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Liverpool were considering a move for another big money midfielder over the summer, and whilst a deal failed to come to fruition, a reliable journalist has delivered an update on the chances of a deal taking place in 2024.

How have Liverpool started the season?

In the Premier League, Jurgen Klopp’s side have made a fantastic start to the new campaign, winning five and drawing one of their opening six games, meaning that they find themselves second in the table having taken 16 points from a possible 18, as per the division’s official website.

Over the summer, FSG secured four fresh faces in the form of Alexis Mac Allister, Dominik Szoboszlai, Wataru Endo and Ryan Gravenberch, but they weren’t the only four midfielders to have been highlighted as targets by the outfit on Merseyside.

At St. James’ Park, Bruno Guimaraes emerged as a serious player of interest to the Reds alongside the likes of Manchester City, Chelsea and Real Madrid, but he remained in the northeast beyond deadline day and is set to commit his future to the club.

The Brazil international has reportedly agreed to sign a new contract that will keep him with Eddie Howe’s side until at least 2028, but with that deal including a £100m release clause, the 25-year-old has almost left himself open to a potential exit in the future.

Is Bruno Guimaraes going to Liverpool?

Writing in his column for CaughtOffside, Fabrizio Romano confirmed that Liverpool do still hold an admiration for Guimaraes, especially those close to the manager, but the hierarchy aren't currently considering a move in the new year as a result of their summer business.

“Some fans have also been asking me about Bruno and Liverpool transfer rumours, but they are very happy with the midfield they have. I can say, though, that those around Jurgen Klopp rate Bruno Guimaraes really highly and he’s always been super appreciated by people at Liverpool. There’s nothing else to mention at the moment.”

Is Bruno Guimaraes a defensive midfielder?

Liverpool will know that Guimaraes is naturally a tenacious midfielder which is proven by him making 11 tackles so far this season, the joint second-highest throughout his squad at Newcastle, but with his ability to play slightly further up in the centre of the park, he can also operate in a more advanced role.

The Bertolucci Sports client, who is sponsored by Adidas, has posted 18 contributions (11 goals and seven assists) in 64 appearances since putting pen to paper for the black and white stripes, alongside recording 17 shot-creating actions this term which again is the second-most in NE1, highlighting the impact he makes in the final third.

Furthermore, Guimaraes has been dubbed a “leader” by football talent scout Jacek Kulig and he does indeed possess those qualities similar to what Jordan Henderson had, so he would undoubtedly be a fantastic addition for Klopp.

Whether FSG would splash out £100m having pulled out of the race for Jude Bellingham due to his price tag remains to be seen, especially when Guimaraes is not an out and out number six.

West Ham United have had far from the best of luck with centre-forwards over the years as they have tried and failed, on numerous occasions, to find themselves a reliable goalscorer at Premier League level.

Back in January 2017, The Guardian reported that David Sullivan and David Gold had signed 32 strikers during their seven-year stint as owners of the club, by that point in time, and those additions had only scored 128 goals in 643 games in all competitions for the Hammers.

Who are West Ham's most expensive strikers?

The club have had howlers with a host of number nines but one particular standout in that department was Mexico international Javier Hernandez, who did not live up to the hype during his time at the London Stadium.

Sebastien Haller

£43.2m

Gianluca Scamacca

£24m

Marko Arnautovic

£19.1m

Andy Carroll

£15m

Enner Valencia

£12.9m

The former Manchester United attacker struggled to deliver consistent quality at the top end of the pitch for the Hammers and arguably, was as bad a signing as Sebastien Haller, who also left a lot to be desired after his move from Eintracht Frankfurt.

How much did West Ham pay for Javier Hernandez?

West Ham signed the experienced centre-forward for £16m, which was interestingly officially confirmed by the club in their statement, from Bayer Leverkusen in the summer of 2017.

Slaven Bilic secured his services after the talented attacker had enjoyed two excellent seasons in the Bundesliga with his former team and may have been hoping that the striker would be able to carry on his rich vein of form.

Hernandez was coming off the back of an impressive season in which he scored 11 goals and provided three assists in 20 starts in the German top-flight for Leverkusen.

He had also plundered an eye-catching 17 goals and two assists in 25 Bundesliga starts throughout the 2015/16 campaign, which shows that the Mexican was a reliable scorer throughout his two years there.

His spell with Leverkusen had come after five years with Manchester United in England. Chicharito produced 59 goals and 20 assists in 157 outings for the Red Devils and hit double figures for goals in three Premier League seasons.

