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Newcastle United now reportedly have the go-ahead to sign a Premier League star, who Alan Shearer previously called “excellent”.

Eddie Howe salutes "special" Bruno Guimaraes

It’s a new year, but it’s the same Bruno Guimaraes as far as Eddie Howe is concerned. The Newcastle boss watched on with the rest of St James’ Park as the Brazilian stole the show against Crystal Palace and scored his seventh Premier League goal of the season.

Howe told reporters: “Bruno is a very special player, a special person, a special character.

“He’s very positive, he’s got great energy and today he played a captain’s role because that game was always going to be decided by very key moments in the game and he’s come up with a big one for us, and he’s done it countless times.

“Your big players normally decide big games, and today was a big game for us decided by a huge player in our recent history.”

It’s the perfect start for Newcastle, who will be hoping to enjoy a positive month on and off the pitch. Away from the action, the January transfer window represents an ideal opportunity for PIF to end some unfinished business from the summer.

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Whether that means moves for the likes of Kees Smit is now the big question. The promising midfield star is firmly on the Magpies’ radar, but they may have to wait until the summer to make a deal happen.

Instead, their focus could turn back towards their frontline. According to TeamTalk, Newcastle have now received the go-ahead to sign Jorgen Strand Larsen at a cut-price close to the £40m-mark this month, having been told that he’d cost as much as £60m in the summer.

Newcastle receive go-ahead to sign Strand Larsen

Wolverhampton Wanderers are now reportedly prepared to sell their forward at a cut-price before his value drops even further with what currently looks like inevitable relegation to the Championship.

As a result, Newcastle are now back in the race to secure his signature and finish what they started in the summer. It’s an open secret that those at St James’ Park were scrambling to secure Strand Larsen just months ago and even though he’s struggled ever since in the Midlands, they now have an ideal opportunity.

There’s no hiding that the Norwegian has struggled this season after netting 14 goals in his debut campaign, but the context of Wolves’ situation must be considered.

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If the praise of Alan Shearer is anything to go by from last season, then Strand Larsen is certainly still worth pursuing. The Newcastle legend said following Wolves’ victory over Ipswich last season: “He was a nuisance. His hold-up play was excellent and I thought his touch and his control were superb.”

Praise doesn’t get much higher than that in Tyneside and Newcastle should take note as they attempt to complete their frontline at long last.

Scorecard and ball-by-ball details
How they were out

	Gautam Gambhir made a fine fifty to guide the Delhi Daredevils to an easy win © Getty Images

After two first-innings totals which had gone in excess of 200, the bowlers at last had their say at the Feroz Shah Kotla, as Delhi Daredevils thrashed Rajasthan Royals by nine wickets in a disappointingly one-sided game. Rajasthan didn’t have a chance after their batsmen had floundered badly, putting up a dismal 129 on the board. Gautam Gambhir’s unbeaten 58, and his 112-run partnership with Shikhar Dhawan – who helped himself to a half-century as well – finished off the run-chase in a mere 15.1 overs.The only bit that went right for Rajasthan was the toss, which Shane Warne, their captain, won and had little hesitation in choosing to bat. When Taruwar Kohli survived five deliveries from Glenn McGrath in the corridor and spanked the sixth one over cover point for six, it seemed the run-fest had started all over again. As it turned out, Rajasthan had little to celebrate thereafter. In his next over, Kohli chanced his arm again against McGrath, but only found Mithun Manhas at midwicket. McGrath went on to bowl the first maiden over of the tournament, and from there Delhi never let the initiative slip.Rajasthan did their cause no favours with two run-outs, which severely hampered their momentum. Shane Watson hinted at carrying on the good work that his fellow Australians had managed earlier in the day in Mohali, pulling McGrath and Brett Geeves for fours, but his resistance was ended swiftly following a misunderstanding with Mohammad Kaif. Yusuf Pathan had already fallen to the run-out route earlier, and when Kaif, who struggled to find the gaps and the runs, scooped one to Geeves at short fine leg, Rajasthan had slumped to 57 for 5.In a team which had the immense figures of McGrath and Daniel Vettori in their bowling line-up, the hero of the day was Farveez Maharoof, who bowled with excellent control, changing his pace and offering the batsmen no width to score off. His dismissal of Darren Lehmann, who was trapped on the shuffle, was another blow to Rajasthan’s hopes of getting a challenging total on the board.Ravindra Jadeja, the left-hand batsman, offered some resistance, hitting Vettori for a six and a four off his first two balls, but Vettori had the last laugh, deceiving him with a quicker one which rattled the stumps. Warne and Dinesh Salunkhe ensured that Delhi needed to score at more than a run a ball, but on a flat pitch against a batting line-up which included Virender Sehwag and Gambhir at the top of the order, there was little chance of defending that score.Their opening partnership lasted just ten balls, but it was enough to set the tone for the run-chase. Gambhir’s slash and straight drive in the first over off Munaf Patel both found the boundary, while Sehwag had the home crowd on their feet and cheering wildly after just three balls, all of which sped to different parts of the ground: a lofted straight drive over Watson’s head, a spanking pull through midwicket, and then the best shot of them all – a delectable late cut between the wicketkeeper and slip. That, unfortunately, was as good as it got, as Watson hit back, ripping a quick one which rattled the stumps off the pads.Nothing could stop Gambhir, though, as he continued the Twenty20 form he had shown in the World Cup in South Africa. An audacious extra-cover drive for six and a late cut off Munaf quickly brought the asking rate below a run a ball, after which it was a cool canter.Rajasthan’s one hope was Warne, but Gambhir and Dhawan didn’t allow him to settle in either, sweeping and pulling him for fours even as Warne’s reactions suggested he was only a whisker away from a wicket. He pulled himself off the attack after just two overs, and the rest was a mere formality.

