Leicester City now position themselves to sign talented defender on a free

by h716a5.icu Uncategorized

Leicester City are preparing for life back in the Championship and could now land a bargain signing as they begin to build for next season and beyond, according to a report.

Leicester City begin to build for life after relegation

Relegation is hardly a death sentence, but this season is something Foxes supporters will be keen to forget about as they return to England’s second-tier under Ruud van Nistelrooy or indeed a new boss. The former Netherlands international is under scrutiny at the King Power Stadium and may be at risk of the axe despite securing a rare Premier League victory over Southampton last weekend.

LeicesterCitymanager Ruud van Nistelrooy and James Justin

With Leicester’s managerial position potentially up for grabs, Bristol City boss Liam Manning could replace Van Nistelrooy in the dugout after leading the Robins to the Championship playoffs this campaign.

Russell Martin and Danny Rohl are other reported Foxes candidates, which could cause a temporary hold-up when it comes to transfer dealings as their hierarchy decide whether to stick or twist. Earning promotion at the first attempt is never easy. Still, the theory of clubs in receipt of parachute payments standing a better chance has proven to be true over recent years.

Leicester City eye move for new 40 y/o manager who has same agent as Vardy

He’s been in the Championship before.

ByCharlie Smith Apr 9, 2025

If anything, there is still encouragement for Leicester in the face of some dark recent times. Jamie Vardy’s departure signals the end of an era, but a new one can begin provided the club make some savvy additions in the next few months.

Pre-season will breed optimism that they can return to the top-flight, and supporters could now have another reason to be excited following recent developments.

Leicester City ready to strike for Manchester United's Jack Kingdon

According to EFL Analysis, Leicester are one of four clubs circling for Manchester United youngster Jack Kingdon, who is set to leave Old Trafford on a free transfer once his contract expires at the end of the month.

The former Scotland Under-19 international is also on the radar of Wrexham, Millwall and Derby County following an impressive spell on loan at Rochdale.

Jack Kingdon’s combined statistics in 2024/25 – all competitions

Appearances

25

Goals

0

Assists

1

Only Southampton have conceded more goals than the Foxes in the Premier League this season, which may have prompted Van Nistelrooy and company to seek reinforcements to counter inevitable outgoings this summer. Realistically, Kingdon is unlikely to be a first-team starter straight away at 19 years of age, though his availability on a free transfer and potential to develop could be worth taking a chance on.

Lausanne Sport tried to sign the central defender in January and have been mooted as another potential destination amid Manchester United’s decision not to offer the Bolton-born man fresh terms.

Kingdon is likely to have the pick of several exciting destinations this summer, and Leicester will hope to convince the prodigious talent that there is a place for him to learn and develop at the King Power.

As bad as Jackson: Maresca must axe Chelsea dud who lost 100% duels

by n8rngtd.top Uncategorized

Heading into Sunday’s clash at St James’ Park, both Chelsea and Newcastle United found themselves locked on 63 points in the Premier League.

But, come the full-time whistle, the gulf in class between the two Champions League chasing outfits was obvious, with both Sandro Tonali and Bruno Guimaraes sharing out the goal-load to hand Eddie Howe’s Toon a richly deserved 2-0 win.

Of course, the Magpies’ quest for a golden three points was undoubtedly helped by Nicolas Jackson receiving a red card deep into the first half, with the ex-Villarreal striker enduring yet another torrid afternoon leading the line for Enzo Maresca’s men.

Jackson's horror show on the road

The 23-year-old does have somewhat of a healthy goal return next to his name this season at 12 strikes overall, but all the main talking points from the clash on Tyneside would centre on his dismissal, away from his hot-and-cold ability to find the net.

Indeed, after planting an elbow into the face of Newcastle defender Sven Botman, the inconsistent Blues attacker would be sent off, meaning he is now suspended until the end of the Premier League season.

There was still 65 minutes of the match left after Jackson’s moment of madness, but the damage had already been done on Chelsea’s end, meaning Newcastle eventually strolled to a 2-0 victory to gain an upper hand to finish inside the coveted top five.

Jackson didn’t even test Nick Pope with a single effort on goal before clashing with the Magpies centre-back, with Maresca now tasked with deciding who to start up top now in the remaining top-flight contests to come ahead of the suspended striker.

Other Chelsea first-teamers could also feel the wrath of the manager’s team selection moving forward, with this fellow underperformer in attack only lasting ten more minutes than Jackson before being hooked.

Chelsea's other big underperformer

Nobody wearing Chelsea blue would come away from the 2-0 defeat with much praise, with Romeo Lavia another who looked out-of-sorts in the midfield department, especially when his casual nature on the ball centrally led to Tonali’s speedy opener.

But, Lavia would at least see out 75 minutes on the St James’ turf, with Noni Madueke half a tactical substitution due to Chelsea being reduced to ten men, and half an alteration made purely out of his ineffectiveness in attack when he lasted just 45 minutes.

