not been ideal – the news breaking while England were training – but will hope his players can remain focused on their attempts to seal the series.In normal circumstances England would feel confident against a West Indies side who they have beaten in 14 out of 15 completed ODIs – as Liam Plunkett suggested in the wake of taking five wickets to help them go 2-0 up in the series. Moeen Ali’s carefree hundred down the order once again demonstrated England’s strength in depth but, without their most-experienced opener and game-breaking allrounder, they look a little less secure in their overdog status.For a while in Bristol, as Chris Gayle marched ominously towards what would have been his first ODI hundred in 30 months, West Indies were in with a shot at chasing 370. Gayle was then run out and they quickly ran out of steam, as Plunkett and Adil Rashid rounded the innings up.This format looks to be West Indies’ weakest suit, with the block-and-bash formula that serves them so well in T20 exposed over longer innings. Stuart Law, West Indies’ coach, has already begun looking towards next year’s World Cup qualifier and will be hoping for a few improved individual performances to help instill confidence. It has been a bumpy old tour for West Indies but they still have a chance to level this series if they can surprise an England team suffering a self-inflicted wound.Form guide(last five completed matches, most recent first)
England WWLWW
West Indies WLLWLIn the spotlightMoeen Ali waltzed out to take centre stage in Bristol, his 53-ball hundred the second-fastest by an Englishman in ODIs. As a top-order batsman in county cricket, he has sometimes struggled with the brief at No. 7, where can be required either to rebuild or slog from ball one, but this innings suggested he is mastering those demands; it was his first century outside of opening and helped shore England up from a position of 217 for 6, before an incendiary passage of 61 from 14 balls at the death blasted them out of West Indies’ gravitational pull.Key to West Indies’ victory in the T20 at Chester-le-Street was the intimidating opening partnership between Gayle and Evin Lewis. But while Lewis has proved himself adept as a Gayle-a-like force in the shortest format, he has struggled to take that into ODIs. After 19 innings, he currently averages less than 25, with almost a third of his runs coming in one innings (148 versus Sri Lanka) last year. Bristol highlighted his struggle to find the right balance, as he struck two towering sixes off David Willey before holing out in the same over.Teams newsJason Roy will come straight in for Hales, having lost his place to Bairstow earlier in the summer. Compensating for Stokes’ absence will be more difficult: Jake Ball and Tom Curran provide bowling options while Sam Billings has also been added to the squad.England (probable) 1 Jason Roy, 2 Jonny Bairstow, 3 Joe Root, 4 Eoin Morgan (capt), 5 Jos Buttler (wk), 6 Moeen Ali, 7 Chris Woakes, 8 Adil Rashid, 9 Liam Plunkett, 10 David Willey, 11 Jake BallWest Indies will hope Kesrick Williams is fit again after a back spasm but could otherwise be unchanged.West Indies (probable) 1 Chris Gayle, 2 Evin Lewis, 3 Shai Hope (wk), 4 Marlon Samuels, 5 Jason Mohammed, 6 Rovman Powell, 7 Jason Holder (capt), 8 Ashley Nurse, 9 Devendra Bishoo, 10 Jerome Taylor, 11 Miguel CumminsPitch and conditionsA day out, the surface at The Oval appeared firm and true with a touch of grass left on – so likely to be full of runs. The Champions Trophy saw England and Sri Lanka pull off 300-plus chases there earlier in the season. A clear, warm(ish) day in the capital should ensure the game goes off without delays.Stats and trivia West Indies have won two of their four ODIs at The Oval – including victory over England in the 2004 Champions Trophy final. Liam Plunkett is now the second-leading ODI wicket-taker in 2017 with 33, three behind Afghanistan’s Rashid Khan.Quotes”It has been a little bit of a distraction. As a group we are strong at sticking together and working well as a team. It has the potential to affect the game but not letting that happen is something we will strive to do.”
Eoin Morgan addresses the Stokes situation“We’re not quite playing at the tempo that I think that suits one-day cricket. We are caught between Test cricket and T20 cricket — of course we’re very good at T20 cricket and we’re ever-improving in the Test match arena. This is the arena we need to make sure that we start grabbing hold of and we start understanding.”
Stuart Law on the challenge for his players