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Manchester City have now submitted a huge offer for a “spectacular” star, as Pep Guardiola believes he could be the ideal addition to the forward line.

Man City eyeing new forward after victory at Nottingham Forest

Man City maintained the pressure on Arsenal at the top of the Premier League table with a 2-1 victory against Nottingham Forest on Saturday afternoon, and Rayan Cherki put in another impressive performance.

Indeed, the Frenchman assisted Tijjani Reijnders’ opening goal, before going on to score the winner with just seven minutes left of normal time, and Guardiola singled out the 22-year-old for praise after the game.

Phil Foden has also been enjoying a solid campaign, registering seven goals and two assists in the Premier League, while the Blues have held advanced talks over a deal for AFC Bournemouth star Antoine Semenyo, whose £65m release clause expires on January 10th.

However, Man City have now submitted a huge bid for a different forward, according to a report from Spain, which states a €80m (£70m) offer has been tabled for Real Madrid star Rodrygo, as Pep believes the Brazilian would be the ideal addition to his attack.

The Spanish side have rejected the proposal, however, as it was structured as an initial €60m (£52m) payment, with €20m (£17m) in potential add-ons, and they are keen to receive £70m as a fixed sum.

City remain determined to get a move for the Madrid star over the line, but the La Liga side aren’t in a rush to cash-in, so it could be tricky to get a deal done.

Rodrygo could be "spectacular" signing for Man City

Lauded as “spectacular” by former manager Carlo Ancelotti, it is no surprise Man City are so keen on the 24-year-old, who has been in impressive form recently, grabbing two assists in Madrid’s 2-0 victory against Sevilla in La Liga last time out.

The Osasco-born winger also scored in his side’s 2-1 loss against City in the Champions League earlier this season, and he has contributed a whopping 70 goals and 55 assists in 291 outings for the Spanish side.

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Not only that, but the former Santos man is an extremely impressive dribbler of the ball, averaging 5.79 progressive carries per 90 over the past year, and 2.34 successful take-ons, which places him in the 94th and 91st percentiles, when compared to other attacking midfielders and wingers.

Related Pep Guardiola drops 2-word response about Antoine Semenyo joining Man City

The Bournemouth winger is in demand…

Posts 1 ByBen Goodwin

Rodrygo clearly has the talent to succeed at the Etihad Stadium, but it would not be a major blow if City miss out, given that Cherki and Foden have been in such impressive form, while they are also advancing to sign Semenyo, who has scored nine Premier League goals this term.

Scorecard

Gerard Denton finished with the best figures for Victoria © Getty Images

Matthew Wade justified Victoria’s decision to make him their No. 1 wicketkeeper with 83 and four catches on debut as the Bushrangers took control against South Australia. Despite all their off-season batting work the Redbacks showed little improvement from their woeful 2006-07, ending the day at 8 for 162 and trailing by 276.Gerard Denton and Dirk Nannes claimed three wickets each as several Redbacks made starts and failed to go on. Matthew Elliott fared best with 42 but the Borgas brothers’ first Pura Cup match together will be one to forget – Jason edged Denton behind for 1 and Cameron went in the same manner for 0.Mark Cosgrove managed six fours in his 34 before nudging to short leg off Bryce McGain right before tea. A further five wickets fell in the final session and at the close the home side was 127 short of avoiding the follow on, with Cullen Bailey on 18 and Jason Gillespie on 2.South Australia were also disappointing with the ball as they let Victoria’s last two pairs add 118, with Wade the major contributor. He was chosen ahead of Adam Crosthwaite because of his batting skill and although he survived a couple of dropped catches he showed serious potential, striking nine fours and two sixes. Nannes, who made 31 not out, and Peter Siddle (17) were Wade’s tail-end helpers.

