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Hearts will be hoping the Steven Naismith era will enable the club to reach the next level and perhaps even lift a trophy, with, aside from two Championship titles, the 2012 Scottish Cup remaining their last major trophy win.

He will have the entirety of the summer transfer window to sign players and vastly improve his squad, and with the qualifying stages of the Europa Conference League fast approaching, the 36-year-old may have to start his business sooner rather than later, especially if he wants the Tynecastle outfit to repeat their group stage heroics last term.

There is a good core to the Hearts side, with a reliable goalkeeper in Zander Clark, talents such as Toby Sibbick and Barrie McKay across the defence and midfield, while striker Lawrence Shankland scored 28 goals last season remarkably.

One player that will be hoping to have a more productive season in 2023/24 will be defensive midfielder Peter Haring, who saw his playing time last term limited due to suffering a concussion and missing 26 games across all competitions.

Will Peter Haring be a key player for Hearts next season?

The 30-year-old joined the Jambos back in 2018 and has since gone on to play over 100 games for the club, helping them reach three Scottish Cup finals during that time period, albeit losing each one.

During 2021/22, he showed his importance to the team by ranking in the top ten out of the whole squad for tackles (1.5), interceptions (0.7), clearances (1.2) and key passes per game (0.7), indicating that he was a vital member of the first team as they finished third in the Premiership.

Due to the aforementioned injury problems, he started just 15 matches last term which affected his performances as he achieved a Sofascore rating of 6.72/10, creating zero big chances and making only 0.4 key passes per game as he averaged 60 minutes a match.

Naismith will be hoping to get him back to his best following a full pre-season, and he lauded the 30-year-old as he signed an extended contract with the Edinburgh side.

He said: “Having played alongside Pete I know all about his strengths and qualities so it’s great news for the club that he’s going to be here next season. He was a big miss to the team when he was out injured but he’s come back and made an impact because he’s influential both on and off the pitch."

These words will surely give him a confidence boost and there is no denying how effective he can be in the midfield when fully fit. That is something Naismith will be counting on when the 2023/24 campaign kicks off in a matter of weeks.

Glasgow Rangers have made a flying start to their 2023/24 preparations, signing Kieran Dowell and Dujon Sterling ahead of the summer transfer window opening, and there could be much more arrivals in the coming weeks.

Michael Beale looks set to have a busy pre-season and with several players departing the Ibrox side due to their contracts expiring, the supporters will be expecting high quality replacements.

However, in order to fund such signings, Beale may have to move on a few players who are still under contract. The likes of Scott Wright and Jon McLaughlin are obvious names who could make way for fresh faces, while another name should also be sold – Glen Kamara.

Indeed, even the manager thinks he could potentially be on the move, saying: “He is either going to be here for a considerable future or we will probably sell him this summer. When I came in he had an ankle problem he couldn’t get over. We kicked the operation into touch because we had a lot of injuries and Glen played through that for a period, then we gave him a chance to settle. He has not got back in the team because the boys that are playing have played very well.

“For Glen, everything is open really. But I think he needs to look at the competition that’s here in pre-season and decide whether there is going to be enough football for him.”

Will Glen Kamara leave Rangers this summer?

The £21k-per-week midfielder, once on the books at Premier League runners-up Arsenal, has found opportunities hard to come by under Beale since he arrived at the club in November, starting just 11 matches in total, and he has struggled to replicate his form from when Steven Gerrard was the manager.

During the 2021/2022 campaign, Kamara ranked fourth in the squad for passes per game (60.6), eight for key passes per game (1.3) and for interceptions per game (0.7), indicating he was one of the better members of the squad across these metrics, however, last season, he struggled, especially in the Champions League.

The step-up in class during Europe’s premier competition clearly fazed the midfielder as he only managed a Sofascore rating of 5.9/10 across four matches, averaging just 15 touches per game and winning just 25% of his total duels.

He was even dubbed “terrible” by Joshua Barrie in April 2022, and he just hasn’t quite looked himself this term.

Ligue 1 outfit Nice were credited with interest in him during the summer of 2022, however, the £10m fee quoted may have dropped significantly since, and this looks like a missed opportunity by the club.

His time at the Gers appears to be coming to an end and even though he was a key player previously, the Finland international has slipped down the pecking order and may not wear the jersey again.

