أشاد جيانلويجي دوناروما حارس مرمى مانشستر سيتي الإنجليزي بأحد زملائه في الفريق وقد فضله على كيليان مبابي نجم ريال مدريد.
وقال دوناروما في حوار مع “ديلي ميل” البريطانية: “أفضل وجود إيرلينج هالاند في فريقي على كيليان مبابي”.
ويعتقد حارس المرمى الإيطالي أن زميله في الفريق إيرلينج هالاند يتمتع بصفات رائعة تجعله يتفوق على كيليان مبابي نجم ريال مدريد.
اقرأ أيضاً.. جوارديولا: كنا خارج سباق البريميرليج بعد أول ثلاث مباريات.. وليفربول سيعود
وأضاف دوناروما: “أعتقد أن إيرلينج قادر على تسديد أقوى التسديدات في كرة القدم العالمية، إنه أعسر لذا فهو مختلف عن كيليان مبابي، كلاهما يصعب مواجهتهما، الأمر معقد”.
جدير بالذكر أن دوناروما قد انضم إلى مانشستر سيتي الصيف الماضي قادمًا من باريس سان جيرمان بعد خروجه من حسابات المدرب الإسباني لويس إنريكي، وقد فاز مع الفريق الفرنسي بالعديد من الألقاب مثل دوري أبطال أوروبا الموسم الماضي.
ويحتل مانشستر سيتي هذا الموسم في جدول ترتيب الدوري الإنجليزي الممتاز المركز الثاني برصيد 16 نقطة خلال 8 مباريات.
If not for two persistent mentors, this season’s leading wicket-taker of the T20 tournament would have been lost to cricket
Deivarayan Muthu08-Sep-2019On the night of August 15, G Periyaswamy found himself hoisted on the shoulders of his team-mates, with fireworks going off around them, to celebrate their second Tamil Nadu Premier League title. He had just taken five wickets to defend a total of 126 in the 20-over final, which took his tournament tally to 21 wickets – the most by a bowler in one TNPL season. So it wasn’t surprising that he was named player of the final and the tournament.The surprise was in how he overcame disability and difficult circumstances to get to a place where IPL scouts and Tamil Nadu selectors are now paying attention.Periyaswamy fell in love with cricket around the age of seven, but a bout of smallpox had blinded him in his right eye, which made him a target of jibes and insults at school. That made him drop out after seventh grade. He then suffered a bout of severe typhoid, followed by a knee injury. All of that, and his family’s stressful financial circumstances, threatened to end his career before it even took off, but his friend and mentor, medium-pacer T Natarajan, who plays for Tamil Nadu, and Kovai Kings in the TNPL, refused to let him give up.Periyaswamy had not played under lights with the white ball before, but he shone the brightest in this season’s TNPL with his slingy, Lasith Malinga-like action. Even some of the higher-profile Tamil Nadu players struggled to gauge his point of release. His yorkers, in the 135kph range, thudded into the base of the stumps and his cutters tricked batsmen into miscuing shots.His Chepauk Super Gillies team-mate and India allrounder Vijay Shankar said Periyaswamy was the side’s “X factor”, and was particularly impressed with how he had made the step up to a higher level of cricket.A couple of years ago, Periyaswamy attended trials for Dindigul Dragons, but they didn’t pick him. Chepauk, though, picked him as their first player in the draft this season and he helped them get to the title, brushing Dindigul aside twice in the knockouts: he followed his 3 for 27, which included the wicket of Dindigul captain R Ashwin, in the first qualifier with 5 for 15 in the final against them.”” [It feels like a dream], Periyaswamy says. “I never expected to first play the TNPL and then win it. I had to work, and I had to ask permission from my family to come and play in this tournament.”Coming from tennis-ball cricket, I initially struggled to grip the white ball, but then got used to it. This slingy action and the yorker come naturally to me. I didn’t feel much pressure playing under lights, even with the matches being shown on TV. We face pressure in tennis-ball T20s too.”
A perfect tribute to the King of Yorkers!
