Leeds eyeing ‘quality’ 91-goal forward

Leeds United are eyeing a surprise move for Brighton forward Neal Maupay, according to 90min.

The Lowdown: Maupay to Forest?

The Frenchman, who was hailed as ‘quality’ by Irish broadcaster Nathan Murphy, appears to be on the verge of ending his three-year association with the Seagulls.

Nottingham Forest have reportedly agreed a package worth £15m with add-ons for the 26-year-old, who is into the final 12 months of his Brighton contract.

However, a transfer is yet to be announced, and it looks like there could be a late twist involving the 91-goal forward.

The Latest: Leeds linked with Maupay

90min shared an update regarding Maupay’s future on Tuesday, with a number of clubs looking to hijack Nottingham Forest’s proposed move for the Frenchman.

They claimed that both Everton and Fulham have made contact over a potential deal and that Leeds are ‘keeping a close eye on the situation’ due to Patrick Bamford’s recent injury scare.

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The Verdict: Unlikely

Maupay has scored more goals against the Whites than any other club (four in seven appearances) but has a history with Leeds supporters, having once shared a provocative Instagram post of him celebrating a goal against the Whites in front of their fans.

He appears to be on the verge of joining Forest, so a surprise move to Yorkshire does seem unlikely at this stage.

Leeds could do with a forward like Maupay to provide competition to Patrick Bamford and Joe Gelhardt, but it looks as if they may go down the route of bringing in a young exciting attacker in Wilfried Gnonto.

Gambling vs. Betting: How To Differentiate Them

Entertainment consists of various mediums, including century-old casino games and gambling. Another prominent medium is betting. The invention of the online platform has made both gambling and betting gain immeasurable popularity and acceptance. With the numerous emergent forms of betting and gambling, many people will likely start using the terms interchangeably. Additionally, gambling and betting involve wagering money on unpredictable events like a race or game. For this reason, it is vital to comprehend the significant differences between the two terminologies. Below are distinct definitions of gambling and betting and their differences.

What exactly is gambling?

Gambling is a long-standing activity that people have been engaging in since time immemorial. It refers to wagering something valuable or money on a game or race with an uncertain outcome. The activity is solely based on the concept of probability. In contrast, permutation and combination, principles of probability, and number theory are necessary for predicting the most accurate outcome of the event in question. The result varies between a ‘Loss’ and a ‘Win.’

It isn’t a secret that gambling can be addictive no matter how many times a person loses. The excitement associated with uncertainty sustains the interest among the parties, and they keep on wagering more and more of their valuables. When looking for a top-rated, legal and safe gambling site, GambleOnline NZ could be a reliable choice. Gambling relies on an unknown or sometimes calculated risk. It can also depend on one’s chance and luck, but the skill hardly comes into play. When someone mentions gambling, you’re likely to think about gaming or sports, but it is much more than that, as it can involve table games, casino games, and slots.

Definition of betting

Betting involves placing a bet on a sport with pre-defined odds or possibilities. This act is a typical agreement between two groups, also known as a wager or bet. In this case, the party that makes an incorrect prediction about an unpredictable event forfeits something valuable to the other. A simple betting scenario is two people betting on the outcome of an election (for instance, who will win the presidential seat between Biden and Trump). Sports betting is the most common form of betting. Most people often place stakes on sporting activities like hockey, football, and basketball matches.

Betting can also entail non-sports events such as reality show contests and political elections. More intriguingly,  sports betting also involves games like underground cockfighting, horse racing, and greyhound racing. Contrary to gambling, betting is somewhat organized and involves a certain skill level when placing a stake. One unique aspect of betting is that the involved parties are aware of the intensity of the condition and the external forces that may influence the final results of the wager.