Kent were level with Essex at the top of Division Two for a few heady hours before a thumping innings win for Essex against Worcestershire reasserted the superiority of the long-time leaders

Vithushan Ehantharajah at Chelmsford02-Sep-2016
ScorecardTom Westley picked up a couple of wickets after scoring a career-best 254•Getty Images

“I’d be lying if I said I weren’t checking the scores,” admitted Essex’s head coach Chris Silverwood.Every interval – virtually every moment of peace – at Chelmsford over the last three days had been broken by an update of scores from around the country, both in the stands and the players’ balcony.News of Kent’s emphatic victory over Sussex, taking them level on points with Essex at the top of Division Two, filtered through as the players were walking off the field for tea. Just over an hour later, Essex had completed their demolition job of Worcestershire. This victory by an innings and 161 runs will have registered down the road in Kent, too.A three-day finish was on the cards when Worcestershire were reduced to 64 for 5 by lunch, in their first innings on day one. That Essex were able to fulfil expectations was ultimately down to Graham Napier, who picked up his fourth five-wicket haul of the season, after Ryan ten Doeschate had brought up his third century of the season before declaring 371 runs ahead.It was not the cleanest morning’s work from Essex. They lost Tom Westley run out for 254: his innings ended at 506 minutes after ten Doeschate dropped the ball into the off side and ran instantly. Westley gave up the run about halfway down, as Brett D’Oliveira swooped from point to throw down the stumps.Still, the Essex skipper remained calm and brought up his century from 114 balls. His innings also took his season’s tally past 1,000 first-class runs for the first time in his career.Essex should have struck in the first over of Worcestershire’s second innings. Jamie Porter got his fourth delivery to lift off a length and take Daryl Mitchell’s edge, only for Nick Browne to put down a simple catch at third slip. Browne would make amends later with a stunning one-handed catch at point, off the bowling of Will Rhodes, to remove Tom Fell.Mitchell’s reprieve allowed him and D’Oliveira to survive until the last over before lunch. It was then that David Masters, in his first over from the Hayes Close end, where he nabbed all seven of his first innings wickets, sent Mitchell on his way with a delivery that kept low as it moved in, knocking into middle and off stump.With the fourth ball after lunch, D’Oliveira was accounted for – becoming the first of Napier’s three afternoon-session wickets when he edged through to James Foster. The second came when Joe Clarke played on, looking to continue on an enterprising innings that was cut short at 22.At this point, George Rhodes, the only bright spot for Worcestershire at Chelmsford, seemed to be on his way to a second half-century in the match.It was at this point that ten Doeschate decided to throw the ball to Westley. Despite the change in regulation, spin has played little part at Chelmsford. In fact, Westley’s first over, the 39th of the second innings, was the first sight of spin from the hosts. It took just four balls to come good, as Ross Whiteley was trapped in front from around the wicket. In Westley’s next over, he drew Rhodes out of his crease to give James Foster his first Championship stumping of the season. The wicket of Leach, bowled by a full Napier delivery that moved late into the right-hander, took the teams to tea.There was a carnival feel to the evening session, as the floodlights were superseded by the sun, which found a gap in the clouds as Essex pushed for a day off. Ed Barnard, caught by Westley at second slip off Napier and then Ben Cox, flicking Masters tamely to Jamie Porter at mid on, gave Napier four in the innings and Masters nine in the match (he had never taken 10). And so the game within a game began – who would get the final wicket? In the end, it went Napier’s way, as Jack Shantry, having stroked a couple of boundaries, offered a high leading edge that ten Doeschate caught brilliantly, sprinting in from mid off.Essex now have a round off, while Kent host a revitalised Northamptonshire at Beckenham. In the meantime, the Essex players will be given some time off before they return to Chelmsford on September 12 to play Glamorgan, before a potential winner-takes-all clash with Kent at Canterbury in the final round of the season.Essex will play their remaining two matches without Alastair Cook, hence the acquisition of Adam Wheater on loan. With Hampshire happy for the wicketkeeper batsman to court opportunities elsewhere ahead of next season, Essex are thought to be interested in bringing him back to the club he left in 2013 on a more permanent basis. Silverwood, though, was keen not to comment on the matter just yet.

