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Chelsea officially confirmed the appointment of Liam Rosenior as head coach on Tuesday afternoon, handing the 41-year-old a surprise six-and-a-half-year contract running until 2032.

This could highlight BlueCo’s determination to establish long-term stability following Enzo Maresca’s dramatic New Year’s Day departure, but the largely unproven Rosenior has plenty of work to do to convince on-lookers.

Rosenior arrives from sister club Strasbourg, where he guided the Ligue 1 outfit to seventh place last season, though he departs with the French side winless in five matches and seventh again this campaign.

The move represents a significant gamble given his limited experience, having managed just over 100 matches combined at Hull City and Strasbourg, with no previous Premier League experience either.

This morning, Rosenior fronted an emotional press conference at Strasbourg confirming the verbal agreement, stating he felt compelled to announce the news personally out of respect for supporters who watched him create history during 18 months in charge.

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The tactician added that he simply couldn’t turn Chelsea down, and barring PSG, any manager in France would’ve jumped at the chance to join Chelsea.

Now, attention turns to what Rosenior’s first move at Cobham will be, not to mention whether BlueCo will decide to back their new boss in the January transfer window.

Reports suggest that Chelsea want to upgrade their wide options and have their eyes on an audacious move for Vinicius Jr, whether that be this month or later in the year.

However, one Spanish media source has now claimed that Rosenior has made a personal signing request to the Chelsea hierarchy already.

Liam Rosenior asks Chelsea to sign Trent Alexander-Arnold

Rosenior has apparently wasted no time in identifying targets at Stamford Bridge, with the newly-appointed Chelsea boss personally eyeing Real Madrid right-back Trent Alexander-Arnold.

The manager reportedly believes the England international possesses qualities to transform Chelsea’s approach down the right flank during the second half of the campaign.

As such, reports in Spain now claim Rosenior has already asked Chelsea to sign Alexander-Arnold on loan with an option to buy.

The Blues believe this structure represents the most realistic path to securing Alexander-Arnold’s services without committing massive funds immediately.

That being said, Real have rejected any notion of a deal like this for their £278,000-per-week summer signing. Florentino Perez and co would apparently only do business permanently for north of £35 million, which is still pretty unbelievable.

Madrid, though, have no urgency to sell.

Subscribe for deeper Chelsea coaching and transfer analysis Gain fuller context by subscribing to the newsletter: expert analysis on Chelsea’s managerial choices and transfer targets – from Rosenior’s blueprint to links like Trent Alexander-Arnold – providing focused coverage that clarifies the club’s strategy.

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Xabi Alonso values Alexander-Arnold’s ability to provide attacking depth and precision passing from deep positions, while Real’s hierarchy believes his market value will only increase if he maintains his current form.

Rosenior himself is still very keen on the ex-Liverpool defender, with this report suggesting he views Alexander-Arnold as crucial to changing the team’s trajectory in the Premier League.

The west London outfit may also be preparing a substantial offer to convince Madrid, accepting that only a permanent deal will satisfy the Spanish side.

Trent’s start to life at the Bernabeu has been marred by injuries, with just 11 appearances and one assist to his name all season, but a transfer to Chelsea would be the biggest shock of the window, and perhaps even 2026.

Related He'd walk into Rosenior's team: Chelsea plot move to sign their own Rice

The monstrous star could end up being Rosenior’s own Declan Rice at Chelsea.