Here’s Namma Periyaswamy chanelling his inner #Malinga to set the stumps on fire against the Kovai Kings! #NammaPasangaNammaGethu #TNPL2019 pic.twitter.com/9o4j0DBhxu
— TNPL (@TNPremierLeague) July 30, 2019
On the night of the final, Periyaswamy’s family back home in Chinnappampatti, a hamlet about 30 kilometres west of Salem, also celebrated his success with fireworks. It had not been easy for them to let him go to pursue his dream. They needed his wages to make ends meet. At one point, Periyaswamy himself thought cricket ” [I can’t continue playing cricket], but two locals convinced his family that he had the talent to do it professionally – his mentor Natarajan and Jayaprakash, who runs the Chinnappampatti cricket club.”I am here because of Natarajan [older brother] and Jayaprakash ,” Periyaswamy says. “They came and spoke to my parents, asking them to let me play this tournament.”Periyaswamy’s father, Ganesan, runs a small tea stall and his mother, Gandhamani, rears cattle. After losing vision in his right eye, Periyaswamy found solace in playing tennis-ball street cricket in his village, but he juggled it with cattle-rearing and working as a weaver.Jayaprakash first came across Periyaswamy in 2011 and was impressed by his very round-arm action. Natarajan and Periyaswamy would combine to win several trophies for their club in tennis-ball cricket with their yorkers and slower variations.Periyaswamy went on to break into the Under-19 district side and became a yorker specialist, but then came the typhoid and the knee injury, which threatened to crush his dreams again.By then Natarajan had graduated to league cricket in Chennai – and later made it to the IPL and the state team. He and Jayaprakash always had Periyaswamy’s back.G Periyaswamy was the Player of the Tournament in this season’s TNPL for his 21 wickets•TNPL/TNCA”After Periyaswamy was down with typhoid, he became very weak and had body aches,” Jayaprakash recalls. “We consulted a doctor in Salem and after one month he recovered from fever. Then he had problems in his leg. We used to pick him up from his home at 4am, consult doctors in Coimbatore, and even Bangalore, and then drop him back after treatment. Natarajan and I always knew he had the talent to succeed. Natarajan moved to Chennai to play cricket, but he always looked after Periyaswamy.”Periyaswamy took a break from cricket at one point to work as a welder, to help his family. However, having seen a spark in his bowling, Natarajan, with assistance from a couple of club managers in Chennai, brought him to the city, to play lower-division cricket.After playing the 2017 IPL, where he was bought for Rs 3 crore by Kings XI Punjab, Natarajan set up his own cricket academy in Chinnappampatti to coach players for free. Periyaswamy was one of those players, but Natarajan soon realised he might need more help than his academy could give. In January this year, he put the bowler in touch with Tamil Nadu physio Thulasi Ram, who worked on his fitness and tuned him up for a stint with a second-division club in Chennai.Periyaswamy was intimidated by the big-city life – he still is, according to Natarajan – but his accurate yorkers made Chepauk coach Hemang Badani and performance analyst Lakshmi Narayanan (who also works with Chennai Super Kings) sit up and take notice. And despite his blindness, Periyaswamy is a good outfielder.Players who can bowl yorkers and mystery balls usually pique the interest of franchises at IPL auctions. Cases in point: Natarajan himself, Shivil Kaushik, KC Cariappa, and more recently, Varun Chakaravarthy.When Periyaswamy bowled to Natarajan in the TNPL in Tirunelveli, he did so wearing shoes that used to belong to Natarajan. After that match, Periyaswamy joked to the host broadcaster that he will never dismiss Natarajan and will instead look to beat his edges.Off the field, Periyaswamy is quiet, even in the dressing room. In contrast, in Chinnappampatti he is known as an entertainer who can mimic voices of famous Tamil cinema actors like Rajinikanth and Vijayakanth and former Tamil Nadu chief minister M Karunanidhi.Natarajan hopes the TNPL will finally launch the 25-year old’s stop-start career.”A lot of people have discouraged him throughout his life and that has broken him,” Natarajan says. “But I always knew he had something in him. His slower-ball variation is not easy to pick.”He can swing the ball in, attack the stumps, and gets a lot of wickets lbw or bowled. The next step for him is to do more strengthening and improve his fitness. Let’s wait and see if he gets into the IPL, but for now I’m eagerly hoping to open the bowling with Periyaswamy for Tamil Nadu this domestic season.”Periyaswamy is now back in his village, juggling cricket and work once again to help repay his family’s debts. It remains to be seen if a call-up for Tamil Nadu or the IPL arrives, but his story is already one of triumph in the face of adversity.