Middlesex will begin the final day against Warwickshire at Edgbaston needing seven wickets to take a huge stride towards lifting their first Championship title for 23 years

ECB Reporters Network02-Sep-2016Warwickshire 172 and 74 for 3 need a further 264 to beat Middlesex 242 and 267 for 7 dec (Robson 74, Eskinazi 53)
ScorecardSteve Eskinazi dug in for a half-century as Middlesex set Warwickshire 338 to win•Getty Images

Middlesex will begin the final day against Warwickshire at Edgbaston needing seven wickets to take a huge stride towards lifting their first Championship title for 23 years.While nearest challengers Yorkshire were held up by the weather in Southampton, up in Birmingham Middlesex advanced to a position from which they would be devastated not to close out victory. Warwickshire closed the third day on 74 for 3 in pursuit of the target of 338 set by the Division One leaders when they declared their second innings at 267 for 7 at tea.Half-centuries from Sam Robson and Stevie Eskinazi underpinned Middlesex’s batting, which was largely unhurried despite the possibility of rain taking time out of the final day.They have backed their bowlers to feed again upon the fragility evident in Warwickshire’s first-innings batting when their last eight wickets disappeared for 50 runs. Those bowlers duly removed the top three – Varun Chopra, Ian Westwood and Jonathan Trott – before the close to leave Warwickshire requiring a massive salvage operation in which they will look to captain Ian Bell, unbeaten on 12 overnight, for the backbone.Resuming on the third morning on 61 without loss, Middlesex lost two quick wickets as Nick Gubbins (46) fell lbw to Jeetan Patel and Nick Compton’s middle-stump was plucked out by Keith Barker. Dawid Malan edged Patel to wicketkeeper Alex Mellor but Robson and Eskinazi batted in measured fashion to add 97 in 33.4 overs before, with tea looming, a belated attempt to increase the tempo brought a flurry of wickets for the spinners.Robson swept Patel to deep square-leg and Eskinazi was bowled by Josh Poysden, who also castled Toby Roland-Jones and had James Franklin caught at deep gully. The young legspinner finished with 3 for 80 for match-figures of 8 for 133.Chasing 338 in a day and a session, Warwickshire soon lost Chopra who edged Roland-Jones to Robson at slip. On a used pitch which has assisted spinners throughout, the slower bowlers were soon operating and both quickly struck. Ravi Patel’s 19th ball trapped Trott lbw and Rayner won a leg-before against Westwood to acquire his sixth wicket of the match.Bell and nightwatchman Chris Wright saw it through to the close but Middlesex left the field knowing they have done most of the hard work towards a huge victory.

Andrew Poynter, the Ireland batsman, has announced his retirement from international and inter-provincial cricket at the age of 29

ESPNcricinfo staff03-Jun-2016Andrew Poynter, the Ireland batsman, has announced his retirement from international and inter-provincial cricket at the age of 29. He had been part of Ireland’s T20 squad at the World T20 in March, but had not played ODIs since September 2014.Poynter played 19 ODIs and 19 T20Is in an international career that began in 2008. He scored a combined 474 runs and three half-centuries, averaging 19.61 in ODIs and 19.90 in T20Is. He featured in two World T20s, with his brother Stuart, a wicketkeeper-batsman, also part of Ireland’s squad in the 2016 edition.”I have always found it tough to manage an international and inter-provincial cricket career whilst having to juggle running my own business, AP Sports,” Poynter said. “I’m head of youth coaching at Clontarf CC and have other coaching roles as well as a young family.”I feel that I can still perform at inter-provincial level and scored runs this season, but I do not want to stand in someone’s way who has a dream of playing for Leinster Lightning and Ireland.”I am looking forward to developing my coaching career – I have nearly finished my level three award and [am] keen to move to level four in the near future. But most of all spending more time with my family with a bit less stress.”I am so proud of my achievements in an Irish jersey, especially captaining my country and playing in two World Cups. I’ll miss the green jersey but this is the right decision for me. I’d like to thank all involved in giving me the opportunity to pursue my dream.”

