Despite a massive salary on the table from Saudi Pro League giants Al-Hilal, Victor Osimhen remains unconvinced as Napoli turned down a massive bid.

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Napoli reject Al-Hilal’s €70m offer for Osimhen.Striker not convinced by €26m salary proposal.Galatasaray remain interested after 37-goal season.Follow GOAL on WhatsApp! 🟢📱WHAT HAPPENED?

Napoli have rejected an initial offer from Al-Hilal for Osimhen, according to . The Saudi Pro League club submitted a €70 million (£59m/$76m) bid, which falls short of the Italian club’s valuation, believed to be the full €75m (£64m/$81m) release clause. Furthermore, Osimhen has not accepted the contract proposal from the Middle East, which is reported to be worth of €26m (£22m/$28m) per season plus bonuses.

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The Nigerian's striker's future remains unresolved following a prolific season at Galatasaray, where he managed to hit at the back of the net 37 times across all competitions on loan from Napoli. Despite his form, Osimhen and potential suitors have not reached a complete agreement. After his outstanding performance, Galatasaray is also seeking to keep the striker and persuade him to remain permanently in Turkey.

DID YOU KNOW?

Osimhen scored 37 goals and provided eight assists in 41 matches across the Super League, Turkish Cup, and Europa League for Galatasaray in the 2024-25 season. He lifted the Super Lig and the Turkish Cup while also being named as the Player of the Season.

Getty Images SportWHAT NEXT FOR OSIMHEN?

Osimhen is likely to return to Napoli at the end of his loan spell, with his contract with Serie A winners running until June 2026. However, it is being reported that Galatasaray are still working on an offer to bring him back for the 2025-26 season, either permanently or on another loan.

Alyssa Healy has declared herself a near-certain starter for Australia’s Test against India in Mumbai.The star wicketkeeper-batter missed all-but one match of the WBBL after badly hurting her finger while trying to break up a fight between her two dogs.Healy has returned to training and is preparing to face India at the famous Wankhede Stadium in the red-ball Test, starting on December 21.Related

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“I assume I’ll be out there [for the Test], they’re going to have to do a lot to stop me walking out there and catching the first delivery,” she said at the Kayo Summer of Cricket launch on Friday. “Everything’s going really, really well.”I started back in the nets the last week-and-a-half so I’m all on track to fly to India on Wednesday for a big series over there.”Healy will be confirmed as Australia’s new captain as early as this weekend after the Cricket Australia board met on Friday.The 33-year-old will step into the role full-time after long-time teammate Meg Lanning’s shock international retirement. Healy has filled in for Lanning as captain for extended spells over the last two years, including this year’s Ashes.”Obviously we leave on Wednesday so having some sort of clarity and assurance for the team before we fly out would be great,” she said. “If it was me, it’d be unbelievably exciting.  I feel like I’ve been warming the seat for 18 months for Meg to come back and obviously with Meg’s news it was a bit of a shock.”To go over to India and captain a multi-format series would be really exciting for whoever does get the job. If it’s me, then you beauty!”The match in Mumbai will be the first Test in India for the Australian women since 1984. The tour of India will also feature three ODIs and T20s, and run over the Christmas and New Year period.

كشفت تقارير صحفية عالمية أن ليفربول لا ينوي إضاعة أي وقت في التعاقد مع خليفة النجم المصري الدولي محمد صلاح لحل محله في المستقبل.

ويستهدف آرني سلوت مدرب ليفربول وريتشارد هيوز المدير الرياضي للنادي، التعاقد مع صفقة في الخط الهجومي خلال سوق الانتقالات الشتوية في يناير.

وبحسب “فوتبول ترانسفيرز” فإن محمد صلاح أصبح على وشك الرحيل عن ليفربول الصيف المقبل على الرغم من توقيعه على عقد لمدة عامين مع الريدز مؤخراً.