Terry Jenner: “Stuart MacGill is most influential player in the immediate future” © Getty Images

Stuart MacGill will play a significant role in Australia’s three-Test tour of Pakistan early next year, according to the coach Tim Nielsen. MacGill, 36, will act as a forward scout when he visits Pakistan in September with the Australia A squad.Australia have not played in Pakistan since 1998-99, when MacGill took 15 wickets at an average of 27 in his first Test series outside Australia. Nielsen said the information MacGill brought back this September would be valuable in Australia’s preparations.”He will get a look at the Pakistan conditions when most of us will be tied up in South Africa with the Twenty20 World Cup,” Nielsen told the . “We haven’t played there for ten years and he will be someone we’ll be counting on to play an important role in that series.”Terry Jenner believes MacGill must assume Shane Warne’s place in the Australian team for at least a year to allow the budding spinners Cullen Bailey and Dan Cullen time to develop. Bailey and Cullen will be with MacGill for the Australia A matches, but Jenner said it was too soon for a full-time international promotion.”Think about Warne, he wasn’t up to it at 22,” Jenner told the Sydney Morning Herald. “Patience is the key, and if the opportunities arise 12 or 18 months from now, they will be better equipped to take advantage of them.”I personally think that MacGill is singularly the most influential player in the immediate future because we want the young blokes to have a bit more time.” Australia’s selectors will not have to make a final decision on the spinners until November when the team plays Sri Lanka in the first Test at the Gabba.

Michael Clarke is undone in Bangladesh during his Test comeback © Getty Images

Michael Clarke expects a fight to hold his Test place in the middle order after failing to seal a spot during his recall for the Bangladesh series in April. Clarke enjoyed a month off after the tour and a “road trip” with Andrew Symonds, who is a candidate for his mate’s position during the Ashes, but he has been back in solid training for eight weeks to prepare for the Champions Trophy and beyond.”There’s going to be a few tough selection decisions coming up, so hopefully I can score some runs and get a chance [for the Ashes],” Clarke said at Allan Border Field, where he was Glenn McGrath’s practice partner. The form of Phil Jaques – he has already posted double-centuries for Worcestershire and Australia A during the off-season – is also putting pressure on Australia’s batting ranks, which include the re-born Damien Martyn, who picked up a match-turning century in the final Test in South Africa.Clarke said positions in the middle order would be closely fought and he hoped to make a mark during October’s Champions Trophy, a prize Australia have never won. “Everyone is fighting to play for their country,” he said. “At the moment the batting is pretty strong but runs on the board will help.”After being dropped during the West Indies series last summer, Clarke returned to Test action in Bangladesh but was unable to create a lasting impression with scores of 19, 9 and 23 not out. However, he has been a fine performer in the one-day team and the extra limited-overs duties restricted his first-class action in 2005-06.”In reality I didn’t get to play too much four-day or Test cricket,” he said. “I played two four-day games all year [making 201 not out against Queensland and 178 against South Australia] and then two Tests in Bangladesh. I need to continue to make the most of my opportunity in one-day cricket.”