The talented attacker also won two league titles during his time at Old Trafford and arrived at West Ham as a player who knew how to be successful in England.

How many goals did Hernandez score for West Ham?

Hernandez, however, failed to live up to his reputation as a lethal scorer as he only found the back of the net 17 times in 63 matches for the Hammers in all competitions.

He scored ten or more league goals in five separate seasons for Leverkusen and United combined prior to joining West Ham and then failed to find the net more than eight times in the Premier League during his two-year spell at the London Stadium.

The Mexico international plundered eight goals and zero assists in 28 top-flight appearances for the club throughout the 2017/18 campaign. For context, Marko Arnautovic was the only Hammers player who hit double figures for goals as the Austrian marksman struck 11 times in the league.

Hernandez followed that up with seven goals and one assist along with missing a dismal seven 'big chances' in 25 Premier League games during the 2018/19 season.

He was, once again, outshone by Arnautovic as the former Stoke City star scored ten league goals for West Ham and was the club's top scorer in both campaigns.

In total, the former Manchester United finisher racked up 15 goals in 53 league matches for the club, which was an average of one goal every 3.53 outings.

How many goals did Sebastien Haller score for West Ham?

These statistics show that Hernandez was as bad as Haller, who scored 14 goals in 54 games for the Hammers during his time in England.

The French centre-forward, who bagged seven goals in 32 Premier League outings in the 2019/20 campaign, averaged a goal every 3.86 matches over his 18 months at the London Stadium.

Indeed, they both failed to deliver a consistent goalscoring threat at the top end of the pitch as neither of them came close to finding the back of the net once every other game or hitting double figures in a league season.

How much did West Ham sell Hernandez for?

West Ham eventually decided to cash in on Hernandez in the summer of 2019, following the arrival of Haller from Frankfurt, for a reported fee of £8m as Sevilla swooped in to secure his signature.

The forward's value halved during his two years with the Hammers as they were only able to recoup 50% of the £16m that they paid Leverkusen for him in 2017.

West Ham certainly had a nightmare with the Mexican finisher as they lost £8m on him within two seasons after he failed to deliver the quality that the evidence of his career, prior to the move to London, suggested he had.

Hernandez had proven himself to be a prolific scorer with United and Leverkusen but was not able to carry that on for Bilic and now finds himself playing in the MLS at the age of 35.

Where is Javier Hernandez now?

The veteran marksman currently plays for Los Angeles Galaxy, where he has been since 2020, and has enjoyed an excellent time in America so far.

Chicharito has registered 39 goals in 83 matches for the club in all competitions, which included 18 goals in 33 MLS starts throughout the 2022 campaign. He has found his goalscoring touch again after deciding to make the move to another continent to restart his career.

His move to LA came after the former Hammers flop scored three goals in 15 matches for Sevilla as he failed to recapture his Leverkusen form in Europe after the move back to England.

West Ham certainly missed out on the best years of his career and signed him at the wrong time, which ultimately proved to be a costly mistake by the club.

David Moyes will now be hoping that his next striker signing, whoever that may turn out to be in a future transfer window, will be far more successful than the likes of Hernandez and Haller, who both turned out to be expensive flops.

Newcastle United are keen to strike a deal for PSV Eindhoven forward Johan Bakayoko this summer, but a reliable journalist has revealed that they aren’t the only club looking to bring him to the Premier League.

Who is Johan Bakayoko?

Bakayoko is naturally a right-winger who has plied his trade at the Philips Stadium since 2019 having initially joined the club’s youth setup before getting promoted to the first team last summer where he’s since gone on to make a total of 43 senior appearances.

The Belgium international still has another three years remaining on his contract, but having firmly established himself as Peter Bosz’ third best-performing offensive player last season, he’s caught the eye of PIF and Eddie Howe at St. James’ Park.

According to The Sun’s Alan Nixon, the northeast outfit had sent scouts to watch the 20-year-old in action last week during his side's 2-2 Champions League draw vs Glasgow Rangers, but they aren't alone in their pursuit with Liverpool, Everton, Crystal Palace and Burnley also credited with an interest, and the attacker has had a £30m price tag placed on his head.

Are Newcastle signing Johan Bakayoko?

Speaking to GiveMeSport, Paul Brown revealed that Newcastle and PIF are indeed keen on Bakayoko who he believes could be the perfect long-term recruit for the future of the black and white stripes. He said:

"He's certainly very highly-rated, yeah. I think there are a couple of teams potentially looking to sign him. Newcastle I believe are also interested in Bakayoko. He's very young, so he'd be a signing that you'd expect to get better and have his best years at your club if you were to sign him now."