ويبلغ الدولي المصري حالياً 33 عاماً ويأتي بعد موسم يمكن القول إنه الأفضل له في تاريخ الدوري الإنجليزي الممتاز كما ساهم في تسجيل هدف وصنع تمريرة حاسمة حتى الآن.

اقرأ أيضاً.. رافا بينيتيز يختار الأفضل بين محمد صلاح وكريستيانو رونالدو

ومع ذلك فإن هناك إجماعاً في ليفربول أن النادي سيتخلى عن أسطورته محمد صلاح في المستقبل القريب وقد تم بالفعل اختيار خليفته في ملعب آنفيلد.

وقد تم تحديد ماليك فوفانا جناح ليون الفرنسي حيث يعد اللاعب الذي يمكنه تعويض رحيل النجم المصري محمد صلاح على المدى الطويل.

ويبدو أن ليفربول حريص على الضغط على الدولي البلجيكي في يناير، ويريد مسؤولو الريدز إتمام الصفقة الآن للاستفادة من إمكانيات اللاعب.

ويدرك ليفربول أن المنافسة على خدمات فوفانا صاحب الـ20 عاماً ستكون قوية، وقد ترددت شائعات عن اهتمام تشيلسي وآرسنال بخدماته خلال الصيف الماضي.

وكان فوفانا قد رفض في وقت سابق إمكانية اللعب في الدوري الإنجليزي الممتاز حيث قال: “فكرت في الانتقال لكني أعتقد أن اللعب كثيراً الآن أهم وهذا يجب أن يحدث في ليون”.

One area West Ham United have struggled in this season, even with the improvements made under Graham Potter, has been the construction of their midfield and lack of mobility in central areas.

Adjustments such as the pressing scheme and triggers under Potter have helped to cover those deficiencies, but this is clearly an area they should be prioritising in the summer.

Current midfield options include Edson Alvarez, Tomas Soucek, Lucas Paqueta, Carlos Soler, Guido Rodriguez and James Ward-Prowse.

Since Ward-Prowse returned from his Nottingham Forest loan, Potter has favoured starting him alongside either Alvarez or Soucek, bringing more quality on the ball in those deeper areas for progression.

However, his return has not helped add mobility in the middle of the park, something they have lacked since Declan Rice was sold to Arsenal back in the 2023/24 summer transfer window, for a whopping £105m.

Declan Rice's record at West Ham

Rice made 245 appearances for the Hammers first team in his ten years at the club, scoring 15 goals, providing 13 assists and totaling 20,580 minutes.

He also captained the side to their first European trophy since 1965 under David Moyes, winning the UEFA Conference League in the 2022/23 season, a campaign that would prove to be his last year with the club.

Towards the back end of his time at West Ham, Rice was lauded as a “monster on the pitch” by teammate Mark Noble, with the big-money move coming as no real shock.

Since Rice joined Arsenal, the club have been looking to replace his attributes in the middle of the park, signing a multitude of players, all of whom can offer different attributes, but all of whom have failed so far to replicate anything close to the performances Rice was delivering week after week.

Perhaps, the Hammers could well be regretting letting Rice 2.0 leave for a bargain price…

West Ham have already sold Rice 2.0

Moyes and co sold midfielder Josh Cullen to Anderlecht in 2020, for a fee of just £500k. The then 24-year-old became a key figure for the Belgian outfit, working under Vincent Kompany, who he then went on to work with once more at Burnley years later.

Goals + Assists

0.08

0.16

Progressive Carries

0.50

2.45

Progressive Passes

5.12

6.59

Pass Completion %

87.8%

86.5%

Passes into Final Third

5.32

6.40

Key Passes

0.76

1.02

Shot-Creating Actions

2.28

2.75

Tackles + Interceptions

2.09

3.94

Ball Recoveries

5.73

9.18

Aerial Duels Won

1.14

1.02

When comparing Cullen’s underlying metrics from this season against Rice’s underlying numbers from his last West Ham campaign, you can clearly see Rice ranks much higher in many metrics.