Madueke’s performance in numbers

Stat

Madueke

Minutes played

45

Touches

16

Accurate passes

8/9 (89%)

Shots

0

Successful dribbles

0/1

Dribbled past

2x

Total duels won

0/4

Stats by Sofascore

At times, Madueke was merely a spectator to the constant waves of Newcastle attacks, with the 23-year-old dribbled past more times than he could conjure up successful dribbles himself.

Moreover, the ex-PSV Eindhoven winger could trudge off the pitch at the half-time interval and not return off the back of failing to register a single effort on the home side’s goal, alongside failing to win a single duel from four attempts. In stark contrast, even as Newcastle bossed proceedings, Jacob Murphy would win four duels as a committed warrior for Howe’s hosts.

Noni Madueke for Chelsea

It could well be time for Maresca to experiment with something fresh down the left channel, therefore, with 19-year-old sensation Tyrique George capable of playing down that flank, alongside an equally hit-and-miss Jadon Sancho.

The Italian will just pray that any changes he does makes to his XI pays off, with the Blues now slipping down the league, whilst Newcastle bask in the glory of third position.

Whenever Chelsea seem to be settling into their groove, another bump seemingly appears in the road, with just two Premier League games now left for the Blues to make any European dreams come true.

The next Cole Palmer: Chelsea in contact to sign "generational" £60m talent

Chelsea are looking to make the new Cole Palmer their first summer signing

By
Ross Kilvington

May 10, 2025

Medel lamenta erros do Vasco em derrota e garante trabalho intenso para reação no Brasileiro

by h79snht.top Uncategorized

MatériaMais Notícias

da realsbet： Estreante do Vasco na noite deste domingo (23), o meio-campista Medel não escondeu sua frustração com a maneira como a equipe amargou a derrota por 2 a 0 para o Athletico-PR. Na saída do gramado de São Januário, o atleta apontou que o Cruz-Maltino teve oportunidades de sair de campo com a vitória.

RelacionadasFora de CampoTorcedores do Vasco detonam titular após nova derrota: ‘Não pode mais jogar aqui’Fora de Campo23/07/2023VascoVasco perde para o Athletico-PR e chega à quinta derrota consecutiva em São Januário; veja o resultadoVasco23/07/2023Fora de Campo‘Adversários não fazem força para vencer o Vasco’, dispara ídolo do clubeFora de Campo23/07/2023

da dobrowin： + Renove o seu estoque de camisas do Gigante da Colina com o cupom LANCEFUT 10% OFF

– Uma pena grande. Tivemos umas quatro ou cinco chances claras de fazer o gol no segundo tempo e de sair de campo com êxito – afirmou, em entrevista ao canal “Premiere”.

Segundo o chileno, o momento é do grupo se mobilizar para crescer sob o comando de Ramón Díaz. Aos seus olhos, ainda há chances dos vascaínos progredirem na temporada.

– Temos de seguir trabalhando. Tivemos dez dias de um trabalho muito intenso com Ramón Díaz, muito dinâmico e que tem equipe de jovens. O Vasco vai continuar a trabalhar muito – declarou.

O Vasco está com nove pontos e na lanterna do Brasileirão, com nove pontos. O time volta a campo no próximo sábado (29), contra o Corinthians, na Neo Química Arena.

Can a home spin get Australia back on track?

by n8rngtd.top Uncategorized

They came unstuck against Pakistan spinners in the UAE but records at home offer cause for optimism

Alex Malcolm15-Nov-2018Ninety-one runs from 78 balls with eight wickets in hand. That equation for any professional T20 team should be a cakewalk. That was the equation for Australia against Pakistan in Dubai last month.Chris Lynn, a feared T20 batsman the world over, had been dropped six balls earlier at deep square leg having top-edged a sweep off Imad Wasim. He attempted another sweep, without even a sighter from the legspin of Shadab Khan, and holed out at deep midwicket.Three overs later Australia needed 76 from 60 balls with six wickets in hand. Glenn Maxwell and Mitchell Marsh were at the crease with D’Arcy Short still to come. Maxwell tried to hit the next ball from Shadab into the stands from the crease; he miscued to long-off and holed out. Australia went on to lose.A week later at the same venue Pakistan needed 104 runs from 84 balls with nine wickets in hand to clinch the series against New Zealand. Babar Azam, the world’s No.1 ranked T20 batsman, with a T20 career strike rate of 118.31 compared to Lynn’s 144.10 and Maxwell’s 155.55, batted for the next seven overs without risk. He faced 12 balls of spin excluding two wides, scored 12 runs and didn’t hit a ball in the air.He was caught for 40 off 41 balls trying to loft a Tim Southee slower ball over the ring. Pakistan’s new equation was 58 off 42 with eight wickets. Mohammad Hafeez faced six balls, absorbed one dot, scored four singles and a two. With 40 needed from 24 deliveries, Hafeez launched Ish Sodhi twice in three balls. Pakistan won by six wickets with two balls to spare.**Cricket Australia is intent on taking T20I cricket seriously.So much so that of the 42 recommendations set out in the Longstaff Review, that has purged Australian cricket of its ills, the only one CA rejected was the call for Australia Test and one-day players to be excused from T20Is in order to play more Sheffield Shield cricket.The selectors have turned the Australian T20 team into a specialist side over the last 12 months, picked specifically on the back of BBL form and chock-full of Australia’s best T20 talent. In fact, Australia’s T20 team has played matches in Australia and New Zealand while the Test team has started tours in India and South Africa in the last two years.But the left-arm orthodox of Imad and the right-arm legspin of Shadab rendered that talent useless on good, albeit slow, surfaces in the UAE. Australia’s play against spin in Test cricket has been a cause for concern over many years, one they went some way to rectifying in the UAE, only to come unstuck by the military medium precision of Mohammad Abbas. Their play against spin in T20 cricket is also under the spotlight.

