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Birmingham City are reportedly interested in a deal to sign Nottingham Forest forward Lyle Taylor, according to The Sun’s Alan Nixon.

What’s the story?

Taylor has been with Nottingham Forest since 2020, having previously been on the books with Charlton Athletic, where he caught the eye with a number of impressive performances.

The forward scored 35 goals in 67 appearances for the Addicks, which saw him earn a move to the City Ground, but that move hasn’t quite worked out as expected.

Taylor has found regular minutes hard to come by with the Reds, whilst under the management of former Brighton and Hove Albion boss Chris Hughton.

The 31-year-old made 15 league starts for the Reds, as he was often behind Lewis Grabban in the pecking order last term, as Forest finished 17th in the Championship table.

Birmingham City are reportedly keen on reaching an agreement to sign Taylor this summer, but only if Sam Cosgrove is to move on as well, with the former Aberdeen forward being linked with a move of his own, to League One outfit Wycombe Wanderers.

‘Outstanding’

Taylor has shown glimpses of his quality in the Championship, having been a rare bright spark in a disappointing league campaign with Charlton in the 2019/20 season, as the Addicks were relegated back into the third-tier of English football.

With 11 goals in 22 appearances in that season, he’s shown that he can perform to a good enough standard in the Championship, but for one reason or another, his move to Nottingham Forest hasn’t quite worked out.

In the 2019/20 season, Taylor had an average Whoscored rating of 6.76, which put him fifth on the list of Charlton’s best performers from that campaign.

Birmingham could certainly benefit from adding depth to their attacking options, with Lee Bowyer already having the likes of Lukas Jutkiewicz, Scott Hogan and Sam Cosgrove already on the books with the Blues.

But Cosgrove could be set to depart, with Wycombe rumoured to be interested in a deal to sign the 24-year-old.

That could open the door for a new forward to arrive, and Taylor could be the ideal striker to join Jutkiewicz in attack for Lee Bowyer’s side moving forwards.

Bowyer knows what Taylor can bring to a team, with the pair having worked together whilst at Charlton not so long ago.

Stoke City had previously been keen on a deal to sign the 31-year-old, but a move to the bet365 Stadium is unlikely at this stage, with Sam Surridge recently signing permanently from fellow Championship side Bournemouth.

Lee Bowyer has previously labelled Taylor’s work ethic as ‘outstanding’ whilst the pair were at Charlton Athletic together.

“His scoring record isn’t bad against anyone. His work rate was outstanding, again, all-round play, for me he was a full performance from a striker, he had everything.”

Birmingham should push hard to get this deal over the line as a partnership of Taylor and Jutkiewicz would frighten plenty of Championship defences.

AND In other news… Birmingham City show interest in 20-year-old prodigy…

Victor Orta could complete a mouth-watering Leeds United attack by signing West Brom star Matheus Pereira this summer.

What’s the story?

Reports in recent weeks have suggested that Marcelo Bielsa’s side are keen on landing the Brazilian, although they are set to face significant competition from the likes of fellow Premier League side Aston Villa.

Now, former Leeds ace David Norris has questioned whether a move for Pereira would be the smart choice, and suggested that fans actually wouldn’t be that excited about it.

Speaking to This is Futbol, he said: “When you’re struggling down there, it’s hard enough to create chances so having that sort of return is decent. I think it wouldn’t be massively overwhelming and the price tag probably reflects that. Fans wise, they’ll be hopeful more than excited.”

Mouth-watering attack for Bielsa

Dubbed as a “genius” by former Nurnberg coach Nate Weiss, the £13.5m-rated Pereira could bring a much-needed spark and creativity from that number ten position for Leeds.

Last season saw him almost single-handedly keep West Brom up in the Premier League, netting 11 goals and providing another six assists as he valiantly tried to rescue the Baggies from relegation.

Meanwhile, another former Leeds man in Noel Whelan has offered his more optimistic thoughts on the possibility of Pereira arriving at Elland Road, saying: “It is a mouth-watering prospect. We missed out on certain players last season, and this is a player that excites everybody. I would definitely take him all day long.