Ray Jennings might have to look further afield for a job © Getty Images

Ray Jennings, the former South Africa coach, is unlikely to be the new coach of Titans as Richard Pybus, the former Pakistan and Border coach, seems favourite to be selected for the position. According to the News24 website, Pybus will take over from Dave Nosworthy. The other candidate was Keith Medleycott, while Graham Ford had withdrawn his application.The announcement, which is to be made today, could end all hopes that Jennings had of coaching a domestic side. Jennings was replaced as national coach in May by Mickey Arthur, after he had masterminded a successful and unbeaten tour of the West Indies. However, Jennings’ unconventional coaching style has been the topic of debate with several players raising concerns. He also had regular spats with Graeme Smith during his eight-month tenure.West Indies were rumoured to be interested in hiring his services for their academy, and there has also been interest from various county sides.

Ray Price: front-runner for the Most Outstanding Player award© Getty Images

The ZCU has admitted that the rebel cricketers are eligible for recognition during the board’s annual awards, to be held on August 5 at Harare Sports Club.It is not clear whether the ZCU will consider the players for the awards, but a spokesperson for the board accepted that as the players were part of the team during the 2003-2004 season, they would eligible.Ray Price is front-runner to land the Most Outstanding Player award for his sterling performance with the ball. Price was Zimbabwe’s leading wicket-taker in Tests last season with 30 wickets. He hit top form during Zimbabwe’s tour to Australia where he took 6 for 121 runs in the second Test at the SCG in October 2003. He continued with his terrific form at home against West Indies, grabbing a career-best 6 for 73 in the first Test at Harare Sports Club.Heath Streak should also be in the reckoning for his all round exploits, although it is inconceivable that the ZCU would honour a man who is at the centre of the row. During the year, Streak passed 200 wickets in both Tests and ODIs. He also scored his maiden Test hundred, an unbeaten 127 in the first Test against West Indies at Harare Sports Club.Other contenders for the award, which was won by Andy Blignaut last year, are allrounder Sean Ervine and new skipper Tatenda Taibu.Teenage sensation Tinashe Panyangara is favourite to walk away with the Most Outstanding Under-21 Player. Panyangara made his mark during the Under-19 World Cup in Bangladesh earlier this year when he took 6 for 31 during Zimbabwe’s sensational victory over Australia. The 19 year-old Panyangara also posed threats to experienced batsman during the Sri Lanka and Australia tour towards the end of the season.Another player who should be considered for the award is Tawanda Mupariwa. After being controversially left out of the Under-19 World Cup team, Mupariwa made his international debut against Sri Lanka in the fourth ODI at Harare Sports Club and quickly made an impact with two wickets.