Big Bash League franchises have turned their gaze to spinners as preferred overseas signings citing a weakness among Australia’s domestic batsmen. Shadab, Rashid Khan and Mohammad Nabi among others have been revelations.But the stats of Australia’s T20I players against spin in the BBL don’t necessarily match that theory. While spin to Lynn and Short, in particular in Powerplays have been commonplace to try and quell their influence, both have decent records against spin in the BBL.Maxwell, Aaron Finch, Alex Carey and Ben McDermott also have excellent records against spin in the BBL. One of the best spinners in BBL cricket across the eight seasons, Michael Beer, said the development of play against him and others has been clear from season one to now.ESPNcricinfo Ltd”It’s definitely changed,” Beer said.”I can almost say in the first BBL people were happy just to get through my first over. Whereas last year, people were on the attack. That’s the game changing not just the way the Aussie batsmen play.”I even look back to the first couple of BBLs, I can probably count on one hand how many guys hit me over my head for six outside of the Powerplay, because they’d see long-on and long-off and almost cut that shot out.”Now the guys think, ‘I actually hit this shot quite easily because I’ve trained, I’ve practiced it a lot more’. So, in terms of that sort of stuff I think the game and our batting has developed hugely. But obviously it’s taken awhile.”But the players’ records against spin in the IPL and in T20Is in Asia are nowhere near as good. You could mount an argument that the standard of spinners is better both internationally, and in the IPL, but there are world-class spinners playing in the BBL.ESPNcricinfo LtdThe quality of surfaces, techniques and tactics borne from a lack of experience in those conditions appear the more likely cause.”It’s not easy,” said Michael Hussey, one of Australia’s best multi-format, all-surface players.”The first time, the second time, the third time, you’re going to find it tough playing in the subcontinent. It’s not until you’ve gained some experience playing in those conditions, probably failed a few times and then slowly start to figure out. How can I play differently to score runs here? That’s been a bit of a problem. We’ve chopped and changed our team so much we haven’t probably given our guys two, three, four, five, six different goes at it to actually figure it out.”To that point, Australia have used as many as 12 different players to bat in the top seven in T20Is in this calendar year alone and 19 across the last two years.***Australia had a clear plan to be ultra-aggressive against spin in the first T20I in Abu Dhabi. It is the Australian way. Target the first ball of an over or a spell to put a spinner under immediate pressure. It backfired badly. There was panic, and a complete reversal of tactics in game two, where a cautious go-slow caused more problems. In game three they were betwixt and between.It can be written off as signs of a fragile side, devoid of experience and confidence at a vulnerable time in Australian cricket.But techniques and tactics against spin in short-form cricket are part of a wider problem in Australia’s high-performance system. Power-hitting from the crease against spin is encouraged in Australia. It does require incredible hand-eye ability, but the predictable spin and bounce from Australia’s predominantly flawless pitches allows the most talented a chance to succeed. The likes of Finch, Short, Lynn and Maxwell do as their abilities are extraordinary.”You’re quite often a product of the environment that you’re brought up on,” Hussey said. “Certainly in Australia, our pitches have been pretty flat and haven’t really turned much and you can just basically stand and deliver particularly against the spinners because there’s not a lot of spin there. But once we get to the subcontinent things are very different. You can’t just stand and deliver, or you at least have to earn that right.”High quality footwork, percentage batting and control are the hallmarks of the world’s best T20 players of spin at the moment. Rohit Sharma’s unbeaten century against West Indies was a case in point. He absorbed a maiden upfront, unperturbed by any ramifications, which in itself takes supreme confidence. He targeted the left-arm orthodox of Khary Pierre in the Powerplay striking boundaries with the first ball he faced in the fourth and sixth over. But neither were wild swipes; one with the spin, presenting the full face, over mid-off, the other with the drift over mid-on. He then milked singles from the remainder of both overs. He also allowed Fabian Allen to bowl three overs outside the Powerplay for just 17 runs, without too much risk, before unleashing consecutive slog sweeps in Allen’s fourth, the 13th of the innings, when the run-rate was barely above eight.It provided a stark contrast to Australia’s frantic early slogs against Shadab and Imad.”My observations of the great players that play spin in all forms of the game, but in T20 cricket, is they’ve got this great ability to manipulate the fields and hit the ball in different areas and a great ability to get off strike and work the ball into the gaps and play different angles and generally that comes from playing a lot later,” Hussey explained.”Whereas in Australia because the pitches are so true and a bit faster we can just hit through the line and we can get out a bit in front of ourselves and you get away with it. But on the slower pitches, you can’t really do that, you’ve got to really wait for the ball.”There is also a desire to keep hitting if you strike an early blow, to turn a possible 10-run over into a 20-run over and potentially leave your opponents a bowler short by taking a spinner out of the equation.”I don’t think it’s bad tactic to have a crack early,” Hussey said.”If you can get a boundary away in the first couple of balls he can go into a defensive frame of mind and you take pressure off yourself.”I sort of feel as though we’ve got some amazing hitters. But it’s sort of either block, block, block and then six, rather than one, two, one, one, two and then a four or six to finish the over, which turns out to be a great over. Everyone is slightly different on how they would go about that.”

