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Manchester City boss Pep Guardiola has personally set his sights on an £85 million star who’s now open to joining the Premier League champions, according to reports.

The Lowdown: City eye new midfield man…

After completing a deal to sign Borussia Dortmund sensation Erling Haaland, City are now eyeing an heir to club legend and long-serving veteran Fernandinho who’s set to leave this summer.

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Sky Blues will miss the Brazilian who has been pivotal both on and off the field since his arrival from Shakhtar Donestk in 2013.

City officials are now tasked with bringing in his perfect replacement and the player in question will have absolutely huge shoes to fill.

The likes of Paul Pogba of Man United have even been linked as Guardiola and sporting director Txiki Begiristain seemingly leave no stone unturned in their search.

Another big name in Barcelona star Frenkie de Jong is reportedly on the agenda with Sport recently claiming his club will demand €100 million (£85m) to sell.

The Latest: Pep ‘personally’ sets his sights…

Now, according to reports out of Spain, Guardiola has ‘personally’ set his sights on the Dutchman and ‘wants’ him for the 2022/2023 season.

As well as this, it is believed that de Jong ‘would not look down’ on City’s boss and is now open to joining.

The Verdict: Make the move…

If Begiristain and co can whittle down the rumoured £85m price, de Jong would undoubtedly be a great signing.

Lauded as ‘phenomenal’ by former Arsenal striker Kevin Campbell, the 25-year-old has been a mainstay under Barca boss Xavi this season and one of the first names on the team sheet with only a handful of other players featuring over more La Liga minutes (WhoScored).

In that time, de Jong has won the joint-most Man of the Match awards for Barca alongside Memphis Depay – standing out as a major figurehead for the Catalans (WhoScored).

Guardiola’s personal interest tells you all need to know and we believe the Netherlands international ace would be quite the capture.

In other news: Eithad sources: Pep dealt big blow with Man City ‘beast’ now ready to quit, find out more here.

بعث الأرجنتيني رودريجو دي بول برسالة طمأنينة بعد أنباء إصابته، وذلك قبل مباراة منتخب بلاده أمام هولندا في مونديال قطر 2022.

وأفادت تقارير أن دي بول يعاني من انزعاج عضلي في أوتار الركبة، وهو ما حدث أمس في التدريبات، وقد تدرب بشكل منفرد.

وعبر حسابه على “إنستجرام” نشر دي بول صورة له من تدريبات منتخب بلاده وكتب: “كل شيء بخير.. نستمر في العمل ونجهز آخر التفاصيل لنهائي جديد، هيا منتخبنا، الكل معًا”.

لم يكن هناك تقرير طبي رسمي حتى الآن من منتخب الأرجنتين حول حالة دي بول، على الرغم من حقيقة أن اللاعب قد خضع بالفعل لفحوصات لمعرفة ما إذا كانت هناك إصابة في العضلات بحسب ما أفادت “ESPN”

ويوضح التقرير أنه من حيث المبدأ، لن يشارك اللاعب في مباراة الجمعة ضد هولندا، ومع ذلك، فإن الجهاز الفني للمنتخب الأرجنتيني لم يستبعد ذلك بعد وسوف يدرسون حالته مرة أخرى يوم الخميس.

ويلتقي منتخب الأرجنتين مع هولندا يوم الجمعة في تمام التاسعة مساءً بتوقيت القاهرة، في ربع نهائي مونديال قطر 2022.

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The Kingdom of Saudi Arabia’s (KSA) Public Investment Fund (PIF) are reportedly now in ‘contact’ to sign Mitchel Bakker for Newcastle United this summer.

The Lowdown: January offer

It was reported back in the January transfer window that the St. James’ Park faithful were close to signing Bakker from Bayer Leverkusen after making an offer, but the deal hit a stumbling block.

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His representatives even reportedly travelled to the North East in order to try and push through the move, but in the end nothing materialised, and Bakker remains at Leverkusen.

The Latest: ‘Contact’ made

As per SportBILD (via Sport Witness), ‘contact’ with Bakker and his management over a potential move to Tyneside is still ongoing after the January bid, and they are now ready to ‘make a new offer’ for him in the summer.

It is not clear whether his valuation is the same as it was last window, but nonetheless it seems as if the Magpies are now lining up a new bid.