Central Districts v Northern Districts
Northern Districts did the unthinkable… again. For the second time in three years they chased down a 400-plus total to beat Central Districts. They did so on the back of an outstanding unbeaten 120 from Daniel Vettori, the New Zealand allrounder.Hamish Marshall also sent an ill-timed reminder to the national selectors about his ability as he notched up his ninth first-class century at Lincoln today. Marshall’s impressive 153 off just 204 balls came too late to bring him into calculations for the first Test against Sri Lanka that starts in Christchurch on December 7.Declaring overnight, Northern had all day to score the runs but once Marshall was dismissed at 240 for 5 few would have given Northern a chance. Enter Vettori. He combined with Joe Yovich (52) to add 99 for the seventh wicket and 74 for the eighth with Peter McGlashan (16).Michael Mason, who was named in the New Zealand squad for the first Test, took 3 for 74 off 25 overs.Central took the two first-innings points to go with their outright victory against Wellington last week.Auckland v Wellington
Rain ruined any chance of an outright result in Christchurch so Auckland used the opportunity for batting practice on the last day after Wellington comfortably took first innings points.When stumps were drawn at tea Tim McIntosh had reached his half century while captain Richard Jones was unbeaten on 47.Earlier Neal Parlane and James Franklin had scored half centuries for Wellington after opener Matthew Bell fell nine runs short of a century.

A superb hundred from Gareth von Hoesslin gave Border the edge over Boland at East London. They closed the day on 248 for 8, a lead of 68, but with much of the first day lost to rain, a draw still looks the likely outcome. Murray Ranger took another three wickets, finishing with 6 for 30 as Boland slumped to 180 after resuming on 149 for 4. Border then suffered an even more dramatic collapse, but from 44 for 6, Gareth von Hoesslin blasted a brilliant 101 not out to turn the match around. He found an ally in debutant Darryl Brown (77), who helped him add 141 for the ninth wicket before Boland declared at stumps.Griqualand West were within sight of victory over Free State thanks to a career-best 6 for 37 by Alan Kruger. Griqualand West had failed to build on a strong overnight position, losing their last seven first-innings wickets for 60, a lead of 47. Free State overcome an uncertain start to reach 108 for 3 before Kruger took six of the last seven wickets to fall. Set a target of 127, Griqualand West need just 54 runs with 7 wickets remaining.A green Newlands pitch was to largely to blame as the match between Eastern and Western Province barely lasted four sessions, Western winning by six wickets before tea on the second day. After 24 wickets fell yesterday, things returned to normality, but the damage had already been done as far as Eastern Province were concerned. Resuming on 115 for 5, they crept to 168, but had no answer to Rory Kleinveldt, who took the last four wickets to fall and finished with 6 for 57, the first five-wicket haul of his career. Set 107 to win, Western Province started cautiously, and although Grant Howell took two wickets, Myles Williamson (35) and Warren Wyngaard (37) ensured their were no further alarms.

Parthiv Patel: caught out?© Getty Images

If international sportsmen are becoming more and more like pop stars, then India’s baby-faced wicketkeeper, Parthiv Patel, might just have taken the comparison one stage further. According to reports in the Indian press, Parthiv, 19, has gone and done a Britney Spears, and got himself accidentally hitched in a marriage ceremony in Rajkot.When Parthiv made his debut in 2002, in the second Test against England at Trent Bridge, he was so fresh-faced that Nasser Hussain patronisingly described him as looking like a 12-year-old. But it would appear that Parthiv has grown up quickly this week, and ever since his alleged marriage to a local girl, Richa Sharma, his home state of Gujarat has reportedly been buzzing.His family is less than convinced at the validity of the claims, however. “Earlier we were concerned,” his uncle, Jagat Patel told The Times of India. “Now we are convinced it’s a joke. Even Parthiv has taken it lightly. We heard him jest with a caller, asking him to show him his ‘wife’.”The girl has been untraceable for four days, since the alleged ceremony took place in a local temple on September 16, and Parthiv’s father, Ajay, is considering lodging a police complaint. “The signature on the document is not that of Parthiv,” he said, adding that his son’s age had wrongly been given as 24. “We are consulting lawyers and will soon decide on filing a complaint.”