But the tenacity in midfield shown by ball recoveries, aerial duels won and tackles and interceptions is still there, and he would have eased the loss of Rice’s on-ball progressive impact, as Cullen also thrives in this department.

Kompany described Cullen as the “ultimate player” praising his effort and labeling him as a shining example for his fellow professionals.

This is the exact sort of character West Ham could have used after losing Rice, not only replacing many attributes they lost when he walked out the door, but also bringing that sense of calm and leadership to the team.

Whilst it’s hard to compare Cullen and Rice on talent alone, the hard-working culture they share in their respective midfield roles does draw comparisons, both willing to do the hard yards for their side, which is exactly what West Ham have been missing since Rice left the club.

Mark Noble discussing cheap West Ham transfer to sign "sensational" forward

West Ham could finalise a bargain deal ahead of next season.

BySean Markus Clifford Mar 21, 2025

The legspinner doesn’t turn the ball too much, but by bowling full and out of the reach of batsmen looking for quick runs, he has been able to get the better of them

Sidharth Monga27-Oct-2017It is Chennai, a 21-over chase, the Australian top order is gone, and Glenn Maxwell has nothing to lose. India have their two wristspinners on, and Maxwell starts unleashing his sweeps. Like Hardik Pandya did to Adam Zampa earlier in the day, Maxwell hits Kuldeep Yadav for three consecutive sixes. There are long conferences. India should have this game in the bag, but there are squeaky bums around. Three sixes can do that to you. What if he keeps coming off for another three-four overs? It is a short chase after all.On comes the other leggie. Yuzvendra Chahal does less with the ball in the air and off the pitch than Kuldeep. Yet you don’t see him chatting that much with seniors between deliveries, even when Maxwell hits the fifth ball of this over for his fourth six in two overs. Chahal has hardened himself up bowling containing legspin in IPL matches in Bengaluru, where anyway beating batsmen in the air doesn’t amount for much because mis-hits sail for sixes.Now Chahal does what only he has done to Maxwell this innings: bowl full and wide. Maxwell has to drag it for his big hit, and Chahal has him caught at long-on. He holds his arms aloft, and then points one finger to his forehead.”Whenever I bowled to Gayle [in the RCB nets] I would bowl well wide outside off, and work out that if he isn’t able to hit me then I can try this against Warner and the likes,” Chahal told ESPNcricinfo last year.

In an earlier era, you might have dismissed this as Chahal’s luck. It is not. Denying boundaries in shorter formats is a bona fide way of taking wickets

It is Pune, and India have shackled New Zealand this time, but out comes Colin de Grandhomme batting like a dream, chipping straight balls over straight midwicket ala Mark Waugh and Carl Hooper. De Grandhomme hits Chahal for a four and a six before he comes back for another spell in the 44th over. And again, Chahal bowls that wide ball – this time on a length, the widest bowled to de Grandhomme all innings. He tries the big straight hit, and the edge carries to short third man.Chahal has tried the full and wide variety to big hitters in the lower order with success. James Faulkner once offered a return catch that Chahal failed to grab. Matthew Wade was stumped. He nearly had Tom Latham caught behind in Pune when again he tested the batsman’s reach. Against his 26 wide balls pitched on a length or fuller, New Zealand have not been able to hit a single boundary. Faulkner managed a six, but that was the only boundary Australia hit when Chahal practiced this line. On an average he slips in one full and wide ball every over.In an earlier era, you might have dismissed this as Chahal’s luck. It is not. Denying boundaries in shorter formats is a bona fide way of taking wickets. As a skill too, bowling out of the reach of the batsman but within legal limits is not to be scoffed at. For starters it is an extremely difficult delivery to execute, as commentator and former India spinner Murali Kartik remarked when Chahal got de Grandhomme’s wicket. You have to control the turn. Indian pitches are changing – which is not a bad thing in ODIs because they are preventing scores of 350 from becoming routine – so you have to bowl a length that doesn’t give the ball enough time to turn away and go past the wide lines.Then you have to choose wisely when and to whom to bowl this delivery. Chahal has kept the full and wide ones for big hitters who are not in a mood to be watchful: Maxwell, Faulkner, Marcus Stoinis, de Grandhomme in the 44th over. In that whole innings off 39 off 18 in Chennai, Maxwell faced only three wide balls, all from Chahal and none scored off. It also takes shedding of the ego to not mind being a legspinner whose signature delivery is the one bowled full and wide, not turning too much, not necessarily aimed at taking wickets.Defensive bowlers are getting due recognition with the abundance of limited-overs cricket. Analysts are looking at how well a player comes back when under pressure, when the batsmen have little to lose and the freedom to swing for the hills. Of all the spinners who have bowled in this limited-overs season in India, Chahal and Mitchell Santner have shown they find answers the quickest.Perhaps that is why Chahal has been preferred to Kuldeep when there is room for only one wristspinner in the Indian XI. Kuldeep has made all the highlight reels, practicing the rare art of left-arm leg spin well enough to pick up an ODI hat-trick, but Chahal has shown that when the pressure is high, on a flat pitch, a simple wide ball can be more valuable. Not to invoke his well-documented prowess at chess, it’s the hitters’ move now.