Australia’s two quickest scorers against spin outside of the suspended David Warner, are Finch and Maxwell. They score at 2.14 and 1.43 runs per over respectively quicker than Rohit in all T20s over the past three years, but average 7.52 and 14.16 fewer runs per dismissal against spin.T20 batting is about risk versus reward, particularly against spin. The difference in the runs per over is merely Finch and Maxwell clearing the rope once as opposed to Rohit finding it with placement and control, while the cost of trying to clear it comes at a much higher price.No one strikes this balance better than Virat Kohli, averaging 69.35 against spin while striking at 8.49 per over the past three years in all T20s. Australia’s best, Warner, averages 40.12 while scoring at 8.77.***Adaptability and experience is a trademark of both Kohli and Warner.”You need to adapt to whatever the situation is throwing at you, really, and whatever the team needs from you at that stage,” Hussey said.”That just comes with experience. I hope, that if we identify a whole group of players that we think are good enough that we actually stick with them and give them a chance to really learn those batsmanship skills.”From a bowler’s perspective predictability made Beer’s job easier.”There’s that much footage and guys have played that much T20 cricket,” Beer said. “Nothing really comes out of the blue. Unless they’re instructed to do something they don’t normally do, not too many people get you off guard.”Australia have stuck with the batting group from the UAE for the four T20 matches against South Africa and India, with the exception of Marcus Stoinis who replaces Mitchell Marsh in the middle order.Spin was virtually a non-factor in the one-day series against South Africa and despite Imran Tahir and Tabraiz Shamsi being available for South Africa and Kuldeep Yadav and Yuzvendra Chahal for India, Hussey believes spin won’t be as big a factor in the T20s.”Generally the pitches are pretty good and they shouldn’t spin the ball as much,” Hussey said.”The mystery guys, the ones that are hard to read, they’ll pose anyone issues on any surface, so I think of someone like a Rashid Khan in the Big Bash, just because he’s so hard to pick, he’s going to be a challenge everywhere.”Like all aspects of Australia’s cricket at the moment, improved play against spin in T20 cricket will no doubt lead to better results.The equation is simple, adapt and prosper.

He could be Moyes' new Rice: Everton racing to sign "phenomenal" £15m star

by z3u9t.icu Uncategorized

Everton are far enough away from the top half and the bottom three that their Premier League season is basically said and done, but there’s still something bigger to play for.

This weekend, Goodison Park will sing for the Everton Men’s team one last time. Relegated Southampton make the trip, sure to enter a cauldron of chaos as the Toffees say goodbye to their long-held home ahead of the move to Bramley-Moore Dock this summer.

The change of scenery represents a very real juncture in the club’s history, with David Moyes back at the helm and tasked with a rebuild that will see plenty of ins and outs before the 2025/26 campaign.

Everton manager DavidMoyesbefore the match

While fans are hoping to see a new striker walk through the gates, Everton need a variety of talent, with an exciting midfielder identified already.

Everton chasing new midfielder

According to TEAMtalk, Sunderland’s Dan Neil is on Everton’s radar ahead of the summer transfer window, although a move would likely be dependent on the outcome Black Cats’ Championship play-off final tie against Sheffield United.

That said, Neil’s contract expires at the end of next season and his side would prefer to cash in while they can. This opens a road from which Everton can travel to claim the talented midfielder’s signature.

Due to the player’s contract situation, he may even be available for a cut-price fee of £15m this summer.

What Dan Neil would bring to Everton

Neil, 23, has played a crucial role in Sunderland’s rise from League One. His breakthrough actually came during the promotion-sealing season of 2021/22, and he’s now featured 196 times for his boyhood club, clinching 32 goal contributions.

Hailed as a “joy to watch” on the field by Sunderland reporter Phil Smith and as “phenomenal” by fellow EFL star Luke Molyneux, Neil’s all-round game is something that could really impact the Everton midfield, with his sharp eye for a pass, strong defensive qualities and knack for driving the ball forward and creating space for teammates a particular skill set that Moyes has made good use of in the past.