Phil Ransley hit a boundary off the last ball to give improving Burridge a thrilling four-wicket win over Southern Electric Premier League, Division 2 rivals Lymington at the Sports Ground.Zimbabwe one-day international medium-pace bowler Gary Brent made his Burridge comeback, but played only a minor role, taking a modest 1-41 off 12 overs and being bowled for 8 by Mike West, who celebrated his first `international’ wicket.Lymington did well to take the match to its last ball as Burridge openers Dave Jackson (97) and Paul Friedrick (53) threatened to overhaul a 208-8 target on their own.Burridge lost five wickets, including that of Brent, before Eugene Burzler began the decisive last over, from which the visitors needed five runs for victory.They suffered a run out off the first ball and scored only one run off the next four deliveries – before Phil Ransley immaculately drove the last ball of the day for four !Lymington, who have lost five of their last six matches, were well served by Ian Young (54), while Ben Craft (28), Glyn Treagus (25), little Matt Malloy (28) and Burzler (22) all made starts before getting out.St Cross Symondians remain 15 points ahead at the top of SPL2 after beating Sparsholt by five wickets at the Norman Edwards Ground.Stuart Charman (5-27) and Richard Boote (2-21) destroyed Sparsholt’s top order, with Ian Stuart (22) providing the only real resistance in a disappointing 99 all out.But St Cross, who host Easton & Martyr Worthy at the Royal Green Jackets ground on Saturday, lost five wickets – three of them to Jez Lawson (3-43) – before Marc Rees guided them through a middle-order collapse.Easton’s top order folded – they were 69-5 at one stage – before Steve Green (36), Francis Gill (28) and Andy Birch (30) got to grips with things against Old Tauntonians & Romsey.Raj Naik, Jeremy Ord (2-25) and Mukesh Morjaria put the screws on Easton before a breezy 32 from Ben Collins lifted the total on to 182-9.OT’s experienced few problems in polishing off the runs – Charles Forward (53), Naik (46) and Jodey Brown being assisted by some errant Easton bowling, which cost 35 wides.Former Hampshire wicketkeeper Ayrian Aymes hit 88 and in-form Paul Edwards an unbeaten 53 as Hursley Park cruised to a seven-wicket win over relegation-bound Purbrook at The Quarters.Only Mike Hennesy (37) and Will Prozesky (31) put up much resistance as Ross Cambray (5-45) and Jez Edmunds (2-36) nailed Purbrook to 186-9.It’s looking odds-on Gosport Borough will accompany Purbrook back to Division 3.Adam Watkins (52) helped Gosport to 103-2, but a middle-order collapse, prompted by Keith Adams (4-43) – saw the Borough plunge to 127-8 before a century stand between Pete Robson (38) and Richard Edwards (45) swelled the total to 227-9.Gary Hounsome (47) and Tom Clarke (35) pointed US to victory, but it needed the experience of Paul Barsby (42) to guide them past the winning post.