Broadcaster set to move across from President role in October, following Bruce Carnegie-Brown’s tenure

ESPNcricinfo staff18-Mar-2024

Mark Nicholas is set to take over as MCC’s chair when his one-year term as President expires in October, after being recommended as Bruce Carnegie-Brown’s successor in the role.Nicholas, 66, will be recommended as the new chair at the club’s AGM in May, working in conjunction with the chief executive, Guy Lavender. He has been a member of MCC since 1981, and has served on the club’s Cricket, Marketing and Main Committees since the 1990s.In his playing days, Nicholas scored over 25,000 runs and took 173 wickets in a professional career spanning over two decades. As captain of Hampshire, he guided the side to four trophies between 1986 and 1992, including three victories in Lord’s finals, and he also captained England A.The position of MCC chair has existed since 2000, and Nicholas is set to become its seventh incumbent, but the first former professional cricketer in the role. In the course of his presidency, he has expressed the opinion that MCC should take over the ownership of the Lord’s-based Hundred team, London Spirit, and this move may be an indication of the club’s ambition on that front.Nicholas is currently chair of the Hampshire-based Southern Brave team; a non-executive director of the media rights agency, River Media Partners, and co-founder/director of Century Cricket which runs IPL-style T20 tournaments for club and junior cricketers in Australia.In 2005, he co-founded Chance to Shine, the cricket charity that has helped to re-introduce the sport to 4,000 state schools in England and Wales, and given 6 million children a chance to play the game. His long and successful media career is synonymous with the Ashes summer of 2005, for which he anchored Channel 5’s coverage. He has worked extensively with Channel 9 in Australia, Supersport in South Africa, and also writes columns for The Telegraph and ESPNcricinfo.”The role of MCC chair is a huge responsibility and I am honoured to have been named as the Committee’s recommendation to the membership,” Nicholas said. “Amongst many aspects of the club’s immediate future, is the need to engage more with Members. In addition, we are embarking on many new projects and opportunities as we look to embrace this ever-changing game. I hope to ensure that we can play our part in cricket’s development over the coming years.”Chris Rogers, MCC Treasurer, said: “The Nominations committee found that Mark was the outstanding candidate for the role, noting that he has a deep and personal knowledge of the game. In making its recommendation, the MCC Committee feels that his experience, as a player, broadcaster, journalist and administrator, would be of huge benefit to MCC.”

Chelsea have now made contact over the signing of a defender, having stepped up their interest in recent weeks, but there may be competition for his signature from one of their London rivals, according to a report.

Blues keen to strengthen in defence

The Blues have set their sights on multiple defenders ahead of the summer transfer window, with Flamengo right-back Wesley Franca now emerging as a target, having held talks over a deal for the Brazilian in recent days.