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Canterbury captain, Gary Stead’s wish that his side would come out and “playtheir best with their backs to the wall,” in this Shell Trophy match withCentral Districts, came true.Thanks to his genie in a bottle, Gareth Hopkins, the first one of his threewishes for the rest of the season was granted.Wish list “number one” was “to bat for as long as we can and save the game.”Number two is to win the Shell Cup, for the eighth time in 10 seasons.Number three is, in the Shell Trophy, to “learn to win again at this level.”At a sunny Village Green ground in Christchurch, Canterbury’s previous threedays of disappointment seemed like a bad dream.They batted without a care in the world, with Aaron Redmond (80) and GarethHopkins (100 not out) making their top scores of the season.It was Central who had the nightmare task of removing stubborn all-rounderson a very good wicket. Occasionally the Stags broke through, but two standsof 97 meant they would have to bat again.At 5.20pm, just after Hopkin’s reached his gritty ton, the players shookhands, with a result impossible. Canterbury, were by then 362/8, 117 ahead,with a maximum of 13 overs remaining.The loss of 68 overs yesterday came back to haunt CD, as did the catchesthey dropped. Hopkins was missed today on 39 – a difficult caught and bowledchance given to Gareth West.He went on to score his second career century, and averages 82.75 for theseason. He and Carl Anderson (20) effectively killed offCentral’s fantasy of a Shell Trophy win during an eighth wicket stand of 63.Central deserved the win in reality, as they had been on top from the firsthour of the first day. Only rain and Canterbury’s unsung lower middle orderheld them off.Tomorrow’s clash at Timaru between the same sides will be different. Havingrediscovered their form, and with Nathan Astle, Craig McMillan and ChrisHarris back, Canterbury’s line up will be given “real steel” to use captainGary Stead’s phrase.

Saqib Ali, the UAE captain, says his win over Bermuda yesterday has given his team tremendous confidence ahead of the World Cricket League Division Two which gets underway in Namibia on November 24.”The victory has lifted our spirits and has done a world of good to our confidence,” Saqib said, reflecting on the 138-run win in Abdu Dhabi. “Obviously there was a situation where we could have ended up on the losing side and had it happened, it would have been the worst possible preparation for an important event like the World Cricket League.”The victory was sweeter because of the way we earned it. We made a mess of things on the first two days, crawled our way out on the third day before delivering the killer’s blow on the last day.”It was a fine match for Saqib on a personal level, notching 142 as UAE swept to a 138-run win over a pitiful Bermuda. Not a bad way in which to begin your captaincy tenure. “We killed two birds with one stone in this match – collected 14 points from a precarious position and had a much-needed match practice ahead of the World Cricket League,” Saqib said. “The WCL Division Two is a tournament that will inch us closer to our dreams of playing in the 2011 World Cup.”Division Two of the WCL will be staged from November 24 and December 1. Other than UAE, Argentina, Uganda, Denmark, Oman and Namibia will take part.While the bottom two teams will be relegated to Division Three, the top four teams qualify for the World Cup Qualifier (formerly the ICC Trophy) in UAE in April 2009 where they will be joined by Kenya, Scotland, the Netherlands, Canada, Ireland and Bermuda. Reflecting on his team’s victory over Bermuda, Saqib said: “I think there were three key moments that turned the tide in our favour.”Firstly, Arshad and Naeemuddin Aslam gave us a glimmer of a hope by featuring in a 133-run partnership, secondly Arshad and I put on 155 for the fourth wicket in quick time, and lastly Irfan Ahmed bowled a superb opening spell on the fourth morning to claim 3 for 35, including the prized scalp of an in-form (David) Hemp.”I think we were all over the place on the first two days because we are not used to playing four-day cricket. It was our first game in nearly two months but once we settled down, we showed that we definitely belong to this format provided we get regular matches.”We have played well here and would have liked to take the momentum forward but the schedule is such that our next game is after two months. It’s very hard on the players to perform as individuals and as a team.”

Happy days are here again for Shabbir Ahmed © AFP

Shabbir Ahmed is once again eligible to play for Pakistan after the ICC lifted a year-long ban on him, imposed during the England tour to Pakistan last year. A report detailing the improvement in Shabbir’s action had been sent to the ICC from the Universiity of Western Australia, after which the ban was lifted.The ICC sent a notification to the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) informing them that Shabbir could resume his international career with immediate effect. “The ordeal for me is finally over and I am very keen to try and fight my way back into the national team,” Shabbir told reporters in Karachi where he is playing in the Twenty20 Cup for Multan Tigers. “I have faced a hard time in the period the ban was imposed on me. I felt hurt because I was banned only because two or three of my deliveries were reported by the umpires,” he said.Shabbir, who has taken 51 wickets in 10 Tests, was banned from playing international cricket on December 19, 2005. He was the first person to face such a suspension under the ICC’s new legislation, which states that any bowler reported twice within a year can face a year out of the game.

