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The ICC is considering increasing funding for Associate and Affiliate nations as part of the ongoing review into its governance and structure. The news will go some way to appeasing Associate representatives aggrieved by the effects of the ICC’s 2014 financial and administrative restructuring, informally referred to as the Big Three takeover.Funding for the 95 Associate and Affiliate nations from 2015-23 has currently been agreed at $299 million, only a slight increase in real terms from the $252 million awarded to Associate and Affiliate nations in the preceding media and commercial rights package from 2007-15. Had the ICC rights for 2015-23 been distributed according to the previous revenue model (2007-2015), Ehsan Mani, the former ICC President, estimates that the Associate nations could have received over $550 million.Under the new model, Associate representatives believe that the majority of the ICC’s 95 non-Test members face a real terms funding reduction. “Over 50 Associates and Affiliates [out of a total of 95] are likely to be worse off in 2015-16 compared to 2014-15,” said Simone Gambino, the Italian Cricket Federation president. The claim was backed up by a number of other representatives, who expressed grave concerns about the future of the game beyond the Full Member nations.”I worry how some countries will recover from the crushing reduction in funds. All that we have achieved is at risk,” said Ken Farmiloe, the Chairman of Cricket Belgium. “As far as I can see, Ireland are the only country in Europe who are better off in 2016. Most countries seem to be worse off as, in addition to a reduction in funds, there will be no financial support from ICC Europe for projects.”When contacted by ESPNcricinfo, the ICC privately denied that such a large number of nations will be worse off, saying that the number who have suffered funding reductions in 2015-16 is no higher than in a typical year. According to the ICC’s rules, funding is determined by a combination of on-field performance and the ICC’s “scorecard” tally which takes into account a myriad of development factors to rank associates and determine funding. The ICC were unwilling to specify how many countries are better or worse off in 2015-16 compared to 2014-15, but said the new funding model for Associates and Affiliates was designed to prevent sides that maintain their position in the rankings from being financially worse off.Shashank Manohar’s recent comments have been a boost to the Associates•AFP

It is however understood that, when the discontinuation of the Targeted Assistance and Performance Programme (TAPP) is taken into account, a number of leading Associates will receive less ICC funding. Cricket Scotland are understood to be over $200,000 worse off comparing 2014-15 and 2015-16. The Netherlands, UAE and Kenya are other prominent countries that have suffered an overall funding reduction.Privately, senior ICC figures say that they are looking for a more efficient funding scheme to replace TAPP, perhaps called an ODI or Cricket Fund. They also stressed that TAPP was only introduced in 2012, midway through the last rights cycle, and expect an equivalent scheme to be implemented much quicker in the current rights cycle.Given the ongoing review into the ICC’s funding distribution model. David Richardson, the ICC chief executive, said: “It would be pointless to speculate further at this stage as to whether any particular group of members will be better or worse off financially than before.”Associate nations have been encouraged by Shashank Manohar’s words since taking over as ICC chairman. One senior source said they were hopeful that India’s share of ICC revenue would be reduced, perhaps from 22% to 16%, as previously reported, and this could lead to the overall pot for Associate and Affiliate nations increasing from $299 million to $325-350 million from 2015 to 2023. Another figure said that Manohar has been surprised that Zimbabwe receive over $5 million more than Afghanistan and Ireland from the ICC, and hoped to close this gap substantially. Funding shortages are expected to have made Ireland, for example, unable to commit to some ODIs they have arranged in 2016 and beyond.Any increased funding towards Associate members is likely to follow the recent trend of Associate spending being targeted more aggressively towards the highest-ranked nations like Afghanistan and Ireland. Because of their inclusion on the 12-team ODI rankings table, Afghanistan and Ireland receive an extra $1.7 million a year from the ICC, and around $2.5 million annually in total from the ICC. “Their funding success has come at the expense of other Associates and Affiliates,” Malcolm Cannon, the chief executive of Cricket Scotland, said in December.Countries in the World Cricket League Championship, the competition for the next rung of Associates in ODI cricket, receive only $300,000 a year for participation in the tournament, and none currently receive more than $1.2 million in total a year.Richardson explained why the ICC was committed to prioritising spending towards the strongest performers among Associate nations. “One of the objectives arising from the recently approved ICC Strategic Plan for the period 2015-19, which is relevant to the development of the game, is achieving more competitive teams at the highest level. To achieve this we need to be more targeted in the allocation of resources – money and services – to the members that have the potential to be competitive at that level, i.e. to deliver the desired return on investment.”The objective is therefore to provide more funding to the likes of Ireland, Afghanistan and others who have the potential to compete successfully at the highest level, preferably without reducing the level of funding available for distribution to the other members from what they collectively received before.”This marks a continuation of the process in 2008, when Associate and Affiliate nations decided to pool their funding and divide it up according to the scorecard, thereby rewarding countries making progress. Several representatives stressed that they supported the increased funding for the top Associates but felt the overall funding pot for Associates and Affiliates was insufficient given the rise in the value of ICC commercial deals.Ultimately some in the ICC hope to move to a model in which funding for all nations, including Full Members, is based more on performance and less on status. Proposals for two divisions in Test cricket (comprising seven teams in Division One and five in Division Two, with promotion and relegation) and a ODI format pitting the 12 leading nations in groups (perhaps two with six teams each) to form the basis of World Cup qualification are being advocated by Richardson and other senior figures at the ICC, as part of the ongoing review into the structure of cricket. It is envisaged that the ICC would fund the costs of matches within any such structure.Some Associate representatives remain unconvinced. “Whether the changes will affect the smaller Associates and Affiliates remains to be seen,” Farmiloe said. He also expressed his concern that World Cricket League Six has been scrapped; in total, since 2012, the number of divisions in the World Cricket League has fallen from eight to five. “The cutting of WCL excludes many countries vying to better their cricket. Also, the big question is what the ICC regional offices will do without a budget.”Spending on department services – money largely allocated to regional offices who then provide grants and support to members – has fallen from $81 million from 2007-15 – to an estimated $56 million under the current 2015-23 funding model.

