The Ottawa Senators are circumventing the salary cap.

OK, that's a bit of hyperbole, which I believe is legally allowed when opining about hockey in early August. It's more accurate to say that the Ottawa Senators are circumventing "the spirit" of the salary cap.

They currently have a projected cap number of $65,859,999 (per Cap Friendly), with restricted free-agent forward Colin White yet to sign. That's snugly above the lower limit of the 2019-20 salary cap, which was set at $60.2 million. Technically, they're above the floor, much like, say, a cat's litter box is technically above the floor.

The "spirit of the CBA" is that phantasm the NHL evokes whenever a team does something not in keeping with the cap system's intentions. Like when the NHL retroactively went after those back-diving long-term contracts -- Roberto Luongo's, for example -- in the last collective bargaining agreement because, despite being totally legal at the time of their signing, they violated "the spirit of the CBA."

What the Ottawa Senators are doing with their payroll this season violates the spirit of the cap, too.

Also in this week's Wysh List: Jersey Fouls | Puck headlines
Winners and losers of the Fenton firing

The lower limit of the salary cap encourages the dregs of the league to spend money on player salaries to ensure that total salaries remain in the range targeted by hockey-related revenue each season. "Spiritually," it also encourages these smoldering dumpster fires to ice a competitive team each season, even during years in which they're rebuilding.

On the one hand, the Senators are doing something that's no different than what teams like the Arizona Coyotes have done in the past, which is using a combination of healthy rostered players, "dead" cap space from injured players and buyouts to crest over the cap floor. Without the injured Ryan Callahan ($5.8 million AAV), Marian Gaborik ($4.875 million) and Clarke MacArthur ($4.65 million), the Senators have a total cap number of $50,534,999.

Under this current financial system in the NHL, cap space is the coin of the realm. In the league's grand scheme for parity, it allows teams with low payrolls to acquire big-salaried players from capped-out contenders. This trickle-down redistribution of talent was always expected under the cap. The unexpected benefits for the teams selling their cap space were the draft-pick incentives that arrived in trades with those players, or as enticements to take on toxic contracts that teams need to get off their cap, such as when Arizona accepted in-name-only players like Chris Pronger and Marian Hossa, when Vegas and then Toronto accepted David Clarkson, and when Ottawa accepted the last inactive year of Ryan Callahan's contract.

It all ends up being mildly embarrassing: At this moment, the three injured players the Senators have on their cap carry a larger combined cap hit ($15.325 million) than the seven defensemen they have under contract ($12,618,333).

But the real embarrassment for the NHL when it comes to Ottawa and its salary structure isn't in inflated cap figures but in real money.

As in, they're not paying much of it for the product they're putting on the ice.

Insurance will cover much of the salaries for the three injured players. Ottawa saves $10.1 million there. They're paying Nikita Zaitsev $1.5 million because the Maple Leafs paid $3 million in bonus money. The Leafs also paid $500,000 of Connor Brown's salary. They're paying Artem Anisimov $2 million, because the Chicago Blackhawks paid $2 million in bonus money.

According to Cap Friendly, the Senators' actual NHL salary expense will be $47.5 million, with the potential for just over $4 million in performance bonuses. To put that in perspective, the Tampa Bay Lightning will pay Nikita Kucherov, Steven Stamkos, Ondrej Palat, Yanni Gourde, Tyler Johnson, Victor Hedman and Ryan McDonagh ($47.8 million) more than the Senators will spend on their entire roster.

And let's be clear: A portion of that $47.5 million in salary will be supplemented by revenue sharing. Commissioner Gary Bettman has said that asking teams to hit the salary floor is a reasonable request when they're being buoyed by revenue shared by the "haves." Essentially, the Toronto Maple Leafs and Tampa Bay Lightning will help Ottawa pay the salaries of the players whose cap hits they've taken off their hands. It's all quite a Ponzi scheme.

For more context on the paltry payroll, consider the "minimum team player compensation" as defined by the NHL CBA. Essentially, it's the "presumed" minimum amount of money a team will have on hand to compensate its players in a given season. Run the numbers on that -- $42 million, or 70% of the cap floor, plus a pro rata "benefits portion" -- and you get to around $46 million to $47 million for next season.

In essence, by the NHL's own calculations, the Ottawa Senators' payroll in actual dollars is around what's defined as the "minimum team player compensation" by the NHL. Or "the bare minimum," if you will.

Not exactly something you bold-face in the season-ticket drive advertisements.

Once again, the victims of this farce are the Ottawa fans, for whom "long-suffering" is an understatement.