A fan relives a perfect day out at The Oval, where India beat Australia
Sudhindra Prasad10-Jun-2019Choice of game
911. That’s just a concatenation of my current plan and eventual hope for this tournament – I’ll be at all nine India group games and hope for India to play the maximum of 11 games, obviously with me attending them all. My brother, Raghavendra, travelled from Bangalore to accompany me to eight India league games.Team supported
India. As some cricketers say, if one has a long career, the milestones come along. Similar from a fans’ perspective, if one attends events constantly over years, then milestones happen. Having been at Ahmedabad 2011 and Sydney 2015, this was my hat-trick of India-Australia World Cup encounters. While my brother accompanied me to the 2011 quarter-final, he did not travel to Sydney in 2015. It was a successful comeback for the siblings.Key performers
Shikhar Dhawan was the standout performer. His aggression at the top and relentless strokeplay through the middle overs made life difficult for the Australian attack. That solid platform provided the license for the middle order of Hardik Pandya, MS Dhoni and KL Rahul to throw caution to the wind.Wow moment
The wow moment for me was a very Aussie effort by one of the Indian fielders. Aaron Finch had made his intentions clear with 19 runs off the 10th over and worryingly, the Indian attack did not appear to have a retort to Finch in prime form. As Warner hit the ball towards extra cover, the call for two seemed a risky affair from the outset. I watched closely from the stands, as Kedar Jadhav rushed in, picked the ball up and quickly relayed it back to Pandya to break the stumps. It was apparent with the naked eye that Finch was a goner and the crowd roared in approval of that superlative Jadhav effort.One thing I would have changed
With David Warner being out of sorts, I would have sent in Glenn Maxwell or Alex Carey in place of Usman Khawaja at No.3 to stop Australia from getting too far behind in the chase.Gripe factor
Warner got away off the first ball from Jasprit Bumrah, wherein the ball hit the stumps, but the bails didn’t dislodge. It is extremely frustrating that the ICC has let the situation drift to this point. My greatest fear is that this could occur at a crucial juncture of the tournament and could mean the end of the road for some team. That would be a travesty.Getty ImagesJerseys and A-B-C tales
The Australian World Cup attire brought back my first memories of cricket – the World Series Cricket with its floodlights, white ball and more significantly, mind-blowing jersey designs. It centred around something fundamental as A-B-C.On a Sunday morning, as we cousins gathered eagerly to watch the delayed telecast of the Australia-India game, my uncle stormed out of his bedroom and later the house for a walk around our locality Malleshwaram in Bangalore to calm himself, stating 161 was never enough and that we kids shouldn’t waste our time watching the game. He was up from the early hours listening to ball-by-ball commentary from the Australian Broadcasting Corporation.A-B-C: The mid-80s were all about the grit and resolve of Allan Border, who rebuilt a flailing Australian team along with Bob Simpson. The acronym ABC back then stood for Allan Border and Century, Allan Border and Catch, Allan Border and Cup, Allan Border and Championship etc.Crowd meter
India supporters occupied more than 90% of the stadium, with isolated pockets of Australia fans. The stadium was absolutely packed and unlike Hampshire Bowl in Southampton, the cramped seating at The Oval packed more people together and certainly added to the decibel levels.Fancy dress index
While Australian supporters predominantly stuck to match jerseys, their Indian counterparts came up with innovative versions of their traditional wear. The 1999 World cup jersey replicas are on sale through the ICC fan shops and many fans sported their respective country replicas. While it wasn’t quite fancy dress, a group of about four-five England supporters were spotted outside the Lock/Laker stand, sporting India’s 1999 jerseys and hats, loudly chanting “”. Obviously they had taken to support the opponents of their traditional enemy.Close encounter
Seemingly not recognised by the fans milling around, the unassuming Monty Panesar sported a relaxed look as he headed out of the Pavilion stand. He stopped to acknowledge and pose for selfies with the few fans who did recognise him.Shot of the day
In this age of T20-fuelled batting, Maxwell’s second boundary in the 37th over was the sort one wouldn’t associate with him in such a chase. The delicate glide between the keeper and gully got a boundary and also got opposition fans to worry.An Oval swansong?
Dhoni’s presence sent the crowd into delirium as “Dhoni, Dhoni” chants erupted spontaneously. As Dhoni departed after a good little cameo, it just occurred to me that this might well be the last occasion for us to have seen him play in an Indian jersey in that wonderful ground in Lambeth.Marks out of 10
An absolute 10 and a perfect day out. Fantastic all-round display by India, the best atmosphere I have ever experienced over the decades at The Oval, with plenty of singing through the day and a post-match party at the Fentiman Arms with friends.Want to do a Fan Following report? Read our FAQ here.
Liverpool fell by the wayside under Arne Slot’s wing last season, the Dutch tactician getting the sack as the Anfield side failed to qualify for the Champions League and went without silverware.
That paragraph is completely, painfully incorrect, but it perhaps conveys the result that rivals had hoped for and expected after Jurgen Klopp packed his bags and left Liverpool at the end of the 2023/24 term.
Arne Slot celebrates Liverpool's Premier League triumph
Liverpool might have lost Trent Alexander-Arnold to Real Madrid, but things are going well indeed, with the Reds revelling in the glory of winning the Premier League and now making staggering moves in the transfer market.
FSG are planning for extensive changes this summer, and Bayer Leverkusen’s Florian Wirtz is sure to be the cream of the crop, currently in the process of signing for the Merseysiders.
However, Liverpool need new forwards too. Wirtz is technically an attacker, but he’s more of a playmaker, a string puller.
Liverpool looking for new forwards
With Luis Diaz potentially leaving Liverpool this summer, courted by Barcelona and Saudi Arabian side Al-Nassr, Reds sporting director Richard Hughes may want to turn toward a new wideman.
Liverpool's Arne Slot and Luis Diaz
And if recent reports are to be believed, Newcastle United’s Anthony Gordon is one of Liverpool’s top targets to replace their Colombian talent.
Gordon, however, has struggled to recapture his form from 2023/24, and given the Magpies want £80m for his sale, Liverpool might be better off focusing their time and resources elsewhere.