€64m (£55m)

€44m (£37m)

€37.2m (£31.9m)

€8m (£6m)

Loan Transfer

How many goals has Johan Bakayoko scored?

Since being introduced to PSV’s senior fold last summer, Bakayoko has clocked up 16 goal contributions (nine assists and seven goals) in 43 appearances showing how prolific he can be in the final third, but he also poses a major threat even when the ball doesn’t hit the back of the net.

Sponsored by Puma, the left-footed ace currently ranks in the 95th percentile for most successful take-ons and attacking touches in the opposition’s penalty area, displaying his desire to dribble past his marker and make the magic happen in the attacking areas.

Read The Latest Newcastle Transfer News HERE…

The Overijse native, who has the versatility to operate in four different positions, including everywhere across the frontline and in attacking midfield, has even received individual recognition for his performances having been named the Keuken Kampioen Divisie's Best Young Player for 2022, and this accolade is nothing less than he deserves.

According to football talent scout Jacek Kulig, Bakayoko is an “electric player”, and even though he’s already shown exactly what he’s capable of, there’s no doubt that he would only excel even further under the guidance of Howe if he was to set his heart on a move before the transfer deadline on Friday.

Tyrone Theophile and Devon Smith put up a record stand for Windward Islands, the highest partnership of the season, after Devon Thomas led Leeward Islands’ dominance

ESPNcricinfo staff22-Jan-2018A 323-run stand, the highest of the season, between Windward Islands’ Tyrone Theophile and Devon Smith for the second wicket steered their match against Leeward Islands to a draw in Basseterre. Devon Smith, the leading run-scorer of the tournament so far with 1095 runs in 10 matches, racked up his sixth century this season.Electing to bat first, Windward Islands were off to a shaky start after losing their top-three batsmen within five overs. A 66-run stand between Kavem Hodge and Roland Cato, and a 53-ball 48 from no. 9 batsman Delorn Johnson, carried Windward Islands to 197.Devon Thomas led Leeward Island’ reply with 172 off 247 balls, his fifth first-class century, with 12 fours and five sixes. He struck a 148-run partnership with Montcin Hodge after the loss of two early wickets. Despite the efforts of Larry Edwards (3 for 109) and Kyle Mayers (3 for 64), handy lower-order contributions carried Leeward Islands to 405 for 9 before they declared.In their second innings, Windward lost opener Kirk Edwards early, but Smith and Theophile’s record partnership helped Windward Islands secure a draw.

Inter Milan teenager Kevin Zefi has been seen as a potential summer signing by Newcastle United in the summer transfer window and a big update has now emerged.

How old is Kevin Zefi?

The Irishman is just 18 years old currently and moved to Inter from Shamrock Rovers two years ago, such was his ability as a young and emerging footballer.

While Zefi is yet to make a senior first-team appearances for the Serie A giants, he has shone in the youth teams, scoring six goals and registering seven assists for the Under-17 side, as well as an incredible 16 strikes in just 13 games for the Under-18 outfit.

The young winger signed his first professional deal last years and is contracted at Inter until the summer of 2024, but it could be that he moves on before the current transfer window closes at the end of this month.

Newcastle have emerged as strong potential suitors for Zefi and a fresh update further suggests that he could be plying his trade at St James' Park in the very near future.

Will Newcastle sign Kevin Zefi?

Eddie Howe revealed Lewis Hall would be the last first-team signing, but according to NUFC Blog, Newcastle are now expected to sign Zefi for the academy:

"Newcastle United look set to follow the signings of AC Milan youngster Cathal Heffernan and Chelsea’s Lewis Hall with the arrival of fellow 18-year-old Kevin Zefi.

"The Dublin-born talent has impressed in Inter Milan’s academy and has 12 months left on his contract following a move from Shamrock Rovers two years ago.

"Zefi is being advised by former Toon defender Stephen Carr and is set to join our U21s after a breakthrough in talks. He also plays at international level alongside Toon duo Alex Murphy and Reece Byrne; two players Dan Ashworth has brought to the club’s academy over the past 12 months."

This is a very exciting update for Newcastle, as they continue to show that they are not only planning for the present, instead making sure they sign young players with big futures in the game.

In Zefi, they have someone who is considered something of a wonderkid, with former coach Shane Robinson explaining what makes him so special:

“Kevin is that type of player that catches the eye easily – he backs himself 100% in possession of the ball. He has lovely balance and uses his body very well to protect the ball.