Yes, there's a youth movement afoot; and to GM Pierre Dorion's credit, the team is absolutely stacked with draft picks for the foreseeable future. But there's a world of difference between embracing a rebuild and icing a product that's nearly $20 million cheaper than its inflated cap figure, and only a few dollars above the minimum amount the NHL expects its teams to pay players.

But that's the norm in owner Eugene Melnyk's world.

The team made an effort in the past year to reduce prices for its season-ticket holders, as it slashed costs for its on-ice product. But they don't care about a discounted hot dog when the team can't keep Mark Stone. They don't really care about 20% off on a Senators jersey when they can't be sure if the name on the back is still going to be in Ottawa when he's due a raise. They'd gladly pay full price for a large soda if it meant the Senators' abject parsimony didn't repel franchise legends like Daniel Alfredsson and Erik Karlsson.

Seriously, look at this roster turnover:

The Ottawa Senators 2017 playoff run roster, only 25 months later. pic.twitter.com/DKm7VLac2P

— ryan vintage (@ryanclassic) July 30, 2019

The "spirit of the CBA" is that teams with all the money aren't allowed to spend all of it, and teams with little money aren't allowed to keep all of it. Ottawa fans have watched Melnyk preside over a franchise that has insulted everything from their dedication to their intelligence, while trudging through a seemingly endless mire of scandals, defections and defeats. All this while watching the NHL provide lenient support, probably out of fear that Melnyk's the only guy who wants to own a team in Ottawa -- which is impossible to confirm, unless he's willing to sell the team.

Like the Senators, MAD Magazine was a national source of humor. One of my favorite running gags in the magazine was how MAD defined the price of each issue on its cover. Perhaps to honor the magazine's last year of publication, the franchise could adopt it as a wholly appropriate slogan for this season:

"The 2019-20 Ottawa Senators: CHEAP!"

Jersey Fouls

From reader Kelly King, at the Chicago Blackhawks Fan Convention:

Jersey Foul! (Via reader Kelly King) pic.twitter.com/ex55TyBy58

— Greg Wyshynski (@wyshynski) August 1, 2019

Kelly said the last word being obscured here is "you," so this is a Protest Jersey statement from someone who apparently doesn't like the legions of bandwagon fans who [checks notes] helped the franchise reach unprecedented levels of prosperity and popularity.

Sir, an Ed Belfour jersey would have sufficed.

Winners and Losers in the Paul Fenton Mess

Winner: Craig Leipold. Even the worst general managers get three or four years before the cord is pulled on their tenure. Wild owner Leipold, to his credit, waited just over a year before declaring what was obvious to the rest of the NHL: GM Paul Fenton was in over his head and had to go.

Loser: Craig Leipold. I mean, he hired Paul Fenton, so in the end, this is his mess. And his refusal to admit that they've squeezed all they can out of this aging roster will end up setting this team back years.

Winner: Zach Parise. He does one interview with The Athletic lamenting his lot in life -- "I guess at my age, where I'm at in the career, you don't want to be going through a rebuild right now" -- and then ownership fires the general manager about a week later, having consulted with Parise. That's some sway.

Loser: Paul Fenton. It wasn't Neil Smith with the Islanders, but even Brett Hull had a longer run as a general manager with Dallas. Yikes.

Winner: Don Waddell. At best, the contract-less Carolina Hurricanes general manager gets a massive contract offer from the Wild that he can either accept or use as leverage with Hurricanes owner Tom Dundon. At worst, he got in before the firing to steal Nino Niederreiter for Carolina.

Loser(s): The field of assistant GMs. As mentioned here, Leipold made it clear that Fenton was a tremendous scout and executive, but not a good manager of people or departments -- that despite years as an assistant GM, he wasn't ready for the big chair. This is not exactly the best news for the Mike Futa's and Bill Zito's of the world -- assistant GMs waiting for their shot.

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Puck headlines

In praise of Chris Kunitz, who retired this week.

Ranking the Detroit Red Wings' jerseys. Yes, there were more than two of them.

After that Andrei Vasilevskiy extension, the Tampa Bay Lightning still has some work to do: "There's probably no good answer to this situation on the surface. Any trade the Lightning make would likely result in a talent downgrade, as other teams know they're going to be in tough to afford everyone and the pool of potential destinations is likely extremely limited."

Good look at the Seattle franchise's dedication to diversity in hiring.

Former VHL player Artem Bezrukov went on a "rampage" during a flight to Chelyabinsk.

Brent Seabrook on having "the worst contract in hockey": "It doesn't bother me," he said. "People are going to write what they want to write. I've never been one to read media articles and get pissed off, or get too high or whatever. I'm focused on myself. I'm coming to camp to make the team; that's what my job is. I've got two months left until training camp and I'm focused on being the best Brent Seabrook that I can be." ($)

How hockey influenced ... the WNBA?