Anthony Gordon looks dejected for Liverpool
Though the England international’s dynamism and ability to shift across the frontline is something which echoes Diaz, who has played a false nine role at times in Slot’s set-up, there might be another option on the market who can play that Bobby Firmino-esque role.
Though Wirtz would be the obvious pick for such a position, he might actually be placed on the wing during his Liverpool career, for his ball-carrying skills are “out of this world”, according to one data analyst.
Real Madrid star Rodrygo faces an uncertain future at the Santiago Bernabeu, and while Arsenal are interested in striking a deal for the Brazilian, Liverpool have also been credited with an interest last month, holding discussions to ascertain the feasibility of launching an official bid.
But given Los Blancos would be hoping to bank around €100m (£84m) for the 24-year-old’s sale, FSG would need to be certain he’s the man for the job.
Luckily, Rodrygo ticks all the boxes, and could be the perfect fit.
Why Liverpool should sign Rodrygo
Real Madrid signed Rodrygo from Brasileiro Serie A giants Santos in a deal worth €45m (£39m) back in 2019, when the talented young forward turned 18.
He’s been immense in white, praised as a “world-class superstar” by former teammate Luka Modric. Rodrygo perhaps doesn’t get the acclaim teammates like Vinicius Junior, Kylian Mbappe and Jude Bellingham reap, but then he’s often placed on the right flank, which he doesn’t enjoy.
That’s because it inhibits the right-footer’s goalscoring, and given that Mohamed Salah has extended his Liverpool contract by two years, the Brazil star shouldn’t have that problem, instead allowed to play on the left or in the false nine role that Diaz has performed across the past year.
Right winger
145
34
30
Centre-forward
82
22
8
Left winger
78
23
16
Attacking midfield
4
–
1
It’s not as if he hasn’t played in the centre before, and with such dynamic technical qualities, Rodrygo could become Salah’s new Firmino, ranking as he does among the top 2% of positional peers across Europe’s top five leagues over the past year for pass completion, as per FBref.
Regarded as a “magician” by Statman Dave, the £202k-per-week talent has a similar silkiness to his compatriot, who in his Liverpool pomp was one of the most elegant and influential forwards in the business.
Excitingly, Rodrygo is also a superior finisher to Firmino, evidenced by his missing just one big chance in La Liga this season, converting six big chances, as per Sofascore.
Moreover, he’s one of the definitive big-game players of his generation, as evidenced by his immense record in the Champions League knockout rounds.
As Liverpool look to clinch number seven in the coming years, Rodrygo’s profile would be doubly important. You’d have to say, his record and indeed future potential suggest Liverpool would be better off moving for him than pushing ahead with a move for Newcastle’s Gordon.
With Salah likely entering the penultimate year of his legendary Liverpool career, finding the right formula to win the Champions League is going to be crucial for the Egyptian, who would certainly relish the opportunity to play alongside a seasoned continental star like Rodrygo.
And further to the point, Rodrygo’s finishing could find the perfect battery power in Salah, who stormed his way toward the Premier League Playmaker award this season, scoring 34 goals from 52 matches in all competitions but also laying on 23 assists.
Two years ago, Salah declared his departing Brazilian peer would be remembered as one of “the best players to ever play for Liverpool”, and now he could find a new incarnation of Bobby Dazzler in Rodrygo.
Only a few months ago, in March, Jude Bellingham claimed Rodrygo is “the most gifted player in the squad.”
It’s clear that Rodrygo isn’t drawing the praise he perhaps deserves, and if Liverpool were to make their move, he could become a bona fide superstar in the Premier League, acting as the connective force in the frontline to elevate Salah and combine with Wirtz.
Rodrygo, for sure, could emulate his iconic countryman Firmino and become a staple of the incipient era at Anfield.
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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.
da betsson： It has been a long and rather dismal campaign for Arsenal this season.
da cassino： Mikel Arteta’s side have once again failed to claim the Premier League title, although instead of just losing out to Manchester City, they have fallen miles short of Arne Slot’s Liverpool.
Going into the final game of the season, the North Londoners are 12 points off the Reds and, perhaps even more worryingly, have scored 18 fewer goals.
Arsenal manager MikelArtetalooks dejected after the match
This evident weakness in the Gunners’ attack is something the board are clearly aiming to deal with in the summer, as reports have linked them to a whole host of incredibly talented players, including Nico Williams.
However, even with his lofty price tag, one of Arsenal’s own stars is worth millions more.
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Arsenal have been credited with an intense interest in Williams for the best part of a year now, and according to reports from earlier this month, he remains a ‘top priority’ ahead of the summer transfer window.
Athletic Bilbao'sNicoWilliamscelebrates scoring their third goal
The story confirms that the North Londoners will need to activate the release clause in his contract to bring him to the club, which stands at a cool £48m.
With that said, then, what is it about the young winger that has made him such a firm target for the Premier League runners-up?
First and foremost, he’s a direct left-winger who can both score and create goals with relative ease.