New Zealand opener Martin Guptill will captain Guyana Amazon Warriors for the 2016 edition of the Caribbean Premier League, taking over the duties from Denesh Ramdin

ESPNcricinfo staff12-Apr-2016New Zealand opener Martin Guptill will captain Guyana Amazon Warriors for the 2016 edition of the Caribbean Premier League, taking over the duties from Denesh Ramdin.Guptill was a part of the Guyana franchise in 2013 and 2014, before moving to St Kitts & Nevis Patriots for the 2015 season. In the 2016 CPL player draft, he was once again picked up by Warriors for USD $130,000, becoming one of the six designated marquee players in the league. Overall, Guptill has scored 821 runs from 28 CPL matches at 35.69.”It is a huge thrill and great honour for me,” Guptill said. “I am really excited about working with a talented crop of emerging local and international talent and we will be working hard to try and be consistent and go one step further and clinch the title which has eluded the Warriors on two occasions.” Warriors made the final of the tournament in 2013 and 2014, but lost on both occasions, to Jamaica Tallawahs and Barbados Tridents.Guptill, who is ranked third in the ICC’s T20 batting list, will be joined by Sohail Tanvir, Dwayne Smith, Chris Lynn and Adam Zampa in Warriors’ squad. The team will play the opening game of the tournament, against Patriots, on June 30.

Chelsea have identified Brighton & Hove Albion midfielder Moises Caicedo as a summer transfer target, according to a new report.

The Lowdown: Missed out in January

At one stage in the January transfer window, Caicedo was believed to be ‘extremely keen’ to join Chelsea, however Brighton priced the midfielder out of a move, demanding £90m to let him leave.

The Blues eventually settled on signing Enzo Fernandez for £106.8m on deadline day, however with Mason Mount’s future at the club in doubt, Graham Potter may need to once again strengthen the midfield area in the summer.

The Latest: Caicedo shortlisted

According to a report from Football Insider, Chelsea have shortlisted four midfield targets for the next window, with the Brighton ace named alongside the likes of Jude Bellingham, Declan Rice and Frenkie de Jong.

The Blues may find it hard to sign the Ecuadorian, however, given that he has recently signed a new long-term contract with his current club, and so it would be a major deal for this one to happen.

The Verdict: Get it done?

While it may be a very difficult task to prise the central midfielder away from Brighton, Chelsea should still test the waters in the summer transfer window, as he would be an excellent addition to the squad.

Hailed as ‘fantastic’ by football scout Jacek Kulig, who has also likened him to Steven Gerrard, the 21-year-old particularly specialises in winning the ball back, ranked third in the entire Premier League for tackles completed so far this season.

Not only that, but the starlet ranks in the 87th percentile for interceptions and the 86th for his pass completion rate per 90 in the past year, highlighting his defensive aptitude, as well as his ability in possession.

Chelsea may find it difficult to tempt the likes of Bellingham and Rice without Champions League football, and so Caicedo could be a fantastic alternative for Potter.

Armed robbers raided Newlands on Friday, smashing the glass doors of multiple suites at the Cape Town stadium and making away with TVs, liquor and other items. This was the third time since 2015 that the ground had been hit by robbers, according to a Western Province Cricket Association (WPCA) release.The raid began shortly after midnight, according to the WPCA, when a woman approached security personnel at Gate A and asked for directions to a nearby church. She returned five minutes later, only this time she was joined by three accomplices who jumped the fences, apart from “more than 15 other men”, some of whom had guns. They forced the security officials to provide them keys to the Presidential Suite.The raid lasted less than an hour, and ended with the robbers making away with the stolen goods in three vehicles.”The South African Police Services are busy with an extensive investigation into the event and we will also reassess our security measures, including the possibility of having more cameras installed,” the WPCA statement said.”As an Association we are disturbed by the robbery and will do our utmost with the help of the South African Police Services to get to the bottom of this and try and prevent a reoccurrence of this type of incident. We will seriously look within our budgetary constraints to improve our security situation at the stadium.”Whilst it is truly appalling for this type of robbery to take place at our iconic cricket stadium where we have enjoyed some wonderful memories this past season, we are thankful that the security guard caught up in this crime was unharmed. He has been offered the necessary counselling in order to help him recover from this ordeal.”

Jurgen Klopp has caused a mass exodus at Liverpool, with his announcement triggering the exit of his staff and sporting director Jorg Schmadtke.

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Klopp to leave Anfield in the summerAssistant Lijnders & sporting director Schmadtke follow himReds will see a complete overhaul in backroom staffWHAT HAPPENED?