Australia’s position of dominance in the second Test with New Zealand at Hobart has been a little undermined by the weather and has the media pundits wondering if another declaration-decided Test might be on the cards.The Sun Herald: “[Shane] Warne’s first ball was full and clipped hard into short leg’s leg in a rare display of aggression from Matthew Bell. His next offering was swept from glove on to pad and through to Adam Gilchrist.”Bell, whose stance during the first Test in Brisbane was odd enough, has reverted to what is perhaps the most unorthodox set-up in the game. Starting well outside leg stump with his back leg staggered like that of a distance runner at the starting line, he takes three distinct steps across the crease as the bowler approaches. His captain conceded last week he was ‘probably a little fragile’, adding that ‘if you’re a little bit different you’re going to get attention’.”Bell got plenty of it yesterday before umpire John Smeaton, standing in for the injured Steve Davis, raised his finger and ended the misery.”Bell, who faced a painful 33 balls before scoring, has made six, five and four in the series. Unless something changes soon, it’s not only his figures that will be fading away.”The Age: “Steve Waugh’s relentless Australian team insists there is still time to pluck a victory over New Zealand from the waters of Bellerive Oval despite another rain-marred day in the second Test yesterday.”Only 35 overs were possible yesterday – just one more than on Friday – with NZ moving to 2/71 in its first innings.”But the speed with which Australia reached its imposing first innings score of 8/558 declared from only 124 overs has left it confident of achieving a win to make up for the draw in the first Test in Brisbane, when rain also intervened.”‘There are plenty of opportunities for the game to be won from our point of view,’ said Australian coach John Buchanan.”However, Australia’s chances depend on some finer weather reaching Hobart, and showers are forecast for the last two days.”The Sunday Telegraph: “In the first Test at the Gabba, half of which was lost to rain, Australian skipper Steve Waugh set up a thrilling final day by declaring and asking New Zealand to score 284 off 57 overs for victory.”The tourists went within 10 runs of the target with four wickets in hand.”Afterwards Waugh and [Stephen] Fleming said they would be prepared to throw their chips on the table if the same scenario arose again.”With about five hours already lost in this Test, the two captains are again under pressure to go for broke in a three-match series which already has taken a financial battering from the weather.”Interestingly, both said they were prepared to roll the dice after the exciting finish in Brisbane two weeks ago.”NZPA: “Black Caps skipper Stephen Fleming says the current second test against Australia is unlikely to produce a nail-biting finish.”There will be no repeat of the declarations that led to the first test’s thrilling finale, he says.”Fleming said there was virtually no chance of he and opposite Steve Waugh setting up a run chase on the final day.”Saving the game was the only realistic target for New Zealand.”‘It’s probably getting that way,’ he said.”‘There’s more showers predicted for the next couple of days and they’ve got far too many runs on the board to harbour any thoughts like we did in Brisbane.'”

Tottenham Hotspur will keep faith and not look to sell defender Japhet Tanganga after he suffered a season-ending injury, claims Football Insider’s Spurs pundit John Wenham.

The Lowdown: Tanganga’s injury

During the Lilywhites’ 2-0 loss to Chelsea back in January, the 22-year-old’s game came to a premature end as he sustained a knee injury which saw to his substitution in the 56th minute. As a result, the defender has been sidelined ever since, and has missed Tottenham’s last 11 games.

On Friday (18 March), the north London club announced that Tanganga had undergone surgery on his knee, meaning that he will be out of action for the rest of the season.

[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: Wenham’s claim

Wenham, an ‘expert’ at the club according to Football Insider, has insisted that Tanganga will remain as a long-term prospect for the club.

Speaking with FI, he said: “The news is devastating for him but Tanganga is still under contract until 2025.

“He counts as homegrown and club affiliated. For me, there’s definitely zero chance of Tottenham moving him on.

“He is valuable. He can come in at centre-half as part of a three or at right wing-back.

“There are a lot of players who you would look to get rid of ahead of him.

“He’s on relatively low wages too. He has also made 19 appearances this season which is 18 more than Joe Rodon.

“If you are talking about players who can be moved on, that’s all you need to say.

“It’s a shame he’s injured but we have plenty of cover at the moment.

“If there was any time for him to get injured, it would be now because we actually have a bit of depth.”

The Verdict: Useful to Spurs

At just 22 years old, Tanganga potentially has a whole decade remaining in the top-flight if he can continue to develop and fulfil his potential, so it would be silly to cut him loose.

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Hailed as “special”  by Gary Neville, he can hopefully get a clean slate after his surgery in the knowledge that he still has a future in north London when totally fit.

With the ability to play either centre-back or as a full-back, the Englishman could prove to be an extremely useful asset to manager Antonio Conte, who usually likes to utilise three central defenders alongside wing-backs.

Therefore, whilst this injury will come as a major blow for the player, his place in the Tottenham squad should be safe.