For example, in 37 appearances for the Athletic Bilbao last season, the Pamplona-born dynamo scored eight goals and provided 18 assists, which comes out to an average of a goal involvement every 1.42 games.
Spain'sNicoWilliamsin action with Netherlands' Jeremie Frimpong and Donyell Male
He’s not been quite as sensationally effective this season, but he’s still been a useful outlet, scoring 11 goals and providing seven assists in 44 games, which is an average of a goal involvement every 2.44 games.
On top of his raw output, he has also shown an ability to deal with the biggest games.
He opened the scoring for Spain in their European Championships Final triumph against England last summer and also provided an assist in the final of last season’s Copa de Rey, which Bilbao won.
In all, it would be fair to say that Williams more than justifies the price tag Arsenal would have to pay for him, although if he does join the club, he’d have to hit the ground running to see his valuation match that of one of his new teammates.
The Arsenal star worth millions more than Williams
To tell the truth, there are actually several players who are worth more than Williams in the Arsenal squad, but in this case, we are talking about one of the club’s breakout stars from this season: Ethan Nwaneri.
Yes, even though this year has been the teenager’s first proper taste of regular first-team football, he’s been so impressive that his valuation has skyrocketed.
For example, Football Transfers now value the 18-year-old at a whopping €74.3, which is about £63m, or around £15m more than the fee the Gunners have to pay to sign Williams.
Now, this might all sound rather absurd to some of you, but there are some reasons for this, chief among them being the fact that the often “unplayable” gem, as dubbed by Jack Wilshere, has already scored nine goals and provided two assists in 36 appearances, totalling 1303 minutes this season.
In other words, the Hale Ender is currently averaging a goal involvement every 3.27 games, or more importantly, every 118.45 minutes, which is undeniably brilliant.
Moreover, given how he’s adapted to senior football so seemingly, there is no telling what his ceiling may be.
With that said, how does he stack up with the Bilbao gem when we compare their underlying numbers from this season?
Nwaneri vs Williams
Statistics
Nwaneri
Williams
Non-Penalty G+As
0.66
0.47
Progressive Passes
3.30
3.19
Progressive Carries
4.84
5.31
Goals per Shot
0.18
0.10
Goals per Shot on Target
0.50
0.26
Passing Accuracy
80.2%
70.7%
Key Passes
1.32
1.83
Passes into the Penalty Area
1.43
1.31
Passes into the Final Third
1.76
1.08
Crosses into the Penalty Area
0.66
0.38
Shot-Creating Actions
2.41
5.12
Successful Take-Ons
3.52
2.96
All Stats via FBref for the 24/25 Season
Well, it might surprise some people to find out that overall, it’s the youngster who comes out on top, as in the majority of relevant metrics, he does better.
The metrics include, but are not limited to, non-penalty goals plus assists, progressive passes, goals per shot and shot on target, passes into the penalty area and final third, crosses into the penalty area, successful take-ons and more, all per 90.
Ultimately, Arsenal should do what they can to sign Williams this summer, as he looks like he could add some much-needed dynamism to their left-hand side.
Still, in Nwaneri, the club already have another young talent who could further establish himself in the first-team next season.
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Everton signed off at Goodison Park with a rip-roaring victory over relegated Southampton, marking a historic and unforgettable day for Blues across Merseyside and beyond.
With no hyperbole, the emotion was palpable as the Premier League match entered the dying embers.
It was an emotional farewell, one which was always going to end with three points for the hosts. It was Southampton, but it could have been anyone unfortunate enough to be swallowed into the noisy sea of Everton support.
Everton say goodbye to Goodison Park
The Toffees have weathered some storms in recent years, and no mistake, but with David Moyes back at the helm, there’s something cyclical about this change of scenery.
It’s a new beginning, but one which shouldn’t see the club lose their sense of place, nor their deep-rooted ‘Evertonism’ as they finally close the door at Goodison Park for the final time.
And what a send-off. The fans were out in force, and so too were some club legends and former icons. Tim Cahill, Peter Reid and Graeme Sharp were all there as special guests, as was Wayne Rooney.
Rooney might not have played the prime years of his career out on Merseyside, but he was reared in the city and raised to the professional level by Moyes before signing for Manchester United in a £30m deal, aged 18.
One of the Premier League’s superstars, Everton may well have found their new version of the Three Lions legend, and he took centre-stage on Sunday.
Everton's new Wayne Rooney
Moyes elevated numerous players when he replaced Sean Dyche at the helm in January, and while this could be said for Iliman Ndiaye, the Senegal international had proved the bright spark for the Merseysiders across the first half of the season.
Iliman Ndiaye scores for Everton
Signed from Marseille for £15m last summer, Ndiaye has been a pillar of strength for Everton throughout the campaign, and while he’s the top scorer with nine goals from just 28 starting appearances, his slickness and thrilling movements suggest he could become a talisman in the mould of Rooney, one who could actually devote some of their finest years to the club.
Rooney’s capacity to excite, especially in his earlier iterations, was something that differentiated him from other talented up-and-comers.