Facing a huge Matabeleland total of 598, Midlands responded quite well butnot yet well enough, as they finished the day on 243 for four wickets. Thehighlight was a fighting maiden century by their wicketkeeper AlesterMaregwede.Matabeleland, beginning the day at 497 for six and no doubt with a massivetotal in mind, were shocked in the first over of the second day’s play.Sherezad Shah, after two sessions without an over after unsuccessfullyopening the attack 24 hours earlier, discovered the yorker to good effect.First he caused Keith Dabengwa (33) to play the ball on to his stumps, andtwo balls later trapped new batsman Piet Rinke lbw, all without addition tothe overnight score. Immediately, for some reason, the umpires changed theball!Suddenly finding he had only two partners left, Gavin Ewing, 154 overnight,decided to attack. He got away with a few risky strokes but then, asJordane Nicolle looked solid, settled down again. Nicolle actually did moreof the scoring, making 31 in an hour before being bowled by a ball fromleft-arm spinner Dirk Viljoen that spun sharply and clipped his off bail.Matabeleland were 554 for nine.Last man Norman Mukondiwa hung on gamely as Ewing moved slowly towards hisdouble-century. Finally, a hard pull to square leg, from whose thigh theball rebounded, brought him to 200. Mukondiwa then felt free to indulgehimself a bit, with two lofted boundaries in the rest of the over. Ewingnever quite regained his momentum, apart from a six over extra cover, and hefinally fell to a catch in the covers for 212. He hit 19 fours and 5 sixesin his innings. The team innings closed on 598 with three wickets each forShah and Sibanda, but no bowler was ever really threatening.Midlands, facing an uphill struggle, lost opener Luther Mutyambizi in thesecond over, driving loosely to be caught overhead at cover. There were acouple of frenzied, overexcited appeals from the rampant Matabele team, butthe umpires withstood the pressure and Vusi Sibanda (10) and Terry Duffin(1) held out until lunch.Midlands picked up the scoring rate after lunch, with an interesting battlebetween Nicolle, bowling bouncers with two fielders, and then three, on theleg boundary, and Sibanda, who was willing to take him on and did sosuccessfully for a while.The pair added 51 before Duffin was given out caught down the leg side offRinke, and immediately afterwards Sibanda hooked once too often and holedout on the leg boundary off Nicolle. Midlands were suddenly 56 for three.Viljoen and Maregwede slowly but steadily repaired the innings, though, withquiet, sensible batting, waiting for the bad ball to punish, although notalways as severely as it might have been. Maregwede reached his fifty justafter tea and was then dropped off a firm pull straight to square leg.They continued in the same mode and Matabeleland, becoming desperate, made aferocious appeal for a catch at bat-pad off Ewing when Maregwede was on 88,but it was firmly rejected. As in the Matabeleland innings, much of thebowling was being done by spinners, who were getting some turn, but thepitch was too slow to hurry the batsmen. Ewing followed his double-centurywith a long spell of off-spin bowling, and the batsmen had to play him withcare, but he is not a big spinner of the ball and tended to bowl too manyfull tosses. Patience was the key and the batsmen had it.Finally, after three hours, a lofted straight drive off Barney Rogersbrought Maregwede his maiden first-class century. It came off 158 balls andhe was always the more fluent of the two, as Viljoen allowed him his head.Most of his runs came on the leg side. Soon afterwards, though, he moveddown to drive Ewing without getting to the pitch of the ball and edged acatch to slip. He departed for 105, including 14 fours and a six, and DonCampbell (4) saw out the day with Viljoen (69).

Hampshire flush from their move into second place, make just one change from the team that defeated Durham.Derek Kenway is fit again after missing matches with a broken toe. He replaces Chris Tremlett who is suffering from sore shins. Alan Mullally who has been left out of the England squad after sustaining a new side injury is also missing.The Hampshire eleven: Derek Kenway, Giles White, Jason Laney, Will Kendall, Robin Smith (captain), Neil Johnson, Dimitri Mascarenhas, Adi Aymes (w/k), Alex Morris, Shaun Udal, James Schofield.

West Ham United are looking to improve their forward options in 2026, and their scouts have been left seriously impressed by a “tremendous” striker.

West Ham keen on new striker with Fullkrug set to leave

Niclas Fullkrug could be on the move in the upcoming transfer window, with it being revealed the German striker is determined to leave, and West Ham have no plans to stand in his way.

It is probably the correct decision to offload the Hannover-born striker, given that he has flattered to deceive ever since arriving at the London Stadium, and could now be in the latter stages of his career at 32-years-old.

Niclas Fullkrug’s goalscoring record

PL appearances

Goals

2024-25

18

3

2025-26

8

0

The centre-forward has also struggled on the injury front, having suffered two muscle issues already this season, which have meant he hasn’t started a Premier League game since the 2-0 defeat against Arsenal at the beginning of October.

Consequently, West Ham are now stepping up their pursuit of a new striker, with informal talks being held over a deal for Al-Ahli’s Ivan Toney last week, while Norwich City’s Josh Sargent has also emerged as an option.

That is according to a report from Football Insider, which reveals the Hammers have been keeping tabs on the Norwich star, and scouts have been left seriously impressed by his performances.

However, with the American contracted until 2028, the Canaries are in a strong negotiating position, and it is unclear what sort of fee the Championship side would be looking to receive.