“He’s a fantastic player, he’s great on the ball, he can turn people inside out. Pereira’s another option we can use right across that front three and maybe in a number 10 role as well. He’s the right age and he’s the sort of player we should be looking at. Imagine, if you put him alongside Raphinha, Rodrigo, Harrison etc, that’s pretty formidable.”

And, after a superb display against Aston Villa, former Spurs star Jermain Jenas said of the 25-year-old: “He’s just silky. When he’s on it, he’s just got that lovely left-foot, (tucked) his penalty away, the delivery into the box for set-pieces was brilliant, and he wanted to showcase his skills.”

Given Leeds already have an established number nine in Patrick Bamford, and two key wingers in Raphinha and Jack Harrison, having someone to stitch that altogether in the middle of the park like Pereira would go a long way to completing a dream attack for Bielsa.

As Whelan says, the prospect of those four combining in tandem has all the potential to be “mouth-watering” indeed.

Meanwhile, Phil Hay has dropped an exciting Leeds United transfer update…

Ravi Rampaul has successfully completed a Level One coaching course organised by the West Indies Cricket Board in Port-of-Spain

Cricinfo staff09-Sep-2008Ravi Rampaul has successfully completed a Level One coaching course organised by the West Indies Cricket Board in Port-of-Spain. Rampaul, who played for West Indies in 20 ODIs as a fast bowler, and fellow Trinidad players Rayad Emrit, Samuel Badree and Gibran Mohammed, were among the 20 participants who passed the exam.The West Indies board was delighted with having Rampaul and his Trinidad team-mates for the course. “They are role models for the other participants, especially the kids,” Wendell Coppin, the WICB’s territorial officer and one of the facilitators of the course, told the Forbes Persaud, the Trinidad board’s chief executive, also praised the four players. “I am extremely happy at the enthusiasm shown by the senior cricketers,” he said. “They led by example. I am looking forward to more Level One and Two courses later this year.”The participants went through modules in coaching, fitness, bio-mechanics, skill acquisition and drills in batting, bowling and fielding. Coppin was assisted by Stephanie Power, the former captain of the West Indies women’s team, Kevin Williams, the Trinidad coach, and Roy Swaroop, a Level Two coach from the WICB.

Conor Hourihane would be a great signing for West Brom if he joined this summer, according to former Leeds United striker Noel Whelan.

The Lowdown: Hourihane linked with move

Valerien Ismael is looking to mastermind the Baggies’ return to the Premier League next season, following their relegation last time around.

One player the new manager has been linked with bringing in is Hourihane, who only played a bit-part role for Aston Villa last season before he was loaned out to Swansea.

The midfielder could leave Villa Park during the summer and a permanent drop down to the Championship could make perfect sense for him.

The Latest: Pundit talks up midfielder

Speaking to Football Insider, Whelan waxed lyrical over the 26-time capped Republic of Ireland international, admitting plenty of clubs would benefit from having him in their team:

“He is a professional player and a professional person. Someone that’s got that fight and desire and the leadership qualities you want in any side.

“But also the quality to go along with it. He can determine the outcome of a match. We’ve seen that many, many times.

“He’s a great set-piece taker as well. He’s somebody who can drive the team forward. He looks like a bit of a talker and a leader out there on the field as well.

“If he’s not needed at Aston Villa and I’m a Championship club right now,I’m looking for somebody that could determine the result of a game.

“Somebody that players want to speak to in the changing room, a leader and an example for everybody else. I wouldn’t look any further than Hourihane.

“I think he has been exceptional at every club that he’s been at and shown that right attitude as well.”

The Verdict: Perfect summer addition

Hourihane may not arguably be good enough to make the grade in the Premier League, but he is a top-quality Championship player, as proven during 145 appearances in the competition.