Indeed, Neil could actually prove to be the manager’s next version of Declan Rice, who might play for Arsenal now but made his name in east London, synonymous with West Ham United’s rise in Moyes’ system, instrumental in winning the Conference League in 2022/23.

Matches (starts)

44 (44)

33 (31)

Goals

2

3

Assists

3

7

Touches*

57.5

57.7

Pass completion

84%

90%

Big chances created

4

16

Key passes*

0.7

1.8

Ball recoveries*

5.7

4.3

Dribbles*

0.9

0.4

Tackles + interceptions*

2.9

2.4

Duels (won)*

4.8 (51%)

3.4 (51%

Rice is clearly the more creative player, and he’s playing top-flight football besides, but Everton fans aren’t expecting Moyes and the board to conjure up a signing carrying the elite-level status of the Gunners’ main man in the middle.

Rather, they just want to see progress, and that is exactly what Neil would provide if placed in the Everton centre. As you can see, he’s athletic, tenacious in the duel and willing to dribble the ball forward, with a crispness in possession that Moyes will need to help with his transitional play next year.

Moyes’ man management ability is second to none, and after several years of promise in the second tier, Neil is surely ready to step into the big time as an Everton player, where he could thrive as the centrepiece of a growing project.

He'd be Moyes' next Cahill: Everton plot move for "incredible" EFL star

Everton could be about to land a player who could follow in the footsteps of a former fan-favourite.

ByEthan Lamb May 15, 2025

As exciting as Mbeumo: Man Utd ramp up move for "better version of Haaland"

by h79snht.top Uncategorized

da dobrowin： The last time a Manchester United player scored 20 Premier League goals in a single season was Robin van Persie back in 2012/13, with the Red Devils having long waited to find a prolific presence again to lead the line.

da winzada777： While not a centre-forward by trade, Brentford’s Bryan Mbeumo could well be the man to end that search, with the Cameroon international reportedly deciding to join Ruben Amorim’s ranks this summer, fresh off the back of netting 20 league goals for the Bees.

That remarkable individual campaign isn’t exactly a breakthrough one for the 25-year-old, however, with his talent having been evident ever since he arrived in west London back in 2019. Indeed, a return of 121 goals and assists in 242 games in all competitions says it all.

Man Utd’s top PL scorer by season

Season

Player

Goals

2024/25

Bruno Fernandes & Amad

8

2023/24

Bruno Fernandes & Rasmus Hojlund

10

2022/23

Marcus Rashford

17

2021/22

Cristiano Ronaldo

18

2020/21

Bruno Fernandes

18

2019/20

Marcus Rashford & Anthony Martial

17

2018/19

Paul Pogba

13

2017/18

Romelu Lukaku

16

2016/17

Zlatan Ibrahimovic

17

2015/16

Anthony Martial

11

2014/15

Wayne Rooney

12

2013/14

Wayne Rooney

17

2012/13

Robin van Persie

26

Stats via Transfermarkt

Perhaps more importantly, the £60m-rated star has provided 70 goal involvements in 136 top-flight games to date, including the fourth goal as Thomas Frank’s men ravaged United at the Gtech in August 2022.

The speed and power with which the winger tore away from Luke Shaw on the counter, before slotting home, was truly breathtaking, with Amorim in desperate need of more of the same should that deal be wrapped up as expected.

With Matheus Cunha on one side and Mbeumo on the other, United could be a force to be reckoned with once again. How about throwing a new striker into the mix too?

Latest on Man Utd's search for a striker

“The most unlucky number nine Manchester United have ever had”. Those were the words directed toward Rasmus Hojlund by TNT’s Darren Fletcher during United’s 2-0 win over Aston Villa, with the struggling Dane seeing a header ruled out for offside as he once again fired a blank.

A measly return of four league goals in 2024/25 has ensured the 22-year-old could well be nudged toward the exit door this summer, with the former Atalanta man perhaps in line for a return to Serie A, amid interest from Champions League finalists, Inter.

With one number nine potentially departing, another could well be set to replace him, with Football Insider claiming that INEOS are accelerating their pursuit of Sporting CP’s Viktor Gyokeres, with Amorim believed to be keen on a reunion with his former talisman.

Transfer Focus

Mega money deals, controversial moves and big-name flops. This is the home of transfer news and opinion across Football FanCast.

The report suggests that the 26-year-old is the “dream” centre-forward target, following United’s failure to convince Liam Delap to make a move, with Amorim having signed the Swede from Coventry City in 2023.

As the piece does outline, however, the stumbling block is likely to be the financial package required to be able to sign the 6 foot 2 marksman, not least if his reported £83m release clause is accurate.

Gyokeres, Obi, Hojlund

That said, reports elsewhere have claimed that he could depart the Lisbon side for a much more reasonable fee of £59m, with that surely worth the outlay for a player who has been in red-hot form of late.

Why Man Utd need to fork out for Gyokeres

Managing to land a player like Mbeumo – considering his Premier League-proven quality – would no doubt represent a real coup, with analyst Ben Mattinson lauding the former Troyes star as “one of the most deadly players on transition” in the top-flight.