The Carolina Hurricanes want fans to name their official beer, offering three generic and terrible choices and the one they want to win. It's a missed opportunity that Sour Cherry Ale is not one of the choices.

Hockey tl;dr (too long; didn't read)

The story of the Stanley Cup that no one won.

In case you missed this from your friends at ESPN

My look at the continuing decline of fighting in the NHL.

The summer transfer window is in full swing, but which players are likeliest to move? David Amoyal evaluates the latest gossip and speculation.

Bruno Fernandes to Man United: 90 percent

After coming close to joining Manchester City at the beginning of the summer, the Portuguese midfielder is set to play next season at Old Trafford. As of Tuesday afternoon, Man United were in the final stages of negotiation with Sporting CP for a fee of around €70 million. Bruno Fernandes' former club Sampdoria are expected to receive about 10 percent of the sale price.

Romelu Lukaku to Juventus, Paulo Dybala to Man United: 50 percent

Juve sporting director Fabio Paratici pursued Lukaku in the past and considers the 26-year-old an ideal fit next to Cristiano Ronaldo, who is expected to play mainly out wide under Maurizio Sarri. Meanwhile, Dybala could go in the opposite direction. The Argentina international prefers to stay in Turin, but his role under Sarri is unknown and his agent has met with United officials to discuss personal terms.

Edinson Cavani to Inter: 20 percent

If Inter fail to sign Lukaku, the Uruguayan striker is an option. Cavani has one year left on his deal with PSG and is one of Antonio Conte's favourite strikers, but he wants a three-year contract with an annual salary of €10 million after tax from his next team. While PSG's request of €50 million is lower than Man United's asking price for Lukaku, Cavani is asking for substantially more in wages.

Leroy Sane to Bayern Munich: 55 percent

The German champions' pursuit of Sane goes on and it is no secret the winger is top of their shopping list after Arjen Robben and Franck Ribery left Bavaria. However, while Bayern coach Niko Kovac publicly expressed confidence about a deal, an agreement is not imminent. The Premier League transfer window closes on Aug. 8, so Bayern must act quickly to give Man City time to sign a replacement.

Sami Khedira to Arsenal: 35 percent

The German international attended Arsenal's Emirates Cup game against Lyon on Sunday, fueling speculation he will join Unai Emery's squad. Juventus would almost certainly let Khedira leave on a free transfer to shed his substantial salary, but Arsenal do not appear willing to meet his annual after-tax wages of €6 million. Khedira has also been linked to Fenerbahce, Wolves and Fiorentina.

- When does the transfer window close?
- All major completed transfer deals

Malcom to Zenit St Petersburg: 65 percent

After one season in La Liga, during which he scored once in 15 games, the winger could take his talents to Russia following Barcelona's addition of Antoine Griezmann. Zenit sporting director Javier Ribalta travelled to Spain on Tuesday to try to close the deal -- a fact confirmed by the club's president Metvedev in interviews -- but it remains to be seen if Zenit can meet the asking price.

Radamel Falcao to Galatasaray: 60 percent; Radja Nainggolan to Galatasaray: 15 percent

The Turkish giants are favourites to sign Falcao because they have offered him a multiyear deal with a higher salary than he earns at Monaco and are willing to let him leave after two years, should he receive an offer from Colombian club Millionarios. Nainggolan will be more difficult to sign, since he appears determined to stay in Italy should he depart Inter.

Mariano Diaz to Monaco: 45 percent

A lack of playing time in preseason is a signal from manager Zinedine Zidane that Diaz is not part of his plans. Monaco would welcome the 26-year-old back to Ligue 1, where he previously played for Lyon, as successor to the departing Falcao. Andre Silva is also of some interest.

Luca Waldschmidt to Benfica: 45 percent

The Portuguese champions want to reinvest part of the proceeds from the sale of Joao Felix and have turned their attention to Waldschmidt, who was valued at €12 million by Freiburg before the recent UEFA Under-21 championship, in which he scored seven times. Benfica could loosen the purse strings, but Freiburg's leverage has been improved by the exposure and form of Waldschmidt on the international stage.

The European transfer window is open. Click here to review all the latest transfers and keep up to date with the latest gossip below.

Top free agents in 2020 | What do Europe's elite need?

TOP STORY: Man United make final £80m bid for Maguire?

It's been one of the transfer sagas of the summer, but Man United finally appear to be putting the right kind of money in front of Leicester for Harry Maguire.

TalkSPORT claims that an £80 million offer has been placed, but will be withdrawn on Monday if it's not accepted by then.