The Verdict: Depends on Targett

It has been reported that the Toon will look to sign Matt Targett from Aston Villa on a permanent deal after impressing while on loan, meaning that they would have the left-back spot covered, and so signing Bakker as well would not seem like a smart move.

However, if any deal for Targett fell through, then the Dutchman could be a great alternative.

Described as a player who has ‘pace and strength’ as well as ‘footballing ability’ (via The Chronicle) by Leverkusen sporting director Rudi Voller, the six-foot-one menace would suit Premier League football very well, and at just 21 years of age, he has a lot of potential.

Nonetheless, the club have to see what happens with Targett first of all, before pursuing a deal for the Bundesliga left-back.

In other news, find out who is now ‘close’ to returning for NUFC here!

Lokomotiv Moscow winger Gyrano Kerk has claimed that he could have potentially joined Leeds United back in 2020, but a move failed to materialise.

The Lowdown: Kerk settling in at Lokomotiv

The 26-year-old joined his current club from Utrecht last year but he is still taking a little time to settle into his new surroundings.

Kerk has chipped in with two goals and two assists in his first 15 appearances for Lokomotiv, not an earth-shattering return but an indication that he can chip in occasionally.

Alas, he has revealed that, had things taken a different course, the speedy winger could now be a Leeds player.

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The Latest: Kerk makes Leeds transfer claim

Speaking to FC UtrechtFans [via Sport Witness], Kerk claimed that the Whites wanted to sign him a couple of years ago, only for the potential move to fall through.

He revealed: “There were possibilities to take a step higher in the Eredivisie, but that interest did not materialise.

“After that canceled KNVB Cup final [in 2020 due to the pandemic], Utrecht also wanted to keep me in order to start the fiftieth anniversary year as strong as possible. There was interest from Leeds United at the time, but in the end that did not go through.”

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The Verdict: One that got away

Kerk is someone who could have provided Marcelo Bielsa with an additional wide option at Leeds, bringing much-needed attacking depth to his squad in the process.

While not necessarily an elite player, the Dutchman still enjoyed 85 goal involvements in 175 appearances for Utrecht, highlighting his quality in the final third.

Also, at 26 Kerk is still in and around the peak years of his career, so going back in for him this summer could be worth considering for Leeds, especially if Raphinha moves on amid ongoing speculation over his future at Elland Road.

In other news, a journalist has made a key claim regarding Bielsa’s Leeds future. Read more here.

Rangers enjoyed a sensational night in Europe as Giovanni van Bronckhorst’s team won 4-2 away from home on Thursday night.

The Gers were handed the perfect chance to take the lead against Borussia Dortmund when they were awarded a penalty, with the help of VAR. The ever-reliable James Tavernier placed the ball down on the spot and calmly tucked it away from 12-yards to make it 1-0.

Alfredo Morelos quickly made it two as he was quickest to react to a Joe Aribo flick-on from a corner to tap into an empty net from a yard out. John Lundstram made it 3-0 shortly after the half-time break, before Jude Bellingham quickly erased that goal with a fine strike from the edge of the box almost straight from kick-off.

An own goal from Dan-Axel Zagadou made it 4-1, as Morelos’ ball across the box bounced off him and rolled into the corner. Dortmund then pulled another back late on as Guerreiro curled in a superb strike from 25 yards.

Forget Morelos

Whilst Morelos led the line brilliantly and played a direct hand in multiple goals, another Rangers star dominated the Westfalenstadion, namely Ryan Kent.

The English winger was electric from start to finish and set the tempo for the Gers with his early pressing off the ball and direct play in possession. His energy rubbed off on his teammates and played a major role in their fast start to the game, which then set up the rest of their performance to secure this huge victory.

The £18k-per-week gem dominated Dortmund on and off the ball. Defensively, he won an impressive ten of his 15 duels, also making four tackles and two interceptions whilst playing in a forward position. This shows how enthusiastic he was throughout the match, as he worked his socks off when out of possession to win the ball back for his side whilst also cutting out opposition attacks.

Offensively, he was a menace all night. As per SofaScore, he completed four of his six attempted dribbles and created three chances for his team-mates. One of those opportunities was tucked away brilliantly by Lundstram, after Kent’s excellent play down the flank to work the opening.