Just as exciting, however, would be the prospect of signing the “hottest striker in Europe”, as hailed by ESPN’s Mark Ogden, with Gyokeres having set the world alight following his prolific form in Portugal.

Formerly the scourge of Championship defences, after scoring 46 goals in 117 games for Coventry, the in-demand star has gone to a whole new level at Sporting, having registered 97 goals in just 102 games over the last two years.

It is that rampant form which has led outspoken pundit Rafael van der Vaart to hail Gyokeres as perhaps a “better version of [Erling] Haaland”, with his fellow Scandinavian memorably scoring 86 goals in 89 games for Borussia Dortmund, before joining Manchester City in 2022.

Both men did shine during the inaugural league phase of the Champions League last season, with Gyokeres netting six times in eight appearances, while Haaland scored eight goals in nine games for Pep Guardiola’s side.

Gyokeres vs Haaland – UCL stats 24/25

Stat (per 90)

Gyokeres

Haaland

Non-penalty goals

0.59

0.70

Shots

3.26

4.21

Assists

0.15

0.00

Shot-creating actions

3.85

1.52

Pass completion

80.0%

74.4%

Progressive passes

1.78

1.05

Progressive carries

4.29

0.94

Successful take-ons

1.18

0.35

Touches in opposition box

6.07

6.79

Progressive passes received

9.47

3.75

Stats via FBref

The Norwegian machine may have outscored the Sporting sensation, although – as Van der Vaart alluded to – it was Gyokeres who showcased more to his game, as evidenced with regard to his superior record in progressive carries, pass completion and shot-creating actions.

The scorer of 39 league goals to boot – ahead of Haaland’s return of 22 Premier League goals – the one-time Brighton man appears to be the prolific presence that United are crying out for, with the club only netting 44 times as a whole in England’s top-flight last time out.

Partnering two players who have been there and done it in the Premier League – in the form of Cunha and Mbeumo – with a figure who just can’t stop scoring right now could prove the perfect combination, with United still longing for the days of Carlos Tevez, Cristiano Ronaldo and Wayne Rooney leading the line.

Of course, these three potential summer arrivals would have to go some way to match the levels of those 2008 Champions League heroes, although it’s hard to think of a more exciting triumvirate since.

The new Cavani: Man Utd in talks to sign "outrageous" £50m Mbeumo partner

Manchester United could land a player who could star at Old Trafford alongside Bryan Mbeumo.

2 ByEthan Lamb Jun 3, 2025

Markram: Defeat 'gut-wrenching' and 'good for it to sting'

by csb10.top Uncategorized

Aiden Markram vowed that South Africa’s near-miss in the T20 World Cup final will “fire us up” for future tournaments, but admitted that their failure to win their first major title after needing 30 runs from the final five overs was “gut-wrenching” and “pretty tough to deal with”.This was South Africa’s first men’s World Cup final in either white-ball format and they looked nailed on to chase 176 after the 15th over of their innings, which saw Axar Patel concede 22. But India’s bowlers conceded a single boundary – via Kagiso Rabada’s outside edge – in the final 30 balls to pull off a seven-run win and leave South Africa to dwell on what might have been.Asked to put his emotions into words, Markram said: “I don’t think I can say them yet, to be honest. It’s tough. This group is a great bunch of people. In my opinion, they deserve really good things to go their way.Related

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  • Magic moments – Bumrah, Klaasen and SKY go flash, bam, alakazam

  • History weighs heavy as South Africa die another death

“I had a really good feeling about this competition before we came here and as the competition went on, that feeling got stronger and stronger. It’s pretty tough to deal with now, but it’s sport at the end of the day: someone’s going to win, someone’s going to lose. And we’ll try to use it to fire us up for future events.”The core of South Africa’s side are aged 28 to 34, with Marco Jansen and Tristan Stubbs the only younger players picked for the final. Some of them will have moved on by the time of the next T20 World Cup in India and Sri Lanka in early 2026, with Quinton de Kock’s retirement expected imminently, but Markram believes the rest will use this defeat to spur them on.”It’s a great group of guys that’s been together for quite a long time now,” he said. “To get to our first final, like I mentioned a few days ago, it’s something we can be proud of [but] still, in our eyes, not good enough. You’re not satisfied with making a final… it’ll take a bit of time for us to reflect back on all the good things that we’ve done, but obviously for the time being, it just hurts a lot.”David Miller wonders what could have been•ICC/Getty Images