The Irons are only willing to shell out £20m on a new forward, but there is a belief the 25-year-old could be available for a lower amount.

"Tremendous" Sargent enjoying impressive Championship campaign

The Missouri-born striker notched 15 goals in the Championship last season, and he is on course to reach a similar tally this season, having scored six goals in the second tier, while also grabbing one in the EFL Cup.

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Transfer expert Graeme Bailey has suggested the USA international could have what it takes to make the step-up to the top flight too, saying: “Sargent is a tremendous player, some people remember him from his Premier League time with Norwich but he is much improved since then – he is a top centre forward now.”

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However, while the Missouri-born forward may have kicked on since his previous stint in the Premier League, there may be some concerns about his output in the 2021-22 campaign, netting just two goals in 26 appearances for the Canaries.

As such, Sargent, who is represented by the same agent as Max Kilman, would be a risky signing for West Ham, in what will be an important January transfer window, considering they are now three points from safety.

ScorecardYorkshire, after threatening to lose to Nottinghamshire at their ownheadquarters, eventually fought their way through to a draw, thanks to thetenacity of their ninth-wicket pair of Tim Bresnan and Darren Gough, after somefeeble batting from their middle order. It was an intriguing final sessionafter a draw had seemed likely for most of the day.At start of play Darren Gough made an unusual but perceptive decision to open the bowling with leg-spinner Adil Rashid. The overnight batsman Stuart Broad, much less assured against spin than he had been against pace the previous day, was soon bamboozled and trapped lbw for 53. He had added 113 for the seventh wicket for the seventh wicket with Chris Read, who played himself in carefully, suggesting Nottighamshire were looking for a sizable lead.Mark Ealham was more intent on building that lead quickly, clubbing his first ball past mid-on for four, and running up a rapid 26 before hitting across a full toss and becoming a third successive lbw victim. Read was by now opening up; he lost Ryan Sidebottom, nudging Tim Bresnan weakly to the keeper, and then, with last man and renowned non-batsman Charlie Shreck at the crease, sent up a huge skyer which was eventually well held near mid-on by the bowler Bresnan. He departed for a highly creditable 142, and his team was now dismissed for 422, a lead of 123.Despite losing Joe Sayers, out of form, before lunch for 8, caught in the gully as Sidebottom finally took a long-overdue wicket, Yorkshire for a long time looked immune from defeat. Sidebottom and Shreck bowled well but did not look as lethal as during the first day. Michael Vaughan batted with caution but produced the occasional vintage drive, while Anthony McGrath provided his usual stabilising influence at number three.Vaughan would again rue his dismissal: he cut at a ball from Graeme Swann that was not quite wide enough for the stroke and dragged it on to his wicket for 34. Soon afterwards McGrath (43) was out caught behind hooking for the second time in the match, but with a teatime score of 127 for 3, four runs ahead, Yorkshire looked relatively safe.After the interval, however, the Yorkshire innings resembled the slow subsidence of the Titanic, rather than any dramatic collapse. Jacques Rudolph had again looked very sound, a no-frills batsman playing every ball on its merits, but perhaps he was too quick to assume that the match was safe when he went for his strokes after tea. With 32 to his credit, he played an indecisive shot outside the off stump to Sidebottom and was caught at the wicket.He was followed by a further three wickets in the next half-hour, more due to loose batting than inspired bowling, though Rashid was unlucky to flick a ball low and hard but straight to Adam Voges at backward short leg. Suddenly Yorkshire were up against the wall, and Tim Bresnan and Morne Morkel, the latter with a runner after his hamstring injury yesterday, found themselves unexpectedly having to dig in. At the start of the final hour the match was still in the balance, Yorkshire on 164 for 7, 41 runs ahead.An inspired bowling change saw Samit Patel come on and immediately have Morkelcaught in the leg trap for 8; 168 for 8. But Bresnan kept a mature head on his young shoulders (12 not out off 41 balls) and, aided by his skipper, saw Yorkshire through to safety. Gough had suffered a poor match until the end, but his last ditch captain’s innings was just what his team needed. With six overs remaining, three of which would have been lost to a change of innings, and Yorkshire 64 runs ahead, the teams shook hands.