Leicester reportedly want £80m, with United's bids to date not reaching that amount, so now the ball is seemingly in their court. The fact that Maguire was left off the club's Twitter post about their shirt numbers for 2019-20 just adds fuel to the fire.

If the deal goes through, Maguire would become the most expensive defender of all-time -- beating the £75m that Liverpool paid Southampton for Virgil van Dijk.

LIVE BLOG

18.19 BST: Could Tottenham swoop in and steal Bruno Fernandes from Man United?

RTP reports that Spurs have an emissary in Lisbon working to sign the 24-year-old and that the London club are set to make a proposal. Sporting have told United they will not accept anything less than €65 million for the Portuguese attacking midfielder who amassed 32 goals and 18 assists over all competitions last season.

Sky Sports News has also just tweeted that Spurs are looking to hijack a deal for Fernandes.

BREAKING: Tottenham in talks with Sporting Lisbon over the signing of Bruno Fernandes, according to Sky Sources

— Sky Sports News (@SkySportsNews) August 1, 2019

Tottenham have also been linked with a big-money move for Real Betis and Argentina midfielder Giovani Lo Celso.

17.43 BST: Aston Villa have already made 12 signings this summer which makes for a full roster!

Recent reports indicate they could free up one space by loaning out 21-year-old winger Andre Green. Football Insider claims that Championship side Preston North End and manager Alex Neil see Green as a viable replacement for departed attacker and leading scorer Callum Robinson and that a deal could be imminent.

In 24 league games between Villa and League One's Portsmouth, Green managed just 2 goals and one assist last season.

17.15 BST: And there it is...

Arsenal have made one of the biggest transfer splashes of the summer signing winger Nicolas Pepe from Lille for a club-record fee, which is thought to be around £72 million.

Welcome to The Arsenal, Nicolas Pepe ?

?? #PepeIsHere ⚡️ pic.twitter.com/nXJIB9XdLW

— Arsenal (@Arsenal) August 1, 2019

Pepe, 24, exploded onto the scene last season in Ligue 1 with 22 goals and 11 assists, leading Lille to a surprise second-place finish. For more on Pepe check out Julien Laurens' scouting report.

Head coach Unai Emery had this to say say to Arsenal's website about the signing: "Nicolas is a highly-rated and talented winger who was wanted by many of the top teams in Europe.

"Signing a top-class winger has been one of our key objectives in this transfer window and I'm delighted he's joining.

"He will add pace, power and creativity, with the aim of bringing more goals to our team."

Pepe will wear the No.19 shirt with Arsenal and his transfer fee surpasses the £55 million the Gunners paid for his new attacking teammate Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang in Jan. 2018.

16.47 BST: Bayern Munich head coach Niko Kovac has said rumours linking Jamaica international Leon Bailey with the Bundesliga champions are "not true."

Amid Bayern's struggling efforts to sign Leroy Sane from Man City, transfermarkt.de claimed on Wednesday that the 21-year-old would swap Leverkusen or Bayern this summer.

However, a source close to the winger told ESPN FC that a report claiming personal terms between Bayern and Bailey had been agreed was false.

16.14 BST: Real Madrid forward James Rodriguez plans to hold talks with manager Zinedine Zidane before making a decision on his future at the club, sources have told ESPN FC.

Last Monday, Madrid informed James they want him to stay at the club despite interest from Atletico Madrid and Napoli.

However, sources have told ESPN FC that the final decision remains up in the air because James wants to feel like an "important player" in order to "succeed" at Madrid.

James believes he can still "be a success" at the Santiago Bernabeu but he's waiting to speak to Zidane in the next few days to determine whether the Frenchman is prepared to give him opportunities and if that is not the case, he will consider leaving the club.

15.33 BST: Spanish newspaper El Transistor claims Spurs have agreed a fee of €60m (£54.6m) with Real Betis for Giovani Lo Celso.

Lo Celso, 23, only joined Betis last summer from PSG after a loan spell but is now on his way to White Hart Lane. Maybe that will ensure Mauricio Pochettino is happy...

14.57 BST: Today's daily Neymar: PSG want to resolve the Brazilian's future before Aug. 10, according to Mundo Deportivo.

The price is €300m, with Barcelona showing some interest, but PSG want the saga completed before the Ligue 1 season starts.

14.31 BST: AC Milan have completed the signing of Lille forward Rafael Leao.

The 20-year old is a Portugal U21 international and he joins the Rossoneri on a five-year deal.

14.10 BST: Sporting Lisbon are lining up Velez Sarsfield midfielder Lucas Robertone to replace Bruno Fernandes if he departs for Man United.

Record reports that the 22-year-old is waiting for Fernandes' move to be completed before he can seal a transfer. But he'll only have to wait seven days of course...