Markram said he was “proud” of how his team performed throughout the competition, winning eight games out of eight to reach the final: “In hindsight, things will still feel really good about this competition. Just for the time being, it stings a bit, but it’s good for it to sting. It gives you that little bit of fire in the belly for the next time that you’re here.”He also said that by reaching their first final, South Africa have become “one step closer” and that when they finally win one, there will be “a snowball effect of quite a few to come… It’s tournament cricket, it’s tough cricket. It’s not easy to win trophies and you’ve got to take your hats off to a team like India for lifting the trophy. A lot of hard work goes into it.”It’s just gut-wrenching. That’s really what it is. Each player has been on a different individual journey to get to this first final. Ultimately, you become really tight as a group and you want good things to happen to this group because you know they’re great people.”When you get really close like that, especially the nature of how the game went, obviously adds to the emotions. It’s one of those things but, we can channel it moving forward. I think for the next couple of days you let it be, you let yourself feel the way you want to feel and then really start reflecting in a positive manner.”Markram also singled Heinrich Klaasen out for praise, after his innings of 52 off 27 balls took South Africa into their position of strength with five overs remaining. “It was special,” Markram said. “We’ve seen him do it many, many times around the world.”To deliver it on a stage like this is a really special effort. It’s going to be tough for him [but] when we reflect back, there’s going to be lots of things to be happy about and I’m sure that knock would have made it really tough to put in a performance like that.”

ريال مدريد يحدد ثلاثة لاعبين لتدعيم خط الدفاع .. والكشف عن الهدف الرئيسي

by h79snht.top Uncategorized

كشفت صحيفة “ماركا” اليوم الخميس، عن آخر التطورات المتعلقة بخطط نادي ريال مدريد لتدعيم صفوفه خلال فترة الميركاتو الصيفي العام المقبل.

ريال مدريد خاض ميركاتو صيفي هذا العام جيد للغاية، وذلك بالتعاقد مع كل من ترينت ألكسندر أرنولد من ليفربول، ودين هويسن من بورنموث، وفرانكو ماستانتونو من ريفر بلايت، إضافة إلى تصعيد جونزالو جارسيا من الكاستيا إلى الفريق الأول.

وأشارت الصحيفة إلى أن المركز الرئيسي الذي يستهدف نادي ريال مدريد تدعيمه هو مركز قلب الدفاع، خصوصًا مع احتمالية رحيل أنطونيو روديجير، وديفيد ألابا.

وسوف تنتهي عقود ألابا بجانب روديجير مع ريال مدريد بنهاية الموسم الجاري ، وعلى الأرجح لن يتم تجديد عقود الثنائي لتقدمهما في السن وتراجعهما في المستوى.

اقرأ أيضًا .. تروي ديني منتقدًا محمد صلاح: لم يلعب بشكل جيد أيضًا الموسم الماضي

وأفادت الصحيفة، أن ريال مدريد حدد كلًا من دايوت أوباميكانو، لاعب بايرن ميونخ، وقائد كريستال بالاس مارك جويهي، إضافة إلى إبراهيما كوناتي، نجم نادي ليفبول، كأهداف رئيسية لتدعيم مركز قلب الدفاع صيف العام المقبل.

وتنتهي عقود أوباميكانو، وكوناتي، وجويهي مع فرقهم بنهاية الموسم الجاري، مما يعني إمكانية التعاقد معهم مجانًا.

وأضاف المصدر قائلًا أن كوناتي وأوباميكانو على رادار إدارة ريال مدريد منذ فترة طويلة، لكن جويهي انضم لهذه القائمة وقد يوقع معه الفريق الملكي.

وأردف المصدر، أن ريال مدريد يفضل التعاقد مع كوناتي، والذي يبلغ من العمر 26 عامًا.

ويعول مدرب نادي ريال مدريد، تشابي ألونسو، على خدمات هويسن بجانب إيدير ميليتاو، في مركز قلب الدفاع بجانب تواجد راؤول أسينسيو كخيار ثالث مع إصابة روديجير وتراجع مستوى ألابا.

Controversial Lea Schuller strike sees Germany close in on Euro 2025 quarter-finals and leaves Denmark on the brink of elimination after VAR-dominated encounter

by n8rngtd.top Uncategorized

Germany came from behind to record a vital win over Denmark in the European Championship group stages, albeit in controversial circumstances.

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  • Schuller scored winner
  • Denmark appealed for a head injury stoppage
  • Germany as good as through
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    Germany all but secured their qualification for the European Championship knockout stages as they came from behind to beat Denmark 2-1 in a tense, entertaining game that was dominated by VAR on Tuesday evening.

    Christian Wuck's side thought they had the lead after 17 minutes, as Klara Buhl fired a low effort through a group of players, but VAR ruled that Sjoeke Nusken touched the ball from an offside position as it flew into the back of the net, and it was subsequently ruled out.

    And within eight minutes, Denmark left Germany reeling by taking the lead thanks to a brilliant strike from Amalie Vangsgaard; capitalising on a loose touch in the defensive third, she unleashed a rasping drive from the edge of the box that found the bottom corner.

    Amazingly, in the 39th minute, VAR again intervened, to deny Die Nationalelf a penalty. The referee had initially given it for a handball after a cross struck the hand of Frederikke Thogersen, but the replays showed that the contact took place outside of the box, and a free-kick was awarded instead.

    After the restart, Germany finally had VAR go their way, as Linda Dallmann went down in the box under a challenge from Katrine Veje. A review followed, and after sending the referee to the screen, a penalty was given. Nusken stepped up and finished from 12 yards.