Though Ndiaye is 25, he bears a likeness to the English great in this regard, as evidenced by his underlying data this term. As per FBref, he ranks among the top 20% of positional peers in the Premier League for goals, the top 17% for pass completion, the top 7% for successful take-ons and the top 1% for ball recoveries per 90.
There’s certainly a spring in his step. Ndiaye has been hailed for his ability to produce “magic” moments by Sky Sports commentator Seb Hutchinson, and if Moyes and the owners can get it right in the transfer market this summer, there’s every chance he could hit the next level in his development and truly establish himself as one of the country’s heaviest hitters.
Man United
559
253
141
Everton
117
28
8
D.C. United
52
25
14
Derby County
35
7
3
Were Everton to end up selling their silky star, he would also fetch a large transfer fee, like Rooney. Whichever angle you look at it from, Moyes has hit the absolute jackpot with this one, and must ensure he retains his services for the upcoming campaign at the least.
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David Moyes will look to bring in one or two exciting names to the Hill Dickinson Stadium.
Manchester City can still finish the 2024/25 season holding the FA Cup aloft, but it’s safe to say this campaign has been an eye-opener for Pep Guardiola and Co.
Indeed, the reigning Premier League champions find themselves all the way down in an unsatisfactory fifth in the league standings, with a mammoth 22-point gap opening up between the lacklustre Citizens and Arne Slot’s seriously impressive Liverpool at the top of the tree.
Therefore, it isn’t out of the question this summer that Guardiola will rip up what was once successful at the Etihad in order to bring in some exciting new blood, with Phil Foden in danger of dropping out of the Spaniard’s first-team plans if he doesn’t improve.
The numbers behind Foden's poor form at Man City
Out with the old and in with the new could well be the mantra at City this summer with the likes of Kevin De Bruyne perhaps moving on after such a disorienting season is over and done with.
Foden is unlikely to up and leave like his Belgian teammate, but the 24-year-old is still a shadow of the skilful talent he was just last campaign when he was crowned PFA Player of the Year as Guardiola’s men romped home to yet another top-flight triumph.
Critiqued on the international stage by Roy Keane for some uninspiring showings donning England white, Foden has failed to pick up a goal or assist in Premier League action since Chelsea away in January, leading to the agile midfielder having to make do with spots on the substitute bench as of late.
While he’s not impressed on the international stage, he also needs to do more at club level. Last term the attacking midfielder found the net 27 times but in 2024/25, he’s only scored ten times.
Thus, his minutes could deplete further at City, particularly if they complete a mega-money transfer in the summer.
Man City City "want to sign" big Foden upgrade
A few tweaks here and there to the first team personnel could inspire City to get back to their best down the line, especially if they are able to sign their number one target this summer.
As per a report by Sky Sports Germany reporter Florian Plettenberg, the bruised outfit “want to sign” Bayer Leverkusen superstar Florian Wirtz when the window reopens.
The Bundesliga side are preparing to offer Wirtz a new deal that would keep him at the club until 2028 but it will include a release clause allowing club’s to him out of that deal in a year’s time.
It should be seen as a priority on City’s end to try and snap up the services of the explosive German, with sumputous strikes such as the one below helping Leverkusen lift the Bundesliga title proudly last season.
He could well steer his new employers back to the very summit of the Premier League, therefore, but it will come at a significant cost, with Plettenberg further revealing that Xabi Alonso’s men would only consider parting ways with their electric ace if an offer around the £108m mark was made.
Away from his side being crowned champions last term, Wirtz has also torn open top-flight defences in 2024/25, with the German up to a ridiculous 27 goals and assists in all competitions next to Foden’s inferior 15.
Wirtz vs Foden: Key league stats in 2024/25
Stat
Wirtz
Foden
Games played
25
25
Goals
9
7
Assists
10
2
Big chances created
15
7
Successful dribbles per 90
2.9
0.5
Ground duels won per 90
5.4
2.3
Key passes per 90
1.9
1.7
Stats by Sofascore
His continued ridiculous performances for Leverkusen has even seen him branded as “world class” by 1. FC Köln boss Gerhard Struber, with Wirtz’s swagger and skill on the ball making him a perfect replacement for a declining Foden, considering he can operate either as a number ten or as a winger, much like this counterpart.
Bayer Leverkusen's Florian Wirtz
City do find themselves at a crossroads at this moment in time with some uncomfortable decisions having to be made soon over first-team stalwarts, leading to Foden being ditched potentially for Wirtz to shine.
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da bet vitoria： Liverpool captain Virgil van Dijk confirmed that the Premier League leaders will meet up to watch Arsenal’s home fixture against Crystal Palace on Wednesday evening, knowing that a surprise defeat for the Gunners would seal the title for the Reds.
da 888casino： Should Mikel Arteta’s side avoid an upset, Liverpool can finish the job themselves on Sunday, against Tottenham Hotspur and surrounded by four sheets of Anfield support, roaring and bellowing and cheering with such volume as has rarely been heard anywhere across the vast footballing landscape.