Manchester United could reportedly be set to revive their interest in Juventus midfielder, Adrien Rabiot, having previously come close to signing the Frenchman last summer.

What’s the latest on Rabiot to Man United?

According to Football Insider, the Red Devils are plotting to make a move for the 27-year-old at the end of the season, with the former Paris Saint-Germain man set to be available on a free transfer amid the impending expiry of his contract.

The report suggests that the 6 foot 2 maestro – who made the move to Turin back in 2019 – could demand a ‘huge’ deal if he is to make a move this summer, having already outlined his desire to play Champions League football next season.

The player’s wage demands seemingly led to the collapse of his proposed £15m move to Old Trafford back in August, with Manchester Evening News reporting that the 35-cap asset had requested an ‘obscene’ salary which ultimately put paid to the switch.

Could Rabiot be Man United’s next Pogba?

Rekindling a move for Rabiot may not appear the wisest decision as far as Erik ten Hag’s side are concerned, with there likely to be fears about a repeat of the club’s previous midfield capture from the Allianz Stadium – Paul Pogba.

Like his compatriot and current teammate – who sparked controversy in 2018 after refusing to be on the standby list for the World Cup – Pogba has not always been a popular figure due to his off-field actions, having regularly sparked fury among United supporters after appearing to angle for a departure throughout his time at Old Trafford.

The latter man had initially left the Red Devils on a free transfer in 2012 to join the Bianconeri, before then returning to Manchester on an £89m deal four years later, going on to win the Europa League and the League Cup in his first season back at the club.

That would prove to be the only silverware that the polarising figure would claim over the next six years, however, as he regularly flattered to deceive in a red jersey, with club legend Roy Keane admitting that Pogba hadn’t “done enough” during his time at the Theatre of Dreams.

That at-times toxic stint came to an end last summer as the World Cup winner made his return to Italy, having made a parting shot at his former employers after criticising the decision not to hand him a bumper new deal.

There will undoubtedly be concern at snapping up another high-profile figure such as Rabiot who is seemingly set to demand a hefty salary – beyond his current £152k-per-week wage – with Ten Hag and co having no doubt benefitted of late from dispensing with the big egos and individualistic talents.

Equally, comparisons can also be made between both Rabiot and Pogba on a purely playing basis, with the two, towering midfielders typically operating on the left of a midfield three, albeit while rarely offering a real goal threat – with the former United man scoring on 39 goals in 233 games for the club, while his international colleague has just 13 goals in 158 games for Juventus.