13.42 BST: RMC reports that Newcastle have sent a delegation to France to conclude the signing of Nice winger Allan Saint-Maximin.

Saint-Maximin would reportedly cost €18m and Watford are also reportedly interested.

13.28 BST: Barcelona starlet Miranda has offers from Juventus and Marseille, says SPORT.

The left-back impressed for Spain at the under-19 European Championships and could move on as Barcelona look to raise some funds.

13.07 BST: ICYMI - Manchester United are set to sign French prodigy Hannibal Mejbri, one of the country's biggest talents, sources have told ESPN FC.

The 16-year-old attacking midfielder is at Monaco but a disagreement between him and the club has seen Mejbri not play for their youth team for months.

The Principality club initially didn't want their prized youth to leave, but have decided to accept United's offer of €10m, according to sources. The Old Trafford outfit beat Manchester City, Arsenal and Juventus to the France U16 international, who left his grassroots club Boulogne Billancourt in the west suburbs of Paris for Monaco a year ago.

12.44 BST: Barcelona are struggling to get rid of Philippe Coutinho, here's what FC TV think.

12.05 BST: The latest on the future of Edinson Cavani from our man in Paris.

PSG's Edinson Cavani has reportedly said no to a potential move to Inter Milan this summer. https://t.co/uTT8IYycX6

— Jonathan Johnson (@Jon_LeGossip) August 1, 2019

11.26 BST: Foot Mercato reports that Arsenal were interested in signing West Ham defender Issa Diop, until they found out the price.

Man United were also keen, but West Ham are looking for £65m for a player they signed for around £22m last summer.

11.08 BST: Marvellous news for Aston Villa as they have signed Marvelous Nakamba from Club Brugge.

The Zimbabwe international midfielder, 24, has Champions League pedigree and will join a host of new faces at the promoted club this season.

Head coach Dean Smith said: "Marvelous fits the criteria of the type of player we were looking for. He's very mobile, he's very good in possession and he will fit in with our style of play."

11.01 BST: Arsenal had high hopes for Japanese forward Takuma Asano when they signed him from Sanfrecce Hiroshima in 2016, but he's left without playing a single game for the club.

Asano has moved to Partizan Belgrade for £1m, says the Sun, with the 24-year-old failing to impress on various loan spells with the Gunners.

10.54 BST: Freddie Woodman's move from Newcastle to Swansea on a season-long loan has been completed.

10.33 BST: Burnley have moved quickly to replace Tom Heaton and have agreed a £3.5m deal with Leeds to sign Northern Ireland international goalkeeper Bailey Peacock-Farrell, says the BBC.

10.19 BST: After being released by PSG this summer, former Barcelona right-back Dani Alves wants to remain in Europe as he plans to play in 2022 World Cup with Brazil.

It's amazing that a player of his quality hasn't yet found a club. He's got time on his side at least... although he will be 39 by the time the World Cup rolls around.

10.00 BST: Sampdoria has announced it has sold Erasmo Mule to Juventus. The 20-year-old centre-back has been on loan at Serie C side Trapani, helping them to promotion in 2018-19.

09.44 BST: After Lloyd Kelly, Jack Stacey and Philip Billing, Bournemouth have landed their fourth signing of the summer: Netherlands international winger Arnaut Danjuma.

Danjuma, 22, joins from Belgian outfit Club Brugge for an undisclosed fee, reported to be around £14m.

"Coming to AFC Bournemouth is a really good step up for me," Danjuma told afcbTV. "The Premier League is a great place to play your football, especially at a club like this. I think the way the team plays suits my style, I like to attack and I cannot wait to get started."

09.39 BST: Expect an outgoing from Barcelona shortly.

Malcom not training this morning. Barca confirm he's finalising his move away from the club.

— Samuel Marsden (@samuelmarsden) August 1, 2019

09.25 BST: Newcastle goalkeeper Freddie Woodman has agreed to join Championship side Swansea on a season-long loan, says Sky Sports.

The 22-year-old has one year left on his contract and reportedly wants first-team football.

09.12 BST: French authorities have approved the sale of Nice to Britain's richest man Sir Jim Ratcliffe on Wednesday for just over €100m, sources have told ESPN FC -- making the Riviera's club the most expensive ever in French football history.

Ratcliffe, the founder and CEO of chemical giant Ineos, was waiting for the green light from the DNCG, the organisation responsible for monitoring and overseeing the accounts of professional clubs in France, which has a say in every takeover in Ligue 1 or Ligue 2.

The English businessman, worth around €21 billion, was confident that his takeover offer would be ratified but he still had to wait for the official announcement. The sale should be officially announced in the next two weeks, according to a source.