He helped Villa earn promotion to the top flight back in 2018/19 and both his experience and quality in the middle of the park could be a great boost for West Brom.

Hourihane’s current contract expires next summer, so Dean Smith may believe now is the right time to let him go and if he does, West Brom should be at the front of the queue.

In other news, West Brom are believed to have approached one player regarding a summer move. Find out who it is here.

A side strain has cut short Tino Best’s contract with Lashings World XI, and he is expected to return home to Barbados

Cricinfo staff12-Jul-2008
Tino Best has been advised a minimum of six weeks’ rest © The Nation
A side strain has cut short Tino Best’s contract with Lashings World XI, and he is expected to return home to Barbados.Best, who played 12 Tests for West Indies between 2004 and 2006, has signed up the Indian Cricket League (ICL), which has not been recognised by the ICC. He picked up the injury during Lashings’ match against South Northumberland last Wednesday, and missed two games in order to recuperate.However, the injury is more serious than initially thought, and Best has decided to go back home for treatment and rehabilitation. According to the club’s website, he has been advised a minimum of six weeks’ rest.Best told the he was aiming to recover in time for the ICL tournament later this year. “I need to be in the best of health and shape to go back to India, as Twenty20 cricket is very tough and demanding, especially for a fast bowler,” he said. “This is seven years that I haven’t been at home during the summer, and while it will allow me to be in Barbados at Crop-Over time (a five-week summer festival), my first priority is ensuring that I get the right treatment and necessary rest to recuperate.”Best joined the ICL earlier this year, which at present rules out any possibility of playing for West Indies.

The apex court agreed to hear the appeal recently, but upon doing so today, decided the appeal should be heard before a lower court.

Cricinfo staff22-May-2008
Saleem Malik’s appeal has been referred to a civil court © AFP
The Supreme Court of Pakistan has referred Saleem Malik’s appeal against a life ban for match-fixing back to a civil court and ordered it to complete the case within two months.Malik had initially filed an appeal against his ban in the Lahore High Court in 2001, where it was rejected. He then went to seek relief in the Supreme Court, a process which took nearly seven years. The apex court agreed to hear the appeal recently, but upon doing so today, decided the appeal should be heard before a lower court.”They have remanded the appeal to a civil court,” Tafazzul Rizvi, the PCB’s lawyer, told Cricinfo. “The Supreme Court refused to interfere in the matter of the ban and the case will now go back to how it was in 2001, in front of a civil court judge.”Though the Supreme Court has set a timeframe within which the appeal must be heard and the issue resolved, it is unlikely that it will happen, given the backlog of cases in civil courts around the country. The PCB has, however, already said that they will not stand in the way of any decision to lift the ban against Malik.Malik’s ban was recommended by Justice Qayyum in his 2000 inquiry into match-fixing and his name also featured in other high-profile inquiries around the cricket world.

An update has emerged on Leeds target Okay Yokuslu, regarding Celta Vigo’s stance on his future.

What’s the talk?

According to Spanish outlet Marca, Celta Vigo are willing to cash in on Leeds United transfer target Okay Yokulsu this summer. The La Liga outfit are attempting to lower their wage bill and are now prepared to sell the defensive midfielder to raise funds in the coming weeks.

Leeds are reportedly one of the clubs looking into a possible deal for the midfielder who spent last season on loan at West Brom. He is said to be available for a fee in the region of £5m (€6m).

Bielsa would love him

Victor Orta must pounce on the opportunity to sign Yokuslu following this update as he could be an excellent addition to Marcelo Bielsa’s squad, which he would be buzzing with.

£5m for a player who impressed in the Premier League and is in the peak years of his career appears to be a bargain deal on paper and one which Leeds should seize upon to bolster their ranks ahead of next season.

The Turkish international spent the second-half of the 2020/21 campaign on loan to West Brom in the Premier League.

Although, he was unable to prevent them from being relegated, his individual displays caught the eye and he showed that he is capable of putting in strong displays as a holding midfielder against the best teams in England.