On the opposite side of the backline, Enzo Maresca’s side could look to bring in Sunderland left-back Dennis Cirkin, having started to work on a deal, though there is set to be stiff competition for his signature from a number of Premier League clubs.

Maresca is clearly keen to bolster his options at full-back, and the manager is also driving a move for Brighton & Hove Albion goalkeeper Bart Verbruggen, who could be brought in as a replacement for Robert Sanchez.

Chelsea "doing work" on signing "top-class" £20m ex-Tottenham player

The west Londoners are now interested.

By
Emilio Galantini

Mar 8, 2025

Signing a new goalkeeper may be an important task this summer given the catalogue of errors Sanchez has made this season, but there is also a desire to strengthen in the centre-back department.

According to a report from TEAMtalk, Chelsea have now made contact over the signing of Feyenoord’s David Hancko, having stepped up their interest in the centre-back over the past few weeks.

However, there may be competition for Hancko’s signature, with Tottenham ramping up their interest of late, while Atlético Madrid and Juventus are also named as potential suitors – and he is said to be enticed by the idea of joining the Italian club.

Feyenoord would be willing to sanction the defender’s departure for £42m this summer, making him a relatively affordable option should the Blues choose to formalise their interest in the summer.

"Freak technician" Hancko could be a solid signing

The Feyenoord star has received high praise from freelance scout Ben Mattinson, who has lauded him for his ability to drive the ball forward from defence.

The former Sparta Prague man’s attacking ability is underlined by his impressive goal and assist record in the league over the past five seasons.

Journalist Diederik de Groot has also described the Slovakia international as the “best defender” he’s ever seen at Feyenoord, and he has been in impressive form this season, emerging as one of the most consistent performers in the squad.

Hancko has certainly earned the chance to prove himself in the Premier League, and a £42m fee seems reasonable, so Chelsea should continue to monitor his performances before potentially launching a bid in the summer.

Turning their attention towards incomings after finally reaching a breakthrough in negotiations with Mohamed Salah and Virgil van Dijk, Liverpool are now reportedly in pole position to sign a midfield star.

Liverpool turn focus towards incomings

It’s been a long time coming and it hasn’t been without some nervous moments, but it looks as though Van Dijk and Salah are finally set to sign new Liverpool deals to end what were growing fears around Anfield. All of a sudden, the headlines threatening to overshadow the Reds’ march towards the Premier League title look destined to clear just in time.

The news should signal a sigh of relief around Anfield and allow the likes of Richard Hughes to turn their attention towards any potential incomings this summer.

It may still be a busy window for the Reds too. As impressive as Arne Slot’s side have been this season, there’s still plenty of room for improvement as proved in Liverpool’s 3-2 defeat at the hands of Fulham last time out.

Their frontline will particularly be interesting to watch in the coming months. It’s been arguably the main point of weakness at Liverpool when it hasn’t been Salah stealing the spotlight and those struggles could result in at least one fresh face to lead the line.

Liverpool in new talks to sign £40m top target who's keen on Man Utd move

The Reds have made him a top target.

ByCharlie Smith Apr 10, 2025

On that front, names such as Hugo Ekitike and Newcastle United star Alexander Isak have already been mentioned in recent headlines in two deals that would undoubtedly improve Slot’s attack. It’s not just in attack that the Reds could improve though, with one midfield target now reportedly emerging.

Liverpool in pole position to sign Nicolo Barella

After missing out on Martin Zubimendi last summer, Slot solved his problems by transforming Ryan Gravenberch into one of the most talented No.6s that the Premier League has to offer. But recent weeks have highlighted why the Reds need to add further depth in the middle of the park rather than falling back on a fatigued trio. And that’s where one star could come in.

According to Gazzetta dello Sport, as relayed by Sports Witness, Liverpool are now in pole position to sign Nicolo Barella from Inter Milan this summer in a deal that would cost around €100m (£87m).