The likeness has also previously been noted by Italian legend Gigi Buffon – who has played with the pair – with the experienced goalkeeper stating: “What I met is a champion, a fantastic mix: he has physical strength of [Paul] Pogba – he is a proper wardrobe.”

While – as Buffon noted – Rabiot does possess notably physical qualities that may help to bolster United’s midfield, it is perhaps not worth the risk of bringing another potentially problematic, Pogba-esque figure into the fold.

Gregg Berhalter says the USMNT "need to learn how to beat the best" ahead of the 2026 World Cup, hinting that qualifiers aren't good preparation.

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Berhalter wants to "beat the best"Has already set sights on the 2026 World CupCopa America qualification a priorityWHAT HAPPENED?

The 50-year-old manager wants to play against the best national teams as part of their preparations for the 2026 World Cup that will be played on home soil. During the October international break, the USMNT played against European and African powerhouses Germany and Ghana to gauge their standing in world football. Although they were given a harsh reality check by Germany in the form of a 3-1 drubbing, they beat Ghana comprehensively by a 4-0 margin which boosted their morale.

AdvertisementGettyWHAT BERHALTER SAID

Speaking to Berhalter said: "Our priority is to play the best possible opponents we can. Last window playing Germany and Ghana was a good experience for our group. We really feel to be successful at the World Cup, we’ll need to learn how to beat the best teams. I’m not sure qualifying prepares you for that. CONCACAF qualifying is extremely difficult and extremely difficult mentally but when we talk about the opportunity to play teams like Brazil, Germany, or Spain, that’s a real learning experience for our group.”

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The USMNT are just a step away from qualifying for the 2024 edition of the Copa America. They hold a 3-0 advantage ahead of the second leg against Trinidad & Tobago and another triumph in Port of Spain will ensure that Berhalter will have the opportunity to lead his men against the best South American teams in 2024.

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WHAT NEXT FOR THE USMNT?

The USMNT is going through an injury crisis as they will miss the services of prominent players like Weston McKennie, Christian Pulisic and Timothy Weah. In the absence of the experienced heads, the onus will be on the likes of Yunus Musah and Gio Reyna to fire them over the line against the Caribbean side.

Everton's James Tarkowski and wife Samantha made little attempt to hide the truth when asked about their favourite pastime in a new reality series.

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• Tarkowski and wife Samantha interview
• Reveal favourite activity to do together
• New show focuses on lives of players' partners

• WHAT HAPPENED?

  The couple were quizzed during Amazon's series which focuses on the lives of several players and their partners. Asked what was their favourite thing to do together, Samantha burst into laughter asking what time the show will be aired. The former England defender took a more direct approach with a simple one-word answer — "shagging".

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• THE GOSSIP

  The centre-back copped some online ribbing earlier in the week when a social media trailer for the series showed Tarkowski flirting with his wife, leading some fans to jokingly call for Everton to be hit with a further points deduction as punishment.

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• WHAT NEXT FOR JAMES TARKOWSKI?

  Tarkowski and his Everton team-mates head to the south coast on Saturday looking to repeat their feats of last season when they stunned Brighton and Hove Albion with a 5-1 win which proved crucial to their Premier League survival.

The absence of Rising Pune Supergiant, the runner-up in the last IPL, has given rise to an interesting challenge for the tournament organsiers, who have not yet announced the final schedule for the 2018 edition. The IPL has only said that the tournament will commence on April 7 in Mumbai, which will also host the final on May 27.Usually, the eliminator and the second qualifier are held at the home venue of the runner-up in the previous season. By that token, Pune should be the automatic choice. However, ESPNcricinfo understands that some of the other state associations are lobbying to host those two play-off matches. Lucknow and Kolkata are two venues that have been pushed as potential favourites to replace Pune.In a move to eliminate rival states from staking claim, the Maharashtra Cricket Association (MCA) president Abhay Apte sent an e-mail to the IPL chairman Rajeev Shukla on Monday, requesting that the eliminator and the second qualifier be staged in Pune as per norm.In the two-page letter, Apte noted the MCA request was only valid because the IPL had been following an “unwritten rule” of allotting the tournament opener, the Qualifier 1 and the final to the home venue of the defending champions. “For past several years we are observing a practice, which has become an unwritten rule of playing the first (tournament opener), and Qualifier 1 as well as the final match at the venue of last year’s champions and playing the Eliminator and Qualifier 2 matches at the venue of the runners up team,” Apte said in the e-mail. “Pune IPL team (Supergiant) was the runner-up during the last year’s IPL and of course the home venue was Pune. As such, the venue of the last year’s runners-up of IPL team i.e. MCA’s Gahunje, Pune should be the logical choice to stage the Eliminator and Qualifier 2 matches.”Apte pointed out that “history” could not be changed just because the Supergiant team no longer exists.Pune is also the second choice home venue for the Rajasthan Royals, who are awaiting a final verdict from the Rajasthan High Court on whether matches can be staged at the Sawai Mansingh stadium in Jaipur.