He averaged a superb WhoScored rating of 6.96 in 16 appearances for the Baggies, a score only four outfield players for Leeds – Kalvin Phillips, Raphinha, Liam Cooper and Patrick Bamford – were able to better.

This means that he ranked higher than both Mateusz Klich and Stuart Dallas, who operated as the two number 8’s ahead of Phillips in the XI.

Although, Klich and Dallas plundered 12 goals between them and Yokuslu would be more of a conservative option in that area of the pitch, which could give Bielsa more tactically flexibility with his system.

Earlier this year, West Brom defender Kyle Bartley called him “tenacious” and praised his performance against Manchester United.

He said:

“I thought he was great against Manchester United on his full debut and then he backed that up with another impressive performance on Saturday against Burnley. He’s tenacious. He’s good on the ball. He’s calm and composed.”

His defensive statistics back up Bartley’s claim. He averaged 4.6 tackles and interceptions per game in the Premier League, a tally unmatched by Leeds’ midfield options.

Therefore, Bielsa could love having him in the squad as he could be an added enforcer in the middle of the park to press the opposition and win the ball back in good areas, with the 27-year-old having already shown that he can do it in the English top-flight.

AND in other news, Leeds must land “explosive” £60m-rated gem who’s “so fast”, Bielsa’s desperate for him…

Leeds United could sign their own version of England star Jadon Sancho in PSV Eindhoven sensation Noni Madueke.

What’s the story?

Reports in recent weeks and months had suggested that Marcelo Bielsa’s side have already been “putting feelers out” for the winger over a summer move, before suggestions that his price tag had seen the Whites steer clear.

Football Insider have now delivered an exciting update on the situation, claiming that Leeds have reignited their interest in the England under-21 international after some third-party discussions.

The report stated: “A Leeds source has told Football Insider the club have been given encouragement that PSV will lower their demands for 19-year-old Madueke to around the £20m mark.”

Leeds’ own Sancho

With Sancho currently with the England squad at Euro 2020 and facing off against Ukraine tonight in the quarter-finals of the competition, Leeds could sign someone in Madueke who is similarly quick and exciting and with a bag of tricks in his locker.

Former England under-21 manager Aidy Boothroyd said of the 19-year-old: “He’s a powerhouse of a player, technically very good, left-footed and likes to come in off the side of the pitch, off the right and go and link.

“He’s got a goal in him, he’s very creative. He’s got a massive smile, a lovely kid. The lads have taken to him, as they would because he’s a good player, he has that respect for what he’s done at PSV.”

Meanwhile, former PSV ace Tommie van de Leegte also raved about the 19-year-old, saying (via Goal): “He’s fast and has the capability to trick his opponent. He brings creativity and is very explosive in his actions. That’s what PSV needs.”

Manchester United-bound Sancho was on fire for Borussia Dortmund in the Bundesliga last season, notching 16 goals and 20 assists in 38 games across all competitions.

While Madueke didn’t produce such incredible numbers, he still had a huge impact in terms of finding the back of the net himself and also setting up his teammates in a selfless manner as well – he managed nine goals and eight assists in 32 games.

Both players averaged more than 1.5 dribbles per game in their respective leagues, while they were fouled equally as often (0.8 times per match) – strong evidence of the directness with which they play.

While English Leeds fans who are watching the Ukraine game may be excited at the prospect of seeing Sancho shine, they could well have their own version of the winger in Madueke at Elland Road next season if their club were to sign him.