If there was any remaining doubt over Barella’s ability, then that should have been put to bed against Bayern Munich in Inter Milan’s Champions League quarter-final first leg tie. The Italian dominated the German giants as Inter soared to a shock 2-1 victory at the Allianz Arena.

According to Fotmob, Barella ended a fine evening with a 92% pass accuracy, five recoveries, five successful passes into the final third and was dispossessed just once. At the opposite end, meanwhile, Bayern’s Joshua Kimmich managed just three defensive actions, whilst Goretzka failed to complete a single tackle.

IPL 2024 is likely to be played between March 22 and the end of May, with the final schedule to be announced once the polling dates for India’s general elections have been finalised by the Election Commission.On the eve of the 2024 auction, the IPL also notified franchises about the availability of players in the auction for next season:

Australia: Hazlewood not available in March and April

Josh Hazlewood will be available only from the first week of May if he is bought at the auction. It is understood that he and his wife, Cherina Murphy Christian, are expecting their first child. He was released by RCB and entered the auction with a base price of INR 2 crore (USD 240,000 approx).All the other Australian players in the auction are expected to be available for the whole IPL season. With the Sheffield Shield final scheduled from March 21 to 25, Cricket Australia has left the choice to the individual players if they have to choose between playing the Shield final and the IPL.Related

• What the teams need at the 2024 auction

• Five uncapped Indians who could be in demand

• From Mitchell Starc to Shahrukh Khan, the potential top buys

• All you need to know about the IPL 2024 auction

England: Rehan withdraws from auction

England are scheduled to host Pakistan for a T20I series between May 22 and 30 but the ECB has told the IPL that its players will be available for the whole season “subject to fitness and international duty and any periods of unavailability that players submitted on their auction applications.”The ECB also pointed out that if any players “require specific management in the build-up to the T20 World Cup” its managing director Rob Key would “liaise directly” with both the player and his franchise.Harry Brook, Phil Salt, Chris Woakes and Adil Rashid are among some of the top England players who have entered the auction. Rehan Ahmed, the 19-year-old legspin allrounder who listed his base price as INR 50 lakh (USD 60,000 approx), has been withdrawn from the auction at short notice, ESPNcricinfo has learned. Rehan will be in India early next year for a five-Test series and the ECB is keen to avoid him spending too much time away from home at a young age.

Sri Lanka: Hasaranga, Chameera available

Sri Lanka Cricket has made all its key white-ball players available for the whole of IPL 2024. This includes Maheesh Theekshana and Matheesha Pathirana, who play for Chennai Super Kings, and Wanindu Hasaranga and Dushmantha Chameera, who are in the auction after being released by RCB and Lucknow Super Giants respectively.None of those four players will be part of Sri Lanka’s Test squad, which is scheduled to play a two-Test series against Bangladesh until April 3. The other Test players who get bought at the auction will be available for the IPL after the series against Bangladesh.Mustafizur Rahman has listed his base price at INR 2 crore (USD 240,000 approx.)•BCCI

Bangladesh: Taskin, Shoriful withdrawn from auction

Left-arm seamer Mustafizur Rahman has been permitted by the BCB to play IPL 2024 between March 22 and May 11 if he is bought at the auction. He was released by Delhi Capitals and has listed his base price as INR 2 crore (USD 240,000 approx.). Fast bowlers Taskin Ahmed and Shoriful Islam will not be available for the 2024 season because they are likely to play Bangladesh’s home series against Sri Lanka and Zimbabwe in March and April.

Ireland: Josh Little available

Ireland left-arm fast bowler Josh Little will be available to Gujarat Titans for the whole of the 2024 season and will not play the one-off Test match against Bangladesh from March 22 to 26. He will also miss Ireland’s T20I series against Pakistan (May 7-14), and against Netherlands and Scotland (May 19-26).Afghanistan, New Zealand, South Africa, West Indies and Zimbabwe have made their players fully available for IPL 2024 if they are bought at the auction.