09.10 BST: Aston Villa have signed goalkeeper Tom Heaton from Burnley.

08.49 BST: Romelu Lukaku looks set to move on from Manchester United, but is he being hard done by?

08.27 BST: Real Madrid manager Zinedine Zidane appeared irritated after repeated questions on reports that out-of-favour star Gareth Bale was golfing back in Spain during the team's 1-0 loss on Tuesday to Tottenham Hotspur in Munich.

Wales international Bale remained in Spain for Real's two-match swing to Germany following the collapse of his proposed move to China. Zidane had said Bale "wasn't fit" and that it "was a joint decision" to not make the trip for the Audi Cup.

Reports in Spain claimed Bale had been playing golf at a course near Madrid on Wednesday morning. Agent Jonathan Barnett refused to comment when asked by ESPN FC about the report's accuracy.

"I don't know," Zidane told a news conference after Madrid's 5-3 win over Fenerbahce. "I am here with my players. I cannot comment on that. I hope he has trained there [in Madrid]. We are here thinking of the team."

Asked again if he would take action if it was proven Bale was playing golf instead of training, Zidane said: "We will see when we get back.

"I'm not going to stop anybody doing anything, we all have our responsibilities. I don't get into his personal life. He stayed there to train, he did that."

08.00 BST: Jurgen Klopp has said Liverpool will assess all the options available to Harry Wilson in order to make the best decision for the player's career.

Wales international Wilson had a successful loan spell with Derby County last season, helping them reach the Championship playoff final with 15 goals and three assists in 40 league appearances.

The has been of interest to Newcastle United, Aston Villa and Bournemouth, but with time still left in the transfer window before the August 8 deadline, Liverpool will not rush into a decision on a player valued upwards of £20 million.

"We are in constant conversations, that's clear," Klopp said after Wednesday's 3-1 win over Lyon in which Wilson scored a stunning long-range strike. "We have to do the right thing for us and for the boy. There is nothing to talk about in public about it, so we will see what happens in the next eight or nine days until the window closes.

"He is obviously a really good player and I was really happy with him in the whole pre-season; he came back from Derby in a completely different [shape]. That's a good example of how a loan can really work out -- it was for Derby really good and for Harry as well. For us as well, which is good.

PAPER TALK (by Steve Wright)

Napoli, Arsenal battling for Zaha

With Nicolas Pepe seemingly snubbing Napoli for Arsenal, the two clubs are set to lock horns in the transfer window again, with the Italian club entering the race for Wilfried Zaha's signature, the Daily Mail understands.

Zaha had long been a target of the Gunners, who were only prepared to offer £40 million for him. Carlo Ancelotti's side look to make a bigger splash and are keen on submitting a £60m bid to Crystal Palace for the forward.

Napoli finished second in Serie A last season, meaning they can give Zaha his dream of playing Champions League football, something Arsenal cannot provide for at least one more season.

However, sources told ESPN FC last month that the 26-year-old would favour a summer move to Arsenal, his boyhood club, because he wants to remain in London for family reasons.

Zaha endured a difficult spell at Manchester United during the 2013-14 campaign before returning to Crystal Palace, where he signed a new five-year contract last year.

Tap-ins

- A swap deal which would see Romelu Lukaku sign for Juventus and Paulo Dybala for Manchester United was thought to be completed imminently, but the latter's wage demands have created difficulties, The Sun understands. The deal was reportedly "as good as done," but Dybala is demanding a weekly salary of £350,000 -- £50,000 more than what Paul Pogba earns.

- Manchester United target Samuel Umtiti has not been the subject of any official bids yet, according to Sport. Barcelona, who are asking for no less than €60 million for the centre-back, said that they haven't received any offers from United.

Arsenal have pulled off one of the coups of the summer so far in signing Nicolas Pepe from Lille. The French-Ivorian winger, 24, was the best player not named Kylian Mbappe in Ligue 1 last season and was coveted by pretty much every top European club this summer. Lille reached agreements with PSG, Napoli, Inter Milan and Atletico Madrid for his transfer but the player chose Unai Emery's project at Arsenal as his next destination.

At £72 million, the Gunners' record signing is worth the price, excitement and hype due to his vast potential. He carried Lille to a surprising second-place finish in France last season with 22 goals and 11 assists, and yet there is still so much room for him to improve, especially considering he's really only had three seasons of top-flight football.

-- Cartlidge: Ceballos can be missing link to Arsenal's midfield

-- Ogden: Premier League manager rankings

Where he comes from

From quite a long ways, actually. In May 2016, Nicolas Pepe was finishing an unspectacular season (seven goals in 29 matches) at Orleans in the French third division. Not many people, including at Angers, his parent club, believed that he could cut it at the highest level.