This shows that the 25-year-old had a massive impact at both ends of the pitch for Rangers, typifying their ambitious approach to the game. He dominated the pitch on and off the ball and the only thing missing from his display was a goal, but he did more than enough creatively to not need to get on the act himself.

Van Bronckhorst will surely be over the moon with Kent’s performance and hoping that he continues to deliver similar levels in the Premiership in the coming weeks, along with another masterclass in the reverse leg at Ibrox against Dortmund next week.

AND in other news, Forget Bassey: Van Bronckhorst can save Rangers millions with £14k-p/w “leader”, he’s a monster…

اختار ظهير أيسر الفريق الأول لكرة القدم بنادي ليفربول، أندرو روبرتسون، أفضل صفقة أبرمها الريدز خلال آخر 5 سنوات من وجهة نظره.

وتعاقد ليفربول مع العديد من اللاعبين المميزين في السنوات الماضية على رأسهم محمد صلاح، فيرجيل فان دايك، أليسون والعديد من النجوم الآخرين مثل داروين نونيز وتياجو ألكانتارا.

اقرأ أيضًا.. لابورتا يؤكد دخول برشلونة في مفاوضات مع مهاجم ليفربول

وأجرى روبرتسون حوارًا مع برنامج “PitchSide” على “يوتيوب”، وقال: “من الواضح أن فان دايك كان صفقة كبيرة وكذلك أليسون”.

وتابع: “لكن أعتقد أن محمد صلاح هو الأفضل بسبب كل الأرقام التي حققها مع ليفربول خلال السنوات الماضية”.

وأضاف: “لقد وقعت في نفس الصيف الذي وقع، محمد صلاح، فيه مع ليفربول، لم يكن هناك الكثير من الضجيج حول تلك الصفقة، على الرغم من ذلك، قدم مشوارًا رائعًا مع الفريق ولم يتوقف أبدًا”.

وأتم تصريحاته: “لذلك أقول بالنسبة لي، محمد صلاح، هو الصفقة الأفضل التي أبرمها ليفربول في السنوات الأخيرة”.

Pakistan fast bowler Rana Naved-ul-Hasan has said he is ready to meet the PCB chairman Ijaz Butt to “clear things out” with regard to the one-year ban slapped on him by the board. Naved-ul-Hasan’s appeal hearing was postponed until June 26 and in the meantime he was asked to approach the PCB and request it to reconsider his punishment.”I am ready to meet the PCB chief to clear things out,” Naved told “I will respond to the PCB call immediately but so far I haven’t received any word since my hearing was adjourned on Saturday.”Naved-ul-Hasan, along with several of his team-mates, was punished by the PCB following the tour of Australia in 2009-10. He was banned for one year and slapped with a Rs 2 million fine. All the punished players, barring Naved-ul-Hasan, Younis Khan and Mohammad Yousuf, met the PCB and had their bans revoked, and fines lifted or reduced. Yousuf did not file an appeal against his ban because he had retired from international cricket.Younis’ situation, however, is unclear. His ban was reversed by the PCB but he was not selected in the Twenty20 or Test squads for the tour to England, which begins later this month. “As per order by Irfan Qadir [the arbitrator], we will send another showcause notice to Younus in a couple of days,” PCB lawyer Talib Rizvi said.Over the last couple of weeks the sense has emerged that the board will not let Younis back in unless he apologises for what they deem to be his mistakes, as the other returnees have done. Butt said last week that Younis’s return would require clearance from the board, an issue that wasn’t deemed to be an issue at all with Shoaib Malik, Shahid Afridi and the Akmal brothers.

Celtic face a real battle to land Zinedine Ferhat with Trabzonspor ‘on a mission’ to win the race, according to Foot Mercato. 

The lowdown

The French publication originally reported on New Year’s Eve that Nimes Olympique star Ferhat was on The Hoops’ radar.

The 28-year-old, who’s predominantly a right winger but can also play in a central attacking midfield role, is out of contract at the end of the current season.

He’s valued at £4.05million by Transfermarkt, but it’s worth noting that he’s also free to strike a pre-contract agreement with a foreign club ahead of the summer.