The Reds are looking forward to a total backroom revamp this calendar year as it was confirmed Schmadtke will exit the Anfield offices after the January transfer window. Hired on a short-term contract in June 2023, Schmadtke took charge after the departure of Julian Ward, who had replaced Michael Edwards a year before.

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Schmadtke was a crucial figure in Liverpool's midfield restructuring plans which saw an influx of several players like Dominik Szoboszlai, Wataru Endo, Ryan Gravenberch, and Alexis Mac Allister. The Reds have made a seamless transition with these new signings after replacing veterans Fabinho, James Milner and Jordan Henderson, alongside other stars Naby Keita and Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain.

WHAT SCHMADTKE SAID

In a press release, Schmadtke was quoted saying: "Liverpool is a very special club so to have had the opportunity to work here has been a huge honour for me, even though I knew from the outset that it would only be for a short period. I would like to thank everyone – the owners, manager, staff, players and fans — for the support I have been given and offer my best wishes for the rest of this season.”

Mike Gordon, president of Liverpool owners Fenway Sports Group, said: “We would like to place on record our gratitude to Jorg for the important role he has played since joining Liverpool last summer. He has made a valuable contribution, both in terms of the support he provided to Jurgen Klopp and the assistance and guidance given to our outstanding football operations department. As well as departing with our appreciation for his efforts, we would also like to take this opportunity to offer Jorg and his family our very best wishes for the future.”

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Apart from Schmadtke, Pepijn Lijnders and Peter Krawietz – who were assistants to Klopp – along with elite development coach Vitor Matos, will also leave the Merseyside club in the summer.

Lijnders was widely touted to be the potential successor to Klopp, meaning the Dutch tactician may now venture into an individual management journey after honing his skills under one of the elite managers in the world for many years.

Liverpool goalkeeper Alisson has been linked with a shock move away from Anfield this summer and now a fresh update has emerged regarding his future.

Will Alisson leave Liverpool?

The 30-year-old has been a sensational signing for the Reds ever since arriving from Roma in the summer of 2018, becoming arguably the best player in the world in his position in the process.

Alisson has been a colossal figure between the sticks, making an enormous difference and playing such a key role in Liverpool becoming one of Europe's leading sides under Jurgen Klopp, winning the Premier League and Champions League along the way, as well as numerous other trophies.

Read the latest Liverpool transfer news HERE…

While the Brazilian is contracted at Anfield until the summer of 2027, worrying reports have emerged regarding a potential move to Saudi Arabia in the coming weeks, joining the likes of Roberto Firmino, Sadio Mane, Fabinho and Jordan Henderson there in the process.

Fortunately, a new claim has now emerged that allays those fears, during a summer that is threatening to go wrong for Liverpool, particularly in the midfield department.

What's the latest on Alisson's Liverpool future?

According to reliable journalist David Lynch for This Is Anfield, a summer move isn't on the cards for Alisson, despite rumours suggesting otherwise:

"Liverpool goalkeeper Alisson Becker has not been the subject of an approach from Saudi Arabia, despite some reporting of such on Tuesday.

"However, This Is Anfield can confirm that no such approach has been made to Liverpool, and even if one was the club would swiftly reject it. Indeed, the Reds’ No.1 is happy on Merseyside, where he has a contract until 2027."

Frankly, the thought of Liverpool losing Alisson at any point in the near future is a horrifying one for supporters, with the Brazilian superstar arguably the first name on Klopp's team sheet these days, bailing his side out so often in one-on-one situations and winning the club's Player of the Season award last season.

At 30, he still has so many years remaining at the very top level, and if the Reds are to have any chance of mounting a Premier League title challenge this season, he has to be fit for almost every game. James Milner has rightly hailed Alisson as a "world-class" player in the past and to see him depart for Saudi Arabia at the peak of his powers would be a depressing sight.

This update is, therefore, a hugely positive one for anyone of a Liverpool persuasion, suggesting that he is perfectly happy on Merseyside for the foreseeable future, continuing to play a massive role in any success his team achieves.

The hope is that Alisson remains at Anfield beyond 2027, at which point he will still only be 34 when his contract expires, which can still easily be in and around prime age for a goalkeeper in the modern game. His importance cannot be downplayed and that isn't going to change at any point in the near future.