Lionel Messi mania at Inter Miami remains in full swing, with the MLS franchise now said to be valued at $1 billion (£787m).

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Argentine icon moved to the States in 2023Made an immediate impact on & off the pitchOnly four MLS teams in the $1 billion clubWHAT HAPPENED?

The eight-time Ballon d’Or winner moved to the United States as a free agent in 2023 after reaching the end of his contract at Paris Saint-Germain. Within weeks of his arrival, Inter Miami were celebrating a historic Leagues Cup triumph. They also reached the U.S. Open Cup final before coming unstuck against the Houston Dynamo.

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The Herons were unable to reach the MLS play-offs, as Messi picked up an untimely injury, but positive progress continues to be made on and off the field. They now have a marketing dream at their disposal, with co-owner David Beckham and the club’s board making the most of that.

DID YOU KNOW?

A first international tour is being taken in at the start of 2024 – which includes a meeting with Cristiano Ronaldo’s Al-Nassr – and claims that the club has joined the $1 billion club. Only four MLS sides are said to have hit that mark, with the others being LAFC at $1.15billion (£903m), Atlanta United on $1.05billion (£825m) and the $1 billion (£787m) valued LA Galaxy.

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Getty/GOALWHAT NEXT?

Nobody gets close to Inter Miami when it comes to annual value increase, as they surge by 74%, with LAFC only up by 28%. In 2023, the Florida-based franchise sat 10th on the MLS chart, but the presence of Argentine all-time great Messi at DRV PNK Stadium has seen them soar up the rankings.

Vidarbha wrapped up Delhi’s innings earlier than expected on the morning, and fifties from seniors Faiz Fazal and Wasim Jaffer kept them in the hunt for a lead

The Report by Vishal Dikshit in Indore30-Dec-2017
Scorecard and ball-by-ball details
Rajneesh Gurbani is mobbed by his team-mates•Rajneesh GurbaniWhen it looked like Delhi would ease past 300 early on the second day, Rajneesh Gurbani stalled them with a hat-trick. When it looked like the Vidarbha openers would stretch their partnership past 100, both fell within the space of four overs. And when it looked like Vidarbha would place themselves in a strong position for a lead after crossing 200 and only three down, they lost one more in the final moments of the second day to expose a weak middle order, making the match restore some parity yet again.Vidarbha had dominated much of the day, finishing off Delhi’s last four wickets for only five runs to wrap them up for 295. Faiz Fazal and Wasim Jaffer struck solid half-centuries to help them finish the day on 206 for 4. Jaffer was on 61 at stumps and would be their biggest hope to take a lead and avoid a collapse.Resuming on their overnight 271 for 6, Dhruv Shorey was looking set with a patient Vikas Mishra, amid edges that weren’t turning into wickets. Gurbani then targeted the stumps. On the last two deliveries of his seventh straight over of the day, he produced two incutters against Mishra and Navdeep Saini. Both deliveries nipped in so sharply from outside off that neither could get the bat down in time and were bowled. Gurbani completed the hat-trick in his next over with the most important wicket of the innings, bringing another one to knock over Shorey’s off stump.Hat-trick hero Gurbani on…

Taking a hat-trick in the Ranji final: “It is a fast bowler’s dream to take a hat-trick and a five-wicket haul in the finals, so obviously it is a special feeling. To be frank, I was not aware I was on a hat-trick. I was not thinking about taking it, but I was bowling every delivery with the intent of taking a wicket.”

How he realised he was on a hat-trick: “I had got two wickets off the fifth and sixth deliveries of my over. When I came on to bowl my next over, someone in the crowd shouted “hat-trick ball”. That is when I realised to be frank. So I planned to bowl on the stumps as much as possible.”