Mohamed Salah celebrates with Luis Diaz and Curtis Jones for Liverpool.
Surely the more favourable of the two scenarios, the one which will indelibly mark the occasion in the minds of the myriad supporters.
Arne Slot, truly, has worked wonders this season, a shining light to guide Liverpool through the beginnings of a post-Jurgen Klopp world. He will receive his crown, taking a seat at an exclusive table of managers to have won the Premier League on their first attempt.
Managers Who Won Premier League in 1st Season
Season
Manager
Club
2004/05
Jose Mourinho
Chelsea
2009/10
Carlo Ancelotti
Chelsea
2013/14
Manuel Pellegrini
Man City
2016/17
Antonio Conte
Chelsea
Sourced via GIVEMESPORT
Liverpool were supposed to be rudderless, but they have gone from strength to strength with a new head coach and minimal help on the transfer front.
The point is this is to underline that Liverpool are capable of absorbing a big punch and responding with a flurry of their own to prove the doubters wrong.
Liverpool head coach Arne Slot
It’s a quality that may well be called into play again this summer, with some rather big names touted with a summer exit.
Who could be leaving Liverpool this summer
After scoring the winner against Leicester City on Sunday afternoon, Trent Alexander-Arnold did little to allay fears that he will join Real Madrid when his contract expires this summer, refusing to comment on speculation when interviewed post-match.
Though Liverpool are set for a summer of spending, while cutting out some of the deadwood, there’s no question that all of a Liverpool persuasion want the homegrown vice-captain to sign a new deal.
However, that’s not the same for all of Slot’s first-teamers, with Darwin Nunez, for example, confirmed to have been transfer-listed ahead of the market by Fabrizio Romano.
Liverpool'sDarwinNunezreacts
Nunez needs to go, but parting with too many members of the frontline might rock the boat too hard. Indeed, it might be a mistake if FSG were to act on rumours and part with Luis Diaz this summer.
Why Liverpool may regret selling Luis Diaz
Slot won’t want to spark too much upheaval this summer, especially after keeping such a close-knit group together to charge through the many obstacles of the season and move into the final stages of winning the Premier League title.
Liverpool forward Luis Diaz
With Nunez set to be sold and potentially Chiesa too, it might be something of a risk to part with any further members of the frontline, and it’s for that reason that FSG may want to resist any offers for Diaz.
The 28-year-old winger has attracted attention from the Saudi Pro League and from Barcelona in the past and is about to enter the penultimate year of his £55k-per-week contract.
However, discussions for a renewal do not appear advanced.
Saying that, Football Insider have recently reported that sporting director Richard Hughes is preparing to dig deeper into contract talks with the Colombian’s representatives.
He might ebb and flow in front of goal but the left-sided forward is dynamic and direct, such a slippery customer for Premier League and European opponents to deal with.
Liverpool’s Frontline in 24/25 (all comps)
Player
Apps
Goals
Assists
Mohamed Salah
47
32
23
Cody Gakpo
44
16
6
Luis Diaz
46
15
8
Diogo Jota
33
9
4
Darwin Nunez
42
7
7
Federico Chiesa
12
2
2
Data via Transfermarkt
Diaz’s output had lulled in recent months, but he’s not put in a bad shift in front of goal, all told. Indeed, with Mohamed Salah blanking across his past six matches in all competitions, Diaz has stepped up big time in the Premier League, steering Liverpool toward the title.
He’s bagged either a goal or an assist in five of his past six league outings, in fact, with Liverpool winning all but one of such fixtures. That loss, by the way, was against Fulham at Craven Cottage, a game in which Diaz scored off the bench.
Liverpool winger Luis Diaz
He’s also much more than just a goalscorer. As per FBref, Diaz ranks among the top 9% of positional peers in the Premier League this season for pass completion as well as the top 17% for successful take-ons and the top 9% for touches in the attacking penalty area per 90.
Of course, the patchiness of his goalscoring form can be deceiving: Lucho also ranks among the top 8% for non-penalty goals scored per 90. Is there any wonder he’s been hailed for his “world-class performances” this year by journalist Adam Brown?
It may well be that parting with Diaz carries every bit the negative impact that Trent’s inevitably will. Liverpool cannot afford to lose the wider nucleus of their title-winning group.
If Liverpool sign a centre-forward who can actually produce significant hauls across multiple seasons, there’s every chance that Diaz could take his game to the next level in 2025/26.
Moreover, Alexander-Arnold’s departure calls for a new playmaking outlet, which will most likely come in the centre of the park.
Plenty to chew on. Whatever happens, Liverpool might want to think twice about parting with their electric South American winger.