His first season in Ligue 1 followed and the learning curve continued for the young French-born winger. He contributed only three goals and one assist but it was quite obvious that his emergence was not far away, as he had improved despite not being clinical enough in the opposition's box.

Pepe's explosion happened after his move to Lille in the summer 2017 for €10 million. In 2017-18, Pepe notched 13 goals and five assists. Last year, with 22 goals (second in the league behind Mbappe) and 11 assists (second in the league behind Teji Savanier), he blossomed into a bona fide star.

Strengths and style

Nicolas Pepe is all about pace, skill and percussion. Playing on the right-hand side as an inverted winger enables him to come inside on his left foot to pick a pass or to take a shot. He is creative, intelligent and moves well.

Pepe was the seventh-best dribbler last season in Ligue 1 with 2.7 successful dribbles per game and was also the second-most fouled player in France, as defenders struggled to cope with his dribbling talent and his pace. He loves getting the ball at his feet and then taking on players, as his pace and balance are a very strong asset to his game.

On April 14, Pepe almost single-handedly destroyed PSG with a goal and two assists in a blinding performance. At Lille, he had players around him (Jonathan Ikone and Jonathan Bamba) who developed incredible understanding and chemistry with him. Alexandre Lacazette and Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang should also "get" Pepe's style very well and form a lethal trio at Arsenal.

Weaknesses

There is plenty of room for improvement for Pepe, who is not yet close to the finished article. At present, heading the ball is not his forte, nor is shooting with his right foot. His first touch could also be better, especially when he receives the ball with his back to goal.

While his decision-making was excellent at times last season, it also could still improve, especially in the Premier League where he will have to decide more quickly what to do on the ball. In terms of maturity, this is a big move for him. He has never played abroad before and has never played in the Champions League or Europa League, either.

The 2017 and 2019 editions of the Africa Cup of Nations with the Ivory Coast, and a few more caps with his country, count as his only non-domestic footballing experience. England is a big unknown for him and he will have to adapt to a whole new environment.

Attitude

The Ivory Coast international is still a "young" player, and to continue his progression he needed a club where he could express himself and gain confidence and trust; he felt Arsenal was perfect for that. It is the next step up for him in his development.

Pepe's hunger for working hard and improving is impressive and he knows he still has a lot more to learn. He listens, he doesn't get carried away, and he has a great entourage, too. He is not flashy but rather quite shy.

For someone who has always been in France, this is a big move. But he welcomes the new challenge and feels ready for it, even if he knows how much pressure and expectations will come his way.

Where is he heading?

To the top. His last two seasons in Ligue 1 have proved his quality and potential, but he is still a bit of a raw diamond that needs more polishing. In that sense, Unai Emery is the perfect manager to help him get to the next level. The Spanish coach is very good with young players and Pepe will want to be one of Arsenal's key pieces as the club looks to get back into the top four.

He is ambitious and strong mentally, and never lost his belief even when he was playing in France's lower divisions. He could have played in the Champions League with Lille, Napoli or someone else but the Arsenal project, even with only Europa League football to offer, was attractive to him because he sees it as the right path to the top. He wants to repay the club for going big on him.

We've seen how the BCCI arrived at the decision to suspend Prithvi Shaw after being tested positive for a banned substance called terbutaline. We've also heard from the anti-doping manager about the processes involved in educating the players about anti-doping. But what exactly does terbutaline do to an athlete, and why is it banned?

What is terbutaline?

Terbutaline is classified as a bronchodilator, which is any medication that relaxes muscles in the airways and allows easy circulation of air in and out of the lungs. It is available in the form of tablets, syrups, shots, and as the liquid inside inhalers. It is a prescription drug.

What does it do?

Terbutaline's primary function is to make breathing easier, so it is used to treat symptoms of lung problems like asthma or bronchitis, although it is sometimes used to slow down or delay contractions during pre-term labour.

In general, it is used to control symptoms like cough, wheezing, shortness of breath, and tightness in the chest.

Why is it on the WADA list of prohibited substances?

Aerobic exercise - or cardio, as it's called popularly - is dependent on getting oxygenated blood as quickly as possible to working muscles. So any exercise that exerts pressure on the heart and lungs can be positively affected by easing up the breathing - which is exactly what something like terbutaline would do.

Terbutaline is on the list of substances that are prohibited at all times (even in therapeutic use) by the WADA because it has been shown to enhance time to exhaustion and, among other things, the muscle power output in cyclists.

Does it affect a cricketer's performance? Not really, as per the BCCI's anti-doping manager Dr Abhijit Salvi.