Critical differences between betting and gambling

One notable difference between gambling and betting is that the former entirely relies on luck while the latter depends on skill, strategy, and luck. This fact implies that the gambling parties do not influence the final result. Interestingly, you can access data online stipulating how much a gambler is expected to lose while playing different casino games. Sports betting, on the other hand, allows the parties to lay unique strategies, conduct extensive research and utilize the information to place them in a better position to win the bet. Although luck is a factor, one can hardly consider it the deciding factor in the long run. This difference may seem negligible, but in practice, it is massive. Another way of looking at it is that the gambling players are sure to lose their valuables and that their only chance of multiplying their money is hoping for a big score and quitting gambling. Sports betting, however, allows the parties to multiply their money in the long run. The chances may be slim, with 3% of sports bettors profiting in the long run, but it is still something compared to gambling. Over time gambling has become more popular than sports betting in the online arena. Even though sports betting is available online, people still prefer placing their bets at live betting shops. Some countries have rules and regulations treating luck and skill games differently, meaning that the residents are allowed to engage in skill games but forbidden to play luck games. This rule implies that betting is allowed while gambling is illegal in those countries.

Both betting and gambling involve wagering a valuable item or money on the outcome of unpredictable events. Many people use these terminologies interchangeably, but after comprehending the differences, which may seem insignificant at first, you’ll never confuse them again. The primary difference between betting and gambling is that betting can be professional or amateur (depending on the skills and strategies), while gambling is usually professional. Betting also allows a certain percentage chance of winning in the long run, while gambling does not.

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Alan Hutton drops Spurs replacement claim

BBC pundit Alan Hutton believes that Tottenham Hotspur could replace Sergio Reguilon with Ryan Sessegnon if the Spaniard leaves north London this summer.

The Lowdown: Sevilla in talks for Reguilon

The 25-year-old still has three years remaining on his contract with the Premier League giants, but the left-back has been linked with a move away from the club after it was revealed last weekend that he had been omitted from the Lilywhites’ pre-season tour of South Korea.

A Spurs source told Football Insider on Tuesday that Reguilon was in advanced talks over completing a loan move to Sevilla, so an exit this summer very much appears to be on the cards.

The Latest: Hutton backs Sessegnon

Asked by Football Insider whether Tottenham would be open to letting the defender leave, Hutton said: “I think they’ll still listen to offers. I think Antonio Conte is still searching for the right dynamic when it comes to the left wing-back and the right wing-back. He still seems like he’s searching at this moment in time.

“Djed Spence looks like he’s a possibility for the right, Reguilon on the left.

“I like him as an attacking player, he came from Real Madrid, there was a lot of hype about him. Defensively, I still think that’s where he lets himself down just like Emerson Royal on the other side.

“I think to play in a Conte team you have to do both very well. So, if there is an offer that comes in they will listen to it.

“You’ve got the likes of [Ryan] Sessegnon who ticks a lot of the boxes, he’s still young, he’s hungry to learn and develop so he’s got options there. But if a decent fee comes in I think they will listen to it.“

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The Verdict: Long-term vision

It yet remains to be seen where Conte is planning on deploying Ivan Perisic on the left-hand side, but if the 52-year-old is going to play the Croatian as a natural winger, then Sessegnon does have the defensive quality to hold down a position in the backline.

The former Fulham starlet was only granted 13 top-flight appearances last season but made a positive impression when he was on the pitch, averaging 1.7 tackles and 1.5 clearances per 90 minutes (via WhoScored).

At just 22 years of age, Sessegnon has already shown glimpses of what he’s capable of producing in the starting XI, and Conte could see him as part of his long-term plans having included him in his squad for the Asian pre-season tour.

Therefore, the youngster could go on to become a first-team regular at Spurs and back up Hutton’s faith in him.

Newcastle transfer news on Isak

BBC broadcaster Andy Sixsmith has been left wowed as Newcastle United reportedly eye up a potential club-record deal to sign Alexander Isak.

The Lowdown: Bid weighed up

Writing in his latest piece for The Daily Telegraph, journalist Luke Edwards has revealed that the St. James’ Park outfit are now weighing up a club-record bid to sign Real Sociedad striker Isak.

It would surpass the £40m that they paid Hoffenheim for Joelinton back in 2019, and if a deal went through, he would become Eddie Howe’s fourth major signing of the summer after Nick Pope, Sven Botman and Matt Targett.

The Latest: Sixmith wowed

Taking to Twitter, Sixsmith was left wowed over the prospect of Isak moving to the North East, claiming that it would be a ‘sensational’ deal for the Tynesiders:

“Fully expect #NUFC to make one more ‘marquee’ signing in attack this summer, whether that budget goes towards a central striker or a right winger. Alexander Isak would be a sensational deal if it can be done – he fits the club’s profile perfectly.”