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Fabrizio Romano has confirmed Darwin Nunez is expected to leave Liverpool this summer.
da fezbet： It may feel bizarre to say, following a 15th Premier League defeat of the season on Sunday afternoon, but there is a growing sense of optimism at Manchester United, following a potentially pivotal week both on and off the field.
da bet nacional： On Thursday night, of course, the Red Devils completed a barnstorming turnaround against Lyon to progress into the last four of the Europa League, with Ruben Amorim edging ever closer to European glory and potential Champions League qualification.
Even the weekend loss to Wolverhampton Wanderers was somewhat overshadowed by the standout display of the club’s latest academy debutant, Tyler Fredricson, while the man pictured next to him, Matheus Cunha, looks like he could be back at Old Trafford permanently.
Elsewhere, meanwhile, last week provided a positive update regarding Amad Diallo’s injury rehab, with Amorim no doubt itching to have the Ivorian back fit and firing again.
Latest on Amad's injury return
Excluding Bruno Fernandes – who yet again leads the way for goals and assists at Old Trafford – the shining light of 2024/25 has been Amad, with the 22-year-old notably contributing 12 goals and assists in just 20 games following Amorim’s arrival.
Amad’s Man Utd record by coach
Manager
Games
Goals
Assists
Erik ten Hag
24
3
3
Ruben Amorim
20
6
6
Ole Gunnar Solskjaer
8
1
1
Ruud van Nistelrooy
4
2
1
Ralf Rangnick
1
0
0
Michael Carrick
0
0
0
Total
57
12
9
Stats via Transfermarkt
From his late heroics against both Manchester City and Liverpool, to his stunning hat-trick against bottom side Southampton, the former Atalanta starlet had repeatedly stepped up in the early months of a real breakthrough campaign on an individual basis.
Frustratingly for all concerned, the £120k-per-week winger – who signed a new contract in January – was struck down by an ankle issue in early February, with Amorim seemingly ruling him out for the season at the time.
The former Sporting CP boss did subsequently hint that Amad could actually return before the campaign is at an end, a fact that has been bolstered by images of the youngster back in training last week.
Amorim suggested that while his rising star is “not ready” to feature in April, his return could well come in May, with that set to be a welcome sight amid United’s shortcomings in attack.
A welcome sight would also be the signing of a similarly exciting young talent this summer, with United seemingly stepping up their search for the next big thing from across the globe.
Man Utd ready to sign teen sensation this summer
While it has taken time to come to fruition, United are beginning to reap the rewards of having plucked Amad from Italy as a teenager back in October 2020, with the then-17-year-old ultimately arriving in January 2021 on an initial £19m deal that could reach £37m with add-ons.
Transfer Focus
Mega money deals, controversial moves and big-name flops. This is the home of transfer news and opinion across Football FanCast.
That relatively costly deal looks like it could be repeated in the near future, with reports outlining that INEOS are ready to trigger the £38m release clause for River Plate sensation, Franco Mastantuono.
The 17-year-old is believed to be being watched closely by those at Old Trafford, with United seemingly needing to act quickly if they are to win the race, amid rival interest from the likes of Barcelona, Atletico Madrid and Inter.
Franco Mastantuono for River Plate
The report claims that while the Argentine outfit are keen to hang on to their teenage diamond, a ‘serious bid’ from those in Manchester would likely ensure a deal gets done.
Why Man Utd are keen to sign on Franco Mastantuono
Having already looked to the South American market to sign Paraguayan full-back, Diego Leon, ahead of next season, United appear to be ready to add to that deal with the signing of another potential superstar, in the form of Mastantuono.
Like Amad before him – who was likened to Lionel Messi by Atalanta teammate, Papu Gomez, before joining United – the River starlet is earning rave reviews in his homeland, amid comparisons to Manchester City’s Phil Foden.
A left-footed attacker, like both Foden and Amad, who can operate on the flanks or as a number ten, Mastantuono has been hailed as a “creative genius” by analyst Ben Mattinson, following a fine start to life at senior level.
Still just 17, the Argentina U20 international has already made 53 appearances for his current side in the first team, with that regular involvement seeing him chalk up 11 goals and assists to date.
What particularly sets the teenager apart is both his ability to create chances for his teammates, but also his innate ball-carrying ability, as evidenced by the fact he averages 2.3 key passes and 2.9 successful dribbles per game in the league in 2025.
To put that into perspective, that places the in-demand talent just ahead of Amad in that regard, with the current United man averaging 1.8 and 1.6 for those same two metrics, respectively, in 2024/25.
Like with the Ivorian, it may not be expected for Mastantuono to immediately hit the ground running in a United shirt, although all the signs point to him being a future star, with Mattinson even noting that there are “shades of Kevin De Bruyne” about him.
Seemingly a perfect fit in one of the two number ten roles in Amorim’s 3-4-3 system, the £38m playmaker certainly appears worth investing in, even despite the eye-catching nature of the price tag, with the case of Amad showcasing the benefits of putting faith in the next big thing.
After years of being burned by short-term, expensive signings, the Red Devils now need to do things differently.
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Man Utd could be set to land another sparkling forward this summer, alongside Matheus Cunha