Meanwhile, Leeds receive major update on Marcelo Bielsa’s future…

December 16, 2002

Media Release16-Dec-2002December 16, 2002. Chennai: Philips India Limited, a subsidiary of the Netherlands based Royal Philips Electronics, and India’s Most Trusted Global Consumer Electronics brand, today named Shekhar Naik as the ‘Philips Indian Cricketer of the Tournament’, at the recently concluded World Cup Cricket for the Blind, in Chennai. Mr. Naik, hailing from Karnataka, was selected for this honour, based on his excellent aIlround performance; he Naik ran up a string of high scores through the tournament, aggregating 220 runs at an average of over 40. In addition to his consistent batting, he picked up three wickets, and was brilliant in the field, pouching one catch and effecting 5 run outs.Mr. Suresh Sukumaran, Senior General Manager- Marketing (Television), Consumer Electronics Division, Philips India Limited, presented the award to Mr Naik, at a special ceremony. Mr. George Abraham, Chairman, Association for Cricket for the Blind in India, was also present at the occasion.Mr. Naik was presented with a once in a lifetime opportunity (an all expenses paid trip), to travel to South Africa, to catch the cricketing action live. Philips has always been actively supporting sports and social causes in the country. Its association with the World Cup for the blind is a move in this direction.On this occasion, Philips also announced a special New Year treat for its esteemed customers in Tamil Nadu. The customers can avail of this special scheme on the purchase of any of the Philips Colour televisions. The special New Year offer launched by Philips, is a kick-start to its Cricket related consumer promotion, ‘Philips Ghar Lao South Africa Jao’.This special Scratch and Win offer is expected to attract a lot of attention to the entire Colour Televisions range, of Philips.Speaking on thc occasion, Suresh Sukumaran, Senior General Manager, Marketing (Television), Consumer Electronics Division, Philips India Limited, said, “Philips is proud to be associated with a noble cause of promoting the game with the visually challenged. On this auspicious occasion of the arrival of the New Year, we at Philips, would like to add to the joyous celebrations by offering our customers, a festive bonanza, especially designed for them. By offering exciting gifts and Interest Free Hire Purchase, we want our consumers to get the best for themselves during the festival season.”As a New Year Bonanza, Philips is offering a unique scheme of 0% interest loans with a 24 months repayment period, which will be available to its customers in Tamil Nadu.Philips India Limited, a subsidiary of the Netherlands based Royal Philips Electronics N. V., is a leader in Lighting, Consumer Electronics, Components, Semiconductors, Domestic Appliances & Personal Care with an unmatched range of internationally current products backed by superior design and technology. It also has an excellent distribution and after-sales service network. Philips has been operating in India for over 70 years. The company’s turnover in 2001 was over Rs. 15 billion and it employs around 4000 employees in its 6 factories (including it’s subsidiary company) and in several sales offices around the country. Philips India Limited shares are listed on Bombay and Calcutta Stock Exchanges.For further information contact:Gauri Ambardekar- Raje,Press Relations -Consumer Electronics DivisionPhilips India LimitedTel: 022- 5691 2000Extension: 2276E-mail:[email protected]

Last season saw Wolves hit by several big injuries to crucial players such as Raul Jimenez, Pedro Neto and Jonny Otto, with all missing periods of the campaign.

With Nuno Espirito Santo opting to work with a smaller squad to get the best out of his players they got found out when fringe players were thrown in, and Bruno Lage doesn’t want that to be the case this season, according to Steve Bull.

A lot of the time last campaign, the Wolves side often picked itself with fans and the opposition knowing who Nuno was going to pick as it had been a very similar team for the past three seasons, but Lage will be arriving with fresh ideas and a new approach to Premier League games.

Lage likes to implement a high energy and pressing style of football and with that comes a higher risk of injuries especially on players that rely on short bursts of pace, such as Adama Traore, and this could be why the new manager wants to increase his squad size.

Only 15 players started more than 10 league games for Wolves last season which highlights how Nuno only put his trust in particular players that he knew well, but Lage will look to increase the options he can choose from, according to Bull as he spoke exclusively to Transfer Tavern:

“I think Lage wants to have as many players as he can so hopefully in two weeks’ time we’ve got a few more on the books and have got a bit more of an insight into the squad.”

There have been a lot of links with Wolves’ top players leaving Molineux this summer and when Nuno is appointed as Tottenham Hotspur’s new manager, he could look to raid his former club with Conor Coady the latest tipped to follow his former manager.