The latest

Ferhat has been ‘ardently courted’ by Celtic as well as Ligue 1 outfits Montpellier and Saint-Etienne, but there’s now a chance he ends up in Turkey, according to the French outlet.

Trabzonspor sources have indicated that Ferhat is a ‘priority recruit’, with ‘significant financial resources’ available for the pursuit.

They’re determined to secure his signature and could initiate talks ‘in the coming days’.

The verdict

Celtic should make a big push to see off Trabzonspor – Zerhat’s 2020/21 season was hugely impressive, as he combined six goals with ten assists for a side that finished down in 19th and suffered relegation.

Only Lyon’s Memphis Depay, who subsequently joined FC Barcelona, set up more goals in the French top flight last term.

Celtic started the January window strongly but the tide seems to be turning. They lost out to Middlesbrough after holding talks with Riley McGree and now Blackburn-bound Dilan Markanday seems to evaded them.

Ange Postecoglou may be frustrated if another target moves elsewhere.

In other news, Frank McAvennie thinks this summer signing could leave.

Partly misfortune but mostly indiscipline cost them the fifth and final ODI in Port of Spain to ensure South Africa swept an ODI series 5-0 for the third time against West Indies

The Bulletin by Siddhartha Talya03-Jun-2010
Scorecard and ball-by-ball details
How they were outJP Duminy’s wicket tilted the balance in favour of West Indies, but the hosts failed to take advantage•AFPThe humiliation was complete, but only moments after it seemed West Indies had done enough to avert it. Partly misfortune but mostly indiscipline cost them the fifth and final ODI in Port of Spain to ensure South Africa swept an ODI series 5-0 for the third time against West Indies. The wickets of half-centurions Jacques Kallis and JP Duminy had helped the hosts wrest control of the game, but Jerome Taylor’s inopportune injury, Dwayne Bravo’s poor death bowling and Kieron Pollard’s nervy last over deprived the hosts of an elusive face-saving win.South Africa’s lower order had been untested this series due to the success of their frontline batsmen, but prevailed through a combination of luck and mettle. Jerome Taylor, who bowled Duminy in the 44th over to put his team ahead, tormented Ryan McLaren with deliveries outside off stump that the batsman consistently struggled to hit. The effect was increasing pressure on the visitors that was relaxed when Taylor’s niggles returned to haunt him.As Taylor walked off the field, Bravo and Pollard, two bowlers adept at changing their pace, had to shoulder the responsibility of restricting South Africa. But the more experienced among them erred in strategy and direction, opting to target the stumps as opposed to Taylor’s ploy of troubling the batsmen outside off. He conceded three wides, was struck for a boundary through midwicket and chipped over the in-field in the 47th over which cost 13 and brought the equation to 19 off 18.Pollard’s next over, which only went for two, restored West Indies’ advantage with the wickets of Johan Botha and McLaren. But Bravo again let it slip, bowling too wide to be sliced for four before gifting a full toss to van der Merwe who drove him past mid-off for another boundary. He made amends somewhat with the wicket of Charl Langeveldt to make it nine down, but Pollard’s nerves failed him in the last over off which the visitors needed seven. He doled out a short delivery that van der Merwe dispatched over square leg and gave the No.11 Lonwabo Tsotsobe just the delivery he needed to launch his ODI batting career – a short and wide delivery cracked through the covers to seal West Indies’ fate with two balls to spare.The chase, however, was set up by Kallis, who played with an assuredness conspicuous in its absence when West Indies were batting. Joining Hashim Amla after the early loss of Graeme Smith, he quickly settled in with consecutive boundaries off David Bernard. When the field spread, he had no trouble working the field, an approach he stuck to despite the loss of two prolific partners in Amla and AB de Villiers within a space of five overs. The situation was a tough one to adapt to for a player searching for form, but Duminy found his game in typically busy fashion, as he struck just one four in his 52, while supporting Kallis in a 58-run fourth-wicket stand. Though their wickets shifted the balance, the depth in batting ensured they had achieved enough.West Indies’ performance with the bat in the final two ODIs improved markedly but there remained existing glitches that South Africa’s bowlers managed to exploit. In conditions favourable for batting, they went through periods of stagnation, a problem highlighted by Chris Gayle at the end of the previous game as well, despite them reaching 303. It was largely due to a Narsingh Deonarine-initiated late surge that West Indies scored 252, with assistance from Pollard and Darren Sammy.The bounce remained true and the South African seamers consistently pitched short of a good length. While getting the ball to cut both ways and testing the batsmen with variations in pace, they were helped by one end being held up by Shivnarine Chanderpaul. For three consecutive overs did Gayle pick a single off the first ball, only to watch his partner gobble up the remaining deliveries. The agony was cast aside with each batsman striking Tsotsobe for fours in the eighth over, but Gayle failed to consolidate his start yet again, mistiming an attempted pull off a slower ball straight to mid-on in Ryan Mclaren’s first over.The introduction of spin choked West Indies further. Now it was Darren Bravo who didn’t get going. Attacked by Botha from round the wicket and van der Merwe’s nagging lengths, Darren Bravo failed to break free. Such was the difficulty in pinching the singles that his batting was confined to dabbing the ball around the in-field, with just eight runs scored off his first 31 deliveries. When he finally decided to open up, and played a convincing lofted drive, he was pouched brilliantly by Mark Boucher at extra cover, without the keeping gloves for the first time in his 292-ODI career.Though Deonarine, backed by Pollard and Sammy’s power-play at the end of the innings, combined muscle with an innovative quest for runs to help score 86 off the last eight overs, the failure of Chanderpaul and Darren Bravo to push on despite wickets in hand meant the eventual score was always one that an in-form South Africa would back themselves chasing.