Bowling after cramps on the first day: “I had prepared myself that I should remain on the field and bowl the first over today. I was not fit yesterday. I knew that if I would bowl well, the team would win so since the time I could not bowl yesterday [because of cramps] I was waiting to bowl today.”

If he prefers the new or old ball: “I prefer the new ball. But the SG Test starts swinging more after it gets a bit old so I become more [dangerous]. Otherwise I get wickets with the new ball too.”

Four deliveries after he became only the second bowler to claim a hat-trick in a Ranji final – after Tamil Nadu’s Kalyanasundram against Bombay in 1972-73 – he wrapped up Delhi when Kulwant Khejroliya charged and lost two of his stumps. Four bowled in seven deliveries and Gurbani finished with 6 for 59, his fifth five-for in four straight matches.Vidarbha’s openers put on a solid 96 runs after blunting the new ball in the first session. Saini was Delhi’s best bowler of the day by consistently putting his 140kph deliveries in the right areas, posing threats in all three sessions. He did it against Fazal and Sanjay Ramaswamy but he hardly got support from the other end in the absence of Ishant Sharma and Vikas Tokas, who was replaced by Akash Sudan.Barring the occasional edge or appeal, Fazal and Sanjay looked untroubled for the 30 overs they batted together. Fazal was more productive, middling three drives down the ground and steering plenty of short deliveries square. That he scored 29 off 33 against Saini helped Vidarbha in taming the fired-up bowler. Left-arm spinner Mishra’s flat deliveries could not penetrate his defences and Fazal tucked him to long leg for four to complete his first half-century that was not converted into one of his five hundreds this season.Sudan somehow returned in a different avatar in his second spell when the ball was over 25 overs old. He first brought one into Sanjay for an lbw appeal in the 28th over – that the batsman survived – before seaming one in marginally to have Sanjay chop on for 31. Four overs later, he swung one away from Fazal and the left-hander edged behind for 67.Still 188 adrift, Vidarbha had the man in the middle they needed – Jaffer. He steered two partnerships – with Ganesh Satish and Apoorv Wankhade – during which he was as unruffled as ever in his ninth Ranji final. Those two partnerships were not blemish-free on the bowler-friendly pitch. Saini was brought back soon after Fazal’s dismissal and he created two chances against Satish before tea – first an edge fell short of the slips and then the umpire turned down a a loud lbw appeal because it was probably going down leg.Jaffer meanwhile dropped reminders of his calmness. He drove the second ball after tea serenely through the covers. But Saini tasted success in the next over by pinning Satish above the knee roll, which made the batsman unhappy with the decision. Jaffer continued to late cut – his most productive shot – and punch balls off the backfoot to register his 86th first-class half-century. Wankhade also exhibited two elegant cover drives against the pacers, with Vidarbha appearing like they wouldn’t lose further wickets on the day.However, left-arm pacer Khejroliya titled the balance a bit towards Delhi in the third over before stumps when he angled one away and Wankhade poked for an edge on 28. Saini scared Vidarbha before stumps too by making Jaffer edge one that fell short of slip and appealing for a catch down the leg side four balls later, when the ball had gone off the pad.Delhi are 13 overs away from the new ball and Vidarbha 89 runs short with the key in Jaffer’s hands.

There has been an update regarding Manchester United's pursuit of Fiorentina playmaker, Sofyan Amrabat…

What's the latest on Amrabat to Man United?

Following reports that an "agreement" has been reached with the 26-year-old regarding personal terms, Sportitalia have claimed that the Red Devils have 'presented' an offer to the Serie A side, with a fee of around €35m (£30m) having been suggested.

The piece notes that the Moroccan international is now just 'one step away' from joining the Old Trafford outfit, with the player himself said to be 'ready to leave' Florence in order to make the move to the Premier League.

The former Club Brugge ace – who worked under Erik ten Hag previously at FC Utrecht – currently has just a year left to run on his existing contract, thus allowing United to wrap up a deal without breaking the bank.

What is Sofyan Amrabat's style of play?

While Ten Hag began his summer spend by acquiring Mason Mount from rivals Chelsea, it looks as if the former Ajax boss is seeking to bolster his midfield ranks even further, particularly with the likes of Fred and Donny van de Beek facing uncertain futures at the club.

With Mount set to bring extra "dynamism" to United's midfield in an attacking number eight berth – in the words of his manager – the addition of Amrabat is seemingly set to help solve a different need, with the Netherlands-born ace set to offer a composed, ball-playing presence in front of the back our.