‘I felt hurt because I was banned only because two or three of my deliveries were reported by the umpires’

Professor Bruce Elliot, the biomechanic specialist it appointed to review Shabbir’s action last mont, compiled the report. After forwarding it to the PCB, David Richardson, ICC General Manager, re-stated the ICC’s policy in relation to suspected illegal bowling actions. “The findings of the report means that Shabbir can resume bowling in international cricket,” said Richardson.”But the effect of the report by Professor Elliott or any other report from a biomechanical expert cannot be to clear Shabbir without limitation in the future. Everyone needs to be aware that no bowlers are ever ‘cleared’ as they could simply revert to bad habits.”All bowlers are subject to further reporting if the match officials are of the view that they have concerns about whether a delivery or deliveries conform to the laws of cricket when observed with the naked eye.”The report of Professor Elliott and his team at UWA concluded: “Ahmed should be congratulated on being able to modify the level of his elbow extension. However, both he and Pakistan cricket officials are encouraged to continue to monitor his delivery action to ensure it does not regress from a legality perspective.”If Shabbir is reported again, he will be suspended from bowling at international level until his action is reassessed.

Lance Klusener thrashed 39 from just 17 balls to lead the Dolphins to victory © Getty Images

A 17-ball blitz from Lance Klusener, the Dolphins captain, smashed the Warriors out of this Standard Bank Cup game. Coming in at No.8, Klusener hit five sixes in his 39 to lead his team to a three-wicket win at Mercedes Benz Park, East London.Having been set a target of 224 the Dolphins were always behind theeight-ball as they progressively fell away from the required rate. DaleBenkenstein and Jon Kent tried to get on level terms with the Warriors,but with both falling in the forties they had almost prepared the scriptfor Klusener. When he came to the crease the Dolphins were still 44 runsbehind with 31 balls to be bowled. Four sighters followed before thefirst six went out the ground. Tyron Henderson then felt the might ofthe man as Klusener sent three consecutive balls over the ropes and thedamage had been done. A further six cleared the ropes and the Dolphinshad won with five balls to spare. For once the tactic of battingKlusener so low down in the order had worked, but only just.Thanks to a whirlwind innings of 28 off 14 balls from Hendersonthe Warriors were able to post a reasonable total of 223 for 9 in their 45 overs. For a brief period in the middle of the innings therun rate had reached five runs to the over after a 51 from JustinKreusch and a 49 from Arno Jacobs. With no-one able to stay with himHenderson chanced his arm once too often to be bowled, virtually endingthe Warriors’ onslaught. Nanty Hayward, making his season debut forthe Dolphins, bowled well for seven overs but had the misfortune ofbowling at the death as he gave away 27 runs in his last two withHenderson on a mission. He picked up two wickets while Andrew Tweediecleaned up the tail to take three.