Daniel Vettori’s wife calls him the Captain of Everything, which goes back to when he was appointed skipper in all three formats and plans for split leadership with Stephen Fleming were shelved. It could also refer to his role as the team’s best bowler, most consistent batsman and their general in the field. New Zealand have relied so heavily on Vettori so often that despite being in his 100th Test he has celebrated fewer wins (31) than Michael Hussey (33), who is playing his 50th.On the day that Vettori marked his milestone he was once again the star with four wickets, a direct-hit run-out and some well-thought-out field placements. But this time, he had support. From the moment New Zealand strode on to Seddon Park to the time when Vettori led them off to a standing ovation, his men looked sharp. Catches were held, pressure was maintained and Australia were skittled for their lowest total in New Zealand in a decade.Nothing would please New Zealand fans more than seeing Vettori finally enjoy a Test win over Australia. The same intensity will need to be shown over the coming days but Vettori gave his men a good start. They rushed to their captain to congratulate him when his throw from mid-off ended the innings of Ricky Ponting, who has sung the team song after beating New Zealand in nine Tests during his 12-year rivalry with Vettori.It was a big wicket. Tim Southee had picked up Shane Watson early but Ponting and Simon Katich had looked comfortable and the run-out sparked something from the New Zealanders. Southee, who said the team wanted to lift for their captain, went on to collect four wickets and it is only when the fast men back Vettori that New Zealand look at their best.Then there was the plot conceived by Vettori to place a man at deep mid-on, hoping Michael Clarke would try to clear the field off Jeetan Patel. The trap worked. Southee held a good catch – none were spilled during the innings – and although some of the wickets fell to batsman error the bowlers stuck to their plans with diligence.That the pressure built on Australia was yet another tribute to Vettori. He bowled tight, giving the Australians no freedom to attack, and Marcus North and Brad Haddin fell at the other end to Southee when they sought to find runs off him instead. Vettori won his personal rewards at the finish, with three lower-order wickets to finish the innings with 4 for 36 in his 20th over.”It was a good day,” Vettori said. “To turn round from where we were at the Basin, by only being able to take five wickets, and to step up today on a pretty good wicket was impressive. I couldn’t really have asked for too much more from the day’s play. Losing that last wicket right at the end put a little bit of a tarnish on it but I think our track record suggests it has to be five good days as opposed to one.”The first day of his 100th Test could hardly have gone any better. The previous night his father Renzo, who was born in a small village in the Dolomites of Italy, had been invited to present Vettori with the cap for his milestone game.Across the road from Seddon Park, a supermarket was stocking kiwi-fruit imported from the world’s biggest producer of the item. It wasn’t a deliberate tribute to Vettori’s heritage but the abundance of Italian kiwis was especially fitting this week.