In many ways, the "underrated" talent – as described by writer Muhammad Butt – takes on a similar role to that of Jorginho at Arsenal, and before that at Chelsea, with the two men both said to share a number of stylistic and statistical similarities, according to FBref.

That likeness between Amrabat and the Italy international – who also made the move to England from Serie A – can be seen by how they typically operate in a deep-lying midfield role and are unlikely to bomb forward too regularly, with the Fiorentina star ranking in just the bottom 6% among his European peers for touches in the attacking penalty area, while the ex-Napoli man ranks in just the bottom 28% in that regard.

What that disciplined nature does is allow the pair to attempt to dictate the tempo of the game in the centre of the park as well as look to get the ball forward to the more attack-minded talents where possible, with Jorginho notably ranking in the 9% for attempted passes and the top 11% for progressive passes, while Amrabat ranks in the top 11% and the top 8% for those same two metrics, respectively.

The beauty of having such assets at the base of the midfield is that they also rarely play their team into trouble or squander possession, with Amrabat and Jorginho ranking in the top 5% and the top 15%, respectively, for pass completion as a sign of that innate composure.

That comparison to the latter man is of note as it was not too long ago that the Brazil-born maestro was dubbed the "best midfielder in Europe" by ex-United boss, Jose Mourinho, with the 31-year-old having also claimed the UEFA Men's Player of the Year award back in 2021.

The experienced asset did endure his early teething problems while at Stamford Bridge – having suffered early criticism from Blues supporters following his arrival from Naples in 2018 – although has since come out the other side to prove the doubters wrong.

For Ten Hag to find his own version of the Champions League winning playmaker in the form of Amrabat could then represent something of a coup, with the 6 foot 1 gem also offering the benefit of having an added edge to his game, having been branded "a raging bull" by Moroccan journalist, Amine El Amri.

With Jorginho having made a success of himself in the Premier League, perhaps the 49-cap ace can too.

Aston Villa are reportedly interested in former Liverpool midfielder Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain, as Unai Emery prepares to bolster his squad this transfer window.

The Spaniard has had a strong start to the summer by acquiring the talents of Youri Tielemans, Pau Torres and Moussa Diaby, however, there are expected to be more arrivals at Villa Park.

Who wants to sign Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain?

As reported by Sky Sports yesterday, both Villa and Brentford are chasing Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain, who is a free agent following the expiry of his contract at Anfield.

In their Transfer Centre, Sky Sports added that the midfielder has ‘already turned down’ lucrative offers from abroad with the desire to remain in England.

It was reported back in June by Football Insider that the Villans had been in ‘advanced talks’ for the 29-year-old, with a fresh update suggesting that the club remain in pursuit of the former England international.

What position could Oxlade-Chamberlain play at Aston Villa?

Having made 235 Premier League appearances, the midfielder has taken up a host of positions throughout his career, finding the most joy operating in central midfield.

Deployed primarily on the right flank while at Arsenal, the Portsmouth-born gem was renowned for his pace and strength in wide areas, however, struggled to consistently get among the goals.

Jurgen Klopp restored the faith in the Englishman by playing him in central midfield, where he immediately bettered his scoring tally in the league to all seasons prior in north London.

Despite nearing 30 years of age, Liverpool captain Jordan Henderson said in the club’s final matchday programme that the former Southampton man was in the “shape of his life”, and that his next club will have “won the lottery” in signing him.

For Villa, the time is now to bolster the squad currently on show at Villa Park, as the club prepares for their return to Europe for the first time since 2010.

Emery is building something encouraging in the Midlands, and the squad could still benefit from the signing of a player who boasts such strong experience in England as the Champions League winner.

Oxlade-Chamberlain could add a host of strengths to Emery’s side, most prominently in being available to replicate the service of club captain John McGinn, to whom he bears similarities.

Like the former Liverpool ace, the Scotsman has the versatility to play anywhere in the midfield, with both talents bringing energy and stability in the middle of the park in their approach to play.

Hailed as “superb” by BBC Sport writer Raj Chohan, the Englishman could add another source of reliability in midfield to that displayed by McGinn, as suggested by their numbers.

Likened to the Villa skipper for his statistics obtained in the 2019/20 Premier League season where he was a regular for the Reds, via FBref, the midfielder showcased strengths in progressive play mirrored by McGinn.