In other news: Tottenham Hotspur: Fabio Paratici linked with Paulo Dybala move

ScorecardChristian Leopard raced to an unbeaten half-century to lead New Zealand Under-19s to a four-wicket victory over Australia Under-19s in a tri-nation one-day tournament in Dubai. In a low-scoring game, he came in at No. 8 and struck 50 off 42 balls with six fours and three sixes to complete a rather tense chase.Australia’s bowlers, led by offspinner Arjun Nair’s three wickets, were doing their best to complicate a chase of 170 and had dragged New Zealand from 82 for 2 to 82 for 3, 82 for 4, 82 for 5 and finally 102 for 6 when Leopard walked in. He strung a steadying 71-run seventh-wicket stand with Finn Allen and took his team past the finish line. The winning runs – secured with the help of a four to long-off – also took Leopard, who was one of 10 debutants in the New Zealand side, to his fifty.The accolades until then had belong to the New Zealand bowlers after they had opted to field. Nathan Smith struck in the first over and Australia had slipped and slid to 115 for 5 in the 22nd over with their top-scorer Patrick Page (44 off 55 balls) back in the pavilion. Wicketkeeper Brooke Guest attempted to rally the tail around him but Australia got to 142 for 6 and were all out 27 runs later. All but one of the six bowlers New Zealand used picked up wickets, with left-arm seamer Ross ter Braak picking up 3 for 23 and left-arm spinner Rachin Ravindra chipping in with 2 for 19.