"He has worked very hard on his overall game over the last number of years and deserves credit for that, he has gone up through the levels impressively from U15 to U19 with First Division appearances last season also."

While Zefi clearly wouldn't be arriving as an important member of the senior setup to begin with, given his lack of experience, he is someone who could continue to start at youth team level, gradually blossoming into a top-level footballer who can cut it on the biggest stage.

Read the latest Newcastle transfer news HERE…

It is always hard to gauge how a youngster will develop, with injuries and work ethic always potentially getting in the way, but the former Shamrock ace has all the tools to make it and could be a future hero on Tyneside.

A magnificent display of fast bowling by burly South African Hardus Viljoen inspired Derbyshire to only their second championship victory of the season against Sussex at Hove.Viloen took the first eight wickets to have a chance of all-10 before Harry Podmore nipped in for the last two to complete Derbyshire’s win and end Sussex’s promotion hopes in the processViljoen, 28, followed up his first innings return of seven for 80 to take 8 for 90 to finish with career best match figures of 15 for 170 as Sussex, bowled out for 344, were beaten by 45 runs. It was the fifth best match return by a Derbyshire bowler.This was the fifth time Viljoen had taken ten or more wickets in an match – but it’s the first time he has achieved it for Derbyshire, who must regret that he has been injured for most of the season.At the start of the day it looked as though Derbyshire had been stingy with their declaration. By declaring their innings closed at their overnight score of 322 for 8 they set Sussex a formidable 390 for victory.But Sussex had to go for the win to keep their promotion hopes alive. And Derbyshire knew that that would give them their best chance of victory.Viljoen, who is a genuine fast bowler, started his demolition job in his second over of the day, when he had Angus Robson caught at third slip. The fielder, Matt Critchley, took the ball with his hands high above his head.But by lunchtime Sussex had put themselves in with a chance of pulling off a stunning victory. They were 110 for 1, and needed another 280.Luke Wells and Stiaan van Zyl had set the platform for an unlikely win by the home side, van Zyl bringing up the 100 partnership just before lunch when he straight drove Luis Reece for four.After the break, Wells hit Viljoen for three successive fours but was then lbw looking for a fourth. And when Chris Nash was caught in the slips for just nine in Viljoen’s next over Sussex were 147 for 3 and Derbyshire were back in the match.But the match turned towards Sussex once again as even Viljoen struggled against van Zyl and the more pugnacious Luke Wright as the pair put on 120 for the fourth wicket. At tea, when Sussex were 236 for 3, needing another 154 from 36 overs, they were clear favourites to win the match.But then Viljoen turned the game towards Derbyshire once again. He had van Zyl caught at third man for 85 and then dismissed the Sussex captain Ben Brown, caught at slip. Then, when he plucked out Wright’s middle stump for 80 with a yorker Sussex were struggling at 276 for 6.Ollie Robinson and Jofra Archer continued to encourage the Sussex supporters with a seventh wicket stand of 31. But then Viljoen took out Robinson’s off stump for 15 before having Archer caught at slip for 25.Podmore finished the job for Derbyshire with the final two wickets, thanks to fine catches by Hamidullah Qadri and Ben Slater. But Viljoen was the great hero of the day.

Chelsea are soon expected to table a “new bid” for Brighton and Hove Albion defensive midfielder Moises Caicedo, according to journalist Rudy Galetti.

Is Moises Caicedo leaving Brighton?

The Premier League talisman still has another four years remaining on his contract at The Amex, but having established himself as Roberto De Zerbi’s top-performing defensive player last season, he’s attracted the interest of Mauricio Pochettino and Todd Boehly.

The Blues have already seen several offers for the 21-year-old rejected as a result of them not yet meeting his club’s £100m valuation, and his manager recently publicly addressed speculation surrounding his prized asset’s future. De Zerbi said:

"If Moises leaves, we will find another important player. And if Moises stays, I will be happy for us, for the team, for the club. But it’s not my problem now. If Moises leaves, we will bring another player in.”

Read The Latest Chelsea Transfer News HERE…

Since then, The Evening Standard have reported that the Ecuador international purposely missed training on Monday and it's believed that he's already collected his belongings from the club's training ground in an attempt to force through a move to Stamford Bridge, something which could soon be on the horizon if club chiefs increase their proposal.

Are Chelsea signing Moises Caicedo?