The all-important biennial elections for the board of the USA Cricket Association (USACA) have now entered their final round, with nominations validated for all regional-director positions in the USA. Most of the nominees are the usual suspects who have previously figured in US cricket politics, but there are some surprises — and there are interesting contests for several positions.In this final stage, the USACA member clubs that are eligible to vote, perhaps a third of the 600 or more cricket clubs in the USA, will elect directors for their own regions from the nominees available to them. There are eight USACA regions, with the New York region having two directors and the others one each. The presidents of the member leagues in the USACA, comprising the council of presidents, also elect a representative to the USACA board. This gives the USACA board a total of 10 members, who are supposed to appoint and supervise the USACA executive, set policy, and review the management of all USACA affairs.Here is how the situation looks like across the United States.West
The two USACA Regions on the west coast, the Northwest and Southwest regions, are strong areas of cricket growth with good leadership and coordination. The Northwest region has nearly tripled in clubs and cricketers over the past decade, and has three leagues, which make up the Northwest Cricket Council. The Southwest region has a “powerhouse” league in the Southern California Cricket Association, which seems to have few working relationships with the two other leagues in its region–nevertheless, it has excelled in hosting national and regional tournaments, and has one of the best cricket complexes in the USA. The incumbent director for the NW region, Laks Sampath, faces token opposition but is likely to be re-elected – a matter of distress to many in the USACA leadership because he is considered by some as a troublemaker. The Southwest region is likely to have a two-man contest, with incumbent Ethirveerasingham having an edge depending on how local issues play out in the election.Central
The two Central zones, Central East (centered in Chicago) and Central West (Texas), are a study in contrasts.Central East has five leagues, but they seem to be locked in some internecine contests over membership rights, eligibility and regional program management. Many cricket clubs in the region claim they are disenfranchised by those who manage regional cricket, and have threatened to sue if their grievances are not addressed. Director Akhtar (Chik) Masood, a former president of USACA and still considered one of the most powerful men in US cricket, has been the lightning rod for many of these disputes. His re-election would seem to be assured, but could be subject to legal challenges.Central West, on the other hand, has made remarkable progress in a few short years towards becoming one of the most progressive regions in the USA. It has also seen a threefold increase in cricket clubs and players over the past ten years in the three leagues that comprise its region; it has enlisted the local communities to an unprecedented degree in supporting cricket, and has been the recipient of several national and international awards for programming excellence. Its incumbent director, Syed Shahnawaz, has expertly navigated the shoals and tidewaters of US cricket politics without getting entangled in any unseemly issues– his re-election is virtually assured, but he (like Sampath of the NW region)–is viewed with some suspicion at USACA headquarters, and this could be trouble for the leadership.North East
The three zones in NE United States– New York, North East, and Atlantic– are where about a third of all US cricket is concentrated. They are also the regions where US cricket politics have been found at their worst.New York has eight to ten cricket league,s depending on how you define them, and perhaps 200 cricket clubs in its metropolitan area. There is also a New York Cricket region, which is supposed to coordinate and administer cricket for the New York metropolitan area. However, a majority of member leagues and clubs were declared ineligible to vote in 2005, and there has been so much public and private dissension among New York cricket personalities that it is difficult to see them coming together on any useful regional – let alone national – program priorities. No less than 11 nominees are listed for the two regional director positions–together, they comprise a veritable who’s who of New York cricket politics, and it is difficult to see who will be able to secure enough votes to win. This alone would make the New York elections a pivotal one for US cricket–depending on who finally wins, the future of US cricket could be at stake.The North East Region was the source of much conflict two years ago, when it was alleged that an entire league had become eligible to vote without having paid its dues on time – an issue that was quickly swept under the carpet – coincidentally, this league provided the winning votes for drector Curtis Clarke. In 2005, that league is no longer eligible to vote, and incumbent Clarke is in a two-way contest with Nafis Ahmad, a “dark horse” candidate of whom not much is known but who might unseat Clarke given the latter’s doubtful antecedents for the position. This would be a contest to watch.The Atlantic Region has had its share of political problems. Shelton Glasgow, the incumbent drector, has been the subject of much criticism, several recall attempts and diatribes because of what is described as arbitrary and arrogant behavior, peremptory statements and decisions. His strongest rival would appear to be Ashok Patel, pesident of the USA Cricket Academy and winner of the ICC 2002 award for Global Development programs for his work with junior cricket, But Patel also has detractors who question his style and modus operandi. There are other hats in the ring as well, and perhaps one of them could emerge as a viable candidate.South East
All of the south east USA comprises a single region. Geographically, stretching as it does from Florida to Atlanta, it covers a wide swath of territory with many different characteristics. Florida is probably the area in this region with the most cricketers, leagues and clubs, but significant growth is occurring in areas such as Georgia, Louisiana and South Carolina as well.The greatest issue of interest in the SE director elections is whether a person can serve both as a regional director and a member of the USA Team. The SE region has made a practice of this equivocal procedure; Faoud Bacchus was the SE director when he captained and coached Team USA, and incumbent Nasir Javed is following in his footsteps. In the USACA elections two years ago, the SE region vote was close. Perhaps in 2005, the SE region might decide that it too wanted a non-playing director–if so, we might see Javed replaced.Council of League Presidents
There are 26 cricket leagues registered and eligible to vote in the USACA Council of Presidents elections in 2005.The incumbent, Paul Da Silva, is from New York, and has had a distinguished career with the USACA. He has held important New York and USACA offices, managed the USACA Web site, and has held this position for several years.Da Silva has also been outspoken in his criticism of USACA management, and was a leader in the rift between USACA and the New York region that developed in the early stages of the present USACA administration. It would be fair to suggest that many in the USACA hierarchy would not wish to see him re-elected.There are several candidates for the post, most with no discernible track record in national cricket politics. An exception is John Wainwright, president of the Northwest Cricket League, who has campaigned for several years on issues and policies to reform US cricket, and has initiated his own exploratory initiatives for regional and national cricket reform. His outspokenness might put him at a disadvantage, but on the other hand, this (along with his track record) may be precisely what US cricket needs at this stage.In summary, the 2005 USACA Elections present an interesting and complex picture, with (as yet) no discernible trend. In very general terms, the western half of the USA seems to have its act together, and is likely to make constructive progress if given the right support; the eastern regions have administrative and management problems to resolve, and need proper direction if they are to emerge from their respective morasses. Who gets elected to serve on the USACA board of directors for the next two years could well decide who will be appointed to the USACA executive next year, and therefore where US cricket is likely to go.