"Terbutaline helps to open the airways and thereby ventilate the lungs effectively. It may be beneficial to cyclists, runners, etc, but wouldn't really help a cricketer perform better," Salvi told ESPNcricinfo.

Where have I heard of it before?

A couple of years ago, Yusuf Pathan was also tested positive for terbutaline and was handed a back-dated five-month ban.

Terbutaline is a fairly prevalent topic in the world of cycling as well. In 2016, British cyclist Simon Yates failed a drug test that prevented him from participating in the Tour de France. Yates, like many other cyclists and elite athletes, took the substance to treat long-term asthma.

But is it even possible for elite athletes to have asthma? Yes - their intense training methods and exposure to lung irritants affect their airways and can cause something called exercise-induced asthma.

Jofra Archer will be given the chance to prove his Ashes fitness by playing in a T20 Blast game for Sussex this Friday, and a three-day Second XI game next week.

Archer was named in England's 14-man squad for the first Test at Edgbaston, but was omitted from the final XI as he continued his rehabilitation from a side strain he had suffered during the World Cup.

"Jofra is coming back from quite a serious injury," said England's captain, Joe Root, explaining his omission. "We looked at conditions and made a decision on what we thought would best take 20 wickets here.

"It also gives him time to get absolutely ready and fit to make sure he has his workloads up and ready to go for later in the series if he needs to make an impact. [His fitness] will be monitored throughout the week. It's important that he's ready to go to offer something different."

Archer was one of the stars of England's World Cup win, taking 20 wickets at 23.05 before bowling the decisive Super Over in the final against New Zealand, but admitted he had played through "excruciating" pain during the tournament.

After a brief trip back to his native Barbados, Archer took 2 for 21 in his four overs in Sussex's tied T20 Blast game against Surrey before joining up with the Test squad.

Archer has been released to play in Sussex's game against Kent on Friday night, and will then make his first appearance in the Second XI Championship since 2016 when he plays against Gloucestershire at Blackstone, a game which starts on Tuesday.

Sussex also have a T20 against Glamorgan that day, but Archer will instead have the chance to prove he is fit enough to bowl longer spells with the red ball.

It had been suggested that Archer might be loaned to Worcestershire to play in their tour game against Australia, as has happened with Andrew Strauss (Somerset), Nick Compton (Worcestershire), and James Taylor (Sussex) in previous years, but he will instead be kept away from the limelight in rural West Sussex.

Olly Stone and Sam Curran, the other unused members of England's Edgbaston squad, have also been released to play in the Blast on Friday night.

Stone will join up with the Birmingham Bears squad for their game at Trent Bridge, while Curran will play for Surrey at Taunton.

Eoin Morgan returns to Lord's for his first appearance since the final tonight in Middlesex's game against Kent, while Adil Rashid has been included in Yorkshire's Blast squad for the first time this season for Friday night's fixture against Worcestershire.

England are likely to be without James Anderson for the remainder of the first Test after he experienced a recurrence of tightness in his right calf.

Anderson, the leading wicket-taker in England's Test history, first tore his right calf muscle while playing for Lancashire against Durham at Sedburgh on July 2. While the England management were confident he had fully recovered from the injury, he experienced further discomfort during his fourth over of the match at Edgbaston and left the field for treatment.

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While he returned to the pitch a short while later, he did not bowl again and the England management have now said he will undergo a scan on Thursday afternoon. If that scan shows any new tear, there is a strong chance that Anderson will be ruled out of the next two or three Tests. Even if it does not, it is hard to imagine England will risk worsening the injury by asking Anderson to bowl.

The news is bound to raise questions about the wisdom of playing Anderson, who celebrated his 37th birthday earlier this week, and the medical advice the management received. He has, however, bowled without discomfort in training - notably on Monday, when he was one of three players who appeared at an optional net session - though England's preparations were hit by poor weather and he may not have bowled the number of overs ahead of the game that might have been envisaged. England were forced to train indoors on Tuesday, where most of the seamers did not bowl due to concerns about the risk of impact issues, while the nets were damp on Wednesday, which meant most bowlers having gentle sessions on the outfield.

England were tempted to name Jofra Archer in their team for this first Test. The management reasoned, however, that it would be a risk to go into a game with two bowlers coming back from injury.

If - as is likely - Anderson is unable to bowl for the rest of the game, it will reduce England to a four-man attack of Stuart Broad, Chris Woakes, Ben Stokes plus the offspin of Moeen Ali. And while England would, in normal circumstances, be thought to have enjoyed the best of the first session of the series - Australia were three down at lunch - concern over the extent of Anderson's injury will take much of the gloss off that bright start.