Ryan Butterworth, now playing for Mashonaland, was one of the leading students at the CFX Academy for 2001 and the only one to score a century in the Logan Cup that season. Although he was never selected for one of the national age-group teams at cricket, his performances for Old Hararians in the national first league club championship probably won him a place at the Academy.His club plays him as an opening batsman, as did the Academy for a while, although he would prefer to bat at number four if given the choice. He sees himself as an all-rounder, though, bowling medium-paced seamers ("I just try and move the ball around as much as I can") and also keeping wicket at times.Ryan comes from a sporting family, although cricket was not the most prominent. His father played at school, but not as an adult, but has always given Ryan the utmost encouragement. When he was very young, Ryan used to play cricket along with other sports in the family garden at home, along with his twin brother Brendan, who is less inclined towards sport and gave up cricket after junior school. He attended Gateway Primary School in Harare and his natural sporting ability came to the fore, as he was a leading member of the school cricket team throughout his years there, usually as captain. His best performance there was 96 not out against Eaglesvale School while in the colts team, and against the same opposition he took eight wickets in an innings in another match. He was selected to captain the Harare Schools B team in the national primary schools week of 1993.He progressed to Prince Edward High School, and with his natural leadership qualities continued to captain teams throughout his career. At that stage cricket was not his primary sport as he was more inclined towards swimming and triathlon, but the personal interest of headmaster Clive Barnes did much to encourage him. "He used to come around and watch when I was captain of the A side; he came and spoke to me a bit and taught me a bit," says Ryan. "Then I went on to the first team, with George Lee-Bell as coach."Ryan was in the first team for four years, his best performance being 133 against Peterhouse during 2000, his only century for the school, although he scored several fifties and took a couple of five-wicket hauls. During the first couple of years in the team he kept wicket, and then, after the departure of a strong bowling side led by David Mutendera, he found himself taking the new ball. He attended Mashonaland and national trials at Under-15 and Under-19 levels without gaining final selection. He particularly enjoyed his matches against St George’s College and Peterhouse, as he had some friends there and they responded to the challenge of playing each other.He joined Old Hararians Sports Club, the Old Boys club of Prince Edward School, and for the last three seasons has opened the batting for them. National umpire Russell Tiffin, an Old Hararians man, came round to the school to speak to the team, as a result of which Ryan joined up. He pays tribute to the great support and help he has received from club captain Trevor Penney. He scored about six centuries for the Old Hararians second team, but has yet to break that barrier in the first league.Ryan played a season of winter league cricket for Mvurwi, for whom he scored several fifties. He also came under the influence of former national batsman Andy Waller when he took an `O-level’ break, working on his farm in that area to gain come farming experience, as he was thinking at that time of taking up a career in farming.Ryan’s most celebrated innings before his century for the Academy was his 33 in the final of the national club first league knockout competition, for Old Hararians of Queens Sports Club in Bulawayo in 2000/01. Conditions were damp and difficult, and Ryan’s determination, top score for his side, did much to give his team a competitive total and bring about an eventual victory."I opened with Conan Brewer, and Pommie Mbangwa and John Rennie opened the bowling," he said. "The ball was seaming around like I’d never seen it before on the Sports Club Test wicket. It was very hard early on. The rain came and we had a break; we went back on and it was still seaming. As the ball got a bit older it started swinging, and John Rennie was swinging it plenty. I played a stupid shot to get out, two balls before drinks. My game plan was just to see out Pommie and John Rennie, and when the new bowlers came on to attack them. It worked to an extent."Playing for the Academy, often as wicket-keeper, he struggled in the early matches but then took full advantage of a good pitch at Queens Sports Club in Bulawayo to hit an aggressive century in the final Logan Cup match of the season. Later in the year he played against the touring Indian and West Indian teams. "Opening the batting against the West Indies and Bangladesh in the one-day games was great," he said. "Pity I never scored any runs!"About his year at the Academy, Ryan says, "I’ve learned to concentrate more. Patience is a virtue and you need to work hard at it to get where you want to go."He successfully applied to stay in Mashonaland after his year at the Academy was over. "It’s quite a challenge in Mashonaland and that’s what I like," he said. "I had a good club season after the Academy, averaging about 46. I got 97 not out and 86 not out, and four or five fifties. In Logan Cup it’s been thirties and forties every innings!"He plans to spend the 2002 season playing for Wolverton at Milton Keynes in England before returning to Mashonaland to fulfill the third year of his contract with ZCU.Ryan is an aggressive batsman, his favourite strokes being the cover drive and the pull and hook. He feels he is better suited to the middle order in the longer version of the game but is happy to open in one-day cricket. He admits to the tendency of losing his concentration once he gets to the twenties or thirties, and the need to carry on to a big score. He is an excellent all-round fielder and enjoys that area of the game.He is most grateful to coaches Dave Houghton and Gwynne Jones for their work at the Academy. "I think it’s going to do very well for Zimbabwe cricket, with all the youngsters coming through."Cricket heroes: "Daryl Cullinan is one of them, definitely, and Viv Richards. And now Trevor Penney, who has also been a great help to me."Toughest opponents: "I think among bowlers it’s got to be Campbell Macmillan. Every time I face him he gets me with a ball that does the wrong thing! Reon King is definitely the fastest I’ve ever faced – and Travis Friend – but I’ve faced Campbell more often and he’s troubled me a lot."Immediate ambitions: "At the moment it’s the Zimbabwe A side next year, and hopefully from there I’ll go bigger."Proudest achievement so far: "My 133 against Peterhouse for Prince Edward."Best friends in cricket: "Conan Brewer – I’ve been with him for the last three years opening for the PE first team. I hope he’s coming to join the Academy next year; he’s one more year of school. I’ve made many friends in cricket and I really enjoy all the guys at the Academy."Other sports: "Rugby for Prince Edward first team; in triathlon I represented Zimbabwe; tennis and swimming. I still play social tennis and I’ve just stopped rugby because of the Academy. I have no time for triathlon any more."Outside interests: "Nothing – just cricket!"Dave Houghton says: "Ryan is quite a good strokeplayer and a good fielder as well. He tends to get out a lot in the thirties and forties. He played quite a crucial role with his innings of 33 to help Old Hararians win the national league last Sunday – but again got out in the thirties, so we have some work to do encouraging him to compile big scores rather than just getting good starts."