That term, the former Arsenal ace averaged 5.88 progressive passes and 2.91 progressive carries in comparison to the 28-year-old’s 4.68 progressive passes and 1.14 progressive carries per 90 last campaign.

The Englishman also showed strengths in his creative play, averaging 1.03 key passes per 90, highlighting another area in which he could benefit the side.

In signing the free agent, Emery could arm his side with a duplicate of McGinn, who is highly valued at Villa Park.

ScorecardFile photo: Tom Curran delivered a matchwinning final over•Getty Images

Tom Curran kept his head in the final over to carry Surrey to a sensational two-run victory in the opening NatWest T20 Blast game of the season at Chelmsford.With Essex requiring 10 off the last six balls, and six wickets in hand, Curran claimed the key wickets of Ravi Bopara and Ashar Zaidi to claim a memorable victory.Bopara’s dismissal off the second ball of the over ended a 46-ball 75, with five sixes, that looked to have put Essex in the driving seat.Earlier Dominic Sibley thumped four sixes in a swashbuckling 61 that enabled Surrey to post a challenging total of 188 after being put in to bat.However, it had looked as though sixes from successive deliveries bowled by Jade Dernbach in the penultimate over by Bopara – one straight, the other over long leg – meant Essex needed less than two runs a ball from the final over.The first ball went for two, but Tom Curran found the extra pace to beat Bopara from the next. With five required off two balls, Curran added the scalp of Ashar Zaidi, bowled to a full-length ball. The boundary required from the final ball as beyond James Foster.Essex had reached 25 in the third over when Varun Chopra left alone a delivery from Tom Curran that pitched outside off-stump and hit middle and leg.

‘Sibley unbelievable’ – Curran

Tom Curran, Surrey: “That knock from Dom was unbelievable. He’s come in not having played a lot of T20 cricket and he’s made a great stake for a permanent place in the T20 side. I thought he batted beautifully.”

Dan Lawrence, who had hit Sam Curran straight for six, followed soon after when he swished inelegantly at the younger Curran and was caught behind for 13.Tom Westley and Ravi Bopara put on 45 for the third wicket in six overs. But Westley was undone by Scott Borthwick’s first ball, which spun in and bowled him for 23. He had earlier edged Ravi Rampaul for six backward of square and then carted Dominic Sibley over cow corner for a second.Bopara hit Jade Dernbach for a straight six, pulled Rampaul for a second and hooked Borthwick for No3 as Essex accelerated. Rampaul went for 16 from one over, Borthwick for 14 the next as Bopara and ten Doeschate made hay.Bopara scrambled a single into the offside to reach a 43-ball fifty, but the partnership was broken by Sam Curran who trapped ten Doeschate lbw on the front foot. Essex still needed 52 from 26 balls, and 25 from the last two overs.Surrey lost Jason Roy to the fourth ball of the game, lbw to one from Mohammad Amir that swung late, and wickets followed in quick succession throughout, bar a sixth-wicket stand of 55 between Dominic Sibley and Sam Curran.Replacing Amir, two of Paul Walter’s first four deliveries were wayward and signalled as wides, but his third legitimate ball arrowed past Mark Stoneman’s bat and took out middle and leg stumps.Finch had already laid into Jamie Porter with a four through midwicket and a six over long leg off successive balls, and was similarly severe on Ashar Zaidi with a four chipped to deep extra cover followed by another six into the second tier of the stand at long leg.But Zaidi had the last word in his first over, tempting Rory Burns into a reverse sweep and bowling him.Finch reached his fifty from 23 balls with his third six, slogged-pulling Zaidi high over midwicket. But four balls later, in trying to work Bopara down to third man, the Australian top-edged behind for 56.Bopara had a second wicket in his third over when Ollie Pope pulled him to the midwicket boundary where Amir leapt to catch. Surrey had lost half their batting for 86 inside 11 overs.The fifty partnership for the sixth wicket came off 28 balls, before Curran on 25 gave himself room against Walter and lost his leg stump. Sibley lost the other Curran, Tom, to an inswinger from ten Doeschate’s first ball.Sibley reached a valiant half-century from 35 balls with his fourth six, but departed for 61 when he was run out off the last ball. Borthwick had his stumps shattered from a free-hit off Walter, but James Foster had a stump out of the ground before Sibley made his ground.