Taking to Twitter, Galetti revealed that Chelsea are preparing another offer for Caicedo which is likely to be much closer to Brighton’s price tag, meaning that they could finally be tempted to sanction his sale. He wrote:

“#Chelsea are set to submit a new bid for #Caicedo, confirmed. Take it or leave it for #Brighton: understand #CFC will get close to the request of #BHAFC (add-ons included). Personal terms fully agreed: Moises is pushing for the move, Poch wants him.”

Chelsea are clearly serious about signing Caicedo to have not yet ended their pursuit despite having multiple bids turned down, and it’s no surprise considering that he’s previously been dubbed a “machine” by talent scout Jacek Kulig, so should he put pen to paper, it would be a massive coup for Pochettino.

The Santo Domingo native last season won 50 out of his 100 tackles which was not only the most made but also the best success rate throughout the whole of his squad, via FBRef, alongside averaging 1.5 interceptions per top-flight game, highlighting his desire to get stuck in and win back possession for his team.

The 2022 World Cup participant is additionally a threat in the opposition’s penalty area having posted 17 goal contributions (11 goals and six assists) in 106 appearances throughout his career, so for such a well-rounded player, it makes sense that he is a target being pursued so strongly.

Finally, Caicedo has the versatility to operate slightly higher up in central midfield and even out wide at right-back alongside his usual role sitting in front of the backline, so he would be a great option for the boss to have at his disposal should any unexpected injuries occur in positions where he could provide cover in SW6.

Everton are reportedly considering returning for Chelsea midfielder Conor Gallagher after failing in their pursuit of the England international last winter, according to recent reports.

Is Conor Gallagher leaving Chelsea?

According to transfer insider Dean Jones – speaking to GIVEMESPORT – the Toffees remain 'in touch' with the 23-year-old after offering a £45m package back in January, to no avail.

Reports claim that Premier League outfits Aston Villa, Brighton & Hove Albion, Liverpool, Newcastle United, Tottenham Hotspur and West Ham United have also earmarked the ace, though Jones highlights Everton's lasting interest as possibly a defining factor if push does indeed come to shove.

The journalist said: "Everton have been in touch over this one for the longest time and tried to sell themselves as a great platform for him to use to build his profile and standing in the game, and he would be pretty sure of game time week-after-week in their starting XI.

"I don’t think Everton will totally let go of that hope until the window is closed but from Gallagher’s point of view, it’s not ideal."

How good is Conor Gallagher?

If the opportunity to finalise a deal for Gallagher arises for the Goodison Park side, there is no doubt that owner Farhad Moshiri would pounce like a cheetah to provide his club with a robust new central focal point.

Chelsea are in the process of trimming their refractory squad after a dismal campaign that left the club mired deep in mediocrity, with a 12th-placed league finish resulting in a failure to qualify for European football next term, but co-owner Todd Boehly is targetting top-class upgrades and names such as Moises Caicedo and Mohammed Kudus are at the forefront of the transfer reckoning.

And while the seven-cap Gallagher appears to relish the opportunity to stake his claim for a prominent role in Mauricio Pochettino's team, after making just 18 league starts last term this might ultimately prove fruitless.

And especially after receiving scathing remarks from the likes of Darren Bent, who called the ace a "fish out of water" having floundered at the epicentre of the Blues' seasonal woes.

Everton could provide a lifeline; the Merseyside club have put in the groundwork and would be able to offer the £50k-per-week star a starring role to spearhead their own resurgence after spending the past two terms battling against relegation.

He could even emulate Romelu Lukaku's blistering success after swapping Chelsea blue for Everton's, with the high-profile forward completing a £28m move in 2014 – a club record at the time – and scoring 87 goals and supplying 29 assists from 166 matches.

The 30-year-old machine had been on the west London giants' books for three years prior but had played a peripheral role – though he did find success during a loan spell with West Bromwich Albion, where he plundered 17 goals from 35 top-flight matches. As it happens, the Hawthorns was also a former temporary home for Gallagher himself

It was a loan move to Crystal Palace during the 21/22 campaign where the England international really made his mark, recording an impressive average Sofascore rating of 7.08 after scoring eight goals from 34 games, also completing 81% of his passes and averaging two tackles per outing.

Earning praise for his "relentless work rate" by one analyst after his successful spell at Selhurst Park, perhaps a permanent transfer to a team like Everton would not be such a bad move; Dyche is known for his dogged determination and success in instilling tenacity throughout his squad.

It could well be a match made in heaven, and it could provide Gallagher with the perfect platform to truly kickstart his career and forge a path towards the very top, just like it did with Lukaku.