Pakistan fast bowler Mohammad Sami has been ruled out of the forthcoming home series against Bangladesh with an ankle injury. Sami twisted his ankle playing for Kent and is expected to be out of action for up to six weeks.”Sami will be returning home soon to start treatment on his injury," explained Samiul Hasan, a spokesman for the Pakistan Cricket Board. "Although his contract [with Kent] was until August 10, he was available for the Bangladesh series.”Sami’s absence further weakens the side, with Shoaib Akhtar already haven been given permission to miss the series to enable him to fulfill his county commitments with Durham. However, even an inexperienced Pakistan should have few problems in overcoming Bangladesh.

Fans at today’s First Test match between Australia and New Zealand willbe entitled to either exchange their ticket or seek a full refundfollowing the washout of the third day.As less than 25 overs were played before the umpires decided to abandonthe match at 4.15pm, the Australian Cricket Board’s Refund Policy willapply.Holders of Ticketmaster7 tickets can exchange their ticket at the gateeither tomorrow or Monday for the remaining two days of the Test matchor seek to exchange their ticket for the VB Series One DayInternationals at the Gabba in January.Alternatively, they may seek a full refund. If they purchased theirticket at a Ticketmaster7 outlet, they should return to the outlet wherethey bought the ticket to arrange their refund.For those who purchased tickets by phone/fax/internet or at the groundtoday, they should mail the ticket and their contact details toTicketmaster7, PO Box 762G, Melbourne, 3001 within 30 days of the match.For any inquiries, contact Ticketmaster7 on 1300 13 61 22 or check theofficial ACB website – www.baggygreen.com.auYou can also view the ACB’s national refund policy here.

Tottenham Hotspur are reportedly ‘keeping tabs’ on highly sought-after Inter Milan striker Lautaro Martinez, according to Planet Sport’s Graeme Bailey. 

The lowdown: New deal not enough

Despite only signing a new contract in October 2021, the 24-year-old continues to be heavily linked with a move away from the reigning Serie A champions.

Reputable journalist Fabrizio Romano recently told his Here We Go podcast that Spurs were ‘looking at’ potential striker targets for the summer and Martinez is the latest name touted.

Previously pursued by Barcelona, ex-Inter strike partner Romelu Lukaku hailed the Argentine as a ‘beast’ prior to a 2020/21 league campaign in which the pair provided a combined 58 goal contributions (WhoScored) to lead Antonio Conte’s side to glory.

[web_stories_embed url=”https://www.footballtransfertavern.com/web-stories/tottenham-latest-news-copy/” title=”Tottenham latest developments!” poster=”” width=”360″ height=”600″ align=”none”]

The latest: Domestic interest

The report from Bailey (via PS) claims that both Tottenham and Manchester City are ‘keeping tabs’ on the frontman, whilst north London rivals Arsenal are also believed to be ‘very interested’.