The Verdict: Statement signing

Isak would certainly be a statement signing, given that he has been courted by the likes of Liverpool and Arsenal in the past.

Often described as a ‘unicorn’ for his ‘mixture of size & technical ability’ according to scout analyst Kev Lawson, the six-foot-four colossus produced ‘staggering’ xG/A numbers per 90 the season before last.

In the 2020/21 campaign, Isak averaged a goal every two games in La Liga, while also producing two assists (Transfermarkt).

The 2021/22 term was not nearly as fruitful for the Sweden international, but he is still only 22 years of age, and so there is still plenty of time for him to develop into one of the world’s best strikers.

Brighton eye Rangers midfielder Kamara

A club in the Premier League are reportedly now ‘interested’ in taking Glasgow Rangers midfielder Glen Kamara away from Ibrox this summer.

The Lowdown: Key player

Kamara was a key player for the Gers last season, racking up a total of 52 appearances in all competitions, scoring four goals and making a further five assists from the middle of the park (Transfermarkt).

Former Light Blues manager Steven Gerrard once dubbed him a ‘Rolls Royce’ for the way that he gets around the pitch, evidenced by his high ranking among his teammates in terms of average interceptions, dribbles and passes per game in the Scottish Premiership last term (WhoScored).

The Latest: Brighton interest

Taking to Twitter, transfer expert Graeme Bailey has revealed that Brighton and Hove Albion are ‘interested’ in signing Kamara to help replace Yves Bissouma, who has moved to Tottenham Hotspur:

“Brighton interested in Rangers ace Glen Kamara. Finnish midfielder is one of the players under consideration to help replace Yves Bissouma.”

Expanding in his article for 90min, Bailey added that Kamara is a name that has emerged on their transfer list ‘in recent days’, while both RB Leipzig and Eintracht Frankfurt are also thought to be interested in his signature.

The Verdict: Keep!

If Giovanni van Bronckhorst’s team want to wrestle the SPFL title back from Celtic next campaign, then they must keep hold of their best players, and Kamara is certainly one of them.

The Finland international would not be easy to replace, given the work that he does for the side and his durability to be fit for around 50 appearances per season.

The call of the Premier League may be hard to turn down, but the club must do everything that they can to try and persuade Kamara to stay.

Liverpool to offer Naby Keita new deal

Liverpool are expected to agree a new deal with midfielder Naby Keita in the near future, according to reliable journalist Paul Joyce.

The Lowdown: Keita’s best season yet

The Guinean enjoyed arguably his best season in a Reds shirt in 2021/22, finally managing to remain relatively injury-free and playing his part in a great campaign.

Keita made 40 appearances in all competitions, including 23 in the Premier League, with Jurgen Klopp hailing him as ‘one of the best midfielders I ever saw’.

The 27-year-old’s current Liverpool deal expires in 2023, but it looks as though his stay at Anfield will be prolonged.

The Latest: Joyce drops contract claim

According to The Times‘ Joyce, the Reds are in discussions with Keita over a new contract – one that would keep him at the club for several more years to come.

He is expected to accept the offer, having joined Liverpool from RB Leipzig back in 2018, before officially moving there a year later.

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The Verdict: Deserves a new deal

Keita remains a divisive figure with Reds supporters, with some adoring him and others feeling he has flattered to deceive, but last season was proof of what he can offer.

As mentioned, he managed to stay largely fit, which has been an issue in the past, and an 86% pass completion rate was accompanied by an average of 2.0 tackles per game – Virgil van Dijk has even described him as ‘world class’, which speaks volumes.

Finally strutting his best stuff on Merseyside, Keita fully deserves a new deal and the hope is that he still has another gear to find, as he heads into what could be the peak years of his career.

In other news, Liverpool are believed to have given up on signing one player. Find out who it is here.

Leeds keen on Morgan Gibbs-White

Leeds United are interested in rivalling Nottingham Forest in the race to sign Morgan Gibbs-White, according to The Athletic.