Umar Akmal and Junaid Khan have been fined 50% of their match fee, after a report submitted by the PCB’s inquiry committee that looked into Umar’s comments on Junaid’s availability for the match

Umar Farooq17-May-2017Umar Akmal and Junaid Khan have been fined 50% of their match fee for misconduct in an incident related to a Pakistan Cup List A match in April. The PCB had set up an inquiry committee to look into the controversy, which centred around Umar’s comments on Junaid’s availability for the match, and the committee submitted its report to the board on Wednesday.”The Pakistan Cricket Board has imposed a fine, i.e. fifty percent of the match fee, to Umar Akmal and Junaid Khan for their misconduct at the Pakistan Cup 2017 held last month in Rawalpindi,” PCB said in a statement. “The Board has also warned the two players that they will be under observation for a month starting 18th May and reoccurrence of breach of discipline will lead to one-month suspension.”Umar, who captained Punjab in the tournament, was asked about team changes during the toss in the match against Sindh. He stated that Nasir Nawaz had replaced Junaid in the XI. When pressed for reasons, Umar stated he was surprised by Junaid’s absence at the ground.”I just found out when I walked into the ground that he [Junaid] is absent,” Umar had said. “I’m very surprised. The manager and coach told me he’s not going to be playing today. It’s shocking news for me, as captain.”For his part, Junaid, in a rebuttal issued through a short video clip, stated he was unwell and had been advised rest, and that the team management had been made aware of his condition. ESPNcricinfo understands Umar was aware of the situation before the toss.”I am saddened to hear the remarks Umar Akmal made on television, saying ‘I ran away from the team’. I have not run away,” Junaid said. “I am dealing with a case of food poisoning and the team management is aware of that. In fact, I was advised by the team doctor not to play today. Umar Akmal knew of this, and it was a shock for me to hear him say what he did, and I don’t know why he said it.”Both players are part of Pakistan’s squad for the ICC Champions Trophy in June.

South Africa wicketkeeper-batsman Quinton de Kock has been cleared to play the third Test Zealand after being a doubt due to a finger injury

Firdose Moonda in Hamilton24-Mar-2017While New Zealand have been ruling several injured players out of their XI, South Africa have found a way to include one of their wounded. Wicketkeeper-batsman Quinton de Kock will play the Hamilton Test after passing a fitness test to determine whether the tendon damage on his right index finger was severe enough to sideline him.De Kock, however, will need at least four weeks to recover from the injury and Cricket South Africa ruled him out of playing the 2017 IPL season for Delhi Daredevils in order to be available for the Champions Trophy and the England Tests that follow.Although in some pain on the eve of the Hamilton Test, de Kock was able to bat and catch with strapping and a finger splint, the brainchild of physiotherapist Brandon Jackson. When asked why South Africa were risking de Kock when they have a reserve gloveman in Heinrich Klaasen, Faf du Plessis explained the occasion was too important to leave de Kock out.”It’s a big game. Quinton is someone who you don’t just replace. From my side, I am trying to have Quinton in my team all the time,” du Plessis said. “He has had problems with his fingers for quite a while. It’s part of being a keeper. It’s never nice to catch balls on the fingertips all the time and it’s been painful for him for a while. Maybe the cold New Zealand conditions make it worse. It’s hurting for him a bit more now but because it’s a big game, resting him for someone else is not an option.”Du Plessis explained that if de Kock was carrying “three or four broken fingers then obviously he won’t play,” but because the issue could be kept at bay for a while, South Africa were willing to take their chances. More so, because three of the top six (Stephen Cook, Hashim Amla and JP Duminy) were out of form and de Kock, who was one half of a match-winning partnership with Temba Bavuma in Wellington, was among the runs.The news that neither Tim Southee nor Trent Boult would be playing for New Zealand also did not influence South Africa’s team composition, as they aimed to assemble the strongest side they could in search for a 2-0 series win.”We are trying to put as much pressure as we can on New Zealand,” du Plessis said.At the start of the series, du Plessis admitted South Africa would target Kane Williamson and Ross Taylor, who they regarded as New Zealand’s keybatsmen, because they sensed vulnerability in the rest of the line-up.”It’s a huge blow (for New Zealand). I always take reference to our own team – if we lose guys like them in our side, it will be a huge loss. Seamers that have got experience and the numbers behind them – you don’t just replace that in Test cricket,” du Plessis said. “But we know whoever comes in can do a job for the day and we have to respect that and play at our best. If we do that, hopefully it will be easier but it’s never a guarantee.”