Furthermore, it’s stated that the 37-cap Argentina ace is ‘keen’ on a move to the Premier League.

Recently a report from Tuttosport claimed that the Nerazzurri have already identified Borussia Monchengladbach star Marcus Thuram as a successor to Martinez amidst further interest from Liverpool.

The verdict: A match made in heaven?

Having already scored 40 times and provided 19 assists under the watchful eye of Conte, the Argentine striker is unlikely to have reservations over working with the Italian and vice versa.

FootballFanCast General Stay ahead in the world of football analysis, commentary, and fan insights with FootballFancast. Subscribe FootballFanCast General Stay ahead in the world of football analysis, commentary, and fan insights with FootballFancast.

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Under contract until 2027 and valued at an eye-watering £72million (Transfermarkt), it would take a huge fee to bring Martinez to the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium.

However, with 16 goals and two assists across all competitions this term, the Lilywhites would be adding a high-quality operator to their ranks and should be willing to spend as such.

In other news: Italian source claims Spurs have made a decision regarding permanent summer transfer! Find out more here.

"I won’t be seeing you tomorrow, sir. I am going out of town," says an eight-year-old to the 70-year-old grey-haired gentleman in whites.Nari Contractor chuckles. "You see they are not in awe of me," he says to this reporter. "This is the result of interaction." Contractor is the director of the Cricket Club of India’s (CCI) Cricket Academy, and Interaction and Correction are the two buzzwords of the guardians of this academy. Contractor’s colleagues in this venture are: Hanumant Singh, the former director of the National Cricket Academy in Bangalore, and Vasu Paranjpe, former Mumbai player and coach.Interaction is an important tool coaches forget when they impart training to the players, feels Contractor. "If you can make the player express his viewpoint then half the job is done." Contractor says that the age gap between the coaches (average age: 60-plus) and the trainees (under-16) doesn’t matter, because the kids have respect for the elders and the transparency means that the unit gels well together.The unique thing about this academy is that players from across the country, plus a few from outside, get to hone their skills during the two-month-long camp at the spacious lawns of the Brabourne Stadium. The academy invites two players from each state association and prunes it down to 20 players after the selection trials. These players are not the top players of the individual state as the cream visit the NCA or the NCA’s three zonal academies or the state academies. Two players each from Kenya and Nepal respectively also took part in the camp this year.The normal day of the CCI trainee lasts up to six hours split into two sessions – morning and afternoon. The morning session starts at around 7am with stretching exercises, nets, a mini-break for breakfast and then nets again. The players come back in the afternoon sun to go through another session of nets along with physical training. Three days a week, there are yoga sessions, and then there are random, strenuous fielding practise slots.The academy is two years old and keeps adapting to the modern standards of the game and its various demands. Video analysis of each player is carried out, once when the trainee is inducted and again when the camp is ending. The video helps the player understand how he has progressed and also aids the coaches in correcting any defects that they may see.Films on cricket are also shown so that the trainees learn about the game from the likes of Don Bradman, Garfield Sobers et al. Fitness tests are carried out at the beginning and at the end of the camp to monitor the physical condition of a player. The player is given a programme he can work on after he leaves the academy and a CD about his progress at the camp.Bob Simpson paid a week-long visit and religiously worked with the players which boosted their spirits. One of the trainees who met Simpson’s eye was the 24-year-old Nepali Raj Kumar. Already a national player, Kumar is a short, sturdy, legbreak bowler and has impressed the coaches here with his fielding. Speaking in Hindi, Kumar says, "my action was very clumsy and back in Nepal there are no coaches to correct the faults. But this visit has taught me many things … like my body movement when I bowl. He [Simpson] told me the importance of each part of my body movement as I deliver the ball and now it has helped me get into a nice rhythm."Maurice Ouma, who was there for a week during Simpson’s visit, impressed everyone with his glovework behind the stumps. In fact, Simpson mentioned him in his column in The Sportstar as being better than their [Kenya’s] World Cup wicketkeeper.Contractor delivers the final word. "We can only take the horse to the well," he says. "From there, what it does is its business." Outside, the youngsters run, and run, and run.