    They kept their foot on the accelerator, and had the lead in the 66th minute. Denmark attempted to clear, but ended up firing the ball into the face of Emma Snerle, who went down with a head injury. Germany played on, and Jule Brand found Lea Schuller, who finished coolly to give her side a controversial lead.

    Germany stayed solid thereafter, limiting Denmark to a handful of attacks, as they saw out a vital victory.

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    THE MVP

    Nusken was at the centre of absolutely everything good for Germany. She scored a pressure penalty, and ran her heart out in central midfield, all the while geeing up her team-mates and dragging them along when Denmark had the upper hand. A terrific midfield performance.

  • Getty Images Sport

    THE BIG LOSER

    Snerle was so unfortunate to be struck by the ball as she was, given Denmark were attempting to clear their lines, but it directly led to Germany's winner. The referee should have stopped the game because it was a head injury, but because she didn't, it is the only selection we can make. She will hope to recover in time to play a role in the final group game but, without her injury, maybe the Danes take a vital point. Football really is a cruel sport.

  • WHAT COMES NEXT?

    Germany are as good as though and will face Sweden in their final group game on Saturday. Denmark will face Poland on the same day, although they could be out by the time that game is played, if Sweden beat Poland in their fixture on Tuesday evening.

More bad-light farce at The Oval as Chris Woakes is forced to bowl spin mid-over

by n8rngtd.top Uncategorized

Incredulity at The Oval as cloud cover causes umpires to intervene mid-over

Andrew Miller07-Sep-2024After an opening day dominated by a lengthy delay for bad light, the third Test between England and Sri Lanka at the Kia Oval plumbed farcical new depths on the second afternoon, when Chris Woakes was forced to bowl spin midway through an over, due to the on-field umpires’ concerns about the deteriorating conditions.The incident occurred two balls into the seventh over of Sri Lanka’s innings, moments after they lost their first wicket when Dimuth Karunaratne was run out for 9 by Olly Stone’s direct hit from the covers.Kusal Mendis came in at No. 3 to face his first ball, but with an increase in cloud cover between deliveries, Joel Wilson and Chris Gaffaney decreed it was now too dark for quick bowling, albeit Woakes’ average speed in this Test match has been in the region of 80mph.The decision was met with a chorus of boos from a capacity Oval crowd, as well as bemusement in the commentary box. Michael Atherton declared on Sky Sports that “the game’s gone mad” as Woakes served up a first-ball long-hop that Mendis pulled to deep midwicket for a single, then added “oh, that’s filth” as Woakes’ next delivery pitched three feet outside off stump.Joe Root reacted with an amused raise of the eyebrows, while Ben Stokes – on the England balcony – gesticulated his disbelief before turning to walk into the dressing room.A third-ball long-hop was then dragged for four by Pathum Nissanka, meaning that the interlude cost England six runs from four balls. The farce was then compounded moments later, when the cloud cover rolled away, and Gus Atkinson, England’s fastest bowler on show, was permitted to continue after a subsequent light-meter reading.It was the third time in as many Tests that Ollie Pope, England’s stand-in captain, had been required to make a decision about how England responded to the umpires’ concerns.At Old Trafford, he had chosen to stay on in gloomy conditions, bowling 12 consecutive overs of spin that arguably helped Sri Lanka to recover from a nadir of 113 for 7 to reach 236. At Lord’s, on the other hand, he chose to take his players off early rather than risk wasting the new ball, a decision that brought strong condemnation from England’s former white-ball captain Eoin Morgan.Pope then chose to stay on the field while the light faded once more after tea on the second afternoon at The Oval, with Bashir, Dan Lawrence and Joe Root bowling 17 consecutive overs of spin in the final session, as Sri Lanka again capitalised through Dhananjaya de Silva and Kamindu Mendis, who added 118 unbeaten runs for the sixth wicket before the umpires took the players off for good.According to Law 2.7.1, which pertains to bad light and other weather-related issues, “it is solely for the umpires together to decide whether either conditions of ground, weather or light or exceptional circumstances mean that it would be dangerous or unreasonable for play to take place”.However, the law subsequently adds: “Conditions shall not be regarded as either dangerous or unreasonable merely because they are not ideal.”The Woakes incident followed on from a frustrating opening day of the contest, which featured a near three-hour delay from 12.18pm to 3.10pm, in which barely a drop of rain fell but a dense layer of cloud cover prevented a resumption. Play was then suspended again at 5.54pm, and abandoned shortly before 6.30pm, with just 44.1 of the day’s scheduled 90 overs possible.Speaking at the close of the opening day, however, Ben Duckett defended the decision, and argued that England’s batting – led by his 86 from 79 balls and a first home-ground century for Pope – had given the fans their money’s worth.”I think they saw quite a good day’s cricket in the short amount of time there was,” Duckett said. “That’s living in England and playing cricket in England, they’re the conditions. It’s very easy to sit there as a supporter and want to see more cricket but if it does get really dark and more dangerous, we’re the ones out there playing.”

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