The Lowdown: Sheffield United loan

Gibbs-White spent the 2021/22 season on loan with Sheffield United and turned out in a number of attacking positions.

The 22-year-old played as a centre-forward, on the right and in a deeper role, scoring 12 times and providing 10 assists in 37 games for The Blades.

Defender Chris Basham hailed Gibbs-White as a ‘breath of fresh air’ who ‘glides past players’ and is ‘powerful’, and it seems as if he is a man in demand following his successful loan spell.

The Latest: Leeds interest

The Athletic’s Paul Taylor provided an in-depth story regarding Forest’s transfer plans on Wednesday.

The reporter stated that Gibbs-White is one of Forest’s ‘primary targets’ and is valued at around £20m, but added that Leeds are ‘also interested’.

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The Verdict: Get it done

Gibbs-White showed his quality in the second tier last season and seems to be a ready-made player for Jesse Marsch.

The Leeds head coach prefers to use a narrow 4-2-2-2 formation and has already made his intentions clear by signing Brenden Aaronson, who is set to be used as an inverted winger.

Gibbs-White could be the next piece in Marsch’s Elland Road attacking jigsaw as he can turn out as a centre-forward, out wide or in behind the striker, meaning he could perhaps occupy the opposite attacking midfielder spot to Aaronson.

Still just 22, you’d expect that the Wolves man will only get better over the coming years, so it will be interesting to see if the Whites firm up their interest.

In other news: Cheeky bid tabled: Radz and 49ers now open talks to sign international ‘goal threat’ for Leeds. 

Everton listening to Jordan Pickford offers

Everton are reportedly ready to entertain offers for first-choice goalkeeper Jordan Pickford this summer, even if the Toffees are to survive relegation from the Premier League.

What’s the story?

That’s according to talkSPORT, who claimed that England’s current number one will push for a move away from Goodison Park if the Merseyside outfit are to be relegated to the Championship.

However, even if Frank Lampard is successful in steering Everton away from the drop, the club will listen to offers for the 28-year-old.

Tottenham Hotspur are believed to be interested as are Newcastle United, although given the goalkeeper’s previous affiliation with Sunderland, a move to St James’ Park seems unlikely.

Pickford has been his national team’s first-choice ‘keeper for four years whilst being Everton’s preferred shot-stopper since his move from the Black Cats in 2017.

Lampard headed for disaster

Although subject to controversy at times, the 28-year-old has been a solid goalkeeper for the Toffees.

In his time at Goodison Park, he has made 195 appearances, keeping 53 clean sheets whilst also winning 43 senior England caps.

It would be difficult for Everton to convince the shot-stopper to stay put if they are to be relegated, as playing in the Championship could seriously jeopardise his chances of maintaining his status as England’s number one.

However, if the Merseyside outfit are to retain their Premier League place for next season, losing a player of Pickford’s quality could cause disaster.

Despite being occasionally prone to an error during his time at Everton, last weekend’s incredible save against Chelsea is an excellent example as to why the 28-year-old is England’s first-choice goalkeeper and illustrates why the Toffees must hold onto him.

This season, Pickford has averaged 3.3 saves per match whilst completing all of his runouts successfully, making him a major contributing factor as to why the Blues still have a solid chance of avoiding the drop.

Going into tomorrow’s trip to Leicester City, Lampard’s men are 18th in the table, two points behind 17th-placed Leeds United. However, the Toffees boast a game in hand, which could prove vital in the season’s run-in.

There will be little that Everton can do to stop Pickford from leaving if they are to be relegated, but allowing him to move on if they survive in the top flight could well be Lampard’s first big mistake as Toffees manager and would surely leave supporters fuming given the goalkeeper’s consistency.

AND in other news: Lampard shares big pre-Leicester boost that’ll delight Everton supporters

Selector Bailey ready to talk the talk

His new role as national selector will demand communication and dialogue with players and Bailey’s track record suggests he can deliver on that front

Daniel Brettig05-Dec-2019Communication has been the word on almost everyone’s lips when it came to the decision to make George Bailey a selector alongside the selection chairman Trevor Hohns and the national team coach Justin Langer.It is an area in which, it is widely acknowledged, things need to improve between players and panel. It is also an area that has been subject to discussion for much of the past decade, ever since omitted players began to grumble that feedback along the lines of “get more runs” or “take more wickets” was not going to cut it anymore.This is a societal shift as much as it is one for cricket to face, and Bailey has been dealing in this changing environment for all of the aforementioned decade and beyond. Something that Bailey has gleaned from his years as a player, captain and selector at state and – briefly – national level when he was captain and selector in the Australia ODI team before the role was taken out of the on-field leader’s purview in 2013, is that the conversation needs to be more constant.”Sometimes that won’t be easy. I have had that in the past as a captain and selector of Tasmania and have seen the beginning and endings of careers of some of my absolutely closest mates and I’ve learned a lot through that process,” Bailey told “The one thing is I think it’s a constant dialogue, when you’re communicating well it’s not something that pops up and hasn’t been broached at some stage to some level before.”Secondly the player, particularly when they’re your mates, they’re big enough and ugly enough to deal with honesty… I think that’s the crux of any sort of selector-player relationship, if there’s a level of respect and a level of honesty there, then yep I can deal with disappointment and people feeling they should be in a position.”But if you start with that as your first point of call and your last point of call, the respect that the player has given their absolute all to play for their country and it’s a huge part of their life and deal with them really honestly, then I think it’ll be alright in the long run.”ALSO READ: Bailey ready for ‘tough conversations’ as selectorUnlike a lot of selectors who have been part of the national panel in the past, Bailey begins with an example of this sort of ongoing dialogue and respect already published and out in the world. It is drawn from the diary written by Ed Cowan, describing the 2010-11 domestic season in which he was an established member of Tasmania’s Sheffield Shield and 50-over sides but surplus to Twenty20 requirements.This account of feedback from captain or selector to fringe player is from long enough ago to have taken place in the last season before the big Bash League, but its frankness and empathy is of the kind most players increasingly demand in 2019. Cowan begins by sharing his correspondence to Bailey, on Tuesday January 4, intended as a primer to a face-to-face chat they were due to have:A couple days later, Bailey responds, fully and frankly to his squad mate’s queries:Cowan goes on to write that he has been left with views that are, “Fair-minded, thoughtful, and compassionate but managed to be firm and did not offer false hope. Above all, it was honest; as a player, I know I appreciate that more than anything else.”ALSO READ: Nobody doubts the decision – Finch on Bailey’s appointmentIn many ways, this is the kind of exchange that it is hoped Bailey will be able to fashion more often for the players he will be casting judgment on as soon as this edition of the Big Bash League ends, and he has been blunt in stating that it will not only be useful but more or less mandatory, combined as it is with an increasingly globalised cricket economy.”One of the things I have noticed over the last few years as I’ve transitioned from a younger player into a more senior player, and seen a generation of younger cricketers come through, and chatting to my mates in the real world as well, is that I think there’s a different expectation around communication for players these days,” he said. “They want to be kept abreast and given more information. CA have access to some much data that we’re able to share that with players and keep them up to date a little more often.”With the advent of T20 and the amount of coaches and players that are now playing with players from other nations and coaching with people from other nations, a lot of that information we used to think was perhaps unique is now being shared, so its all well and good having access to great data, but asking the right questions becomes really important and then once you’ve actually got it, that’s where I think the opportunity to use what we’ve traditionally called gut feel, but to use your imagination and creativity and put your own stamp on things comes to the fore.”Bailey, then, will be entering an evermore complicated field as far as selection and player management is concerned. In his favour, however, is a written record of thinking and operating that was arguably a few years ahead of its time.

The offie who coped

Former Yorkshire and England offspinner Geoff Cope’s biography is a good-natured, insightful look back at the career of a man who was no stranger to adversity

David Hopps26-Aug-2017Fairfield Books has claimed a valuable niche in the world of cricket publishing. In its pages lie the neglected voices of the game’s past, valuable and award-winning stories about the likes of Bob Appleyard and Tom Cartwright, players who never achieved the greatest or longest-lasting fame but about whom there were valuable insights to be gained and stories to tell.Much in that vein comes
By Stephen Chalke
Fairfield Books£16, 256 pages

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